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Thursday, 4 Jul 2013

Written Answers Nos. 122-132

School Funding

Questions (122)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor

Question:

122. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will detail, in tabular form, the moneys expended by his Department in relation to a number of schools (details supplied) in County Kilkenny in terms of teacher salaries, capital funding and any other grant in each of the years 2010, 2011, 2012 and to date in 2013; the number of teachers including support teachers paid by the State in each school in each of the years listed; the number of pupils enrolled in each school in each year listed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32697/13]

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Written answers

The information requested by the Deputy is not readily available but will be forwarded directly to her when it is compiled.

School Enrolments

Questions (123)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor

Question:

123. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will outline his policy in respect of gaelscoileanna; his views as to whether special provisions should be in place to facilitate pupils who have attended gaelscoileanna at primary level to access places in gaelscoileanna at second level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32698/13]

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Written answers

The question of enrolment in individual schools is the responsibility of the managerial authority of those schools. My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking places. This may result, however, in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice.

It is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of schools to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998. In this regard a board of management may find it necessary to restrict enrolment to children from a particular area or a particular age group or, occasionally, on the basis of some other criterion. This selection process and the enrolment policy on which it is based must be non-discriminatory and must be applied fairly in respect of all applicants.

As the Deputy is aware, I announced at this year's Teacher Union Conferences that I will shortly bring to Government draft heads of a bill – the Education (Admission to School) Bill 2013. I will seek to publish the Bill in draft form to allow a full public discussion, including inputs from the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Education and Social Protection and the education partners. I also intend to publish draft regulations that I plan to make when the Bill is enacted. In bringing forward these proposals, it is not my intention to unnecessarily intrude into how schools do their business. My policy objective is to ensure that every child is treated fairly and that the way in which schools decide on applications is structured, fair and transparent.

As the Bill and the Regulations will be published in draft form, they will also be subject to a lot of detailed scrutiny before becoming law. I will be reflecting carefully on the views expressed in the consultation process to ensure they strike the right balance between school autonomy and fairness in our education system.

Public Procurement Regulations

Questions (124)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

124. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of projects approved for funding by his Department conditional on a bond being produced from a builder; the amount of the default by builders where such bonds were in place; the amount recovered through the use of bonds in such cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32717/13]

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Written answers

The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (D/PER) has responsibility for implementing national policy on public procurement, particularly in relation to construction procurement. Capital projects funded by my Department are administered in line with the guidance issued by D/PER under the Capital Works Management Framework. Bonds are generally required for projects with an estimated value in excess of €500,000 (including VAT) and most major building projects fall into this category. Smaller projects below €500,000 generally do not require a performance bond due to the nature of those projects i.e. short-term, lower risk, cost of obtaining bond versus contract size, availability of bonding facilities in the market for small value projects and barrier to entry issues for new entrants or SME's. The bond is used to cover costs (up to the value of the bond) that would otherwise accrue to the Employer (i.e. the Department, School, VEC etc.) on foot of a contractor's failure to complete the works. Negotiations are ongoing with regard to a number of major building projects where the contractor became insolvent in the past 3 years and in some cases the full cost of re-tendering and completion of the works is not yet known. The Deputy will appreciate that it is not possible to release commercially sensitive cost information which is currently the subject of negotiations. To do so would undermine the Department's position with regard to such negotiations.

Teaching Qualifications

Questions (125)

Patrick O'Donovan

Question:

125. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the options available to a person (details supplied) in relation to their teaching qualifications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32749/13]

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Written answers

Since March 2006 the Teaching Council is the statutory body for the registration of teachers including the recognition of teaching qualifications. The Council's registration regulations must be met before a person can be registered as a teacher. The Regulations aim to ensure consistency of approach and high standards for entry to the profession.

Teachers are employed by the relevant school authorities. Circular 0025/2013 issued by my Department in May confirms that Section 30 of the Teaching Council Act 2001 will be commenced on 1 November 2013. Subject to very limited exceptions Section 30 will prohibit payment by the State of people employed as teachers in recognised schools unless they are registered with the Teaching Council. Accordingly, applicants with enquiries regarding registration should contact the Council without delay. I understand that there may be a number of courses of action open to a person in this position.

