Tuesday, 10 Nov 2015

Written Answers Nos. 480-489

Teachers' Remuneration

Questions (480)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

480. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a teacher employed in a community school who is promoted to the position of deputy principal is automatically entered into the relevant pension scheme upon the commencement date in the new post, even if the teacher had not been entered previously; the precise conditions that govern the entitlement for a teacher to be entered into the relevant pension scheme in such a case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39129/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The question posed by the Deputy queries whether a teacher currently in employment who is not a member of the Secondary Community and Comprehensive Teachers Pension Scheme and who is subsequently promoted to a position of Deputy Principal should then become an automatic member of the Scheme.

The terms of the Secondary, Community and Comprehensive Teachers Pension Scheme are such that a person who was in employment prior to 1 March 1996, may voluntarily join the Scheme at any point up to their retirement, provided that they have been in continuous employment before that date.

A promotion or change of school would not constitute a break in employment, therefore the teacher retains the option to apply for membership of the scheme.

An eligible person appointed to a post since 1 March 1996 either for the first time or after a break in service is a compulsory member of the scheme.

An eligible person for the purpose of the Scheme is one who was appointed before 1 August 1996 and at the age of at least 21 years and provided they do not have a break in service of more than 26 weeks which continued or commenced on or after 1 January 2013 and who is a secondary teacher registered with the Registration Council, serving in a whole time post in a secondary school and was receiving remuneration paid by the Department or serving in a teaching post or in a post of chaplain in a comprehensive or community school.

School Equipment

Questions (481)

Gerry Adams

Question:

481. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she is aware of the case of a child (details supplied) in County Meath whose school laptop was removed on 12 October 2015 for an upgrade; the timeframe for the return of the upgraded laptop to the child; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39133/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

Officials from my Department have been in contact with the school management authorities of Coláiste na hInse, who have confirmed that the issue referred to has now been resolved.

Teaching Council of Ireland

Questions (482)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

482. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 205 of 17 June 2015, if she has made a decision on the matter; if not, when she will make a decision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39164/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The Deputy is aware that the Teaching Council were asked to examine and advise on entry requirements to courses of initial teacher education including the Gaeltacht entry scheme to the Bachelor of Education and I have recently received the Council's advice in relation to the Gaeltacht entry scheme to the Bachelor of Education.

The advice from the Teaching Council is being considered by my Department and I will make a decision on the matter shortly.

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Questions (483)

Michael McGrath

Question:

483. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 219 of 1 October 2015 if a decision has been made on the matter. [39186/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I wish to advise the Deputy that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) is responsible for processing applications from schools for special educational needs supports. SENOs also make recommendations to my Department where assistive technology is required. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in making recommendations for support, which is set out in my Department's Circular 0010/2013.

I understand that the NCSE is not in a position to make a recommendation to my Department for the provision of assistive technology for the pupil in question, as the application does not meet the criteria set out in my Department's Circular 0010/2013. A letter has recently issued to the school in this regard.

It is open parents to contact their local SENO directly to discuss their child's special educational needs, using the contact details available on the NCSE website.

State Examinations Commission

Questions (484)

Helen McEntee

Question:

484. Deputy Helen McEntee asked the Minister for Education and Skills if extra concessions will be made for the leaving certificate (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39190/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations.

The State Examinations Commission operates a scheme of Reasonable Accommodations in the Certificate examinations. In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.

Summer Works Scheme Applications

Questions (485)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

485. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if, given the necessity to maintain health and safety standards in accordance with the highest requirements, she plans to include restoration of the playground surface as a priority for summer works or other schemes in the case of a school (details supplied) in County Kildare whose application was previously unsuccessful; if this will be included in the budget for the project for 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39208/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The Deputy will be aware that I recently confirmed the provision of €80 million over 2016 and 2017 for a multi-annual Summer Works Scheme for schools. This funding was initially promised as part of the Budget 2016 investment in schools. The funding will allow schools to carry out small and medium scale building works such as gas, electrical and mechanical works, roof and window upgrades, structural improvements; works that will improve and upgrade existing school buildings.

It is open to schools to prioritise the works they wish to undertake within the terms of the Scheme. Schools can now submit an application to my Department using the online Esinet portal facility. The closing date for receipt of applications is the 27th November 2015. It is open to the school referred to by the Deputy to consider this option for the works in question.

Summer Works Scheme Applications

Questions (486)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

486. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the roof of a school (details supplied) in County Kildare has been assessed to determine if and when improvements to it need to be carried out; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39211/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The assessment to which the Deputy refers is a matter for the school authority.

If the school considers that there are issues with the roof that need to be addressed, it is open to it to submit an application for funding under the Summer Works Scheme, details of which are currently available on my Department's website.

Schools Building Projects Applications

Questions (487)

Fergus O'Dowd

Question:

487. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education and Skills to outline her views on representations received from the principal of a school (details supplied) in County Louth; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39227/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I wish to advise the Deputy that the major building project for the school to which he refers is currently at an advanced stage of architectural planning. All statutory approvals including planning permission, fire and disability access certificates have been secured and tender documents have been prepared.

Due to competing demands on the Department's capital budget, imposed by the need to prioritise the limited funding available for the provision of additional school accommodation to meet increasing demographic requirements, it was not possible to include this project in the five year construction programme.

However, school building projects, including the project in question which have not been included in the current five year construction programme, are being progressed to the final planning stages and are available to be considered in the context of the new 6 year construction programme that I intend to announce in the coming weeks.

Pupil Data Collection

Questions (488)

Michelle Mulherin

Question:

488. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Education and Skills to set out the number of persons attending full-time education in secondary schools who have attained the age of 18 years or who will do so during the 2015-16 school term; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39272/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

My Department is currently processing the annual pupil returns for all post-primary schools for 2015/2016 school year and the data that the Deputy is seeking will not be available until 2016 at the earliest.

School Accommodation Provision

Questions (489)

Mary Lou McDonald

Question:

489. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Education and Skills to set down in tabular form the capital budget for new school buildings for the years 2009 to 2015 to date. [39274/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The capital expenditure incurred in the provision of accommodation in the years 2009 to 2015 in the primary and post-primary sectors is presented in the following tables under two headings as follows:

Large Scale Projects - New school buildings and large scale extensions.The Additional Accommodation Scheme and the Prefab Replacement Initiatives - additional classrooms provided following the appointment of extra teachers or the replacement of prefabs with permanent classrooms.

LARGE SCALE PROJECTS

YEAR	AMOUNT €m
2009	167.2
2010	130.9
2011	224.8
2012	224.2
2013	213.1
2014	241.3
2015 (to date)	252.6
TOTAL	1454.1

ADDITIONAL ACCOMMODATION SCHEME PREFAB REPLACEMENT INITIATIVES

YEAR	AMOUNT €m
2009	75.7
2010	66.6
2011	56.2
2012	71.8
2013	87.6
2014	64.2
2015 (to date)	72.4
TOTAL	494.5