Written Answers Nos. 360-379
361. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of complaints received by the National Educational Psychological Service from either schools or parents between January 2009 and December 2013, regarding the scheme for commissioning of psychological assessment, SCPA, psychologists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41263/16]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware 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), full details of which are on the Department's website. 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.
I can inform the Deputy that no formal complaints were received under my Department's complaints procedure in the period January 2009 to December 2013 in respect of the operation of the SCPA scheme.
By way of information NEPS maintains the SCPA panel of private practitioners on an ongoing basis and provide guidelines to both panel psychologists and school authorities as to their respective roles and responsibilities in delivering and availing of the SCPA service. School authorities commission assessments under the scheme directly from the SCPA panel and when completed both the psychologist and the school Principal submit a form to NEPS individually attesting that the terms of delivery of the assessment accords to the NEPS guidelines, thus allowing NEPS to pay the panellist.
The form also includes a facility for the school to include observations or suggestions in relation to the particular assessment at hand or the overall process. The NEPS SCPA Committee may respond to this feedback and seek to resolve issues raised by direct contact with the school and or the SCPA psychologist. The feedback, both positive and negative, is used by the NEPS staff managing the process to inform individual or scheme performance and practice.
362. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of examiners and assessors appointed by the State Examinations Commission who have not been reappointed due to failure to comply with protocol for each of the past five years; the procedure in place to ensure that examiners and assessors comply with protocols in relation to confidentiality and fair and accurate assessment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41264/16]
View answerThe State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations.
In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.
363. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of examiners and assessors appointed by the State Examinations Commission who have been re-appointed with a warning due to concerns about compliance with protocol over each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41265/16]
View answerThe State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations.
In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.
364. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of examiners and assessors appointed by the State Examinations Commission who have been re-appointed at a lower level in their respective subjects due to concerns about compliance with protocol for each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41266/16]
View answerThe State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations.
In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.
365. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of examiners and assessors who have been appointed by the State Examinations Commission; the average remuneration received by each; the cost to the Exchequer of providing examiners and assessors each year for State examinations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41267/16]
View answerThe State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations.
In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.
366. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the quality assurance systems in place to ensure that examiners and assessors appointed by the State Examinations Commission are compliant with protocols on confidentiality and fair and accurate assessment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41268/16]
View answerThe State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations.
In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.
367. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the training received by examiners and assessors appointed by the State Examinations Commission on the protocols concerning confidentiality and fair and accurate assessment; the cost of providing the training; the average length of time of the training; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41269/16]
View answerThe State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations.
In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.
368. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the action which has been taken by his Department on foot of the allegations of sexual assault on a pupil at a school (details supplied); if all front-line staff at the school in question received training in Children First guidelines and legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41270/16]
View answerThe primary statutory responsibility for child protection lies with the Child and Family Agency. The role of my Department is to provide guidance and support to schools in implementing child protection policy and to refer any allegations my Department receives to the Child and Family Agency or to An Garda Síochána where appropriate for investigation.
My Department has issued "Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools" based on the "Children First – National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children 2011" and which apply to all primary and post-primary schools. The purpose of the procedures is to give direction and guidance to school authorities in the implementation of the Children First guidelines when dealing with allegations/suspicions of child abuse and neglect. The procedures make very clear the reporting and investigation mechanisms to be followed in cases of suspected child abuse wherever they occur, and the lead role of the Child and Family Agency in this area. The procedures for schools require each board of management to designate a senior member of staff, normally the principal, as the Designated Liaison Person (DLP) for the school.
The DLP acts as a liaison person with the Child and Family Agency and with other agencies on child protection issues and as a resource person to any staff member who has concerns in this regard. The Children First guidelines and my Department's child protection procedures for schools provide that all child protection concerns shall be reported to the Child and Family Agency or to An Garda Síochána where appropriate. Responsibility for ensuring that child protection requirements are complied with rests with the school board, the principal and the staff of each school.
On foot of the revision in 2011 of the Children First guidelines, training has been offered by my Department's Support Services to the Designated Liaison Person and Deputy Designated Liaison Person in all schools in the form of seminars. In addition to this, training has been offered to all schools in the form of facilitated whole staff school visits.
My Department's Support Services' records indicate that training for Designated Liaison Persons and Deputy Designated Liaison Persons has been provided in the case of the school in question.
369. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if every school has received training on Children First legislation and guidelines; the form of the training that has taken place; the total amount spent by his Department on the training; if the training forms part of initial teacher training for all student teachers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41271/16]
View answerMy Department has offered training on child protection to all schools at primary and post primary level. Training has been offered to the Designated Liaison Person and Deputy Designated Liaison Person in all schools in the form of seminars. In addition, training has also been offered to all schools in the form of facilitated whole staff school visits. As well as the support offered by my Departments' support services, schools are free to access other training in this area.
The next phase of support for schools will be made available later this year as new Children First guidance, training resources and revised Department of Education and Skills child protection procedures are finalised. Annually, the appropriate budgetary arrangements are put in place to allow schools to access support in this area.
The Teaching Council of Ireland's requirements for initial teacher education programmes set out learning outcomes for graduates of the programmes which include that the graduate will practice within the statutory framework pertaining to education, including child protection guidelines.
The budget for my Departments support services in 2016 for child protection training was in excess of €150,000 excluding personnel costs.
370. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if there is a requirement that all front-line staff in schools, including support staff, have received training in the area of Children First legislation and guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41272/16]
View answerThe primary statutory responsibility for child protection lies with the Child and Family Agency. The role of my Department is to provide guidance and support including training to schools in implementing child protection policy and to refer any allegations my Department receives to the Child and Family Agency or to An Garda Síochána where appropriate for investigation.
My Department has issued "Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools" based on the "Children First – National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children 2011" and which apply to all primary and post-primary schools. The purpose of the procedures is to give direction and guidance to school authorities in the implementation of the Children First guidelines when dealing with allegations/suspicions of child abuse and neglect. The procedures make very clear the reporting and investigation mechanisms to be followed in cases of suspected child abuse wherever they occur, and the lead role of the Child and Family Agency in this area.
It is the School Boards of Management's responsibility to ensure that all school personnel and board of management members have the necessary familiarity with the Child Protection Procedures for schools to enable them to fulfil their responsibilities under those procedures. The procedures for schools have envisaged that this will be achieved by the school developing a culture of awareness and knowledge of the procedures amongst all school personnel and, where considered appropriate, ensuring that external training is undertaken.
371. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the urgency of the plight of a school (details supplied); the provisions in place to ensure that second level education will be available to the 2017-18 intake of students at a school; the provision in place to meet the 2017-18 need if the national school in Belarmine is unable to accommodate the school; the reason for the delay in the construction in Belarmine; and the status of the provision of a permanent Educate Together secondary school in Stepaside. [41302/16]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware Stepaside Educate Together Secondary School opened in September 2016 and is currently operating in temporary accommodation in Stepaside.
In line with the arrangements in place under the Memorandum of Understanding on the acquisition of school sites for school planning purposes, my Department is working closely with Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council towards acquiring a permanent site for the school.
Pending delivery of the permanent post-primary school building, it is planned that this post-primary school will move on an interim basis to share the new school building which is being provided for Stepaside Educate Together National School (Stepaside ETNS), when the building is delivered. In this regard, planning permission was granted on 7 December 2016 for the Stepaside ETNS building, which included a condition requiring that the school provide a shuttle bus service to the new school building before the building can be occupied. My Department has appealed this condition to An Bord Pleanála. Unfortunately this will delay the construction of the permanent accommodation for Stepaside ETNS by the 4-6 months that it takes for An Bord Pleanála to make a decision on the matter.
My Department is liaising with Educate Together regarding suitable temporary accommodation for the post-primary school for the coming school year.
372. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of schools which do not have direct access to a National Educational Psychological Service psychologist for the purposes of carrying out an educational assessment, per county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41321/16]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware my Department's National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) provides an educational psychological service to schools through the direct assignment of a NEPS psychologist and in some cases through by providing schools access to the Scheme for Commissioning Psychological Assessments (SCPA) where 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.
The following table provides a count of school by county who do not currently have access to a NEPS Psychologist for the purposes of carrying out an assessment and who derive this service through the above mentioned SCPA scheme. In respect of NEPS staffing, NEPs psychologists are recruited via regional panels formed from national recruitment competitions administered by the Public Appointments service.
In the case of some schools, NEPs psychologists may no longer be assigned to those schools as a result of retirement, resignation or transfer to another NEPs region, and while every effort was made to fill the resulting vacancy during 2016 from the existing PAS panels was not successful and the panel was closed.
