Written Answers Nos. 100-110
100. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on meetings he or his officials have had with counterparts in other EU states with regard to the impact of Brexit on third level fees that would be charged to Irish or other EU citizens studying in the UK. [8856/17]
View answerI have had meetings in recent months with the EU Commissioner for Education and other EU Ministers and officials at which a wide range of Brexit-related issues, though not specifically student fees, were discussed.
My Department's Secretary General attended the UK/Ireland Permanent Secretary/Secretary General Summit in London in October 2016 at which he and his UK counterpart considered the implications of Brexit for our respective education systems including possible impacts on Ireland/UK student and academic flows and third level student fees and supports.
Both I and the UK Secretary of State for Education have communicated on matters of shared concern including the likely implications of Brexit for research collaboration; student access to higher education, and student fees. We have agreed to take forward our consideration of these issues at a meeting to take place in the very near future. I had previously discussed a similar agenda with my counterpart in the Northern Ireland Executive on the margins of the North South Ministerial Council meeting in July 2016.
In advance of my proposal to meet with the Secretary of State, my officials will meet with their UK counterparts shortly to follow up on the Secretary Generals' meeting and to discuss common issues in the education sector in light of Brexit.
As part of the Government's overall preparations for Brexit, Ministers will continue to meet and engage with their EU counterparts over coming weeks to emphasise Ireland’s concerns and to ensure that they are fully reflected in the EU position once negotiations commence.
This activity is reinforced by extensive engagement at diplomatic and official level. The Government is acutely aware of the potential risks and challenges for the Irish economy and will remain fully engaged on this aspect as the negotiations proceed. An important part of our preparations for the Brexit negotiations is ensuring that our particular concerns are heard and understood across Europe, and engagement with our EU partners and with the EU institutions is therefore critical.
Ireland will be part of the EU 27 team and looks forward to working with our fellow Member States in delivering the best possible result for Ireland and for the EU in the Brexit negotiations.
101. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 85 of 9 February 2017, the action his Department will take with regard to the review of updated demographic data to tackle the shortage of school places in eight primary schools in Swords. [8887/17]
View answerFor school planning purposes, my Department plans school provision across some 314 school planning areas. As you will appreciate, my Department's resources are prioritised to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in that area and that every child has access to a school place. In this context, my Department uses a Geographical Information System to identify the areas under increased demographic pressure nationwide. The system uses data from the Central Statistics Office, Ordnance Survey Ireland, the Department of Social Protection and information from my Department's own databases. With this information, my Department carries out nationwide demographic analyses to determine where additional school accommodation is needed at primary and post-primary level.
The demographic data for the Swords school planning area is currently under review by my Department to take account of updated child benefit data and updated enrolment data and also the impact of existing and planned capacity increases in this area.
In relation to capacity in the area, as the Deputy may be aware, there are 13 primary schools serving the Swords area, five of which have had new state-of-the-art buildings provided since 2008. Two of the primary schools are included in the current capital programme and a number of the other schools have undertaken smaller extensions via my Department’s Additional Accommodation Scheme.
My Department has recently been in direct contact with a number of primary schools in the area in respect of their junior infant capacity. In that regard, it is understood that at least one school is undersubscribed and has expressed a willingness to enrol further junior infants in September 2017, if necessary. As the Deputy will appreciate, it is important that school size is monitored and that a balance is preserved among all schools in school planning areas to ensure that one school is not expanding at the expense or the viability of another school.
My Department is continuing to keep developments in the area under review in the context of the ongoing demographic analysis.
102. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Education and Skills the details of pupil numbers of all second level schools in Drogheda as at September 2016 in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8902/17]
View answerThe data requested by the Deputy on post-primary enrolments in schools in Drogheda for 2016/17 is included in the following table.
