Wednesday, 20 May 2020

Written Answers Nos. 341-360

Schools Building Projects Status

Questions (341)

Martin Heydon

Question:

341. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status and progress of a school building project (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6649/20]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The delivery of a new building for the school to which the Deputy refers has been devolved to Kildare and Wicklow Education & Training Board (KWETB). 

The Stage 1 (preliminary design) process has recently been completed and the project has commenced Stage 2A (detailed design).

Schools Building Projects Status

Questions (342)

Martin Heydon

Question:

342. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status and progress of a school building project (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6650/20]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The joint project for the schools referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of the tender process. My Department is currently awaiting the return of the supplementary tender report.

Subject to no issues arising, it is envisaged that construction should commence following the finalisation of the tender process with a contract duration of approximately 22 months.

Schools Building Projects Status

Questions (343)

Martin Heydon

Question:

343. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status and progress of a school building project (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6651/20]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The major project for the construction of the new school building for the school referred to by the deputy is at an advanced stage of the tender process and my Department is currently awaiting the return of the supplementary tender report.

Subject to no issues arising, it is envisaged that construction should commence following the finalisation of the tender process with a contract duration of approximately 20 months.

The tender process for the provision of the second phase of the temporary accommodation on the existing school site has completed and the Letter of Acceptance has issued.

Schools Building Projects Status

Questions (344)

Martin Heydon

Question:

344. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status and progress of a school building project (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6652/20]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The project referred to by the Deputy has been devolved to the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) for delivery as part of a programme of school building projects.

The NDFA is currently undertaking the second phase of the process of appointment of multi-disciplinary technical advisors (design teams) for these projects. This process will involve a number of call-off competitions for bundles of projects from a framework.

Thereafter, the NDFA will ensure that the project progresses to design stage, obtains the necessary statutory planning permission, and moves the project onward to tender and construction in due course. As the project is at an early stage in the delivery process, it is not possible at this time to give a date for its completion.

Please be assured that the NDFA will be engaging directly with the school authority to keep it informed of progress.

Schools Building Projects Status

Questions (345)

Martin Heydon

Question:

345. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status and progress of a school building project (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6653/20]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I can confirm for the Deputy that my Department is currently undertaking a site identification exercise in order to appraise suitable sites for the school to which you refer. This exercise is being conducted in line with current restrictions in place due to the covid-19 pandemic, nevertheless, my officials are making progress on the exercise.  Due to obvious commercial sensitivities, I cannot elaborate any further at this juncture but please rest assured that the project is being given due consideration and attention.

School Accommodation Provision

Questions (346, 347)

Brendan Smith

Question:

346. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills when long-standing proposals to provide additional permanent accommodation and upgrade existing accommodation at a school (details supplied) will be advanced to the next stage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6661/20]

Brendan Smith

Question:

347. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills when long-standing proposals to provide additional permanent accommodation and upgrade existing accommodation at a school (details supplied) will be advanced to the next stage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6662/20]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I propose to take Questions Nos. 346 and 347 together.

The schools referred to by the Deputy are due to amalgamate. Both schools will continue to operate from the existing school sites until a new school building is provided for the amalgamated school.

The new amalgamated school building will enable facilities to be modernised in an energy efficient building that will be compliant with Part L of the Building Regulations 2017. It will also provide the opportunity for the new school building to have a fully equipped PE Hall facility with fitness suite together with provision of accommodation to meet special education needs in West Cavan at Port-Primary level.

School Accommodation Provision

Questions (348)

Brendan Smith

Question:

348. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills when proposals to provide additional permanent accommodation and upgrade existing accommodation at a school (details supplied) will be advanced to the next stage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6663/20]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

My Department is in receipt of an application, for capital funding for additional school accommodation, from the school referred to by the Deputy. 

The application is under consideration and officials have recently sought additional information from the School authority in this regard.  As soon as this information is received the application will be progressed and a decision will be conveyed directly to the school authority.

Student Support Schemes

Questions (349)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

349. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills if additional financial supports will be provided for third level students unable to work during the summer period; and if SUSI eligibility will be reviewed to assist students facing financial difficulties due to Covid-19. [6665/20]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I am conscious of the difficulties being experienced by students and their families as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and of the importance of the Student Grant Scheme and related supports, such as the Student Assistance Fund and the Fund for Students with Disabilities. These supports have a fundamental role in assisting families who are putting their children through further and higher education.

Accordingly, the following arrangements have been put in place:

Student grant payments for academic year 2019/20 will continue as normal. The duration and value of the grant will not change.

Student grant applications for academic year 2020/21 will be assessed based on income earned in 2019.

If a student or party to their application experiences a change in circumstances that is not a temporary change and is likely to continue for the foreseeable future, they can apply to have their application assessed under the change in circumstances provision of the relevant Student Grant Scheme. Following such a review, the applicant may fall within the thresholds to become eligible for grant assistance or be entitled to an increased rate of grant or the special rate of grant.