A new national recruitment competition was has been put in place by PAS to fill vacancies within all NEPS Regions. The closing date for applications is now passed and work is currently ongoing in relation to the examination of applications and short-listing of candidates for interview. It is envisaged, following interviews, that recruitment panels will be formed and active filling of vacancies will commence in the coming months.
Additionally a number of the assigned NEPS psychologists to schools, set out on the list, are currently absent due to maternity leave, long-term sick leave or carer's leave necessitating a temporary cessation of NEPS coverage.
However it is important to point out that in cases where NEPS service is not available through staffing vacancy or temporary absence of staff, as described above, the schools affected continue to have access to a psychologist through the Scheme for Commissioning Psychological Assessments to undertake pupil assessment work.
It is also important to note also that all schools are able to access full NEP supports in the event of a critical incident irrespective of their having ongoing access to an assigned NEPS psychologist or not.
Count by County of schools which do not currently have access to a NEPS psychologist for the purposes of carrying out an educational assessment
|
County |
Lack of Access to NEPS Psychologist due to staffing Vacancies |
Temporary lack of Access to NEPS Psychologist due Maternity, Long-term Sick or Carers Leave |
Total Schools |
|
Cavan |
1 |
1 |
|
|
Cork |
47 |
47 |
|
|
Donegal |
32 |
32 |
|
|
Dublin |
101 |
30 |
131 |
|
Galway |
2 |
2 |
|
|
Kildare |
4 |
16 |
20 |
|
Laois |
24 |
24 |
|
|
Leitrim |
14 |
14 |
|
|
Longford |
1 |
1 |
|
|
Louth |
13 |
44 |
57 |
|
Mayo |
68 |
68 |
|
|
Meath |
67 |
4 |
71 |
|
Monaghan |
8 |
8 |
|
|
Offaly |
1 |
1 |
|
|
Sligo |
12 |
12 |
|
|
Wexford |
26 |
26 |
|
|
Wicklow |
14 |
15 |
29 |
|
Total |
321 |
223 |
544 |
The following revised table was received from the Department on 23 February 2017
Count by County of schools which do not currently have access to a NEPS psychologist for the purposes of carrying out an educational assessment (ref: 13/1/17)
|
County |
Lack of Access to NEPS Psychologist due to staffing Vacancies |
Temporary lack of Access to NEPS Psychologist due Maternity, Long-term Sick or Carers Leave |
Total Schools |
|
Cavan |
1 |
1 |
|
|
Cork |
46 |
47 |
93 |
|
Donegal |
32 |
32 |
|
|
Dublin |
46 |
26 |
72 |
|
Dublin Mid/Leinster |
55 |
4 |
59 |
|
Galway |
2 |
2 |
|
|
Kildare |
4 |
16 |
20 |
|
Laois |
29 |
29 |
|
|
Leitrim |
5 |
14 |
19 |
|
Longford |
4 |
1 |
5 |
|
Louth |
13 |
44 |
57 |
|
Mayo |
68 |
68 |
|
|
Meath |
67 |
4 |
71 |
|
Monaghan |
8 |
8 |
|
|
Offaly |
1 |
1 |
|
|
Sligo |
1 |
12 |
13 |
|
Waterford |
12 |
12 |
|
|
Wexford |
29 |
29 |
|
|
Wicklow |
14 |
15 |
29 |
|
Grand Total |
397 |
223 |
619 |
373. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Education and Skills his Department's plans for the Test of Interactive English, TIE; when the current tender for TIE expires; if it will be put out to tender again when it expires; if TIE remains an exam accredited and validated by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41322/16]
View answerThe Test of Interactive English (TIE) is an international 'English as a Foreign Language' exam which was first launched in 2000. It was developed in Ireland by the Advisory Council for English Language Schools (ACELS), a Government agency which was responsible at that time for quality assurance in English language teaching.
Upon its establishment in November 2012, Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) assumed responsibility for the administration of the ACELS functions, including the TIE. My Department has no role in the accreditation of the TIE.
There are currently two providers for which QQI administers the TIE examinations. These providers have been notified that QQI will cease to administer the TIE examinations on their behalf when their current agreement expires on 31st March 2017.
