Written Answers Nos. 669-686
669. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Skills the cost in 2013 and 2014 respectively of printing reports by her Department and agencies under the control of her Department; the corresponding figure for annual reports; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30038/15]
View answerThe Department's printing cost in 2013 was €163,502.42 and in 2014 was €101,847.07. As printing documentation is not categorised, the figures represent the total cost of printing undertaken by the Department including reports and other official documents, leaflets etc. In relation to the Department's annual report the Deputy should note that the Department's policy is to publish rather than provide copies of the report. The report is available on the Department's website, www.education.ie/en/Publications/Corporate-Reports/Annual-Report/.
With regard to bodies under the aegis of my Department the information sought is a matter for each agency and is not collated centrally. If the Deputy has an interest in a particular agency, officials will request the agency concerned to provide the relevant information. The Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies outlines the responsibilities of State bodies with regard to procurement and the need to achieve value for money while conducting procurement exercises. The Department regularly updates the aegis bodies on developments in relation to public procurement policy and practices.
For the Deputy's information details of agencies under the remit of my Department can be downloaded from the Department's website, www.education.ie/
670. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Skills the cost in 2013 and 2014 respectively of issuing hardcopy payslips to staff or retired staff by her Department and agencies under the control of her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30053/15]
View answerThe total cost in 2013 and 2014 of issuing hard copy payslips to staff of my Department is set out as follows. Included in this total are costs associated with stationery, postage and printer maintenance:
2013 – €4,795; and 2014 – €1,355.
In March 2013 my Department commenced rollout of an online payslips facility, beginning with staff in the Department's headquarters offices in Dublin, Tullamore and Athlone. In February 2014, this online facility was extended further. From March 2015, my Department's payroll service migrated to the Payroll Shared Services Centre operated by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
The payroll system operated by my Department provided payroll services for the Civil Servants employed directly in the Department and for civil service in other bodies, including the State Examinations Commission, the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, the Residential Institutions Redress Board, certain staff in the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse, An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta and Foras na Gaeilge. Details relating to costs in respect of other bodies/institutions under my Department's remit are a matter for each body/institution. However, if the Deputy has a specific interest in a particular Body/Institution I will have my officials follow up with the relevant organisation. With regard to retired Civil Servants, the Paymaster General's Office separately operates the payroll service for those individuals.
671. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will outline and itemise all expenditure undertaken by her Department on private travel for her and-or her private office, on legal fees, on consultancy fees and on hotel accommodation, during the 12-month period to 30 June 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30068/15]
View answerThe information sought is being compiled at present and will be forwarded to the Deputy shortly.
672. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide details of the capital investment plan for third level institutions; the amount of such funding allocated to Cork Institute of Technology and to University College Cork, over each of the past four years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30087/15]
View answerMy Department's capital investment plan for the entire education sector will be considered in the context of a multi annual capital investment framework covering the period 2016 to 2020 which will be concluded with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. Details of the investment programme are expected to be announced later this year. Investment plans for the Universities and the Institutes of Technology will be considered in this context and having regard to competing demands within the Education sector. Funding allocated to Cork Institute of Technology and University College Cork for the period in question is outlined in the following tables:
U.C.C.
|
Year |
Amount |
|
2011 |
€9,101,000 |
|
2012 |
€2,033,000 |
|
2013 |
€238,000 |
|
2014 |
€1,464,000 |
C.I.T.
|
Year |
Amount |
|
2011 |
€2,967,000.00 |
|
2012 |
€213,000.00 |
|
2013 |
€480,000.00 |
|
2014 |
€720,000.00 |
The Deputy may also wish to note that the National Maritime College of Ireland and the Cork School of Music are funded separately as part of the Departments PPP programme.
673. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she is responsible for all board appointments where such power to appoint persons to State boards is vested in her by statute; if any politically appointed State employee outside of her Department is involved in decision-making concerning such appointments, in particular, if, during the lifetime of the Government, a named person (details supplied) has had any influence over any appointments made by her; if she or officials from her Department have corresponded with that person regarding the composition of, and appointments to, State boards to which she has statutory power to make appointments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30108/15]
View answerDepartment officials will check records relating to board appointments and I will revert to you should any relevant information be located.
I should like to make the Deputy aware that comprehensive information in relation to the composition of the boards of non-commercial State bodies under the aegis of the Department of Education and Skills, which includes information on the board appointments where I as Minister have power to appoint can be downloaded from my Department's website at www.education.ie/en/The-Department/Agencies/Details-of-Membership-of-State-Boards/Board-Members.pdf.
For the Deputy's information, in accordance with Government policy, my Department, through the Public Appointments Service (PAS), advertises for board vacancies as they arise where I as Minister for Education and Skills have nominating rights. Applications are made through the dedicated website, www.stateboards.ie, and an assessment process is undertaken by PAS leading to the creation of a list of candidates deemed suitable for appointment to boards.
Guidelines for Appointments to State Boards, can be viewed on the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform's website www.per.gov.ie.
674. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Skills the total current and capital funding allocated to her Department; the underspend or overspend in 2015 to date, under each category, based on her Department's spending profile; the funding made available within and external to her Department's functions to support innovation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30123/15]
View answerThe 2015 Gross Expenditure Allocation for my Department is €8,585 million, made up of Current Expenditure - €8,018 million and Capital Expenditure - €567 million. Provisional Gross Expenditure to end-June 2015 of €4,156 million is running €2 million or 0.05% behind the profiled figure of €4,158 million - €11 million behind on Current Expenditure and €9 million ahead on Capital Expenditure.
My Department is providing funding of €37.6 million in 2015 to support a suite of research programmes managed by the Irish Research Council, as well as funding to HEAnet and the Irish Centre for High End Computing. Research and development funding is also provided by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, which has the lead responsibility for science policy, as well as by other Departments and agencies. As the Deputy will be aware the development of the new Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation is being prepared at present under the chairmanship of the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, which will provide a clear opportunity to develop a new whole-of-Government strategy for research and innovation that can build on the progress made to date and is timely as Ireland moves into a new phase of economic growth and societal development.
675. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Skills if her Department or agencies under the authority of her Department have performed an assessment of the potential savings to be accrued, if current paper-based application processes by members of the public were replaced with a fully online application system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30138/15]
View answerThere has been no overall assessment of the potential savings that could arise from the digitisation of application processes. However it is my Department's aim to increase the range of services available online 24/7 to its customers. Examples of such online systems, include the online Claims System (OLCS) used by almost 4,000 primary and post-primary schools to submit details of school employee absences, along with claims for the payment of substitute and casual appointees. Approx. 2.4m transactions are processed annually through the OLCS, updating the school employee HR and payroll systems. This application is critical to the efficient processing of salary claims for substitute and casual appointees.
Post Primary Online Data (PPOD) used by post-primary schools to submit pupil data. This data is critical to a number of business processes in the Department and the State Examinations Commission (SEC), including the payment of capitation grants, allocation of staffing resources, statistical returns and State examination processes.
Primary Online Data (POD), currently being rolled out across the primary sector. This system will facilitate primary schools submitting pupil data. This data is critical to a number of business processes in the Department including the payment of capitation grants, allocation of staffing resources and statistical returns.
Summer Works Scheme (SWS) used by schools to submit and track applications for funding under the Summer Works Scheme. This system also has a facility for schools to upload photographs, architect/engineer reports etc. Schools are advised of the outcome of their applications online. In addition, offers of grants are made and have to be accepted online.
With regard to bodies under the aegis of my Department the information sought is a matter for each agency and is not collated centrally. For the Deputy's information details of agencies under the remit of my Department can be downloaded from the Department's website at www.education.ie/en/The-Department/Agencies/.
676. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she or the Minister of State responsible for school transport will meet with parents of students affected by her Department's decision to withdraw free school transport from students in the Urris area of Clonmany in County Donegal to travel to a school (details supplied) in County Donegal; if she will reconsider the decision to withdraw free school transport and to use Mamore Gap to calculate the shortest route; her Department's up-to-date position on the issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30159/15]
View answerI wish to inform the Deputy that I recently met with a representation of parents from the area in question.
The terms of my Department's Post Primary School Transport Scheme were fully explained and I undertook to provide additional information on a number of issues raised at this meeting.
However, I must again emphasise the importance of ensuring that the terms of the school transport scheme are applied equitably on a national basis.
677. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will review the provision of incremental credits for resource staff in the education system, based on additional information (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30166/15]
View answerI understand from the information that you have provided that your constituent works as a Resource Worker for the Adult Literacy Service. The position is that there is no scheme for the award of incremental credit to such Resource Workers. Furthermore, my Department has no plans to introduce such a scheme as it would be contrary to Government policy to do so. The details of a separate case provided by the Deputy relate to the placement of some staff in the Health service on the reduced pay scale for new entrants which applies to new entrants to the public service from January 1 2011. However, I understand that your constituent was employed prior to 2011 and is already paid on the pre-2011 pay scale.
678. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will examine the case of a person (details supplied) in County Cork who initially started a course as a non-European Union student, but who now qualifies as an Irish student; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30194/15]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware the Exchequer funds tuition fees costs in respect of eligible students who are pursuing full-time undergraduate courses of study under my Department's Free Fees Initiative. The main conditions of the scheme are that students must be first-time undergraduates, hold inter alia EU/EEA/Swiss nationality in their own right, and have been ordinarily resident in an EU/EEA/Swiss state for at least three of the five years preceding their entry to an approved third level course.
Where students do not qualify for free fees they must pay the appropriate fee as determined by their third level institution. The institutions are autonomous and the level of fee payable by students who do not meet the requirements of the Free Fees Initiative is entirely a matter for the relevant institution.
679. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Education and Skills when her Department's annual report for 2014 will be published. [30211/15]
View answerThe Department's annual report for 2014 was published in June 2015 and can be viewed on the Department's website via the following link, www.education.ie/en/Publications/Corporate-Reports/Annual-Report/Department-of-Education-and-Skills-Annual-Report-2014.pdf.
680. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Skills the steps which she is taking to ensure that every further education and training and Youthreach centre has direct access to 100 Mb broadband; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30230/15]
View answerThere is a project underway at present to provide all the Training Centres and the Head Office locations of the Education and Training Boards (ETBs) with gigabit connections to the Government Cloud Network. Currently the training centres all have 50mbps connections and all internet traffic passes through SOLAS head office, but the new gigabit connections will provide the centres with direct internet access.
There are currently no plans for a national broadband programme for other ETB centres but individual ETBs make arrangements to provide appropriate access based on available infrastructure.
681. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Skills the steps which she is taking to address the current shortfall in the management structure at principal officer grade within the Education and Training Boards; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30231/15]
View answerMy Department is engaged in a project to devise future complementary organisational designs for ETBs and SOLAS in order to reflect their new roles. The objectives of the project are to ensure that the ETBs and SOLAS are fit for purpose; to ensure that the organisational design of ETBs and SOLAS are aligned to their new roles and to each other; to put in place a plan with practical levers through which the journey to the new organisation design can be achieved.
My Department has received approval, subject to a number of conditions, from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform for a proposed additional allocation of positions in ETBs at a level immediately below that of chief executive. The sanction has the effect of increasing the number of permanent senior manager positions from 13 at present to 44. The initial focus is on this level given acute shortages in the number of senior managers in the sector generally which has been identified by CEOs as a significant issue.
My Department is currently engaging with Education and Training Boards Ireland, chief executives of ETBs and with unions representing staff in the sector in relation to this matter.
682. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will approve capital funding to Galway-Roscommon Education and Training Board to refurbish its offices and training centre at Lanesboro Street in Roscommon; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30232/15]
View answerI can confirm that my Department has received an application from Galway and Roscommon Education and Training Board (GRETB) to refurbish its offices at Lanesboro Street, Roscommon. A feasibility report submitted by GRETB has been examined by officials in my Department and I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department will be in further contact with GRETB regarding its application in the coming days.
A final decision on the application will be taken in the context of existing commitments and other competing demands on the Department's capital budget.
683. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will sanction the Galway-Roscommon Education and Training Board to recruit an adult education officer, an adult literacy organiser and an adult guidance officer; if she is aware of the impact that such vacant posts will have on further education and training in County Roscommon; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30247/15]
View answerThe Deputy may be aware of the decision of the previous Government to implement a recruitment and promotion moratorium in the public sector, which is binding upon all Government departments, non-commercial state bodies and agencies.
In respect of Educational Training Boards, positions other than teacher and SNA posts in schools, and teacher equivalents that are directly providing tuition to pupils in schools, in special programmes or in adult and further education, are comprehended by this decision. It is a matter for each ETB to implement work prioritisation across different functions, and to deploy available staff to execute those functions.
However, my Department is in the process of finalising a Delegated Sanction Agreement for the education sector with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. This agreement will replace the existing Employment Control Framework arrangements which have been in place since 2010. When the Delegated Sanction Agreement has been finalised my officials will discuss the operationalisation of the agreements with the Education and Training Boards, which includes the Galway Roscommon Education and Training Board.
It is important, however, to note that the operation of the agreement will be subject to multi-annual pay ceilings that have been set by Government for the period 2015-2017.
684. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to change the student grant scheme so that mortgage repayments on the family home and the total number of dependent children in a family are considered in the means test for grant eligibility, due to the reality that these are substantial outgoings from family income, and too many families are paying the high standard variable rate on their home mortgage repayments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30317/15]
View answerStudent grant applications are means tested on gross income from all sources earned inside and outside the State within a specified reference period.
The means test arrangements of the Student Grant Scheme are applied nationally on the same basis to both employed and self-employed applicants. Gross income before the deduction of income tax or universal social charge, is assessed with certain specified social welfare and health service executive payments excluded.
Therefore, the assessment of income from the same starting point is deemed to be fair and reasonable because this approach eliminates any distortion which might arise from different spending decisions in different households. No allowances can be made for outgoings i.e. mortgage repayments, utilities, travel, medical expenses etc.
The Student Grant Scheme provides for higher income thresholds for larger families. In addition to this, further increases in the income thresholds are provided for where additional family members are attending further and higher education at the same time.
In addition to the supports under the Student Grant Scheme, students in third-level institutions experiencing exceptional financial need can apply for support under the Student Assistance Fund. This Fund assists students, in a sensitive and compassionate manner, who might otherwise be unable to continue their third level studies due to their financial circumstances. Information on the fund is available through the Access Officer in the third level institution attended. This fund is administered on a confidential, discretionary basis.
In the interest of equity, I have no plans to change the current arrangement.
685. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if her Department has prepared costings in respect of any proposals to provide student loans for postgraduate students. [30322/15]
View answer686. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if her Department has prepared any costings in respect of any proposals to provide student loans for undergraduate students who are ineligible for a student support grant. [30323/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 685 and 686 together. As the Deputy is aware, an Expert Group, chaired by Peter Cassells has been established to examine 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. Student support initiatives are being considered as part of this work. The Group is due to report at the end of this year and its report will help inform decisions on future funding for the sector.
