Tuesday, 21 Mar 2017

Written Answers Nos. 284 - 300

Industrial Relations

Questions (284, 285)

Timmy Dooley

Question:

284. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a person (details supplied) has any rights with regard to the FTC in 2010, including maternity leave cover, job sharing and so on. [13224/17]

Timmy Dooley

Question:

285. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a person (details supplied) leaves the ASTI, the way in which they can make themselves available to his Department to go back into the Haddington Road agreement. [13225/17]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I propose to take Questions Nos. 284 and 285 together.

Decisions in respect of union membership are a matter for individual teachers and my Department does not have a position on this issue. Where teachers have questions as to the implications of joining or leaving a particular union, their questions should be directed to the relevant union.

The current position is that the Lansdowne Road Agreement as set out in Section 2 of Circular 0045/2016 applies to teachers employed in Education and Training Board schools and centres (apart from Designated Community Colleges). The Agreement also applies to teachers employed in Designated Community Colleges, Community and Comprehensive Schools and Voluntary Secondary Schools who are TUI members. The Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Acts 2013 and 2015 as set out in Section 3 of the Circular applies to all other teachers employed in such schools. Circular 0045/2016 can be accessed at http://www.education.ie/en/Circulars-and-Forms/Active-Circulars/cl0045_2016.pdf

One of the benefits of the Lansdowne Road Agreement is the continuation of the Ward Report measures, which enable fixed-term and part-time teachers to gain permanent, full-time jobs more easily and quickly than before. The terms of the Report, as set out in Circular 0024/2015, reduced the service threshold from ‘in excess of 4 years’ to ‘in excess of 2 years’ in the case of a first Contract of Indefinite Duration (CID) and ‘in excess of 1 year’ in the case of a subsequent CID.

Arising from the ASTI’s repudiation of the Lansdowne Road Agreement, the improved CID arrangements set out in the Ward Report have been withdrawn in respect of teachers not covered by the Lansdowne Road Agreement. CID arrangements for such teachers have reverted to the previous arrangements, set out in Circular 0034/2009 which can be accessed at: http://www.education.ie/en/Circulars-and-Forms/Active-Circulars/cl0034_2009.pdf

An adjudication system exists which allows teachers who have been refused a CID, or who are unhappy with the hours of the CID where one is awarded, to submit an appeal to an independent Adjudicator for consideration. An appeal must be lodged within four weeks of the date that the teacher is notified of the decision by the employer to refuse a CID (or the date that the teacher is notified of the award and terms of the CID whose terms they are disputing). It would therefore not be possible to lodge an appeal at this stage in respect of a fixed-term contract held in the 2010/11 school year.

School Curriculum

Questions (286)

Noel Rock

Question:

286. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Education and Skills the actions his Department is taking to promote STEM third level education among female secondary school students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13236/17]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

This Government is committed to building upon our provision of STEM education in primary, post-primary and third level education in order to ensure that we have the graduates to fulfil the existing and growing needs in STEM. Innovation 2020 - the Government’s five-year strategy on research and development, science and technology, has the goal of making Ireland a global innovation leader, and by so doing, ensuring a strong and sustainable economy.

My Department's Action Plan for Education for 2016-2019 and the National Skills Strategy contain a clear commitment to supporting and developing STEM.

The STEM report published in November of last year by the STEM Education Review Group presents a detailed examination of the provision of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Education in Ireland. It focussed on schools and on the necessary capacity building required to achieve a step-change in outcomes for learners that will benefit our society and the economy.

The recommendations proposed by the STEM Education Review Group are consistent with many existing and planned initiatives. They add considerable value to our thinking and will influence significantly the development (in the first half of 2017) of a STEM Education Policy Statement and implementation plan. This will further support teaching and learning in Science and Mathematics at all levels of the education system.

A sustained system-wide focus on the implementation of actions to support numeracy as proposed in the National Strategy: Literacy and Numeracy for Learning and Life 2011-2020, informed by the interim review of the Strategy which I published on the 14 March 2017.

Within our school system, STEM education is growing, while new initiatives will continue to support greater participation and improved performance in STEM. My Department is committed to curricular reform in relation to STEM, for example:

- Introduction of computer science subject at senior cycle in September 2019

- Introduction of new Science Syllabus for Junior Cycle in September 2016

- Development of a new primary mathematics curriculum which will support all children in the development of algorithmic and computational thinking to include coding

- New Science specification has been introduced for junior cycle students

- Junior Cycle mathematics specification to be published in 2017 and implemented in 2018.

Female participation in STEM remains an area for concern. There are significant gender differences in the selection of science subjects at Leaving Certificate. However, while girls studied STEM in fewer numbers than boys in the Leaving Certificate they performed at the same level if not better than their peers. It is hoped that the encouraging trends in maths, biology and chemistry will continue, and that we will see an increase in the numbers of girls taking the higher level paper in physics, engineering and the technology subjects.

