Jonathan O'Brien
Question:58. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of schools where project mathematics is available. [20488/14]
View answerSchool Curriculum
Questions (58)
Written answers
Project Maths was the title given to a major programme of reform of mathematics in second level schools for both junior cycle and senior cycle. Project Maths began in 24 schools in September 2008 and was rolled out, on a phased basis, to all mainstream second level schools from September 2010. As of September 2012. "Project Maths" as it has become known, was fully rolled out to all mainstream schools. The new Junior Certificate and Leaving Certificate syllabuses for mathematics are now available and are being implemented in all post-primary schools.
School Enrolments
Questions (59)
Jonathan O'Brien
Question:59. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will commit to ensuring that children of a different or no religion are not effectively barred from entry into faith-based schools. [20489/14]
View answerWritten answers
It is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998. In this regard a Board of Management may find it necessary to restrict enrolment to children from a particular area or a particular age group or on the basis of some other criterion. The criteria to be applied by schools in such circumstances are a matter for the schools themselves. This selection process and the enrolment policy on which it is based must be non-discriminatory and must be applied fairly in respect of all applicants. Under section 15 (2) (d) of the Education Act 1998, each school is legally obliged to publish its enrolment policy.
Existing equality legislation, which outlaws discrimination in relation to the admission of a student, makes provision for exemptions to apply in the case of single sex schools and in the case of schools where the objective is to provide education in an environment that promotes certain religious values. The legislation provides that any school that has this objective may admit a student of a particular religious denomination in preference to other students. Such a school can also refuse to admit a student who is not of that religion, provided it can prove that this refusal is essential to maintain the ethos of the school.
I have published a draft General Scheme for an Education (Admission to Schools) Bill, 2013 as well as Draft Regulations on Content of Policy and Draft Regulations on Admission Process for discussion ahead of enacting legislation. These are available on the Department's website. The Government recently gave approval for drafting the Education (Admissions to Schools) Bill 2014. I have stated that my aim in bringing forward legislative proposals in relation to school admission is to improve the admissions process and to ensure that the way schools decide on applications is structured, fair and transparent.
School Patronage
Questions (60)
Jonathan O'Brien
Question:60. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of schools he expects to be divested of Catholic church patronage during the next three years; and his plans for those schools. [20490/14]
View answerWritten answers
Three primary schools are expected to open this September under the patronage divesting process, with Educate Together as patron. While permanent buildings are not yet available for these schools, I have given the go-ahead for them in temporary start-up accommodation in order to meet parental demand for greater choice of primary schools as soon as possible.
The transfer of a Church of Ireland school to Educate Together patronage for this coming September is also under discussion. This follows the agreement of the Church of Ireland Bishop and local parents to a change of patronage. A school building for a fifth school will be in use from September by an Educate Together school. This school opened in temporary accommodation last year pending the availability of its permanent building.
Discussions are continuing to take place with the main Catholic patrons in these and in a number of other areas to identify and secure permanent accommodation for the schools in question and to enable further start-ups in 2015 and beyond. As discussions are ongoing it is not possible to estimate the number of schools expected to be divested over the next three years.
School Patronage
Questions (61)
Jonathan O'Brien
Question:61. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of applications for new schools considered by the second level patronage advisory group since its establishment; the organisations who made the applications; and the areas in which they sought schools. [20491/14]
View answerWritten answers
The Second Level Patronage Advisory Group was announced but not subsequently appointed by my predecessor. It did not, consequently, carry out any work. In June of 2011, I announced that some 20 new post-primary schools would be established over the coming years to meet demographic needs. Following on from that announcement, prospective patron bodies were invited to apply for patronage of the schools under new arrangements for determining patronage for the schools. These arrangements, which are overseen by the New Schools Establishment Group, place a heavy focus on parental choice and allow for the introduction or widening of diversity of school provision where parents want this. Full details are published on my Department's website. The details in relation to Patronage applications at post-primary level under this process and the areas concerned are contained in the following table.
