Written Answers Nos. 45-51
45. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 358 to 362 inclusive, the nature of the support that is provided by the special education support service to teachers; and if he will provide a list of the various types of supports provided to teachers by the SESS. [17037/14]
View answer46. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 358 to 362, inclusive, the manner in which teachers are made aware of the nature of supports available to them through the special education support service. [17039/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 45 and 46 together.
My Department provides for a comprehensive system of continuing professional development (CPD) for teachers in the area of special educational needs. Central to this is the Special Education Support Service (SESS) whose brief is to enhance the quality of learning and teaching of students with special educational needs through the provision of CPD and support for teachers in mainstream schools, primary and post-primary special schools, and special classes. The focus of this support is on helping schools to meet the diverse and unique learning needs of students. Strong emphasis is placed on individual learning styles, the assessment of students' unique learning needs, and on the individualised planning of instruction to meet those needs.
Teachers can contact SESS directly or can access information on an ongoing basis on the SESS website which includes a comprehensive calendar of events. Support may take the form of providing information and advice by telephone or email, providing access to a seminar or course, in-school support or the provision of funding through the SESS support scheme, details of which can be accessed on the website at www.sess.ie.
47. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills the amount of money that has been saved by the changes in the pupil-teacher ratio in the 12-month period between February 2013 to February 2014; if he will indicate the way in which these savings were used; his proposals to reverse the changes introduced in the pupil-teacher ratio; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17081/14]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that as part of the Budget 2012 decisions, there is a phased increase in the number of pupils required to gain and retain a classroom teaching post in small primary schools with four teachers or less. The first phase of the budget measure took effect from September 2012. The final phase of the budget measure takes effect from September 2014. An appeals process is available to small schools which have had their staff number reduced as a result of the budget measure. A school with four classroom teachers or less which is losing a teacher or failed to gain an additional teacher as a result of the Budget 2012 measure can submit an appeal to the Primary Staffing Appeals Board. Circular 0007/2014 provides the criteria under which schools can make an appeal. The Appeal Board operates independently of the Department and its decision is final.
The time period referred to by the Deputy in relation to savings from this budget measure straddles two school years, 2012/13 and 2013/14. The savings achieved in the 2012/13 school year (September, 2012 - August, 2013) was circa €3.7m and in the 2013/14 school year (September, 2013 - September, 2014) was circa €7m.
Funding saved by this measure has been used to cover the costs of additional teachers required for demographics and pupils with special needs.
Our current configuration of small primary schools has been examined by the Department in a value for money (VFM) review. This review took account of the ethos of schools and the locations of small schools relative to other schools of a similar type. I am currently considering this review in consultation with my Government colleagues and I intend to publish the report on completion of this consideration process.
48. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on amending the qualifications for tuition providers under the July provision scheme for persons working with children on the autism spectrum where no teachers from the child's school are available to participate in the scheme, in order that other persons who assist in providing educational supports to the child, such as special needs assistants, and are known the child, may participate in the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17092/14]
View answerJuly Provision is available to all special schools and mainstream primary schools with special classes catering for children with autism that choose to extend their education services through the month of July. My Department also provides July Provision for pupils with a severe/profound general learning disability. Where school based provision is not feasible, home based provision may be grant aided.
Where a school chooses not to extend their services for July, eligible children in the school will be granted home based July Provision, on application.
As the home based provision takes place outside the usual school structure it is important that home tutors are qualified to provide an educational programme. It is appropriate therefore that the qualification standard in the Home Based July Provision generally reflects that required in a school environment.
Home tutors should be fully qualified teachers who are registered with the Teaching Council of Ireland. When it is not possible to recruit a fully qualified teacher then consideration will be given to the engagement of a tutor who is registered with the Teaching Council and has a primary degree (minimum level 7 FETAC) in a relevant area including e.g. psychology. If an SNA meets these standards they can also be considered in this context. Therefore I see no basis for amending the qualification requirements for tutors.
49. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a person (details supplied) in Dublin 24 has been awarded a Student Universal Support Ireland grant for 2013-14 having supplied the required documents. [17116/14]
View answerOfficials in my Department have been informed by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) that the student referred to by the Deputy was not eligible for a grant under the nationality criteria.
Under the terms of the student grant scheme, grant assistance is awarded to students who meet the prescribed conditions of funding including those which relate to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means. The nationality requirements for the student grant scheme are set out in section 14 of the Student Support Act 2011 and regulation 5 of the Student Support Regulations 2013.
In all cases, to qualify for a student grant, it is the grant applicant and not his/her parents that must meet the nationality or prescribed immigration status requirements in their own right. The onus is on the grant applicant to provide the necessary documentary evidence as proof of their nationality or immigration status to the relevant grant awarding authority.
Article 32 of the Student Grant Scheme 2013 provides for the review of eligibility for the award of a grant in the event of changes of circumstances in the academic year, including a change in relation to a student's nationality or immigration status. This means that where a student acquires Irish citizenship by naturalisation during the course of their studies he/she may apply to SUSI to have his/her application re-assessed.
Officials in my Department have been informed by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) that the student referred to by the Deputy did not appeal the decision by the closing date 4th January 2014.
50. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills in view of the Taoiseach's comments following the case of a person (details supplied) stating that the Government would settle the outstanding cases in a timely manner, if he will confirm that it is going to deal directly with the outstanding cases; when it envisages it will be dealing with the outstanding cases or their solicitors; if not, is it expected that the matters are to return to the High Court; and the monetary or other compensation it is considering. [17121/14]
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. I expect to receive this review very shortly following which I will be reporting back to Government on the matter.
51. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 146 of 2 October 2013, if he will provide an update with regard to the case currently before the Employment Appeals Tribunal; if he will consider the implications of that decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17128/14]
View answerI am advised by the school in question that the Employment Appeals Tribunal has not as yet issued a decision in the case referred to by the Deputy.
When the Tribunal issue a decision, I will consider the implications of that decision.
