Written Answers Nos. 331-344
331. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a school (details supplied) in County Wicklow has been asked for a local contribution in view of the fact that the site was given in lieu of the local contribution at the time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34448/13]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, a new 3 classroom school building was constructed in 2010 for the school to which he refers using public funds. At the time, payment of a local contribution of €63,000 was required for projects of this nature. The school authority indicated that they would transfer the school site to my Department. However, the proposed transfer did not proceed and the school authority decided to pay the local contribution to my Department. The site remains in the ownership of the relevant diocesan trust.
332. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason unemployed teachers have lost out again on exam supervisory posts this summer in view of eight to ten jobs going to full-time or retired staff; the reason this is happening; if the figure of eight to ten posts going to full-time or retired staff is correct; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34456/13]
View answerThe State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations including organising the holding of examinations, determining procedures in places where examinations are conducted including the supervision of examinations and making arrangements for the marking of work presented for examination. In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.
333. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position on a school extension application (details supplied) in County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34462/13]
View answerI can confirm to the Deputy that the school to which he refers has an application with my Department for large scale capital funding. I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department recently sanctioned a devolved grant to facilitate the provision of 3 additional mainstream clasrooms at the school to meet immediate accommodation demand. This project is currently under way. This funding is in addition to the €700,000 grant provided in 2010-2011 to provide for additional mainstream classrooms and some specialist accommodation, also to cater for increasing enrolments. Following on from the success of the 2012 prefab replacement scheme which provided funding for the replacement of over 458 prefab units, I recently announced that a further 46 schools would be offered grants in 2013 to build permanent accommodation to replace 115 prefabs, subject to the schools meeting certain criteria. All 46 schools have now been written to, including the school referred to by the Deputy, and school responses are currently being assessed to determine the level of accommodation to be replaced under this scheme. The school in question will be notified of the outcome of this assessment shortly.
334. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Education and Skills the net and gross annual saving to the Exchequer if VEC chief executive officers' salaries were capped at €100,000. [34481/13]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that, on 1 July 2013, the 33 VECs were replaced by 16 Education and Training Boards (ETBs). Accordingly, I propose to answer the Deputy's question by reference to the Chief Executives of the ETBs. There are three categories of ETBs for the purposes of pay scales for Chief Executives. Based on the mid point of these scales, my Department estimates that the gross annual saving to the Exchequer, were pay for the Chief Executives to be capped at €100,000, is of the order of €144,000. As Chief Executives are employees of and paid by the ETBs, information relating to the net saving is not available.
335. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Education and Skills the annual saving to the Exchequer if current State subsidies to private schools were withdrawn; if he will provide a single figure and not a list of schools with accompanying figures. [34482/13]
View answerIn December 2011 I announced that an analysis of fee income in the 55 fee charging schools would be carried out. This was in order to inform future policy decisions about the nature and extent of Exchequer funding provided to fee charging schools.
The report published in January 2013 is an analysis of the funding position of the 55 schools which charge fees; it is not an audit. It shows the funds available to these schools through charging fees, which are not available to secondary schools in the Free Scheme.
The Report shows that fee charging schools have a discretionary income of €81.3 million that would not be available to similar sized schools (i.e. size as determined by enrolment) in the free scheme.
The Report is available at http://www.education.ie//en/Publications/Education-Reports/Fee-Paying-Schools-Analysis-of-Fee-Income.pdf.
336. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a person (details supplied) was refused a grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34490/13]
View answerOfficials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) that the applicant referred to by the Deputy was issued with a decision on 10 May 2013 advising her that she was deemed ineligible to receive a grant. I understand from SUSI that incomplete documentation had been received. If an individual applicant considers that she-he has been unjustly refused a student grant, or that the rate of grant awarded is not the correct one, she-he may appeal, in the first instance, to SUSI. Where an individual applicant has had an appeal turned down, in writing, by SUSI, and remains of the view that SUSI has not interpreted the scheme correctly in his/her case, an appeal form outlining the position may be submitted by the applicant to the Student Grant Appeals Board. The relevant appeal form will be available on request from SUSI.
337. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide, in tabular form, a breakdown of the fees and expenses paid to each member of each State board, to include the chair and board members, and the number of members on each State board under the aegis of his Department. [34511/13]
View answerDetails relating to the non-commercial State agency boards under the aegis of the Department of Education and Skills which are paid fees can be downloaded from my Department's website - http://www.education.ie/en/The-Department/Agencies/Details-of-Membership-of-State-Boards/Board-Fees.pdf. The day to day management of agencies, including the payment of expenses in accordance with Department of Public Expenditure and Reform guidelines, is a matter for the management of each agency and is generally available in the annual reports and accounts of agencies. Additional information is available from the websites of the bodies in question, and information on an annual basis is generally collated in their annual reports which are available on their websites.
