Written Answers Nos. 418 - 435
418. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills to approve an additional classroom teacher for a school (details supplied) in County Kildare from September 2016 in accordance with the staffing schedule. [7421/16]
View answerThe criteria used for the allocation of teaching posts for the 2016/2017 school year is set out in Circular 0007/2016. The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the 30 September 2015.
The staffing arrangements at primary level also include an appeals mechanism for schools to submit an appeal under certain criteria to the Primary Staffing Appeals Board.
The school referred to by the Deputy submitted an application for consideration by the Appeals Board at its March meeting. The Appeals Board determined that the appeal did not satisfy all of the published criteria as set out in Circular 0007/2016. The Appeal Board operates independently of the Department and its decision is final.
The Department has not received an application for a developing post from the school referred to by the Deputy.
419. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills the steps she will take to address the unequal pay developing in the teaching profession; her views on the recent Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development report, Education at a Glance, which found a direct correlation between teachers’ pay and the quality of education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7429/16]
View answer433. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills to review the pay equality issue for all teachers, particularly the recently qualified teachers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7579/16]
View answer437. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will consider the claims for pay parity from teachers as set out in correspondence (details supplied); the role her Department has in this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7653/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 419, 433 and 437 together.
As a consequence of the financial crisis, there was a need to enact a number of measures to reduce public expenditure so as to stabilise the country's public finances. The previous Government decided to reduce the salaries and allowances payable to all new entrants to public service recruitment grades (including teachers) by 10% with effect from 1 January 2011. This decision also required that such new entrants would start on the first point of the applicable salary scale, which in the case of teachers had the effect of reducing their starting pay by a further 4-5%. Later in 2011, the Government placed a cap on the overall level of qualification allowances that could be earned by teachers.
Subsequently in 2012, following the public service-wide review of allowances, the Government withdrew qualification allowances for new teachers altogether.
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. Overall, the removal of qualification allowances had the effect of further reducing the pay of new entrant teachers by between 5 and 7 percent.
The measures above – which applied to new entrants only and which were in addition to the pay reductions imposed on public servants generally - were implemented at a time of extraordinarily difficult financial and budgetary circumstances for the State. It is estimated that some 6,700 teachers who entered the profession since 2011 have been affected by the measures.
Maintaining the high quality of our education system and the teaching profession is a key concern of the Government.
The Haddington Road Agreement re-aligned the pay scale for teachers who entered teaching between 1 January 2011 and 31 January 2012 with that of pre-2011 entrants. An improved pay scale for post-1 February 2012 entrants was also agreed and implemented under the terms of that Agreement. The Lansdowne Road Agreement will begin the process of restoring the reductions to public service pay which were implemented over recent years. The flat-rate increases contained in the Agreement are proportionately more favourable to new entrants to teaching (who are lower on the pay scale) than to longer serving teachers.
420. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of applications for school grants (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7443/16]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that commensurate with the level of funding available for the Summer Works Scheme, applications are being 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 shortly.
421. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Education and Skills why a teacher who qualified in May 2015 would be denied the pay conditions laid out in her Department's Circular 0040/2011 (details supplied) given that the teacher illustrated to her Department that the criteria have been fulfilled; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7468/16]
View answerThe position is outlined in my Department's Circular 0008/2013 in that persons who are employed in a teaching position in an unqualified capacity and who become eligible for the qualified rate of pay on or after 1st February 2012 will be placed on the relevant pay scale from the date on which they become appropriately qualified and registered.
422. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason teacher allocation Circular 2016/2017 has an exception made for the retention level of a second teacher of eight and on the other hand requires a school enrolment of 15 to regain the second teacher; her views that to ensure a safe and good quality education on island schools there is a need for a second teacher in all island schools with more than eight pupils; if it is intended to review the circular, taking into account the reservations of the Ombudsman for Children already made known to her Department; if it is intended to amend the circular to provide for a retain and reappointment level of eight in all island schools; the number of extra teachers that would be involved if such a decision were to be taken and the approximate cost of such a decision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7470/16]
View answerThe criteria used for the allocation of teachers to primary schools is published annually on the Department website. The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September.