Continued support by my Department of initiatives and programmes which promote female participation in STEM at primary and post-primary school such as I-Wish, the Smart Futures initiative, managed by Science Foundation Ireland which promotes STEM-related careers to both males and females and Science Foundation Ireland’s (SFI) Gender Strategy which sets a target of 30% female award holders within SFI’s portfolio by 2020.

The action plan for education commits as one of priority actions to addressing the gender imbalance in relation to STEM. We are committed to working to remove the obstacles which have so far served to limit the involvement of young women in the STEM area.

Minister Halligan and I announced yesterday (20 March) additional funding of €2.25 million to boost ICT skills development and additional summer camps for second level students being developed, as well as up to 700 additional places on ICT.

The Higher Education Authority (HEA) will write to higher education institutions to seek proposals for three calls

- additional ICT summer camps for second level students

- Additional undergraduate places on core level 8 full-time courses

- A call for full-time 9 MSc computing courses.

Education Policy

Questions (287)

Noel Rock

Question:

287. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Education and Skills the actions his Department is taking to promote entrepreneurship among female secondary level students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13237/17]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

Work is currently under way on the development of an Entrepreneurship Education Policy Statement. It is the intention that the policy statement, which it is proposed will be launched in the second quarter of 2017, will cover the whole of the education and training system, including primary and post primary schools.

New Entrepreneurship Education Guidelines for Schools will be issued following publication of the Entrepreneurship Education Policy Statement and will be informed by that statement.

International Students

Questions (288)

Noel Rock

Question:

288. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to a survey (details supplied) which listed Ireland 47th out of 80 countries for studying abroad; his views on this rating; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13238/17]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

My Department is not aware of the research methodology used in the preparation of this survey as referred to by the Deputy and is therefore not in a position to comment on its findings.

However, we are aware of other recent surveys in the area of international student satisfaction.

For example, an independent survey (Study Portals) has ranked Ireland No. 1 in the EU for international student satisfaction 2015 and 2016.

Third Level Funding

Questions (289, 290)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

289. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Skills the percentage of the funds allocated to third level institutions that is set aside for legal defence against student complaints; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13248/17]

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

290. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department allows funds meant for education to be spent on legal expenses in view of the importance of the core service provision across third level institutions; if there are rules and regulations to the type of defence that can be funded from core funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13249/17]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I propose to take Questions Nos. 289 and 290 together.

My Department allocates recurrent funding to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for direct disbursement to the HEA designated higher education institutions, including the Universities and Institutes of Technology. The HEA allocates this funding to the institutions and the internal disbursement of that funding is then a matter for the individual institution.

These institutions are autonomous bodies and are responsible for their own day to day affairs, including the allocation of all of its income (both public and private) and in relation to any legal issues which the institution is involved in.

Schools Building Projects

Questions (291)

Darragh O'Brien

Question:

291. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the provision of a new secondary school for the Malahide and Portmarnock areas of County Dublin as announced in November 2015; if he has identified locations for these proposed schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13250/17]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

As the Deputy may be aware, the building project for the new post-primary school to serve the Malahide and Portmarnock school planning areas is included in my Department’s current six year construction programme. My Department is working towards the acquisition of a suitable site to provide the permanent location for this school and I can assure the Deputy that this acquisition is a priority for my Department.

The school will open as scheduled in September 2017 in suitable interim accommodation pending completion of construction.

Schools Building Projects

Questions (292)

Darragh O'Brien

Question:

292. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the provision of a new secondary school for the Swords area of County Dublin as announced in November 2015; if he has identified locations for these proposed schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13251/17]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

As the Deputy may be aware, the building project for the new post-primary school to serve Swords is included on my Department’s six year construction programme.

My Department has worked closely with Fingal County Council in respect of this and conveyancing is currently underway in respect of a site for the permanent school accommodation.

Due to commercial sensitivities relating to site acquisitions generally I am unfortunately not in a position to provide further details regarding the permanent location at this time. I can, however, assure the Deputy that the site acquisition process for this school is being advanced by my Department as a priority.

The school will open as scheduled in September 2017 in suitable interim accommodation pending completion of construction.

Schools Building Projects

Questions (293)

Darragh O'Brien

Question:

293. 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. [13253/17]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

As the Deputy is aware, a school building project 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 to acquire a site for the school in line with the Memorandum of Understanding for the acquisition of school sites, and this process is ongoing.

Due to the commercial sensitivities which attach to site acquisitions generally I am not in a position to provide further information at this time. However, the patron of the school in question will be informed of the proposed location as soon as it is possible to do so.

