Thursday, 5 May 2016

Written Answers Nos. 102-106

Teaching Qualifications

Questions (102)

Mick Wallace

Question:

102. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason for the planned phasing out of regulation 3, which gives full recognition to Montessori teachers trained by the Association Montessori Internationale, by the St. Nicholas Montessori Society of Ireland and those trained outside the Republic of Ireland, to teach in special schools, special classes, and resource classes; if she has been involved in talks on plans to reverse this decision; if she will consider such a reversal, given the added value provided by Montessori-trained teachers in these contexts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9280/16]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The Teaching Council is, since 2006, the body with statutory responsibility and authority for regulation of the teaching profession including the registration of teachers under the Teaching Council Acts 2001-2015.

The Teaching Council's pathways to registration were set out initially in the Teaching Council [Registration] Regulations 2009, under which graduates with certain Montessori qualifications (Level 8 on the National Framework of Qualifications) met the requirements of Regulation 3 (Montessori and other categories).

Further to publication of its draft revised registration regulations in 2014, which reflected current policy to provide for a fully qualified teaching profession through the register of teachers, and significant stakeholder engagement, the Teaching Council intends to provide for persons currently registered with the Council under Regulation 3 on the basis of holding a level 8 Montessori qualification. The Council also intends to allow for the registration of persons who obtain a level 8 Montessori qualification, where the course was commenced on or before 1 October 2016 and the qualification is obtained before the end of 2021.

The Department has no plans to change the current position whereby teachers who are registered with a level 8 Montessori qualification under Regulation 3 (or its equivalent in the new regulations) are eligible for employment as teachers of pupils with special education needs in recognised mainstream primary schools and special schools.

Schools Building Projects Status

Questions (103)

James Lawless

Question:

103. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she has received recent correspondence dated April 2016 from the local management of Maynooth Education Campus, Maynooth Community College and Maynooth Post Primary School regarding their concerns over the current school site (details supplied); if she accepts the urgency of the situation and that the commencement of this building project is a priority; the status of the tender process, including the timeframes associated with it; if she will authorise an early start to the building project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9283/16]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I can confirm that correspondence from the Maynooth Education Campus PTA has been received in my Department in relation to the proposed new post-primary school campus for Maynooth.

As the Deputy may be aware, the project in question has been devolved for delivery to the Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board (KWETB). The project has been tendered by the KWETB and an assessment of the Tender Report is at an advanced stage in the Department. In this regard, the Department recently sought clarifications from KWETB on aspects of the Tender Report and these are awaited. When these have been received and evaluated my Department will be in direct contact with KWETB with regard to the next steps for the project.

Schools Building Projects Status

Questions (104)

James Lawless

Question:

104. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the commencement of the building of a general purpose hall for a school (details supplied). [9284/16]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I wish to advise the Deputy that in 2006, the school in question was granted funding by my Department to construct a classroom and general purpose room and that the project was completed in 2008.

Schools Building Projects Status

Questions (105)

James Lawless

Question:

105. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she is aware of the difficulties being experienced in a school (details supplied) including a lack of library facilities, no general purpose meeting room, children being dispersed across a number of locations and a lack of security; if she accepts the urgency of the situation and that the commencement of the building of the new school at this location is a priority; if she will progress it immediately, as soon as planning permission has been secured; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9285/16]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The Major Building Project for the school referred to by the Deputy, is currently at an advanced stage of Architectural Planning - Stage 2b Detailed Design, which includes obtaining the necessary statutory approvals and the preparation of tender documents.

A planning application was lodged in October 2015 and the Design Team are currently preparing the necessary information to the Local Authority regarding a Request for Further Information by the Local Authority.

This project is included in the 5 year construction programme to proceed to tender and construction. The design team will submit the stage 2(b) report to my Department when it is completed and my Department will revert to the school with regard to the further progression of the project following consideration of that report.

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Questions (106)

James Lawless

Question:

106. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on the case of a person (details supplied) and available places for second level students in autism spectrum disorder units in County Kildare. [9288/16]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

My Department's policies focus on ensuring that all children can have access to an education appropriate to their needs, preferably in school settings through the primary and post primary school network.

A range of placement options for pupils with special educational needs is provided, in order to ensure that all pupils can receive a school placement. Many pupils with special educational needs will be able to attend a local mainstream school, whereas for pupils who have needs which require more specialist interventions, special class and special school placements are provided for.

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE), through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), is responsible for processing applications from primary and post primary schools for special educational needs supports, including the establishment of special classes in various geographical areas as required. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support.

The NCSE continues to monitor and review the requirement for special class places in particular areas and has capacity to establish such new special classes where necessary subject to the willingness of schools to open classes.

The NCSE has advised that SENOs are currently liaising with schools in the area referred to by the Deputy regarding the establishment of further classes for 2016/17 school year.

I understand that the number of special classes for students with ASD in Co. Kildare is 57, 11 of which are at post primary level, 41 at primary level and 5 are early intervention classes.

I further understand that the SENO has advised the parent of the child referred to by the Deputy of placement options for the 2016/17 school year. The enrolment of a child to a school is a matter, in the first instance, for the parents of the child and the Board of Management of a school.

Full details of all special classes are available at www.ncse.ie.