Wednesday, 20 Mar 2013

Written Answers Nos. 253 - 270

School Staffing

Questions (253)

Finian McGrath

Question:

253. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the gender breakdown of primary school principals by county. [13672/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The information requested in relation to the gender breakdown of Primary School Principals is being compiled and will be provided directly to the Deputy.

It would take the staff in my Department some time to compile this information on a County basis. I do not therefore propose to divert them from their current work in order to provide this.

School Staffing

Questions (254, 256)

Finian McGrath

Question:

254. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will clarify the position regarding small two-teacher rural schools whose pupils numbers fall below 20; the options open to the pupils and teachers of such schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13723/13]

Finian McGrath

Question:

256. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consider putting in place a moratorium of a full school cycle where a school (details supplied) in Country Leitrim will remain open as a two teacher school. [13725/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I propose to take Questions Nos. 254 and 256 together.

Teacher allocations are approved annually in accordance with established rules based on recorded pupil enrolment. The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September.

The allocation process for the 2013/14 school year is currently underway in my Department and the staffing arrangements, including the appeals process, for primary schools have been published on the Department website. The final staffing position for all schools will not be known until later in the year when the allocation process will be fully completed and all appeals to the Staffing Appeal Board will have been considered.

As part of the Budget 2012 decisions, the number of pupils required to gain and retain a classroom teaching post in small primary schools is being gradually increased between September 2012 and September 2014. During this period the pupil threshold for a 2-classroom school is being increased to 20 pupils. In these extremely challenging times, all public servants are being asked to deliver our public services on a reduced level of resources and teachers in small schools cannot be immune from this requirement. The phasing of these measures can provide the schools concerned with time to consider the potential for amalgamation with other schools where this is feasible. If amalgamations do take place, they will be voluntary and follow decisions taken by local communities and not by the Department.

The Government recognises that small schools are an important part of the social fabric of rural communities and my Department has expanded the existing appeals process so that it is accessible to the small schools that are affected by the budget measure. In this regard small schools will not lose their classroom post if they are projecting sustainable increased enrolments in September 2013 that would be sufficient to allow them to retain their existing classroom posts over the longer term.

The detailed arrangements in relation to the appeals process are set out in the Department's Staffing Circular 0013/2013. The Appeal Board operates independently of the Department and its decision is final.

School Transport Eligibility

Questions (255)

Finian McGrath

Question:

255. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the circumstances in which students are sanctioned for subsidised school bus transport to bring them to a primary school outside of their local school. [13724/13]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills

The purpose of my Department's Primary School Transport Scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school.

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. Children who are not eligible for school transport, under the terms of the scheme, may apply to Bus Éireann for transport on a concessionary basis subject to a number of conditions which are detailed in the scheme.

The availability of concessionary transport may vary from year to year, is not available on public scheduled services, and cannot be guaranteed for the duration of a child's primary school education cycle.

The terms of the scheme are applied equitably on a national basis.

Question No. 256 answered with Question No. 254.

Special Educational Needs Services Provision

Questions (257)

Michelle Mulherin

Question:

257. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the provision and courses for personal development and education that are available to a young person with autism after they attain the age of 18 years recognising their special needs and the desirability of developing their potential; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13743/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I wish to advise the Deputy that a variety of options are in place for young persons, including those with special education needs, to continue with educational provision after the age of 18.

My Department provides funding to Vocational Education Committees (VECs) nationwide for a range of part-time and full-time accredited and non-accredited further and adult education programmes which are open to all learners, including those with special educational needs.

The Adult Literacy Programme provides basic education including reading, writing and numeracy skills, and ICT for adults who wish to improve their literacy and numeracy competencies to enhance their functional participation in personal, social and economic life. The Community Education programme provides education and learning, generally outside the formal education sector, with the aims of enhancing learning, empowerment and contributing to civic society.

Funding is also provided to VECs to support local community-based education groups outside the formal education sector and is usually allocated through the provision of teaching hours, or small grants, to a range of community and voluntary groups for educational activities.

The Disability Access Route to Education (DARE) scheme provides a third level admissions scheme for school leavers who have a disability or specific learning difficulty. Students who are considered to be DARE eligible may secure a college place on a reduced points basis. Details of the DARE scheme are available at www. accesscollege.ie.

Site Acquisitions

Questions (258)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

258. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the way a site for a school (details supplied) in County Wicklow was obtained; the details pertaining to its purchase; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13761/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department had a leasehold interest in the premises occupied by the school to which he has referred. The lease ran from 1939 for a period of 50 years, thus it expired in 1989. The property in question is no longer used as a national school following the construction of a new purpose built school on a different site.

