David Stanton
Question:238. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the exemptions available to school-children who have been diagnosed with dyscalculia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50578/13]
View answerSpecial Educational Needs Service Provision
Questions (238)
Written answers
The Deputy will be aware of this Government's ongoing commitment to ensuring that all children with special educational needs can have access to an education appropriate to their needs. The policy of my Department is to secure the maximum possible level of inclusion of students with special educational needs in mainstream primary and post-primary schools, or where a special school or special class placement may be required to ensure such placements are provided for.
All schools have been allocated additional teaching resources to cater for children with high incidence special educational needs, including Specific Learning Disability (SLD), of which dyscalculia is one such Specific Learning Disability. All mainstream Primary schools have been allocated additional teaching resources under the General Allocation Model (GAM) to cater for children with high incidence special educational needs, including SLDs. It is a matter for individual schools to use their professional judgement to identify pupils who will receive this support and to use the resources available to the school to intervene at the appropriate level with such pupils. Schools are supported in this regard by the National Educational Psychological Services. All Post Primary schools have also been allocated additional teaching resources for pupils with high incidence special educational needs, including SLDs.
I wish to advise the Deputy that the 1998 Education Act requires Boards of Management of each school to publish the policy of the school relating to participation by students with special educational needs. The measures schools take in this regard are required to be stated in the school plan. It is the duty of the Board of Management to ensure that appropriate education services are made available to such students. I can also advise the Deputy that students with special educational needs may apply for exemptions from Irish in accordance with the specified criteria provided under my Departments Circular 12/96 for primary schools and Circular M10/94 for post-primary schools. However, for the most part, pupils with special educational needs are accommodated in schools through curriculum differentiation, as opposed to specific subject exemption.
Schools at both primary and second level use strategies such as curriculum differentiation, curriculum enrichment and acceleration to facilitate the development of pupils with special needs. Syllabi and curricula for second-level schools have also been designed in such a way to enable teachers to cater for the wide range of pupil ability. The Special Education Support Service (SESS), which is a service under the management of my Department also supports schools and provides additional training for them in supporting students with special educational needs.
Student Grant Scheme Appeals
Questions (239)
Anne Ferris
Question:239. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will ensure a person (details supplied) in County Wicklow is granted the full rate of the Student Universal Support Ireland grant payment in view of their great need and the fact that all documentation requested has been forwarded to SUSI; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50597/13]
View answerWritten answers
Officials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland that the grant application of the student referred to by the Deputy was refused and has been appealed to SUSI. The appeal will be dealt as soon as possible and the student will be informed directly of the outcome. Where an individual applicant has had an appeal turned down in writing by SUSI and remains of the view that the scheme has not been interpreted correctly in his/her case, an appeal form outlining the position may be submitted by the applicant to the independent Student Grants Appeals Board. The relevant appeal form is available to download from http://www.studentfinance.ie/downloads/1375344221/2013_SGAB_appeal_form.pdf.
Teaching Qualifications
Questions (240)
Jonathan O'Brien
Question:240. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to introduce a qualification criterion for teachers working with pupils with special educational needs. [50600/13]
View answerWritten answers
The Deputy will be aware of this Government's ongoing commitment to ensuring that all children with special educational needs can have access to an education appropriate to their needs. My Department recognises that specialised training and continued professional development (CPD) is important for staff working with children with special educational needs and supports the provision of CPD through the Special Education Support Service (SESS) which was specifically established for this purpose. The SESS co-ordinates and delivers a range of professional development initiatives and support structures for school personnel working with students with special educational needs.
My Department also funds a number of Post-Graduate Programmes for teachers involved in Learning Support and Special Education. These programmes are specifically designed to assist all schools and educational services in meeting the needs of students requiring learning support and the teaching of students with special educational needs. Since 2007, some 2,000 teachers have completed these programmes.
