Wednesday, 14 Jan 2015

Written Answers Nos. 751-771

School Transport Expenditure

Questions (751)

Brian Stanley

Question:

751. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the school special transport grant will be paid at the end of each school term instead of the end of the school year. [49436/14]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills

In general, the Special Transport Grant, sanctioned under the terms of my Department's School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs, is paid at the end of each school year upon receipt of a completed Statement of Attendance Form.

Requests for more frequent payments are only considered in exceptional circumstances, for example, where annual payments might result in financial hardship for families.

Vocational Education Committees Accounts

Questions (752)

John McGuinness

Question:

752. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the accounts of Cork County Vocational Education Committee for 2011 are completed; if there is a reason these accounts have not yet been laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49450/14]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The accounts of VECs, including Co Cork VEC, are audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General and I understand that the 2011 accounts of Co Cork VEC will be completed in the near future. Once finalised, officials of my Department will arrange for them to be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas at the earliest opportunity.

Broadband Service Provision

Questions (753)

Tom Fleming

Question:

753. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will ensure that all small primary schools are retained and enhanced and that high speed broadband is installed in all these schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49456/14]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

One of the chief factors determining the retention of a primary school in any community is for the school to meet the minimum enrolment viability threshold. My Department will continue to fund a school in the normal course of events once this viability threshold is met. If a school with low enrolments wishes to re-organise, it is a matter for the school patron and the school community to consider in the first instance.

Under the Schools Broadband Access Programme, my Department provides for the supply of internet connectivity for all recognised primary schools. A framework involving more providers was put in place in 2012 which ensures that improved solutions are available to schools. The Department is continually working with providers to ensure that where possible improved services are made available to schools.

In the context of the forthcoming Digital Strategy for Schools, improved connectivity for primary schools will be a priority. In this regard, my Department will collaborate with the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources to provide enhanced broadband services.

School Transport Provision

Questions (754)

Michael Lowry

Question:

754. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 390 of 9 December 2014 the additional mileage that would be incurred by Bus Éireann if it altered the route as requested; the cost of same; and if in view of the health and safety concerns in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary it will consider making this alteration. [49475/14]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills

Bus Éireann has advised that the child in question resides approximately 0.7 kilometres from the pick-up point; this is considered to be a reasonable level of service in the context of the scheme as it is applied nationally.Safety of children travelling on the school transport service is of paramount importance to my Department and to Bus Éireann. Bus Éireann place special emphasis on safety and, to this end, have a wide range of checking procedures in place to ensure that a safe and reliable service is provided.

The designation of specific school bus pick-up points is an operational matter for Bus Éireann. I should say, however, that parents also have to play their part in ensuring that children are brought to and collected safely from relevant pick-up points along the route of the journey.

Information relating to the cost of school transport services is considered commercially sensitive.

Broadband Service Provision

Questions (755)

Tom Fleming

Question:

755. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide in tabular form by county the schools that did not apply for broadband connection; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49479/14]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

Under the Schools Broadband Access Programme, my Department provides for the supply of internet connectivity for all recognised primary schools. A framework involving more providers was put in place in 2012 which ensures that improved solutions are available to schools. The Department is continually working with providers to ensure that where possible improved services are made available to schools.

In the context of the forthcoming Digital Strategy for Schools, improved connectivity for primary schools will be a priority. In this regard, my Department will collaborate with the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources to provide enhanced broadband services.

The following is a list of 107 schools that have declined to avail of the broadband connection offered by the Department of Education and Skills.

