Written Answers Nos 430-449
430. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the way in which his Department distributes State examination papers; if there is a tendering or recruitment process in place for distribution; and the details of the tendering process in place for the printing of State examination papers. [26695/17]
View answerThe State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations.
In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.
431. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding schools that need new car parking facilities; and the funding is available to them for same. [26699/17]
View answerIt is open to schools to apply for grant under Summer Works Schemes for improved car-parking facilities within the vested school site if schools consider the works to be a priority.
It is also open to primary schools to use their minor works grant, in full or in part, for works of this nature.
432. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a new building will be provided for a school (details supplied). [26716/17]
View answerMy Department has been working tirelessly to resolve this matter. This is a very complex planning issue concerning site access. Planning permission for the school to which the Deputy refers has been sought and rejected twice.
My Department is working with Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council to advance proposals for appropriate access routes with a view to progressing a further planning application.
The County Council's preferred option for access to this site involves lands that do not belong to my Department so negotiations are currently ongoing with both the Council and relevant third-party private landowners to reach agreement on access.
When these discussions have been concluded, a new planning application for permanent school buildings will be submitted.
433. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the special needs supports available for a person suffering from Asperger's syndrome who does not feel they can attend mainstream secondary school any longer. [26720/17]
View answerIt is the policy of my Department that all children with Special Educational Needs, including those with Autistic Spectrum Disorders, can have access to an education appropriate to their needs, preferably in school settings through the primary and post primary school network.
Such placements facilitate access to individualised education programmes which may draw from a range of appropriate educational interventions, delivered by fully qualified professional teachers, with the support of Special Needs Assistants and the appropriate school curriculum.
This policy has been informed by published research, including the Report of the Task Force on Autism (2001), the Evaluation of Educational Provision for Children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD) (2006) and National Council for Special Education (NCSE) policy advice on Supporting Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (2016).
The NCSE policy advice on Supporting Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (2016) found that Students are generally well supported in schools with appropriate curriculum; extensive teacher and SNA supports; improving range of educational placements supported by improved accommodation and equipment; improved teacher knowledge and understanding and a generally good standard of provision at primary and post primary levels.
The NCSE policy advice noted that ASD is a spectrum condition, so some students with ASD require little support in school and are relatively independent in their learning, while others require significant levels of support.
The NCSE Policy Advice also states that International Research findings suggest that most students with ASD should be considered for inclusion in mainstream education with their peers, where inclusion is well-planned and well-resourced.
It follows therefore that where they are able, students should be given every opportunity to achieve in mainstream settings and only enrolled/retained in special class and/or special school settings where their need necessitates this.
Almost 18,000 students in schools have been diagnosed with autism. My Department invests over €300m annually in providing additional resources specifically to support students with autism in schools enabling:
- 63% of students to attend mainstream schools
- 26% to attend special classes in mainstream primary and post-primary schools, and
- 11% to attend special schools.
Resources which are provided to schools to support children with Autism include the following:
- 2,200 extra teachers in mainstream schools specifically to support children with Autism.
- 889 special classes for students with autism – up from fewer than 80 in 2001.
- 20 special schools specifically for students with Autism
- One teacher and a minimum of two SNAs for every primary special class of six students with ASD and 1.5 teachers and a minimum of two SNAs for every post-primary special class.
- SNA support – About 69% of all students with ASD access SNA support.
- Assistive technology.
- Professional development for teachers.
- Access to the Special School transport scheme.
- Access to special equipment and furniture where required.
- Enhanced capitation grant.
- Adapted school buildings.
- Access to the extended school year scheme. (July Provision)
Some students, although academically able to access the curriculum in mainstream, may find it too difficult to manage full-time placement there. This can be due to significant difficulties in areas such as behaviour or sensory needs which have not been ameliorated, even with appropriate intervention, in mainstream.
Enrolment in an ASD special class should only be considered where it has been demonstrated that a student requires the support of a special class because he/she is unable to learn effectively in a mainstream class for most or all of the school day even with appropriate supports.
Where students with an ASD experience difficulties, the first course of action is engagement with first level services provided by the Department of Education and Skills (National Educational Psychological Service, Special Education Support Service, National Behavioural Support Service, National Council for Special Education) and Health Services Executive (HSE)/ HSE funded services.
If a parent of a student feels that a student is currently experiencing continuing difficulties they should request through their school a multi-disciplinary school based review involving NEPS, the local SENO and other relevant professionals.
434. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills when the next phase of a school building for a school (details supplied) will commence; the status of this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26731/17]
View answerThe project referred to by the Deputy was authorised to proceed to tender in October 2016.
