Written Answers Nos. 177-92
177. 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) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52619/13]
View answerOfficials in my Department have been informed by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) that the student referred to by the Deputy applied as an independent student and has been requested to provide documentation in support of her claim. When this information is received and considered, the student will be notified directly of the outcome.
178. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the supports that are available to students who have been eligible for student maintenance grants for the majority of their degree, for example the first three years of a four-year degree, but then become ineligible for the grant in the latter part of their studies due to changes in the eligibility criteria. [52620/13]
View answerA grant is payable for the normal duration of an approved course and is renewed annually subject to ongoing compliance with the terms and conditions of the student grant scheme including the income thresholds. There was no policy change in Budget 2013 to the Student Grant Scheme or to any of the student grant rates including the non-adjacent or adjacent rates of grant, or the higher special rate of grant. However, Budget 2013 provided for a 3% reduction in grant income thresholds in the 2013 grant scheme. The measure applies to both new and renewal applications. This reduction in thresholds does not apply to the threshold for the special rate of grant and the threshold for the €2,000 contribution at postgraduate level which remains at €31,500 for the 2013/14 academic year. The income limits for grant eligibility are increased relative to the number of students in a family applying for a grant.
Students in third-level institutions experiencing exceptional financial need can apply for support under the Student Assistance Fund. This Fund assists students, in a sensitive and compassionate manner, who might otherwise be unable to continue their third level studies due to their financial circumstances. Information on the fund is available through the Access Officer in the third level institution attended. The fund is administered on a confidential, discretionary basis.
179. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reasons the vocational education committee, VEC, was awarded patronage of the new schools in Maynooth, County Kildare; and his plans to hold an inquiry into this matter. [52622/13]
View answerThe patronage of the new post-primary school for Maynooth was decided in accordance with the criteria for patronage determination for new schools, which I announced and published in June 2011. All of the documents relating to my decision on the patronage for this school are also published on my Department's website. In accordance with this decision, the school will be commencing operation in 2014 under Education and Training Board patronage.
180. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 65 of 13 November 2013, if he will detail the 14 schools unsuccessful in their applications; the most common reasons for their failure to succeed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52624/13]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that further to Parliamentary Question 65, details of the 14 schools in question were furnished directly to the Deputy on 28 November last. There were a number of reasons why these schools were unsuccessful in securing funding. Due to the scale of demand for funding, it was not possible to grant aid all applications received. Accordingly, commensurate with the level of funding available for the Scheme, applications were assessed on a top down basis in accordance with the prioritisation criteria outlined in the Circular accompanying the Scheme. In addition, some applications included new build elements which were outside the scope of the Scheme while others applied for works that were of a maintenance nature and were appropriate to be funded from the school's capitation grant and/or Minor Works Grant Scheme in the case of primary schools. In other cases, plans were in train to upgrade schools as part of major capital projects and the proposed works therefore would have been addressed as part of the capital projects concerned.
As I advised the Deputy in my letter of 28 November, my announcement on 7th November of an additional €70 million for school improvement works will facilitate schools carrying out small and medium scale building works that will improve and upgrade existing school buildings. This comprises a once-off payment of over €28 million to primary schools as part of the Minor Works Scheme and a further €40 million to facilitate the re-introduction of the Summer Works Scheme for 2014.
181. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the development of a new school (details supplied) in County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52630/13]
View answerI wish to confirm to the Deputy that the school in question has submitted an application to my Department for major capital funding. In considering the application, my Department carried out a technical inspection at the school. Following the inspection, my Department sought further information from the school and this is awaited.
182. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 265 to 267, inclusive, of 5 November 2013, which states his Department has directed third level institutions to apply the terms of the collective agreement on enhanced redundancy, the reason an institution (details supplied) in County Galway is not complying with these agreements, resulting in research staff recently made redundant having to apply to the Labour Relations Commission to claim redundancy; if this institution's decision to not comply with the agreement has the approval of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52648/13]
View answer183. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a Labour Relations Commission case (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52649/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 182 and 183 together.
The payment of an ex gratia amount in addition to statutory redundancy is not an automatic entitlement and while institutions are precluded from exceeding the terms of the collective agreement on enhanced redundancy, it is entirely a matter for an individual employer to decide whether to seek the sanction of the Department to make an enhanced payment in line with the agreement. It is my understanding that the University in question has an existing policy in relation to the payment of redundancy which pre-dates the collective agreement and which it has consistently applied in the case of the termination of all fixed-term contracts, including research contracts.
184. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 221 of 26 November 2013, his views on whether it is discriminatory that schools require girls to wear skirts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52724/13]
View answerAs stated in my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 221 of 26 November 2013 I will not be intervening in the dress codes that schools have put in place. It is a matter for the parents in conjunction with the relevant school authorities to decide on the dress code for each school. You may wish to refer the matter of the wearing of skirts to the Equality Authority; that body holds a remit pertaining to gender related issues.
185. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students who had been awarded grants from Student Universal Support Ireland but not yet received a payment from SUSI as of 1 December 2013. [52732/13]
View answerOfficials in my Department have been informed by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) that 3,217 applicants were awarded a grant but not yet in payment as at 1 December 2013. Over 600 of these applicants are not in payment due to lack of bank details or incorrect bank details entered by the applicant. The balance of students awaiting payment are recently awarded applicants for whom the registration confirmation is awaited from their colleges prior to being approved for payment. The Deputy will be aware from his visit to SUSI that, when an applicant is awarded a grant, a verification file is sent to the applicant's college to confirm registration. This process takes a maximum of 10 working days.
186. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will confirm that Educate Together will be moving into the former Scoil San Shéamus in Basin Street, Dublin 1; and if it is intended to allow access to the facility to the community, as has been the case in the past. [52735/13]
View answerI can confirm to the Deputy that my Department is working closely with the Educate Together Patron Body in relation to operating a school from the former school premises in Basin Street. It is intended that the community will continue to have access to the facilities.
187. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Education and Skills the way colleges of further education will fund major repairs to their buildings if they can no longer apply or qualify for the summer works programme. [52736/13]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that only eligible schools can apply for funding under the Summer Works Scheme. However, in an emergency situation, it is open to Education and Training Boards to submit applications for funding for works, such as those referred to by the Deputy, on behalf of further education colleges and these will be considered in the light of competing demands and available resources.
188. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding funding in respect of a school (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52738/13]
View answerThe school to which the Deputy refers has submitted an application in recent weeks for a major capital project to provide additional accommodation and refurbishment of the existing building. The application is currently being assessed and as part of that process my Department will liaise with the school shortly in respect of the accommodation issues arising.
189. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the average payment of voluntary contributions by parents per student for each of the past three years. [52749/13]
View answer190. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the top 30 rates of voluntary contributions required by schools here; the names of these schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52750/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 189 and 190 together.
Apart from the recognised fee-charging second level schools, recognised primary or post-primary schools are not permitted to charge school fees. Voluntary contributions by parents are however permissible provided it is made absolutely clear to parents that there is no question of compulsion to pay. The manner in which contributions are sought and collected is a matter for each school management; however their collection should be such as not to create a situation where either parents or pupils could reasonably infer that the contributions take on a compulsory character. Given that such matters are dealt with at individual school level, the data requested by the Deputy is not available within my Department.
191. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide a breakdown of the annual infrastructure and capital expenditure by his Department on a regional basis and a county basis over the past five years. [52797/13]
View answerThe capital expenditure incurred by my Department in each of the years 2009 to 2013 is as follows:
|
Year |
Expenditure |
|
2009 |
€765.794m |
|
2010 |
€786.615m |
|
2011 |
€556.295m |
|
2012 |
€409.972m |
|
2013 (to date) |
€381.775m |
I wish to advise the Deputy that certain elements of capital expenditure do not lend themselves to a county breakdown and are categorised as "unassigned" in the data provided. Further, as regional can be classified in a number of different ways the county breakdown will allow the Deputy to combine counties in a manner which best meets his intent.
