Wednesday, 24 Oct 2012

Written Answers Nos. 73-81

Special Educational Needs Services Provision

Ceisteanna (73)

Finian McGrath

Ceist:

73. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a school place in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 1. [46807/12]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Ruairí Quinn)

I wish to advise the Deputy that the enrolment of a child in a school is a matter in the first instance for the parents of the child and the Board of Management of a school. My Department has no role in relation to processing applications for enrolment to schools. The policy of my Department is to secure the maximum possible level of inclusion of students with special educational needs in mainstream primary and post-primary schools, in order to ensure that as many children as possible can be educated with their peers within their own community. My Department therefore provides for a range of placement options and supports for schools which have enrolled pupils with special educational needs in order to ensure that, wherever a child is enrolled, s/he will have access to an appropriate education.

Children with special educational needs may be enrolled in a mainstream school and attend all mainstream classes and receive additional teaching support through the learning support and/or resource teacher. Or they may enrol in a mainstream school and attend a special class, or they may enrol in a special school. The National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) is the statutory agency which can assist parents who are experiencing difficulty in securing a school place for their child. The NEWB will try to help parents to find a school placement if their child has been unable to secure a school placement to date. The NEWB can be contacted at National Educational Welfare Board, National Headquarters, 16-22 Green Street, Dublin 7 or by telephone at 01-8738700.

In addition, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) Special Education Needs Organisers (SENOs) can assist parents to identify appropriate educational placements for children with special educational needs. Parents may contact their local SENO directly to discuss their child's special educational needs and to seek assistance in identifying placement options, using the contact details available on www.ncse.ie. Where a school refuses to enrol a pupil, the school is obliged to inform parents of their right under Section 29 of the Education Act 1998 to appeal that decision to the Secretary General of my Department. Only where an appeal under Section 29 is upheld, may the Secretary General of my Department direct a school to enrol a pupil.

Post-Leaving Certificate Courses

Ceisteanna (74)

Catherine Murphy

Ceist:

74. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if, in relation to the document Key Statistics published by his Department on 3 September 2012 (details supplied), he will provide disaggregated data for post leaving certificate courses for tables 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 10 and 11; if he will commit to providing this aggregated data in respect of same in future editions of the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46829/12]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Ruairí Quinn)

The data requested are presented in below. Consideration will be given to providing data disaggregated in this manner in further editions of the key statistics document.

Key Statistics 2011/2012

First Released on 3rd September 2012

Version 22 nd October 2012 showing disaggregated data for Post Leaving Certificate Courses (PLCs)

Table 1 Number of Full-time Students in Institutions Aided by the Department of Education and Skills, 2011/2012

Level	No. of Students
First Level	516, 460
Primary Schools	509,040
Special Schools	7,420
Second Level~	359,047
Secondary	186,409
Vocational	116,839
Community and Comprehensive	55,799
Second-Level Students in PLC courses	36,528
Secondary	858
Vocational	34,495
Community and Comprehensive	1,175
Third Level*	162,786
University Sector	89,928
Institutes of Technology Sector	63,874
Teacher Training Institutions	5,723
Other Aided Institutions	3,261

~ Includes Pupils Enrolled in Post Leaving Certificate Courses in Second Level Schools

*The 2011/2012 figure for Third Level is provisional.

Table 2 Number of Schools Aided by the Department of Education and Skills as of the 30 th September 2011

Level	No. of Schools
First Level	3,300
Primary Schools	3,159
Special Schools	141
Second Level	723
Secondary	376
Vocational	254
Community and Comprehensive	93
Total	4,023
Second-Level Schools Offering PLCcourses	180
Secondary	18
Vocational	141
Community and Comprehensive	21

Table 3 Number of Teaching Staff (Full-time Equivalent Posts Allocated)

Level	2010/2011	2011/2012
First Level	32,489	31,928
All Second Level Second Level -excluding PLC PLC	26,185 24,327 1,858	25,808 23,897 1,911

Only teachers paid from funds provided by the Department of Education and Skills are included in the above table. Second level teacher numbers exclude all Further Education other than PLC.