However, as the pre-qualification of contractors had first been conducted by the design team in April 2015 the design team, concerned about the possibility of legal challenges, asked the Office of Government Procurement for advice on this matter. The advice was that it would be prudent to run the pre-qualification again.
The Design Team has rerun the pre-qualification of suitable contractors and the project is now out to tender. Tenders are due back in mid July.
Subject to no issues arising it is anticipated that construction will commence in late 2017 and the project is scheduled to take approximately 18 months to complete.
435. 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. [26732/17]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware the building project for the school in question is included on my Department's capital programme.
Officials in my Department have worked closely with officials from the relevant Local Authority under the Memorandum of Understanding in relation to the acquisition of a suitable permanent location for the school. A suitable site has been identified and my officials are working to advance its acquisition.
Due to commercial sensitivities relating to site acquisitions generally I am not in a position to provide further details at this time.
436. 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. [26733/17]
View answerThe Patron of the new Malahide/Portmarnock post-primary school (Educate Together) has decided for operational reasons that it is in the best interests of the school to postpone its opening to September 2018. My Department has been working in close co-operation with Educate Together to facilitate the opening of the school and will continue to do so with a view to its opening in suitable interim accommodation in September 2018.
Where a requirement for additional post-primary schools has been identified, details including proposed timelines related to the opening of the schools are made known by a Ministerial announcement. However, patrons may decide for different operational reasons in a particular year that it is in the best interests of a new post-primary school to defer its opening. In some cases there may be a timing issue, where many parents will have already committed to other second level schools in the area ahead of the announcement of the new school.
437. 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. [26734/17]
View answerThe Patron of the new Swords post-primary school, Dublin and Dún Laoghaire Education and Training Board (DDLETB) has decided for operational reasons that it is in the best interests of the school to defer its opening to September 2018.
The Patron has confirmed to the Department that Swords Community College will open in September 2018, with a high number of applications having already been received.
The acquisition of school sites in densely populated areas such as Dublin/Swords presents an ongoing challenge for my Department as the availability of suitable property is often extremely limited, due to the area of accommodation and ancillary facilities required. My Department will continue to work in close co-operation with Fingal County Council and the site acquisition process is underway in respect of the permanent accommodation for this school.
438. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the provision of a permanent site for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26735/17]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware the building project for the school in question is included in my Department’s capital programme.
Officials in my Department are liaising with officials in Fingal County Council in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding in relation to the identification and acquisition of a suitable site for the school.
Due to commercial sensitivities relating to site acquisitions generally I am not in a position to provide further details at this time but I can assure the Deputy that the school patron will be informed of the proposed location for the school as soon as it is possible to do so.
439. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason for the delay in giving permission to a club (details supplied) in Tallaght, Dublin 24, in conjunction with a school, to carry out proposed building work on lands currently under the control of his Department; if it is a shortage of staff in a particular section of his Department that is causing the years of delay; and if his attention has been drawn to the fact that these building works have the support of the entire local community and that the development would help eliminate anti-social behaviour in the immediate area. [26742/17]
View answerOfficials in my Department are aware that this matter has been ongoing for some time. I can confirm that officials from my Department have had consultations with the school authorities and other stakeholders on a number of occasions and have also been in ongoing correspondence with the club since the proposals were first made.
A joint technical inspection has been carried out by technical staff from my Department and South Dublin County Council and updated maps are currently being prepared. There are a number of legal and technical matters to be resolved pertaining to the proposal by the club referred to by the Deputy. Once these matters are resolved, my Department intends to meet with all stakeholders with a view to progressing matters as soon as possible for the benefit of the school and local community. Officials from my Department have recently been in contact with representatives from the club referred to by the Deputy and have provided an update on the current situation.
440. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Skills the date on which a club (details supplied) in Tallaght, Dublin 24, first contacted his Department seeking an agreement to build on lands currently under the control of his Department adjoining the club and a community school; and the length of time it is expected to wait until official permission is granted to begin the work. [26743/17]
View answerOfficials in my Department are aware that this matter has been ongoing for some time. I can confirm that officials from my Department have had consultations with the school authorities and other stakeholders on a number of occasions and have also been in ongoing correspondence with the club since the proposals were first made.
A joint technical inspection has been carried out by technical staff from my Department and South Dublin County Council and updated maps are currently being prepared. There are a number of legal and technical matters to be resolved pertaining to the proposal by the club referred to by the Deputy. Once these matters are resolved, my Department intends to meet with all stakeholders with a view to progressing matters as soon as possible for the benefit of the school and local community. Officials from my Department have recently been in contact with representatives from the club referred to by the Deputy and have provided an update on the current situation.
441. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Education and Skills the combined deficit institutes of technology face from satellite campuses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26747/17]
View answerMy Department allocates the recurrent funding to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for direct disbursement to the HEA designated higher education institutions. The HEA allocates this funding to the institutions and the internal disbursement of funding is then a matter for the individual institution.
A Financial Review of the Institutes of Technology sector was published in October 2016. The Report noted that these campuses provide a very important function for the delivery of education within their regions and present wider socio-economic benefits within rural communities.
However, my Department and the HEA recognise the particular challenges attached to multi-campus provision in higher education institutions. The HEA has begun a major review of the funding allocation model for higher education, and this review will include looking at how the future model can take account of the additional costs associated with such arrangements.
442. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consider introducing one administration day per week for school principals in cases in which there is no walking principal; the cost of this measure; the timeframe for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26748/17]
View answerBudget 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 resource teaching posts and the strengthening of school leadership.
Circular 12/2016, which is available on the Department website, outlines the number of days that teaching principals may take as release time in a school year in order to assist them fulfilling their principal duties. Under these arrangements my Department pays for a substitute teacher to be employed by a school to facilitate administrative functions to be undertaken by the teaching principal. Under the current arrangements the number of days that principal teachers may take as release time in each school year ranges between 15 and 25 days depending on the size of the school.
Enabling teaching principals to have one release day per week would cost in the order of €12.5 million per annum.
443. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the sources of funding that will be used for investment in apprenticeship reform up to 2020. [26753/17]
View answer445. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the amount of funding set aside for development and capital costs to deliver 40 new apprenticeship programmes up to 2020. [26755/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 443 and 445 together.
In 2017, €98.7m has been allocated for apprenticeship training which represents a 40% increase on the 2016 spend of €69.6m. This funding is being made available from exchequer and national training fund resources. Future years' allocations will be determined through the normal budgetary process which takes account of competing demands and the overall availability of resources.
Development and equipment costs for new programmes approved to date for funding is set out in the following table, along with, where available, per capita operational costs. It should be noted that equipment and operational costs are only available for those new apprenticeships that have completed development and validation. Costs for further programmes will be determined as they move through development and validation and as new programmes are identified through the second call for proposals.
|
New Apprenticeship Programme Title |
Lead provider |
Projected Apprentice numbers |
Development Funding Approved |
Annual Unit Cost per apprentice* |
Equipment Costs |
|
Insurance Practice - Level 8 |
Institute of Technology Sligo |
67 (actual 2016) |
€15,000 |
€7,200 |
€0 |
|
Industrial Electrical Engineering – Level 7 |
Limerick Institute of Technology |
12 (actual 2016) |
€50,000 |
€10,000 |
€155,000 |
|
Polymer Process Engineer - Level 7 |
Athlone Institute of Technology |
32 |
€135,000 |
€10,000 |
€400,000 |
|
Manufacturing Technician – Level 6 |
Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology (3 other co-ordinating providers) |
60 |
€85,000 |
€10,000 |
€500,000 |
|
Manufacturing Engineer – Level 7 |
Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology (3 other co-ordinating providers) |
60 |
€85,000 |
€10,000 |
€500,000 |
|
International Financial Services Associate - Level 6 |
National College of Ireland |
€48,333 |
|||
|
International Financial Services Specialist - Level 8 |
National College of Ireland |
€48,333 |
|||
|
Accounting Technician Level 6 |
Accounting Technicians Ireland |
€25,000 |
|||
|
OEM Engineer Level 6 |
Cavan & Monaghan ETB |
€15,000 |
|||
|
HGV Driver Level 5 |
Cavan & Monaghan ETB |
€15,000 |
|||
|
Baker Level 6 |
Scottish Bakers |
€76,250 |
|||
|
ICT Network Engineer Level 6 |
FIT |
€12,500 |
|||
|
ICT Software Developer Level 6 |
FIT |
€12,500 |
|||
|
Butcher Level 5 |
Mayo, Sligo & Leitrim ETB |
€95,000 |
|||
|
Commis Chef Level 6 |
Kerry ETB |
€40,000 |
|||
|
Chef de Partie Level 8 |
|||||
|
Sous Chef Level 8 |
|||||
|
Executive Chef Level 9 |
Tralee Institute of Technology |
€45,000 |
|||
|
Engineering Services Management Level 7 |
Cork Institute of Technology |
€25,000 |
|||
|
Manufacturing ICT Engineer Level 7 |
Limerick Institute of Technology |
€50,000 |
|||
|
Property Services Professional Level 5 |
Ballsbridge College |
€4,000 |
|||
|
Retail Practice Level 5 |
Retail Ireland Skillnet |
€72,000 |
|||
|
International Financial Services Level 9 |
National College of Ireland |
€48,333 |
444. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of apprentices estimated to be enrolled in each of the years 2017 to 2021 inclusive of existing and estimated new registrations. [26754/17]
View answer449. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he has set a target for the number of female participants to be enrolled in apprenticeships in each of the years 2017 to 2020. [26759/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 444 and 449 together.
