Wednesday, 18 Sep 2013

Written Answers Nos. 345-362

School Transport Provision

Questions (345)

John O'Mahony

Question:

345. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Education and Skills if Bus Éireann publishes a profit and loss account; if Bus Éireann makes a profit on school bus routes; if there is a written contract between Bus Éireann and the State for the provision of school bus services; if there is not, if he is satisfied that the agreement in place at present could be terminated at no cost to the State; the type of agreement that is in place between Bus Éireann and the State for the provision of school bus services; the conditions of this agreement, and the reason is it not put out to tender; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37996/13]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills

Matters raised by the Deputy in his question have been the subject of a recent Commercial High Court case taken by Student Transport Scheme Ltd against the Minister for Education and Skills.

This case spanned a period of six days and the judgement delivered on 23rd October 2012 found in favour of the Minister. For the information and assistance of the Deputy, this detailed judgement is available on the Courts Service website. This judgement is currently the subject of a potential appeal by Student Transport Scheme Ltd to the Supreme Court.

I am sure that the Deputy will accept that matters that may be raised in the context of such a appeal should properly be addressed in that forum.

Proposed Legislation

Questions (346, 347, 348)

Olivia Mitchell

Question:

346. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of draft legislation regarding the international education mark; if this legislation will cover third party study abroad providers including those that do not provide English language courses or grant degrees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38005/13]

Olivia Mitchell

Question:

347. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the proposed legislation regarding the international education mark will allow study abroad providers tied to non-Irish universities to obtain the international education mark; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38006/13]

Olivia Mitchell

Question:

348. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Skills the cost of registering for the international education mark; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38007/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I propose to take Questions Nos. 346 to 348, inclusive, together.

The introduction of a Code of Practice for the provision of education to international learners and a related International Education mark are provided for in the Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Act, 2012 and no further legislation is required. The Act provides that Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI), the body established under that Act, shall publish a Code of Practice, establish the Mark and accept applications from providers of education and training for authorisation to use the Mark.

Section 60 of the Act states that the Code of Practice shall contain provisions relating to the protection of enrolled learners, the collection of fees and the tax compliance of the providers concerned. Section 61 states that providers wishing to apply for the Mark shall have established procedures for quality assurance and access, transfer and progression in accordance the Act and that each programme provided by the provider leads to an award which is recognised in the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ), if it is capable of being so recognised. Only when these conditions are met can a provider apply to demonstrate its compliance with the Code of Practice.

The Act does not restrict applications only to providers of English language courses or programmes leading to degrees nor does it distinguish between the Irish and non-Irish awarding bodies, so long as the awards are aligned to the NFQ.

Section 64 of the Act provides for the payment of an annual charge for authorisation to use the Mark. The actual fee that will be charged to providers is still under consideration.

QQI are currently undertaking a comprehensive policy development programme, involving consultation with all the relevant stakeholders regarding the formulation of policies across all of their functions. As part of this programme they have published a Green Paper on the International Education Mark and the deadline for submissions on that Green Paper passed on 13 September. QQI will now develop a White Paper on the International Education Mark before their Board adopts a policy in this area. It is expected that QQI will publish the Code of Practice and establish the International Education Mark in 2014.

Home Tuition Scheme Provision

Questions (349)

Ciaran Lynch

Question:

349. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will confirm that, in some circumstances, home tuition is provided even where a school placement is available to a child; the criteria that apply in such cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38012/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The Deputy will be aware that the purpose of the Home Tuition Scheme is to provide a compensatory educational service for children who, for a number of reasons such as chronic illness, are unable to attend school. The scheme was extended in recent years to facilitate tuition for children awaiting a suitable educational placement and also to provide early educational intervention for pre-school children with autism. Children who have school placements and meet the criteria for eligibility under the medical strand of the scheme may be approved for home tuition in circumstances where (a) they cannot attend school at all or (b) where they are absent for a significant proportion of the school year and where the degree of absence is such that without supplementary instruction they are unlikely to be able to perform academically at the level appropriate to his/her level of ability.

Children with a special educational need who are awaiting an educational placement may be approved for home tuition as an interim measure pending the identification of a school placement for them by the National Council for Special Education. If a placement becomes available for a child during the school year home tuition will be withdrawn. In certain circumstances the tuition allocation may be withdrawn on a phased basis to facilitate the transition of a child into school placement.

Question No. 350 answered with Question No. 271.

Schools Building Projects Status

Questions (351)

Simon Harris

Question:

351. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on the provision of additional classroom facilities at a school (details supplied) in County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38054/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

In 2011, the school referred to by the Deputy was approved devolved funding under my Department's Additional Accommodation Scheme to build two mainstream classrooms. Construction of the two classrooms commenced in July this year.

