Written Answers Nos. 129-145
129. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of US nationals coming here to study in each of the past three years; his plans to grow this number; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47963/13]
View answerThe United States is a priority market for the promotion of Irish education under the Government's International Education Strategy 2010-2015. Over 8,500 US students studied in Ireland in 2013. The most recent US data from the Institute of International Education, released just yesterday, indicates that Ireland has retained its position as one of the top ten destinations of choice for US "study abroad" students (i.e. students who spent part of their programme studying overseas) with 9% growth, despite very strong international competition. 7,640 US study abroad students chose to do their period of study abroad in Ireland in 2013, compared with 7,007 in 2012 and 6,798 in 2011.
In addition to the study abroad segment, over 1,000 US students came to Ireland on full-time higher education programmes.
Enterprise Ireland has a US market strategy in place, focusing on increasing both undergraduate and postgraduate recruitment. The promotional programme includes the Education in Ireland Student Ambassador initiative, on-line and print marketing, recruitment fairs and other engagement activities, and working with US high schools and universities. These efforts are underpinned by market research, and the national effort is undertaken in close collaboration with individual higher education institutions.
130. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Education and Skills the recommended floor space and play space per pupil in each school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48013/13]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has produced a suite of technical guidance documents, which are available on my Department's website, www.education.ie, to assist design teams in best practice in the design and development of schools in green field site situations. These documents cover all aspects of the development of a building project for both internal and external works. The current practice is to use a guideline of 80 sq. metres as the standard size for a general primary school classroom. This space allows for the inclusion of two en-suite toilets and in room storage. Due to the varied nature of subject provision under the post-primary curriculum, the guidelines for classroom size in a new or refurbished post-primary school are more complex and can vary from 49 sq. metres for a general classroom up to 136 sq. metres for some of the larger specialist subject rooms.
In the case of existing schools and given the limitations of existing buildings, site conditions and funding availability, it is not always possible to achieve the level of accommodation that is provided with a new school design. For example, ensuring the availability of sufficient playground space can be much more difficult particularly in town and city locations. However, such limitations can often be addressed through the use of a school's general purpose room together with the arranging of access to local community facilities and amenities.
131. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide the total number of recommendations in the national strategy for higher education to 2030 that have been implemented; if he will further provide an update on each recommendation implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48024/13]
View answerThe Implementation Plan which sets out the actions necessary to implement the recommendations in the National Strategy for Higher Education is available on my Department's website at http://www.education.ie/en/The-Education-System/Higher-Education/. The Plan also identifies the lead organisations and the timeframe for implementation of each action. A detailed progress report on the implementation of all of the actions in the Plan to the end of 2012 is also available on the website. To date in 2013 other measures implemented under the Plan include the major re-organisation of the higher education system which I announced in May which will provide for the reduction in the size of the publicly funded higher education system from 39 to 25 institutions and the publication in July of the new performance framework for the higher education system. This framework sets out the Government's national priorities, key system objectives and key performance indicators for the period 2014-16. The configuration report and the performance framework are also available on my Department's website.
The HEA will report on the performance of the system as a whole to me on annual basis. A new process of strategic dialogue to agree performance compacts aligned with performance funding with each of the higher education institutions is now being rolled out by the HEA as part of the overall framework.
The implementation of a number of the recommendations in the strategy will also require amendment to existing legislation and the enactment of new legislation. The process of drafting this legislation is also underway and I expect to publish the draft Heads of a Technological sector Bill before the end of the year.
132. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide in tabular form for each year since 1996 the total amount of core grants that has been provided for each third level institution; if he will further provide the total grant in lieu of fees that has been provided for each third level institution; if he will further provide the total number of Irish citizen third level students here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48025/13]
View answerThe information sought by the Deputy is not readily available in my Department. Officials of my Department have asked the Higher Education Authority for details which will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.
133. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding assistive technology in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48040/13]
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. SENOs also make recommendations to my Department where assistive technology is required. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support, which is set out in my Department's Circular 0010/2013.
In order to qualify for equipment under the assistive technology scheme, a child must have been diagnosed with a physical or communicative disability and must also have a recommendation in a professional assessment that the equipment is essential in order to allow the child to access the curriculum. It must also be clear that the existing I.T. equipment in the school is insufficient to meet the child's needs.
