Tuesday, 21 May 2013

Written Answers Nos. 317-336

Schools Building Contractors

Questions (317)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

317. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will detail, for each of the past four years, the number of schools that have had building contracts terminated prior to the schools completion; the reasons for the termination of the contracts; the expense incurred by his Department in seeking new tenders in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23724/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

In the past four years, the contractor's obligation to complete the works was terminated on ten major school building projects. The difficulties encountered on nine of these projects related to contractor insolvencies. The termination of the contractor's obligation to complete the works on the tenth project was due to the contractor's default. There was a bond in place for each of the ten projects. The bond is used to cover costs that would otherwise accrue to the Employer (i.e. the Department, School, VEC etc.) on foot of a contractor's failure to complete the works. As such the Employer's financial exposure is generally minimal. Negotiations are ongoing with regard to a number of these projects and in some cases the full cost of re-tendering and completion of the works is not yet known. The Deputy will appreciate that it is not possible to release commercially sensitive cost information which is currently the subject of negotiations. To do so would undermine the Department's position with regard to such negotiations.

For the Deputy's ease of reference I am supplying details of the ten projects.

County	Roll Number	School Name	Year in which issue arose	Reason for Re-tender
Kilkenny	61580P	Loreto Secondary School, Granges Road*	2012	Insolvency Event
Kildare	17674B	SN Aine Naofa, Ard Cloc, Straffan	2012	Termination due to Contractors Default
Dublin City	20139T	Inchicore NS, Sarsfield Road, Dublin 10	2011	Insolvency Event
Dun Laoghaire  Rathdown	70030E	Senior College, Dún Laoghaire, Eblana Avenue, Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin	2011	Insolvency Event
Galway City	62970K	Coláiste Iognáid SJ Bothar na Mara	2011	Insolvency Event
Limerick	13026P	Kilfinane National School	2011	Insolvency Event
Limerick City	64201T	Ardscoil Ris, North Circular Rd, Limerick	2011	Insolvency Event
Roscommon	65100S	Scoil Mhuire, Strokestown, Co Roscommon	2011	Insolvency Event
Offaly	17523D	SN Cronain Naofa, Dromakeenan	2010	Insolvency Event
Kildare	17662R	Scoil Bhride NS , Kill	2009	Insolvency Event

Schools Building Contractors

Questions (318)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

318. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will confirm if contractors who have failed to complete a school building contract in the past have been awarded other school building contracts; if there are future sanctions imposed on contractors who fail to complete a school building contract; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23725/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

In the past 4 years, in the vast majority of cases where a contractor failed to complete a major school building project this was due to insolvency issues; the contractors in question ceased to trade. Only one termination was due to issues not related to insolvency. The contractor in question has not been successful in any tender competitions for major school building contracts since the termination date. There are many reasons why a public works contract may be terminated and these are complex; due process has to be followed in each case. School building projects are tendered in line with Department of Public Expenditure and Reform guidelines and public procurement procedures; these do not currently provide for sanctions where a previous contract has been terminated.

Special Educational Needs Staffing

Questions (319)

Patrick O'Donovan

Question:

319. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a person (details supplied) in County Wexford was refused a special needs assistant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23805/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I wish to advise the Deputy that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), is responsible for processing applications from schools for special educational needs supports, including the allocation of Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) to schools. SNAs are allocated to schools in order to provide for the care needs of children with special educational needs attending such schools. The NCSE operates within my Department's established criteria for the allocation of Special Education supports and the staffing resources available to my Department.

I wish to advise the Deputy that SNAs are not allocated to individual pupils. The NCSE allocates a quantum of SNA support for each school annually taking into account the care needs of all of the qualifying children enrolled in the school, and on the basis of the assessed care needs of the children. It is a matter for schools to then allocate and manage these resources to assist children as their needs arise.

All schools were advised to apply to the NCSE for resource teaching and SNA support for the 2013/14 school year by 15th March 2013. The NCSE are currently processing these applications and schools will be notified by SENOs of their resource teaching and SNA allocation for 2013/14 in advance of the coming school year, based on the number of valid applications received. All schools have the names and contact details of their local SENO. Parents may also contact their local SENO directly to discuss their child's special educational needs, using the contact details available on www.ncse.ie.

