Monday, 11 Sep 2017

Written Answers Nos. 348-367

Institutes of Technology Staff

Questions (348)

Kathleen Funchion

Question:

348. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills the current student to staff ratio in institutes of technology. [37695/17]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills

The higher education institutional profiles for the 2013/2014 academic year give an academic staff : student ratio of 1:16 for the Institute of Technology sector. The Higher Education Authority is currently finalising the institutional profiles for the 2014/15 academic year and this will include an updated  academic staff : student ratio for the sector.

School Transport Applications Data

Questions (349)

Niamh Smyth

Question:

349. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of concessionary applications for school transport for the 2017-2018 school year by county; the number of which are new applications, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37731/17]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills

School transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department.

During the 2016/17 school year almost 116,000 children, including some 12,000 children with special educational needs, were transported in over 4,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres 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.

In general, children are eligible for school transport if they satisfy the distance criteria and are attending their 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 conditions including the availability of spare seats on an existing service and payment of the annual charge.

It is important that the terms of the Post Primary School Transport Scheme are applied equitably on a national basis.

I have requested Bus Éireann to provide the Deputy with the requested information when it is finalised for the 2017/18 school year.

Consultancy Contracts Data

Questions (350)

Niamh Smyth

Question:

350. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education and Skills the amount of money which was spent in his Department on external consultants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37732/17]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

Details of external consultancy payments made by my Department for the years 2011 to 2016 inclusive are available on the Department's website http://www.education.ie/en/Publications/Corporate-Reports/Financial-Reports/Expenditure-on-Consultancy/.

Information in relation to consultancy expenditure is compiled annually in respect of the previous year. Details in respect of consultants engaged in 2017 will be compiled and published early in 2018.

Schools Mental Health Strategies

Questions (351)

Niamh Smyth

Question:

351. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education and Skills the mental health and counselling positions in secondary education and the annual cost of same; the way in which these are provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37733/17]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

My Department promotes a comprehensive and whole of school approach to the promotion of well-being and positive mental health. This approach considers the entire school community, as well as focussing on groups and individual young people with identified need.  This approach spans the curriculum in schools, whole-school ethos, quality of teaching, learning and assessment, student support, pastoral care, guidance counselling and the provision of professional development for teachers. It also involves accessing other supports such as educational psychology services and the interface with other agencies, both nationally and locally. Additionally, schools engage in a wide range of sport and cultural activities which provide an important opportunity for students to experience success and personal growth. The whole staff shares responsibility for general student well-being.

The Well-being in Post Primary Schools Guidelines for Mental Health Promotion and Suicide Prevention (2013) provides a framework for schools to present in an integrated way their existing good practice. The Guidelines promote social and emotional learning, and mental health and direct then to new practices, as appropriate.

More recently, my Department’s Action Plan for Education 2017 promotes well-being as one of its key goals. Other actions, in addition to those outlined above, relating to well-being and mental health in the primary school sector include:

Developing an integrated programme of support for all schools to implement the Well-being Guidelines and an implementation plan for roll-out of this programme to all post-primary schools.

Increasing the capacity of NEPS: an enhanced educational psychological service to schools, through the appointment of an additional 10 educational psychologists. The focus of this additional support will be on extending the delivery of training to teachers in DEIS schools.

From September 2017 all students entering first year will study a new area of learning at Junior Cycle called Well-being. There is a suite of  supports provided to post-primary schools to enable them to implement the Well-being Programme.

Measures announced by my Department as part of Budget 2016 and 2017 mean that 400 guidance posts, or two thirds of the guidance allocation that was withdrawn in Budget 2012, will be restored to schools from September 2017. All of these 400 posts are allocated separately and transparently on the staffing schedule of posts for schools. The pupil teacher ratio (PTR) will revert to 19:1 with effect from September 2017 with the guidance allocation shown separately on the staffing schedules and will represent 0.4 of the PTR for each school. There is now an obligation on schools to ensure that the hours are used for guidance activities. Principals may decide to allocate more hours to guidance activities than the amount allocated on the schedule; they cannot decide to allocate fewer.

While most of the 400 posts restored over the past two years are likely to be allocated to guidance counsellors, schools may decide, in the context of their guidance plans, to allocate some resources to others who may also play a role in delivering guidance in the schools. However, my Department has made it clear that schools’ guidance plans should include specified time allocation for guidance counsellors to be available for one-to-one guidance counselling and time allocation for the role in supporting the organisation and work of the Student Support Team.

