Written Answers Nos. 181 - 190
181. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position in relation to the delivering equality of opportunity in schools review of secondary and primary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32514/15]
View answerI am pleased to advise the Deputy that the process for the review of the DEIS Programme is underway. This process involves a number of strands including:
- a consultation process with the Education Partners to inform the development of appropriate future interventions to tackle educational disadvantage;
- the establishment of an inter-Departmental Group to ensure a joined-up approach to future delivery of services in the DEIS Programme;
- the establishment of a Technical Group which is working to establish what eligibility criteria are now appropriate to re-identify the level of need in schools;
- the establishment of a DEIS Advisory Group within my Department.
The review process is being undertaken over the course of the current school year and will consider all issues pertaining to educational disadvantage in all areas. I hope to be in a position to make an overall proposal for the delivery of future interventions to tackle educational disadvantage after that.
182. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the amount of bonus remuneration paid to staff in her Department and in agencies under her aegis to date in 2015; the number of persons to whom these payments were made and their purpose; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32534/15]
View answerNo bonus payments have been made to staff at my Department this year and bodies under the aegis of my Department have also confirmed to my officials that no bonuses have been paid to their employees to date this year.
183. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the assessment of household income for a student grant application; the extent to which any once-off income, such as a compensation payment or an inheritance, may be discounted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32559/15]
View answerArticles 22(3) and 24(6) of the Student Grant Scheme 2015 provide that gifts or inheritances received in the reference period will be included as reckonable income.
If any of the persons whose income is under consideration received a gift or an inheritance in the reference period, these are included in reckonable income, unless in the case of an independent student, the gift or inheritance was between the applicant and his or her spouse, civil partner or cohabitant; or in the case of a dependent student, the gift or inheritance was between parents or to the applicant from his or her parent(s).
Article 22(4) of the Student Grant Scheme 2015 provides that a number of payments, including compensation for personal injury, are considered to be "income disregards" and are not included in calculating reckonable income.
184. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update regarding a student grant scheme for Ballyfermot College of Further Education in Dublin 10 (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32561/15]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that Ballyfermot College of Further Education is an approved Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) centre which is managed and funded by City of Dublin Education and Training Board (CDETB) from funding provided by my Department. Post Leaving Certificate Centres provide further education courses up to Level 6 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ). However, my Department has facilitated the provision by the College of a course accredited by a third level institution at Level 8 on the NFQ for a number of years and continues to do so as an exceptional measure.
Section 7 of the Student Support Act, 2011 outlines the position with regard to approved institutions for the purposes of student grants. The College is comprehended within Section 7(1)(d) of the Act as an education institution in the State in receipt of grants out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas for the provision of post-leaving certificate courses.
I currently have no plans to designate further education centres as approved third level institutions for the purposes of the student grant scheme.
185. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will supply a list of all schools, by county and in tabular form, which are currently housed in prefabricated buildings with no permanent structures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32584/15]
