Tuesday, 26 Nov 2013

Written Answers Nos. 112 - 132

Apprenticeship Programmes

Questions (113)

Clare Daly

Question:

113. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 342, 343 and 350 of 5 November 2013, if he will confirm that the financial implications regarding the annual student contribution for apprentices being pro rata, in relation to aviation apprentices where a model has been agreed with employers which requires them attending college for a full year, could see students being faced with fees of €4,890. [50113/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

A new apprenticeship model was introduced in September 2012 for all new registrations of Aircraft Mechanic apprentices by the Air Craft Industry. This will include apprentices spending a continuous period of 35 weeks in the Dublin Institute of Technology in respect of phase 4 of the apprenticeship programme. This phase 4 is an amalgamation of phases 4 and 6 under the previous system. No apprentice will pay more than the Annual Student Contribution payable by a full time student attending for a full academic year, currently €2,500 but rising to €2,750 for 2014/2015 and €3,000 in 2015/2016. It should be noted that the contribution payable will replace two separate pro-rata contributions payable for the existing phases 4 and 6.

Special Educational Needs Staffing

Questions (114)

Mick Wallace

Question:

114. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason the deadline dates for appeals to decisions made by the National Council for Special Education during special needs assistants reviews preceded the date on which some schools were informed of SNA allocation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50298/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible for allocating Special Needs Assistants to schools to support children with special educational needs. The NCSE published details of its first round of SNA allocations for schools in June of this year. The closing date for receipt of appeals in respect of these allocations was 30th September 2013. The NCSE made a second round of allocations for schools on 21st October, 2013. The closing date in respect of this second round of allocations was 21st November, 2013. In relation to other applications or allocations which may be made during the school year, the school will be advised of the relevant closing date for any appeal at the time that the allocation decision is notified to the school. The NCSE have placed full details of their appeal process in respect of SNA and Resource Teaching Allocations on their website at www.ncse.ie.

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Questions (115)

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

115. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of children who have moved from a special needs unit to mainstream education and have sought a special needs assistant but have not been provided with one over the past year. [50105/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The NCSE is responsible for allocating SNA support to schools, taking into account the assessed care needs of qualifying children. Access to SNA support is sanctioned based on a child's assessed continuing care needs, regardless of whether they attend a special needs unit or a mainstream school setting. I am advised by the NCSE that they do not retain the data requested by the Deputy. The policy of this Government is to ensure that every child who is assessed as needing SNA support receives access to such support. Provision continues to be made for 10,575 SNA posts this year. There has been no reduction to the number of SNA posts available. Where pupils may have developed greater independent living skills, or have diminishing care needs, SNA allocations may be reduced. However, this would be based on the level of ongoing care needs and not on the educational setting.

Haddington Road Agreement Negotiations

Questions (116)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

116. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will confirm that ASTI members will continue to be paid the annual supervision and substitution allowance of €1,769 gross, in view of the fact that this is not part of the Haddington Road agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42440/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The position is that the scheme of Supervision and Substitution, which included a payment of €1,769, can be changed in one of two ways. The first is by putting in place a collective agreement. This occurred in the case of TUI and INTO, as a consequence of which their members have available to them the various Government commitments under the Haddington Road Agreement, in particular the continuing payment of increments and improved pay scales. As ASTI has not to date accepted the provisions of the Haddington Road Agreement, its members have a freeze on the payment of increments and improved pay scales are not available to them. Alternatively, it is open to the Government to unilaterally change the terms of the Supervision and Substitution scheme as it is empowered to do by the Financial Emergency Measures legislation. To date, the Government has not exercised this option in the case of ASTI members. However, I have previously 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.

Apprenticeship Programmes

Questions (117)

Clare Daly

Question:

117. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the way in which the decision to change the funding model for apprentices before the review of the Irish apprenticeship training model which he has initiated has been completed. [50112/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

As part of Budget 2014, it was decided that FÁS would cease the payment of part of the Annual Student Contribution on behalf of apprentices attending the Institutes of Technology as part of the Apprenticeship Programme. This Budget is independent of the review of the broader funding arrangements for apprenticeship by the Apprenticeship Review Group, but is intended to specifically address the payment of the Annual Student Contribution. This is a contribution charged on all students and apprentices. All apprentices are waged and they will now pay the same contribution as other students, apportioned for the time they spend in the Institutes.

