Tuesday, 21 May 2013

Written Answers Nos. 337-356

Fee Paying Schools

Questions (337)

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

337. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide in tabular form the amount paid in State subsidies to fee charging schools for the 2012/13 academic year. [24024/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Ruairí Quinn)

The information requested by the Deputy in respect of gross salary paid to teachers, Special Needs Assistants and Clerical Officers for the current school year 2012/2013 is not available. I set out below the details for the academic year 2011/2012. The information in respect of capital expenditure for the current school year 2012/2013 is not available. This information is available on a financial year basis only. I set out below the details for the financial year 2012.

ALL FEE PAYING SCHOOLS GROSS SALARY COSTS 2011-2012 SCHOOL YEAR

School No.			School Address	Total Gross Teachers	Total Gross Clerical Officers	Total Gross SNAs
60030V	Blackrock College	Blackrock	Co Dublin	3,734,426	46,028.92	55829.410
60040B	Willow Park School	Rock Road	Blackrock	756,830		28523.290
60090Q	Rathdown School	Glenageary	Co Dublin	1,300,052
60100Q	Castleknock College	Castleknock	Dublin 15	2,027,419		90637.40
60120W	Mount Sackville Secondary School	Chapelizod	Dublin 20	2,136,738		82749.640
60130C	Loreto Abbey Secondary School	Dalkey	Co Dublin	2,371,962
60140F	Mount Anville Secondary School	Mount Anville Rd	Dublin 14	2,314,053		24603.450
60160L	Notre Dame Secondary School	Upper Churchtown Road	Dublin 14	923,422		25147.510
60180R	Christian Brothers College	Monkstown Park	Dun Laoghaire	1,936,503		53120.390
60240J	Loreto College Foxrock	Foxrock	Dublin 18	2,346,248	38,674.37	59244.670
60250M	Holy Child Secondary School	Military Road	Killiney, Co. Dublin	1,206,651
60260P	St Joseph Of Cluny	Bellevue Park, Ballinclea Rd.	Killiney, Co. Dublin	1,492,873		85650.950
60272W	The Kings Hospital	Palmerstown	Dublin 20	2,775,971	46,028.92	70749.220
60320H	St Columba's College	Whitechurch	Dublin 16	1,196,692		157949.790
60321J	Rockbrook Park School	Edmondstown Road	Rathfarnham	474,368		30221.840
60340N	Loreto High School	Beaufort	Grange Rd., Dublin 14	2,295,090		34447.890
60381E	Sutton Park School	St Fintans Road	Sutton	1,331,568		25487.650
60520P	Belvedere College S.J	6 Great Denmark Street	Dublin 1	3,608,121	46,028.92	75754.530
60530S	Gonzaga College	Sandford Road	Ranelagh	2,253,549
60540V	Catholic University School	89 Lower Leeson Street	Dublin 2	1,612,135
60560E	St Marys College	Rathmines	Dublin 6	1,657,177
60561G	St Michaels College	Ailesbury Road	Dublin 4	2,104,597		28526.280
60570H	Terenure College	Templeogue Road	Terenure	2,715,310		34121.850
60590N	St Conleths College	28 Clyde Road	Ballsbridge	1,019,781
60630W	St Killians Deutsche School	Roebuck Road Clonskeagh	Dublin 14	1,392,724
60640C	Sandford Park School Ltd	Sandford Road	Ranelagh	1,060,377		28526.280
60650F	St Andrews College	Booterstown Ave	Blackrock	3,818,816		135833.010
60660I	St Patricks Cathedral G.S	St Patricks Close	Dublin 8	694,694
60670L	The High School	Zion Road	Rathgar	2,785,895		87647.20
60820E	Loreto College	53 St Stephens Green	Dublin 2	2,141,803		29647.410
60892G	The Teresian School	12 Stillorgan Road	Donnybrook	794,526
60910F	Alexandra College	Milltown	Dublin 6	2,079,424	40,072.48	31564.590
60930L	Rosemont School	Temple Road	Blackrock	383,001
61010U	Wesley College	Ballinteer	Dublin 16	3,433,035		122795.080
61020A	Stratford College	1 Zion Road Rathgar	Dublin 6	824,916		30741.520
61080S	Royal School Cavan	College Street	Cavan	1,103,981		115051.430
61570M	Kilkenny College	Castlecomer Road	Kilkenny	3,138,337	43,563.09	35207.990
61680T	Newbridge College	Newbridge	Co. Kildare	3,050,863		67472.20
61720F	Clongowes Wood College	Naas	Co Kildare	1,720,782
61811I	St Gerard's School	Thornhill Road	Bray	1,796,359
62060R	Bandon Grammar School	Bandon	Co Cork	2,232,488		112519.570
62370J	Midleton College	Midleton	Co Cork	1,409,609		25147.510
62520C	Christian Brothers College	Sidney Hill	Wellington Road, Cork	2,972,163		8267.730
62570R	Presentation Brothers College	The Mardyke	Cork	2,629,206
62690E	Scoil Mhuire	2 Sidney Place	Wellington Road, Cork	1,602,517		11617.370
63870L	Drogheda Grammar School	Mornington Rd	Drogheda	1,168,521		76655.560
63920A	Dundalk Grammar School	Dundalk	Co Louth	2,220,713		21482.760
64150F	Glenstal Abbey School	Murroe	Co Limerick	724,418		92.380
64310B	Villiers Secondary School	North Circular Road	Limerick	2,295,641		22932.730
64420I	Franciscan College	Gormanstown	Co Meath	1,414,411
64830E	Monaghan Collegiate School	Corlatt	Monaghan	1,113,215		88159.30
65010R	Newtown School	Waterford	Co. Waterford	1,357,625
65190W	Sligo Grammar School	The Mall	Sligo	1,783,305		81470.950
65410K	Cistercian College	Roscrea	Co. Tipperary	1,012,965	40,072.48
68071G	St John Scottus Secondary School	74/76 Morehampton Road Donnybrook	Dublin 4	699,877		45409.240
			Total	100,447,745.02	300,469.18	2,141,007.57

