Seán Fleming
Question:152. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a new school in an area (details supplied) in County Laois; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2434/16]
View answerSchools Building Projects Status
Questions (152)
Written answers
On 17th November 2015, following the latest demographic exercises to identify where the pressure for school places nationwide will arise, I announced the establishment of 4 new primary schools and 9 new post-primary schools to open in 2017 and 2018, including a new post-primary school which will open in 2017 to serve the Portlaoise area.
As the Deputy may be aware, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Department of Education and Skills and the County and City Managers' Association (CCMA) in relation to the acquisition of sites has been in place since 2012. This MOU fosters increased levels of cooperation and formalises the Local Authorities' part in identifying and securing sites for educational use. A copy of this MoU, which sets out the respective roles of the local authority and the Department, is available on my Department's website.
Officials in my Department are working with officials from Laois County Council under the MOU in relation to the acquisition process for a suitable permanent site for the new post-primary school. I can confirm that officials from my Department have been in contact with the relevant senior officials in Laois County Council with regard to the school site in question and matters are being progressed.
Gaelscoil Issues
Questions (153)
Pádraig MacLochlainn
Question:153. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will urgently address the serious concerns of parents regarding a range of issues at a school (details supplied) in County Donegal including the fact that their children are being taught in the English language for five subjects; if she will urgently instigate an immediate review of the reasons enrolment levels are so low at the school considering there are four Naíscoil and three Gaelscoil in the school's catchment area that are thriving for many years and that evidences the considerable support for the revival of our native language in Inishowen and in Derry city; and if she is aware that the future of this school is under real threat if urgent action is not taken to address the well documented concerns of parents and the wider community. [2450/16]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy will be aware, provisional recognition was granted for the establishment of Gaelcholáiste Chineal Eoghain based on pupil projections reaching 60 students. However enrolment figures achieved by the Gaelcholaiste have fallen short of the projected enrolments which has raised concerns about the future sustainability of the Gaelcholáiste. In March 2013, a comprehensive review of the Gaelcholáiste's position was undertaken by the Department's Inspectorate. This review included a wide consultation process with the various stakeholders including parents, Principal, teachers, Board of Management of the Gaelcholáiste, and County Donegal VEC. The review confirmed the commitment by all parties to the preservation of second level educational service through Irish to the community of Inishowen and the neighbouring county of Derry.
As the Deputy will be aware, responsibility for the governance and future development of Colaiste Chineal Eoghain is a matter for Donegal Education and Training Board. However, my Department will consider carefully any proposals that the ETB might submit in relation to the Gaelcholaiste.
Third Level Fees
Questions (154)
Róisín Shortall
Question:154. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills the cost of subsidising third level institutions in order that the student contribution charge is reduced to €500, €1,000, €1,500, €2,000, €2,500 or abolished altogether; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2454/16]
View answerWritten answers
Based on the number of students that qualified for free fees funding, and taking into account projections in student numbers, it is estimated that net cost to my Department of reducing the Student Contribution to €500 would be €170m; to €1,000 would be €136m; to €1,500 would be €102m; to €2,000 would be €68m and to €2,500 would be €34m. To abolish the contribution altogether would cost my Department €204m. The above figures take into account the resulting saving to my Department's Student Grant Scheme in the proposed reducing, or abolishing, of the student contribution.
School Transport Provision
Questions (155)
Seán Fleming
Question:155. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a transport grant will be approved for a person (details supplied) in County Laois and to expedite this grant as it is urgently needed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2465/16]
View answerWritten answers
Under the terms of my Department's School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs, children are eligible for transport where they are attending the nearest recognised school that is or can be resourced to meet their special educational needs.My Department has no record of a school transport application for the child in question.
In this regard, the family should liaise with the school authorities and the Special Educational Needs Organiser.
Student Grant Scheme Representations
Questions (156)
Finian McGrath
Question:156. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills to support a matter (details supplied) regarding a Student Universal Support Ireland grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2487/16]
View answerWritten answers
As 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 enquiries about their grant applications.This service compliments 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.
Enquiries 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.
Schools Refurbishment
Questions (157)
Joanna Tuffy
Question:157. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of additional permanent school places (details supplied) provided in Palmerstown, Dublin 20; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2505/16]
View answerWritten answers
Over the period 2011 to 2015 a large scale extension and refurbishment project was completed at Scoil Brigid's Girls National School which provided an additional 56 permanent school places while approval for an additional classroom providing 28 additional school places has been issued in respect of Gaelscoil Naomh Padraig.
The total capital investment to date associated with the school place provision above amounts to €1.1m.