Written Answers Nos. 25-32
25. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills the role of the apprenticeship council; their role in the development and implementation of apprenticeships; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45124/14]
View answerThe Apprenticeship Council was launched on 18th November last. It is enterprise-led and has representatives from business, trade unions, further and higher education bodies and my Department. It will, in accordance with the Apprenticeship implementation Plan:
i. develop a call for proposals for apprenticeships in areas outside of the current trades;
ii. examine and analyse the proposals arising from the call for proposals;
iii. report to my Department on viable new apprenticeships – having particular regard to the sustainability of the proposals received;
iv. monitor the development by industry and education and training partners of the successful proposals into new apprenticeships, including the curriculum development, awarding arrangements, duration and entry level.
In carrying out its role, the Council will take account of ongoing and future skills needs, including through data and reports produced by the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs and the Strategic Labour Market Research Unit.
26. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to the significant demand for a new Gaelcholáiste in the north Kildare area with parents of over 200 children seeking access to such an educational environment as their first choice; her views that at this point An Aonad does not come close to recognising this need; if she will revise earlier statements that it will take up to five years to determine need in this area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45228/14]
View answerMy Department is currently examining the extent and location of additional post-primary places that will be needed on a nationwide basis from 2017 onwards. This will include an examination of the north Kildare area. A submission recently received from An Foras Patrúnachta in relation to all-Irish provision in north Kildare will be taken into consideration as part of this examination.
In the meantime, my Department has clearly indicated that it is open to the idea of the establishment of an independent Gaelchóláiste for the north Kildare area. My Department has already committed to consider this if sufficient and viable demand for education through the medium of Irish in the Aonad in Maynooth is demonstrated over a four-year cycle.
27. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Education and Skills if there will be any further alleviation of moratorium on filling posts of responsibility at post-primary level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45366/14]
View answerThere are limited alleviation arrangements in place for schools that are acutely affected by the impact of the moratorium at Assistant Principal level.
These arrangements are mainly focused at post-primary level. However, I think it is fair to say that before the moratorium, notwithstanding the fact that one out of every two teachers held a management allowance the workload issue and the pressures on Principals and Deputy Principals existed.
Simply lifting the moratorium as extra funding becomes available in future years is not the best way of improving how school leadership is distributed in our schools.
The school management bodies at second level have published proposals for a more flexible model of middle management supports for schools. There is more work to be done in relation to these proposals and they will be the subject of more detailed discussions between my Department and the management bodies in the coming weeks.
28. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will be publishing the value for money report on small primary schools; if she plans to implement its recommendations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45103/14]
View answerI am reviewing the findings and recommendations contained in the report of the value for money review of small primary schools along with my Government colleagues. It is my intention to publish the report as soon as those considerations have been finalised. I also intend to outline my response to the report at that time.
29. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Skills the progress to date in addressing the specific issues of rural schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45089/14]
View answerOur current configuration of small primary schools has been examined by my Department in a value for money review which I am considering in consultation with my Government colleagues. The terms of reference of the review acknowledge the important role that primary schools play in their local communities and Government is conscious of this. Government will take into account the impact of small schools in dispersed rural communities in considering any planning framework for future provision of schools. My intention is to publish the report of the review on completion of this consideration process. I am not in a position to give a precise publication date at this time.
30. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will report on the progress of the prefab replacement programme; the number of schools that have had prefabs replaced by county; the number of schools still to be reached; and her plans and timeframe to replace the temporary structures with permanent classroom accommodation. [45268/14]
View answerUnder my Department's Prefab Replacement Initiative approval was given to 209 primary schools and 8 post primary schools to replace 614 prefab units with permanent accommodation. In excess of €57m was allocated of which €44.3m has been paid to date. Of the total 217 approved school projects, 155 projects have been completed and a further 21 projects are on site.
Details of the number of schools in each county approved funding is outlined in the table.
My Department's priority is to ensure that every child will have access to a physical school place and in this regard it is sometimes necessary to make use of temporary accommodation to meet the accommodation needs of schools.
Number of schools (by county) approved for prefab replacement under Prefab Replacement Initiatives 2012 & 2013
|
County |
Approved |
Completed |
On site |
To commence |
Withdrawn |
|
CARLOW |
4 |
3 |
0 |
1 |
|
|
CAVAN |
3 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
CLARE |
8 |
7 |
1 |
0 |
|
|
CORK |
29 |
24 |
1 |
4 |
|
|
DONEGAL |
5 |
4 |
0 |
1 |
|
|
DUBLIN |
34 |
19 |
4 |
11 |
|
|
GALWAY |
13 |
6 |
1 |
6 |
|
|
KERRY |
3 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
|
|
KILDARE |
7 |
5 |
1 |
1 |
|
|
KILKENNY |
8 |
7 |
1 |
0 |
|
|
LAOIS |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
LEITRIM |
3 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
LIMERICK |
7 |
5 |
1 |
1 |
|
|
LOUTH |
13 |
10 |
1 |
2 |
|
|
MAYO |
12 |
8 |
1 |
2 |
1 (School opted out) |
|
MEATH |
10 |
10 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
MONAGHAN |
3 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
OFFALY |
2 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
|
ROSCOMMON |
2 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
|
SLIGO |
5 |
4 |
0 |
1 |
|
|
TIPPERARY |
6 |
5 |
0 |
1 |
|
|
WATERFORD |
8 |
5 |
1 |
2 |
|
|
WESTMEATH |
8 |
4 |
3 |
1 |
|
|
WEXFORD |
11 |
9 |
2 |
0 |
|
|
WICKLOW |
11 |
5 |
3 |
3 |
31. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on junior cycle reform; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45282/14]
View answerI have met with the Teacher Unions five times since my appointment as Minister. Three of these meetings were solely to deal with issues relating to implementation of reforms to the Junior Cycle. I agreed to Dr Pauric Travers chairing negotiations between the Department and the Unions, and I also agreed to both the timeframe and terms of reference for those talks which were proposed by the unions.
On the 10th November I presented a compromise proposal that included:
- A state certificate for all students on completion of the Junior Cycle
- Final exams in third year to account for 60% of junior cycle marks, to be set and marked by the SEC
- 40 %, relating to other components to be assessed by classroom teachers within agreed criteria
- For this 40% the SEC would check 10 – 15 % of the marks to ensure consistency and fairness
- Well-being to become a compulsory element of Junior Cycle, including SPHE, PE and CSPE.
I want to thank Deputy McConalogue for his support for my position, which I believe represents a reasonable compromise in relation to the implementation of these reforms.
The Unions did not accept this proposal but acknowledged that it was significant. At a meeting on 19th November between myself and the Unions there was again little movement by the Unions.
The Teacher Unions have decided to strike on 2nd December, with a further event being proposed for January. I have said publicly, and will repeat again here today, that I think this is disappointing, and I believe it to be a disproportionate response to the compromise proposals which remain on the table.
I would urge both unions to reconsider their position and re-engage in talks rather than proceeding with a strike that serves no-one's interests.
32. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the way she plans to advance proposals for a technological university in the south east; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45286/14]
View answerFollowing the suspension of the merger with IT Carlow by Waterford Institute of Technology, I have established a new process to reinvigorate the technological university of the South East project. I have appointed Michael Kelly to lead a process of consultation with the governing bodies, staff and students in the two institutes and with other stakeholders in the region in order to explore with all parties the future of a technological university in the South East.
The Government has made a strong commitment to explore the establishment of a multi-campus technological university in the region. I believe such an institution will make an enormous contribution to the social and economic fabric of the south-east. I expect to receive Mr. Kelly's report in early January.