Student Grant Scheme Delays

Questions (259)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

259. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on the process, including target time, to resolve the backlog of 80 student appeals in the Student Universal Support Ireland appeals process; and if he will ensure that the appeals board meets more regularly to clear the backlog. [13794/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I understand that the Deputy is referring to the appeals on decisions made by Student Universal Support Ireland which are on hand to be considered by the independent Student Grants Appeals Board (Appeals Board).

I can confirm to the Deputy that the Appeals Board is currently sitting at weekly intervals to clear the appeals on hand. This arrangement will continue into April and will be reviewed on an on-going basis in order to ensure the timely decisions on appeals. The target is to ensure that appeals are considered by the Appeals Board as quickly as possible. Appeals are received on an on-going basis throughout the academic year.

State Examinations Issues

Questions (260)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

260. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will review the appeal decisions for reasonable accommodation in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Meath. [13795/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations.

The State Examinations Commission operates a scheme of Reasonable Accommodations in the Certificate examinations. Applications for such accommodations are submitted by schools on behalf of their students. Full details of the scheme is available for downloading from their website:

www.examinations.ie/candidates/reasonableaccommodations.

In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.

Back to Education Allowance Applications

Questions (261)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

261. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a person (details supplied) in Dublin 24 cannot do a UAC course in Pearse College, Dublin; and the actions that can be taken to allow this person to pursue this chosen course. [13874/13]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills

The person referred to by the Deputy is undergoing a second level education course in Pearse College and is in receipt of a Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) from the Department of Social Protection. The College advise that upon completion of this course he wishes to undertake a university access course which will enable him to progress to third level and the College has a place available for him on this course. While City of Dublin VEC who manage Pearse College offer this course to some learners under the VTOS scheme the eligibility criteria requires that they be unemployed for at least six months prior to enrolment. The person referred to by the Deputy does not fulfil this criteria as he has been attending an educational course and is therefore not classed as unemployed.

His eligibility for payment under the Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) scheme should be addressed to the Department of Social Protection.

Schools Building Contractors

Questions (262)

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

262. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the steps or checks his Department carry out to ensure that all contractors, including sub-contractors employed by the main contractor, working directly for his Department on a school building project are REA compliant; the steps he has taken to address the situation at a school (details supplied) in Dublin 15 which was recently brought to his attention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13889/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

All major school building contracts include a clause specifying the payment of the appropriate Registered Employment Agreement rates of Pay and Conditions of Employment. This is a standard clause in the Public Works Contracts.The National Employment Rights Authority (NERA) is the statutory body established to monitor, inspect and enforce issues relating to employment rights compliance. My Department works closely with NERA and may refer issues for investigation where appropriate.

My Department is continually seeking ways of improving the effectiveness of the delivery of the school building programme particularly in the area of compliance. This includes seeking to improve existing processes for assessing potential risks and verifying compliance with regard to pay and conditions on school building projects. My Department has provided detailed guidance on the duties and obligations in relation to pay and conditions of employment on school building projects as part of the Department's Design Team Procedures.

My Department has recently received correspondence from a Trades Union alleging non-adherence to REA provisions by a named sub-contractor on the project to which the Deputy refers. In accordance with my Department's Design Team Procedures the Employers Representative, in this case the Project Manager, has been requested by my Department to liaise with the main contractor to determine the facts of the case.

My Department is currently reviewing the situation. When that review is complete, my Department will determine the appropriate actions to be taken, including, if necessary, referral to the appropriate statutory industrial relations bodies.

Third Level Courses Feedback

Questions (263)

Peter Mathews

Question:

263. Deputy Peter Mathews asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide in tabular form the cost of administering course feedback and student evaluations, broken down by year and institution since 2000 for universities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13884/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The 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.

Student Grant Scheme Applications

Questions (264)

Tom Fleming

Question:

264. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will issue a student grant as a matter of urgency in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13900/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

Officials 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 6th March, 2013

Croke Park Agreement Issues

Questions (265)

Michael Creed

Question:

265. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will clarify the pension entitlements under Croke Park II for those teachers who opt to retire before August 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13926/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The Minister for Public Expenditure & Reform has decided that public servants who retire before the end of August 2014 will have their pension and lump sum calculated by reference to the current pay rates, i.e. the rates before the pay reductions which will apply from 1st July 2013.

Student Grant Scheme Eligibility

Questions (266)

Andrew Doyle

Question:

266. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding an application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Wicklow who was receiving jobseeker's allowance for a period of time who signed off and applied for a Student Universal Support Ireland grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13947/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) has confirmed that the student referred to by the Deputy appealed the decision on his grant to the appeals officer in SUSI with regard to the rate of grant awarded. Its original decision was upheld and a letter to that effect was issued on the 29th November, 2013.

