Wednesday, 9 Apr 2014

Written Answers Nos. 61-66

State Examinations Commission

Questions (61)

Seán Fleming

Question:

61. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills why retired teachers who wish to apply for the position of supervisor of State examinations are required to register again with the Teaching Council of Ireland and, because they have retired and are not current teachers, must now produce and submit their original degree documentation, which would be over 40 years old, and apply for Garda vetting notwithstanding the fact that they recently completed 40 years teaching in the same school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16896/14]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations including matters related to the recruitment and appointment of contract staff. In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.

State Examinations Commission

Questions (62)

Seán Fleming

Question:

62. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills if teachers with 40 years' service who have retired and, therefore, no longer have to pay the annual fee to the Teaching Council can engage as supervisors for the junior and leaving certificate examinations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16897/14]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations including matters related to the recruitment and appointment of contract staff. In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.

School Accommodation

Questions (63)

Seán Fleming

Question:

63. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills if funding will be provided for additional accommodation for a school (details supplied) in County Laois; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16898/14]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I wish to advise the Deputy that the school referred to has not submitted an application for additional accommodation to my Department. My Department's over riding objective is to prioritise available funding to meet demographic demand and to provide essential classroom accommodation where additional teachers are approved. In that context, it is open to the school in question to make an application for additional accommodation to meet increasing enrolments.

Youth Employment Initiative

Questions (64)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

64. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of years Ireland will benefit from the youth employment initiative. [16901/14]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

Ireland's allocation under the Youth Employment Initiative covers the years 2014 and 2015. However, under terms of the EU Regulations (Article 136 of 1303/2013), Ireland has an additional three years beyond 2015 to spend the full allocation, should we need it.

Youth Employment Initiative

Questions (65)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

65. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills Ireland's allocation from the EU's youth employment initiative. [16923/14]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

Ireland's allocation under the Youth Employment Initiative is €68.145m. , which will be matched by €68.145m from the European Social Fund and this requires to be matched by another €68.145m from the Exchequer.

School Transport Provision

Questions (66)

Clare Daly

Question:

66. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the recommendations in the Farrell Grant Sparks report that were not implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16925/14]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills

The FGS report assessed a range of options for alternative methods for the calculation of the transport management charge in place of the current 13% approach. None of the recommendations of the report was implemented.