Written Answers Nos. 148-152
148. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of Freedom of Information requests, in tabular form, received by her Department in 2015 to date; the number of these where the period of consideration was completed within four weeks of the receipt of the request and was extended by up to four weeks because the necessary resources to complete the request within the original time frame were not available. [36746/15]
View answerThe information as requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table.
|
Number of Freedom of Information requests received by Department of Education and Skills in 2015 up to 16/10/2015 |
Number of such where the period of consideration was completed within four weeks of the receipt of the request |
Number of such where the period of consideration was extended by up to four weeks because the necessary resources to complete the request within the original timeframe were not available |
|
346 |
292 |
2 - due to involvement of Third Parties 13 - due to the number of records involved 15 - Total |
149. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Education and Skills for details on the Primary Education Review Group chaired by An t-Ollamh Brian MacCraith; when the report will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36781/15]
View answerProfessor Brian MacCraith is the chair of the STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) Education Review Group. A report was submitted to my Department by this Group in 2015, the implications of which are currently being considered by my officials.
150. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the delivery of a much needed autism spectrum disorder unit for a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36782/15]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), is responsible for processing applications from primary and post primary schools for special educational needs supports, including the establishment of special classes in various geographical areas as required. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support.
SENOs engage with schools annually in order to plan for, and to open, new special classes each year, in order to ensure there are sufficient special class placements available at primary and post primary school level to meet demand in a given area.
All schools have the names and contact details of their local SENO. Parents are encouraged to liaise with the local SENO to discuss placement options for their child.
The NCSE will continue to monitor and review the requirement for special class places in particular areas and has capacity to establish such new special classes where necessary subject to the willingness of schools to open classes.
Details of all of the special classes for children with special educational needs which are attached to mainstream schools are published each year on the NCSE website at www.ncse.ie.
The policy of my Department is that children with special educational needs, including children with autism, should be included where possible and appropriate in mainstream placements with additional supports provided. In circumstances where children with special educational need require more specialised interventions, special school or special class places are also available.
Parents can choose to enrol children with autism in an early intervention class from the age of three and where such a placement is not available home tuition may be approved. Children with autism over the age of four may also be eligible for home tuition if a school placement is not available for them.
I have arranged for the Deputy's request for specific detail on the school referred to, to be forwarded to the NCSE for their attention and direct reply. The NCSE is aware of a growing need for autism provision at post primary level in the area and is actively liaising with schools in this context.
My Department has approved devolved funding for the provision of 5 mainstream classrooms and a Special Needs Unit at the school referred to by the Deputy.
In September 2015 the school applied for additional funding to provide this accommodation. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that an increased allocation has been made and the school has been informed of the details.
It is now a matter for the Board of Management of the School to proceed with the delivery of the project.
151. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding the closure of English language schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36783/15]
View answerThe English language school referred to by the Deputy ceased trading with effect from 1 May 2015. While I have every sympathy for the affected students and teachers who have lost money when this school closed, the relationship between students, teachers and English language schools is based on a private contract. In such instances there is no obligation on my Department or the State to provide refunds to students or to reimburse teacher salaries.
Since the relevant language school is registered as a private limited company, the issue of recouping unpaid teacher wages is a matter for the Workplace Relations Commission. Decisions concerning possible prosecution of the Directors of this school is a matter for the Gardaí and the Director of Public Prosecution.
The Deputy may be aware that Government approved a series of reforms to the student immigration system for international education on 20 May 2015. This new package of reforms includes a number of specific measures to protect international students and to address the issues which have arisen in the context of the school closures including compulsory learner protection arrangements, a separate account facility to safeguard student advance payments and new requirements regarding school ownership. These reforms are currently being implemented by the Department of Justice and Equality in conjunction with my Department.
152. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will consult with the Central Applications Office regarding a person (details supplied) who recently applied to study nursing and missed out by one point. [36798/15]
View answerThe responsibility for managing access to third level places rests with the Central Applications Office (CAO) and the higher education institutions generally.
The higher education institutions have delegated to the CAO the task of processing applications to their first year undergraduate courses. However, the participating institutions retain the function of making decisions on admissions.
Neither my Department nor the Higher Education Authority has any role to play in relation to the operation of the CAO or the admissions policies of third level institutions.
