Written Answers Nos. 194 - 202
194. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will, noting prior approval by the Minister for Education in Northern Ireland, approve by means of a letter of recommendation that schools with gardens take part in the lumper schools project to facilitate learning of the history of the Famine. [11319/17]
View answerMy Department is keen to support Famine commemoration where it is feasible and practicable to do so. My officials will seek further clarification regarding the project in question. This will include seeking copies of the literature being proposed for issue to schools, clarification regarding how the project would work during the period when schools are closed (i.e. holiday times), and ascertaining an understanding of how the project is being rolled out in Northern Ireland. When these details have been provided, they will be considered by my Department and a decision made.
197. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the total capital funding provided to schools during 2016, by county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11330/17]
View answerThe total capital funding allocated to Primary and Post-Primary Schools in 2016 amounted to €544m and is outlined in the following table on a county basis. The funding was allocated from the following subheads:
D3 Building, Equipment & Furnishing of Primary and Post Primary Schools
A10 Book Rental Scheme Capital
A14 School ICT - Capital
|
COUNTY |
AMOUNT |
|
Carlow |
€2,981,787 |
|
Cavan |
€16,560,436 |
|
Clare |
€6,763,607 |
|
Cork |
€64,890,844 |
|
Donegal |
€8,082,778 |
|
Dublin |
€167,140,596 |
|
Galway |
€36,366,639 |
|
Kerry |
€7,658,845 |
|
Kildare |
€16,561,570 |
|
Kilkenny |
€9,846,523 |
|
Laois |
€13,987,954 |
|
Leitrim |
€872,994 |
|
Limerick |
€15,679,688 |
|
Longford |
€4,266,804 |
|
Louth |
€18,069,273 |
|
Mayo |
€11,506,542 |
|
Meath |
€42,644,393 |
|
Monaghan |
€4,724,722 |
|
Offaly |
€12,585,445 |
|
Roscommon |
€3,329,665 |
|
Sligo |
€1,702,525 |
|
Tipperay |
€12,583,166 |
|
Waterford |
€10,435,036 |
|
Westmeath |
€4,048,844 |
|
Wexford |
€31,279,860 |
|
Wicklow |
€15,698,585 |
|
Unassigned |
€4,050,282 |
|
TOTAL |
€544,319,403 |
198. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Peadar Tóibín den Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna cad é an stádas maidir le bunú an Aonaid Gaeltachta tiomnaithe nua sa Roinn Oideachais agus Scileanna chun maoirseacht a dhéanamh ar chur i bhfeidhm an Pholasaí don Oideachas Gaeltachta agus chun tacú leis sin; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [11368/17]
View answerTá Aonad um Oideachas Gaeltachta bunaithe anois san Roinn Oideachais agus Scileanna chun maoirsiú a dhéanamh agus tacaíocht a thabhairt do chur i bhfeidhm an Pholasaí don Oideachas Gaeltachta 2017-2022. Tá ceathrar baill ar fhoirean an Aonaid. Tá foireann bheag de chigirí aitheanta freisin chun tacú leis an Aonad agus obair a dhéanamh le scoileanna a roghnaíonn chun páirt a glacadh sa phróiseas aitheantais Scoileanna Gaeltachta ó Mheán Fómhair 2017. Tá an tAonad um Oideachas Gaeltachta ag díriú isteach ar thosaíochtaí a chuirfear i bhfeidhm in 2017 lena n-áirítear dréachtú na gCiorclán do bhunscoileanna agus d’iar-bhunscoileanna Gaeltachta don scoilbhliain 2017/2018.
199. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Peadar Tóibín den Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna an bhfuil tús curtha leis an bpróiseas tairisceana chun soláthraí an Chláir Oiliúna Tosaigh Múinteoirí a roghnú mar atá leagtha amach sa Pholasaí don Oideachas Gaeltachta agus, mura bhfuil, cathain a chuirfear tús leis an bpróiseas tairisceana; an bhféadfaidh an tAire cur síos a dhéanamh ar stádas reatha an phróisis tairisceana; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [11369/17]
View answerTá teagmháil déanta ag an Aonad um Oideachas Gaeltachta leis an Oifig um Sholáthar Rialtais maidir le tús a chur leis an bpróiseas tairisceana agus na doiciméid ábhartha don phróiseas tairsceana a dhréachtú maidir le gairm tograí.
200. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Peadar Tóibín den Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna cathain a bheidh daoine a ghlacfaidh páirt sa Chlár Oiliúna Tosaigh Múinteoirí cáilithe agus ag teagasc sna scoileanna Gaeltachta de réir an amscála atá i bhfeidhm faoi láthair; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [11370/17]
View answerCé go bhfuil céimithe do chláir oideachais tosaigh múinteoirí do mhúinteoirí bunscoile cáilithe an Ghaeilge a mhúineadh agus múineadh trí Ghaeilge, aithníonn an Polasaí don Oideachas Gaeltachta go bhfuil gá le clár oideachais tosaigh múinteoirí a sholáthar chun tuiscint níos doimhne a fhorbairt ar na dushláín a bhaineann le bheith ag múineadh i suíomh tumoideachais agus i scoileanna lán-Ghaeilge le daltaí ó réimse de chúlra teanga. Mar chuid de chur i bhfeidhm an Pholasaí don Oideachas Gaeltachta, tá súil agam go mbeidh Clár Oideachais Tosaigh Múinteoirí nua trí mheán na Gaeilge á sholáthar do mhúinteoirí bunscoile thar thréimhse ceithre bliana ó 2018/19. Tá na spriocdhátaí don chúrsa seo ag brath go mór ar thoradh rathúil an phróisis tairsceana, acmhainní a bheith ar fáil agus líon na ndaoine a roghnóidh an clár oideachais tosaigh múinteoirí seo. Má thosnaíonn an clár in 2018/19, táthar ag súil go mbeadh an chéad grúpa d’iarchéimithe bunscoile ón gClár Oideachais Tosaigh Múinteoirí seo cáilithe chun teagasc i mbunscoileanna trí mheán na Gaeilge ó Mheán Fómhair 2022.
Tá clár oideachais tosaigh múinteoirí do mhúinteoirí iar-bhunscoile á sholathar faoi láthair ag Ollscoil na hÉireann Gaillimh (OEG). Ach, aithníonn an Polasaí don Oideachas Gaeltachta go bhfuil gá le líon na múinteoirí iar-bhunscoile nua-cáilithe atá in ann múineadh in iar-bhunscoileanna lán-Ghaeilge/Gaelcholáistí a mhéadú. Táthar ag súil sa Pholasaí, go mbeidh soláthar na múinteoirí iar-bhunscoile atá in ann múineadh trí mheán na Gaeilge láidrithe trí chúrsa Oideachais Tosaigh Múinteoirí breise thar thréimhse dhá bhliain a chur ar fáil, go hidéalach ó 2018/19. Tá na spriocdhátaí don chúrsa seo ag brath go mór ar thoradh rathúil an phróisis tairsceana, acmhainní a bheith ar fáil agus líon na ndaoine a roghnóidh an clár oideachais tosaigh múinteoirí seo. Táthar ag súil go mbeadh an chéad ghrúpa d’iarchéimithe iar-bhunscoile ón gClár Oideachais Tosaigh Múinteoirí seo cáilithe chun teagasc in iar-bhunscoileanna trí mheán na Gaeilge ó Mheán Fómhair 2020.
201. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a new build for a school (details supplied); if the works will be put out to tender in March 2017 as previously indicated; if the actual works will get under way over the summer of 2017; the arrangements for staff and pupils over the period of construction of the new school; the moneys that have been approved for the overall development; the way in which that sum breaks down; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11371/17]
View answerThe building project for the school to which the Deputy refers is at an advanced stage of architectural planning, Stage 2(b) – Detailed Design, which includes the applications for Planning Permission, Fire Cert and Disability Access Cert and the preparation of tender documents. All statutory approvals have been obtained for both the major building project and the temporary decant accommodation for which a temporary site has been secured.
The school and its design team are currently working towards completion of the stage 2(b) report for submission to my Department. Upon receipt and review of the completed stage 2(b) report my Department will revert to Board of Management with regard to the further progression of the project at that time.
As with any other project approaching tender stage the Deputy will understand that project cost information cannot be released at this time due to commercially sensitivities relating to the tender process.
202. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to introduce the lumper project as part of the green school project, as suggested by the Committee of the Commemoration of the Irish Famine Victims, similar to that which is being rolled out in schools in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11375/17]
View answerMy Department is keen to support Famine commemoration where it is feasible and practicable to do so. My officials will seek further clarification regarding the project in question. This will include seeking copies of the literature being proposed for issue to schools, clarification regarding how the project would work during the period when schools are closed (i.e. holiday times), and ascertaining an understanding of how the project is being rolled out in Northern Ireland. When these details have been provided, they will be considered by my Department and a decision made.
Green-Schools is Ireland’s leading environmental management and education programme for schools. Promoting long-term, whole-school action for the environment Green-Schools is a student led programme with involvement from the wider community. The programme is operated and co-ordinated by the Environmental Education Unit of An Taisce (FEE member for Ireland).
Green-Schools is operated in partnership with Local Authorities and is supported by the Department of Housing, Planning, Community & Local Government; Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment; Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport; The Department of Arts, Heritage Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs; Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade; Irish Aid, National Transport Authority; National Parks and Wildlife Service, Irish Water and the Wrigley Company Limited.
