Written Answers Nos. 229-243
229. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason the EAL teacher is being removed from a school (details supplied) in County Westmeath when the school clearly needs this invaluable resource. [27236/13]
View answer282. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason the EAL teacher is being removed from a school (details supplied) in County Westemath when the school clearly needs this invaluable resource, the school's Principal and Board of Management have appealed the decision to remove their EAL teacher, their appeal was refused on 3 April 2013 and have been informed there is no other action that can be taken. [27432/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 229 and 282 together.
The criteria used for the allocation of teachers to schools is published annually on the 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 arrangements for the coming school year 2013/14 are set out in Circular 0013/2013 which is available on the website. The staffing appeal process at primary level includes the provision whereby schools with a high concentration of pupils requiring English as an additional language (EAL) can apply for further additional temporary language support posts. The appeal criteria are set out in the staffing schedule, Circular 0013/2013. The school referred to by the Deputy submitted an appeal under the EAL criterion. Having considered the school's application in the context of the published grounds, the Board refused the appeal at its meeting on 27th/28th March 2013. The school was notified accordingly. The Primary Staffing Appeals Board operates independently of the Department and its decision is final.
230. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Skills in the interest of fairness and to ensure access to the school of choice, if fee paying schools from a minority faith background could be exempt from any further increases in the pupil-teacher ratio; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27241/13]
View answer262. Deputy Joe O'Reilly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a school (details supplied) in County Cavan will be excluded from the proposed 23 to 1 pupil-teacher ratio in September 2015 on the grounds that it uniquely has high enrolment from areas of disadvantage in Cavan town which is its immediate hinterland and it is the only second level school with a Protestant ethos in the entire county which boasts a large Protestant population; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26978/13]
View answer287. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he is considering ring-fencing the current teacher pupil ratio of 23:1 for fee paying Protestant schools. [27503/13]
View answer289. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills his committment to equal right of children with respect to education; if he is prepared to keep the teacher-pupil ration at 23:1 and commit not to further cut the funding to fee paying Protestant schools, or if he will proceed with discrimination against pupils of Protestant ethos. [27507/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 230, 262, 287 and 289 together.
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. At post primary level and in order to promote fairness in funding second level schools, a two-point increase in the pupil teacher ratio in fee-charging second level schools will be introduced in September 2013. There are currently 55 schools out of 723 post-primary schools charging fees ranging from €2,550 to €10,065 for day pupils. At present, the State pays the salaries of one teacher for every 21 pupils in these schools compared with one teacher for every 19 pupils in schools in the free education scheme. A ratio of 18.25 pupils to one teacher, applies in DEIS schools. This will rise to 23:1 in fee-charging schools from September 2013. However, these schools have the resources, through fees charged, to employ teachers privately, an option which is not available to schools in the free education scheme. A report on the analysis of the tuition income of fee-charging schools carried out by the Department was recently published and shows that the schools in question have €81m in discretionary income that schools in the free scheme do not have. It is important to note that the report does not contain any policy proposals at this stage. However, even after the Budget changes are implemented, the discretionary income available to these schools will still be quite considerable. There are some concerns within the Church of Ireland community on the recent budget measure affecting fee-charging schools. 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. How best to sustain education provision for widely dispersed and small local communities does present as a particular challenge, especially in any locality where enrolment is declining to single figures. The Government is intent in fostering pluralism in school provision. Supporting small communities including minorities in maintaining their schools is part of that policy. 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.
231. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will look favourably upon the request of the National Adult Literacy Agency to amend the Further Education and Training (SOLAS) Bill to include a specific commitment to raise adult literacy and numeracy levels and develop a national adult literacy and numeracy strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27244/13]
View answerI 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.
232. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Education and Skills the amount of funding his Department has allocated or committed to paying off the debts of a particular college (details supplied) in County Kilkenny including the outstanding loans, the move from a 21:1 to 23:1 teacher ratio and their switch from a private to public school; if he will detail any other expenditure incurred by his Department as result of this switch between 2012 and into the 2013/2014 school year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27252/13]
View answer246. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Education and Skills the projected extra cost to the Exchequer of Kilkenny College in 2013/14 when it will be State funded excluding boarding fees; if he will detail what is to happen to the teachers employed in excess of the set pupil teacher ratio of 19:1; if he will outline any capital costs including liability for loans taken out by Kilkenny College; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26807/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 232 and 246 together. The authorities of Kilkenny College indicated that they were considering that the long term future of the College might be better secured by entering the Free Scheme. The Government is committed to supporting access of minority denomination communities to schools that are of their tradition or ethos. The provision made by Kilkenny College caters for the needs of children from the Protestant community spread across several counties. Accordingly, I was happy to have officials of my Department work with the college authorities to work through a basis on which such a transfer would be feasible if that was their ultimate judgement. The Deputy will appreciate that over the course of those detailed discussions the College authorities shared information in confidence with the Department and while I wish to respect that position at the same time I do want to provide the Deputy with information on the arrangements made to assist and support the College through its transition. Kilkenny College will cease to charge fees with effect from the start of school year in September next and as a result my Department will in future pay the salaries of a teacher for every 19 students attending the College. This compares with one teacher for every 21 students in fee charging schools at present and which will rise to one teacher for every 23 students in September 2013. My Department will also provide capitation and related funding to the College on the same basis as every other voluntary secondary school within the Free Education Scheme. I approved specific transition arrangements in relation to the teaching staff employed by the College and also reviewed the level of exchequer funding approved by the Department for school building projects carried out by the College. The precise cost of additional exchequer expenditure in Kilkenny College will be a function later this year of the actual enrolment in the College as a school within the Free Scheme. While the arrangements made in relation to Kilkenny College were specific to its circumstances and plans to enter the Free Scheme, I have made clear that my Department will engage constructively with any fee charging school that is considering how best to secure its future. On the basis of the analysis I published earlier this year on the income from fees available to fee charging schools I expect that a minority of the fee charging schools will wish to engage with my Department, as Kilkenny College did, in order to plan for the future.
233. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the financial impact the withdrawal of the minor works grant is having on many schools; if he will review this decision and reinstate the minor works grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27298/13]
View answerWhen the Minor Works Grant last issued in November 2011 for the school year 2011/2012, I stated that given the need to focus on meeting the demand for additional school places, it was unlikely that funding would be available for the Minor Works Grant in the coming years. This is borne out by the fact that in 2012, 85% of the capital expenditure in the school sector was in respect of large scale projects, additional accommodation and prefab replacement. The balance was expended on site acquisition, emergency works, furniture and equipment provision and commitments arising from earlier years. The capital allocation that is available for the school sector in 2013 is expected to have a similar spend pattern as was the case in 2012 and at this time there are no plans to reinstate the Minor Works Grant.
234. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 223 and 230 of 28 May 2013, the assistance his Department will provide to parents unable to find tutors who will work alone with a number of children with a severe or profound learning disability, as there are parents unable to fund tutors due to the challenging environment they would be working in when in previous years there was one-on-one tutoring for such children. [27310/13]
View answerI wish to again advise the Deputy that the policy in relation to siblings has not changed. Rather the application process in previous years may have in some instances failed to identify adequately multiple applications for siblings. My Department's Information Note for Home Based July Provision notes that allocations to siblings are reflective of the school grouping principle. This is where one teacher is allocated to a class of six pupils at the appropriate educational level, primary or post primary. Accordingly it is considered appropriate, as in a school situation, that a tutor can provide tuition at the appropriate educational level to more than one sibling at that level simultaneously in the home. The Departments website and information material is being amended to further clarify the position.
The school grouping principle does not purport to replicate or mirror all aspects of school based provision. The age or ability of siblings is reflected in their education level as determined by education and health professionals. In general where a child is receiving their education in a class setting with other children of mixed age and ability, this should carry through to their July Provision. Parents who are experiencing difficulties in sourcing a fully qualified teacher are advised to contact the officials dealing with their allocation as tutors with alternative qualifications and experience may be accepted in some instances.
235. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Pearse Doherty den Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna an gcuirfidh sé acmhainní agus tacaíocht bhreise ar fáil do scoil (sonraí ar fáil) chun gur féidir an cúrsa Ardteistiméireachta trí mheán na Gaeilge a chur ar fáil do dhaltaí, ag cur i gcuntas go bhfuil an scoil suite i nGaeltacht Dhún na nGall agus go bhfuil éileamh ann ó dhaltaí a rinne an Teastas Sóisearach trí Ghaeilge leanúint ar aghaidh lena gcuid staidéir trí mheán na Gaeilge. [26639/13]
View answerTáthar tar éis Aonad a bhunú sa scoil dá dtagraíonn an Teachta ó 2006 i leith chun oideachas trí Ghaeilge a sholáthar sa tsraith shóisearach. I gcás na scoile i gceist, sholáthraigh mo Roinnse acmhainní mar fhreagairt ar éileamh léirithe agus coinneoidh sí i gcónaí ar an scéal a athbhreithniú chun a fháil amach an leor an leibhéal éilimh chun na hacmhainní a soláthraíodh a bharántú.
Maidir le soláthar oideachais trí Ghaeilge ag leibhéal na sraithe sinsearaí sa scoil seo, coinneoidh mo Roinn i gcónaí ar an gcás a athbhreithniú. Táscaire soiléir é gur leor an iontráil fhéideartha in Aonad ag leibhéal na sraithe sinsearaí, chun leithdháileadh na n-acmhainní riachtanacha ar Aonad dá leithéid a bharántú, má bhíonn patrún léirithe, comhsheasmhach ann de leibhéal réasúnta éilimh sa tsraith shóisearach. Bíodh is go bhfuil Aonad sa scoil seo don tsraith shóisearach ó 2006 i leith, is líon an-bheag mac léinn atá ag freastal ar an Aonad sa sraith shóisearach. Sa chomhthéacs seo, níl líon réasúnta mac léinn ag glacadh páirte san Aonad faoi láthair agus dá bhrí sin níor rogha inmharthana é an tAonad a leathnú go dtí an tsraith shinsearach.
236. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills when and where E-tenders for school transport for 2013 were advertised; if he will indicate the deadline for pre-qualification; if this deadline was earlier than previous years; the date of the deadline for submission of tenders in 2012; the number of contractors that were informed by e-mail; the number of other contractors who are not current contractors that were made aware of the closing date; his views on whether all contractors were given sufficient notice regarding the closing date for submission of tenders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26664/13]
View answerBus Éireann, which operates the School Transport Scheme on behalf of my Department, has advised that the Notice for the Provision of School Transport Services – Third Cycle, was published by Bus Éireann on the e-tenders website on the 11th of March 2013. The related deadline date for receipt of completed Pre-Qualification Questionnaires (PQQ) for the first call for competition for work starting in August 2013 was before 12 noon on Monday, 8th April 2013. In 2012, the Notice for the Provision of School Transport Services – Second Cycle was published on the e-tenders website on the 3rd of April 2012. The deadline date for receipt of PQQ submissions for the first call for competition for work starting in August 2012 was the 3rd of May 2012. The deadline date for receipt of tenders was before 12 noon on Wednesday, 4th July 2012. Contractors who are currently providing the services being put out to public tender in the Third Cycle were given the courtesy by their local school transport office of being informed that the work was being put out to public tender through a variety of methods, including email, by phone, or by post. Other private operators and Contractors interested in this work were forwarded the PQQ by email or post. Some 450 private operators were contacted in this process, and this number does not include the interested parties who downloaded the documents directly from the e-tenders website. The period of time that was afforded to private operators and Contractors alike satisfied procurement obligations and was considered sufficient to allow interested parties both to become aware that this work was being put out to public tender and to submit the Pre-Qualification Questionnaire before the deadline date.
237. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of concessionary mainstream posts he intends to withdraw from schools in the Dublin Central constituency for the 2013/2014 academic year. [26761/13]
View answerThe Government has protected frontline services in schools to the greatest extent possible in this year's budget and there will no reduction in teacher numbers in primary 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 teaching posts for the 2013/2014 school year is set out in the Staffing Schedule (Circular 0013/2013) which is available on the Department 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 schedule also includes an appeals mechanism for schools to submit an appeal under certain criteria to an independent Appeals Board. Details of the criteria for appeal are contained in the staffing schedule, Circular 0013/2013. The allocation process at individual school level is currently underway. The final staffing position for all schools will ultimately not be known until the Autumn. At that stage the allocation process will be fully completed and all appeals to the Staffing Appeals Board will have been considered.
238. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the interventions his Department recognises as essential tools for teachers to do their job in respect of autistic persons; the plans, if any, he has to up-skill and-or train teachers to use such interventions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26765/13]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that children with autism present with a wide range of needs. Some children are capable of being fully integrated into mainstream schools without additional teaching or care supports. Others are able to attend mainstream schools but need additional teaching and/or care assistance. Many are best enrolled in autism-specific classes where more intensive and supportive interventions are required. Some may move from one setting to another as they get older and differing needs/strengths/abilities emerge. The preferred policy of my Department is that children with autism are educated in school settings where children may have access to individualised education programmes (IEPs), fully-qualified professional teachers, special needs assistants, the appropriate school curriculum with the option, where possible and appropriate, of full or partial integration and interaction with other pupils. The Deputy will be familiar with the standards associated with qualified teachers, the registration of qualified teachers required by the Teaching Council, the probationary process, whereby teachers are supported and advised by the inspectorate during their first year of teaching. Furthermore my Department recognises that specialised training and continued professional development (CPD) is important for staff working with children with special educational needs and supports the provision of CPD through the Special Education Support Service (SESS) which was specifically established for this purpose. The SESS co-ordinates and delivers a range of professional development initiatives and support structures for school personnel working with students with special educational needs.
239. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Education and Skills his policy in respect of dual enrolment when children with autism and autism spectrum disorders are concerned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26766/13]
View answerMy Department does not facilitate the dual enrolment of children in schools. As such, SENO's can only allocate resources to schools in respect of those pupils enrolled in a school. However, dual placement arrangements are a regular feature of transitional plans for children who are transferring from one placement to another and should be managed locally by the relevant Boards of Management. In addition, some children with special educational needs in special schools or special classes may also attend mainstream classes on a part-time basis in line with their abilities and local arrangements are made by the relevant boards of management.
240. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide assurance that an essential staff member who is retiring from a school (details supplied) in County Tipperary will be replaced for the coming academic year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26601/13]
View answerTeacher allocations to all second-level schools are approved annually by my Department in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolment. In accordance with these rules each school is required to organise its subject options within the limit of its approved teacher allocation. The deployment of teaching staff, the range of subjects offered and ultimately the quality of teaching and learning are in the first instance a matter for the Board of Management of the school. In accordance with existing arrangements, where a school management authority is unable to meet its curricular commitments within its approved allocation, my Department considers applications for additional short term support i.e. curricular concessions. The school in question has availed of the curricular concession process in respect of the retirement of a science teacher and has been notified of the outcome.
241. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will recognise the difference in the structure of funding of Protestant secondary schools and reinstate the previous supports provided by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26784/13]
View answerI assume the Deputy is referring to the withdrawal of certain funding from minority faith schools with effect from 1 January 2009, which realised an annual saving of €2.8 million to the Exchequer. These grants were withdrawn due to real concerns about the constitutionality of making grants available to fee-charging schools of one ethos and not to those of another. At second level there are 26 distinctively Protestant schools and one Jewish school. Of these schools, the Jewish school and 20 of the Protestant schools charge fees. Many of the schools have a boarding facility, reflecting the dispersed nature of the communities across the country. The six Protestant schools within the free education scheme receive the same funding as all other schools within the free education system. 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. I remind the Deputy that the Constitution specifically states that the State shall not discriminate against one religion in favour of another. With regard to the Protestant schools, an arrangement exists whereby funding is paid to the Secondary Education Committee, an organisation run by the churches involved in managing the schools. The Secondary Education Committee then disburses funds to the Protestant 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. There are no changes proposed in respect of the Protestant block grant. Teachers in all fee-charging schools are paid by the State. This arrangement predated the introduction of free education arrangements and has existed since the foundation of the State and predates the foundation of the State. I am already on record as saying that this is not a simple matter as these arrangements, which are historic and of long standing, impact upon a substantial number of schools which cater for religious minorities.
242. Deputy Peter Mathews asked the Minister for Education and Skills if schools (details supplied) in Dublin 24 will open this September; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26785/13]
View answerI can confirm that the schools to which the Deputy refers will commence operation in September 2013. Accommodation for the schools is currently being finalised in consultation with the school patrons.
243. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Skills his position regarding an application by two primary schools (details supplied) in County Westmeath to amalgamate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26787/13]
View answerI can confirm to the Deputy that my Department recently received correspondence from the schools in question relating to an amalgamation proposal. The application will be considered and a decision will be conveyed to the school authorities as soon as this process has been completed.
