Written Answers Nos. 403-419
403. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the school transport scheme, including provisions put in place to enable families to retain their eligibility if elder siblings were attending a particular school; what demographics were considered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2704/16]
View answerChanges to my Department's Primary School Transport Scheme were announced in December 2010 by the then Government as part of measures contained in Budget 2011 and derived from recommendations contained in the Value for Money review of the scheme.
Children who had an eligibility for school transport prior to the introduction of the changes retained this eligibility for the duration of their education at that school provided there was no change in their circumstances.
Siblings of these children and other children who are not eligible for school transport, may apply for transport on a concessionary basis only in accordance with the terms of the School Transport Scheme.
The terms of the School Transport Scheme are available on my Department's website and are applied equitably on a national basis.
404. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Education and Skills if funding has been approved, tenders completed and contractors appointed for the refurbishment of a school (details supplied) in County Dublin; why she has not yet issued the letter to approve the commencement of works, given the length of time teachers, pupils and parents have been waiting for them to start; when this letter will issue; and when the works will commence. [2711/16]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, in the management of a capital programme, periodically it is necessary to review the scheduling of construction projects within the overall programme. In this context, my Department is currently conducting an expenditure profiling exercise, which will determine when projects, including the project referred to by the Deputy, can advance to site. When the expenditure profiling is complete, the Department will be in contact with the school in relation to the further progression of the project.
405. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Education and Skills why a new secondary school (details supplied) in County Clare will be provided with only 100 MB of broadband access instead of 1 GB; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2720/16]
View answerMy Department has prioritised the roll out of high-speed symmetrical 100Mbit/s broadband to post-primary schools. This has been a very successful initiative which is enhancing our young people's learning opportunities. In accordance with the recently published Digital Strategy for schools, we will continue to invest in school connectivity across the sectors but giving priority to primary which is need of improvement.
406. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she is considering a motion by the Irish National Teachers' Organisation, passed at its 2015 congress, seeking permission to extend the teacher exchange scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2727/16]
View answerThe teacher exchange scheme is designed to facilitate primary teachers to temporarily exchange their posts for education purposes. Under the present scheme the minimum period for which an exchange may occur is one year and the maximum is five years.
The Teacher Conciliation Council is part of the scheme of Conciliation and Arbitration Scheme for Teachers and was set up to deal with claims and proposals relating to the Terms and Conditions of employment of teachers. The Council is composed of representatives of teachers, school management, the Department of Education and Skills, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and is chaired by an official of the Workplace Relations Commission. As the existing Teacher Exchange Scheme is currently on the agenda of the Teachers' Conciliation Council I propose to await the outcome of those discussions before commenting further.
407. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Education and Skills the specific extra capital funding she has made available for the amalgamation of two schools (details supplied) in County Clare as per her statement of 17 February 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2732/16]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, my Department recently sanctioned a major capital project at the school comprising eight additional classrooms to meet the school's immediate accommodation needs. My Department provided in excess of €1.2m for the project, which was completed last November.
408. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if schools will be used as polling stations in the upcoming general election; her plans to ensure that schools are not used as polling stations and that alternative accommodation is sourced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2736/16]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, matters relating to the holding of elections and referenda are the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government. The Deputy will also be aware that Returning Officers are statutorily responsible for the conduct of elections and may, under electoral law, use school premises for this purpose.
In relation to polling taking place in schools, for many years there has been an ongoing campaign for polling to take place on Saturdays which would prevent the loss of any school days for those schools which otherwise might be identified as polling stations. In light of this, the Children's Referendum was held on a Saturday, with 33.5% of eligible voters taking part. This was obviously a disappointing turnout, which raises further questions about the best day for polling to take place. The most recent referendums took place on a Friday, with 60.5% of eligible voters taking part – the highest turnout in many years.
In my opinion the establishment of an independent Electoral Commission will allow for a much more detailed analysis of electoral turnout on different days of the week, across different jurisdictions and it will also be best placed to advise on the most appropriate venues to be used as polling stations. I look forward to engaging with the Commission in relation to the use of school premises for that purpose.
409. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the building of a new school (details supplied) in County Galway; if she is aware of the concerns of staff and parents in the region because the school appears to be one of two approved projects that appeared on the 2012 schools building list that have not been progressed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2756/16]
View answerMy Department has confirmed the need for a new school building to be provided for the school referred to by the Deputy and in that regard a Major Capital Building Project for the school has been included in the 6 Year Construction Programme.
I can advise that officials in the Department are currently working closely with officials from Galway County Council in relation to the acquisition of a suitable site to facilitate the provision of a new school building for the school in question. I can also confirm that the site acquisition process is ongoing. However due to the commercially sensitive nature of site acquisitions generally, my Department is not in a position to provide any further details at this time.
410. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Skills when she will announce the location of the new Educate Together secondary school to serve the Stepaside area of County Dublin, which is due to open in September 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2760/16]
View answerThe acquisition process of a suitable permanent site for the new post primary school to serve the Ballinteer/Stepaside area is currently underway. Due to commercial sensitivities I am not in a position to provide any further details at this time.