Information details of fees paid and current members of each board can be found in the table.
|
Body |
Chairperson Rate |
Members Rate [Note 1] |
|
An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta (COGG) |
n/a |
n/a |
|
An Foras Áiseanna Saothair (FÁS) |
€20,520 |
€11,970 |
|
Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse (CICA) |
See Note 2 |
|
|
Grangegorman Development Agency |
€8,978 |
n/a |
|
Higher Education Authority (HEA) |
€11,970 |
€7,695 |
|
Irish Research Council |
n/a |
n/a |
|
Léargas |
n/a |
n/a |
|
National Centre for Guidance Education (NCGE) Management Committee |
n/a |
n/a |
|
National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) |
n/a |
n/a |
|
National Council for Special Education |
n/a |
n/a |
|
Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) |
n/a |
n/a |
|
Residential Institutions Redress Board (RIRB) |
See Note 3 |
|
|
Residential Institutions Review Committee (RIRC) |
See Note 3 |
|
|
Residential Institutions Statutory fund (RISF) |
n/a |
n/a |
|
Skillnets Ltd |
€8,978 |
€5,985 |
|
State Examinations Commission |
n/a |
n/a |
|
The Teaching Council |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a = Not Applicable
Note 1: Public servants who sit on State boards or who may be nominated to such boards independently of their public service employment are not paid remuneration in the form of board fees
Note 2: The Chairperson of the Commission to Inquire Into Child Abuse (CICA) is a member of the Judiciary and is not paid by the CICA. The ordinary members of the Commission, who were all salaried are not currently on the payroll.
Note 3: The Chairman of the RIRB is paid an annual salary equivalent to a serving President of the Circuit Court subject to abatement to take account of his pension.
In relation to the RIRC, the Chairman's salary is linked to his former Supreme Court judicial salary subject to pension abatement. Since October 2011, the Chairman has taken a 50% voluntary reduction in his salary.
The other board members of both the RIRB and the RIRC are paid a per diem rate and pension abatement applies in the case of members receiving a pension from the State. The per diem rate from 1st January 2011 is €668.
Members of Boards under the aegis of the Department of Education and Skills
|
Body |
Name |
|
An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta (COGG) |
John Carr (Chairperson) |
|
An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta (COGG) |
Mairéad Ní Chualáin |
|
An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta (COGG) |
Anna Ní Chartúir |
|
An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta (COGG) |
Bernadette Ní Dhuibhir |
|
An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta (COGG) |
Cathnia Ó Muircheartaigh |
|
An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta (COGG) |
Fíona Uí Uiginn |
|
An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta (COGG) |
Clodagh Ní Mhaoilchiaráin |
|
An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta (COGG) |
Bríd Uí Lubhaing |
|
An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta (COGG) |
Yvonne Ní Mhurchú |
|
An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta (COGG) |
Máire Nic Niallais |
|
An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta (COGG) |
Mícheál Ó Broin |
|
An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta (COGG) |
Séan Ó Tuairisg |
|
An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta (COGG) |
Bláthnaid Ní Ghréacháin |
|
An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta (COGG) |
Máire Ní Chuinneagáin |
|
An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta (COGG) |
Deirbhile Nic Craith |
|
An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta (COGG) |
Robert Cronin |
|
An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta (COGG) |
Daithi Sims |
|
An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta (COGG) |
Michael Doherty |
|
An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta (COGG) |
Máire Uí Chonghaile |
|
An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta (COGG) |
Seosamh Ó Coinne |
|
An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta (COGG) |
Kevin De Barra |
338. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide, in tabular form, the annual salary of all non-commercial State-sponsored bodies' chief executive officers under the aegis of his Department. [34527/13]
View answerThe details requested in relation to the annual salary of all non-commercial State Sponsored bodies' chief executive officers under the aegis of my Department are outlined on the table.
