Written Answers Nos. 118-132
118. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 120 of 16 June 2016, to address the question in respect of publishing or otherwise setting out the legal advice available to his Department in respect of repealing section 7(3)(c) of the Equal Status Act 2000. [17704/16]
View answerThe primary way in which I am seeking to deliver greater diversity in educational choice is by delivering a total of 400 non-denominational and multi-denominational schools by 2030. This will provide greater choice and diversity. This is a trebling of the rate of delivery of these schools.
The new School Admissions Bill will make the process of enrolling children in schools easier for parents. Following a process of consultation with opposition parties, it is my intention to publish the new Admissions Bill during the current Dáil session. It is important to note that 80% of schools are not oversubscribed. The new Bill will oblige all schools to admit pupils where there are available places.
It is recognised that any change to the Equal Status Act would be extremely difficult as this is a hugely complex area legally, constitutionally, and in other ways. It should be noted that the previous School Admissions Bill introduced by the previous Minister for Education did not include any provision to amend the Equal Status Act.
The previous Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills, which received written submissions and conducted hearings during pre-legislative scrutiny, noted the significant constitutional difficulties in this area. The Committee's final report concluded that the provisions of the constitution "poses a particular difficulty when legislating in this policy area."
I am keen to discuss this very complex issue with the Oireachtas Committee at the earliest opportunity.
119. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the situation whereby banks are refusing to make student finance available to those wishing to study graduate entry medicine, as the remuneration newly qualified doctors are in receipt of is insufficient to cover the cost of the repayment of this debt; if he will consider introducing a student loan scheme for graduate medical students to improve participation rates for those from lower income households; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17705/16]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware students who qualify for entry to the Graduate Entry Medicine (GEM) programme are liable for the cost of their tuition fees as they already hold an undergraduate qualification. However, the costs for EU students are partly subsidised by the State through a grant provided by the Higher Education Authority. For the 2015/16 academic year the subsidy was €9,500 per student.
In addition, as GEM students already hold an undergraduate qualification, they are not liable for assistance under my Department's Student Grant Scheme. Students in third-level institutions experiencing exceptional financial need can apply for support under the Student Assistance Fund. This Fund assists students, in a sensitive and compassionate manner, who might otherwise be unable to continue their third level studies due to their financial circumstances. Details of this fund are available from the Access Office in the third level institution attended.
Also, 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.
Finally, as the Deputy will be aware, an Expert Group was established by the last government to examine funding arrangements more generally in the higher education sector, including student support mechanisms. The Expert Group has completed its work and its report will shortly be considered. As signalled in the Programme for Government, it is the intention to consult the cross-party Oireachtas Committee as part of the process for formulating a plan for the future of this sector.
120. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the value of the State subsidy to private schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17707/16]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is being compiled and will be forwarded as soon as it is available.
121. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the amount of money provided under the Revised Estimates for 2016 in order to address demographic increases in the school population; if this figure is included in the Revised Estimates or addressed separately; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17709/16]
View answerThe costs arising from demographic increases in the school population must be met from within the Revised Estimates for my Department for 2016, which the House debated on 15th June.
Specific provision was made as part of Budget 2016 to provide for certain costs in the school system arising from increased demographics.
An additional allocation of some €58 million was included in the Estimates, primarily to cover the costs of around 810 additional mainstream teachers and additional capitation arising from demographic increases.
Demographic increases also account in part for increased levels of demand for resource teachers and special needs assistants for children with special educational needs. Budget 2016 provided some €64 million for an estimated 600 additional resource teachers and I recently announced an increase in the number of Special Needs Assistants to 12,900.
122. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated costs in terms of both current and capital spending, to provide for estimated demographic increases over each of the ten years for the higher education sector, assuming that service remains at an equivalent level to the current level of provision; if he has included this figure in the €500 million in additional spending under the programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17710/16]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, current demographic patterns will drive an increase in demand for higher education in the coming years. My Department publishes projections each year of enrolments at primary and second level and of demand for higher education for the following 15 - 18 year period. These projections are available on my Department's website.