Table 4 Overview of Pupil-Teacher Ratio at First and Second level

Level	2010/2011	2011/2012
First Level	15.7	16.2
All Second Level Second Level -excluding PLC PLC	13.6 13.0 20.8	13.9 13.5 19.1

The PTR (pupil-teacher ratio) is calculated at each level by dividing the total number of pupils by the total number of teaching posts (classroom teachers and support teachers). This calculation differs for example from the staffing schedule at primary level which is the basis for allocating classroom teachers to each school based on their enrolments.

Table 8 School Size at Second Level in 2011/2012

Enrolment Size (Number of Pupils)	Number of Schools (Second Level)	Number of Schools (Second Level) offering PLC
fewer than 50 Pupils	4	0
50 - 99	11	4
100 - 199	66	20
200 - 299	97	26
300 - 499	212	57
500+	332	73
Total	722	180

Note. The number of Second-level schools in Table 8 does not match the total in Table 2. This is because 2 schools make a joint return and it is not possible to separate the returns by enrolment size.

Table 10 Public Examination Candidates 2011

Examination	Pupils
Junior Certificate Candidates	56,841
Leaving Certificate Candidates	57,539
Of which Leaving Cert School candidates	49,645
Non-school candidates	4,699
Leaving Certificate Applied	3,195
Total Exam Candidates	114,380
PLC Candidates	45

Table 11a Enrolments of Full-time Students in Institutions Aided by the Department of Education and Skills

Level	1971/1972	1981/1982	1991/1992	2001/2002	2011/2012
First Level	509,096	556,034	534,269	441,065	516,460
Second Level~	217,684	307,039	349,546	341,099	359,047
Third Level	25,776	34,231	74,449	124,589	162,786*
Total	752,556	897,304	958,264	906,753	1,038,293

~ Includes Pupils Enrolled in Post Leaving Certificate Courses in Second Level Schools

*The 2011/2012 figure for Third Level is provisional.

Table 11b Enrolments of Full-time Students ON PLC COURSES in Institutions Aided by the Department of Education and Skills

Level	1971/1972	1981/1982	1991/1992	2001/2002	2011/2012
PLC			15,212	26,685	36,528
Total

The PLC programme, also known as VPT2, was introduced in 1985.

The series of tables in this document and more detailed tables can be found in the Department’s Educational Statistical Database at Department of Education and Skills - Education Statistics Database.

Flood Prevention Measures

Ceisteanna (75)

Jerry Buttimer

Ceist:

75. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the position regarding the progress of the CRFAM study for the River Lee and in particular the consideration of the flooding risks to Cork City; when the study will be finalised; when an action plan will be put in place to address the flood risks in Cork and surrounding suburbs such as Douglas and Togher; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46593/12]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform

The River Lee catchment flood risk management plan, (CFRMP) is the primary output of this pilot project for the national Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) programme.

The draft CFRMP was exhibited for public consultation soon after the significant November 2009 flood event. Since 2010 substantial resources have been assigned to analysing the data of the November 2009 event and re-calibrating the hydraulic models of the Lower Lee catchment to take account of this significant dataset. This exercise of review, updating and re-calibration will be completed before the end of this year.

In parallel with this detailed exercise, the national CFRAM programme has progressed, with all six CFRAM contracts now commissioned to cover the national river catchments. Mott McDonald has been appointed as consultants for the South -West CFRAM Study which includes the area of the Lee catchment and Cork City and environs. The substantial work almost complete on the Lee CFRAM will be reviewed and incorporated into the South-West CFRAM study which is due for completion at end-2015 in accordance with the EU Floods Directive.

The Office of Public Works (OPW) is continuing to work with Cork City Council and Cork County Council to advance mitigation measures in Cork City and surrounding areas where significant flood risk has already been identified. OPW has, within the past week, received tenders for consultants to bring forward measures for the Lower Lee and Blackpool areas, and it is expected that a preferred option will be identified for these areas by the second half of 2013. In addition, it has been agreed that Cork County Council will take the lead in undertaking detailed studies to investigate potential mitigation options for a number of locations including Douglas and Togher, with funding from the OPW. These studies will build on and develop the analysis carried out as part of the River Lee CFRAM Study as appropriate.

