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Tuesday, 19 Nov 2013

Written Answers Nos. 235-255

Student Grant Scheme Applications

Questions (235)

Martin Heydon

Question:

235. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a Student Universal Support Ireland application submitted in June will be expedited in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48962/13]

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Written answers

Officials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) that the student referred to by the Deputy was issued with a letter on 14 November 2013 advising him that he was ineligible to receive a grant.

Where an individual applicant considers that he has been unjustly refused a student grant, or that the rate of grant awarded is not the correct one, 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 http://www.studentfinance.ie/downloads/1375344221/2013_SGAB_appeal_form.pdf.

School Transport Provision

Questions (236)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

236. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 339 of 5 November 2013, the additional costs to Bus Éireann of an extension of a morning bus route (details supplied) in County Kerry in view of the agreement of the private bus operator to provide this service for no additional cost; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49003/13]

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Written answers

The Deputy will be aware that Bus Éireann is responsible for the planning and timetabling of school transport routes. Bus Éireann endeavours, within available resources, to ensure that each eligible child has a reasonable level of school transport service in the context of the Scheme nationally.

The family in question are availing of a school transport service within the guidelines of the scheme and it is primarily for this reason, and not the consideration of the additional cost involved, that there are no proposals to change the existing service.

Parents/guardians are responsible for ensuring that children are brought safely to and collected safely from Bus Éireann designated pick up and set down points.

School Accommodation

Questions (237)

Shane Ross

Question:

237. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a school (details supplied) is still housed within the premises of another school, when this arrangement was supposed to be a temporary measure; when building work will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49039/13]

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Written answers

The school to which the Deputy refers remains in its temporary accommodation because outline planning permission for a permanent building for the school was refused.

A revised planning application is being lodged shortly with the local authority. This application will also be seeking planning permission for a PE Hall for the host school. This was a feature of the previous planning application. The timeframe for the delivery of the accommodation in question is dependent on the outcome of the planning application process.

Student Grant Scheme Payments

Questions (238)

Robert Troy

Question:

238. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will expedite a Student Universal Support Ireland grant payment in respect of a person (details supplied). [49093/13]

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Written answers

Officials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) that in the case of the student referred to by the Deputy that she previously attended a course of study in the academic year 2012/2013.

Students who have previously attended, but not completed an approved course of study are required to complete an equivalent period of study on an approved course before being eligible to be considered for a grant. Payments of student grants are made monthly in arrears. I understand from SUSI that the student in question is entitled to maintenance from November and will be paid in December.

Information and Communications Technology

Questions (239)

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

239. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of schools that currently require children to use ipads or tablets, or that will require them to do so from September 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49100/13]

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Written answers

The introduction of tablet devices by a school is an operational matter for the Board of Management of the school. My Department has no role at individual school level in approving such initiatives and therefore does not have a record of the number of schools introducing tablet devices.

New technology that impacts on student teaching and learning should only be introduced by schools following consultation with the school community including parents. The cost and other implications must be fully considered by the Boards of Management.

The PDST-Technology in Education which promotes and supports the integration of a high quality ICT infrastructure into learning and teaching for schools, has published advice sheets which cover a wide range of areas relevant to ICT in education including. At present there is an advice sheet in relation to Tablet PCs which provides advice on such areas as what tablets can offer a school, educational considerations, purchasing considerations, software and Tablets. The PDST TIE does not provide advice on particular brands of tablets as the decision depends on the particular circumstances in a school.

Educational Tours

Questions (240)

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

240. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the departmental criteria governing foreign trips run by schools for students. [49101/13]

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Written answers

In accordance with my Department's circulars, the objective of an educational tour should be to provide a significant benefit in the educational, intellectual, cultural and social development of pupils taking part.

It is a matter for each individual school to decide on the suitability of any proposed school tour having regard to these requirements.

The Board must exercise all reasonable care in respect of the pupils involved and take all necessary steps to ensure that sufficient supervision is in place and that all appropriate and necessary safeguards in respect of the welfare and safety of participating pupils are in place.

In addition, I hold the view that it is very important that schools are sensitive to the financial pressures on parents in making decision on such trips or indeed in relation to any other matter that has cost implications for parents.

School Accommodation

Questions (241)

Olivia Mitchell

Question:

241. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Skills following the rejection by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council of the Department's planning application for permission to construct the Ballinteer Educate Together School within the St. Tiernan's Community school site, his plans to provide a permanent site for the school within the timeframe previously envisaged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49118/13]

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Written answers

A revised planning application for permanent accommodation for Ballinteer Educate Together on the site where the school is currently hosted is being lodged shortly with the local authority. This application will also be seeking planning permission for a PE Hall for the host school. The timeframe for the delivery of the accommodation in question is dependent on the outcome of the planning application process.