Current projections envisage the demand for fulltime higher education at both undergraduate and postgraduate level will be 17.3% higher in 2026/27 than 2014/15 (last year of published student numbers).
The following table provides an estimate of the additional State funding required over the next ten year period to accommodate likely growth in numbers assuming that service is to remain at current levels of provision.
In relation to current funding, the HEA block grant provided some €4,800 per full-time equivalent student in 2015 and this is used as the baseline funding level. In relation to capital funding, it is estimated that continuing growth will generate a demand for new accommodation of at least €1 billion over the next fifteen years. The Deputy may wish to note that, given the number of variables that must be considered in extrapolating capital costs over a period on an annual basis, we have presented these costs on an average annual basis of €70 million. It should be noted that it is expected that a proportion of this funding would be met through non-state sources.
I would like to assure the Deputy that the Government is committed to investment in education and training. Specific allocations in the Department's estimates for 2017 and later years will be determined in the context of agreeing budgets for those years. In line with the enhanced role which is envisaged for the Dáil in the budgetary process, information will be made available to the House on the policy choices available to Government, the draft allocation of new expenditure and the projected impact of policy changes.
Table: Estimated Costs for Demographics
|
Year |
Current Cost (m) |
Capital Cost (m) |
|
2017 |
€10.8 |
€70 |
|
2018 |
€11.1 |
€70 |
|
2019 |
€11.3 |
€70 |
|
2020 |
€12.6 |
€70 |
|
2021 |
€14.3 |
€70 |
|
2022 |
€15.3 |
€70 |
|
2023 |
€15.4 |
€70 |
|
2024 |
€12.2 |
€70 |
|
2025 |
€13.4 |
€70 |
|
2026 |
€21.9 |
€70 |
1. Projections: Department of Education and Skills, Projections of Demand for Full Time Third Level Education 2015 - 2029, Scenario S2 used.
2. Current cost estimates are based on Full-time Equivalent student numbers in HEA-funded institutions. Please note that HEIs supplement state funding with student contributions, tuition fees and other income sources. These estimates relate only to the estimated additional cost to the State assuming that the student contribution remains at €3,000 and the proportion of state:non-state funding remains constant.
3. Capital costs are estimated average annual costs over the period.
4. These figures do not include any additional costs to the student support budget.
123. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills to provide details of the estimated costs associated with the establishment of each of the technological universities, over the next five year period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17711/16]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the new Programme for Government outlines that this new Government will continue to support the creation of Technological Universities.
There are currently four consortia engaged with the process to become designated as TUs. These are TU4Dublin (Dublin Institute of Technology, Institute of Technology Tallaght, Institute of Technology Blanchardstown), Technological University for the South-East (TUSE – consisting of Waterford Institute of Technology and Institute of Technology Carlow), Munster Technological University (MTU – consisting of Cork Institute of Technology and Institute of Technology Tralee) and the Connacht Ulster Alliance (CUA – consisting of Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, Institute of Technology Sligo and Letterkenny Institute of Technology).
Future Funding for landscape re-configuration in the Higher Education sector: it is recognised that these changes to the landscape of Irish higher education carry some up-front additional costs and the HEA has provided for a fund to support HEIs with these costs. In terms of additional financial support, having regard to the benefits that will arise for the institutions, students and the higher education system more generally, the HEA has provided funding in 2013, 2014 and 2015 to provide some support to institutions involved in the TU process, the details of which are set out for each consortium below.
In relation to 2016, the HEA have ring-fenced a level of funding to support costs arising from the continuation of landscape reform projects as part of the implementation of the National Strategy for Higher Education. This funding, of up to €8.7m in 2016, includes a specific €2 million allocated in Budget 2016 to support Technological University projects. This funding will be allocated by the HEA to the various landscape reform projects in due course.
The HEA has also invited further submissions for funding support in respect of the costs arising from mergers as part of the implementation of the National Strategy for Higher Education. The total funding available in this call is c. €3.75 million. Not all of this funding is for Technological Universities as there are also other mergers taking place in Higher Education, i.e. NUIG/ St. Angela's College, Sligo and DCU/ St. Patrick's College, Drumcondra/ Mater Dei Institute of Education.
