Wednesday, 18 Jun 2014

Written Answers Nos. 53 - 61

Teaching Council of Ireland

Questions (53)

Arthur Spring

Question:

53. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Education and Skills the time it takes to process a membership registration application to the Teaching Council. [26194/14]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The Teaching Council is the body with statutory authority for the registration of teachers. The processing time for an application for registration varies on the type of application and whether an assessment of qualifications is required (to determine if the qualification(s) meet the Council's registration criteria).

Applicants including newly qualified teachers (NQTs) who have provided full documentation and have completed the Garda Vetting process at the time of application are typically registered within one/two weeks of the date of application. However in cases where requested documentation remains outstanding, where qualification(s) assessment is required, where the outcome of the Garda Vetting process is not returned in a timely manner, or where the Evidence of Character Panel is required to consider the outcome of the Garda Vetting process, the registration process may be considerably longer.

The Council processes applications from teachers who have completed their initial teacher education qualifications in other EU Member States under the terms of Council Directive 2005/36/EC. The processing timeframes for such applications are set out under Article 51 of said Directive and the Council endeavours to remain compliant with the stated timeframes.

Special Educational Needs Staffing

Questions (54)

Robert Troy

Question:

54. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will reverse the decision to cut special needs assistants by a further 10%; and if he will make a commitment to review the current guidelines and increase the number of allocated SNAs per school. [26199/14]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

There has been no cut to the number of special needs assistants in schools. In fact, in December 2013, the Govenment announced it was increasing the number of SNA posts available for allocation to schools, in order to reflect demographic growth and increased demand for SNA support. The existing provision for 10,575 SNA posts has been increased by 390 to 10,965 posts, which are being made available for allocation to the end of 2014, of which 10,656 posts are currently in place. The increased provision will bring to almost 11,000 the number of SNA posts available to work with children who have an assessed care need requiring SNA support in primary, post primary, and special schools. This will ensure that the Department's policy of ensuring that every child who is assessed as needing SNA support will receive access to such support.

In June 2011, my Department published a Value for Money and Policy Review of the SNA scheme. In May 2013, the National Council for Special Education published its Policy Advice on Supporting Children with Special Educational Needs in Schools. Both reports concluded that the SNA scheme has been highly successful in supporting the care needs of children with special needs in schools and with assisting to facilitate their integration and inclusion. However, the reports also concluded that the intended purpose of the scheme was not always generally well understood by parents or schools and that the scope and purpose of the scheme should be clarified for schools.

My Department accordingly prepared a new Circular for schools, which was designed to clarify the scope and purpose of the SNA scheme, in accordance with the recommendations of the reports and policy advice noted above. It should not be assumed that this will automatically lead to a reduction in SNA support for individual pupils, or for schools who have pupils who have continuing care needs. The purpose of Circular 0030/2014 which issued on 10th April last, is therefore to clarify the scope and purpose of the SNA scheme for schools, in accordance with the recommendations of these reports.

SOLAS Training and Education Programmes Administration

Questions (55)

Niall Collins

Question:

55. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 175 of 8 April 2014, if he will provide an update on a matter (details supplied). [26208/14]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills

I understand from SOLAS that following the closure of a Local Training Initiative in 2012, Statutory Redundancy was paid to the persons involved. Local Training Initiatives are funded through SOLAS and managed and operated by local groups. The staff are employed by these groups and my Department does not have a direct role in relation to staff and employment issues relating to these bodies. However, guidance has been sought by SOLAS on the payment of enhanced redundancy and the matter is being reviewed in my Department. The matter has also been referred to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform for consideration.

School Curriculum

Questions (56)

Sean Fleming

Question:

56. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will reverse the decision on the proposal that the civic, social and political education, CSPE, subject will be removed as a compulsory State examinable subject in the new junior cycle curriculum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26221/14]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

One of the Principles which underpin the new Framework for Junior Cycle is "inclusive education" and during their 3 years in junior cycle students will be expected to cover 24 'Statements of Learning' which encompass the key knowledge and skills required by our young people if they are to become active and involved citizens. In addition, there are 8 key skills which include "working with others" whereby students should realise and experience how they can "contribute to making the world a better place".

