Written Answers Nos. 204-215
204. Deputy Michael P. Kitt asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will contact Bus Éireann in order to grant approval for travelling facilities, including wheelchair access, for a person (details supplied) in County Galway. [33708/15]
View answerUnder 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.
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.
Generally, 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 which are detailed in the Scheme. However, Bus Éireann has advised that there is no suitable service that the child in question can avail of on a concessionary basis.
205. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the names of the schools in Dublin 5, 13 and 17 that were successful in having construction works carried out under the summer works scheme 2015; the schools in the same areas that applied for works but were unsuccessful; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33651/15]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that the names of all schools that were successful under the 2014 Summer Works Scheme (SWS), including the areas to which he refers, may be viewed on my Department's website www.education.ie. My Department approved grant under the 2014 SWS in three moieties, in March 2014, May 2014 and April 2015. Details of the schools in the areas in question that were unsuccessful will be compiled and furnished to the Deputy shortly.
206. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will review the staffing figures for the retention and appointment for schools with three to four teachers, to ensure that both figures are the same; if she will confirm the number of schools that would have benefitted in 2014 and 2015 if the appointment threshold had been reduced by three to the retention threshold; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33667/15]
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. The Deputy will be aware that I announced some improvements in the staffing schedule for small primary schools in February 2015. These changes were introduced to better support the sustainability of small schools and particularly those in isolated areas and were the only changes that I made to the staffing arrangements for schools for the 2015/16 school year.
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.
These improvements particularly recognise the challenges faced by very small schools that are more than 8km from the next nearest school of the same type.
This package of measures will provide rural communities with security about the future of their small schools, recognising the essential social function which small schools can play, especially in isolated communities.
The Deputy has sought information on what the impact of these improvements would be for the 2014/15 school year if they were applicable to the last school year. The improvements came into effect from 1 September 2015. There is no scope within my Department to do the detailed analysis requested by the Deputy in relation to the 2014/15 school year given that the focus is now on the staffing and redeployment arrangements for the coming school year.
207. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated number of posts to be created by doubling the release time for teaching principals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33668/15]
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.
The level of substitution required to facilitate doubling release time for teaching principals is estimated to be of the equivalent of about 170 posts.
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 publication recently 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.
208. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Education and Skills if any study has been undertaken by the Teaching Council into the supply and qualifications of resource teachers in recognised special schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33670/15]
View answerThe Teaching Council is the professional standards body for teaching in Ireland. It promotes and regulates the profession.
All registered teachers working in publicly-funded schools must be registered with the Teaching Council. In order to be registered, they must meet minimum standards for qualifications which have been established by the Council. Once registered, the recruitment and deployment of teachers is a matter for school management guided by relevant circulars issued by my Department.
The Council have been asked to prepare advice on teacher supply and is working closely with my Department on the matter. No specific study on the qualifications or supply of resource teachers has been undertaken by the Council.
209. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will request the Teaching Council to undertake a study, in accordance with section 7(2)(h) of the Teaching Council Act 2001, into the impact of the proposed revised registration requirements for the supply of resource teachers for recognised special schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33671/15]
View answerPrimary teachers who are registered with the Teaching Council are eligible to be appointed resource teachers in recognised special schools. I do not intend requesting the Council to undertake a study, in accordance with Section 7(2)(h) of the Teaching Council Act 2001, into the impact of any possible changes registration requirements for the supply of resource teachers for recognised special schools.
210. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans for the old school building on Eblana Terrace in Dún Laoghaire which is vacant, given that other schools are interested in purchasing and-or leasing school premises; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33672/15]
View answerThis building is in the ownership of Dublin Dun Laoghaire Education and Training Board. The future use of the building is a matter for Dublin Dun Laoghaire Education and Training Board, subject to the approval of my Department, and my Department is awaiting a proposal from Dublin Dun Laoghaire Education and Training Board in this regard. Enquiries regarding the use of the building should be directed to Dublin Dun Laoghaire Education and Training Board in the first instance.
211. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will commit to provide support to primary education in Budget 2016 (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33676/15]
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.
212. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Education and Skills if there will be measures in Budget 2016 to address the student accommodation issue in Counties Dublin, Cork and Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33684/15]
View answerThe Government fully appreciates the concerns regarding the availability of accommodation for students and the 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.
Finally, 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.
213. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to amend the income thresholds for families with students in receipt of a grant at third level in Budget 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33685/15]
View answerThe eligibility criteria for student grants including the income thresholds is reviewed annually in my Department and approved by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
As the Deputy will be aware, all proposals made in relation to education expenditure, including changes to income thresholds, will be considered in the context of the Budget 2016.
214. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Education and Skills the timeframe for the second phase of the building project for Lusk Community College; if she will provide information on the provision of adequate sports facilities, including changing rooms, and a library for the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33688/15]
View answerThe Major Building Project referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of architectural planning. The school's Design Team are currently working on completing Stage 2b - Detailed Design, which involves planning permission, fire certificate and disability access certificate and the completion of tender documents. All statutory approvals have been secured.
The second phase of Lusk Community College provides for a new build to cater for an additional 650 pupils, a Special Needs Unit, a PE Hall with fitness suite and changing facilities and ancillary accommodation including a school library.
Once the Stage 2b Tender documentation is submitted, the Department will carry out its review and subject to no issues arising the project will then progress to tender and construction stages.
215. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she is aware of remarks made by the chief executive of the Higher Education Authority in relation to financial challenges facing Dundalk Institute of Technology; the problems involved; and her plans to address these; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33697/15]
View answerMy Department allocates recurrent funding to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for direct disbursement to the HEA designated higher education institutions, including institutes such as Dundalk Institute of Technology (DKIT). The HEA allocates this funding to the institutions and the internal disbursement of funding is then a matter for the individual institution.
I understand that the position with regard to DKIT is that it declared significant operating deficits in both 2013 and 2014. As a result, the HEA requested a three year financial plan demonstrating how the institute would return to achieving a balanced budget over that period. The plan was independently reviewed by Mazars and they confirmed that the institute would achieve a breakeven position over the next three years based on the assumptions and proposals set out within the plan. DKIT has also confirmed to the HEA that it is now expecting a balanced outturn for 2015.
My Department, through the HEA, will continue to work with DKIT to monitor the implementation of the financial plan and to ensure that any issues with regard to financial sustainability continue to be addressed.