CAPITAL EXPENDITURE PAID FEE CHARGING SCHOOLS 2012

SCHOOL NUMBER	SCHOOL NAME			2012
60030V	BLACKROCK COLLEGE DUBLIN	Blackrock	Co Dublin	€0.00
60040B	WILLOW PARK SCHOOL	Rock Road	Blackrock	€0.00
60090Q	RATHDOWN SCHOOL	Glenageary	Co Dublin	€4,389.12
60100Q	CASTLEKNOCK COLLEGE	Castleknock	Dublin 15	€0.00
60120W	MOUNT SACKVILLE SECONDARY SCHOOL	Chapelizod	Dublin 20	€0.00
60130C	LORETO ABBEY, DALKEY	Dalkey	Co Dublin	€0.00
60140F	MOUNT ANVILLE SECONDARY SCHOOL	Mount Anville Rd	Dublin 14	€0.00
60160L	NOTRE DAME DES MISSIONS, UPPER CHURCHTOWN ROAD	Upper Churchtown Road	Dublin 14	€0.00
60180R	CHRISTIAN BROTHERS COLLEGE, DUNLAOIGHAIRE	Monkstown Park	Dun Laoghaire	€0.00
60240J	LORETO SECONDARY SCHOOL, FOXROCK	Foxrock	Dublin 18	€0.00
60250M	HOLY CHILD KILLINEY, MILITARY ROAD KILLINEY	Military Road	Killiney	€0.00
60260P	ST JOSEPHS OF CLUNY, BELLEVUE PARK,	Ballinclea Rd	Killiney, Co. Dublin	€0.00
60272W	THE KINGS HOSPITAL, PALMERSTOWN	Palmerstown	Dublin 20	€0.00
60320H	COLLEGE OF ST COLUMBA, WHITECHURCH	Whitechurch	Dublin 16	€0.00
60321J	ROCKBROOK PARK SCHOOL	Edmondstown Road	Rathfarnham	€0.00
60340N	LORETO HIGH SCHOOL	Beaufort	Grange Rd., Dublin 14	€23,506.13
60381E	SUTTON PARK SCHOOL	St Fintans Road	Sutton	€0.00
60520P	BELVEDERE COLLEGE, GREAT DENMARK STREET	6 Great Denmark Street	Dublin 1	€0.00
60530S	GONZAGA COLLEGE	Sandford Road	Ranelagh	€0.00
60540V	CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY SCHOOL	89 Lower Leeson Street	Dublin 2	€0.00
60560E	ST MARYS COLLEGE	Rathmines	Dublin 6	€0.00
60561G	ST. MICHAELS COLLEGE, AILSBURY ROAD	Ailesbury Road	Dublin 4	€0.00
60570H	TERENURE COLLEGE	Templeogue Road	Terenure	€0.00
60590N	ST CONLETHS COLLEGE	28 Clyde Road	Ballsbridge	€0.00
60630W	ST KILLIANS GERMAN SCHOOL, CLONSKEAGH	Roebuck Road Clonskeagh	Dublin 14	€0.00
60640C	SANDFORD PARK SCHOOL LTD	Sandford Road	Ranelagh	€0.00
