Written Answers Nos. 1337-1355
1337. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to allow unused funding in the education stream budget allocated for a care facility (details supplied) to be ring-fenced and protected in order that it can be used for other projects, including supporting families in summer camps; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32115/15]
View answerI understand officials in my Department have sought further detail from the Deputy regarding the nature of funding arrangements being addressed in his question. More detailed clarification can be provided to the Deputy following receipt of this information.
I can advise the Deputy, however, that my Department provides a range of supports to Special Schools to provide for education for pupils attending school. In addition to salary costs of teachers and Special Needs Assistants, my Department provides a range of additional funding for schools including provision for school buildings, transport, assistive technology support as well as enhanced capitation levels which are provided to special schools and special classes.
Circular 40/2009 clarifies issues relating to the allocation of funding for schools. The Circular states that capitation funding provided for general running costs and funding provided for caretaking and secretarial services may be regarded as a common grant from which the Board of Management can allocate according to its own priorities. However, there is no provision to ring-fence this funding for use otherwise, or for the purposes put forward by the Deputy.
1338. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding teachers' pay (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32116/15]
View answerThe July Education Programme is available to all special schools and mainstream schools with special classes catering for children with autism who choose to extend their educational services through the month of July. The programme is also available for pupils with a severe/profound general learning disability. Where a school chooses not to extend their services for July, all eligible children will be granted home based July provision, on application.
In 2009 a common pay date was introduced for the payment of the July Programme to both the school based and home based programmes.
This year's common pay date of 5th November 2015 was well advertised prior to the start of the July Education Programme.
The certainty granted to parents and tutors with a fixed payment date increases efficiency in this regard, as staff will be able to channel their efforts into processing payments rather that dealing with numerous queries on payment dates. This decision was made after consideration of available staffing resources within the Department and there are no plans to change from this arrangement.
1339. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will review the need for time free from class teaching for primary school principals and allow at least one day a week with substitute cover, which would allow these principals the time to concentrate on the leading of teaching and learning in their schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32139/15]
View answerPrincipal duties in medium to large sized schools are carried out by administrative principals. Principal duties in small to medium sized schools are carried out by teaching principals.
Circular 25/02 which is available on the Department website outlines the number of days that teaching principals may take as release time in a school year in order to assist them fulfilling their principal duties. Under these arrangements my Department pays for a substitute teacher to be employed by a school to facilitate administrative functions to be undertaken by the teaching principal. Under the current arrangements the number of days that principal teachers may take as release time in each school year ranges between 14 and 22 days depending on the size of the school.
Improving these arrangements so as to enable teaching principals to have one release day per week would cost of the order of €10 million per annum.
I am aware of the workload issue and the pressures on Principals teachers. My Department has done work at helping to ease the administrative burden on school principals. The development and introduction of the primary online database is a significant step forward in this regard. A further step forward was the recent publication of Department Circular 0033/2015 which updates and simplifies the manner in which primary schools can maintain pupil enrolment and attendance records following the introduction of the primary online database.
Economic constraints and the moratorium on recruitment albeit alleviated to some extent for schools, have presented challenges within the education sector. They also provide an opportunity to review the role of the principal so that our principals are leaders of learning, and to reconfigure the middle management structure to support principals in their role, ensuring ownership of responsibility rather than tasks, thereby building expertise and supporting a career path within the profession.
The Department, in consultation with the representative management bodies has commenced an exploration of the opportunities to support and thereby advance our understanding of the needs of school leaders and how they might be addressed.
1340. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the basis upon which a person on an infant part time special needs assistant contract with specified working hours can be asked to undertake five extra hours of duty for no extra pay on the basis of the SNA 32-hour working week which she informed this Deputy in 2014 was for pay purposes in relation to calculating the hourly pay rate and that the hours worked were those specified in the contract; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32141/15]
View answerI should firstly point out that the individual working hours of a Special Needs Assistant (SNA) are a matter to be set out by the school/ETB as an employer to all SNAs working in the school/ETB, provided that they are in line with the nationally agreed contracts for SNAs.
