Written Answers Nos. 1412-1439
1412. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on room assistance provision at primary school level (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34401/14]
View answerMy Department does not allocate classroom assistants to schools nor does it have any plans or funding to do so.
Classroom teachers are allocated to primary schools on the basis of a general average of 1 classroom teacher for every 28 pupils. The deployment of teachers within schools is dealt with at local school level. My Department's guidance to schools is that the number of pupils in any class is kept as low as possible taking all relevant contextual factors into account (e.g. classroom accommodation, fluctuating enrolment etc.). School authorities are also requested, where possible, to use their autonomy under the staffing schedule to implement smaller class sizes for junior classes.
1413. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on sick leave provisions at preschool and primary school level (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34402/14]
View answerWith the exception of the Early Start programme which operates in primary schools, preschool provision is administered by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs. Staff of preschools are employed by the service provider who sets the terms and conditions of employment. My Department has no role in determining the terms and conditions of employment of staff in preschools.
The Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) (Amendment) Act 2013, provided the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform with the power to make regulations that set out the specific details of a Public Service Sick Leave Scheme. Following a review of sick leave arrangements and binding Labour Court Recommendation No. LCR20335, Regulations for a new Public Service wide Sick Leave Scheme came into operation on 31st March 2014. These Regulations came into operation for teachers on 01 September 2014 and are outlined in Circular 59/2014.
Circular 59/2014 was agreed under the auspices of the Teachers' Conciliation Council, a body established in accordance with the terms of the Conciliation and Arbitration Scheme for Teachers. The Council is comprised of Representatives of Teachers, School Management, Department of Education and Skills and the Department of Public Enterprise and Reform and chaired by an official of the Labour Relations Commission.
The Public Service Stability Agreement 2013-2016 (Haddington Road Agreement) provides that, with effect from the beginning of the 2013/14 school year, participation in the Supervision Scheme is compulsory for all primary teachers. All primary teachers are required to provide 43 hours supervision per annum and this includes substitution for all uncertified sick leave absences from the 1st September 2013 and substitution for the first day of force majeure/illness in family leave from the commencement of the 2014/15 school year. The full terms of these arrangements are set out in Circular 33/2013.
The terms of Departmental Circulars are implemented by the managerial authorities of all primary schools and are of general application to all teachers.
1414. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a school (details supplied) in County Louth has been allocated a second deputy principal when they do not meet the criteria as set out by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34448/14]
View answerTeacher allocations to all second level schools are approved annually by my Department in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolment. The criteria for the allocation of posts are communicated to school managements annually and are available on the Department website. Under these arrangements an ex-quota Deputy Principal Post is allocated to each post primary school with an enrolment of at least 500 recognised pupils (such posts are filled in-quota in smaller schools). A second ex-quota Deputy Principal post is allocated to each school with a minimum enrolment of 1,000 or more recognised pupils or in DEIS schools with a minimum enrolment of 900 or more recognised pupils.
At post primary level and in accordance with existing arrangements, where a school management authority is unable to meet its curricular commitments within its approved allocation, my Department considers applications for additional short term support i.e., curricular concessions. Short term support is needed (normally for one year but not exceeding 2/3 school years) to enable the school authority to respond to the identified problem.
As part of the curricular concession process, School management can apply for a Deputy Principal concession in cases whereby a schools enrolment is falling under or moving close to the Deputy Principal threshold.
1415. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of retired teachers employed in primary and secondary schools for the 2013-14 school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34449/14]
View answer1416. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of retired teachers employed in primary and secondary schools for five days or less during the 2013-14 school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34450/14]
View answer1417. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of retired teachers employed in primary and secondary schools for six days or more during the 2013-14 school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34451/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1415 to 1417, inclusive, together.
Teachers are employed by the managerial authorities of schools. The detailed information sought by the Deputy is not readily available.
The information currently available relates to March 2014 compared to March 2013. In March 2014 a total of 282 retired teachers were employed by the managerial authorities of schools. One hundred and forty nine retired primary teachers and one hundred and thirty three retired voluntary secondary and community and comprehensive teachers were employed. However, seventy per cent of those teachers worked 5 days or less.