School Transport Provision

Questions (242)

Michael Creed

Question:

242. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department provides supervised transport for children with special needs to a college (details supplied) in County Cork; the way approval is sought for supervised transport in respect of this college; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49129/13]

View answer

Written answers

Bus Éireann has advised my Department that there are no school transport services, under the terms of my Department's School Transport Scheme, operating into the facility in question.

School Transport Provision

Questions (243)

Gerald Nash

Question:

243. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the fact that no public transport under the school transport scheme is available to students from Drogheda attending a school (details supplied) in County Louth; if efforts will be made by the relevant authorities to provide such transport in this academic year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49152/13]

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Written answers

The school referred to by the Deputy in the details supplied will be an English-medium post primary school with an Irish Aonad. It is due to open for enrolments for the 2014/15 school year. Applications for transport for the 2014/15 school year will be considered in line with the terms of my Department's Post Primary School Transport Scheme.

Capitation Grants

Questions (244)

Terence Flanagan

Question:

244. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason students in a vocational education committee school get €212 more capitation per head than students in a voluntary secondary school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49175/13]

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Written answers

The funding arrangements for post primary schools reflect the sectoral division of our second-level system. At the core of these arrangements is reliance upon capitation as the principal determinant of funding.

The Department provides funding directly to voluntary secondary schools by way of per capita grants. However, grants for the day-to-day running costs of ETB schools and community colleges are issued to Education and Training Boards, not directly to schools, as part of a block grant. It is important to note that this block grant covers not only the day-to-day costs of schools but also the running costs of ETB head-offices and other activities apart from the second-level programme. Each ETB has a high level of autonomy in the management and appropriation of this grant and may distribute its allocations in line with its priorities and perceptions of need.

I am aware that the JMB's Pre-Budget Submission for 2012 suggested a difference of €212 in funding for each student attending a voluntary secondary school, in comparison to an ETB school or college. The Deputy should note that additional funding has been provided to voluntary secondary schools by way of "equalisation" measures since 2001. It is estimated that up to €21m has been provided in equalisation funding between 2001 and 2009.

While the current economic situation has slowed progress in that regard, it remains the Department's aim, depending on resource availability, to addressing anomalies in funding between the post-primary sectors.

Schools Building Projects Status

Questions (245)

Robert Troy

Question:

245. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans for a school (details supplied) in County Westmeath. [49190/13]

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Written answers

The school building project referred to by the Deputy is included in the 5 year construction programme with a scheduled construction date in 2014/15.

The project is at an advanced stage of architectural planning. The stage 2b (Detailed Design) has recently been approved and the school has been informed. My Department will be in contact with the Board of Management and Design Team in due course with regard to the further progression of this project.

Student Grant Scheme Applications

Questions (246)

Robert Troy

Question:

246. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will ensure a person (details supplied) is granted a special rate of Student Universal Support Ireland grant payment. [49263/13]

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Written answers

Officials in my Department understand from Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) that the application from the student in question is under review. SUSI will make direct contact with the student when the review has been completed.

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Questions (247)

Robert Troy

Question:

247. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if adequate support will be offered to persons in a school (details supplied) in County Longford in terms of special needs assistants; and his views on whether this is acceptable and needs to be addressed straight away by providing the school with additional support. [49270/13]

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Written answers

I 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 4 approved SNA posts. It is important to note that the recruitment and deployment of SNAs within schools are matters for the individual Principal/Board of Management. SNAs should be deployed by the school in a manner which best meets the care support requirements of the children enrolled in the school for whom SNA support has been allocated. It is a matter for schools to allocate support as required, and on the basis of individual need, which allows schools flexibility in how the SNA support is utilised.

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.

All schools have the names and contact details of their local SENO. Parents may also contact their local SENO directly to discuss their child's special educational needs, using the contact details available on www.ncse.ie.

School Costs

Questions (248)

Alan Farrell

Question:

248. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Education and Skills if all schools in Fingal will be included in the parents questionnaire on school uniforms; if not, the schools that will receive the questionnaire; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49273/13]

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Written answers

I wish to advise the Deputy that it is my intention to issue a circular to all recognised schools, later this month on the issue in question.

Student Grant Scheme Delays

Questions (249)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

249. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason for the delay in processing a student grant application in respect of a person (details supplied). [49325/13]

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Written answers

Officials have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) that the student referred to by the Deputy has been awarded a grant on 13 November, 2013.

The cause of the delay was due to the need to seek additional information because of a change in the applicant's circumstances.

Education and Training Boards Remit

Questions (250)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

250. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will ensure that construction, warehousing and other courses being offered to jobseekers in future have a safe pass and manual handling certification included in view of the fact that SOLAS and education and training boards are responsible for former FÁS courses and training facilities. [49376/13]

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Written answers

This is a day-to-day operational matter for SOLAS.

