Tuesday, 17 Dec 2013

Written Answers Nos. 219-236

Student Grant Scheme Appeals

Questions (219)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

219. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a person (details supplied) was told an appeal had been accepted on two occasions by Student Universal Support Ireland telephone operators, only for the decision to change at a later date; the outcome and rationale of the final decision of this appeal; the reason for the change in decision; the amount this person must now pay in fees to continue in education; the reason the person was not assessed as a second chance student; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54017/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

Article 13(6) is the relevant article in the 2013 student grant scheme providing for second chance students.Where a mature student previously attended but did not successfully complete a course and re - enters an approved course, following a break in studies of at least five years, he/she shall be considered a "second chance student". Officials in my Department have been informed by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) that the student referred to by the Deputy did not meet the criteria for second chance student as she did not have a five year break. 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.The issue of payment of fees is a matter for the student and the institute which she is attending.

Summer Works Scheme Applications

Questions (220)

Sandra McLellan

Question:

220. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will approve the application for funding under the summer works scheme in respect of a school (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54026/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I can confirm that an application has been received in respect of the school, referred to by the Deputy, under the Summer Works Scheme. Commensurate with the level of funding available for the Scheme, applications are currently being assessed on a top down basis in accordance with the prioritisation criteria outlined in the governing Circular Letter for the Scheme. This Circular Letter (59/2013) is available on my Department's website www.education.ie. It is my intention to publish a list of successful applicants in the Spring.

Education and Training Provision

Questions (221)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor

Question:

221. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason training providers who submitted community and health services major level 5 awards for validation more than seven months ago have still not received an update from Quality and Qualifications Ireland on their application; if the expiration date for these awards can be extended; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54050/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

QQI advises providers that applications for validation of programmes leading to their awards take approximately 20 weeks to process. Providers' programmes are submitted to QQI for validation via an online system and evaluated to ensure they will allow learners to meet the required national standards. Providers can track the progress of their application via the online system. QQI endeavours to process validation applications as efficiently and effectively as possible. Programmes leading to major awards are evaluated on the basis of the detail submitted by the provider in their application. Delays may occur where information contained in the application requires clarification or where providers are asked for additional information. Providers are also required to comply with the legal requirements for Protection for Enrolled Learners (PEL) and if information regarding a provider's PEL arrangements is not provided to QQI then QQI cannot validate the programme.It is not possible to inform the Deputy of the specific reasons for the delay referred to in the Deputy's question without further detail regarding the particular providers and awards concerned.With regard to the expiry date of December 2013 for legacy awards, the transition to the Common Award System (CAS) at levels 3 to 6 of the National Framework of Qualifications has been in train since 2009. This transition commenced under FETAC and has continued since QQI was established. It is a process whereby old awards were withdrawn and replaced with CAS awards devised by FETAC to meet in full the requirements of the National Framework of Qualifications. This transition has been a complex activity requiring the input and support of a range of stakeholders and providers, including those in the private sector. Advance planning, briefings for providers and validation procedures for CAS were put in place by FETAC prior to the establishment of QQI. A series of briefings (from 2009 to 2013) were held by FETAC for providers both public and private to inform them about the requirements. Providers have, therefore, had sufficient time to plan programme development in accordance with their quality assurance procedures and to make an application for validation of their programme for the relevant CAS award to ensure continuity of business.

Summer Works Scheme Applications

Questions (222)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

222. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding the summer works scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54053/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I can confirm that an application has been received in respect of the school, referred to by the Deputy, under the Summer Works Scheme. Commensurate with the level of funding available for the Scheme, applications are currently being assessed on a top down basis in accordance with the prioritisation criteria outlined in the governing Circular Letter for the Scheme. This Circular Letter (59/2013) is available on my Department's website www.education.ie. It is my intention to publish a list of successful applicants in the Spring.

Question No. 223 answered with Question No. 200.

Student Grant Scheme Applications

Questions (224)

Tom Fleming

Question:

224. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will expedite and award a student grant application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54077/13]

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 did not meet the residency criteria under the Student Grant Scheme 2013 and is therefore not eligible for a grant. 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

School Textbooks Rental Scheme

Questions (225, 237)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

225. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason that non-DEIS schools which have a current book rental scheme funded out of their own resources are not eligible to apply for the new book rental grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54096/13]

Brendan Smith

Question:

237. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason schools which had already established a book rental scheme are excluded from the scheme of financial assistance announced recently; the proposals he has to include all schools in this scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54210/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I propose to take Questions Nos. 225 and 237 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.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.

Question No. 226 answered with Question No. 172.

State Examinations

Questions (227)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

227. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department employs retired teachers as State exam correctors for oral exams, course work and written exams; if so, the reason this is happening when there are so many unemployed suitably qualified persons; if he will provide a breakdown of the numbers of persons involved as a percentage of the overall numbers and the financial amounts involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54112/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations including organising the holding of examinations, determining procedures in places where examinations are conducted including the supervision of examinations and making arrangements for the marking of work presented for examination. In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.

