Written Answers Nos. 280-300
280. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a person (details supplied) in County Waterford will have their position reinstated on the panel for teachers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47245/12]
View answerThe criteria used for the allocation of teaching posts to schools includes the provision whereby schools experiencing rapid increases in enrolment can apply for additional mainstream posts on developing grounds, using projected enrolment. The retention of such posts in the current school year is subject to schools' having achieved their projected enrolment on 30 September. If the enrolment is not achieved the post allocated on developing grounds is suppressed.The school referred to by the Deputy applied for an additional post under developing grounds criteria. As the school did not meet the required enrolment numbers to sustain this post, the post was suppressed.
The teacher concerned has been successfully redeployed to a vacancy in another school.
281. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Education and Skills the names of each staff member within his Department that has been rehired since March 2011 and the cost involved in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47292/12]
View answerOn occasion my Department re-engages retired staff on a short-term basis to carry out certain tasks that require their particular experience and expertise. As appropriate, such engagements are subject to the abatement principle whereby the fees payable are set at a level that ensures that the individuals' pension plus fees do not exceed the salary level of their positions prior to retirement.
The information in question is compiled retrospectively on an annual basis. The relevant information for 2011 was compiled earlier this year and the information for 2012 will be compiled in early 2013. However, my Department has information to hand in respect of the first quarter of 2012 and the following table includes 2011 and quarter one of 2012. Full information for 2012 will become available in early 2013.
Names, Grades and Cost of DES Staff rehired following retirement in 2011 and 2012 (1st Quarter)
|
Name: |
Grade at Retirement: |
Amount Payable in 2011 (€) |
|
Dermot Ryan |
Principal Officer |
€230.00 |
|
Frank Murray |
Principal Officer equivalent |
€1,923.18 |
|
Tadhg O'Ruairc |
Assistant Principal Officer |
€690.00 |
|
Eamonn Stack |
Chief Inspector |
€13,000.00 |
|
Lorcan Mac Conaonaigh |
Assistant Chief Inspector |
€7,315.09 |
|
Ian Murphy |
Assistant Chief Inspector |
€22,364.90 |
|
Con Ó Caoimh |
Assistant Chief Inspector |
€927.81 |
|
Liam Ó hEigearta |
Assistant Chief Inspector |
€6,720.45 |
|
Torlach O'Connor |
Assistant Chief Inspector |
€15,088.00 |
|
Sean MacConmara |
Divisional Inspector Primary |
€1,714.50 |
|
Sean Ó Cearbhaill |
Divisional Inspector Primary |
€1,858.65 |
|
Mícheál Ó Lionáird (Michael Leonard) |
Divisional Inspector Primary |
€1,314.17 |
|
Eamonn Ó Breacáin (Eddie Bracken) |
Divisional Inspector Primary |
€654.93 |
|
Joan Williams |
Senior Inspector Post Primary |
€2,901.51 |
|
Caitlín Ní Bhraonáin (Kathleen Brennan) |
Post Primary Inspector |
€3,315.30 |
|
Name: |
Grade at Retirement: |
Amount Payable in 2012 (€) |
|
Lorcan Mac Conaonaigh |
Assistant Chief Inspector |
€4,571.93 |
|
Ian Murphy |
Assistant Chief Inspector |
€10,097.12 |
|
Michéal Ó Lionaird (Michael Leonard) |
Primary Divisional Inspector |
€367.95 |
|
Caitlín Ni Bhraonáin (Kathleen Brennan) |
Post Primary Inspector |
€384.00 |
|
- |
- |
€15,421.00 |
282. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to require all schools in receipt of capitation funding to implement targeted energy efficiency programmes to cut wasteful usage of lighting, heating and electronic equipment in view of the fact that existing voluntary and piecemeal projects show the potential to save 15-40% of schools energy costs within two years at most, using models and guidance provided by Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland but unknown to most schools; his views on whether such energy efficiencies could save up to €15 million a year of the €200 million cost of capitation funding, thereby reducing cuts to vital educational services by the same sum and thus make cuts that do not hurt; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47303/12]
View answerFor the past fifteen years the planning and building unit of my Department has been using a process called the DART approach to develop sustainability and energy efficiency in educational buildings. This acronym focuses on four key areas, namely, Design, Awareness, Research and Technology. The policy is informed by the building unit professional and technical staff, driven by its technical guidance documents and updated by continued energy research and development.
