Thursday, 5 Mar 2015

Written Answers Nos. 230-239

Boston College Archives

Questions (230)

Clare Daly

Question:

230. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the ongoing pursuit of the Boston College tapes archive, which is against the spirit of the Good Friday Agreement. [9630/15]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

In March 2011 the British Government, acting on behalf of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, initiated proceedings with the US Department of Justice under the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty between the two countries for the release of selected archived interviews held in Boston College. The archives are part of the Belfast Project, an oral history of Republican and Loyalist former paramilitaries compiled by Mr. Anthony McIntyre and Mr. Ed Moloney and deposited in the College.

Legal challenges were launched by Boston College, and separately by the researchers who led the project, to prevent the release of the material. These challenges were not successful and, in accordance with the court ruling, archived material was handed over by Boston College to the US authorities for onward transmission to their British counterparts.

Judicial proceedings are currently under way following a PSNI request for further access to tapes from the archives in the context of the investigation of serious crime. Issues arising from this matter are still the subject of legal proceedings and in these circumstances it would not be appropriate for me to comment further.

The Good Friday Agreement recognises the hurt and suffering caused by tragedies in the past and calls on us to honour victims, survivors and their families by dedicating ourselves to reconciliation, mutual respect and the protection of human rights for all. The recent Stormont House Agreement continues this work of reconciliation by providing for a more effective, accountable framework to address the legacy of the past. The expeditious implementation of the Agreement will remain a major focus of the Government in the period ahead.

Ministerial Advisers Remuneration

Questions (231)

Colm Keaveney

Question:

231. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the total severance packages, stated in total euro amounts and individually detailed, received by any special advisers to his office since January 2014, specifically in respect of persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9640/15]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

Following the resignation of the former Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Eamon Gilmore, TD, in July 2014, his personally appointed staff, including the Special Advisers mentioned, received the following severance payments in accordance with the terms of their contracts of employment and instructions from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform:

Special Advisor 1 - €63,095.82;

Special Advisor 2 - €37,010.00; and

Special Advisor 3 - €40,785.35.

Foreign Policy

Questions (232)

Colm Keaveney

Question:

232. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the primary goal and purpose of Irish foreign policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9645/15]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

In January 2015, the Taoiseach and I launched a review of Ireland's foreign policy, “The Global Island: Ireland's Foreign Policy for a Changing World”. This review was the culmination of a wide-ranging process of consultation conducted by my Department involving other Government Departments, members of the Oireachtas, civil society and members of the public. It offers a progressive and forward-looking vision of Ireland's foreign policy and our place in the world.

Through our foreign policy, we safeguard our peace, security and economic prosperity and promote reconciliation and cooperation at home. We make a distinctive and principled contribution to the collective international effort to build a better world. At its core are the protection of our citizens and the promotion of our interests and values abroad.

To achieve these purposes, the review identifies our key goals under a number of broad themes. Through its focus on “our people”, the review takes stock of the ongoing work in pursuit of peace and reconciliation on the island of Ireland, as well as the provision of support for Irish citizens travelling, living and working abroad, our growing engagement with the Irish diaspora, and the promotion of Irish culture abroad. In addressing “our values”, the review sets out Ireland's support for a fairer, more just, more secure and more sustainable world through our development programme, human rights policies, peacekeeping, disarmament and security policies and growing engagement with global issues such as climate change, while also considering the role of the EU and UN in amplifying Ireland's voice and extending its influence. In relation to “our prosperity” the review considers the global economic background to the ongoing efforts in support of recovery, growth and job creation, in particular through trade, tourism, education, investment and the enhancement of Ireland's reputation.

The review also considers the fundamental importance for Ireland of our place in Europe and how the Government engages across the broad agenda of EU decision-making to safeguard and promote Ireland's interests and to shape the EU and its global engagement. In addition, it considers how Ireland can use its influence and leverage the resources available to secure the maximum benefit for the Irish people from Ireland's international engagement.

The review sets out a clear vision of Ireland's global role and of the interests and values we wish to promote through our foreign policy. It will provide the framework for the Government's international engagement, and in particular for the work of my Department and of Ireland's embassy network, in the years ahead.

Primary Online Database

Questions (233)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

233. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills with regard to the primary online database children's form, which is currently being sent to parents to fill out, the reason the mother's details are being asked for but no details of the father; the reason the mother's maiden name, date of birth, address, nationality and language are being asked for, in view of security issues (details supplied); if the question asking whether the child is in receipt of learning support should be considered a private question that should not be asked and should not be on a database; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9611/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The only field on the Primary Online Database (POD) that relates to the mother is mother's maiden name. This is only required if PPSN is not supplied to help identify the pupil, and this field will be removed from the Department's records when confirmation of a valid PPSN is received. All other fields on POD relate to the pupil only.

Schools have recently been informed it is no longer compulsory to complete the question on Learning Support for the 2014/2015 school year.

Schools will receive further instructions for the GAM/NCSE low incidence questions for the 2015/2016 school year. It is important to note that this data does not roll over with the pupil each year.