Drogheda PP 2016
|
Academic Year |
Roll Number |
Official School Name |
Address 1 |
Address 2 |
Address 3 |
County |
Principal Name |
Phone |
School Gender |
Pupil Attendance Type |
Irish Classification - Post Primary |
Fee Paying |
Ethos/Religion |
Open/Closed Status |
Female Enrolments |
Male Enrolments |
|
2016 |
63840C |
St. Joseph's C.B.S. |
Newfoundwell Rd |
Drogheda |
Co Louth |
Louth |
MR. DAVID MADDEN |
0419837232 |
Boys |
Day |
No subjects taught through Irish |
N |
CATHOLIC |
Open |
727 |
|
|
2016 |
63841E |
St Mary's Diocesan School |
Beamore Road |
Drogheda |
Co. Louth |
Louth |
MR. CIARAN FRANCIS O'HARE |
0419837581 |
Boys |
Day |
No subjects taught through Irish |
N |
CATHOLIC |
Open |
756 |
|
|
2016 |
63850F |
Our Lady's College |
Greenhills |
Drogheda |
Co Louth |
Louth |
MRS. GERALDINE MULVIHILL |
0419831219 |
Girls |
Day |
No subjects taught through Irish |
N |
CATHOLIC |
Open |
954 |
|
|
2016 |
63860I |
Sacred Heart Secondary School |
Sunnyside |
Drogheda |
Co Louth |
Louth |
MRS. LEONI CARROLL |
0419837812 |
Girls |
Day |
No subjects taught through Irish |
N |
CATHOLIC |
Open |
599 |
|
|
2016 |
63870L |
Drogheda Grammar School |
Mornington Rd |
Drogheda |
Co Louth |
Louth |
MR. HUGH BAKER |
0419838281 |
Mixed |
Mixed |
No subjects taught through Irish |
Y |
QUAKER |
Open |
129 |
174 |
|
2016 |
71761C |
St Oliver's Community College |
Rathmullen Road |
Drogheda |
Co. Louth |
Louth |
Mr. John Halpin |
0419838515 |
Mixed |
Day |
No subjects taught through Irish |
N |
INTER DENOMINATIONAL |
Open |
638 |
654 |
|
2016 |
91573N |
Ballymakenny College |
Ballymakenny Road |
Drogheda |
Louth |
MR. ALAN MYNES |
Mixed |
Day |
No subjects taught through Irish |
N |
MULTI DENOMINATIONAL |
Open |
162 |
149 |
The enrolment figures provided refer to students following the Junior Cycle, Transition year and various Leaving Certificate programmes.
This data refers to returns on student enrolments from post-primary schools to the Department as at 30th September, 2016.
Please see second sheet for separate enrolment figures for Post-Leaving Certificate
Drogheda PLC 2016
|
Roll No |
Name |
ETB Name |
Total Recognised |
Total VTOS |
|
71760A |
Drogheda Inst. of Further Education |
Louth and Meath Education and Training Board |
854 |
0 |
These figures refer to the enrolments for Post-Leaving Certificate only at the 30th September.
This data was provided by schools to the Department from the Programme and Learner Support System (PLSS, operated by SOLAS in conjunction with the ETBs.
103. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Education and Skills the details of pupil numbers of all primary schools in Drogheda as at September 2016 in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8904/17]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is available in the following table. Please note that all pupil numbers for the 2016/2017 academic year are currently provisional.
List of Drogheda Schools Mainstream and Special 2016-2017
|
County Description |
Roll Number |
Official Name |
Address Line 1 |
Address Line 2 |
|
Louth |
00851C |
PRESENTATION CONVENT |
BALLYMAKENNY ROAD |
DROGHEDA |
|
Louth |
01434O |
S N COLUMCILLE |
TULLYDONNELL |
TOGHER |
|
Louth |
01554B |
BAILE AN PHUSTA N S |
SMARMORE |
DROGHEDA |
|
Louth |
03787L |
WALSHESTOWN N S |
WALSHESTOWN |
GRANGEBELLEW, DROGHEDA |
|
Louth |
11072M |
S N NAOMH PEADAR |
BOLTON STREET |
DROGHEDA |
|
Louth |
14252G |
CALLYSTOWN MIXED N S |
CALLYSTOWN |
CLOGHERHEAD DROGHEDA |
|
Louth |
16208N |
Scoil Náisíunta Naomh Feichín |
TERMONFECKIN |
DROGHEDA |
|
Louth |
17059E |
SCOIL NA MBRAITHRE SN |
GEATA AN DOMHNAIGH |
DROICHEAD ATHA |
|
Louth |
17726R |
S N TULACH ALUINN |
TULLYALLEN |
DROGHEDA |
|
Louth |
17949O |
S N PADRAIG NAOFA B |
BOTHAR BRUGHA |
DROGHEDA |
|
Louth |
17952D |
S N Naomh Fhionhain |
Dillonstown |
Drumcar |
|
Louth |
18045V |
S N MUIRE GAN SMÁL |
Cartown |
Termonfeckin |
|
Louth |
18069M |
NAOMH SEOSAMH |
MELL |
DROGHEDA |
|
Louth |
18098T |
S N BHRIDE C |
BOTHAR BRUGHA |
DROGHEDA |
|
Louth |
19215C |
S N ARD MHUIRE C |
BALLSGROVE |
DROGHEDA |
|
Louth |
19223B |
S N PADRAIG |
BAILE UI IR |
MAINISTIR BHUITHE |
|
Louth |
19479N |
RATHMULLAN N S |
RATHMULLEN |
DROGHEDA |
|
Louth |
19678T |
ST PAUL'S SENIOR NS |
Marley's Lane |
Drogheda |
|
Louth |
19740V |
S N AONGHUSA |
GEATA AN DOMHNAIGH |
DROICHEAD ATHA |
|
Louth |
20146Q |
LE CHEILE EDUCATE TOGETHER |
MORNINGTON RD |
DROGHEDA |
|
Louth |
20205G |
ST MARY'S PARISH PRIMARY SCHOOL |
DUBLIN ROAD |
DROGHEDA |
|
Louth |
20294I |
Aston Village Educate Together National School |
Dunlin Street |
Aston Village |
|
Louth |
20349H |
SCOIL OILIBHÉIR NAOFA |
St. Oliver's N.S. |
BALLYMAKENNY ROAD |
|
Special Schools. |
||||
|
County Description |
Roll Number |
Official Name |
Address Line 1 |
Address Line 2 |
|
Louth |
18936K |
ST ITA'S SPECIAL SCHOOL |
CRUSHROD AVENUE |
DROGHEDA |
|
Louth |
20374G |
ABACAS School |
Drogheda ABACAS Special School |
Congress Avenue |
104. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a promised extension and refurbishment of a school (details supplied); if consideration of the stage 2A addendum in this case will be expedited; if approval to proceed to stage 2B will be granted as matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8938/17]
View answerThe major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is completing Stage 2(a) of the Architectural Planning process, the Developed Design Stage.