In this regard, the contractual position in respect of the working hours of SNAs is as outlined in their contracts of employment which were agreed with the school management authorities and the relevant Trade Unions representing SNAs (IMPACT and SIPTU) prior to their introduction in 2005. The agreement reached between the parties found expression in the two circular letters issued in 2005 detailing the contracts of employment for SNAs.
Links to the SNA Contracts of Employment are as follows:
Department of Education and Skills Circular SNA 12/05 (Post-Primary) http://www.education.ie/en/Circulars-and-Forms/Active-Circulars/sna12_05.pdf
Department of Education and Skills Circular SNA 15/05 (Primary) http://www.education.ie/en/Circulars-and-Forms/Popular-forms/SNA-15-05-Contract-Form.pdf
This contract of employment is augmented by all of the relevant Departmental Circulars governing Special Needs Assistants which detail the standardised terms and conditions of employment for SNAs. These Circulars are amended and new Circulars are issued by the Minister for Education and Skills from time to time.
The position regarding the working hours of full-time SNAs is as outlined in these standard SNA contracts of employment. In that context, the standard SNA contract has been designed to be flexible to cater for the different spectrum of working hours across all the various schools including primary, post-primary and special schools. No set hours were agreed but instead full-time SNAs are expected to work for the normal school hours in the school that they are working in, and in addition to be available for a period of time before and after school in order to help with reception and dispersal of children and preparation and tidying up of classrooms etc. These times are set locally by the school management and will vary from school to school depending on the requirements of the school.
In addition, all SNAs were required to be available for a number of days at the start and finish of each school term not exceeding 12 in total. Under the Croke Park Agreement it was agreed to introduce greater flexibility to the use of these 12 days.
Accordingly, DES Circular 71/2011 was issued on 15 December 2011 which outlined that these 12 days now equate to 72 hours (pro-rata for part-time SNAs) to be used by schools as an additional bank of hours to be utilised and delivered outside of normal school opening hours and/or the normal school year.
Link to DES Circular 71/2011 is as follows:
http://www.education.ie/en/Circulars-and-Forms/Active-Circulars/cl0071_2011.pdf
SNAs who are employed in a part-time capacity are paid a pro-rata amount dependent upon their level of hours of employment. Part-time SNAs are paid on the agreed divisor rate for pay purposes for part-time SNAs which is 32 hours. I should point out that this divisor was also agreed with both the Management Authorities and the Trade Unions (IMPACT and SIPTU) that represent SNAs.
Furthermore, the contract of employment for SNAs in the post primary sector specifically requires that SNAs in the post primary sector are required to work the month of June.
Turning to the specific query regarding that of an SNA employed on an Infant day. An Infant day is regarded as being 0.83 of a full-time SNA position. Accordingly, SNAs employed on an Infant Day basis are paid 0.83 of a full-time SNA salary and similar to full-time SNAs are obliged to work the full Infant hours in the school that they are working in, and in addition to be available for a period of time before and after school. Similar to all SNAs these times are set locally by the school management and will vary from school to school depending on the requirements of the school.
However, if any SNA believes that the working hours as laid out by their employer are not in line with the nationally agreed contracts for an SNA, then that is a matter that they should raise directly with their employer (the school/ETB). If an SNA remains unhappy with the response received from their employer, then the Department has implemented a nationally agreed set of Grievance procedures for SNAs (DES Circular 72/2011) which can be invoked by an SNA with their employer where matters such as this are in dispute. Link to DES Circular 72/2011 is as follows:
http://www.education.ie/en/Circulars-and-Forms/Active-Circulars/cl0072_2011.pdf
1341. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on concerns expressed regarding circular 0041/15 (details supplied). [32142/15]
View answerFirstly, I am pleased to inform you that my Department recently received approval for an additional 610 Special Needs Assistant (SNA) SNA posts from September 2015 to reflect the Government's commitment to ensure that every child with an assessed need has access to a SNA. This is an important principle and will continue in the 2015/16 school year. This increase in SNA posts is in addition to the additional 220 SNA posts for 2015 already provided for last autumn. The overall result of this is that from September 2015 there will be 11,820 whole-time SNA posts available in our primary and post-primary schools. This is an 11.7% increase since this Government came to office.
