Written Answers Nos. 286-307
286. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will outline the criteria in place for a student to avail of a smaller exam centre in a State exam and also for a student to have a person read the exam questions during the junior or leaving certificate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49868/12]
View answerThe State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations. In view of the above, I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.
288. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Skills the percentage of the Adult Refugee Programme's annual budget spent on language teachers' salaries for the direct delivery of the service. [49938/12]
View answer289. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Skills the percentage of the Adult Refugee Programme's annual budget spent on administration costs by the lead vocational education committee, County Dublin [49939/12]
View answer290. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will outline the reason that the Adult Refugee Programme in Ringsend College and Ballsbridge College, Dublin, is being earmarked for closure while other courses and agencies, for example, ALCES, BTEI, DALC continue to be funded. [49940/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 288 to 290, inclusive, together.
My Department provides an annual grant to Co Dublin VEC to coordinate the Adult Refugee Programme. In 2011, 59% and 6.7 % of the annual budget was spent on tutors' salaries and national coordination costs respectively.
It was decided to cease the Adult Refugee Programme as there are alternative education services available for refugees within existing Further Education programmes such as the Adult Literacy and Community Education Scheme (ALCES) and the Back to Education Initiative (BTEI) Programme. It is also Further Education policy to seek to integrate provision. The Programme will cease in all centres where it operates including those referred to by the Deputy.
291. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a primary school (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive a minor works grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49949/12]
View answerIt is not envisaged that a Minor Works Grant will be issued to the school in question or indeed to any primary school for the school year 2012/2013. At the launch of the Government's Medium Term Infrastructure and Capital Investment Framework last November, I said that the priority in the education sector is to focus on major school projects and smaller projects devolved to schools to meet demographic demands over the next five years. I indicated that given the need to concentrate on meeting the need for additional school places that it is unlikely that funding would be available for a minor works grant in the coming years.
293. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the undergraduate fees schedule for non-EU and EU students for the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49953/12]
View answerI understand that officials from my Department were in contact with the Deputy and have clarified the information required which is set out as follows.
Universities - undergraduate fees (average)
2008-09 EU Non-EU
Arts €5,300 €14,500
Business €5,300 €16,500
Science €6,900 €19,000
Medicine €8,300 €29,000
2009-10 EU Non-EU
Arts €5,800 €14,500
Business €5,800 €16,500
Science €7,500 €19,000
Medicine €9,000 €30,000
2010-11 EU Non-EU
Arts €5,800 €14,500
Business €5,800 €16,500
Science €7,500 €19,000
Medicine €9,000 €30,000
2011-12 EU Non-EU
Arts €5,800 €14,500
Business €5,800 €16,500
Science €7,500 €19,000
Medicine €9,000 €30,000
2012-13 EU Non-EU
Arts €5,800 €14,500
Business €5,800 €16,500
Science €7,500 €19,000
Medicine €9,000 €30,000Note: includes the student contribution / student services charge.
The EU fee rates applied in the Institute of Technology sector for the period 2008/09 – 2012/13 are as follows:
|
Level |
€ |
|
Level 6 |
€1,368 |
|
Level 7 |
€1,454 |
|
Level 8 |
€2,319 |
|
Level 8 (Engineering/Architecture) |
€2,950 |
Note: excludes the Student Services charge/Student Contribution.
IoTs have traditionally had much smaller numbers of international students than the universities. Many are seeking to expand their international numbers taking into account issues such as capacity strategic recruitment programmes etc. In setting their international recruitment strategies each IoT exercises some degree of flexibility in setting these non-fee rates. Presently these fees can range from approximately €7,000 to €12,000.
294. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the per student funding formula or ratio used to calculate the Higher Education Authority grant provided to each HEA funded institution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49954/12]
View answer295. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the Higher Education Authority block grant provided to each HEA funded institution for the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49955/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 294 and 295 together.
My Department allocates recurrent funding to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for direct disbursement to the HEA institutions. The HEA allocates this grant to institutions for free fees and core grant funding and other specific earmarked initiatives. Institutions receive a grant in lieu of tuition fees for full time eligible EU students - based of certified returns from the institutions.