Schools Building Projects Status

Questions (352)

Simon Harris

Question:

352. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on the provision of additional classroom facilities at a school (details supplied) in County Wicklow. [38055/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

In January this year the school referred to by the Deputy was approved devolved funding under my Department's Additional to build two mainstream classrooms. I understand from the school authority that construction of the two classrooms will commence shortly.

Schools Building Projects Status

Questions (353)

Simon Harris

Question:

353. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on the current status of a planned extension for a school (details supplied) in County Wicklow; the number of additional classrooms and other facilities this extension will provide; the timeline for delivery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38056/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The major building project referred to by the Deputy is currently at an early stage of architectural planning. A Pre-Stage 1 Stakeholder Meeting between the Department, the School Board of Management and its Design Team was held earlier this month.

The school currently caters for a Principal plus 16 Mainstream classroom teachers. When this project is complete the school will accommodate a Principal plus 24 Mainstream classroom teachers.

The project was included in the 5 Year Construction Programme announced in March 2012 and is scheduled to commence construction in 2015/16.

Schools Building Projects Status

Questions (354)

Simon Harris

Question:

354. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding plans to replace prefabs at a school (details supplied) in County Wicklow with permanent classrooms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38057/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The school referred to by the Deputy was one of the schools approved funding under my Department's 2012 Prefab Replacement Initiative. The School Management Authority have confirmed that works have recently commenced on the site for the provision of 5 permanent mainstream classrooms and an office.

Schools Building Projects Status

Questions (355, 369)

Simon Harris

Question:

355. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on the delivery of a new second level school (details supplied) in County Wicklow; the investment his Department is making in the provision of this new school; the timeline for construction and delivery of this school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38058/13]

Simon Harris

Question:

369. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a new secondary school (details supplied) in County Wicklow will have a specific facility, unit and-or classrooms for students with special educational need to assist in ensuring that they can be educated in their own community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38072/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I propose to take Questions Nos. 355 and 369 together.

The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of architectural planning. Planning Permission has been received and the pre-qualification of contractors is underway. The project is listed on the five year school building programme to go to construction in 2013.

The estimated cost of the project is commercially sensitive information and cannot be disclosed at this time.

The project includes the provision of a two classroom Special Educational Needs Unit.

Schools Building Projects Status

Questions (356)

Simon Harris

Question:

356. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on plans for a new second level school for an area (details supplied) in County Wicklow; the status of the patronage process; when he expects patronage to be awarded; when he expects a site to be identified for this school; the timeline for the delivery of this school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38059/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The 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 area to which the Deputy refers, 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. Details are available on my Department's website.

The school is scheduled to open in 2016. Once patronage has been decided the site identification process will be progressed.

Schools Building Projects Status

Questions (357, 365, 366, 367, 368)

Simon Harris

Question:

357. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Education and Skills the amount of funding his Department has provided to increase classroom capacity, provide school extensions or build new schools at both primary and secondary level in an area (detailed supplied) in County Wicklow in each of the years 2011, 2012 and 2013, broken down for each school or school project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38060/13]

Simon Harris

Question:

365. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide details of any investment by his Department in school extensions, new school buildings or prefab replacement in an area (details supplied) in County Wicklow in each of the years 2011, 2012 and to date 2013; if he will provide a breakdown of these projects by school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38068/13]

Simon Harris

Question:

366. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide details of any investment by his Department in school extensions, new school buildings or prefab replacement in an area (details supplied) in County Wicklow in each of the years 2011, 2012 and to date 2013; if he will provide a breakdown of these projects by school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38069/13]

Simon Harris

Question:

367. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide details of any investment by his Department in school extensions, new school buildings or prefab replacement in an area (details supplied) in County Wicklow in each of the years 2011, 2012 and to date in 2013; if he will provide a breakdown of these projects by school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38070/13]

Simon Harris

Question:

368. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide details of any investment by his Department in school extensions, new school buildings or prefab replacement in an area (details supplied) in County Wicklow in each of the years 2011, 2012 and to date 2013; if he will provide a breakdown of these projects by school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38071/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I propose to take Questions Nos. 357 and 365 to 368, inclusive, together.

The capital funding provided to primary and post-primary schools in County Wicklow in each of the years 2011, 2012 and to date in 2013 was as follows:2011 - €14.155m

2012 - €5.416m

2013 - €6.688m

The Deputy will appreciate that without the specific school names and school roll numbers it is not possible to supply data in respect of any given geographical area due in particular to confusion that may arise with the identification of addresses. My Department in most instances is in a position to provide data in respect of schools that are clearly identified and will oblige if requested.

