Tuesday, 17 Dec 2013

Written Answers Nos. 183-200

Autism Support Services

Questions (183, 184)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

183. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of children on the autism spectrum in primary schools in County Meath; the capacity at secondary school level in County Meath for children who are on the autism spectrum; the geographical distribution of this capacity at secondary schools within the county; and if he will guarantee that capacity and supports for children on the autism spectrum will be provided within ten miles of their primary school. [53707/13]

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

184. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of children on the autism spectrum in schools in County Meath; the number of children with autism who transition from primary school to secondary school in County Meath each year; the number of these who are fully assessed by a psychologist; and the waiting time for a psychological assessment for a child with autism in County Meath. [53708/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I propose to take Questions Nos. 183 and 184 together.

My Department's policy is to provide for children with special educational needs, including autism, to be included in mainstream schools unless such a placement would not be in their best interests or the interests of the children with whom they are to be educated. Some children may be supported in a special class attached to a mainstream school. These students have the option, where appropriate, of full/partial integration and interaction with other pupils. Other children may have such complex needs that they are best placed in a special school.

The establishment of a network of autism-specific special classes in schools across the country has been a key educational priority in recent years. The National Council for Special Education (NCSE), through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), is responsible for processing applications from primary and post primary schools for special educational needs supports, including the establishment of special classes in various geographical areas as required. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support.

Details of the special classes for children with autism, including details of special classes for children with autism in the Meath area, are available on the NCSE website http: //www.ncse.ie. The contact information details for individual schools is available on the Department's website http://www.education.ie/en/find-a-school. Details of the numbers of children with autism who transition from primary to secondary school in the county are not readily available.

All primary and post primary schools have access to psychological support from the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS). This may take the form of assessment, where needed, or advice on intervention and educational planning for pupils with special educational needs, including autism. The NEPS focusses on providing necessary support to schools in facilitating the effective transition of pupils from primary to post primary schooling. This may involve assessment and review by the teacher, by the psychologist or both, to inform educational planning in second level. As part of this NEPS service, necessary psychological assessments are carried out in a timely manner. In instances where the school's assigned NEPS psychologist is not available, the school may access psychological assessments through the Scheme for commissioning Psychological Assessments (SCPA), full details of which are on the Department's website. Under this scheme schools can have an assessment carried out by a member of the panel of private psychologists approved by NEPS, and NEPS will pay the psychologist the fees for this assessment directly.

Queries on the waiting time for psychological assessments undertaken by the HSE in Co. Meath are a matter for my colleague the Minister for Health.

Autism Support Services

Questions (185)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

185. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education and Skills the structures or procedures in place for parents with children who have autism to help them navigate the transition from primary to secondary school. [53709/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The Deputy will be aware that one of the functions of the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), is to provide support to schools, and parents/guardians of children with special educational needs. All schools have the names and contact details of their local SENO. Parents may also contact their local SENO directly to discuss their child's special educational needs, using the contact details available on www.ncse.ie. The role of the SENO in planning for the transition of children from one stage of schooling to another can include the provision of information to parents and or liaising between schools and parents. The NEPS psychologists and or the HSE can also be involved in supporting the transition of pupils with complex special needs. Information including general principles for planning for transitioning are also available on the NCSE website

School Staffing

Questions (186)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

186. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of primary schools that have lost a teacher in County Donegal as a result of the revised schedule; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53737/13]

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. Since September 2012, ten schools in Co. Donegal have had a post suppressed as a result of the Budget 2012 measure.

State Examinations

Questions (187)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

187. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason he is refusing to give any information in view of the fact that the review is now complete by the Information Commissioner regarding his Department's qualification, the secondary school teacher's drawing certificate to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 6W who met the conditions for this particular certificate in 1972 and was not awarded the certificate by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53755/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The person to whom the Deputy refers applied, under the Freedom of Information Acts, for access to records referred to by the Deputy. My Department's decision was subsequently appealed to the Office of the Information Commissioner who affirmed the decision of my Department on the 4th March 2013.

School Accommodation

Questions (188)

Dan Neville

Question:

188. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 228 of 19 November 2013, if his Department official will now meet the school authorities to discuss this case further (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53763/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I can confirm to the Deputy that the school in question were approved a devolved grant for additional teaching space and ancillary accommodation at their school. The Department has since received a request to increase the scope of works for the schools building project. Additional information and clarifications were sought by my Department from the school authority and a response has been received. This additional information is currently being considered and my Department will be contacting the School Authorities shortly in order to progress the matter.