The HEA uses a Recurrent Grant Allocation Model (RGAM) to determine the amount of core funding (grant) provided to each University/Institute of Technology. Core funding is allocated on a formulae basis using this model and the general principle is that core funding allocations should be fair, simple, transparent and applied consistently across HEI's. Core funding allocated through the RGAM is based on price group-weighted student numbers. These include full-time and part-time, undergraduate and postgraduate students. Student numbers are weighted to reflect different subject areas as different subject areas have different costs. Some access and research metrics are also used. Institutions are ultimately allocated a block grant, and the internal allocation of same is a matter for each institution as an autonomous body.
Details of the recurrent grant allocated to each HEA institution by the HEA is set out in the table.
Institutes of Technology
2008-2012* Grant and Free Fees allocations
|
Institution |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
|
Athlone IT |
28,649,272 |
26,827,584 |
24,191,056 |
22,182,199 |
21,106,174 |
|
IT Blanchardstown |
13,891,472 |
13,040,061 |
12,096,694 |
11,712,019 |
11,256,126 |
|
IT Carlow |
25,452,798 |
23,321,324 |
21,911,297 |
21,004,368 |
19,735,742 |
|
Cork IT |
64,684,165 |
60,784,677 |
56,000,106 |
51,510,926 |
50,403,471 |
|
DIT |
136,937,941 |
128,311,581 |
112,948,262 |
102,985,058 |
92,683,852 |
|
Dundalk IT |
27,567,980 |
25,789,259 |
24,745,486 |
22,414,932 |
21,829,872 |
|
Dun Laoghaire IADT |
15,492,900 |
14,492,391 |
14,338,842 |
12,730,516 |
11,493,322 |
|
Galway-Mayo IT |
44,176,332 |
41,442,909 |
36,353,596 |
33,707,763 |
30,694,081 |
|
Letterkenny IT |
22,688,679 |
21,254,947 |
19,408,821 |
17,443,609 |
14,968,611 |
|
Limerick IT** |
32,020,402 |
29,993,583 |
27,255,675 |
28,922,591 |
32,450,946 |
|
IT Sligo |
30,362,356 |
28,358,663 |
25,932,540 |
24,372,824 |
22,269,138 |
|
IT Tallaght |
25,185,375 |
23,666,534 |
21,119,999 |
20,105,938 |
18,397,757 |
|
IT Tralee |
23,293,615 |
21,882,526 |
20,017,410 |
18,117,521 |
15,824,606 |
|
Waterford IT |
50,170,645 |
46,937,467 |
41,569,336 |
40,067,418 |
36,799,828 |
|
Totals |
540,573,930 |
506,103,505 |
457,889,121 |
427,277,682 |
399,913,527 |
*Please note that the 2012 allocations are not final
** Limerick IT data for 2012 and 2011 includes allocations for Tipperary Institute
Universities and Other Colleges
2008-2012* Grant and Free Fees allocations
|
2012* |
2011 |
2010 |
2009 |
2008 |
|
|
UCD |
€121,731,537 |
€140,918,644 |
€152,618,765 |
€175,580,384 |
€186,406,034 |
|
UCC |
€91,393,200 |
€107,676,193 |
€116,020,076 |
€126,788,998 |
€138,329,285 |
|
NUIG |
€83,591,545 |
€92,285,923 |
€97,234,154 |
€106,244,631 |
€110,008,782 |
|
NUIM |
€41,849,275 |
€47,203,686 |
€48,811,330 |
€52,243,097 |
€54,205,871 |
|
TCD |
€91,296,815 |
€101,722,432 |
€111,946,152 |
€128,147,720 |
€134,635,916 |
|
UL |
€65,043,542 |
€69,141,761 |
€74,734,542 |
€82,046,156 |
€82,197,708 |
|
DCU (including Oscail) |
€43,249,282 |
€45,544,108 |
€51,393,803 |
€53,712,276 |
€59,060,434 |
|
MIC |
€16,301,523 |
€18,025,496 |
€19,556,053 |
€20,103,411 |
€21,315,416 |
|
SPD (including ERC) |
€14,472,764 |
€15,925,591 |
€18,128,638 |
€18,635,585 |
€20,536,933 |
|
NCAD |
€9,681,654 |
€11,405,067 |
€11,643,724 |
€12,753,171 |
€13,815,578 |
|
Mater Dei |
€2,867,027 |
€3,182,001 |
€3,435,372 |
€3,547,046 |
€3,912,471 |
|
St. Angela's |
€4,255,014 |
€4,576,815 |
€4,927,149 |
€5,409,591 |
€4,824,272 |
|
RCSI |
€4,717,276 |
€5,680,086 |
€4,215,098 |
€4,766,230 |
€3,567,171 |
|
RIA |
€3,108,500 |
€3,285,500 |
€3,525,500 |
€3,890,500 |
€3,911,223 |
|
NUI |
€12,697 |
€12,697 |
€12,697 |
€12,697 |
€112,697 |
|
Total |
€593,571,651 |
€666,586,000 |
€718,203,053 |
€793,881,493 |
€836,739,790 |
* Not all grants allocated yet .