The Student Grant Scheme provides for different levels of income thresholds where families have (i) less than 4 dependent children (ii) between 4 and 7 dependent children and (iii) 8 or more dependent children. In recognition of the additional cost to families where more than one person is attending college, income thresholds may also be increased by up to €4,830 for each additional family member attending college at the same time. In this way, the Student Grant Scheme is responsive to the individual circumstances of particular families.

The income threshold for the special rate of grant has been increased from €24,000 to €24,500 for the 2020 scheme, so as to ensure that students from families dependent on welfare will continue to be eligible for the special rate of grant. (This reflects the Budget 2019 increase to the maximum point of the weekly State Contributory Pension, plus maximum Qualified Adult Allowance for a person over 66 years).

The Student Assistance Fund (SAF) provides financial assistance to students experiencing financial difficulties while attending third level. Students can be assisted towards the rent, childcare costs, transport costs and books/class materials. The total allocation for the SAF is €9.1 million which includes an additional €1m added to the Fund in 2017 for part-time students who are lone-parents or members of the other access target groups.  Prior to that the fund supported full-time students only. In December 2018 a further €1 million was added to the Fund for students attending Professional Masters of Education courses, who are experiencing financial difficulty. This funding continued into 2019 and 2020. Institutions have the autonomy to maximise the flexibility in the Student Assistance Fund to enable HEIs to support students during the COVID-19 situation. 

The Deputy will appreciate that the funding allocation for the student grant scheme and the Student Assistance Fund (SAF) is determined in the context of the overall estimates and budgetary process undertaken by all Government Departments.  However, all proposals made in relation to education expenditure will be considered in the context of Budget 2021, having regard to overall resource constraints and other competing demands in the education sector. 

In addition, tax relief at the standard rate of tax may be claimed in respect of tuition fees paid for approved courses at approved colleges of higher education. Further information on this tax relief is available from a student’s local Tax Office or from the Revenue Commissioners website, www.revenue.ie.

Student Universal Support Ireland

Questions (350)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

350. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills the criteria for a SUSI application change of circumstances assessment or reassessment (details supplied) due to Covid-19. [6666/20]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter for the centralised student grant awarding authority SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland) to determine.

The Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment will not affect student grants in the academic year 2019/20. Students will continue to receive their maintenance grants as normal and the duration or value of the grant will not change.

For the 20/21 academic year student grant applications will be assessed based on gross income from all sources for the period 1 January 2019 to 31December 2019.

However as you are aware, if a student or party to their application experiences a change in circumstances that is not a temporary change and is likely to continue for the foreseeable future they can apply to have their application assessed under the change in circumstances provision.

When an employment ceases, such as in cases of redundancy, there is always the possibility that the person could commence new employment shortly thereafter and there is also the possibility that the person will remain unemployed for a considerable length of time.  For this reason any applicant who is awarded a grant, or has their grant level increased, following the implementation of the change of circumstances conditions may be reviewed by SUSI later in the academic year.

In the case of a change of circumstances all household income, and not just the income of the person experiencing the change, will be assessed/reassessed on the basis of the current year (2020). The change of circumstance is not applied retrospectively. Therefore, if the change occurs during the academic year, any award or adjustment will take effect from the month in which the change occurred. This provision may benefit some students whose income has fallen in 2020 due to Covid-19 issues.

SUSI’s online application process for student grant applications for the 2020/21 academic year opened on 23rd April, 2020. Students are advised to submit their renewal student grant application as soon as possible. The priority closing dates for the 2020/21 academic year are 11 June 2020 for renewal applicants and 9 July 2020 for new applicants.

Further information in relation to student grant assistance is available from SUSI’s website, www.susi.ie. The telephone number for SUSI’s Helpdesk is 0761 087 874.

Apart from the Student Grant Scheme, students in third-level institutions experiencing exceptional financial need can apply for support under the Student Assistance Fund. This Fund assists full-time and part-time students, in a sensitive and compassionate manner, who might otherwise be unable to continue their third level studies due to their financial circumstances. Details of this fund are available from the Access Office in the third level institution attended. Institutions have the autonomy to maximise the flexibility in the Student Assistance Fund to enable HEIs to support students during the COVID-19 situation.

In addition, tax relief at the standard rate of tax may be claimed in respect of tuition fees paid for approved courses at approved colleges of higher education. Further information on this tax relief is available from students’ local Tax Offices or from the Revenue Commissioners website, www.revenue.ie.

School Accommodation Provision

Questions (351)

Brendan Smith

Question:

351. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills if approval will issue at an early date in respect of a proposed building project for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6685/20]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I can confirm to the Deputy  that the school referred to, has submitted an application to my Department, for capital funding, under the 'Additional School Accommodation' scheme.

