Written Answers Nos. 375 - 403
375. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department is in a position to provide further funding for the Ballymun Music Programme, an initiative co-funded by DIT; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24800/16]
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.
The Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) Ballymun Music Programme (originally the Ballymun Wind Band Project) grew out of a 'Breaking the Cycle' Initiative, funded by the Department of Education and Skills and Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) in St Joseph's Primary Schools in Ballymun in 1996. I am aware that initiatives such as the DIT Ballymun Music Programme play an enormous role in providing children with access to non-mainstream music education.
My Department is very committed to the implementation of the objectives outlined in the Arts in Education Charter, which was published in 2012, and has consequently made a number of significant commitments, both of a financial and staffing nature, to various initiatives outlined therein on the advice and recommendations of the Charter Implementation Group. It is very important that the initiatives outlined in the Charter continue to be supported while also being cognisant of limited resources available.
The Department of Education and Skills also established a Committee for Non-Mainstream Department of Education and Skills funded Music Education. It was allocated a fund of €50,000 to provide bursaries for non-mainstream music initiatives in 2016. The Committee sought applications for the bursary. Over 70 applications were received. A sub-group of the Committee considered the applications. It was decided to provide bursaries to 25 initiatives. The DIT Ballymun Music Programme was a recipient of a bursary €10,000 earlier this year which I presented myself to Ron Cooney, the Programme Manager for this initiative.
Unfortunately it is not possible to provide additional financial support to the DIT Ballymun Music Programme at the present time.
376. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of serving and retired Deputies and Senators in receipt of a teacher's pension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25074/16]
View answerDetails of other employments, either prior to or subsequent to the award of a teacher's pension are not recorded on the Retired Teacher Payroll of my Department as the information is not required for the ongoing payment of pension. Regrettably therefore it is not possible to provide the information sought by the Deputy.
377. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an application by a person (details supplied) for home tuition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25283/16]
View answerThe purpose of the Home tuition scheme is to provide a compensatory educational service for children who, for a number of reasons such as chronic illness, are unable to attend school. The scheme also provides a compensatory educational service for children with special educational needs seeking an educational placement. Provision is also made for early for early intervention for children with autism.
Eligibility in this regard is determined in consultation with the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) through the local Special Educational Needs Organiser (SENO).
An application for Home Tuition for the child referred to by the Deputy was received in Special Education Section of my Department on 29 August. This application has now been processed and home Tuition Provision has been approved. A letter has issued to the parents of the child.
378. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will review the main scheme non-pay allocation to Dublin and Dún Laoghaire education board which has been capped at 2012 levels; if he is aware that student numbers have increased by 3,000 since this point; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24365/16]
View answerThe context for certain budget measures in recent years was the need to reduce Government expenditure so that the country's finances could be stabilised and brought back to affordable levels.
The improvements in the economy have now started to result in some improvements in the funding levels for the ETB sector.
Some additional once-off funding was targeted in 2015 at those ETBs, including Dublin and Dun Laoghaire ETB (DDLETB), that had significant increases in their enrolment since 2012.
The overall 2016 non-pay funding is broadly the same as was allocated in 2015. In distributing this funding to ETBs, the Department takes account of changes in student numbers.
In relation to Dublin and Dun Laoghaire ETB (DDLETB), my Department has recently carried out a review of the non-pay allocation for ETBs and has revised the DDLETB's expenditure cap to above the 2012 level. The ETB has been informed of the revised limit, which takes into account its increased enrolment levels. While this revised expenditure limit helps the ETB to manage it does not result in an increase in the actual allocation from my Department.
It is important for all ETBs, including DDLETB, to ensure that costs are controlled and managed as best as possible within available funding levels.
379. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of applications received under the post-primary school transport scheme from counties Cavan and Monaghan in 2014 and 2015 in tabular form; the number which were deemed to be ineligible; the number of ineligible applications which were refused due to applicants not attending their nearest school in counties Cavan and Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24380/16]
View answerSchool transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department.
During the 2015/16 school year in the region of 114,000 children, including some 10,000 children with special educational needs, were transported in approximately 4,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres annually.
Bus Éireann has advised that the level of information requested by the Deputy is not readily available for the 2014/15 school year.
