Written Answers Nos. 145-157
145. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if educational and learning supports are being put in place for a person (details supplied); and if the person will benefit from a NEPS assessment in the near future. [44774/17]
View answerI 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.
146. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna cén uair a dhéanfar cinneadh maidir le hiarratas ar sheomra acmhainní (sonraí tugtha). [44776/17]
View answerIs mian liom a chur in iúl don Teachta nach bhfuil aon iarratas faighte ag mo Roinn do chóiríocht breise don scoil thuasluaite. Is féidir iarratas a chur chuig mo Roinn maidir le haon easnamh cóiríochta a aithnítear; is féidir foirmeacha iarratais a rochtain ar láithreán gréasáin mo Roinne ag www.education.ie.
147. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills to outline his plans to implement the findings of a report (details supplied) into the operation and organisation of Quality and Qualifications Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44777/17]
View answerAn independent external review of the current organisational structure of Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) was completed by Clarion Consulting Ltd in December 2016. The purpose of the review was to identify a more appropriate staffing structure that will enable QQI to fulfil its statutory responsibilities and to communicate effectively both internally and externally.
My Department supports the implementation of the Organisational Review and has taken a number of measures in conjunction with QQI towards this objective.
An Organisational Review Steering Group has been established to coordinate and oversee the implementation of the change management process within QQI. The Steering Group has had three meetings to date with the next meeting scheduled for early November 2017.
A Change Management Consultant was also recruited in September 2017 to assist QQI in embedding the necessary features to support the implementation of the recommendations arising from the review.
In addition, an IR Consultative Forum has been established within QQI to ensure that the appropriate mechanisms are in place for communication and active engagement on change and progress with QQI staff and management.
My Department is continuing to engage with QQI’s Executive and Board to support further progress on the recommendations made in the Clarion Report.
148. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a matter (details supplied) will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44853/17]
View answerSchool 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.
Bus Éireann has advised that the vetting applications for the drivers in question were received in the last week and they have been forwarded to the National Vetting Bureau (NVB).
Applicants may track the progress of their application on the NVB website.
149. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education and Skills to outline the steps he has taken to ensure that the name Tallaght will remain in the name of the Institute of Technology, Tallaght under the Technological Universities Bill 2015 changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44879/17]
View answerThe name of a technological university will be a matter in the first instance for the institutes applying for designation as a technological university.
I understand that in the case of TU4Dublin, the consortium is about to commence a process to seek input from stakeholders on the potential name for the new technological university, should their application be successful. This process will also take proposals on how the individual campuses within the technological university will be named.
Where a consortium is successful in seeking designation as a technological university, the name of the technological university will be specified in the order being made to establish the new technological university.
150. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education and Skills to outline the status of the funding being provided for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44882/17]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that a project to provide permanent accommodation for the school in question is included on my Department's 6 year capital programme. The Deputy will also be aware that my Department has been working with the local authority to acquire a site for the development. The conveyancing process commenced in mid-September 2017. There is ongoing contact between my Department and the local authority and both parties are working constructively to progress the site transfer as soon as possible. The project will shortly be progressed to architectural planning, in tandem with completion of the conveyancing process.
151. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education and Skills to set out the costs and timeframe of new projects that have been announced recently relating to an educational institute (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44883/17]
View answerThe project to which the Deputy refers was among 11 projects which I announced on 16th October last would be included in a Public Private Partnership (PPP) Programme for the higher education sector. The total capital construction cost of this Programme is €200 million.
I am not in a position to release information on the cost of any individual project at this stage, given the commercial sensitivities attached to the procurement process. In any event, the final scale and scope of all the relevant projects will be subject to ongoing technical appraisal and economic analysis to ensure value for money is achieved.
It is envisaged that the first buildings in this PPP programme will become ready for occupation in 2021 and the other buildings shortly thereafter. This timeline assumes that no major delays arise, such as in relation to statutory approvals.
152. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Education and Skills to outline his Department's policy and procedure when a student has been expelled from a particular school and no other school in the catchment area will accept this student but that student wishes to continue with full-time education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44902/17]
View answerThe position is that the selection and enrolment of pupils in schools is the responsibility of the authorities of the individual school. My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in an area. However, this may result in some pupils' not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice. As schools may not have a place for every applicant, a selection process may be necessary. This selection process and the enrolment policy on which it is based must be non-discriminatory, and must be applied fairly in respect of all applicants.
Under section 15(2)(d) of the Education Act, 1998, each school is legally obliged to disclose its enrolment policy and to ensure that, as regards that policy, principles of equality and the right of parents to send their children to a school of the parents' choice are respected.
Section 29 of the Education Act, 1998 provides for an appeal by a parent or guardian to the Secretary General of my Department or, - in the case of an Education and Training Board (ETB) school, - to the ETB in the first instance, where a Board of Management of a school, or a person acting on behalf of the Board, refuses to enrol a student in a school, expels a student, or suspends a student for 20 or more days in any school year. My Department has no authority to compel a school to admit a pupil, except in the case of an appeal under section 29 of the Education Act, 1998 being upheld.
