Written Answers Nos 177-191
177. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if there is legislation in place preventing teachers from changing a person's clothes in the event of an accident or injury; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18691/17]
View answerUnder the provisions of the Education Act 1998 the Board of Management is responsible for the governance of a school.
Accordingly, the Board is responsible for ensuring that it has in place appropriate policies and practices to deal with the school’s day to day activities.
A school’s policy or practice in relation to managing instances where a pupil may require a change of clothes (as a result of a fall or for any other reason) is a matter for the school itself, having regard to factors such as the school’s duty of care to its pupil and the need to ensure best practice in terms of child welfare and protection.
There is no specific legislation governing the issue of school staff changing pupils’ clothes. This is a matter to be decided by each individual school. However, Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children sets out that all organisations involved with children, including schools, have an obligation to provide children with the highest possible standard of care in order to promote their well-being and to safeguard them from abuse. It further outlines that organisations may also be legally responsible for their failure to provide adequate care and safeguards for children in their care. My Department’s Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools are based on the Children First National Guidance and also make clear that child protection and welfare considerations permeate all aspects of school life and should be reflected in all of the school’s policies, practices and activities.
178. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the circumstances in which schools will be able to secure additional resources from the NCSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18692/17]
View answer179. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the details of the 519 schools that have appealed their allocations under the new resource allocation model by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18693/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 178 and 179 together.
I wish to advise the Deputy that DES Circular 0013/2017 for primary schools and 0014/2017 for post primary schools were published on 7 March 2017.
These Circulars set out the details of the new model for allocating special education teachers to schools.
The revised allocation model replaces the generalised allocation process at primary and post primary school level for learning support and high incidence special educational needs, and the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) allocation process which provided additional resource teaching supports to schools, to support pupils assessed as having Low Incidence disabilities.
The new model provides one single allocation to schools based on the profile. Schools will be frontloaded with resources to provide additional teaching support to all pupils who need such support.
The NCSE has published details of the appeals process on the NCSE website: www.ncse.ie.
Schools who wished to submit an appeal were asked to do so by March 31 2017.
Schools may appeal whether the data used to calculate their school profile was correct and complete and whether it was correctly applied in the calculation of their 2017/18 allocation.
DES Circulars 0013/2017 and 0014/2017 outline the basis on which the Education Research Centre determined the allocations for all schools.
In advance of the submission of an appeal, schools were asked to read carefully the DES Circulars and in particular the relevant sections, which relate to the breakdown of the allocation, which may be under consideration for appeal.
As the NCSE are still processing these appeals, I have referred the Deputy's question in relation to details of the number of appeals received per County to the NCSE for their direct reply to the Deputy.
The model will also allow for some additional provision for exceptional circumstances or where a school’s enrolment levels increase very substantially prior to the next review of the model. The National Council for Special Education will support schools in managing their special education teaching allocations in the first instance. Only in very exceptional circumstances, where it can be demonstrated that the schools profile has changed very significantly since the allocation was made to the school, may an additional allocation of hours be made to the school.
Guidelines for schools on the organisation, deployment and use of their special education teachers to address the need of pupils with special educational needs have also now been published and are available on my Departments website.
The Guidelines will support schools to reflect on how they can review and manage their timetabling practices to ensure the timetable is sufficiently flexible to meet the needs of all pupils in their school who have special needs. The Guidelines encourage schools to ensure they deploy their resources appropriately to meet the needs of all of the children in their school who require additional teaching support, including pupils with emerging needs, or new entrants.
180. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to extend the early start programme; the locations of each of the early start programmes that are in operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18694/17]
View answerThe Early Start programme is located in 40 DEIS schools in areas of urban disadvantage. A full list of centres and their location is attached. In the intervening period since the establishment of Early Start which offered children the opportunity to attend a pre-school year, a universal pre-school scheme, the ECCE programme was established in 2010, which is funded, administered and regulated by my colleague, the Minister of Children and Youth Affairs and her Department.
All new government investment into pre-school provision is being channelled through the ECCE programme. My Department works closely with colleagues in the Department of Children and Youth Affairs to support and improve the capacity of early years practitioners to provide a high quality educational experience in their settings.
The Early Start programme offers a valuable service to children in their communities and investment is being maintained by my Department. However, there are no plans to extend the Early Start programme for the reasons outlined above.
