Carol Nolan
Question:144. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the STEM education policy statement has been completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26140/17]
View answerDepartmental Reports
Questions (144)
Written answers
The STEM Report, whose focus is on primary and post-primary education, was published in November 2016 by the STEM Education Review Group under the chairmanship of Professor Brian MacCraith. This report drew upon the expertise of many individuals and organisations and involved significant consultation with a broad range of stakeholders. I welcomed the Report and have prioritised 21 of the 47 actions identified in it.
Work is now underway in my Department on the preparation of a STEM Education Policy Statement and implementation plan. A STEM Steering Group has been established by my Department and consists of DES representatives and a range of external stakeholders. The role of the steering group is to support the development of the policy statement and implementation plan. A consultation process is ongoing in this regard and includes an online consultation facility, consultations with learners and parents and with stakeholders. There is a commitment in the Action Plan for Education to produce the STEM Education policy statement and implementation plan during Q2 2017.
School Curriculum
Questions (145)
Carol Nolan
Question:145. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of schools that offer the politics and society course; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26141/17]
View answerWritten answers
The roll-out of the new Leaving Certificate subject of Politics and Society commenced in 41 schools from September 2016, following an open invitation to introduce this as an optional Leaving Certificate subject. Politics and Society aims to develop the student's ability to be a reflective and active citizen, in a way that is informed by the insights and skills of social and political science. The introduction of the specification is part of my Department's commemoration of 1916 and its commitment to education for sustainable development. The subject will be available to all schools from September 2018.
School Curriculum
Questions (146)
Carol Nolan
Question:146. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the action taken to date in developing the computer science curriculum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26142/17]
View answerWritten answers
The Action Plan for Education 2017 provides that the new subject of Leaving Certificate Computer Science will be implemented in schools from September 2018. The new subject specification is currently being developed by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment through its subject development group for Computer Science. Phase 1 of the implementation process is scheduled to commence in September 2018 in a small number of schools, with the subject being available to all schools from September 2020.
Digital Strategy for Schools
Questions (147)
Carol Nolan
Question:147. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the action taken to date in implementing the digital strategy for schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26143/17]
View answerWritten answers
The Digital Strategy for Schools 2015-2020, enhancing Teaching, Learning and Assessment was launched by my Department in October 2015. The Strategy is focused on realising the potential of digital technologies to transform the learning experiences of students by helping them become engaged thinkers, active learners, knowledge constructors and global citizens who participate fully in society and the economy.
The Strategy is developed around four main Themes namely: Teaching, Learning and Assessment using ICT, Teacher Professional Learning, Leadership, Research and Policy, ICT Infrastructure. The Strategy will enable all stakeholders to work together to support the embedding of digital technologies in every classroom in a systematic and focussed way.
Implementation of the Digital Strategy is currently underway. An Implementation Advisory Group has been established to guide its implementation. Membership of the Group comprises representation from the Department, industry, academic experts, practitioners/teachers and representation from the tech voluntary sector.
Key priorities have been identified and are set out in my Department's Action Plan for 2017. Their implementation is under way and includes the following:
- The development of a Digital Learning Framework for Teachers and School Leaders to be piloted in Q4 of 2017. Using this Framework, teachers and school leaders will be enabled to plan for the effective integration of digital technologies in teaching practice and school policies, to evaluate progress and to chart an improvement journey.
- Commence updating the eLearning Planning Resource for schools and align with School Self Evaluation and the Digital Learning Framework currently in development. This resource provides a step-by-step guide to the development of the school's eLearning Plan
- Establish a Support Services Planning Group to collaborate on the planning, design and delivery of CPD and other support services to schools to ensure a consistent approach in the embedding of ICT in support programmes.
- Develop guidance to support the establishment of communities of practice within schools or other teacher networks
- Development of strategic partnerships with relevant cultural, educational and/or sporting bodies in order to adapt relevant content into useful learning and teaching resources for schools
- Scope a proposal to incentivise and facilitate schools in innovation, clustering approaches to maximise the impact of digital technologies in teaching and learning
- Provide and facilitate the sharing of examples of good practice regarding the effective use of digital technologies in teaching, learning and assessment, including through the DES Scoilnet portal and the websites of the PDST-TIE and other support services
- Continue to provide improved broadband services to schools where available under the existing Schools Broadband Access Scheme. All post primary schools have high speed broadband. Some 800 primary schools were provided with improved broadband services in 2016 and a further 300 is targeted for 2013.
