Written Answers Nos. 71-79
71. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the digital school award in primary schools; his plans to enable all schools to achieve this award; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43627/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Digital Schools Award is a worthwhile initiative which recognises excellence in a school's approach to the integration of ICT in learning and teaching. This award aims to build on the progress already made by schools in ICT integration and to encourage them to strive for further progression and improvement. To achieve a Digital Schools Award, each participating school must fulfil identified criteria which are applied as part of the validation process. The criteria are organised under the following headings:
- Leadership & Vision;
- ICT in the Curriculum;
- School ICT Culture;
- Professional Development;
- Resources & Infrastructure;
To assist in this process, participating schools use a self-evaluation tool based on the Digital Schools' criteria, to identify areas which may meet the criteria and those that require improvement. Successful schools retain their Digital School status for a period of two school years, at which time they may reapply.
The Digital Schools Award is now managed by Dublin West Education Centre working closely with the PDST Technology in Education (formerly the NCTE) and other partners including the Irish Primary Principals Network (IPPN), Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO) and the Computer Education Society of Ireland (CESI).
Since its launch the Digital Schools Award has grown steadily. In total 264 schools have registered to participate in the Award, of which 91 have achieved Digital School Status to date. A further five have already achieved the award in 2012 to date and two more are being scheduled for validation shortly. I am keen for this project to develop and arrangements are in place for its promotion and ongoing review.
72. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the total amount from his Department's budget that is projected to be spent on ICT in primary schools in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43628/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe ICT in Schools Programme has an allocation of €13.7 million for 2012. A breakdown by primary and post primary spend is not readily available. This allocation covers all aspects of the programme for primary and post primary schools including teacher professional development in ICT, deployment of curriculum-relevant digital content, software and ICT infrastructure deployment in schools and internet access for schools. These components are essential for an integrated approach to ICT in teaching and learning. Continuous professional development in the pedagogical/curricular use of ICT by teachers is essential to ensure that ICT is embedded in teaching and the PDST – which now incorporates the functions of the National Centre for Technology in Education provides a comprehensive training programme for teachers. The percentage breakdown of training places in 2010 and 2011 shows that approximately 73% of the training places were taken up by primary teachers.
The ICT in Schools Programme, through the PDST delivers a wide range of digital content through the Scoilnet.ie portal. The number of resources available has increased year on year. The PDST pursues collaborative strategies to develop appropriate digital content to match the Irish curriculum. Between November 2009 and November 2010, my Department distributed €46m directly to primary schools under the national ICT Infrastructure Grant Scheme. The main priority under this scheme is the equipping of each classroom with a teaching computer and digital projector. Once the baseline is in place schools can allocate any remaining funding under the scheme to other ICT equipment and software for educational use. A number of key support measures were taken to help schools get best value in the use of these devolved grants - in particular, the inclusion of schools in national purchasing frameworks for desktops, laptops, digital projectors and printers, the delivery of a national series of elearning seminars for school leaders, and the provision of extensive guidance and training on the use of ICT in the classroom.
I am keen to assess the impact of the funding in primary schools, and in that context it is planned to carry out a comprehensive census of ICT integration in schools before the end of the year. In order to maximise the technology and digital content available to schools broadband access is key and under the Schools Broadband Access Programme my Department provides for the supply of internet connectivity for all primary schools that wish to avail of this service. All contracts under the Schools Broadband Access Programme were recently re-tendered. As a result of this the number of service providers has been expanded from 6 to 13 and this should lead to improvements in the quality of services available to schools. These contracts were signed in July and August 2012 and the migration of schools onto the new services is currently under way.
Following completion of the census referred to above work will commence on a new ICT Strategy which will address the new policy challenges and opportunities arising from major developments in curricular reform, digital publishing, digital content dissemination tools generally, cloud services, portable computing and student devices.
73. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide details of changes in work practices negotiated under the terms of the Croke Park Agreement with the schools inspectorate through their union; the date on which such changes were implemented; the savings that resulted from any changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43629/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn accordance with the Croke Park agreement, inspectors in my Department have implemented a significant programme of reforms to inspection procedures. The reforms have achieved efficiencies through a reduction in the inspection resources required for whole-school evaluations and other inspections in primary and post-primary schools. The reforms also involved improving the reports arising from inspections and introducing questionnaires for parents and students, thus giving them a greater voice in commenting on school quality. A much greater proportion of inspectors' time in evaluations is now spent on the observation of practice in classrooms and in the provision of feedback to teachers.