School Meals Programme

Questions (352)

Niamh Smyth

Question:

352. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to put in place a national catering standard for secondary schools to provide healthy food in the school cafeterias. [37734/17]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The main programme for food provision in primary and post primary schools is the School Meals Scheme. The operation of that scheme is an issue for the Minister for Social Protection.

My Department's main responsibility in this area is to equip students with the key skills and knowledge to enable them to make informed and healthier choices in a range of areas, including nutrition. This is addressed in schools through subjects such as Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE), and Home Economics as well as in PE.

Schools are strongly encouraged to have a formal healthy eating policy that has been developed in consultation with students and parents.

Guidelines are available to schools on developing a healthy eating policy in Post-Primary Schools, which have been developed by the Department of Health and HSE. The healthy eating policy should outline how the school supports healthy eating practices through the promotion of healthy lunches and healthy snacks and other means.

My Department issued a circular to all post primary schools in September 2015 on the Promotion of Healthy Lifestyles in Post Primary Schools (Circular number 0051/2015) and to all primary schools in February 2016 on the Promotion of Healthy Lifestyles in Primary Schools (Circular number 0013/2016). These circulars aim to support and strengthen schools’ efforts in developing in young people the skills and attitudes needed to make informed decisions about their health.

School Transport Appeals

Questions (353)

Niamh Smyth

Question:

353. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will review a case (details supplied); if both reports by the school transport section and Bus Éireann will be supplied in order that an appeal can be heard at the next meeting of the board of appeal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37735/17]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills

School transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. 

During the 2016/17 school year almost 116,000 children, including some 12,000 children with special educational needs, were transported in over 4,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres annually.

The School Transport Appeals Board, which is independent of my Department, will liaise directly with the families regarding the date that the appeals in question will be considered.

Traveller Education

Questions (354)

Maurice Quinlivan

Question:

354. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the fact that participation rates for members of the Traveller community are not available for the apprenticeship system; and if he will consider gathering such data to ensure participation rates are monitored and improved. [37790/17]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills

I understand from SOLAS that they have no plans to ask employers to capture and submit information around whether the apprentices they employ are members of the travelling community.

As set out in the Action Plan to Extend Apprenticeship and Traineeship in Ireland 2016-2020, a review will be undertaken of the pathways to participation in apprenticeship for a range of diverse groups, including members of the travelling community, and in light of the broadening of the apprenticeship system into new areas. The review will be completed in 2018.

Overall, the Further Education and Training (FET) sector made provision for over 330,000 beneficiaries in 2016. The FET Strategy has a strong focus on active inclusion and this is the subject of one of the five strategy goals.

In the context of the annual FET service planning process that takes place between SOLAS and the Education and Training Boards (ETBs), ETBs are required to consider the needs of a broad range of learners and disadvantaged groups, including members of the travelling community.

This is reinforced through the identification of Travellers as a priority target group within various programmes. For example, this is set out in the operational guidelines for the Back to Education Initiative and the Adult Literacy Service.

Apprenticeship Data

Questions (355, 356)

Maurice Quinlivan

Question:

355. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of apprentices registered in each apprenticeship programme, in tabular form. [37791/17]

Maurice Quinlivan

Question:

356. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the new apprenticeship programmes that have been and will be introduced in 2017. [37792/17]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills

I propose to answer Questions Nos. 355 and 356 together.

The information sought by the Deputy in relation to the number of apprentices registered in 2017 on all phases of their apprenticeship is set out in the following table.

As the deputy is aware, the Apprenticeship Council is currently overseeing the expansion of the apprenticeship system into a range of new sectors of the economy. Following its first call for proposals in 2015, the Apprenticeship Council has been working closely with consortia to develop their proposals into sustainable apprenticeships.

To date nine new apprenticeship programmes have been developed in Insurance Practice, Industrial Electrical Engineering, Polymer Processing Technology, Manufacturing Technology, Manufacturing Engineer, Accounting Technician, Commis Chef and two programmes in International Financial Services (Associate & Specialist).

Further new apprenticeships are to be submitted for validation to Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) in September and, subject to successful validation, it is expected that a further six new schemes will get underway later this year in various sectors including ICT, craft butchery and equipment manufacturing.

