Written Answers Nos. 1-23
12. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the date on which the National Council for Special Education will publish policy advice on the education of children with autism; and her plans to introduce a national autism strategy. [15476/15]
View answerThe National Council for Special Education is currently at an advanced stage in the preparation of policy advice on the education of children with autism.
I expect that the NCSE final report, which is due to be delivered in the coming months, will reflect the broadest possible range of views, both National and International, and will provide recommendations which will assist the development of policy on the education of children with autism for future years.
My Department is also currently assisting the National Disability Authority to address the educational needs of people with Autism, as part of the National Disability Strategy Implementation Plan.
My Department also continues to provide for early intervention classes, special school and special class placements, and mainstream school placements with accompanying supports, in order to ensure that all children with autism can participate in education, regardless of their level of need.
13. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on the implementation of junior certificate reforms and her engagement with the trade unions. [15477/15]
View answerI have accepted Dr. Paraic Travers' revised and clarified proposal of 23rd February as the basis for agreement on the implementation of Junior Cycle reform. It addresses previous principal concerns expressed by the union side while retaining many of the important benefits for learners. My acceptance of the proposal required further compromise and movement from me, which I considered to be in the best interests of students.
I have a mandate to act responsibly on behalf of our junior cycle students, their parents and our wider society. That is why I have signalled my intention to now proceed with implementation of Junior Cycle reform on the basis of the Travers proposals, and it is my intention to work with all interested partners in advancing that agenda.
I remain open to the two post-primary teacher unions coming on board and working with my Department and the other education partners in implementing the new programme. This requires an acceptance by them that the Travers proposal provides a basis for agreement and a willingness, therefore, to suspend their current industrial action.
14. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Education and Skills the consideration that has been given to the technical reports on the two existing primary schools in Monasterevin in County Kildare, and the demographic changes in the town and surrounding area, in the context of primary school buildings. [15320/15]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that the building project to host the proposed amalgamation of the two schools in Monasterevin is at an early stage of the architectural planning process. Following the Pre Stage 1 meeting held last November, both Boards of Management and their Design Team are working on finalising the Stage 1 report for submission to my Department. These reports have not yet been received in my Department.
Upon satisfactory completion of Stage 1 and subject to no issues arising, the project will then be authorised to progress to Stage 2(a), which is the developed sketch design stage.
It is intended that school building projects in architectural planning, including this project, will be progressed to final planning stages so that they will be well placed for consideration in the context of future construction programmes.
15. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if, with regard to the ruling by the European Court of Human Rights in the case of a person (details supplied), she will commit to making compensation packages available to victims of abuse, who were abused prior to a complaint being made against a perpetrator; if she will commit to ensuring those who had dropped their case against her Department, on the advice of the State Claims Agency prior to the European Court of Human Rights ruling, will also be included in the Government's compensation scheme; if she will remove the payment cap on the scheme to ensure any award reflects the individual circumstances of victims; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15505/15]
View answerSettlement discussions are being offered in cases coming within the terms of the European Court of Human Rights Decision which satisfy the Statute of Limitations. In pursuing these settlements, the State Claims Agency will consider cases where there was a prior complaint about the teacher concerned.
This is because these are the circumstances on which the Decision was based.
The cap reflects the total amount paid by the State in the O'Keeffe case. While the Government will not meet the liabilities of other defendants, where however, there is agreement on the value of the claim, the Agency may seek to initially settle the claim on an equal basis, with the actual apportionment of liability among the co-Defendants being subsequently determined by the Court.
I will be reporting to Government shortly to clarify the position of those who had not progressed their claims. The Government will then consider whether any measures will be taken.
16. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on her Department's engagement with the two national schools on Arranmore Island in County Donegal; if her Department has considered alternative proposals, apart from merging the two schools; if cutbacks will be reversed for small schools, as more focus is generated on the preservation of rural communities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15502/15]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is not aware of and has not received any proposal from the Patron or school authority in respect of a proposed amalgamation of the two schools concerned. The decision making authority for any amalgamation proposal belongs to the Patron of a school, subject to the approval of the Minister for Education and Skills. The initiative for an amalgamation may come from a variety of sources, such as parents, staff, Board of Management and Patron.
I recognise that small schools are an important part of the social fabric of rural communities and will continue to be so. It is for that reason that I recently announced that a voluntary protocol for amalgamation is being developed for the very smallest schools. The protocol is still under development. Under the protocol, it is envisaged that the Department will write to the patrons of all such schools that are located within an 8 km distance of another school of similar patronage and language of instruction. The letter will invite them to reflect on the benefits that amalgamation opportunities might provide in order to create more sustainable school communities into the future. Engagement with the protocol will be entirely voluntary.
