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Thursday, 27 Mar 2014

Written Answers Nos. 69-77

Third Level Fees

Questions (69)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

69. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the position of emigrants hoping to return home to enter full-time third level education and whether he will put in place a policy to accommodate their needs; his views on correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14559/14]

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Written answers

Under the terms of my Department's Free Fee Schemes the Exchequer meets the cost of tuition fees in respect of eligible students who are pursuing their first undergraduate full-time course of study. The main conditions of the scheme are that students must hold inter alia EU/EEA/Swiss nationality in their own right, and have been ordinarily resident in an EU/EEA/Swiss state for at least three of the five years preceding their entry to an approved third level course. Students must meet both the nationality and residency criterion in order to be considered under the scheme.

Where students do not qualify for free fees they must pay the appropriate fee as determined by their third level institution. The institutions are autonomous bodies and the level of fee payable by students who do not meet the requirements of the free fees schemes are matters for the relevant institution. However, in the case of students who do not meet the residency clause of the free fees scheme, I have requested that the higher education institutions charge the more moderate EU fees to EU/EEA/Swiss nationals who have completed at least five academic years of study (Primary or Post-Primary level) in the EU/EEA or Switzerland.

This common approach across the sector will provide all prospective students with clarity about the level of tuition fees they may be required to pay.

Questions Nos. 70 and 71 answered with Question No. 67.

Student Grant Scheme Eligibility

Questions (72)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

72. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills to set out the options open to a student (details supplied) in County Kerry to undertake a course in view of the circumstances and previous educational record of the student; if there is an affordable way for the person to try to prepare for employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14598/14]

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Written answers

Under the terms of the student grant scheme, grant assistance is awarded to students who meet the prescribed conditions of funding including those relating to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means. The decision on eligibility for new student grant applications for the 2014/15 academic year is a matter for the centralised grant awarding authority, SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland).

The Deputy will appreciate that in the absence of all of the relevant details that would be contained in an individual's application form and supporting documentation, it would not be possible for me to say whether or not a student should qualify for a grant - this is a matter for SUSI to determine. However I would point out that under the scheme, students who have previously attended, but not completed a course of study are required to complete an equivalent period of study on an approved course before being eligible to be considered for a grant.

Details in relation to tax relief in respect of any tuition fees payable are available from the Revenue Commissioners.

School Staff

Questions (73)

Noel Coonan

Question:

73. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Minister for Education and Skills to explain the reason a school (details supplied) in County Tipperary was unsuccessful in an appeal to retain a teacher; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14605/14]

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Written answers

The criteria used for the allocation of teaching posts for the 2014/2015 school year is set out in the Staffing Schedule (Circular 0007/2014) which is available on the Department website. 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 30 September 2013. The staffing schedule also includes an appeals mechanism for schools to submit an appeal under certain criteria to an independent Appeals Board. The appeal criteria are published in Circular 0007/2014. The school referred to by the Deputy submitted an appeal under Criterion B - Additional Enrolments in October 2013 to the February, 2014 meeting of the Primary Staffing Appeals Board. The appeal was refused by the board on the basis that the grounds of the appeal did not meet the published criteria. The school was notified accordingly.

The Primary Staffing Appeals Board operates independently of the Minister and the Department and its decision is final.

Schools Building Projects Status

Questions (74)

Willie Penrose

Question:

74. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Skills When building work in a school (details supplied) in County Westmeath, which has been approved, will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14627/14]

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Written answers

The school to which the Deputy refers has been authorised to commence the award process with the recommended bidder. Following completion of this process, and provided there are no issues arising, the start on site date will then be agreed with the successful contractor.

Student Grant Scheme Appeals

Questions (75)

Dara Calleary

Question:

75. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reasons a student (details supplied) in County Mayo is not receiving a higher education grant; the reason the student received conflicting information from Student Universal Support Ireland during the application process; if he will give his view on whether the student has been financially paralysed as a result of this misinformation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14632/14]

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Written answers

Officials 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 by the Board on 31st January 2014 and was heard by the Board on the 25th March 2014. The student will be notified directly of the outcome of the appeal in the coming days.

School Equipment

Questions (76)

Jack Wall

Question:

76. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Education and Skills to set out the mechanism available to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare to meet and overcome the financial problems a change in educational provisions has caused to the family; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14635/14]

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Written answers

Since 1998, the national ICT in Schools programme has focused on building capacity across the schools system for integrating ICT into teaching and learning and developing pupils' digital literacy, The ICT in Schools programme must now address new policy challenges and opportunities arising from major developments in curricular reform, digital publishing, digital content dissemination tools generally, cloud services, portable computing and student devices, and the deployment of high speed broadband at post-primary level. These will be addressed in the new Digital Strategy for Schools which is in the process of being developed. In relation to curricular reform the new junior cycle in post-primary schools outlines eight key skills required for successful learning by students across the curriculum and for learning beyond school. Among the key skills, one is literacy and numeracy, which includes digital literacy.

The PDST Technology in Education provided in their 2013 summer course programme for teachers a course 'Active learning in literacy and numeracy using tablet devices'. This five day course was run in 28 different venues around the country with approximately 400 training places. In addition, 48 tutors were trained to deliver the course and it is intended that these tutors will be used during the school year and in summer 2014 to offer the same professional development opportunity to other teachers. Also, PDST Technology in Education have produced an advice sheets for schools and good practice videos specifically relating to the use of tablet devices.

I am aware of the fact that parents are being asked to fund the introduction of tablet devices into the classrooms. In relation to the introduction of tablet devices in schools this is an operational matter for the Board of Management of each school and my Department has no role at individual school level in approving such initiatives. I believe it is important that where new technology, is being adopted by schools parents should be consulted prior to the decision being made and that the costs implications are fully considered by the Boards of Management.

Student Grants Data

Questions (77)

Heather Humphreys

Question:

77. Deputy Heather Humphreys asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide details on a county basis of the number of students awarded Student Universal Support Ireland grants for the 2013-14 academic year; the number of students who are still awaiting a decision on an application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14649/14]

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Written answers

The data requested by the Deputy in respect of the 2013/14 academic year on a county basis will be made available to the Department by SUSI after the end of the current academic year.

The total number of students awaiting a decision on their application as of 23rd March was 89. There were a further 787 applications where documentation requested from the student was still outstanding.

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