Tuesday, 28 May 2013

Written Answers Nos. 278 - 298

Fee Paying Schools

Questions (278)

Peter Mathews

Question:

278. Deputy Peter Mathews asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans in respect of Protestant fee paying schools. [25689/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The salaries of teachers employed within the approved annual staffing allocation for fee charging schools by my Department are paid by the State; an arrangement that pre-dates the introduction of the Free Education scheme and which exists since the foundation of the State. The estimated cost of these posts is in the order of €100 million. The Deputy will be aware that in the context of the Budget 2013, I made a further one point change to the staffing allocation of fee charging schools from September 2013. Given the extremely difficult economic circumstances that this country is facing and the fact that every Department has to find considerable cost-savings, all expenditure must be examined to see if cost-savings can be found. The Deputy will appreciate that I cannot at this stage anticipate any specific decisions the Government may take in respect of the next budget. This Government recognises the importance of ensuring that students from a Protestant or reformed church background can attend a school that reflects their denominational ethos while at the same time ensuring that funding arrangements are in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution.

With regard to the fee-charging Protestant schools, an arrangement exists whereby funding is provided by my Department to the Secondary Education Committee (SEC), an organisation run by the churches involved in managing the Protestant secondary schools. The SEC then disburses funds to the Protestant fee-charging schools on behalf of pupils who would otherwise have difficulty with the cost of fees and who, in the absence of such financial support, would be unable to attend a second level school of a reformed church or Protestant ethos. Funding amounts to €6.5 million annually. This fund ensures that necessitous Protestant children can attend a school of their choice. There are no changes proposed in respect of the Protestant block grant.

Question No. 279 answered with Question No. 264.

Schools Review

Questions (280)

Peter Mathews

Question:

280. Deputy Peter Mathews asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to provide funding in respect of refurbishment for a school (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25691/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The Major Building Project referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of architectural planning. Stage 2b of the project, which includes Planning Permission, Fire Certification, Disability Access Certification (DAC) and the preparation of tender documents has been approved. The project was recently authorised to pre-qualify for contractors, which will complete the Stage 2b process. The project is scheduled on the five year school building programme to go to construction in 2015/16.

Pension Provisions

Questions (281)

Michael McGrath

Question:

281. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will address the issues raised with his Department by a person (details supplied) in County Cork concerning the discontinuation of a pension. [25749/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The pensions of some retired public servants, including some teachers, are coordinated with social welfare benefits where the pensioner had paid full rate Class A PRSI during some or all of his/her employment. Class A rate PRSI payment brings with it an entitlement to a state pension payable by the Department of Social Protection. The State pension becomes payable at age 65. As some public servants (particularly teachers) retire significantly earlier than age 65, their occupational pension may, on application and subject to certain criteria, be augmented by the payment of a supplementary pension by the occupational pension provider. The purpose in paying a supplementary pension is to ensure that such public servants who paid Class A rate PRSI are not disadvantaged in the period between their retirement and their receipt of the state pension.

One of the conditions attaching to the award of a supplementary pension is that its payment should cease or be reduced, as appropriate, where the pensioner becomes entitled to a state pension. Cessation of the supplementary pension occurs where the rate of state pension payable is greater than the rate of the supplementary pension which was in payment. The person to whom the Deputy refers applied for and was awarded a supplementary pension following retirement from teaching. It has been established that the person to whom the Deputy refers is currently receiving a State pension. As a result of this, payment of supplementary pension from my Department has been discontinued. Payment of the occupational pension continues in the normal way. While my Department must cease payment of the supplementary pension in accordance with the terms of the statutory pension scheme, the issues raised by the person to whom the Deputy refers will be addressed in a sensitive manner.

Student Grant Scheme Application Numbers

Questions (282)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

282. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the total number of applications for higher education grants processed by Student Universal Support Ireland since its inception; the number of cases determined within an acceptable period of time; the number outstanding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25756/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I understand from Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) that, as at close of business on 26 May 2013, it has received 69,647 student grant applications. Of these 69,100 have been processed to completion. The final 547 cases, most of which are awaiting final elements of documentation from students, are expected to be closed out in the coming week.

