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Tuesday, 28 Jan 2014

Written Answers Nos 250-273

School Transport Administration

Questions (250)

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

Question:

250. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 258 of 16 January 2013, his views on whether the euro value of the contracts was wrongly withheld as such amounts should have been published in a contract award notice, in accordance with the EU standard forms regulation in the Official Journal of the EU, and it also should not have been withheld in response to a parliamentary question; the implication for his Department in terms of the failure to publish same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3640/14]

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Written answers

Bus Éireann, which operates the school transport scheme on behalf of my Department, is responsible for the negotiation and awarding of school transport contracts to private operators. Bus Éireann has advised my Department that it does not disclose tender pricing on the basis that such details constitute commercially sensitive information. Bus Éireann is satisfied that it is in compliance with relevant EU requirements.

School Enrolments Data

Questions (251)

Denis Naughten

Question:

251. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to share school enrolment data with the Department of Social Protection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3691/14]

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Written answers

My Department currently shares information on post-primary students as provided by recognised schools to my Department with the Department of Social Protection for the purpose of verifying student identity as outlined in Departmental circular 47/2010. This is a Fair Processing Notice which explains how my Department processes the personal data of post-primary students in compliance with the Data Protection Acts 1988 to 2003. This circular is available on my Department's website www.education.ie

My Department is also in the process of developing an individualised database for primary school students. Once this database is in place, it is proposed to share information with the Department of Social Protection for the purposes of validating student identity. A Fair Processing Notice in relation to this data sharing is currently being prepared by my Department and will be released in due course.

School Transport Availability

Questions (252)

Michael Lowry

Question:

252. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties accessing school transport being faced by children with special needs in South Tipperary (details supplied); the steps being taken to resolve this matter; if his attention has been drawn to the distress and upset being caused as a result of this dispute; if he will immediately intervene on behalf of the children and parents affected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3707/14]

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Written answers

The Deputy will be aware that children with special educational needs are eligible for school transport if they are attending the nearest recognised: mainstream school, special class / special school or a unit, that is or can be resourced, to meet their special educational needs.

In relation to the issues raised by the Deputy, there are discussions ongoing between officials at my Department, the Department of Health, the Health Service Executive and the National Council for Special Education in order to ensure that a resolution be found in advance of the coming school year.

Schools Building Projects Status

Questions (253)

Dara Murphy

Question:

253. Deputy Dara Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills when planning permission for a school (details supplied) in Dublin 24 will be submitted to the local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3711/14]

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Written answers

The school building project referred to by the Deputy was included in the 5 year building programme announced in March 2012 and is listed to progress to construction in 2015/16.

The Design Team has been appointed and the project is at an early stage of architectural planning. The planning application, along with the applications for other statutory approvals and the preparation of tender documents are completed as part of stage 2(b) of the architectural planning process. It is anticipated that the project will reach Stage 2(b) later this year.

School Textbooks Rental Scheme

Questions (254, 279, 297)

Michael Creed

Question:

254. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will reconsider the manner in which the funding announced for book rental schemes is to be allocated; if he will ensure that designated disadvantaged schools can avail of the funding, including a school (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3731/14]

View answer

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

279. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide the names of schools, broken down by county, that will be able to avail of funding for the new book rental schemes. [4037/14]

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Seán Ó Fearghaíl

Question:

297. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a school (details supplied) in County Kildare is not eligible to receive funding under the book rental scheme; if he will revisit this decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4156/14]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 254, 279 and 297 together.

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 Department is contacting primary schools that do not currently operate a book rental scheme to advise them of the application process. The information regarding applications for inclusion in the scheme of funding for the establishment of book rental schemes in primary schools is not yet available.

School Enrolments Data

Questions (255, 256, 257)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

Question:

255. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of pupils who entered the primary education system in 2013; and if he will provide the information for each county. [3732/14]

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Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

Question:

256. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of pupils that will be leaving the primary school system in 2014 nationwide; and if he will provide the information for each county. [3733/14]

View answer

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

Question:

257. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of primary school pupils currently in senior infants, first class, second class, third class, fourth class and fifth class; and if he will provide the information for each county. [3734/14]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 255 to 257, inclusive, together.

The information requested is provided in the National School Annual Census Return. Results from the Census for the current school year (2013/2014) are not yet available. The attached table shows the number of mainstream primary school pupils in each standard on a county basis for the 2012/13 school year.