By comparison in March 2013 a total of 362 retired teachers were employed by the managerial authorities. Two hundred and eight retired primary teachers and one hundred and fifty four retired voluntary secondary and community and comprehensive teachers were employed. In that period eighty five per cent worked 5 days or less.
The policy of my Department is to ensure, as far as possible, that the managerial authorities of schools give priority to unemployed registered teachers who are fully qualified when filling vacant teaching posts.
My Department has issued a number of circulars addressing this issue in recent years. Under the terms of these circulars school Principal's must maintain a list of unemployed registered teachers who are available for substitute work at short notice and report to the Board of Management on any exceptional occasion where they have to engage a registered teacher who is retired.
A retired teacher who returns to teaching on or after 1 February 2012 commences at the first point of the incremental salary scale. Incremental credit for service prior to 1 February 2012, qualification allowances and certain job role allowances are also not payable.
These measures represents a significant financial disincentive for teachers who retired at the top of their salary scale, often with a post of responsibility allowance, to return to teaching.
1418. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the oversight her Department provides to ensure unemployed and newly qualified teachers are prioritised for temporary or permanent teaching positions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34452/14]
View answerThe redeployment arrangements is the first method used to fill vacancies in the school system. The core function of the redeployment arrangements is to facilitate the redeployment of all surplus permanent teachers to other schools that have vacancies. The redeployment of all surplus permanent teachers is key to the Department's ability to manage within its payroll budget and ceiling on teacher numbers. Thereafter, primary schools are required under the panel arrangements to fill permanent vacancies from supplementary panels comprised of eligible fixed-term (temporary/substitute) and part-time teachers.
Once the redeployment panels have been cleared, primary schools with permanent vacancies are advised that they can proceed to open competition to fill these vacancies. Temporary posts are filled by open competition which appropriately qualified teachers are eligible to apply for.
The policy of my Department is to ensure, as far as possible, that the managerial authorities of schools give priority to unemployed registered teachers who are fully qualified when filling vacant posts and my Department has issued a number of circulars addressing this issue in recent years. Under these circulars, School Principals must maintain a list of unemployed registered teachers who are available for substitute work at short notice. Circular 31/2011 details a cascade of measures for the recruitment of teachers, prioritising registered teachers over retired registered teachers and unregistered people.
1419. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the parent and pupil charter; the expected timeline for publication; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34453/14]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that changes to the Education Act, 1998 will be necessary to provide for and support the introduction of a Parent and Student Charter.
With this in mind, a set of principles will be required to act as a charter to strengthen the relationship between parents, students and schools, and the position of parents and students generally within the school system.
My Department plans to engage with all the education partners in order to develop the principles required for such a Charter.
1420. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a decision has been made as to whether a planned new school (details supplied) in County Cork will be located in Carrigaline or south city suburbs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34463/14]
View answer1421. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a decision has been made as to whether a planned new second level school (details supplied) in County Cork will be located in Carrigaline or south city suburbs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34464/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1420 and 1421 together.
My Department is currently working with Cork County Council to secure sites to facilitate the schools to which the Deputy refers.
When sites have been secured, my Department will be in contact with the respective patrons on the locations of the individual schools.
1422. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna an bhfuil sé i gceist aici airgead a dheonú do scoil (sonraí tugtha), de réir an iarratais a rinne siad, chun cuidiú leo seomraí buana a chur in áit seomraí réamhdhéanta; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [34499/14]
View answerIs mian liom a dheimhniú don Teachta go bhfuil mo Roinnse tar éis maoiniú a cheadú don scoil i gceist chun cur ar chumas na scoile cóiríocht bhuan a chur in áit na cóiríochta sealadaí atá ann faoi láthair. Cuireadh an cinneadh seo in iúl d'údaráis na scoile i mí Lúnasa seo caite.