Ministerial Travel

Questions (320)

Simon Harris

Question:

320. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will outline in tabular form, the amount of travel and subsistence, both foreign and domestic, claimed individually by each Minister and Minister of State and Secretary General in his Department, for each year in the period 2005 to March 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23814/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The following table sets out the relevant details of payments made by this Department in respect of both Foreign and Domestic Travel and Subsistence to each Minister, Minister of State and Secretary General in the period 2005 to March 2011, as requested by the Deputy.

Foreign and Domestic Travel & Subsistence payments made to Department of Education & Skills Ministers, Ministers of State and Secretary Generals in the period 2005 to March 2011*

Ministers	-	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	March 2011	Total
Noel Dempsey T.D.	Foreign T&S	939.25	-	-	-	-	-	-	939.25
-	Domestic T&S	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
-	Total Paid	939.25	-	-	-	-	-	-	939.25
Many Hanafin T.D.	Foreign T&S	3,755.12	5,338.48	3,038.71	3,716.92	-	-	-	15,849.23
-	Domestic T&S	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
-	Total Paid	3,755.12	5,338.48	3,038.71	3,716.92	-	-	-	15,849.23
Batt O'Keeffe T.D.	Foreign T&S	-	-	-	1098.61	552.42	813.42	-	2,464.45
-	Domestic T&S	-	-	-	493.87	469.51	652.82	-	1,616.20
-	Total Paid	-	-	-	1,592.48	1,021.93	1,466.24	-	4,080.65
Mary Coughlan T.D.	Foreign T&S	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
(Tánaiste)	Domestic T&S	-	-	-	-	-	515.61	112.46	628.07
-	Total Paid	-	-	-	-	-	515.61	112.46	628.07
Ministers of State	-	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	March 2011	Total
Síle DeValera T.D.	Foreign T&S	4,594.89	651.97	-	-	-	-	-	5,246.86
-	Domestic T&S	21,910.45	16,054.64	8,167.45	-	-	-	-	46,132.54
-	Total Paid	26,505.34	16,706.61	8,167.45	-	-	-	-	51,379.40
Sean Haughey T.D.	Foreign T&S	-	-	-	364.46	532.81	323.73	-	1,221.00
-	Domestic T&S	-	-	14,640.38	16,335.38	16,519.80	12,965.07	1,121.15	61,581.78
-	Total Paid	-	-	14,640.38	16,699.84	17,052.61	13,288.80	1,121.15	62,802.78
Secretaries General	-	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	Total
John Dennehy	Foreign T&S	6,730.00	-	-	-	-	-	-	6,730.00
-	Domestic T&S	276.44	-	-	-	-	-	-	276.44
-	Total Paid	7,006.44	-	-	-	-	-	-	7,006.44
Brigid McManus	Foreign T&S	-	1,450.38	-	-	-	-	-	1,450.38
-	Domestic T&S	-	1,789.54	3,774.85	684.29	454.29	328.69	-	7,031.66
-	Total Paid	-	3,239.92	3,774.85	684.29	454.29	328.69	-	8,482.04

Note: Amounts shown for each year relate to payments made in that year but may refer to T&S expenses incurred in a previous year.

Ministerial Staff

Questions (321)

Simon Harris

Question:

321. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will outline in tabular form, the number of staff appointed by each Minister and Minister of State in his Department or constituency office and their relevant costs including travel and subsistence, in each year for the period 2005 to March 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23830/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The following table sets out the details staff appointed by each Minister and Minister of State of this Department and associated relevant costs, including Travel and Subsistence payments made in each year, in the period 2005 to March 2011, as requested by the Deputy.