School Transport Appeals

Questions (228)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

228. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills notwithstanding replies to previous parliamentary questions on the issue, if he will review the recent refusal of appeal for school transport in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54144/13]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills

The Deputy will be aware that the child in question is not eligible for school transport under the terms of my Department's Post Primary School Transport Scheme. The terms of this scheme are applied equitably on a national basis.Children who are not eligible for school transport may avail of transport on a concessionary basis subject to a number of conditions including the payment of the annual contribution of €350. This payment may be made in two instalments in July and December.The family in question should liaise with their local Bus Éireann office if they wish to avail of transport on a concessionary basis.

State Examinations

Questions (229)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

229. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if an examination reader will be provided to a dyslexic student (details supplied) in County Kerry for the leaving certificate examinations in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54147/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations. The State Examinations Commission operates a scheme of Reasonable Accommodations in the Certificate examinations. Applications for such accommodations are submitted by schools on behalf of their students. Full details of the scheme are available for downloading from their website: www.examinations.ie/candidates/reasonableaccommodations.In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.

Schools Amalgamation

Questions (230)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

230. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Skills given that the enrolment deadline for the two-school model for Maynooth Education Campus, Maynooth Post Primary and Maynooth Community College passed on 6 December, the reason this deadline was not suspended or extended when the vast majority of parents have mandated the one-school model; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54165/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I have made it clear that, for compelling educational reasons and to safeguard the integrity of the patronage determination process, the new post-primary school for Maynooth will be a fully-vertical post-primary school delivering both the junior and senior cycle.The enrolment process being implemented is in accordance with this decision, therefore, I see no reason to justify a suspension of the procedure.

School Management

Questions (231)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

231. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Skills the method of appointment to the proposed governing body of Maynooth Education Campus under the current two-school model; the persons already appointed to this body; their remuneration and expertise; the overall cost of this body per annum; if this cost is deducted from the budgets of the two schools given that there would be no need for such a body under a junior-senior mode. [54166/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The establishment of a school Governing Body is a matter for the school patron. However, the Governing Authority in question was established under the Education and Training Board Act 2013 with the consent of the Minister.The Membership is as follows:

- Independent Chair - John Malone, former Secretary General of the Department of Agriculture

- Secretary Board of Management Maynooth Post-Primary School - Johnny Nevin,

- Principal of Maynooth Post-Primary School

- Acting Secretary Board of Management Maynooth Community College

- Patricia O'Brien, Education Support Officer ETB and School Principal

- A member of ETB elected by parents and representing Maynooth Post-Primary School Board of Management

- Teresa Murray, Primary Teacher

- A member of ETB elected by Staff and representing Maynooth Post Primary School Board of Management

- John McDonagh, Post-Primary Teacher

- A member of ETB elected by staff in the ETB scheme representing Maynooth Community College Board of Management

- Angela Doherty, Guidance Counsellor

- A member of ETB elected by parents of students in the ETB scheme representing Maynooth Community College Board of Management

- Ger McDonagh, Post-Primary Teacher

- A member of ETB who is a former Post-Primary school Principal

- Moya Prunty

- Cllr. John McGinley representing the ETB

The Acting Secretary of the Board of Management of Maynooth Community College, the parents representative and the staff representative are elected ETB Members and they were nominated by the ETB on an interim basis pending the appointment of staff to the new school and the actual enrolment of pupils. As the Deputy can see, all members have significant expertise in both the management and operation of educational institutions or in the area of public or civil service governance. There is no remuneration paid to Governing Authority Members and there are no deductions from the individual school budgets nor will there be any such deductions.

Questions Nos. 232 and 233 answered with Question No. 173.

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Questions (234)

Pádraig MacLochlainn

Question:

234. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department can resolve the difficulties experienced by the family of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 24 who have schooled a child at home since April 2011 and have only received the tuition grant for 3.5 months because the child cannot be taken off the register of the special school it attended unless the child has another school to attend; and if this rule only applies to children with special needs in specialised schools. [54174/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The enrolment of a child in a school is a matter in the first instance for the parents of the child and the Board of Management of a school. My Department has no role in relation to processing applications for enrolment to schools. Home tuition has been approved for the child to whom the Deputy refers. However, I understand from my officials that forms which must be completed by the proposed tutor are outstanding. My officials will again liaise with the family in question in this regard.

Schools Building Projects Status

Questions (235)

Olivia Mitchell

Question:

235. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to address overcrowding and long waiting lists in a school (details supplied). [54183/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I wish to advise the Deputy that the school in question has applied to my Department for large scale capital funding for the construction of a new school.The Five Year Construction Plan, that I announced on 9 March 2012, outlines the major school projects that will commence construction over the duration of the Plan. The primary aim at the core of the Five Year Plan is focussed on meeting demographic demands to ensure that every child will have access to a physical school place and that our school system is in a position to cope with increasing pupil numbers. Given the need to meet demographic growth, the delivery of new schools, together with extension projects, to meet future demand will be the main focus of the Department's budget for the coming years. In this context, it is not possible to indicate at this point when a building project for the school in question will be progressed. My Department will however consider applications by schools for funding for additional classrooms where an immediate enrolment need is arising.

Student Grant Scheme Applications

Questions (236)

Patrick Nulty

Question:

236. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a student grant application will be approved in respect of a person (details supplied); the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54205/13]

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 was awarded a grant on 21 October 2013 and that monthly payments have since been made to the applicant in accordance with the payments schedule published on www.susi.ie.