Following the Stage 2(a) Stakeholder’s meeting which was held on the 30th November 2016, the ETB and its Design Team were requested to submit a Stage 2(a) addendum addressing issues which arose at the meeting. This addendum was submitted by the ETB on the 22nd December 2016 and is currently under review. My Department will revert to the ETB once this review is complete.
Upon successful completion of Stage 2(a) the project will then be authorised to progress to complete Stage 2(b) - Detailed Design, which includes the applications for statutory approvals and the preparation of Tender Documents.
105. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the appointment of an ombudsman to oversee and monitor the behaviour and actions of boards of management of national schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8943/17]
View answerMy Department's role is to clarify for parents how their grievances and complaints against schools can be progressed. If a parent wishes to make a complaint against a teacher or a school they should contact the relevant school authorities. The complaint procedures adopted by most schools are those that have been agreed between the teacher unions and school management bodies. Where a parent feels that the school's board of management has failed to investigate or adequately investigate their complaint, they should contact the Ombudsman for Children.
The Office of the Ombudsman for Children may independently investigate complaints in relation to schools provided the parent has firstly and fully followed the school's complaints procedures. The key criterion for any intervention by the Ombudsman for Children is that the action of the school has had a negative impact on a child. The office can be contacted at Ombudsman for Children's Office, Millennium House, 52-56 Great Strand Street, Dublin1, (Ph) 1800 20 20 40 or (01) 8656800, E-mail oco@oco.ie.
On 5 December 2016, I published the General Scheme of an Education (Parent and Student Charter) Bill 2016. The Government have approved the draft outline of a new law, which will require every school to consult with parents and students, and publish and operate a Parent and Student Charter.
The publication of this draft legislation will fulfil a key commitment in the Action Plan for Education to improve information and complaint procedures for parents and students relating schools. The draft legislation defines the principles that will guide how schools will engage with students and parents.
Following consultation with our education partners, including the National Parents Council (Primary), National Parents Council (Post Primary) and the Irish Second-level Students Union, I will finalise national guidelines on a Parent and Student Charter.
The draft Bill has now gone to the Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills for pre-legislative scrutiny. On 12 December 2016, I wrote to the Chairperson of the Committee requesting that the Committee might consider carrying out pre-legislative scrutiny on the General Scheme of an Education (Parent and Student Charter) Bill simultaneously with Deputy Jim Daly's Private Members Bill regarding the establishment of an Ombudsman for Education.
106. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the amount of money lost to Dublin Institute of Technology, DIT, due to the bankruptcy of a company (details supplied) that was the institute's information service provider; if he or the Higher Education Authority have undertaken any assessment of the impact of the loss of this funding on other services or programmes within the college; if he or the HEA have knowledge of the source from which the money is being recovered in view of the fact there are reports that students have less access now to online journals as a result of this loss; the reason DIT did not have insurance in place to cover it in the event of this loss; and if it is departmental policy that insurance is in place for such large investments. [8958/17]
View answerThe procurement of the services of the company referred to by the Deputy was facilitated by the Educational Procurement Service (EPS). A Request for Tender issued in March 2012 and the company appointed as the preferred bidder in May of that year. Following the liquidation customers who had used the services lost varying amounts of funding depending on the option taken. Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) chose the option to prepay including the associated discounts. I understand that DIT lost a total of £581,000 (circa €718,000).
