Parliamentary questions

National Educational Psychological Service

Carol Nolan

125. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of increasing National Educational Psychological Service resources in order that it may provide a diagnosis for children from application to final decision in a 12-week timeframe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12172/16]

Capitation Grants

Carol Nolan

126. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of increasing capitation rates for primary schools to the rate for post-primary schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12173/16]

Schools Building Projects

Carol Nolan

127. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the details of the 100 major capital projects which have, in one form or another, been presented to his Department for support since the implementation of the funding moratorium in November 2011; the estimated costs for each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12174/16]

Capitation Grants

Carol Nolan

128. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of increasing capitation rates for primary schools by 2%, 5%,10% and 15%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12175/16]

Capitation Grants

Carol Nolan

129. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of increasing capitation rates for post-primary schools by 2%, 5%,10% and 15%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12176/16]

Capitation Grants

Carol Nolan

130. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of increasing capitation rates for Youthreach by 2%, 5%,10% and 15%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12177/16]

Capitation Grants

Carol Nolan

131. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of increasing capitation rates for the vocational training opportunities scheme by 2%, 5%,10% and 15%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12178/16]

Capitation Grants

Carol Nolan

132. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of increasing capitation rates for post-leaving certificate courses by 2%, 5%,10% and 15%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12179/16]

School Guidance Counsellors

Carol Nolan

133. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of allocating one guidance counsellor per 500 students in post-primary schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12180/16]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Carol Nolan

134. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of removing apprenticeship college fees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12181/16]

Post-Leaving Certificate Courses Fees

Carol Nolan

135. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of removing post-leaving certificate participation fees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12182/16]

Third Level Fees

Carol Nolan

136. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of reducing the student contribution fee by €250; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12183/16]

Student Grant Scheme

Carol Nolan

137. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of providing an additional top-up for students on the special top-up rate on the non-adjacent student grant of €30 per week; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12184/16]

School Services Staff

Carol Nolan

138. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of ensuring that each school has the necessary funds to employ at least one full-time secretary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12185/16]

Student Grant Scheme

Carol Nolan

139. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of reversing the change to the adjacent rate of the student grant, reducing it from 45 km to 28 km; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12186/16]

School Patronage

Carol Nolan

140. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of divesting patronage from 500 primary schools to multi-denominational or non-religious bodies over a five year period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12187/16]

Post-Leaving Certificate Courses

Carol Nolan

141. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of establishing an Irish language post-leaving certificate college; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12188/16]

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Carol Nolan

142. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of reducing the pupil-teacher ratio in primary schools by one pupil, two pupils, three pupils, four pupils and five pupils; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12189/16]

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Carol Nolan

143. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of reducing the pupil-teacher ratio in post-primary schools by one pupil, two pupils, three pupils, four pupils, five pupils; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12190/16]

Third Level Staff

Carol Nolan

144. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of reducing the staff student ratio in third level institutions by one student, two students, three students, four students and five students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12191/16]

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Carol Nolan

145. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of reducing the pupil-teacher ratio in schools with DEIS status by one pupil, two pupils, three pupils, four pupils and five pupils; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12192/16]

School Accommodation

Carol Nolan

146. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of replacing 10%, 20%, 30%, 40% and 50% of all prefabricated school classrooms with buildings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12193/16]

Teaching Contracts

Carol Nolan

147. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of providing teachers who currently work part-time or as substitute teachers with a permanent contract within one year, within two years and within three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12194/16]

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Carol Nolan

148. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of providing the additional school classrooms required to reduce class sizes in primary schools to a maximum of 20 pupils per class; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12195/16]

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Carol Nolan

149. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of providing additional school classrooms to reduce class sizes at post-primary level to a maximum of 25 pupils per class; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12196/16]

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Carol Nolan

150. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of providing additional school classrooms to reduce class sizes at schools participating in the DEIS initiative to a maximum of 15 pupils per class; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12197/16]

Programme for Government Initiatives

Carol Nolan

151. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of establishing the office of the ombudsman for education with the remit of examining decisions by the boards of management of schools and the refusal of supports for children with special educational needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12198/16]

Teacher Training Provision

Carol Nolan

152. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost per annum of ensuring that all teachers have a minimum of two days' continuous professional development on the provision of support for children with special educational needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12199/16]

Schools Building Projects Expenditure

Carol Nolan

153. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of progressing the 39 projects at construction stage under the construction programme 2012-2016 to construction this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12200/16]

Back to Education Allowance

Carol Nolan

179. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of making the back to education allowance available to postgraduate students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12170/16]

