Tuesday, 25 Nov 2014

Written Answers Nos. 435-448

Student Grant Scheme Eligibility

Questions (435)

Seán Fleming

Question:

435. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a person (details supplied) in County Laois who submitted an application for a third level grant to Student Universal Support Ireland on 20 May 2014 and has recently been informed by a third party that they are not eligible for the grant due to the level of the course they are attending; the reason SUSI have corresponded on various occasions over a six month period dealing with this application when it should have been clear to them from the beginning that it was not eligible; the reason the person has not yet been informed by SUSI regarding eligibility; the reason SUSI has wasted so much time of the applicant and of their own organisation dealing with ineligible cases and should they not be required to check eligibility regarding the persons participation on a course at an early stage and avoid six months of waste of time and resources; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45110/14]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

My Department has confirmed with SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland) that the application of the student referred to by the Deputy was assessed based on the information provided by the student in her online application.

As SUSI did not have access to the applicant's course details or previous education at the initial assessment stage, the application was processed according to the information declared by the applicant. At that point, the information provided indicated the student may have been eligible for student grant funding as it appeared the student was entering year 3 of an approved course.

Following a process of sharing information with the CAO, SUSI became aware of a conflict in information in relation to the student's educational history. To clarify the information provided by the student, SUSI requested documentation from the student.

Having considered all the information in respect of the student's previous academic attendance SUSI issued a decision to the student on 20 November, 2014.

Home Tuition Scheme Administration

Questions (436)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

436. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 152 of 12 November 2014, her views that correspondence (details supplied) between officials in her Department clearly demonstrates that the Department did in fact engage in correspondence with a third party regarding the approval of home tuition for individual children which is directly at variance with her reply of 12 November 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45112/14]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The documents to which the Deputy refers relate to correspondence between a pre-school provider and my Department relating to payment arrangements for children for whom home tuition had already been approved.

Applications for home tuition for individual children are considered and approved on a case by case basis and with reference to criteria specific to the circumstances of the children in question. Applications for home tuition can only be made by parents or legal guardians of children.

However as outlined in the response to the parliamentary question to which the Deputy refers 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.

Student Grant Scheme Eligibility

Questions (437)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

437. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason persons in receipt of pensions after having worked in State bodies such as the Health Service Executive are excluded from receiving a special rates award under the student grant scheme administered by Student Universal Support Ireland despite some of these persons fulfilling all other criteria to be eligible to receive grants under the scheme, including having reckonable income below the required threshold, and despite grants also being available to persons in receipt of comparable pensions paid by the Department of Social Protection. [45113/14]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The Deputy will appreciate that in the absence of all of the relevant details in respect of the scenario referred to by the Deputy, it is not be possible for me to give a definitive response in this case.

By way of background, I wish to advise that the Report of the Action Group on Access to Third Level Education (2001) made detailed recommendations concerning the introduction of special rates of maintenance grants for disadvantaged students.

The target group of "those most in need" was defined in terms of the dependants of people receiving long-term welfare payments, where the necessary conditions are fulfilled. To qualify for the special rate of maintenance grant for the 2014/15 academic year, an applicant must qualify for the standard rate of maintenance grant. In addition, total reckonable income must not exceed €22,703 in the 2013 tax year. Finally, 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. It is important to note that the list of eligible payments for the special rate of grant includes the State Pensions, both the Contributory and Non-Contributory pensions.

Teachers' Remuneration

Questions (438)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

438. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills when she plans to action the directive contained in circular 0053/2014 where it was announced that teachers who began their service after January 2011 were to have their pay restored to the pre-cut scales so as to alleviate some of the disparity between teachers’ pay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45139/14]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

It is my Department's intention to introduce the revised salary scales for staff whose first appointments were in 2011 at the end of January 2015.

Site Acquisitions

Questions (439)

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

439. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 168 of 8 October 2014, if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the patron has not made this information available to the parents' representatives; the manner in which she asked the patron to make the information available; if they refused the request; if she will intervene to ensure that this information is made available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45151/14]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The Patron's office has advised my Department that the information in question was sent to the Boards of Management of the four schools on 6th October.

It is important to note that on each of these four Boards of Management there are two elected parent nominees, one mother and one father. These parents are elected by the whole parent body of the individual schools.

The Patron's Office has also advised that the information was recently furnished to the Secretary of the Parent Group.

Departmental Expenditure

Questions (440)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

440. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a supplementary budget Estimate is planned regarding her Department before the end of 2014; the reasons for such an Estimate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45154/14]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

Based on latest available expenditure returns, my Department is likely to require a supplementary estimate in 2014. This will be required both for technical adjustment reasons and to meet the cost of upward expenditure pressures on the Vote, mainly in relation to superannuation awards. The amount of the supplementary estimate required is currently the subject of discussions with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, after which the estimate will be considered by the Oireachtas Select Committee on Education and Skills.