One of the statements of learning requires that students will " value what it means to be an active citizen with rights and responsibilities in local and wider context". As students will be expected to experience the principles, statements of learning and key skills, it is anticipated that education for active citizenship will continue to be an important part of the new Junior Cycle. I recently approved a new short course in CSPE that has been developed by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA). This short course will be available to schools to implement from this September, should they wish to do so, as part of their Junior Cycle programme. This programme is in fact designed for 100 hours of teaching compared to less than 70 hours for the existing CSPE syllabus.

The CSPE short course will be complemented at Senior Cycle by the introduction of 'Politics and Society' as a new optional Leaving Certificate subject. The draft syllabus for Politics and Society, which has been developed by the NCCA, is structured around four key areas. One of these areas is 'Active Citizenship'. The Politics and Society subject will be made available to schools once the NCCA has advised my Department on a number of outstanding issues.

In the context of the implementation of the Framework for Junior Cycle the only subjects that will be "compulsory" are English, Mathematics and Irish. This decision has been taken to give schools the flexibility to develop their Junior Cycle programme mindful of the educational needs of their own students and mindful of the principles, statements of learning and key skills as set out in the Framework.

Schools Site Acquisitions

Questions (57)

Jerry Buttimer

Question:

57. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on the progress being made in establishing two new secondary schools in the Carrigaline and south Cork suburbs; the criteria that will be used in determining the locations of both schools; if the location of each school will be influenced by the location of other schools with similar ethos, or the lack thereof; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26230/14]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

My Department is currently working with Cork County Council to secure sites to facilitate the schools referred to by the Deputy. When sites have been secured, my Department will be in contact with the respective patrons in relation to the locations of the individual schools. All relevant issues will be taken into account in this regard including the outcome of the patronage determination process for the new schools.

Summer Works Scheme Eligibility

Questions (58)

Patrick O'Donovan

Question:

58. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a decision will issue on an appeal under the summer works scheme in respect of a school (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26244/14]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I can confirm for the Deputy that my Department is currently considering the appeal under the summer works scheme submitted by the school to which he refers and expects to be in a position to advise the school of the outcome shortly.

School Transport Administration

Questions (59, 60, 61)

Billy Kelleher

Question:

59. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 196 of 8 April 2014 if the Secretary General of his Department was aware when he personally told the Comittee of Public Accounts on 15 May 2014, "we are confident in the robustness of the systems we have in place but we have been seeking to enhance them and we are open to further enhancements", that his Department allowed the non-compliance with the EU directive by allowing direct awards of contracts to be made in 100% of the contracts awarded to private school bus contractors in the school transport scheme from 1 July 1993 when Directive 92/50 became law in Ireland up to the 2010/2011 school year; the action he will take; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26259/14]

Billy Kelleher

Question:

60. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 196 of 8 April 2014, if he will set out in tabular form for County Cork the number and percentage of contracts and the total values of contracts awarded to school transport sub-contractors in compliance with the public procurement directive; if he will do the same for the contracts that were non-compliant with the directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26260/14]

Billy Kelleher

Question:

61. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 196 of 8 April 2014, if he will confirm that Bus Éireann in respect of the school transport scheme has used the negotiated procedure in inappropriate circumstances which are not in compliance with either of the Directives 2004/18 or 2004/17 in regard to 100% of the contracts awarded to sub-contractors since 2011; if he will obtain legal advice from a senior counsel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26261/14]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills

I propose to take Questions Nos. 59 to 61, inclusive, together.

My Department is in contact with Bus Éireann in relation to the detail of the Deputy's question. The information requested will be provided directly to the Deputy when received.