Home Tuition Scheme Administration

Questions (118)

Mick Wallace

Question:

118. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason the qualification requirements for teachers providing home tuition for children with autism spectrum disorder were recently changed from specialist training in autism to a general primary school qualification; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50297/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

Home Tuition is provided to children who are unable to attend school or are awaiting a suitable educational placement and for pre-school children with autism. The qualification requirements for tutors providing home tuition to children have not changed. It remains the case that Home tutors should be fully qualified teachers. When it is not possible to recruit a fully qualified teacher then alternative appropriate third level qualifications may be acceptable. However, from this year my Department has also required that, in addition to being qualified teachers, tutors must be registered or have applied for registration with the Teaching Council of Ireland. Tutors with acceptable third level qualifications will be eligible to apply for registration. Accordingly, those whose qualifications were acceptable in the past remain eligible, provided they have applied for registration with the Teaching Council.

Special Educational Needs Data

Questions (119)

Clare Daly

Question:

119. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if any analysis has been undertaken into the cumulative effect of cutbacks in learning supports at primary level for children with special needs, Traveller supports and support for children for whom English is not their first language in terms of the impact on teachers' ability to manage the class and deliver a level of education that meets the needs of all. [50115/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The overall level of learning support and resource teaching for pupils with special educational needs in primary schools have not been cut. This year the number of resource teaching posts allocated to schools by the NCSE increased from 5,265 posts to over 5,700 posts. In addition, there are also over 5,000 permanent learning support posts allocated across the school system, including over 4,100 posts allocated to Primary schools under the General Allocation Model. With effect from the 2012/13 school year, the General Allocation Model for all schools was updated to incorporate resources available for learning support and language support. The GAM now also includes provision for Traveller pupils who had previously been supported by Resource Teacher for Traveller posts.

There has not been a specific analysis of the cumulative effect of changes to these provisions in recent years. Schools are responsible for planning education programmes for individual children and for monitoring their progress. In addition, my Department's Inspectorate evaluates and provides advice to schools through Whole School Evaluation (WSE) and other inspection processes.

Student Universal Support Ireland Administration

Questions (120)

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

Question:

120. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason it is necessary to have a direct line available for Deputies and Senators to contact Student Universal Support Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45681/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The service referred to by the Deputy is one element of a comprehensive customer service and communications strategy provided by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) and meets an identified need for applicants who choose to engage the assistance of their public representatives in making inquiries about their grant applications. In some cases, applicants may opt not to use the established channels provided by SUSI, including online application tracking, a dedicated website, a telephone helpdesk, email and social media, including Facebook and Twitter. SUSI wishes to ensure that all necessary avenues are open to such applicants to receive the information they need.

Schools Administration

Questions (121)

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

121. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will introduce legislation to ensure that schools provide to parents a breakdown of the way voluntary contributions are spent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50106/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The Education Act 1998 requires that every school, other than a school established or maintained by an Education and Training Board, must keep accounts of monies it receives and of the expenditure of such monies and that such accounts are properly audited or certified in accordance with best accounting practice. The Act provides that such accounts must be made available for inspection by parents. While these provisions concern monies provided by the Oireachtas, schools are not precluded from their school accounts providing details of other income and expenditure relating to voluntary contributions and in my view it would be good practice for all schools to do so. During this school year I will be publishing plans for a Parent Charter that will strengthen the position of parents generally within our school system. The issue of the types of information that should be made available to parents is an issue that I will be looking at in that context.

Haddington Road Agreement Savings

Questions (122)

John Halligan

Question:

122. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the fact that after all the deductions and restitution due under the Haddington Road agreement there will still be a permanent gap of 7.5% between pre and post-2011 teachers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42443/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The decision of the previous Government which reduced pay scales and allowances for new entrant public servants which took effect on 1 January 2011 had primarily two effects on new entrant teachers, reducing their pay by 10% and also requiring that new entrants start at the first point of the salary scale. The Haddington Road Agreement included a provision to address the imbalance that has existed between teachers who were recruited before and after 1 January 2011. The Agreement includes revised salary scales for teachers recruited after 1 January 2011, and it has now been accepted by members of TUI and INTO.

