Written Answers Nos. 240-263
240. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a circular detailing pay scales for new entrants to teaching (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57898/12]
View answerThe most significant adjustment to teacher pay arising from the recent Government decision on allowances is that new entrant teachers will not receive qualification allowances but will start on a new salary scale, the first point of which is equivalent to the fourth point of the existing scale. This new salary scale will apply in the case of all teachers who are new appointees to teaching on or after 1 February 2012.
The introduction of this new salary scale has been a complex task which has required a detailed implementation process. A circular on implementation of the Government decision as it applies to teachers is due to issue shortly from my Department.
241. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a third level grant will be issued to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57900/12]
View answerOfficials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland 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 20 December 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 independent Student Grant Appeals Board.
243. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on the negotiations between the Church of Ireland College of Education and Trinity College Dublin in relation to a possible merger. [57928/12]
View answer244. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on the negotiations between Saint Patrick's College, Drumcondra and Dublin City University in relation to a possible merger. [57929/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 243 and 244 together.
I have accepted the recommendations set out in a report commissioned by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) on the structures of initial teacher education (ITE). The purpose of the report, which I requested, was to identify new possible 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". This will mean that a smaller number of centres for ITE exist, but that they offer education across multiple sectors from early childhood to primary, to post primary to adult education. These centres will also possess a critical mass in terms of research capacity which is not always possible in smaller institutions. The panel suggested that Church of Ireland College of Education would be suitably positioned to join a number of the proposed new configurations.
I am not in a position to provide an update on the current status of negotiations between the various institutions involved. However, I have asked the HEA to prepare an implementation report, which I expect to receive shortly.
245. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the 2012 McKinsey Center for Government Report, Education to Employment: Designing a System that Works. [57936/12]
View answerThe Report, "Education to Employment: Designing a System that Works" focuses on addressing global youth unemployment through skills development with a particular emphasis on the importance of developing connections between employers and education providers in order to ensure that students are learning the right skills for employment.
Strengthening links with industry as recommended in the report is a key element of the wide ranging programme of reform being implemented across the education and training system in Ireland. For example the new targeted funding models of skills development, Springboard, Momentum and ICT skills have strong employer involvement.
The Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN) which is funded by my Department also brings together industry, academia and State agencies in identifying the future skills requirements of the economy and its research and reports inform the development of course curricula.
246. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students in County Kerry who are awaiting grant approval from Student Universal Support Ireland. [57944/12]
View answer247. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students in County Kerry who were denied a student grant. [57945/12]
View answer248. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students in County Kerry who were approved for a student grant. [57946/12]
View answer278. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of applications for Student Universal Support Ireland grants that are still awaiting processing from County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1074/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 246 to 248, inclusive, and 278 together.
The following table provides a breakdown of the processing position of student grant applications received by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) from County Kerry. The data provided is at a point in time on 15 January, 2013. It gives the position for student grant applications for attendance at both further and higher education. This data has been provided to my Department by SUSI.
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.
SUSI Applications - Processing Position for County Kerry
|
County |
Total applications received |
Incomplete Applications |
Applications where all requested documentation submitted |
Awarded |
Refused or Cancelled |
Applications currently with SUSI for processing |
Maintenance Payments |
Fees only awards approved |
|
Kerry |
2492 |
748 |
1744 |
1137* |
578 |
29 |
721 |
218 |
*This figure includes a number of students provisionally awarded awaiting final course acceptance and some 218 students awarded a "fees only grant".
249. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students still awaiting a decision and payment of their higher education grant on the 1 January 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57978/12]
View answer292. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide the figure as of 1 January 2013, on the number of students still waiting for their grants to be processed; if there are proposals to undertake an external review of Student Universal Supplement Ireland to ensure that this type of situation will never again occur; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1232/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 249 and 292 together.
As at close of business on 2 January, the situation in relation to the 67,322 student grant applications was reported by SUSI as follows:
- 43,015 (64%) were complete - awarded, provisionally awarded or refused;
- 22,978 (34%) were awaiting documentation from students – 10,524 of which have not yet provided any documentation;
- 1,329 (2%) were currently with SUSI for processing (1,217) or with Abtran for verification of documentation (112).
Of the 26,883 awarded or provisionally awarded a grant on that date, some 5,266 were fee only awards. 14,908 had received their maintenance payment. The remaining students awarded a maintenance grant who had yet to be paid was in the region of 5,000. SUSI 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.
Figures are not available for 1 January 2013. This data has been provided to my Department by SUSI.
An external review of SUSI's business processes will be put in place in the coming weeks to inform improvements in the system for the 2013/14 academic year. The proposed timeline for completion of the review is March 2013.
250. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason there is a difference in the revised sick leave arrangements Circular 0033/2010 between teaching staff and special needs assistants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57988/12]
View answerThe terms and conditions of employment for employees differ depending on the employment criteria, areas of responsibility, etc. Teachers and special Needs Assistants are employed to perform different duties, are remunerated on a different pay scale and attract different terms and conditions notwithstanding the fact that they may be employed by the same employer.
The terms and conditions, including the provisions pertaining to sick leave, are normally agreed between the representative bodies of each grade and the Department of Education and Skills and the Department of Finance. The sick leave scheme for special needs assistants as contained in Circular 0033/2010 was effected by such an agreement.
251. Deputy John Perry asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a Student Universal Support Ireland third level grant application in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9 will be processed and granted as a matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58019/12]
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, Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI).
The student referred to by the Deputy had her application cancelled by SUSI as it was incomplete. On 30 November, 2012 a letter was issued by SUSI to the student informing her that her application was cancelled and advising her to reapply.
When re-applying for a student grant it will be necessary for the student to complete all sections of the application form.
252. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a school (details supplied) in County Kerry has been refused grant aid to rectify health and safety issues in the school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58051/12]
View answerThe management authorities of the school referred to by the Deputy submitted an application recently for funding under my Department's Emergency Works Scheme to carry out various improvement works at their school.
As the scope of works for which funding is sought is outside the terms of the scheme they cannot be considered for funding. The management authority of the school has been informed of this decision.
The school has been advised to submit a scaled down application to address the immediate health & safety issues and as soon as this application is received it will be assessed and the school authorities notified of the outcome.
253. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo may expect their application for a higher education grant to be processed by Student Universal Support Ireland; if he will expedite the application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58068/12]
View answerOfficials in my Department have confirmed with SUSI, 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 17 December 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 independent Student Grant Appeals Board.
254. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will intervene in a health and safety issue at a school (details supplied) in County Kerry in view of the fact that the board of management have alerted and provided a full engineering report on the extreme necessity to carry out the electrical replacement and also the critical ESB recommendation and in the interest of general safety and compliance with electrical standards; if he will act immediately; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58073/12]
View answerThe management authorities of the school referred to by the Deputy submitted an application recently for funding under my Department's Emergency Works Scheme to carry out various improvement works at their school.
As the scope of works for which funding is sought is outside the terms of the scheme they cannot be considered for funding. The management authority of the school has been informed of this decision.
The school has been advised to submit a scaled down application to address the immediate health & safety issues and as soon as this application is received it will be assessed and the school authorities notified of the outcome.
255. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason whereby those that satisfy the qualifying period for the back to education allowance for 234 days on jobseeker's benefit or allowance must in addition satisfy a qualifying period of 391 days on jobseeker's benefit or allowance in order to receive the special rate fee grant specifically as it applies to those doing postgraduate studies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58086/12]
View answerEligibility for the Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) and associated payments is determined and administered by the Department of Social Protection.
The BTEA scheme was established to assist people who have been out of the workforce for some time and whose opportunities of obtaining employment would be enhanced by participation in the scheme. In this regard, I understand that it is a requirement of eligibility to have been getting a qualifying social welfare payment for set periods of time.
My Department's statutory based Student Grant Scheme has its own particular qualifying terms and conditions. In order to qualify for the special rate of grant the Student Grant Scheme specifies that the reckonable income must include one of the eligible payments listed in Schedule 2, of the Scheme, on the specified date – i.e. 31 December of the relevant period. In the case of Jobseeker's Allowance and Jobseeker's Benefit the payments must be held for 391 days and 12 months respectively. The Scheme makes provision for combining periods of Jobseeker's Allowance and Jobseeker's Benefit and other eligible payments for the purposes of meeting 391 days.
Those students who meet the qualifying conditions for the special rate of grant will be eligible to have their post-graduate tuition fee paid up to the maximum fee limit under the Student Grant Scheme, subject to those students meeting all the relevant terms and conditions of the scheme.
256. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will respond to correspondence regarding disclosure of non conviction in respect of a person (details supplied). [58089/12]
View answerThe vetting arrangements for those seeking to work in the schools sector were initially introduced in 2006.
The recently enacted National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012 will provide the statutory basis for the vetting of persons involved in working with children and vulnerable adults, including those working in schools The Act sets out the statutory procedures that will apply to Garda vetting and to the disclosure of relevant records to employers and other relevant organisations. The disclosure of records and any issues in relation to same will be a matter for the National Vetting Bureau which comes under the auspices of the Department of Justice and Equality.
257. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will support the literacy project sponsored by Barnardos (details supplied). [58104/12]
View answerMy Department has prioritised funding for literacy and numeracy initiatives in the current, very difficult, budgetary context. The priority is to support measures which are proven to be core to improving outcomes for our children and young people. These include improving initial teacher training and continuing professional development, supporting curricular change and systematically targeting supports for students in disadvantaged schools. My Department is not in a position to support measures over and above those outlined in the National Strategy on Literacy and Numeracy which was carefully designed to make the very best use of our scarce resources.
258. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will make known the costs of engaging a private bus contractor to bring children to school in Glenamaddy and Glinsk in County Galway; the reason this contractor is still engaged, when the original reason for hiring the contractor was to ensure that all passengers had a seat with a seat belt, Bus Éireann now having installed seat belts on all their buses; the facility or mechanism that exists to ensure that moneys granted to Bus Éireann by his Department is spent efficiently and to ensure full oversight of expenditure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58117/12]
View answerBus Éireann, which operates the school transport schemes, on behalf of my Department, is responsible for the negotiation and awarding of school transport contracts to private operators. The cost of individual routes or services is regarded as commercially sensitive.
School transport services are operated by a mix of public and private operators and the network is reviewed on an ongoing basis, ensuring that these services continue to be provided in the most economic and efficient manner. All school buses operating under the School Transport Scheme, both Bus Éireann buses and contractors buses, provide an adult seat, fitted with a safety belt, for each child.
According to a recent Value for Money study conducted as part of the 2009-2011 reviews approved by Government, the scheme is managed in a highly effective and efficient manner by Bus Éireann.
Bus Éireann maintains a separate account for the School Transport Scheme, which is audited each year by independent auditors. Audited accounts in respect of the last number of years are available on my Department's website.
259. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason for altering the pupil teacher ratio for post leaving certificate colleges; the likely effect this will have on youth unemployment and for the long term unemployed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58119/12]
View answerThere are 32,688 approved Post Leaving Cert (PLC) places available nationwide and this number of places is being maintained.
PLC places are allocated to Vocational Education Committees (VECs), Community and Comprehensive and Voluntary Secondary schools on an annual basis following an application process and VECs are responsible for the further allocation of those places to schools and colleges under their remit.
While it would have been preferable not to have to make any changes, by bringing the pupil teacher ratio (PTR) for PLC courses into line with that of free second level schools, e.g., 19:1, the Government has succeeded in protecting class sizes in primary and free second-level schools for the coming year, ensuring that our limited resources are rightly focussed on the children in our education system. The change will yield estimated savings of €12 million in a full year and €4 million in 2013 because the change will only come into effect from September 2013.
The change will reduce the number of teaching posts by 200 in PLC courses and may lead to some reduction in subject choices for students. It is now up to VEC CEOs and principals to plan for September 2013 to ensure they can continue to deliver programmes which closely meet the needs of both students and employers.
260. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11 has not been assigned a reader for their leaving certificate despite having had one in the junior certificate. [58127/12]
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.
261. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Education and Skills if an application for additional funding towards the cost of an extension to a school (details supplied) in County Galway will be approved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58134/12]
View answerThe school referred to by the Deputy has been approved devolved funding to build an extension under my Department's Additional Accommodation Scheme.
The school authorities have recently submitted an application for additional funding related to the accommodation already approved and also for further capital funding towards the provision of ancillary school accommodation. The school has been advised that due to the need to prioritise available funding for the provision of school accommodation to meet increasing demographic requirements that my Department is only in a position to give consideration to any additional costs directly associated with the provision of the accommodation already approved. As soon as a decision is made the school authorities will be notified accordingly.
262. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason for the delay in processing a post graduate student grant application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58135/12]
View answerOfficials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland 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 4 January 2013.
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 independent Student Grant Appeals Board.
263. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding an assessment in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5. [58151/12]
View answer346. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a psyhological assessment in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5. [1855/13]
View answerI propose to take Qestions Nos. 263 and 346 together.
My Department's National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) operates an early intervention continuum of assessment in schools for students with the broad range of special educational needs. The continuum of assessment allows for the identification of pupils with special educational needs, their nature and severity by harnessing the experience of class teachers and support teachers, in consultation with parents, and with the support of the psychologist. It also provides for the development of immediate responses and interventions designed to ameliorate the particular needs identified at the appropriate level, either in the classroom or with the assistance of the support teacher. This allows for a response to be put in place at the earliest possible juncture for students before their difficulties can become intractable. Assessment of needs at this stage of the continuum involves information gathering, testing and observation by the various school personnel involved and support from the NEPS psychologist, as required.
Where the pupil does not make adequate progress following the interventions, or where the nature of the child's special educational needs are significant, severe and complex, the school may agree with the psychologist that a psycho-educational assessment be conducted to identify the specific nature of the needs and the appropriate response necessary. Students, so identified, are scheduled for assessment within that school year.
I can inform the Deputy that the student in question was not raised by school authorities with the assigned NEPS psychologist for any form of direct intervention. However contact was made with the school immediately before Christmas and a meeting took place on Friday, 11 January last at which, inter alia, his situation was discussed. I am informed that the school is now putting in place the appropriate arrangements which will lead to a meeting between the NEPS psychologist and the student in the near future.