60650F	ST ANDREWS COLLEGE, BLACKROCK	Booterstown Ave	Blackrock	€0.00
60660I	ST PATRICKS CATHEDRAL GRAMMAR SCHOOL, ST PATRICKS CLOSE	St Patricks Close	Dublin 8	€139,026.26
60670L	THE HIGH SCHOOL RATHGAR	Zion Road	Rathgar	€0.00
60820E	LORETO COLLEGE, ST STEPHEN'S GREEN	53 St Stephens Green	Dublin 2	€0.00
60892G	THE TERESIAN SCHOOL	12 Stillorgan Road	Donnybrook	€0.00
60910F	ALEXANDRA COLLEGE, MILLTOWN	Milltown	Dublin 6	€0.00
60930L	ROSEMONT PARK SCHOOL	Temple Road	Blackrock	€0.00
61010U	WESLEY COLLEGE, BALLINTEER	Ballinteer	Dublin 16	€50,000.00
61020A	STRATFORD COLLEGE, RATHGAR	1 Zion Road Rathgar	Dublin 6	€0.00
61080S	ROYAL SCHOOL CAVAN	College Street	Cavan	€0.00
61570M	KILKENNY COLLEGE	Castlecomer Road	Kilkenny	€0.00
61680T	DOMINICAN COLLEGE NEWBRIDGE	Newbridge	Co. Kildare	€0.00
61720F	CLONGOWES WOOD COLLEGE	Naas	Co Kildare	€0.00
61811I	ST GERARDS SCHOOL	Thornhill Road	Bray	€0.00
62060R	BANDON GRAMMAR SCHOOL	Bandon	Co Cork	€0.00
62370J	MIDLETON COLLEGE	Midleton	Co Cork	€17,455.88
62520C	CHRISTIAN BROTHERS COLLEGE	Sidney Hill	Wellington Road, Cork	€0.00
62570R	PRESENTATION BROTHERS COLLEGE, MARDYKE	The Mardyke	Cork	€0.00
62690E	SCOIL MHUIRE,	2 Sidney Place	Wellington Road, Cork	€496,805.05
63870L	DROGHEDA GRAMMAR SCH., MORNINGTON RD, DROGHEDA	Mornington Rd	Drogheda	€2,619,928.13
63920A	DUNDALK GRAMMAR SCHOOL	Dundalk	Co Louth	€2,914,066.17
64150F	GLENSTAL ABBEY SCHOOL	Murroe	Co Limerick	€0.00
64310B	VILLIERS SECONDARY SCHOOL	North Circular Road	Limerick	€0.00
64420I	FRANCISCAN COLLEGE MEATH	Gormanstown	Co Meath	€0.00
64830E	MONAGHAN COLLEGIATE, CORLATT	Corlatt	Monaghan	€0.00
65010R	NEWTOWN SCHOOL	Waterford	Co. Waterford	€289,565.27
65190W	SLIGO GRAMMAR SCHOOL, THE MALL	The Mall	Sligo	€13,500.00
65410K	CISTERCIAN COLLEGE	Roscrea	Co. Tipperary	€0.00
68071G	JOHN SCOTTUS SECONDARY SCHOOL	74/76 Morehampton Road Donnybrook	Dublin 4	€0.00

