Written Answers Nos. 76-81
76. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding admission policies for a school (details supplied) in County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7100/14]
View answerI am aware of some local concerns in relation to certain aspects of the enrolment policy of the school to which the Deputy refers. My Department is in contact with the authorities of the school in relation to this matter.
77. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update regarding students of the two-year diploma course run by Trinity College (details supplied) who had previously received the student grant and maintenance payment but have been told they are no longer entitled to same and they must repay moneys received; the reason a change in the status of the course occurred; and if he will ensure that students who received grants and maintenance to do this course will not be forced to repay the moneys. [7112/14]
View answerThe student grants awarding body, SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland) confirmed on Monday 20th January 2014 that students attending the course referred to by the Deputy are approved for funding. All applicants previously awarded a grant have had their payments reinstated and arrears paid. The decision follows a review carried out, as part of on-going audits of student grants, on a valid question which arose over the eligibility of the specified course. On looking into the matter, my Department clarified the position in respect of this course and grants are approved for students participating on the course in 2013/14.
78. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding an outreach class in a school (details supplied) in County Leitrim; if his attention has been drawn to the decision of the board of management to notify parents of its intention to withdraw as patrons from the school; and if his Department is prepared to liaise with parents and the community in making alternative arrangements for these children with special needs. [7118/14]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that the Patron Body concerned has notified my Department of its intention to divest patronage of the Outreach Class based in Mohill, Co. Leitrim, from the end of this school year. My Department has clarified for the Patron Body the importance of notifying parents of the intentions of the school authorities in this regard and of putting in place alternative arrangements for pupils currently enrolled in the class to ensure their successful transition to onward placements. I understand that the school authorities are currently liaising with the local National Council for Special Education Special Educational Needs Organiser (SENO) in order to identify appropriate alternative educational placements for the small number of remaining children who are currently enrolled in the outreach class. Parents may also contact their local SENO directly to discuss their child's special educational needs, including identification of educational placements, using the contact details available on www.ncse.ie.
79. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding examination supports in respect of a person (details supplied). [7160/14]
View answerThe 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, including an appeals process. 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.
80. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding an appeal by a school (details supplied) in County Kerry; if he will take into consideration the concerns of the board of management and ensure that this school does not lose a mainstream teacher in the 2014-2015 school year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7161/14]
View answerThe criteria used for the allocation of teachers to primary schools is published annually on the website of the Department of Education and Skills. The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September. The staffing arrangements for the 2014/15 school year (Circular 0007/2014) were published in January.The staffing schedule 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. The closing date for submission of appeals for the February meeting of the Appeals Board is Friday 14 February, 2014. The Primary Staffing Appeals Board operates independently of the Department and its decision is final.
The Government recognises that small schools are an important part of the social fabric of rural communities. They will continue to be a feature of our education landscape. In these extremely challenging times, all public servants are being asked to deliver our public services on a reduced level of resources and teachers in small schools cannot be immune from this requirement.
81. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 63 of 11 December 2013, if he will clarify the date on which schools are required to submit their returns detailing pupil numbers as at 30 September 2013; the date when he expects this information to be available and when it will be published on his Department's website; if he will provide, in tabular form, the mainstream primary schools in each county, the number of pupils currently enrolled in each, and the number of classroom teachers in each, as at 30 September 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7165/14]
View answerMy Department conducts the National School Annual Census in order to gather the data my Department needs for statistical, administrative and policy planning purposes. Schools are asked to return their forms to the Department by the end of October each year. Due to the large volume of forms it takes a number of months after the October deadline to receive all forms back, fully complete processing and produce final statistics. It is expected that data on the 2013/14 school year, including the number of schools, pupils and classroom teachers by county, will be on the Department's website by the end of the school year. It is hoped that with the introduction of the Primary Online Database, which will be piloted in the coming months, the process to produce statistics will become more streamlined.
