Thursday, 13 Oct 2016

Written Answers Nos. 53-61

Inniúlacht sa Ghaeilge sa Státseirbhís

Questions (53, 54, 55)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

53. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Peadar Tóibín den Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna cad é an líon daoine a bhfuil cumas feidhmeach acu sa Ghaeilge agus atá ag obair ina Roinn. [30070/16]

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

54. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Peadar Tóibín den Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna an bhfuil sprioc leagtha amach maidir le líon daoine a bhfuil cumas feidhmeach acu sa Ghaeilge a bheith ag obair sa Roinn de réir reachtaíochta agus an bhfuil an sprioc sin bainte amach go fóill. [30085/16]

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

55. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Peadar Tóibín den Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna an bhfuil beartas earcaíochta faoi leith i bhfeidhm chun aon chuóta maidir le líon daoine a bhfuil cumas feidhmeach acu sa Ghaeilge, má tá a leithéid ann, a bhaint amach. [30100/16]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

Molaim Ceisteanna Uimh. 53 go 55, cuimsitheach, a fhreagairt le chéile.

Is iad na príomhghráid sa Roinn atá gafa le seirbhísí a sheachadadh ar phobal na Gaeilge ná na gráid a bhaineann le cigireacht na scoileanna agus le soláthar na seirbhísí síceolaíochta oideachais a chuireann An tSeirbhís Náisiúnta Síceolaíochta Oideachais ar fáil do scoileanna i gceantair Ghaeltachta agus do Ghaelscoileanna.

Tá 24 síceolaí oideachais sa tSeirbhís faoi láthair atá inniúil sa Ghaeilge agus a chuireann a gcuid seirbhísí proifisiúnta ar fáil trí Ghaeilge. Tá 51 cigire i Rannán Chigireacht na Scoileanna ag an mbunleibhéal agus tá 48 díobh seo freagrach as scoileanna ina múintear an siollabas trí Ghaeilge. Tá 11 de na cigirí seo freagrach as scoileanna Gaeltachta mar go bhfuil na scoileanna sin mar chuid den cheantar acu. Ag an mbunleibhéal is speisialtóirí in ábhar-réimsí na cigirí den chuid is mó. Cuireann foireann na cigireachta iar-bhunleibhéal a cuid seirbhísí ar fáil chomh maith do scoileanna ina múintear an curaclam trí Ghaeilge. Faoi láthair tá dóthain de bhaill foirne proifisiúnta ann atá inniúil sa Ghaeilge chun seirbhísí proifisiúnta a sheachadadh do na scoileanna i gceist. I dteannta sin tá líon oifigigh riaracháin atá ábalta plé le fiosrucháin trí mhéan na Gaeilge.

Faoi láthair, tá an Roinn in ann na seirbhísí thuas a chur ar fáil trí Ghaeilge áit gur gá. Sa chás go dtiocfadh deacracht chun cinn sna réimsí seo amach anseo, déanfaidh an Roinn machnamh ar chomórtas earcaíochta spriocdhírithe a reáchtáil ag a mbeidh sé riachtanach d'iarratasóir bheith inniúil sa Ghaeilge agus sa Bhéarla chomh maith leis na critéir ghairmiúla don phost a shásamh. I dteannta sin tá líon oifigigh riaracháin atá ábalta plé le fiosrucháin trí mhéan na Gaeilge.

Question No. 56 answered with Question No. 41.

School Textbooks Rental Scheme

Questions (57)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

57. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason he plans to increase funding to schoolbook rental schemes as indicated in the action plan for education 2016-2019 despite these schemes not being fully comprehensive or available in all schools and evidence from an organisation (details supplied) to suggest it would cost the State just €40 million to provide all school children with free school books; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30116/16]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

School book rental schemes have an important role to play in reducing the cost of school books for parents.

Circa. 94% of primary schools and 65% of post-primary schools operate a book rental scheme.

My Department supports the operation of book rental schemes through the funding provided under its school books grant scheme. Under this scheme, my Department provides funding of €15 million annually to primary and post-primary schools in the free education scheme.

The survey from the organisation referred to by the Deputy indicates that it would require an additional investment of around €40 million to provide all school children with free school books. This should not be taken to mean that this organisation does not see the value of school book rental schemes. It should be noted that the organisation's €40 million estimate is in addition to the Department's existing annual investment under the school books grant scheme.

It is important to note that the total allocation to this Department for additional policy measures after demographics and Industrial Relation commitments, was €130 million, and of which all our commitments in higher and further education and primary and secondary schools had to be funded.

One of the actions as part of the recently published Action Plan for Education is to strengthen the focus on reducing school costs for parents by increasing the financial support for book rental schemes, in order to reduce/eliminate school book costs for parents as resources permit.

It was not possible to make progress on this issue in Budget 2017 due to the many competing demands for the available funding. However, this commitment remains a priority for me as soon as possible to address during the lifetime of the Action Plan.

Questions Nos. 58 and 59 answered with Question No. 41

School Transport Eligibility

Questions (60)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

60. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the individual criteria used for inclusion on the school transportation provision services for adults attending adult disability services nationally; if any anomalies in the assessment occur nationally; the way this is controlled, streamlined and audited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30121/16]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills

School 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 my Department's School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs, children are eligible for transport where they are attending the nearest recognised school that is or can be resourced to meet their special educational needs.

Eligibility is determined following consultation with the National Council for Special Education through its network of Special Education Needs Organisers.

I wish to advise the Deputy that Special Schools funded by my Department are intended to cater for children and young persons with special educational needs from 4 years until the end of the school year in which they reach their 18th year.

At that point, the Department of Health/Health Service Executive assumes direct responsibility for young adults with special educational needs who are over 18 years.

Question No. 61 answered with Question No. 41.