Wednesday, 18 Sep 2013

Written Answers Nos. 297-306

School Curriculum

Questions (297)

Andrew Doyle

Question:

297. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consider implementing a review of the leaving certificate agricultural science syllabus, in view of the fact that 7,414 students sat the exam based on the syllabus in 2013, of which many aspects are in need of an update; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that demand for third-level agri-food courses increased at the Central Applications Office by 10% in 2013, representing the steepest rise in demand for courses; if he will consider implementing teacher guidelines for the subject; if he will refer the matter to the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment; when he expects to receive the review; when the new syllabus will be first examined by students in second level schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37360/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The NCCA is scheduled to begin a review of agricultural science in the last quarter of this year. The first step is the publication of a background paper for consultation which is likely to be in early 2014. When I receive the NCCA's advice on this matter, in due course, I will consider a timetable for implementation.

University Libraries

Questions (298)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

298. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills from which publicly-funded university libraries the public is as a rule excluded. [37370/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

As I have indicated to the Deputy in reply to previous questions and representations on this matter, the management of university libraries is entirely a matter for the universities themselves in accordance with their statutory autonomy. I would refer the Deputy to my answers to his previous questions on this matter: number 95 of 24 April; numbers 87 and 92 of 2nd May; number 250 of 14th May; number 355 of 21st May; number 144 of 18th June; number 132 of 27th June; numbers 98, 99, 100 and 101 of 11th July 2013 and number 101 and 102 of 17th July 2013.

University Libraries

Questions (299)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

299. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills the library budget for each of the universities here in each of the past ten years. [37371/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

Details of library costs for each University are set out in the attached table.

Library Costs – Universities

-	2011	2010	2009	2008	2007	2006	2005	2004	2003	2002
	€' 000	€' 000	€' 000	€' 000	€' 000	€' 000	€' 000	€' 000	€' 000	€' 000
UCD	8,410	10,522	10,346	11,147	10,618	9,713	9,146	9,264	8,369	8,091
UCC	7,008	7,156	7,339	6,875	6,844	7,015	6,258	6,425	5,526	5,142
NUIG	6,054	6,482	6,656	6,637	6,431	5,982	6,025	5,908	5,206	4,311
TCD	9,659	10,216	10,917	10,926	11,028	10,179	9,910	8,796	8,167	8,676
NUIM	3,075	3,005	3,113	3,105	3,374	2,753	2,765	2,379	2,435	2,350
UL	4,145	4,358	4,879	4,774	4,506	3,794	3,760	3,711	3,533	3,312
DCU	2,597	2,907	2,825	2,821	2,659	2,470	2,481	2,665	2,370	2,532
TOTAL	40,948	44,646	46,075	46,285	45,460	41,906	40,345	39,148	35,606	34,414

Note: - Figures taken from 'library' figures provided in institutions' audited accounts

- Details not yet available for 2012 (i.e. 2011/12 accounts)

Access to Higher Education

Questions (300)

Barry Cowen

Question:

300. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will ensure that students who have their Leaving Certificate results rechecked do not miss out on a third level place due to the long delay in awaiting these results. [37372/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The responsibility for managing access to third level places rests with the Central Applications Office (CAO) and the third level institutions generally.The higher education institutions have delegated to the CAO the task of processing applications to their first year undergraduate courses. However, the participating institutions retain the function of making decisions on admissions.

The CAO is a private company limited by guarantee and my Department does not have any function in relation to its operational arrangements. However, I am aware that third level institutions generally make efforts to accommodate students who reach a qualifying standard following re-checks and I support that approach

Public Sector Pensions

Questions (301)

Finian McGrath

Question:

301. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding pension contributions in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 3. [37398/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The person to whom the Deputy refers is already in receipt of pension and the current application is for a revision of pension to take account of additional service given subsequent to initial retirement. Priority in the processing of applications for retirement benefits is afforded to persons retiring for the first time. As the Deputy will appreciate teachers generally retire in August which is the end of the school year. Officials in the Pension Unit of my Department will communicate directly with the person to whom the Deputy refers in the coming weeks in order to finalise details and address the revision of pension.

Residential Institutions Redress Scheme

Questions (302)

Clare Daly

Question:

302. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the options for a victim of abuse in industrial schools, now residing in the United States and currently receiving counselling through the National Counselling Service, who has been told that they will require counselling and medication for the rest of their lives and is concerned in relation to the way these services will be provided when the statutory fund runs out next year. [37401/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Board, which was established earlier this year, is tasked with determining the range of approved services which former residents can be assisted with from the Statutory Fund. This Fund is being financed by the cash contributions of up to €110 million pledged by the religious congregations to support the needs of some 15,000 survivors of residential institutional child abuse. Counselling, psychological support and mental health services are one the four classes of services specified in the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act, 2012 within which the Board can determine approved services. The Board is also required to determine the criteria by reference to which it will make decisions in respect of applications to it.The Board has met on a number of occasions since its establishment and is considering the arrangements to be put in place for the operation of the Fund. In performing its functions the Board will have regard to the existence of publicly available services.In this regard, the Deputy will be aware that the National Counselling Service, which operates under the auspices of the Health Service Executive, provides counselling services to those who have been abused in childhood, with priority given to those abused in residential institutional care. In addition, the HSE also provides funding for psychotherapy and counselling services for victims of institutional abuse living abroad through the External Counselling Claims fund. The establishment of the Statutory Fund does not affect the entitlement of former residents to receive support from these services.

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Questions (303)

Denis Naughten

Question:

303. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will approve funding for an autism unit (details supplied) in County Roscommon; the current status of this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37458/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The Deputy will be aware that the establishment of a network of autism-specific special classes in schools across the country to cater for children with autism has been a key educational priority in recent years.

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE), through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), is responsible for processing applications from primary and post primary schools for special educational needs supports, including the establishment of special classes in various geographical areas as required. SENOs are a valuable source of support to parents who are actively sourcing a placement for their children or on deciding the most appropriate placement for their child. SENO contact details are available on www.ncse.ie. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support.

I have therefore arranged for the Deputy's question to be forwarded to the NCSE for their attention and direct reply.

Questions Nos. 304 and 305 answered with Question No. 291.

Departmental Advertising Expenditure

Questions (306)

Jim Daly

Question:

306. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the total cost of all media advertising to his Department for each of the past five years; the efforts his Department is making to ensure that local media both print and radio are being supported as well as national media by his Department's budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37476/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

My Department incurs expenditure on public advertisements in connection with a wide range of educational programmes and schemes including: staff appointments in the education sector, invitations to attend local hearings, invitations to forward submissions on education-related schemes/projects, and invitations to tender for school building projects. Every effort is made to keep advertising costs as low as possible. Advertisements are placed in local media if there is a specific local dimension to the matter concerned.The amount of money (to the nearest thousand euro) spent by my Department on advertising for each of the years 2008 to 2012 is as follows: 2012, €107,000; 2011, €95,000; 2010, €105,000; 2009, €77,000; and 2008, €340,000