Tuesday, 29 Sep 2015

Written Answers Nos. 497-516

Teacher Training Provision

Questions (497)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

497. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the full cost of the training and upskilling for the professional development service for teacher staff who have been affected by the five-year rule for teaching secondments in September 2015 during their time with the support services; if she will provide a full costing for the advertising, recruitment process, training and upskilling of their replacements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32776/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The data requested by the Deputy are not readily available within my Department. The budgets allocated to professional development support services include provision for the training and upskilling of teachers who work in the services. Support services are based in Education Centres which also hold the budgets for the services. I can however confirm that the typical cost to my Department of a public advertisement for teacher support services is in the region of €2,500 - €3,000.

Schools Building Projects Status

Questions (498, 499)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

498. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the progress on the construction of a new primary school (details supplied) in County Donegal; when it is expected that the project will be tendered for construction; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32813/15]

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

499. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the tender criteria which will be used to select a company to carry out the construction of a school (details supplied) in County Donegal; if it is expected that a public-private partnership arrangement will be used; if she will ensure that the tender criteria will not include excessive thresholds in relation to the project size of previous work carried out by tendering companies in a manner that would exclude local reputable construction companies from the process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32814/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I propose to take Questions Nos. 498 and 499 together. The planning application for the school in question is expected to be lodged shortly. The tender process will also commence shortly so that construction can begin as soon as the statutory consents are in place, assuming no issues arise. This urgently needed school building project is being delivered under the Departments "Rapid" Design and Build programme. A Framework of suitably qualified Design & Build contractors is already in place to serve this programme. The Framework was established in accordance with standard Public Procurement Procedures. Tenders will be invited from this Framework only.

Education Policy

Questions (500)

Dominic Hannigan

Question:

500. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to codify and review the Rules for National Schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32815/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The Rules for National Schools were published in 1965 and over the course of the intervening period they have been updated, amended and supplemented mainly by circular letters but also by certain provisions of both primary and secondary legislation that have since been enacted. Given the many other more pressing work priorities and also the on-going changes in the primary education sector, my Department has no plans at present to prepare a consolidated version of the Rules to reflect the aforementioned changes.

School Staffing

Questions (501)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

501. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of schools which have not had their delivering equality of opportunity in schools, DEIS, legacy posts subsumed due to the temporary reprieve provided by her for schools with legacy posts which were due an additional teacher due to an increase in pupil numbers; her plans to restore legacy DEIS posts to schools which previously had DEIS legacy posts withdrawn by her Department in lieu of an additional teacher; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32818/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The Deputy will be aware that I have recently begun a process to review the DEIS Programme. This work will be ongoing during the current school year. Pending the outcome of this review I have decided to pause the offsetting of legacy posts arising from pre-Deis disadvantage programmes in a small number of schools for the current (2015/16) school year. The number of schools in question is 10.

As I have previously announced, I do not intend to make any changes to the current programme, including any additionality to it, while the review is underway.

School Transport Eligibility

Questions (502)

Finian McGrath

Question:

502. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding school transport for a child with an intellectual disability (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32924/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills

Under the terms of my Department's School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs children are eligible for transport where they are attending the nearest recognised: mainstream school, special class/special school or a unit, that is or can be resourced, to meet their special educational needs.

The provision of therapeutic services such as Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Psychological Services etc. which are matters for the Health Service Executive are not a factor in identifying the nearest recognised placement for transport eligibility purposes.

In this case, the child in question is not attending the nearest school that is resourced to meet his special educational needs and is therefore not eligible for school transport.

Children who are not eligible for school transport may apply for transport on a concessionary basis only subject to a number of terms and conditions including the availability of spare sets on an existing service and the payment of the annual charge; routes will not be extended or altered, nor will larger vehicles or extra trips be provided to cater for concessionary transport.