Schools Refurbishment

Questions (441)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

441. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will pay a minor works grant to primary schools for 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45155/14]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I am pleased to inform the Deputy that I announced today the payment of the Minor Works Grant 2014/2015. The grant will issue to all primary schools with permanent recognition next week.

School Funding

Questions (442)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

442. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding her capital expenditure budget; the way this position compares with the same period last year; the details of specific capital projects which 2014 funding was earmarked for which have not availed of any unspent funding; if an underspend will facilitate the payment of a minor works grant to all primary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45156/14]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

My Department's 2013 capital expenditure at the end of November 2013 amounted to €381m. The 2014 capital position to date reveals an expenditure in excess of €450m. The exact level of funding incurred on the various capital programmes in 2014 will only become available following the conclusion of payments for this year at the end of December. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that I announced today the payment of the Minor Works Grant 2014/2015. The grant will issue to all primary schools with permanent recognition next week.

Student Grant Scheme Appeals

Questions (443)

Robert Troy

Question:

443. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will expedite a Student Universal Support Ireland application for someone as a dependent in view of the fact that their original application was put in on time. [45157/14]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

As part of a comprehensive customer service and communications strategy provided by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI), to ensure that all necessary avenues are open to applicants to receive the information they need, a dedicated email and phone line service is provided by SUSI for Oireachtas members. This was established to meet an identified need for applicants who choose to engage the assistance of their public representatives in making enquiries about their grant applications.

This service complements the established channels provided by SUSI which include online application tracking, a dedicated website, a telephone helpdesk, email and social media, including Facebook and Twitter.

Enquiries may be emailed direct to SUSI at [e-mail]. SUSI are responding to email queries within a matter of days.

If an individual applicant considers that she/he has been unjustly refused a student grant, or that the rate of grant awarded is not the correct one, she/he may appeal, in the first instance, to SUSI.

Where an individual applicant has had an appeal turned down in writing by SUSI 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 Grants Appeals Board.

Schools Health and Safety

Questions (444)

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

444. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills her Department's policies for students with allergies in schools and provisions of epipens in schools. [45158/14]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

Under the provisions of the Education Act 1998, the Board of Management is the body charged with the direct governance of a school.

It is important that the school management authority requests parents to ensure that the school is made aware of any medical condition suffered by any pupil attending. Where the school is aware of potential difficulties that may arise as a consequence of a medical condition suffered by one or more pupils, it may be possible for the management authorities, working in conjunction with parents, teachers and children to put preventative measures in place to lessen the possibility of any difficulties arising or to ensure that, if a pupil suffers from an illness requiring medication, that appropriate treatment is available.

The administration of medicines in primary schools is the subject of an agreement between the Irish National Teachers Organisation and the organisation representing school management at primary level. While this agreement specifies that no teacher can be required to administer medicine or drugs to pupils, it also sets out procedures that must be followed where a teacher or teachers agree to do so. The position is that either the parents of the child should make themselves available to administer medication as required or where they wish the staff in the school to administer it they should indemnify the school.

The Department cannot direct any member of the Board of Management or the teaching staff of the school to administer medical treatment to pupils, action and procedures which are normally carried out by medical professionals such as doctors and nurses.

Emergency Works Scheme Funding

Questions (445)

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

445. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the funding available to fee paying and to non-fee paying schools to introduce measures to make their schools accessible for students with disabilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45160/14]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

School Management Authorities may apply for funding to facilitate inclusion and access for special needs pupils or staff members under my Department's Emergency Works Scheme. Any application must be accompanied with confirmation of the nature and extent of the special need, suggestions as to how existing accommodation could be modified to accommodate the pupil or staff member and in the case of a pupil or staff member not yet attending the school, evidence of intent to commence at the school and proposed date of commencement.

Details of the Emergency Works Scheme, together with an application form for grant assistance, can be accessed on my Department's website.

State Examinations

Questions (446)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

446. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a reader and scribe will be made available to a student (details supplied) who is sitting their Leaving Certificate in June 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45162/14]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The 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.

Teaching Council of Ireland

Questions (447)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

447. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason the Teaching Council is requesting that a person (details supplied) complete a module of history and structure of Irish education system as a condition of their obtaining a permanent registration number; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45167/14]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

As this is an operational matter for the Teaching Council I am referring your question to the Council for early direct reply.

Schools Data

Questions (448)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

448. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of one teacher primary schools in each county for the school year 2014-2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45170/14]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The National School Annual Census for 2014/15 is currently underway. Data available to my Department on one teacher schools is provisional at this stage and is included in the table.

The 2014/15 National School Census data will be published later in the current school year.

County	No. 1 teacher schools
Cavan	1
Clare	3
Cork	4
Donegal	3
Dublin	3
Galway	7
Kerry	4
Kildare	1
Leitrim	2
Limerick	1
Meath	1
Mayo	9
Roscommon	2
Sligo	1
Tipperary	1
Waterford	1