Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 May 2010
242 Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the number of persons primarily employed to process entitlement payments (details supplied) in schemes or agencies under her remit. [20824/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaiochta has an overall staff of 3 persons. The role of the body is to provide advice, research, support services and the provision of texts and resources relating to the teaching of Irish generally, and the teaching through Irish in Irish medium schools. Its primary functions do not involve the processing of entitlement payments, other than meeting the normal costs of meetings, commissioning of texts, consultancy, printing etc.
Staff in the Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering and Technology, which currently has a staff compliment of 5, approve scholarships mainly for post graduate students which are issued via the higher education institution, as appropriate.
The Education Finance Board which was established in February 2006 under the provision of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse (Amendment) Act 2005 to administer funding provided by 18 religious congregations to facilitate former residents, and their relatives, to facilitate them in accessing education programmes. Eligible claimants can access the fund to support themselves in both formal and non-formal educational and personal development activities. Staff in the Education Finance Board process these grant applications. They process payments and draw down funds from the National Management Treasury Agency. The EFB currently has a staff compliment of 4.
243 Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the number of persons employed to carry out inspections (details supplied) in schemes or agencies under her remit. [20833/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Advisory Council for English Language Schools which has been subsumed into the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland had a role in carrying out inspections for English Language Schools and TEFL courses. The ACELS had one senior inspector and 7 part time freelance inspectors.
The State Examinations Commission (SEC) is a statutory body established by Government in March 2003. The role of the SEC is the assessment and certification of the second-level examinations of the Irish state: the Junior Certificate and the Leaving Certificate and of certain trade and professional examinations. The SEC's Examinations and Assessment Division (EAD) perform a key quality assurance role within the examination process. Examination and Assessment Managers, in their capacity as Chief Examiners, have overall responsibility for the quality of the examinations, and for the management of the contract staff involved in the drafting and setting of examination papers, and for those involved in all stages of the examining process. They perform a monitoring role within the system and ensure that the regulations of the SEC for the preparation, conduct, marking and appeal processes of the examinations are complied with fully. The SEC's monitoring processes include desk monitoring, reporting and site inspection visits especially during the oral and practical examinations and during the conduct of the written examinations at examination centres each June. The division comprises 34 staff members.
The Inspectorate of the Department is responsible for the evaluation of primary and post-primary schools and centres for education and for the provision of advice to the educational system and policy makers. The Inspectorate is divided into two sub-divisions. The Regional Subdivision is responsible for the delivery and management of inspection/evaluation services and related advisory activities in schools and centres for education. The Policy Support Subdivision is responsible for contributing to the development of Departmental policy across a range of areas, for supporting inspection/evaluation activity generally, and for operational services for the Inspectorate. Inspectors from the Policy Support Subdivision also contribute to the work of the Regional Subdivision by conducting inspection activity throughout the year. Out of a current staff compliment of 133 Inspectors, 91 are assigned to the Regional Subdivision.
The National Educational Welfare Board was established to ensure that every child attends school regularly, or otherwise receives an education or training. Educational Welfare Officers work in communities throughout the country acting as advocates or supports to parents, guardians and children experiencing difficulty with school attendance or educational welfare. Under the Education Welfare Act 2000, Educational Welfare Officers have inspection powers in relation to Home Education Materials, School Registers and Employers Registers. The board currently has 72 sanctioned EWO posts.