Pending the completion of the detailed studies, it would be open to the Councils to submit applications for funding under the OPW Minor Flood Works scheme for any small-scale interim measures that may be identified, subject to such measures meeting the criteria of that scheme, being compatible with the CFRAM studies and the overall availability of resources for flood risk management.

Public Sector Staff Remuneration

Ceisteanna (76)

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

Ceist:

76. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform what the savings to the Exchequer would be if all civil and public servants had their salaries capped at €80,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46647/12]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

The estimated annual savings to the Exchequer arising from a cap of €80,000 on civil service and public service salaries is estimated at €500m. The estimate takes account of the reductions in pay arising from the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Act, 2009, but does not take account of any offsetting reductions in taxes and levies. As the combined effect of the estimated marginal tax rate and the pension related deduction at a pay level for a public servant of €80,000 p.a. or higher is at least 62.5%, the estimated net savings would be reduced to approx. €188m.

Departmental Staff Grades

Ceisteanna (77)

Terence Flanagan

Ceist:

77. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the position regarding Civil Service grades (details suppled); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46607/12]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

Under the Public Service Reform Plan my Department is reviewing the grading structure of the Civil Service. The review will examine the number and distribution of management grades across the Civil Service, the percentage of the pay bill accounted for by such grades and taking account of organisational needs and best practice, assess the scope to reduce the number of management grades. Preliminary work has been commenced on the review and, in line with the Reform Plan, it will be completed by end June 2013. The review of the grading structure in other sectors of the Public Service is a matter for the relevant parent Department in each case.

Departmental Offices

Ceisteanna (78)

Gerry Adams

Ceist:

78. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if there is a North South Co-operation unit in his Department; the number of staff working in the North South Co-operation unit; the number of staff who have worked in the North South Co-operation unit in each year since 2007. [46622/12]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

My Department was established in July 2011 and the unit dealing with the North South programme policy transferred from the Department of Finance at that time. There are currently 3 staff members (1 Principal, 1 Assistant Principal and 1 Higher Executive Officer) in my Department working on North/South related matters as established under the Good Friday Agreement. In addition, these staff members are also responsible for other areas of work i.e. EU Structural Funds and EU Presidency coordination. Prioritisation of resource allocation in my Department is conducted on an ongoing basis with reference to the Department’s business needs objectives and the level of expenditure available from which to meet those objectives. In this context, I am satisfied that the particular area of work has and will continue to be adequately resourced.

Departmental Staff Redeployment

Ceisteanna (79)

Michael Creed

Ceist:

79. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reforms which have taken place within the public sector dealing with the facilitation of interagency staff transfers and transfer requests by staff within the same agency looking to relocate geographically; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46659/12]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

Civil Service departments and other public service organisations vary in relation to the approaches they adopt to the transfer of their own staff between locations and no centrally agreed approach is applied. There are no formal arrangements in place within the civil service to facilitate requests for transfers to other locations/employments, except in the case of grades represented by the Civil & Public Services Union. Transfers for these (mostly Clerical and Staff Officers) are arranged in accordance with formal procedures agreed with the Staff Side at General Council under the Conciliation and Arbitration Scheme for the Civil Service. Transfers between grades in the civil service can be arranged on an informal, head-to-head, basis. Such transfers are arranged between the officers seeking to move and the relevant Personnel Units and require the agreement of both Personnel Officers.

The arrangements for the other Public Service sectors are a matter for the relevant parent Department in each case.

The Public Service Agreement 2010-14 (Croke Park Agreement) provides for agreed redeployment arrangements to apply in the Civil Service and in other parts of the public service. Under the Agreement, redeployment generally takes precedence over all other methods of filling a vacancy and supersedes any existing agreements on the deployment of staff. It sets out the agreed redeployment arrangements within the Health, Education, and Local Authority sectors and within and between the Civil Service and Non-Commercial State Sponsored Bodies (NCSSB). It also provides that cross sectoral redeployments will follow the arrangements agreed for the NCSSBs.