Note:
These tables show the block grant (grant and fees) allocated to the HEA institutions. Please note that the figures exclude Nursing, which was transferred to the HEA from the Department of Health in 2011 (grants to relevant institutions totalled €55.8m in 2011 and €53.1m in 2012) and Springboard (grants totalled c.€3.9m in 2011 and c.€1.5m to date 2012). The tables also exclude sectoral initiatives (eg. HEAnet, An Cheim, e-journals etc).
296. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will outline the list of efficiencies achieved over the past year by the Higher Education Authority following the reduction in core funding for higher education in Budget 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49956/12]
View answerUnder the Employment Control Framework, introduced in the higher education sector, core staff numbers were reduced by 7.3% between December 2008 and December 2010 i.e. significantly in excess of the 6% reduction which had been required. Core staff numbers were further reduced in 2011 bringing the total reduction against 2008 to c. 9% by end December 2011. (It is to be noted that over the same period, overall public sector numbers decreased by 7.2%). As further reductions are required in the sector in 2012, it is anticipated that total core staff numbers will have been reduced in total by a minimum of c. 10% by end December 2012.
In the context of reducing staff numbers outlined above, full-time student numbers increased by 17,000 or 12% between December 2008 and December 2011. Furthermore, institutions have continued to engage proactively with sectoral labour market initiatives e.g. Springboard.
Some of the decrease in funding has been addressed through the internal reform of institutions; through mechanisms that have stimulated increased productivity, such as the Croke Park Agreement, and through institutions' diversification of their funding base to include income from philanthropic and commercial sources. Institutions are continually engaging in shared services and procurement initiatives to effect savings. The HEA has emphasised the need for all HEIs to review the full range of services they provide and their associated cost structures with a view to reducing or eliminating unnecessary or unsustainable costs particularly in the area of unnecessary programme duplication.
297. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills of the total number of student who have started a third level course this year, if any students have subsequently left these courses due to the delays in decisions being made on grants by Student Universal Support Ireland; if there is a record of the number of students that have left courses to date in this academic year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49960/12]
View answerThe Deputy will appreciate that as institutions are currently in the process of uploading enrolment data in respect of the 2012/13 academic year on the Higher Education Authority's, Student Records System, that the data requested is not currrently available. In addition data in relation to students who have withdrawn from their courses would not be available from the Student Records System until later in the academic year.
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.
298. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students in third level education that have yet to pay the first instalment of this years increased fees; the way this compares to last year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49961/12]
View answerThe position is that the information requested by the Deputy is not available at this stage. I have asked the Higher Education Authority (HEA) to contact each institution in this regard and when this information is collated I will send the information to the Deputy.
299. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he intends to increase the student contribution fee by €250 this year and each year between now and 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49962/12]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware the student contribution increased from €2,000 to €2,250 for the current academic year. It is intended that the contribution will increase to €3,000 by 2015. The contribution is paid by the Exchequer in respect of students who qualify under my Department's student grant scheme.
Conscious of financial pressures on families, tax relief provisions have been put in place which provide for tax relief at the standard rate of tax for full-time fees in excess of €2,250. In addition, my Department, through the Higher Education Authority (HEA), has requested institutions to put arrangements in place whereby a student may pay the contribution in two instalments. I have been assured by the HEA that these arrangements are now in place.
The Deputy will also be aware the annual cost of attending college increased by over 950% during Fianna Fáil's time in office, from €190 in 1996/97 to €2,000 in 2011/12, effectively bringing to an end the era of free third-level education in Ireland.
300. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will ensure that there are no further cuts to student grants and no further changes to the eligibility criteria for student grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49963/12]
View answerThe Deputy will appreciate that as the preparation of the Estimates for any Budget including Budget 2013 is carried out on a strictly confidential basis, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on specific issues or proposals, including those relating to student grants, in advance of the Budget announcement.
301. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students that applied for a student grant this year; the number that applied last year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49964/12]
View answerTo date Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) has received just over 66,000 applications for student grants this year, with close on 9,500 were late applications received after the closing date of 31st August 2011. SUSI are continuing to accept late applications. This data has been supplied to my Department by SUSI.