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Name of School |
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Cork |
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Scoil na Croise Naofa, Mahon |
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S.N. Padre Pio, Churchfield |
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Sc. Mhuire Banrion, Mayfield |
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St. Mary's on the Hill, Knocknaheeny |
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North Presentation NS., Gerald Griffin St. |
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Scoil Aiseiri Chroist, Farranree |
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Dublin |
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Presentation NS., Warrenmount, D8 |
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St. Brigid's Primary School, The Coombe, D8 |
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Marist N.S., Clogher Rd., D12 |
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Queen of Angels No. 1 NS., Ballyfermot, D10 |
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St. Malachy's NS., Edenmore, D5 |
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St. Kevin's BNS., Barry Avenue, Finglas West, D11 |
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Scoil Ide, Cromcastle Green, Kilmore West, D5 |
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Virgin Mary NS., Ballymun, D9 |
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St. Finian's NS., Finglas, D11 |
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Sc. Nano Nagle JNS., Bawnogue, Clondalkin, D22 |
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Our Lady Immaculate NS., Darndale, D17 |
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St. Patrick's JNS., Corduff, D15 |
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St. Oliver Plunkett JNS., Finglas, D11 |
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St. Peter Apostle JNS., Neilstown, Clondalkin, D22 |
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Scoil Naomh Mhuire JNS., Blakestown, D15 |
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Sc. Colmcille JNS, Wyattville, Ballybrack |
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An Croi Ro Naofa JNS.,Killinarden, Tallaght, D24 |
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St. Thomas' JNS., Jobstown, Tallaght, D24 |
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St. Bernadette's JNS, Quarryvale, Clondalkin, D22 |
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Holy Family NS., Monkstown, Co. Dublin |
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Ladyswell NS., Mulhuddart, D15 |
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St. John's NS., Ballybrack, Co. Dublin |
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Scoil Úna Naofa, Armagh Rd, Crumlin, Dublin 12 |
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St. Brigid's Infant NS., Finglas, D11 |
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Mth. Of Div. Grace, Holy Faith NS.,Ballygall,Finglas |
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St. Louise de Marillac Primary School, Ballyfermot, D10 |
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Galway |
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Scoil Bhride, Shantalla |
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Limerick |
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Our Lady Queen of Peace NS., Limerick |
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Our Lady of Lourdes NS., Rosbrien |
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Le Chéile NS, Kennedy Park, Limerick |
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Louth |
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Redeemer GNS., Ard Easmuinn, Dundalk |
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Scoil Naomh Eoin, Drogheda |
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Waterford |
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St. Saviour's JNS., Ballybeg |
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Wicklow |
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St. Fergal's JNS., Ballywaltrim, Bray |
181. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of providing a one-hour workshop in all primary and post-primary schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18695/17]
View answerEducation in relation to areas such as awareness of LGBT issues is provided in an age-appropriate manner at both primary and post-primary level, through the subject Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE).
At post primary level, all schools are required to provide a Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) programme as part of SPHE for all students from First Year to Sixth Year, and to teach all aspects of the RSE programme, including family planning, sexually transmitted infections and sexual orientation. Through RSE, formal opportunities are provided for students to acquire knowledge and understanding of human sexuality.
While gender and orientation are not explicitly designated topics in the SPHE syllabuses, those syllabuses do provide opportunities for teachers to explore such issues at an age-appropriate level. The topics included are intended to develop in students respect for one’s own sexuality and the sexuality of others.
The SPHE Support Service has worked collaboratively with bodies including GLEN and BelongTo and the HSE to develop a resource, “Growing up lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender” for use by RSE classes at both junior and senior cycle levels. It includes lesson plans which will support students to achieve a better understanding of the concepts of gender identity and transgender. The menu of in-service courses offered by the SPHE Support Service to schools also includes the topics of sexual orientation and homophobic bullying.
In relation to primary curriculum provision, the SPHE course is designed to foster in the child a sense of care and respect for himself/herself and others, an understanding of his/her sexuality, and an appreciation of the dignity of every human being. As children progress through an SPHE programme, they encounter a wide range of issues. These include substance misuse, relationships, sexuality, child abuse prevention, prejudice and discrimination. The SPHE curriculum is structured in such a way that these issues are not explored in isolation; rather the emphasis is on building a foundation of skills, values, attitudes and understanding relevant to all these issues, with specific information provided where necessary.
182. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to a case of alleged misappropriation of funds by a national provider contracted to provide training courses through service level agreements with local education and training boards; the scale of the alleged misappropriation; the ETBs that have been affected; the steps he will take to ensure that service level agreements are upheld; the mechanisms of oversight that are in place to ensure service level agreements are delivered; the steps he will take to recoup the moneys involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18696/17]
View answerMy Department has been made aware in the last week of an issue in relation to the delivery of training by a centre contracted by an Education and Training Board (ETB). The ETB in question is currently examining this issue with the provider and will be reporting to SOLAS and my Department on the outcome. SOLAS and the Department will be considering any systems issues arising and whether the issue needs to be examined in other centres operated by the provider in question.
183. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a bus route (details supplied) was downgraded from a 58 seater to a 40 seater; the number of children previously travelling on the route that no longer have a seat; the length of time each pupil was travelling on the route; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18697/17]
View answerSchool transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department.
Currently almost 116,000 children, including some 12,000 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 km annually.
Bus Éireann is currently not in a position to provide the level of detailed information requested by the Deputy.
Bus Éireann will reply directly to the Deputy when the information requested becomes available.
184. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his office will contact a person (details supplied) regarding school transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18680/17]
View answerSchool transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department.
Currently almost 116,000 children, including some 12,000 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 km annually.
The purpose of my Department’s School Transport scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school. Under the terms the Post Primary School Transport Scheme children are eligible for transport where they reside not less than 4.8 km from and are attending their nearest education centre as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann.
The child in question is not eligible for school transport as he is not attending his nearest school.
Children who are not eligible for school transport may apply for transport on a concessionary basis only which is subject to a number of terms and conditions including the availability of spare seats on an existing service and payment of the annual charge; the closing date for receipt of payments for the 2016/17 school year was 29 July 2016.
Spare seats on school transport services are generally allocated during the first week in August; this child was not included in this allocation process as Bus Éireann did not receive payment until 13 August 2016, at which time all spare seats had been allocated. Bus Éireann has advised that a number of reminders, regarding the closing date for payments, were sent to all applicants during the month of July 2016.
The above information regarding this school transport application has previously been relayed to the family in question by both my Department and Bus Éireann.
185. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the way in which proposals to increase the National Training Fund levy, such as those in his Department's consultation paper on the employer's contribution to further and higher education, will be accommodated within the expenditure ceiling of his department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18679/17]
View answerThe consultative paper explains that the operation of EU Fiscal Rules and the inclusion of National Training Fund (NTF) in my Department's overall annual expenditure ceiling means that additional expenditure cannot be sourced from the NTF without a corresponding drop in Exchequer expenditure, in the absence of an increased rate of contribution.
The increased rate of contribution referred to is the proposed increase in the rate of the training levy. The fiscal rules allow public expenditure to increase when new discretionary raising measures are introduced.
186. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to remove schools from DEIS that no longer meet the criteria; the number of schools that would be affected; if the criteria would be based on educational performance or on socioeconomic indicators; the details of the criteria that would be applied; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18678/17]
View answerAs I have previously informed the Deputy, the key data sources are the DES Primary Online Database (POD) and Post-Primary Online (PPOD) Databases as populated by schools and the CSO Small Area of Population (SAP) data from the National Census of Population 2011 as represented by the Pobal HP Deprivation Index (HP Index). Variables used in the compilation of the HP Index include those related to demographic growth, dependency ratios, education levels, single parent rate, overcrowding, social class, occupation and unemployment rates. These data are 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. Educational performance is not included in the identification process.
In terms of the process to date, as I have previously explained to the Deputy, the measure I took on 13th February last to extend DEIS supports to schools with the highest levels of concentrated disadvantage represents a first step in implementing DEIS Plan 2017.
The application of the new model has identified that some schools, currently included in DEIS, have a level of disadvantage within their school populations which is much lower than that identified in some schools not in the programme. As noted in DEIS Plan 2017, we must consider whether it is fair that those schools continue receiving additional resources, including resources that may be more fairly allocated to schools with greater levels of disadvantage.
