Thursday, 27 Nov 2014

Written Answers Nos. 1-24

Apprenticeship Programmes

Questions (11)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

11. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 912 of 4 November 2014, if she will provide further details of the nature of the review being carried out by SOLAS of the five trades of electrical, plumbing, carpentry and joinery, metal fabrication and heavy vehicle mechanics; if she will report on the way this could lead to improvements in the number and types of apprenticeships available in these trades; and her plans to provide a modern system of apprenticeship education to meet the needs of the Irish economy over the next decade; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45104/14]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills

A SOLAS review of all designated apprenticeships is under way and aims to ensure that the programmes are up-to-date, relevant, and capable of meeting the needs of learners, the workplace and the economy. The five trades in question will have their newly developed national standards presented to Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) on the 10th December 2014 for determination for placement on the National Framework of Qualifications. Following placement of the awards, the revised programmes will be validated by QQI, and implemented during 2015. The establishment and development of new apprenticeships will be guided by the ongoing implementation of the recommendations from the recent Review of Apprenticeship in Ireland, as outlined in the implementation plan published by my Department last June. I have recently appointed a new Apprenticeship Council to manage a call for proposals from enterprise and education and training partners for the development of new apprenticeships.

Question No. 12 answered orally.

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Questions (13)

Mick Wallace

Question:

13. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Education and Skills when all articles of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs, EPSEN, Act 2004 will be implemented; if she will provide up-to-date financial information on the cost of implementation of the Act; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45361/14]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

A number of sections of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs (EPSEN) Act have been commenced, including those establishing the National Council for Special Education and those promoting an inclusive approach to education of children. The NCSE had suggested that additional investment over a period of years of up to €235m per annum, across the education and health sectors, would be required to fully implement the EPSEN Act. My Department's opinion was that the level of investment required across both sectors could be greater. However, an up to date quantification of the amount required has not been undertaken. In light of the very difficult economic situation and the significant costs involved in fully implementing the EPSEN Act, the previous Government deferred the full implementation of EPSEN.

It is intended to bring into effect many of the good ideas contained in the EPSEN Act, on a non-statutory basis initially, through policy developments across a range of areas, in conjunction with NCSE policy advice.

Industrial Disputes

Questions (14)

Ruth Coppinger

Question:

14. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she has met representatives of the locked out bricklayers and builders at a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45362/14]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I am pleased to inform the Deputy that I have recently met with all Unions representing construction workers involved in the delivery of my Department's school building programme including officials from UNITE.

These meetings have allowed me to provide valuable policy updates to the Union representatives including an update on the progress of the Industrial Relations (Amendment) Bill 2014 which, when enacted will put in place a new legislative framework to replace the Registered Employment Agreement system. I have also recently met with the Minister for Business and Employment, Gerald Nash, to discuss the progress on this new legislation.

In relation to the on-going dispute at the site referred to by the Deputy I understand that both parties have been invited to attend a hearing in the Labour Court on the 16th December, which I welcome. I would urge both the contractor and UNITE to now engage meaningfully with the Labour Court with a view to reaching a resolution.

Question No. 15 answered orally.

School Costs

Questions (16)

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

16. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to a survey carried out by the Irish Primary Principals Network which found that most parents are worse off financially now compared with last year and that half of schools had requested voluntary contributions from parents of more than €100; and her plans to actively address the issue of both primary and secondary schools requesting excessive amounts from parents. [45121/14]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I am aware of the survey in question and would firstly like to clarify that it found that about half of the 502 schools surveyed request voluntary contributions from parents and that, of those schools which request contributions, about 76% request less than €100 per family. Further the survey found that on average about two thirds of parents pay a voluntary contribution.

The Deputy will be aware that voluntary contributions by parents are permissible provided it is made absolutely clear to parents that there is no question of compulsion to pay and that, in making a contribution, they are doing so of their own volition.

The manner in which contributions are sought and collected is a matter for school management; however their collection should be such as not to create a situation where either parents or pupils could reasonably infer that the contributions take on a compulsory character.

I have no plans to alter this position provided schools ensure that the contributions are sought in manner that makes this clear to all concerned.

Questions (17)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

17. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of one-teacher primary schools in the country in each year since the school year starting September 2011; the number of such schools in each year belonging to minority faiths; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45102/14]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The number of one teacher primary schools has increased from 11 in September 2011 and September 2012 to 29 in September 2013 and 44 in September 2014. Given that the last of the Budget 2012 phased increases in pupil thresholds has been implemented the overall number of one teacher schools should now start to stabilise.

In relation to the 44 schools in the current school year, 6 of those are schools newly established to meet demographic need and will therefore grow in size quickly. 26 of the schools have a school of the same patronage within an 8km distance of it. Of the remaining 12 schools, four are on islands and four are Church of Ireland. I am providing a table for the Deputy setting out the breakdown of the ethos for each year.

The Government recognises the importance of small schools to rural communities. However, this does not mean that they can be exempt from the budgetary measures that have contributed to putting our public finances on a more sustainable basis.

2011/12
CATHOLIC	9
CHURCH OF IRELAND	1
MULTI DENOMINATIONAL	1

2012/13
CATHOLIC	9
MULTI DENOMINATIONAL	2
CHURCH OF IRELAND	1

2013/14
CATHOLIC	18
CHURCH OF IRELAND	5
MULTI DENOMINATIONAL	5
PRESBYTERIAN	1

2014/15
CATHOLIC	34
CHURCH OF IRELAND	4
MULTI DENOMINATIONAL	6

Minor Works Scheme Restoration

Questions (18)

Maureen O'Sullivan

Question:

18. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason the minor works grant has been omitted from the list of grants for primary schools, in view of the fact that a large number of national school buildings are in excess of 50 years old, this fund was vital in carrying out repair works and, without it, it is proving extremely difficult for schools to budget sufficiently to cater for buildings that are in constant need of repairs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41737/14]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I am pleased to inform the Deputy that I announced the 2014/2015 Minor Works Grant on 25 November. The grant, amounting to €28 million in total, will issue over the coming weeks to all primary schools with permanent recognition.