However, Bus Éireann has advised that 1,183 new applications were submitted and completed for post primary school transport in Cavan and Monaghan for the 2015/16 school year. The breakdown of this figure is as follows:-
943 children who were eligible for school transport; 240 children who were not eligible for school transport.
It is not possible to report on the number of new applicants who were not eligible for school transport because they are not attending their nearest school.
380. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Education and Skills if an application by a school (details supplied) for a bus escort will be approved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24388/16]
View answerSchool transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department.
During the 2015/16 school year in the region of 114,000 children, including some 10,000 children with special educational needs, were transported in approximately 4,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres annually. Bus Éireann has advised that the child in question is availing of mainstream school transport on a concessionary basis.
Bus escorts are not a feature of school transport services operating under my Department's Primary or Post Primary School Transport Schemes. Consequently, the appointment of an escort on the service being availed of by the child in question cannot be approved.
381. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a person (details supplied) has been refused a concessionary bus ticket for attending the closest secondary school to them in County Cavan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24411/16]
View answerSchool transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department.
During the 2015/16 school year in the region of 114,000 children, including some 10,000 children with special educational needs, were transported in approximately 4,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres annually.
Bus Éireann, which operates the School Transport Scheme on behalf of my Department, has advised that the child in question was incorrectly categorised as ineligible for school transport.
The family were notified of this error and a ticket for the 2016/17 school year has been issued. Bus Éireann will issue a refund to this family.
382. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he has been informed that the bus route for a school (details supplied) is to be withdrawn in September 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24417/16]
View answerSchool transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department.
During the 2015/16 school year in the region of 114,000 children, including some 10,000 children with special educational needs, were transported in approximately 4,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres annually.
Under the terms of the Primary School Transport Scheme, children are eligible for transport where they reside not less than 3.2 kms from and are attending their nearest national school as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
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 establishment or retention of school transport services, provided this can be done within reasonable cost limits.
Bus Éireann has advised that the school transport service operating to the school in question was withdrawn for the 2016/17 school year as the number of children who were eligible for transport had fallen below the minimum number required.
Families of eligible children, for whom there is no school transport service available, are eligible for the remote area grant towards the cost of making private transport arrangements.
The terms of the scheme are applied equitably on a national basis.
383. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason the temporary location for a school (details supplied) is outside the catchment area of the school; the temporary location options which were considered for the school; the length of time he expects the school to be housed on this site; the progress which has been made in finding a site for the building of a permanent structure for the school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24452/16]
View answerThe school to which the Deputy refers is located on a temporary basis in State-owned property off the Clonskeagh Road, adjacent to the Goatstown Stillorgan school planning area. The school, which is a Gaelscoil under the patronage of An Foras Pátrúnachta, opened on 1 September 2016 to help meet the demographic need for additional primary school places in the area.
My Department had examined many temporary accommodation possibilities in the Goatstown and Stillorgan areas for the new school and had liaised with the Education and Training Board and with Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, who had assisted my Department in the identification of potential options. Unfortunately, other potential options were not achievable in the timeframe involved. My Department secured a short-term licencing arrangement on part of the property in Clonskeagh to facilitate the start-up school opening in time for the 2016/17 school year. My Department plans that the school will operate from the property on a temporary basis for the 2016/17 school year. If no other suitable temporary accommodation is identified and secured in the Goatstown or Stillorgan areas for the school for its second and third year of operation, the school may continue to operate on a temporary basis from this property for a maximum of three years.
Officials in my Department are working with officials from Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council under the MOU in relation to the acquisition process for a suitable permanent site for the school to which the Deputy refers. The acquisition of the site in question is currently being progressed. Given the commercial sensitivities associated with land acquisitions generally I am not in a position to comment further at this time.
The building project for the permanent accommodation for the school is included on my programme of capital investment in schools 2016-2021 to go to construction in 2018.
384. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Education and Skills to request that Student Universal Support Ireland reverses the recent decision to employ a company (details supplied) to calculate the distance between home and college for students applying for college grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24457/16]
View answerA number of measures were recently introduced by SUSI that are intended to improve the student's experience, by making the process more transparent. One of these measures is the introduction of Eircode as part of the online application form.
