Written Answers Nos. 282-312
282. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of primary and secondary school teachers recruited in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9785/16]
View answerTeacher 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.
The recruitment and appointment of teachers to fill teaching posts is a matter for the individual school authority, subject to procedures agreed under Section 24(3) of the Education Act 1998 (as amended by the Education (Amendment) Act 2012). The deployment of teaching staff in the school, the range of subjects offered and ultimately the quality of teaching and learning are in the first instance a matter for the school management authorities.
The Statistics Section of my Department's website contains extensive data relating to schools at primary and post-primary level, including teaching posts. The most recent published information relates to the 2014/15 school year.
The overall number of wholetime equivalent teaching posts at primary level has increased by 6%, a total of 1,904 teaching posts from the 2009/10 school year to the 2014/15 school year. The increase at post-primary level for the corresponding period is 1.5%, a total of 371 teaching posts.
Data in relation to the 2015/16 school year will be published later in the Summer.
The Deputy will be aware that there is a provision in Budget 2016 for some 2,260 additional teaching posts for our primary and post primary schools for the 2016/17 school year. These posts will provide for an improvement in the staffing schedules at primary and post primary levels, enhance the leadership and management roles of deputy principals at post-primary level by reducing their teaching time, an improvement to the scheme of release time for principal teachers at primary level and additional resource posts to meet special education needs.
283. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a teacher (details supplied) with a job sharing contract; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9814/16]
View answerThe Haddington Road agreement provided for the establishment of an Expert Group on Fixed-Term and Part-Time Employment in Primary and Second Level Education in Ireland. This group was chaired by Mr. Peter Ward SC, who consulted extensively with all the stakeholders and interested parties. The report was published in September 2014 and can be found on my Department's website at the following link – http://www.education.ie/en/Publications/Education-Reports/Report-to-the-Minister-for-Education-and-Skills-of-the-Chairperson-of-the-Expert-Group-on-Fixed-Term-and-Part-Time-Employment-in-Primary-and-Second-Level-Education-in-Ireland.pdf.
The report recommended a suite of measures which will lead to more job security for fixed-term and part-time teachers. It recommended seven changes for implementation from the commencement of the 2015/16 school which my Department implemented. Circulars 23/2015 and 24/2015 detailing the arrangements and procedures for the implementation of the recommendations of the report were published on March 27th 2015 and are available on my Department's website at the following link - http://www.education.ie/en/Schools-Colleges/Information/Employment- Terms-and-Conditions/Fixed-Term-Contracts.html.
One of the key features of the new procedures is that the qualification period for the granting of an initial Contract of Indefinite Duration (CID) is reduced from a period of continuous employment in excess of three years with the same employer to a period of continuous employment in excess of two years.
In their deliberations the expert group considered the issue of the exclusion from qualification for a CID of a teacher who is covering for another teacher absent on an approved scheme of leave of absence. The report recommended that a teacher covering for another teacher on career break or secondment should not be disqualified from entitlement to a CID on that ground. However the group having considered the issue of teachers covering for teachers who are job-sharing concluded that these teachers should not be included in this arrangement.
Individual teachers who wish to appeal the decision not to award them a CID or the terms of the CID awarded to them may submit an appeal to the independent Fixed-Term Adjudicator. The adjudication process is outlined in Circular 0050/2006 and is available on my Department's website at the following link – http://www.education.ie/en/Schools-Colleges/Information/Employment-Terms-and-Conditions/Fixed-Term-Contracts.html.
284. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Education and Skills if all teachers should be trained in first aid and cardio-pulmonary resuscitation; if he should provide a training day in every school to teachers and students who have not been trained; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9838/16]
View answerUnder the provisions of the Education Act 1998, the board of management is the body charged with the direct governance of a school. Schools are required to take all reasonable precautions to provide training for teachers to ensure the safety and welfare of their pupils.
In recognition of the responsibility which the Education Act has imposed on Boards of Management and the increasingly complex environment in which they must operate, my Department funds a scheme for the provision of training and development for boards of management to assist them in the discharge of their duties. The training is delivered by the school management bodies and Health & Safety is one of the areas covered.
The issue of making training in First Aid and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation available to schools is a decision for each individual Board of Management to make in relation to their own school.
285. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 249 of 4 May 2016, when he will commence construction at a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9823/16]
View answerThe school to which the Deputy refers has been approved devolved funding under the 2016 Additional Accommodation Scheme to enable the school authority provide one new mainstream classroom with en-suite toilets.
A letter recently issued to the school authority outlining how to proceed with the delivery of this project.
287. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an application for a transfer of patronage by a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9879/16]
View answerRegarding the school referred to by the Deputy, my Department was made aware of a proposal to transfer the patronage of an existing school to another patron body. My Department understands that the existing patron is undertaking further consultations with the local community in this regard.
288. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he is aware of the concerns that grade comparisons may be working at a disadvantage to Northern Ireland students and if he will resolve this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9905/16]
View answerI understand that the institutes of technology and the universities are looking at their entry criteria for students presenting with A-Levels into their institutions. I fully support the promotion of better cross border flows of students in this regard. However, the entry requirements for third level education courses are determined by individual higher education institutions. The Central Applications Office (CAO) administer the processing of applications on behalf of the higher education institutions and my Department does not have any role or function in relation to this.
289. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the steps he is taking to provide a permanent building for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9884/16]
View answerThe school to which the Deputy refers opened in temporary accommodation in September 2015. As the Deputy will be aware, a building project for the school is included in the 6 year construction programme announced last November.
My Department is working closely with the Local Authority in relation to the identification and acquisition of a suitable permanent site for the school. Given the commercial sensitivities associated with land acquisitions generally, I am not in a position to provide further details at this time. Once a site is acquired, the architectural planning process to provide a permanent school building can commence.
290. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to provide a secondary school for the Pelletstown area of Dublin 15; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9885/16]
View answerMy Department uses a Geographical Information System to identify the areas under increased demographic pressure nationwide. The system uses data from the Central Statistics Office, Ordnance Survey Ireland, the Department of Social Protection and information from my Department's own databases. With this information, my Department carries out nationwide demographic exercises to determine where additional school accommodation is needed at primary and post-primary level.
The outcome of the latest demographic exercises was that in November 2015, it was announced that four new primary schools and nine new post-primary schools will open in 2017 and 2018 to cater for increased demographic needs. This includes a new post-primary school which will open in 2017 to serve the Carpenterstown and Castleknock, Dublin 15 areas, which is adjacent to the school planning area in which Pelletstown is located.
In this regard, my Department recently issued an invitation to all school patron bodies and prospective patron bodies to apply for the patronage of the nine new post-primary schools, including the school to serve Carpenterstown and Castleknock. Details can be found on the Department of Education & Skills website at www.education.ie. The closing date for receipt of applications to my Department is Wednesday 8th June.
291. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Education and Skills to accept an appeal from a school (details supplied) further to the loss of two teaching posts on the grounds that its rooms are too small to accommodate classes of 29 and 31 children and to maintain the two teaching posts, given that the loss would have a huge impact on this most disadvantaged community. [9935/16]
View answerThe criteria used for the allocation of teaching posts for the 2016/2017 school year is set out in the Staffing Schedule (Circular 0007/2016) which is available 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 30 September 2015.
The staffing arrangements include an appeals mechanism for schools to submit an appeal under certain criteria to an independent Appeals Board. Details of the criteria for appeal are contained in the published staffing arrangements, Circular 0007/2016.
The school referred to by the Deputy has submitted an appeal to be considered at the May meeting of the Primary Staffing Appeals Board. This meeting will be held later this month and the school will be notified of the decision of the Appeals Board in due course.
The Appeals Board operates independently of the Department and its decision is final.
292. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education and Skills when he will build a secondary school in Enfield, County Meath. [9946/16]
View answerMy Department uses a Geographical Information System to identify the areas under increased demographic pressure nationwide. The system uses data from the Central Statistics Office, Ordnance Survey Ireland, the Department of Social Protection and information from my Department's own databases. With this information, my Department carries out nationwide demographic exercises to determine where additional school accommodation is needed at primary and post-primary level.
The outcome of the latest demographic exercises was that in November 2015, my predecessor announced that 4 new primary schools and 9 new post-primary schools will open in 2017 and 2018 to cater for increased demographic needs. As part of that announcement it was noted that a range of areas nationwide, including Enfield (Kilcock school planning areas), are experiencing increased demographic pressure and will be kept under ongoing review. This review will take into account updated enrolment data and capacity developments in this and adjacent school planning areas.
293. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills to review a case, to provide reasonable accommodations for a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10023/16]
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.
294. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he provides funds to assist students with fees in Northern Ireland; if there are European Union funds that a student can apply directly for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10086/16]
View answerUnder the terms of the student grant scheme, grant assistance is awarded to students who meet the prescribed conditions of funding including those which relate to nationality, residency, approved course, previous academic attainment and means.
There is no provision under the student grant scheme for the payment of fees to students studying outside of the State. However there is an exceptional provision for students attending approved postgraduate courses in Northern Ireland. Such students may be eligible for assistance towards their postgraduate fees up to the maximum fees limit of €6,270 or a Postgraduate Fee Contribution of €2,000 subject to satisfying the terms and conditions of the Student Grant Scheme 2015.
Officials in the Department of Employment and Learning in Northern Ireland have confirmed that a student from another European Union (EU) country studying in Northern Ireland can apply for a student loan to cover the cost of tuition fees. Further information is available on www.nidirect.gov.uk.
In addition, tax relief at the standard rate of tax may be claimed in respect of tuition fees paid for approved courses at approved colleges of higher education including approved undergraduate and postgraduate courses in EU Member States and in non-EU countries. Further information on this tax relief is available from the Revenue Commissioners on www.revenue.ie.
295. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Education and Skills if there will be no further reductions in the learning support services in schools in Dublin 15; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10099/16]
View answerSince September 2012 the combined resources available for learning support (General Allocation Model at Primary) and language support have been merged into a single simplified allocation process.
The GAM/EAL arrangements for the 2016/17 school year are set out in Circular 0007/2016 and are based on a school's mainstream classroom posts for the 2015/16 school year. Circular 0007/2016 lists the GAM/EAL allocation for all schools.
Schools have autonomy on how to deploy the resource between language support and learning support depending on their specific needs.
I wish to advise the Deputy that some €1.37 billion will be spent in support of children with Special Educational Needs this year, which represents approximately 15% of my Department's budget.
This provides for a range of supports and services including additional learning and resource teaching support, Special Needs Assistant (SNA) support, special transport arrangements, building adaptations, enhanced capitation, funding for the purchase of specialised equipment, services of the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS), enhanced levels of capitation in Special schools and Special Classes and additional teacher training.
We now have a higher level of Resource Teaching and SNA support than ever before.
In July last, it was announced that an additional 610 Special Needs Assistant posts are being provided for in the current school year. There are currently 11,820 whole time equivalent SNA posts available in Primary, Post Primary and Special schools to support children with special educational needs with assessed care needs. This is the highest level of SNA allocation that we have ever had. These extra posts will ensure that the Government's policy of ensuring that every child who is assessed as needing SNA support will receive access to such support.In addition, the NCSE has established over 150 new Special Classes in the 2015/16 school year, which means there are now over 1,000 special classes attached to mainstream schools catering for children with special educational needs.
There is an extra 480 Resource Teachers in our schools in the current school year which takes into account increased demand and demographic growth and ensures that children continue to have access to additional supports in school.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has a statutory role under the Education of Persons with Special Educational Needs Act to provide me with policy advice in relation to matters concerning the education of persons with special educational needs.
The NCSE published policy advice in 2013 which identified that the current model for allocating resource teachers to schools is potentially inequitable and recommended the development of a new allocation model.
In developing its policy advice the NCSE consulted widely with education partners, representatives from the school sector, parents, and disability representative bodies.
The NCSE recommended that a new model be developed based on the profiled needs of each school, including consideration of Standardised Test performances in schools, and a school's social context, rather than primarily on school size and the diagnosed disability of individual children. It is intended that this new model will reduce the inequities in the current system, and also ensure that we are not unnecessarily labelling children from a young age in order to access resources.
Although there was widespread support for the implementation of the new model, there was not time to address all of the issues in relation to the proposed new model in time to allow for it to be implemented this year. A pilot of the new model, which is currently underway in 47 schools, will run for the duration of the current school year. This pilot has been developed in order to test the model in a number of schools and to allow for the practical effect of the application of the new model in pilot schools to be gauged. It will also allow us to take into account the learning experiences of schools, principals, pupils and the views of parents over the course of the pilot, prior to the full implementation of the proposed new allocation model.
296. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he is aware that a person (details supplied) is being refused a reader for the leaving certificate examination in June 2016, despite having had a reader for the junior certificate; and to reverse this decision. [10118/16]
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.
297. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills to change the policy under the reasonable accommodations scheme given the recent court decision on this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10119/16]
View answerThe State Examinations Commission (SEC) has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations.
The Board of the SEC is currently undertaking a review of the operation of the RACE Scheme. As part of this review the SEC is considering the recent High Court Judicial Review findings referred to by the Deputy. Following the review the SEC will develop proposals and plans for any changes to the RACE Scheme it considers necessary.
Currently the SEC operates a Scheme of Reasonable Accommodations at the Leaving and Junior Certificate examinations for candidates with special needs in the examinations. The Scheme applies to candidates who have a physical or medical disability, including visual and hearing impairments, or a specific learning difficulty. All applications for reasonable accommodations are considered within a published Framework of Principles established by an Expert Advisory Group.
Reasonable accommodations are not intended to compensate for a possible lack of achievement arising from a disability or to compensate for difficulties arising from a candidate's general intellectual functioning. Reasonable accommodations are intended to:
(a) to remove, as far as possible, the impact of the disability on the candidate's performance and thus enable the candidate to demonstrate his or her level of attainment and
(b) to ensure that, whilst giving candidates every opportunity to demonstrate their level of attainment, the special arrangements will not give the candidate an unfair advantage over other candidates in the same examination. The range of accommodations includes, inter alia, provision of modified, brailled and enlarged papers for visually impaired students; access to readers, scribes, word-processor, tape or voice recorder for student with physical conditions or dyslexia or other types of SLD; exemptions from components of the examinations such as the oral or aural or the waiver from spelling and grammar in language subjects. Some students may apply for and be granted more than one type of accommodation.
In cases where a school/parent or student is dissatisfied with any aspect of the SEC's decision, they have access to an Independent Appeals Committee. All members of the Appeals Committee are drawn from outside the SEC. The remit of the Appeals Committee covers appeals against all elements of a decision taken by the SEC. Appeals must be lodged in writing and all appeals are considered in light of the Framework of Principles established by the Expert Advisory Group.
298. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills when he will make a decision on the allocation of moneys for the refurbishment of a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10122/16]
View answerI can confirm that the school referred to by the Deputy submitted a revised application, for refurbishment works, containing various revised cost plans and refurbishment options that involve significant additional funding to that previously approved, in October 2013.
Having assessed the documentation submitted it was established that further details relevant to the application were required. This information was recently requested from the school authority and once received the application can be considered further.
299. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he has received an application for an extension from a school (details supplied) and the timeframe for awarding the funds. [10169/16]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has no record of receiving an application for an extension from the school to which he refers.
300. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Education and Skills when he will provide a gaelcholaiste in County Laois as children from the county currently have to travel to counties Kildare and Carlow and to other counties. [10171/16]
View answerMy Department completed demographic analyses at primary and post-primary level late last year, using the Department's Geographical Information System, to identify the areas under increased demographic pressure nationwide. The system uses data from the Central Statistics Office, Ordnance Survey Ireland, the Department of Social Protection and information from my Department's own databases.
The outcome of these demographic analyses was that in November 2015, the establishment of four new primary schools and nine new post-primary schools to open in 2017 and 2018, including a new post-primary school which will open in September 2017 to serve the Portlaoise school planning area, was confirmed.
I am pleased to advise the Deputy that my Department has recently issued an invitation to all school patron bodies and prospective patron bodies to apply for the patronage of the nine new post-primary schools, including the school to serve the Portlaoise area. As part of the application process, prospective patrons must submit completed parental preferences, including whether parents wish their child(ren) to be educated through the medium of Irish or of English. Details can be found on my Department of Education & Skills website at www.education.ie. The closing date for receipt of applications to my Department is Wednesday 8th June. It is open to all school patron bodies and prospective patrons to apply for the patronage of these new post-primary schools.
301. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 561 of 17 December 2015, to outline in more detail the complex issues that need to be considered in respect of the application for a naíonra in a school (details supplied), when he will conclude the appraisal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10176/16]
View answerIn general, applications to establish pre-school facilities on school sites are looked upon positively by my Department. However, there are a number of complex issues that are being considered by my Department including property, governance, insurance and liability, among others, in relation to the requirements to be established around the use of school premises/property for preschool services. In that regard, my Department is seeking legal advice and when this advice is received, it will be considered by my Department with a view to putting in place arrangements to facilitate this matter.
In the case of the school referred to by the Deputy further clarification in regard to the request by the school to construct a Naíonra on the school grounds is also required. My Department will be in contact with the school authority on this matter very shortly.
302. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a case (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10179/16]
View answerThe core function of the redeployment arrangements is to facilitate the redeployment of all surplus permanent and CID holding teachers to other schools that have vacancies.
Redeployment panels are drawn up on a diocesan basis for Catholic panels, diocesan/united diocesan basis for Church of Ireland panels and on a national basis for other patron bodies. Outside of this process the administration of transfer requests from teachers placed on redeployment panels is at the discretion of individual panel operators (i.e. the patron bodies).
303. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the refurbishment and provision of an extension for the Portmarnock community school in County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10185/16]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that a project for the school to which he refers was included in my Department's 6 Year Capital Programme which was announced last November.
The project for the school in question will be progressed with a view to proceeding to tender and construction stages in 2019-2021, as outlined in the programme. In that regard, I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department will be in contact with the school again shortly in relation to the steps to be taken to progress the school project into architectural planning.
304. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of schools in County Roscommon and in east County Galway which applied and which received grants under the summer works scheme. [10215/16]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that the information requested is not available for the specific geographical area in question. However, I can confirm that 38 applications were received from schools in County Roscommon and 130 application from schools in County Galway under the Summer Works Scheme (SWS) (2016-2017).
The Deputy will be aware that details of the successful applicants under the SWS (2016-2017) were published on my Department's website, www.education.ie. on 28th April last. €30 million of the €80 million announced for the multi-annual SWS (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 and I am pleased to advise the Deputy that 4 schools in County Roscommon and 11 in County Galway were included in these 197 projects announced.
Under SWS 2016 and 2017, valid applications from schools that are not reached for funding reasons from within the funding made available in 2016 will qualify to be assessed for purposes of 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.
305. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he is aware of allegations of bullying and financial and professional misconduct as reported by a person (details supplied) under the Protected Disclosures Act 2014; the action he has taken to have all of the reported matters fully investigated; if the findings of such an investigation are available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10231/16]
View answerI am aware of the allegations referred to by the Deputy. Central to the allegations is the non award of the Higher Diploma in Education (Primary Teaching) degree to the complainant in 2014.
Officials from my Department met with the complainant in early February 2016 and, subsequently, the Department established an independent investigative process with terms of reference which address all of these allegations. The complainant was consulted on the process including the terms of reference. The investigation is being carried out by Dr Richard Thorn, former President of Sligo IT.
Dr Thorn finalised an interim report which was circulated to relevant parties in late April. Following receipt of the interim report, the complainant furnished a medical certificate to him indicating her inability to engage with the investigation. On the basis of this, Dr Thorn informed her, inter alia, that he was suspending the investigation and the preparation of the final report but leaving the interim report stand on the basis that it was prepared prior to his receipt of her medical certificate.
Dr Thorn informed the complainant that he would resume the investigation and preparation of the final report if and when he received a medical certificate stating that she was fit to participate.
306. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education and Skills when he will commence on-site work on the replacement building for Clifden community school in County Galway; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10234/16]
View answerI am pleased to inform the Deputy that my Department authorised the issue of the Letter of Acceptance for Clifden Community School on the 19th of April 2016.
The Contractor is expected to commence on site in early June and the new school building is expected to be completed and ready for occupation in approximately 18 months.
307. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna cén uair a cheadófar an chuid eile de na tograí faoin scéim na noibreacha samhraidh do 2016; cén líon tograí atá fógartha go dáta; cén líon atá fós le fógairt; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [10235/16]
View answerIs mian liom a chur in iúl don Teachta go gcuirfear Scéim na nOibreacha Samhraidh i bhfeidhm ar bhonn ilbhliantúil i gcomhair na mblianta 2016 agus 2017. Mar is eol don Teachta, b'fhéidir, fógraíodh sonraí faoi na hiarratasóirí ar éirigh leo faoi Scéim na nOibreacha Samhraidh (2016-2017) ar 28ú Aibreán seo caite, agus tá na sonraí sin foilsithe ar shuíomh idirlín mo Roinne, www.education.ie.