Costs:Summary of Overall Costs to date and projections for 2016: Costs incurred to End 2015:
|
Technological Universities |
€ |
|
TU4 Dublin |
€3,113,000 |
|
MTU |
€1,053,026 |
|
TUSE |
€495,655 |
|
CUA |
€400,000 |
|
Total |
€5,061,681 |
Estimate for 2016:
|
Technological Universities |
€ |
|
TU4 Dublin |
€2,200,000 |
|
MTU |
€2,100,000 |
|
TUSE |
To be fully determined as part of the Stage 2 Application process |
|
CUA |
To be fully determined as part of the Stage 2 Application process |
|
Total |
€4,300,000 |
Future projections for the overall costs of all of the projects will only be fully determined as part of the Stage 4 Application process. Position of Technological Universities Bill:
The first Government Legislative Programme of this new Partnership Government was published on 8 June 2016, and the Technological Universities Bill has been restored to the Dáil Order Paper at Committee Stage.
I recognise that there were a significant number of matters raised in respect of the Bill at both Committee and Report Stage. It is my intention to now consult with all of the relevant stakeholders in relation to both the matters raised during the legislative process and the commitments contained in the Programme for Government.
Following the finalisation of this consultation process I will then advance the legislation having determined a position in relation to any matters raised as part of this consultation process.
124. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills why the Revised Estimates contain a reduction of 2,000 students in terms of the output targets for school transport; if sufficient funding has been allocated in order to address demographic pressures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17712/16]
View answerThe purpose of the 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.
The estimated reduction in output targets for school transport reflects the impact of the changes to the school transport scheme which were introduced at the commencement of the 2011/12 school year.
School transport is a demand led service and eligible children who apply on time and submit payment details on time will continue to be facilitated under the terms of the Scheme.
125. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the review being carried out by the State Examinations Commission into the reasonable accommodation for certificate examinations scheme is open to public consultation; when the review is due to conclude; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17713/16]
View answerI am advised that the State Examinations Commission (SEC) is currently undertaking an operational review of the Scheme of Reasonable Accommodations in the Certificate examinations at the request of its Board.
This ongoing operational review is focussing in the first instance on:
the nature and timing of decision making regarding applications for reasonable accommodations;
the provision of comprehensive information about access arrangements to applicants and their parents;
and making better use of assistive technology to enable candidates to access the examinations while at the same time enhancing integrity and reducing the administrative and logistical demands on schools
I am further advised that the SEC has commenced a programme of consultation with stakeholders on this initial phase of the review, including those who represent students with special educational needs. The SEC envisages that this phase of the review will be completed by the end of the summer.
126. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the length of each of the vacancies within the National Educational Psychology Service that are currently vacant for over two months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17714/16]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that my Department's National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) provides educational psychology service to all primary and post primary schools through an assigned NEPS psychologist and in some cases for assessment services through the Scheme for Commissioning Psychological Assessments (SCPA) a panel of private practitioners maintained for this purpose.
My Department, over the course of recent economic difficulties, has not only maintained psychologist staffing levels within NEPS, but has increased them by some 10% since late 2008, to 162 whole time equivalent psychologists currently employed. While the numbers of psychologists have steadily increased over the past ten years despite expenditure constraints, the numbers of pupils enrolled in school has also grown rapidly.
The Programme for a Partnership Government commits that we will invest additional resources in the National Educational Psychological Service to ensure earlier intervention and access for young children and teenagers and to offer immediate support to schools in cases of critical incidents. The Programme commits to bring the total number of NEPS psychologists to 238 from the current sanctioned limit of 173.
NEPS provides service to schools via a network of some 23 local and regional offices serving schools in their respective catchment areas. Vacancies most commonly occur within these offices through the resignation or retirement of psychologist staff and are filled through the application of an internal staff transfer mechanism (which moves the vacancy to the location of the staff member transferring in) and ultimately through appointment of a new psychologist from a regional panel maintained by the Public Appointments Service for this purpose.
