Thursday, 12 Dec 2013

Written Answers Nos. 67-75

Book Rental Scheme

Questions (67, 68)

Billy Kelleher

Question:

67. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide details of the book loan scheme that he recently announced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53449/13]

Billy Kelleher

Question:

68. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Education and Skills if schools who have previously been operating a book loan scheme will be eligible for financial support under the book loan scheme he recently announced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53450/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I propose to take Questions Nos. 67 and 68 together.

The Deputy will be aware from Budget 2014 that additional funding has been provided which will involve an investment of €15m to support the establishment of book rental schemes in primary schools that do not currently operate them. The Department will provide €5m in seed capital per annum over a three year period to such schools. I want to achieve a position where every primary schools has a book rental schemes in operation in the 2014/2015 school year.

The Department will be contacting primary schools that do not currently operate a book rental scheme early in the New Year to advise them of the application process. To qualify for seed capital funding, schools will have to undertake to establish a book rental scheme from September 2014 and in return the Department will commit to the provision of such funding in 2014, 2015 and 2016. This scheme will be confined to primary schools that do not currently operate such a scheme. To extend it to all schools would mean that the funding available to each school would be diluted to such an extent as to have little impact. I wholeheartedly commend schools that have established book rental schemes to date. However, I regret that they will not be eligible to apply for funding under this scheme. I can confirm to the Deputy that the Department will continue to provide a book grant to all primary schools. This grant, which provided €7m to primary schools in 2013, can be utilised for the purposes of updating or expanding a school's book rental scheme.

Student Grant Scheme Eligibility

Questions (69)

Paudie Coffey

Question:

69. Deputy Paudie Coffey asked the Minister for Education and Skills the grants that are available for students attending colleges of further education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53462/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The main financial support available to students attending further education is my Department's Student Grant Scheme. Under the student grant scheme, eligible candidates may receive funding provided they are attending an approved course at an approved institution and meet the prescribed conditions of funding, including those which relate to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means.

The BTEA is a second chance education opportunities scheme designed to enable participation in second and third level education by allowing eligible people on certain social welfare payments to continue to receive a payment while pursuing an approved full-time education course that leads to a higher qualification than that already held.

Eligibility for the Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) and associated payments is determined and administered by the Department of Social Protection.

The Fund for Students with Disabilities (FSD) provides funding to both further and higher education institutions for the provision of services and supports for full-time students with disabilities. The Fund aims to ensure that students can participate fully in their academic programmes and are not disadvantaged by reason of a disability.

A claim under the Fund is made on behalf of an eligible student by their college following an assessment of need. Applications cannot be made directly to the Fund by students. Colleges are also responsible for the management of the funding approved for eligible students.

The Fund for Students with Disabilities is managed by the HEA on behalf of my Department.

School Closures

Questions (70)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

70. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of primary schools that have closed in County Donegal as a result of the revised schedule; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53488/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The staffing schedule is the mechanism used for allocating mainstream teaching posts to all schools. It operates in a clear and transparent manner and treats all similar types of schools equally irrespective of location. It currently operates on the basis of a general average of 1 classroom teacher for every 28 pupils with lower thresholds for DEIS Band 1 schools. As part of the Budget 2012 decisions, there is a phased increase in the number of pupils required to gain and retain a classroom teaching post in small primary schools with four teachers or less. The first phase of the budget measure took effect from September 2012. The final phase of the budget measure takes effect from September 2014.

An appeals process is available to small schools which have had their staff number reduced as a result of the budget measure. A school with four classroom teachers or less which is losing a teacher or failed to gain an additional teacher as a result of the Budget 2012 measure can submit an appeal to the Primary Staffing Appeals Board. Details on the appeals process are published annually as part of the Staffing Schedule for allocating teaching posts to schools. The Appeals Board operates independently of the Department and its decision is final.

There have been no school closures in Co. Donegal as a result of the implementation of the Budget 2012 decision.

Book Rental Scheme

Questions (71, 76)

Ciaran Lynch

Question:

71. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Education and Skills the terms of the proposed book rental scheme; if he will give consideration to the concerns of a school which has already taken the initiative in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53494/13]

Dan Neville

Question:

76. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding the book rental grant scheme. [53619/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I propose to take Questions Nos. 71 and 76 together.

