Written Answers Nos. 72-94
72. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Education and Skills if there are any plans for Student Universal Support Ireland grants to be paid to all Quality and Qualifications Ireland degree students at all approved institutions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8532/16]
View answerUnder my Department's 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.
There are no plans to amend the definition of an approved institution. However, tax relief on tuition fees may be available for students attending courses in institutions which are not approved for the purposes of grant support, such as private colleges. Details in relation to this relief are available from the Revenue Commissioners on www.revenue.ie.
73. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Education and Skills the avenues of funding a school (details supplied) can apply for in order to carry out urgent remedial works to its boundary fencing. [8540/16]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that it is open to the school in question to prioritise its Minor Works grant, which all primary schools received in November 2015, to undertake works of the nature described.
I also wish to advise the Deputy that the school has submitted an application under the Summer Works Scheme (SWS) 2016-2017, for external works which includes installing an artificial pitch. The governing Circular Letter for the Scheme states that the responsibility for identifying and applying for the most urgently required project rests with the school authority. This Circular Letter (0055/2015), is available on my Department's website www.education.ie.
Commensurate with the level of funding available for the Scheme, applications, including that from the school concerned, are being assessed on a top down basis in accordance with the prioritisation criteria outlined in the governing Circular Letter for the Scheme. It is my intention to publish a list of successful applicants shortly.
74. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a school (details supplied) is classified as an all-Irish school for the purpose of assessing the eligibility of applicants for the primary school transport scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8543/16]
View answerUnder the terms of my Department's Primary School Transport Scheme children are eligible for transport where they reside not less than 3.2 kilometres from and are attending their nearest national school as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
The school referred to by the Deputy is not currently classified as an All-Irish school for the purposes of assessing school transport eligibility.
I 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.
75. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a school project (details supplied) can be facilitated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8551/16]
View answerThe application from the school to which the Deputy refers for additional funding to provide an all-weather play area has been considered in my Department. I regret that funding cannot be sanctioned at this time for this facility.
76. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on the construction of the new national school in Kanturk, County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8569/16]
View answerI can confirm that a notification to grant planning permission was received late last year for the project to which the Deputy refers.
Due to onerous planning conditions, this was appealed by my Department to An Board Pleanála.
An Bord Pleanála recently issued its decision and a grant of planning permission for the project is now awaited from the local authority.
77. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education and Skills the assessments she has conducted on the school transport needs of homeless children who are living in emergency accommodation away from where they originally lived and who are enrolled in school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8585/16]
View answerThe purpose of my Department's School Transport Scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school.
Under the terms of my Department's Scheme children are eligible for school transport where they reside not less than 3.2 or 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest national school or post primary centre as determined by my Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
Children who are not eligible for school transport may avail of transport on a concessionary basis subject to a number of conditions which are detailed in the scheme.
While no assessment has been conducted on the school transport needs of homeless children, the school transport eligibility of such children is considered in conjunction with Bus Éireann which operates the school transport scheme on behalf of the Department.
78. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education and Skills the measures she will put in place to cater for the specific needs of homeless children in the education system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8586/16]
View answer79. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of homeless children in primary level education and in second level education. [8587/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 78 and 79 together.
The statutory role in relation to school age homeless children rests with the Child and Family Agency, Tusla, which operates under the remit of my colleague the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. Tusla has published a document to assist educational welfare staff in dealing with this group - Engaging with Children and Families Experiencing Homelessness. It is available on Tusla's website at the following link -
http://www.tusla.ie/uploads/content/EWS_Homelessness_Guide.pdf
Statistics in relation to school attendance are collected by Tusla in accordance with Section 21 of the Education Welfare Act, 2000.
80. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if reasonable accommodation will be granted to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8590/16]
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.
81. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extra school accommodation required at primary and second level in County Kildare with reference to demographic pressure; if each area is in a position to avail of adequate resources to meet the provisions required; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8593/16]
View answer85. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which she assesses the need for primary or secondary level school places in Celbridge in County Kildare; if she is satisfied with the adequacy of provisions in place or anticipated, having regard to demographic trends; if specific initiatives are required to meet future demands; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8614/16]
View answer87. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to meet school place requirements at primary and secondary level as set out by the school authorities in Clane, County Kildare, given population trends; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8616/16]
View answer88. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which she monitors primary and secondary level school place requirements at Maynooth in County Kildare; the degree to which she will meet said requirements in the short to medium term; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8617/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 81, 85, 87 and 88 together.
My Department uses a Geographical Information System (GIS) to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise. The GIS uses data from the Central Statistics Office, Ordnance Survey Ireland, the Department of Social Protection and my Department's own databases. With this information, my Department carries out nationwide demographic exercises at primary and post primary level to determine where additional school accommodation is needed. The outcome of the latest demographic exercises was that in November 2015, I announced the establishment of 13 new schools to open nationwide in 2017 and 2018.
The school planning areas in County Kildare are experiencing some demographic growth, however, not to such an extent that would currently warrant new school provision. These areas are being kept under ongoing review by my Department to take account of updated enrolment data and also the impact of existing and planned capacity increases to existing schools in the school planning areas.
I also announced, in November 2015, the major school projects, including those for Kildare, that will commence construction from 2016 - 2021 as part of my Six-Year Programme. The programme aims to prioritise new building projects and major extensions, including special schools, in areas where significant demographic need has been established. The Programme also provides for devolved funding for additional classrooms for schools outside the plan where an immediate enrolment need has been identified, such as the appointment of an additional teacher. In addition, the Programme prioritises projects that have a major deficit of mainstream accommodation capacity for current enrolments, require major refurbishment and replacement of poor accommodation and projects to provide additional accommodation to meet increases in enrolments.
