Written Answers Nos. 98 - 101
98. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if consideration will be given to those children who have been denied school transport because they are not attending their nearest school for reason beyond their control, such as bullying issues or their nearest school not being able to offer the support that the child might need; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43673/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the terms of my Department's School Transport Schemes children are eligible for transport where they meet the distance eligibility criterion and are attending their nearest school as determined by my Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language. Children who are not eligible for school transport may apply for transport on a concessionary basis only in accordance with the terms of the schemes.
In relation to the issue of bullying, responsibility for tackling bullying falls to the level of the individual school.
Under the Education (Welfare) Act 2000, all schools are required to have in place a Code of Behaviour and this code must be drawn up in accordance with the guidelines of the National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB). The NEWB guidelines make it clear that each school must have policies to prevent or address bullying and harassment and schools must make clear in their code of behaviour that bullying is unacceptable. The guidelines further state that as well as making explicit that bullying is prohibited in the school, and having an anti-bullying policy, the code of behaviour should indicate what action the school will take in relation to alleged breaches of the school's bullying policy.
99. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the student assistant fund, which currently helps students in hardship situations and is part funded by the European Union, is due to be wound down in 2013; if preparations are being made for a replacement fund to be established which will safeguard student welfare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43677/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Third Level Access Measure provides support for disadvantaged students through two sub-priorities: the Student Assistance Fund and the Fund for Students with Disabilities.
The objective of the Student Assistance Fund is to assist students in a sensitive and compassionate manner who might otherwise, due to their financial circumstances, be unable to continue their third level studies. The fund is managed by the Higher Education Authority on behalf of my Department and is funded under the National Development Plan, with assistance from the European Social Fund.
The management of the Third Level Access Measures Fund rests with the Higher Education Authority and the allocation of funding for the various access measures, one of which is the Student Assistance Fund, is a matter for that authority. Some €13.2m is available in the Third Level Access Measure Fund overall in the 2012/13 academic year.
The Deputy will be aware that the Student Assistance Fund is complementary to the student grant scheme and, in this regard, students on particularly low incomes continue to receive a top-up in the special rate of student grant and have their fees or student contribution paid on their behalf.
I have no plans at present to discontinue the Student Assistance Fund.
100. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will outline the developments made to date in relation to the possible establishment of a technological university or technological universities; when this process is likely to be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43767/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn the document, Towards a Future Higher Education Landscape, published by the HEA in February last, a clear four stage process and criteria was laid out for institutes of technology who wish to apply for designation as a technological university. The first stage of the process is currently in train and Institutes of Technology wishing to merge to apply for designation as a technological university were required to submit expressions of interest to the HEA by the end of July this year. The drafting of legislative proposals to provide for the amalgamation of Institutes of Technology and the establishment of Technological universities will be advanced in tandem with the designation process as part of the work which is underway on implementing the higher education strategy.
101. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the Leaving Certificate art curriculum which has not been updated for approximately 40 years; his plans to update the Leaving Certificate art curriculum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43810/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraA revised Leaving Certificate Art Syllabus was forwarded to the Department from the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment. However, implementation of a revised Leaving Certificate Art Syllabus would require significant investment in professional development for teachers and also equipment. Resources for this are not available at the current time in the context of my overall priorities.
The major priorities for the present Government are to proceed with the Maths reform at both Junior and Senior cycles which are under way, to strengthen literacy and numeracy and to implement the recommendations in the Literacy and Numeracy Strategy which I published last year, and also to reform junior cycle provision, based on the Framework document that I published last week which should allow for greater creativity and innovation, embedding key skills and addressing curriculum overload.