Where an individual applicant has had an appeal turned down in writing by SUSI and remains of the view that the scheme has not been interpreted correctly in his/her case, an appeal form outlining the position may be submitted by the applicant to the independent Student Grants Appeals Board.

School Enrolments

Questions (267)

Seán Kenny

Question:

267. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he is concerned at the clustering of immigrant children in primary schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13910/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The question of enrolment in individual schools is the responsibility of the managerial authority of those schools. My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking places.

It is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998. In this regard a Board of Management may find it necessary to restrict enrolment to children from a particular area or a particular age group or, occasionally, on the basis of some other criterion. The criteria to be applied by schools in such circumstances are a matter for the schools themselves. This selection process and the enrolment policy on which it is based must be non-discriminatory and must be applied fairly in respect of all applicants.

Under section 15 (2) (d) of the Education Act 1998, each school is legally obliged to disclose its enrolment policy and to ensure that as regards that policy that principles of equality and the rights of parents to send their children to a school of the parents choice are respected.

Section 29 of the Education Act 1998, 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. Where a school refuses to enrol a pupil, the school is obliged to inform parents of their right under Section 29 of the Education Act 1998 to appeal that decision to either the relevant Vocational Educational Committee or to the Secretary General of my Department.

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.

The Deputy will be aware that in 2011, I launched a discussion paper on school enrolment. The "Discussion Paper on a Regulatory Framework for School Enrolment" contains suggestions on how to make the process of enrolling in schools more open, equitable and consistent and is available on my Department's website.

I also invited education partners and interested parties to submit their views to my Department. The feedback from this consultation has helped inform the nature and scope of a new regulatory framework for school enrolment.

I intend to bring legislative proposals to Government this year, the primary aim of which will be to ensure that every child is treated fairly and that every child has a place at school

Special Educational Needs Services Provision

Questions (268)

John McGuinness

Question:

268. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Skills if resource hours will be made available to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny in view of the fact that they have dyspraxia; if he will expedite this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13950/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

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 Resource Teaching support for children with more complex special needs. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such supports.

The NCSE has allocated its Resource Teaching supports to schools for the 2012/13 school year. Details of these allocations are available at www.ncse.ie.

The NCSE have now asked all schools to forward their applications for Resource Teaching Support for the 2013/14 school year to the NCSE by 15th March, 2013, and will advise schools of their revised allocations in advance of the coming school year.

In the interim, schools should support students who require resource teaching or learning support from their existing resource teaching allocations.

Student Grant Scheme Delays

Questions (269)

John McGuinness

Question:

269. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will expedite approval of two grant applications to Student Universal Support Ireland in respect of persons (details supplied) in County Wexford based on the up-to-date information provided. [13952/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) has confirmed that the application from the first named student referred to by the Deputy was issued with a decision that she was ineligible in relation to her grant application as the reckonable income was over the income threshold.

I understand the student appealed that decision to the appeals officer in SUSI and their original decision was upheld and a letter to this effect was issued on the 31st January 2013.

I understand that the second named student appealed the original decision made on her application to the appeals officer in SUSI, her case was reviewed and upheld by the appeals officer and a letter was issued to the applicant on the 13th March 2013 as reckonable income was over the threshold limit.

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 Grants Appeals Board. The relevant appeal form will be available on request from SUSI.

Student Grant Scheme Expenditure

Questions (270)

Heather Humphreys

Question:

270. Deputy Heather Humphreys asked the Minister for Education and Skills the assistance available from his Department to an Irish student (details supplied) studying in the UK; and if his attention has been drawn to any assistance that may be available from the UK authorities towards the cost of third level education there. [13958/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

Under the terms of the student grant scheme, grant assistance is awarded to students who meet the prescribed conditions of funding including those which relate to nationality, residency, approved course, previous academic attainment and means.

Under my Department's student grant scheme, eligible candidates may receive funding provided they are attending an approved course at an approved institution, an approved course is defined as a full-time undergraduate course of at least two years duration or a full-time postgraduate course of not less than one year duration pursued in an approved institution.

Students who are attending undergraduate courses in an EU Member State, can apply for a maintenance grant in respect of an approved course which is being pursued in an approved institution. The student grant scheme does not extend to postgraduate courses pursued outside of Ireland.

The Deputy will appreciate that in the absence of all of the relevant details that would be contained in an individual's application in relation to means, residency, nationality and previous academic attainment, it would not be possible for me to say whether or not a student would qualify for a grant. To determine eligibility, a student may submit a fully completed online grant application to SUSI, via studentfinance.ie, once the application process for the 2013/14 academic year opens.

In addition the student in question can contact the university's Welfare and Financial Guidance Service before they apply for the course at email:

[e-mail] if they would like confidential, one-to-one financial advice.