Tuesday, 2 Oct 2018

Written Answers Nos. 209-227

Early Retirement Scheme

Questions (209)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

209. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an early retirement application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39422/18]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

My Department has no record of receiving a current application for retirement on pension on grounds of ill-health from the person referred to by the Deputy. On receipt of a fresh application from the person it will be processed in accordance with the established procedure for such cases as promptly as possible and a decision conveyed to the applicant.

Entitlement to retire on grounds of ill-health with a pension is not automatic. The criteria to be met is that the person has become incapable by reason of infirmity of discharging his/her duties as a teacher and that the infirmity is likely to be permanent. In support of the application the applicant must supply medical evidence of his/her condition. In accordance with the provisions of the pension scheme a decision to award or refuse a pension is taken following a detailed assessment of the medical evidence in the case. To this end the opinion/recommendation of an appropriately qualified medical adviser retained by my Department as part of the Occupational Health Strategy for school staff must be obtained.

The person referred to by the Deputy previously made application for retirement on ill-health grounds in 2017. Both the application and subsequent appeal were unsuccessful. In general, in such instances, where the illness remains, a fresh application may be made after the lapse of one year from the date of notification of refusal of the appeal and in this case that period has now elapsed.

School Meals Programme

Questions (210)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

210. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if environmental guidelines for the provision of school lunches (details supplied) have been investigated; if this will be taken under consideration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39442/18]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

Under the provisions of the Education Act 1998, the Board of Management is the body charged with the direct governance of a school. It is therefore a matter for each school to devise guidelines around the variants of food that are available on the school premises.

The School Meals Programme is operated by my colleague, the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection and provides funding towards the provision of food to some 1,580 schools and organisations. All aspects of the operation of the school meals projects, including the choice of the school meals supplier, and whether packaging is considered as part of the procurement process, is the responsibility of the school board of management.

Schools at primary and post primary level can apply to be a part of the Green Schools Programme. This promotes long-term, whole-school action for the environment. Green-Schools is a student-led programme with involvement from the wider community. The programme is operated and co-ordinated by the Environmental Education Unit of An Taisce (FEE member for Ireland).

I understand that my colleague the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment is working with Local Authorities to roll out an education programme on the recycling of all waste, including plastics. This Recycling Ambassadors Programme will comprise of 650 workshops on how to recycle properly for community groups and workplaces and information on this programme can be found at www.voiceireland.org/rap /

The EU Commission also recently published its European Strategy for Plastics in January 2018. This strategy focuses on plastics production and use and sets a goal of ensuring all plastic packaging produced in the EU is recyclable by 2030. I also understand that my colleague the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment is working with the EU and other Member States to see how this country can play its part in meeting the ambition of this Strategy.

Schools Building Projects Status

Questions (211)

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

211. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the timeline for the building of the new school in southern areas of Swords, County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39496/18]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

As the Deputy is aware, a new primary school for South Swords was included in the 42 new schools I recently announced.

A site identification process in respect of this new school is currently underway. In line with the policy on the use of state assets (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Circulars 11/15 and 17/16), my Department will be seeking to maximise the use of sites already in my ownership and of available properties in the ownership of other State bodies, where these are considered suitable. In addition as part of my Department's ongoing engagement with Local Authorities in respect of statutory planning processes and under the MoU on school site acquisitions, my Department is examining all potential suitable site options, including appropriately zoned sites, to serve the relevant area.

A decision regarding the permanent location of the school in South Swords will be made at the earliest possible date.

The school will open in September 2019 in interim accommodation, pending the delivery of its permanent school building.

Schools Building Projects

Questions (212)

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

212. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to plans for a school in Swords on the lands at Fosterstown; if this project is linked to the plans for MetroLink; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39497/18]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

As the Deputy may be aware, my Department is among the prescribed bodies with whom local authorities are obliged to liaise in respect of statutory planning processes such as those for Fosterstown. My Department engages with local authorities throughout these statutory planning processes with a view to ensuring adequate provision for school sites in the relevant area, based on projected population.