Mainstream pupils by standard and county

Year

County Name

Mainstream Pupils

Standard

2012

Carlow

990

Junior Infants

2012

Carlow

867

Senior Infants

2012

Carlow

915

1st

2012

Carlow

892

2nd

2012

Carlow

921

3rd

2012

Carlow

901

4th

2012

Carlow

883

5th

2012

Carlow

821

6th

2012

Cavan

1,274

Junior Infants

2012

Cavan

1,210

Senior Infants

2012

Cavan

1,098

1st

2012

Cavan

1,125

2nd

2012

Cavan

1,144

3rd

2012

Cavan

1,130

4th

2012

Cavan

1,081

5th

2012

Cavan

1,077

6th

2012

Clare

1,806

Junior Infants

2012

Clare

1,815

Senior Infants

2012

Clare

1,661

1st

2012

Clare

1,675

2nd

2012

Clare

1,679

3rd

2012

Clare

1,683

4th

2012

Clare

1,674

5th

2012

Clare

1,508

6th

2012

Cork

8,025

Junior Infants

2012

Cork

7,725

Senior Infants

2012

Cork

7,119

1st

2012

Cork

7,138

2nd

2012

Cork

7,095

3rd

2012

Cork

7,057

4th

2012

Cork

6,890

5th

2012

Cork

6,734

6th

2012

Donegal

2,501

Junior Infants

2012

Donegal

2,340

Senior Infants

2012

Donegal

2,306

1st

2012

Donegal

2,267

2nd

2012

Donegal

2,415

3rd

2012

Donegal

2,263

4th

2012

Donegal

2,353

5th

2012

Donegal

2,257

6th

2012

Dublin

17,998

Junior Infants

2012

Dublin

16,824

Senior Infants

2012

Dublin

15,594

1st

2012

Dublin

15,454

2nd

2012

Dublin

15,617

3rd

2012

Dublin

15,084

4th

2012

Dublin

14,722

5th

2012

Dublin

14,121

6th

2012

Galway

3,933

Junior Infants

2012

Galway

3,657

Senior Infants

2012

Galway

3,463

1st

2012

Galway

3,565

2nd

2012

Galway

3,507

3rd

2012

Galway

3,441

4th

2012

Galway

3,370

5th

2012

Galway

3,303

6th

2012

Kerry

2,164

Junior Infants

2012

Kerry

1,983

Senior Infants

2012

Kerry

1,856

1st

2012

Kerry

1,875

2nd

2012

Kerry

1,936

3rd

2012

Kerry

1,940

4th

2012

Kerry

1,873

5th

2012

Kerry

1,832

6th

2012

Kildare

3,871

Junior Infants

2012

Kildare

3,593

Senior Infants

2012

Kildare

3,360

1st

2012

Kildare

3,422

2nd

2012

Kildare

3,598

3rd

2012

Kildare

3,542

4th

2012

Kildare

3,372

5th

2012

Kildare

3,246

6th

2012

Kilkenny

1,384

Junior Infants

2012

Kilkenny

1,331

Senior Infants

2012

Kilkenny

1,289

1st

2012

Kilkenny

1,244

2nd

2012

Kilkenny

1,328

3rd

2012

Kilkenny

1,284

4th

2012

Kilkenny

1,321

5th

2012

Kilkenny

1,266

6th

2012

Laois

1,476

Junior Infants

2012

Laois

1,406

Senior Infants

2012

Laois

1,175

1st

2012

Laois

1,266

2nd

2012

Laois

1,280

3rd

2012

Laois

1,277

4th

2012

Laois

1,142

5th

2012

Laois

1,155

6th

2012

Leitrim

429

Junior Infants

2012

Leitrim

497

Senior Infants

2012

Leitrim

461

1st

2012

Leitrim

431

2nd

2012

Leitrim

462

3rd

2012

Leitrim

415

4th

2012

Leitrim

464

5th

2012

Leitrim

397

6th

2012

Limerick

2,971

Junior Infants

2012

Limerick

2,811

Senior Infants

2012

Limerick

2,624

1st

2012

Limerick

2,545

2nd

2012

Limerick

2,582

3rd

2012

Limerick

2,581

4th

2012

Limerick

2,468

5th

2012

Limerick

2,563

6th

2012

Longford

688

Junior Infants

2012

Longford

659

Senior Infants

2012

Longford

631

1st

2012

Longford

624

2nd

2012

Longford

608

3rd

2012

Longford

632

4th

2012

Longford

647

5th

2012

Longford

617

6th

2012