I am informed that Safe Pass is a renewable licensing requirement for all persons working in the construction sector as opposed to a certificate of training. Safe Pass is not currently contained within these programmes nor is it envisaged that it will be included in these programmes in the future.

Construction, warehousing and other courses being offered cannot offer manual handling certificates, as such accreditation is no longer available through Quality Qualifications of Ireland (QQI).

Training Programmes Provision

Questions (251)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

251. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Education and Skills the courses in ECDL, manual handling, first aid, driving and safe pass that were offered free to social welfare recipients in the Dublin 8, 10 and 12 areas in the past year. [49377/13]

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Written answers

This is a day to day operational matter for SOLAS.

I have made enquires of SOLAS and am informed that the Ballyfermot Training Centre catchment area includes Dublin 8, 10 and 12. However, SOLAS Ballyfermot does not provide training in Safe Pass or Driving Instruction. Day Course 'multimedia' does include an option for ECDL as a module but not on its own. All other provision is through SOLAS evening course programmes. The following tables set out the number of trainees who attended ECDL, First Aid and Manual Handling courses that were offered free to social welfare recipients run in Ballyfermot Training Centre this year.

Trainees attended

-

-

-

-

-

-

Terms

Term 1

Jan/Feb

Term 1

Jan/Feb

Term 2

Feb/Mar

Term 2

Feb/Mar

Term 3

Apr/May

Term 3

Apr/May

Course

No. of Courses

Trainees attended

No. of courses

Trainees attended

No. of courses

Trainees attended

ECDL

6

89

5

80

5

83

Manual Handling

2

24

2

24

3

30

Occupational First Aid

3

30

2

20

3

28

Trainees attended

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Terms ctd

Term 4

Jun/Jul

Term 4

Jun/Jul

Term 5

Jul/Aug

Term 5

Jul/Aug

Term

6

Sept

/Oct

Term

6

Sept

/Oct

Term 7

Nov/

Dec

Term 7

Nov/

Dec

Course

No. of courses

Trainees attended

No. of courses

Trainees attended

No. of courses

Trainees attended

No. of courses

Trainees attended

ECDL

5

78

5

75

5

63

6

79

Manual Handling

3

31

3

31

0

0

1

12

Occupational First Aid

2

18

3

25

3

30

3

24

School Textbooks Rental Scheme

Questions (252, 253)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

252. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will revise the guidelines issued by his Department regarding school book rental schemes to include a greater emphasis to encourage teachers and those selecting the textbooks to shop around for better value for money in view of the large differences in prices that exist between similar books from different publishers; if he acknowledges that there are major price differences between the publishers and that this provides scope for taxpayers' money supporting the scheme to go further; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49381/13]

View answer

Brendan Griffin

Question:

253. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the efforts he has made to date to encourage those selecting textbooks in schools to seek better value for money and to shop around for the most affordable fit-for-purpose books; if his Department has issued any circular to this effect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49382/13]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 252 and 253 together.

The Department has issued Circular 0046/2013 to the management authorities of all recognised primary and post primary schools providing free education, in relation to the funding arrangements to schools to provide assistance for textbooks. This Circular also includes reference to the Guidelines for Developing Textbook Rental Schemes in schools and the Department encourages all schools to consider putting in place book rental schemes.

It is a matter for the Board of Management of each individual school to decide on its own policy in relation to the use of textbooks in the school. Individual schools need to adopt a more cost-conscious approach to the selection of books in their classes. However, I do not intend to revise the Guidelines issued last January at this time.

I will consider the inclusion in future circulars, as suggested by the Deputy, of further encourage of school management authorities to embrace a more cost-conscious and value for money approach when deciding the textbooks for use in their schools.

Departmental Staff Remuneration

Questions (254)

Joe Higgins

Question:

254. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will restore the €10,243.09 withheld from a person's (details supplied) redundancy payment on the basis that his Department claims that the person was overpaid by this amount over an 11 year period between 2003 and 2013 through no fault of their own; if he will instruct his Department to make available the basis of their calculations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49447/13]

View answer

Written answers

My Department has no discretion in relation to the recovery of monies from staff who have been overpaid. When a staff member is appointed they agree to refund any monies paid are not properly payable and to comply with the Overpayment Policy as outlined in Circular 15/04 in this regard.

A detailed breakdown of the calculation of the overpayment amount has been sent directly to the person referred to by the Deputy.

Third Level Courses Availability

Questions (255)

John Deasy

Question:

255. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the range of agriculture-related courses available to prospective young farmers in each of the country's State-funded third level institutes, universities and colleges in the current 2013-14 academic year. [49470/13]

View answer

Written answers

Students at third level institutions across the country have access to a range of agriculture-related courses that can be taken as core subjects or in combination with a range of other disciplines. Information on all agriculture-related courses is available on the Qualifax website, www.qualifax.ie.

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