Terence Flanagan
Question:66. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to recruit 1,250 teachers as announced in budget 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49878/13]
View answerTeacher Recruitment
Questions (66)
Written answers
Teacher allocations are approved annually in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolment. The criteria for the allocation of posts are communicated to school management annually and are available on the Department website. Preparation for the staffing and redeployment process for the 2014/15 school year is currently underway in my Department. The staffing arrangements for all schools for the 2014/15 school year will be published early in 2014.
School Transport Provision
Questions (67)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Question:67. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a decision will be made by Bus Éireann in relation to the reinstatement of school transport to a school (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49884/13]
View answerWritten answers
Bus Éireann which operates the school transport scheme, on behalf of my Department, has advised that a school transport service operating to the school in question was withdrawn for the 2011/12 school year as the number of children who were eligible for school transport had fallen below the minimum number required. In accordance with the terms of my Department's Primary School Transport Scheme consideration may be given to the establishment of a service when there is a minimum of 10 eligible children residing in a distinct locality, as determined by Bus Éireann. Families of children who are eligible for school transport and for whom no service is available, may be offered the Remote Area Grant.
Schools Numbers
Questions (68)
Seán Ó Fearghaíl
Question:68. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Education and Skills the consideration that has been given by the planning unit of his Department to the need for additional second level places in Newbridge, County Kildare; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this is an area where extreme pressure for places currently exists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49894/13]
View answerWritten answers
In June 2011, I announced that up to 40 new schools are to be established up to 2017 to cater for increasing demographics across a number of locations. These consist of twenty new primary schools and twenty new post-primary schools. This announcement did not include a proposal to establish a new post-primary school in Newbridge. The Forward Planning Section of my Department will continue to monitor enrolments in all areas, including Newbridge, to ensure that there is sufficient school accommodation to meet any projected future demands.
Student Universal Support Ireland Administration
Questions (69)
Charlie McConalogue
Question:69. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of grants that Student Universal Support Ireland awarded in October 2012 and in October 2013; the number awarded to date in November 2013 and the corresponding figure for 2012; the number outstanding; the target date for completion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49910/13]
View answerWritten answers
I am informed by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) that it has awarded a total of some 40,000 students grants up to end October 2013. The total number of awards to end of the same period in 2012 was just under 8,000. The next SUSI update report is due at the end of November and it is estimated that by then some 50,000 applications will have been awarded compared to 14,000 for the same period in 2012. The remaining applications to be finalised comprise of late applications received after the SUSI priority dates for submitting both applications and the return of documents. In addition some applicants have been requested to provide additional information. A structured email campaign has been targeting these applicants to return their documents/information. SUSI has advised that the turnaround time from receipt of completed applications/requested information from these applicants is 4 weeks.
Student Assistance Fund
Questions (70)
Terence Flanagan
Question:70. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding college grants (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49967/13]
View answerWritten answers
Apart from the funding provided through the student grant schemes, the Department also provides funding to approved third level institutions to operate a Student Assistant Fund to assist students in exceptional financial need. Information on the fund is available from the Student Access Officer at the student's college.
Student Universal Support Ireland Administration
Questions (71)
Michael McGrath
Question:71. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a Student Universal Support Ireland grant in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [49972/13]
View answerWritten answers
Officials in my Department have been informed by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) that the grant award letter that issued on the 6th September 2013 to the student referred to by the Deputy was sent in error. The Deputy will appreciate that some errors may inevitably arise when handling a high volume of applications within a relatively short timeframe. SUSI has confirmed that on review the grant has been refused. If an individual applicant considers that she/he has been unjustly refused a student grant, 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 http://www.studentfinance.ie/downloads/1375344221/2013_SGAB_appeal_form.pdf.
Education Policy
Questions (72)
Catherine Murphy
Question:72. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the Irish research that informs policy into the strengths and weaknesses in terms of the effectiveness of learning in post-primary schools of different sizes, for example, 250, 500, 750, 1,000, 1,250 or 1,500; the size of school that falls into the category super school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50005/13]
View answerWritten answers
My Department takes careful account of research into the effectiveness of teaching and learning. Research literature from other countries does not provide definitive conclusions regarding the effects of school size and there is no comprehensive research on this matter in the Irish context. However, there is a strong consensus in research literature that one of the most important influences on learner outcomes is the quality of teaching. The Department's Inspectorate is one very important source of information in this area and its findings are a significant input into policy development. Just recently, the Chief Inspector published his report on the outcomes of inspection in the period 2010-2012 which provides extensive data about the quality of teaching and learning in Irish schools. The inspections focus on aspects such as management and leadership in schools, preparedness for teaching, the classroom atmosphere, the effectiveness of teaching and the quality of assessment. My Department does not use the category "super school".
Appointments to State Boards
Questions (73)
Niall Collins
Question:73. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide in tabular form the number of appointments to State boards under his Department's remit made since March 2011 to date in 2013; the number of vacancies in State boards under his Department's remit since March 2011 to date in 2013; the number of vacancies State boards under his Department's remit publically advertised since March 2011 to date in 2013; and the number of appointments to State boards under his remit drawn directly from the public advertisement process. [50011/13]
View answerWritten answers
The information requested on the number of appointments made to State boards since March 2011 is outlined in the following table.
It should be noted that Board appointments, while made by me as Minister, are not in all cases made at my sole discretion. Individuals may be nominated for appointment by various organisations as specified in the relevant statute of the body concerned. The Deputy should further note that in making any direct Ministerial appointments, I am not necessarily confined to those who make such expressions of interest but will ensure that all of those appointed have the relevant skills and competencies for the positions.
|
Name of Board |
Number of appointments made to state boards since March, 2011 |
Number of positions advertised over which the Minister can directly appoint |
Appointments made from members of the public who applied through the PAS process |
Year appointments made |
|
An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta (COGG) |
2 |
0 |
0 |
2012 |
|
An Foras Áiseanna Saothair (FÁS) |
3 (Note 1) |
0 |
0 |
2011/2013 |
|
Grangegorman Development Agency (GDA) |
14 |
6 |
3 |
2012 |
|
Higher Education Authority (HEA) |
10 |
9 |
2 |
2012 |
|
Irish Research Council |
11 |
0 |
0 |
2012 |
|
Léargas |
12 |
9 |
0 |
2012/2013 |
|
National Centre for Guidance in Education (NCGE) |
12 |
1 |
0 |
2013 |
|
National Council for Curriculum & Assessment (NCCA) |
25 |
3 |
2 |
2012 |
|
National Council for Special Education (NCSE) |
13 |
13 |
2 |
2013 |
|
Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) |
10 |
8 |
3 |
2012 |
|
Residential Institutions Statutory Fund (RISF) |
9 |
9 |
3 |
2013 |
|
Skillnets Ltd |
4 |
0 |
0 |
2011/2012 |
|
State Examinations Commission (SEC) |
5 |
5 |
2 |
2012 |
|
Teaching Council |
37 |
3 |
0 |
2012 |
|
An tSeirbhís Oideachais Leanúnaigh agus Scileanna (SOLAS) |
13 |
13 |
9 |
2013 |
Note 1: Three interim appointments were made to the Board of Foras Áiseanna Saothair (FÁS) in January 2013 before the agency was replaced by SOLAS, the new Further Education & Training Authority. Accordingly, these vacancies were not published on PAS. Appointments to the Board of FÁS were made after consultation with the Minister for Social Protection and the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation.