Written Answers Nos. 337-356
337. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he has had consultation with the Teachers' Union of Ireland in advance of the decision to reduce the PTR for students in adult and further education; and if he will consider reversing thhi decision in view of the damage it will cause within the sector. [4317/13]
View answerThere was no prior consultation with the Teachers Union of Ireland (TUI) in relation to this decision but I can advise the Deputy that I have arranged to meet the TUI this week, to discuss their concerns. It is not possible to amend this measure without introducing additional Budget measures in education which would impact on other frontline services.
338. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there are currently no ASD Units in Limerick City; his plans to put same in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4329/13]
View answerI have arranged for the matter raised by the Deputy to be forwarded to the NCSE for their attention and direct reply. The Deputy will be aware that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), through its network of local special educational needs organisers (SENOs), is responsible for processing applications from primary and post primary schools for special educational needs supports, including the establishment of special classes in various geographical areas as required. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support. The Deputy will also be aware that the establishment of a network of autism-specific special classes in schools across the country to cater for children with autism has been a key educational priority in recent years.
339. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide, in tabular form, the number of posts of responsibility by grade lost in primary schools each year since the imposition of the moratorium on promotion in the public service; the number of applications for alleviation received by his Department in each year and the number of applications upheld by his Department in each year. [4330/13]
View answer340. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide, in tabular form, the number of posts of responsibility by grade lost in post primary schools each year since the imposition of the moratorium on promotion in the public service; the number of applications for alleviation received by his Department in each year and the number of applications upheld by his Department in each year. [4331/13]
View answerI propose to take questions 339 and 340 together.
When the moratorium on the filling of posts of responsibility was introduced the Government exempted Principal and Deputy Principal posts in all primary and post-primary schools and these posts continue to be replaced in the normal manner. The impact of the moratorium is therefore limited to the Director of Adult Education, Assistant Principal and Special Duties posts of responsibility. Vacancies at this level arise due to retirements in the specific grades and typically also from the knock on effect of filling Principal and Deputy Principal posts. Limited alleviation was introduced for schools that are acutely affected by the impact of the moratorium at Assistant Principal level. This alleviation is mainly focused on post-primary schools.
The detailed information requested by the Deputy would take some time to compile by staff in my Department. I do not therefore propose to divert them from their work on the staffing allocations for the 2013/14 school year. Instead I am providing you with the summary information on the overall impact of the moratorium since it was first introduced in March 2009. At that time about 53% of teachers had posts of responsibility. This has since reduced to about 39%. The following tables give some more detail on the overall position since the moratorium was introduced.
Level of Reduction in Posts of Responsibility
|
Post type |
Post Primary |
Primary |
|
Assistant Principal
|
-2,150 |
-751 |
|
Special Duties |
-1,900 |
-2,276 |
|
Total
|
-4,050 |
-3,027 |
Alleviation.
|
Post type |
Post Primary
|
Primary |
|
Director of Adult Education |
30 |
N/A |
|
Programme Co-ordinator (AP post) |
90 |
N/A |
|
Assistant Principal
|
307 |
38 |
|
Total
|
427 |
38 |
341. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 326 of 16 January 2013, the assistance available with regard to transport costs in view of the fact that this family do not have the financial means to pay such costs; and if he will ensure that every effort is made to support this vulnerable family to ensure that they continue in full time education. [4378/13]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, under the terms of my Department's Primary School Transport Scheme children are eligible for transport where they reside not less than 3.2 kms from and are attending their nearest national school as determined by my Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language. These eligibility criteria are applied equitably on a national basis. Bus Éireann, which operates the school transport scheme on behalf of my Department, has advised that the family referred to in the details supplied are not attending their nearest school and are therefore not eligible for school transport. There is no provision under the terms of the scheme to offer financial assistance to families of children who are ineligible for school transport.
342. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding an exemption from the requirement to take Irish in the junior certificate in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Longford [4395/13]
View answerIn primary and post-primary schools recognised by my Department the study of Irish is compulsory however, there are certain limited circumstances whereby an exemption from the study of Irish may be granted. In this regard my Department's Circular M10/94 for pupils attending post-primary schools outlines the circumstances whereby an exemption from the study of Irish may be granted. Under the terms of this Circular delegated authority to grant exemptions, within the conditions laid down, is vested in the school management authorities of recognised post-primary schools. Where a school has a query on how the Circular should be applied in respect of any particular application they may seek the advice of my Department's Inspectorate.
With regard to the particular case referred to by the Deputy, the position is that the school wrote to my Department in December 2012 seeking advice on how Circular M10/94 should be applied in this instance. The matter is currently with a nominated Inspector within my Department's Inspectorate for advice and a reply will issue shortly.
343. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to correspondence regarding a pupil (details supplied) in County Donegal who has been denied access to their school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4403/13]
View answerThe question of enrolment in individual schools is the responsibility of the managerial authority of those schools. The Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking places. 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 15(g) of the Education Act 1998, provides that a board shall use the resources provided to the school from monies provided by the Oireachtas to make reasonable provision and accommodation for students with a disability or other special educational needs, including, where necessary, alteration of building and provision of appropriate equipment. Section 29 of the Education Act, 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 or suspends a student for 20 or more days in any school year. My Department has no authority to compel a school to admit a pupil, except in the case of an appeal under section 29 of the Education Act, 1998 being upheld.
Appeals application forms and details of procedures for taking a Section 29 appeal are available from my Departments website, www.education.ie or directly from Section 29 appeals administration unit at Section 29 Appeals Section Friars Mill Road, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath or by phone at 044 9337018. 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.
344. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he has received an appeal against the decision to disallow the student grant application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan; if so, when he expects a decision to be issued; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4404/13]
View answerMy officials understand from Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) that the grant application from the student in question was unsuccessful and that he appealed this decision to its appeals officer on 9th January, 2013. SUSI aims to issue appeal determinations as promptly as possible and within the specified timeframe specified in the Student Support Act, 2011.
345. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 214 of 23 October 2012 and 92 of 23 January 2013; if he outline in his reply specifically if there are grants available to DEIS schools to purchase scientific equipment for fitted school laboratories; the amount of money available; if there is a programme of grants available for such a purpose in view of the fact that it is impossible to find anything on the website www.education.ie referred to in a previous response; if he will further outline specifically in his reply the way a school without scientific equipment is meant to teach scientific subjects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4409/13]
View answerI can confirm to the Deputy that the school concerned received funding in the amount of €184,830 under the Summer Works Scheme 2010 for the upgrade of three Science Laboratories. This sum included for fitted furniture and equipment for the upgrade of the three Science Laboratories. In the past my Department provided periodic grants for science laboratory equipment in schools. However, given the need to focus on meeting the demand for additional school places, it is unlikely that funding would be available for such purposes in the coming years. However, given the concerns expressed by the Deputy on recent occasions about this school, I have asked my officials to contact the school authority directly about the matter raised.
346. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a student grant application will be expedited in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 15; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4419/13]
View answerThe student in question is a renewal student and his grant awarding authority is County Dublin VEC. Officials in my Department have confirmed with the grant awarding authority that it issued a request for further documentation initially on 5 September 2012. The documentation was again requested on 15 October 2012 and 15 November 2012. When the requested documentation is returned the student will be notified directly of the outcome.
347. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a school (details supplied) in County Galway will have its inadequate, temporary accommodation replaced. [4429/13]
View answerI can confirm that the school to which the Deputy refers has three purchased temporary classrooms. One of these classrooms was installed in 2008 and should be in good condition. The remaining two classrooms were installed in 2001 and 2003 respectively. In relation to the latter two classrooms, the school was advised in September 2012 that it could submit an application, with appropriate supporting documentation, to have these considered for replacement. An application has not been received in my Department to date. The school also rents two further temporary classrooms under a lease arrangement. It is recommended that the school authorities ensure that the supplier(s) of these classrooms maintain them to an acceptable standard for school use.
348. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will confirm when the Five Year Schools Building Programme will be updated and published. [4430/13]
View answerIn addition to the five year plan announced in March 2012, a detailed annual programme in relation to major school projects commencing construction is also published. The first of these, which related to 2012 expenditure, was published in December 2011 and the 2013 construction programme representing the second phase of the five-year plan was published in December 2012. Details are available on my Department's website at www.education.ie. Information in respect of the current status of all assessed applications for major capital works is also available on my Department's website which is updated regularly throughout the year.
349. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide a breakdown of the cost of school building across each county including actual size, number of classrooms and square footage, for the year 2012; if total costs includes site cost and where the site cost is included and the actual site cost in each case. [4435/13]
View answerThe Deputy has indicated that the request relates to information in counties Galway, Sligo, Donegal, Kerry and Dublin. The data is now being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy shortly.
350. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Skills if an application for a grant submitted to Student Universal Support Ireland in August 2012 will be expedited and approved in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Carlow. [4441/13]
View answerOfficials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland that the application from the student in question is being examined and it will notify the student directly of the outcome as soon as possible.
351. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Skills if an appropriate school placement will be arranged in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny. [4445/13]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible for the provision of a range of educational services at local and national level for students with special educational needs, including children with autism. In particular, its network of Special Education Needs Organisers (SENOs) co-ordinates special needs education provision at local level and arranges for the delivery of special educational services. The SENOs act as single points of contact for parents of students with special educational needs. A specific function of the SENO is to identify appropriate educational placements for children with special educational needs. SENOs are a valuable source of support to parents who are actively sourcing a placement for their children. All schools have the names and contact details of their local SENO. Parents can contact SENOs directly to discuss their child's special educational needs, using the contact details available on www.ncse.ie.
352. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a Student Universal Support Ireland grant will be approved and expedited in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny. [4449/13]
View answerMy officials understand from Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) that the grant application from the student in question was unsuccessful and that she appealed this decision to its appeals officer on 14 January 2013. SUSI aims to issue appeal determinations as promptly as possible and within the specified timeframe specified in the Student Support Act 2011.
353. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Education and Skills the persons who hold the responsibility for the decision regarding the location of the headquarters for the proposed Mid West Regional Vocational Education Committee; if the headquarters will be located in Limerick city centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4558/13]
View answerIn October 2011, I announced and published the headquarter locations where VECs are being merged as a result of the Government decision to reduce the number of VECs from 33 to 16. The Deputy will be aware that in respect of the specific merger of City of Limerick VEC with Co. Limerick VEC and Co. Clare VEC I decided that the headquarters of the Education and Training Board will be in Limerick (greater city area). It will be a matter for the CEO of the new Education and Training Board to work through and judge what the best approach is to ensure the optimum approach to service delivery. The establishment of SOLAS is also likely to have a bearing on the precise arrangements to be made. I want to make clear that my Department will not be forcing any one size fits all approach to staff deployment and office accommodation by the new Education and Training Boards. We will be receptive to any reasonable and sensible arrangements that are the best fit for the needs of the areas served by the new board.
354. Deputy Tom Barry asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide an update on the progress, if any, made regarding the acquisition of Annesgrove Gardens by the State. [4164/13]
View answerThere has been no significant progress to date on the acceptance of the offer of donation of Annesgrove demesne lands and gardens to the State. However the offer continues to be under active consideration by the Commissioners of Public Works.
355. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide an update in the progress made on the Programme for Government commitment which states that this Government will introduce a two year time period preventing senior civil servants from moving into positions in the private sector which may prove to contain a conflict of interest. [3710/13]
View answer356. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the current practice enacted for senior civil servants transferring from public sector roles into the private sector which may contain conflicts of interest; if there is a cooling off period; and the timeframe for that period. [3711/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 355 and 356 together.
The information requested by the Deputy relating to the requirements applying to senior civil servants taking up employment outside of the Civil Service in the circumstances set out in the Deputy’s question, can be found in section 20 the Civil Service Code of Standards and Behaviour which is available at the Standards in Public Office Commission’s website ( www.sipo.ie.). Civil servants who hold positions which are “designated positions” for the purposes of the Ethics Acts are prohibited, within twelve months of resigning or retiring from the service, from accepting an offer of appointment from an employer outside the Civil Service or an engagement in a particular consultancy project, without first obtaining approval from the Outside Appointments Board - in the case of officers at and above Assistant Secretary level or the appropriate Secretary-General / Head of Office otherwise. This would apply where the nature and terms of such appointment or engagement could lead to a conflict of interest.
Applications are considered by the Outside Appointments Board on the basis of determining whether or not a clear conflict of interest exists. The Board can either approve the take up of an appointment, the acceptance of an engagement, attach conditions or recommend against the appointment. The composition, operation and reporting arrangements for the Board are set out in section 21 of the Code. Officers must also continue to observe the restrictions imposed by the Official Secrets Act 1963. Departments and Offices are required under the Code to monitor the acceptance of outside appointments by civil servants and former civil servants.
Significant progress has been made in developing my proposals for the regulation of lobbying in relation to the commitment included in the Programme for Government referred to in the Deputy’s question. The consultation process undertaken on this commitment was based on the OECD Principles for Transparency and Integrity in lobbying which recommend that it may be necessary to impose a ‘cooling-off’ period that temporarily restricts former public officials from lobbying their past organisations.
My proposals in this area - which draw on the Outside Appointments Board model applying to senior civil servants - will be published following consideration by Government as part of the General Scheme of a Regulation of Lobbying Bill. The relevant OECD principles also highlight the requirement for countries to consider establishing restrictions for public officials leaving office to address other potential conflict of interest situations that could arise. It is planned that these other elements of the Programme for Government commitment which also arise from the recommendations contained in the final report of the Mahon Tribunal will be addressed through the proposed reform of the legislative framework for ethics which is currently under way.