Both providers have been granted permission by my Department to continue to offer TIE examinations, subject to certain terms and conditions, post 31st March 2017.
374. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to an application for an additional classroom for a school (details supplied); if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that his Department's building unit has stated that the school's prospects of obtaining an additional classroom are unlikely and that the school maintains that an additional classroom is necessary in the interest of the health and safety of the children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41352/16]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has now completed the assessment of the school's application for an additional mainstream classroom and a letter has issued to the Board of Management in this regard.
In July 2015, the Department approved a devolved grant for the provision of a mainstream classroom for the expected appointment of a third mainstream class teacher, for September 2016. However, the enrolment numbers at the school did not materialise and as a result the school did not qualify to increase their staffing level. The classroom which my Department approved in July 2015 is progressing and has been tendered. On completion, the school in question will have adequate accommodation to cater for a third teacher should the post materialise.
375. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a post-primary school requires a minimum number of leaving certificate applied pupils to secure funding from his Department or if the delivery of the programme is purely at the discretion of the school; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the leaving certificate applied programme is not being taught in County Leitrim for the 2016/2017 academic year; the reason students are being denied the course; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41353/16]
View answerThe Leaving Certificate Applied (LCA) programme is one of a number of options made available by my Department for Senior Cycle students which schools can choose from, based on the education needs and interests of their student. Other options include Transition Year, Leaving Certificate Established and the Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme.
The LCA is a two-year programme designed for those students who do not wish to proceed directly to higher education or for those whose needs, aptitudes and learning styles are not fully catered for by the other two Leaving Certificate programmes.
It is the responsibility and choice of each individual school to decide to put in place the LCA programme, including the admittance of a student to the programme, in their school. Schools that choose to organise the LCA programme are entitled to an additional fixed allocation of 0.5 of a teaching post, over the standard allocation. Some 287 post-primary schools are availing of this additional 0.5 of a post in the 2016/2017 school year. There is no minimum number of LCA pupils required for schools to secure the additional teaching allocation from my Department.
The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) will shortly commence a review of Senior Cycle programmes and vocational pathways in senior cycle, with a view to recommending areas for development. This review will include the LCA where it is expected that issues regarding take-up of the programme by schools will be considered.
376. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of building plans for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41361/16]
View answer399. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education and Skills the current status of building plans for a school (details supplied) awaiting a building upgrade since the 1990s; when the building upgrade will commence; and a projected timeframe for the completion of the project. [41776/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 376 and 399 together.
As the Deputies will be aware, a building project for the school, referred to, is included in my Department's 6 Year Construction Plan.
My Department is liaising with the school, in question, in relation to its project and in that regard provided the school in December last with Schedules of Accommodation for the project. My Department will be in further contact with the school shortly in relation to progressing the project into the architectural planning process.
It is not possible at this stage to give an indicative timeline for when construction will commence and the duration of the works.
377. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an application for funding under the emergency works scheme by a school (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41367/16]
View answerThe school referred to by the Deputy applied for funding under my Department's Emergency Works Scheme for new windows, electrical works and heating works. The scope of the works applied for are outside the terms of the Emergency Works Scheme. Works of this nature should be applied for under any future Summer Works Scheme.
In the interim the school authority have been advised that if they identify health and safety works that require immediate attention they should submit an Emergency Works Application for these works only.
378. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will reverse a decision regarding an emergency works application by a school (details supplied) in view of the fact that funding is vital to ensure the health and safety of the children attending this school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41386/16]
View answerThe school to which the Deputy refers applied for funding under my Department's Emergency Works Scheme to provide additional parking and a set down area at the school.
As the scope of the works were outside the terms of the scheme, the application was refused. The mechanism for applying for funding for works of this nature is my Department's Summer Works Scheme.
It is open to the school authority to apply for these works under a future Summer Works Scheme.
379. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Education and Skills the provisions in place for a person (details supplied) in County Leitrim regarding the school transport scheme; if, considering the exceptional circumstances, the person would be eligible for transport under the scheme despite residing more than 3.2 kilometres from a particular school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41399/16]
View answerSchool transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department.
Currently in the region of 114,000 children, including some 10,000 children with special educational needs, are being transported in over 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.
Bus Éireann has confirmed that the child in question is eligible for school transport to the school he is attending and has been issued a bus ticket for 2016/2017 school year.
My Department has not received an new application form for school transport for this child.
