Written Answers Nos. 152-175
152. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a request by a school (details supplied) to his Department for assistance with the removal of disused infrastructure at the school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29709/16]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that the arrangements for the removal of the pre-fab concerned are a matter in the first instance for the school in question. In that regard, my Department wrote to the school in July last and outlined a number of options regarding the disposal concerned for its consideration. My Department also advised the school to keep it apprised of developments.
153. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department favours putting in place a borrowing framework for institutes of technology or for technological universities that give institutes autonomous borrowing powers outside of general government; if his Department is of the view that it would be legally possible to put such an autonomous borrowing framework in place under Eurostat rules; and the work which is ongoing within his Department on preparing a new borrowing framework for institutes of technology. [29713/16]
View answerThe Deputy may be aware, Institutes of Technology (IoTs) are classified as within General Government for Eurostat purposes. This arises primarily due to the smaller level of income received by IoTs from non-State sources as against the Universities which have a higher proportion.
The Deputy will appreciate, the recent economic crisis and continuing constraints on Government as a result of EU fiscal rules on expenditure and debt levels has to date prevented the agreement of a borrowing framework for IoTs. However, my Department is continuing to discuss with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform the possibility of agreeing a borrowing framework as part of broader deliberations arising from the report of the Expert Group on Future Funding for Higher Education.
154. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of research grants won by bidders in each higher level institution from Science Foundation Ireland, the Higher Education Authority, the Irish Research Council and Teagasc in each of the years 2010 to date in 2016, in tabular form. [29714/16]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is not readily available in my Department. I will arrange for the information to be sent to the Deputy shortly.
Details of research grants to institutions from Science Foundation Ireland and Teagasc would be available from the Departments of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine respectively.
155. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the new secondary school for Swords in north county Dublin; when this school will be delivered; if he will provide a map to indicate the exact location of the proposed school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29718/16]
View answerThe school to which the Deputy refers will open in September 2017 and the patronage process for this school is ongoing at present.
As the Deputy may be aware, the building project for the new post-primary school to serve Swords is included on my Department's six year construction programme, announced in November 2015. The project for this school is listed to go to construction during the period 2019 to 2021.
My Department has worked closely with Fingal County Council in respect of the acquisition of a suitable site for the school and conveyancing is currently underway in respect of a site for the permanent school accommodation. Due to commercial sensitivities relating to site acquisitions generally I am not in a position to provide further details regarding the permanent location at this time. I can, however, assure the Deputy that the site acquisition process for this school is being advanced by my Department as a priority.
156. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the situation with respect to student fees for cross-Border students in view of Brexit; if he will guarantee currently enrolled students from the North or Britain that they will not be considered as international students for fee purposes in view of Brexit; if he discussed this matter with his counterparts in Britain or the North; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29721/16]
View answer172. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the plans his Department has made to address the potential impact of Brexit on the education system, particularly in the areas of research and development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29737/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 156 and 172 together.
The Government has a contingency framework in place which maps the key issues that will be most important to Ireland in the coming weeks and months. The Government has published the key actions that will be taken to address the contingencies arising from the UK's decision to leave the EU.
My Department participated fully in and contributed to the preparation of this framework for the education sector and have identified student flows as a priority area. Negotiations on the future EU UK relationship will now be required and officials from my Department will engage fully in these discussions with the EU and the UK to protect our special relationship with Northern Ireland and the UK.
My Department is conscious of the resulting pressures that may fall on the Irish higher education system following the UK's decision to leave the EU. My Department will be liaising with all relevant parties, including the relevant education departments in the UK in relation to these pressures. These include issues with regard to the movement of students between this State and the UK, fees and student grant arrangements and engagement in research cooperation, including under EU funding programmes.
The Irish Universities Association has issued a statement reassuring all UK students currently enrolled in an Irish university that they will continue to enjoy the same conditions as other EU students regarding fees and contributions, for the duration of their degree. The Irish universities also confirmed that UK applicants planning to enter an Irish university in 2016 will likewise enjoy these same conditions as other EU students for the duration of their degree.
In addition, Universities UK and the UK Student Loans Company (SLC) have made statements regarding EU nationals studying in the UK. Universities UK have stated that their first priority will be to convince the UK Government to take steps to ensure that students from EU countries can continue to study at British universities in the long term. The UK SLC has stated that EU nationals or their family members, currently in higher education, and who are assessed as eligible to receive loans and/or grants from the SLC, will continue to receive these loans and grants until they finish their course.
157. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he or any of his officials have met with any survivors of school sex abuse; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29722/16]
View answerOfficials of my Department meet with individual former residents of industrial schools, with persons who may have been abused in school settings and with groups representing former residents as required and many such meetings have taken place.
158. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he or any of his officials have approached any finance companies here or outside Ireland in respect of the prospect of the introduction of student loans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29723/16]
View answerThe Report of the Expert Group on Future Funding for Higher Education, published in July, clearly outlines the funding challenges in the higher education sector and offers a number of approaches and recommendations for consideration. As committed to in the Programme for Government, I have referred the report to the Education Committee as part of the process for formulating a plan for the future of the sector.
The Expert Group examined arrangements for funding higher education internationally. The spectrum of different funding approaches was set out in the discussion paper published by the Group in November 2015 and which is available on my Department's website. The paper also considered countries which operate a system of tuition fees supported by student loans such as Australia, England and the Netherlands. The Group consulted and considered the applicability of the different approaches in the Irish context.
While the report sets out a range of cost estimates and example scenarios as to how such a scheme might operate, the Group recommends that if Government decide to move to this funding model, an implementation team should be established to design the system and would have to take account of several different factors. It would also analyse in detail such systems used in other countries. No approaches have been made by my Department to any finance companies with regard to introducing a student loans system in this country.
159. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the review of the reasonable accommodation scheme for State examinations has been published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29724/16]
View answerThe State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations. The Commission operates the scheme of Reasonable Accommodations in the Certificate Examinations. In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.
160. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills when the review of the school transport scheme will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29725/16]
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.
The Programme for Government commits to review the concessionary charges and rules element of the School Transport Scheme prior to Budget 2017.
161. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills when the review of the barriers to education for lone parents will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29726/16]
View answerThe review on barriers to higher education for lone parents is currently being finalised.
This is a complex area that involves 3 Government Departments.
Given the complexity of the issues involved, it is now expected that the review will be completed in Q.4 2016.
The emerging findings from the review have informed my Department's consideration of relevant issues in advance of Budget 2017.
162. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills when the Gaeltacht education strategy will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29727/16]
View answerIn the Action Plan for Education 2016 – 2019 which I published in September, I committed to publishing a Gaeltacht Education Strategy before the end of the year. It is my plan to publish a Policy on Gaeltacht Education before the end of 2016.
163. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the way his Department intends to deal with non-union members in relation to the application of FEMPI legislation on those outside of the Landsdowne Road agreement; if his Department has considered that many non-union members may be complying with the terms of the Landsdowne Road agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29728/16]
View answerThe approach to application of the Lansdowne Road Agreement in respect of post-primary teachers is as follows (as set out in Department Circular 0045/2016):
- Education and Training Board schools (apart from Designated Community Colleges which are dual-union) – as TUI is the union with representation rights in this sector, the LRA is being applied generally to all teachers in the sector, including those who are not union members.
- Voluntary secondary schools – as ASTI is the union with representation rights in this sector, the FEMPI Act provisions are being applied generally to all teachers in the sector, including those who are not union members. The LRA applies to TUI members employed in voluntary secondary schools and arrangements have been put in place to apply the Agreement to such teachers.
- Dual-union schools (i.e. Designated Community Colleges, Community schools and Comprehensive schools) – as both TUI and ASTI have representation rights in this sector, the LRA is being applied to TUI members in the sector who identify themselves as such to the Department/employer ETB and the FEMPI Act provisions are being applied to all other teachers in the sector, including ASTI members and those who are not union members.
As is the norm with public service collective agreements, the Lansdowne Road Agreement was negotiated with trade unions which are recognised as representing staff in the public service (including teachers). It is normal industrial relations practice in the public service that the decision of the trade union recognised as holding representative rights for a particular grade or sector will determine the position for all relevant staff in that grade/sector. This context does not allow for acceptance or rejection of collective agreements by staff on an individual basis.
164. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of junior certificate students that may be affected by the ongoing industrial relations issues in secondary schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29729/16]
View answerJunior Certificate students who are taught English by teachers who are members of the ASTI will not undertake Classroom Based Assessments. (CBAs). Since the completion of the second CBA is linked to the written Assessment Task these students cannot complete that Assessment Task. This means that the student’s Assessment Task will not be sent to SEC and the SEC can only mark the student out of the 90% of the marks that are awarded for the Final Examination in June 2017.
