Thursday, 26 Mar 2015

Written Answers Nos. 220-229

School Curriculum

Questions (220)

Terence Flanagan

Question:

220. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to promote the teaching of sign language in schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12390/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The Department, through its Post-Primary Languages Initiative, has developed a specification for a short course in Irish Sign Language (ISL) which will be available as part of the new Junior Cycle.

In this short course the emphasis is on developing communication skills in ISL at level A1 (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages). This short course develops students' ability to understand ISL in live and in recorded situations, to produce the language and to interact with other signers in a simple way and on familiar topics.

Students will be actively involved in monitoring their own progress and derive enjoyment and confidence from communicating in a new language. They also develop awareness and skills in relation to language learning through comparing and contrasting patterns in ISL and in other languages they know. They become better language learners through identifying and developing their own language learning strategies.

In a multicultural society it is important that young people have opportunity to learn about other cultures, appreciate similarities and differences and learn to observe, reflect and suspend judgement when discovering the new culture and reflecting back on their own. This course offers opportunities to do this.

Finally, there are increasing opportunities to learn languages and to discover different cultures using digital tools. In this short course, students will learn how to use these tools to support language learning. By taking part in this course students may have their accomplishments in their new language formally recorded and benchmarked against the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR).

http://languagesinitiative.ie/images/ISL/MFL_Gen_Spec_ISL_28_May__Short_Course.pdf.

Legislative Process

Questions (221)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

221. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of items of legislation that have been submitted for pre-legislative scrutiny by her Department since 2011; her plans to allow pre-legislative scrutiny for any upcoming legislation from her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12411/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I can confirm to the Deputy that the following three Bills have been submitted for pre-legislative scrutiny by my Department: the Education (Admission to Schools) Bill; the Technological Universities Bill; and the Retention of Certain Records Bill.

As the Deputy will be aware, the Government decided that most legislative proposals should be referred for pre-legislative scrutiny, and I would intend to follow that Government decision as appropriate.

Coinníollacha Oibre Mhúinteoirí Bunscoile

Questions (222)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

222. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna cén uair a athraíodh na rialacha maidir le saoire mháithreachais do mhúinteoirí bunscoile; go mór mhór do dhaoine a mbíonn páistí acu i rith Mhí Iúil agus Lúnasa; ar aontaigh Cumann Múinteoirí Éireann leis na socruithe nua; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [12425/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

Roimh an 1 Bealtaine 2013 d'fhéadfadh múinteoirí a bhí ar shaoire mháithreachais leas a bhaint as uasmhéid de 30 lá breise neamhláithreachta íoctha in ionad tréimhsí ina mbíodh an scoil dúnta le linn na tréimhse céanna den 26 seachtaine de shaoire mháithreachais. Cuireadh deireadh leis seo i mBuiséad 2013 nuair a chinn an Rialtas nach bhféadfaí na laethanta breise íoctha seo a dhlisteanú a thuilleadh.

Níor cuireadh isteach ar theidlíocht reachtúil múinteoirí ar 26 seachtaine de shaoire mháithreachais íoctha agus 16 seachtaine roghnacha de shaoire mháithreachais gan phá mar gheall ar an gcinneadh seo.

In Imlitir 0009/2013 de chuid mo Roinne clúdaítear na Teidlíochtaí um Chosaint Mháithreachais do Mhúinteoirí Cláraithe i mBunscoileanna agus Iarbhunscoileanna Aitheanta agus eisíodh é seo ar an 5 Feabhra 2013.

School Patronage

Questions (223)

Olivia Mitchell

Question:

223. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Skills when the patronage determination process will commence for the new primary school in the Goatstown-Stillorgan area of County Dublin; the timeframe for this process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12432/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

On 5 February 2015, I announced that seven new primary schools will commence between 2015 and 2016.

Four of those schools will start this September. Therefore, resources are being concentrated on a patronage determination process for these particular schools.

A patronage determination process for the three schools opening in 2016, which includes the one to which the Deputy refers, will be carried out later this year.

School Accommodation Provision

Questions (224)

Tom Fleming

Question:

224. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will examine a submission by a school (details supplied) in County Kerry for additional accommodation space and for continuing the replacement of deteriorating prefabricated buildings. [12433/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The school referred to by the Deputy submitted an application for additional accommodation in 2014.

The application concerned was assessed and I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the school was approved funding, on a devolved basis, in December 2014 last for the provision of 3 general classrooms, 1 resource room and ancillary accommodation to replace existing prefabs. Funding was also provided for the associated prefab removal costs.

