Written Answers Nos. 423-444
423. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills when tenders will be invited for a project (details supplied); the closing date for receipt of tenders; if they have been invited; when construction of the new school is likely to commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1521/18]
View answerThe school building project to which the Deputy refers is currently at advanced architectural planning stage. The Department is in the process of setting up a new Design & Build Contractor Framework. It is expected that this framework will be established shortly and tenders will then be invited for this project. It is anticipated that tenders for the school in question will be invited in Q1 2018, with construction anticipated to commence in Q2 2018.
424. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if tenders have been invited for a project (details supplied); if so, the closing date for receipt of tenders; when construction of the new school is likely to commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1522/18]
View answerThe building project referred to by the Deputy is for a new 24 classroom school including a Special Needs Unit, with a floor area of approx. 4,748m2.
The project is currently at Stage 2B of Architectural Planning - Detailed Design Stage, which includes applications for all statutory consents, including Planning Permission, Disability Access Certificate and Fire Safety Certificate and also the preparation of tender documentation. Planning Permission for this project was received in August of this year.
The Stage 2B report has just recently been received and reviewed by my Department. A number of issues were identified as needing clarification by the Design Team prior to approval of the Stage 2B submission.
Once a revised Stage 2B submission which addresses these issues has been received and reviewed, my Department will then revert to the school with regard to a timeframe for progression to tender.
425. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if tenders have been invited for a project (details supplied); if so, the closing date for receipt of tenders; when construction of the new school is likely to commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1523/18]
View answerThe major building project referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of architectural planning Stage 2b (Detailed Design), which includes the application for statutory approvals and the preparation of tender documents. All statutory approvals have been secured.
The Stage 2b submission has been reviewed by my Department and comments issued to the school and its Design Team. My Department requested confirmations from the Design Team that it carries out one final review of all of its tender documentation to ensure compliance with DoES requirements. The Design Team has been requested to submit written confirmation from each Design Team member including the PSDP that they have completed this review and are satisfied that the Tender Documents are complete, correct and in compliance with DoES and Building Control (Amendment) Regulations (BC(A)R) tender documentation requirements.
These confirmations have recently been received and my Department will shortly revert to the school with regard to the further progression of the project.
426. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if tenders have been invited for a project (details supplied); if so, the closing date for receipt of tenders; when construction of the new school is likely to commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1524/18]
View answerThe major building project referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of architectural planning Stage 2b (Detailed Design), which includes the application for statutory approvals and the preparation of tender documents. All statutory approvals have been secured.
The Stage 2b submission has been received in my Department and is currently being reviewed.
On completion of the review of this report my Department will revert to the Board of Management with regard to the further progression of the project at that time.
427. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will sanction the appointment of a principal for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1525/18]
View answerAs part of the Major School Building Projects announcement in November 2015 by my Department and in view of the continued support for an independent Gaelcholáiste, it was confirmed that a Gaelcholáiste to serve the North Kildare area will open in 2019.
Department approval is given for the appointment of a school Principal from 1 September of the school year prior to the opening of a new school.
428. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the fact that progress on the construction of a project (details supplied) is going well and that a school should be in a position to move to its new location in September 2018; if the accommodation required for the project can be agreed upon at this stage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1526/18]
View answerThe project to which the Deputy refers has a 24 month duration. It went on site in May 2017 and is scheduled to be completed in May 2019.
In the meantime, the local Education and Training Board is continuing to examine the options for accommodation for the school to which the Deputy refers. This involves consideration of the timing and availability of appropriate infrastructure in the area.
429. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will appoint a design team for the required extension to a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1527/18]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that a building project for the school to which he refers is included on the 6-year Construction Programme. In this regard, my Department has carried out a site visit to the school. The next step includes the formulation of the accommodation brief for the project and this process is in train. My Department will be liaising with the school in due course in the context of initiating the architectural planning process for the project.
430. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he has received a request for financial assistance to deal with a flat roof in a school (details supplied) which is in danger of collapsing; if he will sanction funding for the work as a matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1528/18]
View answerMy Department is not in receipt of an application for funding for roof works at the school to which the Deputy refers.
The school may apply for such works under my Department's Emergency Works Grant Scheme. Application forms are available on my Department’s website www.Education.ie.
431. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if tenders have been invited for a project (details supplied); if so, the closing date for receipt of tenders; when construction of the new school is likely to commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1529/18]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the project to which she refers has been devolved for delivery to the local Education and Training Board (ETB).
Planning permission has been received for the project which is at the detailed design stage. In this regard, the Stage 2B submission was recently submitted to my Department for examination. The outcome of this examination will be conveyed to the ETB as soon as it is available. As the project is still in architectural planning, it is not possible to say at this stage when it will proceed to invitation of tenders or construction.
432. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Education and Skills the projects undertaken to consolidate or amalgamate existing legislation, including the cost, the duration, the number of staff required and if this process was carried out by his Department or outsourced in each of the years 2007 to 2017 and to date in 2018, in tabular form. [1563/18]
View answerThe Department of Education and Skills has not undertaken any projects to consolidate or amalgamate existing legislation in any of the years 2007 to 2017, or to date in 2018.
433. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the development of a new autism spectrum disorder, ASD, unit and additional classrooms at a school (details supplied) in County Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1581/18]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that a building project for the school in question is included in my Department's 6 year Construction Programme.
Preparatory work has been initiated to advance the project and my Department will continue to liaise directly with the school authority concerned in the context of progressing the project through the architectural planning process.
In the meantime, my Department recently approved funding to the school for interim temporary accommodation to cater for additional student numbers, including those with special educational needs.
434. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of primary and secondary teachers currently on career break from teaching. [1582/18]
View answerThere are currently 1,707 primary teachers and 557 voluntary secondary and community and comprehensive school teachers on career break. These figures do not include teachers from the Education and Training Board schools. This information would be available from the individual ETB.
435. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of primary school teachers that graduated from all of the relevant training colleges or universities since 2014, in tabular form; the number of these graduates that have been successful in securing full-time employment here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1627/18]
View answer437. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of post-primary teacher graduates that emerged from the relevant training colleges or universities in each of the years 2014 to 2017, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1629/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 435 and 437 together.
The following tabular statement contains the information requested by the Deputy.
The number of graduates from primary and post primary initial teacher education courses have remained reasonably constant in the last number of years.
My Department does not hold information regarding the number of graduates that have been successful in securing full time employment.
|
Initial Teacher Education Graduates |
||
|
Primary |
Post Primary |
|
|
2014 |
1,726 |
2,018 |
|
*2015 |
920 |
884 |
|
2016 |
1,928 |
1,494 |
|
2017 |
1,880 |
1,535 |
436. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of primary school vacancies that existed in each of the years from 2014 to 2017; the number of these that were successfully filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1628/18]
View answerThe 2017/18 school year sees a significant increase of over 4,000 in teacher numbers in our primary schools compared to the 2013/14 school year.
Teacher allocations to all schools are approved annually by my Department in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolment. The criteria for the allocation of posts are communicated to school managements annually and are available on the Department website.
The recruitment and appointment of teachers to fill teaching posts is a matter for the individual school authority, subject to procedures agreed under Section 24(3) of the Education Act 1998 (as amended by the Education (Amendment) Act 2012).
The Statistics Section of my Department's website contains extensive data relating to schools at primary level, including teacher numbers. The most recent published information relates to the 2016/17 school year.
438. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to ensure that the minor works grant scheme is maintained on an annual basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1636/18]
View answerSince 1997 the Minor Works Grant has issued in each school year with the exception of the 2012/2013 school year. The payment of the Minor Works Grant is not confined to any particular date and can in fact, if paid, be issued during any month of the school year. For the 2002/2003 school year, part of the grant was paid in May 2003, with the balance in October 2003.
As part of our longer term infrastructural planning, my Department will explore whether it will be possible to give greater certainty to primary schools in relation to the payment of the Minor Works Grant, taking account of the Government's 10 Year Public Capital Investment Plan, which is currently under development.
439. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the measures his Department is taking to increase the availability and uptake of apprenticeships which lead to careers in the construction industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1644/18]
View answerApprenticeship is a demand driven alternative educational and training programme, which aims to develop the skills of an apprentice in order to meet the needs of industry and the labour market. Consequently, the number of construction related apprentices being registered is determined by employers within the construction sector. My Department is committed to supporting the registration of apprentices across all sectors, including the construction sector, and I understand from SOLAS that the forecast for future apprenticeship registrations in the sector remains strong.
Construction related apprentice registrations increased from 1,677 in 2015 to 2,285 in 2016 which represents an increase of 36%. This trend continued in 2017 with a further increase of 30% on the 2016 figure bringing the total number of construction related registrations to 2,976.
As the Deputy is aware, we are currently expanding the range of apprenticeships on offer to meet the identified skill needs of industry. Arising from our first call for apprenticeship proposals in 2015 an apprenticeship in Engineering Services Management, with the Construction Industry Federation (CIF) as industry lead, is currently being developed into a national apprenticeship programme. In addition, we recently announced 26 new programmes, arising from last year’s second call for proposal, to be further developed into national apprenticeships, including a scaffolding apprenticeship, again with the CIF as industry lead and a senior quantity surveyor apprenticeship with the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland as industry lead. These new programmes, once developed, will add to and complement the range of apprenticeships currently on offer in developing the skill needs identified by the sector.
