Written Answers Nos. 450-464
450. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Education and Skills the projected number of new apprenticeship training places that will be created in the period to 2020, by year, by employment sector; her projected target for total apprenticeship training places by 2020, by employment sector; the spend she will allocate to create the additional apprenticeship training places; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3965/16]
View answer451. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of new traineeship places she will create in the period to 2020, by year, by employment sector; her target for total traineeship places by 2020, by employment sector; the spend she will allocate to create the additional places; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3966/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos.450 and 451 together.
The National Skills Strategy, which was published last week, contains an ambitious target to support the delivery of 50,000 apprenticeship and traineeship places up to 2020. This target is subject to employer demand and economic capacity and will require a strong employer commitment in order for them to be achieved. The 50,000 target will be achieved by a combination of the following:
- Increased registrations in existing trades
- Apprentices participating in new apprenticeships
- Existing Traineeships
- New Career Traineeships
In 2015 there was an increase in the SOLAS allocation for apprenticeship of €10 million. As part of budget 2016 there is also a further provision of €10.5 million to expand the apprenticeship programme. This will allow for the development of new apprenticeship programmes and cater for increased registrations in existing trades. Taking account of the development of new apprenticeships and new career traineeships and overall employer demand, budget allocations to cater for the increased participation in these programmes will be determined on an annual basis.
452. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if and when a school place will be offered to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3986/16]
View answerIt is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998.
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.
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.
Where a school refuses to enrol a pupil, the school is obliged to inform parents of their right under Section 29 of the Education Act 1998 to appeal that decision to either the relevant ETB or to the Secretary General of my Department.
The Education (Admission to Schools) Bill, which was published in April of last 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.
453. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills the average class size for each primary and post-primary school and education centre in County Donegal, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3996/16]
View answerThe Statistics Section of my Department's website contains extensive data relating to schools at primary and post-primary level. The most recent published information relates to the 2014/2015 school year. Data in relation to the 2015/16 school year will be published later in the current school year. Due to the moveable nature of classes at post-primary level depending on subject choices, class size data is not available at post-primary level.
Teacher allocations to all schools are approved annually by my Department in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolment. The criteria for the allocation of posts are communicated to school managements annually and are available on the Department website.
454. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 157 of 2 December 2015, what criteria will be used in assessing the sufficient viability of Aonad; which body or agency will make this assessment; if there will be a consultation process with parents, students and public representatives regarding the location of a Gaelcholáiste in the north Kildare area, including its size and catchment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3999/16]
View answerBased on parental preferences indicating that there would be sufficient support for Irish-medium provision in the post-primary school to open in 2014 in Maynooth, it was decided that this school would open with an Irish-medium Aonad.
In November 2015, when I announced the new schools which would open in 2017 and 2018 to cater for increased demographic demand, I stated that a Gaelcholáiste to serve the North Kildare area will open in 2019, subject to sufficient viability of the Irish-medium Aonad, which is part of Maynooth Community College. The Gaelcholáiste will operate under the patronage of Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board and An Foras Pátrúnachta. The size of the school will be approximately 500 students.
My Department officials will work closely with the Education and Training Board and with An Foras Pátrúnachta in relation to the establishment of the school.
455. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 155 and 156 of 2 December 2015, the differences between the proposals in the original applications for outline planning permission for primary and secondary schools on this site which were granted by Kildare County Council and the planning applications for permanent school buildings which were refused by Kildare County Council and An Bord Pleanála. [4000/16]
View answerOutline planning permission for a primary and post-primary school on the site in question was granted by Kildare County Council in 2009 and 2010 respectively. A planning application for permanent school buildings on this site was refused by Kildare County Council in December 2013, a decision which was upheld by An Bord Pleanála in May 2014.
There were a number of differences between the two planning permission applications, primarily relating to variations in the design of the school and an increase in the number of car parking spaces. Details of the applications and the reasons given for the refusal of the planning by Kildare County Council are available on its website. The reasons for the refusal in that respect related primarily to flooding and traffic management issues.
456. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 155 of 2 December 2015, if she will reconsider her earlier reply with regard to extending the brief of the appointed project consultant in respect of a broader assessment of flooding in the catchment area given recent flooding; what will such a broader assessment entail regarding water courses, flooding and sewage. [4001/16]
View answer457. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 155 of 2 December 2015, what she means by the reference to non-compliance to statutory procurement regulations; what is the content of the non-compliance mentioned; and how and why does this impact on her decisions. [4002/16]
View answer458. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 155 of 2 December 2015, what she means by reference to managing a process over lands that are not in her Department's control; to what process does this refer, is it the process of flood prevention either of the school site or of lands in the catchment and-or buildings thereon that might be impacted by flooding, possibly consequent to the development of the proposed school site; and if the process referred to is not one of flood prevention, to what does this process refer, and to what lands does such process refer. [4003/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 456 to 458, inclusive, together.