- Establish a working group to determine how best to provide for high speed broadband for primary schools in collaboration with DCCAE in the context of the National Broadband Plan and the State Intervention Strategy.
- The Digital Strategy for Schools committed to €210m in funding for multi-annual ICT Infrastructure Grants to schools over the period of the Strategy. The first tranche of this funding (€30m), in respect of the 2017/2017 school year, has already issued to schools
The process to provide opportunities for students to pursue in-depth ICT study in the Senior Cycle and the inclusion of clear statements and objectives on the use of ICT in curriculum specifications and policy initiatives are also key priorities and their implementation has also commenced.
My Department is working towards the phased introduction of Computer Science as a Leaving Certificate subject from September 2018. A Steering Group has been established for this purpose and a draft subject specification is being developed. Coding is included as a short course option for the new Junior Cycle Curriculum. At primary level, the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) is currently in the process of developing a new primary mathematics curriculum to include computational thinking (including coding) and flexible and creative thinking skills.
ICT is an integral part of all CPD programmes under development.
I recently hosted a Regional Forum in a school in Limerick where I heard ideas and feedback from the educational community and employers based across the region on my Department's plan to embed digital technologies in teaching and learning. Feedback from Forums like this will guide my Department's continued research into the effective use of digital technologies in schools.
My Department is currently finalising a 2017 Digital Strategy Action Plan which I expect to publish shortly.
Departmental Reports
Questions (148)
Carol Nolan
Question:148. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills when the report on teaching supply will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26144/17]
View answerWritten answers
The Report of the Technical Working Group on Teacher Supply focusses on the development of a model of primary teacher supply, while outlining the work which will be required to establish a model of post primary teacher supply.
The aim of my Department’s policy is to achieve a balance between the supply of, and demand for, teachers. The Deputy will see from the Report that this is complex, particularly at post primary level, and it was important that the report was given careful consideration by officials of my Department and that suitable supporting actions were identified before publication. I intend to publish the TWG’s report shortly.
Schools Refurbishment
Questions (149)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:149. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding school renovations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26154/17]
View answerWritten answers
I can confirm that funding was allocated to the school in question under my Department's Additional Accommodation Scheme in 2016 for the extension of a Science Room.
The project was devolved to the local Education and Training Board for delivery. The progression of the project is, therefore, a matter for that body which is also the school's Patron. If the school has concerns about the delivery of the project, it should contact its Patron directly.
Teacher Training Provision
Questions (150)
Kathleen Funchion
Question:150. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of training CPD days both primary and secondary school teachers receive each year; the cost for those days; and his Department's total budget for teacher CPD training and the number of teachers. [26161/17]
View answerWritten answers
My Department spent approximately €46.5m on teacher continuing professional development (CPD) in 2016 across the primary and post primary sectors.
The spend of €46.5m includes all costs associated with the provision of CPD at primary and post primary level funded by my Department of which €23.9m funded Post primary programmes and €22.6m funded Primary programmes.
Teachers at primary and post primary level can access a range of continuing professional development programmes (CPD) through the teacher support services funded by my Department. A table detailing the number of CPD units provided through this mechanism for the period 2013-2016 follows.
In addition to this provision there are other publicly funded CPD options for teachers including local courses provided by the national network of education centres, support offered by subject associations and teacher networks, and CPD offered through organisations supported by my Department such as COGG, NAPD and IPPN.
There are also a range of CPD options which teachers can access through private providers.
The information on CPD units provided sets out the number of interactions a teacher support service has with teachers. Interactions range from a 2 hour session in an education centre to a suite of sessions on a particular issue or, in the case of college based events, a full post-graduate course.
