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Thursday, 27 Jun 2013

Written Answers Nos. 108-113

School Enrolments

Questions (108)

Clare Daly

Question:

108. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will enable a school (details supplied) to recruit an additional teacher next year, which is absolutely vital in view of the fact that 31 new students are being enrolled, and that failure to do so will result in the classes above junior and senior infants doubling and trebling up beyond what should be tolerated for educating children of different years together. [31192/13]

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Written answers

The criteria used for the allocation of teachers to schools are published annually on the Department's website. The key factors for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level are the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and the pupil enrolments on 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's website.

I understand the school referred to by the Deputy applied for a post under developing school status. The post was provisionally approved pending confirmation of the enrolment at 30 September 2013. The school subsequently decided not to proceed with the post on the basis of uncertainty of achieving the required enrolment. The Deputy will be aware that the Government protected front-line services in schools to the greatest extent possible in the recent budget. 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.

Third Level Fees

Questions (109)

Michael McCarthy

Question:

109. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the options available for Irish students to reasonably fund postgraduate courses in the UK in view of the fact that many Irish banks will not fund courses outside here and UK banks will only deal with UK residents; if there is any method of funding through his Department; if there are any agreements in place between the Irish and UK universities and Governments; if there is any further funding available for a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31193/13]

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Written answers

The student grant scheme does not extend to postgraduate courses pursued outside the island of Ireland. Tax relief at the standard rate of tax may be claimed in respect of tuition fees paid for approved courses at approved colleges of higher education including approved undergraduate and postgraduate courses in EU Member States and in non-EU countries. Further information on this tax relief is available from the Revenue Commissioners at www.revenue.ie.

Departmental Staff Numbers

Questions (110)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl

Question:

110. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of staff in his Department who availed of term time in 2012; the average duration of such in 2012; the number that will do so in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31204/13]

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Written answers

The Shorter Working Year Scheme, which was introduced in 2009 (Ref: Department of Finance Circular 14/09) supersedes the previous Term Time Scheme (Ref: Department of Finance Circular 32/06). Under the Shorter Working Year Scheme, staff can apply for special unpaid leave for one or more continuous periods of not less than two and not more than 13 weeks at any time during the year, subject to management approval, rather than only during the summer holiday period which was a feature of the old Term Time Scheme. In 2012, some 103 whole-time equivalent staff availed of the Shorter Working Year Scheme. The average duration was 17.18 days. To date in 2013, some 96 whole-time equivalent staff have availed of or applied for the Shorter Working Year Scheme. The average duration of this leave amounts to 19.83 days.

Student Grant Scheme Payments

Questions (111)

John McGuinness

Question:

111. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a Student Universal Support Ireland grant will be paid to a person (details supplied). [31214/13]

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Written answers

Officials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) that the student referred to by the Deputy was issued an award letter on 19 June 2013. SUSI has advised that the applicant will need to upload her bank details on line in order for payments to commence.

Departmental Agencies Staff

Questions (112, 115)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl

Question:

112. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of staff in organisations or agencies under the aegis of his Department who availed of term time in 2012; the average duration of such in 2012; the number that will do so in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31220/13]

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Seán Ó Fearghaíl

Question:

115. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of staff in organisations or agencies under the aegis of his Department who availed of study or training leave in 2012; the average duration of such leave; if all staff availing of this leave received full pay and benefits during the time; the number that will do so in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31252/13]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 112 and 115 together.

Department of Finance circular 14/2009 governs the conditions that apply to the shorter working year scheme for officials within the Civil Service. Circular 44/2009 governs the Shorter Working Year Scheme in a number of agencies in the wider education sector. In addition, Department of Finance circulars 33/1964 and 23/2007 govern the conditions that apply to study and examination leave. The conditions contained in these circulars apply to those agencies under the aegis of my Department which are staffed by civil servants. The day-to-day human resources administration of agencies is a matter for each agency. My Department does not collate information on leave arrangements. Details of all bodies under the aegis of the Department of Education and Skills are available on my Department's website, www.education.ie.

Departmental Staff Training

Questions (113)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl

Question:

113. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of staff in his Department who availed of study or training leave in 2012; the average duration of such leave; if all staff availing of this leave received full pay and benefits during the time; the number that will do so in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31236/13]

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Written answers

The granting of study leave in my Department is governed by Department of Finance Circular 23/07. Details of study leave taken in my Department in 2012 and 2013 are outlined in the following table:

Year

Number of staff that availed of study leave

Average number of days taken

2012

54

4.6

2013*

39

4.0

*The total for 2013 includes 2.5 days of unpaid leave availed of by one staff member.

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