Written Answers Nos. 62-66
62. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of appointments to State boards under the remit of his Department in each year from 2011 to 2014, inclusive; the number that were publicly advertised; the reason all appointments are not open to public competition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26269/14]
View answerThe information requested on the number of appointments made to State boards in the last three years is outlined in the following table. The Deputy should note that Board appointments, while made by me as Minister, are not in all cases made at my sole discretion. Individuals may be nominated for appointment by various organisations as specified in the relevant statute of the body concerned. Vacancies on other boards of Bodies under the aegis of my Department that arise will continue to be advertised on my Department's website and at www.publicjobs.ie. The Deputy should further note that in making any direct Ministerial appointments, I am not necessarily confined to those who make such expressions of interest but will ensure that all of those appointed have the relevant skills and competencies for the positions.
|
Name of Board |
Number of appointments made to state boards since 2011 |
Number of positions advertised over which the Minister can directly appoint [Note 1] |
Appointments made from members of the public who applied through the PAS process |
Year appointments made |
|
An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta (COGG) |
2 |
0 |
0 |
2012 |
|
An Foras Áiseanna Saothair (FÁS) |
3 [Note 2] |
0 |
0 |
2011/2013 |
|
Grangegorman Development Agency (GDA) |
15 |
7 |
3 |
2012 |
|
Higher Education Authority (HEA) |
10 |
9 |
2 |
2012 |
|
Irish Research Council |
14 |
0 |
0 |
2012 |
|
Léargas |
12 |
9 |
0 |
2012/2013 |
|
National Centre for Guidance in Education (NCGE) |
12 |
1 |
0 |
2013 |
|
National Council for Curriculum & Assessment (NCCA) |
26 [Note 3] |
3 |
2 |
2012 (25) and 2013 (1) |
|
National Council for Special Education (NCSE) |
14 |
13 |
2 |
2013 |
|
Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) |
10 |
8 |
3 |
2012 |
|
Skillnets Ltd |
4 |
0 |
0 |
2011/2012 |
|
State Examinations Commission (SEC) |
5 |
5 |
2 |
2012 |
|
Teaching Council |
37 |
3 |
0 |
2012 |
|
An tSeirbhís Oideachais Leanúnaigh agus Scileanna (SOLAS) |
13 |
9 |
9 |
2013 |
|
Residential Institutions Statutory Fund (RISF) |
10 [Note 4] |
9 |
4 [Note 4] |
2013 |
|
Residential Institution Redress Board (RIRB) |
See [Note 5] |
- |
- |
- |
|
Residential Institution Review Committee (RIRC) |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Education Finance Board (EFB) |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Note 1: Appointments, while made by the Minister, are not in all cases made at his sole discretion. Individuals may be nominated for appointment by various organisations as specified in the relevant statute of the body concerned.
Note 2: Two interim appointments were made to the Board of Foras Áiseanna Saothair (FÁS) in January 2013 pending the dissolution of the body in October 2013. Accordingly, these vacancies were not published on PAS. Appointments to the Board of FÁS were made following consultation with the Minister for Social Protection and the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation.
Note 3: The 25 member NCCA was appointed in 2012 with one resignee being replaced in November 2013.
Note 4: Following the resignation of an appointee, the consequential vacancy was filled by a person who had submitted an expression of interest to PAS. A further two appointees applied directly to the Department.
Note 5: The existing members of the Residential Institutions Redress Board (RIRB) and the Residential Institutions Review Committee (RIRC) were re-appointed in December 2011 for a period of two years and again in December 2013 for a further period of 5 months or until such time as the bodies have completed their work, whichever is the sooner. The Chairperson of the RIRB is paid an annual salary equivalent to the President of the Circuit Court (in February 2012) subject to pension abatement while the Chairperson of the RIRC is paid an annual salary equivalent to a Supreme Court Judge subject to pension abatement. Since October 2011 the Chairperson has taken a 50% voluntary reduction in salary. The other board members of both the RIRB and the RIRC are paid a per diem rate and pension abatement applies in the case of members receiving a pension from the State. The per diem rate from 1st January 2014 is €624.
The final membership of the Education Finance Board (EFB) were appointed in February 2012 for a one year term or until the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund (RISF) was established whichever was the earlier. The RISF was established and the EFB dissolved in March 2013. The 9 member Board consisted of a Chairperson, four former residents of institutions and four ordinary members. The views of survivor groups and other interested parties were sought on appointments of former resident members of the Board. The members were not remunerated.
63. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will reconsider the planned closure of the Ballymun training centre and instead provide the capital funding needed to transfer the centre to the previously agreed alternative premises; the measures that will be taken to support staff and students in the event of the centre's closure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26300/14]
View answerThis is a day to day operational matter for City of Dublin Education and Training Board (ETB) and I have asked the ETB to contact the Deputy directly to clarify the position.
64. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the review process that has led to the possible loss of an special needs assistant from a school (details supplied) in County Longford. [26304/14]
View answerThe National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) for allocating a quantum of Special Needs Assistant (SNA) support for each school annually taking into account the assessed care needs of children qualifying for SNA support. Where children have significant care needs whereby they may need additional support to be able to attend school, the NCSE may make an allocation of SNA support to the school to assist that child. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support. The criteria by which SNA support is allocated to pupils is set out in my Department's Circular 0030/2014.
The deployment of SNAs within schools is then a matter for the individual Principal/Board of Management. SNAs should be deployed by the school in a manner which best meets the care support requirements of the children enrolled in the school for whom SNA support has been allocated. It is a matter for schools to allocate support as required, and on the basis of individual need, which allows schools flexibility in how the SNA support is utilised. The NCSE invited schools to make applications for SNA support for children who have assessed care needs for the coming 2014/15 school year by 26th March 2014, for their consideration. Details of the NCSE application criteria are available at www.ncse.ie. The NCSE intend to advise all schools of their SNA allocations for the coming school year before the end of the current school year.
All schools have the names and contact details of their local SENO. Parents may also contact their local SENO directly to discuss their child's special educational needs, using the contact details available on www.ncse.ie.
65. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans for temporary classrooms (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26321/14]
View answerThe school to which the Deputy refers is currently occupying a number of rented prefab units pending the construction of the new school building. It will be the responsibility of the school authority to arrange for the removal and return of these units to the prefab supplier when the new school building is completed. Only one of the prefabs on site has been purchased. A decision on the future use of this prefab will be taken when the new school is completed. Depending on the age and condition of the prefab, the need for the unit for educational use elsewhere can be considered in consultation with the school when the new building is completed.
66. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a resolution to an longstanding unresolved issue (details supplied) over an employment dispute is likely to be forthcoming in the near future; if he will indicate a timeframe to which a substantive response is likely to issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26344/14]
View answerAn official from my Department has been in contact with the person concerned regarding the issues raised by the Deputy and outlined the current position to her.