Within the Fosterstown Local Area Plan 2010-2016 (extended) provision was made for a primary school site to meet the projected school place requirements within that area, should the proposed residential development materialise. Fingal County Council is currently preparing to draft a new Masterplan for the area and Department officials are liaising with local authority officials with a view to ensuring that future school requirements are adequately provided for within that Plan.

Schools Building Projects Status

Questions (213)

Clare Daly

Question:

213. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 66 of 22 May 2018, if there is a problem with the sites for the new proposed schools in Swords, County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39523/18]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

As the Deputy is aware, I recently announced the opening of 42 new schools over the next 4 years. This announcement followed nationwide demographic exercises carried out by my Department into the current and future need for primary and post-primary school places across the country. This announcement included two new primary schools for Swords: one in North Swords and one in South Swords.

A site currently in my ownership in Mooretown, Swords has recently been granted planning permission in respect of the provision of permanent accommodation for Swords Community College. This planning permission also provides for a primary school on this site and it is intended to locate the new primary school announced for North Swords on this property.

A site identification process in respect of the new primary school announced for South Swords is currently underway. In line with the policy on the use of state assets (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Circulars 11/15 and 17/16), my Department will be seeking to maximise the use of sites already in my ownership and of available properties in the ownership of other State bodies, where these are considered suitable. In addition as part of my Department's ongoing engagement with Local Authorities in respect of statutory planning processes and under the MoU on school site acquisitions, my Department is examining all potential suitable site options, including appropriately zoned sites, to serve the relevant area.

A decision regarding the location of the school in South Swords will be made at the earliest possible date.

Project Ireland 2040 Expenditure

Questions (214)

Micheál Martin

Question:

214. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the cost of each seminar held on Project Ireland 2040 up to and including September 2018 by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39581/18]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The launch by my Department of the capital investment in education as part of Project Ireland 2040 was held on 14 September 2018 at Coláiste Ghlór na Mara, Balbriggan. I was in attendance with the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, T.D., the Minister of State for Higher Education Mary Mitchell O'Connor, T.D., and the Minister of State for Training, Skills, Innovation, Research and Development John Halligan, T.D.

Invoices for arrangement costs have not been submitted to the Department as yet and likewise a small number of travel claims have still to be submitted and processed.

Schools Site Acquisitions

Questions (215)

John Brady

Question:

215. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education and Skills the stage plans are at to locate a suitable site for the development of a new school in Newtownmountkennedy, County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39594/18]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

As the Deputy is aware, my recent announcement of 42 new schools included a new primary school to open in Newtownmountkennedy in 2019. A site identification process in respect of the permanent location of this school is currently underway.

Summer Works Scheme

Questions (216)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

216. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if financial assistance will be provided to a project at a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39602/18]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I can confirm to the Deputy that the school in question applied for funding under the Summer Works Scheme, Category 10 - External Environment Works to upgrade the school's play area.

I am pleased to advise the Deputy that my Department is currently assessing the remaining applications, Categories 7-10, under Summer Woks Scheme 2016 - 2017, which will be delivered in 2019. The application from the school in question will be considered in this context.

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Questions (217)

Eugene Murphy

Question:

217. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if SNA support for a person (details supplied) will be reinstated with immediate effect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39629/18]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible for allocating a quantum of Special Needs Assistant (SNA) support for each school annually taking into account the assessed care needs of children qualifying for SNA support enrolled in the school.

The NCSE allocates SNA support to schools in accordance with the criteria set out in Department Circular 0030/2014, which is available on the Department's website at www.education.ie, in order that students who have care needs can access SNA support as and when it is needed.

In considering applications for SNA support for individual pupils, the NCSE take account of the pupils' needs and consider the resources available to the school to identify whether additionality is needed or whether the school might reasonably be expected to meet the needs of the pupils from its current level of resources.

SNAs are not allocated to individual children but to schools as a school based resource.

SNA allocations to all schools can change from year to year as children with care needs leave the school, as new children with care needs enrol in a school and as children develop more independent living skills and their care needs diminish over time.

My Department’s policy is to ensure that every child who is assessed as needing SNA support will receive access to such support.

By the end of this year, there will be a total of 15,000 Special Needs Assistants working in our schools, a 42% increase on 2011.

The NCSE Appeals Process may be invoked by a parent or a school where it is considered that a child was not granted access to SNA support on the grounds that Department policy was not met in accordance with Circular 0030/2014.

