Parliamentary questions

Teachers' Remuneration

Joan Burton

189. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills his view on whether there is a clear pay disparity between teachers recruited before 1 January 2011 and those recruited thereafter with regard to pay equality for teachers; his further views on whether it is unacceptable to maintain such pay disparities; his plans to address pay equality issues beyond the steps already agreed in relation to restoration of a qualification allowance payment; the cost of restoring teachers recruited since 1 January 2011 to the previous pay scale; the elements which make up this cost; and the number of teachers affected. [2992/17]

School Admissions

Joan Burton

190. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he has reviewed the recently published Labour Party Equal Status (Admission to School) Bill; his views on the aims and objectives of the Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2993/17]

Teachers' Remuneration

Joan Burton

191. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to issue a directive on implementing pay deductions for members of teachers' unions that rejected working additional hours under the Croke Park agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2994/17]

School Curriculum

Joan Burton

192. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the roll-out of the junior cycle reform process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2995/17]

Skills Shortages

Joan Burton

193. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the areas that have been highlighted as having skills shortages by the skills and labour market research unit, such as business administration and management, the green economy, financial services, information technology, manufacturing, engineering, sales, marketing and transport; his plans to tackle these skills shortages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2996/17]

Schools Review

Joan Burton

194. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the suggestions by the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation that related capital investment will be necessary if the programme for Government commitment on having schools available for child care services can be successfully implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2997/17]

DEIS Scheme

Joan Burton

195. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the stage at which the review of the school support programme through the DEIS initiative is at; when this review will be completed and published; if he envisages any changes to the funding or delivery model of the DEIS programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2999/17]

School Curriculum

Joan Burton

196. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to provide new courses in the leaving certificate, such as coding, physical education and politics; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3000/17]

School Staff

Joan Burton

197. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills when the moratorium on filling certain promoted posts in schools will be lifted, in view of the fact it was introduced as an emergency measure in 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3001/17]

Teachers' Professional Development

Joan Burton

198. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the way, including the total investment involved, his Department supports continuing professional development of teachers at primary and post-primary levels; the figure of the total investment as a percentage of education spending overall; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3002/17]

Teaching Council of Ireland

Joan Burton

199. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans and the timeframe in respect of complementing the fitness to teach provisions of the Teaching Council (Amendment) Act 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3003/17]

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Joan Burton

200. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated timeframe for and cost of the Government programme commitment to reducing the pupil-teacher ratio in junior and senior infants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3004/17]

School Patronage

Joan Burton

201. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the location of all schools under religious patronage which he expects to be divested in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3005/17]

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Joan Burton

202. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consider further improvements in the pupil-teacher ratio to help reduce the class size towards EU average in budget 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3006/17]

Student Grant Scheme Eligibility

Joan Burton

203. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the restoration of postgraduate grants and their necessity to open up access to postgraduate studies and to ensure that a steady stream of persons achieve a postgraduate qualification for societal good and to ensure attractiveness to foreign investors. [3007/17]

Teachers' Remuneration

Joan Burton

204. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans for equating newly qualified teachers since 2011 and those that entered the workforce prior to this date; if he will report on the discussions with the Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland on the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3008/17]

Special Educational Needs

Joan Burton

205. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to improve access to special educational supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3009/17]

Special Educational Needs

Joan Burton

206. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to improve access to Irish sign language courses for students with hearing disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3010/17]

School Funding

Joan Burton

207. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the criteria used by his Department for deciding on applications for capital funding of junior, senior and post-primary schools. [3011/17]

School Staff

Joan Burton

208. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to end the current ban on promotions at primary school level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3012/17]

Technological Universities

Joan Burton

209. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the Technological Universities Bill; when it is to return to Dáil Éireann; the necessary changes he proposes to make to the draft legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3013/17]

State Examinations

Joan Burton

210. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the reported failure rate at leaving certificate maths; the measures his Department proposes to remedy this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3014/17]

Third Level Data

Joan Burton

211. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the drop-out rate in third level institute of technology courses; the measures his Department proposes to remedy the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3015/17]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Joan Burton

212. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the lack of apprenticeships suitable for a number of employment vacancies, such as chefs and in the hospitality sector generally, to upskill young unemployed persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3016/17]

Equality Issues

Joan Burton

213. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills when the new national action plan for educational inclusion will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3017/17]

English Language Training Organisations

Joan Burton

214. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of ACELS-MEI schools that were inspected by staff from the Department of Justice and Equality and his Department during the ILEP application process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3018/17]

English Language Training Organisations

Joan Burton

215. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of inspections ACELS-QQI carry out annually on members; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3019/17]

Education Standards

Joan Burton

216. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills when the international education mark will be introduced as per the Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Act 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3020/17]

School Closures

Joan Burton

217. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the recent closure of a school (details supplied) and the difficulties students have in recovering their fees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3021/17]