Residential Institutions Statutory Fund

Questions (294)

Sean Fleming

Question:

294. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will reply to a person following a meeting with him (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13281/17]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

On 4 November 2016 I met with a number of abuse survivors including the person referred to by the Deputy. A wide range of issues were raised with me at that meeting, mainly relating to the operations of Caranua (the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund). At the meeting I noted the statutory independence of Caranua and I outlined potential courses of action open to applicants to Caranua including recourse to the Ombudsman if there were concerns of maladministration and to the Public Accounts Committee if there were concerns over how monies were being disbursed. My officials subsequently relayed the concerns expressed at the meeting to Caranua. I am advised that the Chairperson of Caranua has offered to meet with the individual concerned in due course and that he will have an opportunity at that point to raise issues of concern directly.

Public Sector Staff Remuneration

Questions (295)

Alan Kelly

Question:

295. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will confirm that in line with the one person one salary principle, no public servant that is a member of a State board or agency under the control of his Department is currently in receipt of remuneration in the form of board fees and if any such remuneration is being paid that such payment will be discontinued and payments that were wrongfully paid will be reclaimed. [13324/17]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

Since November 2011, when the one person one salary (OPOS) principle came into force, it has been a requirement that public servants and public sector employees (with the exception of worker directors of commercial state bodies) who sit on state boards may not be paid board fees.

The agencies under the aegis of my Department are aware of this one person one salary policy being in force and the necessity to adhere to this requirement.

School Accommodation

Questions (296)

Seamus Healy

Question:

296. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding an application for additional accommodation for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13334/17]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the school referred to has been approved a grant under my Department's Additional Accommodation Scheme 2017 to provide 5 mainstream classrooms. The project has been devolved for delivery to the school authority and it is now a matter for the school authority to advance the project.

DEIS Scheme

Questions (297)

Tony McLoughlin

Question:

297. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the total number of DEIS schools throughout counties Sligo and Leitrim over the past five years; the number planned; the number of unsuccessful applications; the status of any past or future review likely to address issues of concern for various education authorities seeking DEIS status; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13352/17]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I wish to advise the Deputy that the list of DEIS schools by county is available on my Department's website by clicking on the following link.

http://www.education.ie/en/Schools-Colleges/Services/DEIS-Delivering-Equality-of-Opportunity-in-Schools-/ .

As the Deputy may be aware the identification process was based on the use of centrally held data and was applied uniformly across the country, therefore there was no application process.

DEIS is my Department's main policy initiative to tackle educational disadvantage. The DEIS Plan for 2017 sets out our vision for future intervention in the critical area of social inclusion in education policy.

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 in the DEIS School Support Programme.

Schools included in the list published by my 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. This includes 15 new Urban Band 1 schools, 30 Urban Band 2 schools raised to Urban Band 1 status, 51 new Rural DEIS schools and 13 new Post Primary DEIS schools.

Schools which have not been included or upgraded at this stage are those which have not been identified as having the highest levels of concentrated disadvantage amongst their pupil cohort, under the new identification process, which is fair and objective.

The 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 [e-mail].

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.

Schools Building Projects Status

Questions (298, 299, 300, 309)

Tony McLoughlin

Question:

298. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which the school building programmes at primary and second level in counties Sligo and Leitrim continue to proceed as planned having particular regard to the urgent requirement for school places; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13353/17]

Tony McLoughlin

Question:

299. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which he has received communications from various primary school authorities throughout counties Sligo and Leitrim regarding the provision of new facilities and buildings to meet requirements; the extent to which he expects to be in a position to respond in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13354/17]

Tony McLoughlin

Question:

300. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which primary school places and class requirements in counties Sligo and Leitrim have been and continue to be met; if class sizes in those counties fall within the national average; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13355/17]

Tony McLoughlin

Question:

309. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of schools in counties Sligo and Leitrim likely to benefit from refurbishment or replacement in 2017; the extent to which adequate budgetary provisions have been made in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13364/17]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I propose to take Questions Nos. 298 to 300, inclusive, and 309 together.

As the Deputy will be aware, my Department consistently monitors demographics to identify where additional school places will be required.

My Department’s six-year capital programme priorities building projects for these areas, including Counties Sligo and Leitrim. In this regard, three major capital projects in County Sligo and one major capital project in County Leitrim are being progressed. The capital programme also provides for devolved funding for additional classrooms for schools where an immediate enrolment need has been identified or where an additional teacher has been appointed. Details of such funding approved in all schools, including Sligo and Leitrim is available on my Department’s website and this is updated regularly.

Budget 2017 sets out the resources available for schools for the 2017/18 school year. This Budget represents the start of a major reinvestment in education, and the first phase of implementation of the Action Plan for Education, aimed at becoming the best education system in Europe within a decade. The budget provides for over 2,400 additional teaching posts for our primary and post primary schools next year. This includes additional teaching posts to meet demographic need, curriculum reform, additional guidance posts, additional resource teaching posts, addition teaching support for DEIS schools and the strengthening of school leadership.

The 2017/18 school year will see a significant increase in teacher numbers (almost 4,700) in our schools compared to the 2015/16 school year.

The Programme for Government has a commitment to reduce class sizes at primary level and it is my intention to make further improvements to class sizes over the life of the Government.