Clare Daly
Question:92. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will respond to correspondence (details supplied). [52313/13]
View answerDepartmental Correspondence
Questions (92)
Written answers
I am aware of the correspondence referred to by the Deputy. Officials from my Department met with the Directors of the facility in question last week to discuss the queries raised by them in the correspondence and other associated issues. My officials will continue to liaise with the Directors on matters arising from the constructive meeting.
Student Grant Scheme Applications
Questions (93)
Tom Fleming
Question:93. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will expedite a student grant application in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52322/13]
View answerWritten answers
Officials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) that a letter issued to the student referred to by the Deputy on 21 November 2013 confirming that a fees only grant had been awarded. I also understand that the student's college were requested to invoice SUSI for the fees.
Schools Building Projects Status
Questions (94)
Seán Ó Fearghaíl
Question:94. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a new school project (details supplied) in County Kildare in the Department's capital programme; the way the project is progressing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52336/13]
View answerWritten answers
The project to which the Deputy refers is progressing through the tender process and my Department is currently awaiting receipt of the tender report from the Board of Management.
School Enrolments
Questions (95)
Charlie McConalogue
Question:95. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will confirm that the feeder area for Gaelscoil Shliabh Rua will remain as Ballinteer-Stepaside in the event of Gaelscoil Shliabh Rua relocating to a proposed site on Ballyogan Avenue, Carrickmines, Dublin 18; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52357/13]
View answerWritten answers
The feeder area for Gaelscoil Shliabh Rua will still be the wider Ballinteer-Stepaside area. There is an Irish language school already located in the area. The question of location for Gaelscoil Shliabh Rua was considered in the context of providing access to both Irish language schools to the greatest number of pupils across the area.
Student Grant Scheme Applications
Questions (96)
Bernard Durkan
Question:96. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a higher education grant will be approved in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52404/13]
View answerWritten 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, a grant was awarded on 15 November 2013 and the student was paid on 29th November 2013.
School Placement
Questions (97)
Bernard Durkan
Question:97. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the other procedure that can be followed in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare who has so far failed to obtain a school place for their child; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52405/13]
View answerWritten answers
The Deputy will be aware from my reply of November 14th last of the role of the National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB). This is the statutory agency which can assist parents who are experiencing difficulty in securing a school place for their child. The NEWB may be able to offer assistance and advice on securing a school placement within the pupil's area. The contact details for the NEWB is National Educational Welfare Board, 16-22 Green Street Dublin 7, phone number 01-8738700. I understand my officials have raised this case with the NEWB.
School Placement
Questions (98)
Bernard Durkan
Question:98. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the action that can be taken by a person (details supplied) in Dublin 15 to secure a school place for their child; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52406/13]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy is aware from my reply of 14th November last, Section 29 of the Education Act, 1998 provides for an appeal by a parent or guardian to the Secretary General of my Department, or in the case of an Education and Training Board (ETB) school to the ETB in the first instance, where a Board of Management of a school, or a person acting on behalf of the Board, refuses to enrol a student in a school, expels a student or suspends a student for 20 or more days in any school year. My Department has no authority to compel a school to admit a pupil, except in the case of an appeal under section 29 of the Education Act, 1998 being upheld. Section 29 appeal forms are available from my Departments website or directly from section 29 Administration Unit. The contact details for section 29 Administration Unit is Section 29 Department of Education & Skills, Friars Mill Road, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath or by phone 044 9337008. The National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) is the statutory agency which may be in a position to assist parents who are experiencing difficulty in securing a school place for their child. The NEWB may be able to offer assistance and advice on securing a school placement within the pupil's area. The contact details for the NEWB is National Educational Welfare Board, 16-22 Green Street, Dublin 7, phone number 01-8738700. My officials have discussed the case in question with the NEWB.
Student Grant Scheme Eligibility
Questions (99)
Bernard Durkan
Question:99. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason special rate of higher education grant is not payable in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52407/13]
View answerWritten 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, the standard rate of grant has been awarded. To qualify for the special rate of grant an applicant must meet the following conditions: 1, reckonable income must not exceed €22,703; and 2, on the 31st December of the relevant period the reckonable income must include an eligible long-term social welfare payment prescribed under the scheme. If an individual applicant considers that she/he has been unjustly refused a student grant, or that the rate of grant awarded is not the correct one, 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 Grants Appeals Board. The relevant appeal form is available to download from http://www.studentfinance.ie/downloads/1375344221/2013_SGAB_appeal_form.pdf.
Student Grant Scheme Appeals
Questions (100)
Dan Neville
Question:100. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding an appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; if the appropriate application form will be sent to the person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52434/13]
View answerWritten 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, his application has been reviewed and the student will be notified shortly of the outcome. If an individual applicant considers that she/he has been unjustly refused a student grant, or that the rate of grant awarded is not the correct one, 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 Grants Appeals Board. The relevant appeal form is available to download from http://www.studentfinance.ie/downloads/1375344221/2013_SGAB_appeal_form.pdf.