State Examinations

Questions (338)

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

338. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide in tabular form the amount spent by his Department to provide substitute cover for teachers assessing oral examinations in the 2011/12 academic year. [24025/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The cost in the 2011-12 school year for the provision of substitution cover in the secondary and community/comprehensive schools sector for teachers engaged in work associated with state examinations was 1.367 million euros. The information in relation to the cost for the provision of substitution cover in the VEC sector would have to be obtained from the 33 individual VECs.

Third Level Fees

Questions (339, 340)

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

339. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide in tabular form a breakdown of the total number of third level students for the 2012-13 academic year, to include separately the number of Irish students who paid the student contribution fee, and the number whose student contribution fee was paid by the State via a grant, EU students and international students. [24026/13]

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

340. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the total amount paid by his Department through student grants to provide for the student contribution fee paid to third level educational institutions for the 2012-13 academic year; and if he will provide the total cost to his Department of subsidising in full third level fees for the 2012/13 academic year including student grants to provide for the student contribution fee. [24027/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I propose to take Questions Nos. 339 and 340 together.

The statistical breakdown requested by the Deputy will not be made available to my Department by the grant awarding authorities until the end of the academic year.

Schools Review

Questions (341)

Seán Kenny

Question:

341. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Skills the grant allocation to a school (details supplied) in Dublin 13 for refurbishment or additional accommodation in each of the past four years; the number of requests for funding that were refused; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24035/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The school referred to by the Deputy received funding as follows during the past four years:

- €757,254 under my Department's Summer Works Schemes in 2007, 2009 and 2010 for window replacement projects and general upgrade to toilets;

- €17,200 in 2009 for Woodwork and Metalwork Grants;

- €32,176 in May 2010 under my Department's Energy Efficiency Scheme for wall insulation;

- €29,800 in December 2010 for Gym Equipment;

- €5,419 in August 2012 to replace equipment in the school's Home Economics Room.

In February 2013, funding was approved under my Department's Emergency Works Scheme to facilitate Universal Access. The level of grant cannot be disclosed at this point as to do so could prejudice the tendering process. In December 2012, the school was refused funding under the Emergency Works Scheme for repairs to the science laboratory as the scope of works for which funding was sought was outside the terms of the scheme. An emergency is deemed to be a situation which poses an immediate risk to health, life, property or the environment which is sudden, unforeseen and requires immediate action and, in the case of a school, if not corrected would prevent the school or part thereof from opening.

The school was unsuccessful in its application for funding for curricular requirements under the 2011 Summer Works Scheme. Due to the scale of demand for funding under the scheme at that time, it was not possible to grant aid all applications. As applications for works in the higher categories were prioritised, it was not possible to include the school concerned in the list of successful applicants.

Question No. 342 answered with Question No. 323.

Schools Building Projects Status

Questions (343)

Finian McGrath

Question:

343. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 90 of 24 April 2013, if he will clarify the reasons a school (details supplied) in County Cavan went from Band 1 status in 2004 and to date has not progressed to building stage; the criteria and analysis that was undertaken when making the decision not to proceed with construction in the years since 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24054/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy has a priority band rating of 1.2. The project is currently at an early stage of architectural planning. A Revised Stage 2(a) Submission is currently with my Department for review. Once this Review is complete, and subject to no further issues arising, the project will progress to Stage 2(b) which includes applications for Planning Permission, Fire Safety Certification, Disability Access Certification and the preparation of tender documents.

Due to competing demands on my 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.

Schools which have not been included in the five year construction programme, but which were announced for initial inclusion in the building programme will continue to be progressed to final planning stages in anticipation of the possibility of further funds being available to my Department in future years. The project referred to by the Deputy remains available to be considered for progression in that context. However, this is contingent upon satisfactory completion of stage 2b.