Budget 2012 increased the appointment and retention ratios for small schools (i.e., schools with up to four classroom teachers). The appointment figure for a 2nd teacher increased over a three year period from 12 pupils to 20 pupils.
The retention rate for island schools was retained at 8 and consistently applied since.
In February 2015, the Government improved the position of small remote schools (defined as more than 8km from other schools) by bringing the point they could get a second teacher from 20 to 15. This measure applied also to stand alone schools on the islands.
Within limited resources, there was a limit to the overall number of teachers that could be funded in the recent budget; it was not possible to go beyond that point, but it is clearly open to a new Government within the next budget to apply the same measure to all other small remote schools.
For the 2015/16 school year there are 33 single teacher schools of which 5 are on the islands. If a second teacher was provided to all one teacher schools that annual additional cost would be approx. €1,980,000.
423. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education and Skills the regional breakdown of all members appointed by the Government or her to State boards, agencies and bodies in 2015 and to date in 2016 broken down by agency and by region (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7476/16]
View answerComprehensive information in regard to the composition of the boards of non-commercial State bodies under the aegis of the Department of Education and Skills is available to be downloaded from the Department's website at http://www.education.ie/en/The-Department/Agencies/Details-of-Membership-of-State-Boards/. It is also available on www.stateboards.ie.
Information on home addresses of candidates is not a necessary requirement on documentation provided by P.A.S. to the Department. Candidates may provide for example, email addresses, business addresses etc. Accordingly the Department does not have statistics on the regional breakdown of appointees to its Boards.
424. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will amend the condition in the staffing appeals mechanism for schools larger than four teachers, where a school will still lose a teacher if it does not have a minimum number of infants despite the projected overall number of students enrolling rising above the threshold required; her views that this is a major disadvantage to rural schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7488/16]
View answerThe staffing arrangements at primary level include an appeals mechanism for schools to submit an appeal under certain criteria to the Primary Staffing Appeals Board. There are seven criteria for appeal set out in Circular 0007/2016.
One of these criteria targets schools that are not eligible for a developing post but nevertheless make a significant contribution to the provision of school places which assists the response to demographic growth within their area and as a result are under significant pressure on their class sizes at infants level. A key indicator in relation to these schools is a significant increase in junior infants enrolments. It is envisaged that these schools will typically be in areas of significant population growth.
Schools appealing under this criterion must meet four requirements in order to be eligible to appeal. These are set out in Circular 0007/2016.
425. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a decision will be made on a summer works application for a school (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7509/16]
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 shortly.
426. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a decision on the language status of a school (details supplied) in County Donegal will be made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7512/16]
View answerI can confirm to the Deputy that the current classification status of the school in question is being reviewed and my Department expects to be in contact with the school in the matter shortly.
427. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Skills to examine the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare regarding Irish exemption for students with Asperger's syndrome; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7542/16]
View answerUnder the current departmental circulars, 12/96 for primary and M10/94 for post-primary, students with Asperger's Syndrome could be exempted from learning Irish if they meet the criteria for an exemption as specified. However, the learning profiles of students with Asperger's Syndrome would not generally meet the criteria for general or specific learning disability as set out in the circulars, as a diagnosis of Asperger's Syndrome relates more to emotional and social communication needs. Many students with Asperger's Syndrome are high functioning and achieve well at school.
In respect of the case referred to by the Deputy the position is that the school wrote to my Department in November 2015 seeking advice from the Department. Following a review of this case by my Department it was advised that the student concerned did not meet the criteria for the granting of an exemption.
428. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason that Student Universal Support Ireland grants, both fee and maintenance, are not paid to all Quality and Qualifications Ireland degree students at all approved institutions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7545/16]
View answerUnder the student grant scheme, eligible candidates may receive funding provided they are attending an approved course at an approved institution, as defined in the scheme.
The definition of an approved institution is set out in Section 7 of the Student Support Act 2011 and Regulation 3 of the Student Support Regulations 2016.