Officials from my Department recently met with the ASTI on this matter, where the position regarding the written assessment task was made very clear. In cases where the assessment task is not completed the State Examinations Commission cannot award any marks in respect of this mandatory component. Therefore, candidates for Junior Cycle English in 2017 who do not complete the assessment task can only be marked and graded based on a maximum of 90% of the available marks.
I recently requested the ASTI to provide an immediate derogation from their directive for current teachers of English, while talks between my Department and the union proceed, in order that current Third Year English students of ASTI members are no longer unfairly and unjustifiably disadvantaged. A response is awaited.
165. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills when the review on the student assistance fund will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29730/16]
View answerThe Review of the Student Assistance Fund was published on 19th. September and is available on the HEA website (www.hea.ie). The HEA, in conjunction with my Department, are currently monitoring implementation of the recommendations contained in the Review.
166. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the steps his Department has taken to introduce the in-school speech and language therapy model; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29731/16]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that The Programme for a Partnership Government states that a new model of In-School Speech and Language Therapy will be established. It commits to investing an extra €500 million in education by 2021 through measures including childcare subventions and to increase the numbers of HSE Speech and Language Therapists by 25%.
As committed to in the Programme for a Partnership Government, I plan to examine the adequacy of the present policies and provision, and their scope for improvement, particularly in relation to speech and language difficulties and early intervention.
As Speech and Language Therapists are currently employed by the Health Service Executive (HSE), officials at my Department will continue to engage with colleagues in the Department of Health, The National Council for Special Education, National Educational Psychological Service and the HSE to develop a plan for the implementation of this commitment. The implementation plan will identify the actions to be taken and the specific timeframe for the delivery of this commitment.
In the interim my Department continues to provide an extensive range of supports for pupils with Specific Speech and Language Disorder (SSLD). This includes provision for the establishment of special classes for pupils with SSLD in primary schools.
Applications to establish such classes are considered by the school's assigned Special Educational Needs Organiser (SENO) and those meeting the criteria for establishment are approved by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE). The criteria for enrolment in a Special Class for pupils with SSLD is set out in my Department's Circular 0038/2007.
Pupils who are not enrolled in a special class for SSLD and who meet the criteria for Specific Speech and Language Disorder, as outlined in my Department's Circular, may qualify for additional teaching support where he/she is enrolled in mainstream school.
Pupils with mild speech and language difficulties may qualify for supplementary teaching support from within the school's general allocation of learning support/teaching support. It is a matter for individual schools to use their professional judgement to identify pupils who will receive this support and to use the resources available to the school to intervene at the appropriate level with such pupils.
167. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if there are any subject areas in which there is currently a shortage of teachers with sufficient competence to teach to a high standard; the steps his Department has taken to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29732/16]
View answerThe attention of my Department has been brought to reported shortages in certain subject areas, such as Home Economics. However, comprehensive data on teacher supply and demand in specific subject areas is not available to my Department.
The Deputy will note that one of the goals in the recently published Action Plan for Education is to develop the continuum of teacher education, including strengthening workforce planning with improved planning of teacher supply. My Department considers it important that the supply of teachers with the required qualifications should meet demand at both primary and post primary levels. Accordingly, the Teaching Council was requested to consider the matter of teacher supply with a view to developing better forecasting methods to ensure an adequate supply of teachers with the necessary qualifications. The Council has provided its advice and report, and the Department is currently considering the report’s recommendations with a view to implementation where appropriate.
168. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the total number of assessments undertaken by both NEPS and the scheme for private assessment for the previous school term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29733/16]
View answerBy way of context the 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 through the Scheme for Commissioning Psychological Assessments (SCPA). Under this scheme schools can have an assessment carried out by a member of the panel of private psychologists approved by NEPS, and NEPS will pay the psychologist the fees for this assessment directly.
My Department's National Educational Psychological Service, in line with best international practice, operates a tiered Consultative Model of Service and supports schools in a continuum of support process. This means that each school takes responsibility for initial assessment, educational planning and remedial intervention for pupils with learning, emotional or behavioural difficulties in consultation, as appropriate, with their assigned NEPS psychologist.
In the event of a pupil not making reasonable progress or where he or she requires further additional support, NEPS may become directly involved with the student offering service to identify need and appropriate intervention which may or may not involve assessment of the student. In 2015/16 NEPS undertook such casework, including assessment, with 7,974 pupils in primary and post-primary schools. In addition, 1,673 assessments were provided to schools through a panel of private practitioners.