Roll Number	School name	County
02124E	SCOIL NAIS MOLAISE	Carlow
19679V	S N AODHAIN NAOFA	Cavan
15370R	KILLALOE BOYS N S	Clare
20312H	Raheen Wood Steiner School	Clare
16677C	BUNSCOIL NA MBRAITHRE	Clare
09537S	BALLINADEE N S	Cork
13910N	S N BUN AN TSABHAIRNE	Cork
16940O	DUNDAR MHUIGHE N S	Cork
17761T	S N MHUIRE	Cork
17765E	S N RE NA SCRINE	Cork
19249T	BARRYROE NS	Cork
20119N	CORK UNIVERSITY HOS SCHOOL	Cork
20331L	Scoil Aisling	Cork
14194S	SCOIL CHOLMCILLE	Donegal
14631O	SCOIL CHOLMCHILLE	Donegal
15532R	CROAGHROSS N S	Donegal
15763N	MOVILLE N S	Donegal
16384K	SN ARAINN MHOR II	Donegal
16608G	KILLYBEGS COMMON N S	Donegal
16850N	ST GARVANS N.S.	Donegal
17828C	SCOIL ADHAMHNAIN	Donegal
18517N	SCOIL MHUIRE	Donegal
18700E	S N BAILE AN CAISLEAN	Donegal
18939Q	S N DONAIGH	Donegal
19614Q	NAOMH BODAIN	Donegal
17110B	NAOMH LORCAN O TUATHAIL	Dublin
17459U	CHRIST THE KING I G	Dublin
17890H	TEMPLE ST HOSPITAL N S	Dublin
18602E	SCOIL MHUIRE	Dublin
18671A	ST MICHAELS HSE SPEC SC	Dublin
18976W	S N CHOLMILLE B	Dublin
19032R	STEWARTS SCHOOL	Dublin
19472W	ST MARKS JUNIOR N S	Dublin
19537B	ST ATTRACTAS JUNIOR N S	Dublin
19926M	GAELSCOIL CHOLAISTE MHUIRE	Dublin
19962Q	OBERSTOWN BOYS CENTRE	Dublin
20092T	ST ULTANS NS	Dublin
20247W	Scoil Ghrainne Community National School	Dublin
20308Q	Belmayne Educate Together National School	Dublin
20348F	Holywell Educate Together National School	Dublin
17891J	SCOIL MHUIRE	Dublin
14377D	S N CILL CONAILL	Galway
14448A	CLOUGHANOWER N S	Galway
15523Q	S N NAOMH IOSEF	Galway
16936A	S N NAOMH PADRAIG	Galway
17782E	S N BRIDE NAOFA	Galway
18490T	SN M AN CROI GAN SMAL	Galway
19357W	SN TIR NA CILLE	Galway
20070J	ROSEDALE SCHOOL	Galway
20329B	Tígh Nan Dooley Child Education and Development Centre	Galway
20330J	St. Oliver's Child Education and Development Centre	Galway
13856K	BUSHY PARK N S	Galway
14425L	S N DOIRE UI BHRIAIN	Galway
19047H	ST JOSEPHS SPECIAL SCH	Galway
01583I	GLOUNAGUILLAGH N S	Kerry
11363A	SCOIL ATHA NA MBLATH	Kerry
16281A	SN NAOMH GOBNAIT	Kerry
18702I	SPA NATIONAL SCHOOL	Kerry
19512I	ST OLIVERS NS	Kerry
20351R	Naas Community National School	Kildare
17253A	S N CAISLEAN AN CUMAIR	Kilkenny
12231L	RUSH HALL MIXED N S	Laois
16667W	TOBAR AN LEINN	Laois
17064U	SCOIL PADRAIG	Laois
17695J	S N MOLAISE	Laois
18828H	ST. PAULS PRIMARY SCHOOL	Laois
20065Q	OUR LADYS MEADOW NATIONAL SCHOO	Laois
20081O	GAELSCOIL PHORT LAOISE	Laois
16951T	S N NA CRAOIBHELEITHE	Leitrim
17125O	DIFFEREEN N S	Leitrim
20203C	MOHILL N S	Leitrim
15680J	SCOIL AN SPIORAID NAOMH	Limerick
15685T	ATHEA N SCHOOL	Limerick
19894C	AN MHODH SCOIL	Limerick
20234N	THE CHILDRENS ARK	Limerick
20124G	ST MARYS N.S.	Longford
18936K	ST ITAS SPECIAL SCHOOL	Louth
19246N	S N AN TSLANAITHEORA B	Louth
14188A	BARNATRA N S	Mayo
16283E	S N POL A TSOMAIS	Mayo
02905J	S N NAOMH PADRAIG	Meath
11978O	SCOIL MHUIRE NS	Meath
20352T	ARD Rí COMMUNITY NATIONAL SCHOOL	Meath
20327U	Gaelscoil Lorgan	Monaghan
17599N	S N BAILE AN LUIG	Sligo
17725P	S N BHRIDE	Sligo
19408N	RATHCORMACK N S	Sligo
11367I	PORTROE N S	Tipperary
16059W	EMLY N S	Tipperary
18396E	S N RATH EILTE	Tipperary
19879G	NAOMH PADRAIG  JUNIOR	Tipperary
19880O	NAOMH PADRAIG  SENIOR	Tipperary
20027I	GAELSCOIL THIOBRAID ARANN	Tipperary
01711O	S N CILL ROSANTA	Waterford
16976M	S N DEAGLAN	Waterford
18689T	OUR LADY OF MERCY SENIOR P.S.	Waterford
19814B	SCOIL GEARBHAIN	Waterford
19953P	ST MARYS NS	Waterford
17025K	S N NA NDUN	Westmeath
17806P	CILL CLEITHE N S	Westmeath
05070W	S N BAILE MUIRNE	Wexford
12741L	MARSHALSTOWN N S	Wexford
12841P	ST PATRICKS N S	Wexford
19266T	OUR LADY OF FATIMA SP S	Wexford
19741A	SCOIL MHUIRE	Wexford
14829M	Scoil San Eoin	Wicklow
19522L	ST CATHERINES SPEC SCH	Wicklow

