Written Answers Nos. 52-58
52. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 63 and 64 of 27 March 2014, the reason the date for the school to be built changed from September 2014 to September 2015 and has now been changed to 2015-16; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17130/14]
View answerThe school referred to by the Deputy was included on the list of projects, announced in March 2012, to commence construction in 2015/16 and I can advise the Deputy that there has been no change on the list in relation to the school concerned. This list is available on my Department's website.
As previously outlined, my Department is working in conjunction with Cork County Council towards securing as soon as possible a permanent site to meet the needs of the school to which the Deputy refers. Once the acquisition of a site is finalised, a design team for the project will be appointed with a view to its progression to tender and construction.
53. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans for the provision of accommodation for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17131/14]
View answerI am pleased to advise the Deputy that the school to which he refers has recently been approved a significant devolved grant for the provision of two ensuite mainstream classrooms and three resource rooms to replace existing temporary accommodation. This level of replacement accommodation will meet the schools immediate accommodation needs.
54. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the FGS report 2009 recommended that his Department negotiate a reduction in Bus Éireann charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17143/14]
View answer55. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the FGS report identified areas of services for which Bus Éireann was paid in excess of the amount it cost it to provide the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17144/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 54 and 55 together.
The report did not recommend that the Department negotiate a reduction in Bus Éireann charges. The arrangements for the payments to Bus Éireann in respect of school transport services are set out in the 1975 Summary of Accounting Arrangements.
There are two elements to these arrangements: Direct costs are paid as incurred by Bus Éireann. The FGS report did not identify any such services where Bus Eireann was paid sums in excess of those amounts. Indirect costs, covered in the transport management charge, are paid on the basis of applying a charge of 13% to direct costs. This does not involve payment on the basis of identified areas of services. It is my intention, my Department having concluded discussions with Bus Éireann in relation to issues which may be commercially sensitive, that the FGS report will be published shortly and available to the Deputy.
56. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if there are plans to amalgamate schools (details supplied) in County Galway; the work that has been done to date or the future plans that exist; if there is a timeframe for this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17153/14]
View answerThe decision making authority for any amalgamation belongs to the Patron of a school, subject to the approval of the Minister for Education and Skills. My Department's role is to facilitate any such proposal or discussions between the relevant parties. The initiative for an amalgamation may come from a variety of sources, such as parents, staff, Board of Management and Patron. The schools to which the Deputy refers had been in discussion with my Department over a number of years in respect of a proposed amalgamation of the two post primary schools in question and the provision of a new school building for an amalgamated school. The most recent correspondence in the matter from the school was in 2010 at which time Department officials advised the school authorities that in the context of the projected demographic growth in the area and the capital funding commitment required, it was the Department's view that the existing primary and post primary schools should continue to operate independently in order to continue to meet the demand for school places. I understand that enrolments in the area have increased slightly in the intervening period. Amalgamations that may have major capital implications can only be considered within the context of my Department's capital budget and the challenges facing my Department in meeting national demographic demands.
57. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the EU Commission on 21 March 2014 indicated in answer number E-000830/2014 that it has not seen the Farrell Grant Sparks report on the review of overhead and indirect costs for the administration of the school transport scheme, completed in October 2009, and that it will request a copy of the report from the Irish authorities; the action he will take regarding same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17155/14]
View answerI am not aware of the answer referred to by the Deputy. My Department will fully consider any request for information from the EU Commission upon receipt of a request.
58. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason his Department did not give the Farrell Grant Sparks report on the review of the overhead and indirect costs for the administration of the school transport scheme completed in October 2009 to the EU Commission state aid investigation C31/07; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17156/14]
View answerThe European Commission commenced an investigation with regard to State aid to Bus Éireann and Dublin Bus in 2007. The State's response was coordinated by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and my Department supplied any information to that Department as required by the Commission. Neither the FGS report, nor information relating to, or contained in the report, was sought as part of the investigation.