The Deputy will also be aware of the improvement in the staffing levels for small schools contained in my Department's Circular 0005/2015, which is available on my Department's website at www.education.gov.ie. These improvements particularly recognise the challenges faced by very small schools that are more than 8 km from the next nearest school of the same type.
17. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to introduce the yellow flag anti-racism programme to all schools nationally; the cost of doing this; if she has liaised with the Minister for Justice and Equality, in view of the success of this programme in the schools that it is currently run in; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15325/15]
View answerMy Department's policy in this area is underpinned by the Action Plan on Bullying. Guidelines to assist schools in developing an Anti-Bullying Policy were issued to all schools in 2013. Schools may choose from a number of programmes available to them in order to deal with the particular issues they have identified and my Department does not endorse any one particular programme. The approach adopted under the Action Plan is for schools to use the programme best suited to address the particular challenges they face.
The Action Plan does not favour addressing identity-based bullying on an issue-by-issue basis, but rather recommends respect for all. Therefore, I do not think it would be appropriate to fund the roll-out of the Yellow Flag programme on a national basis. This was costed by the Irish Traveller Movement at €250,000 over three years.
I can confirm that there is ongoing liaison between officials of my Department and officials of the Department of Justice and Equality in the context of equality matters generally, including national fora in relation to Travellers.
18. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on whether there is inadequate school provision in the greater Dún Laoghaire area in County Dublin, both at primary and secondary levels; and specifically if she will consider supporting the establishment of an Educate Together secondary school in the area. [15513/15]
View answerOn 5th February last, I announced that seven new primary schools are to be established in the next two years to meet demographic needs in different areas of the country. While my announcement did not include a new school for the Dún Laoghaire area, it did include a new school in the adjoining area of Goatstown/Stillorgan which is to open in September 2016. My announcement followed a detailed analysis of demographic data at primary level undertaken by my Department. Where that analysis identified areas for the expansion of existing schools, it is my intention to address these through the Five Year School Capital Investment Plan.
My Department is currently carrying out a nationwide demographic exercise to determine where additional post-primary school accommodation might be needed from 2017 onwards. This includes an examination of the greater Dún Laoghaire area. On foot of this review, arrangements will be made to provide additional post-primary accommodation where this is needed.
19. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide, in tabular form, details of State funding in the third level sector, per student and per year, from 2006 to 2015, including the number of students, and the total State funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15510/15]
View answerDetails on overall third level funding for the years requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table. According to the Higher Education System Performance Report by the Higher Education Authority (HEA), core expenditure per student by higher education institutions (excluding research expenditure) has declined by 15% in the five years to 2013 with the bulk of this decline accounted for by the growth in student numbers.
This report is available on the HEA's website, the link to which I will arrange to have sent to the Deputy, and includes details on student numbers at third level.
Details of year-on-year increases in the Student Contribution will also be provided to the Deputy.
An Expert Group, chaired by Peter Cassells, is currently examining future funding options for higher education. The objective is to identify a range of approaches that, combined, will achieve a sustainable funding base to address the continual expansion of the sector while protecting the quality of education. The report will help inform decision-making as to the future funding of the sector.
HIGHER EDUCATION - €000s
EXPENDITURE 2006-2015
|
- |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
|
Current |
€1,683.4 |
€1,755.7 |
€1,860.7 |
€1,853.7 |
€1,771.4 |
€1,688.1 |
€1,595.0 |
€1,537.5 |
€1,471.8 |
€1,380.0 |
|
Capital |
€116.0 |
€159.2 |
€163.1 |
€201.2 |
€164.2 |
€79.0 |
€56.2 |
€69.1 |
€79.1 |
€83.7 |
|
TOTAL |
€1,799.4 |
€1,914.9 |
€2,023.8 |
€2,054.9 |
€1,935.6 |
€1,767.1 |
€1,651.2 |
€1,606.6 |
€1,550.9 |
€1,463.7 |
Note: The current expenditure figures above include recurrent funding (core grant and free fees), funding provided under the Student Grant Scheme, higher education research funding and other higher education funding.