Schools Building Projects Applications

Questions (756, 785)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

756. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on plans for a new school (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49500/14]

Pearse Doherty

Question:

785. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a school (details supplied) in County Donegal has yet to be provided with suitable long-term accommodation; when the construction of a new school building will commence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1098/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I propose to take Questions Nos. 756 and 785 together.

As the Deputy will be aware, the school to which he refers has made an application to my Department for large scale capital funding.

The Five Year Construction Plan that was announced in March 2012 as part of my Department's €2 billion capital investment programme, outlines the major school projects that are scheduled to commence construction over the duration of the Plan. These have been prioritised on the basis of meeting significant demographic needs. My Department will also consider applications from individual schools for devolved funding to meet an immediate accommodation requirement because of increased enrolments and where an additional teacher is being appointed.

In view of the priority to provide essential classroom accommodation in areas of demographic growth, it is not possible at this stage to indicate when a major project at the school might progress.

The current status of all projects on the school building programme, including the school in question, may be viewed on my Department's website at www.education.ie.

Student Grant Scheme Applications

Questions (757)

Sandra McLellan

Question:

757. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will approve and expedite a Student Universal Support Ireland grant in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49516/14]

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 compliments 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.

Momentum Programme

Questions (758)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

758. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Skills regarding the use of MOMENTUM courses and the progression rates of persons getting work from these courses, the reason there is no extra payments for the purpose of public transport or child care for participants in these courses; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49531/14]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I am informed by SOLAS, who manage the Momentum Programme, that the breakdown of those who completed a Momentum course is as follows. It should be noted that these figures relate to where course providers could verify with former participants that the following outcomes have been achieved and claim payments for these outcomes under the contracting model. It is likely that the true figures are higher and data from the DSP/SOLAS Client Services System indicates that over 50% of the 6,500 people who started the Momentum Programme (6,500) were signed-off the Live Register in December 2014.

Full Time Employment - 24% of those who completed achieved a full-time job.

Part-Time Employment - 6% achieved part-time employment.

Progression to further education - progression to further education was achieved by 8%.

The awarding of travel allowances to participants on the Momentum Programme was discussed between the relevant Government Departments when the Programme was being designed. In the design of the scheme, consideration was given to the question of additional payments but in the difficult economic circumstances that exist and in order to ensure the best use of scarce resources, it was decided that no additional payments were warranted, other than the retention of social welfare benefits. All participants were entitled to apply for childcare places under the Childcare Education & Training Scheme – which is administered by the Department of Children & Youth Affairs.

Momentum Programme

Questions (759)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

759. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Skills the difficulties persons may have being forced on to MOMENTUM courses while not being able to afford the cost of getting to class for the placement; if she will indicate the use of these courses in the Dún Laoghaire area, the practice of the Department of Social Protection Intreo centre and local employment services having to meet targets and quotas to fill these places; and the number of persons in the Dún Laoghaire constituency currently in placements in MOMENTUM courses; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49533/14]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The awarding of travel allowances to participants on the Momentum Programme was discussed between the relevant Government Departments when the Programme was being designed. In the design of the scheme, consideration was given to the question of additional payments but in the difficult economic circumstances that exist and in order to ensure the best use of scarce resources, it was decided that no additional payments were warranted beyond the retention of social welfare benefits.

I understand that there are no Momentum projects scheduled for or running in the Dún Laoghaire area. Two projects for 46 participants are running/scheduled in the adjoining D4 and D18 areas.