I am also aware of concerns expressed by SNAs regarding the casualisation of SNA positions and in recent months my Department has also issued a circular regarding the employment of SNAs. (DES Circular 41/2015 – See attached link):
http://www.education.ie/en/Circulars-and-Forms/Active-Circulars/Recruitment-of-Special-Needs-Assistants-SNAs-Supplementary-Assignment-Arrangements-for-the-2015-16-school-year.pdf
This Circular details the supplementary assignment arrangements for SNAs for the 15/16 school year and also outlines that where a school/ETB has an additional allocation of SNA hours/posts, then that additional allocation of hours/posts must be offered to any existing part-time SNAs in that employment, in order of seniority, before the employer has recourse to recruitment. This was done with a view to addressing the issue of casualisation of employment amongst SNAs.
This circular will go a long way to address concerns about casualisation that have arisen within the profession and which I addressed at the IMPACT education sector conference at Easter. This circular builds on the introduction of a supplementary assignment panel process for SNAs which was introduced two years ago, giving SNAs the alternative of redeployment instead of redundancy. Both measures have operated in advance of the 15/16 school year giving SNAs greater stability and a better chance of a full-hours contract.
The purpose of these arrangements is to facilitate eligible SNAs who are being made redundant by one employer in filling SNA vacancies that may become available in another school/ETB. Furthermore, it means that, before an employer opts to recruit a further person as an SNA(s), they must ensure that all existing part-time SNAs in their employment, in order of seniority, have been offered a full-time position in the school or, in the case of ETBs, a full-time position in a school within the ETB scheme.
The only exception that can be made to this rule is where a school/ETB has a determination in writing from the NCSE / SENO stating that their allocation must be split amongst a specific number of SNAs and/or stating that the allocation must be implemented in a specific fashion to address the care needs of the pupil(s). In cases where this exception is being invoked by a school/ETB then this written determination from the NCSE / SENO must be provided to the existing part-time SNA(s) affected. It should also be noted that the position in relation to the allocation and distribution of Infant days, which is a distinct and specific feature of the SNA scheme, remains unaffected.
If an SNA believes that Circular 0041/15 regarding the allocation of extra hours to current SNAs was not adhered to in their school i.e. they were not furnished with information regarding either a written determination from the NCSE/SENO and/or the invocation of the Infant Days principle then they should contact the dedicated e-mail address snasupplementpanel@education.gov.ie and my officials will ensure that the relevant information regarding the matter is provided to them by their employer.
Finally, as already outlined, my Department has set up a dedicated e-mail address with all queries in relation to the SNA Supplementary Assignment Panel and any queries in respect of the operation of the Panel can be directed to this dedicated e-mail address: snasupplementpanel@education.gov.ie
1342. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the steps she will take to clarify the situation regarding special needs assistant hours to all the professional bodies governing special education, the Catholic Primary School Management Association, the Irish Primary Principals' Network, her Department, the National Council for Special Education, as the issue is resulting in routine stress and difficulty for SNAs in the workplace. [32143/15]
View answerI should firstly point out that the individual working hours of a Special Needs Assistant (SNA) are a matter to be set out by the school/ETB as an employer to all SNAs working in the school/ETB, provided that they are in line with the nationally agreed contracts for SNAs.
