Wednesday, 14 Jan 2015

Written Answers Nos. 854-869

Gaelscoil Issues

Questions (854)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

854. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on the reduction of an entire class of available spaces at a Gaelscoil (details supplied) in County Kildare; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that this situation has arisen in part because of the lack of forward planning to take into account the demand for Gaelscoil education in the area; her plans to initiate an immediate assessment of need with a view to catering for this high demand; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1687/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The Department is in contact with the school Patron relating to enrolments in the primary schools in the area to which the Deputy refers, including the gaelscoil in question. The Department understands that the Patron is consulting directly with the schools involved in relation to the enrolment matters being raised. The Department will continue to liaise with the Patron, who has ultimate responsibility for the governance and management of the schools. My Department's current five-year construction plan is focussed on meeting demographic demands to ensure that every child will have access to a physical school place and that our school system is in a position to accommodate increasing pupil numbers. Therefore, the establishment of any new school, or the extension of any existing school, is considered in the context of the overall need for additional school places to meet future demographic demands. This may result in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice. My Department has recently completed a nationwide demographic review to determine where additional primary school places might be needed from 2015 onwards. On foot of this review, it has been determined that there is sufficient educational infrastructure in the area to which the Deputy refers to meet its demographic needs.

Schools Building Projects Status

Questions (855)

Dessie Ellis

Question:

855. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of plans for the new building in respect of a school (details supplied) in Dublin 9 where works were due to commence in 2014. [1688/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is currently at an advanced stage of architectural planning - Stage 2(b), which includes the securing of all statutory approvals and completion of tender documents. Following an appeal to An Bord Pleanála planning permission was granted. However, a Judicial Review of the decision by An Bord Pleanála was initiated by a third party in mid 2014. A decision on the Judicial Review is awaited. My Department must await the outcome of the Judicial Review before progressing the building project further.

Student Grant Scheme Eligibility

Questions (856)

Marcella Corcoran Kennedy

Question:

856. Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will review a SUSI application which has been refused (details supplied) under section 14 (4) of the Student Support Act 2011 and regulation 5 of the Student Support Regulations 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1689/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

Under the residency requirement of Section 14(4) of the Student Support Act 2011, a student must have been resident in Ireland for at least 3 of the 5 years immediately prior to commencing an approved course in an approved institution in order to qualify for a grant. However, a student may qualify for a grant, having met the residency requirement during the course of their studies. From the information provided by the Deputy the student referred to would not have satisfied the residency requirement at the commencement of the 2014/15 academic year, however, that condition may be satisfied for 2015/16, should the student continue her studies in that year.

SOLAS Staff

Questions (857)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

857. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of personnel currently employed by SOLAS head office; the skill sets employed within this group; the total salary cost associated with this group of employees; the total costs associated with the rent of the new head offices together with the fit-out cost of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1698/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

SOLAS, the Further Education and Training Authority, was established in October 2013 under the Further Education and Training Act, 2013. SOLAS, under the aegis of the Department of Education and Skills, is responsible for the strategic co-ordination and funding of the Further Education and Training sector. The total number of FTE staff currently employed by SOLAS is 211. SOLAS staff operates across three divisions: 1. Strategy & Knowledge (Strategy & Evaluation, Operational Planning & Stakeholder Engagement, Programme Improvement); 2. FET Services & Supports (Apprenticeship, Central Programmes, Strategy & Supports); 3. Resources (ICT, Finance, HR/Organisation Development). The skill set of staff employed within the divisions include FET Planning & Programme Development, Management, ICT, Finance, Research, HR, Communications, Administration and Clerical. It should be noted that SOLAS provides support (mainly ICT) to both the Education & Training Boards and the Department of Social Protection.

The total salary cost associated with the FTE 211 employees is €12.37m. Shortly after the establishment of SOLAS, it exited the former FÁS HQ and relocated its Head Office to smaller, more suitable premises in Dublin 1. The basic rent of the new building equates to €14.50 (plus vat) per square foot and is highly competitive for the area. The total cost of the rent is €1.4m per annum, including vat and will generate substantial savings based on the cost of the former FÁS HQ. This figure includes the amortisation of the fit-out costs, which will be borne by the landlord, over a five year period.