It has been demonstrated that all schools designed and built in line with the above policy and the technical guidance documents can have an energy performance that is more than twice as efficient as international best practice.
Under my Department's Summer Works Scheme, in excess of €182m has been spent since 2009 on improvements to mechanical and electrical installations, toilets, windows and roofs in both primary and post-primary schools across the country, which is contributing to the energy efficiency of these buildings. In addition, €15 million has been spent under my Department's 2009 energy efficiency scheme and further €7.4 million under the 2010 water conversation scheme. In total in excess of €204 million has been provided to school to assist with energy efficiency and conversion since 2009 which represents 16% of the total overall capital spend on school building since 2009.
My Department, in conjunction with Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) has developed an "Energy in Education" website (www.energyineducation.ie) which I launched recently. The website is designed to help school boards of management, principals, teachers, administrators, care-taking staff, pupils and parents to improve energy use practices and to reduce school operating costs, along with helping to protect the environment for future generations.
283. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kerry has had one of their remote area grant payments stopped and if it is possible to have it reinstated. [47325/12]
View answerUnder the terms of my Department's School Transport Scheme children are eligible for transport where they meet the minimum distance criteria and are attending their nearest school, as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
An eligible child for whom no transport service is available may, following an application for transport within the prescribed time limits, receive a remote area grant towards the cost of private transport arrangements.
This grant is payable annually at a fixed daily rate, to each eligible family, regardless of the number of children from the same family travelling to a particular school.
The family in question is in receipt of the maximum daily rate of grant.
284. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a person (details supplied) in Count Carlow will receive a decision on their Student Universal Support Ireland application and if he will expedite an answer. [47355/12]
View answer328. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a person (details supplied) in County Carlow will receive an answer to their application to Student Universal Support Ireland; and if he will expidite an answer. [47867/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 284 and 328 together.
Officials in my Department have confirmed with SUSI that additional documentation requested was received on 2nd November, 2012. The documentation is currently awaiting review and the student will be notified directly of the outcome.
285. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide in tabular form for the academic years 2009/2010, 2010/2011, 2011/2012 and 2012/2013 in Dundalk Institute of Technology, the number of students who received grants for fees; the number who paid fees in full; the number of students who received maintenance grants for those years; the total amounts paid for fee grants; the total amount paid for maintenance grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47382/12]
View answerAll of the information sought by the Deputy is not readily available in my Department. Officials of my Department have asked the Higher Education Authority to contact the institute seeking details and I will forward the information to the Deputy as soon as possible.
286. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason there is a differential between the rate of pay for special needs assistant €88.50 and teacher/lay persons €112.04 who act as readers for State examinations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47333/12]
View answerDuties such as assisting students and acting as reader / scribe for a student who is doing a state examination form part of the normal duties of Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) and attract no additional payment. However, some students require a special centre to complete their examinations. It is the policy of the State Examinations Commission (SEC) that a Superintendent be present for all State Examinations centres. There are specific rules governing this role as set out by the SEC.
The SEC acknowledges that school authorities are in the best position to put the arrangements in place to cater for the needs of individual candidates for whom the use of a special centre has been approved. These arrangements include the appointment of superintendents to these special centres. If an SNA is appointed by a school to the role of Superintendent of a special centre for a state examination, a fee of €85.50 per day will be paid to the SNA for the discharge of the full range of additional duties and responsibilities associated with the role of superintending the special centre.
This rate was settled in an agreement reached with the Unions representing SNAs in 2008, and has regard to the fact that the normal duties of an SNA include acting as scribe or reader with children with special education needs. In addition the agreed contract of employment provides that SNAs are required to work the month of June on examinations or other work appropriate to the grade.
287. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a teacher was removed from the system a primary school (detail supplied) in County Meath; if this decision will be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47399/12]
View answerThe criteria used for the allocation of teaching posts to schools includes the provision whereby schools experiencing rapid increases in enrolment can apply for additional mainstream posts on developing grounds, using projected enrolment. The retention of such posts in the current school year is subject to schools' having achieved their projected enrolment on 30 September. If the enrolment is not achieved the post allocated on developing grounds is suppressed. The school referred to by the Deputy was approved for an additional post under developing grounds criteria. Pending confirmation of the enrolment numbers on 30 September, the school was permitted to fill the post in a fixed term temporary capacity until 26 October. However, as the school did not meet the required enrolment numbers to sustain this post, the post was suppressed.
