Mark Ward
Question:396. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Education if an appropriate school place will be provided to a person (details supplied). [23145/21]
View answerSchool Admissions
Questions (396)
Written answers
Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education appropriate to their needs is a priority for this Government.
This year, over 20% of the total Education budget or €2bn will be invested in supporting children with special educational needs. As a result, the numbers of special education teachers, SNAs and special class and school places are at unprecedented levels.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children nationwide.
NCSE has confirmed that it is aware of the case referenced by the Deputy and, through the local Special Educational Needs Organiser (SENO), remains available to support both the family and the school concerned regarding a suitable placement.
State Examinations
Questions (397)
Aodhán Ó Ríordáin
Question:397. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education the details of all methods, systems and algorithms which will be used to adjust calculations to leaving certificate grades both those achieved though accredited grades and those achieved through examination; if those grades achieved through examination will be more, less or equally subject to adjustment by the process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23150/21]
View answerWritten answers
On 17 February, I confirmed that Leaving Certificate 2021 examinations will proceed and students will also have the alternative option of applying for grades accredited by the State Examinations Commission (SEC), to be known as SEC-Accredited Grades.
This decision followed intensive engagement with education stakeholders bilaterally and through the Advisory Group on Planning for State Examinations 2021 and ensures for every student a method to assess their learning and attainment at the end of their post-primary education and to progress to higher and further education, and the world of work.
As part of the SEC Accredited Grades process, schools will be asked to provide school-estimated marks in all subjects for all candidates. These marks will be provided following an in-school alignment process and will be approved at school level. The main purpose of the alignment process is to ensure that all teachers who are providing estimated percentage marks in respect of the same subject in the school are applying standards that are appropriate and are consistent with each other when doing so.
Research makes clear that because teacher judgements are made in the context of each school, they need to be examined and adjusted at a national level to ensure comparability across different schools and that a common national standard is applied. The school estimated percentage marks will be combined with recent national data through a process called standardisation in order to generate SEC Accredited Grades. This standardisation process will seek to mitigate the effects that can arise from different schools, despite their best efforts, applying different standards in their estimation. The process of standardisation at national level will ensure as much fairness as possible amongst this year’s candidates.
The standardisation process will not use historical school by school data on past performance in Leaving Certificate Examinations. Data on the Junior Cycle performance of the Leaving Certificate class of 2021, recent national Leaving Certificate results data and the national distribution of students’ results may form part of this process. Further details of the process will be determined, taking account of advice from the State Examinations Commission (SEC).
The SEC Accredited Grade and examinations outcomes will have regard to the pattern of results in 2020 and previously.
Schools Administration
Questions (398)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:398. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education the status of an appeal by a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23161/21]
View answerWritten answers
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.
For the 2021/22 school year, an improvement of one point in the appointment threshold in primary schools has been introduced and schools will be provided with class teachers on the basis of of 1 teacher for every 25 pupils which is a historical low ratio. In addition, a three point reduction in the retention scale has also been introduced for September 2021. These measures will help to ensure that less pupils are required to recruit or retain a teacher.
The staffing process contains an appeals mechanism for schools to submit a staffing appeal under certain criteria to an independent Primary Staffing Appeals Board. The school referred to by the Deputy has submitted a staffing appeal which will be considered by the Appeals Board and the school will be notified of the outcome shortly.
State Examinations
Questions (399)
Seán Fleming
Question:399. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Education when payment will be made to those persons who examined and marked the LCVP candidates' portfolios for the 2021 leaving certificate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23192/21]
View answerWritten answers
The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations.
In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.
Schools Building Projects
Questions (400)
John Lahart
Question:400. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education the current position with regard to the building project at a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23193/21]
View answerWritten answers
The Board of Management of the school referred to by the Deputy terminated the Contract for the construction of the school when the Contractor went into liquidation.
The Board of Management and their Design Team are currently liaising with the Bondsman for the original Contractor with a view to finalising the scope of outstanding works on the project.
The appointment of a contractor to complete the works is currently being considered by the School and their Design Team in conjunction with the Bondsman.
It is anticipated that a final decision in relation to how this project will be completed will be made in the near future.