Overall Statistics on CPD Units provided*
|
Year |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
|
Year |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
|
Attendance |
167,939 |
170,719 |
183,061 |
206,127 |
Schools Building Projects Status
Questions (151)
Brendan Smith
Question:151. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 269 of 11 April 2017, if a building project at a school (details supplied) will proceed to construction stage before the commencement of the 2017-2018 school year in view of the urgent need to provide additional and upgraded school accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26166/17]
View answerWritten answers
The project to which the Deputy refers is included in my Department's 6 Year Construction Programme 2016-21.
The school and its design team submitted their Stage 2(b) report for this major building project to my Department recently and the submission is currently under review.
Following receipt of that submission my Department authorised the Board of Management to instruct their Design Team to commence the pre-qualification process for the assessment of suitably qualified contractors to which the project can be tendered. The Design Team has commenced this process and the closing date for the etenders advertisement is 19 June 2017.
On completion of the review of the stage 2b submission and the Design Team's assessment of suitably qualified contractors my Department will revert to the Board of Management with regard to the further progression to tender and construction stages at that time.
Apprenticeship Programmes
Questions (152)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:152. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a person (details supplied) can resit an exam in a college in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26216/17]
View answerWritten answers
This is an operational matter for SOLAS, who manage the apprenticeship programme, and I have asked them to contact the Deputy directly to discuss the possible options open to the individual concerned.
School Guidance Counsellors
Questions (153)
Thomas P. Broughan
Question:153. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the commitment in the programme for Government to enhance guidance counselling in secondary schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26261/17]
View answerWritten answers
Action Plan for Education 2016-2019 has a specific action to enhance guidance counselling at second-level as resources permit. A significant move was made in the 2016/17 school year with the restoration of half of the cut in provision for guidance counselling. This was equivalent to the restoration of 300 posts.
The allocation of a whole time equivalent of a further additional 100 teachers to second level schools in Budget 2017 is a restoration of a further 16% of the teaching resources that were removed.
The delivery of this 16% restoration in addition to the 50% restoration in Budget 2016, means that two thirds of the Guidance allocation that was withdrawn in Budget 2012 will be restored in our schools with effect from September 2017.
The 400 posts will be provided in respect of Guidance as a separate allocation on school's staffing schedules from September 2017. The guidance allocation shown separately on the staffing schedules represents 0.4 of the PTR for each school. DEIS schools will have a guidance allocation of 1.15 of the PTR which represents the total guidance allocation that was restored to these schools.
I will continue to consider further restorations in future Budgets.
Building Regulations
Questions (154)
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin
Question:154. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that standards in buildings for disabled access toilets are currently designed to help those that have little or no use of their legs but still have upper body strength and does not take into consideration the different needs of those with a disability and the varying degrees of upper body strength; his plans to ensure that all future publicly funded building projects will have properly designed disabled access toilet facilities to ensure that all persons with a disability have access to a properly designed toilet space with a legislative requirement for same being incorporated into building regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26080/17]
View answerWritten answers
New buildings and extensions or material alterations to existing buildings must comply with the legal minimum performance standards set out in the Building Regulations 1997 - 2017. In this context, the Building Regulations (Part M Amendment) Regulations 2010, which came into effect on 1 January 2012, set out the minimum statutory requirements that a building must achieve in respect of access. The accompanying Technical Guidance Document M – Access and Use (2010) provides guidance on how to comply the requirements.
The requirements of Part M aim to ensure that regardless of age, size or disability:
- new buildings other than dwellings are accessible and usable;
- extensions to existing buildings other than dwellings are, where practicable, accessible and useable;
- material alterations to existing buildings other than dwellings increase the accessibility and usability of existing buildings, where practicable;
- certain changes of use to existing buildings other than dwellings increase the accessibility and usability of existing buildings where practicable; and
- new dwellings are visitable.
The objective in the case of provision of sanitary facilities is to provide independently accessible facilities that meet the needs of people with a wide range of abilities. Technical Guidance Document M gives detailed guidance on both the provision and the design of sanitary facilities.
