Written Answers Nos. 93 - 99
93. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills of the schools that have sports complexes attached, which of the schools are fee-paying; and the level of funding provided to each school each year since 2010 for maintenance of swimming pools and other facilities. [20555/14]
View answerThe Department does not provide funding to fee charging schools in respect of sports complexes. Sports Complexes were established between 1972 and 1974 in the Community & Comprehensive school sector and it was anticipated that they would be operated on a self-financing basis. Currently there are four sports complexes in the Community & Comprehensive school sector that receive recurrent funding from the Department. They are located at the following schools: Newpark Comprehensive School, Coolmine Community School, Mayfield Community School and Tallaght Community School. All of these schools are in the free education scheme and each receives €44,000 annually.
There was also a sports complex established at St. Enda's Community School in Limerick City. However, this complex closed in 2011. The details regarding the funding to each school since 2010 are set out in the following table.
Sports Complex Annual Funding 2010-2014
|
- |
2010 |
2010 |
2011 |
2011 |
2012 |
2012 |
2013 |
2013 |
2014 |
2014 |
|
- |
Annual Grant |
Additional Funding |
Annual Grant |
Additional Funding |
Annual Grant |
Additional Funding |
Annual Grant |
Additional Funding |
Annual Grant |
Additional Funding |
|
Newpark Comprehensive |
€44,000.00 |
€0.00 |
€44,000.00 |
€0.00 |
€44,000.00 |
€0.00 |
€44,000.00 |
€0.00 |
€44,000.00 |
€0.00 |
|
Coolmine Community School |
€44,000.00 |
€0.00 |
€44,000.00 |
€0.00 |
€44,000.00 |
€0.00 |
€44,000.00 |
€0.00 |
€44,000.00 |
€0.00 |
|
Tallaght Community School |
€44,000.00 |
€20,000.00 |
€44,000.00 |
€61,000.00 |
€44,000.00 |
€0.00 |
€44,000.00 |
€0.00 |
€44,000.00 |
€0.00 |
|
Mayfield Community School |
€44,000.00 |
€0.00 |
€44,000.00 |
€0.00 |
€44,000.00 |
€0.00 |
€44,000.00 |
€0.00 |
€44,000.00 |
€0.00 |
|
St. Endas Community School |
€44,000.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
|
Total |
€220,000.00 |
€20,000.00 |
€176,000.00 |
€61,000.00 |
€176,000.00 |
€0.00 |
€176,000.00 |
€0.00 |
€176,000.00 |
€0.00 |
94. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason the CAO communicated with an applicant (details supplied) on 23 April 2014 that they failed to submit necessary documentation to enable their application to be processed in order to enable them to be considered for a DARE course while on 12 March 2014 a letter of confirmation was furnished to the applicant indicating that they had completed the first stage of the application process for DARE and that they were successful, and were eligible to compete for one of the courses on condition they achieved the minimum entry requirements to the said course; if he will ensure that the letter of 12 March 2014 is the correct recognition of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20557/14]
View answerThe Disability Access Route to Education (DARE) is a third-level admissions scheme for students with a disability. The scheme is operated by a number of higher education institutions and not by my Department. Admissions to the institutions are regulated by the institutions themselves. The Deputy may wish to contact the Irish Universities Association in this instance. Further details in relation to the DARE scheme are also available at www.accesscollege.ie.
95. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding an exemption from mathematics at second level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20585/14]
View answerThe approach to teaching and learning in schools is that teachers use differentiation to address different rates of learning and learning skills and abilities in pupils. My Department supports the holistic development of the student and, other than in the case of Irish (which is under review), exempting pupils from a key subject area, such as mathematics, is not recommended in view of the need to support the student's overall development. The aim is to develop skills at the level and rate that suits the student's abilities (and disabilities).
Examinations at post-primary level are designed to provide opportunities for candidates across the achievement range to show what they know, understand and can do so as to be fair to candidates and to facilitate a spread of grades across the available range. The State Examinations Commission (SEC) operates a Scheme of Reasonable Accommodations at the Certificate Examinations (RACE scheme). The scheme is designed to assist candidates with special needs at the certificate examinations. Within the context of the RACE scheme the term 'special need' applies to candidates who have a physical disability, including visual and hearing impairments, or a specific learning difficulty.
96. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Education and Skills the action his Department has taken to date to ensure that all children in an area (details supplied) have a school place for September 2014; if additional classes have been allocated to the primary schools in the area and, if so, which schools; when this matter will be concluded as it is causing significant stress and worry for many parents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20611/14]
View answer15 additional classrooms were put in place in the area to which the Deputy refers for the 2013/2014 school year following the completion of two new school buildings for a Gaelscoil and an Educate Together school. Devolved funding has been made available for the provision of a further 5 mainstream classrooms to cater for accommodation needs in the area in 2013 and 2014. The breakdown of this accommodation provision is: St. Laurences N.S. - 2 classrooms; St. Patrick's N.S. - 2 classrooms; St. Kevin's N.S. - 1 classroom. My Department will keep the area under review to ensure that any further accommodation needs are met in a timely manner.
97. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the total projected cost to the Exchequer of section 11 of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2013, which, effective from 1 January 2014, reduces the pension related deduction rate on the €15,000 to €20,000 pay band from 5% to 2.5%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20398/14]
View answerThe reduction in the rate of Pension Related Deduction (PRD) applied to the €15,000 to €20,000 band of pay fell from 5% to 2.5% on 1 January 2014. This rate cut is worth €125 annually in gross terms to most public servants, with those taxed at the standard rate enjoying the greater gain in terms of take-home pay boost. In terms of annual impact on the public finances, this rate reduction is expected to reduce overall PRD receipts by some €40 million.
98. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide in tabular form the gross yield to the State in each year since 2009 from the pension related deduction paid by public servants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20399/14]
View answerThe Exchequer yield from the public service pension-related deduction (PRD) in the years 2009 to 2013 is as follows: 2009 - €837.419 million; 2010 - €948.605 million; 2011 - €960.224 million; 2012 - €934.739 million; 2013 - €930.284 million (provisional). These figures do not include non-Exchequer PRD receipts, as arising for example in the local government sector.
99. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of public servants enrolled in the single public service pension scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20400/14]
View answerThe Single Public Service Pension Scheme, which was launched on 1 January 2013, is the default pension scheme for persons commencing employment in the public service from that date onward. The Single Scheme is administered at workplace level in a large number of "relevant authorities", which equate to individual employments or sectors. The most recent information on the total number of members of the Single Scheme across the entire public service in 2013 reflects the outcome of a survey of all Single Scheme relevant authorities undertaken by my Department earlier this year. Based on the outcome of that survey, it is estimated that some 11,000 persons were enrolled as members of the Single Scheme in 2013. This figure includes significant numbers of temporary staff, not all of whom would have remained in post at end 2013.
