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Tuesday, 5 Feb 2013

Written Answers Nos. 316-334

Psychological Services

Questions (316)

Maureen O'Sullivan

Question:

316. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent of the engagement between the National Educational Psychological Services, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, Education Welfare Boards, in the interests of those students in both primary and post primary education in need of support. [5427/13]

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Written answers

The National Educational Psychological Service is organised on a regional basis. Liaison with the CAMHS is prioritised regionally and locally by NEPS in the interests of developing effective referral pathways for students with significant social, emotional and mental health needs.NEPS has agreed protocols with the NEWB to cater for the needs of students in primary and post primary who are out of school or at risk of early school leaving.

Student Grant Scheme Eligibility

Questions (317)

Michael McGrath

Question:

317. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a student who is at least 23 years of age on 1 January of the year in which they commence a postgraduate course but who previously completed an undergraduate course may be deemed to be a mature independent candidate for the purposes of the student grant scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5442/13]

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Written answers

For student grants purposes, students are categorised according to their circumstances either as students dependent on parents or a legal guardian, or as independent mature students. A student may be assessed as an independent mature student if he/she has attained the age of 23 on the 1st of January of the year of first entry to an approved course or of re-entry following a break in studies of at least three years and is not ordinarily resident with his/her parents from the previous 1 October. Otherwise he/she would continue to be assessed on the basis of his/her parents' income.

School Transport Applications

Questions (318)

Regina Doherty

Question:

318. Deputy Regina Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a family (details supplied) in County Meath will be provided with access to a school bus service for their three young children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5457/13]

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Written answers

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 the Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.Bus Éireann, which operates the school transport scheme on behalf of my Department, has advised that an application for school transport for the 2013/14 school year has recently been received for the children in question and will be processed in due course.If the family wish to apply for transport for the remainder of the current school year, they should liaise directly with their local Bus Éireann office.

State Examinations

Questions (319)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

319. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will review the criteria used to determine eligibility for applications under reasonable accommodations for the leaving certificate examinations which are severe and restrictive resulting in students who have previously secured support at junior certificate examinations not being awarded the same level of support in their leaving certificate examinations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5464/13]

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Written answers

The 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.

State Examinations

Questions (320)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

320. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will review the criteria used to determine eligibility for applicaitons under the reasonable accommodations for the leaving certificate examinations in the case of a school (details supplied) in Dublin 11; if he will review these applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5465/13]

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Written answers

The 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.

School Accommodation

Questions (321)

Simon Harris

Question:

321. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide details of the schools at which the four additional classrooms to meet primary school place demand for September 2013 will be located in an area (details supplied) in County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5623/13]

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Written answers

I am pleased to advise the Deputy that funding for the provision of four mainstream classrooms has been approved by my Department to cater for increased pupil growth in the area to which he refers. This funding will facilitate extensions at St Laurence's and St Patrick's National Schools. This is in addition to the 15 additional classrooms that will be in place in Greystones following completion of the building project being provided under my Department's Rapid Delivery Programme for 2013.My Department is continuing to monitor enrolments in the area, referred to by the Deputy, to ensure that there is sufficent school accommodation to meet any projected future demands.Information in respect of all assessed applications for devolved funding is available on my Department's website www.education.ie.

School Patronage

Questions (322)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

322. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if any guidance or directions have been given by his Department to schools located within areas in which patronage surveys are being carried out regarding the organising by schools of meetings to discuss the patronage surveys; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5626/13]

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Written answers

I wish to advise the Deputy that in preparation for these surveys a Code of Conduct was agreed between my Department and all of the current and prospective patron bodies. The Code of Conduct provided that there would be no canvassing campaign conducted in any area by any of the patron bodies. It was agreed that all the necessary information and documentation would be distributed by my Department.No direct contact was made with individual schools in the survey areas by my Department in advance of the survey, other than asking them to facilitate the process by distributing information leaflets to parents of children in their school.These information leaflets were also distributed via a postal leaflet drop to households in all of the specified areas.

