Written Answers Nos. 199 - 222
199. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department or the agencies that report to his Department entered into any non-disclosure or confidentiality agreements, existent within the past five years, with any organisation due to court action or a threatened court action; and, if so, the persons or groups with which these agreements exist. [39598/16]
View answerMy Department has not entered into any non-disclosure or confidentiality agreements with any organisation due to court action or threatened court action in the last five years. However, an agency of my Department, SOLAS, paid a small sum to defray legal costs incurred by a potential litigant. This payment was made on a confidential basis at the litigant’s solicitor’s request. As the Deputy will understand, I cannot provide any further details as this would undermine and possibly breach the terms of the payment.
200. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the provision of funding which is urgently required for a school (details supplied) in County Cork. [39646/16]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that funding has already been approved by my Department under the Emergency Works Grant Scheme (EWGS) for various works for a building on the school site, referred to, that was not impacted by the fire and hence not covered by the school's insurance.
Following a site visit by my Department officials, a further EWGS application has been received from the school concerned for further works to that building. This application is currently under consideration and a decision in the matter will issue directly to the school authority shortly.
201. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Skills if all of the minor works grants approved for schools will be paid by the end of December 2016. [39721/16]
View answerI am pleased to inform the Deputy that the Minor Works Grant 2016/2017 has recently been issued to schools in the primary sector.
202. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an application for assisted technology in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39724/16]
View answerI can confirm that following receipt of all necessary documentation and consideration of the application, officials from my Department have issued sanction to the school for funding in respect of assistive technology for the child in question, in accordance with my Department's Circular 0010/2013.
203. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Education and Skills the guidelines that exist for staff in Youthreach centres designated as centres of education in circular letter No. F49/04, who are confronted with physical altercations between students in the classroom and during times of supervision, from the point of view of the teacher employing reasonable force to stop an altercation and, conversely, any liability that might be incurred on their part for failing to intervene in such a scenario; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39741/16]
View answer204. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Education and Skills if circular letter M18/99 Guidelines on Violence in Schools, issued by his Department, is applicable to designated centres of education as per circular letter number F49/04; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39742/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 203 and 204 together.
Circular letter M18/99 provides guidelines on violence in schools for second level schools and is not applicable to designated centres of education.
The Operator Guidelines for the Youthreach Programme provide that all centres should have in place an up to date health and safety statement, based on the ETB master statement and that staff should implement health and safety procedures as required by legislation including all of the requirements of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work legislation.
The Guidelines include information for centres on the development of codes of behaviour that outline expectations for learner behaviour and indicate that learners joining the programme should be made aware of the code and commit to following it. The Guidelines recommend that all participants (and their parents if they are under 18) sign a contract on recruitment setting out the responsibilities of the programme and registering their commitment to observe the code of behaviour. The guidelines set out a range of issues that should be included in the contract which includes health and safety and also provision for the suspension or expulsion of learners where the safety and welfare of staff or learners is a concern.
Supporting good behaviour among learners is a core element of the programme provided in Youthreach. Information on how staff should deal with behaviour problems are included in the Guidelines, acknowledging that prevention is important and that staff may require training in order to respond appropriately.
The Guidelines indicate that the support of staff and the maintenance and development of skills are the responsibility of Education and Training Boards (ETBs). Training in this area may be carried out under the CPD allocation made by ETBs.
205. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the provision of a new site for a school (details supplied) as announced in November 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39849/16]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, a project for a new school building for the school to which he refers is included on my Department's capital programme.
Officials in my Department have been liaising with officials in the relevant Local Authority under the Memorandum of Understanding for the acquisition of school sites in relation to the procurement of a site to accommodate the school. A preferred site option has been identified and officials are working to advance its acquisition.
Due to the commercial sensitivities which attach to site acquisitions generally I am unfortunately not in a position to provide further information at this time. However, the patron of the school in question will be informed of the location as soon as it is possible to do so.
206. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a decision will be made on an application for funding for emergency works by a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39853/16]
View answerThe application to which the Deputy refers is under review in my Department. A decision will be taken as quickly as possible and the school will be notified directly of the outcome.
207. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will ensure that an income contingent loan system is not put in place considering the effects this will have on students from rural counties who have to factor in high transport, accommodation and living costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39859/16]
View answerThe Report of the Expert Group on Future Funding for Higher Education, published in July, identifies income-contingent loans as being one of the possible options for the future funding of the higher education sector. Other options include a predominantly State-funded system or a State-funded system supplemented with continuing student fees.
As committed to in the Programme for Government, I have referred the report to the Oireachtas Education Committee and this engagement will form part of the process for formulating a plan for the future funding of the sector. I do not want to pre-empt the work of the Committee, however, I look forward to working with it as it analyses all of the options put forward by the Expert Group and hears the voice of all stakeholders.
While Cassells deals with the medium and long term funding needs of higher education we also have to consider the immediate challenges and in that context I am pleased that we placed a particular focus on this area in Budget 2017. I secured additional funding for the sector for the first time in recent years. In 2017 an additional €36.5 million will be made available with €160 million additional over the next three years. This will allow the sector keep pace with demographic increases and introduce targeted initiatives in areas such as disadvantage, skills, research and flexible learning. Among those who will benefit from the additional third level funding being made available are, students from disadvantaged backgrounds, lone parents and Travellers.
In Budget 2017 the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and I, announced a policy review with the aim of designing and implementing a sustainable and predictable multi-annual funding model for higher and further education and training involving increased Employer and Exchequer contributions from 2018. This review will be undertaken as part of the overall response to meeting the anticipated skills needs in the economy over the coming years, in line with the policy framework set out in the National Skills Strategy.
This review will include an analysis of the business case for enhanced investment in the higher and further education and training sectors. In this context it will identify key elements of the new funding model and of the expected impacts including those on employers. The review will include consultation with stakeholders.
The policy review will be published by the end of April 2017, and will complement the ongoing work by the Oireachtas Committee in relation to the Cassells report.
208. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department has been involved in any court proceedings that involved non-disclosure agreements in the past five years; and, if so, if the specific court ruling prevented knowledge of the court proceeding being known and knowledge of the participants to the court proceeding from being made known for each of these agreements. [39865/16]
View answerI can confirm to the Deputy that my Department has been involved in court proceedings in the past five years that involved non-disclosure agreements. As cases may involve sensitive matters regarding minors, the terms of the settlement and/or the identity of the minor may be covered by such non-disclosure agreements.
209. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the issues raised in correspondence (details supplied) regarding a petition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39878/16]
View answerThe correspondence to which the Deputy refers relates to the provision of a site to facilitate a school building project which is included on my Department's capital programme.
Officials in my Department have engaged with officials in the relevant Local Authority under the Memorandum of Understanding for the acquisition of school sites in relation to the procurement of such a site. A number of site options were comprehensively assessed and a preferred site option has been identified. Officials are currently working to progress this matter.
210. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will investigate a case which has arisen in relation to a person (details supplied) and their higher education grant application to SUSI. [39889/16]
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 helpdesk, 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.
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 within the required timeframe.
211. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the DEIS programme is under review by his Department; if so, the details of the review; the length of time it will take; the measures he expects to implement on its completion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39957/16]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, a process to review the DEIS Programme, which began last year is nearing completion and it is the my intention to publish a new Action Plan for Educational Inclusion in the coming weeks.
The review process is looking at all aspects of DEIS, including the range and impact of different elements of the School Support Programme, the potential for innovation within and between schools and its scope for increased integration of services provided by other Departments and Agencies, in order to improve effectiveness.
Among the measures to be included in the plan are a series of pilot schemes aimed at introducing measures, which have been shown to work well in improving results for disadvantaged children and students. The plan is expected to include targeted measures in the area of:
- School leadership
- School networks and clusters
- Teaching methodologies
- Integration of schools and other State supports within communities
- Greater use of Home School Community Liaison services
A new assessment framework is also being developed using centrally held CSO and DES data for the identification of schools for inclusion in a new Programme. The number of schools to receive supports under a new School Support Programme will be determined by this proposed new identification process, which will assess all schools in the country. Schools will not be required to submit an application for assessment as the methodology being applied involves the use of centrally held data already available to my Department.
Implementation of actions arising from the Action Plan for Educational Inclusion will begin in the 2017/18 school year, and will be a continuing theme in our wider Annual Action Plan for Education.