I can confirm that an application for assistive technology support for the child referred to by the Deputy has been received in my Department. This application is currently being processed. Further information has been requested from the SENO and a response will issue to the school as soon as possible thereafter, once this information has been received.
134. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will ensure that prefab accommodation is provided to a school (details supplied) in County Cork in the absence of any permanent extension to the school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48101/13]
View answerThe school referred to by the Deputy has sought approval to retain temporary rented accommodation. In that regard, the school last week supplied further information in which it provided details of local arrangements in place whereby this accommodation is currently shared with another local school.
This further information is currently under consideration by my Department and a decision will be communicated to the school authorities shortly.
135. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide in tabular form, for each year since 2003, the total cumulative amount in euro paid by his Department for non-audit services to companies (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48110/13]
View answerMy Department's current Financial Management System was introduced in 2003, consequently, the information requested by the Deputy is only available from 2004. Information in respect of years prior to 2004 is not readily available and would involve a very significant amount of administrative time to compile.
The relevant information for the period from 2004 to date is outlined in the following table.
|
- |
Deloitte & Touche |
Price Waterhouse |
Grant Thornton |
KPMG |
Ernst & Young |
|
2004 |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
|
2005 |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
|
2006 |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
|
2007 |
€23,255.25 |
€84,421.85 |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
|
2008 |
€27,860.25 |
€995.00 |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
|
2009 |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
|
2010 |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
|
2011 |
Nil |
€97,866.01 |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
|
2012 |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
|
2013 |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
|
TOTAL |
€51,115.50 |
€183,282.86 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
136. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will detail in tabular form, for each year since 2003, the total cumulative amount in euro paid by his Department to companies (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48129/13]
View answerThe information sought by the Deputy in relation to the amounts paid by my Department to the companies to which she refers is provided in the following table. Annual Cumulative amount in Euro to certain named companies 2003-2013:
|
Year |
Total |
|
2003 |
€0.00 |
|
2004 |
€465,596.71 |
|
2005 |
€166,600.86 |
|
2006 |
€430,858.24 |
|
2007 |
€487,671.40 |
|
2008 |
€605,088.88 |
|
2009 |
€610,156.40 |
|
2010 |
€1,012,807.45 |
|
2011 |
€247,648.61 |
|
2012 |
€205,084.34 |
|
2013 |
€119,597.05 |
137. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide in tabular form, for each year since 2003, the total cumulative amount in euro paid by his Department to senior counsel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48153/13]
View answerThe information sought by the Deputy is not readily available in the format requested by her. However, I will forward on the information sought to the Deputy at an early date.
138. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Education and Skills the progress made following the introduction of the action plan on bullying in view of the anniversary of the death of two young girls who were victims of cyberbullying through a website (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48176/13]
View answerWork is progressing well on the implementation of the Action Plan on Bullying, which I published in January 2013 with my colleague, the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. The Action Plan sets out twelve actions to help prevent and tackle bullying in all schools. These actions focus on support for schools, teacher training and awareness raising and aim to ensure that all forms of bullying, including cyber bullying, are addressed.
In September, I launched new National Procedures on Anti Bullying which will be adopted and implemented by all schools. The new procedures include a specific reference to cyber bullying. I have also made available funding for anti-bullying training for parents which is being run jointly by the National Parents Council (primary and post primary).
My Department has supported awareness raising initiatives, including Safer Internet Day 2013, an initiative on cyber bullying targeted at young people, which will be repeated in 2014.
In addition, the National Office for Suicide Prevention (NOSP) has commissioned research which is currently in progress on the prevalence and impact of bullying linked to social media on mental health and suicidal behaviour among young people.
Central to promoting safer use of the Internet by young people is a strong commitment to changing behaviour and raising the knowledge, skills and attitudes around preventing, responding to and reporting cyber bullying incidents. The continued implementation of the Action Plan on Bullying will increase capacity in these areas and build on my Department's current strategy to ensure that internet safety is mainstreamed throughout schools' teaching, learning and other practices. Resources are available on www.webwise.ie and include guidelines on developing Acceptable Use Policies.
139. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 48 of 15 October 2013 and the answer received from the Higher Education Authority, of the 46 academic staff, if he will provide a breakdown by institution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48204/13]
View answerDetails of the number of retired academic staff that have been rehired since January 2013 in the higher education sector for the academic year 2013/14 are set out in the following table.
|
Institution |
No of staff re-hired |
|
University College Dublin |
17 |
|
National University of Ireland, Galway |
1 |
|
National University of Ireland, Maynooth |
1 |
|
Trinity College Dublin |
21 |
|
University of Limerick |
2 |
|
St. Patricks College, Drumcondra |
3 |
|
Dublin Institute of Technology |
1 |
|
Total |
46 |
140. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Education and Skills the mandatory educational programmes currently operating within the primary and secondary systems which are focused on educating children to the dangers of smoking; if he will provide a breakdown of the mandatory number of hours of such training that students receive throughout their education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48206/13]
View answerSocial, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) is currently a compulsory subject in primary schools and at Junior Cycle in post primary schools. The SPHE curricula aim to foster self-worth, self -confidence and respectful relationships and place a particular emphasis on developing a sense of personal responsibility for one's own behaviour, feelings and actions.
The issue of smoking is addressed in the 'Personal Safety' strand of SPHE, in the context of equipping students with the skills to recognise and withstand inappropriate peer pressure and to identify the dangers of substance abuse. For example, SPHE students at Junior Cycle explore the health and social implications of smoking and identify some of the reasons why young people smoke. Students are also helped to identify ways in which smoking can be avoided. Enabling students to make informed decisions and choices is an inherent aim in the teaching and learning within SPHE.
SPHE is delivered for 30 minutes per week at primary level, and for approximately 66 hours during the three years of junior cycle.
The approach to SPHE is changing at Junior Cycle. As part of the reform of the Junior Cycle that was announced by the Minister of Education and Skills in October 2012, the key objectives of SPHE are now reflected in a number of 'Principles', 'Statements of Learning', and skills that underpin the new Junior Cycle Framework. As part of the new 'Well-being' principle, the student experience will "contribute to their physical, mental, emotional and social well-being and resilience. Learning takes place in a climate focussed on collective well-being of school, community and society". Under the new Junior Cycle Framework, pupils will be provided with opportunities to acquire the relevant skills of 'Managing Myself', 'Staying well', and 'Communicating'. Together the development of these skills will enable pupils to address the challenges they face and adapt their skills to different contexts, leading to their positive well-being.
As part of the new Junior Cycle Framework, the NCCA is currently developing a new short course in SPHE. The SPHE short course may be delivered for certification purposes and will involve an increase in the time allocation for SPHE at Junior Cycle up to 100 hours over the three years. This short course is currently open for public consultation. The consultation process will close at the end of November. The new short course will be available to schools from September 2014. Schools will then have the option to implement the new SPHE short course, or to continue to use existing courses or to adopt an alternative approach to meeting their requirements in this area.
141. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the qualifications needed for a person to teach a FETAC course. [48227/13]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, FETAC was dissolved in November 2012 and its functions are now performed by Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI).
Before providers can have their programmes of education and training validated by QQI they must agree their overall procedures for quality assurance and enhancement. Those procedures address the recruitment and training of staff. The responsibility for ensuring that tutors or trainers have the appropriate knowledge, skill and competence to deliver a programme leading to an award made by QQI lies with the provider, which operates within an overall quality assurance relationship with QQI, and is subject to monitoring and periodic review by QQI.
It should be noted that teachers who are employed in recognised schools and who teach programmes leading to QQI awards must have their qualifications recognised by, and be registered with, the Teaching Council.
142. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills when this Deputy may expect a reply to an interim letter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48228/13]
View answerI will arrange to have a full response issued to the Deputy regarding this matter by the end of this week.
I wish to firstly advise the Deputy that the enrolment of a child in a school is a matter in the first instance for the parents of the child and the Board of Management of a school. My Department has no role in relation to processing applications for enrolment to schools.
Where a school refuses to enrol a pupil, a parent may appeal the refusal to enrol under Section 29 of the Education Act, 1998. In such cases the school is obliged to inform parents of their right under Section 29 of the Education Act 1998 to appeal that decision to the Secretary General of my Department. Where an appeal under Section 29 is upheld, the Secretary General of my Department may direct a school to enrol a pupil.
My Department provides for a range of placement options and supports for schools which have enrolled pupils with special educational needs in order to ensure that, wherever a child is enrolled, s/he will have access to an appropriate education.