The distribution of Momentum places takes account of both employment opportunities and patterns of unemployment throughout the country. In this second round of Momentum, SOLAS and the Department of Social Protection have worked together closely on course recruitment and have put in place arrangements that enable unemployed people to be appropriately matched with programmes that meet their needs. This includes a course briefing with the course provider and an initial three week trial period where participants can familiarise themselves with the course. In addition, many participants find the course they are interested in directly through www.momentumskills.ie and arrange referral through their local INTREO Office. The question of placement practices at the level of local INTREO offices is a matter for the Department of Social Protection.

Psychological Assessments

Questions (760)

Michael McGrath

Question:

760. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a primary school pupil (details supplied) in County Cork will have an assessment of their needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49535/14]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I can inform the Deputy that my Department's National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) provides educational psychology service to all primary and post primary schools through an assigned NEPS psychologist and in some cases through the Scheme for Commissioning Psychological Assessments (SCPA), full details of which are on the Department's website. Under this scheme schools can have an assessment carried out by a member of the panel of private psychologists approved by NEPS, and NEPS will pay the psychologist the fees for this assessment directly.

In common with many other psychological services and best international practice, NEPS has adopted a consultative model of service. The focus is on empowering teachers to intervene effectively with pupils whose needs range from mild to severe and transient to enduring. Psychologists use a problem solving and solution focused consultative approach to maximize positive outcomes for these pupils. NEPS encourages schools to use a continuum based assessment and intervention process whereby each school takes responsibility for initial assessment, educational planning and remedial intervention for pupils with learning, emotional or behavioural difficulties. Teachers may consult their NEPS psychologist should they need to at this stage in the process. Only in the event of a failure to make reasonable progress, in spite of the school's best efforts in consultation with NEPS, will the psychologist become involved with an individual child for intensive intervention or assessment. This system allows psychologists to give early attention to urgent cases and also to help many more children indirectly than could be seen individually. It also ensures that children are not referred unnecessarily for psychological intervention.

If the parents of the child, the subject of this question, have specific concerns about her educational progress I would advise in the first instance that they speak to the Principal of the school with a view to raising these concerns with the assigned NEPS psychologist.

Psychological Assessments

Questions (761)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

761. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 477 of 18 November 2014, if she will engage directly with the counselling division of the Psychological Society of Ireland and meet directly with a person (details supplied) to discuss the response; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49536/14]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE), through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), is responsible for the provision of a range of educational services at local and national level for students with special educational needs.

This responsibility includes planning and co-ordinating the provision of education and support services to children with special educational needs. Each SENO works in an assigned local area with parents, schools, teachers, psychologists, health professionals and other staff who are involved in the provision of services in that area for children with special educational needs.

Relevant professional assessment reports are provided by schools to SENOs as part of the application process for support. The consideration of these reports is an integral part of determining the extent of supports to be provided for pupils with special educational needs.

NCSE circular 03/08 clarifies the respective roles and functions of the NCSE and the HSE and their respective personnel in carrying out assessments and sanctioning resources to support children with special educational needs.

The matter which has been raised by the Deputy is currently being considered by the NCSE, the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) and my Department, who in considering this matter will also consider whether it would be useful for them to meet with representatives from the Counselling Division of the Psychological Society of Ireland, to further discuss this matter.

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Questions (762)

Billy Kelleher

Question:

762. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a child (details supplied) in County Cork will be assessed as they need an up to date educational report to apply for reasonable accommodations for them to be able to sit their leaving certificate in June 2015. [49550/14]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I have had the case examined and I am informed that while an application for a (RACE) accommodation was received by the SEC for the candidate, it was returned to the school, as the form was incomplete. The school is currently preparing the application for re-submission to SEC, at which stage a determination will be made on whether an accommodation is warranted under the scheme.

Schools Building Projects Status

Questions (763)

Billy Timmins

Question:

763. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a school (details supplied) in County Wicklow currently on schedule for delivery by the end of 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49558/14]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The school to which the Deputy refers is to be delivered as part of the Schools Bundle 5 PPP project. This Bundle is part of the Government's Economic Stimulus Package announced by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Brendan Howlin T.D., in July 2012. The inclusion of the school referred to by the Deputy, as well as the other five schools in the bundle, and their expected completion by the end of 2016, was announced on 3rd May, 2013.