Schools may also appeal a decision, where the school considers that the NCSE, in applying Department policy, has not allocated the appropriate level of SNA support to the school to meet the care needs of the children concerned.

Where a school has received its allocation of SNA support for 2018/19, but wishes new enrolments or assessments to be considered, which were not taken into account when the initial allocation was made, they may continue to make applications to the NCSE.

As this question relates to a particular child, I have referred the question to the NCSE for their direct reply.

Public Relations Contracts Expenditure

Questions (218)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

218. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the amount spent by his Department on third party public relations advice, communications advice, online advertising and public awareness campaigns to date in 2018, by month and company engaged in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39637/18]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

My Department did not incur any expenditure on external public relations or communications advice to date in 2018.

The Department did incur expenditure on advertising in 2018, however, it was not related to the categories outlined in your enquiry.

In March 2018, a sum of €4,500.00 was expended on a public awareness video funded by the European Social Fund Managing Authority, which is within my Department, for the National Association of Youthreach Coordinators. Youthreach is co-funded by the Government of Ireland, the European Social Fund and the Youth Employment Initiative as part of the ESF Programme for Employability, Inclusion and Learning 2014-2020. The video was show at a conference held to mark the 60th anniversary of the ESF and was subsequently communicated through social media channels. It is available to view on the ESF website, www.esf.ie. This is in line with Article 115 of the Common Provisions Regulation (EU) 1303/2013 which requires that Member States and managing authorities undertake activities to publicise “the role and achievements of cohesion policy and of the Funds through information and communications actions”.

Education and Training Boards

Questions (219)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

219. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans or intended use for a building (details supplied) in County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39648/18]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I wish to advise the Deputy that the building in question is not in the ownership of my Department. The owner of the building is Kildare Wicklow Education and Training Board.

Maternity Protection Entitlements

Questions (220)

Jan O'Sullivan

Question:

220. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if circular 0060/2018 on breastfeeding breaks for registered teachers in recognised primary and post-primary schools apply to special needs assistants, SNAs; if not, his plans to extend the same provision to SNAs working in recognised primary and post-primary schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39649/18]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

Circular letter 17/2013, issued by my Department, deals with the Maternity Protection entitlements, including provision for breastfeeding, for Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) in Recognised Primary and Post-Primary Schools. Paragraph 14.1 of Circular 0017/2013 states: "Within a twenty six week period after the birth of the child, a special needs assistant who has returned to work is entitled to one hour per day for the purpose of breastfeeding. The time off, without loss of pay, may be taken as follows:(a) one break of 60 minutes, or(b) two breaks of 30 minutes each, or(c) three breaks of 20 minutes each.”Following consultation with school and staff representatives my Department recently issued Circular 60/2018 which increased the entitlement to breastfeeding breaks for teachers. Consideration is now being given to a similar provision for SNAs.

Schools Administration

Questions (221)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

221. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an appeal by a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39661/18]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the appeal from the school to which he refers has been successful. The school authority has been informed of this outcome.

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Questions (222)

John Brassil

Question:

222. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to reduce the quota of students to teacher ratio for two teacher schools (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39672/18]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

While Budget 2012 increased the appointment and retention ratios for small schools (i.e., schools with up to four classroom teachers), several improvements have been made to the staffing of these schools recently.

In the 2015/16 school year improved retention thresholds for the 2nd, 3rd and 4th classroom teacher and also improved appointment and retention thresholds for two-teacher schools situated 8km or more from the nearest school of the same type of patronage and/or language of instruction were implemented. In addition, Budget 2016 announced a 1 point improvement to the primary staffing schedule with this improvement implemented in the 2016/17 school year.

Budget 2017 announced two adjustments in relation to one teacher schools. Where the school is the sole primary school on an island the school will be able to appoint a second teacher. In relation to single teacher schools generally with an enrolment of 15 or more pupils the school can apply to the staffing appeal board for a second post where the single teacher has children across 6 or more class groups.

Improvements to the staffing schedule announced in Budget 2018 brings the teacher allocation ratio in all primary schools to the most favourable ever seen at primary level and these improvements were introduced in the current school year.