Teaching Qualifications

Questions (344)

Patrick O'Donovan

Question:

344. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Education and Skills in view of the difficulties facing many newly qualified primary teachers, if he will consider changes to the probation system that will take into consideration the difficulties that teachers are encountering in attaining sufficient time to complete the probation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24064/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The Teaching Council is now the body with statutory responsibility for establishing procedures and criteria for the probation of teachers. A number of changes have been made in recent years to make it easier for new teachers to fulfil employment requirements for probation purposes. The Council has recently published its policy proposals on induction and probation for consultation with stakeholders after which it will make decisions on new arrangements for probation.

State Examinations Commission

Questions (345)

Gerry Adams

Question:

345. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason his Department and the State Examinations Commission have failed to honour the contracts of 17 teachers in ISM International School in Tripoli, Libya, while his Department continues to provide this school with the Irish leaving certificate examinations; the reason these teachers have been left unpaid for teaching duties performed; if he will work to resolve this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24066/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The International School of Martyrs (ISM) is a private educational institution located in Tripoli, Libya. The Irish Leaving Certificate examination is offered each year to candidates in the school. The role of the State Examinations Commission (SEC) is to provide examinations to candidates who have been entered for either the Junior or Leaving Certificate and in this regard I am informed by the SEC that it engages with the ISM school authorities on the delivery of the Leaving Certificate examinations for students from the school. For the purpose of the examination system ISM candidates are bound by the same rules and programmes as all other pupils taking the examinations, pay their examination fees to the State Examinations Commission (SEC) and sit their examinations under the same conditions.

Teachers working at ISM are directly recruited and engaged as employees of that school. Their terms and conditions are private contractual matters between themselves and the school authorities. Neither the SEC nor my Department has a role in relation to internal management or contractual issues between school employees and their employers.

State Examinations Commission

Questions (346)

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

Question:

346. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the leaving certificate is going ahead in Malta in June; if his Department or the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade have made any appeals to the Libyan Government to ensure that the contracts of 17 Irish teachers who worked at the ISM International School in Tripoli, Libya, will be honoured; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24067/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The State Examinations Commission is currently working with the Department of Foreign Affairs to put in place arrangements that would allow the Leaving Certificate examinations to be held in Malta this year.

Teachers working at ISM are directly recruited and engaged as employees of that school. Their terms and conditions are private contractual matters between themselves and the school authorities. Neither the SEC nor my Department has a role in relation to internal management or contractual issues between school employees and their employers.

Teaching Qualifications

Questions (347)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

347. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 240 of 20 March 2013, the reason his Department has not yet contacted the person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24074/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The person referred to by the Deputy attained her full teaching qualification requirements on the 24th April, 2013. Arrangements are now being made to have any arrears of salary owed to her paid on the 13th June, 2013.

Student Grant Scheme Administration

Questions (348)

Brian Walsh

Question:

348. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he is confident that the delays experienced in processing student grants in the past academic year will be avoided next term; and if he will outline changes in policy and practice that will ensure similar delays do not occur. [24085/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I am informed by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) that, in preparation for the 2013/2014 Academic year, both the online application system and the application assessment process are being further developed to enhance their effectiveness and efficiency and respond to experiences from year 1. The online application system has opened on May 20th a number of weeks earlier than for the 2012/13 academic year.For new applicants going to or returning to college for the 2013/2014 academic year, new initiatives will make their application to SUSI more efficient this year. The initiatives include direct information sharing with SUSI from Government Bodies and Agencies including the Revenue Commissioners, Department of Social Protection, General Register Office (GRO) and the Central Applications Office (CAO). These links will reduce significantly the number of documents required. In addition to these developments core staff are now on site. These trained and experienced staff are cross functional and a number of these staff are now fully proficient in specialist areas such as self-employed/farming, appeals and nationality. Revised document management process and systems are in place and a tracking system is being developed which will allow students to follow the progress of their application online and reduce call centre volumes.

