Written Answers Nos. 236-252
236. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason fees were not covered in a Student Universal Support Ireland case in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13734/13]
View answerOfficials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland that the student referred to by the Deputy is pursuing an undergraduate degree course in the University of Ulster, in Northern Ireland.
The Student Support Act 2011 provides that the payment of tuition fees be limited to approved courses of higher education at an approved institution in the State, other than for exceptional provision in respect of approved postgraduate courses in Northern Ireland.
Tax relief at the standard rate of tax may be claimed in respect of tuition fees paid for approved courses at approved colleges of higher education including approved undergraduate and postgraduate courses in EU Member States and in non-EU countries. Further information on this tax relief is available from the Revenue Commissioners on www.revenue.ie.
237. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14002/13]
View answerIn Ireland, it is a requirement under S.I. No. 504/2006 — Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations 2006, that any person engaged in any of the activities listed in Schedule four of the above Regulations on a construction site, must be in possession of the relevant Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) registration card. The requirements for the issue of a valid construction skills registration card under the Regulations are possession of (a) the relevant FETAC award under the Construction Skills Certification Scheme, (b) an equivalent FETAC award, or (c) an equivalent award approved by a body in another Member State of the European Communities recognised by FÁS as equivalent to the FETAC award under the Construction Skills Certification Scheme.
There was an agreement in the past between FÁS and the Construction Plant Competency Scheme (CPCS) in the UK to exchange certain plant registration cards. However, as late as December 2012, the CPCS have suspended this agreement, which they are entitled to do. FÁS is currently in negotiations with CPCS in an effort to re-instate the agreement. There is no qualification which is recognised in all EU Member States, different countries regulate different occupations.
Construction Plant is not a regulated occupation under UK legislation. Although a person is required to be competent and qualified it is not a requirement to hold a specified qualification or registration card. Each individual employer must ensure the competence of their workers and therefore they can accept the FÁS CSCS registration card as proof of competence provided they are satisfied that it is sufficient.
Following the Recognition of Professional Qualifications (2005/36/EC) EU Directive, all EU Member States are required to facilitate EU citizens seeking to practice a regulated profession/occupation in another Member State, having gained their qualification in another Member State. As stated above, Construction Plant is not regulated in the UK and therefore they do not come under the scope of the (2005/36/EC) EU Directive.
In the interim period, Mr. Dunne may wish to contact Mr. Tony Pearson or Mr. Pat Wade in FÁS (Tel: 01 6070500) who will keep him up-dated on the process.
238. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a decision will issue regarding an appeal against the judgment to disallow a student grant application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14113/13]
View answerOfficials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland that the student referred to by the Deputy has been awarded a grant and an award letter issued on 11th March, 2013.
239. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will update Dáil Éireann on the student assistance fund; the amount of funding that has been allocated in Budget 2013 for distribution through the fund in 2013-2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14114/13]
View answerThe Third Level Access Measure comprises two sub-priorities: the Student Assistance Fund and the Fund for Students with Disabilities. The overall value of the Fund for the 2013/14 academic year is €16.2m.
The management of the Third Level Access Measure Fund rests with the Higher Education Authority and the allocation of funding for the sub-priorities in a particular year is a matter for the authority.
The allocation to the Student Assistance Fund for the 2013/14 academic year will not be known until the HEA takes a decision in this matter in the run up to the commencement of the academic year.
240. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the salary scale in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry. [14125/13]
View answerThe details submitted in relation to the person referred to by the Deputy are being checked. An official of my Department will be in contact with her in the near future.
241. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans for the present and future accommodation requirements in respect of a school (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14151/13]
View answerThe 5 Year Construction Plan that I announced on 9 March 2012, outlines the major school projects that will commence construction over the duration of the Plan. Details of these projects are also contained on the website. The primary aim at the core of the Five Year Plan is focussed on meeting demographic demands to ensure that every child will have access to a physical school place and that our school system is in a position to cope with increasing pupil numbers.
Due to competing demands on my Department's capital budget, imposed by the need to prioritise the limited funding available for the provision of additional school accommodation to meet increasing demographic requirements, it was not possible to include the project referred to by the Deputy.
My Department will consider applications by schools for funding for additional classrooms, which schools may provide on a permanent basis, where an immediate enrolment need is arising.
242. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if an agreement exists between his Department and a religious order to provide land in County Cork for an extension to a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14152/13]
View answerI can confirm to the Deputy that a property partly occupied by the school to which he refers was offered to my Department in 2009 as part of an offer of properties by the Religious Order who owned it, in the aftermath of the publication of the Ryan Report. The Government's response to this offer indicated that while the property was not of immediate interest, the Order was asked not to dispose of the property without first giving the Minister the option of taking possession.
Since then there have been further discussions between officials of my Department and representatives of the Religious Order in question and I can advise the Deputy that agreement has recently been reached in principle to transfer the property to the Department. However, as discussions are ongoing, I am not in a position to comment further at this time.