The staffing process includes an appeals mechanism for schools to submit a staffing appeal under certain criteria, including small schools that were affected by the Budget 2012 changes, to the Primary Staffing Appeals Board.

Any additional improvement in the pupil teacher ratio would have to be considered as part of the annual budgetary process, alongside the many other demands from the education sector.

Question No. 223 withdrawn.

School Patronage

Questions (224)

Fergus O'Dowd

Question:

224. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a decision has been made regarding the patronage process for the new regional school solution for Drogheda and Laytown; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39683/18]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

As the Deputy will be aware, the Government recently announced plans for the establishment of 42 new schools over the next four years (2019 to 2022), including a new 600 pupil post-primary school to be established in 2019 to serve the Drogheda and Laytown school planning areas as a regional solution. This announcement follows nationwide demographic exercises carried out by my Department into the future need for primary and post-primary schools across the country and the 4-year horizon will enable increased lead-in times for planning and delivery of the necessary infrastructure.

A patronage process is run after it has been decided, based on demographic analysis, that a new school is required. This patronage process is open to all patron bodies and prospective patrons. Parental preferences for each patron, from parents of children who reside in the school planning areas concerned, together with the extent of diversity currently available in these areas, are key to decisions in relation to the outcome of this process.

An Online Patronage Process System (OPPS) has been developed by my Department to provide objective information to all parents which will allow them to make an informed choice about their preferred model of patronage for their child’s education. Parental preferences were previously collected based on direct engagement with patron bodies.

The patronage process for new schools is overseen by an external independent advisory group, the New Schools Establishment Group (NSEG). Following their consideration of my Department’s assessment reports, the NSEG will submit a report with recommendations to me for consideration and final decision.

The Online Patronage Process System (OPPS) opened in June 2018 for the four post-primary schools to be established in 2019, including the new 600 pupil school to serve the Drogheda and Laytown school planning areas. My Department is currently preparing assessment reports for the NSEG and it is anticipated that the successful patrons will be announced later in October 2018. The assessment reports, including details on the number of parental preferences received for each of the areas and the NSEG recommendations, will be made available on my Department's website.

School Accommodation Provision

Questions (225)

Mary Butler

Question:

225. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an application by a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39696/18]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I am pleased to advise the Deputy that my Department has recently approved funding for the provision of additional accommodation at the school in question. The school authority has been advised accordingly.

Education and Training Boards

Questions (226)

Fergus O'Dowd

Question:

226. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the proposed LMETB headquarters in Drogheda; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39716/18]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

As the Deputy may be aware, the project to which he refers has been devolved for delivery to the local Education and Training Board (LMETB).

Issues related primarily to design that have arisen with this project are in the final stages of being addressed. A change in the brief for the project with consequent design alterations is required in that context. The re-tendering of the project is also required and we hope this can proceed shortly.

Capitation Grants

Questions (227)

Robert Troy

Question:

227. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the capitation grant awarded to a school (details supplied) will be reviewed based on the circumstances outlined. [39717/18]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

Funding for primary and post-primary schools is dealt with on a per capita basis. The two main grants are the capitation grant to cater for day to day running costs such as heating, lighting, cleaning, insurance, general up-keep etc., and the ancillary services grant to cater for the cost of employing services staff. The school referred to by the Deputy received a capitation grant which amounted to €22,617 and ancillary grant which amounted to €45,828 in 2018.

Schools are permitted to regard the capitation and ancillary grant as a combined grant.

Responsibility for procurement of insurance and payment of same rests with Board of Management in respect of schools operated by them. If a particular school has a query in relation to the cost of insurance it should raise this directly with its insurance provider. Boards of Management should take a proactive approach when it comes to sourcing insurance in order to ensure best value is obtained and to ensure compliance with public procurement procedures. The Schools Procurement Unit, which has a national remit, is available to advise and assist schools in relation to procurement matters.

Issues relating specifically to insurance costs in special schools were brought to my attention through correspondence received from a number of special schools and through discussions with the National Association of Boards of Management in Special Education (NABMSE).

I am advised that general increases in costs this year were due, in some instances, to an annual increase in insurance costs generally and in some cases, an increase in claims against special schools.