Capital Expenditure (Department of Education and Skills)
|
COUNTY |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 (to date) |
|
CARLOW |
5,652,332.04 |
13,384,306.17 |
7,848,823.41 |
9,236,217.74 |
8,394,479.31 |
|
CAVAN |
6,432,228.92 |
10,256,430.92 |
9,640,998.27 |
8,805,051.46 |
4,007,793.00 |
|
CLARE |
10,391,485.56 |
9,183,350.47 |
4,911,862.71 |
3,482,686.32 |
9,067,786.50 |
|
CORK |
76,655,841.43 |
68,518,748.23 |
43,686,930.13 |
33,237,152.39 |
44,112,331.50 |
|
DONEGAL |
19,919,516.53 |
28,080,126.03 |
16,397,277.79 |
11,567,092.00 |
7,137,522.36 |
|
DUBLIN |
202,820,793.71 |
182,559,275.45 |
155,906,310.02 |
107,954,663.72 |
119,154,692.98 |
|
GALWAY |
47,636,979.43 |
43,000,331.65 |
24,172,365.04 |
14,347,115.53 |
22,186,185.47 |
|
KERRY |
14,153,298.09 |
13,826,327.31 |
13,564,146.88 |
11,995,868.04 |
5,848,727.46 |
|
KILDARE |
46,517,811.72 |
46,652,373.81 |
57,080,872.64 |
24,904,643.26 |
14,851,842.60 |
|
KILKENNY |
10,189,093.99 |
6,736,961.77 |
6,616,474.36 |
4,410,479.04 |
7,643,550.38 |
|
LAOIS |
16,406,267.33 |
6,134,615.30 |
8,697,729.22 |
6,309,335.31 |
12,239,597.38 |
|
LEITRIM |
3,403,240.37 |
2,372,695.54 |
1,968,342.59 |
447,646.16 |
1,387,653.89 |
|
LIMERICK |
38,532,951.61 |
40,894,047.47 |
21,623,244.30 |
16,385,729.78 |
10,299,488.41 |
|
LONGFORD |
5,425,776.30 |
4,920,665.52 |
2,627,937.31 |
1,234,176.86 |
2,965,868.41 |
|
LOUTH |
31,934,944.54 |
20,733,248.71 |
20,553,322.06 |
16,027,299.09 |
11,933,421.85 |
|
MAYO |
18,377,228.17 |
15,400,768.00 |
9,736,736.70 |
5,774,516.39 |
5,082,360.87 |
|
MEATH |
31,993,786.71 |
22,921,324.01 |
21,974,097.25 |
19,922,822.55 |
36,169,292.42 |
|
MONAGHAN |
9,731,257.97 |
11,527,355.17 |
6,600,929.60 |
34,310,401.18 |
3,138,023.79 |
|
OFFALY |
4,969,966.08 |
9,132,403.10 |
12,534,812.02 |
5,658,855.65 |
3,035,095.49 |
|
ROSCOMMON |
5,063,125.33 |
5,664,284.10 |
3,890,887.60 |
1,889,501.34 |
1,323,455.35 |
|
SLIGO |
5,243,217.41 |
10,789,626.12 |
9,317,943.27 |
11,736,323.80 |
4,670,766.08 |
|
TIPPERARY |
14,613,589.12 |
16,939,061.35 |
15,114,168.21 |
18,611,363.62 |
10,326,508.98 |
|
WATERFORD |
15,715,881.59 |
19,148,570.32 |
15,297,539.98 |
4,712,545.99 |
4,559,890.69 |
|
WESTMEATH |
17,022,180.21 |
15,873,530.47 |
12,965,556.64 |
11,378,451.57 |
5,980,118.97 |
|
WEXFORD |
17,470,550.06 |
24,819,409.94 |
16,347,701.84 |
11,392,816.74 |
8,050,516.01 |
|
WICKLOW |
14,092,212.33 |
14,944,168.29 |
14,161,692.11 |
5,415,802.68 |
11,307,886.20 |
|
UNASSIGNED |
75,428,443.45 |
122,200,994.78 |
23,056,298.05 |
8,823,441.79 |
6,900,143.65 |
|
CAPITAL SPEND - TOTAL |
765,794,000.00 |
786,615,000.00 |
556,295,000.00 |
409,972,000.00 |
381,775,000.00 |
192. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason only one child of a person (details supplied) is covered by the school transport scheme. [52807/13]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that from the commencement of the 2012/13 school year, school transport eligibility for post primary pupils is determined by reference to the distance they reside from their nearest post-primary education centre. Pupils who were eligible for school transport prior to the introduction of the above change retain their transport eligibility for the duration of their post primary education cycle provided there is no change to their current circumstances. Siblings of these pupils and other pupils, who are not attending their nearest education centre and who are therefore not eligible for school transport, may only apply for transport on a concessionary basis. Only children who are eligible for school transport and who hold valid medical cards (GMS Scheme) are exempt from paying the annual charge. The changes to the Post Primary School Transport Scheme are being applied equitably on a national basis.
