Written Answers Nos. 259-275
259. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide information regarding the status of a Student Universal Support Ireland higher education grant application made by a person (details supplied) in County Cork in 2012 with respect to the 2012-2013 academic year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36810/13]
View answerI understand that the student referred to by the Deputy has lodged an appeal with the independent Student Grant Appeals Board. The case is currently listed for hearing on 1st October 2013 and the student will be informed of the decision of the Appeals Board shortly thereafter.
260. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide information regarding the status of a Student Universal Support Ireland higher education grant application made by a person (details supplied) in County Waterford in 2012 with respect to the 2012-2013 academic year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36811/13]
View answerOfficials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) that the student referred to by the Deputy had her application reviewed and a revised award issued on the 14th February 2013. I also understand from SUSI that the fees have been paid.
261. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide information regarding the status of a Student Universal Support Ireland higher education grant application made by a person (details supplied) in County Waterford in 2012 with respect to the 2012-2013 academic year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36812/13]
View answerOfficials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland that in the case of the student referred to by the Deputy, his student grant application was appealed to the appeals officer in SUSI and the original decision was overturned. The student's application was reassessed and on the 31st July 2013, an award letter issued to the student.
262. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which qualification income guidelines affect eligibility for a higher education grant in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36847/13]
View answerThe decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter for the relevant grant awarding authority. The Deputy will appreciate that in the absence of all of the relevant details that would be contained in an individual's application form, including those relating to residency, nationality, academic attainment and means it would not be possible for me to say whether or not a student would qualify for a grant. Budget 2013 provided for a 3% reduction in grant income thresholds in 2013 grant scheme. The measure applies to both new and renewal applications. This reduction in thresholds does not apply to the threshold for the special rate of grant and the threshold for the €2,000 contribution at postgraduate level which remains at €31,500 for the 2013/14 academic year. The income limits for grant eligibility are increased relative to the number of students in a family applying for a grant.
263. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive notification of the result of their Student Universal Support Ireland appeal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36853/13]
View answerOfficials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) that in the case of the student referred to by the Deputy, his student grant application was appealed to the appeals officer in SUSI and also to the Independent Appeals Board. SUSI was advised by the Appeals Board to review the application. On that basis, the application is currently being reassessed and the student will be notified directly by SUSI of the outcome.
264. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will approve a full time special needs assistant for a child (details supplied) in County Laois; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36864/13]
View answer265. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will approve resource hours for a child (details supplied) in County Laois [36865/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 264 and 265 together. I wish to advise the Deputy that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), is responsible for processing applications from schools for special educational needs supports, including the allocation of resource teachers and Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) to schools. The NCSE operates within my Department's established criteria for the allocation of Special Education supports and the staffing resources available to my Department. All schools were advised to apply to the NCSE for resource teaching and SNA support for the 2013/14 school year by 15th March, 2013. The NCSE has now published details of all of their allocations for resource teaching and SNA support for the 2013/2014 school year. These details are now available on the NCSE website, www.ncse.ie, and detail the allocations made for each school on a per county basis. In order to meet any late demand for resource teaching support which may have arisen between 15th March, 2013 and the start of the school year, the NCSE requested all schools to submit outstanding applications for resource teaching support to the NCSE by 20th September, 2013. Applications for resource teaching support received to this point will be considered by the NCSE. In relation to SNA support, schools should contact the NCSE if they have enrolled children who were not considered at the time that the SNA allocations were made to schools, or where they are seeking a revision to the quantum of SNA support which has been allocated to them for the coming school year. In general, a revision to SNA allocations will only be made in circumstances where schools have enrolled new pupils, or where schools can demonstrate that they do not have sufficient SNA posts to cater for the care needs of all of the qualifying children in their school. 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.
266. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the appropriate level of special needs assistants hours will be restored in the case of a person (details supplied), whose hours have now been reduced to 4.5 hours; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36868/13]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), is responsible for processing applications from schools for special educational needs supports, including the allocation of resource teachers and Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) to schools. The NCSE operates within my Department's established criteria for the allocation of Special Education supports and the staffing resources available to my Department. All schools were advised to apply to the NCSE for resource teaching and SNA support for the 2013/14 school year by 15th March, 2013. The NCSE has now published details of all of their allocations for resource teaching and SNA support for the 2013/2014 school year. These details are now available on the NCSE website, www.ncse.ie, and detail the allocations made for each school on a per county basis. In order to meet any late demand for resource teaching support which may have arisen between 15th March, 2013 and the start of the school year, the NCSE requested all schools to submit outstanding applications for resource teaching support to the NCSE by 20th September, 2013. Applications for resource teaching support received to this point will be considered by the NCSE. In relation to SNA support, schools should contact the NCSE if they have enrolled children who were not considered at the time that the SNA allocations were made to schools, or where they are seeking a revision to the quantum of SNA support which has been allocated to them for the coming school year. In general, a revision to SNA allocations will only be made in circumstances where schools have enrolled new pupils, or where schools can demonstrate that they do not have sufficient SNA posts to cater for the care needs of all of the qualifying children in their school. 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.
267. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide figures as of 16 July 2013 of the number of persons that have Student Universal Support Ireland grants at an appeal stage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36886/13]
View answerOfficials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) that as of the 16th July 2013 there were 340 applications at the first appeal stage and there were 433 applications re-assessed as a result of a first appeal. Applicants have up to 30 days within which to appeal a SUSI decision and SUSI has discretion to extend the appeals period by a further 30 days. SUSI has regularly exercised this discretion to facilitate students. The Appeals Officer has 30 days within which to make their decision.
268. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the funding options available to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare who wishes to complete an apprenticeship; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36905/13]
View answerThis is a day to day operational matter for FAS. Apprenticeship is the recognised means by which persons are trained to become craftspeople in Ireland. The main craft trades have been designated by FÁS and come within the scope of the Statutory Apprenticeship system. While there are apprenticeships in the electrical and mechanical sectors, there is no apprenticeship in Mechanical Engineering at present. The full list of apprenticeship trades is available at www.fas.ie. Apprenticeship in Ireland is organised by FÁS in co-operation with the Department of Education and Skills, Employer Bodies and Trade Unions. Apprenticeship is a partnership between Employer Bodies, Trade Unions, the Department of Education, FÁS and the Apprentice. Assuming that the individual in question registers as an apprentice, a training allowance will be paid when he attends off-the-job training at phases 2, 4 and 6. To register as an apprentice the entry requirements are as follows:
1. The prospective apprentice must obtain employment as an apprentice in their chosen occupation.
2. The employer must be approved by FÁS and must register the prospective apprentice as an apprentice with FÁS.
3. The minimum age at which the employment of an apprentice may commence is 16 years of age.
4. The minimum educational requirements are:
- Grade D in Five subjects in the Department of Education & Skills Junior Certificate Examination or an approved equivalent, or
- The Successful completion of an approved Pre-Apprenticeship course, or
- Be over 18 years of age, have at least 3 years work experience approved by FÁS
5. In certain crafts, apprenticeship applicants are required to pass a colour vision test approved by FÁS.
Some apprenticeship job vacancies are advertised on the Department of Social Protection website under the section titled "Jobseekers" which can be accessed at www.welfare.ie. The individual in question may also contact their local FÁS Training centre to discuss the Standards Based Apprenticeship Scheme.
269. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason there is a difference in price between the English and Irish versions of the same school book (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36911/13]
View answerIt is not possible to state why there is a difference in price between the English and Irish versions of the same book. Educational book publishers are independent private companies not under the direct control of my Department. Apart from a small number of prescribed texts at second-level, mainly in the case of language subjects, decisions on textbooks are taken at school level. Individual schools need to adopt a more cost-conscious approach to the selection of books in their classes.
270. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on the patronage applications received by his Department for the new post-primary school set to open in North Wicklow in 2016; the number of applications received; when he expects to be in a position to make an announcement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36919/13]
View answerThe application assessment process for the patronage of the new post-primary schools due to open in September 2015 and 2016, including the new school proposed for the north Wicklow area, is currently underway. As part of this process, my Department will prepare a report for consideration by the New Schools Establishment Group who will submit a report to me for final consideration and decision. I expect to be in a position to announce my decision later this year. Three applications have been received for patronage of the new school in question - Educate Together, Kildare and Wicklow Education Training Board and Educate Together and the Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board jointly.
271. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a Student Universal Support Ireland appeal in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36921/13]
View answer350. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a Student Universal Support Ireland grant in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38028/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 271 and 350 together.
Officials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) that in the case of the student referred to by the Deputy, that following an appeal to the SUSI Appeals Officer the original decision of the awarding authority was upheld and a decision letter issued on 20th of December 2012. Where an appeal is turned down in writing by SUSI and the applicant remains of the view that the scheme has not been interpreted correctly in his or her case, an appeal form outlining the position may be submitted by the applicant to the independent Student Grants Appeals Board. The relevant appeal form will be available on request from SUSI.
272. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a Student Universal Support Ireland appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36922/13]
View answerOfficials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland that the student referred to by the Deputy has been awarded a grant and an award letter issued on 26th July, 2013.
273. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide a list of individual primary schools and secondary schools where the number of English as an additional language teacher was above three; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36976/13]
View answerTeacher allocations are approved annually in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolment. Earlier this year my Department published the staffing arrangements at primary level for the 2013/14 school year in Circular 0013/2013. This Circular is available on the Department's website. Appendix C of this Circular includes a list of those schools that, because of their high concentrations of pupils with language support requirements, have additional support in the form of language support teachers. The staffing arrangements at post-primary level operate in a similar manner although the details for each individual school is not published on the website. I can however confirm that there are no post primary schools with 3 or more language support teachers.
274. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide the list of Gaelscoileanna that have opened since 2008. [36977/13]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that nine Gaelscoileanna have opened since 2008. Details of the schools concerned are contained in the following table for the Deputy's information.
|
Gaelscoileanna that have opened since 2008 |
||
|
Gaelscoil na Clocha Liatha |
Greystones Co Wicklow |
Opened September 2008 |
|
Gaelscoil Éadan Doire |
Edenderry, Co. Offaly |
Opened September 2008 |
|
Gaelscoil Ros Eo |
c/o St Maur's GAA, Rush, Co Dublin. |
Opened September 2008 |
|
Gaelscoil Lorgan, |
Castleblaney, Co Monaghan |
Opened September 2008 |
|
Gaelscoil na Mí |
Ashbourne, Co. Meath |
Opened September 2010 |
|
Gaelscoil an Chuilinn |
Mulhuddart, Dublin 15 |
Opened September 2012 |
|
Gaelscoil Sliabh Rua |
Stepaside, Dublin 18 |
Opened September 2013 |
|
Gaelscoil Mhic Aodha |
Towerview, Kildare Town, Co. Kildare |
Opened September 2013 |
|
Gaelscoil Teach Giuise |
Oldbawn, Tallaght, Dublin 24 |
Opened September 2013 |
275. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students that are still awaiting Student Universal Support Ireland grants on 16 July 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37001/13]
View answerOfficials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland that as of the 16th July 2013 there were 18 applications awaiting a first decision. While it is acknowledged that there were significant difficulties last year, I am informed by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) that in preparation for the 2013/2014 Academic year the application assessment process was further developed to enhance effectiveness and efficiency and respond to experiences from year 1. In addition, a number of new initiatives have been implemented as recommended by the independent review by Accenture. The initiatives include direct information sharing between SUSI and Government bodies and agencies including the Revenue Commissioners, the Department of Social Protection, the General Register Office (GRO) and the Central Applications Office (CAO). These links should reduce significantly the number of documents required from students in processing their grant applications. SUSI introduced a self-service online application tracker. This now allows all applicants (new and old) to identify the status of their application personally, by tracking their application online. SUSI is also working closely with all third level institutions to improve the payments process.