Currently there are 8 psychologist posts vacant within NEPS for more than two months (specifically one vacancy for 10, 9, 7 and 5 months, a further two vacancies for 3 months and two for 2 months). As stated above schools affected by these vacancies are afforded access to the SCPA panel for assessment services and may treat in respect of other service needs with their local NEPS office.
My Department is actively engaged with the Public Appointments Service to recruit psychologists to NEPS from the existing regional panels of qualified professionals developed for this purpose and it is envisaged that most of these posts will be filled in the immediate future. Where these panels prove unable to satisfy local recruitment requirements I can inform the Deputy that arrangements are being put in place to run a new national recruitment competition in late summer/early autumn to answer all current and medium term needs of the NEPS service.
127. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the terms of reference of the review of the special needs assistance scheme due to be carried out by the National Council for Special Education; if the review will be open to public consultation; when the review plans to conclude; if a report will be submitted to him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17715/16]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that on 14th June, 2016, I announced that 860 additional Special Needs Assistants will be available for allocation to schools over the period September to December 2016, a 7% increase, in order to meet the level of identified demand.
This will bring the total number of Special Needs Assistants to 12,900, at a total gross annual cost of €425m. This increase reflects the growing participation of children with Special Needs and will support their full participation and progression within the educational system.
I also announced, at that time, that the Government has decided to proceed with a comprehensive assessment of the SNA Scheme, to be carried out by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE). The aim of this process will be to provide better outcomes for students with special educational needs and to ensure that we are making the best form of investment for children with special needs.
The terms of reference and timeframes for this assessment are currently being developed. On completion of the assessment the NCSE will submit its report and recommendations to me.
I can confirm that consultation with relevant stakeholders will form a significant part of this comprehensive assessment.
128. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills to provide a breakdown by county of the amount of money provided for the purposes of upskilling young persons between 18 and 24 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17719/16]
View answer129. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills to provide a breakdown of the amount of funding allocated by his Department in each of the years 2006 to 2016 to date to each education and training board, for the purposes of providing training programmes to young persons between 18 and 24 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17720/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 128 and 129 together.
The data requested on funding by county for the 18 to 24 year age cohort is not available.
My Department provides funding, through SOLAS, for a range of Further Education and Training programmes which includes courses for this age cohort. In 2016, SOLAS will provide funding of €580 million delivering programmes to approximately 340,000 beneficiaries.
Further Education and Training programmes available to 18 to 24 year olds includes Youthreach, Community Training Workshops, Apprenticeships, Momentum, Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme and Post Leaving Certificate.
130. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills to provide a breakdown of the amount of funding allocated by his Department to each third level institution in each of the years 2006 to 2016 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17721/16]
View answerMy Department allocates the recurrent funding to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for direct disbursement to the HEA designated higher education institutions. The HEA allocates the funding to institutions and it is then a matter for the individual institution as to how that funding is allocated internally.
Details on the total recurrent funding allocated by the HEA to each of the higher education institutions under its designation, for the years 2006 to 2016, is set out in the following tables. It should be noted that not all of the 2016 funding is fully allocated at this time by the HEA. Allocations for nursing was transferred to my Department from the Department of Health mid-way through the relevant time period (2011) and are provided separately.
