Finian McGrath
Question:243. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a student grant in respect of a person (details supplied). [2468/14]
View answerStudent Grant Scheme Applications
Questions (243)
Written answers
Officials in my Department have been informed by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) that the student referred to by the Deputy has been refused a grant as the course she is attending is not an approved course as defined under Article 4 (c) of the Student Support Regulations 2013 and Section 8 of the Student Support Act 2011.
Under my Department's student grant scheme, eligible candidates may receive funding provided they are attending an approved course at an approved institution. An approved course is defined as a full-time undergraduate course of at least two years duration, or a full-time postgraduate course of not less than one year duration pursued in an approved institution.
I understand that the duration of the course referred to by the Deputy is a one year undergraduate course, which means it does not meet the definition of an approved course for student grant purposes as defined in the scheme.
If the applicant is unhappy with the decision in relation to her grant application she may appeal the decision to SUSI.
Where an individual applicant has had an appeal turned down in writing by SUSI and remains of the view that the scheme has not been interpreted correctly in his/her case, an appeal form outlining the position may be submitted by the applicant to the independent Student Grants Appeals Board. The relevant appeal form is available to download from http://www.studentfinance.ie/downloads/1375344221/2013_SGAB_appeal_form.pdf.
Consultancy Contracts Expenditure
Questions (244)
Clare Daly
Question:244. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the amount his Department spends on an annual basis in payments to consultancy firms (details supplied). [2475/14]
View answerWritten answers
The Department of Education and Skills does not have an ongoing contract with the detailed firms in relation to consultancy. Payments to the two specified firms over the past two years is set out as follows.
There were no payments to Accenture in 2012. In 2013, the consultancy services of Accenture were engaged by the Department in the context of the provision of professional advice on the development of the Management Framework Agreement between City of Dublin Education and Training Board and the Department of Education and Skills for the Centralised Administration of Student Grants which was signed in October 2013. The total paid by the Department to Accenture in respect of this service was €5,904 inclusive of VAT at 23%.
Payments to Oracle EMEA Ltd were €553,318 in 2012 and €603,210 in 2013, in respect of Oracle licences and software support.
School Textbooks Rental Scheme
Questions (245)
Terence Flanagan
Question:245. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the schools in Dublin North-East and Dublin North Central that are availing of the book rental scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2526/14]
View answerWritten answers
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.
The Department is contacting primary schools that do not currently operate a book rental scheme to advise them of the application process. The information requested by the Deputy is not yet available.
Special Educational Needs Service Provision
Questions (246)
Thomas P. Broughan
Question:246. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Skills to outline the position regarding the review of the visiting teacher service for visually impaired children; and to confirm that the service will not be subject to cuts following the review. [2583/14]
View answerWritten answers
The Visiting Teacher Service for children with Visual and Hearing Impairment provides assistance for children who are deaf or hard of hearing and children who are blind or visually impaired.
In May 2013 the National Council for Special Education brought forward policy advice which recommended that the service should be reviewed. Accordingly, an independent review of this service is currently being conducted line with the NCSE recommendations.
The review is being conducted by two independent reviewers who are tasked with reviewing the role and function of the Visiting Teacher Service in accordance with the Terms of Reference of the Review which are available on my Department's website, with a view to the making recommendations for consideration to my Department.
It would not be appropriate for me to anticipate the outcome of this review in advance of its publication. I am informed that the review will be concluded by the middle of March 2014.
Schools Building Projects Expenditure
Questions (247)
Noel Grealish
Question:247. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Education and Skills the amount that has been spent by his Department on schools building projects in 2012 and 2013; the amount of the five-year capital building project that has been spent to date; the number of schools that are at stage 2A in the schools building programme; the number of schools that are through all planning stages and ready for construction; the number of schools that are awaiting ministerial approval to proceed to construction; if he will list these schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2591/14]
View answerWritten answers
The total monies spent on the School Building Programme in 2012 and 2013 was as follows:
|
YEAR |
AMOUNT |
|
2012 |
€346.8m |
|
2013 |
€361.3m |
Savings carried forward from 2012 to 2013 amounting to €10m were full spent in 2013.
The 2013 outcome represents a saving of €5.6m or less than 2% of the overall sum allocated for schools. This sum was spent on higher education capital sector.
The number of projects at each stage of architectural planning including those which are ready for construction or awaiting Ministerial approval to proceed to construction are as follows:
|
PROJECTS |
NUMBER |
|
Proceeding through Stage 2A |
16 |
|
Proceeding through Stage 2B |
16 |
|
Proceeding through Stage 3 (at tender |
35 |
There are currently no projects which have completed all stages of architectural planning and/or are awaiting Ministerial approval to proceed to construction.
Summer Works Scheme Applications
Questions (248)
Brendan Griffin
Question:248. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a summer works scheme grant will be made available to a school (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2597/14]
View answerWritten answers
I wish to advise the Deputy that commensurate with the level of funding available for the Summer Works 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 early 2014.
Summer Works Scheme Applications
Questions (249)
Brendan Griffin
Question:249. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a summer works scheme grant will be made available to a school (details supplied) in County Kerry. [2598/14]
View answerWritten answers
I wish to advise the Deputy that commensurate with the level of funding available for the Summer Works 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 early 2014.
Summer Works Scheme Applications
Questions (250)
Brendan Griffin
Question:250. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a summer works scheme grant will be made available to a school (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2599/14]
View answerWritten answers
I wish to advise the Deputy that commensurate with the level of funding available for the Summer Works 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 early 2014.