|
Agency |
Remuneration* |
|
An Chomhairle um Oideachais Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta (COGG) |
The remuneration of the CEO is calculated in accordance with the salary scale of Senior Inspector. |
|
Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse (CICA) |
The CEO/Secretary of the Commission is an Assistant Principal Officer, i.e. a civil servant on secondment. |
|
Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Board |
Equivalent to Principal Officer in the civil service. |
|
FÁS |
The Director-General’s salary is for that of a Category 2 agency, i.e. above that of an Assistant Secretary General in the civil service. |
|
Grangegorman Development Agency |
The CEO is paid at the rate that relates to a Category 4 agency. (Principal Officer in the civil service). |
|
Higher Education Authority (HEA) |
The CEO grade is linked to that of Assistant Secretary in Civil Service |
|
Irish Research Council |
There is no CEO, as it comes under the auspices of the HEA. |
|
Léargas - The Exchange Bureau |
Salary scale of €92,730 - €114,366, which related to the Principal Officer (Higher Scale) in the civil service. |
|
National Centre for Guidance in Education (NCGE) |
Remuneration is equivalent to school principal salary scale, based upon an Adult Education Guidance Coordinator’s salary, qualifications allowances and a principal’s allowance to serve as Director. |
|
National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) |
Equivalent to Deputy Chief Inspector salary scale. |
|
National Council for Special Education (NCSE) |
Equivalent to Assistant Secretary General in the civil service |
|
Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) |
Total remuneration €133,888 of which €88,505 was pensionable Difference between the office-holder’s university salary and the CEO’s rate of remuneration.** |
|
Residential Institution Redress Board (RIRB) |
The CEO/Secretary is a Principal Officer on secondment. |
|
Residential Institution Review Committee (RIRC) |
The CEO/Registrar is a retired Court Registrar who is paid one day per week, taking into account pension abatement. |
|
Skillnets Ltd |
€119,136. This represents a voluntary reduction of 10% |
|
State Examinations Commission (SEC) |
Equivalent to Assistant Secretary General in the civil service. |
|
The Teaching Council |
Equivalent to Principal Officer (Higher) in the civil service. |
*Salary scales can be downloaded from the Department of Finance website
**Difference between the office-holder’s university salary and the CEO’s rate of remuneration.
339. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide, in tabular form, a list of all professional fees, including but not limited to legal, consultancy, IT related, advisory, advertising and accounting; and the company name and the amount invoiced between 1 June 2012 and 31 May 2013. [34543/13]
View answer341. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide the annual saving to the Exchequer of a 20% reduction in all professional fees, including but not limited to legal, consultancy, IT related, advisory, advertising and accounting; and the company name and the amount invoiced between 1 June 2012 and 31 May 2013. [34575/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 341 and 339 together.
The information requested is being collated at present and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as it is available.
340. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide, in tabular form, a breakdown of all third level courses, training programmes and courses and accompanying cost for the 2012-13 academic year 1 September 2012 to 30 June 2013 provided for employees of his Department. [34559/13]
View answerThe information sought by the Deputy is contained in the table. Staff engage in relevant third level and further education programmes in their own time to broaden and maintain their learning and competencies and to build capability to enable the Department meet current and future challenges. My Department also provides a range of targeted training courses annually in areas, including financial training, legal training, Freedom of Information (FOI), business process improvement (BPI), IT technical and end user training, management and leadership. Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is also provided for members of the Inspectorate and Psychological Service (NEPS) to address their priority training and development needs.
Cost of third level programmes for the 2012/2013 academic year paid to date.