In relation to initial teacher education, while special education has long been a feature of initial teacher education (ITE) programmes, the Teaching Council, the body with statutory authority and responsibility for the registration of teachers, requires ITE programmes, all of which are currently being reconceptualised and extended, to address a number of specific elements including literacy and numeracy, differentiation and Inclusive Education including Special Education to assist student teachers in meeting the diversity of students in today's inclusive classrooms.
It has been the policy of my Department for some time that only qualified and registered teachers should be employed by schools. Current recruitment procedures direct schools to ensure that teachers proposed for appointment to publicly paid posts must be registered with the Teaching Council and have qualifications appropriate to the sector and suitable to the post for which they are proposed. Further guidance for schools on the organisation of Learning Support/Resource Teachers posts is provided in my Department's Circular SP ED 02/05: Organisation of Teaching Resources for Pupils who need Additional Support in Mainstream Primary Schools. In making policy in this area, my Department is informed by a range of sources including the Inspectorate, the NCSE and the Teaching Council. There are no plans to make changes along the lines suggested by the Deputy.
Site Acquisitions
Questions (241)
Seán Ó Fearghaíl
Question:241. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will indicate the progress that has been achieved towards the acquisition of a site for a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50602/13]
View answerWritten answers
The Deputy will be aware that my officials have been working closely with officials from Kildare County Council in relation to acquiring a suitable site for the proposed new school accommodation for the school to which the Deputy refers. Work is continuing to acquire an identified site and as previously advised, agreement in principle, subject to contract, has been reached. Given the sensitivities associated with land acquisitions generally, I am not in a position to comment further on the proposed acquisition at this time.
Teachers' Remuneration
Questions (242)
Michael Ring
Question:242. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding an Irish teaching allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50650/13]
View answerWritten answers
Under the terms of circular 008/2013 titled "Public Sector-Wide review of Allowances and Premium Payments" the person referred to by the Deputy lost her entitlement to the allowance in question when she commenced in a new job role after 1 February 2012. A teacher cannot gain or regain entitlement to this allowance on or after 1 February 2012, as the allowance was withdrawn for new beneficiaries with effect from that date.
Third Level Fees
Questions (243, 244, 245, 246)
Jonathan O'Brien
Question:243. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on the report currently being compiled on practices being operated by individual higher education institutions in charging different rates of fees. [50686/13]
View answerJonathan O'Brien
Question:244. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to address the needs of children of non EU migrants who are forced to pay high tuition fees and the barriers to education this presents. [50687/13]
View answerJonathan O'Brien
Question:245. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to ensure that children of non-EU migrants who have been resident here for a number of years and attending higher education can access financial assistance if necessary. [50688/13]
View answerJonathan O'Brien
Question:246. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to ensure that all students in all HEIs are able to reverse their fee status upon obtaining citizenship during their third level education. [50689/13]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 243 to 246, inclusive, together.
The position is that from the current academic year students who acquire EEA citizenship during their course of third level studies may be eligible for free fees for the remainder of their studies subject to certain conditions. Where students do not meet the terms of the free fees schemes, including nationality, it is the higher education institutions that determine, in accordance with their own criteria, the rate of tuition fees (EU or non EU) to be paid by students. Whilst this is an issue for the Governing Authority of each Institution, the Government has agreed that certain policy issues need to be clarified. In that regard the Higher Education Authority (HEA) has, at my request, entered into discussions with the sector so as establish and report on the practices currently being pursued in individual institutions in relation to the charging of the EU and non-EU rates of fee and to facilitate the introduction of a consistent policy approach with regards the fee rates to apply to students who do not qualify for free fees.
Under the terms of the student grant scheme, grant assistance is awarded to students who meet the prescribed conditions of funding including those which relate to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means. The nationality requirements for the student grant scheme are set out in section 14 of the Student Support Act 2011 and regulation 5 of the Student Support Regulations 2013. In all cases, to qualify for a student grant, it is the grant applicant and not his/her parents that must meet the nationality or prescribed immigration status requirements in their own right. The onus is on the grant applicant to provide the necessary documentary evidence as proof of their nationality or immigration status to the relevant grant awarding authority.