A survey completed by the grant awarding authorities in January each year provides details in relation to processing of grant applications as at the third week in January. The processing position as at the 21 January 2012 in relation to new applications was that a total of 66,479 application were received across the 66 awarding authorities of which 8,844 which includes which were transferred to another local authority or VEC to whom it was appropriate, which meant that the total number of applications to be processed by these bodies was 57,635 in 2011/12. This data has been compiled from data supplied to my Department by the 66 grant awarding authorities.
302. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the steps he has taken to improve access for students from low income backgrounds to third level education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49965/12]
View answerIn 2008 the National Access Plan set an overall target of 65% participation in higher education by 2013 and a recent HEA estimate is that, including mature entrants, this target has been exceeded (69%). There has also been progress in increasing access specifically among young people aged 17 to-19 years of age. This has increased from 44% in 2004 to 50% according to the latest HEA estimates. This progress is due to better levels of retention and performance of students in second level, including those in schools being supported through the Department's DEIS programme.
Work supporting the return to education by mature students has included the development of new part-time and flexible learning options under the Springboard initiative. Overall 16% of higher education provision in 2011-12 was on a part-time basis, a significant improvement from the outset of the National Access Plan, when it was just 7%.
Support is also available through the Fund for Students with a Disability and the Student Assistance Fund. In 2011-12 the fund for students with disabilities provided funding for some 6,849 students. In 2010-11 over 8,301 students were supported from the Student Assistance Fund.
Access has also been advanced through the broadening of routes of admission that act as alternatives or supplement the leaving certificate. Since 2009, a Higher Education Access Route (HEAR) for students from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds and the Disability Access Route to Education (DARE) for those with a disability has operated successfully as part of the main CAO applications process.
There has also been increased access to higher education by students with further education awards and/or who are mature students. 15% of entrants in 2011 were mature students aged 23 years of age or older, compared to 12% in 2008.
303. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding teachers' pay rates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49994/12]
View answerRecently this Government has made adjustments to Public Service pay on foot of the allowances review. The most significant adjustment is that new entrant teachers will not receive qualification allowances but will start on a salary of €30,702 which is equivalent to the fourth point of the existing scale. They will also have the option of being paid a pensionable allowance of €1,592 for supervision and substitution which, in return for providing 12 additional hours per year over and above the existing requirement, will bring their starting salary to €32,294.
Teaching is one of the few areas within the public sector which does not face a moratorium on recruitment and opportunities for employment remain. As has been reported in the media, due to the growing demographics at school level, there will be a need for additional teachers to be recruited over the next three years.
304. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a student grant application will be processed in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; if he will confirm that as a former recipient of the special rate of grant for disadvantaged students, the person will receive full fees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50001/12]
View answerOfficials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Ireland (SUSI), the new centralised grant awarding authority, that the student referred to by the Deputy submitted a grant application after the closing date on the 5th October. While SUSI are still accepting late applications priority is being given to applications that were received before the closing date. SUSI will be process his application as soon as possible.
The Deputy will appreciate that in the absence of all of the relevant details that would be contained in an individual's application form and supporting documentation, it would not be possible for me to say whether or not a student should qualify for full fees.
305. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 322 of 6 November 2012, if he will publish the Departmental review or assessment of the success of a school programme (details supplied) as part of the July provision scheme and any assessment of the changes to circumstances of children and parents that would prohibit involvement in the scheme at the same level for the coming year. [50013/12]
View answerI previously advised the Deputy with regard to my Department's July Provision Scheme and how participation in the scheme is an option for all special schools and mainstream primary schools with special classes catering for children with autism or severe to profound general learning disability that choose to extend their education services through the month of July. A review of the scheme is ongoing.
Children with autism in mainstream classes are eligible to apply for home based tuition, but can, in limited circumstances participate in their school's programme if they can be accommodated within the school's existing autistic unit(s) and without incurring the need for additional resources. The number of classes providing the July extension should not exceed the number that is provided for by the school during the normal school year.
I also advised the Deputy previously that the school to which he refers had proposed to facilitate eligible children from mainstream classes by establishing a separate class in the school for the month of July 2012. In view of the mitigating circumstances and the likely incommode to parents, these additional resources were approved to the school in question as an exceptional matter for 2012 only. The school was however, advised that going forward the school based programme would be restricted to children within the specific units/classes, within the school.
