Written Answers Nos. 468-489
468. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Education and Skills to outline the current position of a school (details supplied) in County Mayo on her Department's building unit list; the intended steps towards construction of this new school; and if she will outline a timeline for same. [41344/15]
View answerThe project referred to by the Deputy is currently at an early stage of architectural planning. The Design team were appointed in August 2015, and the design team are currently working on the stage 1 Report; Preliminary Design (assessment of site and location and initial sketch scheme).
As the Deputy is aware on Tuesday 17th November 2015 I announced details of the major school building projects where construction is expected to commence over the next 6 years. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the project to which he refers is included in this plan. Information in respect of all projects on this 6 year plan is available on my Department's website www.education.ie.
469. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Education and Skills to set out how a school (details supplied) in County Mayo, which is listed as a project to go to construction during 2019 to 2021, is currently under construction; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41345/15]
View answerI wish to confirm to the Deputy that construction commenced on the school project concerned on the 9th November last. As referred to by the Deputy, a project for the school concerned was inadvertently included in the major projects listing that I announced last week. This position has now been corrected.
470. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Minister for Education and Skills to set out the status of a school building project (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41369/15]
View answer471. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Minister for Education and Skills to set out the status of a school building project (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41370/15]
View answer472. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Minister for Education and Skills to set out the status of a school building project (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41371/15]
View answer480. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Minister for Education and Skills to set out the status of a school building project (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41492/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 470 to 472, inclusive, and 480 together.
As the Deputy is aware, I announced details on Tuesday, 17th November last, of the major school building projects that are scheduled to proceed to construction over the next six years as part of the Government's €2.8 billion capital investment programme.
I am pleased to advise the Deputy that a project for each of the four schools to which he refers were included in this announcement.
Information in respect of all schools included in the Six Year Programme is available on the Department's website at www.education.ie.
473. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills to outline the provision in mainstream secondary schools in County Kildare for children with a disability, including those on the autism spectrum disorder; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41377/15]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that 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 school 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.
Children with autism over the age of four may be eligible for home tuition if a school placement is not available for them.
The 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. Where a school opens a special class the NCSE will allocate supports to the class to meet the educational and care needs of the students enrolled.
In addition to the mainstream educational provision provided for, there are over 1,000 special classes throughout the country at primary and post primary level. The number of special classes at post primary level has risen by approximately 70 classes in the last 3 years.
The NCSE has advised that there are currently 12 special classes, including 11 autism specific classes, at post primary level in Co. Kildare. Each special class for autism at post-primary level has a 6:1.5 pupil teacher ratio.
474. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if it is acceptable for the primary staffing appeals board to remove a teacher of a junior infants class of 37 students, including several with special needs, in a school (details supplied) in County Wicklow; the actions the school can take to seek to have the teacher reinstated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41384/15]
View answerThe criteria used for the allocation of teaching posts for the 2015/2016 school year is set out in the Staffing Schedule (Circular 0005/2015) which is available 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 30 September 2014.
The staffing schedule also includes an appeals mechanism for schools to submit an appeal under certain criteria to an independent Primary Staffing Appeals Board.
The school referred to by the Deputy submitted an application for consideration by the Appeals Board. The Appeals Board determined that the appeal did not satisfy all of the published criteria as set out in Circular 0005/2015.
The Appeals Board operates independently of the Department and its decision is final.
475. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will review the decision not to provide an emergency works grant to a school (details supplied) in County Cork, given the urgent requirement for repair and the significant concern of staff and pupils; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41407/15]
View answer502. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills to set out the funding streams which a school (details supplied) in County Cork may apply to for financial assistance to rectify the problem of dry rot at the school; and how the school should address this matter. [41584/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 475 and 502 together.
The scope of works required at the school to which the Deputy refers is outside the terms of my Department's Emergency Works Grant Scheme.
