Written Answers Nos. 490-509
490. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 128 of 11 March 2015, the progress in developing a new integrated primary languages curriculum; if this initiative will lead to further extending this programme to incorporate some continental languages; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41542/15]
View answerA new Integrated Primary Languages Curriculum, incorporating Irish and English, has been developed by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment. The first phase will be introduced from Junior Infants to 2nd classes from September 2016. Work will continue for the curriculum for 3rd to 6th classes which will follow on from the curriculum developed for the junior primary classes. A circular recently issued to primary schools informs them about the roll out of the new curriculum and the supports which will be available for implementation. The curriculum aims to ensure that primary pupils acquire transferable language skills which will assist them in learning Irish and English during their primary education and thereafter add additional languages to their language repertoire at second level. It aims to encourage children of different languages and cultures to be proud of and to share their heritage. These children will be given opportunities to explore and inform their class on the culture and customs of the country or heritage from which their language comes. It also aims to promote a positive disposition towards communication and language and to foster within children a lifelong interest in and a love of languages learning. In addition, my Department is currently developing a new Foreign Languages in Education Strategy focussing on post-primary, further and higher education. The new strategy will set out clear actions to further improve the quality and delivery of our provision for foreign languages.
491. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the proposed building project for the Holy Family School in Cootehill in County Cavan; when this project will proceed to the next stage; when the tendering process will commence, and be completed; when construction will commence; the funding to be allocated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41549/15]
View answerThe project to provide permanent accommodation for this school is currently at Stage 2(a) (Developed Design) of the architectural planning process. Planning Permission, Fire Safety Certification and Disability Access Certification have already been obtained on the basis of the original accommodation brief. Arising from the school's request for further additional permanent accommodation, my Department requested the school and its design team to explore options for providing this and to submit a proposal to my Department. This proposal is awaited. 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 major project for Holy Family School, Cootehill, Co. Cavan is included in this plan to commence construction in 2016. Information in respect of all projects on this 6 year plan is available on my Department's website www.education.ie.
492. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a decision will be made on 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. [41552/15]
View answerI can confirm that the application for additional accommodation referred to by the Deputy has been assessed and I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the school was approved funding, on a devolved basis, for an ASD/Special Needs provision to meet needs in the area. This decision has recently been conveyed to the school authority.
493. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the rationale behind the five-year residency rule required for young asylum seekers to be entitled to access third level education in the same way as Irish citizens and European Union Irish residents; why she imposed a five-year as opposed to a three-year residency rule, as it is the normal residency requirement for Irish and European Union citizens. [41554/15]
View answerThe five year residency rule is in line with recommendation 5.70 of the Working Group on the Protection Process. This recommended that supports be made available to persons who have been in the "Irish school system for five years or more, and satisfy the relevant academic and other eligibility criteria."
494. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if there is legislation which specifies the rights and responsibilities of employers towards students in post-primary education undertaking unpaid work experience, as part of a third level or second level course; if legislation is required to protect young persons from potential exploitation in these situations. [41555/15]
View answerThere is no specific piece of legislation that governs work experience for second level students in, for example, Transition Year or Leaving Certificate Applied courses. However, there are many established supports to good practice, by both employers and students in these cases, including:
- guidelines on work placement from the PDST and coordinators' organisations;
- extensions of school insurance policies to cover work placement contexts for students;
- contemporaneous monitoring of work placement by teacher visits and/or phone calls;
- evaluation reports by employers and students of the work placement experience immediately afterwards;
- DES inspection recommendations that work experience remain controlled and not otherwise disrupt the integrity of the programme.
These are established aspects of custom and practice in the Irish system, often supplemented by extra supports depending on circumstances of employment, such as additional safety training. Schools are encouraged to evaluate their work placement programmes annually, and this helps the development of reliable, quality employment opportunities, linked in most instances to the local community. The question refers to students taking third-level courses while in post-primary school. This would not be the norm. The rules and practice governing the relationship between schools and employers in the area of work experience is a matter for the schools and local employers themselves. Access to work experience for second level students is an extremely valuable element of education and provides students with experience and knowledge that will help inform decisions regarding future studies and career options.
495. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the Exchequer estimates for the amount to link the student maintenance support grants with the consumer price index for the next five years, based on historical trajectories of the consumer price index over the past ten years; how she will provide Exchequer estimates for the amount the student maintenance support grants would increase by if linked to the Customer Price Index sub-index classification of Individual Consumption According to Purpose Division 04, Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels, for the next five years. [41556/15]
View answerMy Department has been in contact with the Central Statistics Office who has advised that all data regarding the Consumer Price Index is collated on a historical basis and is not used by them for future projections. However for the Deputy's convenience my Department has looked at the figures available from the CSO and according to the Consumer Price Index the annual average % change for the 10 year period 2005 to 2014 shows an average percentage change of +1.5%. In relation to the COICOP Division 04 for the period 2013 to 2014 which uses the 2011 Baseline, there is a percentage change of +0.7% & 0% respectively. For the period 2010 to 2011, the COICOP Division 04 uses the 2006 Baseline, there is a percentage change of +1.27% and 9.6% respectively. For the period 2012, the COICOP Division 04 uses the combined 2006 & 2011 Baseline, there is a percentage change of -6.3%. Combined average for the five year period of +1.05%. Therefore to increase the maintenance support grant and special rate maintenance grant to students for the 2015/16 academic year based on the averages outlined above, the estimated cost to the exchequer would be an additional €2.5m (CPI) or €1.7m (COICOP Division 04).
496. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she has considered amalgamating the Central Applications Office and the Student Universal Support Ireland systems, and introducing the proposals put forward by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (details supplied) for aligning the systems to ensure that students know their funding status before the take up their Central Applications Office offer. [41557/15]
View answerThe Department engages with SUSI on an on-going basis on the implementation of changes and improvements to SUSI's service delivery model. Reconfiguring the application process alongside the CAO applications process is not a straightforward proposition. For example one of the key eligibility criteria for receiving grant funding is the assessment of reckonable income. Income details supplied by Revenue and/or Department of Social Protection for the relevant period for assessment purposes would not be available when the CAO application process opens in November. Extending the application processing window would not necessarily increase processing efficiency and may indeed add some layers to the process. However, SUSI has opened earlier each year since it first came into operation in June 2012. It opened on 23 April this year for the 2015/16 academic year. This, combined with many other ongoing improvements made by SUSI, resulted in almost 27,000 students being paid in September this year, the first time that payments have been made before October. SUSI will continue to work to ensure that students receive decisions on their student grant applications as early as possible to assist them in making more informed decisions when they receive their CAO offers. A Service Level Agreement between SUSI and the CAO currently provides for the direct transfer of data from the CAO to SUSI in relation to final course acceptance details for applicants who opt to have their data transferred.
497. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education and Skills to respond to correspondence from a person (details supplied) regarding teachers rights; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41558/15]
View answerThe Programme for Government contains a commitment that "People of non-faith or minority religious backgrounds and publicly identified LGBT people should not be deterred from training or taking up employment as teachers in the state." A Private Members' Bill, the Employment Equality (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2013, was debated in Seanad Éireann in 2013. That Bill imposes a stricter test for discrimination on educational or medical institutions that are in receipt of public funding. The Government accepted the Bill in principle, subject to such amendments that might be required on the advice of the Attorney General to ensure its constitutionality. Prior to framing possible Government amendments to the Bill, the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission designate was asked to undertake a public consultation and examine the issues involved in relation to amending Section 37 of the Employment Equality Acts 1998 - 2011. Its report was referred to the Attorney General's Office for further consideration. Government amendments to the Bill were published on Tuesday, 7 July and the Bill with amendments passed all stages in the Seanad on 9 July. The Bill commenced second stage last week in the Dáil.
498. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she is aware of the difficulties faced by parents in securing school places for children if they reside in a certain area (details supplied) in County Dublin; the options for these parents when students are refused access to a certain school and other schools in this area; her plans to assist these parents. [41562/15]
View answerIt is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998. The enrolment policy must be non-discriminatory and must be applied fairly in respect of all applicants. My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in the area. In this regard, I can advise that as part of my announcement last week on the provision of 10 new post-primary schools to open in 2017 and 2018, two new schools will be opening in the areas referred to by the Deputy in 2017.