Oideachas trí Ghaeilge
Questions (401)
Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Question:401. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Oideachais cén fáth nach bhfuil aon bhéim ar labhairt na Gaeilge i measúnú T1 an Teastais Shóisearaigh i mbliana; an aontaíonn sí gurb é an dea-chleachtas le blianta beaga anuas béim a chur ar scileanna labhartha na Gaeilge agus daltaí a spreagadh chun an Ghaeilge a labhairt sa chóras oideachais; an bhfuil sé sásúil neamhaird a thabhairt ar dhea-chleachtais oideachasúil; agus an bhfuil sé i gceist aici aon ghníomh a dhéanamh chun cúnamh a thabhairt do na daltaí a bhí ag brath ar an measúnú ar labhairt na Gaeilge sna scrúduithe sin. [23230/21]
View answerWritten answers
Tá forbairt scileanna teanga labhartha na scoláirí chun tosaigh sna sonraíochtaí nua don Ghaeilge mar chuid den Chreat don tSraith Shóisearach.
Bhí an scrúdú béil a bhí sa Teastas Sóisearach roimhe seo roghnach agus ghlac thart ar 40% de na scoláirí é, agus ba iad na múinteoirí i gcoitinne a rinne measúnú air. Os a choinne sin, sna socruithe nua don mheasúnú a bhaineann leis an gCreat don tSraith Shóisearach, caithfidh gach scoláire a bheith páirteach i measúnú ar a scileanna labhartha trí Mheasúnú Rangbhunaithe. Tugann sé seo deis níos fearr do gach scoláire a scileanna cumais sa teanga ó bhéal a fhorbairt agus a fheabhsú thar thréimhse trí bliana na sraithe sóisearaí agus a gcumas ar Ghaeilge a úsáid a chothú.
Le héifeacht ó 2017, mar chuid den Chreat nua don tSraith Shóisearach, tá dhá shonraíocht nua mar chuid den tsraith shóisearach don Ghaeilge i scoileanna agus suíomhanna iar-bhunoideachais. Tá an tsonraíocht T1 (Teanga 1) dírithe ar scoláirí i scoileanna lán-Ghaeilge agus i scoileanna atá ag feidhmiú trí mheán an Bhéarla ina bhfoghlaimítear ábhar amháin nó níos mó (seachas Gaeilge) trí mheán na Gaeilge. Tá an tsonraíocht T2 (Teanga 2) dírithe ar scoláirí eile i scoileanna a bhíonn ag feidhmiú trí mheán an Bhéarla.
Tá béim láidir sna sonraíochtaí nua (T1 agus T2 araon) ar an teanga labhartha. Tá suntas ar leith tugtha do seo i bpríomhshnáithe na sonraíochtaí – Cumas Cumarsáide. Leagtar béim bhreise sa snáithe seo ar an nGaeilge mar theanga na foghlama agus na cumarsáide i seomraí ranga mar aon le béim ar na scileanna atá de dhíth chun cumarsáid éifeachtach a dhéanamh le húsáideoirí eile na teanga. Bíonn an chumarsáid, deiseanna úsáide agus idirghníomhaíochta, go lárnach i dtascanna an tseomra ranga.
Bíonn an measúnú mar bhunchuid den eispéireas foriomlán foghlama teanga agus tarlaíonn sé ar roinnt bealaí. Mar aon le tascanna a chomhlánú ina ndéanann scoláirí a scileanna teanga labhartha a úsáid chun torthaí foghlama ar leith a bhaint amach, déantar a scileanna teanga labhartha a mheas go foirmiúil freisin tríd an dá Mheasúnú Rangbhunaithe (MRBanna) nua. Bíonn an dara Measúnú Rangbhunaithe ach go háirithe bunaithe go hiomlán ar chumas teanga labhartha scoláirí. Bíonn an MRB nasctha le comhráite leanúnacha sa seomra ranga agus is léiriú níos barántúla a bhíonn ann ar réimsí spéise agus ar leibhéil chumais scoláirí sa Ghaeilge. Rud tábhachtach, déantar scileanna labhartha na scoláirí go léir a mheas anois i measúnuithe rangbhunaithe agus tuairiscítear go foirmiúil orthu i bPróifíl Ghnóthachtála Sraithe Sóisearaí gach scoláire. Neamhchosúil leis an leagan amach a bhain leis an tuairisciú a bhí ann cheana ina bhfaigheann iarrthóirí aon ghrád amháin bunaithe ar a ngnóthachtáil sa Ghaeilge sa Teastas Sóisearach, cibé acu an ndéanann siad nó nach ndéanann siad an scrúdú béil roghnach, ceadaíonn Próifíl Ghnóthachtála na Sraithe Sóisearaí gnóthachtáil scoláirí sna MRBanna a chlárú go neamhspleách ar an toradh sa scrúdú stát-deimhnithe.