1423. Deputy Anthony Lawlor asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a new building for a school (details suppled) in County Kildare; when it is anticipated that the pupils and staff should be moved into this permanent accommodation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34597/14]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, my Department's over-riding objective is to ensure that every child has access to a physical school place and that our school system is in a position to cope with increasing pupil numbers. This can necessitate the use of temporary accommodation, as in the case of the school in question, until the Department is in a position to provide a permanent building. In that regard, my Department is continuing to liaise with the school authorities concerned regarding their long term accommodation needs.
1424. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a decision will be made pertaining to an application for home tuition 2014-15 (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34606/14]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware the purpose of the Home Tuition Scheme is to provide a compensatory educational service for children who, for a number of reasons such as chronic illness, are unable to attend school. The scheme also provides a compensatory educational service for children with special educational needs seeking an educational placement. Provision is also made for early educational intervention for children with autism.
I am pleased to advise the Deputy that home tuition has been approved for the child in question.
1425. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on the drafting of the education (admissions to schools) Bill; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34609/14]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the Government gave approval in March of this year for drafting the Education (Admissions to Schools) Bill 2014. The General Scheme has since been referred to the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel to the Government for drafting. Drafting of the Bill is currently underway.
The objective of the Admissions to School Bill is to provide an over-arching framework to ensure that how schools decide on who is enrolled and who is refused a place in schools is more structured, fair and transparent.
A key objective in designing the framework is to create greater confidence for parents that the admission criteria laid down by schools are legitimate, reasonable and fair.
1426. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on the application process in respect of payment of Student Universal Support Ireland grants (details supplied); her plans to reform this process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34622/14]
View answerI understand from SUSI that for the 2014/15 academic year it is currently in the awarding phase of the application process.
The initial phase, which was to assess all applications submitted to SUSI before the August 1st deadline, was completed at the beginning of September. Payments to students for the 2014/15 academic year are due to commence in October 2014. SUSI must receive confirmation from the relevant institutions that students are registered on their course prior to being approved for payment. SUSI have issued award letters to thousands of students to date and will continue to do so throughout the coming weeks.
While it has to be acknowledged that Student Universal Support Ireland, (SUSI) the new single awarding authority had problems its first year of administration, the establishment of a single grant awarding body will serve our students better in the longer term and there are no plans at present to reform this process.
SUSI made significant improvements to its systems and procedures to streamline the grant application, processing and payment processes in 2013/14.
CDETB is focusing on continual improvement of service delivery, particularly in relation to process and systems in operation.
1427. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on an application by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry to enable them progress their education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34623/14]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that Special Schools funded by my Department are intended to cater for children and young persons with special educational needs from 4 years until the end of the school year in which they reach their 18th year.
At that point, the Department of Health/Health Service Executive assumes direct responsibility for young adults with special educational needs who are over 18 years. My Department, at that stage, may allocate resources towards an education component of such provision.
Special Schools may make an application to my Department to retain pupils over the age of 18 who are pursuing courses leading to accreditation at level 3 or above of the National Qualifications Framework (Junior Certificate/Leaving Certificate Applied/FETAC 3); for one additional year, in order to complete these courses.
Similarly, the DES may also provide sanction to special schools, subject to application, to retain a pupil for one additional year beyond the age of 18 to facilitate the transition of a pupil to adult services.
I understand that an application was made by the school concerned to retain the pupil referred to in this question for an extra year, last year, and that sanction was given to the school to retain this pupil for an additional year in school, for the 2013/14 school year.
This sanction was given for the 2013/14 school year on the basis that the pupil complete any course embarked on and transfer to adult services during the additional school year sanctioned for 2013/14.
The position in relation to an application to continue the education of the individual referred to by the Deputy for an additional school year is being examined by my Department.
Any changes which result from this examination will be notified to the Deputy.
1428. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on whether it would be more appropriate to base eligibility for the school transport scheme on distance from the nearest education centre which is located on an existing bus route, rather than an education centre (details supplied) in County Cork which is inaccessible because it is not on an existing route; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34624/14]
View answerUnder the terms of my Department's Post Primary School Transport Scheme children are eligible for school transport where they reside not less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest education centre as determined by my Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
In certain areas, families who choose to send their children to schools other than their nearest diminish the chance of a service being established to their nearest school.
