Written Answers Nos. 616-637
616. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will support and advise parents whose children cannot receive a secondary school place due to living a few hundred metres outside the parish boundary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36640/15]
View answerThe selection and enrolment of pupils in schools is the responsibility of the authorities of the individual school. My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in an area. However, this may result in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice. As schools may not have a place for every applicant, a selection process may be necessary. This selection process and the enrolment policy on which it is based must be non-discriminatory and must be applied fairly in respect of all applicants.
The position is Section 29 of the Education Act, 1998 provides for an appeal by a parent or guardian to the Secretary General of my Department, or in the case of an Education and Training Board (ETB) school to the ETB in the first instance, where a Board of Management of a school, or a person acting on behalf of the Board, refuses to enrol a student in a school, expels a student or suspends a student for 20 or more days in any school year.
My Department has no authority to compel a school to admit a pupil, except in the case of an appeal under section 29 of the Education Act, 1998 being upheld.
The Education (Admission to Schools) Bill, which was published in early April of this year, introduces a number of important changes to make enrolment policies fairer and more transparent.
The Educational Welfare Service of the Child and Family Agency (EWS) is the statutory agency which can assist parents who are experiencing difficulty in securing a school place for their child. The EWS may be able to offer assistance and advice on securing a school placement within the pupil's area. The contact details for the EWS is Educational Welfare Service of the Child and Family Agency, Floors 2-5 Brunel Building, Heuston South quarter, Dublin 8 phone 01 7718500.
617. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for Education and Skills when the 2,260 additional teaching posts provided for in budget 2016 will be advertised; the location of these posts for a breakdown of the allocation for primary and post-primary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36643/15]
View answerThe additional teaching posts referred to by the Deputy will be in place for the 2016/17 school year.
At primary level from next September the primary staffing schedule will operate on the basis of a general average of 1 classroom teacher for every 27 pupils. This positive development will require approximately 300 additional teaching posts in primary schools. At post-primary level the schedule will improve by .3 points, from 19:1 to 18.7:1, equivalent to 300 posts, while 250 additional posts will be used to enhance the leadership and management roles of deputy principals at post-primary level by reducing their teaching time. Additional release days will also be provided to teaching principals in primary schools. Funding is also being provided for the 2016/17 school year to meet the cost of up to an additional 600 resource teaching posts and a further 810 posts to meet demographic pressures at primary and post-primary level.
Teacher allocations to all schools are approved annually by my Department in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolment. The criteria for the allocation of posts are communicated to school managements annually and are available on the Department website. The staffing arrangements for all schools for the 2016/17 school year will be published early in 2016.
The recruitment and appointment of teachers to fill teaching posts is a matter for the individual school authority, subject to procedures agreed under Section 24(3) of the Education Act 1998 (as amended by the Education (Amendment) Act 2012). The deployment of teaching staff in the school, the range of subjects offered and ultimately the quality of teaching and learning are in the first instance a matter for the school management authorities.
618. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to make changes to school holidays (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36644/15]
View answerSchools are required to be open for a minimum of 167 days at post-primary level and 183 days at primary level.
Subject to meeting this requirement individual schools may determine the precise start and end of the school year.
There are no plans at present to make any changes to the minimum number of teaching days.
The scheduling of the school holiday periods during the academic year is agreed between the managerial authorities of schools, the teacher unions, the Department of Education and Skills and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform under the auspices of the Teachers' Conciliation Council.
The current agreement as outlined in Circular 16/2014 covers the school years 2014/15, 2015/16 and 2016/17.
619. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans for the provision of accommodation in a school (details supplied) in County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35947/15]
View answerI wish to confirm to the Deputy that my Department is not in receipt of an application from the school in question in respect of its accommodation.
It is open to the school concerned to submit an application for consideration via form ASA (Additional School Accommodation) which is available on my Departments website at www.education.ie.
620. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Education and Skills when an application by a school (details supplied) in County Cork for funding under the capital funding programme will be determined; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35951/15]
View answerI can confirm to the Deputy that my Department is in receipt of an application for capital funding under the schools capital programme for the school in question.
I wish to advise the Deputy that due to the competing demands on my Department's capital budget imposed by the need to prioritise available funding towards the provision of essential school classroom accommodation, it is not possible at this point to provide an indicative timeframe for the provision of funding for the facility in question. In that regard however, significant funding was devolved to the school concerned in 2011 for the provision of four additional general classrooms to meet the schools immediate accommodation needs. If the school has any new or additional details in respect of their application, it is open to the school concerned to forward this to my Department for consideration.
621. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a staff bonus scheme is in place at Caranua; if a scheme providing an annual bonus by way of payment or goods or services is available to any staff members; and, if such a scheme exists, if it was approved by her Department. [35972/15]
View answerCaranua, the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Board, is an independent statutory body established pursuant to the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act 2012. I understand from enquiries made by my officials that Caranua does not operate a staff bonus scheme.
622. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Education and Skills when funding will be provided to replace prefabricated accommodation for a school (details supplied) in County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35996/15]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that significant additional accommodation comprising 6 general classrooms was approved by my Department under the pre-fab replacement scheme in September 2013.
However, following further discussions with the school, the school authority concerned submitted an alternative proposal to my Department in September last. This alternative proposal is currently being considered and I understand that my Department expects to be in further contact with the school shortly.
623. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position of an application for two additional classrooms for a post primary school (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35990/15]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is in receipt of an Additional School Accommodation Application Form for a special needs unit for the above mentioned school.
At a recent meeting, officials from my Department met with the Patron to discuss the application further. In this regard, additional information was sought and was received a number of days ago.
This application is currently being considered and a decision will be conveyed to the school authority as soon as this process has been completed.
624. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to a previous parliamentary question, if she will confirm the timeframe for consideration by the appeals board of the case being made for an extra teacher for a school (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and if an early response will be expedited. [36015/15]
View answerThe school referred to by the Deputy submitted an appeal to the 14th October, 2015 meeting of the Primary Staffing Appeals Board. The school has been informed that its appeal has been upheld.
625. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to restore ex-quota allocations for Guidance Counsellors; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36034/15]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that I have made provision in Budget 2016 for some 2,260 additional teaching posts for our primary and post primary schools next year. These posts will provide for an improvement in the staffing schedules at primary and post primary levels, enhance the leadership and management roles of deputy principals at post-primary level by reducing their teaching time, an improvement to the scheme of release time for principal teachers at primary level and additional resource posts to meet special education needs.
The allocation of a whole time equivalent of an additional 300 teachers to second level schools brings the basis of allocation from 19:1 to 18.7:1 for the school year 2016/17. This improvement of 0.3 in PTR allocation is a restoration of 50% of the teaching resources that were removed when the allocation of guidance posts was brought within quota. The delivery of the 50% restoration through a change in the PTR allocation will allow each school to determine how best to allocate the additional resources to meet the guidance needs of the school.
The Department's Guidelines in relation to how Guidance should operate within schools will be updated for the next school year to reflect the change in the allocation process. The Guidelines will underpin the responsibility of every school to make sure that they use this additional staffing to meet their obligations to provide guidance counselling support to all students. When the allocation for guidance was brought within quota DEIS schools were protected from the change by providing for a 18.25:1 allocation compared to the general 19:1 allocation. The position of DEIS schools will be further enhanced by a change to an allocation on the basis of 17.95:1.
626. Deputy Anthony Lawlor asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a teacher (details supplied) in County Kildare will be paid; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36024/15]
View answerThe person referred to by the Deputy will be paid salary on 22nd October 2015 and all arrears of salary due will be paid on that date.
627. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the provision of an extension for a school (details supplied) in County Kilkenny will be approved; and if she will confirm the status of this project within her Department. [36039/15]
View answerI can confirm that the school referred to by the Deputy has made an application to my Department for capital funding for the provision of additional accommodation.
The application is currently being considered and my Department will convey a decision to the school authorities concerned as soon as the assessment process has been concluded.
628. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a new building for a school (details supplied) in County Kerry will be included in the Capital Investment Plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36042/15]
View answerI can confirm that the school to which the Deputy refers has applied to my Department for large scale capital funding to provide a new school building.
My Department continues to liaise with the School Authorities in respect of their proposal and in that regard further clarifications are awaited. Once these clarifications have been received the matter will be considered further.
629. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she is aware of a number of instances of ambiguity of information (details supplied) from Education and Training Boards and her Department's own website surrounding the eligibility of vocational training opportunities scheme courses; if she will ensure that the available information is clear and unambiguous throughout all areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36044/15]
View answerThe Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (VTOS) is a second chance education and training programme which provides courses of up to two years duration for unemployed people. The programme is funded by my Department through SOLAS, the Further Education and Training Authority, and delivered and managed locally by Education and Training Boards (ETBs).
To be eligible for the scheme, you must be over 21 years of age, and at least six months (156 days) unemployed. Individuals in receipt of unemployment assistance may accumulate the 156 days qualifying period within a period of 52 weeks.
This information is available on my Department's website through the 'VTOS Handbook and Frequently Asked Questions' document. ETBs refer to this document in advising potential VTOS participants on eligibility criteria.
630. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which student accommodation requirements may be met in the short to medium term, with particular reference to putting the necessary measures in place to ensure adequate accommodation in the short to medium term; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36051/15]
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 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.
Secondly, the establishment of an inter-departmental steering group to oversee this work, the first meeting of which took place on 1 October 2015. 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. A significant number of Action points have been identified for follow up arising from the first meeting.
