Written Answers Nos. 102-110
102. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a grant application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53200/12]
View answerOfficials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland SUSI, the new centralised grant awarding authority, that the grant application of the student referred to by the Deputy is currently under review with SUSI. The student will be notified by SUSI directly of the outcome.
103. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will address the issues raised in correspondence (details supplied) regarding the initial teacher education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53205/12]
View answerI have accepted the recommendations set out in a report commissioned by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) on the structures of initial teacher education. The purpose of the report was to identify possible new structures to improve initial teacher education in Ireland so that it is comparable with the best in the world.
The international panel of education experts recommended that teacher education be provided in six "centres for teacher education". Currently there are 19 state funded providers of ITE (and three non-state funded) offering more than 40 college programmes in primary and post-primary teaching. The new collaborations recommended by the international panel will mean that there will be a smaller number of centres for ITE offering education across multiple sectors from early childhood to primary, to post primary to adult education. These centres for teacher education will also possess a critical mass in terms of research capacity which is not always possible in smaller institutions.
The HEA has been requested to consult with the relevant parties and to prepare a detailed plan on how to implement the recommendations of the Panel. I understand that this process has started and a plan is expected by the end of the year.
I will consider the implementation plan from the HEA when received and a further announcement will be made at that stage.
104. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the amount generated through fees from the junior and leaving certificate in the years 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and to date in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53237/12]
View answerThe State Examinations Commission (SEC) is a statutory body established in 2003 under section 54 of the Education Act, 1998. The functions of the SEC are defined in the State Examinations Commission (Establishment) Order, 2003 and are to provide a high-quality state examinations and assessment system incorporating the highest standards of openness, fairness and accountability. As part of its remit the SEC is charged with collecting fees from candidates who undertake the state examinations each year. The examination fees are set by myself as Minister for Education & Skills and less than 15% of the cost of running of the state examinations is met each year from fees. The remainder is provided by the Exchequer. Candidates and/or their parents who hold medical cards are exempt from paying the examination entry fees.
Details of the fee income collected by the SEC is to be found in their Annual Reports which are published on their website www.examinations.ie. SEC has informed me that the fee income collected since 2007 is as follows:
2007 - €8.7 million
2008 - €9.1 million
2009 – €9.7 million
2010 - €9.2 million
2011 - €8.9 million
To date in 2012 - €9.1 million
Further information on the breakdown of the examination fees can be obtained directly from the State Examinations Commission.
105. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if it is a requirement that children in primary and secondary schools participate in physical education during their school day; if this requirement is mandatory; what it involves in practice for the teacher and the pupils; the time each student will spend on such activity in a given week; if this aspect of their education is directed towards specific goals; and the details of these goals. [53284/12]
View answerPhysical education (P.E.) is included in the curriculum at primary level and it also forms part of the Junior Certificate at post primary level.
At primary level, the P.E. curriculum includes six broad strands comprising Athletics, Dance, Gymnastics, Games, Outdoor and adventure activities and Aquatics. A minimum of one hour of P.E. per week is recommended for all primary school pupils.
In accordance with the Rules and Programme for Secondary Schools, all post primary schools should provide P.E. as part of the curriculum. The Rules and Programme provide that a basic minimum of two hours per week is required to implement the programme.
At junior cycle, the P.E. curriculum builds on the 6 strands of the primary curriculum, and includes an additional area of study entitled Health Related Activity which attempts to synthesise students' learning from the other strands.
P.E. forms part of the new Junior Cycle Framework which I published last month. Promoting physical activity is reflected in the 24 'statements of learning' that are at the core of the new Framework. P.E. is also one of the short courses that will be developed by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) for use by schools on an optional basis from 2014.
At senior cycle, my Department is currently considering two new curricula for senior cycle P.E. – one for examination and the other a non-examination curriculum framework.
The P.E. curriculum has a number of goals which are clearly outlined in the relevant curriculum documents (available at www.NCCA.ie). One of the primary goals is to promote the physical, social, emotional and intellectual development of the student through participation in physical activities in a safe, challenging and enjoyable environment.
106. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the review of the operational elements of the home tuition scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53296/12]
View answerA revised circular relating to operational elements of the home tuition scheme is due to issue from my Department shortly. As previously advised the eligibility criteria for home tuition remains unchanged.
107. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the total number of Government special advisers employed in his Department; the total cost of employing these advisers and the cost of employing these advisers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53310/12]
View answerIn accordance with the revised conditions for Ministerial Appointments as published by the Department of Finance on the 24th, March 2011, I appointed 2 special advisers at my Department. Their respective salaries are €92,672 and €86,604 per annum.
As provided for under the terms of the Ethics in Public Office Acts copies of the appointees' contracts of employment together with details of their qualifications were laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas on the 28th, October 2011.
108. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the issues highlighted by the school (details supplied) in Dublin 9 regarding cuts to pupil-teacher ratio. [53352/12]
View answerAt this point I do not propose to give any specific commitment on the allocation of teachers to schools for the 2013/14 school year. The number of teaching posts that we can afford to fund in schools is a matter that I will have to consider with my colleagues in Cabinet in the context of the next budget. The Government will endeavour to protect front-line education services as best as possible. However, this must be done within the context of bringing our overall public expenditure into line with what we can afford as a country. The challenge will be to ensure that the resources that can be provided are used to maximum effect to achieve the best possible outcome for pupils.
109. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a decision will issue on a higher education grant application in respect of a a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53381/12]
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 refused and a letter outlining the position issued on the 25th October 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.
110. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason persons (details supplied) in County Longford faced such a long delay in the processing of their student grant application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53389/12]
View answerOfficials in my Department have confirmed with SUSI, the new centralised grant awarding authority, that on the 9th November, 2012 a request for further documentation was issued to the student referred to by the Deputy. When the requested documentation is returned the student will be notified directly of the outcome.
