Written Answers Nos. 912 - 929
912. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Skills her Department's work in conjunction with SOLAS in supporting apprenticeship programmes in skilled trades and in introducing new apprenticeship programmes in this area. [41860/14]
View answerAs part of the Government's Action Plan for Jobs initiative my Department managed a comprehensive review of the Irish Apprenticeship system to determine whether the current model should be retained, adapted or replaced. The review was tasked with taking into account the needs of both learners and industry and to ensure that we have a value for money system that is cost effective and sustainable into the future. An independent Review Group undertook a substantial consultation process with all major stakeholders as well as inviting submissions from members of the public. Following its analysis of the current system and the submissions received, the report of the Independent Review Group made a number of recommendations regarding a new structure for Apprenticeship, which is envisaged as being relevant to a much wider group of enterprise sectors. Recommendations were also made in relation to current apprenticeships. Following on from the review, an Apprenticeship Implementation Plan was published on the 30th June 2014. This is available on my Departments website, www.education.ie.
Key recommendations from the Review include:
- legislative change to enable a more flexible model of delivery while
- protecting apprentices and setting out employers' obligations
- new governance arrangements including the appointment of an enterprise led
- Apprenticeship Council hosted by SOLAS with close cooperation from the Higher Education Authority
- a review of existing apprenticeship curricula as a matter of urgency with a move away from a generic placement at level 6 and to programme durations based on the time needed to achieve the learning outcomes necessary for the occupation
- the expansion of the apprenticeship model into a range of new enterprise sectors
- that recruitment to apprenticeship would continue to be the responsibility of approved employers but with greater planning and control of numbers in apprenticeship
- the development of clear occupational and academic progression routes
I will shortly be announcing the membership of the Council.. The Council will be enterprise led and will have representatives from business, trade unions, and further and higher education bodies. The first job of work of the new Apprenticeship Council will be to manage a call for proposals from industry for new apprenticeships. This call for proposals is expected to be made before the end of 2014. Alongside this work, the curricula for current apprenticeships will continue to be reviewed under existing structures. Five trades (Electrical, Plumbing, Carpentry and Joinery, Metal Fabrication and Heavy Vehicle Mechanics) are currently being reviewed by SOLAS. Significant progress has been made and the Implementation Plan envisages accelerated arrangements for reviewing the remaining trades
913. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Skills her Department's targets in relation to the number of persons they plan to cater for in apprenticeship programmes for skilled trades in 2015 and 2016. [41861/14]
View answerSOLAS has planned for over 5,000 training places for the apprenticeship programme in 2015 and is putting in place the necessary resources are support this volume of activity.
Based on forecast registration for 2016 the places required will be over 5,800.
914. Deputy Michael Conaghan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will request the European Commission to provide an explicit exclusion of education from the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, noting that the EU Foreign Affairs Council of Ministers has already excluded the audiovisual sector from TTIP, based on the public interest goal of preserving and promoting cultural and linguistic diversity within the EU; and her views that the same reasoning would justify an exemption for education from the TTIP. [41868/14]
View answerThe opening up of negotiations between the EU and the US on a Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) was a very important milestone for Ireland, not only because the EU's decision to open talks was achieved under Ireland's Presidency of the EU last year, but more importantly because it will shape many aspects of Ireland's future relationship with the United States.
The negotiations with the United States are the most ambitious and broad based that the EU has ever undertaken. The breadth of the negotiations reflects the extensive benefits that could be won from any final agreement. However, when the EU Council agreed the negotiating directives to the Commission for these talks under last year's Irish presidency of the EU, it was unanimously agreed by all Ministers, and accepted by the Commission, that any agreement with the United States would not herald any lowering of standards that our citizens rightly value. This is an important consideration in how the EU conducts its negotiations.
In relation to education, there is no proposal from the EU to further open up education services in the TTIP. Under Free Trade Agreements negotiated so far by the EU, member states are free to organise their educational policies, structures and standards as best suits their circumstances.
915. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to rectify the anomaly within procedures for assessing entitlement for the special rate of the Student Universal Support Ireland grant, particularly in circumstances where a parent is in receipt of illness benefit but has actually lost their job and cannot receive the special rate of grant. [41881/14]
View answerThe qualifying criteria for the special rate of maintenance grant in the 2014/15 academic year as specified under the 2014 student grant scheme is as follows:
1. Student must qualify for the standard rate of grant;
2. Total reckonable income net of income disregards and Child Dependant Increase must not exceed €22,703;
3. As at 31st December, 2013, the reckonable income must include one of the eligible long-term social welfare payments prescribed in the Student Grant Scheme. Illness Benefit is considered to be a short-term social welfare payment and, therefore, it is not included as an eligible payment for the purposes of the special rate of maintenance grant. It is not proposed to depart from the existing arrangements for the determination of the eligibility for the special rate of maintenance grant.
916. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of persons who applied for the special rate of grant from the Student Universal Support Ireland since its establishment, but who were refused on the basis that one of their parents was in receipt of illness benefit. [41882/14]
View answerThe decision on eligibility for student grant applications for the 2014/15 academic year is a matter for the centralised grant awarding authority, SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland). Under the terms of the student grant scheme, grant assistance is awarded to students who meet the prescribed conditions of funding, including those relating to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means.
The qualifying criteria for the special rate of maintenance grant in the 2014/15 academic year as specified under the 2014 student grant scheme is as follows:
1. Student must qualify for the standard rate of grant;
2. Total reckonable income net of income disregards and Child Dependant Increase must not exceed €22,703;
3. As at 31st December, 2013, the reckonable income must include one of the eligible long-term social welfare payments prescribed in the Student Grant Scheme. Illness Benefit is considered to be a short-term social welfare payment and, therefore, it is not included as an eligible payment for the purposes of the special rate of maintenance grant. All grant applications received are reviewed for eligibility for the special rate of grant, and applicants who fulfil the relevant criteria are awarded same by SUSI. I regret that the information requested is not collated in the format requested by the Deputy.
917. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills in respect of the student grant scheme for third level, if rental income is included on a gross basis or net of certain expenses and allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41883/14]
View answerArticle 23 of the Student Grant Scheme 2014 sets out the terms under which rental income is assessed. No allowance is made for depreciation, interest on borrowings which fund the asset, tax capital allowances or for any capital expenditure, regardless of how it is treated for income tax purposes. In calculating reckonable income no account is taken of capital assets. Therefore no deduction is given for capital expenditure, regardless of how it is treated for income tax purposes. Rental losses cannot be offset against other income in the reference period.
918. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Education and Skills when an investigation was carried out into employment conditions at a site (details supplied) in County Dublin; who carried the inspection out; the issues which were investigated; if bogus sub-contracting and underpayment of bricklayers were included in the matters for investigation; if the investigation has concluded; if she will indicate the findings; if any issues were referred to another State authority, for example the Revenue Commissioners, the Department of Social Protection, the National Employment Rights Authority, the Health and Safety Authority or any other body; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41884/14]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware my Department appointed Contractors Administration Services (CAS), to conduct random audits on school building projects. CAS have 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. The Revenue Commissioners and/or the Department of Social Protection cannot for a variety of operational reasons comment on individual cases or investigations.
919. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on the case of a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan; her further views that the current resource hour allocation is insufficient to meet their educational needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41895/14]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that all schools have been allocated additional teaching resources to provide for children with special educational or learning support needs.
Under the terms of the General Allocation Model (GAM) of teaching supports, schools are resourced to cater for pupils whose educational psychological assessment places them in the high incidence, or less complex, disability category. All mainstream Primary schools have been allocated additional teaching resources under the GAM to cater for children with high incidence special educational needs. Additionally, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) allocates additional resource teaching hours to schools for children who have been assessed within the low incidence, or more complex, category of special need, as defined by my Department's Circular Sp Ed 02/05. The NCSE operates within my Department's established criteria for the allocation of Special Education supports and the staffing resources available to my Department. It is a matter for schools to then monitor and utilise their allocation of additional teaching support to best support the needs of identified pupils, in accordance with my Department's guidance. The teaching time afforded to each individual pupil is decided and managed by schools, taking into account each child's individual learning needs. Should a parent be dissatisfied with the manner in which the resources or facilities which have been provided to support their child's education are being applied in school, they should, in the first instance, raise this matter directly with their school Principal or the Board of Management of the school.
920. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the purchase or development of new school buildings and site for a school (details supplied) in County Galway. [41911/14]
View answer961. Deputy Michael P. Kitt asked the Minister for Education and Skills the timeframe within which it is anticipated a site will be acquired-purchased for the construction of a 12 teacher school building for a school (details supplied) in Co Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42256/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 920 and 961 together.
The project to provide a new building for the school referred to by the Deputies was included in my Department's 5 Year School Building Plan and listed among those to proceed to construction in 2015/2016.
Officials from my Department have been working very closely with officials from Galway County Council to secure a suitable site for the school. I can confirm that a suitable site has been identified and the site acquisition process is at an advanced stage.
However, as I am sure the Deputies will appreciate, there are sensitivities associated with land acquisitions which limits the information which can be provided. At this time I am not in a position to provide further information in relation to the site acquisition.
921. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which permanent classroom structures and ancillary facilities are currently available and proposed at a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; the degree to which dialogue continues to take place with the school authorities in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41937/14]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the school to which he refers has made an application to my Department for large scale capital funding. The Five Year Construction Plan that was announced in March 2012 as part of my Department's €2 billion capital investment programme, outlines the major school projects that are scheduled to commence construction over the duration of the Plan. These have been prioritised on the basis of meeting significant demographic needs. My Department will also consider applications from individual schools for devolved funding to meet an immediate accommodation requirement because of increased enrolments and where an additional teacher is being appointed. The Deputy may be aware that enrolments at the school in question have declined over the past number of years. In view of the priority to provide essential classroom accommodation in areas of demographic growth, it is not possible at this stage to indicate when a major project at the school might progress. The current status of all projects on the school building programme, including the school in question, may be viewed on my Department's website at www.education.ie.
922. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a person (details supplied) who is attending Pallaskenry Agricultural College and as part of the course has to attend Limerick IT for three hours per week has to pay the student registration charge in LIT of €2,750 on top of full fees at the agricultural college; the basis for this arrangement between the colleges and her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41944/14]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware the exchequer funds tuition fee costs in respect of eligible students who are pursuing full-time undergraduate courses of study under my Department's Free Fees Initiative. Students who qualify for free fees funding are liable to pay the student contribution which, for students who qualify under my Department's Student Grant Scheme, is paid on their behalf by the State. I understand that the fee payment referred to covers particular services provided by Pallaskenry Agricultural College, such as the provision of meals, stationery etc. which do not form part of the student contribution payable by students. The position is that the third level institutions are autonomous institutions and my Department does not have any function in their day to day operational affairs, for which the Governing Bodies and the management staff of the institutions are responsible. Accordingly, I have no role in relation to this matter.
923. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on the difficulties presented for students applying for Student Universal Support Ireland assistance who cannot prove their address as they do not have a lease agreement or utility bill in their own name; and if her attention has been drawn to the fact that it would not be unusual for many persons to not have a lease agreement or utility bill in their own name. [41951/14]
View answerThe purpose of the student grant scheme is to provide additional assistance where parental income is below a certain threshold or, in the case of independent mature students, where the level of income of the student and his or her spouse warrants additional assistance by way of a grant. Documentary evidence is required as proof of a student's independent address from 1st October of the year prior to entry into college. The documentary evidence normally required includes utility bills, such as telephone, gas or electricity bill, evidence of registration with the Private Residential Tenancies Board or official documentation received at the address, for example, from a Government Department. Very significant numbers of third-level students move out of home to go to college and continue to be supported by their parents while in full-time education. Confirmation that a student is living separately from their parents/guardians is, of itself, not sufficient to establish independent status. If an individual applicant considers that she/he has been unjustly refused a student grant, she/he may appeal, in the first instance, to their awarding body. Where an individual applicant has had an appeal turned down, in writing, by their awarding body, and remains of the view that the scheme has not been interpreted correctly in his/her case, an appeal form outlining the position may be submitted by the applicant to the independent Student Grant Appeals Board.
924. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of persons refused Student Universal Support Ireland assistance since its establishment on the basis that they could not provide sufficient documentation to SUSI to verify their place of residence. [41952/14]
View answerI understand from SUSI that data in relation to the number of persons refused a student grant as a result of not providing requested supporting documentation within the specified timeframe, would be available. However, specific data regarding the numbers from that cohort that are refused on the basis that they are unable to verify their place of residence, is not currently available. The Deputy will appreciate that very significant numbers of third-level students move out of home to go to college and continue to be supported by their parents while in full-time education. Confirmation that a student is living separately from their parents/guardians is, of itself, not sufficient to establish independent status.
925. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students from this jurisdiction who have attended third level education in the north of Ireland during each of the past five years; and the number of students from the north of Ireland who have attended third level education in this jurisdiction during those years. [41953/14]
View answer926. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to make it easier for persons in Border regions attending education in the other jurisdictions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41954/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 925 and 926 together.
The information requested by the Deputy is contained in the document.
Under the terms of the student grant scheme, grant assistance is awarded to students who meet the prescribed conditions of funding including those which relate to nationality, residency, approved course, previous academic attainment and means. Students who are attending undergraduate courses in an EU Member State, can apply for a maintenance grant in respect of an approved course which is being pursued in an approved institution. To determine eligibility, a student may submit a fully completed online grant application to SUSI, via www.studentfinance.ie.
Table 1: Cross Border Enrolments by Level of Study, 2008/09-2012/13
|
- |
ROI at NI HEIs |
- |
- |
- |
- |
NI at ROI HEIs |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Level of Study |
2008/09 |
2009/10 |
2010/11 |
2011/12 |
2012/13 |
2008/09 |
2009/10 |
2010/11 |
2011/12 |
2012/13 |
|
Undergraduate |
1,648 |
1,945 |
2,448 |
2,022 |
1,575 |
872 |
923 |
856 |
772 |
754 |
|
Postgraduate |
1,594 |
1,854 |
1,837 |
1,500 |
1,261 |
151 |
248 |
196 |
214 |
225 |
|
Total |
3,242 |
3,799 |
4,285 |
3,522 |
2,836 |
1,023 |
1,171 |
1,052 |
986 |
979 |
Source: Higher Education Authority
927. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding repair works at a school (details supplied) in Dublin 9; the reason for the delay in approval; if approval has been granted; if work is now in progress; the repairs required and estimated cost of repair; the additional improvements under consideration; if a football pitch has been acquired for the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41971/14]
View answer928. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education and Skills in relation to a school (details supplied) in Dublin 9 rehoused on a temporary basis in prefabricated buildings, if planning approval is required or if it is exempt; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41972/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 927 and 928 together.
My Department is currently finalising the accommodation brief for the proposed project at the school referred to by the Deputy. It is envisaged that the project will include significant restoration works following the damage to the building caused by flooding. The estimated cost cannot be disclosed at this stage as to do could ultimately prejudice the tender process.
The next stage involves the commencement of the architectural planning process to advance the project. In that regard, my Department is exploring with the school authorities concerned the means by which the school can access playing pitches.
In the meantime, additional temporary accommodation has been approved for the school. It is a matter for the school authority to make arrangements to procure this accommodation and to secure any statutory approvals required.
929. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Education and Skills the financial support made available to a school (details supplied) in County Cork including capitation, summer works, emergency repairs, emergency works grants, heating grants and any other financial supports for the past two years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41987/14]
View answerMy Department issued the following payments to the school in question in the years 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014: 2012 Capitation Grant - €23,318 Ancillary Services Grant - €19,257 School Books Grant - €1,441 Prefab Rental Replacement Scheme - €112,000; 2013 Capitation Grant - €25,344 Ancillary Services Grant - €21,168 School Books Grant - €1,584 Prefab Rental Replacement Scheme - €48,000 Minor Works Grant - €8,164; 2014 Capitation Grant - €24,220 Ancillary Services Grant - €20,580 School Books Grant - €1,540.