Funding under the grant will continue at existing levels with schools receiving a basic grant of €5,500 plus €18.50 per mainstream pupil and €74 per special needs pupil on the rolls on the 30th September of the year prior to the issue of the grant which in this instance is 2013. The funds being transferred to the schools must be spent on the physical infrastructure of the school or on items of furniture and equipment for educational use including IT related equipment.

The annual calendar of grants circulated by the Central Funds Section in my Department features the grants that are issued by that Section. The Minor Works Grant will be issued by the School Building Unit.

Student Grant Scheme Eligibility

Questions (19)

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

19. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to the fact that persons who apply for Student Universal Support Ireland grants on the basis of illness benefit, having lost their jobs as a result of being out sick, are not allocated higher rates of the grant; and if she will rectify this anomaly. [45120/14]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

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. The student must qualify for the standard rate of grant;

2. Total reckonable income, after income disregards and Child Dependant Increase(s) are excluded, 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.

The eligibility criteria for Illness Benefit is set by the Department of Social Protection.

It is not proposed to depart from the existing arrangements for the determination of the eligibility for the special rate of maintenance grant.

English Language Training Organisations

Questions (20)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

20. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Skills the role her Department is playing in addressing the problems in the regulation of English language schools; the communications she has had with the Department of Justice and Equality on this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45118/14]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

On 2nd September last, I announced robust regulatory reforms to the International education sector together with the Minister for Justice and Equality. The purpose of these reforms is to protect the educational and consumer interests of genuine international students, to tackle abuse of the labour market and the immigration regime and to safeguard the strong international reputation of high-quality Irish education providers.

These reforms have three main pillars. The first pillar is a new list of eligible programmes, the second pillar is an enhanced inspection and compliance regime and the third pillar relates to changes to the operation of the work concession.

It is expected that these reforms will significantly enhance the overall quality of Ireland's international education offering, reduce the risk to our reputation from the activities of lower quality operators and enhance the net benefits of internationalisation to the labour market and the wider economy. Officials from our two Departments are co-operating closely on the implementation of these reforms.

Departmental Budgets

Questions (21)

Micheál Martin

Question:

21. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the commitment in the programme for Government to protect front-line services in education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44785/14]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

Despite continuing financial challenges, this Government has remained committed to protecting frontline education services as far as possible. This priority commitment was most recently demonstrated in Budget 2015, where my priority was to provide funding to maintain class sizes and to ensure that the education system could recruit more teachers. As a result, almost 1,400 additional teachers will be taken on in primary and post-primary schools next year. This includes some 900 new classroom teachers and 480 new resource teachers. There were no increases in staffing schedules in schools. The Budget also provided for an increase of 365 on the existing cap on numbers of Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) posts. By the end of 2015 there will be some 63,470 teachers and 11,330 SNAs in our schools. Funding provision has also been made to provide the additional school places needed to meet the increased demand and to progress the reform agenda in education.

Departmental Funding

Questions (22)

Finian McGrath

Question:

22. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will support ChildVision, the National Education Centre for Blind Children, Dublin 9, in 2014-15. [45098/14]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

My Department provides annual funding to the National Braille Production Centre, located on the ChildVision campus, to transcribe educational materials to formats accessible to children with visual impairment.

My Department also supports St Joseph's primary and Pobalscoil Rosmini post-primary school which provide services on the ChildVision campus for children with visual impairment. These supports include ongoing provision of funding for the principal, teaching and special needs assistant staff as well as the standard supplementary funding for schools

I can confirm that this funding will continue to be provided for the 2014/15 school year, and beyond.

I understand that some campus land, excluding the 2 school buildings, is currently on the market. However, when this was brought to the attention of my Department, officials met with and received assurances from the Rosminians (Institute of Charity) in relation to the future use of the ChildVision campus for the educational provision of children and ensuring continuity of existing services there.

Student Grant Scheme Administration

Questions (23)

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

23. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she has reviewed the proposal put forward by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul to have the Student Universal Support Ireland application process reconfigured alongside the Central Applications Office process so that students will know whether they have financial support before beginning third level courses. [45123/14]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The proposal referred to was submitted to the Higher Education Authority as part of the consultation process for the new National Plan for Equity of Access 2014 – 2017.

The Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) online grant application process for 2014/15 opened on May 8th 2014, earlier than previous years. In consultation with my Department, an earlier opening date for 2015/16 is expected. This will allow an opportunity for applicants, in particular those sitting leaving certificate exams, to complete their applications during school term with the assistance of career guidance counsellors and others who can provide advice and support. Students will also know if they meet eligibility criteria at an early stage in the process. It is important to note that the majority of new applicants cannot be awarded a grant until late August, when Leaving Certificate results and CAO offers are out.

Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme Numbers

Questions (24)

Paul Murphy

Question:

24. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of participants who have enrolled on the VTOS scheme through the Dublin and Dún Laoghaire Education and Training Board for the current academic year; the way this number compares with the number for the academic year 2013-2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45364/14]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills

Dublin and Dún Laoghaire ETB has informed my Department that the number of students enrolled on its VTOS programme in the current academic year (2014/15) is 532. The number enrolled in 2013/14 was 535.