Written Answers Nos. 159-164
159. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide feedback of any communications he has had with the British authorities regarding the alleged tapping of underwater cables by the intelligence authorities in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22605/15]
View answer160. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the actions his Department has taken in response to reports in 2014 of the tapping of underwater cables for intelligence purposes on the part of the Government Communications Headquarters in Britain; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22606/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 159 and 160 together.
When I last addressed this question in Dáil Éireann in January of this year, I confirmed that my Department had been in contact with the British Embassy on the subject of these reports. The messages that were conveyed to the British Embassy were along the lines contained in a letter from my Department’s Secretary General to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade on 9 December 2014.
It was pointed out in this letter to the Committee that the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade works to ensure the best possible bilateral relations between Ireland and other countries, including our nearest neighbours in Great Britain.
It was also pointed out that it is generally understood that friendly relationships between States, including between Ireland and Britain, include acceptance of the principle that the privacy of communications must be respected. This is a principle Ireland has consistently outlined in international fora and in policy statements.
161. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will reverse the cuts to staffing for pupils with special needs. [22075/15]
View answerExpenditure supporting pupils with special educational needs in 2015 will amount to over €1.3bn. This year we have again increased the number of Resource Teachers and SNAs which will be allocated to schools, while over 120 new special classes will open for 2015/16 school year. 6,454 resource teacher posts will be allocated to schools for the start of the coming school year, which is an increase of 554 posts or over 9%, since September 2014. In addition, 11,330 SNA posts, an increase of 365 posts, or over 3%, are available to the NCSE to allocate to the end of 2015, which is also a greater level than has ever previously been available.
I welcome the fact, that even in the constrained economic circumstances we have faced in recent years, we have been able to continue to meet the needs of children with special educational needs attending our schools.
162. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a school (details supplied) in County Meath is losing a special needs assistant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22546/15]
View answerThe National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) for allocating resource teachers and Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) to schools to support children with special educational needs.
The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support. The criteria by which SNA support is allocated to pupils is set out in my Department's Circular 0030/2014.It is important to note that each school's allocation of SNA support can change from year to year and may be increased or decreased as students who qualify for SNA support enrol or leave a school. New students with care needs may, or may not, enrol to replace students who have left, for example, or SNA allocations may be decreased where a child's care needs have diminished over time.
The deployment of SNAs within schools is then a matter for the individual Principal/Board of Management. SNAs should be deployed by the school in a manner which best meets the care support requirements of the children enrolled in the school for whom SNA support has been allocated. It is a matter for schools to allocate support as required, and on the basis of individual need, which allows schools flexibility in how the SNA support is utilised.
The NCSE invited schools to make applications for SNA support for children who have assessed care needs for the coming 2015/16 school year by 18th March 2015, for their consideration.
The NCSE are currently considering all of the applications for support which have been received, including those which have been received after the 18th March, and will advise schools of the outcome of their applications ahead of the new school year.
Schools who wish to appeal the level of SNA allocation made to them may do so via the appeals process which is set out at www.ncse.ie
Parents may also contact their local SENO directly to discuss their child's special educational needs, using the contact details available on www.ncse.ie.
163. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason access has not been granted following a section 29 appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick who is attending a feeder school and whose parent is suffering from a critical illness and requires daily hospital treatment; if she is aware of parents abusing the common application system by using false addresses; her plans to address the shortfalls of the system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22549/15]
View answerThe question of enrolment in individual schools is the responsibility of the managerial authority of those schools. My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking places. This may result, however, in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice.
A Common Application System (CAS) was agreed between the principals of the post-primary schools in Limerick City. This system has been facilitated through the Limerick Education Centre (LEC) with support from my Department. Whilst this administrative system ensures that a co-ordinated approach can be taken to enrolments in the area, each school authority, in accordance with the Education Act, 1998, retains autonomy in relation to its own enrolment policy.
Section 29 of the Education Act, 1998 provides for an appeal by a parent or guardian to the Secretary General of this Department, or in the case of an Educational Training Board (ETB) school to the ETB in the first instance, where a Board of Management of a school, or a person acting on behalf of the Board, refuses to enrol a student in a school. Officials from my Department understand that a Section 29 appeal to the local ETB has been taken in respect of the student referred to by the Deputy.
Where a section 29 appeal to the ETB is unsuccessful the parent or guardian may take an appeal to the Secretary General of my Department within 42 days. Application forms for taking a section 29 appeal are available on this Departments website at the following link
:http://www.education.ie/en/Parents/Services/Appeal-against-Permanent-Exclusion-Suspension-or-Refusal-to-Enrol/Section-29-Appeals-Application-Form.doc,or by contacting Section 29 Administration Unit, Friars Mill Road, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath, phone 0761 108588.
My Department has no authority to compel a school to admit a pupil, except in the case of an appeal under section 29 of the Education Act, 1998 being upheld.
The Educational Welfare Service of the Child and Family Agency (EWS) is the statutory agency which can assist parents who are experiencing difficulty in securing a school place for their child. The EWS may be able to offer assistance and advice on securing a school placement within the pupil's area. The contact detail for the EWS is Educational Welfare Service of the Child and Family Agency, Heritage Business Park Bessboro Road Mahon Cork, phone 021 2428611.
164. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a decision will issue regarding an appeal made by the parents of children living in Urris, County Donegal, who attend or will be attending a school (details supplied) in County Donegal, and who have been advised that their nearest school is now in Buncrana, as Bus Éireann used a route over Mamore Gap when calculating the nearest school; if she will ensure that this decision is overturned; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22551/15]
View answerThe issue referred to by the Deputy is subject of appeal to the School Transport Appeals Board.
The School Transport Appeals Board is independent of my Department and it would not be appropriate for me to intervene in cases which are due for consideration by the Board.