Once the property has been transferred, its use to meet the accommodation needs of the school referred to by the Deputy will be considered in the context of the capital budget available to my Department for school buildings generally.
243. Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a scheme of voluntary redundancies is available to employees in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14160/13]
View answerThe Government recently announced a targeted voluntary redundancy package which is initially to be rolled out in three areas including specific parts of the Education Sector. Officials of my Department are currently liaising with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform with a view to finalising arrangements for the roll out of a targeted scheme for the Sector. Accordingly, a scheme is not currently on offer to employees of my Department.
244. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a Student Universal Support Ireland grant in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14189/13]
View answerMy officials understand from Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) that the student referred to by the Deputy appealed the original decision to its appeals officer on 6th March , 2013. SUSI aims to issue appeal determinations as promptly as possible and within the specified timeframe specified in the Student Support Act, 2011.
245. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills when payment of a grant will issue in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14193/13]
View answerOfficials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland that the student referred to by the Deputy has had his application reviewed and he was subsequently awarded the non-adjacent rate. A revised award letter issued on 18th February 2013.
I understand that a revised rate of payment was issued to the student referred to by the Deputy on 13th March 2013.
246. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 216 of 1 March 2013 regarding Student Universal Support Ireland grant applications, if he will clarify the number yet to be dealt with; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14195/13]
View answerI understand from Student Universal Support Ireland that it is up to date with processing all complete applications. In this regard as at the close of business on the 17th March 2013 the position is that 59,684 applications have been processed to completion.
As part of the close out strategy for the 2012/13 academic year, SUSI is currently contacting applicants who have not completed their application by submitting the required documentation. SUSI is providing these with a final opportunity to submit the documentation so that applications for 2012/13 can be closed out. Support for students to complete their applications has been put in place. 698 applications are currently with SUSI for processing, the majority of which are as a result of the close out strategy.
247. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of schools in the primary sector that are operating early childhood care and education facilities in each county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13618/13]
View answerMy Department does not currently collect data on whether or not primary schools are operating early childhood care and education facilities. The Department of Children and Youth Affairs does have information on whether the early years service is located within school grounds but doesn't have information on whether the facility is being operated by the primary school or by an independent group. The Deputy may wish to take this up with the D/CYA.
248. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of schools in the primary sector that have had funding approved for extensions and the number awaiting approval, broken down by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13619/13]
View answerInformation in respect of the current status of all assessed applications for major capital works at primary and post primary schools, including details of those projects where funding has been approved, is available on my Department's website, broken down by county, at www.education.ie, which is updated regularly throughout the year.
The 5 Year Construction Plan that I announced on 9 March 2012 last, outlines the major school projects that will commence construction over the duration of the Plan. Details of these projects are also contained on the website, broken down by county. The primary aim at the core of the Five Year Plan is focused on meeting demographic demands to ensure that every child will have access to a physical school place and that our school system is in a position to cope with increasing pupil numbers.
In addition, under my Department's Prefab Replacement Initiative announced in March 2012, over 170 schools have been approved to replace their rented prefab accommodation with permanent accommodation. In excess of €42 million has been allocated for this initiative of which €15.6 million was paid in 2012. This funding is being provided to schools to replace rented prefabs that are currently providing mainstream classroom and resource rooms for an estimated 6,000 pupils. In total 286 mainstream classrooms currently in rented prefabs will receive permanent buildings details of which are available on my Departments website.
249. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a site has been identified in relation to a college campus development (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13620/13]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that discussions are ongoing between officials in Co. Donegal VEC and my Department in relation to identifying a suitable site to cater for the proposed campus development to which he refers. Due to the commercial sensitivities attaching to site acquisitions generally, I am not in a position to comment further at this time.
250. Deputy Peter Mathews asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide in tabular form the number of persons employed and the total cost thereof for each institution in respect of human resources administration, financial administration and general administration broken down by institute of technology and by university and by year since 2000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13626/13]
View answerThe information sought is not readily available in my Department. Officials of my Department have asked the Higher Education Authority to contact the institutions seeking details and I will forward the available information to the Deputy as soon as possible.
251. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 256 of 22 January 2013 when the new circular will be issued; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13652/13]
View answerI can inform the Deputy that Circular 8/2013: Budget 2012 – Public Service-Wide Review of Allowances and Premium Payments, was issued on 25 January 2013. The Circular is available to download from my Department's website.
252. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if proposals contained in the Croke Park II arrangements will result in a cut in allowances for teachers working in schools in the Gaeltacht areas on Irish offshore islands. [13673/13]
View answerThe proposals put forward by the Labour Relations Commission on an extension to the Croke Park Agreement include a provision that there will be full co-operation by the parties with the follow up to the Government's allowances review.
The public service trade unions are currently considering the outcome of these negotiations. Their members now have an important decision to make and in my view, it is better for us all to allow them the time and space to reflect and come to that decision without any perceived pressure from any side. In light of that, I do not think that it would be helpful to this ongoing process for me to comment or elaborate upon proposals which were carefully constructed by the LRC.