The use of Eircode has improved processing times for students by allowing SUSI to more quickly identify the location of a student's home. However, the actual method of calculating the distance from a student's home to college has not changed from previous years.
If an individual applicant considers that she/he has been unjustly refused a student grant or that the rate of grant awarded is not the correct one, she/he may appeal, in the first instance, to SUSI. Where an individual applicant has had an appeal turned down in writing by SUSI and remains of the view that the scheme has not been interpreted correctly in his/her case, an appeal form outlining the position may be submitted by the applicant to the independent Student Grants Appeals Board.
385. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a school (details supplied) will continue to be designated as having disadvantaged status; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24480/16]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, the review of the DEIS programme is currently underway and it is my intention that a New Action Plan for Educational Inclusion will be published by the end of this year. The review is looking at all aspects of DEIS, including the identification process for the inclusion of schools in the programme, the range and impact of different elements of the School Support Programme, and the scope for increased integration of services provided by other Departments and agencies.
Subject to Government approval, it is intended to begin to implement actions arising from an updated plan in the 2017/18 school year. A new identification process will assess all schools, including the school in question.
The Deputy may wish to note that the new school continues to receive support in respect of the number of eligible pupils from the former DEIS school.
386. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills when he will announce the terms of reference for the review into DEIS; if there will be an interim report; the level of consultation with stakeholders which will take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24481/16]
View answerThe review of the DEIS programme is currently underway and it is my intention that a New Action Plan Educational Inclusion will be published by the end of this year.
The review is looking at all aspects of DEIS, including the identification process for the inclusion of schools in the programme, the range and impact of different elements of the School Support Programme, and the scope for increased integration of services provided by other Departments and agencies.
Details of the Review Structure and the terms of reference of individual review working groups are available on my Department's website at http://www.education.ie/en/Schools-Colleges/Services/DEIS-Delivering-Equality-of-Opportunity-in-Schools-/.
387. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he is aware of the current situation at DIT whereby the governing body has failed to sign funding agreements with the Students' Union leaving staff without wages and students without welfare and supports in place for the new term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24482/16]
View answerDIT has confirmed that funding to the DIT Students' Union (DITSU) has been maintained without interruption. There has been no financial threat to staffing of DITSU or to its activities.
On an annual basis DITSU receives funding of €1.1 million through DIT under a funding agreement between DIT and DITSU. This level of funding, which is greater than that available to students' unions in any other institution, has been maintained over the last three years despite challenging economic times in higher education. As the three-year funding agreement expired on 30 June this year, negotiations on a new agreement took place over the previous six months and agreement was reached and formally signed by the President of DITSU and the Director of Student Services. As any such agreement is subject to DIT Governing Body approval, it was presented jointly by DIT and DITSU to Governing Body.
While the agreement was broadly accepted, the Audit Committee of Governing Body has asked for an amendment to a paragraph concerning internal audit. DITSU has expressed concern in relation to its own independence if it is required to submit information through the Internal Audit function in DIT. DIT fully accepts the importance of the independence of the Students' Union and does not wish to interfere with this in anyway. While the Internal Audit function is the administrative conduit through which Audit Committee oversees DIT finances, the audits are in fact conducted by external bodies. The matter of oversight is entirely the responsibility of the Governing Body Audit Committee and is not a process in which the Institute management can be involved.
DIT and DITSU management have met on a number of occasions since the issue arose to seek a solution that may be acceptable to the Audit Committee. It is hoped that the matter can be resolved satisfactorily and that the new three-year agreement can be formally implemented. In the interim, funding is being provided to DITSU on a similar basis to the arrangements under the expired agreement.
388. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he is committed to have Mandarin Chinese as a leaving certificate examination subject and the estimated timeframe for this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24505/16]
View answerEarlier this week I published the Action Plan for Education 2016-2019. Action 35 sets out my vision on the role and place of foreign languages in the education system.
I want to increase the diversity and provision of foreign language learning opportunities including languages like Mandarin which are of relevance to rapidly growing economies of the future.
As part of the implementation of the Framework for Junior Cycle (2015), schools can decide to include a short course in Chinese language and Culture, prepared by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, in their junior cycle programme.
There is also currently a Transition Year module on Chinese, which was taken by 4,825 students in 2015.