Whilst acknowledging the potential need for a broader assessment of flooding in the catchment area, the scale and cost of the proposed flood assessment would represent a disproportionate extension to the basis of the original appointment of the project consultant referred to. Extending the brief in this way would breach the procurement threshold as set out under Article 31 of the 2004 Directive and is therefore prohibited. In order to remain compliant with these procurement guidelines, the Department is not in a position to reconsider the request for an extension to the brief of the appointed project consultant.
Kildare County Council has proposed a broader assessment of flooding in the catchment area in question than was included in our planning application for the site. While we acknowledge that this potentially may be required in order for us to develop the site, the proposals presented to us in this respect go far beyond the identification of the remediation measures required in respect of our site. These proposals also require the assessment of lands in the broader catchment area which are outside the control of the Department and potentially require us to design a flood relief scheme in respect of these areas. We have written to the Council with a view to resolving this issue and we remain fully committed to working with the Council in endeavouring to reach a solution to this matter.
459. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills in the context of apparent deadlock in relation to the proposed sites for schools along the Hazelhatch Road, if the Kildare Wicklow Education and Training Board and-or her Department have considered the possible acquisition of a site on lands to the rear of the Donaghcumper cemetery on the R403 Celbridge to Lucan road and adjacent to the Primrose Gate housing estate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4004/16]
View answerMy Department authorised and provided funding to Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board to acquire a site to facilitate a primary and post-primary school on Hazelhatch Road, Celbridge in two transactions in 2009 and 2010. Outline planning permission for schools was granted at that time.
A planning application for permanent school buildings on this site was subsequently refused by Kildare County Council in December 2013 and this decision was upheld by An Bord Pleanála in May 2014. Officials from my Department are considering the issues raised with a view to facilitating the delivery of school buildings on the proposed site at Hazelhatch Road.
I wish to advise the Deputy that alternative sites are not under consideration at this time.
460. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an application for funding by a school (detailed supplied) in County Tipperary, including details of the works applied for; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4010/16]
View answerI can confirm that the school, referred to by the Deputy, made an application to my Department for a GP Room in July 2015.
The school were advised in 23rd July 2015 that due to competing demands on my Department's capital budget imposed by the need to prioritise available funding for the provision of essential school classroom accommodation, it was not possible to provide an indicative timeframe for the provision of funding, as requested.
461. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Education and Skills her short-term and medium-term plans for a school (details supplied) in County Mayo; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4031/16]
View answerI understand the school referred to by the Deputy was invited to engage in the amalgamation process with two other schools in the area (which subsequently amalgamated), and after initially engaging in the process, withdrew from the amalgamation process.
It is a matter for the Patron in the first instance to determine the short-term and medium-term plans for the school in question and it is open to the Patron concerned to submit proposals to my Department for consideration.
462. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills to urgently examine and expedite Student Universal Support Ireland grant review for a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4044/16]
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 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.
463. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills to issue a policy recommendation to all schools that children with special educational needs receive individual education plans, along with advice on the creation and implementation of these plans, in order to ensure consistency across schools. [4062/16]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that schools are currently encouraged to use individualised planning through policy guidance, support, and training. Inspection reports note that the majority of schools now use some form of personal education planning for children with special needs.
A number of guidance documents have been provided for schools from the National Educational Psychological Services, the National Council for Special Education, and the Special Education Support Services.
These documents contain information for schools, guidance, and sample Pupil Plan templates which schools may wish to refer to, or use:
http://www.education.ie/en/Schools-Colleges/Services/Educational-Psychologist-NEPS-/neps_special_needs_resource_pack.pdf
http://www.ncse.ie/uploads/1/final_report.pdf
http://www.sess.ie/resources/teaching-methods-and-organisation
The guidance notes that good practice is that the deployment of all additional individualised supports, both teaching and non teaching, which are provided to support children with special needs should be linked to a personalised planning process for the pupils for whom the support is being provided.
464. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an application for funding by a school (details supplied) in County Kerry under the summer works programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4067/16]
View answerI wish to confirm to the Deputy that my Department is in receipt of an application from the school in question under the Summer Works Scheme.
Commensurate with the level of funding available for the Scheme, applications including that from the school concerned, will be assessed on a top down basis in accordance with the prioritisation criteria outlined in the governing Circular Letter for the Scheme. This Circular Letter (0055/2015), is available on my Department's website www.education.ie.
It is my intention to publish a list of successful applicants at the end of February/early March 2016.