Schools Building Projects Status

Questions (225)

Terence Flanagan

Question:

225. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a new school building will be provided in respect of a school (details supplied) in Dublin 13; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12464/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The major building project referred to by the Deputy is currently at Stage 2A of Architectural Planning. The ETB and its Design Team are finalising the Stage 2A report for presentation to my Department.

Upon completion of stage 2A and subject to no issues arising, this project will then be authorised to proceed to Stage 2B - Detailed Design Stage which includes applications for Planning Permission, Fire Safety Certification, Disability Access Certification and the preparation of tender documents.

Due to competing demands on the Department's capital budget imposed by the need to prioritise the limited funding available for the provision of additional school accommodation to meet increasing demographic requirements it was not possible to include this project in the 5 year construction programme announced in March 2012.

School building projects, including the project referred to by the Deputy, which were previously initiated but not included in the current five year construction programme will continue to be progressed to final planning stages in anticipation of the possibility of further funds being available to the Department in the future.

Residential Institutions Redress Scheme Eligibility

Questions (226)

Clare Daly

Question:

226. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an explanation for the inordinate delays regarding the operation of the Caranua scheme and the stress being caused to applicants by waiting periods of nine to ten months before they are contacted. [12472/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

Caranua, the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Board, is an independent statutory body established pursuant to the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act 2012 to oversee the use of the cash contributions of up to €110 million, pledged by the religious congregations, to support the needs of survivors of institutional child abuse. As the Deputy will be aware Caranua commenced accepting applications on 6th January 2014, and I understand that by 31st December 2014, Caranua had made payments of some €9m to 1,062 applicants.

The management of applications is a matter solely for Caranua and I have no role in that process. I understand however that as part of the applications process there are extensive levels of communications between Caranua and applicants. Significant numbers of calls are received via its Freephone line and each applicant is assigned an Application Advisor who is responsible for guiding an applicant through the applications process, helping them to identify the full range of needs they have and providing them with any supporting information that may be needed to complete the application. The Advisors actively manage each application maintaining contact throughout the process. I am advised by Caranua that there are no applicants awaiting contact for periods as long as 9 or 10 months.

Residential Institutions Redress Scheme Eligibility

Questions (227)

Clare Daly

Question:

227. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the criteria used in respect of determining hardship in the context of the Caranua handbook, in view of the fact that this is an area which applicants believe is being too harshly monitored and that these criteria could be employed to provide necessary relief for those who are continuing to suffer as a result of abuse they experienced. [12473/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

Section 9 of the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act 2012 provides that the Board's criteria for making decisions on applications, can include criteria consistent with the Act for the purpose of the relief of hardship where it is shown to the satisfaction of the Board that exceptional circumstances exist such that the standard criteria can be disregarded. It is a matter for the Board of Caranua to determine its criteria for making decisions in accordance with the Act and I have no role in that process.

I understand that the Caranua information booklet 'Applying for Services: information and guidelines for making an application' states that "in cases of extreme hardship and other exceptional circumstances" the criteria for applying for services may be set aside. Caranua has advised that in light of the fact that this area deals with exceptional circumstances it is not appropriate to put in place strict criteria to define these since it would remove the element of discretion that this provision is designed to provide for.

I would also point out that any former resident can appeal a decision made by Caranua on their application to the independent appeals officer appointed pursuant to section 21 of the 2012 Act.

Residential Institutions Redress Scheme Eligibility

Questions (228)

Clare Daly

Question:

228. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to amend the residential institutions statutory fund in order that the partners and children of the survivors of residential abuse can gain some of the assistance outlined in respect of the Caranua fund, in view of the fact that they are also suffering and that their needs are often a huge source of stress to the abuse victim. [12474/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act 2012 provides that those former residents who received awards from the Residential Institutions Redress Board or equivalent Court awards or settlements are eligible to apply to Caranua. This approach was taken having regard to the maximum funds available of €110 million and a potential pool of some 15,000 applicants.

As the Deputy may be aware, a commitment was given during the passage of the 2012 Act to review the operation of the Fund two years after its establishment in the event of applications not resulting in a significant expenditure of the Fund. Following its establishment in March 2013, Caranua began to accept applications in January 2014. Accordingly it would be my intention to consider the question of a review of the operation of the Fund later this year by which time a clearer picture should have emerged regarding the uptake of the funding available.

Educational Projects

Questions (229)

Michael McGrath

Question:

229. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the role she envisages certain third level institutions will play in a project (details supplied) in County Cork; the funds that have been committed towards the project by these institutions and her Department or any body under its aegis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12541/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

Information is being compiled in relation to the project referred to by the Deputy and will be forwarded as soon as possible.