Written Answers Nos. 265-285
265. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students who began a postgraduate course for 2012/2013; the number that commenced a postgraduate course in 2011/2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49567/12]
View answerAs I have previously indicated to the Deputy in response to recent question on this subject, the provisional postgraduate enrolment data for 2012/13 will not be available until mid December 2012 at the earliest. The most recent data available on entrants to postgraduate courses is for 2011/12.
Data for 2010/11 and 2011/12, as previously supplied, shows that 1st year enrolments for Research Masters and PhDs increased from 1,862 in 2010/11 to 2,156 in 2011/12 which represents an overall increase of 16%. The number of 1st year enrolments on all postgraduate programmes (both research and taught) remained largely stable at 12,494 in 2010/11 and 12,424 in 2011/12.
266. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on whether students who have yet to receive their student grant approval are having difficulty accessing important student services as a result; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49568/12]
View answer287. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will intervene with the third level colleges to ensure that students are not denied access to the colleges IT services due to the fact that they cannot be permanently registered because of the delays in approving grant applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49933/12]
View answerI propose to take questions 266 and 287 together.
The Higher Education Authority (HEA) on foot of a request from my Department, has written to all higher education institutions requesting them to show flexibility and consideration, as most have done in the past, to students who may be awaiting a decision on their grant application and/or payment of grants. The HEA has requested institutions to consider not withdrawing facilities such as library or exam access, given that these students are awaiting decision on their grant applications. The situation is being kept under review.
267. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the response rate to date to the survey of parents in Whitehall, Trim, Tramore, Castlebar and Arklow as part of the survey on primary school patronage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49569/12]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware Friday 9th November was the closing date for completion of this survey. My Department will now prepare a detailed report on the survey outcomes which will then be reviewed by the New Schools Establishment Group. This report will be done in a manner that fully respects the confidentiality and data protection rights of all those who respond, and will deal with validation of responses.
The number of responses is outlined as follows but it should be noted that this is preliminary data, and has not been validated or investigated in any detail.
Arklow - 384 responses representing 706 children;
Castlebar - 465 responses representing 932 children;
Tramore - 276 responses representing 563 children;
Trim - 300 responses representing 588 children;
Whitehall - 546 responses representing 987 children.
Once the report is finalised and feedback is sought from the patron bodies involved in the process so far, consideration will be given to any changes in implementing the surveys in the remaining areas.
268. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the progress made to date of the Working Group on Bullying; when he expects this group to complete its work and publish new recommendations regarding tackling bullying; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49570/12]
View answerAlongside the Anti-Bullying Forum which took place in May 2012, I established a working group to examine issues related to tackling all forms and types of bullying in schools. As you are probably aware, there is a specific commitment in the Programme for Government to address the very serious issue of homophobic bullying in schools and this is part of the working groups remit. I invited stakeholders and all interested parties to submit their views for consideration by the Working Group. Over 60 submissions have been received. The outcomes and recommendations from the Forum, along with the submissions received from interested parties, are assisting the working group in its deliberations.
The Group is chaired by a Principal Officer in my Department's Central Policy Unit and includes representatives from the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, the Irish Second-Level Students' Union, GLEN (Gay and Lesbian Equality Network) and BeLonG To Youth Services. My Department's Inspectorate, School Governance Section and my office are also represented on the Group.
Over the last few months, the Group has been consulting with a range of stakeholders and with colleagues in Scotland and the UK. The Group are working on an action plan recommending further measures that can be taken to effectively tackle bullying in schools. I expect the Group to submit the action plan to me by the end of November.
269. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the efficacy of an agency (details supplied) of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49602/12]
View answer306. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if there are plans to review the Student Universal Support Ireland grant system as operated by the City of Dublin Vocational Education Committee before the start of the next academic year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50128/12]
View answer307. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the way in which the Student Universal Support Ireland online systems operates in relation to serving students who are awaiting payments in respect of their third level grants; the action he will take to speed up payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50158/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 269, 306 and 307 together.
Up until last year, students applied to their local authority or VEC for their grants. Some 66 grant awarding authorities were involved, all using a variety of application, assessment and payment processes. Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) replaces all of these with a centralised, and on-line system of application. The centralisation of the service enables the introduction of service level improvements on an incremental basis, which heretofore was difficult given the number of agencies involved. An example of this is that all new student grants approved for this academic year will be paid by electronic funds transfer on a monthly basis directly to students' bank accounts, rather than by cheque to the relevant college. The introduction of the on-line application is an enormous improvement on the cumbersome paper-based application form that preceded it. By introducing devices such as drop-down menus, compulsory fields and individual-relevant questions, it has ensured a much higher level of quality of completion at that part of the process.