Details on recurrent funding allocated to the Universities and Colleges by the HEA:
|
- |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
|
UCD |
€178,320,084 |
€179,163,775 |
€186,406,034 |
€175,580,384 |
€152,618,765 |
€140,918,644 |
€130,708,517 |
€118,258,430 |
€107,274,187 |
€103,054,271 |
€51,619,304 |
|
UCC |
€119,788,388 |
€127,081,062 |
€138,329,285 |
€126,788,998 |
€116,020,076 |
€107,676,193 |
€97,689,915 |
€90,220,765 |
€78,553,310 |
€78,454,453 |
€36,111,812 |
|
NUIG |
€94,002,720 |
€103,800,615 |
€110,083,782 |
€106,289,631 |
€97,274,154 |
€92,322,923 |
€88,340,795 |
€81,118,185 |
€72,050,288 |
€68,486,800 |
€31,367,779 |
|
NUIM |
€46,140,306 |
€48,475,581 |
€54,255,871 |
€52,293,097 |
€49,316,330 |
€47,243,686 |
€44,118,275 |
€42,733,739 |
€42,382,222 |
€42,784,630 |
€16,744,267 |
|
TCD |
€126,891,601 |
€131,553,349 |
€135,135,916 |
€128,620,220 |
€111,991,152 |
€102,184,432 |
€96,238,695 |
€86,207,972 |
€81,876,915 |
€77,212,015 |
€39,362,410 |
|
UL |
€70,961,614 |
€77,694,875 |
€82,197,708 |
€82,046,156 |
€74,734,542 |
€69,141,761 |
€70,917,254 |
€59,496,665 |
€61,759,162 |
€58,547,904 |
€26,669,780 |
|
MIC |
€18,955,679 |
€19,299,674 |
€21,315,416 |
€20,103,411 |
€19,556,053 |
€18,025,496 |
€17,495,695 |
€14,351,279 |
€14,258,669 |
€15,925,819 |
€6,517,482 |
|
DCU |
€51,734,143 |
€55,055,874 |
€59,060,434 |
€53,712,276 |
€51,393,803 |
€45,544,108 |
€45,687,282 |
€44,855,641 |
€39,373,650 |
€41,546,094 |
€19,264,382 |
|
SPD |
€17,230,687 |
€18,752,667 |
€20,536,933 |
€18,635,585 |
€18,128,638 |
€15,925,591 |
€15,288,764 |
€13,170,860 |
€13,560,086 |
€15,070,167 |
€6,011,093 |
|
NCAD |
€12,721,575 |
€12,848,226 |
€13,815,578 |
€12,753,171 |
€11,643,724 |
€11,405,067 |
€10,408,654 |
€9,800,664 |
€8,921,100 |
€11,181,953 |
€4,996,612 |
|
Mater Dei |
€3,656,460 |
€3,706,307 |
€3,912,471 |
€3,547,046 |
€3,435,372 |
€3,182,001 |
€2,984,027 |
€2,703,593 |
€2,345,963 |
€2,310,608 |
€1,278,702 |
|
RCSI |
€2,485,275 |
€4,118,700 |
€3,567,171 |
€4,766,230 |
€4,215,098 |
€5,680,086 |
€5,368,276 |
€4,727,339 |
€5,073,271 |
€4,536,947 |
Not yet allocated |
|
St. Angela's |
€3,649,000 |
€3,875,228 |
€4,824,272 |
€5,409,591 |
€4,927,149 |
€4,576,815 |
€4,436,441 |
€4,290,283 |
€3,793,079 |
€3,929,562 |
€1,793,681 |
Note: Not all 2016 funding fully allocated.
Details on recurrent funding allocated to the Institutes of Technology by the HEA:
|
- |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
|
Athlone IoT |
€25,836,591 |
€27,944,407 |
€28,801,168 |
€27,274,039 |
€24,463,775 |
€22,270,540 |
€22,037,043 |
€20,333,589 |
€18,676,960 |
€18,519,461 |
€16,675,784 |
|
IoT Blanchardstown |
€11,991,159 |
€13,439,092 |
€14,181,157 |
€13,802,012 |
€12,398,694 |
€12,170,407 |
€11,738,841 |
€11,027,510 |
€10,808,027 |
€10,804,996 |
€9,220,896 |
|
IoT Carlow |
€22,048,433 |
€24,419,814 |
€26,132,798 |
€23,754,525 |
€22,183,222 |
€21,415,948 |
€20,558,751 |
€19,238,988 |
€18,232,215 |
€18,298,640 |
€16,279,069 |
|
Cork IoT |
€60,630,797 |
€62,327,999 |
€64,951,915 |
€61,029,357 |
€56,376,231 |
€52,445,867 |
€52,806,512 |
€46,764,041 |
€42,531,313 |
€42,857,049 |
€37,661,125 |
|
Dundalk IoT |
€25,500,103 |
€27,166,036 |
€27,840,114 |
€26,112,538 |
€24,880,561 |
€22,652,980 |
€22,735,828 |
€18,299,602 |
€17,441,331 |
€16,776,488 |
€15,020,442 |
|
Dun Laoghaire IAD&T |
€14,221,659 |
€14,916,545 |