Louth

2,162

Junior Infants

2012

Louth

2,156

Senior Infants

2012

Louth

1,937

1st

2012

Louth

1,940

2nd

2012

Louth

2,010

3rd

2012

Louth

1,933

4th

2012

Louth

1,924

5th

2012

Louth

1,949

6th

2012

Mayo

1,870

Junior Infants

2012

Mayo

1,791

Senior Infants

2012

Mayo

1,813

1st

2012

Mayo

1,785

2nd

2012

Mayo

1,780

3rd

2012

Mayo

1,772

4th

2012

Mayo

1,778

5th

2012

Mayo

1,757

6th

2012

Meath

3,459

Junior Infants

2012

Meath

3,305

Senior Infants

2012

Meath

3,088

1st

2012

Meath

3,049

2nd

2012

Meath

3,026

3rd

2012

Meath

2,869

4th

2012

Meath

2,916

5th

2012

Meath

2,722

6th

2012

Monaghan

1,036

Junior Infants

2012

Monaghan

909

Senior Infants

2012

Monaghan

937

1st

2012

Monaghan

911

2nd

2012

Monaghan

854

3rd

2012

Monaghan

859

4th

2012

Monaghan

815

5th

2012

Monaghan

834

6th

2012

Offaly

1,192

Junior Infants

2012

Offaly

1,154

Senior Infants

2012

Offaly

1,199

1st

2012

Offaly

1,133

2nd

2012

Offaly

1,243

3rd

2012

Offaly

1,206

4th

2012

Offaly

1,233

5th

2012

Offaly

1,149

6th

2012

Roscommon

923

Junior Infants

2012

Roscommon

894

Senior Infants

2012

Roscommon

851

1st

2012

Roscommon

870

2nd

2012

Roscommon

903

3rd

2012

Roscommon

838

4th

2012

Roscommon

908

5th

2012

Roscommon

869

6th

2012

Sligo

953

Junior Infants

2012

Sligo

951

Senior Infants

2012

Sligo

816

1st

2012

Sligo

893

2nd

2012

Sligo

860

3rd

2012

Sligo

841

4th

2012

Sligo

820

5th

2012

Sligo

868

6th

2012

Tipperary

2,371

Junior Infants

2012

Tipperary

2,373

Senior Infants

2012

Tipperary

2,256

1st

2012

Tipperary

2,331

2nd

2012

Tipperary

2,146

3rd

2012

Tipperary

2,163

4th

2012

Tipperary

2,299

5th

2012

Tipperary

2,172

6th

2012

Waterford

1,827

Junior Infants

2012

Waterford

1,773

Senior Infants

2012

Waterford

1,689

1st

2012

Waterford

1,634

2nd

2012

Waterford

1,707

3rd

2012

Waterford

1,677

4th

2012

Waterford

1,702

5th

2012

Waterford

1,718

6th

2012

Westmeath

1,443

Junior Infants

2012

Westmeath

1,356

Senior Infants

2012

Westmeath

1,295

1st

2012

Westmeath

1,327

2nd

2012

Westmeath

1,340

3rd

2012

Westmeath

1,312

4th

2012

Westmeath

1,319

5th

2012

Westmeath

1,254

6th

2012

Wexford

2,378

Junior Infants

2012

Wexford

2,327

Senior Infants

2012

Wexford

2,206

1st

2012

Wexford

2,169

2nd

2012

Wexford

2,268

3rd

2012

Wexford

2,161

4th

2012

Wexford

2,130

5th

2012

Wexford

2,024

6th

2012

Wicklow

2,311

Junior Infants

2012

Wicklow

2,145

Senior Infants

2012

Wicklow

1,968

1st

2012

Wicklow

2,064

2nd

2012

Wicklow

1,982

3rd

2012

Wicklow

1,931

4th

2012

Wicklow

1,882

5th

2012

Wicklow

1,871

6th

EU Funding

Questions (258)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

258. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if any special or EU funding avenues are available to island communities for vital services or facilities such as capital funding for education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3737/14]

View answer

Written answers

I am not aware of specific or EU funding available to island communities for the delivery of educational capital projects.