Domestic Travel & Subsistence	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	March 2011
Minister Many Hanafin (T.D.)
Special Adviser	326.89	467.12	432.86	1,375.72	-	-	-
Press Officer	2,719.47	3,012.10	1,033.52	1,710.06	-	-	-
Personal Secretary*	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Personal Assistant	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Personal Assistant	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Minister Batt O'Keeffe (T.D.)
Special Adviser	-	-	-	-	776.28	-	-
Special Adviser	-	-	-	2,412.24	7,031.38	1,423.86
Personal Secretary	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Personal Assistant	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
An Tanáiste Mary Coughlan (T.D.)
Special Adviser	-	-	-	-	-	-	128.99
Special Adviser	-	-	-	-	-	762.18	50.82
Press Adviser	-	-	-	-	-	7,070.47	761.13
Personal Secretary	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Personal Assistant	-	-	-	-	-	1,493.09	842.89
Minister of State Síle DeValera (T.D.)
Personal Assistant	35.85	81.05	-	-	-	-	-
Civilian Driver 1	11,916.84	14,353.44	570.27	-	-	-	-
Civilian Driver 2	14,371.63	15,185.11	-	-	-	-	-
Minister of State Seán Haughey (T.D.)
Personal Secretary**	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Personal Secretary	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Personal Assistant	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Civilian Driver 1	-	-	6,382.81	6,732.35	6,654.54	4,993.31	1,620.80
Civilian Driver 2	-	-	7,279.73	6,799.74	5,664.89	5,472.07	1,251.09
Total Paid	29,370.68	33,098.82	15,699.19	19,030.11	20,127.09	21,214.98	4,655.72

Note: Payments listed are the total amounts paid within the dates specified. In a small number of cases may refer to costs relating to a previous year.

Personal Secretary* Left in 2005. Replaced by Personal Assistant

Personal Secretary** Left in 2008. Replaced by Personal Secretary

Foreign Travel & Subsistence	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	March 2011
Minister Many Hanafin (T.D.)
Special Adviser	794.79	263.49	655.53	-	-	-	-
Press Officer	414.31	239.67	264.83	1,187.16	-	-	-
Personal Secretary*	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Personal Assistant	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Personal Assistant	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Minister Batt O'Keeffe (T.D.)
Special Adviser	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Special Adviser	-	-	-	813.50	292.00	-	-
Personal Secretary	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Personal Assistant	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
An Tanáiste Mary Coughlan (T.D.)
Special Adviser	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Special Adviser	-	-	-	-	-	219.38	-
Press Adviser	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Personal Secretary	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Personal Assistant	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Minister of State Síle DeValera (T.D.)
Personal Assistant	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Civilian Driver 1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Civilian Driver 2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Minister of State Seán Haughey (T.D.)
Personal Secretary**	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Personal Secretary	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Personal Assistant	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Civilian Driver 1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Civilian Driver 2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Total Paid	1,209.10	503.16	920.36	2,000.66	292.00	219.38	-

Note: Payments listed are the total amounts paid within the dates specified. In a small number of cases may refer to costs relating to a previous year.

Schools Building Projects Status

Questions (322)

Dara Murphy

Question:

322. Deputy Dara Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on the plans for a new buildings at a school (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23871/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of architectural planning. In October 2012, the Department authorised the project to proceed to Stage 2b which includes applications for Planning Permission, Fire Safety Certificate, Disability Access Certificate and the preparation of tender documents. Due to competing demands on the 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 this project in the five year construction programme announced last year. Schools which have not been included in the five year construction programme, but which were previously initiated will continue to be progressed to final planning stages in anticipation of the possibility of further funds being available to the Department in future years. The building project for the school referred to by the Deputy remains available to be considered for progression in this context.

Adult Literacy and Numeracy Strategy

Questions (323, 325, 342, 361)

Peter Mathews

Question:

323. Deputy Peter Mathews asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to include a specific commitment in the Further Education and Training Bill 2013 to develop a national adult literacy and numeracy strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23874/13]

Terence Flanagan

Question:

325. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consider amending the Further Education and Training Bill 2013 to include an adult literacy and numeracy strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23883/13]

Finian McGrath

Question:

342. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will prioritise adult literacy in 2013; and the reason it is excluded from the Further Education and Training Bill 2013. [24039/13]

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

361. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding an adult literacy and numeracy strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24382/13]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills

I propose to take Questions Nos. 323, 325, 342 and 361 together.