My Department is currently finalising its Foreign Languages in Education Strategy. Amongst the topics being considered in this context is the possibility of offering additional languages for the Leaving Certificate, like Mandarin. It is expected that the Foreign Languages in Education Strategy will be finalised in late 2016.
389. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to amend the residency rule relating to accessing Student Universal Support Ireland supports to allow for Irish citizens who emigrated in recent years for economic reasons and have returned here to avail of further education opportunities. [24514/16]
View answer393. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he has examined reviewing the residency rule regarding accessing SUSI supports for Irish citizens who emigrated in recent years for economic reasons due to the recession; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24544/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 389 and 393 together.
To 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 3 years out of the 5 year period ending on the day before the start of his/her approved course of study.
This requirement takes cognisance of students who wish to take time out to travel or work abroad. Such students can still meet the residency requirement if they have not been outside the State for more than two of the previous five years. Similar and in some cases more restrictive residency requirements apply in other EU Member States.
It is also 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.
390. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding school bags. [24524/16]
View answerMy Department issued circulars to all primary and post-primary schools in 2005 to highlight the potential health hazard of overweight schoolbags and to outline a range of local measures that could be put in place to help alleviate the problem.
The report of the Working Group on the Weight of School Bags, commissioned by then Minister Micheál Martin, recognised that many of the solutions to this issue belong at local school level and made various recommendations in this regard, such as optimum use of storage facilities, developing pupil organisation skills and timetabling.
My Department is aware that positive action has been taken by many schools on these issues. Actions consist of a range of measures, including the provision of lockers and in the case of second level school the arrangement of the timetable into double class periods, active liaison with parents and the co-ordination of homework by subject teachers.
Ultimately it is a matter for each individual school to determine which particular measures are most suited to its individual circumstances and to how the school concerned organises teaching and learning.
The use of digital resources by teachers and students in schools is increasing. While conventional textbooks are still widely used, a number of schools have introduced or are considering introducing e-books and other digital resources to enhance students' work in school and at home. Schools can use the book grant scheme to purchase a range of digital resources relevant to the curriculum.
It should be noted that Scoilnet.ie, the Department funded website, supports Primary and Post-Primary teachers in sharing and finding useful resources for the classroom, including the Britannica School website, and other valuable online content and resources to assist in teaching and learning.
The circulars (PC 13/05 and M35/05) and the report of the Working Group on the Weight of School Bags are available on my Department's website at www.education.ie.
391. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department has identified a site for a school (details supplied); if he has agreed a sale with any landowners in connection with any site in the locality, and the date he will be in a position to make an announcement regarding the location for the site. [24538/16]
View answerA site acquisition process for the school referred to by the Deputy is underway. A site option has been identified and it is being actively progressed. Given the commercial sensitivities associated with land acquisitions generally, I am not in a position to comment further at this time.
392. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department has identified a site for a school (details supplied) identified to open in Cork city south environs; if his Department has agreed a sale with any landowners in connection with any site in the locality; and the date he will be in a position to make an announcement regarding the location for the site. [24542/16]
View answerA site acquisition process for the school referred to by the Deputy is underway. A site option has been identified and it is being actively progressed. Given the commercial sensitivities associated with land acquisitions generally, I am not in a position to comment further at this time.
394. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if, in view of the preliminary census results for Fingal county showing above trend population growth, he plans to review the current and future educational provision in Fingal county, in particular in Dublin 15; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24547/16]
View answer416. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department has analysed the provision of primary school places in an area (details supplied) in view of the construction of large new housing estates; if his Department has been in touch with Fingal County Council regarding reserving a new site for a primary school in the draft Fingal development plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25126/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 394 and 416 together.
For school planning purposes, my Department divides the country into 314 geographic areas known as school planning areas. These defined areas facilitate the orderly planning of school provision and accommodation needs. In identifying the requirement for additional school places in a school planning area, my Department uses a Geographical Information System to identify the areas under increased demographic pressure nationwide. The GIS uses data from the Central Statistics Office, Ordnance Survey Ireland, the Department of Social Protection and my Department's own databases. With this information, my Department carries out nationwide demographic analyses to determine where additional school accommodation is needed at primary and post-primary level.