Private colleges operating on a for-profit basis are not listed as approved institutions for student grant purposes. However, tax relief on tuition fees may be available for students attending courses in private colleges. Details in relation to this relief are available from the Revenue Commissioners on www.revenue.ie.
429. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills when additional accommodation will be approved for a school (details supplied) in County Carlow; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7548/16]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that the school in question is currently based in temporary accommodation sourced by the school authorities and my Department is providing grant aid for its rental. I understand that the school is experiencing issues with the fabric of the building and in that regard has been liaising with the landlord in the matter.
430. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she has received recent communication from the authorities at Maynooth post-primary school, Maynooth Community College and Maynooth Education Campus in County Kildare in regard to the urgently required commencement of works in respect of extra accommodation and facilities; if she accepts the urgency of the situation; if she expects to be in a position to authorise an early start on the project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7554/16]
View answerI can confirm that I recently received correspondence from the Maynooth Education Campus PTA in relation to the proposed new post-primary school campus for Maynooth.
As the Deputy may be aware, the project in question has been tendered. An assessment of the Tender Report is at an advanced stage in the Department. The project has been devolved for delivery to the Kildare and Wicklow Education Training Board (KWETB). When the examination of the Tender Report has been completed, contact will be made directly with the KWETB with regard to the next steps.
431. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna an eol di go bhfuil folúntas d’ollamh le Gaeilge i roinn na Gaeilge in Ollscoil na hÉireann, Gaillimh ó 2014; an cúis imní í di go bhfuil an folúntas seo ann le nach mór dhá bhliain anuas agus gan é fógartha go fóill go bhfuiltear chun an folúntas a líonadh; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [7559/16]
View answerIs faoi gach aon Institiúid Ardoideachais, OÉ Gaillimh san áireamh, atá sé a cúrsaí oibriúcháin féin a bhainistiú ó lá go lá mar chomhlacht reachtúil féinrialaitheach, acmhainní foirne agus folúntais a thagann chun cinn san Ollscoil ina measc sin.
Ó tugadh isteach an moratóir ar earcú don earnáil phoiblí, tá Creat Rialála Fostaíochta (ECF)ar bun i gcomhair earnáil an ardoideachais, lena dtugtar solúbthacht shuntasach d'institiúidí maidir le folúntais a líonadh, trí earcú nó trí ardú céime, faoi réir ag síleáil fhoriomlán post.
I gCáinaisnéis 2015, d'fhógair an tAire Caiteachais Phoiblí agus Athchóirithe go gcuirfí deireadh leis na Creata Rialála Fostaíochta a bhí ann cheana, mar aon leis na moratóirí a bhí ag gabháil leo, agus go gcuirfí ina n-áit córas ceadaithe tharmligthe i gcomhair earcaithe agus ardaithe céime suas go dtí leibhéal Príomhoifigigh, ar an gcoinníoll go gcloífeadh Ranna le síleálacha pá ceangailteacha 3 bliana agus go gcomhlíonfaí na riachtanais Pleanála Fhórsa Oibre. I bhfianaise an fhógra seo, tá mo chuid oifigeach ag obair chun críche Creat nua a bheith ar bun acu d'earnáil an ardoideachais don bhliain acadúil 2016/2017.
432. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an application for a reader for the leaving certificate for a person (details supplied) in County Kildare. [7567/16]
View answerThe State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations.
The State Examinations Commission operates a scheme of Reasonable Accommodations in the Certificate Examinations. Full details of the scheme are available from their website: www.examinations.ie/candidates/reasonableaccommodations.
In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.
434. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide a date for the commencement of work on a new school building for a school (details supplied) in County Westmeath. [7602/16]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that a building project for the school to which he refers was included in my Department's 6 Year Capital Programme which I announced last November. The acquisition of a site for the project is at an advanced stage. When the site has been acquired, the architectural planning process to deliver the building project will be initiated.
435. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she has received an application for emergency funding under the emergency works scheme by a school (details supplied) in County Westmeath; and if same will now be progressed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7607/16]
View answerMy Department's Planning and Building Unit has no record of receiving any recent application for Emergency Funding from the school to which the Deputy refers.