Student Grant Scheme Eligibility

Questions (126)

Joe McHugh

Question:

126. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will explain the rationale underpinning the €54,000 threshold that applies for parents who support four children attending third level; his views on the case of a married couple who spend 40% of net household income on supporting four children who attend university; if he will identify the person or office with managerial responsibility within the Civil Service for reviewing this threshold; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32776/13]

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Written answers

The reckonable income thresholds for the standard rates of student grant normally track the percentage changes in average industrial earnings for specified reference periods as provided by the Central Statistics Office. Calculation of reckonable income is set out in Article 22(3) of the Student Grant Scheme 2013. The eligibility criteria for student grants including the income thresholds is reviewed annually in my Department and approved by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. The income thresholds are stated on a gross income basis representing gross pay before any deductions for income tax or PRSI. On this basis everyone has the same starting point, which eliminates any distortion which may arise from different spending decisions in different households under a net earnings regime. The Deputy may be aware that various income thresholds apply depending on the number of dependent children in a family and/or the number of relevant persons attending further or higher education. In the scenario presented by the Deputy, where there are four dependent children in the family, the highest income limit, which enables a person to receive the some grant support for undergraduate studies (50% of the Student Contribution) is €59,595. In addition, as there are four dependent children pursuing a full-time higher education course, an increment of €4,830 can be applied to the income limit in respect of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th child. In such a scenario, if the family's reckonable income falls below €74,085, they may be eligible for some support under the student grant scheme. A table outlining the income thresholds for the 2013/14 academic year is set out below.

SCHEDULE 1

Reckonable Income Limits for maintenance and fee grants for the 2013/14 academic year

Part A

1. Reckonable income limits:

The period 1 January 2012 to 31 December 2012 is the reference period for the academic year 2013/14.

The income limits that apply to tuition students relate to the fee elements only. A tuition student does not qualify for any maintenance grant.

Income limits for Maintenance and Fee grants — Table A

-

Maintenance

Maintenance

Maintenance

Maintenance

Maintenance

Maintenance

Maintenance

Maintenance

-

Special Rate*

100% Standard

Rate

75% Standard

Rate

50% Standard

Rate

25% Standard

Rate

Not payable

Not payable

Not payable

-

Fee elements:

Fee elements:

Fee elements:

Fee elements:

Fee elements:

Fee elements:

Fee elements:

Fee elements:

To qualify for

100% Tuition

Fees

100% Tuition

Fees

100% Tuition

Fees

100% Tuition

Fees

100% Tuition

Fees

50% Tuition Fees

Tuition Fees —

Not payable

Tuition Fees —

Not payable

-

100% Student

Contribution

100% Student

Contribution

100% Student

Contribution

100% Student

Contribution

100% Student

Contribution

100% Student

Contribution

50% Student

Contribution

50% Student

Contribution —

Not payable

-

Field Trip

Field Trip

Field Trip

Field Trip

Field Trip

Field Trip — Not

payable

Field Trip — Not

Payable

Field Trip — Not

payable

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Postgraduate Fee

Contribution:

No. of dependent

children

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Payable

Less than 4

€22,703

€39,875

€40,970

€43,380

€45,790

€49,840

€54,240

€31,500

4 — 7

€22,703

€43,810

€45,025

€47,670

€50,325

€54,765

€59,595

€34,615

8 or more

€22,703

€47,575

€48,890

€51,760

€54,630

€59,455

€64,700

€37,580

Additional increments that may be applied to the income limits in Table A for Maintenance and Fee Grants — Table B**

+ increment for each additional relevant person

€0

+ €4,830

+ €4,670

+ €4,670

+ €4,670

+ €4,830

+ €4,830

+ €4,980

*To be eligible for the special rate of maintenance an applicant's reckonable income on 31 December 2012 must include an eligible payment listed in Schedule 2.

