Written Answers Nos. 103-106
103. Deputy Seán Conlan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan is still awaiting the review of a special rate of the Student Universal Support Ireland grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35884/15]
View answerAs part of a comprehensive customer service and communications strategy provided by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI), to ensure that all necessary avenues are open to applicants to receive the information they need, a dedicated email and phone line service is provided by SUSI for Oireachtas members. This was established to meet an identified need for applicants who choose to engage the assistance of their public representatives in making enquiries about their grant applications.
This service compliments the established channels provided by SUSI which include online application tracking, a dedicated website, a telephone helpdesk, email and social media, including Facebook and Twitter.
Enquiries may be emailed direct to SUSI at oireachtas@susi.ie. SUSI are responding to email queries within a matter of days.
If an individual applicant considers that she/he has been unjustly refused a student grant, or that the rate of grant awarded is not the correct one, she/he may appeal, in the first instance, to SUSI.
Where an individual applicant has had an appeal turned down in writing by SUSI and remains of the view that the scheme has not been interpreted correctly in his/her case, an appeal form outlining the position may be submitted by the applicant to the independent Student Grants Appeals Board.
104. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 692 of 6 October 2015, if she will confirm whether a contract exists between her Department and the one private commercial organisation who first enjoyed the benefits of the arrangement referred to; her responses to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 912 and 913 of 26 May 2015, where she stated that her Department had no contract with this or any other provider; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35892/15]
View answerAs previously stated in responses to Parliamentary Questions, including those referred to by the Deputy, my Department has put in place arrangements for the payment of the home tuition grant to a number of providers, on a group rate basis, where parents of children who are eligible for home tuition have sought alternative arrangements with these providers.
My Department has no contract with the private organisation as referred to by the Deputy. The contract is essentially between the parents and the provider.
105. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will support a matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35912/15]
View answerThe Purpose of the Home Tuition Scheme is to provide compensatory educational service for children who, for a number of reasons such as chronic illness, are unable to attend school. The scheme also provides a compensatory educational service for children with special educational needs seeking an educational placement. Provision is also made for early educational intervention for children with autism. Home Tuition funding is not provided to children with ASD over the age of three where a school placement is available.
Eligibility for children seeking an educational placement is determined in consultation with the local Special Educational Needs Organiser (SENO). As a placement was identified for the child by the SENO the application for Home Tuition was refused and the parents were advised accordingly.
My officials have advised me that the parents have indicated that they intend to appeal the decision to refuse home tuition. This appeal has not been received to date.
106. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 1239 of 22 September 2015, in relation to a school (details supplied) in Dublin 9, if the contract for the repair of a roof, etc has been signed and agreed; if work has started; the length of time work should take; and if she is aware that the temporary arrangements have a limited time planning approval. [35942/15]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that the roof repair forms part of the school's proposed major building project. In this regard, the school will commence the Design Team appointment process in the coming weeks. The Project Manager has already been appointed and has carried out a site visit to the school.
Until planning permission and all statutory approvals have been secured, it is not possible to give a definitive date for the commencement of the construction stage. It is however my Department's intention to progress the school's building project as expeditiously as possible having regard to the normal technical and statutory requirements.
The Deputy will be aware that because the school was forced to vacate the school building, it had of necessity to secure temporary accommodation pending the restoration of the school building and the provision of additional permanent accommodation.