Skills Development

Questions (283)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

283. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which he continues to monitor the skills and educational requirements as indicated by market demand; the extent to which he expects such demand to be met in full by the number of graduates or those with specific skills exiting the education sector on route to the workplace; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25757/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The Expert Group on Future Skills Needs, which is funded by my Department, plays a key role in advising on future skills needs and any emerging gaps. Its research provides a valuable input to the development of course curricula and has also informed the development of new competitive funding models of provision to address emerging skills needs, including Springboard, Momentum and the ICT skills conversion programmes. Springboard provides free part-time higher education courses for unemployed people in areas where there are identified labour market skills shortages or employment opportunities. More than 10,000 places have been provided under the two rounds of the programme to date. A new call for proposals for courses to be run under Springboard 2013 issued by the Higher Education Authority in February 2013 and a new round of programmes will be announced next month.

The joint Government-Industry ICT Action Plan has been developed as a direct response to identified ICT skills shortages and contains a comprehensive range of measures to build the domestic supply of ICT graduates, including through the roll out of the ICT graduate skills conversion programmes. Over 700 people have been supported under the first phase of the ICT graduate skills conversion programmes which commenced in March 2012. A total of 423 people are due to graduate from these programmes by the end of this month and the remainder will graduate before the end of the year. In February 2013 more than 760 new places were made available on the conversion programmes in higher education institutions around the country. There are 6,500 training places are currently being rolled out for unemployed people under the Momentum programme. The training, which is aligned up to levels 5 and 6 on the National Framework of Qualifications, is targeted at areas of labour market demand and there is a particular focus on the needs of unemployed people under the age of 25.

Funding is also provided to Skillnets, where the development of training is led by representatives of industry ensuring that training provision meets the needs of the sector. In addition, a range of recommendations to ensure the system continues to respond to enterprise needs is being implemented through the National Strategy for Higher Education, including the development of an annual employer survey. The creation of a new further education and training authority, SOLAS, will also ensure an increased focus on the evolving skills requirements of industry.

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Questions (284)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

284. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which he and his Department continues to monitor class sizes with a view to minimising any negative impact arising from the economic situation he inherited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25758/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The staffing schedule is the mechanism used for the allocation of classroom teachers to all primary schools. It operates in a clear and transparent manner and treats all similar types of schools equally irrespective of location. The configuration of classes and the deployment of classroom teachers are done at local school level. My Department publishes annual statistics on class size data for each school. The most recent statistics are for the 2011/12 school year. The national average class size is 24.4 pupils. However, with over 20,700 classes in over 3,100 primary schools throughout the country there will always be variations in class sizes at individual school level. My Department's guidance to local school management is that such variations should be kept to the minimum.

Classroom teachers are allocated under the staffing schedule based on the pupil enrolments for the previous 30 September. However, the staffing schedule also includes provision for schools that have significant increases in their enrolment in rapidly developing areas to be allocated classroom teachers based on their projected enrolments for September 2013. The criteria for this are set out in the staffing schedule which is available on the Department website. Given the constraints on teacher numbers my Department has no capacity to put any other ameliorating measures in place. The Deputy will be aware that the Government has protected frontline services in schools to the greatest extent possible in the recent budget and there will no reduction in teacher numbers in primary schools and in free second level schools for the 2013/14 school year as a result of the budget. The DEIS scheme for disadvantaged schools is also fully protected with no overall changes to staffing levels or funding as a result of the budget.