School Uniforms

Questions (189)

Finian McGrath

Question:

189. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding school uniforms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53766/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The Department of Education and Skills does not purchase school uniforms and has no commercial mandate in this area. In this context, when schools are balloting the parents in their schools, I would expect for discussions to take place within school communities about the value of school uniforms. With this in mind, it would seem prudent for manufacturing companies or retailers who have a stake in this area, to engage in a debate with those local communities, where the decisions of parents will be made.

Question No. 190 answered with Question No. 175.

School Uniforms

Questions (191)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

191. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the timeline for the completion of the proposed survey of parents on school uniforms; the level of consultation that has taken place with retailers or manufacturers of school uniforms and their employees’ representatives prior to the circular on the matter being published. [53780/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The timeline for the conduct of the school uniform ballots is a matter for each schools Board of Management. My Department suggests that questionnaires be sent to parents by February 2014 before deciding on the position to be adopted for the next school year. In this context, when schools are balloting the parents in their schools, I would expect for discussions to take place within school communities about the value of school uniforms. With this in mind, it would seem prudent for manufacturing companies or retailers who have a stake in this area, to engage in a debate within those local communities, where the decisions of parents will be made.

Schools Building Projects Status

Questions (192)

Michael McGrath

Question:

192. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills when the planned new Gaelcholáiste in Carrigaline, County Cork, will open; the current status of the project; when the project is due to move to the statutory planning phase; the funding that is in place for the construction of the new school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53817/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The delivery of the proposed new Gaelcholáiste in Carrigaline, Co Cork has been devolved to Cork Education & Training Board. The new Gaelcholaiste will be delivered as part of a three school Campus along with Gaelscoil Carrigaline and SONAS Special Primary School. The Gaelcholaiste is planned to open in temporary accommodation in 2014. The permanent building project is currently at the early stages of architectural planning. It is expected that the project will progress through the various planning stages including submission of an application for planning permission to the local authority in 2014 and subject to the completion of that process to commence construction in early 2015.

Physical Education Facilities

Questions (193)

Michael McGrath

Question:

193. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills in respect of planned new primary schools and planned new post-primary schools, the minimum amount of outdoor sports and amenity facilities that must be provided; if this involves outdoor sports pitches; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53818/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I wish to advise the Deputy that the provision of playspace, where site conditions and circumstances allow, is one of the issues considered in the architectural design of new schools and major extensions. The level of facilities, including playspace, that can be provided in schools will therefore vary depending on the extent of classroom accommodation needed for the school. A suite of technical guidance documents is available on my Department's website (www.education.ie) to assist design teams in best practice in the design and development of projects and to encourage them to take a complete design team approach from project conception. These documents cover all aspects of the development of a building project for both internal and external works. The Physical Education curriculum has been designed on the basis that facilities in schools may vary. Many primary schools have a general purpose room and practically all schools have outdoor play areas which are used for teaching different aspects of the P.E. programme. A similar situation with sports halls and outdoor facilities applies at second level. In addition, many schools use adjacent local facilities, including public parks, playing fields and swimming pools. My Department's design guidelines for schools include guidance in the provision of P.E. Halls, general purpose rooms and outdoor hard play areas such as basketball courts. Other P.E. facilities, e.g. pitches are provided, where appropriate, and in the context of available resources, as part of the Department's school building programme. The provision of playing pitches is not part of the specification for primary schools. However, in certain circumstances and where the site conditions allow, the project scope may include the levelling and grassing of an area which schools may decide to use for playing fields. At post primary level, an area may be developed as a practice playing field where site conditions and resources permit. In the context of my Department's co-operation with local authorities in identifying suitable sites for schools, the location of sporting facilities is one factor taken into account in locating schools. The Deputy may be aware of my Department's role in developing shared community facilities in the Fingal County Council area, which has made facilities available to the wider community on a shared basis with the school. Given the current financial constraints within which my Department is operating, priority is being given to applications from schools for essential mainstream classroom accommodation. In this regard, my Department is not in a position to consider applications from schools for funding towards pitches or sports facilities outside of the context of school projects on the building programme. My Department will however continue to provide general purpose rooms, PE Halls and outdoor play areas in schools where new schools are being provided within the context of available funding.

