Written Answers Nos. 58-65
58. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will introduce regulations on the use of withdrawal rooms in schools, particularly in schools for children with autistic spectrum disorder. [3097/14]
View answer72. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to recent reports regarding the use of withdrawal rooms in schools, particularly in schools for children with autistic spectrum disorder; if he will be recommending a ban on the use of such rooms or very tight regulation on their use rather than the current position whereby guidelines on the use of the rooms are a matter for individual schools. [3098/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 58 and 72 together.
The Board of Management of each school is responsible for the care and safety of all of the pupils in their school. 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. Schools may seek advice from their local National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) psychologist, from their NCSE Special Educational Needs Organiser, or from the National Behavioural Support Services, as to how children with behavioural needs can best be supported in school.
Schools withdraw pupils occasionally from the main classroom for short periods of time in order to provide such support/to manage pupil behaviour if they are exhibiting behaviours which may be a danger to themselves and others.
The Department has recently published new Guidelines for Schools on Supporting Students with Behavioural, Emotional, and Social difficulties and training is available for schools in relation to the provision of support for children with special educational needs from the Special Education Support Services (SESS), who can, as part of their designated training modules, provide guidance for schools in relation to containment or management measures for difficult behaviour.
My Department has asked the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) to prepare Policy Advice on Educational Provision for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. In developing this policy advice, the NCSE will consult widely with parents, professionals and other stakeholders and interested parties while also conducting research in relation to this area. 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.
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 the Department of Education and Skills.
59. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide a list of all Momentum skills providers in Dublin Mid-West including addresses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3120/14]
View answerThe Momentum programme is managed by SOLAS and I have asked an official in SOLAS to provide the information directly to the Deputy.
60. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide the exact persons and their job titles employed by the Health Service Executive who Student Universal Support Ireland will accept as qualified to attest to the veracity of a claim that a student is estranged from their family in order to assess their eligibility for a grant based on their own income when they are under 23 years and estranged from their family. [2978/14]
View answerOnly in exceptional cases, where compelling evidence of estrangement from parents/guardians is provided, can candidates who are under 23 be assessed without reference to their parents/guardians income or address.
The type of independent verification required is dependent on the person's individual circumstances. The verification or evidence should be provided in writing, in a formal capacity, by an appropriate officer of the Health Service Executive explaining the circumstances of the estrangement. Appropriate officers could include social workers, youth workers, family support workers and counselling services as these types of services help families and individuals work through difficult issues.
61. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of schools in County Louth that have been included in the book rental scheme in 2012, 2013 and 2014; the number of schools in County Louth that have applied for the book rental scheme but have not been included in 2012, 2013 and 2014; the process or criteria used when selecting schools to avail of this scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3000/14]
View answer62. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a school (details supplied) in County Louth will not be included in the book rental grant in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3001/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 61 and 62 together.
I assume the Deputy is referring to primary schools. The Department will continue to provide a book grant as usual to all primary schools. This grant, can be utilised for the purposes of updating or expanding a school's existing book rental scheme. I want to commend all schools that have used it to help build up book rental schemes over the years. Their efforts mean that the high costs of school books is being significantly reduced for parents. At my request, the National Parents' Council surveyed the views of their members in relation to currently operating book rental schemes. Parents have reported that where book rental schemes operate, they are open to all parents in 95% of cases, and that the cost per child is under €40 per year in a considerable majority of schools. Perhaps most tellingly, the survey has found that 93% of parents believe that book rental schemes help with the costs of educating a child. Ensuring that book rental schemes are available to all parents must therefore clearly be our aim. I understand that it feels unfair to those schools who have invested time and money to establish such schemes, that they now cannot benefit from the additional funding which was secured as part of the Budget. Of course it is unfair, but equally, the status quo was deeply unfair on many parents. The parents who had no access whatsoever to book rental schemes needed more support. With the limited funding available, I believe that targeting this funding - to make sure that every parent in Ireland has access to some level of a book rental scheme - was the greatest good that could be achieved. The information regarding which schools operate a book rental scheme has been gathered as part of the annual census of schools at primary level since 2011. The details regarding the 2011 and 2012 returns is set out in the table. The data for 2013 is not yet available. 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 regarding applications for inclusion in the scheme of funding for the establishment of book rental schemes in primary schools is not yet available.
Co. Louth Schools Book Rental Returns
|
Year |
Yes |
No |
|
2011 |
61 |
15 |
|
2012 |
64 |
11 |
63. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will reverse the decision not to allow schools that have already initiated a rental book scheme to gain access to the book rental grant, especially as far as newly established schools are concerned, such as a school (details supplied) in Dublin 15; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3009/14]
View answer67. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the extreme anger and disillusionment with his Department's decision to withhold the recently announced book rental grant moneys from those schools (details supplied) which have taken the initiative and set up a partial book rental scheme of their own in County Longford and have a rental scheme for older classes for one subject only, English; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3064/14]
View answer68. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will review and amend the school book rental scheme to allow schools who had a rental scheme in place to participate as the present exclusion of these schools is creating serious inequalities between schools. [3077/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 63, 67 and 68 together.
First let me clarify that the Department will continue to provide a book grant as usual to all primary schools. This grant, can be utilised for the purposes of updating or expanding a school's existing book rental scheme. I want to commend all schools that have used it to help build up book rental schemes over the years. Their efforts mean that the high costs of school books is being significantly reduced for parents. At my request, the National Parents' Council surveyed the views of their members in relation to currently operating book rental schemes. Parents have reported that where book rental schemes operate, they are open to all parents in 95% of cases, and that the cost per child is under €40 per year in a considerable majority of schools. Perhaps most tellingly, the survey has found that 93% of parents believe that book rental schemes help with the costs of educating a child. Ensuring that book rental schemes are available to all parents must therefore clearly be our aim. I understand that it feels unfair to those schools who have invested time and money to establish such schemes, that they now cannot benefit from the additional funding which was secured as part of the Budget. Of course it is unfair, but equally, the status quo was deeply unfair on many parents. The parents who had no access whatsoever to book rental schemes needed more support. With the limited funding available, I believe that targeting this funding - to make sure that every parent in Ireland has access to some level of a book rental scheme - was the greatest good that could be achieved.
64. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will review and revise the decision not to assist a student (details supplied) in County Longford to attend a school in County Longford with a school travel pass which is the nearest secondary school to their home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3010/14]
View answerUnder the terms of my Department's Post Primary School Transport Scheme children are eligible for transport where they reside not less than 4.8 kms from and are attending their nearest education centre as determined by my Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language. Bus Éireann, which operates the school transport scheme on behalf of my Department, has advised that the child in question is not attending his nearest education centre and is therefore not eligible for school transport. Children who are not eligible for school transport may apply to Bus Éireann for transport on a concessionary basis subject to a number of a conditions including the availability of spare seats on an existing service and the payment of the annual charge. Only children who are eligible for school transport and who hold valid medical cards (GMS Scheme) are exempt from paying the annual charge. Bus Éireann has advised that the pupil in question is availing of a service to school for the 2013/14 school year on a concessionary basis.
65. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the statistical information that is available to him regarding social inclusion in schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3029/14]
View answerMy Department does not collect information in the format requested.