Following the 2015 demographic analyses, four new primary schools and nine new post-primary schools were announced to open in 2017 and 2018 to cater for increased demographic needs in these areas. This includes a new post-primary school which will open in 2017 to serve the Carpenterstown and Castleknock school planning areas in Dublin 15, which will provide an additional 1,000 post-primary pupil places, supplementing provision in these areas.
As with other school planning areas nationwide, the demographic data for the areas outlined by the Deputy are being kept under ongoing review by my Department to take account of updated child benefit data and updated enrolment data and also the impact of ongoing and planned capacity increases in these, and adjoining, school planning areas.
My Department liaises with Local Authorities in relation to their County Development Plans and Local Area Plans and makes submissions in relation to potential educational impacts arising from projected increases in population included in a draft Plan. If a need for an additional school or schools is identified, my Department requests the Local Authority to zone a suitable area appropriately for educational provision, as part of this process. In this context, my Department made a submission to Fingal County Council in April this year, as part of their draft Development Plan consultation phase, which indicated that if the projected population targets from 2017 to 2023 published in the draft Plan materialises and could not be accommodated in existing schools, this would result in the need for additional schools. My Department's submission set out the importance of ensuring that sufficient lands in the areas where significant additional population is likely to arise, is zoned educational, to ensure that educational infrastructure can be put in place the meet the needs of these new communities.
395. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he is aware of any developments regarding the establishment of a college of further education in the Swords area of north County Dublin, given the fact that Fingal has the fastest growing population in the State; if he will support the development of such an educational facility to cater for the demand which exists in Swords and the greater north county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24553/16]
View answerI understand that SOLAS has recently received an application from Dublin Dun Laoghaire ETB (DDLETB) for funding to establish a College of Further Education in Swords. SOLAS is examining the application and will meet with DDLETB in relation to the application.
396. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Education and Skills the specific provision made for children with autistic spectrum disorders and the number of places available in autistic spectrum disorder units in mainstream schools and in special schools at primary and secondary school level in Waterford city and county, by school, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24565/16]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that this Government is committed to ensuring that all children with Special Educational Needs, including those with autism, can have access to an education appropriate to their needs, preferably in school settings through the primary and post primary school network.
Such placements facilitate access to individualised education programmes which may draw from a range of appropriate educational interventions, delivered by fully qualified professional teachers, with the support of Special Needs Assistants and the appropriate school curriculum.
There are approximately 14,000 students with ASD in the school system:
- 63% are educated in mainstream classes
- 23% are educated in special classes in mainstream primary and post-primary schools; and
- 14% are educated in special schools. In respect of children with ASD who cannot be accommodated in mainstream education, they may be enrolled in special classes or special schools where more intensive and supportive interventions are provided.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has advised my officials that although they maintain a record of the number of students with autism enrolled in special schools, they do not record whether these students are educated in separate ASD class groupings or in groupings with other students within different categories of special educational needs. This enables special schools to create flexible class settings for students with ASD.
The NCSE, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), is responsible for processing applications from primary and post primary schools for special educational needs supports, including the establishment of special classes in various geographical areas as required. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support.
Progress in developing this network has been significant and in addition to the special school placements there are currently over 1,000 special classes throughout the country at primary and post primary level of which 762 are for children with Autism.
The NCSE recently published a list of special classes for the 2016/17 school year. In total there will be 1,153 special classes available next year, which is an increase of over 100% in the number of special classes which were available in 2011, which was 548.
The NCSE has advised that for the current school year there will be 127 early intervention classes, 525 primary ASD classes and 237 post-primary ASD classes, which represents an increase of approx. 16% on 2015/16 classes for children with autism.
Of these, there will be 19 ASD classes in Co. Waterford, including 3 Early Intervention Classes for children who are not yet school going age, 10 primary school classes and 6 at post primary level in mainstream schools. 4 of these classes are new classes due to open in September 2016, 1 Early Intervention Class and 3 classes at primary level.
The NCSE continues to monitor and review the requirement for special class places in particular areas and has capacity to establish such new special classes where necessary subject to the willingness of schools to open classes.
Details of all special classes for children with special educational needs , including those in Co. Waterford, are available on www.ncse.ie in county order, with new classes identified.
397. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a school (details supplied) has closed its doors in summer 2016 and is no longer in operation; and if he will contact the patron board with a view to divest this school to his Department to secure it as a non-religious secondary school. [24574/16]
View answerI can confirm to the Deputy that the school, referred to, is privately owned and my Department is aware, that owing to the death of the school's owner in 2013, the school closed in June 2016.
The school did not enrol first year students for the 2014/15 school year. I also understand that the school remained open so that the current cohort of junior and senior cycle pupils could finish their programmes. The school authority informed my Department that it assisted parents in securing alternative placements for the remaining pupils to ensure a smooth transition for these pupils to other schools.
The Deputy may wish to know that the area concerned has 9 post-primary schools and there is currently spare capacity in a number of these schools. I am not aware of the school being offered to my Department for any educational purposes.
398. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will intervene and allow for concessionary school transport in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24628/16]
View answerSchool transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department.
During the 2015/16 school year in the region of 114,000 children, including some 10,000 children with special educational needs, were transported in approximately 4,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres annually.
As the child in question is not attending his nearest post primary school he may only apply for transport on a concessionary basis subject to a number of terms and conditions that are detailed in the scheme.
In this regard the family should liaise with their local Bus Éireann office in Tralee at 066 7164750.
While it is the prerogative of parents to send their children to the school of their choice, eligibility for school transport at post primary level is to the nearest education centre/school.
399. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Education and Skills when moneys will be granted to a school (details supplied) as works need to be completed by the start of the academic year in September 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24658/16]
View answerThe school in question was approved funding under my Department's Additional Accommodation Scheme for 2015. The funding provided was to build a permanent stand-alone mainstream classroom. Twice during the project a funding uplift was given for significant additional works.
Over and above this, the school authority commissioned further works, which it may do subject to meeting the cost itself.
My Department is satisfied that the total grant provided was sufficient to deliver the approved works and it has no plans to make further grant aid available to the school for the project. The school is aware of this position.
400. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a decision will be made on an application for an emergency works grant for urgent works on a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24662/16]
View answerI am pleased to inform the Deputy that my Department has approved funding for the school in question to carry out the works to which he refers. The school authority has been informed of this decision.
401. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the project to provide a school (details supplied) with a new school building; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24724/16]
View answerThe building project for the school to which the Deputy refers is at an advanced stage of architectural planning. All statutory approvals have been obtained and the Stage 2b submission has been approved by my Department. This project was included in the 6 Year Programme announced on 17th November 2015 to progress to tender and construction.
Arising from significant changes to the Public Works Contract (PWC) introduced earlier this year, the Board of Management and their Design Team have been advised of the need to carry out further work in relation to the tender documents to bring them into line with those changes. When this work is complete my Department will be in further contact with the school regarding the progression of the project.
402. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Education and Skills the timeline for the provision of a new school building for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24725/16]
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.
My Department is currently finalising the school project brief and once this process is complete, my Department will be in contact with the school concerned regarding the progressing of the project into the Architectural Planning process.
403. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will honour the commitment made by the Minister of State in his Department that all concessionary students will be accommodated on school buses; if he will address the concessionary students availing of the service on the Gortnahoe, County Tipperary, to Thurles, County Tipperary, school bus route; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24728/16]
View answerSchool transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department.
During the 2015/16 school year in the region of 114,000 children, including some 10,000 children with special educational needs, were transported in approximately 4,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres annually.
In general, children are eligible for school transport if they are attending their nearest school and satisfy the requisite distance criteria.
Children who are not eligible for school transport may apply for transport on a concessionary basis only.
Transport on a concessionary basis is subject to a number of conditions which are detailed in the School Transport Scheme such as the existence of spare seats on the bus after all eligible children have been catered for and payment of the school transport charge.
The Programme for Government commits to review the concessionary charges and rules element of the School Transport Scheme prior to Budget 2017.
Pending this review, there was no planned programme of downsizing school buses in the current school year. There were route changes and variations in line with normal operational decisions that occur from year to year, and any impacts in terms of increases or decreases of available places nationally was marginal, in line with what occurs every year.
It is important to point out that there has been no impact on children who are eligible for school transport.
