Written Answers Nos. 93-101
93. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Education and Skills wen an application for an education grant will be processed in respect of a person (details provided) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53095/12]
View answerOfficials 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 27th November, 2012.
94. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a decision on a Student Universal Support Ireland grant will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Carlow. [53122/12]
View answerOfficials in my Department have confirmed with SUSI, the new centralised grant awarding authority, that supporting documentation was received from the student referred to by the Deputy and his application will be reviewed shortly. SUSI will contact the student directly in relation to the outcome.
95. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Education and Skills when an application for an education grant will be processed in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53130/12]
View answerOfficials 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 9th October, 2012.
96. Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 78 of 24 May 2012 the total amount of legal costs spent by Cork County Vocational Education Committee in the year ending 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53132/12]
View answerThe information provided to the Deputy in reply to Parliamentary Question 78 of 24 May 2012 was obtained from the annual accounts of Co Cork Vocational Education Committee for the relevant years. Although the audited accounts for 2011 are not yet available, the VEC has separately informed my Department that the total amount spent on legal costs in 2011 was €52,899.
97. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Education and Skills when an application for an education grant will be processed in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Clare; when they will be notified of the outcome; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53138/12]
View answerOfficials 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 decision has now been made and a letter will issue shortly directly to the student outlining the position.
98. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide financial assistance for students who are experiencing difficulties in receiving their student grant applications processed by Student Universal Support Ireland. [53142/12]
View answerIn addition to the student grant, support is also 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. My Department has asked the Higher Education Authority for an up to date report on the demand for the scheme.
99. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Education and Skills when an education grant application will be processed in respect of persons (details supplied) in County Clare; when they will be notified of the outcome; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53147/12]
View answerOfficials in my Department have confirmed with SUSI, the new centralised grant awarding authority, that in the case of the first student referred to by the Deputy a grant has been awarded and an award letter issued on 26th November, 2012.
In the case of the second student referred to by the Deputy a decision has now been made and a letter will issue shortly directly to the student outlining the position.
100. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 69 of 6 October 2011, if he will review the case regarding primary school places (details supplied). [53154/12]
View answerThe question of enrolment in individual schools is the responsibility of the managerial authority of those schools. My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking places.
It is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of schools that are not in a position to admit all pupils seeking entry to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act 1998. In this regard a board of management may deem it necessary to restrict enrolment to children from a particular age group or to children living in a particular area or on the basis of some other criterion. Some schools use parish or other boundaries for this purpose.
The selection process and the enrolment policy on which it is based is matter for the individual school authority. In formulating an enrolment policy a school must, however, ensure it is lawful and applied fairly to all applicants.
Section 29 of the Education Act 1998, provides parents with an appeal process where a board of management of a school or a person acting on behalf of the Board refuses enrolment to a student. Where a school refuses to enrol a pupil, the school is obliged to inform parents of their right under Section 29 of the Education Act 1998 to appeal that decision to either the relevant Vocational Educational Committee or to the Secretary General of my Department.
The National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) is the statutory agency which can assist parents who are experiencing difficulty in securing a school place for their child. The Board can be contacted at National Educational Welfare Board, National Headquarters, 16-22 Green Street, Dublin 7 or by telephone at 01-8738700.
The Deputy will also be aware that last year, I launched a discussion paper on school enrolment. The "Discussion Paper on a Regulatory Framework for School Enrolment" contains suggestions on how to make the process of enrolling in schools more open, equitable and consistent.
I invited education partners and interested parties to submit their views to my Department by the 28th of October last year. The feedback from this consultation will help inform the nature and scope of a new regulatory framework for school enrolment.
101. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a third level grant appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53157/12]
View answerI understand that in the case of the student referred to by the Deputy, his student grant application was unsuccessful and that he appealed the decision to the appeals officer in the relevant grant awarding authority and their original decision was upheld.
The student subsequently appealed the decision to my Department and the appeal was reviewed. On the basis of the details supplied by the student in his appeal the original decision of the awarding authority not to award a grant was upheld. A letter outlining the decision issued to the student on 22nd November last.