Tugann na socruithe nua seo deis níos fearr do scoláirí a scileanna cumais sa teanga labhartha a fhorbairt.
Leanann tiomantas mo Roinne maidir le húsáid na Gaeilge labhartha a spreagadh. Chruthaigh taighde agus comhairliúchán fairsing leis na comhpháirtithe oideachais, lena n-áirítear múinteoirí agus scoláirí, bonn eolais d’fhorbairt na sonraíochtaí curaclaim nua don Ghaeilge sa tSraith Shóisearach. Bíonn raon tacaíochtaí eile mar chomhlánú ar an bhforbairt ghairmiúil leanúnach (FGL) a chuirtear ar fáil do mhúinteoirí. Tugann an cur chuige nua níos mó aitheantais d’fhorbairt na hinniúlachta ó bhéal ag scoláirí, lena n-áirítear a gcumas Gaeilge a labhairt, thar na trí bliana den tsraith shóisearach.
Home Schooling
Questions (402)
Mattie McGrath
Question:402. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education the position in relation to the rights of parents to homeschool their children; the manner in which a parent can commence homeschool education; if there have been changes to home-schooling regulations in relation to Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23272/21]
View answerWritten answers
The Irish constitution acknowledges the role of a parent/guardian as the primary educator of the child and has enshrined in law that a parent/guardian may home educate a child or may choose to send their child to a non-recognised school (i.e. a school which is not recognised by the Minister in accordance with section 10 of the Education Act 1998).
In line with the provisions of Section 14(1) of the Education (Welfare) Act, 2000, Tusla’s Alternative Education Assessment and Registration Service (AEARS) is responsible for the regulation of provision for education in places other than recognised schools. Parents wishing to home educate their child or to send their child to a non-recognised school are required by law to make an application to the AEARS to have their child included on the Section 14 statutory register. This includes an assessment by the AEARS of the educational provision to determine if the child is in receipt of a certain minimum education in line with ministerial guidance. Further information, and detailed guidance for parents in relation to this application and assessment process is available on the Tusla website at: www.tusla.ie/services/family-community-support/alternative-education-assessment-and-registration-service/.
In line with the current guidelines issued by the government regarding the on-going Covid-19 public health restrictions, the AEARS is working closely with families to make arrangements to carry out assessments of home education in line with public health guidance.
School Curriculum
Questions (403)
Emer Higgins
Question:403. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Education the way in which climate change and climate science is currently being taught in the primary school curriculum; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23277/21]
View answerWritten answers
I can advise the Deputy that under the National Strategy on Education for Sustainable Development 2014 – 2020, significant work has been done integrating sustainable development across the curriculum, into the assessment and inspection process and into Initial Teacher Education and Teacher Continuing Professional Development.
Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) aims to ensure that all learners acquire knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including among others through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles, human rights, gender equality, promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship, and appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture’s contribution to sustainable development (UN SDG Target 4.7)
An audit of the curriculum for opportunities and linkages to ESD was carried out by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment in 2018. The report shows the curriculum for the following subjects all include specific opportunities for engagement with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 13 – Climate Change:
Primary History, Primary Geography, Primary Science, Primary SPHE
JC Business Studies, JC Home Economics, JC Science, JC History, JC CSPE
LC Ag. Science, LC Geography, LC Politics & Society
Other subjects would contain non-specific opportunities for engagement, for example a language class could be asked to write an essay on an ESD related topic and so on.
Under the National Strategy, the Department also provides a dedicated ESD portal through Scoilnet which contains a range of ESD related resources for schools to support their teaching.
A significant proportion of schools (97%) engage with the Green Schools programme. Schools also engage with other programmes including the World Wise Global Schools programme, ECO UNESCO, Global Citizenship Schools, SEAI schools programme, EPA programmes and many others. These programme providers all assist schools to deliver the curriculum in relation to ESD.