Education and Training Boards Establishment

Questions (858)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

858. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of former FÁS employees reassigned or employed to each education and training board; the global budgets assigned to each ETB for adult and further education and for training; the additional human resources and financial resources allocated to each ETB since the ETB sector assumed responsibility for training and for the former FÁS training centres; the resources she plans to allocate to those ETBs that currently do not have a training centre; the way in which and when it is proposed that these ETBs will have full statutory responsibility for their full SOLAS remit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1699/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

Following the establishment of Education and Training Boards (ETBs) on 1 July 2013 and the establishment of SOLAS, to replace FÁS, on 27 October 2013, 7 SOLAS training centres and their staff transferred to 4 ETBs on 1 January 2014 and 12 SOLAS training centres transferred to a further 7 ETBs on 1 July 2014. A total of 863 staff were transferred from SOLAS to the ETBs. The staff transferred per ETB is set out in the table.

ETB	Staff Number
Dublin-Dún Laoghaire	168
Dublin City	129
Waterford-Wexford	94
Cork	91
Limerick-Clare	91
Longford-Westmeath	67
Galway-Roscommon	55
Louth-Meath	48
Mayo-Sligo-Leitrim	44
Kerry	40
Donegal	36
Total	863

Further Education and Training (FET) services are delivered in a number of different ways – within catchment areas of ETBs and, where specific workshop-type training is required, in dedicated Training Centres. During the transfer process and pending the finalisation of the transfer of training functions to the 5 ETBs which currently do not have training centres, SOLAS both directly funded activity and grant-aided the ETBs to ensure continuity to learners. Global budgets assigned to each ETB area for Further Education & Training reflect the transition period and are set out in the tables.

Category 1 – ETBs managed the full FET budget over 2014

ETB	€m
Dublin-Dún Laoghaire	69 (Includes training delivered for Kildare-Wicklow area)
Dublin City	86
Cork	52
Kerry	25

Category 2 – ETBs managed the Further Education budget for the full year (2014) and Training Budget for 6 months (July – Dec 2014)

ETB	€m
Waterford-Wexford	60 (Includes Training delivered for Kilkenny-Carlow area, Tipperary Sth area and Kildare-Wicklow area)
Limerick-Clare	50 (Includes Training delivered for Tipperary Nth area)
Longford-Westmeath	41 (Includes Training delivered for Laois-Offaly area and Kildare-Wicklow area)
Galway-Roscommon	33
Louth-Meath	36 (Includes Training delivered for Cavan-Monaghan area)
Mayo-Sligo-Leitrim	31
Donegal	22

Category 3 – ETBs managed only the Further Education budget for 2014

ETB	€m
Cavan-Monaghan	7
Kildare-Wicklow	17
Laois-Offaly	8
Tipperary	7
Kilkenny-Carlow	7

In the ordinary course of business, my Department has sanctioned the filling of a number of critical vacancies in the sector. In addition, it has been examining the organisation design of ETBs in the context of their overall statutory remit and I expect that my officials will be in communication with ETBs in relation to this in the near future. 5 ETBs which did not have SOLAS training centres located in their geographic areas did not have training centre transferred to them. The 5 ETBs concerned are Kildare and Wicklow, Cavan and Monaghan, Tipperary, Kilkenny and Carlow, and Laois and Offaly. The delivery of that training is currently managed by the training centres which traditionally managed the provision of services in the areas that did not have training centres. A target date of 1 July 2015 has been set for the allocation of funding and staffing to provide for the delivery of training to the 5 ETBs not receiving a training centre. A National Education and Training Boards Steering Committee, consisting of the 5 ETBs which do not have training centres and the 5 ETBs which provide training services on their behalf, has been established by the sector to facilitate the implementation of this next stage in the transition process. The next meeting of the Steering Committee has been scheduled for 16 January 2015. As part of this process, engagement is being facilitated between the ETBs concerned with a view to determining the resources which will transfer from the ETBs with training centres to the ETBs currently without training centres to enable the target date to be met.

Education and Training Boards Staff

Questions (859)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

859. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of adult education officers and adult guidance counsellors employed by each ETB; the number of additional such officers allocated to each ETB since the ETB sector assumed responsibility for FET; if she is satisfied that such allocations are sufficient to properly and effectively allow ETBs to carry out their statutory remit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1700/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills

My Department does not hold data on the number of adult education officers and adult guidance counsellors employed by ETBs. The assumption of responsibility by ETBs for training did not allow for any increase in staff in these grades in ETBs. It should be noted that separate managerial and advisory staff transferred to ETBs with the Training Centres. My Department provides annual funding to SOLAS for further education and training services. The annual services plan prepared by SOLAS will set out how the State's investment will be used by SOLAS and the Education and Training Boards to meet the skills needs of learners and employers.

Question No. 860 answered with Question No. 846.