In this regard, the contractual position in respect of the working hours of SNAs is as outlined in their contracts of employment which were agreed with the school management authorities and the relevant Trade Unions representing SNAs (IMPACT and SIPTU) prior to their introduction in 2005. The agreement reached between the parties found expression in the two circular letters issued in 2005 detailing the contracts of employment for SNAs.
Links to the SNA Contracts of Employment are as follows:
Department of Education and Skills Circular SNA 12/05 (Post-Primary) http://www.education.ie/en/Circulars-and-Forms/Active-Circulars/sna12_05.pdf
Department of Education and Skills Circular SNA 15/05 (Primary) http://www.education.ie/en/Circulars-and-Forms/Popular-forms/SNA-15-05-Contract-Form.pdf
This contract of employment is augmented by all of the relevant Departmental Circulars governing Special Needs Assistants which detail the standardised terms and conditions of employment for SNAs. These Circulars are amended and new Circulars are issued by the Minister for Education and Skills from time to time.
The position regarding the working hours of full-time SNAs is as outlined in these standard SNA contracts of employment. In that context, the standard SNA contract has been designed to be flexible to cater for the different spectrum of working hours across all the various schools including primary, post-primary and special schools. No set hours were agreed but instead full-time SNAs are expected to work for the normal school hours in the school that they are working in, and in addition to be available for a period of time before and after school in order to help with reception and dispersal of children and preparation and tidying up of classrooms etc. These times are set locally by the school management and will vary from school to school depending on the requirements of the school.
In addition, all SNAs were required to be available for a number of days at the start and finish of each school term not exceeding 12 in total. Under the Croke Park Agreement it was agreed to introduce greater flexibility to the use of these 12 days.
Accordingly, DES Circular 71/2011 was issued on 15 December 2011 which outlined that these 12 days now equate to 72 hours (pro-rata for part-time SNAs) to be used by schools as an additional bank of hours to be utilised and delivered outside of normal school opening hours and/or the normal school year.
Link to DES Circular 71/2011 is as follows:
http://www.education.ie/en/Circulars-and-Forms/Active-Circulars/cl0071_2011.pdf
SNAs who are employed in a part-time capacity are paid a pro-rata amount dependent upon their level of hours of employment. Part-time SNAs are paid on the agreed divisor rate for pay purposes for part-time SNAs which is 32 hours. I should point out that this divisor was also agreed with both the Management Authorities and the Trade Unions (IMPACT and SIPTU) that represent SNAs.
Furthermore, the contract of employment for SNAs in the post primary sector specifically requires that SNAs in the post primary sector are required to work the month of June.
If any SNA believes that the working hours as laid out by their employer are not in line with the nationally agreed contracts for an SNA, then that is a matter that they should raise directly with their employer (the school/ETB). If an SNA remains unhappy with the response received from their employer, then the Department has implemented a nationally agreed set of Grievance procedures for SNAs (DES Circular 72/2011) which can be invoked by an SNA with their employer where matters such as this are in dispute. Link to DES Circular 72/2011 is as follows:
http://www.education.ie/en/Circulars-and-Forms/Active-Circulars/cl0072_2011.pdf
1343. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to increase the current school funding for primary schools from 92 cent per pupil up to the secondary school level rate of €1.77 per student, due to increasing running costs for insurance, electrical, and so on and the financial demands and burdens it places on boards of management and parents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32146/15]
View answerIt is extremely difficult to make precise comparisons between the levels of grants paid and the actual costs of running schools at primary and post primary levels. However it is self evident that the maintenance and running costs for second level schools are much greater on a unit cost basis than those in primary schools.
In general, second level schools are larger than primary schools and have a lower pupil teacher ratio resulting in more classrooms and specialist rooms such as laboratories, workshops and kitchens. This leads to higher unit costs in second level schools for heat, light, power, maintenance and cleaning.
I do recognise however the need to improve capitation funding for primary schools having regard to the reductions that were necessary over recent years. In the last Budget, I was able to secure the first increase in education spending in recent years. I am determined to continue pressing the case for increased investment in education in the forthcoming budget.
