Written Answers Nos. 77-94
77. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Education and Skills in view of the specific constraints outlined in recent communication to his Department with respect to the additional accommodation application of a school (details supplied) if he will expedite the process without undue delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10425/14]
View answerThe school, to which the Deputy refers, was included in the Prefab Replacement Scheme in 2012 and the accommodation works approved under that scheme are now completed.
The school has recently submitted an application for funding for an additional mainstream classroom. The application including the design solution proposed by the school is currently under consideration When this process has been finalised, a decision will be conveyed to the school authorities.
78. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the cost to his Department of Medmark4teachers for each of the years 2011, 2012 and 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10428/14]
View answerMy Department put in place an Occupational Health Strategy as a supportive resource for teachers and special needs assistants (SNAs), to promote their health in the workplace, with a focus primarily on prevention rather than cure. The Occupational Health Strategy comprises of the Employee Assistance and Occupational Health Services and caters for about 64,000 Teachers and 10,000 Special Needs Assistants in 4,000 Primary and Post Primary schools.
Medmark Occupational Healthcare is the current provider of occupational health services for teachers and SNAs. The Occupational Health Service encompasses health management and incorporates pre-employment health assessments, sickness absence management referrals, medical assessments of fitness for work and ill health retirement assessments and appeals.
School authorities have responsibilities for ensuring the health, safety, well-being and educational progress of students. They also have a duty under Section 8 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 to "ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the safety, health and welfare at work of his or her employees". In order to discharge these management responsibilities effectively, it is essential that employers have access to professional occupational health advice on medical fitness. The Occupational Health Service is in place to assist employers and employees in the timely management of medical problems that arise in the context of work.
The cost of occupational health services was €955,300.00 per annum for 2011 and 2012 and €935,000.00 for 2013 exclusive of VAT.
79. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will confirm that the Student Grants Appeal Board has received an appeal on behalf of a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan; when a decision will issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10452/14]
View answerOfficials in my Department have confirmed that the student referred to by the Deputy has appealed the decision of the awarding authority to the independent Student Grants Appeals Board. The appeal was received in the Department on 18th November 2013 and was adjudicated on by the Appeals Board on 8th January 2014. The decision of the Appeals Board issued directly to the student on 9th January 2014.
80. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding an application for a new school building for a school (details supplied) in County Mayo; when a decision may be expected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10453/14]
View answer124. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a primary school (details supplied) in County Mayo will have their capital funding application processed; if he will expedite the application in view of the fact that the school building in its present guise represents a health and safety hazard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10989/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 80 and 124 together.
My Department met with the school authorities in respect of the school referred to by the Deputies on 13th February last to clarify and discuss its accommodation needs.
I am pleased to advise you that in recent days, an all-in-devolved grant has been approved for the school to provide 3 permanent replacement en-suite mainstream classrooms with some additional ancillary accommodation. These replacement classrooms will greatly enhance the schools accommodation and represents phase I of the process to meet the school's long term needs.
81. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason Student Universal Support Ireland does not accept the notice of assessment by the Revenue Commissioners used to calculate income for all sectors, and the factors in the cost of doing business; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10460/14]
View answerA Notice of Assessment is issued by Revenue in accordance with a tax return filed by a person for a particular year. This shows a person's total tax liability for the tax year. For Revenue purposes certain expenditure is allowable in arriving at taxable profit/loss which may not be allowable in computing reckonable income for grant purposes.
In order that the reckonable income for student grant purposes can be determined documentary evidence must be submitted to allow for the accurate calculation of reckonable income. The following may be requested in respect of self-employed income for the relevant year:1. Copy of accounts (trading account, profit and loss account, capital account and balance sheet); 2. Adjusted Profit Computation for income tax; 3. Notice of Assessment or its foreign equivalent; 4. If it applies, a current letter from the Revenue Commissioners exempting the relevant person from filing tax returns or equivalent from another state; 5. If the accounts contain a wage or remuneration expense, a detailed breakdown must be provided of wages paid to the following as outlined in Article 23 (1)(d) of the Scheme:
- wages or payments made without applying the PAYE and PRSI regulations or equivalent regulations;
- wages or payments to dependent children;
- wages or payments to non-dependent children where the payment is above the norm for the work undertaken.
An applicant shall not be eligible for a grant if the reckonable income for the purpose of the means testing is over the prescribed income limits or if there is insufficient supporting documentation for the application to be assessed.
82. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a person (details supplied) in County Clare has not been facilitated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10461/14]
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.
83. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills when the report will be completed on the reviews of the school abuse claims initiated after the judgment on a case (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10524/14]
View answerThe State Claims Agency is reviewing its day school abuse cases to identify those that come within the parameters of the judgment of the ECHR in this case. This review is ongoing and I will be reporting back to Government when this review is complete.
84. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will review the recent decision to refuse the higher rate of higher educational grant in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10569/14]
View answerOfficials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) that the grant application of the student referred to by the Deputy was refused.
The student appealed to the Appeals Officer in SUSI and a letter issued on the 17th February 2014, upholding the original decision.
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 Grant Appeals Board. The relevant appeal form is available to download from http://www.studentfinance.ie/downloads/1375344221/2013_SGAB_appeal_form.pdf.
85. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding discrimination against teachers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10573/14]
View answerThe programme for Government contains a commitment that "People of non-faith or minority religious backgrounds and publicly identified LGBT people should not be deterred from training or taking up employment as teachers in the state."
