Written Answers Nos. 930 - 946
930. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills if funding will be provided for additional special needs assistants at a school (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41998/14]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that the 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 enrolled in the school. 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 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. Should a school wish to make an application for additional SNA support for a child who was not previously considered for SNA support, or who is due to enrol to a school, they may do so to the NCSE. 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. Details of the manner by which school may appeal its SNA allocation are available at www.ncse.ie. Finally, I wish to advise the Deputy that my Government committed, as part of the budget announcements which were recently made, to provide 365 new Special Needs Assistant posts to support children with special educational needs in schools in 2015. This increase is additional to the increase of 390 posts which this Government announced in December 2013, which had raised the previous cap from 10,575 available posts to 10,965 posts. This Government has been resolutely committed to protecting, and in some instances increasing, the level of investment being made to support children with special educational needs at a time when there has been a requirement to make expenditure reductions across a range of areas. It is an area of spending which has been prioritised above most other areas by this Government, despite the enormous pressures on all areas of public spending.
931. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if universities and institutes of further education have discretion in applying the residency requirements for availing of the lower band of fees for prospective postgraduate students who have been granted refugee status and are now resident in the State but have not been resident here or the EU for three years. [41999/14]
View answerHigher education institutions are autonomous bodies and the criteria governing the level of tuition fees to be charged in relation to postgraduate study is determined by the institutions and accordingly I have no role in relation to the matter. Under my Department's student grant scheme, those who meet the qualifying conditions for the special rate of grant are eligible to have their post-graduate tuition fees paid up to the maximum fee limit of €6,270. Where a postgraduate student does not qualify for the special rate of grant they may qualify to have a €2,000 contribution made towards the cost of their postgraduate fees. The income threshold for this payment is €31,500 for the 2014/15 academic year, increasing relative to the number of family dependents. Tax relief is available on postgraduate tuition fees paid. Details in relation to this relief are available from the Revenue Commissioners.
932. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding third level grants in respect of a case (details supplied) the funding available to students in a similar position; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42007/14]
View answerThe Deputy will appreciate that in the absence of all of the relevant details in respect of the student referred to by the Deputy, it is not be possible for me to give a definitive response in this case. However, from the information provided, I understand the student referred to by the Deputy commenced her PhD studies prior to 2011/12 and, therefore, was assessed and awarded funding under a prior scheme, i.e. possibly the Higher Education Grant Scheme (HEG Scheme). Based on that understanding I wish to advise that under the prior schemes postgraduate students were eligible to receive both maintenance and fee grants. Clause 7 of the 2010 HEG Scheme provided that grant aid for postgraduate students was limited to a maximum of four years. It appears the student has exceeded the maximum funding limit and is not eligible for further funding at postgraduate level.
933. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason the sale of fizzy drinks in schools is not banned; the steps being taken to regulate the consumption of these unhealthy drinks during school hours; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42032/14]
View answerThe results of the 2012 Lifeskills survey, which were published by my Department in February 2014, indicated that approximately 30% of post primary schools have vending machines or school shops which sell fizzy drinks, sweets and crisps. This figure was down from 35% in the 2009 survey. It is not my intention to legislate on this issue. In the first instance, as Minister for Education and Skills I do not have the authority to dictate to schools in this manner. Schools are generally privately managed institutions which, although largely funded by the State, are relatively autonomous. The education system provides students with appropriate knowledge and skills in relation to issues such as healthy eating, the importance of a balanced diet and an active lifestyle. This is done through Social, Personal and Health Education, Home Economics and Physical Education. We want to ensure that schools offer students healthy alternatives so that can they put their knowledge into practice and choose in an informed way. It is my intention to issue guidance to schools on promoting well-being among their students. The promotion of 'healthy vending' will form part of this guidance. The guidance is being developed in consultation with the Department of Health and the HSE. It is not just about getting rid of junk food but it requires us to look at the totality of the health and well-being of our young people. We give them the knowledge, skills and attitudes to develop positive practices for their lives today and into the future so that they can be healthy and have positive mental attitudes to life. It is expected that the guidance on promoting well-being and healthy eating will issue to schools before the end of the year. I have had no engagement with companies in relation to the sale of food and beverage products in schools.
Question No. 934 answered with Question No. 847.
Question No. 935 answered with Question No. 903.
936. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Education and Skills the terms and conditions by which school secretaries are employed by national schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42100/14]
View answerA clerk typist scheme for the employment of secretaries in primary schools was initiated in 1978 as part of the then Government's job-creation programme. While a small number of secretaries employed under the 1978 scheme remain in schools, the scheme is being phased out - no new posts are being created and posts which fall vacant are not being filled. The 1978 scheme has been superseded by a more extensive grant scheme which was introduced under the PESP agreement of 1992. The majority of primary schools receive grant assistance to provide for secretarial (and/or caretaking) services under the Ancillary Services Capitation Grant for Primary Schools. Within the Capitation grant scheme, the level and extent of services provided is a matter for the school authorities who, through the discretion afforded under the scheme, apply diverse arrangements for secretarial services as resources permit. My Department does not stipulate any rules concerning how secretarial services are to be obtained by the school. It is a matter for the individual school to decide how best to apply the funding to suit the school's particular needs. Where a school uses the capitation grant funding to employ a secretary, such staff are employees of individual schools and my Department therefore does not have any role in determining the pay and conditions under which they are engaged. These are matters to be agreed between the staff concerned and the school authorities, subject of course to any relevant statutory provisions.
937. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding tendering at education and training boards [42105/14]
View answerThe correspondence referred to by the Deputy has been forwarded to the Chief Executive of City of Dublin Education and Training Board. The Chief Executive has been requested to respond directly to the Deputy in relation to the matters raised in that correspondence.
938. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of primary schools with one mainstream teacher in 2011-12; 2012-13; 2013-14 and to date in 2014-15. [42118/14]
View answer939. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of newly established primary schools with one mainstream teacher in 2011/12; 2012/13; 2013/14 and to date in 2014/15. [42119/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 938 and 939 together.
In 2011/12 there were eleven schools with one mainstream class teacher of which one was newly established on 1st September 2011.
In 2012/13 there were eleven schools with one mainstream class teacher of which one was newly established on 1st September 2012.
In 2013/14 there were twenty nine schools with one mainstream class teacher of which five were newly established on 1st September 2013.
Data on teacher size of schools can be found on the Department's website in the files called Class size information at individual primary school level, link below.
http://www.education.ie/en/Publications/Statistics/Data-on-Individual-Schools/
Data on one teacher schools for 2014/15 is not yet available. Data refers to the number of teachers reported by schools in their National School Annual Census. The newly established schools referred to with one mainstream teacher in the year they opened were established to become fully vertical schools that would grow incrementally each year and develop naturally over time to become single, double or three stream schools (i.e. 8, 16 or 24 mainstream teacher schools).
940. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills her Department’s projections of the number of first level students in primary schools for 2015-16; 2016-17; 2017-18; 2018-19 and 2019-20. [42120/14]
View answer941. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills her Department’s projections of the number of first level students in special schools for 2015-16; 2016-17; 2017-18; 2018-19 and 2019-20. [42121/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 940 and 941 together.
My Department's published projections of enrolments at primary level include both mainstream primary pupils and pupils in special schools and classes, and we do not publish separate figures for each of these groups.
The relevant figures the Deputy is seeking can be found on page 7 of the most recent projections of enrolment published by my Department at http://www.education.ie/en/Publications/Statistics/Statistical-Reports/Projections-of-full-time-enrolment-Primary-and-Second-Level-2014-2032.pdf
942. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will detail in tabular form the number of primary schools with two teachers in 2013-14 that now have one teacher in 2014-15; the number of primary schools with three teachers in 2013/14 that now have two teachers in 2014-15; and the number of primary schools with four teachers in 2013-14 that now have three teachers in 2014/15. [42122/14]
View answerSome 44 small primary schools lost a classroom teaching post as a consequence of the Budget 2012 measures in the 2014/15 school year. Small schools can also gain or lose a classroom teaching post as a result of changes in enrolments. The Statistics Section of my Department's website contains extensive data at individual school level in county order. The most recent published information relates to the 2013/2014 school year. Data in relation to primary schools in the current school year are not yet available to my Department. The National School Annual Census is generally returned by schools to the Department by end October. Data relating to the 2014/15 will be published later in the current school year.
943. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will detail in tabular form for the years 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2014-15 the number of one teacher primary schools that would have gained a teacher if the budget 2012 changes for small schools had not been introduced. [42123/14]
View answer944. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will detail in tabular form for the years 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2014-15 the number of two teacher primary schools that would have gained a teacher if the budget 2012 changes for small schools had not been introduced. [42124/14]
View answer945. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will detail in tabular form for the years 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2014-15 the number of three teacher primary schools that would have gained a teacher if the budget 2012 changes for small schools had not been introduced. [42125/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 943 to 945, inclusive, together. The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the table below.
Small Schools that failed to gain a post due to changes introduced in Budget 2012
|
- |
2012/13 |
2013/14 |
2014/15 |
|
Phase 1 of Budget increases |
19 |
9 |
19 |
|
Phase 2 of Budget increases |
- |
13 |
22 |
|
Phase 3 of Budget increases |
- |
- |
2 |
|
Total |
19* |
22** |
43 |
*5 of these 19 schools subsequently had an increase in enrolments and currently have an additional teacher.
**6 of these 22 schools subsequently had an increase in enrolments and currently have an additional teacher.
946. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will detail in tabular form for the years 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2014-15 the number of primary school teaching positions in each county as a result of the budget 2012 changes for small schools. [42126/14]
View answerI assume the Deputy is seeking information relating to the number of classroom posts lost as a result of Budget 2012. The information is set out in the table below.
|
County |
2012/13 |
2013/14 |
2014/15 |
Total |
|
Carlow |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
Cavan |
2 |
1 |
2 |
5 |
|
Clare |
1 |
1 |
2 |
4 |
|
Cork |
4 |
5 |
4 |
13 |
|
Donegal |
5 |
5 |
1 |
11 |
|
Dublin |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
Galway |
4 |
2 |
7 |
13 |
|
Kerry |
3 |
2 |
3 |
8 |
|
Kilkenny |
1 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
|
Laois |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
Leitrim |
1 |
3 |
0 |
4 |
|
Limerick |
1 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
|
Longford |
3 |
0 |
1 |
4 |
|
Mayo |
3 |
1 |
11 |
15 |
|
Meath |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
Offaly |
1 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
|
Roscommon |
5 |
2 |
1 |
8 |
|
Sligo |
1 |
2 |
1 |
4 |
|
Tipperary |
3 |
1 |
4 |
8 |
|
Waterford |
0 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
|
Westmeath |
2 |
2 |
1 |
5 |
|
Wexford |
1 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
|
Wicklow |
1 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