1344. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding primary education; her plans to address the major concerns raised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32167/15]
View answerThe Government's approach to restoring the economy has helped Ireland to return to a position where we are seeing economic growth. It is a continuing improvement in our economic growth over a sustained period that will enable us to move to a point where we can look again at providing for additional teacher resources in schools which could bring about further improvement in PTR, class size and support for classroom teachers.
I am determined that education should be prioritised for investment as our economy recovers and I will be seeking to agree a set of priorities for such increased investment into the future. In the last Budget, I was able to secure the first increase in education spending in recent years. I am determined to continue pressing the case for increased investment in education in the forthcoming budget.
The challenge for all schools is to ensure that they utilise their allocated resources to best effect to maximise teaching and learning outcomes.
1345. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if time spent completing an internship under the JobBridge scheme at a primary school can be counted towards supplementary panel rights for the teacher; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32170/15]
View answerUnder current arrangements, reckonable service which is allowable for the purpose of Supplementary Panel access is service as a fully qualified teacher in a post paid for by the Department of Education and Skills, excluding certain service types as listed in Circular 0072/2014.
Arrangements for supplementary panel access for fixed term (temporary/substitute) and part-time teachers for the 2016/17 school year will be reviewed with the relevant education partners shortly and my Department will publish the finalised arrangements in due course.
1346. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will continue to pursue primary school smaller class sizes to address the situation whereby class sizes are the highest in the eurozone; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32173/15]
View answerThe criteria used for the allocation of teachers to primary schools is published annually on the website of the Department of Education and Skills. The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September. The staffing schedule operates in a clear and transparent manner and treats all similar types of schools equally irrespective of location. It currently operates on the basis of a general average of 1 classroom teacher for every 28 pupils with lower thresholds for DEIS Band 1 schools.
The configuration of classes and the deployment of classroom teachers are done at local school level. My Department's guidance to schools is that the number of pupils in any class is kept as low as possible taking all relevant contextual factors into account (e.g. classroom accommodation, fluctuating enrolment etc.). School authorities are also requested, where possible, to use their autonomy under the staffing schedule to implement smaller class sizes for junior classes.
The Government's approach to restoring the economy has helped Ireland to return to a position where we are seeing economic growth. It is a continuing improvement in our economic growth over a sustained period that will enable us to move to a point where we can look again at providing for additional teacher resources in schools which could bring about further improvement in PTR, class size and support for classroom teachers.
The challenge for all schools is to ensure that they utilise their allocated resources to best effect to maximise teaching and learning outcomes.
1347. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position of an application for an extension by a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32203/15]
View answerI can confirm that the school referred to by the Deputy, through its Patron, has made an application to my Department for capital funding for the provision of additional accommodation.
The application is currently being considered and a decision will be conveyed to the school as soon as the assessment process has been concluded.
1348. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position of a school refurbishment programme for a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32204/15]
View answerThe building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is currently at an advanced stage of Architectural Planning (Stage 2(b) – Detailed Design) which includes planning permission, fire safety certificate, disability access certificate.
This building project is included in my Department's five year construction programme to proceed to Tender and Construction in 2015/16. Once all statutory approvals have been received and the stage 2(b) submission has been received and assessed, my Department will then be in touch with the school authorities regarding the progression of the project to tender stage.
1349. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of special needs assistants working in schools at both primary and secondary level in counties Galway and Mayo at the beginning of September for each of the years 2009 to 2015 inclusive. [32223/15]
View answer1350. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of resource teaching hours in schools at both primary and secondary level in counties Galway and Mayo at the beginning of September for each of the years 2009 to 2015 inclusive. [32224/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1349 and 1350 together.
The 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 NCSE has published details of resource teaching and SNA allocations for schools from 2012 to 2015 inclusive on its website at www.ncse.ie.