Departmental Expenditure

Questions (323)

Thomas Pringle

Question:

323. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will outline in tabular form the total cost of all conferences and seminars attended by his Department in 2012; the purpose of each conference/seminar; the location; the number of delegates that attended from his Department/agencies or otherwise that were represented; the total cost of each conference/seminar; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5634/13]

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Written answers

Some officials at my Department attend conferences in Ireland and abroad in order to keep abreast of developments in their particular educational field. All of the details under the various headings as required by the Deputy are not readily available and I have requested officials at my Department to compile the information which I will forward to the Deputy when it is to hand. In relation to bodies under the aegis of my Department attendance at conferences is an administration matter for them and the information requested by the Deputy is not collated centrally.

School Accommodation

Questions (324, 351)

Pádraig MacLochlainn

Question:

324. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason he has not provided a school (details supplied) in County Donegal with an update on their request to move premises; and the reason he seems to be reluctant to approve the request. [5645/13]

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Charlie McConalogue

Question:

351. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the outcome regarding a technical report that was carried out on a school (details supplied) in County Donegal; when this report will be forwarded to the school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5872/13]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 324 and 351 together.

As the Deputies are aware, my Department has recently carried out a technical inspection of the school premises in question and the outcome concerned is currently being assessed. My Department will be in further contact shortly with the school authorities, referred to by the Deputies, in that regard.

Student Grant Scheme Applications

Questions (325)

John Perry

Question:

325. Deputy John Perry asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will ensure that a Student Universal Support Ireland grant is paid in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Sligo; if he will expedite the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5649/13]

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Written answers

Officials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Ireland (SUSI), the new centralised grant awarding authority, that the student referred to by the Deputy re-submitted a grant application on the 18th January 2013 as the original application was incomplete. On the 30th January the application was assessed and a documentation checklist was issued to the student. When the requested documentation is returned the student will be assessed.

Schools Building Projects Status

Questions (326)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

326. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills in relation to two schools (details supplied) in County Meath, the reason both school building projects have been cancelled; the reason they were they not included in the schools building programme for 2012-2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5671/13]

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Written answers

I wish to advise the Deputy that while the schools to which he refers were not included in the Five Year Construction Plan, school projects that are currently within the Department's architectural planning process, including projects for the schools in question will continue to be progressed. The progression of school projects to construction, as set out in the Five Year Plan, to meet future demographic demand is the main focus of the Plan. In view of the funding constraints, it is not possible to progress all projects within my Department's building programme concurrently. Accordingly, it was necessary to prioritise school building projects already progressing within architectural planning in the context of the Plan, taking into account factors such as the funding available and the progression of other major projects required to meet demographic needs. Details of previous capital project announcements together with details of projects listed in the Five Year Plan may be viewed on my Department's website at www.education.ie and this is updated regularly.

Schools Building Projects Status

Questions (327)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

327. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills in relation to three schools (details supplied) in County Meath the progress being made on these buildings; the provision being made to assist with these buildings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5679/13]

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Written answers

My Department has sought the assistance of, and is working closely with, the relevant Local Authority in relation to identifying and acquiring a suitable site for two of the schools to which the Deputy has referred. Due to commercial sensitivities attaching to site acquisitions generally, it is not possible to comment further on the site acquisition aspect of these projects at this time. With respect to the remaining school, this has been devolved for delivery to the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA). The NDFA has recently appointed a Design Team to advance this project. All these projects are included in the Five Year Plan announced in March 2012.

Schools Numbers

Questions (328)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

328. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of primary schools and the number of post primary schools in County Meath. [5689/13]

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Written answers

In the 2012/2013 academic year there were 113 Department Aided Mainstream National Schools, 3 Special School and 19 Post Primary Schools in County Meath.

School Staffing

Questions (329)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

329. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of primary school teachers and the number of post primary teachers in County Meath. [5690/13]

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Written answers

Please see the attached spreadsheet for the number of teachers in County Meath at primary Level. This information is not available at post primary level.