The Public Appointments Service (PAS) has put in place a system of Resource Panels of Civil Service and State Agency staff to support the redeployment processes in those sectors agreed under the Croke Park Agreement. The redeployment arrangements allow staff to be moved from activities which are of lesser priority, or which have been rationalised, reconfigured, or restructured, to areas of greater need. In general redeployment opportunities are to be sought in the first instance within each sector (e.g. health, education, local authority, etc.). In practical terms the arrangements represent a means of facilitating the targeted reduction in public service numbers in the period 2010 to 2014 while sustaining the ongoing delivery of services. While staff may be moved between different locations as a consequence of the redeployment arrangements they are not intended to be a staff mobility scheme and were not designed to facilitate requests from individuals for transfers to address personal circumstances.

Public Sector Staff Increment Payments

Ceisteanna (80)

Michael Creed

Ceist:

80. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 106 of 10 October 2012, if he will provide further information regarding the €810 million in sustainable savings in the first two years of the Croke Park Agreement, specifically, if he will quantify the amount of savings both in year one and year two that is directly attributable to the decision made by the Government prior to the commencement of the Croke Park Agreement to reduce public sector pay; if he will acknowledge that these savings have been achieved during the lifetime of the Croke Park Agreement, but are a consequence of an executive decision prior to the commencement of the agreement; if he will also quantify the savings achieved due to the voluntary redundancy scheme in public service and if he will quantify the cost of increments paid to date and the projected cost of these increments to the end of the agreement [46738/12]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

Further information regarding the €810 million in sustainable savings was outlined in Parliamentary Question No. 106 of 10 October 2012. To reiterate, over the first two years of the Public Service Agreement 2010-2014, €810 million in sustainable savings have been achieved. This comprises €289 million in respect of the first year of the Agreement and €521m in respect of the second year. Full details of these figures, as well as a breakdown by sector, are available in the two Annual Progress Reports published by the Implementation Body to date. These reports are available on its website at www.implementationbody.gov.ie/publications.

The savings in the public service pay bill reported by the Body are based on the reduction in public service staff numbers during the lifetime of the Agreement only. They are calculated based on average annualised savings per employee arising from the reduction in public service staff numbers during the relevant review period. The Government have agreed to accelerate the programme of staff reductions in order to maximise paybill savings. Where staff surpluses are identified a targeted voluntary redundancy (VR) scheme would be made available for selected areas throughout the Public Service.

Identification of staff surpluses is underway. My Ministerial colleagues are actively examining particular work areas, bodies, locations or grades at which voluntary redundancy can be targeted because of changes to work configuration or service delivery models, for example. Of course there will be full regard for the skills needs and priorities of Departments now and into the future during this process.

Final decisions on numbers reductions to be achieved in each sector will take account of the surpluses identified by Ministers in respect of their portfolios and of expected rates of retirements in those sectors over the next few years. A full cost benefit analysis will of course be required as part of this assessment. When this assessment has been completed further details of this scheme will be made available by my Department. In relation to increments, I would refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 32625/12 of 4 July.

Departmental Offices

Ceisteanna (81)

Gerry Adams

Ceist:

81. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if there is a North South Co-operation unit in his Department; the number of staff working in the North South Co-operation unit; the number of staff who have worked in the North South Co-operation unit in each year since 2007. [46620/12]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

For many years this Department has had a North South Unit to pursue relevant Business and Enterprise issues relating to Northern Ireland and to engage with the relevant authorities and bodies in Northern Ireland. At present there are 4 members of staff working in this Unit. For the following years, the staffing levels, at year end, is set out in the table below. During all of these years and, at present, the staff concerned would also have had some responsibilities relating to other Departmental issues.

-	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011
No of Staff	5	5	5	5	5