I will arrange for the NCSE to reply directly to the Deputy in relation to applications for support sanctioned by the NCSE prior to 2012.
1351. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Education and Skills with reference to the piloting of a new system of allocating special educational resources, the assessment and review process that will be undertaken in the evaluation of the new system; the role schools and teachers will play in the evaluation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32225/15]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that I recently announced that a pilot of a new model for allocating additional teaching resources to schools to support children with special educational needs, as recommended by the National Council for Special Education, will take place in 47 schools during the 2015/16 school year.
Following a selection process designed to ensure that as full a range of schools as possible would be represented, to take account of disadvantaged classification, gender mix, school size and sector, 47 Schools (28 primary schools and 19 post primary schools) have agreed to participate in the pilot project on a voluntary basis.
This pilot has been developed in order to test the model in a number of schools and to allow for the practical effect of the application of the new model in pilot schools to be gauged, while also taking into account the learning experiences of schools.
The pilot will be subject to a review by my Department's Inspectorate, the National Council for Special Education, and the National Educational Psychological Services. The review will be conducted in collaboration with participating schools. The core elements of the review will include feedback from agencies and partners, external monitoring and review, and self-reflection by schools.
The review will seek to determine the effectiveness of the pilot in meeting the needs of pupils with special educational needs, including how schools manage to deploy resources in accordance with identified needs of students, as envisaged by the proposed new allocation model.
1352. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the proposed project for a school (details supplied) in County Cavan; if she is aware of the urgent need to provide appropriate permanent accommodation, due to the continued growth of enrolment in this school over the years; when this project is likely to proceed to tender; the expected timescale for construction and provision of new permanent accommodation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32232/15]
View answerThe project to provide permanent accommodation for the school to which the Deputy refers is currently at Stage 2a (Developed Design) of the architectural planning process. Planning permission, fire certificate and disability access certificates have all been obtained. The project will shortly progress to completion of Stage 2(b), which includes the preparation of tender documents.
Arising from the school's recent request for further additional accommodation, my Department requested the school's design team to explore options for providing this. When a response has been received and considered, my Department will convey a decision to the school.
As the Deputy is aware, school building projects, including the project to which he refers, which have been 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 my Department in the future.
1353. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will examine a matter (details supplied) regarding building works required at a school in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32269/15]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that the works to which he refers would fall to be considered for funding under my Department's Summer Works Scheme (SWS). The purpose of the Scheme is to devolve funding to individual school authorities to facilitate schools carrying out small and medium scale improvement works that will upgrade existing school facilities. It is open to the school to apply for funding for these works under any future SWS that is announced by my Department. The matter of a future SWS will be conditional on funding being made available to my Department in the context of the next Budget.
I also wish to advise the Deputy that the school received a total of €30,446 under the Minor Works grant scheme between 2010 and the 2014/15 school year. This grant allows schools to carry out improvement works to school buildings and grounds without recourse to the Department. It is open to the school in question to prioritise the works it wishes to undertake within the terms of this Scheme. This could include elements of the works to which the Deputy refers.
1354. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a library extension for a college (details supplied) in County Limerick; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the existing library is operating over capacity, which is hindering the learning environment; the timeframe for completion of works; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32270/15]
View answerThe needs of the College will be considered in the context of budgetary resources and having regard to competing demands.
1355. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a school (details supplied) in County Tipperary that has applied for major capital funding; the timeframe for completion of works; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32271/15]
View answerI can confirm that the school to which the Deputy refers submitted a major application for a large scale extension. The current status of all applications, including for the school in question, may be viewed on my Department's website at www.education.ie.
As the Deputy will appreciate, due to the competing demands on my Department's capital budget imposed by the need to prioritise the funding available for the provision of essential school classroom accommodation, it is not possible to provide an indicative timeframe for the progression of a major project for the school in question at this time.
However, it is open to the school, should additional teaching posts be allocated, to apply to my Department for additional accommodation to meet its immediate accommodation needs.