Autism Support Services

Questions (503)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

503. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the specific courses in her Department that are available for parents with teenagers who are on the autism spectrum; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32926/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

While my Department does not directly provide courses for parents with teenagers who have autism, the Deputy may be aware of the Middletown Centre for Autism which is an initiative jointly funded between my Department and the Department of Education in Northern Ireland. The Centre is aimed at supporting the promotion of excellence in the development and harmonisation of education and allied services to children and young people with autistic spectrum disorders. The Centre provides a comprehensive nationwide training service for parents and educational professionals. The opportunities offered through the Centre for parental training include:

- Full day, Morning and Twilight sessions are delivered both north and south on a range of autism specific topics for both parents and professionals.

- Parent groups and individual schools can request bespoke training sessions using an online application form.

Parents can view the range of courses which the Centre has available through the website www.middletownautism.com.

Pension Provisions

Questions (504)

Terence Flanagan

Question:

504. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will respond to a matter (details supplied) regarding a primary school teacher; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32934/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The position in the case of the person to whom the Deputy refers is that she was first employed as a teacher after 1 January 2013. Any person employed in a pensionable capacity in the public service after the 1st January 2013 has their employment governed by the terms of the Public Service Pension (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012 unless certain exceptions applied. These exceptions include if a person was employed in a pensionable capacity at any time in the 26 weeks prior to the 1st January 2013 or was availing of approved leave of absence (which did not constitute a break in service).

Based on the information currently available to my Department the person to whom the Deputy refers meets the criteria for membership of the Single Pension Scheme. Under the Single Pension Scheme no provision exists to transfer inward any prior pensionable service or pension entitlements. A person having previously completed the vesting period (normally 2 years) in any pre-existing pension scheme will in the normal course have entitlement to a deferred benefit payable under that scheme on reaching the appropriate preserved pension age. A letter outlining this position will issue directly to the person in question in the coming week.

Further Education and Training Programmes Fees

Questions (505)

Terence Flanagan

Question:

505. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding post-leaving certificate course fees (details supplied) in Dublin 3; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32936/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The 2011 Budget provided for the introduction of a €200 annual Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) programme participant contribution. This was introduced at the start of the 2011/2012 academic year and the same charge has applied each year since then.

Full medical card holders, in their own right as well as their dependent children, those eligible under the student grant scheme and those in receipt of the Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) or Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (VTOS) allowances are exempt from paying the contribution. QQI certification fees are also waived for those students.

Additional charges may also arise depending on the nature of the individual course, the need for class materials and equipment, as well as additional certification. As needs and courses vary across the sector, these are matters for the individual Education and Training Boards and course providers.

Teaching Council of Ireland

Questions (506)

Dara Calleary

Question:

506. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she is aware that registration to the National Teaching Council is taking up to 12 weeks for teachers who studied and qualified in the United Kingdom; her views on whether this is an excessive amount of time; her plans to address this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32985/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The Council is obliged under the terms of EU Directive 2005/36/EC to grant registration to teachers who have completed 'regulated education and training' and are deemed fully qualified as a teacher under the terms of the Directive in another EU/EEA Member State. The Council published requirements in this area in a notice of compliance with the Directive in May 2010.

The processing time for an application for registration varies on the type of application and whether an assessment of qualifications is required (to determine if the qualification(s) meet the Council's registration criteria). Applicants including newly qualified teachers (NQTs) who have provided full documentation and have completed the Garda Vetting process at the time of application are typically registered within one/two weeks of the date of application. However in cases where requested documentation remains outstanding, where qualification(s) assessment is required, where the outcome of the Garda Vetting process is not returned in a timely manner, or where the Evidence of Character Panel is required to consider the outcome of the Garda Vetting process, the registration process may be considerably longer.

The Council processes applications from teachers who have completed their initial teacher qualifications in EU Member States under the terms of Council Directive 2005/36/EC. The processing timeframes for such applications are set out under Article 51 of said Directive and the Council endeavours to remain compliant with the stated timeframes.