In the interim, officials in my Department are working on the provision of suitable temporary accommodation for this school.
411. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Skills when the patronage selection for the new school to serve the Stillorgan and Clonskeagh area in County Dublin will commence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2761/16]
View answerIt is envisaged that the patronage determination process for the new primary school which will open in September 2016 to serve the Goatstown/Stillorgan area will commence shortly. It will be open to all patrons and prospective patrons to apply for patronage of this school under this process.
412. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a permanent site has been located for Ballinteer Educate Together school, Dublin 16; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2762/16]
View answerWork is continuing in relation to securing suitable permanent school accommodation for Ballinteer Educate Together National School. My Department officials will continue to liaise with the school authorities in this regard.
413. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the amount she has provided in current funding and block grants for education and training board schools in each of the school years from 2011-12 to 2015-16; and the percentage of this funding which was allocated on a per capita basis. [2778/16]
View answerOn 1 July 2013 the 33 Vocational Education Committees (VECs) were dissolved and replaced with 16 Education and Training Boards (ETBs). My Department is responsible for the disbursement of pay and non-pay grants to each of the 16 ETBs in respect of the range of school and non-school based services.
Details of funding provided by my Department to the ETB Sector for the period 2011 to 2013 are as follows:
|
Year |
Amount |
|
2011 |
€1,169m |
|
2012 |
€1,114m |
|
2013 |
€1,182m |
The funding in 2014 was €1,089m. This lower figure for 2014 reflects the fact that some funding that was previously channelled to the ETB sector directly by my Department is now channelled indirectly via SOLAS.
The out-turn for 2015 is currently being finalised. The allocations for 2016 will be notified to ETBs in due course.
The enrolments in each ETB are the main driver of funding levels and each ETB has a high level of autonomy in the management and appropriation of this funding and may distribute its allocations in line with its priorities and perceptions of need.
The figures provided include funding for pay to ETB staff (including teachers), funding for the day-to-day running of schools, specific grants (e.g. book grant, transition year programme), targeted expenditure (e.g. DEIS funding), funding for student grants, capital projects and also ETB head office running costs.
The annual accounts for the former VECs (and now for each ETB) provide detailed information on funding and how it was used. These accounts, when finalised and audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General, are published on the Oireachtas website.
414. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education and Skills the pay scales for newly qualified teachers; if the academic allowances for teachers will be restored; if not, the reason; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2782/16]
View answerSince the beginning of the financial crisis, there has been a need to enact a number of measures to reduce public expenditure. The previous Government reduced the salaries and allowances payable of all new entrants to public service recruitment grades (including teachers) by 10% with effect from 1 January 2011 and required that such new entrants would start on the first point of the applicable salary scale.
Subsequently, following the public service-wide review of allowances and premium payments, the Government decided to withdraw or modify allowances for new beneficiary public servants with effect from 1 February 2012. Under this decision, certain allowances were withdrawn for new beneficiary teachers, including qualification allowances. However, the Government partially compensated for this by deciding that new entrant teachers would henceforth commence on a new salary scale which had a starting point higher than the starting point of the old scale.
These measures were implemented at time of very difficult financial and budgetary circumstances for the State.
Alleviation of the salary imbalance between those who entered the public service since 2011 and those who entered before that date began under the Haddington Road Agreement. Improved pay scales for post-1 January 2011 and post-1 February 2012 entrants to teaching were agreed and implemented under the terms of that Agreement. In addition, allowances payable to post-1 January 2011 entrants and such allowances as remain payable to post-1 February 2012 entrants were restored to pre-2011 levels.
The Lansdowne Road Agreement will, through salary increases and a reduction in the Pension-Related Deduction, begin the process of restoring the reductions to public service pay which were implemented over recent years. The issue of equalised pay scales was not one which could be resolved in the discussions which lead to the Agreement. However, the flat-rate increases contained in the Agreement will be proportionately more favourable to new entrants to teaching (who are lower on the pay scale) than to longer serving teachers. Circular letter 0066/2015 which issued in December 2015 sets out the revisions to the thresholds for the Pension Related Deduction from 2015 and revised salary scales for teachers which take effect from 1 January 2016.
415. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills why methods that are archaic and deemed abusive are still being used in a special school; her views on correspondence (details supplied) on the refusal of the school in allowing a child with special needs an education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2784/16]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that the well-being and safety of children should be at the centre of all policy and practices in schools.
The Board of Management of each school is responsible for the care and safety of all of the pupils in their school and is required to prepare a code of behaviour in accordance with Section 23 of the Education (Welfare) Act 2000.
Schools may seek advice from their local National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) psychologist, from their NCSE Special Educational Needs Organiser, or from the National Behavioural Support Services, as to how children with behavioural needs can best be supported in school.