The staffing schedule also includes an appeals mechanism for schools to submit an appeal under certain criteria including developing grounds to an independent Appeal Board. The school referred to did not avail of the appeal process.
288. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will expedite a higher education grant in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; his views on whether it is acceptable that students are accumulating debts while waiting for their grants to be processed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47432/12]
View answerDecisions on eligibility for new student grant applications from the 2012/13 academic year are a matter for the new centralised grant awarding authority, SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland).
Officials in my Department have confirmed with SUSI that the student referred to by the deputy was issued with a decision on the 31/10/2012 advising him that he was ineligible for a grant for the 2012/13 academic year.
If an individual applicant considers that she/he has been unjustly refused a student grant, or that the rate of grant awarded is not the correct one, she or he may appeal, in the first instance, to SUSI. Where an individual applicant has had an appeal turned down in writing by SUSI and remains of the view that SUSI has not interpreted the scheme correctly in his or her case, an appeal form outlining the position may be submitted by the applicant to the Student Grant Appeals Board. The relevant appeal form is available on request from SUSI.
289. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a decision on a student grant application will be made in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47444/12]
View answerOfficials in my Department have confirmed with SUSI, the new centralised grant awarding authority, that the student referred to by the Deputy has been awarded a grant and an award letter issued on 2 November, 2012.
290. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Education and Skills the current staffing schedule in respect of a school (details supplied) in County Wicklow for the current and previous school years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47451/12]
View answerThe statistics section of my Department's website contains extensive data at individual school level in county order. The most recent published information relates to the 2011/2012 school year. The criteria used for the allocation of teachers to schools is published annually on my Department's website. The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September. The staffing schedule for the 2012-2013 school year, Circular 0007/2012, is available on my Department's website. The staffing arrangements in schools for the 2012/2013 school year can also be affected by changes in enrolment, the impact of budget measures and reforms to the teacher allocation process.
A key part of the reforms of the allocation process was to facilitate a long overdue updating of the GAM (learning support) allocation for all schools. The criteria for the allocation of GAM hours by school type are outlined in circular 007/2012.
291. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will seek to have a special needs assistant (details supplied) in Dublin 12 registered as a teacher and moved to the teaching pay scale; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47462/12]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is an independent agency with responsibility for determining the appropriate staffing levels in relation to the support of pupils with special educational needs attending special schools. The NCSE operates within my Department's policy in allocating this support. Circular 0042/2011 provides information to schools regarding the staffing arrangements which apply in special schools for the 2012/13 school year. I understand that the correspondent is employed as a Special Needs Assistant (SNA) in the school. While I appreciate that the correspondent has an interest in a specific subject area, there is no provision for the regrading of the SNA role to that of a teacher, or for adjusting the number of teaching staff in the school outside of the mechanisms outlined in Circular 0042/2011. It is open to the correspondent to seek employment through the normal mechanisms for teacher recruitment in Special Schools, subject to the normal conditions that apply including the requirement that teachers are registered with the Teaching Council and have qualifications appropriate to the sector and suitable to the post for which they are proposed to be employed.
292. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of student grant applicants still awaiting a decision on their application; when he expects the grants to be fully processed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47538/12]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, all new applications for the 2012/13 academic year are being processed by SUSI, the new centralised grant awarding authority. Continuing students who are renewing their grant for attendance on an existing course with their existing awarding authority, which will be either a local authority or a VEC, will continue to have their applications processed by the relevant grant awarding authority.
In total, SUSI has received just over 66,000 completed application for student grants this year and 18,000 applications are now complete. This includes 9,000 applications which have been refused and 9,000 which have been awarded, or awarded pending submission of final course details by the student. SUSI is awaiting documentation on 21,000 applications and the remaining 27,000 are applications on hand with SUSI for processing. This data has been supplied to my Department by SUSI.
The 66 grant-awarding authorities as at 19 October, 2012 received 40,286 renewal applications and made decisions on 33,007 applications. Applications still awaiting a decision with the 66 grant-awarding awarding authorities include applications yet to be processed and applications where further documentation has been requested from the students in support of their application. This data has been compiled from information supplied to my Department from the 66 grant-awarding authorities.