Details of Year on Year Increases in the Student Services Charge/Student Contribution:
|
Year |
Amount - € |
% Increase in Charge |
|
1996/97 |
190 |
- |
|
1997/98 |
317 |
66% |
|
1998/99 |
330 |
4% |
|
1999/20 |
353 |
7% |
|
2000/01 |
371 |
5% |
|
2001/02 |
396 |
7% |
|
2002/03 |
670 |
69% |
|
2003/04 |
670 |
0% |
|
2004/05 |
750 |
12% |
|
2005/06 |
775 |
3% |
|
2006/07 |
800 |
3% |
|
2007/08 |
825 |
3.1% |
|
2008/09 |
900 |
9% |
|
2009/10 |
Up to 1,500 |
Up to 67% |
|
2010/11 |
Up to 1,500 |
0% |
|
2011/12* |
2,000 |
33% |
|
2012/13 |
2,250 |
12.5% |
|
2013/14 |
2,500 |
11.1% |
|
2014/15 |
2,750 |
10% |
* From 2011/12 the charge is known as the Student Contribution
20. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will commit to removing the cap on the expansion of the delivering equality of opportunity in schools programme; if she will put in place the measures suggested by the Economic and Social Research Institute review of the programme to enhance funding and supports for urban schools in the programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15504/15]
View answerAs I replied in Priority PQ 15671/15, the ESRI publication "Learning from the Evaluation of DEIS" provides an opportunity to commence an assessment of the DEIS programme.
The Report assesses the main findings of research conducted by the Educational Research Centre and the Inspectorate of my Department and provides advice to inform future policy direction in relation to educational disadvantage.
I have commenced a consultation process with all the education partners to inform the development of appropriate measures to continue to support those at risk of poor educational outcomes. An interdepartmental Working Group is being established to ensure a joined-up approach to delivery of services in DEIS as well as a Technical Group to develop a revised identification process for schools. This work will take place over the course of the next school year.
To expand eligibility for DEIS based on 10-year old criteria would not be fair to schools currently outside DEIS. My focus is therefore on developing a revised identification process as referenced above.
21. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to the fact that issues of working time and conditions recently raised at teacher conferences have exposed a prevailing and growing casualisation of labour within the teaching profession which is to the detriment of the profession as a whole; if she will recognise that for the public sector to increasingly move towards this eroding of workplace security sets a bad example for the private sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15462/15]
View answerI am aware that the situation has arisen where over 30% of post-primary teachers and 10% of primary teachers are on fixed-term or part-time contracts. In my view this is detrimental to teachers and to the quality of teaching.
The Haddington Road Agreement provided for the establishment of an expert group to examine this issue in teaching. The chairperson of the group issued his report in September 2014 and I recently published circulars to give full effect to its recommendations. These new circulars will make it easier for teachers to get permanency and will also make it easier for part-time teachers to get full-time hours.
The work of another expert group on casualisation in third level is continuing. Also, at the recent IMPACT Educational Division Conference, I asked all relevant parties to come together to examine the factors that may be contributing to similar concerns for special needs assistants.
22. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will consider, as a matter of priority, the inclusion of the proposed new co-educational primary school for Monasterevin in County Kildare in the five-year construction programme. [15322/15]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that the building project to host the proposed amalgamation of the two schools in Monasterevin is at an early stage of the architectural planning process. Following the Pre Stage 1 meeting held last November, both Boards of Management and their Design Team are working on finalising the Stage 1 report for submission to my Department. Upon satisfactory completion of Stage 1 and subject to no issues arising, the project will be authorised to progress to Stage 2(a), which is the developed sketch design stage.
It is intended that school building projects in architectural planning, including this project, will be progressed to final planning stages so that they will be well placed for consideration in the context of future construction programmes.
23. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on the the Apprentices (Amendment) Bill 2014; if she is reviewing the educational content that currently exists for apprentices under this Bill; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15460/15]
View answerFollowing on from the Apprenticeship Review, an implementation plan was published last year. The plan sets out a phased approach, recognising the need to first progress work on existing apprenticeships, determine demand from new enterprise sectors, develop the new apprenticeships and then embed new governance arrangements in legislation. Curricular content is not covered in current apprenticeship legislation and it is not envisaged that this would change.
Work on the Heads on the Apprenticeship Bill has therefore not yet commenced, as it needs to be informed by the work of the Apprenticeship Council in developing new apprenticeships following the recent call for proposals. Recommendations in this regard are expected by end June this year. Following recent reviews of 5 of the existing apprenticeship trades, new curricula are scheduled to be rolled out later this year. Accelerated arrangements for reviewing the remaining trades have also been agreed between QQI and SOLAS.