Central to my Department's approach is the aim that all children with special needs, including those with autism, should be provided with a school based provision through a mainstream class placement with supports, a special class placement or a placement in a special school which caters for children with autism.
You will be aware that children with autism present with a wide range of needs. Some children are capable of being fully integrated into mainstream schools without additional teaching or care supports. Others are able to attend mainstream schools but need additional teaching and/or care assistance. Many are best enrolled in autism-specific classes or special schools where more intensive and supportive interventions are required. Some may move from one setting to another as they get older and differing needs/strengths/abilities emerge.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible for assisting parents to identify appropriate educational placements for children with special educational needs. Parents may contact their local Special Educational Needs Organiser (SENO) directly to discuss their child's special educational needs and to seek assistance in identifying placement options, using the contact details available on www.ncse.ie.
In addition to the NCSE, 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 NEWB will try to help parents to find a school placement if their child has been unable to secure a school placement to date. The NEWB can be contacted at National Educational Welfare Board, National Headquarters, 16-22 Green Street, Dublin 7 or by telephone at 01-8738700.
143. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo has been refused their fees under the free fees scheme in view of the fact that Student Universal Support Ireland has given written confirmation that their fees are covered under the free fees scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48229/13]
View answerIn the case of the student referred to by the Deputy, I understand that Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) is reviewing her grant application and will be in contact with her in the near future.
144. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a reply will issue to an interim letter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48230/13]
View answerArrangements are underway in my Department for a response to issue to the correspondence referred to by the Deputy. In this regard the Deputy will be aware that 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).
Confirmation both from initial findings of a recent comprehensive survey by the National Centre for Guidance in Education on schools provision for guidance and from schools on the ground would suggest that even though there has been a cut in the allocation schools continue to prioritise the guidance programme and within it have increased group-work and class-based activity at senior cycle. This approach maximises the amount of time available for those pupils that need one to one support.
145. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a reply will issue to an interim letter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48234/13]
View answerI wish to inform the Deputy that the following reply issued on 11 November.
Mr. Charlie McConalogue TD
Dáil Éireann,
Dublin 2.
PLEASE QUOTE REF NUMBER ON ALL CORRESPONDENCE.
Our Ref: 1304578 /SR
November 2013
Dear Deputy McConalogue
The Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairí Quinn, T.D., has asked me to refer again to your recent correspondence in relation to BeatBullying Ireland.
In this regard, please find attached a letter which issued to Mr. Niall Cowley of BeatBullying Ireland on the 6th November.
Yours sincerely,
_____________________
Ronnie Ryan
Private Secretary
An Roinn Oideachais agus Scileanna
Sráid Maoilbhríde
Baile Atha Cliath 1
Department of Education and Skills
Marlborough Street
Dublin 1
Mr. Niall Cowley
Group International Director
The BB Group
Rochester House
4 Belvedere Road
London SE192AT
England
6 November 2013
Dear Mr Cowley,
I refer to previous correspondence and meetings in relation to extending the BeatBullying programme to Ireland and in particular to the revised proposal of June 2013 forwarded by you to my colleague, Deirdre McDonnell.
Your proposal and request for grant aid have been examined in the Department. Having reviewed the proposal, it would not be possible to approve grant aid for the proposed project
As you will be aware, the Action Plan on Bullying, the Report of the Anti-Bullying Working Group to the Minister for Education and Skills, was published in January of this year. Hie Action Plan concluded that, taking into account all of die research reviewed and submissions and presentations received, no one particular anti-bullying programme should be recommended for schools in Ireland to use. Instead, the Action Plan recommended that the emphasis should be on the core principles that should underpin a school's approach to preventing and tackling bullying. These form the basis of the new Anti-Bullying Procedures for Primary and Post-primary schools, which were published by the Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairi Quinn, T.D., and made available to schools in September. This approach will be implemented in all schools over the coming year. The new procedures are designed to take a whole school approach to all aspects of bullying, including cyber bullying and issues of diversity and respect for difference.
The Action Plan remains the basis for policy on bullying and implementation of the 12 Actions is the Department's current priority.
In the context of this strategy and the need to prioritise work related to implementing the Action Plan on Bullying, I regret that it is not possible to provide funding for the BeatBullying proposal.
Yours sincerely
Gavan G. O'Leary
Principal Officer
Central Policy Unit