The information sought by the Deputy in relation to target apprenticeship registrations in the period 2017 to 2020 is set out in the following table. It should be noted that SOLAS do not currently have forecast registrations beyond 2020.
The Action Plan to Expand Apprenticeship & Traineeship 2016-2020 sets out annual target apprenticeship registrations in the period to 2020. The Plan does not set registration targets for female apprentices. However, as the Deputy is aware, the Apprenticeship Council is currently overseeing the expansion of the apprenticeship system into new areas of the economy. Many of the new programmes currently being developed are in sectors where there is a greater gender balance in the workplace and through this expansion programme we will see an increase in female participation rates. We have already seen evidence of this with almost 40% of participants in the Insurance Practitioner Apprenticeship, launched last year, being female. However, female participation in the craft trades also needs to be examined and a review of pathways to apprenticeship, including female participation, will commence later this year.
|
Craft- based apprenticeships |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
|
Forecast new registrations per annum |
4,147 |
4,697 |
5,087 |
5,587 |
|
New apprenticeships |
||||
|
Planned new registrations per annum |
800 |
1,500 |
2,297 |
3,413 |
|
Total target apprenticeship registration p.a. |
4,947 |
6,197 |
7,384 |
9,000 |
446. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the apprenticeship programmes on which the State pays a training allowance; the number of apprentices that receive this payment; and the amount it costs the State per annum. [26756/17]
View answer447. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the cost per apprentice per annum is due to fall as a result of the State no longer paying a training allowance to apprentices in programmes after 2016; and if so, the amount of the revised estimated cost per apprentice per annum. [26757/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 446 and 447 together.
The information sought by the Deputy in relation to the apprenticeship programmes that receive a training allowance is set out in the following table. The payment of allowances will continue to be paid to apprentices who undertake one of the existing craft trades. A list of those trades is set out below. There are no plans to remove this allowance but no allowances are being paid for any of the new apprenticeships in operation or being developed.
The amount of the training allowance is determined by a number of variables including which of the 5 families of trades the employer is designated to (construction, motor, electrical, engineering or print), which of the 3 off-the-job training phases the apprentice is undertaking and how long the apprentice has been registered. SOLAS estimates that the cost of training allowances in 2016 to be €25.9m and is based on 5,849 apprentices undertaking their off-the job training phases in that year. As apprentice registrations continue to increase for the existing craft apprenticeships, additional funds will be required to fund training allowances over the coming years.
It is estimated that the cost of training an apprentice in one of the existing craft apprenticeships is approximately €6,700 per annum while the estimated cost of training an apprentice in one of the new apprenticeships is approximately €6,300 per annum. This figure may be subject to further refinement as greater numbers of new apprenticeships come into operation.
Based on the targets set out in the Action Plan to Expand Apprenticeship and Traineeship 2016-2020, it is estimated that the cost of apprenticeship provision in 2020 will rise over the coming years to approximately €200m.
|
Craft Apprenticeships Agricultural Mechanics Aircraft Mechanics Brick & Stonelaying Carpentry & Joinery Construction Plant Fitting Electrical Electrical Instrumentation Electronic Security Systems Farriery Floor & Wall Tiling Heavy Vehicle Mechanics Industrial Insulation Instrumentation Mechanical Automation & Maintenance Fitting Metal Fabrication Motor Mechanics Painting & Decorating Pipefitting Plastering Plumbing Print Media Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Stonecutting & Stonemasonry Sheet Metalworking Toolmaking Vehicle Body Repairs Wood Manufacturing & Finishing |
448. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 303 of 2 May 2017, if he will provide a breakdown of the figure of €6,500 per annum. [26758/17]
View answer450. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to parliamentary Questions Nos. 303 of 2 May 2017 and 118 of 10 May 2017, the reason for the discrepancy in the figures of €6,500 and €6,700 provided regarding the cost of an apprentice per annum. [26760/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 448 and 450 together.
It is estimated that the cost of training an apprentice in one of the existing craft apprenticeships is approximately €6,700 per annum while the estimated cost of training an apprentice in one of the new apprenticeships is approximately €6,300 per annum.
The figure of €6,500 per annum quoted in question 303 of the 2 May is an average of both these figures. This figure may be subject to further refinement as greater numbers of new apprenticeships come into operation.