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Questions (349, 362)

Finian McGrath

Question:

349. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a directive or legislation is needed to include Down's syndrome among low-incidence disorders; and if he will make this a priority issue. [24147/13]

Róisín Shortall

Question:

362. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the fact that children with Down's syndrome in the mild range of learning disability are denied resource hours despite the fact that these children have multiple learning disabilities; if he will amend the list of low-incidence disorders to include Down's syndrome; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24486/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I propose to take Questions Nos. 349 and 362 together.

The Deputy will be aware of this Government's ongoing commitment to ensuring that all children with special educational needs, including children with Down syndrome, can have access to an education appropriate to their needs. The policy of my Department is to secure the maximum possible level of inclusion of students with special educational needs in mainstream primary and post-primary schools, or where a special school or special class placement may be required to ensure such placements are provided for.

Pupils with Down syndrome attending mainstream schools may receive additional teaching support in primary schools, either under the terms of the General Allocation Model (GAM) of teaching supports, if the pupil's educational psychological assessment places the pupil in the mild general learning disability/high incidence disability category, or through an allocation of individual additional resource teaching hours which are allocated by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), if the child is assessed as being within the low incidence category of special need, as defined by my Department's Circular Sp Ed 02/05.

Pupils with Down syndrome may be allocated resources under the category of mild general learning disability, or under the categories of moderate general learning difficulty or Assessed Syndrome, in conjunction with another Low Incidence disability.

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has a formal role under the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs (EPSEN) Act, 2004 in advising me in relation to any matter relating to the education of children and others with disabilities.

My Department requested that the NCSE consider the issue of whether Down syndrome should be reclassified as a low incidence disability in all instances, regardless of assessed cognitive ability, in the context of its preparation of comprehensive advice on how the educational system supports children with special educational needs in schools.

The NCSE report on Supporting Children with Special Educational Needs in Schools has now been published and is available on the NCSE website www.ncse.ie. The report recommends that under the new resource allocation model proposed by the NCSE in its report, children should be allocated additional resources in line with their level of need, rather than by disability category. The NCSE has recommended that in the short-term pupils with Down syndrome pupils who are in the Mild General Learning Difficulty (Mild GLD) category should continue to be supported by schools' Learning Support allocation in the same way as other pupils with a Mild GLD. It has not been recommended that an exception should be made for children with Down syndrome who are in the mild general learning difficulty range, over other children who are in the mild range and who also may have other co-morbid conditions.

However, the NCSE report states that it is confident that the introduction of a new allocation model will overcome the difficulty posed by all children with mild general learning disabilities, including children with Down syndrome, who have additional difficulties and who can be supported according to their level of need and in line with their learning plan process. In the meantime, schools are reminded that they can differentiate the level of learning support granted to ensure that available resources are used to support children in line with their needs.

I have requested the NCSE to immediately proceed to establish a Working Group in order to develop a proposal for a new Tailored Allocation Model, which is set out as one of the principal recommendations of the report.

Schools Building Projects Status

Questions (350)

Andrew Doyle

Question:

350. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Education and Skills the arrangements that have been put in place for new school buildings in respect of a school (details supplied) in County Wicklow; when he expects construction works to start and on which sites; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24230/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The schools to which the Deputy refers are among a list of schools that are planned to be delivered as part of Bundle 5 of the Public Private Partnership (PPP) schools building programme. This bundle is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2016 on suitable sites. It is envisaged that construction of this Bundle of school projects will begin approximately eighteen months prior to this target completion date.

Student Grant Scheme Administration

Questions (351)

Tom Fleming

Question:

351. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills the action he has taken to improve the processing system for student grant applications; the recommendations of the external review of Student Universal Support Ireland's business processes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24231/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I can confirm for the Deputy that City of Dublin VEC commissioned an external review of SUSI, to identify the causes of the difficulties and to set out a specific programme of action to address them, so as to ensure that similar difficulties and delays will not be experienced for 2013/14. The Review examined the business systems and processes deployed by SUSI and assessed their adequacy in delivering on the overall business goals and objectives of reforming the administration of student grants.