The migration of the new applications to SUSI has enabled the 66 grant-awarding authorities to process renewal applications on a more efficient basis - these are generally more straightforward and require significantly less documentary evidence.
Processing of student grant applications by SUSI and the 66 grant awarding authorities is ongoing and subject to the timely receipt of all the requested supporting documentation.
293. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide the figures per county of the number of student grant applicants who have been awarded the student grant but are still awaiting payment as of 23 October 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47539/12]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, all new applications for the 2012/13 academic year are being processed and paid by SUSI, the new centralised grant awarding authority. Continuing students who are renewing their grant for attendance on an existing course with their existing awarding authority, which will be either a local authority or a VEC, will continue to have their applications processed and paid by the relevant grant awarding authority. Continuing students on a level 6 or level 7 course in the Institutes of Technology will continue to be paid their grant directly by their institution. The first table provides a breakdown of new applications awarded student grants by county and the number that are awaiting payment of the maintenance element of their student grants as of 5 November, 2012. The data in the table has been provided to my Department by SUSI, the new centralised grant awarding authority. Payment of the maintenance grant is contingent on the supply of bank account details by the student and confirmation of registration by the institution being attended. The second table provides a breakdown of renewals applications awarded by county and the number of renewal applications that have been paid as at 19 October, 2012. The numbers paid directly by their Institute of Technology is shown separately at the bottom of the table. The data in this table has been compiled from information supplied to my Department by the 66 grant-awarding authorities and the Institutes of Technology. A breakdown of data in relation to renewal students awarded fees-only grants by the 66 grant-awarding authorities is not available.
Figures per county - SUSI – New Applications
|
County |
Awarded Fees Only |
Awarded Maintenance |
Maintenance Paid |
Awaiting Maintenance Payment |
|
Carlow |
12 |
98 |
25 |
73 |
|
Cavan |
5 |
134 |
55 |
79 |
|
Clare |
16 |
183 |
67 |
116 |
|
Cork |
38 |
577 |
239 |
338 |
|
Donegal |
40 |
333 |
121 |
212 |
|
Dublin |
115 |
975 |
328 |
647 |
|
Galway |
46 |
374 |
89 |
285 |
|
Kerry |
25 |
217 |
83 |
134 |
|
Kildare |
24 |
242 |
92 |
150 |
|
Kilkenny |
16 |
125 |
46 |
79 |
|
Laois |
13 |
104 |
43 |
61 |
|
Leitrim |
7 |
58 |
16 |
42 |
|
Limerick |
29 |
240 |
95 |
145 |
|
Longford |
8 |
63 |
22 |
41 |
|
Louth |
18 |
209 |
86 |
123 |
|
Mayo |
20 |
216 |
69 |
147 |
|
Meath |
9 |
238 |
100 |
138 |
|
Monaghan |
5 |
107 |
37 |
70 |
|
Offaly |
14 |
147 |
57 |
90 |
|
Roscommon |
5 |
124 |
36 |
88 |
|
Sligo |
9 |
76 |
18 |
58 |
|
Tipperary |
25 |
246 |
104 |
142 |
|
Waterford |
28 |
175 |
82 |
93 |
|
Westmeath |
14 |
183 |
75 |
108 |
|
Wexford |
27 |
274 |
130 |
144 |
|
Wicklow |
16 |
201 |
75 |
126 |
Figures per county - 66 Grant Awarding Authorities – Renewals
|
County |
Renewals Awarded |
Renewals Paid |
|
Carlow |
388 |
216 |
|
Cavan |
701 |
437 |
|
Clare |
1,041 |
510 |
|
Cork |
3,395 |
956 |
|
Donegal |
1,625 |
643 |
|
Dublin |
3,840 |
1,588 |
|
Galway |
2,120 |
1,568 |
|
Kerry |
1,580 |
1,028 |
|
Kildare |
1,261 |
573 |
|
Kilkenny |
767 |
348 |
|
Laois |
658 |
369 |
|
Leitrim |
412 |
284 |
|
Limerick |
1,450 |
612 |
|
Longford |
366 |
198 |
|
Louth |
1,133 |
532 |
|
Mayo |
1,508 |
517 |
|
Meath |
792 |
222 |
|
Monaghan |
716 |
455 |
|
Offaly |
564 |
359 |
|
Roscommon |
779 |
523 |
|
Sligo |
721 |
375 |
|
Tipperary |
1,312 |
824 |
|
Waterford |
974 |
470 |
|
Westmeath |
794 |
573 |
|
Wexford |
1,149 |
697 |
|
Wicklow |
1,003 |
619 |
Schedule of payments in respect of Level 6 & Level 7 students in the academic year 2012/13
|
Institute |
Date |
No. of Students |
|
Athlone Institute |
12/10/12 |
223 |
|
Blanchardstown Institute |
02/11/12 |
75 |
|
Carlow Institute |
26/10/12 |
250 |
|
Cork Institute |
30/10/12 |
689 |
|
Dun Laoghaire Art & Design |
31/10/12 |
32 |
|
Dundalk Institute |
30/10/12 |
283 |
|
Galway/Mayo Institute |
18/10/12 |
698 |
|
Letterkenny Institute |
02/11/12 |
407 |
|
Tralee Institute |
19/10/12 |
284 |
|
Limerick Institute |
27/10/12 |