€15,527,900 |
€14,606,016 |
€14,345,842 |
€12,762,016 |
€11,600,137 |
€10,213,377 |
€9,767,418 |
€9,106,588 |
€7,739,405 |
|
Galway-Mayo IoT |
€39,790,923 |
€42,821,968 |
€44,278,733 |
€41,554,909 |
€36,516,796 |
€33,824,463 |
€31,486,776 |
€28,361,136 |
€26,550,492 |
€25,925,083 |
€22,601,200 |
|
Letterkenny IoT |
€17,215,765 |
€18,237,914 |
€22,820,050 |
€21,600,597 |
€19,575,448 |
€17,616,609 |
€15,341,440 |
€13,541,270 |
€12,849,304 |
€12,441,653 |
€11,408,502 |
|
Limerick IoT |
€27,552,821 |
€30,307,080 |
€32,146,002 |
€30,246,253 |
€27,409,700 |
€26,375,357 |
€25,058,243 |
€23,066,002 |
€21,209,330 |
€21,507,584 |
€24,402,335 |
|
IoT Sligo |
€26,963,493 |
€29,309,747 |
€30,549,022 |
€28,681,698 |
€26,084,698 |
€24,856,141 |
€23,133,215 |
€21,919,223 |
€20,898,401 |
€20,539,198 |
€17,854,988 |
|
IoT Tallaght |
€22,816,250 |
€24,800,743 |
€25,647,926 |
€24,373,809 |
€21,719,059 |
€20,659,938 |
€19,200,640 |
€16,184,435 |
€15,277,575 |
€15,317,463 |
€13,425,853 |
|
IOT Tralee |
€20,179,968 |
€23,222,155 |
€23,374,665 |
€22,108,232 |
€20,027,035 |
€18,185,021 |
€16,332,904 |
€14,045,780 |
€12,799,436 |
€12,557,335 |
€11,217,037 |
|
TRBDI * |
€7,567,000 |
€7,057,500 |
€6,865,000 |
not yet allocated |
|||||||
|
Waterford IoT |
€44,208,064 |
€48,651,048 |
€50,338,226 |
€47,142,985 |
€41,691,142 |
€40,200,510 |
€37,993,938 |
€35,163,572 |
€31,850,958 |
€30,435,597 |
€26,460,308 |
|
D.I.T. |
€128,126,865 |
€133,716,540 |
€137,877,041 |
€129,264,031 |
€114,087,178 |
€104,015,483 |
€96,610,916 |
€84,786,615 |
€75,451,639 |
€72,900,292 |
€61,903,056 |
|
Killybegs ** |
€3,222,769 |
€3,572,011 |
€26,251 |
Note: Not all 2016 funding fully allocated
* TRBDI linked to Limerick IoT from 2013 onwards
** funding for Killybegs provided through Letterkenny IoT from 2008/09 onwards
Details on recurrent funding allocation in respect of Nursing:
|
- |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 (Provisional) |
|
Athlone IoT |
€1,596,238 |
€1,492,169 |
€1,258,639 |
€1,233,727 |
€1,164,189 |
|
Dundalk IoT |
€3,211,757 |
€2,810,658 |
€2,577,836 |
€2,453,515 |
€2,367,141 |
|
Galway-Mayo IoT |
€1,298,264 |
€1,197,792 |
€1,069,988 |
€996,186 |
€923,830 |
|
Letterkenny IoT |
€1,970,091 |
€1,717,617 |
€1,579,377 |
€1,523,392 |
€1,409,572 |
|
IT Tralee |
€2,114,324 |
€1,910,900 |
€1,701,815 |
€1,574,355 |
€1,586,558 |
|
Waterford IoT |
€3,140,067 |
€2,695,159 |
€2,508,504 |
€2,448,144 |
€2,393,830 |
|
UCD |
€8,086,974 |
€6,708,269 |
€6,546,854 |
€6,235,574 |
€6,130,102 |
|
UCC |
€7,237,190 |
€5,780,504 |
€5,800,796 |
€5,549,366 |
€5,307,250 |
|
NUIG |
€3,826,095 |
€2,978,582 |
€2,906,844 |
€2,855,700 |
€2,759,912 |
|
TCD |
€8,917,166 |
€7,289,380 |
€7,599,375 |
€7,065,119 |
€6,981,686 |
|
UL |
€3,764,077 |
€2,960,562 |
€2,839,404 |
€2,733,220 |
€2,605,600 |
|
DCU |
€6,734,518 |
€5,492,172 |
€5,535,286 |
€5,350,830 |
€5,070,171 |
|
St. Angela's |
€1,637,973 |
€1,204,236 |
€1,244,286 |
€1,213,684 |
€1,091,148 |
131. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated costs of restoring the per capita funding at third level to 2010 levels taking into account projected demographic increases in the sector over each of the next five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17722/16]