However, I understand from SUSI that what it could not have anticipated was the level of incorrect or incomplete supporting documentation subsequently submitted in support of applications. This has created bottlenecks in the system which SUSI is currently dealing with. My Department is ensuring that it has the resources and personnel to do so. Payments to new students commenced on the 19th October and will continue on a weekly rolling basis as grants are approved and bank details are supplied online by the student to ensure that students receive their payments as soon as possible.
A full review of the first year of operation of the grants system as operated by SUSI, a unit of City of Dublin VEC is planned in advance of the opening up of the application process for the 2013/14 academic year.
270. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding scooter user access for students who need to use scooters to get into lecture halls at a university (details supplied) but are finding it almost impossible to access their lecture theatres on their scooters; the steps that have been taken by the university to ensure that all students can attend the university regardless of disability and the plans they have to enable scooter users to access their lecture theatres without the present difficulties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49642/12]
View answer271. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding scooter user access for students who need to use scooters to get into the student accommodation at a university (details supplied) but are finding it almost impossible to access the student accommodation on their scooters; the steps that have been taken by the university to ensure that all students can access the student accommodation at the university regardless of disability and the plans they have to enable scooter users to access their accommodation without the present difficulties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49643/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 270 and 271 together.
The matters raised by the Deputy fall within the responsibilities of the Governing Authority of the University to deal with.
In this regard the Disability Act 2005 requires that all public bodies ensure that public buildings are, as far as practicable, made accessible to people with disabilities not later than 2015.
272. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide in tabular form the amount currently being spent on, or budgeted for by State agencies under his remit for spending, on the areas of communication, public relations, consultancy, advertising and human resources; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49650/12]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy in respect of agencies is not held centrally by my Department. The awarding of contracts, the expenditure incurred, and the procurement arrangements by agencies under the aegis of my Department is an operational matter for the agencies themselves. If the Deputy has an interest in a particular agency then officials in my Department will request the agency concerned to provide the relevant information insofar as it is possible.
All bodies under the aegis of my Department are aware of the need to achieve value for money while conducting procurement. The Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies outlines the responsibilities of state bodies in this regard and my Department regularly updates the aegis bodies on developments in relation to public procurement policy and practices.
For the Deputy's information details of agencies under the remit of my Department can be downloaded from the Department's website, http://www.education.ie/. This information is updated when any relevant changes occur
273. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will expedite grant applications in respect of persons (details supplied). [49672/12]
View answerIn relation to the first named candidate officials in my Department have confirmed with SUSI that the application of the student referred to by the Deputy is currently awaiting review and the student will shortly be notified of the outcome.In relation to the second named candidate officials in my Department have confirmed with SUSI, the new centralised grant awarding authority, that further supporting documentation was requested on 8th November 2012. When the documentation is returned to SUSI the student will be notified directly of the outcome.
274. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update regarding the progress at design stage for a new school (details provided) in County Cork; when he expects to be in a position to move this project to planning application stage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49681/12]
View answerThe major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at Stage 2(a) Developed Sketch Design. The stage 2(a) submission is currently with my Department for consideration. Once the stage 2(a) is approved the project will progress to stage 2(b) which includes applications for planning permission, Fire Safety Certification, Disability Access Certification and the preparation of tender documents.
Due to competing demands on my Department's capital budget, imposed by the need to prioritise the limited funding available for the provision of additional school accommodation to meet increasing demographic requirements, it was not possible to include the project referred to by the Deputy in the five year construction programme.
Schools which have not been included in the five year construction programme, but which were announced for initial inclusion in the building programme will continue to be progressed to final planning stages in anticipation of the possibility of further funds being available to my Department in future years. The project referred to by the Deputy remains available to be considered for progression in that context.
275. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide details of the building contractor appointed in respect of the new school constructions announced in County Cork recently; when he expects construction to commence on these schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49696/12]
View answerInformation in respect of my Department's School Building Works Programme for 2012, including projects in County Cork, is available on the Department's website at www.education.ie. The information on each project includes the name of the main contractor when appointed, the contract start date and the duration of the contract period. The status of each project on the programme is updated at regular intervals to reflect the most up to date position.
276. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will confirm receipt of an application for additional accommodation/prefabricated classroom replacement from a school (details supplied) in County Cork; when a decision on this request will issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49697/12]
View answerI can confirm that the school referred to by the Deputy has made an application to my Department for capital funding to replace temporary accommodation units. Additional information was sought from the school in relation to the application and this was supplied by the school last week. The information concerned is currently being assessed and a decision will be communicated by my Department to the school authorities shortly.
277. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans for a travel allowance for springboard participants who have to travel long distances from their homes to their places of study; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49705/12]
View answerSpringboard is a specific initiative that strategically targets funding of free part time higher education courses for unemployed people in areas where there are identified labour market skills shortages or employment opportunities. The courses are delivered in public, private and not for profit higher education providers around the country. Many Springboard courses are delivered online, enabling people to access them regardless of where they reside in the country. A second stage evaluation of the Springboard 2011 programme is currently being finalised. Any issues in relation to the level of supports available to students, will be considered in the context of the findings of the evaluation and having regard to the overall level of resources available.
278. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a person (details supplied) in County Offaly may expect a decision on an application for a student grant. [49727/12]
View answerThe decision on eligibility for new student grant applications from the 2012/13 academic year is a matter for the new centralised grant awarding authority, SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland). Officials in my Department have confirmed with SUSI that documentation requested from the student referred to by the Deputy is currently awaiting review and the student will be notified directly of the outcome.
279. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if junior and senior infant children who have a school day which is one hour shorter than the length of the normal school day and who avail of concessionary school transport entitled to remain on school premises if the board of management policy is that all children in junior and senior infants must be collected an hour earlier than the other classes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49739/12]
View answer280. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if junior and senior infant children who have a school day which is one hour shorter than the length of the normal school day and who are eligible for school transport entitled to remain on school premises if the board of management policy is that all children in junior and senior infants must be collected an hour earlier than the other classes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49740/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 279 and 280 together.
As the Deputy will be aware, schools are permitted to reduce the school day by one hour for children in infant classes. It is a matter for the Board of Management of a particular school to decide whether this concession should be applied in the case of its school. In practice, most primary schools operate on this basis. If pupils in infant classes are being given a shorter day, their parents should be notified accordingly and invited to collect them at time of dismissal.
Where this shorter day causes issues for parents, my Department would encourage school authorities to engage with parents locally with a view to arriving at a mutually acceptable resolution.
The School Transport Scheme, operated by Bus Eireann on behalf of my Department, is planned in such a way as to ensure that, as far as possible, eligible children have a reasonable level of service while at the same time, ensuring that school transport vehicles are fully utilised in an efficient and cost effective manner. The Deputy will appreciate that it is not feasible to organise additional school transport services for children in infant classes who attend for a shorter school day.
281. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the provision of a second level school in an area (details supplied) in County Westmeath. [49757/12]
View answerI can confirm that the school to which the Deputy refers has applied to my Department for large scale capital funding to provide a new school building. The building project, when approved, will be constructed on a greenfield site and the acquisition process for the site is currently in train.
The current status of all projects on the school building programme, including the school referred to by the Deputy, may be viewed on my Department's website at www.education.ie and this is being updated regularly throughout the year.
The Deputy will be aware that in view of the need to prioritise available funding for the provision of additional school accommodation, the delivery of major school projects required to meet future demographic demand will be the main focus for capital investment in the coming years.
282. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he has met with the board of management of a school (details supplied) and the outcome of same. [49758/12]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that I met with a delegation from the school to which he refers, where the issue of inclusion of the school in the Five Year Plan which I announced in March earlier this year was discussed. As the Deputy will be aware, in view of the financial constraints imposed by the need, as outlined in the Five Year Plan, to prioritise available funding for the provision of essential school accommodation to meet demographic demand it was not possible to indicate to the school when a project for their school will be progressed. My officials will continue to work with the school in relation to the identification and acquisition of a suitable site. However, it is not possible to advise the Deputy at this time when the acquisition of a suitable site can be progressed.
283. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reasons a school (details supplied) in County Donegal has not been considered eligible for funding under the current school building programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49788/12]
View answerI can confirm that the school to which the Deputy refers has applied to my Department for large scale capital funding to provide a new school building. The current status of all projects on the school building programme, including the school in question, may be viewed on my Department's website at www.education.ie. In view of the financial constraints imposed by the need, as outlined in the Five Year Plan, to prioritise available funding for the provision of essential school accommodation to meet demographic demand, the Deputy will appreciate that it is not possible to indicate at this point when a major project for the school in question will be progressed.
285. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding an application for Student Universal Support Ireland in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; when a decision will be made; and if the application will be expedited. [49867/12]
View answerThe decision on eligibility for new student grant applications from the 2012/13 academic year is a matter for the new centralised grant awarding authority, SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland). Officials in my Department have confirmed with SUSI that additional documentation requested from the student referred to by the Deputy was received on 7th November, 2012. The documentation is currently awaiting review and the student will be notified directly of the outcome.