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
631. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the current position in regard to the acquisition of premises to accommodate life-long learning facilities at various locations in North Kildare; the extent to which the negotiations have been satisfactorily concluded; when the facilities are likely to become available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36071/15]
View answerMy Department has not received a proposal from the Education and Training Board (ETB) in question regarding the acquisition of premises to accommodate lifelong learning programmes in the North Kildare area. The ETB has informed my Department that it is finalising plans for the development of a centre for Further Education and Training provision in this area and intends to make a submission to my Department shortly.
632. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Education and Skills the cost of providing free school books at both primary and post-primary school level for a full year; if her Department has considered this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36093/15]
View answerThe information sought is not readily available to my Department, however one estimate from publishers' sources suggests that the Irish school book market is worth approximately €60 million per annum.
There is a School Books Grant Scheme in place that provides assistance for books for students in all recognised primary and post-primary schools within the Free Education Scheme. Under this scheme, my Department provides funding of €15 million annually to all these schools.
In addition, Budget 2014 provided funding of €5 million per annum for three years to support the establishment of book rental schemes in primary schools that did not operate such schemes. Under this additional funding, DEIS schools receive €150 per child and non-DEIS schools receive €100 per child in seed capital to establish book rental schemes. The schools which qualified for funding under this scheme received 70% of their funding in 2014 and received the remaining 30% in May 2015.
Primary schools that were operating book rental schemes prior to 2014 will also benefit from this funding. These schools will receive €18 per pupil in mainstream schools and €20 per pupil in DEIS schools over two year period or €7 or €8 per pupil in 2015 and €11 or €12 in 2016. These arrangements are set out in Circular 0030/2015.
The current arrangements represent a significant annual investment by my Department and there are no plans to expand them further.
633. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of primary teachers and secondary teachers who have qualified each year since 2010; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36085/15]
View answerSince 2006 the Teaching Council is the body with statutory authority for registration of teachers in the State.
I have asked the Teaching Council to provide the information requested directly to the Deputy.
634. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of unemployed primary teachers and secondary teachers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36086/15]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is not available in my Department. The Teaching Council is the body with statutory responsibility for the registration of teachers.
According to current Teaching Council data, the number of teachers registered in the Primary Sector is 43,084 and the number in the Post Primary Sector is 42,271. Teachers may be registered in more than one Sector.
635. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of full-time positions available in 2015 for primary teachers and for secondary teachers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36087/15]
View answerTeacher allocations to all schools are approved annually by my Department in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolment. The criteria for the allocation of posts are communicated to school managements annually and are available on the Department website. The final staffing position for all schools for the current school year will ultimately not be known until later in the Autumn. At that stage the allocation process will be fully completed and any appeals to the Staffing Appeals Board will have been considered.
The recruitment and appointment of teachers to fill teaching posts is a matter for the individual school authority, subject to procedures agreed under Section 24 (3) of the Education Act 1998 (as amended by the Education (Amendment) Act 2012).
The Statistics Section of my Department's website contains extensive data relating to schools at primary and post-primary level, including teacher numbers. The most recent published information relates to the 2014/15 school year.
We have a growing population of young people in this country and despite the difficult financial circumstances we face as a country, we prioritised education so that the number of teachers we have in the system has also grown in order to protect pupil teacher ratios. There were 2,300 more teachers employed in schools around the country in the last two school years.
The Deputy will be aware that I have made provision in Budget 2016 for some 2,260 additional teaching posts for our primary and post primary schools next year. These posts will provide for an improvement in the staffing schedules at primary and post primary levels, enhance the leadership and management roles of deputy principals at post-primary level by reducing their teaching time, an improvement to the scheme of release time for principal teachers at primary level and additional resource posts to meet special education needs.
636. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the loss of a teacher from a school (details supplied) in County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36101/15]
View answer637. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will retain the current teaching complement at a school (details supplied) in County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36102/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 636 and 637 together.
The criteria used for the allocation of teachers to schools are published annually on the Department's 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 process includes an appeals mechanism for schools to submit an appeal under certain criteria to an independent Primary Staffing Appeals Board.
The staffing arrangements and appeals process for the 2015/16 school year are set out in Circular 0005/2015 which is on the Department's website.
The Primary Staffing Appeals Board meets three times per year, in March, in May and in October. The Department has not received a staffing appeal from the school referred to by the Deputy. The Primary Staffing Appeals Board operates independently of the Department and its decision is final.
The Deputy will be aware that I have announced a one point improvement to the primary staffing schedule in the context of Budget 2016. The improved staffing schedule which is available on the Department website will be implemented for the 2016/17 school year. The staffing arrangements, including the appeals process, for all schools for the 2016/17 school year will be published early in 2016.
