Wednesday, 8 Nov 2023

Written Answers Nos. 141-144

Oideachas trí Ghaeilge

Questions (141, 142)

Mairéad Farrell

Question:

141. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Mairéad Farrell den Aire Breisoideachais agus Ardoideachais, Taighde, Nuálaíochta agus Eolaíochta an aithníonn sé go gcaithfear dul i ngleic leis an eisiamh a chruthaíonn an struchtúr reatha don Ghaeilge sa chóras oideachais, agus go bhfuil gá le beartas cuimsitheach don Ghaeilge sa chóras oideachais ón oideachas luathbhlianta go dtí an tríú leibhéal a fhorbairt atá bunaithe ar an bhFráma Tagartha Comónta Eorpach, agus a chuireann páirtchumais agus próifílí inniúlachta míchothroma na bhfoghlaimeoirí sna scileanna teanga i gcuntas, chun deis a thabhairt d’fhoghlaimeoirí le riachtanais bhreise litearthachta díriú ar scileanna cumarsáide labhartha sa Ghaeilge agus deimhniúchán a bhaint amach sna scileanna sin; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [48880/23]

Mairéad Farrell

Question:

142. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Mairéad Farrell den Aire Breisoideachais agus Ardoideachais, Taighde, Nuálaíochta agus Eolaíochta an oibreoidh sé i gcomhar leis an Aire Oideachais chun beartas cuimsitheach don Ghaeilge sa chóras oideachais ón oideachas luathbhlianta go dtí an tríú leibhéal a fhorbairt, atá bunaithe ar an bhFráma Tagartha Comónta Eorpach, lena chinntiú go dtabharfar rochtain dóibh siúd le riachtanais bhreise foghlama ar fhoghlaim na Gaeilge de réir a gcuid riachtanas agus cumas; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [48881/23]

Written answers

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science

Tá sé beartaithe agam PQanna 141 agus 142 a thógáil le chéile.

Tá sé tábhachtach an ról éagsúil a imríonn an stát ag gach céim den chóras oideachais a aithint. Is comhlacht reachtúil de chuid na Roinne Oideachais agus Scileanna í an Chomhairle Náisiúnta Curaclaim agus Measúnachta (CNCM) a thugann comhairle don Aire Oideachais maidir le curaclam agus measúnú don oideachas luath-óige, bunscoile agus iar-bhunscoile agus ar na nósanna imeachta measúnaithe a úsáidtear i scoileanna agus scrúduithe ar ábhair, atá mar chuid den churaclam.Tá dul chun cinn suntasach déanta maidir le cur i bhfeidhm an Pholasaí ar Oideachas Gaeltachta, agus tá obair á déanamh anois ag an Roinn Oideachais maidir le polasaí nua a fhorbairt don oideachas trí mheán na Gaeilge taobh amuigh den Ghaeltacht. Ó foilsíodh é, tá an Polasaí ar Oideachas trí Mheán na Gaeilge tar éis cuidiú le seachadadh na gaelscolaíochta i gceantair Ghaeltachta a neartú. Faoin bpolasaí sin, tá tacaíocht shuntasach curtha ar fáil do scoileanna Gaeltachta tríd an Scéim Aitheantais Scoileanna Gaeltachta. Tá critéir teanga-bhunaithe leagtha amach do scoileanna lena chinntiú go bhfuil siad ag cur oideachas ar ardchaighdeán ar fáil trí mheán na Gaeilge. Chun tacú leo san obair sin, faigheann siad deontas chun ábhair a cheannach; faigheann siad uaireanta tacaíochta teanga don Ghaeilge bunaithe ar rollú scoile; faigheann siad cuairteanna comhairleacha ón gCigireacht agus tacaíocht spriocdhírithe ón Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta. Tríd an tionscadal e-Mol, tá mic léinn ag déanamh staidéir ar Fhisic agus Ceimic don Ardteistiméireacht anois trí chianfhoghlaim. Ní bheadh sé seo féideartha dóibh roimhe seo. Tá infheistíocht déanta freisin faoin bPolasaí i gcláir oideachas múinteoirí chun cur leis an soláthar dó mhúinteoirí atá ar fáil le teagasc trí mheán na Gaeilge. Tá tionchar dearfach an Pholasaí le brath ar scoileanna agus ar phobail ar fud na Gaeltachta. Maidir le polasaí nua don Ghaeloideachas lasmuigh den Ghaeltacht, tá próiseas leathan comhairliúcháin poiblí curtha i gcrích chun tuairimí na bpáirtithe leasmhara a bhailiú, lena n-áirítear daoine óga, tuismitheoirí, gairmithe oideachais, páirtithe leasmhara oideachais agus eagraíochtaí Gaeilge. Déanfar na ceisteanna a ardaíodh sa chomhairliúchán sin a mheas mar chuid den obair ar fhorbairt an Pholasaí don Ghaeloideachas lasmuigh den Ghaeltacht

Question No. 142 answered with Question No. 141.

Public Sector Pay

Questions (143)

Michael Creed

Question:

143. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he is aware of the widespread dissatisfaction with the proposals published by his Department with regard to a cohort of workers (details supplied); if his Department is willing to look at its proposals published in May 2023 in an effort to resolve this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49056/23]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Deputy Niall Collins)

Following discussions with the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform, approval for an offer to be made to the unions was agreed earlier this year. The proposal is that a grade of Adult Educator will be formally established with a standardised payscale aligned with the Youthreach Resource Person Scale. This grade will apply to tutors employed in ETBs to deliver FET programmes, who are currently employed under a variety of terms and conditions. The provision of a pay scale will allow for incremental progression and a career path for Tutors in the further education and training sector.

A number of meetings took place over the summer regarding the details and operational aspects of the offer. My Department, and the Department of Education which retains regulatory responsibility for the ETB sector, are considering the approaches suggested to a number of issues raised with a view to reverting to the unions as soon as possible.

Departmental Funding

Questions (144)

Patricia Ryan

Question:

144. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development how much of the €5 million allocated to the blue ways tourism fund that has been drawn down in Kildare south; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48882/23]

Written answers

Minister for Rural and Community Development

The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund provides funding for the development and construction of capital projects in towns and villages and rural areas across Ireland. To date, 215 projects have been approved for funding of €409 million for projects costing €560 million.

Calls for applications to the Fund are sought under two categories – Category 1 and Category 2. Category 1 relates to large scale ambitious capital projects with all necessary planning and other consents in place, and which are ready to proceed. Category 2 provides smaller grant funding to enable the development of project proposals suitable for future calls for Category 1 applications.

The Barrow Blueway project was awarded funding of €5,067,941 under the second Call for Category 1 proposals to the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund in 2019. The total cost of the project is €6,757,254. The amount of funding drawn down to date is €4,190,669.

The project will develop a 46km stretch of the Barrow Blueway, located along the Grand Canal Barrow Line from Lowtown to Athy in Co. Kildare, taking in Vicarstown in Co. Laois. The blueway will be an exciting recreational resource for the communities nearby and visitors to the areas, with the potential to deliver significant tourism and economic benefits while also securing the natural amenities and ecosystem which the canal provides.

The project is progressing well with the tow paths and road crossing works under construction.