Written Answers Nos. 1 - 111
102. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which Student Universal Support Ireland has managed to deal with the total number of applications for higher education grants received in respect of the current academic year; the number of cases approved, refused or as yet undetermined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50293/13]
View answerI am informed by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) that overall the grant process has been running considerably more efficiently and SUSI has been meeting its targets in respect of processing grants on schedule in 2013/14. I understand that SUSI has awarded a total of some 40,000 student grants, both new and renewals, up to end-October 2013. As at close of business on 24th November, 2013, 71% of new applications and 96% of renewal applications have been processed to completion. Of these 31,931 new applications have been awarded or provisionally awarded and 20,017 renewal applications have been awarded. 16,879 new applications and 2,722 renewal applications have been refused or cancelled. SUSI is awaiting supporting documentation from 16,413 new applicants and 701 renewal applicants. The remaining students with outstanding documentation are being requested to return their documentation as soon as possible so that assessment of their applications can be completed.
103. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl den Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna an bhfuil staidéar déanta aige ar na modhanna trína múintear an Ghaeilge, go háirithe i dtaca leis na moltaí atá sa Straitéis 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [44492/13]
View answerTá mo Roinnse lán-tiomanta d'fhorfheidhmiú na Straitéise 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge. Tá staidéar déanta ar mholtaí na Straitéise. Tá raon de bheartais, a eascraíonn as miontaighde agus comhairliúchán, curtha i bhfeidhm lena chinntiú go bhfuil na modhanna is éifeachtaí teagaisc in úsáid chun tacú le foghlaim na scoláirí sa Ghaeilge. Tá aird ar leith á díriú ar chumas labhartha sa teanga agus an teagasc trí Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn ag an mbunleibhéal agus an iarbhunleibhéal araon.
Tá dul chun cinn maith déanta le curaclam nua don Ghaeilge a fhorbairt ag an mbunleibhéal. Tá tús curtha chomh maith le sonrúchán nua don Ghaeilge nua don tSraith Shóisearach a fhorbairt agus tá páipéar cúlra curtha amach faoi láthair le haghaidh comhairliúcháin. Ó Mheitheamh 2012, tá líon na marcanna do chumas sa Ghaeilge labhartha méadaithe ó 25% go 40%. Tá athbhreithniú á dhéanamh ar thionchar an athraithe seo agus beidh na torthaí ar fáil sa bhliain nua. Téann sonraí fianaise bhunaithe i bhfeidhm ar ár saothar. Tá miontuairisc ar fhorfheidhmiú na mbeartas oideachais sa Straitéis 20 Bliain ar fáil ar shuíomh mo Roinne.
104. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will address the anomaly that full-time special needs assistants contracts are specified by the National Council for Special Education as 32 hours, but the contract of employment specifies the working hours as the hours the school is open to students, that is, 28 hours and 20 minutes for a primary school. [50114/13]
View answerThe position regarding the working hours of full-time SNAs is as outlined in the standard SNA contract of employment which was implemented in 2005. Full-time SNAs are required to work for the normal school hours in their school, and in addition to be available for a period of time before and after school. The specific hours of work are set locally by the school management and will vary depending on the school's requirements.
Furthermore, SNAs are required to be available for an additional 72 hours annually to be used by schools as an additional bank of hours to be utilised and delivered outside of normal school opening hours and/or the normal school year. SNAs employed in a part-time capacity are paid a pro-rata amount dependent upon their hours of employment. Part-time SNAs are paid on the agreed divisor rate for pay purposes for part-time SNAs which is 32 hours.
105. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide a detailed report on the cross-Border co-operative activities planned for 2014 which will draw on emerging evidence on improvements in learning and the evaluations of DEIS, the action plan of the Department of Education and Skills to combat educational disadvantage, developments in inspection practice, North and South, and a date for possible joint participation in professional development for inspectors. [50109/13]
View answerThe Education Research Centre (ERC) is conducting an ongoing evaluation of DEIS on behalf of my Department. The ERC has already completed two reports based on achievement testing, both focused in the Primary School Sector. This second report was published together with two Inspectorate reports on planning in DEIS Primary and Post-Primary Schools in January 2012. The ERC is finalising a further report based on testing carried out this year in urban Primary schools and is also carrying out an evaluation in DEIS Post-Primary schools. The published findings will be available to share with colleagues in Northern Ireland.
My Department's Inspectorate and the Education and Training Inspectorate, Northern Ireland plan in 2014 to co-operate in each other's professional development programmes; inspector exchanges; joint inspections of specialised projects; and joint meetings of their senior management teams. The Inspectorates have jointly published a report on good practice in literacy and numeracy teaching in primary schools. They are currently working to publish in 2014 Best Practice Guidelines in Literacy Provision at Post-Primary Level, based on joint visits by inspectors to schools in both jurisdictions. The Inspectorates expect to produce Best Practice Guidelines in Numeracy Provision at Post-Primary Level early in 2015.
106. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason his Department is not conducting its own separate investigation into allegations of bribery and corruption in Bus Éireann involving the school transport scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50296/13]
View answer111. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Education and Skills when Bus Éireann will have completed its investigation into allegations of bribery and corruption involving the school transport scheme; if he will provide further updates on this investigation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50295/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 106 and 111together.
Any allegation of wrongdoing by an employee of Bus Éireann involved in the school transport scheme is treated as a very serious issue by both Bus Éireann and my Department. It is usual and appropriate that an allegation against an employee is investigated by the employer in question under its internal control procedures. My Department is satisfied that the matter is receiving attention at the highest level in Bus Eireann. The Company has advised my Department that the investigation into the allegations referred to by the Deputy is currently ongoing and is expected to conclude in the coming weeks.
107. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills his response to the recommendations of the recent National Council for Special Education research report, Moving to Further and Higher Education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50226/13]
View answerThe National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has a statutory role under the EPSEN Act to conduct, commission and publish research in relation to matters regarding the provision of educational services for persons with special educational needs. I welcome the research report from the NCSE and think it will be an important contribution to the future development of policy in this important area of work. My Department will consider the report and will request that a number of key agencies, including SOLAS, the Higher Education Authority (HEA), the network of Education and Training Boards and higher education institutions reflect on its contents.
108. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which he has found it possible to make adequate provision for children with special needs throughout mainstream education; if he has identified any particular areas in respect of which he proposes to address any emerging issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50294/13]
View answerExpenditure supporting pupils with Special Educational Needs in 2013 is some €1.3bn, which represents approximately 15% of the entire budget of my Department. These resources have been protected despite the ongoing severe financial position and a requirement to make expenditure savings across a range of areas. This level of expenditure includes provision for 10,575 Special Needs Assistants (SNAs), over 10,700 Learning Support and Resource Teachers along with 740 Special Classes attached to mainstream schools and ensures that as many children as possible can be educated with their peers in mainstream education, in accordance with the intent of the EPSEN Act.
The NCSE recently published comprehensive policy advice on Supporting Students with Special Educational Needs. As suggested in the report, I have requested the NCSE to establish a Working Group to develop a proposal, for consideration, for a new allocation model for teaching supports based on the profiled needs of children in schools.
109. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills when he will receive the report of the National Council for Special Education working group on a new model for the allocation of teaching supports for children with special educational needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50224/13]
View answerThe National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has established a Working Group to develop a proposal, for consideration, for a new model for the allocation of teaching supports for children with Special Educational Needs, based on profiled educational needs of schools. Mr Eamon Stack, the NCSE Chairperson and former Chief Inspector in my Department, has been appointed to chair this working group. I received an oral briefing from the Chairperson on the progress of the work of this group to date, on 2nd October, 2013. The group expects to complete its work by the end of Spring next year.
The NCSE consulted widely with interested parties in developing its policy advice and I understand that the Working Group has also consulted a range of interested parties, including parents and representative groups, as its work has progressed. I look forward to a considered debate on this matter when the proposals are finalised.
110. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the industrial action being taken by secondary school teachers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42510/13]
View answer112. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding talks with the Association of Secondary Teachers of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50111/13]
View answer124. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he has met, or is planning to meet, representatives of the Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland. [42511/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 110, 112 and 124 together.
The context of the Haddington Road Agreement was the need to address the major and unprecedented financial difficulties facing the State. At this stage all Public Service unions, with the exception of ASTI have accepted the terms of this Agreement. The position now is that ASTI members have not accepted the Agreement and are not operating the changes to the supervision and substitution scheme provided for in the Agreement that the other teacher unions are operating. Given that position I have indicated, as has my colleague the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, that the continued payment of the supervision and substitution allowance to ASTI members is unsustainable.
We have provided time and space for the recent discussions between officials from my Department and the ASTI in a final effort to resolve this issue, and it is now a matter for the membership of the ASTI to make their decision in relation to the outcome of those discussions. However, I would be less than frank if I did not make the point to the House that the payment of the supervision and substitution allowance cannot be continued.
It is now a matter for the membership of the ASTI to make their decision in relation to the outcome of those discussions. I would like to take this opportunity to restate the significant benefits which will accrue to ASTI members if they accept the Haddington Road Agreement. These include:
- Improved levels of payment for newly qualified teachers
- A review of the usage of the 33 additional hours required by teachers under Croke Park
- A firm timetable on the establishment of an expert group to examine casualisation in the teaching profession
- The introduction of additional assistant principal posts to support the management of schools.I welcome the fact that the ASTI have agreed to re-ballot their members on the Haddington Road Agreement, and I hope that ASTI members will accept the benefits of the Agreement.