Departmental Expenditure

Questions (285)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

285. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he is satisfied regarding the adequacy of resources available throughout the educational sector in the current year at primary, second, third and fourth levels including the further education sector; if he expects to be in a position to keep the various issues under review with the objective of the alleviation of any unforeseen difficulties to meet targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25759/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The Deputy will be aware of the extremely challenging economic environment that forms the backdrop to all decisions relating to the public finances. While this Government has undertaken to protect education spending as much as possible, we are not operating in a vacuum and efforts to secure savings have had to be made in the education sector also. The 2013 gross Voted expenditure allocation of €8,507 million for my Department, as set out in the recently published Revised Estimates Volume, represents an approximately 1% reduction on the expenditure outturn for 2012. Despite this reduction I have been able to protect front line services to the extent that there will be no increase in average class size at primary level and no increase in the general pupil-teacher ratio at second level. Budget 2013 actually provided for an extra net 900 teachers in schools in the 2013/14 year to cater for upward demographic pressures. In addition, special needs services are also protected, while the DEIS scheme for disadvantaged schools is also fully protected, with no overall changes to staffing levels or funding as a result of this Budget.

While Budget 2013 required the implementation of some difficult savings measures in areas of the education sector and, while I would prefer to be in a position to allocate more resources across the sector, I am nevertheless confident that we can achieve much with what we have, through efficient and effective use of the resources that have been allocated to my Department for 2013. My Department continues to closely review the financial position during 2013 with a view to ensuring that expenditure remains within the allocation for this year.

Education and Training Provision

Questions (286)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

286. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the full extent of the availability of training, reskilling or upskilling places likely to be made available through his Department by way of SOLAS in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25760/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

As the Deputy will be aware the Further Education and Training Bill is currently going through both Houses of the Oireachtas. Once enacted, the legislation will provide for the disbandment of FAS and for the establishment of SOLAS. The Bill has passed Committee Stage and the Report Stage is expected to commence in the near future. In the meantime FAS will continue to provide up-skilling and re-skilling training programmes. In 2013 FÁS aim to facilitate over 72,000 individuals through a range of training programmes, that provide industry/occupational specific skills as well as preparatory type training, to enable a diverse range of unemployed individuals referred to FÁS by the Department of Social Protection, to gain a recognised qualification, access job opportunities or progression opportunities to further/higher education/training.

Schools Building Projects Status

Questions (287, 288)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

287. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of primary schools throughout County Kildare currently awaiting approval in respect of replacement of buildings or provision of new structures or other facilities; the extent to which he expects to be in a position to meet such requirements in the remainder of the current year, notwithstanding the ongoing budgetary situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25762/13]

Bernard Durkan

Question:

288. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of post-primary schools throughout County Kildare currently awaiting approval in respect of replacement of buildings or provision of new structures or other facilities; the extent to which he expects to be in a position to meet such requirements in the remainder of the current year, notwithstanding the ongoing budgetary situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25763/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I propose to take Questions Nos. 287 and 288 together.

The current status of all projects, including those in County Kildare, may be viewed on my Department's website at www.education.ie and this will be updated regularly throughout the year. The 5 Year Construction Plan that I announced in March 2012, together with my announcement last December of the 50 school projects which are scheduled for construction in the current year as part of a €2 billion capital investment programme, outlines the major school projects, including those for Kildare, that will commence construction over the duration of the Plan (2012-2016). 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. My announcements provide for the advancement of 16 projects at primary level in County Kildare and 6 projects at post primary level.

Bullying in Schools

Questions (289)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

289. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the total number of incidents of school bullying including cyber-bullying reported to his Department through the primary and or post-primary sectors in each of the past three years to date; the extent to which it has been found possible to address the issue to date; his intentions for the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25764/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The information requested by the Deputy is not available in my Department as individual school management authorities are not required to report incidents of bullying to my Department. As the Deputy is probably aware, on 29th of January last, Minister Fitzgerald and I published the Action Plan on Bullying which sets out twelve actions to help prevent and tackle bullying in primary and second level schools. As part of the Action Plan, new anti-bullying procedures for all primary and second level schools are currently in development in consultation with the education partners. These new procedures will include a specific reference to cyber bullying and to requirements for noting and reporting bullying incidents. These will be issued to all schools at the beginning of the next school year.