Families of eligible children, for whom there is no school transport service available, are eligible for the remote area grant towards the cost of making private transport arrangements.
The child referred to by the Deputy is not attending her nearest school and is therefore not eligible for school transport.
While it is the prerogative of parents to send their children to the school of their choice, eligibility for school transport is to the nearest school.
Children who are not eligible for school transport may apply for transport on a concessionary basis only subject to a number of terms and conditions of the Post Primary Scheme.
The terms of the School Transport Schemes are applied equitably on a national basis.
1429. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on the situation regarding school transport at a school (details supplied) in County Louth; and the alternatives she has put in palace to rectify the situation for those school children adversely affected. [34652/14]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that under the terms of my Department's Post Primary School Transport Scheme children are eligible for school transport where they reside not less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest education centre as determined by my Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
The school transport scheme as it has operated at second level has a very restrictive approach to providing transport to other than the nearest school on the grounds of ethos. To provide transport in the circumstances set out by the Deputy would represent a significant change to the operation of the scheme with potentially wide ranging cost and other implications.
Given this fact, I have asked officials to consider this matter in its wider context and to revert to me in due course with their analysis. That said, the present position remains that I am unable to accede to the request for eligibility for transport provision in this case.
1432. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the proposed building project for a school (details supplied) in County Cavan; the current status of this project; when the project is likely to proceed to the next stage; the timescale for construction; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34690/14]
View answerThe project to which the Deputy refers is currently at Stage 2A (Developed Design) of the architectural planning process. Upon completion of this stage, the project will be authorised to progress to Stage 2B (Detailed Design) which includes application for planning permission and the preparation of tender documents.
On completion of Stage 2b (Detailed Design), officials from my Department will contact the Board of Management with regard to the potential, at that time, for further progression of the project.
Due to competing demands on my Department's capital budget, imposed by the need to prioritise the limited funding available for the provision of additional school accommodation to meet increasing demographic requirements, it was not possible to include this project in the 5 year construction programme announced in March 2012.
School building projects, including the project referred to by the Deputy, which have been initiated but not included in the current five year construction programme will continue to be progressed to final planning stages in anticipation of the possibility of further funds being available to my Department in the future.
1434. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding an Student Universal Support Ireland application in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 17; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34695/14]
View answerThe decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter in the first instance for the awarding authority.
The Deputy will appreciate that in the absence of all of the relevant details that would be contained in an individual's application in relation to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means, it would not be possible for me to say whether or not a student would qualify for a grant.
For student grants purposes, a student may be assessed as an independent student if he/she has attained the age of 23 on the 1st of January of the year of first entry to an approved post leaving certificate course or an approved higher education course or of re-entry to an approved course following a break in studies of at least three years, and is not ordinarily resident with his/her parents from the previous 1 October. Otherwise he/she would continue to be assessed on the basis of his/her parents' income. The awarding authorities are obliged to satisfy themselves beyond doubt that an acceptable degree of proof has been submitted by the grant applicant in establishing eligibility under all aspects of the schemes including independent residency. The onus is on the grant applicant to provide the necessary documentary evidence as requested by the relevant grant awarding authority.
If an individual applicant considers that she/he has been unjustly refused a student grant, she/he may appeal, in the first instance, to the appeals officer in SUSI.
Where an individual applicant has had an appeal turned down, in writing, by SUSI, and remains of the view that SUSI has not interpreted the scheme correctly in his/her case, an appeal form outlining the position may be submitted by the applicant to the Student Grant Appeals Board. The relevant appeal form is available to download from http://www.studentfinance.ie/downloads/1375344221/2013_SGAB_appeal_form.pdf.
1435. Deputy Michael P. Kitt asked the Minister for Education and Skills if there is a grant available to purchase a bicycle under the school transport scheme; if this applies only in rural areas; the amount of this grant; when the last bicycle grant was paid; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34722/14]
View answerThere is no specific grant available to purchase a bicycle under the terms of my Department's School Transport Scheme.
