Tuesday, 27 Nov 2012

Written Answers Nos. 287-310

Student Grant Scheme Applications

Questions (287)

Barry Cowen

Question:

287. 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 student grant. [52360/12]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

Officials in my Department have confirmed with SUSI, the new centralised grant awarding authority, that in the case of the student referred to by the Deputy a grant has been awarded and an award letter issued on 2nd November, 2012.

Student Grant Scheme Applications

Questions (288)

Barry Cowen

Question:

288. 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 student grant. [52361/12]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

Officials in my Department have confirmed with SUSI, the new centralised grant awarding authority, that in the case of the student referred to by the Deputy a grant has been awarded and an award letter issued on the 11th November 2012.

Student Grant Scheme Applications

Questions (289)

Barry Cowen

Question:

289. 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 student grant. [52362/12]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

Officials in my Department have confirmed with SUSI, the new centralised grant awarding authority, that further supporting documentation was received from the student referred to by the Deputy and her application will be reviewed shortly. SUSI will contact the student directly in relation to the outcome.

Student Grant Scheme Applications

Questions (290)

Barry Cowen

Question:

290. 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 student grant. [52363/12]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

Officials in my Department have confirmed with SUSI, the new centralised grant awarding authority, that further supporting documentation was received from the student referred to by the Deputy on the 26th November 2012 and his application is currently awaiting review. SUSI will contact the student directly in relation to the outcome.

Student Grant Scheme Applications

Questions (291)

Barry Cowen

Question:

291. 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 student grant. [52364/12]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

Officials in my Department have confirmed with SUSI, the new centralised grant awarding authority, that on reviewing the application of the student referred to by the Deputy that additional documentation is required and a letter requesting this documentation will issue shortly by SUSI directly to the student.

Student Grant Scheme Applications

Questions (292)

Barry Cowen

Question:

292. 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 student grant. [52365/12]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

Officials in my Department have confirmed with SUSI, the new centralised grant awarding authority, that in the case of the student referred to by the Deputy a grant has been refused and a letter outlining the position issued on the 13th November 2012.

If an individual applicant considers that she/he has been unjustly refused a student grant, she/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/her case, an appeal form outlining the position may be submitted by the applicant to the Student Grant Appeals Board.

Student Grant Scheme Applications

Questions (293)

Pádraig MacLochlainn

Question:

293. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the case of a person (details supplied) in County Donegal who is a mature student, had their student grant cut due to assessment of their 81 year old parents pension; the action he will take to ensure that cases like this in which adults are clearly not dependent on their parents, do not have their grants cut like this again. [52373/12]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

Officials in my Department have confirmed with SUSI, the new centralised grant awarding authority, that in the case of the student referred to by the Deputy that on 22nd November, 2012 an appeal was submitted to SUSI. A reply will issue directly to the applicant as soon as a determination is made on the appeal.

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/her case, an appeal form outlining the position may be submitted by the applicant to the Student Grant Appeals Board.

Schools Building Projects Status

Questions (294, 295)

Brendan Ryan

Question:

294. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will confirm that the current site of a school (details supplied) in County Dublin which currently consists of temporary buildings, is in fact the long term permanent site for this school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52435/12]

Brendan Ryan

Question:

295. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will indicate a timeframe for when permanent buildings will be constructed on the site of a school (details supplied) in County Dublin; if it is included in current building programmes; if there is any application for permanent buildings with his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52436/12]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I propose to take Questions Nos. 294 and 295 together.

I can confirm that the school referred to by the Deputy has made an application to my Department for capital funding for school accommodation. I can also confirm that my Department is in the process of acquiring the site on which the school is currently located together with some additional adjoining land as the permanent site for the school. It is the Department's intention to fully develop the entire site and to add an extension to the existing permanent school building, provided by my Department in 2008, to meet the school's long term accommodation needs.

To that end, an extension project for the school was included as part of the 5 year Capital Investment Programme announced earlier this year. The project is being progressed through the architectural planning process and is intended to proceed to construction in 2015/16.

I am aware that Department officials recently met with the Board of Management of the school in relation to the project.

Schools Building Projects Status

Questions (296)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

296. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills the projected enrolling figures used by his Department for prioritisation on the capital schools building programme in relation to a school (details supplied) for the years 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52463/12]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

A new school on a new site is planned for the school to which the Deputy refers and the Department is currently in the process of acquiring the site. A review of the final project brief is now being undertaken. Following that, the project will be progressed through Architectural Planning in the context of the available funding.

As enrolment increases are not uniformly distributed nationally, my Department has carried out a study of the country including the area referred to by the Deputy, using data from the Central Statistics Office, the General Register Office and the Department of Social Protection in addition to recent schools' enrolment data to identify the areas it is projected that there will be significant future enrolment increases. The information used is the most accurate and up-to-date information available. The area to which the Deputy refers is serviced by sixteen primary schools. Based on an analysis of the data referred to above, primary level enrolments for this area look set to remain relatively stable up to 2018.