School Meals Programme

Carol Nolan

211. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of increasing the funding to the school meals programme by 40%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12211/16]

Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance Scheme

Carol Nolan

212. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of increasing the annual back to school clothing and footwear allowance by €50; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12212/16]

Legislative Measures

Carol Nolan

81. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality to reform the Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Act to prevent the repossession of family homes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11549/16]

Education Funding

Carol Nolan

172. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills when he will publish the Cassells report on the future funding for higher education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11553/16]

National Council for Special Education

Carol Nolan

173. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the costs to date associated with the various reports the National Council of Special Education has published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11554/16]

Ombudsman's Remit

Carol Nolan

174. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the potential remit of an ombudsman for education, as committed to under the programme for Government; when he will establish this office; if its remit will include appeals of decisions affecting children with special educational needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11555/16]

Teachers' Professional Development

Carol Nolan

175. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the level of mandatory continuous professional development required for teachers in relation to the education of children with special educational needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11556/16]

Special Educational Needs Data

Carol Nolan

176. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of hours of resource teaching or special needs assistant supports requested by schools, but not granted, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11557/16]

Third Level Data

Carol Nolan

177. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of third level graduates with level 8, level 9 and level 10 qualifications who are currently unemployed in tabular form; the number of these who have been employed for a period of one year or more; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11558/16]

Third Level Data

Carol Nolan

178. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students who commence a third level course but who fail to progress to completion, leaving after one and after two years by institution in each of the years 2005 to 2015 to date in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11559/16]

Education Funding

Carol Nolan

179. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills when he will publish the Cassells report on future funding for higher education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11560/16]

Third Level Institutions

Carol Nolan

191. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he is aware that a staff member at the National University of Ireland, Galway has sought protection under the whistleblower legislation after making a series of disclosures to the Higher Education Authority involving alleged wrongdoing and irregularities where a central feature of the complaint relates to the appointment of persons to positions within the National University of Ireland, Galway and to the use of consultants; how he is addressing the issues raised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11735/16]

Third Level Institutions

Carol Nolan

192. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the level of spending on consultants contracted across National University of Ireland, Galway from 2013 onwards including details of company names, units where they were used, fees, expenses, value added tax and other associated costs they were paid; on the use of consultants in a State-funded third level institution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11736/16]

Third Level Institutions

Carol Nolan

193. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills when the term of the president of the National University of Ireland, Galway will end and his preparations to appoint a successor including the timescale and process he envisages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11737/16]

Educational Reform

Carol Nolan

23. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills his progress in reforming the junior cycle and the details of negotiations he has held with the teacher trade unions in the past four weeks. [10764/16]

School Transport Data

Carol Nolan

73. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the amount of money saved by his Department as a result of the changes to the primary and post primary school transport schemes; the number of children who have been determined to be ineligible for school transport since the changes were introduced; the number who have been deemed ineligible but avail of concessionary transport; the number with medical cards who are availing of concessionary school transport to a school that is not their nearest school, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11033/16]

Mental Health Services Funding

Carol Nolan

74. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the funding allocated for mental health initiatives in schools in the programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11034/16]

School Accommodation

Carol Nolan

75. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of children being taught in prefabricated classrooms at both primary and secondary levels, by county; the timeframe for the abolition of prefabricated classrooms in the programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11035/16]

Student Retention Rates

Carol Nolan

76. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students who left education before completing primary, secondary and third level education or training in each of the past five years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11036/16]

School Starting Age

Carol Nolan

77. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills to clarify the commitment outlined in the programme for Government in respect of raising the school starting age to five years old; if this will apply to all students; when he will implement this measure; the consultation that has taken place with the relevant stakeholders on this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11037/16]

School Transport

Carol Nolan

78. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills why a student (details supplied) has been refused access under the school transport scheme despite having travelled to school under the scheme since September 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11038/16]

School Transport

Carol Nolan

79. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students similarly affected by an oversight of Bus Éireann under the school transport scheme which has resulted in a student (details supplied) being deemed ineligible for school transport to the school the student has been attending for a number of years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11039/16]

School Transport Eligibility

Carol Nolan

80. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a student diagnosed with epilepsy is eligible for school transport under the scheme for school transport for children with special educational needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11040/16]

School Transport Eligibility

Carol Nolan

81. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of children diagnosed with epilepsy who avail of school transport under the primary school transport scheme; the post-primary school transport scheme; the scheme for school transport for children with special educational needs; those who avail of concessionary school transport; those who receive the remote area grant for school transport, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11041/16]