Article 32 of the Student Grant Scheme 2013 provides for the review of eligibility for the award of a grant in the event of changes of circumstances in the academic year, including a change in relation to a students' nationality or immigration status. This means that where a student acquires Irish citizenship by naturalisation or acquires a prescribed immigration status during the course of their studies they may make an application in the academic year for a student grant.
School Health and Safety Issues
Questions (247)
Jonathan O'Brien
Question:247. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to ensure that schools complete structured maintenance and risk management plans and his Department implements regular inspections to ensure compliance. [50691/13]
View answerWritten answers
Under the provisions of the Education Act, 1998, the Board of Management is the body charged with the direct governance of a school. In managing the schools, Boards are required to comply with the relevant provisions of the Education Act 1998, the Rules for National Schools and the terms of Circulars issued by my Department. Schools also have a responsibility under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, to have a safety statement in place in their schools. The Statement should identify potential hazards, assess the risks to health and safety and put appropriate provision in place to safeguard the safety and health of employees and pupils. The Safety Statement should be reviewed on a regular basis.
Schools Refurbishment
Questions (248)
Jonathan O'Brien
Question:248. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of schools who suffered from flood damage during each of the past three years. [50692/13]
View answerWritten answers
Since 2010 only three application for funding have been received under my Department's Emergency Works Scheme to have refurbishment works carried out as a result of flood damage. All schools building that are not covered by state indemnity are required to adequately insure their school premises including insurance for flood damage and if any of these schools were to be flooded my Department may not be notified as any damaged caused would be a matter for schools' insurers.
Weight of Schoolbags
Questions (249)
Mary Mitchell O'Connor
Question:249. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Education and Skills his proposals or current recommendations in place on the way the weight of children's schoolbags can be reduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50707/13]
View answerWritten answers
My Department issued Circular M35/05 in 2005 to highlight the potential health hazard of overweight schoolbags and to outline a range of local measures that could be put in place to help alleviate the problem. The circular referred to the recommendations of the previously published report of the Working Group on the Weight of School Bags. This report acknowledged that many of the solutions belong at local school level and made various recommendations in this regard, such as optimum use of storage facilities, developing pupil organisation skills and timetabling.
It is a matter for each individual school to determine which particular measures are most suited to its individual circumstances and to how the school concerned organises teaching and learning. The circular and the report of the Working Group on the Weight of School Bags are available on my Department's website at www.education.ie.
Student Assistance Fund
Questions (250)
Bernard Durkan
Question:250. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which the hardship fund was adequate to meet the needs of students in each university over the past two years to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50719/13]
View answerWritten answers
The Student Assistance Fund is a component of the Third Level Access Measure which is managed on behalf of my Department by the Higher Education Authority and comprises two sub-priorities: the Student Assistance Fund and the Fund for Students with Disabilities. The overall value of the measure for the 2013/14 academic year is €16.2m. The management of the Third Level Access Measure Fund rests with the Higher Education Authority and the allocation of funding for the sub-priorities in a particular year is a matter for the authority.
The Student Assistance Fund is administered on a local basis by participating higher education institutions and targets those students most in need. The Authority approved in July of this year an allocation for the Student Assistance Fund for the 2013/14 academic year of €8m. Each participating institution was advised of its individual allocation in advance of the academic year in order to facilitate timely planning and disbursement to students.
The Fund has increased substantially in recent years, from €5m in 2010-11 to an allocation of €8m in the most recent academic year (2012-13). During the 2012/13 academic year, the Higher Education Authority closely monitored local demand for the Fund around the country. Data collected from participating institutions showed a very substantial increase in demand for the Fund compared with the previous year, the outcome of which was a decision by my Department to allocate an additional €3m for 2012-13 as an exceptional measure, bringing the total allocation for the year to €11m.
Final data on the number of beneficiaries for 2012-13 is currently being collected. A total of 13,347 students benefited from the Fund in 2011-12, an increase of over 5,000 students on the previous year. The HEA is continuing to monitor demand for the Fund from participating colleges in relation to 2013-14.
Third Level Fees
Questions (251)
Terence Flanagan
Question:251. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the cost of a SOLAS course (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50734/13]
View answerWritten answers
The annual student contribution is levied on students attending Institutes of Technology. The amount due in respect of full time students for the academic year 2013/2014 is €2,500. The Annual Student Contribution has been levied in respect of apprentices since 2004, with apprentices paying the element of the contribution relating to exams and SOLAS paying the balance. As part of Budget 2014 apprentices will now pay the full contribution themselves, apportioned in respect of the time they spend in the Institutes, in common with other students. For Electrical apprentices such as the person in question, attending Phase 4 in January 2014, the apprentice student contribution is 1/3 of €2,500 = €833.
Apprentices attending Phase 4 off-the-job training receive the equivalent of Industry net pay norm for the period attending the Institutes of Technology. Apprentices who have to move to rented accommodation during the period of the course in Galway can make an application to Solas for an accommodation allowance which is €69.90 per week.
State Examinations
Questions (252)
Brendan Griffin
Question:252. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on whether it is acceptable to provide scribes and readers for students who need them for State exams at junior and leaving certificate years but not for Christmas and summer exams in 1st, 2nd and 5th year; his views on whether the failure to provide such services outside of State exams disadvantages those who do not qualify for any other assistance such as a special needs assistant but who need this service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50750/13]
View answerWritten answers
The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the Junior and Leaving certificate examinations. The State Examinations Commission operates a scheme of Reasonable Accommodations in the Certificate examinations. Applications for such accommodations are submitted by schools on behalf of their students. Full details of the scheme is available for downloading from their website: www.examinations.ie/candidates/reasonableaccommodations. Christmas and summer examinations in 1st, 2nd and 5th year are not part of the State examinations system. The decision to organise these examinations is made at school level. These examinations are not a requirement of my Department.
Schools Amalgamation
Questions (253, 254)
Brendan Griffin
Question:253. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of two, three and four teacher schools that have embarked on the amalgamation process since the implementation of Budget 2012 teacher threshold increases; if he will provide a breakdown for each of the three sizes of school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50751/13]
View answerBrendan Griffin
Question:254. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he is satisfied that his Department provides enough assistance to any small school that wishes to explore the possibility of amalgamation with a nearby school; the process to be followed; the supports his Department provides; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50752/13]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 253 and 254 together. In the period referred to by the Deputy, 15 amalgamated primary schools have been established involving 30 primary schools. Of the 30 schools concerned, 10 schools had a staffing of 4 teachers or less at the time of amalgamation of which 1 was a 1 teacher school, 6 were 2 teacher schools, 2 were 3 teacher schools and 1 was a 4 teacher school.
The initiative for any amalgamation or re-organisation may come from a variety of sources, such as parents, staff, Boards of Management and in particular, the Patron. Any such proposal to amalgamate schools must involve consultation with all of the relevant stakeholders and follow decisions taken at local level. The decision making authority for any amalgamation, including any appropriate arrangements, belongs to the Patron of a school subject to the approval of the Minister for Education and Skills.
As the numbers of pupils in these schools is relatively small, it is not necessarily the case that capital investment would be needed to support amalgamation. However, each case is assessed on an individual basis to determine the extent and type of accommodation required taking into account the condition of buildings, site capacity etc. My Department would be available to discuss any issues arising with the Boards of Management of the schools and would aim to provide an appropriate accommodation solution and other resources including staffing subject to available resources.