The application is under consideration and officials have recently sought additional information from the School authority in this regard.  As soon as this information is received the application will be progressed and a decision will be conveyed directly to the school authority.

Schools Facilities

Questions (352)

Brendan Smith

Question:

352. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills when approval will issue in respect of the provision of new facilities at a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6686/20]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I can confirm that my Department has received an application for capital funding from the school, to which the Deputy refers, for a Sports Hall.

Under the National Development Plan, increased funding has been provided for the school sector capital investment programme. This funding allows for a continued focus on the provision of new permanent school places to keep pace with demographic demand and also provides for an additional focus on the refurbishment of existing school buildings, to include the building and modernisation of PE facilities.

Under Project Ireland 2040, we will invest €8.4 billion in primary and post primary school buildings.  The government is committed to a PE Hall build and modernisation programme, escalating in the second half of the Project Ireland 2040 period.  The school in question will be considered in this context.

Details of large-scale projects being delivered under the school building programme may be viewed on my Department's website, www.education.ie and this information is updated regularly.

Special Educational Needs

Questions (353)

Brendan Smith

Question:

353. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills if it is proposed to have a July education programme in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6687/20]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I am committed to running a summer Provision type programme for children with complex needs this year as soon as it is safe to do so and in accordance with public health advice. 

My Department is exploring a number of options for a summer education programme for children with complex special needs.

The primary aim of the proposed programme would be to limit potential regression in learning thereby ensuring in so far as possible that these children can reintegrate and transition into their planned education setting for next year with their peers.   

This may be done through a targeted level of supports to address regression of social skills and re-establish tolerance of routines paving the way for reintegrating full time into education when schools reopen in the autumn.

Special Educational Needs

Questions (354)

Claire Kerrane

Question:

354. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of plans for the July provision; if it is still planned to go ahead; if so, the arrangements that are being considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6696/20]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I am committed to running a summer Provision type programme for children with complex needs this year as soon as it is safe to do so and in accordance with public health advice. 

My Department is exploring a number of options for a summer education programme for children with complex special needs.

The primary aim of the proposed programme would be to limit potential regression in learning thereby ensuring in so far as possible that these children can reintegrate and transition into their planned education setting for next year with their peers.

This may be done through a targeted level of supports to address regression of social skills and re-establish tolerance of routines paving the way for reintegrating full time into education when schools reopen in the autumn.

Question No. 355 answered with Question No. 159.

Question No. 356 answered with Question No. 228.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (357)

Roderic O'Gorman

Question:

357. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Education and Skills if teachers that live more than 5 km from their schools will be able to travel to those schools as a necessary journey to undertake preparatory work for September 2020 under phase 1 of the Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6704/20]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

Phase one of the roadmap to ease Covid-19 restrictions and reopen Ireland’s economy and society sets out that school buildings will be open for access by teachers for organisation and distribution of remote learning from the 18 May. The 5km limit does not apply in this circumstance.

 My Department has published guidance to assist school staff accessing schools on the 18 May which is available on the Covid-19 page  of the Department’s website.

 Social distancing and compliance with public health guidance is the key requirement, access to schools by teachers should be minimised and only in circumstances where the work cannot be done remotely.

Third Level Education

Questions (358)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

Question:

358. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will request QQI, CORU and other relevant bodies to review the requirement for 800 hours of unpaid placement to be completed by social care work students before graduation in view of the exceptional circumstances surrounding Covid-19; if alternative mechanisms can be found to allow sufficiently competent students to graduate and progress to paid employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6713/20]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

Since the onset of the Covid-19 outbreak, significant work has been undertaken by a stakeholder group chaired by the Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) and including the representative bodies of education providers to address issues relating to the maintenance of the quality and standards of teaching and learning, assessment and qualifications. This group has focused on the implementation of alternative arrangements, where appropriate and necessary, to meet both these standards and, where applicable, the educational accreditation criteria established by Professional Recognition Bodies (PRBs).

In the case of Social Care, the awards standards established by QQI reflect the accreditation criteria that have been set out by CORU, Ireland's multi-profession Health and Social Care Regulator and consequently the relevant PRB for this profession. Engagement is ongoing between members of the stakeholders group, QQI and CORU to ensure that necessary arrangements are put in place to maintain standards of education and training in this area so that students graduate with the relevant professional competencies that have been set out by CORU and which are reflected in QQI’s award standards.

Question No. 359 answered with Question No. 248.

Third Level Education

Questions (360)

Violet-Anne Wynne

Question:

360. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will address a matter regarding scholarships (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6726/20]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

Like 2019, it is anticipated that the majority of my Department’s Third Level bursaries for 2020 will be awarded once results have issued with some bursaries withheld until all the appeals processes have been exhausted.