Furthermore, a digital campaign to promote apprenticeship is now underway with a dedicated Twitter feed #GenerationApprenticeship, a new apprenticeship website www.apprenticeship.ie, an Apprenticeship Ireland Facebook page and a LinkedIn page. The campaign seeks to promote the values of the apprenticeship model for both employers and prospective apprentices.
440. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the shortage of qualified substitute teachers available in primary schools in the Dublin 15 area will be addressed; the efforts under way to address this problem; if his attention has been drawn to the negative impact these shortages are having on staff and pupil morale; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1699/18]
View answer451. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Education and Skills the steps he is taking to alleviate the severe shortage of substitute teachers in primary schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1887/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 440 and 451 together.
I am aware that schools have reported difficulties in recruiting substitute teachers at primary level and in certain subjects at post primary level, and I am committed to examining all possible means of addressing these issues.
I have recruited some 2,300 extra permanent, full time new teachers in 2016-2017 and 2,900 extra are being recruited in 2017-2018. All of the 2016-2017 posts have been successfully filled and the process for filling the additional posts in the current year is almost complete. We are successfully filling the posts that we are making available.
The final report of the Technical Working Group on teacher supply, ‘Striking the Balance’ was published on 9th June 2017. While the report focusses on the development of a model of primary teacher supply, the report outlined the work which will be required to establish a long term model of post-primary teacher supply. In October 2017, the Teaching Council, which has an advisory role in this matter, convened a consultative forum on teacher supply with relevant stakeholders with the aim of producing teacher supply proposals and a further meeting is due to take place in the coming weeks which will build on the initial discussions and will further inform our thinking in this matter.
Regarding issues around finding substitution at primary level, there are strong career opportunities in teaching and the number of permanent full-time positions are currently increasing at over 1,000 per year in 2016/2017 and 2017/2018. This increase in the number of permanent primary school teaching positions is providing strong opportunities for graduates to get permanent jobs. Due to the additional permanent positions being created, young teachers have greater opportunities to take on permanent positions, and as a result some schools may be experiencing issues in hiring teachers to fill temporary or substitute roles, which arise in schools for a number of reasons, including covering sick leave and career breaks.
I have already undertaken some measures to increase the pool of teachers available to schools in particular to fill short term vacancies. My Department informed all teachers retiring in 2017 that in order to remain eligible for employment in a state funded teaching post for a period of more than five consecutive days or to supervise the State examinations, a teacher must maintain his/her registration with the Teaching Council. My Department also increased the limits for employment while on career break at primary level to a maximum of 90 days in a school year. In addition, as a longer term measure, under my Department’s Gaeltacht Policy, a new Irish-medium B.Ed. (primary teaching) ITE programme is being developed.
We are assessing other policy initiatives to increase the supply of teachers available to primary schools for substitute work and I am committed to examining all possible means to address the issue.
441. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the Dublin and Dún Laoghaire Education and Training Board's involvement in an organisation's facility (details supplied); if there are plans to decrease its involvement; the plans that exist to continue employment schemes there; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1710/18]
View answerI am informed by Dublin and Dún Laoghaire Education and Training Board (DDLETB) that the facility referred to is funded by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs. Accordingly, my Department has no direct role in relation to it.
DDLETB supports individual units of the organisation through the Local Youth Club Grant Scheme and Local Youth Club Equipment Grant Scheme. While administered by DDLETB, both of these schemes are also funded by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs.
442. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills when construction work will begin on a school project (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1715/18]
View answerThe major building project referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of architectural planning, Stage 2b (Detailed Design), which includes the application for statutory approvals and the preparation of tender documents. A decision to grant Planning Permission was received from Kildare County Council on 20th December 2017.
The Design Team is currently working on the Stage 2b report which will be submitted through the Board of Management to my Department.
Upon receipt and review of this report my Department will revert to the Board of Management with regard to the further progression of the project at that time.
443. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills when construction will commence on a new school building (details supplied); when the school is expected to be open; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1717/18]
View answerThe building project for the school to which the Deputy refers is at an advanced stage of architectural planning, Stage 2b – Detailed Design, which includes the applications for Planning Permission, Fire Cert and Disability Access Cert and the preparation of tender documents. All statutory approvals have been obtained.
The Design Team is currently finalising the stage 2b documentation and expects to submit the finalised Stage 2b Report to my Department shortly.
Upon receipt and review of this outstanding documentation my Department will revert to the Board of Management with regard to the further progression of the project at that time.
444. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an extension project for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1724/18]
View answerThe school to which the Deputy refers was approved funding under my Department's Additional Accommodation Scheme to provide 1 mainstream classroom & 1 WC for assisted users. The project has been devolved for delivery to the school authority. The progression of the project is, therefore, a matter for the Board of Management. However, my Department understands that planning permission has been applied for in relation to the proposed project and an outcome is awaited.