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Questions (123)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

123. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he considers educational supports for pupils with Down's syndrome to be adequate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50227/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

Pupils with Down syndrome who have a Mild General Learning Disability, in addition to mainstream class teaching support, also receive support from Learning Support Teachers allocated to schools by my Department through the General Allocation Model. Those pupils who are assessed as having a more significant, Moderate or Severe General Learning Disability receive an individual allocation of Resource Teaching hours. This individual allocation is made by the NCSE. The recent NCSE report on Supporting Children with Special Educational Needs recommended that under a proposed new allocation model, all children, including those with Down syndrome, should be allocated additional resources in line with their level of need, rather than by disability category. The NCSE also recommended that, in the short-term, pupils with Down Syndrome who are in the Mild General Learning Disability category should continue to be supported by schools' Learning Support allocation in the same way as other pupils with a Mild GLD.

Question No. 124 answered with Question No. 110

School Uniforms

Questions (125)

Thomas Pringle

Question:

125. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills the way he will ensure that all schools that operate a uniform policy will ballot parents on their preferences; the way he foresees the uniform policy based on the ballot results being implemented for the 2014-15 school year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50110/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I have made clear that I want schools to listen to the wishes of parents in relation to the cost of school uniforms. My Department will issue the formal circular shortly. The circular will set the end of February for the completion of ballots. This is to ensure that there will be ample time for the Board of Management (BOM) to consider the outcome and make changes as needs be. My clear expectation, as with all circulars, is that schools will carry out the consultation with parents. To do otherwise means that the school is not prepared to listen to the voice of parents. My Department will maintain contact with the National Parents Councils in order to get feedback on the process.

Teaching Qualifications

Questions (126)

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

126. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide details on the collaborative agreement that has been reached by the Marino Institute of Education and the University of Ulster on the provision of assistance and support to students from the Six Counties and Border region wishing to undertake the Scurdú le hAghaidh Cáilíochta sa Ghaeilge and Oiriúnú le hAghaidh Cáilíochta sa Ghaeilge; and the efforts that are being made by his Department to facilitate the delivery of language qualification from TCI to St. Mary’s College, Belfast. [50108/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The Teaching Council of Ireland is the designated authority for the recognition of qualifications under the terms of the EU Directive and the competent authority for the recognition of qualifications obtained outside of the EU. I understand that Marino Institute of Education and the University of Ulster have agreed to collaborate to assist and support candidates in the North of Ireland and border regions wishing to undertake the Irish Language Requirement (S.C.G./O.C.G.). To date, Marino Institute of Education has provided approved Aptitude Tests and supervised Adaptation Periods for teachers under their programmes of An Scrúdú le hAghaidh Cáilíochta sa Ghaeilge (S.C.G.) and the Oiriúnú le hAghaidh Cáilíochta sa Ghaeilge – Tréimhse Oiriúnaithe (O.C.G.). Discussions have previously taken place between my Department, the Department of Education Northern Ireland, the Teaching Council and St. Mary's College, Belfast with regard to compensation measures for the Irish Language Requirement (ILR). The Council intends to define a framework by the end of the first quarter in 2014 within which it will recognise adaptation periods and aptitude tests for applicants who are registered with the registration condition of the Irish Language Requirement (ILR).

Question No. 127 answered with Question No. 101.