I recognise that further education and training as it is currently delivered covers a broad spectrum that ranges from basic adult literacy and numeracy courses to courses that are certified at level 6 and above on the National Framework of Qualifications. Section 9 of the Bill provides that SOLAS, once established, will prepare and submit, to the Minister, a strategy in respect of further education and training. The issue of including a provision in the Bill for the development of a national adult literacy and numeracy strategy was raised at Dáil Committee Stage. I have asked officials in the Department to give consideration to this matter in advance of Report Stage in the Dáil in coming weeks.

Site Acquisitions

Questions (324)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

324. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on the purchase of a site for a new primary school (details supplied) in County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23882/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I can confirm to the Deputy that officials from my Department have been working closely for some time now with officials from Wicklow County Council in relation to acquiring a suitable site for the delivery of school accommodation in the area referred to by him. I am pleased to advise the Deputy that agreement in principle, subject to contract, has been reached in relation to a suitable site which will cater not only for the school referred to by him but also for other accommodation needs in the area. Contracts are awaited at present in relation to the site. The Deputy will be aware that the project to deliver the new school building for the school referred to is included in the 5 year Building Programme which I announced in 2012.

Question No. 325 answered with Question No. 323.

Traveller Community

Questions (326)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

326. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the fact that in February 2013 the Children’s Rights Alliance awarded the Government a grade E for its unacceptable performance on issues affecting Traveller children in its annual report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23991/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I have noted the comments of the Children's Rights Alliance in its Report Card 2013 in relation to children who are members of the Travelling Community. I understand that although the Children's Rights Alliance consulted with other groups on the content of the Report Card relating to Traveller children, it did not consult with my Department in relation to developments concerning Traveller education. My Department would be keen to be consulted on future occasions in order to ensure a balance in the commentary as well as a currency of information.

This Government, through its various interventions in the education sector, is committed to improved retention rates, better learning experiences and improved outcomes for all children, including children who are members of the Travelling community. Recorded Traveller participation rates in education in recent years show an increase. In the 2004/05 school year, approximately 1,850 Traveller pupils aged between thirteen and eighteen (inclusive) were recorded as enrolled in post-primary schools and this increased to 2,698 in 2011/12 school year. The majority of Traveller students transfer from primary to post-primary education. Participation rates in the junior cycle have steadily improved from 1,598 Traveller students recorded in 2004/05 to 1,898 in the 2011/12 school year. The number of Travellers progressing to senior cycle has consistently improved in recent years from 260 in 2004/05 to 800 in 2011/12. Some 25% of young Travellers leave mainstream post-primary education, before completion of the senior cycle.

Current policy in relation to Traveller education is underpinned by the Report and Recommendations for a Traveller Education Strategy which was launched in 2006, following wide ranging consultation with relevant stakeholders including Traveller representative groups. The Strategy covers, in a very comprehensive manner, aspects of Traveller Education from pre-school right through to further and higher education within a lifelong learning context. The principle of inclusion is at the core of the Strategy and, accordingly, the focus of both current and future provision is on the development of a more inclusive school environment through the whole school planning process, teaching practice, admissions policies, codes of behaviour and whole school evaluation. In keeping with this principle, additional resources provided in the education system are allocated on the basis of individual educational need rather than that of ethnic or cultural background. Implementation of the Strategy is undertaken by the Department of Education and Skills in consultation with representatives of the Traveller community through the Traveller Education Strategy Advisory and Consultative Forum.

School Enrolments

Questions (327)

Joe McHugh

Question:

327. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will review a submission regarding a school that operates under Church of Ireland management; his view of the cultural and local roles of such schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23994/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The Government recognises that small schools are an important part of the social fabric of rural communities. They will continue to be a feature of our education landscape. 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.

How best to sustain provision for widely dispersed and small Protestant communities does present as a particular challenge especially in any locality where enrolment in their schools is declining to single figures and amalgamation is not an option because there is no other school nearby. The Government is intent in fostering pluralism in school provision. Supporting minority churches in maintaining their schools is part of that policy.