School Transport Fees

Questions (259)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

259. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 224 and 225 of 15 January 2014, if consideration will be given to allowing the payment of the school transport fee in January rather than December; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3799/14]

View answer

Written answers

The Deputy will be aware that annual charging, as opposed to term charging, was introduced in the 2009/10 school year. The current annual charges for school transport are €100 per child at primary level and €350 per child at post primary level; these charges are subject to an annual family maximum of €220 for families with children attending primary schools only or an overall family maximum of €650. Families with children who are eligible for school transport and who hold valid medical cards (GMS Scheme) are exempt from the annual charge. Eligible children with special educational needs also travel free of charge. Together these children represent over half the number of children who avail of school transport services.

Bus Éireann has advised that invoices for school transport services are issued in July of each year and families who wish to pay the annual charge in two instalments are advised that the second instalment is due on or before the first Friday in December. The December deadline ensures that Bus Éireann are in a position to issue tickets to coincide with the recommencement of services following the Christmas holiday period.

Youthreach Programme Staff

Questions (260, 261, 262)

Joe Higgins

Question:

260. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Skills the criteria used by the Education Training Boards in the county of Dublin, city of Dublin, Limerick, Clare and city of Cork for deciding the starting incremental point for a resource person on the resource person's salary scale. [3800/14]

View answer

Joe Higgins

Question:

261. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of newly appointed resource persons who were employed in Youthreach centres of education, between 2005 and to date in 2014, by the Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board; the number of newly appointed resource persons who started on point one of the resource persons' incremental scale during the period; the number of newly appointed resource persons who started above point one of the resource persons' incremental scale during the period; and the highest increment that was awarded to a newly appointed resource person, during the period, by the Limerick and Clare Education Training Board. [3801/14]

View answer

Joe Higgins

Question:

262. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of newly appointed resource persons that were employed in Youthreach centres of education, between 2005 and to date in 2014, by the City of Cork Education and Training Board; the number of newly appointed resource persons who started on point one of the resource persons' incremental scale during the period; the number of newly appointed resource persons who started above point one of the resource persons' incremental scale during the period; and the highest increment awarded to a newly appointed resource person, during the period, by the City of Cork Education Training Board. [3802/14]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 260 to 262, inclusive, together.

City of Cork Education and Training Board has informed my Department that 17 Resource Persons were appointed to the Youthreach programme since 2005. These were appointed on the following points of the Resource Persons pay scale: 14 at point 1, 1 at point 2, 1 at point 4 and 1 at point 7.

Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board has informed my Department that 29 Resource Persons were appointed to the Youthreach programme since 2005. These were appointed on the following points of the Resource Persons pay scale: 13 at point 1, 1 at point 2, 4 at point 3, 3 at point 4, 1 at point 5, 2 at point 6, 1 at point 7, 1 at point 8, 1 at point 10 and 2 at the maximum point.

Youthreach Resource Persons are employed locally by the Education and Training Boards (ETBs). ETBs may award incremental credit to newly appointed Youthreach Resource Persons based on their previous experience and employment.

The following revised reply was received on 17 December 2015

I propose to take Questions Nos. 260, 261 and 262 together.

City of Cork Education and Training Board has informed my Department that 17 Resource Persons were appointed to the Youthreach programme since 2005. These were appointed on the following points of the Resource Persons pay scale: 14 at point 1, 1 at point 2, 1 at point 4 and 1 at point 7.

Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board has informed my Department that 29 Resource Persons were appointed to the Youthreach programme since 2005. These were appointed on the following points of the Resource Persons pay scale: 13 at point 1, 1 at point 2, 4 at point 3, 3 at point 4, 1 at point 5, 2 at point 6, 1 at point 7, 1 at point 8, 1 at point 10 and 2 at the maximum point.

Terms and conditions for Youthreach Resource Persons, who are employed locally by education and training Boards, were set out in a letter dated 28 October 2005 from the Department. This letter stated that “Recruitment of future staff in Youthreach Centres will normally be to the minimum point of the relevant scale The Department has not issued a circular letter in relation to incremental credit for Resource Persons.