Part M of the Building Regulations aims to foster an inclusive approach to the design and construction of the built environment. While the Part M requirements may be regarded as a statutory minimum level of provision, the accompanying technical guidance encourages building owners and designers to have regard to the design philosophy of universal design and to consider making additional provisions where practicable and appropriate.
While the latest iteration of Part M of the Building Regulations initially coincided with the general downturn in economic and construction activity, its positive effects on access and use in the built environment will now be seen more widely as economic recovery takes hold and construction activity continues to gather momentum and moves onto a sustainable footing. While there are no proposals to amend Part M at this point in time, the Building Regulations, including Part M requirements, are subject to ongoing review in the interests of safety and the well-being of persons in the built environment and to ensure that due regard is taken of changes in construction techniques, technological progress and innovation.
Housing Policy
Questions (155)
Barry Cowen
Question:155. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he has sought approval for the land bank plan from the European Commission under state aid rules; and his views on whether the direct subsidies to developers proposed under the plan could amount to state aid for the purposes of EU law or could amount to a public works contract for the purposes of EU law as was considered by the European Court of Justice in a case (details supplied). [26124/17]
View answerWritten answers
As you are aware, the State has a significant land bank and given the current acute housing shortage, with the associated problems of access and affordability facing households, it is crucial that much needed housing is delivered from these sites in the shortest possible timeframe and with the maximum social dividend. In order to promote the development of these sites, on 27 April 2017, I published the Rebuilding Ireland Housing Land Map. The Map is a vital initial step in the new strategic approach to State land management, which will be further developed through the forthcoming National Planning Framework, to be titled "Ireland 2040: Our Plan".
The datasets published on the map include details of over 700 local authority and Housing Agency-owned sites, totalling some 1,700 hectares, as well as 30 sites (covering about 200 hectares) owned by State or semi-State bodies. The map is available to view on the Rebuilding Ireland website at: http://rebuildingireland.ie/news/rebuilding-ireland-land-map/.
The specific approach to housing delivery on each site, including the optimum tenure mix and delivery mechanism, is a matter for the local authority concerned, the elected members included, who are best placed to understand the housing needs in their areas. Given the differences in terms of scale, location and other site characteristics the approach from site to site will vary with some sites suitable for social housing only and others being more suited to a mixed tenure approach.
Mixed-tenure development on suitable publicly-owned sites provides an important avenue for the delivery of social and affordable housing quickly in a fully integrated and sustainable community. Opening up the supply of State land in this way, for mixed-tenure housing, is a critically important policy in addressing a situation where the pace of recovery in the house development sector is slower than it needs to be, to meet demand. In practical terms, the development of these sites will mean accelerating social housing delivery and securing more homes for sale and rent at lower and more affordable price points. In this regard, I welcome the fact that two of the Dublin local authorities have already brought forward four key, large-scale sites, capable of delivering 3,000 new homes, and I expect other local authorities to follow suit.
With regard to the specific judgment of the Court of Justice of the European Union referred to, I understand that the case involved “tax incentives” and “subsidy mechanisms”, neither of which are part of the State land initiative. In such circumstances, the question of EU State Aid approval does not arise. Insofar as procurement is concerned, the development of each site will be subject to an open competitive process.
Local Authority Housing Provision
Questions (156)
Anne Rabbitte
Question:156. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government when he plans to introduce the roll-out of choice-based letting in Galway county council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26174/17]
View answerWritten answers
The allocation of social housing support is a matter for the relevant housing authority in accordance with the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and associated regulations. Section 22 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 requires all housing authorities, as a reserved function, to make an allocation scheme determining the order of priority to be accorded in the allocation of dwellings to households qualified for social housing support and to households approved for a transfer, the allocation of which would, in the opinion of the authority, meet the accommodation needs and requirements of the households.
The Government’s Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness contains a commitment to extend the use of choice-based letting (CBL) by local authorities as a method of allocating social housing support. This is in recognition of the benefits that a CBL system can deliver to social housing applicants, existing social housing tenants and to local authorities.
On 30 September 2016, I made the Social Housing Allocation (Amendment) Regulations 2016 which required that all local authorities must, if they have not already done so, provide for CBL as a method of allocation in their housing allocation schemes by 31 December 2016.