A Value for Money examination of small schools is being carried out and my Department expects to publish the analysis and findings in the near future. I hope that this report will foster constructive engagement both in the Oireachtas and among all interested parties in looking at the challenges ahead and how best to make provision for primary education in rural and dispersed communities.

My Department and I will continue to engage with the relevant education sector stakeholders, including the Church of Ireland, in relation to education provision for all areas. In addition to this my Department has expanded the existing appeals process so that it is accessible to the 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.

Schools Inspections

Questions (328, 329)

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

328. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the annual budget spent on employing school inspectors at primary and post-primary level; if he will list in tabular form the number of inspectors employed by his Department on an annual basis; and if he will provide a breakdown of their salary scales. [24015/13]

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

329. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide a breakdown of his Department's annual spend to maintain the school inspectorate system at primary and post primary level. [24016/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I propose to take Questions Nos. 328 and 329 together.

In 2012 my Department spent €11.635m on the Department's School Inspectorate Division comprising of €10.64m on salary costs, €0.84m on travel and subsistence and €155,000 on training and development. The following tabular statement gives details of the current staffing cohort at the Inspectorate together with the payscales applicable from the 1st, January 2010. It also provides details of the grade structure and staffing numbers within the Schools Inspectorate Division at the Department of Education & Skills.

Grade	Full Time Equivalent	Whole Time Equivalent*
Chief Inspector	1	1
Deputy Chief Inspector	1	1
Assistant Chief Inspector	8	8
Senior Post Primary Inspector	23	22.8
Divisional Inspector (Primary)	24	23.8
Post Primary Inspector	33	32.5
Primary District Inspector	34	34
Total	124	123.1

* The Whole Time Equivalent takes into account staff members that are availing of work sharing arrangements.

Academic Year

Questions (330)

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

330. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if consideration has been given to increasing the academic year to a third semester; and the potential savings to be accrued from implementing such a measure. [24017/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Ruairí Quinn)

Individual higher education institutions have autonomous responsibility for the management of their academic programmes and staff resources. As far as my Department is aware neither Universities nor Institutes of Technology are planning to increase the academic year to a third semester and therefore no estimate is available of any potential savings that might be accrued from implementing such a measure. As indicated to the Deputy previously, under the Croke Park Agreement revised contract hours were agreed for lecturers which has brought about the delivery of in excess of 250,000 extra lecturing hours annually. Based on the most conservative figures for hourly pay rates, the total cost if those extra hours were paid for would be in the order of €21.25 million annually. My Department is continuing to work to ensure that further efficiency measures are achieved within the higher education sector.

Teachers' Remuneration

Questions (331)

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

331. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the savings that would be made if an annual salary cap of €100,000 were applied to the wages of all teaching staff, third level lecturers and all other personnel employed by his Department. [24018/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Ruairí Quinn)

The specific information requested by the Deputy is not available. However, public sector numbers returns are made on a quarterly basis. As at 31 March 2013 (end Q1 2013) there were 93,624 whole-time equivalent staff employed in the Education sector. This figure includes civil servants and staff employed in NCSAs (Non commercial state agencies) that come under the aegis of the Department of Education and Skills. The following table provides details of the number of staff who come under the aegis of the Department of Education and Skills with whole-time equivalent earnings of €100,000 and above.

Whole-time equivalent Salary Ranges - €	Number of whole-time equivalent staff
€100,001 - €125,000	908
€125,001 - €150,000	486
€150,001 - €200,000	76
€200,001 - €250,000	98
€250,001 - €300,000	1
Over €300,000	0
Total	1,569

Third Level Fees

Questions (332)

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

332. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the total amount spent by the State in subsidising third level fees for the 2012-13 academic year. [24019/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Ruairí Quinn)

As the Deputy will be aware, under the terms of my Department's free fees schemes the Exchequer meets the cost of tuition fees in respect of eligible students who are pursuing full-time undergraduate courses of study as set out in the schemes. My Department allocates recurrent funding to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for direct disbursement to the HEA institutions. The HEA allocates this grant to institutions for free fees and core grant funding and other specific earmarked initiatives. Final claims in respect of free fees for the current academic year have not yet been received by the HEA however the estimated cost to the Exchequer is some €380 million for this academic year.