Further information on the DEIS Review process is available on the Department’s website at http://www.education.ie/en/Schools-Colleges/Services/DEIS-Delivering-Equality-of-Opportunity-in-Schools-/.
212. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to provide an urgently needed new second level school in the north fringe, Dublin city council and south fringe, Fingal county council districts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39972/16]
View answerThe areas to which the Deputy refers takes in a number of School Planning Areas, including Portmarnock and Donaghmede-Howth. These defined school planning areas facilitate the orderly planning of school provision and accommodation needs. The Department uses a Geographical Information System (GIS) to identify where the pressure for school places will arise. The GIS uses data from the Central Statistics Office, Ordnance Survey Ireland and the Department of Social Protection, in addition to the Department’s own databases. With this information, the Department carries out nationwide demographic analyses at primary and post primary level to determine where additional school accommodation is needed.
On foot of the last nationwide demographic analyses, the establishment of four new primary schools and nine new post-primary schools to open in 2017 and 2018 was announced. One of the new 1,000-pupil post-primary schools will serve the Swords school planning area and one will serve the Malahide and Portmarnock school planning areas, which are adjacent to the school planning areas which cross the Dublin Bay North area and will provide regional solutions. As part of this announcement, it was also stated that a range of areas nationwide are experiencing increased demographic pressure and will be kept under ongoing review by the Department and that new schools may be necessary in the years after 2018 at post-primary level. North-West Dublin City and the Dublin 13 and Dublin 17 areas are included in this ongoing review.
213. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the case of a person (details supplied) who is seeking an upgrade to salary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40013/16]
View answerThe Government implemented a recruitment and promotion moratorium across the civil and public sector which included the civil service, local authorities, non-commercial state bodies with effect from 27 March, 2009. These measures had an impact for schools in relation to the filling of promotional posts other than those of Principal and Deputy Principal. This is set out in departmental Circular 0022/2009 entitled ‘Implementation of Moratorium on Promotions in the Public Service’.
To date, this moratorium remains in place. This post is covered by the moratorium. There can be no change to the decision unless it is sanctioned by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform as part of a wider determination on the lifting of the moratorium which would be linked to other sectors in the public service.
214. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the exact distribution of increased third level funding announced in the recent budget. [40039/16]
View answerFunding of the Higher Education Sector is a key concern for me particularly in light of the additional pressure that will fall on the system over the next decade or so. In seeking to address the issue in the short term, I have as part of Budget 2017 secured additional funding of 36.5m for the first time in nine years for the sector.
As announced on Budget Day, this will include over 3000 students from disadvantaged groups will benefit from an additional package of €8.5million to support more disadvantaged students, including lone parents and Travellers, to attend higher level. This includes the introduction of full maintenance grant (worth almost €6000) from September 2017 for 1100 postgraduate students in the lowest income category. New targeted initiatives to provide skills, and additional flexible learning places.
Funding to commence a New Frontiers Research Programme and a new initiative to attract world-leading researchers in the context of Brexit for the first time in recent years, specific additional funding is being allocated for 2017, 2018 and 2019 to cover the impact of increasing enrolments. Funding for 2017 will support 179,000 full-time enrolments, provision for expansion in apprenticeship, provision to implement the new International Education Strategy and increase the value of the sector by €500million per year and attract 37,000 additional students by 2020.
In addition, in Budget 2017 the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and I, announced a policy review with the aim of designing and implementing a sustainable and predictable multi-annual funding model for higher and further education and training involving increased Employer and Exchequer contributions from 2018. The review will be undertaken as part of the overall response to meeting the anticipated skills needs in the economy over the coming years, in line with the policy framework set out in the National Skills Strategy.
It will include an analysis of the business case for enhanced investment in the higher and further education and training sectors. In this context it will identify key elements of the new funding model and of the expected impacts including those on employers. The review will include consultation with stakeholders. The policy review will be published by the end of April 2017, and will complement the ongoing work by the Oireachtas Committee in relation to the Cassells report.
215. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Education and Skills the way in which he plans to address the anomaly whereby teachers who have taught outside of the EU are capped at seven years' credits, while teachers who have taught in other countries inside the EU receive credits on a year for year basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40055/16]
View answer216. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will review Circular 10 of 2001, in particular section 4.2 thereof, which caps credit in respect of service given in states outside the EU at seven years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40058/16]
View answer217. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Skills the way in which he will address the anomaly whereby teachers that have taught outside of the EU are capped at seven years' credits, while teachers that have taught in other countries inside the EU receive credits on a year for year basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40061/16]
View answer218. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department will review Circular 10 of 2001, in particular section 4.2 thereof, which caps credit in respect of service given in states outside the EU at seven years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40062/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 215 to 218, inclusive, together.
The criteria for the award of incremental credit to recognised primary teachers under Circular 10/2001 was agreed under the auspices of the Teachers Conciliation Council. This Council is comprised of representatives of teachers, school management, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, the Department of Education and Skills and is chaired by an official of the Workplace Relations Commission. Therefore the issue of teaching service given outside the EU would need to be considered at the Teachers Conciliation Council, in the first instance.
219. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Thomas Byrne den Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna an bhfuil dualgas sa dlí ar Bhord Ollscoil na hÉireann, Gaillimh, uachtarán a bhfuil Gaeilge líofa aici nó aige a fhostú; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [40074/16]
View answerMar is eol don Teachta, is comhlachtaí neamhspleácha iad institiúidí Tríú Leibhéal agus is ar Bhoird Rialaithe agus ar fhoireann bhainistíochta na n-institiúidí bainteacha atá freagracht as cúrsaí oibríochta laethúla, lena n-áirítear ceisteanna a bhaineann le gnásanna earcaíochta agus roghnúcháin.
Maidir leis an gceist áirithe atá idir lámha, tá curtha in iúl ag an Ollscoil dom go mbeidh folúntas ann i leith Uachtaránacht OÉ Gaillimh i mí Eanáir 2018. Le déanaí, chuir an Ollscoil tús le hullmhúchán chun comórtas a eagrú le hUachtarán nua a cheapadh. Sa chomhthéacs sin, tionóladh cruinniú d'Údarás na hOllscoile Dé hAoine 2 Nollaig 2016 agus rinneadh cinneadh comhthola gan leanúint de riachtanas cumas sa Ghaeilge a bheith ag sealbhóir an phoist.
Is den tábhacht a shonrú nach n-éilítear in Acht na nOllscoileanna, 1997 ná in Acht an Choláiste Ollscoile, Gaillimh (Leasú), 2006 cumas Gaeilge a bheith ag Uachtarán OÉ Gaillimh. Is ceanglas de chuid an reachta Ollscoile infheidhme reatha é an riachtanas cumas Gaeilge a bhaineann leis an Uachtarán reatha. Tá Údarás na hOllscoile i dteideal, faoi alt 33 d'Acht na nOllscoileanna, 1997, reachtanna nua a dhréachtú agus reachtanna reatha a leasú de réir mar a mheasann sé bheith riachtanach.
Is í an réasúnaíocht atá taobh thiar den chinneadh seo chun an reacht reatha Uachtaránachta faoi mar a bhaineann sé leis an nGaeilge a leasú, riar ar an léiriú spéise is iomláine in Éirinn agus thar lear sa chomórtas Uachtaránachta atá le teacht. Tá ceanglas ar an Ollscoil faoi alt 18 (2) d'Acht na nOllscoileanna, 1997, rannpháirtíocht a chinntiú i bpróiseas roghnúcháin na hUachtaránachta ag iarrthóirí ardcháilíochta ón taobh istigh agus ón taobh amuigh den Ollscoil araon. Tá an ollscoil rangaithe faoi láthair i measc an 250 ollscoil is fearr ar domhan ag Rangaithe Ollscoileanna an Domhain 2016/2017 an TIMES HIGHER EDUCATION agus ag Rangaithe Ollscoileanna an Domhain 2016/2017 an QS. Ar an mbonn sin, tá an Ollscoil ag dúil go gcuirfidh réimse suntasach d'iarrthóirí, idir inmheánach agus sheachtrach, iarrthóirí idirnáisiúnta san áireamh, suim san fholúntas le haghaidh Uachtarán nua.