Published guidelines which are available to schools include:
- Supporting Students with Behavioural, Emotional, and Social difficulties, which is available on the Department's website, www.education.ie;
- the National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) guidelines for schools on Developing a Code of Behaviour; and
- the National Educational Psychological Services document Behavioural Emotional and Social Difficulties - a Continuum of Support: Guidelines for Teachers.
My Department, through the Special Education Support Service (SESS), provides continuing professional development (CPD) for teachers working with students with special educational needs, including training for teachers in the area of Challenging Behaviour.
My Department is also currently examining the issue of developing guidelines for schools on the specific issue of the use of physical restraint/intervention.
Where a parent, or any other person, has concerns about the care or safety of a child in school they should report these concerns to the Board of Management of the school in the first instance. Where a parent or other person has a concern about the welfare or protection of a child in a school they may report the matter as a child protection concern to Túsla or to the Department of Education and Skills who will then report any child protection complaint in accordance with my Department's procedures.
416. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a schools building project (details supplied) in County Tipperary, including its date of completion; if she is aware of the urgency of the works; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2815/16]
View answerI can confirm that in February 2015 the school referred to by the Deputy submitted an application to my Department for capital funding for additional school accommodation. This application was refused as the school were considered to have sufficient accommodation available to them.
My Department has recently received further correspondence from the school, in respect of the application, which is being considered. A decision will issue to the school authorities in due course.
417. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills the degree and training programmes available for those wishing to qualify as palliative care nurses; where such courses are offered and the number of places available, by awarding institution; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2816/16]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is contained in the following table.
2014/2015 Enrolments, Palliative Care Courses by Institute
|
Full-time |
Full-time Total |
Part-time |
Part-time Total |
||||||
|
ISCED Discipline |
Programme Type |
Institute |
Course Name |
Year 1 |
Year 2 |
Year 1 |
Year 2 |
||
|
(0913) Nursing and midwifery |
Masters Taught (Postgraduate) |
Trinity College Dublin |
Palliative Care |
11 |
2 |
13 |
|||
|
University College Dublin |
MSc Palliative Care CP PT |
1 |
1 |
||||||
|
University of Limerick |
Nursing (Palliative Care) |
17 |
1 |
18 |
|||||
|
University College Cork |
MSc (End of Life Ethics) |
|
9 |
9 |
|||||
|
Masters Taught (Postgraduate) Total |
17 |
1 |
18 |
21 |
2 |
23 |
|||
|
Postgraduate Certificate |
Dundalk IT |
Certificate in Contemporary Palliative Care Practice (January Intake) |
9 |
9 |
|||||
|
University College Dublin |
Grad Cert Palliative Care PT |
2 |
1 |
3 |
|||||
|
Postgraduate Certificate Total |
11 |
1 |
12 |
||||||
|
Postgraduate Diploma |
National University of Ireland, Galway |
Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing (Palliative Care) |
7 |
7 |
|||||
|
Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing (Palliative Care) part-time |
13 |
4 |
17 |
||||||
|
University College Dublin |
Grad Dip Palliative Care CP FT |
16 |
16 |
||||||
|
Postgraduate Diploma Total |
23 |
23 |
13 |
4 |
17 |
||||
418. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills the amount of funding available as part of her devolved grant scheme in 2016; the amount of funding which has already been awarded to school projects through payments relating to this scheme in 2016; how much of the scheme's funding for 2016 remains to be allocated; if applications for funding are still being accepted for consideration as part of this current tranche of funding; if a fixed final date exists for the announcement of successful projects as part of the 2016 scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2819/16]
View answer419. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will award project funding through the devolved grant scheme in instances where a school building project has been placed on the most recent six-year capital investment programme but will not proceed to construction until the latter years of the scheme in order to expedite the completion of the project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2820/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 418 and 419 together.
The Devolved Additional Accommodation Scheme together with the Large Scale Projects Programme (new schools and large scale extensions) is the mechanism by which additional permanent school accommodation is delivered. I can inform the Deputy that approximately 76% of the 2015 capital expenditure in the school sector was accounted for in the provision of permanent school places through the Large Scale Projects Programme and the devolved Permanent Accommodation Scheme. Capital expenditure on the provision of permanent school places is expected to be at similar percentage level in 2016. Typically, applications from schools requiring additional accommodation to address increasing pupil numbers are received by my Department throughout the year and this pattern will continue in 2016. Following assessment of the applications, schools are advised of the outcome and successful projects are listed on my Department's website.Where smaller scale projects are involved, that are suitable for delivery by schools directly, these projects are delegated to the school authority concerned. Schools are then in a position to follow the guidelines regarding the appointment of a consultant, obtain planning permission and enter into the tendering process to appoint a building contractor. The process from approval of the project to commencement of works on site depends on the rate of progression of a project by the school concerned. On commencement of works, the school is placed in funds by my Department. In the case of major school projects on the 6 Year Programme, the positioning of the school projects 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. In that regard, it would not be feasible for a school authority to deliver a major school project via the devolved additional accommodation scheme.
