Written Answers Nos 181-200
181. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Finance to provide the name, position and annual salary awarded to his special advisers; to provide details for requests, if any, for an increase above the special advisers' pay cap as set by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24314/16]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that I have 2 Special Advisors, one who is a Principal Officer in my Department and who has been assigned as Special Advisor, and the other Special Advisor is a political appointment. Below you will find their annual salaries.
|
Name: |
Role: |
Salary: |
|
Sean Kinsella (Principal Officer) |
Special Advisor |
€85,127 |
|
Mary Kenny |
Special Advisor |
€87,258 |
182. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a person (details supplied) is ineligible for a concessionary bus pass to her school. [23674/16]
View answerUnder the terms of my Department's Primary School Transport Scheme children are eligible for transport where they reside not less than 3.2 km from and are attending their nearest national school as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
Bus Éireann has advised that the child in question is not attending her nearest school and is therefore not eligible for school transport.
Bus Éireann has further advised that there is no suitable service on which this child could avail of transport on a concessionary basis.
183. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a school (details supplied) has had its bus service completely cut for 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24306/16]
View answerUnder the terms of my Department's Primary School Transport Scheme a minimum number of ten eligible children residing in a distinct locality, as determined by Bus Éireann, are required before consideration may be given to the retention of a school transport service, provided this can be done within reasonable cost limits.
Bus Éireann has advised that the number of applicants for school transport for the 2016/17 school year, to the school in question, has fallen below this minimum number and as a result the service will not operate for this school year.
In general, families of eligible children will be paid the Remote Area Grant towards the cost of making private transport arrangements.
The terms of the Primary School Transport Scheme are applied equitably on a national basis.
184. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Education and Skills the figures for his Department on the percentage of working days lost to sickness absence through certified leave and uncertified leave in each year from 2011 to 2015, inclusive. [23410/16]
View answerThe requested information is set out in the following table:
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND SKILLS
|
Year |
Percentage of working days lost through certified/uncertified sick leave |
|
2011 |
5.62% |
|
2012 |
4.53% |
|
2013 |
4.55% |
|
2014 |
4.13% |
|
2015 |
4.26% |
185. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of prescribed procedures that he has issued under section 28 of the Education Act 2008; and the number of appeals that have been opened and upheld under the remit of section 28. [23550/16]
View answerSince the commencement of Section 28 of the Education Act, 1998 no Minister has elected to prescribe procedures under that section. It is my intention to take a fresh approach and to seek the approval of the Government for changes to Section 28 that will provide a statutory basis for establishing a Parent and Student Charter which is a commitment within the Programme for Government.
186. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a person (details supplied) was refused SUSI grant based on residency; if the person's history and circumstances were taken into consideration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23557/16]
View answerTo be eligible for a grant, a "student", as defined in Section 14 of the Student Support Act 2011, must demonstrate that he/she has been resident in the State for at least three years out of the five year period ending on the day before the start of his/her approved course of study. The Free Fees Initiative (FFI) has a similar residency requirement.
However, for student grant purposes, it is possible for students who did not meet the residency requirement at the commencement of their studies, to have their eligibility reviewed if they meet the residency requirement during the course of their studies.
Similar and in some cases more restrictive residency requirements apply in other EU Member States.
187. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of former residents who have made applications to Caranua; the number of applications which have been received by Caranua; the number of determinations made by Caranua on applications; the number of former residents who have received assistance from Caranua; the average time between the making of an application and its determination; the average total grant paid per former resident; the average total grant paid per application; and the average total grant paid under each of the following classes: health and personal social services, education services and housing support services; and the level of administrative expenditure including salaries and expenses. [23567/16]
View answerAs I have explained to the Deputy in response to previous Parliamentary Questions, Caranua is an independent statutory body established pursuant to the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act 2012 to support the needs of survivors of residential institutional child abuse. Administrative and operational issues such as those raised in the Deputy's question are day to day matters that are the responsibility of Caranua itself and I have no role in those matters.
I have arranged to have the Deputy's question forwarded to Caranua with a view to having a response provided to her directly as soon as possible.
188. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an appeal to Student Universal Support Ireland by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23576/16]
View answerAs part of a comprehensive customer service and communications strategy provided by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI), to ensure that all necessary avenues are open to applicants to receive the information they need, a dedicated email and phone line service is provided by SUSI for Oireachtas members. This was established to meet an identified need for applicants who choose to engage the assistance of their public representatives in making enquiries about their grant applications.
This service complements the established channels provided by SUSI which include online application tracking, a dedicated website, a telephone help desk, email and social media, including Facebook and Twitter.
Enquiries may be emailed direct to SUSI at oireachtas@susi.ie. Staff in SUSI are responding to email queries within a matter of days.
189. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of school transport buses for children (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23626/16]
View answerUnder the terms of my Department's Primary School Transport Scheme a minimum number of 10 eligible children residing in a distinct locality, as determined by Bus Éireann, are required before consideration may be given to the retention of a school transport service, provided this can be done within reasonable cost limits.
However, families should liaise with their local Bus Éireann office at 066 7164750 if they require additional information on school transport services for the 2016/17 school year.
In general, families of eligible children will be paid the Remote Area Grant towards the cost of making private transport arrangements.
The terms of the Primary School Transport Scheme are applied equitably on a national basis.
190. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a person availing of free transport (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23640/16]
View answerUnder the terms of my Department's Post Primary School Transport Scheme children are eligible for school transport where they reside not less than 4.8 km from and are attending their nearest school as determined by my Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
Bus Éireann has confirmed that the child in question is not attending his nearest school and is therefore not eligible for school transport.
Children who are not eligible for school transport, may apply for transport on a concessionary basis only which is subject to a number of conditions including the availability of spare seats on an existing service and payment of the annual charge. The charge may be paid in two instalments in July and December.
Only children who are eligible for school transport and who hold a valid Medical Card (GMS Scheme) are exempt from paying the annual charge.
The terms of the scheme are applied equitably on a national basis.
191. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education and Skills the works taking place in schools in Dublin this summer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23779/16]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that details of the 197 successful school applicants in Categories 1 and 2 under the Summer Works Scheme (SWS) (2016-2017) were announced on 28th April last. Details of the approved projects, including those for schools in Dublin, are published on my Department's website, www.education.ie.
I wish to advise the Deputy that the SWS will be applied on a multi-annual basis for the years 2016 and 2017.
192. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of primary and post-primary schools in Dublin and the number of primary and post-primary teachers employed in Dublin. [23780/16]
View answerThe information requested by the deputy about the number of schools and teachers in Dublin at Primary level is available in the following table. There are 188 Post Primary schools in Dublin. The information requested about Post Primary teachers is not available.
NUMBER OF SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS IN DUBLIN FOR 2015/2016 ACADEMIC YEAR
|
County |
Schools |
Teaching |
Non-Teaching |
Other Teachers (Full-time |
Total |
|
Teachers |
Principals |
and FTE part-time) |
Teachers |
||
|
Dublin South County |
98 |
1355 |
91 |
598.0 |
2,044 |
|
Dublin City |
189 |
1899 |
174 |
847.0 |
2,920 |
|
Dublin Fingal |
92 |
1367 |
95 |
596.0 |
2,058 |
|
Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown |
62 |
711 |
57 |
275.0 |
1,043 |
|
Total |
441 |
5332 |
417 |
2316.0 |
8065 |
193. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of primary and post-primary schools planned for Dublin between 2016 to 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23781/16]
View answerMy Department carries out nationwide demographic analyses to determine where additional school accommodation is needed at primary and at post-primary level.
In order to cater for the increased demographic need, three new primary schools and four new post-primary schools will open in Dublin in September 2016. Two new primary schools and four new post-primary schools will be established in the Dublin area in 2017. In addition, one new primary school and two new post-primary schools will open in Dublin in 2018.
A range of areas nationwide, including many of the school planning areas in Dublin, are experiencing increased demographic pressure and these are being kept under ongoing review by my Department. This review takes account of updated enrolment and child benefit data and also the impact of existing and planned capacity increases to schools in these areas. Following completion of further demographic analyses, additional schools may open nationwide in 2019 and 2020, including to serve the Dublin school planning areas.
194. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students who repeated their leaving certificate from 2001 to 2016 in tabular form. [23782/16]
View answerThe information requested by the deputy for the years 2001-2015 is in the following table. Information on repeats in 2016 is not yet available.
Leaving Certificate Repeats by Year
|
Year |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
|
Leaving certificate Repeats |
2543 |
3217 |
3115 |
2818 |
2523 |
1973 |
1880 |
|
Year |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
|
Leaving certificate Repeats |
1778 |
2212 |
2823 |
2946 |
2484 |
2095 |
1768 |
1668 |
Year refers to school year end, i.e 2007 refers to 2006/2007 school year.
Data refers to candidates taking state examinations in June of each year.
195. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education and Skills the annual yield from the annual student registration fee at third level from 2010 to 2016 in tabular form. [23783/16]
View answerThe details sought by the Deputy are not available in my Department, however, based on details available to them, the Higher Education Authority has provided estimates on the amounts received by institutions since 2010 in relation to the Student Contribution (formerly the Student Services Charge), as set out in the following tables:
Estimate
|
HEI |
Total Student Contribution Income, 2015/16 |
Total Student Contribution Income, 2014/15 |
Total Student Contribution Income, 2013/14 |
Total Student Contribution Income, 2012/13 |
Total Student Contribution Income, 2011/12 |
Total Student Services Charge, 2010/11 |
|
UCD |
€40,539,000 |
€36,954,500 |
€33,502,500 |
€29,812,500 |
€26,388,000 |
€19,170,000 |
|
UCC |
€33,720,000 |
€29,768,750 |
€26,455,000 |
€24,216,750 |
€21,974,000 |
€16,377,000 |
|
NUIG |
€28,560,000 |
€25,269,750 |
€23,102,500 |
€21,348,000 |
€18,918,000 |
€13,678,500 |
|
MU |
€21,483,000 |
€17,726,500 |
€14,680,000 |
€12,609,000 |
€10,902,000 |
€7,990,500 |
|
TCD |
€31,059,000 |
€28,520,250 |
€25,767,500 |
€23,143,500 |
€20,414,000 |
€15,039,000 |
|
UL |
€25,275,000 |
€22,244,750 |
€19,897,500 |
€17,757,000 |
€15,232,000 |
€11,512,500 |
|
DCU |
€24,600,000 |
€19,327,000 |
€16,512,500 |
€14,233,500 |
€12,012,000 |
€8,493,000 |
|
NCAD |
€3,045,000 |
€2,697,750 |
€2,110,000 |
€1,665,000 |
€1,501,000 |
€1,102,500 |
|
SPD |
€4,752,000 |
€4,977,500 |
€4,557,500 |
€4,007,250 |
€3,416,000 |
€2,599,500 |
|
MIC |
€8,910,000 |
€6,888,750 |
€6,105,000 |
€5,496,750 |
€4,816,000 |
€3,562,500 |
|
Mater Dei |
€700,500 |
€969,375 |
€846,250 |
€825,750 |
€740,000 |
€531,750 |
|
STAC |
€1,689,000 |
€1,518,000 |
€1,307,500 |
€1,023,750 |
€892,000 |
€636,000 |
|
RCSI |
€1,032,000 |
€948,750 |
€970,000 |
€852,750 |
€726,000 |
€531,000 |
|
Total |
€225,364,500 |
€197,811,625 |
€175,813,750 |
€156,991,500 |
€137,931,000 |
€101,223,750 |
Estimate
|
HEI |
Total Student Contribution 2015-16 |
Total Student Contribution 2014-15 |
Total Student Contribution 2013-14 |
Total Student Contribution 2012-13 |
Total Student Contribution 2011-12 |
Total Student Services Charge, 2010-11 |
|
AIT |
€ 9,363,000 |
€ 9,113,500 |
€8,027,500 |
€ 7,395,750 |
€ 6,412,000 |
€4,813,500 |
|
ITB |
€ 6,414,000 |
€ 5,931,750 |
€5,537,500 |
€ 4,632,750 |
€ 3,696,000 |
€2,458,500 |
|
ITC |
€ 9,948,000 |
€ 8,987,000 |
€8,113,750 |
€ 7,436,250 |
€ 6,360,000 |
€4,995,000 |
|
CIT |
€ 19,749,000 |
€ 17,949,250 |
€15,885,000 |
€ 14,080,500 |
€ 12,292,000 |
€9,544,500 |
|
DIT |
€ 32,655,000 |
€ 29,933,750 |
€26,872,500 |
€ 23,413,500 |
€ 19,908,000 |
€14,461,500 |
|
DKIT |
€ 10,653,000 |
€ 9,652,500 |
€8,685,000 |
€ 7,935,750 |