|
Course |
College/University |
Cost |
|
BA Human Resource Management |
National College of Ireland |
4,017.27 |
|
MSc in Information Systems Strategy |
Dublin City University |
5,655.00 |
|
Doctorate of Education / Doctorate Education Psychology (4 staff) |
NUI Maynooth |
17,734.00 |
|
Diploma Sa Ghaeilge |
NUI Maynooth |
1,000.00 |
|
Diploma in Public Management |
Institute of Public Administration |
2,500.00 |
|
PhD in Complex Systems and Computational Social Science |
University College Dublin |
3,600.00 |
|
Corporate MBA |
University of Limerick |
8,160.00 |
|
Postgraduate Diploma in Public Mangement |
Institute of Public Administration |
2,500.00 |
|
MSc Spatial Planning |
Dublin Institute of Technology |
1,335.00 |
|
BA in Law (3 staff) |
Athlone IT |
7,500.00 |
|
BSc in Information Technology |
Dublin City University |
1,650.00 |
|
Diploma in Payroll Management |
Irish Payroll Association (IPASS) |
1,590.00 |
|
Bachelor of Business Studies |
Institute of Public Administration |
2,980.00 |
|
Diploma in Law |
Institute of Public Administration |
2,750.00 |
|
BA in Public Management (3 staff) |
Institute of Public Administration |
8,460.00 |
|
BA in Public Administration |
Institute of Public Administration |
2,820.00 |
|
Certificate in Civil Service and State Agency Studies (4 staff) |
Institute of Public Administration |
3610.00 |
|
Diploma in Official Statistics |
Institute of Public Administration |
1,450.00 |
|
Train the Trainer (FETAC Level 6) |
Midland School of Childcare |
500.00 |
|
MA in Public Management |
Institute of Public Administration |
5,000.00 |
|
Diploma in Counselling & Psychotherapy |
Dublin Counselling and Therapy Centre |
4,700.00 |
|
- |
Cost of Academic Programmes |
89,511.27 |
342. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide, in tabular form, the annual saving to the Exchequer of a 1%, 5%, 7%, 10%, 12%, 15%, 17% and 20% reduction in travel and expenses for his Department. [34591/13]
View answerMy Department's travel and subsistence allocation for 2013 is €1.59 million This allocation supports key functions within my Department such as the provision of schools inspections, psychological services to schools and oversight of capital projects.
The savings that would be associated with reductions in travel and subsistence allocation as queried by the Deputy are shown below: 1% - €15,900; 5% - €79,500; 7% - €111,300; 10% - €159,000; 12% - €190,800; 15% - €238,500; 17% - €270,300; and 20% - €318,000.
343. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide, in tabular form, the annual saving to the Exchequer of a 5%, 7%, 10%, 12%, 15%, 17% and 20% reduction in training and development for his Department. [34607/13]
View answerThe information sought by the Deputy is provided in the table. The training budget meets the cost of training and development for the Department's staff in administrative, professional, technical and service grades, and aims to enhance the skills and knowledge of staff to build capability to enable the Department meet current and future challenges and promote personal development of staff.
Between 2008 and 2012 expenditure on training (excluding the National Educational Psychological Service) was reduced by 50% to less than €0.5 million. Expenditure on staff training in NEPS reduced by over 20% since 2008 although the number of psychologists employed by my Department increased. In addition NEPS operates a range of programmes at school level (e.g. Incredible Years, Friends for Life) through which training is delivered by NEPS staff to teachers for delivery to students.
|
Expenditure |
Percentage Reduction |
Percentage Reduction |
Percentage Reduction |
Percentage Reduction |
Percentage Reduction |
Percentage Reduction |
Percentage Reduction |
|
Expenditure on Staff Training and Development in 2012 (Excl. Psychological Service - NEPS) |
5% reduction |
7% reduction |
10% reduction |
12% reduction |
15% reduction |
17% reduction |
20% reduction |
|
478,266 |
23,913 |
33,479 |
47,827 |
57,392 |
71,740 |
81,305 |
95,653 |
|
Expenditure on Training and Development in 2012 (NEPS) |
|||||||
|
108,854 |
5,443 |
7,620 |
10,885 |
13,062 |
16,328 |
18,505 |
21,770 |
|
Total Expenditure in 2012 |
|||||||
|
587,120 |
29,356 |
41,099 |
58,712 |
70,454 |
88068 |
99,810 |
117,423 |
344. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide, in tabular form, the annual saving to the Exchequer if all his special advisers' pay was capped at the first point of the principal officer grade; and if he will provide a list of all salaries, post-implementation of the Haddington Road agreement, paid to his special advisers. [34623/13]
View answerThe following tabular statement gives the current salaries of my Special Advisers and the annual saving to the Exchequer if their salaries were capped at the first point of the Principal Officer grade, post the implementation of the Haddington Road Agreement. Officials at my Department wrote to the Department of Finance at the time of the appointments and requested sanction to place the individuals on a point of the pay scale for the position nearest to their earnings before appointment. They have not received any salary increase since March 2011. In accordance with the terms of the Ethics in Public Office Acts copies of the appointees' contracts of employment together with details of their qualifications were laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas on 28 October 2011.
|
Appointee |
Position |
Salary |
Annual Saving if salary was capped at the first point of the Principal Officer salary scale (€75,647) |
|
John Walshe |
Special Advisor |
€87,258 |
€11,611 |
|
Deirdre Grant* |
Special Advisor |
€81,673 |
€6,026 |
*Maternity leave absence temporarily covered by Siobhán Creaton since 30th April 2013 who is currently being paid at the first point of the Principal Officer grade.