View answerThere follows, as requested in the Deputy's question, a list of schools by county currently housed in prefabricated buildings with no permanent structures.
|
Roll Number |
Official Name |
Address 1 |
Address 2 |
Address 3 |
Address 4 |
County |
|
20086B |
ENNIS EDUCATE TOGETHER NS |
GORT ROAD |
ENNIS |
CO CLARE |
Clare |
|
|
20313J |
Mol an Oige |
Ennistoymon |
Clare |
Clare |
||
|
09872J |
CLOGHOOLA MIXED N S |
MILLSTREET |
CO CORK |
Cork |
||
|
20265J |
Gaelscoil Kinsale |
Kinsale |
Co. Cork |
Cork |
||
|
20352T |
Ard Ri Community National School |
Cork |
||||
|
20413N |
Douglas Rochestown Educate Together NS |
C/o Douglas Hall AFC |
Douglas, Co. Cork |
Cork |
||
|
20440Q |
Mallow Community National School |
Mallow GAA, Mallow |
Co. Cork |
Cork |
||
|
20442U |
Carrigtohill Community National School |
C/o Carrigtohill GAA Club |
Co. Cork |
Cork |
||
|
20235P |
LETTERKENNY EDUCATE TOGETHER |
BALLYRAINE HALLS |
LETTERKENNY |
CO DONEGAL |
Donegal |
|
|
19991A |
GAELSCOIL NA CAMOIGE |
Aras Chronain |
Bothar An Ullord |
Clondalkin |
Dublin 22 |
Dublin |
|
20056P |
GAELSCOIL PHADRAIG |
ASCAILL SHILEANN |
BAILE BREAC |
CO ATHA CLIATH |
Dublin |
|
|
20223I |
GAELSCOIL EISCIR RIADA |
BÓTHAR AN GHRIFÍN |
LEAMHCÁN |
CO ÁTHA CLIATH |
Dublin |
|
|
20334R |
Gaelscoil Ros Eo |
Gaelscoil Ros Eo |
St Maurs GAA |
Rush |
Dublin |
|
|
20384J |
Powerstown ETNS |
Mulhuddart, Dublin |
Dublin |
|||
|
20394M |
Gaelscoil an Chuillin |
Mulhuddart, Dublin |
Dublin |
|||
|
20412L |
Gaelscoil Teach Guise |
Killininny Road, Firhouse |
Dublin 24 |
Dublin |
||
|
20411J |
Firhouse Educate Together NS |
Killininny Road, Firhouse |
Dublin 24 |
Dublin |
||
|
20426W |
Scoil Oscair |
Lucan |
Co. Dublin |
Dublin |
||
|
20237T |
GAELSCOIL RIADA |
RAITHIN |
BAILE ATHA AN RI |
CO NA GAILLIMHE |
Galway |
|
|
20123E |
GAELSCOIL RIABHACH |
BAILE LOCHA RIACH |
CO NA GAILLIMHE |
Galway |
||
|
20292E |
Maynooth Educate Together NS |
Maynooth |
Co. Kildare |
Kildare |
||
|
00860D |
FORGNEY N S |
Cloncallow |
Ballymahon |
Co. Longford |
Longford |
|
|
20083S |
GAELSCOIL AN LONGFOIRT |
FEARANN UÍ DHUAGÁIN |
LONGFORT |
CO LONGFOIRT |
Longford |
|
|
20259G |
St. Francis National School |
Rock Road |
Blackrock |
Dundalk |
Louth |
|
|
20258E |
Gaelscoil an Bhradáin Feasa |
Mill Road |
Mornington |
Co. Meath |
Meath |
|
|
76196W |
De Lacey College, Ashbourne |
Ashbourne |
Co. Meath |
Meath |
||
|
20191V |
St. Peter's NS |
Dunboyne |
Co. Meath |
Meath |
||
|
20082Q |
Gaelscoil Tulach na Og |
Dunboyne |
Co. Meath |
Meath |
||
|
20382F |
Gaelscoil na Mí |
Ashbourne |
Co. Meath |
Meath |
||
|
20396Q |
Asbourne Educate Together NS |
Ashbourne |
Meath |
|||
|
20055N |
Gaelscoil Eois |
Clones |
Co. Monaghan |
Monaghan |
||
|
19885B |
GEALSCOIL PHILIB BARUN |
TEACH REALT NA MARA |
AN TRA MHOR |
CO PHORT LAIRGE |
Waterford |
|
|
68078U |
Gaelcholásite Phort Lairge |
Kilbarry Road |
Waterford |
Waterford |
Waterford |
|
|
20238V |
Gaelscoil an Choilin |
Mullingar GAA Club, |
Mullingar |
Co. Westmeath |
Westmeath |
|
|
20243O |
GAEL SCOIL NA LOCHANNA |
C/O COMMUNITY EDUCATION CENTRE |
BLESSINGTON |
CO WICKLOW |
Wicklow |
|
|
76106S |
Gaelcholáiste na Mara |
Arklow |
Co. Wicklow |
Wicklow |
||
|
20080N |
Gaelscoil an Inbhir Mhaor |
Arklow |
Co. Wicklow |
Wicklow |
||
|
20473I |
Greystones Community National School |
C/o Greystones RFC |
Co. Wicklow |
Wicklow |
186. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education and Skills given that there are fewer than 3,000 purpose-built student accommodation places and approximately 80,000 students in the Dublin area, the steps she will take to address the shortage of purpose-built student accommodation. [32585/15]
View answerThe report, Student Accommodation: Demand & Supply, which I published recently sets out clearly that the demand for student accommodation outstrips supply in certain areas and will continue to do so in the coming years.
There are 13 useful recommendations in this report some of which include capital financing, tax considerations and planning issues, as well as support for the rent-a-room scheme.
I have introduced two immediate actions to begin this work. Firstly, the immediate establishment of an inter-departmental steering group to oversee this work. This group will provide a coordinating mechanism to ensure that the higher education institutions have access to information on new potential funding and delivery models.
