Written Answers Nos. 77-86
78. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Education and Skills the duration of the merchant agreement where payment by debit or credit card is accepted for services provided by his Department or bodies under the aegis of his Department to the public; when the term of the agreement will end; if the merchant agreement is awarded by way of tender; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15736/14]
View answerMy Department facilitates payments in a number of different ways, principally via banking on line through commercial bank accounts, and via paper instruments such as cheques. Additionally within the Government sector my Department also facilitates payments from other Government Departments via the Office of the Pay Master General's system of Internal Fund Transfers. My Department has not historically collected payments via debit or credit cards and has, therefore, not operated merchant agreements for such payment services. Details relating to payment services in respect of bodies/institutions under my Department's remit are a matter for each body/institution.
79. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the circumstances under which arrears can be paid in respect of a remote area grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15756/14]
View answerThe purpose of my Department's School Transport Scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school. Under the terms of the scheme a child, who is eligible for school transport, but for whom no transport service is available may, following an application for transport within the prescribed time limits, receive a Remote Area Grant towards the cost of private transport arrangements. The grant is also payable for eligible children who may have to travel 3.2 km or more to or from a designated pick up/set down point. An application for school transport must be made before consideration can be given to the payment of this grant. The grant is paid annually, in arrears, at the end of each school year. More information is available on my Department's website at www.education.ie or if the Deputy wishes to supply details in relation to a particular case my Department may be in a position to provide further information.
80. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will support the Raising and Giving project which mobilises students to get active in their communities (details supplied). [15758/14]
View answerThe National Strategy for Higher Education to 2030 emphasised the need for a coherent and streamlined funding framework to allocate resources into the higher education sector. For this reason, the Higher Education Authority has the remit to consider all requests for funding and assess them in terms of prioritisation of currently available resources for the system. I understand that following my own meeting with RAG, Tom Boland, CEO, HEA met with the RAG CEO and Co-Founder, Daithí De Buitléir and was also provided with a briefing on the work of RAG. Unfortunately the HEA have confirmed that there is no available funding at this time, however I understand that the HEA is exploring other ways that this worthy endeavour could fruitfully be supported in the third level sector.
81. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will support a matter (details supplied) regarding special needs. [15773/14]
View answerI can confirm that, despite the assertion made by the organisation referred to by the Deputy to the effect that my Department had not responded to their letter of 30 August 2013, my Department in fact responded on a number of occasions both to that letter and to subsequent letters. The initial contact from the organisation was on 30th August by way of email. Officials from my Department met with the organisation on 26th November 2014. Following this meeting officials wrote to the organisation on the following dates 29th November 2013, 4th December 2013, 6th December 2013, 10th January 2014 and 26th February 2014. Officials from my Department are currently in the process of replying to the most recent letter from the Organisation dated 19th Mar 2014.
My officials have clarified that the provision set out in circular 0006/2013 which requires tutors engaged in the provision of Home Tuition to be registered with the Teaching Council does not materially alter the eligibility criteria for tutors as claimed in the correspondence. Prior to this circular my Department required that tutors should be qualified teachers and, in the event that a qualified teacher was not available, my Department accepted and continues to accept tutors with level 7 qualifications. The list of acceptable qualifications is included in the circular and has not materially changed from previous circulars. The requirement for registration with the teaching council with effect from the 2013/2014 school year does not exclude any party who may have been eligible in the past. Registration, including temporary registration, is available for all such applicants provided they hold the necessary qualifications. Registration provides independent assurances to the Department that the qualifications claimed are validly held.
82. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the options available to people who feel aggrieved by their treatment by the Teaching Council; if there is any oversight of the activities of the Teaching Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15805/14]
View answerSince March 2006, the Teaching Council is the body with statutory authority and responsibility for the recognition of teaching qualifications and the registration of teachers. Neither I, nor my Department, are involved in dealing with individual registration queries or applications. There are a number of avenues of appeal open to a person who is unhappy with a decision of the Council in relation to teacher qualifications. These include internal appeal mechanisms and challenging a decision of the Council in the High Court. In addition, the Council comes under the remit of the Ombudsman, whose function it is to investigate complaints from members of the public who believe that they have been unfairly treated by certain public bodies. I am satisfied that the Teaching Council's own procedures and the processes of accountability which are enshrined in legislation are comprehensive, appropriate and adequate.
83. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills the person or agency responsible for the Erasmus programme in Ireland for 2014-2020. [15826/14]
View answerThe national agencies for Erasmus+ in Ireland are Léargas for school, adult education and vocational education and training and the Higher Education Authority for higher education. The national agencies are responsible for promoting and implementing the programme at national level.The overall national authority for the education and training elements of the Erasmus+ programme in Ireland is my Department. The national authority has responsibility for appointing the national agencies and overseeing their work.
Erasmus+ will provide opportunities for over four million Europeans to study, train, gain work experience and volunteer abroad. To tackle the skills gaps we are facing in Europe, Erasmus+ will also support transnational partnerships among education, training and youth institutions and organisations to foster cooperation and bridge the worlds of education and work. It will also support national efforts to modernise education, training and youth systems. In 2014, it is anticipated that Ireland will receive €19 million in funding for Erasmus+ activities.
84. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding additional accommodation at a school (details supplied) in County Kerry. [15859/14]
View answerThe school to which the Deputy refers was approved additional resource room accommodation in March 2012. However a further application was received recently from the school in question requesting that an adjustment to the accommodation approved. Following assessment of the further application concerned and the additional information provided, my Department has advised the school authorities that funding has been approved for the provision of an additional mainstream classroom and resource room. This level of accommodation will meet the schools immediate accommodation needs. My Department will be in further contact with the school authorities again shortly in relation to the proposed project.
85. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills the specific allowances available to teachers including principals working in Gaeltacht areas. [15863/14]
View answerIn 2012 a public service-wide review of allowances was carried out by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. As a result of the review, qualification allowances and certain other premium payments were abolished with effect from 1st February 2012. Department of Education and Skills Circular 0008/2013 outlines the effect of this decision on teachers. The Circular was agreed under the auspices of the Teachers' Conciliation Council, a body established in accordance with the terms of the Conciliation and Arbitration Scheme for Teachers.
The Council is composed of representatives of the teacher representative bodies, school management, the Department of Education and Skills and Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, chaired by an official of the Labour Relations Commission. The specific allowance payable to teachers including principals who worked in Gaeltacht areas is the Gaeltacht allowance which was withdrawn for new beneficiaries from 1 February 2012. Where a teacher held the Gaeltacht allowance on 31 January 2012 they will continue to be paid that allowance unless he/she ceases the job, in which case the teacher will lose his/her entitlement.
86. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will give consideration to the provision of general purpose room at a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15912/14]
View answerI can confirm that the school in question applied to my Department for major capital funding for the replacement of prefabricated accommodation with a permanent structure and also for the provision of a General Purpose Room. I am pleased to advise the Deputy that funding for the replacement of the prefabricated accommodation was provided under the 2012 Prefab Replacement Scheme. In view of the constraints imposed by the need to prioritise available funding for the provision of essential classroom accommodation, my Department is not in a position to provide funding for a General Purpose Room at this time.
The Deputy will be aware that the over-riding objective of Education capital expenditure is to meet the demographic challenge facing the education system, whereby total pupil enrolment in both primary and post-primary schools is expected to grow by around 107,000 additional pupils between 2012 and 2019 - over 70,000 at primary level and over 35,000 at post primary - and will continue to rise at post primary level to the year 2026, at least. The five year construction plan prioritises major school projects in areas where future significant demographic changes have been identified. My Department's over riding objective is to prioritise available funding to meet this demographic demand and to provide essential classroom accommodation where additional teachers are approved. Funding for General Purpose Rooms can only be considered within this context.