The Deputies will be aware from Budget 2014 that additional funding has been provided which will involve an investment of €15m to support the establishment of book rental schemes in primary schools that do not currently operate them. The Department will provide €5m in seed capital per annum over a three year period to such schools. I want to achieve a position where every primary schools has a book rental schemes in operation in the 2014/2015 school year. The Department will be contacting primary schools that do not currently operate a book rental scheme early in the New Year to advise them of the application process. To qualify for seed capital funding, schools will have to undertake to establish a book rental scheme from September 2014 and in return the Department will commit to the provision of such funding in 2014, 2015 and 2016. This scheme will be confined to primary schools that do not currently operate such a scheme. To extend it to all schools would mean that the funding available to each school would be diluted to such an extent as to have little impact. I wholeheartedly commend schools that have established book rental schemes to date. However, I regret that they will not be eligible to apply for funding under this scheme. I can confirm to the Deputies that the Department will continue to provide a book grant to all primary schools. This grant, which provided €7m to primary schools in 2013, can be utilised for the purposes of updating or expanding a school's book rental scheme.

School Placement

Questions (72)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

72. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will indicate, notwithstanding his previous replies to related questions, the extent to which it has been brought to his attention that a number of children who may have been expelled from their second level schools or who may not be able to obtain a place in such schools convenient to their residential location may find themselves unable to complete their second level education, notwithstanding the efforts of the National Educational Welfare Board, thereby depriving them of ever having an opportunity to complete their second level education; the number of such cases now emerging; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53541/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The Deputy will be aware that the selection and enrollment of pupils is the responsibility of the individual school.

My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can between them cater for all pupils seeking school places in an area.

It is my firm view that all schools should be inclusive. In that regard, The Deputy will also be aware that I have recently published a draft General Scheme for an Education(Admission to Schools) Bill, 2013 as well as draft regulations for discussion ahead of enacting legislation. The aim of these proposals is to ensure that the way schools decide on applications is structured, fair and transparent. I have referred the draft General Scheme and draft regulations to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Education and Social Protection, to allow a full public discussion of the proposed legislative framework, including inputs from parents and education partners.

I hope the Committeee will give this early consideration so that we can proceed to the next stage of legislation as soon as possible.

The other issues raised by the Deputy are a matter for my colleague the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs.

Teachers' Remuneration

Questions (73)

Willie Penrose

Question:

73. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Skills the level of entitlement which becomes available to a permanent teacher who has worked through sick leave; if the limit of 365 days of paid sick leave in any four-year period still applies or has been reduced; if he will provide full details of the entitlement to continuing salary during the sick leave period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53591/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The terms of the sick leave scheme for Registered Teachers in Recognised Primary and Post Primary Schools is set out by my Department in circular letter 0060/2010. This circular were agreed under the auspices of the Teachers' Conciliation Council, a body established in accordance with the terms of the Conciliation and Arbitration Scheme for Teachers. The Council is composed of representatives of the teacher representative bodies, school management, the Department of Education and Skills and Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, chaired by an official of the Labour Relations Commission. In accordance with this circular a teacher who is absent from duty because of personal illness may retain eligibility for incremental salary in respect of a maximum of 365 days of absence in any period of four consecutive years of teaching service.

Early Child Care Education Issues

Questions (74)

Pat Deering

Question:

74. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Education and Skills if pupils attending a pre-school ASDl class for three to five year olds should be added on to the register in primary schools; if pupils attending pre-school ASD classes are to be included in the NEWB returns; and his plans to issue a circular regarding pre-school ASD classes clarifying such matters and also including length of day. [53603/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

Early Intervention Classes for Autism are established in primary schools by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE). The classes are part of the schools and pupils enrolled in these classes are included on the school roll.

My Department's policy is to facilitate the enrolment of pupils with autism in Early Intervention classes in primary schools from the age of three years. While I do not propose to issue a circular prescribing the length of the school day for children under the age of 4 years, schools are expected to comply with rules already in place which provide for the length of the school day for infant classes in primary schools.

I wish to advise the Deputy that NEWB returns are a matter for my colleague the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs.

Fee Paying Schools

Questions (75)

Terence Flanagan

Question:

75. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide a breakdown of taxpayer funding paid to fee paying schools over the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53606/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The information requested by the Deputy in respect of gross salary paid to teachers, Special Needs Assistants and Clerical Officers in fee paying schools is set out in the attached table. The information in respect of capital expenditure is being assimilated and will be forwarded to the Deputy.

The table is available as attachment Q75.xls at the top of the web page.