The school has been advised that it should apply for funding under the Summer Works Scheme. The Summer Works Scheme for 2016 is now open for applications on the Esinet portal with full details of the Scheme itself on my Department's website www.Education.ie.
In addition to this, the minor works grant will be paid shortly to the school and it can use this to address some of the priority works at the school.
476. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills to outline the guidelines in place for State-funded universities and institutes of technology which tender for the external delivery of courses. [41463/15]
View answer477. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills to set down the number of students attending courses under the free fees initiative being delivered by external private providers, but accredited to State-funded universities and institutes of technology; the names of these courses and awarding institutions; and the funding being given to these external providers for delivering these courses. [41464/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 476 and 477 together.
Third level institutions are autonomous institutions and my Department does not have any function in their day to day operational affairs, for which the Governing Bodies and the management staff of the institutions are responsible. This includes the delivery of its courses.
While my Department is aware that there are a number of institutions who accredit programmes which are delivered either partly or entirely by another institution or third party provider in the higher education sector, the exact details sought by the Deputy are not readily available in my Department. I have asked officials of my Department to request the Higher Education Authority to compile this information and I will arrange for it to be forwarded to the Deputy when available.
478. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she is aware that staff, students, parents and friends at Mount Mercy College, Model Farm Road, Cork have been fundraising to build a sports hall, but this project will only be possible if she provides funding for it; if she will provide the necessary funding to facilitate the construction of a much-needed sports hall at the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41481/15]
View answerI can confirm that my Department is in receipt of an application for the provision of a PE hall 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.
479. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will review the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare who had attended a special autism unit in Derrinturn, but for whom there is now no place in a local secondary school. [41483/15]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that the school, where the child referred to in this question attended last year has been sanctioned a third special class, on a temporary basis, for the current school year, in order to provide for the education of this child. Staff are currently being appointed by the school, while home tuition support is being provided in the interim.
The 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.
The NCSE has advised that they will be in contact with the parents of the child to discuss all possible options and to provide information to them to assist with sourcing a post-primary school placement.
481. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she is aware of the proven demand for a Gaelcholaíste in north Kildare; that parents are being encouraged to send their children to an Aonad in expectation that the figures from the Aonad enrolments will show a demand; and that the children from north Kildare are already taking up places in Gaelscoileanna outside of County Kildare. [41506/15]
View answerFurther to my announcement of the new 6-year programme of capital investment in schools last week, establishment of the Gaelcholáiste referred to by the Deputy is proposed to take place in 2019 subject to sufficient viability of the Aonad. The demand will be measured on the basis of continued support for an independent Gaelcholáiste in the North Kildare area and a continued increase in enrolment numbers in the Aonad. My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that every child has access to a school place - however, this may not always be in the school of their first choice.
482. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Minister for Education and Skills to outline the status of a school building project (details supplied) in County Tipperary; the funding allocated to it, as announced in the capital building programme; if construction will commence in 2019, or if the new building will be completed by that date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41507/15]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, I announced details on Tuesday, 17 November last, of the major school building projects that are scheduled to proceed to construction over the next six years, as part of the Government's €2.8 billion capital investment programme.
I am pleased to advise the Deputy that a project for the school to which he refers was included in this announcement. It is envisaged that construction will commence between the years 2019 to 2021, as outlined in the programme. However, due to commercial sensitivities, it is not possible to provide details of the level of funding allocated in respect of this project.
Information in respect of all schools included in the Six Year Programme is available on the Department's website at www.education.ie.
483. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Skills whether it is acceptable to disqualify students (details supplied) who can only supply proof of address from the Department of Social Protection, as she deems this insufficient evidence of address. [41509/15]
View answerThe decision on eligibility for new student grant applications is a matter for the centralised grant awarding authority, SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland).
The Deputy will appreciate that in the absence of all of the relevant details that would be contained in an individual's application form it would not be possible for me to say whether or not a student should qualify for a grant or what supporting documentation is required. This is a matter for SUSI to determine.