€ 6,956,000 |
€5,920,500 |
|
IADT |
€ 5,583,000 |
€ 5,038,000 |
€4,762,500 |
€ 4,428,000 |
€ 3,786,000 |
€2,950,500 |
|
GMIT |
€ 14,331,000 |
€ 13,252,250 |
€11,737,500 |
€ 10,738,125 |
€ 9,692,000 |
€7,243,500 |
|
LIT |
€ 13,887,000 |
€ 10,381,250 |
€9,227,500 |
€ 10,170,000 |
€ 8,780,000 |
€6,076,500 |
|
LIT Tipp |
€ - |
€ 2,007,500 |
€1,790,000 |
€ - |
€ - |
€0 |
|
LYIT |
€ 8,157,000 |
€ 7,414,000 |
€6,315,000 |
€ 5,656,500 |
€ 4,820,000 |
€3,448,500 |
|
ITS |
€ 9,975,000 |
€ 9,443,500 |
€9,125,000 |
€ 8,199,000 |
€ 7,272,000 |
€5,667,000 |
|
ITTD |
€ 7,416,000 |
€ 6,792,500 |
€6,302,500 |
€ 5,501,250 |
€ 5,044,000 |
€3,745,500 |
|
ITTra |
€ 6,486,000 |
€ 5,780,500 |
€5,285,000 |
€ 4,909,500 |
€ 4,522,000 |
€3,294,000 |
|
WIT |
€ 16,083,000 |
€ 14,907,750 |
€14,495,000 |
€ 13,133,250 |
€ 11,434,000 |
€9,015,000 |
|
Total |
€ 170,700,000 |
€ 156,585,000 |
€142,161,250 |
€ 127,630,125 |
€ 110,974,000 |
€83,634,000 |
196. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of English language schools and colleges here; and the number of nationalities attending them proportionately by nationality. [23784/16]
View answerThe majority of English language schools in Ireland are privately run. Statistics on the number and nationality of students attending English language schools in Ireland are not maintained by my Department. The Deputy may wish to contact the Garda National Immigration Bureau, which has responsibility for registering non EEA students, in this regard.
However, my Department possesses data on the number of English language schools that are included on the Interim List of Eligible Programmes (ILEP) and/or are registered with ACELS (Accreditation and Co-ordination of English Language Services).
English language schools in Ireland seeking to enrol non EEA students must be listed on the ILEP. The ILEP, which is operated and maintained by the Department of Justice and Equality, is a list of education programmes considered to justify the granting of permission to students to live and work in Ireland. At present there are 126 providers listed on the ILEP.
Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) operates ACELS, a voluntary scheme which grants recognition to English language schools in Ireland annually. Currently, there are 100 English language schools nationwide holding ACELS recognition. It should be noted that many ACELS recognised schools are also listed on the ILEP.
The ILEP process is an interim measure until the introduction of the International Education Mark (IEM) for the provision of education to international learners, which will provide a full quality framework in the future. The measures necessary to facilitate the introduction of the IEM are being progressed by my Department.
197. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the present situation with English language colleges in Dublin; the way they are regulated and audited; the number that ceased trading in the period from 2010 to 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23785/16]
View answerThe period 2010 to 2016 saw the closure of 16 English language providers nationally.
In line with the Government decision of 19 May 2015, a series of reforms to the student immigration system for international education are being implemented.
These reforms, which are being implemented by the Department of Justice and Equality in conjunction with my Department, include the restriction of the list of education programmes considered to justify the granting of permission to students to live and work in Ireland (known as the Interim List of Eligible Programmes – the ILEP).