Applications for Patronage of New Post Primary Schools 2013
|
- |
Dublin |
Galway |
Kildare |
Meath |
Total by Patron |
|
Patron Body |
Lusk |
Claregalway |
Naas |
Navan |
|
|
Kildare VEC |
1 |
||||
|
Co. Dublin VEC |
1 |
||||
|
Co Galway VEC |
1 |
||||
|
Meath VEC |
1 |
||||
|
The Redeemed Christian Church of God |
1 |
||||
|
Educate Together |
1 |
||||
|
Total by area |
2 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
Applications for Patronage of New Post Primary Schools 2014
|
List of Patrons |
Cork City/South Suburbs/ Carrigaline* |
Maynooth |
Drogheda |
Dundalk |
Blanchardstown West |
Mulhuddart |
Balbriggan* |
Dundrum* |
Ashbourne |
Greystones |
Total By Patron |
|
Loreto Education Trust |
1 |
||||||||||
|
Kildare VEC |
1 |
||||||||||
|
Edmund Rice Schools Trust |
1 |
||||||||||
|
Co. Dublin VEC |
3 |
||||||||||
|
Co. Dublin VEC & Church of Ireland United Diocese of Dublin & Glendalough |
1 |
||||||||||
|
Le Cheile Schools Trust |
1 |
||||||||||
|
Wicklow VEC |
1 |
||||||||||
|
Muslim Primary Education Board |
1 |
||||||||||
|
Meath VEC |
1 |
||||||||||
|
Marist Education Authority |
1 |
||||||||||
|
Co. Cork VEC |
1 |
||||||||||
|
An Foras Pátrúnachta |
3 |
||||||||||
|
Educate Together |
4 |
||||||||||
|
Louth VEC |
1 |
||||||||||
|
Louth VEC & Educate Together |
1 |
||||||||||
|
Church of Ireland United Diocese of Dublin & Glendalough |
1 |
||||||||||
|
Total by area |
2 |
2 |
4 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
*These schools will be Gaelcholáistí providing instruction through the medium of Irish
Applications for Patronage of New Post Primary Schools 2015 and 2016
|
Celbridge, Kildare - 2015 |
Balbriggan, Dublin - 2016 |
Ballinteer, Dublin - 2016 |
Kingswood, Dublin - 2016 |
|
Educate Together |
Educate Together |
Educate Together |
Dublin and Dún Laoghaire Education and Training Board(comprising the former Co. Dublin VEC) |
|
Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board (comprising the former Co. Kildare VEC) |
Dublin and Dún Laoghaire Education & Training Board (comprising the former Co. Dublin VEC) |
Dublin and Dún Laoghaire Education and Training Board (comprising the former Co. Dublin VEC) |
|
|
Educate Together AND Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board (comprising the former Co. Kildare VEC) |
|
Carrigaline, Cork - 2016 |
Midleton/Carrigtwohill, Cork - 2016 |
North Wicklow - 2016 |
Kingscourt, Cavan - 2016 |
|
Educate Together |
Educate Together |
Educate Together |
Cavan and Monaghan Education and Training Board (comprising the former Co. Cavan VEC) |
|
Edmund Rice Schools Trust |
Diocese of Cloyne AND Cork Education and Training Board (comprising the former Co. Cork VEC) |
Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board (comprising the former Co. Wicklow VEC) |
|
|
Educate Together AND Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board (comprising the former Co. Wicklow VEC) |
School Patronage
Questions (62)
Jonathan O'Brien
Question:62. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of community national schools established here; and the number that will open in the next two years. [20492/14]
View answerWritten answers
There are currently seven Community National Schools in operation in the country. A further new Community National School is expected to commence operation in September 2014. The Forward Planning Section of my Department is currently analysing demographics on a nationwide basis to identify areas where additional primary school accommodation might be needed beyond 2014. Should the need for new primary schools emerge on foot of this exercise, a patronage determination process, overseen by the New Schools Establishment Group, will be run in accordance with the criteria for deciding school patronage announced and published in June 2011.
School Accommodation
Questions (63)
Jonathan O'Brien
Question:63. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students attending school in prefab buildings during each of the past three years. [20495/14]
View answerWritten answers
My Department does not hold information on the numbers of pupils attending school in prefabricated buildings; this depends on the organisation of class groups by schools within available accommodation and may vary from year to year. Local school managements are responsible for organising their class numbers, year on year, to achieve the optimum local efficiencies.
Schools Building Projects Status
Questions (64)
Jonathan O'Brien
Question:64. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of post-primary schools which have applied for new school buildings or extensions during each of the past three years; the number of these applications which have been granted; and the current status of granted applications. [20496/14]
View answerWritten answers
I wish to advise the Deputy that details of all school capital works that have been funded by my Department may be viewed on my Department's website at www.education.ie by clicking on "Schools and Colleges", then "Building Works" and selecting the relevant headings. This is updated on a regular basis.
The 5 year School Construction Plan announced on 9 March 2012 (which is also detailed on the website), provides for a €2 billion school capital investment programme to 2016, of which €1.5 billion is being allocated to fund major school projects with the balance needed for the additional accommodation scheme, the prefab replacement initiative, the acquisition of sites and other works. The primary aim at the core of the Five Year Plan is focussed on meeting demographic demands to ensure that every child will have access to a physical school place and that our school system is in a position to cope with increasing pupil numbers. The Plan prioritises major school projects in areas where future significant demographic changes have been identified.
Further to the Five Year Plan, my Department is committed to publishing a detailed annual programme in relation to individual major school projects commencing construction. In December 2011, details of 56 major school building projects scheduled to commence construction in 2012, the first year of the Plan, were published. In December 2012, details of 50 major school building projects were announced to commence construction in 2013, the second year of the Plan (both Plans available on my Department's website). Details of the building projects that are projected to commence construction in 2014 will be announced later this year.
In addition, due to additional funding made available for the schools' building programme as part of the Government's "Investing in Infrastructure & Jobs" package announced earlier this year, 28 school projects that were not contained in the 5 year programme but have completed extensive architectural planning are now being progressed to tender and construction.
The Deputy will be aware that under the Prefab Replacement Initiative 2012, approval was given to 170 schools nationally to replace 458 prefab units with permanent accommodation. In excess of €42 million was allocated for this initiative. In June 2013, I announced a further initiative to replace prefab units with permanent accommodation. A total of €15 million has been allocated in 2013/2014 for this purpose. Forty-six schools, with 115 prefab units, will be offered grants to provide the new facilities. Replacing prefabs is part of this Government's €475 million education infrastructure plan for 2014. The Plan will provide modern, high quality accommodation for pupils and teachers. The Deputy will also be aware of my announcement on 7th November of an additional €70 million for school improvement works. In addition, details of applications for devloved funding for the provision of additional accommodation may be viewed on my Department's website.