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.
484. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the recently announced establishment of a new Gaelcholáiste in Maynooth in County Kildare will require a new build; how the new build will interact with the proposed Maynooth Community College build; how the demand for the Gaelchólaiste will be measured; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41514/15]
View answerFurther to my announcement of the new 6-year programme of capital investment in schools last week, establishment of the Gaelcholáiste referred to by the Deputy is proposed to take place in 2019 subject to sufficient viability of the Aonad. The demand will be measured on the basis of continued support for a Gaelcholáiste in the North Kildare area and a continued increase in enrolment numbers in the Aonad. It is not possible to confirm the specifics of the project at this early stage.
485. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to the recent announcement of the establishment of a new Gaelcholáiste in Maynooth in County Kildare to set out the arrangements that will be put in place to accommodate those students outside the Maynooth catchment area who, from September 2016, will no longer have the option of attending the Gaelchólaiste in Lucan in County Dublin, or who will not have the option of attending an Aonad in Maynooth in the event of it being oversubscribed, but who will have to wait until 2019 before the proposed new Gaelchólaiste in Maynooth is scheduled to open; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41515/15]
View answerThe proposed Gaelcholáiste referred to has been announced to be established in 2019, subject to sufficient viability of the Aonad. It is not possible to confirm the specifics of the project at this early stage. As outlined in the recent announcement, demand will be measured by continued support for an independent Gaelcholáiste in the North Kildare area and a continued increase in enrolment numbers in the Aonad.
486. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if her Department or agencies under its aegis collect statistics on third-level student debt or on debt incurred while students are attending third level; and the details of these statistics, by year, by institute and by programme. [41516/15]
View answerUniversities and institutes of technology, as autonomous institutions under the terms of the Universities Act 1997 and the Institutes of Technology Acts, respectively, are responsible for the day to day management of their own affairs, including matters relating to student debt. Accordingly, neither my Department nor the Higher Education Authority holds the specific information requested by the Deputy.
487. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education and Skills when building at a school (details supplied) in Dublin 3 will commence, given that the building was scheduled to commence in 2008 but no progress has been made to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41525/15]
View answerThe school building project referred to by the Deputy is currently at an early stage of Architectural Planning. A replacement Architect is required on the project following the withdrawal of the previous consultant. The replacement Architect position will be tendered from the commencement of Stage 2A based on updated Schedules of Accommodation. Following completion of this appointment, the project will be commencing Stage 2A Developed Design Stage.
Upon successful completion of stage 2A and subject to no issues arising, this project will then be authorised to proceed to Stage 2B - Detailed Design Stage, which includes applications for Planning Permission, Fire Safety Certification, Disability Access Certification and the preparation of tender documents.
As the Deputy is aware on Tuesday 17 November 2015 I announced details of the major school building projects where construction is expected to commence over the next 6 years. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the project to which he refers is included in this plan. Information in respect of all projects on this 6 year plan is available on my Department's website www.education.ie.
488. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills why a project (details supplied) in County Cork was not included in her capital investment programme; the status of the project; if she is committed to the construction of the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41538/15]
View answer489. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills why a project (details supplied) in County Cork was not included in her capital investment programme; the status of the project; if she is committed to the construction of the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41539/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 488 and 489 together.
I wish to advise the Deputy that there is no change in the commitment given to schools which were included in the 5 Year Plan (2012-2016) that their school projects would be advanced to tender and construction. This was re-affirmed by the inclusion of the projects for the schools referred to by the Deputy in the 2015 Construction Plan.
The current position on the building project in the case of the first school project referred to by the Deputy is that the project is currently at advanced architectural planning stage. The position in relation to the second school project is that my Department is working closely with Cork County Council towards acquiring a permanent site to meet the needs of the school and the acquisition of the site in question is currently being progressed. Given the commercial sensitivities associated with land acquisitions generally I am not in a position to comment further at this time.
