Written Answers Nos. 149-152
149. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Education and Skills the way in which a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon is selected for a teaching panel; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43360/14]
View answerThe staffing arrangements for the current school year are set out in Circular 0007/2014 which is available on the Department website. The redeployment arrangements are set out in a detailed FAQ document that is published on my Department's website.The core function of the redeployment arrangements is to facilitate the redeployment of all surplus permanent teachers to other schools that have vacancies. Thereafter, 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.
The redeployment arrangements for surplus permanent teachers for the 2015/16 school year will be published on the Department website early in 2015.
The arrangements for panel access for fixed term (temporary/substitute) and part-time teachers for the 2015/16 school year will be published on the Department website shortly.
150. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason for the refusal of a waiver from the assessment of spelling, grammar and punctuation in the leaving certificate examination in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Sligo. [43363/14]
View answerThe State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations.
In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.
151. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a school (details supplied) in Dublin 5; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43369/14]
View answerThe key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September. The staffing schedule operates in a clear and transparent manner and treats all similar types of schools equally irrespective of location. It currently operates on the basis of a general average of 1 classroom teacher for every 28 pupils with lower thresholds for DEIS Band 1 schools. The school referred to by the Deputy had an enrolment on 30 September 2012 of 396. This fell to 387 on 30 September 2013 which results in a reduction of 1 classroom teacher (from 15 to 14) for the 2014/15 school year. The staffing arrangements at primary level include the provision where schools experiencing rapid increases in enrolment can apply for additional permanent mainstream posts on developing grounds. In addition, an appeals process is available to schools to submit an appeal under certain criteria to an independent Appeals Board.
The Department did not receive a developing schools application or a staffing appeal from the school referred to by the Deputy.
152. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 856 and 857 of 4 November 2014, the different approach adopted by her Department in paying millions of euro to just one private commercial organisation as part of providing home tuition for children with autism; and the approach adopted by her Department towards others which is clearly illustrated in a letter from her Department on 1 November 2010 (details supplied). [43379/14]
View answerThe letter of 1 November 2010 was sent in response to a letter dated 22 October 2010 received in the Department on 28th October.
The Department's response made it clear that the Department would not consider entering into arrangements with third parties regarding the approval of individual tuition for children with special needs. This remains the position today. Applications for and approval of Home Tuition are matters for the parents of children and the Department and not for third parties.
This does not mean that the Department would not facilitate parents of children who are eligible for Home Tuition who, having secured the approval of the Department, wished to enter an arrangement with a private provider and to have payments, normally due to eligible parents, made directly to that provider by agreement and at a group payment rate.
The Department's approach to the separate scenarios are not directly comparable.
