Willie O'Dea
Question:15. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to improve physical education training at primary school level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17558/13]
View answerPhysical Education
Questions (15)
Written answers
Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills
Physical education, PE, is a mandatory subject in all primary schools. The PE curriculum includes six strands that provide a balanced physical education programme. The strands are: Athletics, Dance, Gymnastics, Games, Outdoor and adventure activities, and Aquatics.
My Department also supports the Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) programme which is a mandatory requirement at primary level. SPHE stresses the importance of regular exercise, as well as the need for a balanced diet as being essential to physical and mental well being.
In addition, schools can also participate in the Active School Flag programme. Since September 2009, more than 1,000 primary schools have applied to participate in the programme. Schools are playing an important role in promoting physical activity, both through the formal curricula and also through extra curricula activities. However, their efforts must be supported and complemented by parents and the local community, and other stakeholders.
Student Grant Scheme Reform
Questions (16, 29)
Barry Cowen
Question:16. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Education and Skills the changes he plans for means testing third level financial supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17532/13]
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John McGuinness
Question:29. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on any changes he plans for means testing third level financial supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17547/13]
View answerWritten answers
Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills
I propose to take Questions Nos. 16 and 29 together.
The Deputy will be aware that, following agreement in principle by the Government to broaden the current means testing arrangements for student grants by way of inclusion of the value of capital assets, Minister Quinn set up a dedicated implementation group to bring forward detailed proposals.
The Minister has received a draft report from the implementation group. This is currently under consideration and I know he will be consulting further with my cabinet colleagues.
School Guidance Counsellors
Questions (17)
Billy Kelleher
Question:17. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he has any plans to review the cuts in the numbers of guidance counsellors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17537/13]
View answerWritten answers
The Minister for Education and Skills has already acknowledged to the House that bringing guidance within quota is challenging for schools. However the alternative was to adjust the PTR staffing allocations. The budget decision sheltered the impact for all DEIS post-primary schools by improving their standard staffing allocations. There are no plans to review this decision. It is important to note that the provision of guidance in schools is a whole school activity and it does not just involve the guidance counsellor.
Initial findings of a recent comprehensive survey by the National Centre for Guidance in Education on schools provision for guidance would suggest that even though there has been a cut in the allocation schools continue to prioritise the guidance programme and within it have increased group-work and class-based activity at senior cycle. This approach maximises the amount of time available for those pupils that need one to one support.
Post-Leaving Certificate Courses
Questions (18, 33, 52, 56)
Richard Boyd Barrett
Question:18. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consider reversing the change to the pupil-teacher ratio and lifting the cap on student numbers in colleges of further education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17580/13]
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John Halligan
Question:33. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will reverse the change to the pupil-teacher ratio and lift the cap on student numbers in colleges of further education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17584/13]
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Thomas Pringle
Question:52. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the impact the changes in the pupil teacher ratio will have on colleges of further education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17583/13]
View answerRichard Boyd Barrett
Question:56. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the impact that the changes in the pupil teacher ratio will have on colleges of further education, on teaching jobs and on opportunities for young people; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17581/13]
View answerWritten answers
Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills
I propose to take Questions Nos. 18, 33, 52 and 56 together.
The number of approved places available under the PLC programme is 32,688. My Department is not in a position to increase this number as there is a continuing requirement to plan and control numbers and to manage expenditure within the context of overall educational policy and provision.
The change of pupil teacher ratio for the Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) programme will reduce the overall number of PLC teaching posts by 200 and may lead to some reduction in subject choices for students but not approved places.
CEOs of VECs have until September to plan how best to deal with this change so that they can continue to deliver programmes which meet the needs of students and employers. My Department has received a number of impact statements from VECs and these are currently being considered.
It is not possible to make any adjustment to this decision without a compensating saving measure in the sector.