Application forms for taking a section 29 appeal are available on this Departments website at the following link:
http://www.education.ie/en/Parents/Services/Appeal-against-Permanent-Exclusion-Suspension-or-Refusal-to-Enrol/Section-29-Appeals-Application-Form.doc
or by contacting Section 29 Administration Unit, Friars Mill Road, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath, phone 0761 108588.
The Educational Welfare Service (EWS) of the Child and Family Agency (TUSLA) is the statutory agency which can assist parents who are experiencing difficulty in securing a school place for their child.
The EWS may be able to offer assistance and advice on securing a school placement within your area. The contact details for the head office of the EWS is Educational Welfare Service of the Child and Family Agency, Floors 2-5, Brunel Building, Heuston South Quarter, Dublin 8, phone number 01-7718500.
153. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Education and Skills to outline the details of the project for GMIT Galway campus in view of his recent announcement of €200 million for 11 major infrastructure projects in the higher education sector; the estimated cost; and when will it be completed. [44909/17]
View answerThe GMIT project to which the Deputy refers was among those which I announced would be included in a Public Private Partnership (PPP) Programme for the higher education sector. The GMIT proposal involves the construction of a new STEM building, including labs, multi-purpose rooms, lab support rooms, seminar rooms and classrooms.
I am not in a position to release information on the cost of any individual project at this stage, given the commercial sensitivities attached to the procurement process. In any event, the final scale and scope of all the relevant projects will be subject to ongoing technical appraisal and economic analysis to ensure value for money is achieved.
It is envisaged that the first buildings in this PPP programme will become ready for occupation in 2021 and the other buildings shortly thereafter. This timeline assumes that no major delays arise, such as in relation to statutory approvals.
154. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Education and Skills the proposed capital allocation for GMIT Mayo campus for 2018 in view of his recent announcement of €257 million for capital spending in the higher education sector over the next three years. [44910/17]
View answer155. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Education and Skills when he plans to allocate the necessary capital funds to allow repair work to be carried out to the roof of the GMIT campus, County Mayo, in view of his recent announcement of €257 million for capital spending in the higher education sector over the next three years. [44911/17]
View answerThe Mayo Campus of GMIT has a very important role to play in delivering economic growth and job creation.
The importance of the GMIT Mayo Campus is recognised by the Department, the Higher Education Authority and GMIT. For that reason, I established the GMIT Working Group in March 2017 with then Taoiseach Enda Kenny, TD. The Working Group has been engaging with all the relevant stakeholders in order to formulate a plan for the sustainable future of the GMIT Mayo Campus in Castlebar. A Report of the Working Group is being finalised and is due to be submitted to my Department shortly for consideration. I understand this Report will also include a recommendation in relation to infrastructure issues, which my Department will consider.
156. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills to outline his plans to change the provisions with regard to director’s tenure under regulation 11(6) of SI No. 394 of 2017, which states that directors cannot serve for more than five consecutive years, in view of concerns that this specific clause is not conducive to the effective management of an education centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44917/17]
View answerMy Department arranges for the secondment of teachers from their teaching posts for the purpose of developing and providing CPD for teachers and for the appointment as Directors of Education Support Centres (ESC's). Secondments are a temporary arrangement renewable on a year to year basis. While on secondment, teachers retain their school post, the terms and conditions that apply to teachers and receive their salary and a secondment allowance which are met in full by my Department.
In 2010, a new policy of secondment was negotiated with the Department of Public Expenditure & Reform (DPER). The policy sanctioned a new limit on secondment numbers and established an upper limit of 5 years on the length of a secondment, following which the Directors return to their posts either as a teacher or an inspector.
There are many benefits from the revised policy for teachers, their boards of management and the system as a whole. Because an upper limit of 5 years now applies to secondments, there is:
- confidence that the teachers involved in the delivery of CPD have recent experience of the curriculum and of the school environment
- certainty about secondment parameters which assist individual teachers and their boards of management in planning.
There are more opportunities for teachers to take on career enhancing roles in the support services and the Centres. Teachers returning to their school after a period of secondment have the potential to enrich their school environment and they become eligible to take on subsequent secondment opportunities after a period back in their school.
Regular turnover of seconded teachers is now an established practice with teachers returning to enrich their schools so the investment in their skills is not lost. Since 2010, 10 Education Centres have successfully recruited new Directors and the work of the Centres has not been negatively affected.
Accordingly, the regulations I promulgated under Section 37(6) of the Education Act underpins my Departments secondment policy for the secondment of Directors to Education Support Centres.
157. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the emergency health and safety issues at a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44936/17]
View answerThe school referred to by the Deputy has been in contact with my Department’s Planning and Building Unit regarding damage to a prefab classroom as a result of the recent storms.
The school authority have been advised to contact their insurance providers regarding the necessary repairs and to continue to liaise with the Planning and Building Unit to address any remaining health and safety issues that are not covered under their insurance policy.