	Apprentice Population 2017 by Sector and Trade
Construction Total	2706
Brick and Stonelaying	112
Cabinet Making	2
Carpentry and Joinery	1030
Floor and Wall Tiling	0
Painting and Decorating	73
Plastering	60
Plumbing	1259
Stonecutting and Stonemasonry	32
Wood Manufacturing and Finishing	138
Wood Machinist	0
Electrical Total	4916
Aircraft Mechanics	133
Electrical	4099
Electrical Instrumentation	280
Electronic Security Systems	106
Instrumentation	36
Refrigeration	262
Engineering Total	1717
Farriery	17
Industrial Insulation	57
M.A.M.F.	582
Metal Fabrication	653
*Pipefitting	75
Sheet Metalworking	115
Toolmaking	238
Motor Total	2325
Agricultural Mechanics	152
Construction Plant Fitting	238
Heavy Vehicle Mechanics	487
Motor Mechanics	1288
Vehicle Body Repairs	160
Printing & Paper Total	18
Print Media	18
Printing	0
Bookbinding	0
Grand Total	11682

*Please note: end of 2016 Pipefitting is included in the Engineering Family of Trade

Consortia Led Apprenticeships Total 2016/2017 @ 31 August 2017

	Grand Total
Electrical	27
Industrial Electrical Eng	27
Engineering	56
Manufacturing Engineering (Level 6)	30
Manufacturing Engineering (Level 7)	9
Polymer Processing Tech	17
Financial Services	105
Accounting Technician	9
Insurance Practice	96
Total (Consortia-Led)	188
Grand Total (All)	11,870

Psychological Assessments

Questions (357)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

357. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will expedite a psychological assessment and a keyboard for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37803/17]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I can inform the Deputy that my Department's National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS), in common with many other psychological services and best international practice, has adopted a consultative model of service. The focus is on empowering teachers to intervene effectively with pupils whose needs range from mild to severe and transient to enduring. Psychologists use a problem solving and solution oriented consultative approach to maximise positive outcomes for these pupils. NEPS encourages schools to use a continuum based assessment and intervention process whereby each school takes responsibility for initial assessment, educational planning and remedial intervention for pupils with learning, emotional or behavioural difficulties. Teachers may consult their NEPS psychologist should they need to at this stage in the process. Only in the event of a failure to make reasonable progress, in spite of the school's best efforts in consultation with NEPS, will the psychologist become involved with an individual child for intensive intervention or assessment.

This system allows psychologists to give early attention to urgent cases and also to help many more children indirectly than could be seen individually. It also ensures that children are not referred unnecessarily for psychological intervention.

If the parents of the child, the subject of this question, have specific concerns about his educational progress I would advise in the first instance that they speak to the Principal of the school with a view to raising these concerns with the assigned NEPS psychologist in regard to any direct intervention in the case.

Home Tuition Scheme

Questions (358)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

358. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 379 of 26 July 2017, the reason his Department is not in a position to enter into direct contracts of employment with home tutors so as to ensure greater protection and security for these persons and those using their services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37827/17]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The purpose of the Home Tuition Grant Scheme is to provide funding towards the provision of a compensatory educational service for children who, for a number of specific reasons, are unable to attend school.

The preferred approach is that children are educated in school settings where children may have access to fully qualified teachers, individualised education programmes, special needs assistants, school curriculum with the option, where possible and appropriate, of full or partial integration and interaction with other students.

The Home Tuition Grant is provided as an interim measure only for children who cannot access a placement in a recognised school and should not be regarded as an alternative to a school placement. When the child in question can access a school placement the Home Tuition Grant will be discontinued.

My Department does not recruit or employ teachers, it is the Board of Management of schools or Education and Training Board, as appropriate, which is responsible for employment of teachers in schools.

Similarly, my Department does not recruit or employ individuals to provide home tuition. Parents/Guardians select and engage tutors for the provision of Home Tuition in a private arrangement which is then funded through the scheme.

It is a condition of funding for the various home tuition schemes, that all tutors engaged by Parents/Guardians must be registered with the Teaching Council and have been vetted by the Teaching Council via the Teaching Council’s online vetting process. Tutors must also provide a completed child protection related Statutory Declaration and Form of Undertaking.

Parents/guardians are also advised that in addition to vetting, parents may request references and/or employment history in order to satisfy themselves regarding the suitability of the person to carry out tuition with their child.