Tá €30 milliún den €80 milliún a fógraíodh i gcomhair na Scéime ilbhliantúla (2016-2017) á leithdháileadh anois ar oibreacha ríthábhachtacha gáis agus ar uasghráduithe leictreacha i scoileanna. Áiríodh 197 bunscoil agus iar-bhunscoil sa chéad bhabhta d'iarratais ar éirigh leo.
Faoi Scéim na nOibreacha Samhraidh 2016 agus 2017, i gcás iarratas bailí ó scoileanna nár baineadh amach, de bharr cúiseanna maoinithe, leis an mhaoiniú a cuireadh ar fáil in 2016, cáileoidh siad chun a measúnaithe chun críche maoinithe a bheidh ar fáil in 2017, faoi réir ag infhaighteacht fhoriomlán an mhaoinithe. Má tharlaíonn sé seo, beidh feidhm i gcónaí ag téarmaí agus coinníollacha na scéime de réir mar atá siad leagtha amach in Imlitir 0055/2015, a bhfuil fáil uirthi ar shuíomh idirlín mo Roinne, nuair a bheas maoiniú á leithdháileadh ar thionscadail dá leithéid.
308. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna an bhfuil sé i gceist aige athbhreithniú a dhéanamh ar an gcóimheas daltaí le múinteoir do scoláirí i mbunscoileanna beaga oileánda; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [10236/16]
View answerFoilsítear na critéir a úsáidtear chun múinteoirí a leithdháileadh ar scoileanna ar shuíomh idirlín na Roinne Oideachais agus Scileanna gach bliain. Is é an príomhchritéar lena gcinntear an leibhéal acmhainní foirnithe a sholáthraítear ag leibhéal na scoile aonair ná an sceideal foirnithe don scoilbhliain chuí agus an líon daltaí ar an rolla ar an 30 Meán Fómhair roimhe sin.
Laistigh de na socruithe seo tá soláthar speisialta ann do scoileanna oileánda lena gcuirtear sa chuntas na ceisteanna a thagann chun cinn maidir le hoideachas a sholáthar i suíomh oileánda. Leis an soláthar speisialta seo, féadtar post a choinneáil, faoi réir ag líon áirithe daltaí a bheith sa scoil i gcónaí, i gcás ina mbeadh an laghdú ar líon na ndaltaí i scoil oileánda ina chúis leis an dara nó an tríú post múinteora rangsheomra sa scoil a chailliúint i scoileanna eile i gcoitinne.
Maidir leis an dara post príomhshrutha ní mór líon iomlán d'ochtar daltaí nó os a chionn sin a bheith sa scoil agus an scoil sin a bheith ar an aon bhunscoil amháin atá fágtha ar an oileán. Maidir leis an tríú post príomhshrutha, is é an tairseach ná 45 dalta nó os a chionn sin ar an rolla sa scoil agus caithfidh an scoil sin a bheith ar an aon bhunscoil amháin atá fágtha ar an oileán. Cuirtear feabhas ar na leibhéil foirnithe sna scoileanna beaga leis na socruithe foirne don scoilbhliain reatha. Tugadh tairseacha feabhsaithe ceapacháin agus coinneála isteach don scoilbhliain 2015/16 do scoileanna aon oide atá scartha amach ó scoileanna eile. Áit a mbíodh líon de 20 dalta ar an rolla ag teastáil ó scoil aon oide a bhí scartha amach ó scoileanna eile chun go gceapfaí an dara oide, anois tá sé seo laghdaithe go 15 dhalta.
The 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.
Within these arrangements there is special provision for island schools that take account of the circumstances that arise in relation to providing education in an island setting. This special provision means that unlike the generality of schools, in the event that a reduction in the pupil numbers of an island school will result in the loss of the second or third classroom teaching post in the school, the post may be retained subject to certain pupil retention levels.