Special Educational Needs Service Provision
Questions (251)
Thomas Pringle
Question:251. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on reports that autistic children are being confined in withdrawal rooms for extended periods without supervision during school hours; his views regarding guidelines on the use of these rooms being set by the board of management of individual schools rather than at national level; his views on whether this is an appropriate method to deal with children with autism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2608/14]
View answerWritten answers
I wish to advise the Deputy that the well-being and safety of children should be at the centre of all policy and practices in schools.
Many schools withdraw pupils occasionally from the main classroom for short periods of time in order to manage pupil behaviour or to provide care support and assistance with issues such as dressing, cleaning or medical supervision. Schools should supervise and support children who are distressed or out of control until they have recovered and are able to re-engage in the classroom.
The Board of Management of each school is responsible for the care and safety of all of the pupils in their school and is required to prepare a code of behaviour in accordance with Section 23 of the Education (Welfare) Act 2000.
Section 23 (4) of the Act also states that the principal of a recognised school shall, before registering a child as a student at that school, provide the parents of such child with a copy of the code of behaviour in respect of the school. No parent should therefore be unaware of the behavioural strategies which are being employed by schools.
Where a parent or any other person has concerns about the care or safety of a child they should report these concerns to the Board of Management of the school, or may report the matter as a child protection concern to the HSE or to my Department.
I have asked the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) to prepare Policy Advice on Educational Provision for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. As part of the process to develop this policy advice, the NCSE will consider the issue of the use of withdrawal/isolation rooms in schools for children with autism.
Question No. 252 answered with Question No. 240.
Question No. 253 answered with Question No. 239.
Student Grant Scheme Appeals
Questions (254)
Tom Fleming
Question:254. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a student grant appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2652/14]
View answerWritten answers
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 50% student contribution fee for the academic year 2013/14.
The income thresholds for student grants were reduced by 3% for the 2013/14 academic year. The student in question is classed as a dependent student and the reckonable income for grant purposes includes both her own income and that of her parents/legal guardians. An applicant's class is defined at his/her first point of entry to an approved higher or further education course and will continue to apply for the duration of his/her studies.
I understand that the applicant appealed the original decision to the SUSI appeals officer who turned down the appeal.
Where an individual applicant has had an appeal turned down in writing by SUSI and remains of the view that the scheme has not been interpreted correctly in his/her case, an appeal form outlining the position may be submitted by the applicant to the independent Student Grants Appeals Board. The relevant appeal form is available to download from http://www.studentfinance.ie/downloads/1375344221/2013_SGAB_appeal_form.pdf.
State Examinations
Questions (255)
John O'Mahony
Question:255. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo who had a reader for the junior certificate has been refused one for the leaving certificate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2702/14]
View answerWritten answers
The 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.
Education Grants
Questions (256)
Joanna Tuffy
Question:256. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on correspondence regarding an application by a sports club (details supplied) in Dublin 20; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2705/14]
View answerWritten answers
I can confirm that the application referred to by the Deputy has been assessed by my officials and a response will issue to the relevant parties shortly.
Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Board
Questions (257)
Clare Daly
Question:257. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills to outline the costs of the Caranua scheme; the number of employees in the organisation; and if he is open to amendments. [2728/14]
View answerWritten answers
Caranua is the service name of the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Board established to oversee the use of the cash contributions of up to €110 million, pledged by the religious congregations, to support the needs of survivors of institutional child abuse. Caranua commenced accepting applications earlier this month. Those eligible can apply for approved services across a range of services, including mental health services, health and personal social services, education and housing services.
A staffing complement of 10 posts was approved for the Fund and a recruitment competition is currently underway to realise the full staffing complement. In accordance with the provisions of the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act, 2012, all costs associated with the Fund will be met from the investment account established by the National Treasury Management Agency on behalf of the Fund. To date some €74.8m, comprising contributions of some €73.4 million and associated interest has been lodged to the investment account.
In referring to amendments, I presume that the Deputy is querying whether eligibility to access the Fund will be widened. Those former residents who received awards from the Residential Institutions Redress Board or equivalent Court awards or settlements are currently eligible to apply. During the passage of the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Bill 2012 through the Houses of Oireachtas, I gave an undertaking to review the operation of the Fund two years after its establishment. I remain committed to that approach.
Schools Amalgamation
Questions (258)
Noel Grealish
Question:258. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a meeting took place in January 2013 regarding the proposed amalgamation of schools (details supplied) in County Galway; the persons who were present at the meeting and who they represented; if there were representatives of his Department at the meeting; if there were representatives of the board of management of each school at the meeting; the names of the persons representing each school and their positions therein; if there were representatives of any other organisation at the meeting; the outcome of the meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2730/14]
View answerWritten answers
I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department did not attend a meeting in respect of the proposed amalgamation of the two schools, in question, in January 2013. My Department is not therefore in a position to provide the information sought by the Deputy.
Summer Works Scheme Applications
Questions (259)
Seán Fleming
Question:259. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills if funding will be approved under the summer works scheme in respect of a project submitted by three schools (details supplied) in County Laois; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2771/14]
View answerWritten answers
I wish to advise the Deputy that commensurate with the level of funding available for the Summer Works 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 early 2014.
I also wish to advise the Deputy that the schools in question have now occupied the recently constructed three new school buildings which are providing much improved accommodation. However, some outstanding landscaping is yet to be completed and this will be undertaken once the weather permits.
Student Grant Scheme Appeals
Questions (260)
Brendan Griffin
Question:260. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a decision has been made on student grant appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2795/14]
View answerWritten answers
Officials in my Department have informed me that the student referred to by the Deputy appealed the decision on her grant application to the independent Student Grants Appeals Board. The appeal was received on 4th December 2013 and will be dealt with as soon as possible and the student will be informed directly of the outcome.