Special Educational Needs Staffing

Questions (290)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

290. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which he and his Department continue to try and meet the ongoing requirements in respect of special needs assistants at all levels in all areas throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25765/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I wish to advise the Deputy that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), for processing applications from schools for special educational needs supports, including SNA support. The NCSE operates within my Department's established criteria for the allocation of such supports and the staffing resources available to my Department. 10,575 Whole Time Equivalent (WTE) SNA posts are available for allocation to schools by the NCSE throughout the school year, subject to qualifying applications being received. The number of Special Needs Assistant (SNA) posts available for allocation has been maintained at a time when there has been a requirement to make savings across a range of expenditure areas.

The NCSE allocates a level of SNA support for each school annually taking into account the assessed care needs of all of the qualifying children enrolled in the school. SNAs should then be deployed by schools in a manner which best meets the care support requirements of the children enrolled in the school for whom SNA support has been allocated. It is a matter for schools to allocate support as required, and on the basis of individual need, which allows schools flexibility in how the SNA support is utilised. All children who have qualified for such support this year have been provided with access to SNA support. The NCSE requested all schools to submit their applications for SNA support for the coming school year to them by 15th March, 2013, and will advise all schools of their SNA allocations prior to the start of the new 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.

School Staffing

Questions (291)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

291. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent, if any, to which discussion has taken place with the various school authorities likely to be affected by the loss of one or more teachers in September; the extent if any to which it has been possible to identify or achieve a satisfactory resolution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25766/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The Government has protected frontline services in schools to the greatest extent possible in the recent budget and there will no reduction in teacher numbers in primary schools and in free second level schools for the 2013/14 school year as a result of the budget. The DEIS scheme for disadvantaged schools is also fully protected with no overall changes to staffing levels or funding as a result of the budget. The criteria used for the allocation of teachers to schools is published annually on my Department's website. The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September. The staffing process for the 2013/14 school year at individual school level is currently underway. The allocation processes at both primary and post primary level also include an appeals mechanism under which schools can appeal against the allocation due to them under the staffing schedules. The appeal procedures are set out in the annual staffing arrangements. The final staffing position for all schools will not be known until later in the year when the allocation process will be fully completed and all appeals to the Staffing Appeals Board will have been considered.

School Patronage

Questions (292)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

292. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the concerns of the authorities of a number of smaller, mostly rural denominational schools regarding their future; if he will ensure that all such schools needs and traditions are carefully examined and assessed with a view to addressing issues of their concern; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25767/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

My attention has been drawn to the concerns of the authorities of the smaller, rural denominational schools regarding their future. Our current configuration of small primary schools has been examined by my Department in a value for money review. I have recently received the report of this review and I am currently considering it. I will, of course, also consult my Government colleagues in this matter. I am mindful of the concerns of small schools and I will take them into account in considering any planning framework for future provision of primary schools.

Literacy Levels

Questions (293)

Patrick Nulty

Question:

293. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will support the National Adult Literacy Agency's request that a specific commitment be included in the Further Education and Training (SOLAS) Bill 2013 to raise adult literacy and numeracy levels and to develop a national adult literacy and numeracy strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25851/13]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills

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.

Pension Provisions

Questions (294)

Billy Timmins

Question:

294. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will furnish a cost neutral early retirement quotation from age 50 in respect of a person (details supplied). [25871/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

An application for cost neutral early retirement pension benefit statement has been received from the person to whom the Deputy refers and is being addressed by officials in the Pension Unit of my Department. The information will be issued shortly to the person to whom the Deputy refers.