Student Assistance Fund

Questions (507)

Michael Ring

Question:

507. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to increase the funding allocated to the student assistance fund in budget 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33000/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The Student Assistance Fund is managed on behalf of my Department by the Higher Education Authority (HEA). Some €6.34 million has been allocated to the Fund for the 2015/16 academic year. The HEA have commissioned an independent review of policy, guidelines and practice in relation to the Student Assistance Fund and any changes to the administration of the Fund will be considered when the review is completed.

Third Level Qualifications Recognition

Questions (508)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

508. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a diploma or degree college course in the United Kingdom (details supplied) is not recognised as leading to a major higher education qualification when it is an approved publicly-funded course by the education authorities in the United Kingdom; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33009/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The Deputy will appreciate that in the absence of all of the relevant details regarding the course it would not be possible for me to say whether or not the course meets the definition of an approved course. This is a matter for the Awarding Authority to determine. To do this the Awarding Authority will have regard to whether or not the student is attending an approved course as defined under Article 4(c) of the Student Support Regulations 2015 and Section 7(1)(e) of the Student Support Act 2011. Regulation 4(c) of the Student Support Regulations 2015 defines an approved undergraduate course as one which must be full-time, at least two years in duration, leads to a higher education award and must be pursued in an approved institution.

Student Assistance Fund

Questions (509, 544)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

509. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the funding that has been allocated to the student assistance fund for the academic year beginning September 2015. [33068/15]

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

544. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide, in tabular form, the amount of funding allocated to the student assistance fund, or its successor programmes, in each individual year from 2009 to date in 2015; if she will provide details of any needs assessment undertaken for the coming academic year to decide upon the funding required. [33216/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I propose to take Questions Nos. 509 and 544 together. The funding allocated from 2008/2009 to 2015/2016 is supplied for the Deputy's convenience. The Student Assistance Fund is managed on behalf of my Department by the Higher Education Authority (HEA). €6.34m has been allocated to the Fund for the 2015/16 academic year. The HEA have commissioned an independent review of policy, guidelines and practice in relation to the Student Assistance Fund and any changes to the administration of the Fund will be considered when the review is completed.

Student Assistance Fund

Academic Year	Allocation
2008/09	€5m
2009/10	€5m
2010/11	€5m
2011/12	€9m
2012/13	€11m (8m + 3m)
2013/14	€8.35m (8m + 350k)
2014/15	€6.6m
2015/16	€6.34m

School Transport Eligibility

Questions (510)

Dara Calleary

Question:

510. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a student (details supplied) in County Mayo is not currently receiving a school transport service; her views on whether, under the specific circumstances of this case, a service should be provided; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33069/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills

Under the terms of my Department's Primary School Transport Scheme children are eligible for transport where they reside not less than 3.2 kilometres from and are attending their nearest national school as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.

The family referred to by the Deputy are eligible for school transport to the school in question. However, Bus Éireann has advised that payment details for this family were not submitted until after the closing date; at this stage all tickets had been allocated and the service is now operating to capacity. Should there be any change in the current position Bus Éireann will contact the family directly.

Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Board

Questions (511)

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

511. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to ensure that there is a gender balance on the board of Caranua; if she will provide a list of the current board members; the states in which they are resident; the date of the appointment; and the date that their term will expire. [33070/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

Section 11 of the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act 2012 provides for the membership of the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Board (Caranua) and related matters. Section 11(3) provides that the Minister shall, in so far as is possible, ensure an equitable balance between men and women in the composition of the Board. The Board is currently made up of 5 men and 4 women. The names of the current Board members together with their dates of appointment are set out below. The members reside in Ireland except where otherwise show. All of the appointments are due to expire at the end of the 4 year period commencing on 25 March 2013.Mr David O'Callaghan (Chair) - Appointed 25 February 2014