In the case of the second mainstream post the total number of pupils must be at 8 or above and the school must be the only primary school remaining on the island. In the case of the third mainstream post, the enrolment threshold is 45 for the only primary school on the island.
The staffing arrangements for the current school year provide an improvement to the staffing levels of small schools. Improved appointment and retention thresholds for isolated one teacher schools were introduced for the 2015/16 school year. Where previously an isolated one teacher school would have required an enrolment of 20 pupils in order to appoint a second teacher, this has now been reduced to 15 pupils.
309. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills to ensure the requirement that faith formation in State funded schools is confined to a distinct period of time, not permeated throughout the school day and taught after core school hours so that parents can choose if their children receive religious instruction in a particular religion; to avoid the community national school model of schools which segregate children during the school day and fail to treat children of all beliefs and none with equal respect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10301/16]
View answer311. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills to promote faith formation to the end or start of the school day to allow families to opt in as opposed to forcing families to opt out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10303/16]
View answer312. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills to develop and issue clear guidelines in order that children of any faith and none who wish to opt out of a patron’s religious instruction have the right and opportunity to do so in all schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10304/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions 309, 311 and 312 together.
Religious education is one of the seven curricular areas of the Primary Curriculum and schools are currently required to allocate thirty minutes per day for religious instruction. However, unlike other subject areas, the content of the religious curriculum provided by schools is not set by my Department. The Education Act recognises the rights of the different church authorities to design curricula in religious education and to supervise their teaching and implementation. This means that the content of the religious education programme in a particular primary school is determined by the patron of the school.
This is similar to post primary level, where a programme of religious instruction approved by the school patron may be offered. However, post primary schools also have the option of using the Religious Education curriculum which has been designed as an examinable subject at Junior and Leaving Certificate by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA). The NCCA syllabuses are academic in nature. They are concerned with understanding religion as a phenomenon in the world and are designed to be studied by students of all religious faiths and of none. A new specification for Junior Cycle Religious Education will be introduced for first year students from September 2019 and assessed in 2022 for the first time.
Under the Constitution and in accordance with the Education Act 1998, parents have a right to have their children opt out of religion classes if they wish. The practical arrangements to accommodate children whose parents have chosen this option are a matter for each individual school to arrange locally. As part of the programme for government is a commitment to publish a new school Admissions and Excellence legislation taking account current draft proposals, which included a provision for schools to indicate in their enrolment policies how they would facilitate requests to opt out of religious instruction.
You should also note that in January of this year Rule 68 of the Rules for National Schools was rescinded. The Rule, which dates from 1965, refers to religious instruction as by far the most important part of the school curriculum and provides that a religious spirit should "inform and vivify the whole work of the school."
In relation to the reference to Community National Schools (CNS), I can advise that CNS are multi-denominational schools which welcome children of all faiths and none. A multi-belief Religious Education programme entitled Goodness Me! Goodness You! (GMGY) provides for the delivery of religious education and faith nurturing in the CNSs. GMGY caters for children of all faith and belief perspectives, with content appropriate for both theist and non-theist perspectives. The GMGY core programme is taught to all children in one group irrespective of their belief. For three to four weeks each year, during the two and a half hours per week allocated for religious education, faith and belief-specific teaching is provided to children whose parents have opted for them to receive such teaching.
310. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to diversify patronage arrangements in order that it is easier for schools to change patrons while continuing to increase the number of multi-denominational and non-denominational schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10302/16]
View answerThe Government is committed to progressing the patronage divesting process to provide greater choice to parents in areas of stable population, as well as ensuring that parental preferences are key to patronage decisions on new schools established in areas of demographic growth. Since 2011, the arrangements for the establishment of new schools in areas of growing population result in the majority of these having a multi-denominational ethos. In this regard, 39 of the 42 new schools (24 primary schools and 18 post-primary schools) have a multi-denominational ethos.
The Programme for a Partnership Government reflects the Government's objective of strengthening parental choice and further expanding diversity in our school system, specifically by increasing the number of non-denominational and multi-denominational schools with a view to reaching 400 by 2030.
In addition to the phased transfer of Catholic schools to new patrons already under way, this will require considering new ideas and new approaches to substantially accelerate the changes in school provision in order to achieve greater diversity. The Government is committed to working with all stakeholders to facilitate this process and I will be progressing these matters as a priority.
