Written Answers Nos. 122-136
122. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Skills the current waiting time for an application to the Higher Education Grant SUSI system to be processed; the current waiting time for the processing of appeals to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45494/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe waiting time for processing a student grant application by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) varies, depending on a number of factors including the volume of applications received at any given time, the complexity of the grant applicants circumstances, and time taken by the applicant to submit all the required documentary evidence to enable a final decision to be made on an application. Every effort is made to ensure that students get decisions on their grant applications and are paid as soon as possible.
The average time it is currently taking to process an appeal is 27 days. SUSI aim to issue determinations as promptly as possible and within the specified timeframes defined in the Student Support Act, 2011.
123. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills in view of the continued high demand for school places at second level in north County Dublin, and in particular in the Balbriggan, Donabate and Swords area, if there has been any change in the capacity in the relevant post primary schools (details supplied), from the previous school year 2011-2012 to the current 2012-2013 academic year, and in particular to their first year intake, to accommodate the current demand. [45497/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has identified a number of areas in North County Dublin, including the areas referred to by the Deputy where, due to demographic changes, it is projected that there will be a requirement for significant additional school provision at both primary and post-primary levels over the coming years.
In 2009, recognition was granted for a new 1,000 pupil post primary school in Balbriggan. Phase I of this school's permanent building, catering for 350 pupils, was delivered in 2010 and phase II, catering for 650 pupils, is proceeding to construction shortly. Enrolments have increased from 66 pupils in 2009 to 408 pupils in 2012/13 with 121 first year pupils enrolled in September 2012. The school will have capacity for at least 180 first year pupils once phase II of the permanent building is delivered. In the interim, temporary accommodation was sanctioned for the school to meet the 2012/13 accommodation needs.
In the case of the two remaining post primary schools in Balbriggan listed by the Deputy, one has just had a major extension completed to cater for existing enrolment (approx 1,185) and the other has been included in the 5 year Capital Investment Programme to commence construction in 2014/15 that will expand the schools capacity to 1,000 pupils.
In addition, the Deputy may also be aware that one of the new post primary schools that I announced in June 2011 to be established nationally will be provided in Balbriggan in 2014. In July 2012 I announced further post primary schools to be established including an English medium school in Balbriggan post 2015.
In 2008, recognition was granted to a new Community College in Donabate that resulted in a new 1,000 pupil school building being completed for the 2011/12 academic year. Enrolments in the school have increased from 100 pupils in 2008 to 586 pupils in 2012/13 with 143 first year pupils enrolled in September 2012. The school has capacity for at least 180 first year pupils.
With regard to post primary provision in Swords, there are over 2,400 post primary places provided in the four schools listed by the Deputy. An extension to one of those schools to provide an additional 400 places for the area was announced earlier this year as part of the 5 year Capital Investment Programme.
In relation to the school in Rush, my Department approved funding earlier this year to relocate and refurbish temporary accommodation to meet the schools 2012/13 accommodation needs. A new 1,000 pupil post primary school to be located in Lusk was announced earlier this year and is due to commence operation in 2013.
As the Deputy will be aware, my priority is to ensure that there is sufficient school accommodation to meet projected pupil enrolment increases into the future. The 5 year Capital Investment Programme that I announced earlier this year was part of a €2 billion Capital Investment Programme which outlines the major school projects that will commence construction over the duration of the Programme. In addition, my Department will consider applications by schools for funding for additional classrooms, which schools may provide on a permanent basis, where an immediate enrolment need is arising.
The current status of all projects on the school building programme may be viewed on my Department's website at www.education.ie and this will be updated regularly throughout the year.
124. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to parents concerns regarding the lack of railings or any safety barrier outside a school (details supplied) in County Kildare where the school gate opens directly onto a slip road off the M7 and where pupils using the cycling lane adjacent to the road run the risk of falling onto a busy and dangerous road should they lose their balance; the action he will take to rectify this danger; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45543/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department understands that Kildare County Council is not in favour of erecting a barrier at this school as it could have the effect of reducing visibility below normal safe levels for road users. In the event that Kildare County Council permits the installation of a barrier at this school then my Department would have no objection to the school authorities installing and funding the cost of same.
125. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on whether it is fair that students taking courses (details supplied) should effectively have to pay double fees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45549/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware under the terms of my Department's Free Fees Schemes the Exchequer meets the cost of tuition fees of full-time eligible undergraduate students. I understand that the issue relates to the payment of a fee to cover particular services provided by the College, such as the provision of meals, stationery etc. which do not form part of the student contribution payable by students.
The position is that the third level institutions are autonomous institutions and my Department does not have any function in their day to day operational affairs, for which the Governing Bodies and the management staff of the institutions are responsible. Accordingly I do not have a role in this matter.
126. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of persons currently in receipt of a student maintenance grant at third level. [45550/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy will appreciate that the number of awards for the 2012/13 academic year is not yet available and will not be supplied to my Department by the grant awarding authorities until later in the academic year. However, I wish to advise that some 67,650 third level students qualified for a student grant in the 2011/12 academic year.
127. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of persons from a farming background currently in receipt of a student maintenance grant. [45552/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra128. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of persons from a self employed background currently in receipt of a student maintenance grant. [45553/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 127 and 128 together.
The table following shows the number of new awards made to students in higher education from the different socio-economic categories including farming and self employed for the academic year 2011/2012. This indicative data is subject to considerable qualification for interpretation purposes in relation to the reliability due to, inter alia, the level of undeclared status among the returns from the awarding authorities and the provision of accurate and or/adequate information in respect of occupation by the principal earner to enable the awarding authorities to classify them by socio-economic background. The information contained in the table has been supplied to my Department by the awarding authorities who submitted a return.
|
A |
B |
C |
D |
E |
F |
G |
H |
I |
J |
Z |
Total |
|
Employers & Managers |
Higher Profess- ional |
Lower Profess- ional |
Non- Manual |
Manual Skilled |
Semi- Skilled |
Unskilled |
Own Account Workers |
Farmers |
Agricultural Workers |
All Others gainfully occupied & unknown |
|
|
2.53% |
2.02% |
11.12% |
13.84% |
9.73% |
5.37% |
7.19% |
8.41% |
5.00% |
0.52% |
34.27% |
100.00% |
129. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of schools that are currently designated as being a primary urban band 1 DEIS school; and the number of pupils in this category. [45554/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra130. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of schools that are currently designated a primary urban band 2 DEIS school; and the number of pupils in this category. [45555/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra131. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of schools that are currently designated a primary rural DEIS school; and the number of pupils in this category. [45556/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra132. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of schools that are currently designated a post primary DEIS school; and the number of pupils in this category. [45557/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 129 to 132, inclusive, together.
Following amalgamations and/or closures of schools in 2012, there are currently 860 schools included in DEIS providing education for 165,350 children.
The breakdown is as follows:
197 DEIS Band 1 and 144 DEIS Band 2 Primary Schools with total enrolment of 76,845.324 DEIS Rural schools – with enrolment of 23,750.195 DEIS Post-Primary schools – with enrolment of 64,755.
133. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of schools in the country with less than four teachers. [45558/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra134. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of schools in the country with three teachers. [45559/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra135. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of schools in the country with two teachers. [45560/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra136. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of schools in the country with one teacher. [45561/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 133 to 136, inclusive, together. The data for the numbers of schools with 1, 2, 3 and 4 teaching teachers is provided in the following table.
No. of Full Time Equivalent Teaching Teachers 2011/12
|
Number of teaching teachers in school |
Number of Schools |
|
1 |
11 |
|
2 |
564 |
|
3 |
472 |
|
4 |
503 |