Given not only the significant amount of money lost but also the need to ensure that this was not the result of any issues with regard to corporate procurement or wider governance, the Higher Education Authority (HEA) has been in ongoing contact with DIT in relation to this issue. In addition to the engagement with DIT, the HEA also contacted all other institutions impacted by the administration of the company and has been in contact with EPS in relation to the matter.
I understand that in the short term, DIT procured replacement services to ensure that students had access to adequate library resources and since then the HEA has facilitated the access of DIT to the IReL (University Shared Library Resource) which will minimise DIT expose to such risks around journal access in the future and is also a cost effective measure.
Higher education institutions such as DIT are autonomous bodies and are responsible for the day to day operations of the Institute including the provision of services for its students and for the procurement of goods and services.
107. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a school (details supplied) was not included in the list of schools recently approved for DEIS status; the criteria used to make the decision; the reason the school did not meet the various criteria thresholds; if he will accept an appeal to the decision by the school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8984/17]
View answerDEIS is my Department's main policy initiative to tackle educational disadvantage. The DEIS Plan 2017 sets out our vision for future intervention in the critical area of social inclusion in education policy.
A key element of the DEIS Plan 2017 is the availability of a new identification process for the assessment of schools for inclusion in DEIS using centrally held CSO and DES data.
The key data sources are the DES Primary Online Database (POD) and Post-Primary Online (PPOD) Databases, and CSO data from the National Census of Population as represented in the Pobal HP Index for Small Areas, which is a method of measuring the relative affluence or disadvantage of a particular geographical area. Variables used in the compilation of the HP Index include those related to demographic growth, social class composition and labour market situation. This data is combined with pupil data, anonymised and aggregated to small area, to provide information on the relative level of concentrated disadvantage present in the pupil cohort of individual schools. Further information on the development of the identification process is available in the DEIS Review report which can be found on my Department's website at http://www.education.ie/en/Schools-Colleges/Services/DEIS-Delivering-Equality-of-Opportunity-in-Schools-/
In its initial application, the new identification model has identified that there are schools in disadvantaged areas, not previously included in DEIS, whose level of disadvantage is significantly higher than many schools already in the programme. Accordingly, we are moving as a first step to include these schools within the DEIS School Support Programme.
Schools included in the list published by the Department on 13th February are those whose level of concentrated disadvantage has been identified as being at the same level as the current DEIS category for schools serving the highest concentrations of disadvantage.
Schools which have not been included at this stage, including the school referred to by the Deputy, are those which have not been identified as having the highest levels of concentrated disadvantage amongst their pupil cohort.
The new DEIS Plan provides for a verification process and any school wishing to seek verification of the information used to assess the level of disadvantage of its pupil cohort may submit an application for same to social_inclusion@education.gov.ie
It is important to note that the school details published on 13th February represent a first step in the application of the assessment process to support pupils in schools with the highest concentrations of disadvantage. I am fully aware that there are further schools whose concentrated level of disadvantage may not be at the highest level, but may nevertheless be at a level which warrants additional supports for pupils under DEIS.
However, as noted in the DEIS Plan, the implementation of a new objective central data-based model of identifying levels of disadvantage within school populations will be followed by a further programme of work to create a more dynamic model where levels of resource more accurately follow the levels of need identified by that model.
Once this work has been completed, consideration will be given to extending DEIS supports to a further group of schools as resources permit.
In delivering on the DEIS Plan 2017, we must be conscious that there are ongoing changes in demographics which may be more marked in some areas than others. Populations in some areas have changed considerably since schools were originally evaluated for inclusion in DEIS in 2006. The new model may reveal that some schools currently included in DEIS have a level of disadvantage within their school population much lower than that in some schools not included within DEIS. If this turns out to be the case, then we must consider whether it is fair that those schools continue receiving these additional resources, using resources that may be more fairly allocated to the schools with greater levels of disadvantage.
It is important to note that the fact that a school has not been included in the DEIS programme on this occasion does not preclude its inclusion at a later date, should its level of disadvantage warrant the allocation of additional resources.
108. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the fact that SOLAS has granted a cleaning contract for its Limerick offices to a company (details supplied) and that this company is in violation of the terms of their contract with staff that they are not paying on a regular basis; if he will instruct SOLAS to withdraw the contract in these circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8987/17]
View answerThis is an operational matter for Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board (LCETB). I have asked LCETB to contact the Deputy directly in relation to the matter.
109. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a new classroom for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9050/17]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware my Department approved funding for the provision of an additional mainstream classroom, two resource rooms and reconfiguration works. My Department is satisfied that these works, now completed, will address the schools immediate classroom accommodation needs.
My Department has no record of recently receiving a further application for classroom accommodation from the school to which the Deputy refers.
110. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the person or body that has responsibility for the upkeep and maintenance of schools (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9086/17]
View answerThe school buildings and site referred to by the Deputy are owned and maintained by the Minister for Defence.
