Written Answers Nos. 286-304
286. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on the drafting of guidelines for schools in relation to mental health in the State's education system; if he will provide a provisional timeline on the planned publication of the guidelines and further actions that will follow from same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18924/13]
View answerI can inform the Deputy that, in conjunction with my colleague Minister of State Kathleen Lynch, I was pleased to announce at the end of January this year, the publication of the Well-Being in Post-Primary Schools – Guidelines for Mental Health Promotion and Suicide Prevention. The Guidelines have been developed to bring coherence to and build upon the multitude of practices that are already in place in schools to promote well-being. The content of the Guidelines draw together existing elements and structures that are in place in post-primary schools - the SPHE curriculum, the whole-school guidance plan and the NEPS Continuum of Support Framework. They provide clear evidence-based advice for schools on the effective and coherent integration of structures and systems to assist schools with the task of whole-school implementation.
The Guidelines emphasise the need to integrate all elements by using a coordinated whole-school approach in the promotion of positive mental health. This involves building and integrating school self-evaluation processes, implementing the Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) curriculum, developing the whole-school guidance plan, adopting the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) continuum of support, and building effective inter-agency relationships. Support for schools will be integrated into existing CPD work plans for the SPHE support service and will be coordinated nationally in collaboration with NEPS and HSE to ensure a streamlined approach. Copies of the Guidelines have been circulated to schools authorities.
287. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to provide broadband and an internet connection to a rural school (details supplied) in County Clare;; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18978/13]
View answerUnder the Schools Broadband Access Programme the Department provides for the supply of internet connectivity for all recognised primary schools. All contracts under the Schools Broadband Access Programme were recently re-tendered under a public procurement competition. As a result, the number of service providers has been expanded from 6 to 13 thereby increasing the range of service options nationally. The best available service option is offered to each school. These contracts were signed last summer and the migration of schools onto the new services is currently underway.
The Department is aware of the difficulty that some schools, such as St Flannan's National School School have with their broadband service. Through the public procurement process the Department has sought as far as possible to reduce the reliance on satellite services and in this regard the number of schools reliant on a satellite connection has fallen from approximately 1,800 in 2005 to approximately 160 at present. Satellite connections and DLS connections of up to 1megabyte have only been awarded where no other solution was proposed and contracts for these connections have only been awarded for one year. These schools will be re-tendered this summer and in the interim the Department will liaise with service providers to try and ensure that where possible improved connections will be made available.
288. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the procedure for a new poet being accepted to the English syllabus of the leaving certificate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19015/13]
View answerTexts for inclusion in the lists of prescribed works for study at Leaving Certificate level are chosen by a sub-committee of the course committee for Senior Cycle English, which in turn ratifies the final selection for each year. The sub-committee is currently working on the draft list of texts for examination in 2016. The work is managed by the education officer for English for consideration by the committee or sub-committee.
289. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will take steps to provide additional post leaving certificate places to cater for the increasing educational needs in County Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19066/13]
View answerA total of 629 Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) places are currently available in County Westmeath. These are offered in six different centres, four Vocational Educational Committee (VEC) schools, one Voluntary Secondary school and one Community and Comprehensive school. The total 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.
290. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding an application for third level grants in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19080/13]
View answerIn relation to the first named candidate officials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland, that on 12th April 2013, a request for further documentation was issued to the student referred to by the Deputy. When the requested documentation is returned the student will be notified directly of the outcome. In relation to the second named candidate officials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland, that on 10th April 2013, a request for further documentation was issued to the student referred to by the Deputy. When the requested documentation is returned the student will be notified directly of the outcome.
291. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the grants available to families who wish to educate their children in Irish but do not have a Gaelscoil in their area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19081/13]
View answerUnder 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. In this regard children who reside 3.2 kms from and are attending their nearest Gaelscoil are eligible for school transport. Bus Éireann is responsible for the planning and timetabling of school transport routes including to Gaelscoileanna. Bus Éireann endeavours, within available resources, to ensure that each eligible child has a reasonable level of school transport service in the context of the Scheme nationally.
An eligible child for whom no transport service is available may, following an application for transport within the prescribed time limits, receive a Remote Area Grant (RAG) towards the cost of private transport arrangements. The RAG is also payable for eligible children who may have to travel 3.2 kms or more to or from a designated pick up/set down point. Families seeking school transport to Gaelscoileanna should liaise with their local Bus Éireann office regarding their eligibility for school transport and the availability of services.
292. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a school (details supplied) in County Sligo was not included in his five year plan for school buildings, 2012 to 2016, despite the fact that more than 185 pupils have been accommodated in prefabs since 1996; in view of the large number of applications for the coming years, if he will consider revising his five year plan for school buildings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19093/13]
View answerThe school referred to by the Deputy has an application with my Department for large scale capital funding for a new school building. The current status of all schools on the school building programme may be viewed on my Department's website at www.education.ie. The Deputy will be aware that the Five 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. 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.
Given the need to meet demographic growth, the delivery of new schools, together with extension projects, to meet future demand will be the main focus of the Department's budget for the coming years. In this context, it is not possible to indicate at this point when a building project for the school in question will be progressed. My Department will however consider applications by the schools for funding for additional classrooms where an immediate enrolment need is arising.
293. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will confirm when a planned new school (details supplied) in County Offaly will proceed in view of the fact that parents were promised that the school would be complete by September 2013 but work has yet to start;; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19109/13]
View answerMy Department is endeavouring to maximise the efficient use of all available capacity in the public sector to assist in the delivery of the schools programme and in this context the new school building for the school mentioned by the Deputy is one of 15 school projects where responsibility for the delivery of the projects was devolved to the Office of Public Works (OPW).
Four of these projects were tendered by the OPW in early 2013. The OPW have recently forwarded a tender report for these school projects to the Department. The Department, in consultation with the OPW, is currently considering these documents. These projects are categorised on the 5 year Capital Programme as projects due to go to construction in 2013. There will be some delay in the project mentioned by the Deputy going to construction and the Department is in contact with the school to ensure that there is sufficient accommodation for September 2013.
294. Deputy Seán Conlan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason the legislation governing the Student Universal Support Ireland grant discriminates against students whose parent and/or guardian, for the purposes of assessment of income, is in receipt of an allowance as a dependent of a cohabiting partner (details supplied). [19115/13]
View answerTo qualify for the special rate of grant an applicant must meet the following conditions: 1. Reckonable income must not exceed €22,703. 2. On the 31st December of the relevant period the reckonable income must include an eligible long-term payment prescribed under the scheme. In the case of a dependent candidate, the reckonable income taken into account is that of the candidate and of the candidate's parents or legal guardian: Section 2 of the Student Support Act 2011 provides that "parent" includes an appointed guardian or an adoptive parent.
The Student Support Act 2011 and the Social Welfare Act 1952 are the legislative basis for the provision of differing services and supports. The Student Support Act 2011 is for the provision of supports for further and higher education and, therefore, its conditions are specific to that purpose.
295. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to parliamentary Question No. 169 of 14 February 2013, if he will provide the data from FÁS detailed in the answer. [19119/13]
View answerI understand that officials from my Department provided the data in question to the Deputy's office on the 10th April.
296. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the steps a foreign citizen (details supplied) with foreign qualifications would need to take to work in the pere-school or primary education sectore here;; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19136/13]
View answerThe Teaching Council is the body with statutory responsibility for the registration of teachers including the recognition of qualifications. I understand that the person in question has already been in contact with the Teaching Council and has been requested by the Council to apply for registration using the application form PRQA 01. As each application for registration is considered on its own merits any query relating to a particular qualification should be addressed directly to the Council. As the Council is an independent body, it would not be appropriate for me to intervene in individual cases. The matter should be taken up directly with the Council.
297. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the percentage cut to the salary of An Taoiseach and allowances under the terms of Croke Park 2; and if he will confirm if any public sector staff earning less than €65,000 in salary and allowances will face a greater percentage cut to salary and allowances under Croke Park 2. [18404/13]
View answerIn view of the Unions’ non acceptance of the measures proposed by the Labour Relations Commission, it will now be necessary for the Government to decide on and secure alternative measures that will deliver the necessary savings to meet our expenditure targets. The Government will reflect on the outcome of the ballot and the manner in which the required savings can be achieved this year. We will have to consider how to do so while ensuring the ongoing delivery of public services to the people who depend upon them.
298. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the progress made to date in the provision of flood control measures to guard against damage to property arising out of any future flooding from the River Deel in the Crossmolina area, County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18566/13]
View answerA feasibility study to identify potential mitigation measures to address the flood problem on the River Deel at Crossmolina was completed by the Office of Public Works in 2012. The OPW subsequently appointed Engineering and Environmental Consultants to prepare an outline design of mitigation measures and an Environmental Impact Statement. This process will be informed by a channel survey which will commence shortly subject to environmental and water level constraints. If an economically and environmentally viable flood relief scheme emerges, it is expected that it will be brought to Public Exhibition before the end of 2013.
299. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the position in relation to a flood alleviation project (details supplied) in County Clare; the date on which it is expected that works will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18399/13]
View answerThe flood alleviation project referred to, which comprises mitigation works in the vicinity of St Flannans College and at Ballybeg, and the upgrade of an existing embankment in the area, is being progressed by Clare County Council with funding from the Office of Public Works. The Council recently received planning permission from An Bord Pleanála for the project and their consultants are currently engaged in the detailed design process, including preparation of a detailed cost benefit analysis. The Council have indicated that, subject to the identified option being deemed economically viable, the procurement process for the works contractor is expected to commence later this year.
300. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the moratorium on recruitment in the public sector applies to the replacement of a person in a job-sharing post; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18513/13]
View answerThe moratorium on recruitment in the public service applies to all posts, including those where work-sharing arrangements are in place. Of course, it is open to departmental managers to redeploy staff into priority areas, either from within their organisation or from other areas of the public service, once they meet their overall numbers ceilings. In exceptional circumstances, some limited recruitment is also allowable under the moratorium.
301. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when he expects to bring the Private Residential Tenancies Board under the scope of the Freedom of Information Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18584/13]
View answerDrafting of the new Freedom of Information (FoI) Bill is at an advanced stage and it is currently planned that, following Government consideration, the Bill will be published during the current Oireachtas session.
The purpose of the Bill is to address the main substantive restrictions in access to official information introduced in 2003, to extend Freedom of Information to all public bodies, to provide a framework for the extension of FOI to non-public bodies in receipt of significant funding from the Exchequer as well as to consolidate, modernise and update the legislation. In terms of extending freedom of information to all public bodies, the Bill will contain a generic definition which will enable FOI to apply to all public bodies unless specifically exempt. On that basis, the Private Residential Tenancies Board will be comprehended by the generic definition contained in the Bill and will become subject to FoI under the new legislation when enacted in due course.
It is intended that the Private Residential Tenancies Board, along with other public bodies not currently subject to FoI, will be allowed a six month period to prepare within their organisation for the application of FoI to its records.
302. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 248 of 12 March 2013, the date on which new pay and allowance arrangements under Croke Park 2 need to be implemented in 2013 in order to generate planned savings in the public sector; and if he will confirm the net savings, that is the difference existing gross pay and allowances less tax and other contributions to the State and the new gross pay and allowances less tax and other contributions to the State, planned for 2013. [18732/13]
View answerI refer to my reply to Question Nos. 18179 and 18181 of 18 April 2013.
303. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when the next report of the Croke Park Implementation Body will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18742/13]
View answerThe Implementation Body, which is charged with driving the implementation of the Public Service Agreement, is required to assess the savings being facilitated under the framework of the Agreement on an annual basis. The Body has carried out two annual reviews of the Agreement to date. The two Annual Progress Reports published on foot of these reviews show that approximately €1.5bn in savings has been facilitated by the Agreement during its first two years, comprising of €810m and €678m in sustainable pay bill and non-pay (efficiency) savings respectively.
The Implementation Body is currently undertaking the third annual review of the Agreement which will assess the level of savings achieved and progress on implementing the reform commitments under the framework of that Agreement during the nine-month period from April to December 2012. I expect that the Body’s review will be completed in the coming weeks and its third annual report will be published soon after.
304. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide in tabular form the number of civil/public servants under the remit of his Department who earn more than €500,000, between €400,000-€500,00, €300,000 - €250,000, €250,000 - €200,000, €200,000 - €150,000, €150,000 - €100,000, €100,000 - €80,000, €80,000 - €60,000, €60,000 - €40,000 and less than €30,000. [18874/13]
View answerIn response to the Deputy’s question there are seven organisations within the Public Expenditure Vote Group including the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, Office of Public Works, Public Appointments Service, Ombudsman, Valuation Office, State Laboratory and the new Shared Services.
The following table outlines the number of Civil and Public Servants under the remit of my Department at end March 2013 and their respective earnings.
|
Earning Bracket |
Public Expenditure & Reform |
Office of Public Works |
Shared Services |
Public Appointments Service |
Ombudsman |
Valuation Office |
State Laboratory |
|
Less than €40,000 |
74 |
1,412 |
95 |
44 |
31 |
27 |
20 |
|
€40,000 - €60,000 |
119 |
406 |
27 |
30 |
23 |
71 |
30 |
|
€60,000 - €80,000 |
48 |
92 |
2 |
4 |
20 |
21 |
28 |
|
€80,000 - €100,000 |
61 |
63 |
1 |
5 |
13 |
10 |
6 |
|
€100,000 - €150,000 |
24 |
7 |
3 |
4 |
2 |
||
|
€150,000 - €200,000 |
2 |
2 |
|||||
|
Total |
328 |
1,982 |
125 |
86 |
91 |
131 |
84 |
I have no staff earning more than €200,000.