Gaelscoil Issues

Questions (861)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

861. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the limiting of the numbers of Gaelscoileanna around the State by patrons who seek to defend numbers at competitor schools (details supplied) within their responsibility. [1705/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The Department is in contact with the school Patron relating to enrolments in the primary schools in the first area to which the Deputy refers, including the gaelscoil in that area. The Department understands that the Patron is consulting directly with the schools involved in relation to the enrolment matters being raised. The Department will continue to liaise with the Patron, who has ultimate responsibility for the governance and management of the schools. In relation to the second school referred to, the Department has not received any correspondence relating to the matter raised by the Deputy. My Department's current five-year construction plan is focussed on meeting demographic demands to ensure that every child will have access to a physical school place and that our school system is in a position to accommodate increasing pupil numbers. Therefore, the establishment of any new school, or the extension of any existing school, is considered in the context of the overall need for additional school places to meet future demographic demands. This may result in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice. My Department has recently completed a nationwide demographic review to determine where additional primary school places might be needed from 2015 onwards. On foot of this review, it has been determined that there is sufficient educational infrastructure in the areas to which the Deputy refers to meet their demographic needs.

Apprenticeship Programmes

Questions (862)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

862. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills the way a person who did not finish their electrical apprenticeship, but who has been working and practising with different electrical companies may become accredited; if it is necessary to go back to college; the avenues open to such a person outside of returning to college; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1707/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

This is an operational matter for SOLAS, who manage the apprenticeship programme and associated recognition of prior learning. I have asked them to contact the Deputy directly with the information he has requested.

School Transport Eligibility

Questions (863)

Timmy Dooley

Question:

863. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Education and Skills in view of the granting of permanent status to a school (details supplied) in County Clare, if she will now sanction transport for students in the Ennis catchment area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1720/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills

Under the terms of my Department's Primary School Transport Scheme, children are eligible for transport where they reside not less than 3.2 kilometres from and are attending their nearest national school as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language. Bus Éireann has advised that there are a number of school transport services operating into the school in question. However, children residing in the Ennis area are not eligible for school transport to this school as they are not attending their nearest school, having regard to ethos. Children who are not eligible for school transport may avail of transport on a concessionary basis only subject to a number of terms and conditions including the availability of spare seats on existing services and payment of the annual charge. The closing date for receipt of applications for the 2015/16 school year is Friday 24th April 2015; applications received will be assessed by Bus Éireann in accordance with the terms of the scheme.

EU Directives

Questions (864)

Brendan Smith

Question:

864. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide in tabular form the number of EU directives which remain to be implemented within her Department; the names of these directives; the timeframe for the implementation of the directives; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1791/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

One Directive related to my Department falls into this category. Directive 2013/55/EU, of 20 November 2013, amending Directive 2005/36/EC on the recognition of professional qualifications and regulation (EU) No 1024/2012 on administrative cooperation is due to be transposed by 1st January 2016. My Department is responsible for overall coordination of the transposition.

Legislative Programme

Questions (865)

Micheál Martin

Question:

865. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide in tabular form the number, name and date of Bills initiated in her Department that have been subject to the pre-legislative scrutiny procedure in the Oireachtas. [1812/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The information requested by the Deputy has been compiled and is laid out in the table.

Bill	Date Pre-Legislative Scrutiny Completed
Education (Admission to Schools) Bill	March 2014
Technological Universities Bill	April 2014

Legislative Programme

Questions (866)

Micheál Martin

Question:

866. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide in tabular form the number, name and date of Bills initiated in her Department since September 2013. [1827/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The information requested by the Deputy has been compiled and is set out in the table.

Bill	Date First Added to Government Legislation Programme
Retention of Records Bill	September 2013
Technological Universities Bill	September 2013
Teaching Council (Amendment) Bill	January 2014

Departmental Staff Data

Questions (867)

Barry Cowen

Question:

867. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of secondments from her Department to external private firms in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and to date in 2015; the firms involved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1842/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

My Department has not seconded any of its staff to external private firms since 2010.

Departmental Staff Data

Questions (868)

Barry Cowen

Question:

868. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of secondments based in her Department from external private firms in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and to date in 2015; the firms involved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1856/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

My Department does not have any secondments based in my Department from external private firms since 2010.

Departmental Staff

Questions (869)

Barry Cowen

Question:

869. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Education and Skills if her Department has a policy regarding secondments from and within her Department to external firms; when the policy was initiated and last updated; the details of the policy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1870/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I can inform the deputy that my Department does not have a policy regarding secondments from and within my Department to external firms. The Department does however participate in schemes which may from time to time be initiated centrally by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.

One such scheme was provided for under Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Circular 03/2013. Under this scheme, my Department nominated 4 staff for possible participation (1 Principal Officer, 2 Assistant Principal Officers and 1 Higher Executive Officer). None of these nominations led to a secondment with an external firm.