Third Level Admissions Reform

Questions (359)

Clare Daly

Question:

359. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the fact that some colleges are operating a system of a fixed number of places for mature students, HEAR and DARE applicants collectively (details supplied); his plans to change the system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37857/17]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills

The DARE scheme is a third-level admissions scheme for students with a disability offering places on reduced points basis to school leavers with disabilities who are under 23. HEAR is a college and university admissions scheme offering places on reduced points and extra college support to school leavers from socio-economically disadvantages backgrounds.

The DARE HEAR schemes have been operated by the Irish Universities Association (IUA) and regulated by the higher education institutions themselves and not by my Department. The operational management of DARE HEAR has transferred from the Shared Services Unit in the IUA to the CAO.

Question No. 360 answered with Question No. 308.

School Transport Administration

Questions (361)

Gerry Adams

Question:

361. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will report on the status of the review of the criteria and guidelines of the school transport appeals board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37888/17]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills

School transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department.

During the 2016/17 school year 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 kilometres annually.

The Programme for Government commits to a review of the criteria and guidelines for the School Transport Appeals Board. The review has been completed and is available on the Department's website.

School Transport Availability

Questions (362)

Gerry Adams

Question:

362. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Education and Skills the measures he plans to implement to deal with difficulties which have arisen for many families in the school transport scheme, with particular reference to the availability of concessionary tickets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37889/17]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills

School transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department.

During the 2016/17 school year almost 116,000 children, including some 12,000 children with special educational needs, were transported in over 4,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres 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.

In general, children are eligible for school transport if they satisfy the distance criteria and are attending their 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 conditions including the availability of spare seats on an existing service and payment of the annual charge.

Under the terms of the School Transport Schemes routes will not be extended or altered, additional vehicles will not be introduced, nor will larger vehicles or extra trips using existing vehicles be provided to cater for children travelling on a concessionary basis; no additional State cost will be incurred.

It is important that the terms of the Scheme are applied equitably on a national basis.

DEIS Data

Questions (363)

Gerry Adams

Question:

363. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of schools that are in the DEIS programme by county in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37890/17]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The information requested by the Deputy is available on my Department's website at the following link:

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

School Staff

Questions (364)

Gerry Adams

Question:

364. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the concerns of the school community at a school (details supplied) with regard to the loss of a teaching post which will negatively impact on the school; if he will provide assistance to this school regarding same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37891/17]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The criteria used for the allocation of teaching posts is published annually on the Department website. The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September. The staffing schedule also includes an appeals mechanism for schools to submit an appeal under certain criteria to an independent Appeals Board.

The staffing schedule operates in a clear and transparent manner and treats all similar types of schools equally irrespective of location.

The school referred to by the Deputy submitted an application for consideration by the Appeals Board at its April 2017 meeting under the small school criterion. The appeal was provisionally approved by the Appeals Board pending confirmation of the actual enrolments in September 2017. The school has been notified of the outcome of the appeal. The Appeals Board operates independently of the Department and its decision is final.

Schools Refurbishment

Questions (365)

Dara Calleary

Question:

365. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Education and Skills the refurbishment plans scheduled for a school (details supplied) in County Mayo. [37898/17]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department approved a significant devolved grant in 2012 in respect of the school referred to for a permanent extension to replace some temporary buildings identified as being most in need of replacement. Approval has also been granted for a set down and bus drop off area, the relocation of existing ball courts and works to the front entrance, along with other abnormal works. This project was devolved to the Mayo, Sligo & Leitrim ETB for delivery.

Following receipt of tenders, a number of issues were identified with the tendering process and it was necessary to re-tender the project in line with Department guidelines. Once the re-tendering process has been completed successfully it is expected that this project should proceed to construction stage.

School Management

Questions (366, 367)

Fiona O'Loughlin

Question:

366. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the members of the board of management in primary schools receive payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37904/17]

Fiona O'Loughlin

Question:

367. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the members of the board of management in secondary schools receive payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37905/17]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I propose to take Questions Nos. 366 and 367 together.

Section 14 of the Education Act 1998 places a duty on the patron of a recognised school, for the purposes of ensuring that such a school is managed in a spirit of partnership, to appoint, where practicable, a board of management. The composition of a board of management is based on centrally agreed arrangements between the relevant stakeholders.

Persons elected/nominated to serve on boards of management of recognised primary and post primary schools serve on an unpaid voluntary basis.