School Staffing
Questions (255, 256)
Brendan Griffin
Question:255. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he would provide in tabular form the schools in County Kerry that have lost a teacher due to the implementation of budget 2012 teacher threshold increases; if he will categorise the information into two, three and four teacher categories; the academic years for which the teachers were lost; the enrolment numbers in each case; the total savings achieved in the county since the implementation of the changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50753/13]
View answerBrendan Griffin
Question:256. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the total savings achieved since the implementation of the Budget 2012 teacher threshold changes, broken down into two, three and four teacher schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50754/13]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 255 and 256 together.
The criteria used for the allocation of teachers to schools is published annually on the Department's website. The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September. The staffing arrangements for the current school year 2013/14 are set out in Circular 0013/2013 which is available on the website.
Since the implementation of the 2012 budget measure to increase the pupil thresholds in primary schools with four teachers and less a total of 125 schools were due to lose a classroom teacher. The affected schools had the right to appeal to the Primary Staffing Appeals Board in the event that they could show that their projected enrolments in September 2012 and September 2013 respectively, were sufficient to allow them retain their classroom teacher over the longer term. In the 2012/13 school year 63 schools submitted an appeal. 43 appeals were provisionally upheld, of which 14 subsequently lost their posts as projected enrolment did not materialise. The saving achieved in the 2012/13 school year was of the order of €2.6m, including employer PRSI.
In the 2013/14 school year 28 schools submitted an appeal. 23 appeals were provisionally upheld, of which 6 subsequently lost their posts as projected enrolment did not materialise. The saving achieved in the current school year is of the order of €2.2m, including employer PRSI. The information sought by the Deputy in relation to schools is Kerry is set out on the attached table.
The allocation process for the 2014/15 school year is currently underway in my Department and the staffing arrangements, including the appeals process, for primary schools will be published on the Department website early in 2014. The final staffing position for all schools will not be known until later in 2014 when the allocation process will be fully completed and all appeals to the Primary Staffing Appeals Board will have been considered.
Schools in Co. Kerry which lost a teacher due to changes introduced in Budget 2012
|
School Roll No. |
School Name & Address |
School Type |
Year in which the school lost a teacher |
Enrolment |
|
18233W |
Scoil Paroisteach, Tralee, Co. Kerry |
3 teacher |
2012/13 |
50 |
|
18756I |
Fibough NS, Caislean Na Mainge, Co. Kerry |
3 teacher |
2012/13 |
49 |
|
19482F |
SN Oilibhear Naofa, Beal Atha Longphuirt, Ciarrai |
4 teacher |
2012/13 |
81 |
|
18901O |
Rathmorrell NS, Causeway, Tralee, Co. Kerry |
2 teacher |
2013/14 |
12 |
|
18084I |
Scoil Mhuire Gan Smal, Lixnaw, Co. Kerry |
4 teacher |
2013/14 |
74 |
School Staffing
Questions (257)
Brendan Griffin
Question:257. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the process and time frame for a school that is a two-teacher school but will have in excess of 56 students in 2014-15 and beyond and wishes to apply to his Department for the allocation of a third teacher for 2014-2015; when it will need to apply; when it will be informed of a decision; the information it will need to supply and any other relevant information. [50756/13]
View answerWritten answers
The criteria used for the allocation of teaching posts to primary schools is published annually on the website of the Department of Education and Skills. The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September. 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.
Departmental Agencies Board Remuneration
Questions (258)
Patrick Nulty
Question:258. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the twelve directors of the National Council for Special Education receive any payment, allowance or other form of benefit in kind as part of their role; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50760/13]
View answerWritten answers
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) which was established in 2003 is a Statutory Body with the structure and functions set out in the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs (EPSEN) Act 2004. The EPSEN Act provides that the Council shall comprise 13 members including one Chairperson, all of whom are appointed by the Minister. The Council members do not receive any payment, allowance or other form of benefit in kind as part of their role.
All State Bodies are required to comply with the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies, which was revised and updated in May 2009, and the Foreign Travel Guidelines 2009 issued by the Department of Finance. NCSE is aware of the need to ensure efficiency and effectiveness in respect of expenditure of public funds generally and in particular in relation to travel and subsistence expenditure.