Written Answers Nos. 560-569
560. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a decision will be made for a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and the documentation that is required by Student Universal Support Ireland for this decision to be made. [46015/15]
View answerAs part of a comprehensive customer service and communications strategy provided by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI), to ensure that all necessary avenues are open to applicants to receive the information they need, a dedicated email and phone line service is provided by SUSI for Oireachtas members. This was established to meet an identified need for applicants who choose to engage the assistance of their public representatives in making inquiries about their grant applications.
This service complements the established channels provided by SUSI which include online application tracking, a dedicated website, a telephone helpdesk, email and social media, including Facebook and Twitter.
Inquiries may be emailed direct to SUSI at oireachtas@susi.ie. Staff in SUSI are responding to email queries within a matter of days.
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 within the required timeframe.
561. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the steps she is taking to ensure that permission for a naíonra in a school (details supplied) in County Dublin will issue shortly, given that her Department assured the school that permission for same would issue in early autumn 2015. [46021/15]
View answerIn general my Department looks favourably on applications for the establishment of pre-school facilities on school sites. However there are a number of complex issues that need to be considered in respect of such applications, including governance, insurance and leasing arrangements among others. These issues are currently being appraised by my Department and the school authorities will be advised of developments in due course.
562. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills when an application for a building project (details supplied) in County Cavan will be approved; the stage this project is at; when it will proceed to the next stage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46076/15]
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.
However, I also wish to advise the Deputy that this school since 2004 has received funding in excess of €3.7 million for the provision of general classrooms, science lab, DCG room, universal access and general school refurbishment works.
563. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of funding for Dundalk Institute of Technology; if she is aware of the concerns of the Teachers Union of Ireland regarding this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46132/15]
View answerMy Department allocates recurrent funding to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for direct disbursement to the HEA designated higher education institutions, including Institutes such as Dundalk Institute of Technology (DKIT). The HEA allocates this funding to the institutions and the internal disbursement of funding is then a matter for the individual institution.
I understand that DKIT has indicated an operating deficit for 2014/15 and has already accumulated significant accumulated deficits from previous years. Details I recently announced in relation to an infrastructure maintenance grant of €750,000 for the Institute will provide some help in addressing the deficit position.
The HEA has agreed with DKIT that an external financial expert is appointed to robustly review current systems and performance, agree a financial plan, which will return the Institute's operational budget to a breakeven position within three years, and recommend a programme of remedial action to the Governing Body.
My Department, through the HEA, will continue to work with DKIT to monitor the financial position and to ensure that any issues with regard to financial sustainability continue to be addressed.
564. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of places in autism spectrum disorder units which are part of mainstream schools at primary level and at secondary level in Cork city and county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46136/15]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, my Department provides for a range of placement options and supports for schools which have enrolled pupils with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in order to ensure that, wherever a child is enrolled, they will have access to an appropriate education.
Children with ASD may be enrolled in a mainstream school and can attend all mainstream classes. In such cases these children will receive additional teaching support through the learning support and/or the resource teacher and, where appropriate, will receive access to Special Needs Assistance and assistive technology if required.
In respect of children with ASD who cannot be accommodated in mainstream education, they may be enrolled in special classes or special schools where more intensive and supportive interventions are provided.
Progress in developing this network has been significant and in addition to the special school placements there are over 1,000 special classes throughout the country at primary and post primary level, of which 762 are for children with Autism.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) have advised that there are 90 special ASD classes in mainstream primary schools in Cork city and county. 24 of these are Early Intervention classes for children with ASD who are not yet school going age. There are also 34 ASD classes at Post Primary level in mainstream schools in Cork city and county. Each special class for autism has a 6:1 pupil teacher ratio. A full list of special classes is available on the NCSE website www.ncse.ie.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has recently submitted their Policy Advice on Educational Provision for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. In developing this policy advice, the NCSE has consulted widely with parents, professionals and other stakeholders and interested parties while also conducting research. The policy advice is currently under consideration in my Department.
My officials will consider and report to me on any recommendations in the report which relate to the issues raised by the Deputy.
565. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of inquiries she has processed on the use of a vacant site at a location (details supplied) in County Kilkenny for the purposes of education; if she has plans for this site; if she will consider giving use of it to the Order of Malta in Kilkenny, which wishes to train and educate its volunteers but cannot fully do so due to lack of a facility; if she will grant a temporary licence to use the site given the important and voluntary nature of the work of the Order of Malta; and if she will request her officials to meet this organisation. [46144/15]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that my Department received three inquiries relating to the use of the property in question. I also wish to advise the Deputy that the site will continue to be used for educational purposes and is therefore not available for the purpose to which he refers.
566. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of dental nursing award classification on the national framework of qualifications; why dental nursing is categorised as a foundation course; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46176/15]
View answerI understand following clarification that this question concerns eligibility for the Student Grant Scheme.
Approved undergraduate courses for the Student Grant Scheme 2015 are prescribed in the Student Support Regulations 2015 and in the Student Support Act 2011.
The Regulations prescribe that an approved undergraduate course is a full-time course leading to a major higher education and training award which takes a minimum of two years to complete in an approved institution.
The course referred to by the Deputy is not approved for the purposes of the Student Grant Scheme as it leads to a special purpose/minor award rather than a major award, is part-time and is less than two years in duration.
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 within the required timeframe.
567. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an application for new permanent accommodation for a school (details supplied) in County Cavan, including when this project will proceed to the next stage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46192/15]
View answerThe major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at Stage 2(a), developed design stage of the architectural planning process. The Design Team are currently finalising the Stage 2(a) Report.
Upon successful completion of Stage 2(a) and subject to no issues arising, the project will be authorised to complete Stage 2(b) which includes securing Planning Permission, Fire Cert and Disability Access Cert, the preparation of tender documents and prequalification of contractors.
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 major project for this school is included in this plan and is scheduled 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.
568. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of schools on offshore islands and the number of pupils and teachers in each school, in tabular form. [46214/15]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table. The figures given are those provided by schools on 30th September 2014 for the 2014/2015 Annual School Census.
Island Primary Schools 2014 - 2015
|
Roll No. |
Official School Name |
Total Boys |
Total Girls |
Total Pupils |
Total Teachers (Full Time Equivalent) |
|
14065H |
SHERKIN ISLAND N S |
2 |
2 |
4 |
1 |
|
14303U |
S N CLEIRE |
8 |
7 |
15 |
2.5 |
|
19525R |
MHICHIL NAOFA |
12 |
7 |
19 |
2 |
|
05164I |
SCOIL NAOMH CHOLMCILLE |
5 |
5 |
10 |
1.5 |
|
15955W |
SN ARAINN MHOR I |
16 |
15 |
31 |
3 |
|
16384K |
SN ARAINN MHOR II |
5 |
7 |
12 |
1 |
|
12339I |
S N INIS MEADHOIN |
1 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
|
13927H |
INISHBOFIN N S |
4 |
8 |
12 |
2.5 |
|
17289V |
S N CAOMHAIN |
7 |
11 |
18 |
2.5 |
|
17456O |
S N RONAIN |
20 |
14 |
34 |
3 |
|
20210W |
S N EOIN POL II |
12 |
8 |
20 |
2 |
|
13174H |
ST COLUMBAS N.S. |
1 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
|
13311O |
ST PATRICKS NS |
10 |
12 |
22 |
2.5 |
Island Post-Primary Schools 2014 - 2015
|
Roll No. |
Official School Name |
Total Boys |
Total Girls |
Total Pupils |
|
71244F |
Gairmscoil Mhic Diarmada |
44 |
34 |
78 |
|
71300M |
COLÁISTE NAOMH ÉINNE |
35 |
37 |
72 |
|
71370K |
Coláiste Ghobnait |
14 |
16 |
30 |
|
76079S |
Coláiste Phobail Cholmcille |
1 |
3 |
4 |
569. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the cost of the restoration of the islander allowance to all teachers teaching on islands. [46215/15]
View answerCircular 8/2013 issued by my Department dealt with the Public Service wide review of allowances and premium payments for teachers.
Under the terms of that Circular teachers appointed prior to the 1st February 2012 who were in receipt of the island allowance at that time continue to be paid it. The payment of the allowance is subject to continuing to comply with the criteria as outlined in Paragraph 18 of 8/2013. The position regarding teachers appointed since the 1st February 2012 is outlined in Paragraph 19 of that Circular.
The annual current cost of the restoration of the allowance to teachers who are not already in receipt of it and paid on payrolls operated by my Department is estimated at €8,600.
As each Education and Training Board operate its own payroll, information on the cost of the restoration of the island allowance to teachers employed in second level island schools operated by the ETB.s would have to be obtained from them.
