Written Answers Nos. 80-86
80. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Education and Skills the impact of the amalgamation of An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta with the NCCA on the 20 year strategy for the Irish language; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4591/13]
View answerIn reaching this decision, I paid particular attention to the context of our support not only for the 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010 - 2030 but also to the Education Act, 1998, to the implementation of the Gaeltacht Act 2012, the recommendations in the Literacy and Numeracy for Learning and Life - The National Strategy to Improve Literacy and Numeracy among Children and Young People 2011 - 2020 and to the implementation of the Framework for Junior Cycle which I published last October.
I believe that the amalgamation of An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta (COGG) with the NCCA will enhance the capacity of COGG to meet its statutory functions The NCCA has a significant amount of work currently underway or about to be started on the Irish language in our schools. The new arrangement will maximise the possibilities for collaboration and cooperation between both bodies. As the NCCA will prepare curricula for Irish for my consideration, COGG will develop resources that will compliment the curricula and thereby enhance the quality of the teaching and learning of Irish for our students. COGG will therefore continue to plan and co-ordinate for the provision of resources for the teaching and learning of Irish and to advise on and support teaching through Irish.
81. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo has been refused the higher education postgraduate flat rate fee grant on the grounds of attending a part-time course when they have clearly proved that their course is full-time in nature; if he will have this file re-examined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4611/13]
View answerOfficials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland that the application from the student in question is being reviewed and it will notify the student directly of the outcome as soon as possible.
82. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to introduce a system of flexi-schooling for children that are home schooled that would allow them to attend school on a part-time basis that would facilitate a parent who may work part-time but wishes to home school their child; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4621/13]
View answerThe school system currently operates under standardised arrangements for all recognised schools aimed at enabling them to deliver education in the most efficient manner possible to over half a million pupils at primary level and over 350,000 at post-primary. It would neither be feasible nor practical to put in place the type of arrangement suggested by the Deputy.
83. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of Student Universal Support Ireland applicants that were informed they were awarded maintenance grants or fees only to find out later that they were awarded in error resulting in the withdrawal of their offer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4642/13]
View answerThe position as provided to my Department by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) is that as at 29th January 2013, 33 applicants were awarded a student grant, issued a grant award letter and subsequently refused a grant. The Deputy will appreciate that in the context of SUSI having received in excess of 67,000 applications that some errors may inevitably arise when handling a high volume of applications within a relatively short timeframe.
SUSI have quality assurance measures in place which monitors on an on-going basis whether applications are being assessed correctly and in accordance with the terms of the Student Grant Scheme 2012 and the Student Support Regulations 2012. A quality assurance team performs regular reviews on application outcomes. This may result in a change of decision and these instances are regrettable. The quality assurance measures are in place in order to identify, reduce and eliminate errors in the administration by SUSI of the Student Grant Scheme.
84. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will clarify the situation regarding the contracts of employment for special needs assistants; the person whose responsibility it is to decide if SNAs are entitled to job sharing opportunities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4663/13]
View answerThe contract of employment for Special Needs Assistants was agreed following discussions between the representatives of the managerial authorities, the Unions (IMPACT and SIPTU) and my Department. The terms of the contract are outlined in the contract of employment form contained in Circular SNA 15/05 for primary schools or Circular SNA 12/05 for second level schools. Furthermore, Special Needs Assistants are subject to a set of standardised terms and conditions of employment as detailed in the relevant circulars issued and amended by my Department from time to time. There is no agreed Departmental circular or scheme which allows job-sharing for Special Needs Assistants. However, discussions have commenced between officials from my Department, the school managerial authorities and both IMPACT and SIPTU to examine the possibility of creating an agreed job-sharing scheme for Special Needs Assistants.
85. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he is considering the use of social clauses in the contracts for the school building programme; and in particular, if he will consider including a quota to employ jobseekers who are long-term unemployed. [4696/13]
View answerMy Department supports any measures which will have a beneficial effect on employment generally and in particular employment in a local area. As with all Government Departments and state agencies, my Department and bodies under its aegis use the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform's Public Works Contracts and associated guidance. It is therefore considered that the implementation of any local labour clause should be considered by the Government Construction Contracts Committee (GCCC) and if appropriate suitable guidance (validated by expert legal opinion) should be developed and issued to all public bodies. Officials from my Department will be raising this issue with the GCCC shortly.
86. Deputy Regina Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills the recommendations for playground space per square metre per child in national schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4703/13]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that the provision of playspace, where site conditions and circumstances allow, is one of the issues considered in the architectural design of new schools and major extensions. The level of facilities, including playspace, that can be provided in schools will therefore vary depending on the extent of classroom accommodation needed for the school. A suite of technical guidance documents is available on my Department's website (www.education.ie) to assist design teams in best practice in the design and development of projects and to encourage them to take a complete design team approach from project conception. These documents cover all aspects of the development of a building project for both internal and external works.
In the case of existing schools, ensuring the availability of sufficient playground space can be much more difficult particularly in town and city locations. However, such limitations can often be addressed through the use of a school's general purpose room together with the arranging of access to local community facilities and amenities.