As part of this new process all providers of English language training wishing to recruit non-EEA students are required to apply to the Department of Justice and Equality for inclusion on the ILEP. All English language providers seeking inclusion on the ILEP have to comply with certain new requirements including declaration of ownership, physical infrastructure, teacher qualifications, attendance rates, compulsory exam registration policies and maximum class size. They also need to have compulsory learner protection arrangements in place and a separate account facility to safeguard student advance payments. The first full iteration of the ILEP was published by the Department of Justice and Equality on 20th January 2016. The ILEP is updated at regular intervals by that Department.
For all providers, their listing on the ILEP is contingent on their ongoing compliance with immigration rules and continuing to meet the other conditions required. Providers will be subject to unannounced inspections, spot checks and other monitoring of compliance.
The implementation of these reforms will help to improve the overall quality of Ireland's offering to international students, promote protection for learners and enhance Ireland's reputation, strongly in line with the goals of Ireland's international education strategy.
The ILEP process is an interim measure until the introduction of the International Education Mark (IEM) for the provision of education to international learners, which will provide a full quality framework in the future. The measures necessary to facilitate the introduction of the IEM are being progressed by my Department.
198. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education and Skills the annual spend on research and development in respect of English language education here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23786/16]
View answer199. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education and Skills the annual expenditure with regard to the marketing of English language education here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23787/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 198 and 199 together.
As part of Ireland's International Education Strategy 2010 - 2015, Fáilte Ireland has been responsible for the promotion of the English language training (ELT) sector. Fáilte Ireland has promoted the English language sector as part of their overall tourism promotional efforts. Therefore it is not possible to proportion what monies were spent directly on English Language promotion. My Department has provided €70,000 per year to Fáilte Ireland over the course of the 2010 - 2015 strategy to provide for English Language training scholarships for teachers in our core markets.
A group comprising of representatives from Fáilte Ireland, Enterprise Ireland, Tourism Ireland, industry groups and my Department is currently involved in developing a shared growth strategy to maximise the economic growth of the ELT sector.
This group aims to create an overarching vision and five-year strategy for the ELT sector. Research was conducted as part of developing the ELT strategy and pointed to a need for a clear and coordinated approach by all stakeholders in the ELT sector, with clear connectivity to the Higher Education sector, in order to be able to market Ireland as a destination for international students. It was identified that there is an opportunity to view the ELT product as part of the broader international education package that Ireland has to offer.
To address these issues, as part of the Government's new International Education Strategy (2016-2020), which is due to be published by my Department shortly, we will work towards ensuring that Ireland's education offerings, including the ELT sector, are promoted in a more cohesive way.
200. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of chaplains employed in post-primary and third level education here; the cost to his Department of chaplaincies in training; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23788/16]
View answerIn relation to the third level sector, my Department allocates recurrent funding to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for direct disbursement to the HEA designated higher education institutions. The HEA allocates this funding to the institutions and the internal disbursement of this funding, along with funding it receives from private sources, is then a matter for the individual institution. Most third level institutions provide chaplaincy services for their student body and decisions on such provision is a matter for the individual institutions as autonomous bodies.
The HEA recently carried out a survey on chaplaincy services in the higher education sector which showed that the majority of institutions offer some form of chaplaincy service and that there is significant variation in the approach to chaplaincy services in the sector. Approaches include the appointment of chaplains as full-time members of staff, agreements with a particular church, internal multi-faith functions and additional remit for existing lecturing staff. The survey showed that the cost of providing chaplaincy services across the higher education sector is estimated at €1.7m per annum.
At post primary level, my Department allocates chaplain posts to Community and Comprehensive Schools and designated Community Colleges. There are currently 154 whole time equivalent chaplain posts allocated to these schools. The annual cost is approximately €9.5m.
The appointment of Catholic or Protestant chaplains to these schools flow from the original agreements concluded when the schools concerned were established. The chaplains are not necessarily teachers of religion and perform pastoral and counselling roles. Under current arrangements they can teach a minimum number of hours and subject to their individual qualifications this may be for subjects other than religion.