Due to competing demands on the Departments 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 this project in the 5 year construction programme announced in March.

Site Acquisitions

Questions (297)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

297. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide details of the cost incurred by his Department in association with the purchase of land for the construction of a new school (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52464/12]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I wish to advise the Deputy that the acquisition of a site for the school to which he refers is being finalised at present by the Chief State Solicitor's Office. I am advised that this purchase is expected to close soon. Due to the commercial sensitivities attaching to site acquisitions generally, I am not in a position to provide the information sought by the Deputy at this time.

Question No. 298 answered with Question No. 274.

Special Educational Needs Services Provision

Questions (299)

Simon Harris

Question:

299. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Education and Skills when the review of the criteria for receiving an Irish exemption in schools will be concluded; if he envisages this review extending the criteria to include special needs such as autistic spectrum disorder and asperger's syndrome; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52483/12]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

It has recently been announced that my Department will examine the question of exemptions from Irish. Work has previously been done in relation to the exemptions circular as indicated in replies to earlier questions from the Deputy in September 2011 and January 2012. However, the issues involved are complex and it is clear that we need to gather more detailed evidence on the manner in which exemptions are sought and granted with a view to comprehensively informing further policy actions in this area.

Student Grant Scheme Delays

Questions (300)

Michael Lowry

Question:

300. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students in County Tipperary that are still awaiting payments of their student grant through the Student Universal Support Ireland system; the current turnover time for same; the total number of applications received from County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52485/12]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Ruairí Quinn)

The new centralised grant awarding authority, Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI), as at the 23rd November, 2012 paid student maintenance grants to some 265 students in County Tipperary. SUSI is continuing to make payments on a weekly basis to ensure students can get paid their grant as expeditiously as possible, once they have been awarded a grant. Those awarded a grant must supply bank account details and confirmation of registration must be received from the institution in order for the first instalment to be paid.

In total SUSI has received some 2,632 applications from County Tipperary. Of these 1,022 are at completion stage with 490 applications awarded, and some 108 applications are at final review stage or awaiting a course acceptance form from the applicant and 424 applications have been refused or cancelled. 62 applications have been appealed to SUSI. 1,513 applications are either awaiting documentation from the student or where the documentation has been submitted by the student and it is being checked by SUSI. 35 applications are awaiting provisional assessment - these are applications received after the closing date. This data has been supplied to my Department by SUSI.

Schools Building Projects Status

Questions (301)

Emmet Stagg

Question:

301. Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of contractors who indicated their interest in the completion work for a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; the date invitations to tender issued to these contractors; the date by which they must return their tender; and if it is still the intention to have workers on site at the school before Christmas. [52488/12]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

Nine contractors indicated their interest in the completion contract for the project to which the Deputy refers. It is anticipated that tenders will issue within days and will be returned before the end of this year. Subject to no issues arising, it is anticipated that work will commence on site early next year and be completed in quarter 2 of 2013.

Student Grant Scheme Applications

Questions (302)

Michelle Mulherin

Question:

302. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a Student Universal Support Ireland application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo. [52575/12]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

Officials in my Department have confirmed with SUSI, the new centralised grant awarding authority, that in the case of the student referred to by the Deputy a grant has been awarded and an award letter issued on 11th October, 2012. In the award letter the student was requested to enter her bank account details online.

All students awarded a grant must supply bank account details. In addition SUSI will seek confirmation of registration from the institution being attended by the student before the first instalment can be paid.

School Transport Eligibility

Questions (303)

Michael McGrath

Question:

303. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills if there are any circumstances in which a child attending a primary school other than their nearest primary school may be able to avail of the school transport scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52592/12]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills

Under the terms of my Department's Primary School Transport scheme children are eligible for transport where they reside not less than 3.2 km from and are attending their nearest national school as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.

Children who are not eligible for school transport, under the terms of the scheme, may apply to Bus Éireann for transport on a concessionary basis subject to a number of a conditions including the availability of spare seats on an existing service and the payment of the annual charge.

Student Grant Scheme Eligibility

Questions (304)

Jerry Buttimer

Question:

304. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a period of uncompleted undergraduate study in the United Kingdom precludes a student from obtaining a student grant for a similar period of undergraduate study at an Irish third level institution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52618/12]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

Under the terms of the student grant scheme, grant assistance is awarded to students who meet the prescribed conditions of funding including those relating to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means. The 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).

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 a grant - this is a matter for SUSI to determine. However I would point out that under the scheme, students who have previously attended, but not completed a course of study are required to complete an equivalent period of study on an approved course before being eligible to be considered for a grant.

Departmental Staff Remuneration

Questions (305)

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

305. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide in tabular form, the number of staff in his department, or in bodies that fall under the remit of his Department, whose annual remuneration including salary, pension and benefits at 31 December 2011 fell into bands of €400,000 and above, between €300,000 to €399,999, between €200,000 to €299,999 and between €150,000 to €199,000; if he will provide a breakdown of the positions held by the staff in the relevant pay brackets. [52714/12]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Ruairí Quinn)

The following table provides details requested by the Deputy of the number of staff in each of the salary bands.

