Written Answers Nos. 220-231
220. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if and when a medical card will issue in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Carlow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36405/14]
View answerThe Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible. The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to medical cards and GP visit cards, which the Deputy may wish to use for an earlier response. Contact information has issued to Oireachtas members.
221. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the position regarding an application for citizenship through the foreign births registration in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36257/14]
View answerThe application for citizenship through Foreign Birth Registration (FBR) was received in the Consular Division of my Department on 25 August 2014. Applications for FBR submitted in Ireland can take up to 3 months to process. The applicant was informed in writing on 16 September that the application is incomplete. The applicant has been notified of the additional documentation that must be submitted in order to process the application further.
222. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the position regarding a matter in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36424/14]
View answerMy Department consulted with the Civil Service Occupational Health Department and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on this case. The decision was communicated directly to the officer in May 2014 and again in August 2014 following receipt of further correspondence from the officer.
223. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 187 of 27 May 2014, if she will consider introducing an exemption from maths for children with the rare diagnosis of dyscalculia; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36165/14]
View answerThe approach to teaching and learning in schools is that teachers use differentiation to address different rates of learning to reflect the educational needs and in particular the learning skills and abilities of their pupils. My Department supports the holistic development of the young person 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. Mathematics and numeracy permeate so many aspects of the curriculum. The aim is to develop skills at the level and rate that suits the young person'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.
224. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the steps she will take to acquire the Rosminian facility, Gracepark Road, Drumcondra, Dublin 9 in order to secure the interests of the visually impaired and autistic children who use a section of that facility. [36333/14]
View answerThe Deputy will note that the primary school and Pobalscoil Rosmini post-primary school buildings are not included in the land which is on the market. In addition, I wish to advise the Deputy that officials from my Department have sought and have been provided with assurances from the Rosminians (Institute of Charity) in relation to the future use of the campus and securing the interests of the educational provision for the children and continuity of other existing services there. Officials from my Department have also briefed officials in the Department of Health on these discussions.
225. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding a teaching position; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36163/14]
View answerMy Department has been in contact with the school referred to by the Deputy and has clarified the staffing arrangements for the 2014/15 school year.
226. Deputy Tom Barry asked the Minister for Education and Skills if there have been findings of any significance from the archaeological dig taking place at the site of Coláiste Mhuire, Buttevant, County Cork; when the dig will be completed in order that construction may recommence. [36226/14]
View answerThe delivery of a new school building for Coláiste Mhuire, Buttevant, Co. Cork has been devolved to Cork Education and Training Board. The project went to construction on 21st July 2014. As part of the conditions of planning, Cork County Council requested an archaeologist to be on site during the initial stage of construction. An archaeological dig resulted in findings related to a Bronze Age settlement of archaeological significance. While construction is scheduled to recommence on Monday, 29th September 2014, archaeological excavation on the south-eastern part of the site will continue for a few days.
227. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will support a matter regarding a community college (details supplied). [36245/14]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware my Department appointed Contractors Administration Services (CAS), to conduct random audits on school building projects. CAS has been requested to carry out a full monitoring service for the duration of the contract at the school in question. Should irregularities be uncovered in terms of non-compliance with relevant employment law, enforcement and prosecution falls under the remit of NERA and my Department will report any discrepancies found to it. If the audit uncovers any other matters of concern regarding tax compliance or social welfare fraud, such matters will be referred to either the Revenue Commissioners and/or the Department of Social Protection as appropriate.
228. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will review the discontinuation of the minor works scheme and grant approval to a school (details supplied) in County Kerry to carry out essential repairs and improvements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36252/14]
View answerCircular Letter 0062/2013 which was published as the Minor Works Grant for the school year 2013/2014 issued last November states "the grant will only be paid in future years as funding permits". The focus under the Infrastructure and Capital Investment Programme 2012-2016 is on meeting the demand for additional school places. Consequently, there is no funding provided at this time in the 2014 capital allocation for the payment of a Minor Works Grant.
I am aware that whenever my Department is in a position to issue a Minor Works Grant (to all primary schools with permanent recognition) that it is welcomed by school communities and management bodies as a valuable contribution towards the cost of maintaining school infrastructure.
229. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to the fact that Limerick city is one of the only areas in the country that does not have any mainstream schools, primary or secondary, with autistic spectrum disorder units attached to educate autistic children; her plans to put same in place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36261/14]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that the establishment of a network of autism-specific special classes in schools across the country to cater for children with autism has been a key educational priority in recent years. The National Council for Special Education (NCSE), through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), is responsible for processing applications from primary and post primary schools for special educational needs supports, including the establishment of special classes in various geographical areas as required. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support. I have arranged for the matter raised by the Deputy to be forwarded to the NCSE for their attention and direct reply.
230. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if there are any schools at primary or second level which are confined to Traveller children; the reason this segregation occurred and her views regarding same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36264/14]
View answerA key recommendation of the Report and Recommendations on a Traveller Education Strategy is the phasing out of segregated education provision for travellers and, while significant progress has been made across the country generally, traveller-only provision continues in two schools in the Dublin area.
My Department's Traveller Consultative Forum whose membership includes representatives of the Traveller community, is keen to progress the phasing out of this remaining Traveller-only provision. However, as is the case with all schools, the decision in relation closure or amalgamation is a matter in the first instance for the Patron and Board of Management of each of the schools in question. It is hoped that progress can be made to implement this particular recommendation of the Traveller Education Strategy and officials of my Department are available to assist the Patron of the schools in question to achieve this objective if required.
231. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide a list of funding awards currently available from her Department for primary schools. [36318/14]
View answerMy Department provides capitation funding to all recognised primary schools. The amount of grant paid to an individual primary school for capitation and ancillary services is determined by the school's enrolment, subject to a minimum grant for both capitation and ancillary services in respect of schools with enrolments up to 60, and a maximum ancillary services grant in the case of schools with enrolments of 500 or more. In 2014 the capitation grant is €173 per pupil, and the Ancillary Services Grant is €147 per pupil. The Deputy may wish to note that Circular 40/2009 clarifies issues relating to the allocation of funding for primary schools. The circular states that capitation funding provided for general running costs and funding provided for caretaking and secretarial services may be regarded as a common grant from which the Board of Management can allocate according to its own priorities.