**Increments which may be applied to the relevant income limits.

Special Educational Needs Services Provision

Questions (127)

Patrick O'Donovan

Question:

127. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on discussions he has had with parents of children with Down's syndrome in relation to the provision of special needs assistants and resource hours. [32783/13]

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Written answers

The Deputy will be aware of this Government's ongoing commitment to ensuring that all children with special educational needs, including children with Down's 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's 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's 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. Pupils with Down's syndrome who have care needs may also receive access to Special Needs Assistant (SNA) support. The NCSE allocates a quantum of SNA support for each school annually taking into account the care needs of all of the qualifying children enrolled in the school, and on the basis of the assessed care needs of the children, rather than solely by reference to a pupil's disability categorisation. I wish to explain to the Deputy that 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's 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's 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. The NCSE policy advice did not recommend 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's 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 consideration for a new Tailored Allocation Model, which is set out as one of the principal recommendations of the report. In the course of my recent meeting with Down Syndrome Ireland a number of issues were raised which I consider merit further examination. Accordingly I have asked my officials to consider these issues further and to provide a full response to Down Syndrome Ireland on the issues raised as soon as possible.

Minor Works Scheme Suspension

Questions (128)

Pat Deering

Question:

128. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he plans to restore the minor works grant in the forthcoming budget in view of the costs of routine repairs schools must carry out and the pressure the abolition of that grant has placed on school finances; if he will explain the reason the capitation grant for special needs classes in mainstream schools is paid in June every year, that is, at the end of the school year; and if he will bring forward this payment to help school budgets. [32788/13]

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Written answers

When 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.

All recognised national schools running costs are met by my Department's schemes of capitation and ancillary service grants. Schools receive capitation funding in January and June of each year. Enhanced rates of capitation funding are paid to schools in respect of pupils with special educational needs who attend special schools or special classes attached to mainstream schools. The first moiety, paid in January of each year, of 70% is calculated using the enrolment figures from the previous school year. However, when the second moiety is being paid in June the current year enrolment figure is taken into account and the first moiety is reconciled at that stage. The ancillary services grant is paid to Schools in March of each year.

School Staffing

Questions (129)

Clare Daly

Question:

129. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the options open to Gaelscoil Ros Eo, which has 31 new students enrolled for junior infants but, with a small number of pupils who were enrolled last year leaving, might not be approved for an extra teacher as its average would be below 28 pupils to 1 teacher; and if he is aware that the consequence of this is that the older classes will have to have three syllabi taught in the one class with 30 children, which would put them at a significant disadvantage vis-à-vis their peers. [32797/13]

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Written answers

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 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. 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. I understand that 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 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.

International Bodies Membership

Questions (130)

Andrew Doyle

Question:

130. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will outline each international organisation, agency or body of which Ireland is a member and for which his Department or a State body or agency under the aegis of his Department is responsible or co-responsible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32808/13]

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Written answers

It has not been possible to collate the information in the time available. I will respond directly to the Deputy when the information is available.

Public Procurement Regulations

Questions (131)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

131. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of projects that were approved funding by his Department conditional on a bond being produced from a builder; the amount of the default by builders where such bonds were in place; the amount recovered through the use of bonds in such cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32724/13]

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Written answers

In response to the Deputy's question I can confirm that there were no projects approved by my Department conditional on a bond being produced from any builder. I understand that the Office of Public Works will be contacting the Deputy directly on this matter.

Proposed Legislation

Questions (132)

Andrew Doyle

Question:

132. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the current status of upcoming legislation to amend the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Act to modernise the senior management structure in the Houses of the Oireachtas; if he intends to bring forward legislation before the summer recess, during which a senior official is due to retire; if the legislation will incorporate the top level appointments commission for the appointment of the Secretary General of the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission and Clerk of Dáil Éireann; the recent discussions he has had on this matter with the Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann and the Cathaoirleach of Seanad Éireann; if, in the event the legislation is not introduced before the summer recess, he will detail the arrangements the Oireachtas will have to put in place in the interim, before legislation is brought forward later in 2013 to deal with the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32742/13]

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Written answers

Legislation underpinning the modernisation of the senior management structure of the Houses of the Oireachtas Service is in the course of preparation. Following consultations with the Ceann Comhairle of the Dáil and the Cathaoirleach of the Seanad, it is envisaged that the necessary legislation will be submitted to the Oireachtas for enactment after the Houses resume in the autumn. It is proposed to make an interim appointment to cover the period between the retirement of the present postholder and the making of the new appointment.

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