Large numbers of Schools also participate in a range of national competitions and events where themes of sustainable development are evident such as the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition.
On 20th April (Earth Day), Minister Foley and Minister Harris jointly launched a Public Consultation on a follow on National Strategy for ESD to 2030. This will build on the work done under the 1st strategy and will be aligned to UNESCO’s Framework for ESD for 2030 which sets out the following 5 key priority areas:
- Advancing Policy and Policy Coherence, Education and Training:
- Transforming Learning Environments,
- Capacity Building for Educators and Trainers,
- Empowering and mobilising Youth and
- Accelerating sustainable solutions at local level and engaging with the wider community.
The public consultation will remain open until the 30th June and both Departments will continue to engage with key stakeholders including the school community into the early autumn with a view to publishing a new strategy for ESD to 2030 in early 2022.
Departmental Legal Costs
Questions (404)
Peadar Tóibín
Question:404. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education the amount in legal fees incurred by his Department in 2020 and in each of the years 2000 to 2020. [23571/21]
View answerWritten answers
The information requested by the Deputy is not all readily available and is being collated by officials in my Department. A response will be fowarded to the Deputy as soon as it is available.
Birth Certificates
Questions (405)
Sorca Clarke
Question:405. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Social Protection the arrangements in place for those who need a birth certificate to be able to obtain one in circumstances in which they do not have access to a bank card for online or phone payment. [23102/21]
View answerWritten answers
A person can apply for a certificate using one of three methods:
1) Online by visiting the HSE website certificates.ie,
2) By e-mailing the General Register Office and submitting an online application form, or
3) By calling to their local Civil Registration Office
Applications for certificates using 1) and 2) above can be paid for online or by using a bank card only while applications submitted at a local Civil Registration Office can be paid for using cash. I have been advised by the General Register Office that local Civil Registration Offices are re-opening on a phased basis with limited cash services in place. Members of the public should contact their local Civil Registration Office prior to attending to find out whether cash is accepted when applying for a certificate.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Birth Certificates
Questions (406)
Sorca Clarke
Question:406. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Social Protection the way in which a person who needs a birth certificate for social protection purposes can currently obtain one at the reduced fee. [23103/21]
View answerWritten answers
As a general practice, a person will not be required to provide a birth or other life event certificate to an office of the Department of Social Protection if the event was registered in Ireland. Should a certificate be required, any local registration office will be able to provide a certificate without charge on production of a written requested from the Department.
The Deputy should note that all of my Department's offices, including Intreo Centres, have access to the computer system that holds the records of all Irish birth and other life events without a need for a copy to be produced.
I hope that this addresses the Deputy's queries.
Employment Data
Questions (407)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:407. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will address a matter (details supplied) regarding seasonal employees; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22601/21]
View answerWritten answers
The Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) is a statutory scheme provided for employees and the self- employed who were in employment on or after 13th March 2020 and who lost employment as a direct consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic. The scheme does not provide support for the loss of potential or prospective but unrealised employment.
To qualify for the payment an employee must have paid at least one social insurance contribution in the 4 weeks immediately before their claim and satisfy the other statutory conditions. There are no plans to change the contribution requirements of the scheme.
A seasonal worker who does not satisfy the qualifying conditions for PUP may be eligible for support under the Jobseekers schemes. Where a person’s entitlement to Jobseeker's Benefit is exhausted or where they do not satisfy the scheme’s qualifying conditions, they may be eligible for the means tested Jobseeker's Allowance scheme.
I trust that this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
Pension Provisions
Questions (408)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:408. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) is receiving the correct pension rate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22628/21]
View answerWritten answers
The person concerned reached pension age on 31 March 2020 and was awarded a standard State pension (contributory) at 85% of the maximum rate. They were notified in writing of this decision on 6 April 2020. This rate of pension results from a yearly average calculation of 23, based on the person’s social insurance record of 1,173 qualifying paid and credited contributions from 31 March 1970 to end-December 2019.
Since the person concerned was employed in the public sector, during which period modified contributions were payable, their entitlement to a mixed insurance pro rata State pension (contributory) will also be examined. Confirmation of their public sector employment record is awaited.