Energy Schemes

Questions (333)

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

333. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to fully implement the national energy efficiency action plan; and the estimated savings should these measures be applied to all school buildings. [24020/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

As the Deputy will be aware, Ireland's second National Energy Efficiency Action plan (NEEAP) was published by the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources earlier this year. The Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (DCENR) has responsibility for overall implementation of the plan and chairs the Cross-Departmental group tasked with ensuring that all the actions contained in the plan are delivered.

In terms of energy efficiency in educational buildings, for the past fifteen years the Planning and Building Unit of my Department have been using a process called the DART approach to develop sustainability and energy efficiency. This acronym focuses on four key areas, namely; Design, Awareness, Research and Technology. The policy is informed by the Building Unit Professional and Technical staff, driven by its technical guidance documents and updated by continued energy research and development.

My Department is at the forefront of design with respect to sustainable energy efficiency (including water conservation and efficiency) in school buildings and this performance has been recognised at both national and international level with sustainable energy awards for excellence in Design and Specification. In conjunction with Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), my Department has developed an "Energy in Education" website www.energyineducation.ie which I launched in October 2012. The website is designed to help school boards of management, principals, teachers, administrators, caretaking staff, pupils and parents to improve energy use practices and to reduce school operating costs along with helping to protect the environment for future generations. The principles of NEEAP supports the energy efficiency programme and approach of the Department of Education & Skills both in new build and with existing schools that saw significant investment through the Energy Efficiency Insulation Scheme 2009, the Water Conservation Scheme 2010 and the Summer works schemes.

DCENR and SEAI have responsibility to collate all energy consumption data for the public sector and are presently testing the system that will facilitate this. The data obtained from this process will help formulate energy upgrades to existing building stocks. In parallel with this DCENR and SEAI are working on a National Energy Services Framework to be published shortly which will facilitate the development of an energy performance contracting (EPC) model for the upgrade of existing buildings; it is envisaged that this process will help identify the proposed models for delivery relating to schools.

Departmental Staff Remuneration

Questions (334)

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

334. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide in tabular form the number of personnel working within his Department and FÁS who received an annual take-home pay based on salary and allowances that exceeded €100,000 annually in the 2012-13 academic year. [24021/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Ruairí Quinn)

There are no officials on the payroll at my Department or FÁS that are in receipt of an annual take home salary that exceeds €100,000.

Third Level Staff Remuneration

Questions (335)

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

335. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide in tabular form the number of third level lecturers who receive an annual take-home pay based on salary and allowances that exceeded €100,000 annually in the 2011-12 academic year. [24022/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The specific information requested by the Deputy is not collected by my Department. However, the following table includes details of the number of staff who come under the aegis of the Department of Education and Skills with whole-time equivalent earnings of €100,000 and above.

Whole-time equivalent Salary Ranges - €	Number of whole-time equivalent staff
€100,001 - €125,000	908
€125,001 - €150,000	486
€150,001 - €200,000	76
€200,001 - €250,000	98
€250,001 - €300,000	1
Over €300,000	0
Total	1,569

Teachers' Remuneration

Questions (336)

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

336. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide in tabular form the number of teachers who receive an annual gross pay that exceeded €100,000 annually in the 2011/12 academic year. [24023/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The information requested by the Deputy is in the following table.

NUMBERS OF TEACHERS WITH AN ANNUAL GROSS PAY IN EXCESS OF €100,000 2011/12 SCHOOL YEAR

PRIMARY	POST PRIMARY VOLUNTARY  SECONDARY & COMMUNITY/COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOLS	VEC
0	260	111

Notes

The numbers provided above relate to the number of people paid in these ranges and not their whole time equivalents i.e. A job-sharer is counted as one person not half a person.

The figures above exclude casual employees.