The site acquisition process for the school in question is underway. However, due to commercial sensitivities associated with property acquisitions generally, I am unable to provide further information at this time. The planning documentation is almost complete and this will be lodged as soon as my Department is in a position to do so. The project is still expected to be completed during the 2016-2017 academic year as my Department originally anticipated.

Schools Building Projects Expenditure

Questions (764)

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

764. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the capital funding applications open to Salerno secondary school to fund the building of a multi-purpose sports and general activities hall at its site on Taylor's Hill in County Galway; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that planning permission has been granted and approved, a significant portion of funding has been raised locally and at present it has to ferry pupils to other such facilities at a great cost to the school and the Department; if there may be a possibility of joint funding a project with the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport; and if that option has been investigated by her Department. [49562/14]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

My Department devolved very significant funding to the school, referred to by the Deputy, in 2010 and 2011 to provide additional general classrooms, specialist rooms and ancillary accommodation to meet the schools accommodation needs.

As the Deputy may be aware, due to the competing demands on my Department's capital budget imposed by the need to prioritise available funding for the provision of essential school classroom accommodation, it is not possible at this point to provide an indicative timeframe for the provision of funding towards a multi-purpose/PE hall for the school concerned.

While my Department is not in a position to prioritise funding for the sports facilities in question, it is open however to the school to apply for funding to the Department referred to by the Deputy.

School Staff

Questions (765)

Maureen O'Sullivan

Question:

765. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 395 of 9 December 2014, if the recommendation is that schools should differentiate between English additional language provision and literacy support provision in order that support is appropriately targeted (details supplied); if she is satisfied that schools have adequate resources, staff and training to deliver this kind of support. [49569/14]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

Teacher allocations are approved annually in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolment. The criteria for the allocation of posts are communicated to school managements annually and are available on the Department website. In relation to learning/language support there are currently over 4,700 posts allocated to schools at primary level and over 780 posts at post primary level. This includes the standard learning/language support allocation that is given to all schools and the additional support that is provided to schools that have high concentrations of pupils that require language support.

Further additional temporary language support posts are provided on the basis of appeals to the Staffing Appeal Boards. The appeal criteria are set out in the published staffing arrangements.

Schools have autonomy to deploy this resource between language support and learning support depending on the specific needs of the school.

The staffing arrangements for the 2015/16 school year will be published shortly and this will enable schools to determine their staffing levels for that school year.

The Teaching Council's criteria for Initial Teacher Education (ITE) sets out the mandatory elements to be contained in all Initial Teacher Education Programmes. These include Inclusive Education, (Special Education, Multiculturalism, Disadvantage, etc) Literacy, Numeracy and Differentiation. The Council's criteria does not overly prescribe what should be covered in programmes, rather, the approach is that ITE is about the development of critical core skills, which can then be applied to any range of issues in the classroom, possibly with the benefit of further up-skilling post-qualification.

The Professional Development Service for Teachers offer workshops and school support in the area of EAL to primary schools. The purpose of the workshops is to provide key information on EAL to both language support teachers and teachers supporting children with EAL under the general allocation model. At post-primary level, support is made available to schools on request in the area of EAL and work on literacy incorporates aspects of EAL in many cases.

School Accommodation Provision

Questions (766)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

766. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a school (details supplied) in County Kildare may permanently remain in the school in which it is currently occupying; if not, the reasons for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49596/14]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The school referred to by the Deputy relocated temporarily to the premises it is now occupying to allow repair works, caused by storm damage, to be carried out on its own school premises. The arrangement for this relocation was made by the school Patron and these works are expected to be completed in May.

The building in question will accommodate the planned new post primary school in Naas that is due to open in September 2015.

My Department is currently assessing the long-term accommodation needs of the school referred to by the Deputy and is liaising with the Patron in this regard.

School Staff

Questions (767)

Michael McCarthy

Question:

767. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if approval will be provided to the extension of secondments of directors of education centres; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49597/14]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

My Department, through the education centres and teacher support services, engages teachers on a full time basis annually for the provision of continuing professional development (CPD) through secondment from their schools. These secondments are subject to annual review. The arrangements provide flexibility and ensure that the in-service needs of teachers and other support priorities of the school system can be met within the resources available.

Having teachers with relevant and recent teaching experience and expertise is a key requirement for the role. It is a condition therefore that the maximum length of time that a teacher may be on secondment is five years, following which they return to their teaching roles in their schools. In this way, their expertise and knowledge is not lost to the system. Each education centre has a management committee and staff which ensures continuity at a local level. The teacher secondment arrangements were disseminated extensively so the necessary planning could take place at all levels including education centres, support services, school boards of management and individual teacher. Implementation of the arrangements is now well advanced. Accordingly, there are no plans to change the policy of the five year limit.

