Written Answers Nos. 318-337
318. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the way parents can deal with a school that requires them to purchase an Apple iPad for €800 for their children starting secondary school; and the assistance he will put in place. [46441/13]
View answerThe Programme for Government prioritises the integration of ICT in teaching and learning across the curriculum. Where ICT is embedded in the curriculum it can serve to engage and motivate children in the learning process. It has proven to increase students' self-esteem and creates a more positive disposition towards learning as well as providing teachers with more up to date, exciting and relevant ways of presenting and engaging with the curriculum. ICT can act as a catalyst for peer teaching and learning and is hugely powerful in the development of team-work, higher order thinking skills and a collaborative learning and teaching environment. The use of tablet devices is one of the many ways to integrate technology into teaching and learning. I am aware of the fact that in many schools, parents are being asked to fund the cost of tablet devices for use in the classrooms. This is an operational matter for the Board of Management of each school and my Department has no role at individual school level in approving such initiatives. I believe it is important that where new technology is being adopted by schools, parents should be consulted prior to the decision being made and that the cost implications are fully considered by the Boards of Management.
319. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the amount of money refunded to his Department since 2005 for the scrappage of buses from the school transport scheme in view of the fact that his Department pays for all the depreciation of these buses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46448/13]
View answerSchool buses used in the Bus Éireann school bus fleet come from a variety of sources as set out in the Value for Money Review (March 2011). Some are second-hand buses specifically purchased by Bus Éireann for school transport purposes, while others were funded by the Department and attract no depreciation charges. Many of the vehicles were cascaded from the Road Passenger fleet.
Bus Éireann has advised that when these vehicles reach the end of their useful life they have little or no value and often incur disposal charges. On average the Company received in the region of just €240 per vehicle scrapped between 2005 and 2012, and the matter of refunding the amount concerned did not arise. The exception to this was one bus that was fully funded by the Department which was prematurely destroyed by fire in 2008 when still under warranty. In this case the value of the bus, being €165,975, was fully credited back to the Department by Bus Éireann.
320. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if all the contracts that were awarded to bus operators were awarded in compliance with EU directives and the procedure that was used. [46449/13]
View answer321. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if there is a pattern in relation to investigation of the awarding of contracts. [46450/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 320 and 321 together.
Bus Éireann has advised that contracts that are awarded to school transport operators as part of the Bus Éireann tender process comply with EU directives. Bus Éireann has further advised that this tendering process is a competitive procurement process conducted in accordance with the Negotiated Procedure.
322. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if Bus Éireann informed him of the reasons there was a protester outside the Waterford school transport office during summer 2013. [46451/13]
View answerBus Éireann, which operates the school transport schemes, on behalf of my Department, is responsible for the negotiation and awarding of school transport contracts to private operators. In April 2013, Bus Éireann advised my Department that a protest was mounted outside the Waterford School Transport Office by a school transport contractor who had recently lost contracts.
323. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the outcome of the appeal board hearing held on 22 October 2013 regarding his Department's plans to withdraw a teacher form a school (details supplied) in County Cork at the end of this month. [46470/13]
View answerThe criteria used for the allocation of teaching posts to schools includes the provision whereby schools experiencing rapid increases in enrolment can apply for additional permanent mainstream posts on developing grounds, using projected enrolment. The staffing schedule also includes an appeals mechanism for schools to submit an appeal under certain criteria, including developing grounds, to an independent Appeals Board.The criteria for the allocation of a developing school post for the 2013/14 school year are set out in the staffing schedule, Circular 0013/2013 which is available on the Department website. Schools that meet the criteria may receive sanction for additional post(s) pending the confirmation of the valid enrolment on 30th September 2013.The school referred to by the Deputy was granted a developing post on a provisional basis, pending confirmation of enrolments on 30th September 2013. The school did not reach the required enrolment to retain the post and submitted an appeal to the October meeting of the Primary Staffing Appeals Board. The Board refused the appeal on the basis that the grounds of the appeal did not meet with the criteria outlined in Circular 0013/2013. The Appeal Board operates independently of the Department and its decision is final.
324. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a community college (details supplied) in County Dublin is requiring parents to purchase Apple iPads and e-books for their children from next September at considerable expense; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that parents have reported that if children do not comply with this they should move to another school; if he believes it is appropriate that schools place this expense on parents; and his plans to prevent schools from acting in such a manner in the future. [46495/13]
View answerThe Programme for Government prioritises the integration of ICT in teaching and learning across the curriculum. Where ICT is embedded in the curriculum it can serve to engage and motivate children in the learning process. It has proven to increase students' self-esteem and creates a more positive disposition towards learning as well as providing teachers with more up to date, exciting and relevant ways of presenting and engaging with the curriculum. ICT can act as a catalyst for peer teaching and learning and is hugely powerful in the development of team-work, higher order thinking skills and a collaborative learning and teaching environment. The use of tablet devices is one of the many ways to integrate technology into teaching and learning. I am aware of the fact that in many schools, parents are being asked to fund the cost of tablet devices for use in the classrooms. This is an operational matter for the Board of Management of each school and my Department has no role at individual school level in approving such initiatives. I believe it is important that where new technology is being considered by schools, parents should be consulted prior to the decision being made and that the costs and other implications for students and children seeking to be enrolled in the school are fully considered by the Boards of Management.
325. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a special needs assistant in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46582/13]
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 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 published details of all of their allocations for resource teaching and SNA support for the 2013/2014 school year in June of this year. The NCSE has also now published details of the additional SNA allocations which have been made to schools since the initial allocations were made to schools in June. The NCSE published details of these revised allocations on 21st October, 2013. 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.
The school referred to by the Deputy currently has 0.75 approved SNA post.Schools can contact the NCSE if they have enrolled children who were not considered at the time that the revised 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. 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. As the Deputy's question refers to an application for SNA support for an individual child, I have referred the this question to the NCSE for their attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
326. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a facility (details supplied) in County Dublin; when repairs will be carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46589/13]
View answerThe client for the Building project which included the facility referred to by the Deputy is Dublin and Dún Laoghaire Education and Training Board (DDLETB). The ETB, through it's legal representatives, is engaged with the Contractor in relation to the defects identified with the facility. The ETB has also informed my Department that it is in discussions with the Local Authority for possible repairs to the facility notwithstanding the issue with the Contractor.
327. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the procedures used by his Department to ensure that money spent on school transport is used solely for this purpose. [46684/13]
View answerBus Éireann, which operates school transport services on behalf of my Department, maintains a separate account for the School Transport Scheme. This account is audited each year by independent auditors and accounts in respect of the last number of years are available on my Department's website. Regular contact is maintained between Department and Bus Éireann school transport staff in the operation of the school transport scheme and the ongoing monitoring of expenditure profiles.
328. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to put all school bus routes online. [46685/13]
View answerBus Éireann operates the school transport scheme on behalf of my Department. Bus Éireann has a dedicated school transport section on the Company website. All primary and post primary applications and payments, where applicable, may now be made on line. Some 6,000 school transport routes are provided under the School Transport Scheme. Routes are designed on the basis of the locations of those children who are eligible for school transport facilities under the scheme. It is necessary in advance of each school year to review and, where required, to re-organise school bus routes to reflect demographic changes as new children enter the system and others leave. In light of this and in consideration of child protection concerns, there are currently no plans to place detailed information about the school transport operating network on line.
329. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the methods used by his Department to decide which school bus routes to pay for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46686/13]
View answerThe main objective of my Department's Primary and Post Primary School Transport Schemes is to support the safe transportation to and from school of children who would otherwise have difficulty making their way, for reasons of distance, to their nearest school.The school transport schemes are operated by Bus Éireann on behalf of my Department and currently over 114,000 children travel under these schemes every school day, including over 8,000 children with special educational needs.In general, children are considered eligible for school transport if they satisfy the distance criteria and are attending their nearest school or education centre having regard to ethos and language. In addition, school transport services may be established or retained provided this can be done within reasonable cost limits,where there are a minimum of 10 eligible children residing in a distinct locality, as determined by Bus Éireann.Full details of the school transport schemes, where eligibility requirements and other conditions are outlined, are available on my Department's website.
330. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the dates on which his Department first recorded names and addresses of children it transports on school transport. [46687/13]
View answerSince its inception, Bus Éireann has operated the School Transport Scheme on behalf of my Department.In each school year, the names and addresses of children applying for school transport, in addition to those already availing of school transport have been recorded by Bus Éireann.
331. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he could clarify his Department's intentions regarding the new local area plan for Ballycullen, Oldcourt, Dublin 24 which recommends a particular site in Ballycullen be assigned for the construction of the new Educate Together and Gaescoil in Firhouse; if his Department supports this site as being suitable for the co-location of the two proposed new schools; the timeframe for the construction works in the event that the project should proceed in this location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46690/13]
View answerI am advised that a draft Local Area Plan is under development for the area in question and my officials will be making a submission in relation to the draft Plan. Given the sensitivities associated with land acquisitions generally, I am not in a position to comment further at this time.
332. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide in tabular form the number of children currently being educated in prefabricated buildings per school; the number of prefabricated buildings per school in each county here, and specifically in the Dublin 22 area; and his plans to replace these prefabricated buildings with new school buildings. [46692/13]
View answerMy Department does not hold information on the numbers of pupils in individual schools who currently occupy temporary accommodation; this depends on the organisation of class groups by schools within available accommodation and may vary from year to year. Local school managements are responsible for organising their class numbers, year on year, to achieve the optimum local efficiencies. A list of primary and post primary schools that have rented prefabricated buildings is attached for the Deputy's attention. My Department does not hold information in the sub-county format as requested. Schools that are included on my Department's 5 Year Capital Programme, Public Private Partnership (PPP) Programme and Prefabs Replacement Initiatives are highlighted as these will have their temporary accommodation replaced with permanent buildings. Please note that one prefab unit may consist of one or more classrooms and/or ancillary accommodation.In relation to prefabricated buildings a total of €15 million has been allocated in 2013/14 to replace prefabs and provide permanent resource rooms and classrooms for some 2,650 students. Forty-six schools, with 115 prefab units, have been offered grants to provide the new facilities. In 2012 the Department of Education and Skills provided funding to replace of over 458 prefab units. Replacing prefabs offers better accommodation for students and savings for schools and the Exchequer, as well as providing construction jobs. We are building on the Programme for Government commitment to reduce reliance on rented prefabs in schools and extending the benefits to other parts of the country. Replacing prefabs is part of the Government's €475 million education infrastructure plan for 2014. This Plan will provide modern, high quality accommodation for pupils and teachers and construction related jobs for workers around the country.
333. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to commence section 10 of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004, while extending the provision to address the situation of any child left without a school place for whatever reason. [46717/13]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, I recently published a draft General Scheme for an Education (Admission to Schools) Bill, 2013 as well as draft regulations for discussion ahead of enacting legislation. I have referred the draft General Scheme and draft regulations to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Education and Social Protection, to allow a full public discussion of the proposed legislative framework, including inputs from parents and the education partners. The draft General Scheme includes proposals in relation to the provisions contained in section 10 of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act, 2004. The Joint Committee issued an invitation to interested individuals and groups for submissions on the Draft General Scheme of an Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2013. The Joint Committee's closing date for receipt of same was Wednesday 31st October. Full details of this request are available on the Oireachtas website.In the interim, it is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998. In this regard a Board of Management may find it necessary to restrict enrolment to children from a particular area or a particular age group or, occasionally, on the basis of some other criterion. The criteria to be applied by schools in such circumstances are a matter for the schools themselves. This selection process and the enrolment policy on which it is based must be non-discriminatory and must be applied fairly in respect of all applicants. Under section 15 (2) (d) of the Education Act 1998, each school is legally obliged to publish its enrolment policy.Section 29 of the Education Act 1998, provides parents with an appeal process where a board of management of a school or a person acting on behalf of the Board refuses enrolment to a student. Where a school refuses to enrol a pupil, the school is obliged to inform parents of their right under Section 29 of the Education Act 1998 to appeal that decision to either the relevant Educational Training Board or to the Secretary General of my Department. The National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) is the statutory agency which can assist parents who are experiencing difficulty in securing a school place for their child. The Board can be contacted at National Educational Welfare Board, National Headquarters, 16-22 Green Street, Dublin 7 or by telephone at 01-8738700.
334. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if any studies have been conducted by his Department on the reading habits of children under 12 years of age, outside of reading required for school; if he will provide the results of these studies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46727/13]
View answer335. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the way the reading habits of children under 12 in Ireland compare with the European Union average; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46728/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 334 and 335 together.
In 2009 the Educational Research Centre carried out the most recent National Assessment of Mathematics and English Reading. The study looked at the achievement of children in second and sixth classes. The study asked a series of questions about reading for fun and reading at home as well as borrowing books from the library. Overall the study found that pupils' value and enjoyment of reading were positively linked with test scores. Full details of the results are available on the Educational Research Centre's website (www.erc.ie). In 2011, Ireland participated in PIRLS (Progress in International Reading Literacy Survey). This is an international study of reading achievement. In Ireland it involved fourth class pupils. It was conducted in 45 countries, including 24 EU Member States. The results were published last December. PIRLS found that 12.3% of Irish pupils spent more than two hours a day reading outside of school on a normal school day compared to the international average of 11.0%. Nearly 45% of Irish students read for fun outside of school every day or almost every day, compared to a study average of 41.5%. 11.3% of Irish pupils never or hardly ever read for fun compared to an international average of 14%. Irish pupils are close to or a little above the international average on reading for fun, and children who regularly do so score higher on reading tests than those who rarely read for fun. Again, full details are available at www.erc.ie.The results from these tests and other supporting evidence inform the development of policy within my Department. In relation to literacy, the key policy initiative is the Literacy and Numeracy Strategy which I launched in 2011. The Strategy acknowledges the important role of the family and community in children's literacy development and it sets out a number of objectives to support this.
336. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the proposed school at Bannow Road, Cabra West which is currently the subject of a planning application; if this is a primary or secondary school; the patronage of the school; the proposed cost of this school; if funding is currently available; the timeframe for this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46748/13]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that demographic projections based on child benefit data in the Dublin 7 area indicates a requirement for up to 38 additional classrooms in the general area in the coming years. While most of that demand will be catered for by using current capacity in the existing schools in the area and also through the proposed expansion of some of those schools, the Department forecasts indicate that a new school building may be required to meet future demand that is projected to arise in the coming years. With the closure of the FÁS training centre in Cabra, my Department was approached to establish whether there would be an educational use for training centre property. A planning application for a 16 classroom primary school was prepared and recently submitted by my Department in relation to part of the former training centre site. Securing the former training centre property from FÁS to meet future demand that may arise in the coming years is an effective way of using land currently in State ownership but no longer required for its original use. Assuming that planning for a school building is secured, my Department will have the ability to deliver 16 primary school classrooms in anticipation of meeting future needs. A decision in relation to the development timeframe and use of the property will be made at the appropriate time.
337. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a student grant application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; the reason this application was cancelled; if he will review this decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46805/13]
View answerOfficials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support that the student referred to by the Deputy has been contacted by SUSI and advised to reapply as a dependent student. His new application will be processed when received.