NUMBER OF SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS IN COUNTY MEATH FOR 2011/12 SCHOOL YEAR

County

Schools

Teaching Teachers

Non-Teaching Teachers

Other Teachers (Full-time and FTE part-time)

Total Teachers

Meath

112

907

52

295

1,254

School Patronage

Questions (330)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

330. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of schools broken down by patron in County Meath. [5691/13]

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Written answers

The information sought by the Deputy in relation to school patronage in County Meath is as follows:105 schools under the patronage of the Bishop of Meath; 9 schools under the patronage of County Meath VEC; 4 schools under the patronage of An Foras Patrúnachta; 4 schools under the patronage of the Church of Ireland Bishop of Meath & Kildare; 3 schools under the patronage of Educate Together; 3 schools under the patronage of the Mercy Sisters; 3 schools under the joint patronage of the Bishop of Meath & County Meath VEC; 1 school under the joint patronage of the Bishop of Meath, County Meath VEC, Christian Brothers; 1 school under the joint patronage of County Meath VEC and the Mercy Sisters; 1 school under the patronage of the Franciscan Order; 1 school under the patronage of the Loreto Order (IBVM); 1 school under the patronage of the Religious Society of Friends (Quaker); and 1 school under the patronage of Autism Ireland.

School Patronage

Questions (331)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

331. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of new schools to open up in County Meath under a patron other than the Catholic Church in each year for the past five years. [5692/13]

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Written answers

I wish to advise the Deputy that between 2010 and 2012 inclusive, one new school opened in County Meath under a patron other than the Catholic Church in each of those years. No new schools meeting the criteria defined by the Deputy opened in County Meath in 2008 or 2009.

Schools Building Projects Expenditure

Questions (332)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

332. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of new schools built in County Meath in 2010, 2011 and 2012; and if he will provide a list of the schools built. [5693/13]

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Written answers

A total of seven new schools were constructed over the three year period 2010 to 2012 in County Meath. The following is the list of new schools constructed during the period in question: Roll No 20216L - Scoil Oilibheir Naofa, Bettystown; Roll No 20180Q - Scoil Naomh Eoin, Clonmagadden Valley, Windtown, Navan; Roll No 20215J - St. Paul's National School, Ratoath; Roll No 91517D - Athboy Community School, Athboy; Roll No 17213L - Scoil Naomh Mhuire, Ma Nealta, Ceannanus Mór; Roll No 17821L - Scoil Nais Mhuire Naofa, Enfield; Roll No 76103M - Coláiste Na hInse, Bettystown.

Capital Expenditure Programme

Questions (333)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

333. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the amount of money spent of school capital projects in County Meath in 2010, 2011 and 2012. [5694/13]

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Written answers

The total capital expenditure on schools in County Meath over the past three years is as follows: 2010 - €22,921,324; 2011 - €21,974,097; and 2012 - €19,922,823.

School Staffing

Questions (334)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

334. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of guidance counsellors employed in schools in County Meath. [5695/13]

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Written answers

The budget measure introduced for the current school year that requires schools to manage the provision of guidance from within their standard staffing allocation, the alternative to which was to make an adjustment to the standard staffing schedule, must be seen in the context of our very difficult budgetary constraints. It is also worth pointing out that, as part of last year's budgetary measures, my Department helped shelter the impact for DEIS post-primary schools by improving their standard staffing allocations. My Department also provided some limited short-term support to schools through curricular concessions in order to help them manage within their approved teaching allocation. My Department does not have the information sought by the Deputy. The day to day management of how teaching resources are used in schools is done at local school level. It is established policy that guidance is a whole school activity and under existing arrangements each school develops a school guidance plan as a means of supporting the needs of its students. I am confident schools will act in the best interest of students when determining precisely how to use the teaching resources available to them. The Government has protected frontline services in schools to the greatest extent possible in the budget and there will no reduction in teacher numbers in primary schools and in free second level schools for the 2013/14 school year as a result of the budget.

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