Youth Unemployment Measures

Questions (295)

Andrew Doyle

Question:

295. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Education and Skills the discussion he has had at the Laureate International Universities Forum on the European Youth Employment Crisis: creating a road map to employment held in the Universidad Europea, Madrid, Spain; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25873/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The Laureate Summit on Youth and Jobs was held on 20 May in Madrid. The event was organised by Laureate International Universities, and included a number of speakers including His Royal Highness the Prince of Asturias, former US President Bill Clinton, Government Ministers from Germany, Cyprus and Spain and representatives of enterprise, education and students. I participated with the other Ministers on a panel focusing on the responses of governments to youth unemployment. I briefed the participants on the Irish Government's education and training initiatives, including as part of the Action Plan for Jobs 2013, which focus on increasing the alignment of the education and training system with labour market needs, addressing skills gaps and targeting youth and long-term unemployment. I also highlighted the focus which the Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union has placed on jobs, stability and growth.

Education and Training Provision

Questions (296, 297)

John Deasy

Question:

296. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the additional measures he proposes to increase the number of under 25 year olds participating in vocational and technical education courses. [25911/13]

John Deasy

Question:

297. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of under 25 year olds enrolled in vocational and technical education courses for each of the past five years. [25912/13]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills

I propose to take Questions Nos. 296 and 297 together.

There is a strong focus on under 25 year olds in education and training programmes in my Department and support for these progammes is being maintained despite the current economic difficulties. My Department funds the provision of over 430,000 part-time and full-time places across the further and higher education and training sectors, all of which are open to young people under 25 years of age. This provision includes the recently developed and flexible re-skilling opportunities specifically for unemployed people in areas of emerging skills needs under Momentum initiatives. The introduction of the MOMENTUM programme will have a specific impact on young unemployed people. It is to provide a range of quality, relevant education and training interventions for up to 6,500 individuals who are long-term unemployed. Training will be provided within the context of four themes all of which are open to under 25 year olds. One of these themes will focus on the specific needs of people under 25 and 800 places are being made available specifically for this.

For early school leavers, my Department funds 6,000 places under the Youthreach programme. The programme provides participants with two years integrated education, training and work experience which facilitates early school leavers with opportunities to acquire certification and progress to further education, training or employment. A weekly training allowance is paid to learners on some further education and training programmes. Learners who are under 25 will be paid an allowance of €160 per week, which is higher than the Jobseekers Allowance rates of €100 for those aged 18 to 21 and €144 for those aged 22 to 24. The Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) scheme funded by the Department of Social Protection provides income maintenance for unemployed people returning to further and higher education. Latest figures show over 6,700 young people under 25 years of age are in receipt of the BTEA, 56% of whom are second level and 44% third level. Statistics on the number of under 25s enrolled in further education and training programmes for each of the past five years is being collated at present and will be forwarded separately to the Deputy.

Student Grant Scheme Eligibility

Questions (298)

Michael McGrath

Question:

298. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the circumstances in which a person who fulfils all the criteria for a maintenance grant except for the residence condition in the State may still qualify for a fee grant or a postgraduate fee contribution as a tuition student; the conditions that such a person must fulfil in order to secure the fee grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25913/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

Under the residency requirement of the Student Grant Scheme, a student must have been legally resident in Ireland for at least 3 of the 5 years immediately prior to commencing an approved course in an approved institution. However, a student may qualify for a grant, having met the residency requirement during the course of their studies. Those who meet the qualifying conditions for the special rate of grant under the Student Grant Scheme will be eligible to have their post-graduate tuition fees paid up to the maximum fee limit of €6,270. Currently maintenance support is not available for students entering postgraduate courses. A postgraduate student may qualify to have a €2,000 contribution made towards the costs of their fees. The income threshold for this payment is €31,500 for the 2012/13 academic year, increasing relative to the number of family dependents.

Tax relief is also available on postgraduate tuition fees. Details in relation to this relief are available from the Revenue Commissioners. In addition to this, the Student Assistance Fund will continue to be made available through the access offices of third-level institutions to assist students in exceptional financial need. The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter for the relevant grant awarding authority. To determine eligibility, a student may submit a fully completed online grant application to Student Universal Support Ireland via www.studentfinance.ie website.