School Transport Eligibility

Carol Nolan

82. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students who have been refused access to the primary or post-primary school transport schemes on foot of a diagnosis of a medical condition or disability; the number of these who are catered for under the scheme for school transport for children with special educational needs; the number who are supported through the remote area grant; the number who are not supported by any school transport scheme and avail of private transport, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11042/16]

Third Level Charges

Carol Nolan

83. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills to provide a commitment not to increase the student contribution fee; if he will reduce this fee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11043/16]

Student Grant Scheme

Carol Nolan

84. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills to increase the rates of the student grant for undergraduate students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11045/16]

Homeless Persons Data

Carol Nolan

117. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to set down by county and by month in tabular form the number of persons who have presented as homeless for each of the past two years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11048/16]

Domiciliary Care Allowance Data

Carol Nolan

128. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide a breakdown per county of the current waiting times for domiciliary care allowance applications; the number of applicants per county that have been denied their application under the scheme in the past 12 months; the number of applicants per county per month; the number of appeals that are submitted per month; the number of appeals that have been successful; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11051/16]

Mental Health Services Staff

Carol Nolan

171. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the funding allocated to mental health service and the number of staff who are in place in the service in County Offaly in each of the past six years, in tabular form; the number of positions to be filled; the number of staff members expected to retire or take other leave from the service within the next 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11049/16]

Mobility Allowance Review

Carol Nolan

172. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health to reinstate the motorised transport grant and the mobility allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11050/16]

School Completion Programme

Carol Nolan

220. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the financial resources she will provide under the school completion strategy; the funding allocated to approve school completion rates over each of the past six years, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11044/16]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Carol Nolan

223. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the funding available for the provision of special needs assistants under the early childhood care and education scheme for the upcoming term beginning in September, 2016; the number of additional posts that have been funded; the timeframe for recruitment of the posts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11047/16]

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Carol Nolan

97. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to reduce pupil-teacher ratios at primary level, and the funds he will allocate to this. [10912/16]

State Examinations

Carol Nolan

98. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the recent court decision on the reasonable accommodations arrangements for leaving certificate examination candidates who have special assessment needs in examinations due to a temporary, permanent or long-term disability. [10913/16]

School Transport Review

Carol Nolan

99. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the purpose of the review of the concessionary charges and rules element of the school transport scheme as outlined in the programme for Government, including if this review will result in a further restriction on the availability and financial affordability of school transport, particularly for vulnerable families. [10914/16]

Capitation Grants

Carol Nolan

100. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the additional funding he will provide to increase primary and secondary capitation rates for the school year starting in September 2016. [10915/16]

Speech and Language Therapy Provision

Carol Nolan

101. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the funding he will specifically allocate to the new model of in-school speech and language therapy; the number of Health Service Executive therapists he will redirect to this model; the number of additional posts he will recruit to specifically service this model; the timeframe for establishing the model; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10916/16]

Schools Building Projects Status

Carol Nolan

340. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the construction of a new school building (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10659/16]

Primary Care Centres

Carol Nolan

776. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if he will progress the primary care centre in Banagher, County Offaly; if he has identified a suitable site for it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10082/16]

Respite Care Services Provision

Carol Nolan

783. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health why he has cancelled the respite services in Birr, County Offaly for the next two weeks; the number of persons affected by this cancellation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10102/16]

Disability Services Provision

Carol Nolan

784. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the number of new therapy posts he has filled in children's disability services in counties Laois and Offaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10103/16]

Disability Services Provision

Carol Nolan

785. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if he has considered a proposal by the Laois Offaly Families for Autism group to deploy psychologists from community and primary care services to clear the backlog for assessments and referrals for services for school age children with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10104/16]

Disability Services Provision

Carol Nolan

786. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the waiting lists for assessment and referral to a psychologist for school age children with disabilities in counties Laois and Offaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10105/16]

Disability Services Provision

Carol Nolan

787. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the waiting lists for referrals to individual therapists for school age children with disabilities in counties Laois and Offaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10106/16]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Carol Nolan

788. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the waiting lists for the Midlands Regional Hospital in Tullamore, County Offaly, by speciality and by six-month period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10107/16]

Health Services Provision

Carol Nolan

792. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the best practice in terms of frequency of check-ups for those diagnosed with diabetes; if it is recommended that those with diabetes attend a quarterly check-up; if this level of frequency is considered necessary to manage the condition; if the HSE has outlined targets in respect of the number of check-ups for those diagnosed with diabetes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10117/16]

Farm Inspections

Carol Nolan

23. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there is an appeals mechanism in place for a person who believes he or she has been unfairly penalised following a farm inspection; if so, the exact detail the appeals process entails; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8578/16]