Details included in the table for Department staff refer to the Chief Inspector who earned between €150,000 and €200,000 and the former Secretary General who earned between €200,000 and €300,000.

Details in the remaining columns refer to senior staff in the Higher Education sector.

Remuneration for Academic Medical Consultants falls in the main within the remit of the Minister for Health.

Framework Appointments are made by universities under the terms of a Departures Framework provided for under Section 25(5) of the Universities Act 1997. This allows universities in very limited and exceptional circumstances, for academic and research posts, to depart from approved levels of remuneration where the governing authority is satisfied that it is necessary to meet the objects of the university. The purpose of the Framework is to enable a university to attract a person to its staff, who would, because of exceptional or scarce expertise and/or qualifications, command remuneration higher than the norm and who would not be prepared to work for the university unless so rewarded.

No. of High Earners (Headcount) in Education Sector – 31 December 2011

Salary Band	Department staff	Higher Education	Academic Medical Consultants	University Framework Appointments	Total
€150,000-199,999	1	42	40	14	97
€200,000-299,999	1	4	97	5	107
€300,000-399,999	0	0	0	0	0
Over €400,000	0	0	0	0	0

Departmental Staff Remuneration

Questions (306)

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

306. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he has made any contacts requesting staff whose annual salary is in excess of €200,000 in his Department or in any body under the remit of his department, to waive 15% of their salary or such amount in excess of €200,000 whichever is the lesser; if he has, the date on which he first made this contact; the number of staff whose annual salaries were in excess of €200,000 at that date; the number of staff who acquiesced to the request for the waiver; the number of staff who refused the request for the waiver and the number of staff who have not responded to the request for the waiver [52715/12]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

On the 22nd July 2011 I wrote to all relevant Bodies requesting them to ask all relevant individuals who earn in excess of €200,000 to make a voluntary waiver of salary. There were eight relevant individuals whose annual salaries were in excess of €200,000 at that date. While two individuals, one of whom is a university Head, agreed to make personal arrangements with their employer regarding a deduction of the amount of salary over €200,000, there have been no voluntary waivers made for the benefit of the State.

I cannot enforce a voluntary waiver nor can I insist that a waiver, if made, follows any particular format. For example, if an employee chooses to waive a portion of his/her salary in favour of a charity or their employer they are free to do so.

Student Grant Scheme Eligibility

Questions (307)

Anthony Lawlor

Question:

307. Deputy Anthony Lawlor asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason Student Universal Support Ireland failed to inform a person (details supplied) upon application for a grant that the income threshold had been lowered for post graduates in 2012; the reason SUSI was allowed to persistently seek further information from the applicant for a number of months despite the fact that their initial application should have indicated that the household income exceeded the limit; in view of the application refusal, the financial supports that are now available for this person in view of the fact that they are well into their postgraduate course without adequate financial resources; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52748/12]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The Deputy will appreciate that in the context of Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) having received in excess of 66,000 applications that some errors may inevitably arise when handling a high volume of applications within a relatively short timeframe. While every effort is made by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) to ensure that applicants are not put through the application process unnecessarily, SUSI regrets in this instance that this was the case and regrets the unnecessary time lost by the applicant.

The student may be eligible for tax relief on their tuition fees. Details on this relief are available at www.revenue.ie.

Support is available to students under the Student Assistance Fund which assists students in third-level institutions in exceptional financial need. Information on the fund is available through the Access Officer in the third level institution attended. The Access Officers themselves will also continue to provide support and advice to students to enable them to continue with their studies.

Question No. 308 answered with Question No. 273.

Schools Building Projects Status

Questions (309)

Patrick O'Donovan

Question:

309. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding an application for additional accommodation that is with the devolved scheme unit of his Department in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; when a decision will issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52804/12]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

In 2011 the school referred to by the Deputy was approved funding to provide 2 mainstream classrooms, 2 resource rooms plus sanitary facilities.

In October, 2012 the school authority applied for additional funding for works associated with planning conditions. My Department has written to the school authority requesting further information related to the application. On receipt of this information, a decision will be made and the school authorities notified accordingly.

Teacher Training Provision

Questions (310)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Question:

310. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will outline recent changes in funding for compulsory student teacher training in the Gaeltacht; if he will confirm that the cost of this training had until recently been funded by the State and that this is no longer the case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52808/12]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

As part of the Government's budgetary considerations and the Comprehensive Expenditure Review last year, a decision was made to abolish the payment of grants by this Department towards the cost of student teachers' attendance at Gaeltacht courses. The decision came into effect for students commencing their programme of primary initial teacher education in the 2012/13 academic year. As the Deputy will be aware, priority is being given to protecting resources for front line services in the coming years.

This move brings the primary ITE courses more into line with other degree programmes, such as language degrees, where students are required to bear the costs of additional special requirements themselves.