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.
The outcome of this further programme of work will inform future decision-making on resource allocation to all schools.
I wish to assure the Deputy that I aim to take a prudent approach to managing the future allocation of supports under DEIS, as provided for in DEIS Plan 2017.
187. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his views on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18461/17]
View answerThe provision of public library services, including the procurement of books, is a matter for each local authority in its capacity as a library authority under the Local Government Act 2001. My Department has no role in this regard.
A national tender for book-stock procurement was run recently by the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) on behalf of local authorities. All matters related to the tender process were managed by the LGMA with support from the Education Procurement Service.
The national tender was considered the most appropriate means of delivering improved efficiencies and value-for-money for public libraries, replacing the need for individual library authorities to undertake separate tendering processes. The publication of the tender in six lots sought, as much as possible, to secure equality of opportunity for all suppliers while delivering the best outcomes for the public library service. Irish companies were successful in four of the six lots.
Arrangements have been put in place by bodies under the aegis of my Department to facilitate the provision of information by those bodies directly to members of the Oireachtas. Accordingly, any information sought in respect of the tender process can be obtained directly from the LGMA at corporate@lgma.ie.
188. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the objective of the water conservation grant; if this objective was achieved; the full cost of the grant to the exchequer to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18554/17]
View answerThe Water Conservation Grant was introduced in 2015 as part of the Government's revised package of water measures, which was announced in November 2014. The purpose of the Grant was to assist in the promotion of increased conservation and more sustainable use of water services. The Grant was paid on a universal basis to principal primary residences, which were registered with Irish Water by 30 June 2015, whether the water was supplied by Irish Water, the group water sector or through other private sources, such as private wells.
The Water Conservation Grant was introduced to support households in conserving water and adopting more sustainable approaches towards the use of water services in the home. As part of the scheme’s information campaign, my Department published literature that outlined several ways in which householders could conserve water through household devices and water-efficient appliances. This information was also placed on the scheme’s website, www.watergrant.ie, and on that of the Department. The website has had over 16 million individual page hits since it was launched in 2015. Information leaflets produced by my Department on water conservation were distributed through public and other relevant bodies, such as the EPA and the National Federation of Group Water Schemes and at major public events, such as the National Ploughing Championships.
The Department of Social Protection, which administered the Grant on behalf of my Department, has made grant payments totalling just over €89 million, in respect of 890,107 applications. Administration costs of €5,995,762 were incurred in respect of the Grant. Therefore, the total cost of the Water Conservation Grant to the Exchequer to date is €95,006,462.
189. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans to hold a public consultation process on solar farm planning guidelines that his Department publishes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18376/17]
View answer190. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans to publish solar farm planning guidelines to bring clarity to planning authorities when making decisions on these types of planning applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18378/17]
View answer191. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if his Department has deemed it necessary to carry out a strategic environmental assessment on solar farm planning guidelines that it publishes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18379/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 189 to 191, inclusive, together.
There are no specific planning guidelines in place in respect of solar farms. Proposals for individual solar farm developments are subject to the statutory requirements of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, in the same manner as other proposed developments. Planning applications are made to the relevant local planning authority with a right of appeal to An Bord Pleanála.
Under the Planning and Development Act, each planning authority's development plan must set out an overall strategy for the proper planning and sustainable development of the area concerned. Section 10 of the Act requires a development plan to include, inter alia, objectives for the provision or facilitation of the provision of infrastructure, including energy facilities, and many local authorities have developed renewable energy strategies for their areas in this context.
In making decisions on planning applications, planning authorities and the Board must consider the proper planning and sustainable development of the area, having regard to the provisions of the local development plan, any submissions or observations received and relevant Ministerial or Government policies, including any relevant guidelines issued by my Department. Planning authorities must then make their own decisions based on the specific merits or otherwise of individual planning applications.
I am satisfied that the planning code is sufficiently robust to facilitate the assessment of individual planning permission applications for solar farm developments. However, the matter will be kept under review, in consultation with my colleague, the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and the Environment, and his Department - which leads on renewable energy policy - in the context of the Government's White Paper on Energy Policy, published in December 2015, the development of a Renewable Electricity Policy and Development Framework, as well as the finalisation of a new support scheme for renewable electricity by that Department, expected in late 2017.