And secondly, the awarding of a grant of €30,000, which will be provided by the HEA to the Union of Students' (USI) in Ireland to progress short-term solutions for students in need of accommodation. This funding will allow USI to develop their homes.usi.ie website, to communicate more effectively to student and homeowners, and to carry out research into this important issue.
The Government is committed to addressing the housing shortage through the Construction 2020 strategy. This will not resolve all of our problems immediately, but I am confident that the implementation of Construction 2020 will provide us with a sustainable housing stock in the medium to longer term.
The full report can be accessed at http://www.education.ie/en/Publications/Education-Reports/Report-on-Student-Accommodation-Demand-and-Supply.pdf.
187. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide a breakdown of the capitation grants paid to each school in County Louth for the years 2011 to 2015. [32598/15]
View answerMy Department provides capitation funding to all recognised primary schools and second level schools within the free education scheme.
My Department provides capitation funding to mainstream primary schools by way of per capita grants, subject to a minimum grant equivalent to 60 pupils. Enhanced rates are payable to Special Schools and Special Classes attached to mainstream schools. The funding arrangements made by my Department for second level schools reflect the sectoral division of our second-level system. At the core of all arrangements is reliance upon capitation as the principal determinant of funding.
My Department provides funding to Community and Comprehensive schools on a budget basis that is based mainly on pupil numbers, but also take into account additional factors which vary from school to school such as age of buildings, size of school etc. With regard to the ETB sector financial allocations are made to ETBs as part of a block grant. ETBs are given a high level of autonomy in the management and appropriation of this grant and each is allowed to distribute its allocations in line with its priorities and perceptions of need.
My Department provides funding to voluntary secondary schools by way of per capita grants.
DEIS capitation is paid based on a school's relative level of disadvantage against all other schools.
Fee charging schools do not receive any capitation or related grants from my Department.
Information on the funding allocated to schools in County Louth, as requested by the Deputy, is not readily available. My officials are currently compiling this information and it will be forwarded to the Deputy in due course.
188. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Education and Skills the secondary schools in County Louth that currently have a high-speed broadband connection; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32599/15]
View answerThe following post primary schools in County Louth have a 100Mbit/s broadband connection: 63840C St. Joseph's C.B.S. 63841E St. Mary's Diocesan School 63850F Our Lady's College 63860I Sacred Heart Secondary School 63870L Drogheda Grammar School 63880O Coláiste Rís 63890R St. Mary's College 63891T De La Salle College 63900R St. Vincent's Secondary School 63910U St. Louis Secondary School 63920A Dundalk Grammar School 71750U Bush Post Primary School 71760A Drogheda Institute of Further Education 71761C St. Oliver's Community College 71770D Ó Fiaich College 71780G Scoil Uí Mhuirí 76195U Coláiste Chú Chulainn 91441T Ardee Community School There is one post primary school in County Louth that has not yet been installed with a 100Mbit/s broadband connection, Ballymakenny College, this school is in a temporary location, once its permanent school is in place the connection will be installed.
189. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will sanction an additional teacher for Graiguenamanagh boys national school in County Kilkenny as a matter of urgency as the number of pupils attending the school meets the criteria and the current classes are seriously overcrowded. [32619/15]
View answerThe criteria used for the allocation of teaching posts is published annually on the Department website. 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 arrangements for primary schools for the 2015/16 school year are set out in Department Circular 0005/2015 which is available on my Department's website at www.education.gov.ie.
The circular sets out the improvements to the staffing schedule for the 2015/16 school year for small schools. These improvements are improved retention thresholds for the 2nd, 3rd and 4th classroom teacher and also the improved appointment and retention thresholds for isolated one-teacher schools.
An appeals process is also available to small schools. Details of the appeals criteria are set out in the published staffing arrangements. The school referred to by the Deputy submitted an appeal to the October, 2015 meeting of the Primary Staffing Appeals Board. Schools that have submitted an appeal will be informed of the decision of the Board after this meeting takes place.The Primary Staffing Appeals Board operates independently of the Department and its decision is final.
190. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a higher education grant will be approved for a person (details supplied) in County Kildare who currently has stamp 4 residency status; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32671/15]
View answerAn application for a Higher Education Grant from the student referred to by the Deputy is currently under review with SUSI and additional documentation has been requested. Once this documentation has been submitted to SUSI, a decision will be made on the case and the student informed of the outcome.
