Written Answers Nos. 176-181
176. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for Education and Skills if there are sources of appropriate funding for persons on long-term illness benefit studying part-time degree courses, since, as it stands, persons on long-term illness benefit may receive a back-to-education allowance or a Student Universal Support Ireland grant only if they are studying a full-time course. [42419/14]
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.
177. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a secondary school teacher panel will be put in place in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42426/14]
View answerThe core function of the redeployment arrangements is to facilitate the redeployment of all surplus permanent and CID holding teachers to other schools that have vacancies. The redeployment of all surplus permanent teachers is key to my Department's ability to manage within its payroll budget and ceiling on teacher numbers. At post primary level for the current school year teachers in the Connaught region were given an opportunity to volunteer for a transfer to other areas if such a transfer would free up a vacancy that would facilitate the redeployment of a surplus permanent teacher in that area. This arrangement operated on a pilot basis for 2014. My Department has no plans to introduce a separate voluntary redeployment scheme.
The criteria used for the allocation of teachers to primary and post-primary schools, including redeployment arrangements, are published annually. The arrangements for the 2015/16 school year will be published early in 2015.
178. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 263 of 5 November 2013 if she will conduct an internal inquiry and provide the reason for the decision in respect of why this information was withheld from Dáil Éireann when the previous Minister was asked if the EU Commission made a mistake when it stated that the school transport scheme was operated under contract by Bus Éireann in 2007; if the Accenture report of 2012 into centralised procurement was mistaken when it described the school transport scheme as a contract; if her Department told Accenture that the scheme was a contract; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42433/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 178 and 180 together.
As my predecessor clarified in his reply on Wednesday 26th February 2014, the usage of words such as "contract" in various contexts was considered in the High Court proceedings seeking an order setting aside the arrangements between my Department and Bus Éireann for the provision of national school transport services.
Given that a Supreme Court appeal is still pending it would be inappropriate for me to comment selectively on this aspect outside the appropriate legal forum.
179. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will confirm that the student contribution fee for a course in a third level institution (details supplied) is set by her Department and that the institution does not have the power to change it. [42448/14]
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.
181. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Education and Skills if there is a list of applicants for positions on the boards of State bodies in her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42459/14]
View answerFor the Deputy's information, in accordance with Government policy, my Department, through the Public Appointments Service (PAS), advertises for board vacancies as they arise. Such vacancies are where I, as Minister for Education and Skills, have nominating rights. Accordingly, my Department does not maintain a general list of applicants for positions on boards.
