Thursday, 9 May 2013

Written Answers Nos. 91-94

Ministerial Expenditure

Questions (92)

John McGuinness

Question:

92. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Skills the amount of travel and subsistence both foreign and domestic claimed by each junior Minister and Secretary General in his Department for the period 2007 to date in 2013; the number of staff appointed by each Minister and junior Minister in his Department or constituency office and their relevant cost including travel and subsistence in each case for the period 2007 to date in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22034/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Ruairí Quinn)

The information sought is being compiled at present and will be forwarded to the Deputy shortly.

School Staffing

Questions (93)

Paul Connaughton

Question:

93. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a school (details supplied) in County Galway is due to lose a teacher; the options open to management and parents to retain this teacher; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22060/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Ruairí Quinn)

The Deputy will be aware that in the context of Budget 2012, I announced a three year phased adjustment to increase the relevant pupil thresholds for small schools with four teachers or less. The staffing arrangements in small primary schools are considerably more favourable than other medium to larger schools.

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 in the Department's Staffing Circular 0013/2013. The Appeals Board operates independently of the Department and its decision is final.

Special Educational Needs Services Provision

Questions (94)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

94. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the supports that exist for secondary schools to provide scribes and readers for students who need them for in house school exams; if he will agree that the failure to provide such services outside of State exams disadvantages those who need this service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22065/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Ruairí Quinn)

I wish to advise the Deputy that reasonable accommodations for students with special educational needs, who are taking State examinations, may include the provision of a reader or scribe, subject to the conditions set out by the State Examinations Commission, which are available at www.examinations.ie.

Such accommodations are specific to participation in state examinations and are therefore provided only for that purpose. The accommodations are intended to limit the impact of a candidate's special educational need or disability on their exam performance, while not giving the candidate an unfair advantage.

Additional supports are provided for children with special educational needs throughout the school year which include additional resource teaching or learning support, either through the General Allocation Model or individual allocation, lower pupil teacher ratios in special schools and classes, assistive technology support where required, and access to Special Needs Assistance support, for children who have care needs.