Schools Building Projects Status

Questions (358)

Simon Harris

Question:

358. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on the current status of plans to provide a new school building for a school (details supplied) in County Wicklow; when this project will go to construction; when it will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38061/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The school to which the Deputy refers is among a range of schools earmarked for delivery through the Public Private Partnership (PPP) process. The PPP process forms a central part of the Government's overall economic stimulus package. This specific school was identified for inclusion in the PPP process in May 2013.

It is expected that procurement of the bundle of schools to which this school belongs shall begin later this year. Construction of the overall bundle is provisionally scheduled to commence in 2015. Completion of construction should occur in 2016/2017.

Schools Building Projects Status

Questions (359)

Simon Harris

Question:

359. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on plans to deliver a new school building for a school (detailed supplied) in County Wicklow; the current status of the project; when construction will commence; when the project will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38062/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The school to which the Deputy refers is among a range of schools earmarked for delivery through the public private partnership (PPP) process. The PPP process forms a central part of the Government's overall economic stimulus package. This specific school was identified for inclusion in the PPP process in May this year.

It is expected that procurement of the bundle of schools to which this school belongs shall begin later this year. Construction of the overall bundle is provisionally scheduled to commence in 2015. Completion of construction should occur in late 2016 / early 2017.

Back to School Costs

Questions (360)

Simon Harris

Question:

360. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Education and Skills the efforts he is making to reduce the cost for parents of children beginning school and children returning to school after the summer holidays; the progress that has been made; the measures or plans he would like to see in place in advance of the next school year to address this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38063/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

Tackling the costs associated with school is a major priority of mine. Since becoming Minister for Education and Skills, I have taken a number of steps aimed at helping reduce the burden on families.

I have met with members of the Irish Educational Publishers' Association and have received a commitment from them to limit the publication of new editions of textbooks and to maintain editions of books in print, unchanged for at least six years. The publishers have also assured me that they would sell books for rental schemes to schools at substantial discounts.

The Deputy will also be aware that I am very much in favour of schools establishing textbook rental schemes. I launched new "Guidelines for Developing Textbook Rental Schemes in Schools" on the 28th January last. These Guidelines provide practical advice to primary and post-primary schools on how rental schemes can be established and operated. The aim of the Guidelines is to help as many schools as possible to start such book rental programmes.

I have also been clear in my support for any measures that can be put in place to reduce uniform costs for parents including measures such as the use of generic type uniforms or the use of "sew on" crests. I have raised this matter informally with the National Parents Council at primary level and recommended that the National Parents Councils – Primary and Post Primary mobilise parents associations to raise this issue with school authorities.

It is very important that all schools are sensitive to the financial pressures on parents in making decisions, not just about school uniforms or books, but about any matter that has cost implications for parents.

I believe that schools should consult parents on matters relating to their children's education, including those matters which have cost implications, and schools should be responsive to the views and concerns of parents. In that regard, I believe that requiring schools to have a parent and student charter can help ensure that schools will interact better with individual parents and with the parent associations generally. The cost of school uniforms is one area where there should be a shared view.

The creation of parents' and students' charters, including an examination of any required legislation, will be among the issues to be progressed by my Department over the next year.

State Examinations Commission

Questions (361)

Simon Harris

Question:

361. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on whether the State Examinations Commission's assertions that errors which appeared on State exam papers this year were attributable to a reduction in staff resources and experience in the State Examinations Commission; if he has discussed this matter with the chairperson of the commission; his views on whether such errors are acceptable; the actions that will be taken by his Department and the commission to rectify this issue for future State exams; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38064/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

As the deputy is aware, the State Examinations Commission has reported to me on this matter. The SEC has undertaken to take the following steps:- take a more formalised approach to strategic work-force planning which will include an assessment of the risks associated with the loss of subject-specific examination expertise

- use a risk based approach to review the personnel structures and protocols for paper preparation for each subject so as to ensure that they are fit for purpose in the context of staffing and other available resources

- analyse all post print errors, including the detected errors highlighted by the SEC on the List of Corrections, with a view to identifying patterns and underlying causes

- use the information arising from this review to identify where procedures and protocols might be strengthened and/or the training needs of staff e.g. in areas such as proof reading and version control.

I expect a further briefing on this from the SEC shortly.

The SEC has acknowledged that errors may have caused confusion and distress for some candidates and has apologised publicly. The SEC took all necessary steps to mitigate the problem. The SEC has assured me that no candidates were disadvantaged as a result of the errors.

Ministerial Meetings

Questions (362)

Simon Harris

Question:

362. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he has met with representatives of the Union of Students of Ireland as the representative body of many third level students here to hear their views and experiences of the challenges being faced by students and to ascertain their thoughts on the future of third level education here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38065/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I met with the new USI President Joe O'Connor and representatives of the Union on Wednesday 24th July 2013 to exchange views and engage in discussion on relevant matters in third level education.