View answerThe overall level of core funding resources in the higher education sector (from the state, student contributions, tuition fees and other income sources) has remained reasonably stable since 2010. However, the significant increase in student numbers has resulted in a decrease in the level of funding resource per student. It is estimated that at current student numbers, it would cost in the region of €240 million to restore the level of resource per student to 2010 levels. In addition, an estimate of the additional State funding required over the next five year period to accommodate likely growth in numbers is detailed in the following table.
Table 1: Core Income of HEA-funded HEIs
|
Year |
Total Core Funding |
Student Numbers (FTE) |
Funding per Student |
|
2010 |
€1,871 |
173,417 |
€10,789 |
|
2011 |
€1,850 |
177,780 |
€10,406 |
|
2012 |
€1,881 |
181,960 |
€10,337 |
|
2013 |
€1,840 |
183,809 |
€10,010 |
|
2014 |
€1,802 |
187,421 |
€9,615 |
|
2015 |
€1,831 |
192,294 |
€9,522 |
Table 2: Estimates Costs for Restoration and Demographics
|
Year |
Current Cost (m) |
|
Restore per capita levels |
€240 |
|
2017 |
€12.3 |
|
2018 |
€12.6 |
|
2019 |
€12.8 |
|
2020 |
€14.4 |
|
2021 |
€16.2 |
1. Total Core Funding takes account of income from the state block grant, student contributions, tuition fees and other income sources.
2. Cost estimates are based on Full-time equivalent student numbers in HEA-funded institutions.
3. Direct comparisons between the block grant funding per student in 2010 and 2016 are difficult as increases in the student contribution were matched by decreases in the block grant.
4. In the order of €240 million would be required to bring the overall per capita amount to 2010 levels i.e. from €9,522 to €10,789.
5. The estimates provided for 2017 - 2021 take account of demographic increases costed at 2010 level of funding per student. Please note that HEIs supplement state funding with student contributions, tuition fees and other income sources. These estimates relate only to the estimated additional cost to the State assuming that the student contribution remains at €3,000 and the proportion of state:non-state funding remains constant.
6. These figures do not include any additional costs to the student support budget.
132. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of appeals to the staffing appeals boards that have been considered in the academic years 2014-2015 and 2015-2016, in tabular form; the criteria under which they were either successful or unsuccessful; the number of schools that met with approval for additional teachers where they did not yet meet the criteria; the level under which they were below the set criteria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17814/16]
View answerThe criteria used for the allocation of teachers to schools is published annually on the Department's 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.
The staffing process includes an appeals mechanism for schools to submit an appeal under certain criteria to an independent Appeals Board. Circular 0007/2016 provides details of the criteria under which schools may submit an appeal.
The information requested by the Deputy on the number of schools which were successful in their appeals is set out in the following table.
Primary Staffing Appeals Board
|
School Year |
No. of Appeals Received |
No. of Appeals Upheld |
|
2014/15 |
535 |
271 |
|
2015/16 |
497 |
284 |