273 |
|
Sligo Institute |
12/10/12 |
569 |
|
Tallaght Institute |
26/10/12 |
123 |
|
Waterford Institute |
06/10/12 |
288 |
|
Dublin Institute of Technology |
26/10/12 |
216 |
294. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide in tabular form, the number of students who have applied, those that have been granted and those that have been refused the student grant for 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47540/12]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, all new applications for the 2012/13 academic year are being processed by SUSI, the new centralised grant awarding authority. Continuing students who are renewing their grant for attendance on an existing course with their existing awarding authority, which will be either a local authority or a VEC, will continue to have their applications processed by the relevant grant-awarding authority. A survey completed by the the grant awarding authorities in January each year provides details in relation to processing of grant applications. The accompanying table provides details supplied to my Department by the grant awarding authorities as at week ending the third week of January for 2009, 2010 and 2011. Further decisions in later months may have resulted in additional awards. In relation to the 2012/13 academic year SUSI has received just over 66,000 completed applications for student grants this year to date. Approximately 18,000 applications are now complete and have either been provisionally awarded, awarded or refused. This includes 9,000 applications which have been refused and 9,000 which have been awarded, or awarded pending submission of final course details by the student. The processing position for the 2012/13 academic year in relation to renewals as at 19 October 2012 is that the 66 grant-awarding authorities have dealt with 40,286 renewal applications. A total of 31,049 applications have been awarded and 1,958 applications have been approved. The data in relation to renewals has been compiled from information supplied to my Department by the 66 grant-awarding authorities The Deputy will appreciate that the data in relation to the 2012/13 academic year is not directly comparable as it does not cover the same time frame. The statistics for the previous years are as of the third week in January and therefore include three additional months processing by the various awarding authorities. In addition, the migration of the new applications to SUSI has enabled the 66 grant-awarding authorities to process renewal applications on a more efficient basis - these are generally more straightforward and require significantly less documentary evidence.
66 Grant Awarding Authorities – Processing Position as per January Survey
|
2009/10 Academic Year (Position as at 21/01/2010) |
Total |
Awarded |
Refused |
|
New applications |
57,133 |
30,591 |
5,730 |
|
Renewals |
36,391 |
30,969 |
882 |
2010-2011
|
2010/11 Academic Year (Position as at 21/01/2011) |
Total |
Awarded |
Refused |
|
New applications |
62,040 |
31,239 |
8,065 |
|
Renewals |
44,495 |
34,678 |
1,240 |
2011-2012
|
2011/12 Academic Year (Position as at 21/01/2012) |
Total |
Awarded |
Refused |
|
New applications |
66,479 |
32,152 |
6,932 |
|
Renewals |
45,082 |
37,874 |
1,952 |
Applications not decided as at third week in January each year would include applications where documentation was outstanding, incomplete applications, applications transferred to another assessing body and applications yet to be processed.
295. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will outline his position in relation to a personnel situation at a third-level institution (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47484/12]
View answerUnder the Universities Act 1997 University College Cork is an autonomous statutory institution and its management authorities are responsible for the organisation and deployment of the university's staff. As I have no function in the operational affairs of the university it would not be appropriate to comment on the matter raised by the Deputy.
296. Deputy Anthony Lawlor asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide details of the number of new teachers who were hired and commenced employment in primary and post primary schools since September 2012; if details will be provided of the number of teachers who had availed of the early retirement scheme last February but to date continue to teach in primary and post primary school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47592/12]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is being compiled and will be forwarded to him.
297. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a school (details supplied) in County Donegal no longer qualifies for DEIS status despite considerable levels of economic disadvantage in the area as a result of the decline in the main industry in the locality; if he considered the level of economic disadvantage of the area in determining the appeal of the vocational education committee in relation to the allocation of WTEs for the school; his plans to carry out a full assessment of the needs of the school in terms of supports for disadvantaged students in view of the relatively recent decline of the main industry of the town; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47608/12]
View answerFollowing an independent identification process in 2005, 875 schools were selected for inclusion in DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools), the Department's initiative to combat educational disadvantage.
The school to which the Deputy refers was among a number of schools that was judged not to have a sufficient level of disadvantage to warrant inclusion in DEIS. Furthermore, an appeal by this school to the independent review body confirmed that the level of disadvantage did not warrant the school's inclusion in the DEIS process.
Staffing arrangements for post-primary schools is set out in circular 0009/12, which includes an appeals mechanism under which schools/VECs can appeal against the allocation due to them. The appeal board operates independently of the Department and its decisions are final. The level of economic disadvantage is not a criteria in determining appeals by schools/VECs under the appeals process.
With regard to an assessment of schools, a key priority for my Department is to prioritise and target resources in schools with the most concentrated levels of educational disadvantage. That challenge is significant given the current economic climate and the target to reduce public expenditure. This also limits the capacity for any additionality in the DEIS programme and in this context I have no immediate plans to undertake the type of assessment to which the Deputy refers.
298. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding an embargo on the employment of special needs assistants; and if he will review the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47618/12]
View answerI wish to clarify for the Deputy that there is no embargo on the employment of Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) or on the filling of SNA posts.
A total of 10,575 Whole Time Equivalent (WTE) SNA posts have been made available for allocation to schools by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) throughout the current school year, subject to qualifying applications being received.
The NCSE is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), for processing applications from schools for special educational needs supports, including SNA support. The NCSE operates within my Department's established criteria for the allocation of such supports and the staffing resources available to my Department.
All schools were advised to apply to the NCSE for resource teaching and SNA support for the 2012/13 school year by 16 March, 2012. All schools, including the school referred to by the Deputy, have now been advised by the NCSE of their SNA staffing allocation for the current school year. Details of the allocations which have been made to each school are available at www.ncse.ie.
To date, the NCSE has allocated 10,311 WTE SNA posts to schools based on the number of valid applications received and the extent of the care needs of qualifying children. The remaining 264 posts are available for allocation throughout the school year for new assessments of disability, new entrants, or emergency or late applications, in accordance with the terms of the SNA scheme. The NCSE has estimated that based on the experience of last year, that these 264 posts should be sufficient to meet demand during the school year.
Where schools have enrolled new pupils with special educational needs who were not considered at the time that the allocations for the 2012/13 school year were made, or where schools are in a position to demonstrate that they cannot cater for the care needs of qualifying children from the level of SNA support which has been assigned to them, they may apply to the NCSE for additional SNA support or for a review of their SNA allocation.
All schools have the names and contact details of their local SENO. Parents may also contact their local SENO directly to discuss their child's special educational needs, using the contact details available on www.ncse.ie.
The NCSE has advised my Department that it has not received an application from the school concerned for SNA support for the pupil in question.
299. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will expedite a higher education grant in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47561/12]
View answerDecisions on eligibility for new student grant applications from the 2012/13 academic year are a matter for the new centralised grant awarding authority, SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland).
Officials in my Department have confirmed with SUSI that on a letter issued to the student referred to by the Deputy requesting outstanding documentation. When the documentation is returned to SUSI the student will be notified directly of the outcome.
300. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reasons students who take out UK loans in order to fund themselves at college in England are refused student grants by Student Universal Support Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47613/12]
View answerDecisions on eligibility for new student grant applications are a matter for the central grant awarding authority SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland).
Under my Department's student grant scheme, eligible students may receive funding towards maintenance if studying in the UK provided they are attending an approved course at an approved institution, as defined in the scheme. The student grant scheme does not extend to postgraduate courses pursued outside of Ireland. In addition, tax relief is available for tuition fees. Full details of this relief are available from the Revenue Commissioners.