Ní mór a chuimhneamh freisin go bhfuil freagrachtaí reachtúla ar leithligh ar OÉ Gaillimh maidir le cur chun cinn agus saothrú na Gaeilge ar an gcampas agus i bpobail Ghaeltachta. Feidhmítear é seo go príomha trí obair thábhachtach Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta. Feidhmíonn sé go hiomlán trí mheán na Gaeilge agus tá sé freagrach as forbairt agus soláthar cláir acadúla, taighde agus seirbhísí eile trí mheán na Gaeilge. Is in Acht an Choláiste Ollscoile, Gaillimh, 1929 a leagadh amach den chéad uair tiomantas na hOllscoile i leith na Gaeilge agus athdhearbhaíodh é seo in Acht an Choláiste Ollscoile, Gaillimh (Leasú), 2006. Maítear sa dara hAcht gur bunaidhm i gcomhair oibríocht agus fhorbairt an Choláiste soláthar oideachais sa Choláiste trí mheán na Gaeilge agus go léireofar an dualgas reachtúil seo san uile phlean straitéiseach a fhorbróidh an Ollscoil. Faoin Acht is ar 'Údarás Rialaithe agus Uachtarán an Choláiste' a thiteann sé, trína bhfeidhmeanna féin faoi seach agus trí chur i bhfeidhm a gcumhachtaí féin faoi seach, a chinntiú go ngnóthaítear an bhunaidhm faoi mar atá leagtha amach san Acht.
Ar an mbonn sin, beag beann ar cé acu atá nó nach bhfuil cumas sa teanga ag Uachtarán na hOllscoile, tá ceanglas air/uirthi bheith i gceannas ar phobal na hOllscoile agus é ag feidhmiú pholasaí Gaeilge an Stáit agus na hOllscoile go cuimsitheach.
220. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to initiate a teacher job exchange programme for permanent exchange as opposed to temporary exchange. [40114/16]
View answerThe provisions of the teacher exchange scheme are set out by my Department in Circular Letter 0017/2015 the contents of which were agreed under the auspices of the Teacher Conciliation Council. The Teacher Conciliation Council is part of the scheme of Conciliation and Arbitration for Teachers and was set up to deal with claims and proposals relating to the Terms and Conditions of employment of teachers. The Council is composed of representatives of teachers, school management, the Department of Education and Skills, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and is chaired by an official of the Workplace Relations Commission.
The Teacher Exchange scheme is open to primary teachers who are registered with the Teaching Council, have completed probation and who wish to exchange their posts for educational purposes. Educational purposes would include enabling teachers in primary schools to gain experience of teaching in different types of settings. The concept is that teachers will gain a different experience, enrich their knowledge and understanding of their professional work and share this understanding with colleagues.
The minimum period for which an exchange may occur is one year and the maximum is five years.
In the current year the issue of this limit and the purpose of the scheme was reviewed under the auspices of Teachers Conciliation Council. Having considered the matter in detail and taking into account all circumstances both the union and management partners considered that their preferred option is to retain the existing scheme as set out in the published circular.
Available teaching posts are to be filled by redeployment, in the first instance, in accordance with the redeployment schemes or by the agreed recruitment and appointment procedures as published in Governance Manual for Primary Schools 2015 – 2019.
221. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the name and number of Bills in preparation in his Department and published by his Department since May 2016; the Stage each Bill is at in the Houses of the Oireachtas; the number of Bills from his Department signed into law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40133/16]
View answerThere are eight Bills at various stages in my Department, as indicated on the Legislation Programme published by the Chief Whip's Office. Details on these bills are given below.
There are two Bills before the Oireachtas.
The Technological Universities Bill has completed Second Stage in the Dáil.
The Education (Admission to Schools) Bill was published in July 2016 and completed Second Stage in the Dáil in November 2016.
The General Scheme of the Education (Parent and Student Charter) Bill was published on 5 December 2016. It has been referred to the Oireachtas Committee on Education for pre-legislative scrutiny.
Work on drafting the following Bills is under way in my Department.
Universities (Amendment) Bill.
Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Amendment) Bill.
Retention of Records Bill.
Higher Education (Reform) Bill.
Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill.
Since May 2016, I have signed 7 Commencement Orders in relation to the Teaching Council Act 2001. These were Statutory Instruments numbers 407, 408, 410, 411, 444, 556 and 557.
222. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide all examples of entire units that have been re-centralised back to Dublin from within his Department; his Department's rationale for such moves; and if Cabinet approval was sought and given in each case. [40476/16]
View answerThere are no examples of the scenario described by the Deputy in his question.