Student Grant Scheme Appeals

Questions (194)

John O'Mahony

Question:

194. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a decision will issue on an appeal for a student grant in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53821/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

Officials in my Department have been informed by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) that the student referred to by the Deputy has been awarded a grant for the current academic year. The applicant has appealed to SUSI for funding for the 2012/13 academic year. The appeal is currently under review and the student will be notified directly of the outcome. 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 Eligibility

Questions (195)

Gerald Nash

Question:

195. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consider adding illness benefit to the list of qualifying payments for the special rate student grant as outlined in schedule 2 of the student grant scheme 2013 - Statutory Instrument No. 159 of 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53859/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The qualifying criteria for the special rate of maintenance grant in the 2013/14 academic year as specified under the 2013 student grant scheme is as follows: 1. student must qualify for the standard rate of grant; and 2. total reckonable income net of income disregards and Child Dependant Increase must not exceed €22,703 3. As at 31st December, 2012, the reckonable income must include one of the eligible long-term social welfare payments prescribed in the Student Grant Scheme. Illness Benefit is considered to be a short-term social welfare payment and, therefore, it is not included as an eligible payment for the purposes of the special rate of maintenance grant. It is not proposed to depart from the existing arrangements for the determination of the eligibility for the special rate of maintenance grant.

Student Grant Scheme Appeals

Questions (196)

Tom Fleming

Question:

196. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will award a student grant top-up appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53869/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

An appeal from the student in question was considered by the independent Student Grants Appeals Board on the 19th November 2013. I understand that the appeal was unsuccessful as the Appeals Board upheld the decision of the appeals officer and the awarding authority. The student was notified of the outcome on 20th November 2013.

Schools Building Projects Status

Questions (197)

Martin Heydon

Question:

197. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on the progress on completion of a site acquisition for a new school (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53873/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I wish to advise the Deputy that my officials have been working closely with officials from Kildare County Council in relation to acquiring a suitable site for the proposed new school building referred to by him. Agreement in principle, subject to contract, has been reached in relation to a suitable site and work is continuing to acquire the site. However, given the sensitivities associated with land acquisitions, I am not in a position to comment further on the proposed acquisition at this time.

School Services Staff

Questions (198, 199)

Joan Collins

Question:

198. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Education and Skills if two FÁS workers are covering a caretakers job, who is out sick, and a third FÁS worker is teaching in a school (details supplied) in Dublin 8. [53883/13]

Joan Collins

Question:

199. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of FÁS workers in relation to teaching in schools and working on school premises. [53884/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I propose to take Questions Nos. 198 and 199 together.

Officials in my Department have been in contact with the Deputy's office to clarify matters around these questions. I will arrange for the information to be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

School Staffing

Questions (200, 223)

Martin Ferris

Question:

200. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will reinstate the third teacher and restore resource teaching hours to a school (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53901/13]

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

223. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on correspondence regarding a school (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54055/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I propose to take Questions Nos. 200 and 223 together.

As part of the Budget 2012 decisions, the number of pupils required to gain and retain a classroom teaching post in small primary schools is being gradually increased between September 2012 and September 2014.

An appeals process is available to small schools which have had their staff number reduced as a result of the budget measure. The school referred to by the Deputy submitted an appeal to the Primary Staffing Appeals Board. The appeal was refused as it did not meet the appeal criteria. The Primary Staffing Appeals Board operates independently of the Department and its decision is final.

The single allocation process for learning support (General Allocation Model) and language support, introduced in September 2012, provides an allocation based on the number of mainstream teachers in the school. The allocation is based on the number of mainstream classroom posts in schools in the previous school year.

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE), through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), is responsible for processing applications from schools for special educational needs supports, including the allocation of resource teaching support to schools. The NCSE operates within my Department's established criteria for the allocation of Special Education supports and the staffing resources available to my Department.

It is a matter for schools to monitor and utilise their allocation of additional teaching support to best support the needs of identified pupils, in accordance with my Departments guidance.

All schools have the names and contact details of their local SENO. Parents may also contact their local SENO directly to discuss their child's special educational needs, using the contact details available on www.ncse.ie.