1436. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Education and Skills in view of both principal and deputy principal allowances based on teacher numbers, her plans to give extra allowances to cover the number of special needs assistants-escorts in schools; the number of SNAs and escorts at primary level; her plans to increase the ancillary grant to schools to take into account the additional administration work associated with having SNAs escorts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34728/14]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that 8,801 whole time equivalent SNA posts have been allocated to primary schools, including special schools, by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), for the start of the current school year. The NCSE continues to receive applications for SNA support from schools and these are being processed by SENOs.
There are also currently 1,400 bus escorts employed to support pupils attending mainstream Primary, Post Primary and Special Schools. An Administration Allowance of 5% is included in the funding provided to schools in respect of the scheme.
An enhanced capitation grant is provided to special schools and schools operating special classes for children with special educational needs.
My Department has maintained, and in some areas increased the overall level of spending on provision for children with special educational needs in our schools, in recent years, despite a requirement to make expenditure reductions elsewhere. There are, however, no plans at this time to increase the level of such ancillary grants provided to schools.
I wish to advise the Deputy also that the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform undertook a thorough examination of the payment of all allowances in the public sector during 2012. Following this review of allowances, the Government approved a number of measures relating to public service allowances for new beneficiaries. Subsequent to this review, the matter of allowances payable in the Education sector was the subject of an in-depth consideration by the Committee of Public Accounts (PAC) at its hearing on 24 October 2012. All of the relevant material in respect of all allowances payable in the Education sector was provided to the Committee, as part of this examination, and I understand that this material is still available on the PAC's website.
There are no plans to extend the allocation of extra allowances, as set out in the Deputy's question, at this time.
1437. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills in relation to the post primary school transport scheme, if the eligibility rule requiring a pupil to live at least 4.8 kilometres from the nearest school is set aside if there is no bus route to that nearest school but there is a bus route to another appropriate school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34743/14]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, under my Department's Post Primary School Transport Scheme, children are eligible for transport where they reside not less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest education centre as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language. The terms are applied equitably on a national basis.
In certain areas, families who choose to send their children to schools other than their nearest diminish the chance of a service being established to their nearest school.
Children who are eligible for school transport but for whom no service is available may be eligible for the Remote Area Grant towards the cost of making private transport arrangements; details of this grant are available on the Department's website at www.education.ie.
1438. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a person (details supplied) in County Cavan will be able to avail of free transport to a second level school which the person has been attending since the commencement of the 2013-14 school year, in view of the fact that the nearest school to the person's home was full and could not offer a place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34746/14]
View answerUnder the terms of my Department's Post Primary School Transport Scheme children are eligible for transport where they reside not less than 4.8 kms from and are attending their nearest education centre as determined by my Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
Bus Éireann, which operates the school transport scheme on behalf of my Department, has advised that the child in question is not attending his nearest education centre and is therefore not eligible for school transport.
Children who are not eligible for school transport may apply to Bus Éireann for transport on a concessionary basis subject to a number of a conditions including the availability of spare seats on an existing service and the payment of the annual charge. Bus Éireann has confirmed that there is a seat available on the existing service and the family should liaise with their local Bus Éireann office if they wish to avail of transport on a concessionary basis.
The family in question has not provided information to my Department on their application for enrolment in their nearest school. In cases where my Department is satisfied that the nearest school is full at the time of first enrolment, consideration may be given to granting eligibility for school transport to the next nearest school.
1439. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding an educational grant in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5. [34763/14]
View answerUnder the Student Grant Scheme, an approved course is defined as a full-time undergraduate course of at least two years duration or a full-time postgraduate course of not less than one year duration pursued in an approved institution. In order to be considered for a grant a student is required, under Section 8 (1) (b) of the Student Support Act 2011, to be pursuing a full-time course.
There are no plans at present to extend the scope of the student grant scheme to part-time courses, in the State or in another EU Member State.
Tax relief is available for fees for part-time courses. Full details of this relief are available from the Revenue Commissioners.