Student Grant Scheme Administration

Questions (263)

Nicky McFadden

Question:

263. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Education and Skills the measures he will take to improve the performance of Student Universal Support Ireland in dealing with grant applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3820/14]

View answer

Written answers

SUSI has been operating considerably more efficiently and has been meeting its targets in respect of processing grants on schedule in 2013/14. There will be an ongoing focus on work to continually improve the system, particularly relating to the processes and systems in operation. In this regard, SUSI is currently developing a programme of further changes and improvements to provide enhanced services to grant applicants for the coming academic year.

The measures under consideration are: earlier opening of the grants online system to facilitate earlier acceptance of grant applications, enhanced application form functionality, improvements to workflows and streamed processing for the different types of applications received by SUSI, improved website information, enhanced direct communications and information exchange between applicants and SUSI using new technology and the further extension of data-sharing arrangements between SUSI and Government Departments and agencies to reduce the amount of documentation sought from applicants.

Schools Amalgamation

Questions (264)

Dessie Ellis

Question:

264. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to integrate schools (details supplied) in Dublin 9. [3822/14]

View answer

Written answers

I can confirm for the Deputy that my Department has not received any proposals from the Patron in relation to amalgamating the schools to which he refers. The initiative for any amalgamation or re-organisation may come from a variety of sources, such as parents, staff, Boards of Management and patron. Any such proposal to amalgamate schools must involve consultation with all of the relevant stakeholders and follow decisions taken at local level. The decision making authority for any amalgamation belongs to the Patron of a school, subject to the approval of the Minister for Education and Skills.

School Patronage

Questions (265)

Dessie Ellis

Question:

265. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to establish a non-denominational school in an area (details supplied) in Dublin 9. [3823/14]

View answer

Written answers

The area referred to by the Deputy was one of 43 areas surveyed by my Department to establish the level of parental demand for a wider choice in the patronage of primary schools within these areas. The outcome of the survey for the area in question did show sufficient demand to sustain an English language multi-denominational school. The consideration of options for divesting school patronage in the areas concerned to allow for alternative patronage models is an active process at this time. Recent responses from Patrons are under consideration and my Department will seek to progress matters in consultation with patrons as appropriate.

School Accommodation Provision

Questions (266)

Patrick Nulty

Question:

266. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the work on replacing prefabs at a school (details supplied) in Dublin 7 is proceeding in a timely fashion; and when this work will be completed. [3872/14]

View answer

Written answers

The school referred to by the Deputy was recently approved a devolved grant under the Department's Rented Prefab Replacement Initiative Phase 2. A devolved project allows individual school authorities the means to address their accommodation and building priorities with a guaranteed amount of funding and gives them day to day control of their building project. It is a central tenet of the devolved schemes that responsibility for the management of a project, including cost control, the timing of tendering and construction rests with the school authority.

Questions (267)

Patrick Nulty

Question:

267. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will list the new primary and post-primary schools built in the Dublin 15 area in 2009 to 2013, inclusive, and the patronage of each school. [3873/14]

View answer

Written answers

The following are the new schools constructed in Dublin 15 over the period 2009 to 2013:

Roll No. 18046A Scoil Bhríde B, Blanchardstown - Catholic patronage;

Roll No. 16675V Mulhuddart National School - Catholic patronage;

Roll No. 20201V Tyrrelstown Educate Together National School - Educate Together patronage;

Roll No. 20231H St. Benedict's Ongar National School, Littlepace - Catholic patronage;

Roll No. 20247W Scoil Ghrainne Community National School, Phibblestown - VEC patronage;

Roll No. 76130P Luttrellstown Community College - VEC patronage; and

Roll No. 76098W Pobail Scoil Setanta, Phibblestown - VEC patronage.

Questions (268)

Patrick Nulty

Question:

268. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will list the new primary and post-primary schools committed to being completed in the Dublin 15 area in 2014-2016, inclusive, and the patronage of each school. [3874/14]

View answer

Written answers

The following new schools (not yet constructed) in Dublin 15 are included in the five year plan announced in March 2012 to commence construction over the period of the plan:Roll No 18047C Scoil Bhride C, Blanchardstown - Catholic patronage;Roll No 20383H Blanchardstown West Educate Together National School - Educate Together patronage;Roll No 20384J Powerstown Educate Together National School - Educate Together patronage;Roll No 20394M New Gaelscoil, Mulhuddart - Foras Pátrúnachata na Scoileanna Lán-Ghaeilge Teo;Roll No 20392L Carpenterstown Educate Together National School - Educate Together patronage;Roll No 68083N Mulhuddart Secondary School - Le Chéile Schools Trust patronage; Roll No 68101M Hansfield Educate Together Post-Primary School - Educate Together patronage.

