Written Answers Nos. 272-280
272. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of special needs assistants and Montessori schools; her views on correspondence regarding a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9109/16]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of Special Needs Organisers (SENOs) for allocating a quantum of Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) support to mainstream Primary, Post Primary and Special Schools to assist children with special educational needs who also have additional and significant care needs.
Such support is provided in order to facilitate the attendance of those pupils at school and also to minimise disruption to class or teaching time for the pupils concerned, or for their peers, and with a view to developing their independent living skills.
Circular 0030/2014, which is available on my Department's website www.education.ie, sets out my Department's policy in relation to the Special Needs Assistant (SNA) scheme. The Circular explains that SNA support is not provided to pre-school services which operate outside of the primary or special school provision, other than in early intervention classes in recognised primary schools, or special schools, where support is provided for as part of the schools total quantum of SNA support.
The vast majority of supports for childcare, including pre-school education, are provided by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs. The principal vehicle for the delivery of pre-school education is the free Pre-School Year in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme which was introduced in January 2010 and provides for early learning in a formal setting to children in the year before they commence primary school.
Questions relating to provision of such services should be addressed my colleague, the Minister for Children & Youth Affairs.
273. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Skills to provide a specific capital fund to assist schools in addressing traffic issues at schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9122/16]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that the issue of road safety measures outside the vested site areas of schools, such as road signage, traffic calming measures, parking etc, is a matter that should be raised in the first instance with the relevant Local Authority. In general, individual school authorities are responsible for ensuring the safety and welfare of children and others in their care.
In that regard it is not my intention to provide a specific capital fund to assist schools in addressing traffic issues at schools.
274. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills to grant additional accommodation for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9124/16]
View answerI can confirm that the school referred to by the Deputy has recently made an application to my Department for capital funding for the provision of school accommodation.
A decision on the application will be conveyed to the school authority as soon as the assessment process has been completed.
275. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Education and Skills the funding she can provide to a parent who has a child with severe learning disabilities to subsidise the exorbitant Internet usage charges due to residing in a remote area with very limited Internet services in order to download tailored online educational programmes which are crucial to the progression of the child's education and learning development; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9129/16]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that there is currently no specific programme funding available to cover internet usage/cost for broadband to individuals (per the terms of Department circular to schools circular 0010/2013).
Under the Schools Broadband Access Programme, my Department provides for the supply of internet connectivity for recognised primary and post primary schools. More broadly, the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources has responsibility for the roll out of the National Digital Strategy nationally which includes broadband connectivity as one of its main aims.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) is responsible for processing applications from schools for special educational needs supports. SENOs also make recommendations to my Department where assistive technology is required. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in making recommendations for support, which is set out in my Department's Circular 0010/2013.
In order to qualify for equipment under the assistive technology scheme, a child must have been diagnosed with a physical or communicative disability and must also have a recommendation in a professional assessment that the equipment is essential in order to allow the child to access the curriculum. It must also be clear that the existing IT equipment in the school is insufficient to meet the child's needs.
The parents, or school, of the child concerned may wish to contact the NCSE regarding a potential application for support. All schools have the names and contact details of their local SENO. Parents may also contact their local SENO directly to discuss their child's special educational needs, using the contact details available on www.ncse.ie.
276. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason for delay in the processing of applications under the summer works scheme 2016-2017; and when she will notify schools in County Kildare if their applications are successful or not. [9137/16]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that I announced details of the successful applicants under the Summer Works Scheme (2016-2017) on 28th April last, details of which are published on my Department's website, www.education.ie. €30 million of the €80 million announced for the multi-annual Summer Works Scheme (2016-2017) is now being allocated for vital gas works and electrical upgrades in schools. 197 primary and post primary schools were included in the first round of successful applicants.
Under SWS 2016 and 2017, valid applications from schools that were not reached for funding reasons from within the funding made available in 2016 will qualify to be assessed for purposes of the funding available in 2017, subject to the overall availability of funding. If this arises, the terms and conditions of the scheme as outlined in Circular Letter (0055/2015) which may be accessed on my Department's website will continue to apply. Schools can access details of the status of their application on my Department's on-line Esinet Portal.
277. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if there are dedicated staff in her Department to evaluate the programmes on prevention and education on drugs and alcohol for young persons. [9138/16]
View answerSocial, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) is particularly important in regard to educating our young people about substance misuse both at primary at post-primary level. Through the SPHE curriculum the issue is dealt with in a sensitive, spiral and developmental manner.
The Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST) provides support for schools with all aspects of the implementation of the SPHE curriculum including substance misuse issues. My Department's Inspectorate, including dedicated SPHE inspectors at post-primary level, visit SPHE lessons and provide support and advice to teachers and schools.
In 2013 an interim review of the National Drugs Strategy was held to review progress to date on agreed actions. In September 2013, my Department Inspectorate published a composite report based on the subject inspections of SPHE carried out in post primary schools in 2010/11. My Department in 2014 published a Report of the Working Group on Educational Materials for use in SPHE in Post-Primary Schools and Centres of Education, with particular reference to Substance Use Education in the context of SPHE.
My Department is collaborating through the Health and Wellbeing partnership, with the HSE and the Department of Health, as a means of enriching and enhancing the health and well-being of children and young people in the school setting. Both service strands bring different and complementary knowledge and understandings about the needs of children and young people and strategies to address these.
278. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Skills when she will make decisions on applications under the summer works scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9157/16]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that I announced details of the successful applicants under the Summer Works Scheme (2016-2017) on 28th April last, which are published on my Department's website, www.education.ie. €30 million of the €80 million announced for the multi-annual Summer Works Scheme (2016-2017) is now being allocated for vital gas works and electrical upgrades in schools. 197 primary and post primary schools were included in the first round of successful applicants.
Under SWS 2016 and 2017, valid applications from schools that were not reached for funding reasons from within the funding made available in 2016 will qualify to be assessed for purposes of the funding available in 2017, subject to the overall availability of funding. If this arises, the terms and conditions of the scheme as outlined in Circular Letter (0055/2015) which may be accessed on my Department's website will continue to apply. Schools can access details of the status of their application on my Department's on-line Esinet Portal.
279. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Skills when she will make a decision on an application by a school (details supplied) under the summer works scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9158/16]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that I announced details of the successful applicants under the Summer Works Scheme (SWS) (2016-2017) on 28th April last, details of which are published on my Department's website, www.education.ie. €30 million of the €80 million announced for the multi-annual Summer Works Scheme (2016-2017) is now being allocated for vital gas works and electrical upgrades in schools. 197 primary and post primary schools were included in the first round of successful applicants.
Under SWS 2016 and 2017, valid applications from schools that were not reached for funding reasons from within the funding made available in 2016 will qualify to be assessed for purposes of the funding available in 2017, subject to the overall availability of funding. If this arises, the terms and conditions of the scheme as outlined in Circular Letter (0055/2015 which may be accessed on my Department's website, will continue to apply when allocating funding to such projects. An application from the school referred to by the Deputy is available to be considered in this context.
280. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a course (details supplied) run by the Kerry Education and Training Board; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9175/16]
View answerThis is an operational matter for Kerry Education and Training Board (KETB). I have asked KETB to contact the Deputy directly to provide the information.