The Deputy will be aware that extensions to two primary schools in Clane were approved under the 5-Year Plan. One project has been completed and the other is progressing through architectural planning. Also, in recent years four new schools have opened in County Kildare, comprising two new primary schools which opened in 2012 and 2013 and two new post-primary schools which opened in 2014 and 2015.
The current status of all projects, including those in County Kildare, may be viewed on my Department's website at www.education.ie and this will be updated regularly throughout the year.
82. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Skills if Student Universal Support Ireland will accept a sworn affidavit is acceptable as verification of independent residency where a lease with a landlord was not registered with the Private Residency Tenants Board; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8602/16]
View answerWhen considering whether a student meets the conditions to be assessed independently of his or her parents, grant awarding authorities are obliged to satisfy themselves beyond doubt that an acceptable degree of proof of independent living in the relevant period has been submitted by the grant applicant.
In exceptional circumstances, where it is not possible to produce such proofs of residence for demonstrable reasons, the awarding body may, at its discretion, agree to accept other documentary evidence that provides an acceptable degree of proof of independent living. For example, while an affidavit, if accompanied by other supporting documentation, may be considered as evidence of independent living, an affidavit in isolation is not considered acceptable as sole proof of residency. Individual circumstances should be discussed by an applicant with the grant awarding authority.
If an individual applicant considers that she/he has been unjustly refused a student grant, 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.
83. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Skills the skills and qualifications of the members of her Department's Higher Education Grant Appeals Board; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8603/16]
View answerThe Appeals Board was established under Section 25 of the Student Support Act 2011 and is independent in the performance of its functions. It comprises of a Chairperson and six ordinary members, all appointed in their individual capacities based on their special interest, knowledge and expertise of matters regarding education, administration of schemes of payments and fair procedures.
The membership of the Appeals Board is as follows:
- Ms. Maureen Waldron, Chairperson, former Director of the Department of Social Protection;
- Mr. Pádraic McNamara (vice-Chair), former Chief Executive Officer of the State Examinations Commission;
- Dr. Marie Clarke, Lecturer, School of Education at UCD;
- Ms. Rebecca Murphy, former Student Union Welfare Officer, University College Cork;
- Ms. Eithne Frost, Consultant in the voluntary sector;
- Ms. Brenna Clarke, retired Professor of English at St. Patrick's College of Education;
- Professor Kevin Ryan, former Registrar of the University of Limerick.
Applications are currently being invited from suitably qualified and experienced persons, to fill vacancies on the Student Grants Appeals Board for the 5 year period from September 2016 to September 2021.
More information about the functions of the Board and the type of competencies required of potential Board members, can be found at the following dedicated website: http://www.stateboards.ie/stateboards/campaignAdvert/29754.htm
84. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the Technologies Universities Bill 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8611/16]
View answerThe Technological Universities Bill was published in December 2015 and was at Report Stage at the time of dissolution of the previous Dáil in February 2016.
86. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the provision of the extra facilities required as St. Corban's primary school in Naas, County Kildare; the degree to which she liaises with the school in this regard; the timescale to meet such requests; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8615/16]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that a major building project for the school to which he refers was included on the 6-year Construction Programme announced last November. In the context of progressing the project, it is my Department's intention to undertake a site visit to the school and the school management has been advised accordingly.
89. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of dialogue with a school (details supplied) with a view to meeting extra accommodation requirements including a sports hall; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8618/16]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware of my announcement last November of the new 6 Year Construction Programme (2016-2021), which aims to prioritise new building projects and major extensions, including special schools, in areas where significant demographic need has been established. The new Programme also provides for devolved funding for additional classrooms for schools outside the plan where an immediate enrolment need has been identified, such as the appointment of an additional teacher.
The area in which the school is located has not been identified as an area of demographic growth. The Department notes that enrolment at the school in question has declined over the past five years from 165 in 2010 to a current enrolment of 124. In this regard, it is not possible to indicate at this point, when a project for this school will be progressed.
90. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the provision of a Gaelcholaíste in north County Kildare, given the demand for this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8619/16]
View answerIn November 2015, when I announced the new schools which will open in 2017 and 2018 to cater for increased demographic demand nationwide, 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.
My Department officials will continue to work closely with the Education and Training Board and with An Foras Pátrúnachta in relation to the establishment of the school.
91. Deputy Hildegarde Naughton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the building commencement date for a new national school at Lackagh, County Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8625/16]
View answerThe school to which the Deputy refers is at an advanced stage of the tender process. My Department is currently awaiting the submission of the tender report. Subject to no issues arising it is envisaged that this project will commence on site later this year.
92. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she has lifted the moratorium on the recruitment of adult educational guidance counsellors working with the Adult Education Guidance Service in the Education and Training Board, given that this would enable the appropriate recruitment to proceed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8626/16]
View answerNew arrangements are being put in place giving Departments delegated sanction for the management of staffing numbers subject to overall pay ceilings and other controls. My Department is in the process of agreeing overall parameters for the implementation of this delegated sanction in Education and Training Boards. In the meantime applications from ETBs for replacement staff, including Adult Education Guidance Counsellors, are being examined on a case by case basis and replacement posts are being sanctioned where a need has been demonstrated.
94. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a school (details supplied) will be notified of the outcome of its application under the summer works scheme. [8633/16]
View answerI can confirm that the school referred to by the Deputy has made an application under my Department's Summer Works Scheme 2016 -2017.
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.