School Accommodation

Questions (234)

Pat Breen

Question:

234. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will facilitate a meeting between her officials and representatives of a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9620/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The school referred to by the Deputy has submitted an application for large scale funding for additional accommodation including for special needs. The application is currently being considered by my Department. Officials from my Department will be in contact with the Management Authority of the school shortly and in that context a meeting at this time is not considered necessary.

Teacher Training Provision

Questions (235)

Michael Lowry

Question:

235. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will reverse the decision which has resulted in St. Patrick's College in Thurles, County Tipperary, not being permitted to take on first year students for September 2015; if she will provide a guarantee as to the future of the college; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9636/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The Deputy may be aware of the Report of the International Review Panel on the Structure of Initial Teacher Education (Sahlberg Report) published in 2012, which set out new structures for the provision of initial teacher education and is part of my Department's broader policy position on system reconfiguration, inter-institutional collaboration and system governance in Irish Higher Education. The Sahlberg Report recommended that teacher education be facilitated in an environment conducive to high quality instruction on pedagogy and pedagogical content knowledge; in a university setting, with 'critical mass' and competitiveness for good teaching and research, synergies between different levels of education and that 6 groupings of teacher education institutes be made. The review panel found that St Patrick's College does not fulfil the requirements with regard to the optimal setting for teacher education as set out in the Report, and recommended that teacher education in this institute be discontinued. The recommendations of the Sahlberg Report were accepted by the Minister for Education & Skills in 2012 and are being implemented under the leadership of the HEA. Discussions on the implementation of the recommendations in the Salhberg Report took place between St Patrick's College, the HEA and my Department and the College were given approval for free fees funding, under the Free Fees Initiative, for a final intake of students in September 2014 in order to facilitate the College's orderly withdrawal from teacher education. St Patrick's College does not receive core grant funding from my Department. It is understood that St Patrick's College and Mary Immaculate College have agreed a joint proposal regarding St Patrick's College role in the future. The implementation of the recommendations of the Sahlberg Report by the HEA is ongoing and there are no plans to change this policy.

School Services Staff

Questions (236)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

236. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a school (details supplied) in Dublin 20 that has lost a senior caretaker and a clerical officer working 22.5 hours per week, as a result of the moratorium on public service recruitment, will have these posts reinstated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9697/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

As the Deputy will be aware the economic circumstances of the country were such that a staffing moratorium was introduced across the public sector by the previous Government in 2009. Currently the moratorium in the public service remains in place and community and comprehensive schools are subject to it. Accordingly, the Department of Education and Skills is not in a position to sanction additional non-teaching staff for Pobalscoil Iosolde. However, following the announcement by Minister Howlin in Budget 2015 marking an end to the public service moratorium in a targeted and focused way, new arrangements in relation to the management of public sector numbers will come into operation in 2015. These arrangements have yet to be finalised between my Department and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.

Third Level Charges

Questions (237)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

237. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to introduce assistance with the cost of fees for persons living in remote areas who wish to access online and accredited third level and fourth level courses; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9723/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The Exchequer provides free fees funding in respect of eligible students who are attending full-time undergraduate approved courses of study under my Department's free fees schemes. Under the schemes students must be 'attending' courses in order for that course to be considered an approved course. Online courses, therefore by their definition are not considered approved courses under the scheme. Where students do not qualify for free fees funding they must pay the appropriate fee as determined by their third level institution. Third level institutions are autonomous bodies and it is a matter for the institution to determine the rate of fee payable by students.

Under the Student Grant Scheme, an approved course is defined as a full-time undergraduate course of at least two years duration or a full-time postgraduate course of not less than one year duration, pursued in an approved institution. Section 8 (1) (b) of the Student Support Act 2011, requires a student to attend a full-time course, in order to be considered for a grant under the Student Grant Scheme. There are no plans at present to extend the scope of the student grant scheme to on-line or part-time courses.

The Deputy will be aware that tax relief is available for certain fees paid in respect of third level education. Full details of this relief are available from the Revenue Commissioners (www.revenue.ie).

School Accommodation

Questions (238)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

238. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education and Skills if her Department has received two applications from a school (details supplied) in County Galway for an extension and other urgent works; the present position regarding the application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9731/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

As the Deputy is aware, the school to which he refers has submitted a major capital application to my Department that involves the replacement of an existing school building, the provision of a new school building extension and substantial refurbishment works. The school were advised that the Department was not in position to indicate when a major project for the school can be progressed, however it was also indicated to the school that the Department would be prepared to assess a request for funding to meet an immediate accommodation requirement. In that regard, the school concerned has submitted an application for funding towards the provision of two resource rooms and ancillary accommodation. This application is currently being considered and my Department will be in contact with the school authority when a decision has been reached.

School Accommodation

Questions (239)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

239. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a decision will be taken on the application by a school (details supplied) in County Galway for a new building; if the report of the official who visited the school before Christmas has been finalised; the reason for the delay with this case, in view of the terrible condition of the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9733/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I wish to advise the Deputy that a site visit in respect of the schools in question was undertaken in December 2014. In the past week, my Departments technical staff revisited the schools to gather further information and the position is currently being considered. My Department will be in contact with the school authority concerned shortly to discuss the next steps in respect of the progression of the project.