Ms Rosemary Adaser (UK resident) - Appointed 11 March 2015

Mr Damian Casey - Appointed 25 March 2013

Mr Austin Currie - Appointed 25 March 2013

Mr Tom Daly - Appointed 25 March 2013

Ms Katherine Finn BL - Appointed 25 March 2013

Mrs Frances Harrington – Appointed 29 January 2014

Mr David Lane (UK resident) – Appointed 25 July 2013

Ms Phyllis Morgan (UK resident) - Appointed 25 March 2013

Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Board

Questions (512)

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

512. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she is aware of concerns from male survivors of institutional abuse resident in Ireland that they are under-represented on the board of Caranua; the reason there are more United Kingdom residents appointed to the board; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33071/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

Appointments to the Board of Caranua, the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund, are made in accordance with the provisions of Section 11 of the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act 2012 and with the Government's procedures for the making of appointments to State boards.

Section 11(1) of the 2012 Act provides for the appointment of a 9 member Board, of whom 4 are persons who were resident in an institution specified in the schedule to the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act 2002 before they attained the age of 18 years, while section 11(3) provides that, in making appointments, the Minister shall, in so far as is possible, ensure an equitable balance between men and women in the composition of the Board. The Board of Caranua as currently composed reflects these two statutory requirements. I should point out also that the Board includes three persons who reside in the United Kingdom, this reflects the significant number of former residents residing there.

The most recent appointment to fill a casual vacancy on the Board of Caranua was made in accordance with the new procedures recently put in place for the making of appointments to State Boards.

Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Board

Questions (513, 514)

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

513. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if any action has been taken against the chief executive officer of Caranua for using confidential information received from the redress board which profiled survivors of abuse; if she is aware that this breaches legislation; if she received legal advice on the matter; and, if so, from whom. [33072/15]

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

514. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she has received any report or information from the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner regarding the compliance of Caranua, including its chief executive officer, board and employees, regarding their compliance with data protection legislation; the date on which she received this information; if she will make this information public; and any action she took as a result of this information. [33073/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I propose to take Questions Nos. 513 and 514 together.

I am advised that in 2013 Caranua, the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Board, confirmed that the anonymised preliminary analysis of data received from the Residential Institutions Redress Board under the provisions of section 24 of the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act 2012 was destroyed and that it would only use the data received in accordance with the provisions of section 24. I understand that this matter is addressed in the minutes of Caranua's Board meeting of 14 November 2013, which are available on the organisation's website (www.caranua.ie), where the unintentional breach of section 24 is noted together with the Board's majority decision to record its apology for this breach. I have not sought legal advice in relation to the matters raised by the Deputy nor I have I received any communication from the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner in regard to these matters.

Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Board

Questions (515, 516)

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

515. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to review the current eligible services that survivors of institutional abuse may currently apply for through Caranua, such as funeral and burial services, for survivors as well as their spouses; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33074/15]

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

516. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 972 of 9 June 2015, the date on which she requested Caranua to set out its case for the proposed expansion of approved service classes in accordance with the Act; if she has received a response on this from Caranua; the details of the case made; and the date on which she plans to address the necessary changes. [33075/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I propose to take Questions Nos. 515 and 516 together.

Section 8 of the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act, 2012 sets out the classes of services from which approved services can be determined by Caranua, the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Board. In accordance with section 8(3), I can prescribe additional classes of service following a recommendation of the Board of Caranua or following consultation with it. Any such regulations require a positive motion of both Houses of the Oireachtas.

Caranua raised the issue of expanding the classes of approved service to include additional services, such as funerals, with me by way of a letter dated 21 October 2014. In accordance with the Act, when making such recommendations, Caranua shall have regard to the likely effect of the provision of the service on the health and general well-being; the personal and social development; the educational development or the living conditions of former residents as well as the need for minimum standards to be met by approved service providers.

In a letter of 4 November 2014 I requested Caranua to set out the case for the proposed expansion of approved service classes in accordance with the Act and I will consider the matter further on receipt of its response.