Schools Building Projects Status

Questions (269)

Patrick Nulty

Question:

269. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a new school building will be provided for a school (details supplied) in Dublin 15; and if he will provide an update on progress on this project. [3875/14]

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Written answers

I am pleased to advise the Deputy that a building project for the school to which he refers is currently at an early stage of the architectural planning process. The school authority and their Design Team are currently completing the Stage 2(a) report for submission to my Department. Following satisfactory completion of this report and subject to no issues arising, the project will be authorised to commence the application for statutory approvals, which includes the application for planning permission.

School building projects, including the project referred to by the Deputy, which have not been included in the five year construction programme, will continue to be progressed to final planning stages in anticipation of the possibility of further funds being available to the Department in the future.

Schools Building Projects Status

Questions (270)

Patrick Nulty

Question:

270. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a new school building will be provided for a school (details supplied) in Dublin 15; and if he will provide an update on progress on this project. [3876/14]

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Written answers

I am pleased to advise the Deputy that a building project for the school to which he refers is currently at an early stage of the architectural planning process. The school authority and their Design Team are currently completing the Stage 2(a) report for submission to my Department. Following satisfactory completion of this report and subject to no issues arising, the project will be authorised to commence the application for statutory approvals, which includes the application for planning permission.

School building projects, including the project referred to by the Deputy, which have not been included in the five year construction programme, will continue to be progressed to final planning stages in anticipation of the possibility of further funds being available to the Department in the future.

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Questions (271)

Jack Wall

Question:

271. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a child (details supplied) in County Kildare has been refused a special reader for their Leaving Certificate examination in view of the fact that they had such facilities for the Junior Certificate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3880/14]

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Written 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/reasonable accommodations. In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.

School Transport Administration

Questions (272)

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

Question:

272. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Skills in view of the fact that his Department is aware that there were irregular cash transactions in the use of his Department's moneys in the administration of school transport in Bus Éireann's Dundalk office and that his attention has been drawn to the fact that Bus Éireann refused to give the Garda the information it needed to investigate the irregular transactions that were involved, if he will now take the appropriate action and fully inform the Garda of this incident; if he is aware that under the Corruption Act 2010 it is a crime to improperly withhold information relating to a criminal offence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3899/14]

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Written answers

Bus Éireann has advised my Department that a small number of irregular cash transactions were identified through internal checks in their Dundalk office. I am informed that in line with Bus Éireann's control procedures the issue was formally notified to An Garda Síochána. Bus Éireann further advise that at no stage were Gardaí refused information by the Company. I am further informed by Bus Éireann that all monies involved were recovered and that the employment of the individual in question was terminated.

Higher Education Institutions

Questions (273)

Joe Higgins

Question:

273. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide information on the reasons the Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology is not participating in the current higher education restructuring discussions with the Tallaght and Blanchardstown institutes of technology and DIT; and his views on the future of the Dún Laoghaire institute in the overall scheme of higher education restructuring. [3921/14]

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Written answers

As part of the Landscape Process undertaken by the HEA in 2012, the results of which were submitted to me in a report in March 2012, all higher education institutions were asked to identify their strategic fit within a future higher education system configuration. Institutes of technology that were interested in merging and applying to become technological universities were asked to submit formal expressions of interest in entering that four stage process. Three groups of institutes of technology have chosen that route to date.

An institute's participation in these proposed mergers is entirely voluntary. Dún Laoghaire Institute of Technology have identified their future as a standalone institute of technology as have other institutes of technology. In my response to the HEA report, I agreed that institutes of technology that wish to remain standalone must participate fully within regional clusters and within thematic clusters where appropriate. Scope for a strong thematic cluster in the creative arts in Dublin was outlined in a report on the same by the HEA and IADT will play a key role in creative parts provision in the region in the coming years.

My full response to the restructuring proposals in the HEA report is published on my Department's website at:http://www.education.ie/en/Publications/Policy-Reports/HEA-Report-to-the-Minister-for-Education-and-Skills-on-Irish-higher-education-Response-Letter-.pdf

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