Seán Ó Fearghaíl
Question:15. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans for third level education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16470/14]
View answerThird Level Reform
Questions (15)
Written answers
The broad tenets of higher education policy in Ireland were set out in the National Strategy for Higher Education published January 2011. I am implementing a wide ranging reform programme in higher education based in part on the NSHE which will enhance the quality of research, teaching and engagement in the system, modernise governance and accountability of institutions and a restructuring of the system to achieve those aims. I have published my instructions for system restructuring that will strengthen the university sector; consolidate the institute of technology sector and put in place a process for merged institutes to become a technological university; and establish regional clusters. I am bringing through legislation to enable these reforms. A new System Performance Framework for 2014-16 is now in place and Government system objectives have been conveyed to HEIs by the HEA. The first performance compacts are being finalised. The first Annual System Performance Report from HEA to me is expected shortly.
Schools Grievance Procedures
Questions (16)
Jim Daly
Question:16. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he is satisfied with the recourse available to parents of children who have been left disadvantaged by the administrative decision of a school board of management to obtain an independent impartial opinion on the management decision; the rationale for the board making the particular decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16339/14]
View answerWritten answers
Section 28 of the Education Act 1998 provides for grievance and appeal procedures in schools. It expresses a desirability of determining appeals and resolving grievances in the school concerned. Section 29 of the Act sets out a limited set of circumstances a parent can appeal administrative decisions of a school. These are confined to expulsions, suspensions or refusal to enrol. The Government has approved the drafting of the Admissions to School Bill 2014 in which the extent to which refusal to enrol will or will not be subject to a Section 29 appeal will be addressed. I am not satisfied with the current provisions of Section 28. I plan to revise it in order to provide in law for a Parent and Student Charter. Changing how schools engage with, listen and respond to parent concerns will be an important part of a Charter. Providing parents with the rationale for any decision is important. If schools help parents to understand the basis for a decision parents are more likely to accept the fairness of decisions.
Third Level Funding
Questions (17)
Charlie McConalogue
Question:17. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans for the future funding of third level education and the student registration charge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16468/14]
View answerWritten answers
Work is ongoing between my Department and the Higher Education Authority (HEA) on future funding policy for higher education. This builds upon the substantial amount of work already undertaken by the HEA. The objective is to identify a range of approaches that, combined, will achieve a sustainable funding base to address the continual expansion of the sector while protecting the quality of education. After the introduction of free fees under Niamh Breathnach, successive Fianna Fail Ministers oversaw a 922% increase in the student service charge, between 1997 and 2011. The Student Contribution (formerly the Student Services Charge) stands at €2,500 for the current academic year and is payable by students who qualify under my Department's free fees schemes. I have already signalled my intention to increase the Student Contribution by €250 each year hereafter until the 2015/16 academic year when the contribution will stand at €3,000. We have tried to preserve as much equity of access within the system as possible, with over 40% of all undergraduate students exempt from this student contribution last year. Even with this number of students exempted from the student contribution, it remains a challenge to many families, and we still need to find a longer term solution to the funding of third level.
Question No. 18 answered with Question No. 14.