Written Answers Nos. 82-88
82. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will confirm details of building works he has now approved for national schools in Tallaght, Dublin 24; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39962/13]
View answerInformation in respect of all school projects where funding has been approved under various schemes, is available on my Department's website, broken down geographically, at www.education.ie, which is updated on a regular basis.
The 5 Year Construction Plan that I announced on 9 March 2012 last, outlines the major school projects that will commence construction over the duration of the Plan. Details of these projects are also contained on the website, broken down by county. The primary aim at the core of the Five Year Plan is focussed on meeting demographic demands to ensure that every child will have access to a physical school place and that our school system is in a position to cope with increasing pupil numbers.
In addition, due to additional funding made available for the schools' building programme as part of the Government's "Investing in Infrastructure & Jobs" package announced recently, school projects that were not contained in the 5 year programme but have completed extensive architectural planning are now being progressed to tender and construction.
Under my Department's Prefab Replacement Initiative announced in March 2012, over 170 schools have been approved to replace their rented prefab accommodation with permanent accommodation. In excess of €42 million has been allocated for this initiative which is being provided to schools to replace rented prefabs that are currently providing mainstream classroom and resource rooms for an estimated 6,000 pupils. In total 286 mainstream classrooms currently in rented prefabs will receive permanent buildings details of which are available on my Departments website.
In June of this year, I announced a further Prefab Replacement Initiative to replace in the region 115 prefabs in 46 schools with permanent accommodation. A total of €15m has been allocated in 2013/14 for this initiative.
Details of all works funded under my Department's Additional Accommodation and Emergency Works Schemes, including works in schools in Tallaght are also available on my Department website and this is updated on a weekly basis.
83. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if an opportunity exists for an Irish citizen who is a primary teacher in Spain to receive a contract to teach in an Irish primary school for one term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39970/13]
View answerThe recruitment and appointment of teachers to fill teaching posts is a matter for the individual school authority, subject to procedures agreed under Section 24(3) of the Education Act 1998 (as amended by the Education (Amendment) Act 2012). The Constitution of Boards and Rules of Procedure document 2011 sets out the procedures for appointment of teachers and special needs assistants at primary level. This is available on my Departments website at www.education.ie.
Circular 31/2011 requires that, schools at primary and post-primary level maintain a list of appropriately qualified registered teachers who notify the school that they are available for substitute teaching at short notice.
Jobseeking teachers at primary level may also register with the IPPN's www.educationposts.ie website for both permanent and temporary roles and with SubSearch, a facility which is run by the INTO.
84. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the agreed budget and final cost for the delivery of programmes (details supplied) including substitution cover for the 2012-13 academic year. [39973/13]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that last January I launched the Well-Being in Post-Primary Schools: Guidelines for Mental Health Promotion and Suicide Prevention, which were developed by my Department in conjunction with the Department of Health. The guidelines provide practical guidance to post-primary schools on how they can promote mental health and well-being in an integrated way and they also provide evidence-based advice on how to support young people who may be at risk of suicidal behaviour. Direct expenditure in 2012/13 related to the production, design and printing of the guidelines which, in the main, was funded by the National Office of Suicide Prevention (N.O.S.P.) but involved a contribution of €3,740 from my Department's National Education Psychological Service. NEPS Psychologist are also raising awareness of the Guidelines at school level.
In addition in the same period I had published, along with my colleague, Minister Fitzgerald, an Action Plan on Bullying which sets out twelve actions to help prevent and tackle bullying in primary and second level schools. Officials from my Department have already commenced work on the implementation of the actions. In particular, an awareness raising initiative on cyber bullying targeted at young people is already underway and my Department is supporting the Stand Up! Awareness Week Against Homophobic & Transphobic Bullying in second level school which took place in March. I have allocated €500,000 to support the implementation of the Action Plan on Bullying. Actual expenditure in respect of 2013 will be known closer to years end. There are no substitution costs involved.
My Department's National Behavioural Support Service afforded during 2012/13 post-primary school teachers an opportunity to train in the delivery of the 'Friends for Life' and 'My Friends Youth' programmes which are aimed at reducing anxiety and building resilience among students. For 2012/13 some 193 teachers from 93 schools received training in this regard at a cost of €91,193 (including teacher substitution costs).
85. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of cases in the academic year 2012-13 in which schools have sought and obtained concessionary hours arising from a critical incident in the school community. [39974/13]
View answer86. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of schools which sought additional help or hours in the delivery of the requirements of section 9(c) of the Education Act in the past 12 months; the number his Department approved; and the total numbers of hours allocated. [39975/13]
View answer87. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the change in the number of hours delivered across all recognised second level schools and colleges of further education for the academic year 2012–2013, in contrast to the returns from the previous year, by guidance counsellors holding a qualification recognised for appointment to the position of guidance counsellor by the Department in the delivery of non-classroom or non-curricular based guidance counselling services, that is 1:1 delivery. [39976/13]
View answer88. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of schools that submitted a return in 2012-13 where a teacher who did not hold a recognised qualification in guidance and counselling was timetabled to deliver a guidance counselling programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39977/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 85 to 88, inclusive, together.
Guidance is a whole school activity and it does not just involve the guidance counsellor. Under existing arrangements each school develops a school guidance plan as a means of supporting the needs of its students.
Since September 2012 guidance provision is now being organised by school management from within the staffing schedule allocation. In this way principals have discretion to balance guidance needs with the pressures to provide subject choice. A framework document was published jointly by the Post Primary Management bodies and the NAPD (National Association of Principals & Deputies) in September, 2012 to provide guidance for school management in the allocation of teaching hours to guidance counselling in post-primary schools in the context of the decision in Budget 2012 to withdraw the provision of ex-quota guidance hours to schools. This should be of assistance to schools in terms of how they maximise guidance provision.
My Department helped shelter the impact for DEIS post-primary schools by improving their standard staffing allocations. All 195 second-level school in DEIS have been given targeted support by a more favourable staffing schedule of 18.25:1. This is a 0.75 point reduction compared to the existing PTR of 19:1 that applies in non-fee-paying second-level schools (23:1 in fee-charging schools).
My Department also has existing arrangements in place for providing short-term support to schools that are dealing with particularly acute incidents that arise due to tragic accidents, bereavements etc. Five schools were supported in this manner in the 2012/13 school year.