On receipt of the requested information, the person’s social insurance record will be updated. Their State pension (contributory) entitlement will be reviewed, both for a mixed insurance pro rata State pension (contributory) and under the Aggregated Contributions Method, which allows for the award of Home Caring Periods for time spent outside the workforce in caring duties.
The person concerned will be informed of the outcome of the pension review in writing. Any increase in pension rate, if applicable, will be backdated to 31 March 2020.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
Public Services Provision
Questions (409)
Róisín Shortall
Question:409. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection if the process for widows to obtain new PPS numbers or reactivate their old PPS numbers on the passing of their husbands can be improved in order to provide a better service for them; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that there have been some delays for processing such requests; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22714/21]
View answerWritten answers
Under previous taxation law, the husband of a married couple was considered the assessable spouse and the wife was considered a dependant of the husband. Accordingly, the Office of the Revenue Commissioners (Revenue) allocated the husband’s Revenue and Social Insurance (RSI) number to the wife and appended a “W” to the end, as a second check character, so that they could be separately identified but linked for joint assessment.
The Finance Act 1993 provided that either spouse could be the assessable spouse, and the practice of allocating “Level W” numbers ceased. From then on, all persons were allocated individual, unique numbers. However, it was decided, at that stage, not to ask all individuals with “Level W” numbers to change them until there was an actual need to do so.
The Personal Public Service Number (PPSN) was introduced in the Social Welfare Act 1998, replacing the RSI Number, and my Department was given legislative responsibility for allocating and managing these new numbers. In practice, the RSI numbers in existence were retained and became PPSNs, including “Level W” numbers. In other words, Level W numbers are PPSNs in their own right and it is not the case that any person's PPSN is linked with another person.
It is the case that the Office of the Revenue Commissioners request people with “Level W” numbers to change them once they need to engage with them on taxation matters. The process of replacing a “Level W” number is relatively straightforward. The process is undertaken by staff of the Client Identity Services (CIS) section my Department who can be contacted by phone at LoCall 1890 927 999 or 071 967 2616 or by email at cis.purges@welfare.ie.
In recent weeks my Department has re-assigned resources to deal with a build-up of these cases. This will result in improved processing times and will reduce the number of cases on hand.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Departmental Appointments
Questions (410)
Paul Donnelly
Question:410. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason the human resources unit in her Department did not issue the top level appointments notification for the internal competition for the position of Secretary General to the President of Ireland; and if there are other TLAC notifications that are not sent out to staff. [22766/21]
View answerWritten answers
The Department’s policy is that all Top Level Appointment Commission (TLAC) posts notified to the Department are advertised to staff as a matter of course. Notwithstanding that the post referenced is not a post that falls to be filled through the TLAC process the Department would also normally issue a notice to staff advising them of the opportunity to apply. Regrettably, although the opportunity to apply for the position was notified to the Department, due to an administrative oversight it was not advertised to staff. The Department is taking steps to ensure that all such posts are advertised to staff in the future.
Departmental Staff
Questions (411)
Catherine Murphy
Question:411. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of staff in her Department that have had access to files and or email restricted and or revoked as part of a disciplinary process or preceding or following a disciplinary process from 1 January 2018 to date in 2021. [22782/21]
View answerWritten answers
Since 1 January 2018, three officers were suspended and had access to all Departments’ systems (emails) and/or files revoked, pending the outcome of the disciplinary process. Two of these officers have since been dismissed and one is currently on long term sick leave.
No further restrictions on access to the Department’s systems and/or files have been imposed as part of any other disciplinary process or sanction under the Civil Service Disciplinary Code.
Social Welfare Schemes
Questions (412)
James O'Connor
Question:412. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will address a matter regarding the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22794/21]
View answerWritten answers
Following on from the receipt of information provided by the Deputy on behalf of the person concerned, a full review of the circumstances and means of the person concerned will be undertaken at an early date and, on completion of that review, the person concerned will be notified of the outcome in writing. Requests for any additional information, if required, as part of this review will be sought in writing.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
School Meals Programme
Questions (413)
Bríd Smith
Question:413. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to an anomaly that exists in relation to the provision of the hot meal scheme at two schools located on one site (details supplied); if her attention has been further drawn to the fact that there is a distinct likelihood that parents will prefer to enrol their children at one of the schools to the detriment of the other as a result of this development; the steps she will take to ensure that both schools that are located in an area that will benefit from this initiative will be included in the hot meal scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22830/21]
View answerWritten answers
The school meals programme provides funding towards the provision of food to some 1,557 schools and organisations benefitting 227,000 children. The objective of the programme is to provide regular, nutritious food to children who are unable, due to lack of good quality food, to take full advantage of the education provided to them. The programme is an important component of policies to encourage school attendance and extra educational achievement.