Child Care Services

Joan Burton

218. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the proposals he is currently reviewing in conjunction with the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to carry out the programme for Government commitment to have schools available for child care services outside school hours; if community groups and private providers will be allowed tender for access to those facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3022/17]

Earcaíocht agus Soláthar Foirne Tríú Leibhéal

Catherine Connolly

219. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Catherine Connolly den Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna an n-iarrfaidh sé ar Údarás Ollscoil na hÉireann, Gaillimh athbhreithniú a dhéanamh ar an gcinneadh gan líofacht sa Ghaeilge a bheith riachtanach don phost mar Uachtarán na hOllscoile as seo amach; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [3024/17]

Summer Works Scheme Applications

Michael Healy-Rae

220. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an application by a school (details supplied) for the summer works scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3076/17]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Kevin O'Keeffe

221. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will assist in having a child (details supplied) in County Cork allocated a place at a specific special needs school. [3077/17]

Gaelscoil Issues

Éamon Ó Cuív

222. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of Gaelscoileanna at the primary level that did not have the capacity to cater for all applicants to attend them in September 2016; the steps being taken to ensure that all those seeking primary education through the medium of Irish can access same; the criteria used in approving the recognition of new Gaelscoileana; the policy of his Department to ensure that all children here have reasonable access to an Irish-medium primary school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3080/17]

Gaelscoil Issues

Éamon Ó Cuív

223. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education and Skills if any national assessment was carried out on the demand for Irish-medium primary school education and the adequacy of the present Irish-medium education schools to meet this demand; if no such assessment has been carried out, his plans to carry out such an assessment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3081/17]

Gaelscoil Issues

Éamon Ó Cuív

224. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to devise a system of catchment areas for Gaelscoileanna to ensure that there is State-wide cover by catchment area for medium primary schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3083/17]

Home Tuition Scheme Eligibility

Michael Fitzmaurice

225. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Education and Skills the procedure through which a company or a person providing early intervention services in a preschool setting to children with ASD can avail of the home tuition grant; the most appropriate person for them to contact in his Department in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3132/17]

Schools Building Projects

Thomas P. Broughan

226. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to support the provision of additional land and facilities at a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3136/17]

Special Educational Needs

Jim O'Callaghan

227. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if children with SNAs in a school (details supplied) are given their allocated time; the reason some children are not receiving the time with SNAs that they are allocated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3157/17]

Schools Site Acquisitions

Fiona O'Loughlin

228. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a site assessment at a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3158/17]

Water Services Infrastructure

Paul Kehoe

229. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the position regarding the recommendations from the steering group of the project undertaken to identify the extent of problems arising from developer-provided water services infrastructure; the plan, including funding options, in place to address the problems arising from developer-provided water services infrastructure in order to remove impediments to the taking in charge of associated housing estates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2748/17]

Social and Affordable Housing

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

230. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he has had discussions with the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs regarding the extent to which local authorities are obliged to take into consideration in their allocations policies a number of factors (details supplied). [3119/17]

Social and Affordable Housing

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

231. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he has had any discussions with the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs regarding whether an applicant for social housing is entitled to be considered an adult plus children, for the purposes of allocation, in the circumstances in which the children stay with the parent several days a week. [3120/17]

Social and Affordable Housing

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

232. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his views on the fact that many parents in circumstances in which they are separated from their former partner, find it difficult to accommodate their children for the number of days that they have access to them, due to being considered a single applicant for the purposes of social housing and consequently, are only entitled to enough rent supplement or HAP to house themselves; his further views on whether this makes contact with that parent difficult for the child; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3121/17]

Vacant Sites Levy

Catherine Murphy

233. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will bring forward the date for full implementation of the vacant site levy; if he will consider reducing the number of exemptions that apply to the Act; if he will consider raising the levy applied to exceed annual land price inflation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2542/17]

Housing Data

Ruth Coppinger

234. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his views on the accuracy of housing completion statistics relied on by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2543/17]

Private Rented Accommodation

Ruth Coppinger

235. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the evidence he has for the claim that landlords are exiting the market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2545/17]

Private Rented Accommodation

Ruth Coppinger

236. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the current rate of return for landlords on private residential property with a buy to let mortgage and with no mortgage in view of his previous statements that the rationale for allowing rent increases of up to 4% in rent pressure zones was to ensure a rate of return for landlords of 4%. [2546/17]

Social and Affordable Housing

Ruth Coppinger

237. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will provide information on the planned reduction in social housing provision at publicly owned sites earmarked for redevelopment under land initiative style proposals, relative to the amount of council housing historically provided on those sites when estates were originally built. [2547/17]

Water Services Funding

Jan O'Sullivan

238. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he has received a request from Clare County Council's rural water monitoring committee to clarify the definition of multi-annual programming in the rural water sector and to ensure that the full RWP allocations for 2017 and subsequent years are made as early as possible in the year and preferably in the first quarter in order that moneys can be fully drawn down; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2556/17]