I am aware that a number of education centre directors will reach their five year limit in August 2015. Some alleviation was agreed to allow a small number to serve beyond that date for a limited period and there has been consultations with the directors in this regard. My Department continues to be open to considering any proposal within the policy parameters outlined above.

Home Tuition Scheme Provision

Questions (768)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

768. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 194 to 197, inclusive, of 16 October 2014, in view of the internal e-mail sent by one of her officials on 18 June 2007 stating that there are two similar collective models operating in a similar fashion, the reason for the apparent discrepancy between this document and her previous reply where she clarified that her Department is not aware of other groups of parents having come to the attention of her Department over five years ago in relation to group arrangements for home tuition. [49613/14]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The response to the parliamentary questions to which the Deputy refers outlined the direct payment arrangements in place with private commercial organisations. The arrangements enable group tuition to be provided to children in a class type setting; payment in these cases is made directly to the service provider and is calculated on a group rate basis.

A key difference in the separate document referred to by the Deputy is that while other children were receiving tuition in private commercial organisations the funding was claimed and paid on a 1:1 basis directly to the parents of the children concerned and accordingly did not constitute group arrangements.

Schools Building Contractors

Questions (769)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

769. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide details of the pay and conditions of employment clause attached to the Kishoge community college, Lucan, County Dublin, public works contract. [49623/14]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

All school building projects which are funded from public monies, including Kishoge Community College, are required to use the forms of contract provided under the Capital Works Management Framework which includes a suite of public works contracts, standard conditions of engagement, model forms, suitability assessment questionnaires and guidance notes published by the Office of Government Procurement (OGP).

The form of contract used on the Kishoge Community College project is the "Public Works Contract for Building Works designed by the Employer" (PW-CF1) and clause 5.3 of the contract sets out the pay and conditions of employment.

A copy of this template contract may be downloaded from my Department's website www.education.ie or the Construction Procurement Reform website constructionprocurement.gov.ie.

Home Tuition Scheme Funding

Questions (770)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

770. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 152 of 12 November 2014, the reason for her Department stating in its correspondence of 1 November 2010 (details supplied) that where parents are sanctioned home tuition by her Department, funding is provided directly to the parents of the children in question when this was not in fact the case as her Department already had an arrangement in place for a number of years to make direct payments to just one private commercial organisation. [49634/14]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The context of the correspondence referred to by the Deputy is significant in clarifying this issue.

The letter was in response to a submission from a private service provider outlining their intention to submit claim forms for funding for four children who were approved for home tuition to assist in their timely processing and payment. The letter added that applications for three children not approved for home tuition were to be submitted subsequently.

Therefore the approach in my official's response was to advise that new applications for home tuition were to be processed in line with the relevant circular and outlined the general conditions for payment which were at that time compatible with arrangements in place for the aforementioned four children for whom tuition had been provided.

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Questions (771)

Joe Carey

Question:

771. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will report on advances her Department has made with respect to policy on physical restraint intervention from a health and safety perspective as it pertains to primary schools especially those that run an ASD unit in parallel; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49641/14]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I wish to advise the Deputy that the well-being and safety of children should be at the centre of all policy and practices in schools.

The Board of Management of each school is responsible for the care and safety of all of the pupils in their school and is required to prepare a code of behaviour in accordance with Section 23 of the Education (Welfare) Act 2000.

Section 23 (4) of the Act states that the principal of a recognised school shall, before registering a child as a student at that school, provide the parents of such child with a copy of the school's code of behaviour.

Schools may seek advice from their local National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) psychologist, from their NCSE Special Educational Needs Organiser, or from the National Behavioural Support Services, as to how children with behavioural needs can best be supported in school.

Published guidelines which are available to schools include Supporting Students with Behavioural, Emotional, and Social difficulties, which is available on the Department's website www.education.ie; the National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) guidelines for schools on Developing a Code of Behaviour and the National Educational Psychological Services document Behavioural Emotional and Social Difficulties - a Continuum of Support: Guidelines for Teachers.

Finally, I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department, through the Special Education Support Service (SESS), provides continuing professional development (CPD) for teachers working with students with special educational needs, including training for teachers in the area of Challenging Behaviour and Autism.