As part of Budget 2019, funding was provided for a pilot scheme from September 2019, providing hot school meals in primary schools at a cost of €1m for 2019 and €2.5m in 2020. The pilot involved 37 schools benefitting 6,744 students for the 2019/2020 academic year and was aimed primarily at schools with no onsite cooking facilities.
In Budget 2021, I announced that an additional €5.5m would be provided to extend the provision of hot school meals to an additional 35,000 primary school children, currently receiving the cold lunch option. My Department issued invitations for expressions of interest to 705 (612 DEIS and 95 non-DEIS) primary schools in November 2020. A total of 281 (256 DEIS and 25 non-DEIS) expressions of interest were received in respect of 52,148 children.
The 35,000 places were allocated to each local authority area based on the number of children applied by local authority as a percentage of the total number. A minimum of one school for each Local Authority area was selected. Thereafter, a process of random selection was used for each area.
As a result of this process, 189 of the 281 schools that submitted an expression of interest were selected. Of the 189 schools selected, 171 (90.5%) are DEIS and 18 (9.5%) are non-DEIS.
Both schools referred to by the Deputy submitted an Expression of Interest for the Hot Meals Scheme. They have separate roll numbers and are two separate entities despite the fact they are located on the same site. Unfortunately one of the schools was not selected and I appreciate that this is disappointing for the school.
We have contacted all schools selected for the Hot Meals Scheme and are in the process of considering responses. Further consideration will be given to the use of any excess capacity once we have confirmed the position with the selected schools.
Any further extension of the provision of hot meals will need to be considered in a budgetary context.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Jobseeker's Allowance
Questions (414)
Eoin Ó Broin
Question:414. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Social Protection if she plans to extend the eligibility period for those currently in receipt of jobseeker’s benefit who remain on reduced hours in their employment but whose entitlement to jobseeker’s benefit has been exhausted. [22836/21]
View answerWritten answers
The Jobseekers Benefit scheme is a statutory income support paid to people who have lost employment. The payments are based on pay related social insurance contributions paid while a person was in employment. A person must be unemployed for at least 4 in 7 consecutive days to be eligible for the payment and they must satisfy the other qualifying scheme conditions.
The duration of payment for Jobseeker’s Benefit is 9 months (234 days) for people with 260 or more PRSI contributions paid. It is paid for 6 months (156 days) for people with fewer than 260 PRSI contributions paid.
The Department corresponds with the Jobseeker's Benefit recipient in advance of the expiry date of their claim and advises of the option to apply for the means tested Jobseeker's Allowance scheme. Jobseeker's Allowance has no duration limit as long as a person meets the qualifying scheme conditions including the means test.
I trust that this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Schemes
Questions (415)
Rose Conway-Walsh
Question:415. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Social Protection if greater flexibility will be shown to persons on jobseeker’s allowance and other social welfare payments to help them return to education given the criteria for access to the back to education allowance for recipients of the pandemic unemployment payment regarding the qualifying social welfare payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22839/21]
View answerWritten answers
The Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) provides income support for jobseekers and others in receipt of certain social welfare payments who pursue courses of education at second or third level. My Department has a provision of €96.5m in supports under the BTEA for 2021.
A person wishing to pursue a course of study under the BTEA scheme has to satisfy a number of conditions, including being in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment for a specified time period, pursuing a full-time course of study leading to a recognised qualification in a recognised college and progressing in the level of education.
The qualifying period for the second-level option is three months while the qualifying period for third-level courses is nine months prior to the date of commencement of the course. This qualifying period has been waived for people coming from the Pandemic Unemployment Payment, where they are required to transfer to a Jobseeker's scheme.
The conditions under which the BTEA operate are designed to ensure that they address the objective of supporting longer term social welfare customers into employment.
Any person planning to undertake an education course should engage with their local Intreo Centre to assess the options available to them.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.