I understand that a majority of local authorities have now used CBL as a way of allocating some of their social housing properties. Where it has been introduced, the feedback has been very positive both from the authorities themselves and the customers they serve.
To facilitate the wider operation of CBL my Department issued updated guidance to authorities in December 2016. The Department will continue to liaise with housing authorities with a view to ensuring that CBL is implemented as widely as possible across the country.
Local Authority Staff Data
Questions (157, 158)
Anne Rabbitte
Question:157. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of permanent employees who ceased working with Galway County Council in each of the years 2011 to 2016 in tabular form. [26175/17]
View answerAnne Rabbitte
Question:158. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of permanent positions that remain unfilled in Galway County Council in each of the years 2011 to 2016 in tabular form. [26176/17]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 157 and 158 together.
My Department gathers quarterly data on staff numbers in local authorities. The data gathered does not provide detail in respect of the number of permanent employees that ceased working with Galway County Council and accordingly the information requested is not available in my Department. Broad staffing numbers for the local authority sector are available on the Public Service Numbers Databank which is hosted and maintained by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and is available at the following link: http://databank.per.gov.ie/. The Databank provides access to information from 1980 onwards.
Under section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each Chief Executive is responsible for the staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authorities for which he or she is responsible. In this regard, it is a matter for each individual Chief Executive to recruit and assign staff to specific functional areas.
Local Authority Staff Data
Questions (159)
Anne Rabbitte
Question:159. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of full-time employees working in Galway County Council from 2011 to 2016 in tabular form. [26177/17]
View answerWritten answers
My Department is responsible for workforce planning for the local government sector, including monitoring of local government sector employment levels. Staffing numbers for the local authority sector, broken down by individual local authority, are available on the Public Service Numbers Databank which is hosted and maintained by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and is available at the following link: http://databank.per.gov.ie/. The Databank provides access to information from 1980 onwards.
Local Authority Staff Data
Questions (160, 161)
Anne Rabbitte
Question:160. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of director of services positions not filled in Galway County Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26178/17]
View answerAnne Rabbitte
Question:161. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of director of services positions not filled in Galway City Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26179/17]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 160 and 161 together.
There is currently one vacancy for Director of Services in Galway County Council. A competition to fill this vacancy is currently underway, through the Public Appointments Service.
There are currently no vacancies at Director of Services level in Galway City Council.
Under section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each Chief Executive is responsible for the staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authorities for which he or she is responsible. In this regard, recruitment is a matter for each individual Chief Executive.
Local Authority Staff Data
Questions (162, 163, 164)
Anne Rabbitte
Question:162. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of full-time engineers and senior engineers who were full-time employees of Galway County Council engaged in the road maintenance programme in each of the years 2011 to 2016 by area in Oranmore, Athenry, Tuam, Connemara, Ballinasloe, Loughrea, Gort and Portumna in tabular form. [26180/17]
View answerAnne Rabbitte
Question:163. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of full-time outdoor staff who were full-time employees of Galway County Council engaged in the road maintenance programme from 2011 to 2016 by area in Oranmore, Athenry, Tuam, Connemara, Ballinasloe, Loughrea, Gort and Portumna in tabular form. [26181/17]
View answerAnne Rabbitte
Question:164. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of seasonal employees employed by Galway County Council engaged in the road maintenance programme from 2011 to 2016 by area in Oranmore, Athenry, Tuam, Connemara, Ballinasloe, Loughrea, Gort and Portumna in tabular form. [26182/17]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 162 to 164, inclusive, together.
My Department gathers quarterly data on staff numbers in local authorities. The data gathered does not provide detail in respect of the number of full time engineers, senior engineers, full time employees and seasonal employees of Galway County Council that are engaged in the road maintenance programme in Oranmore, Athenry, Tuam, Connemara, Ballinasloe, Loughrea, Gort and Portumna. Accordingly, the information requested is not available in my Department.
Under section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each Chief Executive is responsible for the staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authorities for which he or she is responsible. In this regard, it is a matter for each individual Chief Executive to recruit and assign staff to specific functional areas.