In the last term (the final term of the 2015/16 academic year) NEPS psychologists were involved directly with 3,273 individual pupils referred by schools offering service to identify need and appropriate intervention. In addition during the same period 673 assessments were delivered via the SCPA process.
169. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the timeframe for the establishment of the inclusion support service; the remaining steps to be taken to complete the establishment of the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29734/16]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that a new Inclusion Support Service within the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is currently being established in order to assist schools in supporting children with special education needs.
The service will include the Special Education Support Service (SESS), the National Behaviour Support Service (NBSS) and the Visiting Teacher Service for children who are deaf/hard of hearing and for children who are blind/visually impaired (VTHVI service).
This change will mean that schools will receive a better and more integrated service from this new Inclusion Support Service.
I can advise that work is ongoing to transfer these services to the NCSE, which includes the development of necessary management and administrative structures within the NCSE to support the new service.
It is intended that the Inclusion Support Service will be operational from 2017. It is also intended, however, that the existing services will continue as normal, as the new arrangements are put in place, with as little disruption as possible to service users, as progress is made to transfer these services to the NCSE, pending the development of the new service.
170. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on his discussions with ASTI; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29735/16]
View answerMy Department has held several meetings with ASTI since July in relation to their issues of concern and is making arrangements for those discussions to continue.
At the outset of these discussions, my Department offered that if ASTI suspended their directive on withdrawal from the Croke Park hours while talks between the union and the Department were taking place, the Department would suspend the implementation of measures associated with ASTI’s repudiation of the Lansdowne Road Agreement. This would provide time and space for meaningful engagement on ASTI’s issues and create a more constructive context within which talks could proceed. It would also avoid disruption in schools and would mean that thousands of ASTI teachers would receive the payment for supervision and substitution, as well as other benefits and protections under the Lansdowne Road Agreement.
This offer has been reiterated to ASTI on a number of occasions since July. ASTI have unfortunately declined to take up the offer thus far, but it remains open to them.
171. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the steps his Department has taken to limit the impact of escalated industrial action on students, particularly in the event of strike action; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29736/16]
View answerI understand that ASTI are currently conducting a ballot on industrial action including withdrawal from supervision and substitution duties.
The outcome of the ASTI ballot cannot be presumed. However, my Department and the school management bodies have been discussing potential contingency arrangements aimed at keeping schools open in the event of an industrial action that involves the withdrawal of ASTI members from supervision and substitution duties. In that event, ASTI’s co-operation with any contingency arrangements would be required if they were to operate effectively. The Department has formally communicated its co-operation requirements in that event to ASTI and asked that these be considered. It is expected that ASTI will consider the matter if it arises following the conclusion of their ballots.
My Department will make every effort to avoid disruption in schools. In that regard, my Department offered in July that if ASTI suspended their directive on withdrawal from the Croke Park hours while talks between the union and the Department were taking place, the Department would suspend the implementation of measures associated with ASTI’s repudiation of the Lansdowne Road Agreement. This would provide time and space for meaningful engagement on ASTI’s issues and create a more constructive context within which talks could proceed. It would also avoid disruption in schools and would mean that thousands of ASTI teachers would receive the payment for supervision and substitution, as well as other benefits and protections under the Lansdowne Road Agreement.
This offer has been reiterated to ASTI on a number of occasions since July. ASTI have unfortunately declined to take up the offer thus far, but it remains open to them.
173. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of providing access to reasonable accommodation for the leaving certificate on the same basis as junior certificate students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29738/16]
View answerThe State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations. The Commission operates the scheme of Reasonable Accommodations in the Certificate Examinations.
In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.
174. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students that have applied and availed of funding under the pilot scheme for those who have come through the direct provision system since it was established; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29739/16]
View answerA total of 39 applications were received under the pilot scheme in 2015. Following an initial assessment of the details provided by the applicants, 37 of those were deemed ineligible with 2 applicants qualifying for support.
The closing date for receipt of applications for the 2016 pilot support scheme is 4th of November 2016. To date, 11 applications have been received. Details of the final number of applications and awards will not be known until after the closing date and the time period for any appeals has passed.
175. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the urgent need for the capital development of a school (details supplied); if his Department will make additional funds available to the school to complete the works required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29740/16]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that a building project for the school in question is included in my Department's 6 Year Construction Programme (2019/21). My Department will be in contact with the school, in due course, in the context of progressing the project into the architectural planning process.
My Department, has no record of receiving an application form from the school for additional funding to complete the works referred to by the Deputy.