These two new schools in Swords and in Malahide/Portmarnock will cater for the demographic demand emerging in these areas. Parents can choose which school to apply to and where the school has places available the pupil should be admitted. However, in schools where there are more applicants than places available 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. However, this may result in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice. 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 Educational 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. 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 can be contacted at 01-8738700. The Education (Admission to Schools) Bill, which was published in April of this year, provides an over-arching framework to ensure that how schools decide on who is enrolled and who is refused a place in schools is more structured, fair and transparent.
499. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a school (details supplied) in County Wicklow; when a permanent site will be purchased for it; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41578/15]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that a site acquisition process for the school referred to by the Deputy is currently underway. However, due to commercial sensitivities it is not possible to provide further details at this stage. The project to deliver a new school building was included in the list of projects recently announced to go to construction in 2018.
500. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a school (details supplied) in County Wicklow; when a permanent site will be purchased for it; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41579/15]
View answerThe site acquisition process for the school referred to by the Deputy is currently underway and options are under consideration. However due to commercial sensitivities it is not possible to provide further information at this time. The project to deliver a new school building was included in the list of projects recently announced to go to construction in 2019-2021.
501. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a school (details supplied in County Donegal is the only school in the county on the recently announced School Building Programme 2016 to 2021 which is in a 100% prefabricated school, with no permanent structure in place; why this school building is listed for construction in 2019 to 2021, and is not a priority, in line with the plan to eradicate prefabricated only schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41581/15]
View answerThe positioning of school projects on the new 6 Year Programme, in terms of year to commence construction, is informed by the anticipated progress that each project will make as it progresses through the various stages of the architectural planning process. All projects will however continue to be progressed with a view to proceeding to tender and construction stages at the earliest possible opportunity. My Department will be in communication with schools in the Programme, including the school referred to by the Deputy, in relation to the next steps to be taken as the projects progress through the various stages of the architectural planning process.
503. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills the measures she is taking to address the 2015 National Skills Bulletin Report by the expert group on future skills needs, which identified a skills shortage in a number of areas, mostly in the information and technology sector, but also in the engineering, science and health sectors; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41587/15]
View answerThe EGFSN has highlighted a number of areas where there are skills shortages. The scale of these shortages varies and there can be a variety of reasons that impact on the ability of employers to recruit. The second National Employers Survey which was published last May found that three quarters of foreign employers feel that there will be an adequate supply of graduates in the next three to five years. This is a great vote of confidence in Ireland and our education and training providers. As the Deputy will be aware, there is a worldwide demand for ICT skills and in particular for those with ICT skills and relevant industry experience. Given the scale of demand for ICT skills, the Department of Education and Skills and the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation launched a revised Government/Industry ICT Skills Action Plan in 2014. The Plan takes a comprehensive approach including increases in high-level graduate output, enhancing awareness of ICT as a career among students, maintaining a strong talent pool and promoting Ireland as a destination for ICT talent. Implementation of the plan is being overseen by a high-level steering group shared by the two departments and including representatives from industry and the education system, and delivery teams have been set up to progress areas of work set out under the plan.
ICT graduate output from the higher education sector has increased significantly since the first ICT plan was published in 2011. As well as mainstream provision in the higher education sector, Springboard+ 2015, which incorporates the ICT skills conversion programme, is providing over 9,000 free higher education places for jobseekers who wish to upskill or reskill in areas where there are identified skills needs. This is the largest Springboard offering to-date. ICT conversion courses are also open to a wide cohort of applicants given the priority in this area. Employment outcomes for Springboard graduates are very strong and further information on outcomes is available in the trend analysis reports published on my Department's website. In addition, under Momentum 6,000 free further education and training places have been made available for long-term jobseekers, on courses where there are identified skills needs. Following on from a comprehensive review of the Irish apprenticeship system, a major initiative is also underway to reform and expand apprenticeship. The content of existing apprenticeships is being modernised, with new curricula being rolled out in five of the most popular trades and a curriculum review underway in the remaining trades. A new Apprenticeship Council has been established that is prioritising the development of 25 new apprenticeships in areas such as ICT, financial services, transport and tourism and hospitality. These new apprenticeships are being progressed following the evaluation of responses to a call for proposals from employers and education and training providers. This expansion of apprenticeship will provide new options for school leavers as well as for those seeking to reskill or upskill in the labour market. The Deputy may also be aware that, as part of the Action Plan for Jobs 2015, my Department is leading on the development of a new National Skills Strategy. The Strategy will aim to ensure that Ireland's current and future workforce needs are met through increased participation, educational attainment, skills development and skill use to achieve greater productivity and support economic and social prosperity and growth. I have invited all interested parties to contribute to the process by submitting their views, on the development of the Strategy, before Tuesday 1st December 2015. Full details on the consultation process are available on the Department's website at www.education.ie. As part of this work, my Department is also leading a project to create a network of regional skills fora to foster greater engagement between the education and training system, employers and other local stakeholders in building the skills needs of their regions.
504. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will grant free school transport for a person (details supplied) in County Longford. [41595/15]
View answerUnder the terms of my Department's Primary School Transport Scheme children are eligible for transport where they reside not less than 3.2 kilometres from and are attending their nearest national school as determined by my Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language. The child in question is not eligible for school transport as she is not attending her nearest school. Children who are not eligible for school transport may avail of transport on a concessionary basis subject to a number of conditions including the availability of spare seats and the payment of the annual charge; a medical card waiver does not apply to concessionary transport. I understand that the School Transport Appeals Board considered this case at their most recent meeting and that the Board has informed the family directly of their determination on the matter.
505. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of schools under the patronage of the Catholic Church, including schools under the patronage of dioceses, religious orders or other bodies within the church that have been vacated and offered for divestment to her Department, but have yet to be handed over to other patron bodies; the location of each of these schools and the date from which her Department was made aware that these schools would be available for divestment; the reason for any delay by her Department in completing the divestment process in relation to these schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41598/15]
View answerMy Department is considering the offer of a number of school buildings by the Catholic church under the patronage divesting process. As the matter is the subject of ongoing discussions, I am not in a position to provide any further details at this time. However, I can assure the Deputy that every effort is being made by my Department to expedite the discussions to a successful conclusion. In addition, I recently met with the Catholic Bishops in order to reinvigorate the patronage divesting process in an effort to achieve greater diversity of school provision.
506. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Education and Skills for details of the contractor she funded to build Adamstown Community College in Lucan in County Dublin, and the cost for the provision of this school. [41620/15]
View answerThe total project cost inclusive of building works, consultants fees and furniture and equipment amounted to €13.9m. The construction element was €12.491m. The building contractor was Glenman Corporation Ltd.
507. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Education and Skills in relation to the contract between the Education and Training Board and Castlethorn for the provision of a sports hall and community centre at Adamstown Community College which was funded by her Department; the cost to her Department and to the board for the sale of the land from Castlethorn; the moneys she and the board have paid to date to Castlethorn for the purchase of this site; any additional payment agreed for the building of the sports hall and community centre; and the date by which these facilities were to be provided under the terms of the contract. [41621/15]
View answer508. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she or the Education and Training Board are taking legal action against Castlethorn for its failure to meet the terms of its contract to build the sports hall and community centre at Adamstown Community College in Lucan in County Dublin; and if the board sought her approval or guidance, prior to taking this legal action. [41622/15]
View answer509. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Education and Skills in the absence of an agreement between her Department, the Education and Training Board and Castlethorn for the provision of the sports hall and community centre at Adamstown Community College in Lucan in County Dublin, and in the context of a possible lengthy legal action by the board against Castlethorn, if she will directly fund, or co-fund with South Dublin County Council, the provision of the sports hall and community centre at this location. [41623/15]
View answerI propose to take questions 507 to 509, inclusive, together. As the Deputy is aware, officials from my Department have engaged with Castlethorn Construction in relation to the provision of a community centre at Adamstown in accordance with the provisions of a contract for the acquisition of the school site. A proposal has recently been put forward by representatives of Castlethorn Construction in respect of this and this proposal is currently under consideration. The Deputy will appreciate that given the sensitivities attached to the ongoing discussions between officials from my Department and Castlethorn Construction it would not be appropriate for me to disclose any further information at this time. However, I can assure the Deputy that my Department is fully engaged with the relevant parties and officials are working to resolve the issue.