In this regard the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) designate has been asked to consider and provide advice in relation to amending Section 37 of the Employment Equality Acts 1998 - 2011. When this advice is received my colleague the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform will bring forward the necessary amendments to the legislation.
86. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills when the outcome on an appeal by a school (details supplied) in County Donegal will be made known; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10580/14]
View answer116. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will uphold an appeal by a school (details supplied) on the basis of an increase in projected pupil numbers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10899/14]
View answer117. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will uphold an appeal by a school (details supplied) in County Donegal which is losing a learning support teacher in the next school year due to the fact that it receives four hours learning support per mainstream teacher as an all-girls school as opposed to five hours if it was a mixed school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10901/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 86, 116 and 117 together.
The schools in question made appeals to the Primary Staffing Appeals Board which met to consider appeals in the last week. Schools will be notified of the outcomes of all staffing appeals shortly.
87. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding the LCVP. [10581/14]
View answerThe information sought is being compiled in my Department and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as it is available.
88. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding school transport for a child (details supplied) in Dublin 15 with special needs; if his attention has been drawn to the child’s urgent need in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10587/14]
View answerThe purpose of the School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs arising from a diagnosed disability is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of these children.
The family of the child in question were in receipt of a grant towards the cost of making private transport arrangements. However, my Department has reviewed this arrangement following receipt of new information and a transport service has been sanctioned. Bus Éireann has been requested to organise this service and they will advise the family when the new arrangements are in place.
89. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills his policies for faith based schools and the way they deal with new communities and persons of different religious or tribal backgrounds to that of the school they are attending; the procedures in place for dealing with conflicts between these new communities; the training given to teaching staff for dealing with these issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10599/14]
View answerCurrent policy in relation to intercultural education is set out in the Intercultural Education Strategy 2010-2015 which includes a number of high level goals and actions for all education stakeholders including schools.
The Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST), funded by my Department, is responsible for supporting schools in the implementation of the Social Personal and Health Education (SPHE) Curriculum. A core element of the SPHE Curriculum at primary level is the fostering and development of the positive attitudes towards diversity and celebrating difference through the strand unit "Myself and the Wider World". PDST also provides guidance to schools in the development of a whole school policy for interculturalism. PDST promotes the use of the NCCA Intercultural Guidelines in schools with regard to policy formation and classroom practice.
In relation to school enrolment, the Deputy will be aware that last September I published a draft General Scheme for an Education (Admission to Schools) Bill, 2013 as well as draft regulations for discussion ahead of enacting legislation. These are available on my Department's website. I have referred the draft proposals to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Education and Social Protection, to allow a full public discussion of the proposed legislative framework, including inputs from parents, education partners and other stakeholders. I will be reflecting carefully on the views expressed in the consultation process to ensure the legislation strikes the right balance between school autonomy and fairness in our education system.
The Deputy will also be aware that the Report of the Advisory Group to the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism contains recommendations aimed at ensuring that Irish schools cater for the increased diversity within society. I am keen to see that schools strike the right balance to ensure that the backgrounds of all children in the local community are respected. To this end, I launched a public consultation on inclusiveness in primary schools in September 2013. I sought views on issues such as how best to accommodate students of various belief systems and traditions. The submissions received, together with the Forum Report findings and recommendations in this area, will be considered in the preparation of a White Paper this year.
90. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a building project for a school (details supplied) in County Tipperary; the timeframe for completion of works; if funding will be made available for the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10620/14]
View answerThe Major School Building Project referred to by the Deputy is currently at an advanced stage of Architectural Planning. The Stage 2b Submission (Detailed Design) has recently been received in my Department and is currently under review. Following the review of the submission, subject to no issues arising, officials from my Department will contact the Board of Management with regard to the potential, at that time, for further progression of the project.
Due to competing demands on the Department's capital budget imposed by the need to prioritise the limited funding available for the provision of additional school accommodation to meet increasing demographic requirements it was not possible to include this project in the 5 year construction programme announced in March 2012.
School building projects, including the project referred to by the Deputy, which were previously initiated but not included in the current 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.
91. Deputy Derek Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if there is a progress report available for a school (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10634/14]
View answerThe school to which the Deputy refers is scheduled to open in September 2014. Start-up accommodation arrangements for the school are progressing to enable this. My Department is keeping the Patron informed of progress in this regard.
92. Deputy Derek Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the progress that has been made on a proposed school (details supplied) which has already been planned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10636/14]
View answer93. Deputy Derek Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if there is a timeline in place regarding the commencement of works on the proposed school (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10638/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 92 and 93 together.
Last year a patronage determination process, overseen by the New Schools Establishment Group, was run to establish who would operate a new 16-classroom school for the Knocknacarra area of Galway City.
Two applicants, namely Educate Together and Lifeways Ireland, which provides the Steiner model, demonstrated strong and similar levels of parental demand for their models. The level of parental demand, however, for an Educate Together school was stronger.
Given all of the circumstances, I decided to award Patronage of a new 8-classroom school to Educate Together to commence operation in 2014 and this is proceeding. I also decided to give consideration to the establishment of a further 8-classroom school in 2015 under the patronage of Lifeways Ireland. This will be subject to confirmation that parental demand will support this model and size of school at that time. My Department will be in contact with Lifeways Ireland at the appropriate time to progress this matter. This will include arrangements for start-up accommodation for the school if this arises.
94. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the schools in counties Westmeath and Longford that availed of the new book rental scheme as announced in budget 2014. [10651/14]
View answerThe 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.