School Transport Provision

Questions (128)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

128. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he has undertaken a cost benefit analysis of the school transport scheme operated by Bus Éireann; if he will account for the high cost of operating the scheme compared to school transport systems in other jurisdictions; if he will confirm if Bus Éireann makes a profit from the scheme; if he will provide the latest accounts provided to him by Bus Éireann; if he is concerned about market distortion by the overwhelming presence of Bus Éireann in the school transport market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47024/13]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills

School Transport was the subject of a Value for Money Review carried out as part of the 2009-2011 round of Value for Money Reviews. This review, which is available on my Department's website, looked in detail at the various cost factors impacting on the provision of school transport including the scale of provision for children with special educational needs, levels of parental choice and the eligibility criteria underpinning the scheme. Given the variability in these factors comparisons with other jurisdictions are difficult. Bus Éireann has confirmed that it does not make a profit on school transport. Bus Éireann maintains a separate account for the School Transport Scheme which is audited each year by independent auditors. The 2012 accounts are available on my Department's website. While Bus Éireann is responsible for the negotiation and awarding of school transport contracts to private operators, school transport services are operated by a mix of public and private operators. The network is reviewed on an ongoing basis ensuring that these services continue to be provided in a most economic and effective manner. Some 86% of the vehicles used to provide services under the school transport scheme, equivalent to over 3,300 vehicles, are provided by private operators under contract to Bus Éireann.

Departmental Banking

Questions (129)

Ciaran Lynch

Question:

129. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Taoiseach the value of services provided to the public by his Department and entities reporting to his Department where a payment is accepted by debit or credit card; the percentage of additional charge that is applied to such transactions under the merchant agreement; the total value of the additional charge in respect of debit and credit cards in 2012; if any portion of the additional charge accrued to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50141/13]

Written answers

The Taoiseach

My Department and NESDO the body under the aegis of my Department do not accept payments by debit or credit card.

Appointments to State Boards

Questions (130)

Niall Collins

Question:

130. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Taoiseach 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 in State boards under his Department's remit publicly 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. [50143/13]

Written answers

The Taoiseach

The following tables list the information sought by the Deputy regarding State boards under the remit of my Department since 2011 to date.

National Economic and Social Development Office (NESDO)

No. of appointments to State boards under his Dept's remit made since March 2011 to date in 2013	No. of vacancies in State boards under his Dept's remit since March 2011 to date in 2013	No. of vacancies in State boards under his Dept's remit publically advertised since March 2011 to date in 2013	No. of appointments to State boards under his remit drawn directly from the public advertisement process.
2	2	Not applicable. Appointments made by the Taoiseach to the NESDO have been in accordance with Sections 13(1) and 13(2) of the NESDO Act 2006.	Not applicable. Appointments made by the Taoiseach to the NESDO have been in accordance with Sections 13(1) and 13(2) of the NESDO Act 2006.

National Statistics Board

No. of appointments to State boards under his Dept's remit made since March 2011 to date in 2013	No. of vacancies in State boards under his Dept's remit since March 2011 to date in 2013	No. of vacancies in State boards under his Dept's remit publically advertised since March 2011 to date in 2013	No. of appointments to State boards under his remit drawn directly from the public advertisement process.
4	8	4 Section 18 of the Statistics Act 1993 provides that three of the positions on the board are filled by (1) an Assistant Secretary or equivalent or higher grade in the Department of the Taoiseach; (2) an Assistant Secretary or equivalent or higher grade in the Department of Finance; and (3) the Director General of the CSO, ex officio.	None to date. Expressions of interest have been received and are currently being reviewed. It is hoped to fill the remaining positions shortly.

Departmental Bodies Data

Questions (131)

Shane Ross

Question:

131. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Taoiseach the number of quangos operating under the aegis of his Department; the total number of directors sitting on their boards; the aggregate fees incurred by the State in payng the remuneration of directors of these quangos; the number of quangos that have been created since the formation of the Government; the number that have been disbanded over this period; the projected cost to the taxpayer of the establishment and operation of these new quangos; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50144/13]

Written answers

The Taoiseach

The National Economic and Social Development Office (NESDO) is the only state agency under the aegis of my Department. The NESDO and the National Economic and Social Council are State organisations established under the NESDO Act 2006 and are therefore not classified as quangos.

State Honours System

Questions (132)

Derek Keating

Question:

132. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Taoiseach his plans to establish a national awards scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50229/13]

Written answers

The Taoiseach

The issue of a State honours system has been discussed many times since the foundation of the State but there has never been all-party support to sustain its development. I believe that such support would be required if consideration of an honours system were to proceed. While I would have no objections in principle to all-party consideration of this matter, I believe that the timing of any such consideration would have to take cognisance of other political priorities at this time.