Overall, across the main categories of inspection activity, the Inspectorate's outputs for 2011 were ahead of the previous year by around 15%. The reforms to inspection have enabled output to increase despite a significant reduction in staff numbers in the Inspectorate from 154 staff in 2009 to 123 inspectors at the end of September 2012.
74. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide the details of any work practices negotiated under the terms of the Croke Park Agreement with the National Educational Psychological Service psychologists through their union; the date on which such changes were implemented; the savings that resulted from any changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43630/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhen the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) was established in 1999 it had a ten region structure and it was envisaged that these regions would be managed by a Regional Director.
In mid 2010 there were four vacancies at Regional Director level at the service and my Department entered into discussions with the NEPS IMPACT branch with a view to filling the vacant regional director posts and revising the regional structure of the Service with a view to in future operating out of an eight rather than ten region structure in order to realise savings.
Agreement to this effect was reached with IMPACT in November 2010 which resulted in two regional director posts in effect being suppressed. NEPS Management entered into discussions with the Regional Directors of the service which culminated in agreement being reached for a redistribution of schools to reflect the new structure.
The estimated savings amounts to approximately €200,000 per annum based on the average salary for the posts concerned. My Department is committed to seeking opportunities for further savings and enhanced service delivery during the lifetime of the Public Service Agreement.
75. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide the details of any work practices negotiated under the terms of the Croke Park Agreement with special educational needs organisers through their union; the date on which such changes were implemented; the savings that resulted from any changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43631/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy the Croke Park Agreement is a framework for public service reform centrally agreed between the Government and the Public Service Unions. The NCSE has published its agreed Action Plan under the Croke Park Agreement. A key challenge for the NCSE has been to ensure the maintenance of its national service for all schools and students with special educational needs, within a reduced staff and budget provision. In this regard, changes in work practices are under ongoing development within NCSE in discussion with staff through normal industrial relations channels and managerial processes.
Under the Croke Park Agreement and the Employment Control Framework, authorised NCSE staffing numbers have been reduced from 107 in 2011 to 103 by end 2012. It is estimated that this will result in annual pay savings of the order of €250,000. In addition, efficiency savings of the order of €25,000 per annum are being delivered through shared services and alterations in telecommunication arrangements.
76. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students in the primary school system for 2012/2013; the projected increase for the ten years from 2012/2013 on a yearly basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43633/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe latest data available on the number of pupils in the primary school system relate to 2011/2012. In 2011/2012 there were 516,460 pupils enrolled in primary level, including 7,420 pupils in Special Schools.
Data on the number of primary school pupils for 2012/2013 will not be available until 2013, after the Annual Census of Primary Schools 2012 is processed by my Department.
The latest projections of primary school enrolment by my Department were published in June 2012, and are available to view on my Department's website at http://www.education.ie/en/Publications/Statistics/Projections-of-full-time-enrolment-Primary-and-Second-Level-2012-2030.pdf. Page 7 of the report outlines the latest projected figures for primary level.
77. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the steps he has taken to advise the boards of management and principals of primary schools on the procedures they must undertake to ensure the schools are fully compliant with the statutory health and safety requirements in the workplace; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43634/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe body which has statutory responsibility for ensuring that health and safety requirements are met by all employers, including schools, is the Health and Safety Authority (HSA). The Authority also provides information and advice to organisations, including schools, to assist them in ensuring that their responsibilities in respect of health and safety in the workplace are met.
The HSA has published a number of resources specifically for schools to support them in managing health and safety in the school environment. It also provides a number of online training courses specifically for the school sector. Further details on the advice, resources and training courses available from the HSA can be obtained from the HSA's website www.hsa.ie.
78. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of part time teachers in special schools that have not yet been placed on the appropriate pay rate and therefore have arrears owing to them since the implementation of the Protection of Employees ( Part Time Work Act) 2001; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43635/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra79. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the amount owing in arrears to part time teachers in special schools who have not yet been placed on the appropriate pay rate since the implementation of the Protection of Employees (Part Time Work Act) 2001; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43636/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 78 and 79 together.
The part-time teachers referred to by the Deputy were employed and paid by the managerial authorities of primary schools until December 2010. Prior to placement of the teachers on the payroll operated by my Department the managerial authorities were requested to submit details of the teachers employment records in the schools. The teachers in the schools that submitted the data were placed on the appropriate point of the incremental scale. Any arrears owed in respect of service given by these teachers prior to them being placed on the payroll are being determined and the payments are issuing to the teachers on an ongoing basis.
