Written Answers Nos. 73-80
73. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will clarify the specific errors that occurred on the 2013 mathematics papers in the pilot schools; if these included a calculus question using a formula that was no longer on the course; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42842/13]
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.
74. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding an application by a school (details supplied) in County Kerry for provision of a necessary additional car park area as the existing car park arrangements are inadequate. [42852/13]
View answerThe school referred to by the Deputy has been approved devolved funding to replace prefabs at their school. In recent days the school has submitted a further request for capital funding to provide additional car parking spaces on their school site. I wish to advise the Deputy that, in general, individual school authorities are responsible, in the first instance, for ensuring the safety and welfare of children and others in their care. Due to competing demands on my Department's capital budget, imposed by the need to prioritise the limited funding available for the provision of essential additional classroom accommodation to meet increasing demographic requirements, I am not in a position to give an indicative timeframe for progression of the school's request at this time.
75. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will approve a capital grant application for a college (details supplied); the current status of the application. [42860/13]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is currently considering the application to which he refers and a response will be conveyed to the school authorities shortly.
76. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the transport grant support available in respect of special needs children of pre-school age attending early intervention units; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42863/13]
View answerUnder the terms of my Department's School Transport scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs arising from a diagnosed disability, children are eligible for transport where they: 1. have special educational needs arising from a diagnosed disability in accordance with the designation of high and low incidence disability set out in Department of Education and Skill's (DES) Circular 02/05; and 2. are attending the nearest recognised: mainstream school, special class/special school or a unit, that is or can be resourced, to meet their special educational needs. Eligibility is determined following consultation with the National Council for Special Education through its network of Special Education Needs Organisers. A Special Transport Grant towards the cost of private transport arrangements may be provided at the discretion of the Department in situations where a child's age, behavioural difficulties or medical needs are such as to make the provision of a transport service impracticable. These grants will only be considered for the school year in which an application for transport is received.
77. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of late applications that have been received by Student Universal Support Ireland; the number of these that are awaiting initial review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42886/13]
View answerOfficials in my Department have been informed that as of close of business on 6th October, SUSI has received 7,073 new applications after the 5th August 2013 closing date. SUSI has already initially assessed 3,284 of the late new applications.
78. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reasons Student Universal Support Ireland awarded just €2,000 fees to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42887/13]
View answerOfficials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland that the student referred to by the Deputy has been awarded a postgraduate fee contribution of €2,000 and an award letter issued on 26 September 2013. Under the terms of the Student Grant Scheme 2013 postgraduate students who meet the qualifying conditions for the special rate of grant under the Student Grant Scheme will be eligible to have their post-graduate tuition fees paid up to the maximum fee limit of €6,270. To qualify for the special rate of grant an applicant must meet the following conditions: 1. Reckonable income must not exceed €22,703; 2. On the 31st December of the relevant period the reckonable income must include an eligible long-term social welfare payment prescribed under the scheme. A postgraduate student may qualify to have a €2,000 contribution made towards the costs of their fees. The income threshold for this payment is €31,500 for the 2013/14 academic year, increasing relative to the number of family dependents. Tax relief is also available on postgraduate tuition fees. Details in relation to this relief are available from the Revenue Commissioners. In addition to this, the Student Assistance Fund will continue to be made available through the access offices of third-level institutions to assist students in exceptional financial need. 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 is available to download from www.studentfinance.ie.
79. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding home schooling hours in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5. [42909/13]
View answerThe 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. The number of home tuition hours which are sanctioned in respect of children who have missed time from school due to chronic illness are based on that individual child's attendance at school. In respect of the case referred to by the Deputy in his question, the allocation which has been made is based on the child's record of school attendance for the previous school year. If the child's attendance deteriorates and if he is absent for a significant amount of days in the current school year, it is recommended that the parent/guardian make contact with officials in my Department to set out the position in relation to school attendance for the current school year.
80. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a place on the special needs assistant panel in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 13. [42914/13]
View answerThe detailed arrangements regarding supplementary assignment arrangements for SNAs for the 2013/2014 school year are set out in Departmental Circular 0037/2013 which issued on 1 July 2013 and which is available on the Department's website at the following address: http://www.education.ie/en/Circulars-and-Forms/Active-Circulars/cl0037_2013.pdf With effect from 1 May 2013 once an SNA with a minimum of one year's service is notified by his/her employer that he/she is to be made redundant then he/she shall be deemed to be a member of a Supplementary Assignment Panel for SNAs. With the exception of SNAs who have been re-employed on permanent contracts or have chosen to opt out of the panel in accordance with the terms of Paragraph 39 of the circular, all SNAs who have been made redundant since 1 May 2013 are members of the SNA Supplementary Assignment Panel. When an employer has a vacancy to fill, they must undertake the recruitment process in accordance with the provisions outlined in paragraphs 17-32 of Circular 37/2013. The Department has set up a dedicated e-mail address to deal with all queries in relation to the SNA Supplementary Assignment Panel and any queries in respect of the operation of the Panel can be directed to this dedicated e-mail address snasupplementpanel@education.gov.ie