I am informed by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) that, in line with recommendations in the Review and in preparation for the 2013/2014 Academic year, both the online application system and the application assessment process are being further developed to enhance their effectiveness and efficiency and respond to experiences from year 1. The online application system has opened on May 20th a number of weeks earlier than for the 2012/13 academic year. For new applicants going to or returning to college for the 2013/2014 academic year, new initiatives will make their application to SUSI more efficient this year. The initiatives include direct information sharing with SUSI from Government Bodies and Agencies including the Revenue Commissioners, Department of Social Protection, General Register Office (GRO) and the Central Applications Office (CAO). These links will reduce significantly the number of documents required. In addition to these developments core staff are now on site. These trained and experienced staff are cross functional and a number of these staff are now fully proficient in specialist areas such as self-employed/farming, appeals and nationality. Revised document management process and systems are in place and a tracking system is being developed which will allow students to follow the progress of their application online and reduce call centre volumes.

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Questions (352)

Michael McGrath

Question:

352. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to give approval for a second class for those with autism spectrum disorder to be provided in a primary school (details supplied) in County Cork for the 2013-14 school year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24239/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The Deputy will be aware that the establishment of a network of autism-specific special classes in schools across the country to cater for children with autism has been a key educational priority in recent years.

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 the establishment of special classes in various geographical areas as required. SENOs are a valuable source of support to parents who are actively sourcing a placement for their children or on deciding the most appropriate placement for their child. SENO contact details are available on www.ncse.ie. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support. I have therefore arranged for the Deputy's question to be forwarded to the NCSE for their attention and direct reply.

Traveller Community

Questions (353)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

353. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding unemployment in the Traveller population; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24254/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Ruairí Quinn)

Unemployment in the Traveller community is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation.

With regard to formal education qualifications among the Traveller community, this is addressed in the policy document on Traveller education - the Report and Recommendations for a Traveller Education Strategy. 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 now allocated on the basis of individual educational need rather than that of ethnic or cultural background.

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. In 2012, 579 Travellers were enrolled on the VEC Youthreach programme and 672 Travellers participated in the Back to Education Initiative (BTEI). The estimated number of Travellers attending third level is 3% compared to 53% of the general population. The ‘Equal Access’ survey of the ethnic and cultural backgrounds of entrants to higher education in 2010/11 indicates that 31 who identified as Travellers attended third level compared to 24 in 2008/09. This survey occurs on a voluntary and confidential basis as part of the annual registration process of twenty-seven higher education institutions and is co-ordinated by the HEA. As this survey is based on the principle of self - identification, the actual number of Travellers in third level could be higher.

This Government, through its various interventions in the education sector, is committed to improved retention rates, better learning experiences and improved outcomes for all young people, including young people who are members of the Travelling community.

State Examinations Commission

Questions (354)

Dan Neville

Question:

354. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will review an application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24279/13]

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 are 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.

University Status Review

Questions (355)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

355. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills how a complaint can be made to him contending that the functions of a university are being performed in a manner which prima facie constitutes a breach of the laws, statutes or ordinances applicable to the university, to quote section 20(1) of the Universities Act 1997; the procedure according to which he will arrive at an opinion as to whether there are reasonable grounds for such a contention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24280/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Ruairí Quinn)

There are no specified procedures in relation to the way a complaint may be made to the Minister contending that the functions of a university are being performed in a manner which prima facie constitutes a breach of the laws, statutes or ordinances applicable to the university. The Universities Act 1997 does not prescribe how the Minister should exercise his function under Section 20 to form an opinion regarding the grounds for such a contention. It would be a matter for the Minister to decide the procedure and process required in the particular circumstances to enable this function to be carried out.

Third Level Courses Availability

Questions (356)

Mattie McGrath

Question:

356. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of CAO applications for BSc honours computing and creative multimedia courses at Limerick Institute of Technology; the number of these applicants who have applied to the LIT Clonmel campus; the direct cost of educating such students at the LIT Clonmel campus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24328/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Ruairí Quinn)

I understand that the course in question is run only on the LIT Tipperary Clonmel campus. The CAO have received 101 applications for this course in the forthcoming academic year 2013/14. I have sought information on the direct cost of educating students on this course in the LIT Tipperary Clonmel Campus from the HEA and the information will be forwarded to the Deputy when it is to hand.