Written Answers Nos. 79-83
79. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will introduce more mandatory subjects for leaving certificate along with English, Irish and Math; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51953/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is not my intention to introduce additional mandatory subjects for study at Senior Cycle. Currently, the approved course for recognised Senior Cycle students of the established Leaving Certificate must include no fewer than five subjects of which one must be Irish (unless the student has an exemption from Irish). Overall, I am in favour of leaving the decisions on what is offered at the discretion of the school, and of students having as broad a range of options to choose from as possible. Schools are best placed to know the needs of their individual students. Curricular choice has been shown to be an important factor in strengthening retention rates to completion of senior cycle in school. Ireland currently has a retention rate of some 90%.
80. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consider introducing more career specific colleges similar to teacher training colleges or business schools, covering a wider range of careers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51954/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraTowards a Higher Education Landscape" published in February 2012 initiated a process of engagement by the HEA with higher education institutions with a view to providing me with advice on the future configuration and development of the higher education system. One of the key objectives of the system development process is to increase the diversity of mission and provision within the higher education system and to encourage greater collaboration, innovation and engagement with enterprise in this regard. The implementation of these reform objectives should ensure that the diverse range of needs in terms of professional education are met within the higher education system.
81. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding teaching posts (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51955/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraTeaching resources are allocated to schools on a school year basis. Unlike most other areas of the public service teaching vacancies are being filled in accordance with published Department criteria.
The number of teaching posts that we can afford to fund in schools in the coming years is a matter that I will have to consider with my colleagues in Cabinet in the context of budgetary requirements and meeting our obligations under the EU/IMF Programme. The challenge will be to ensure that the resources that can be provided are used to maximum effect to achieve the best possible outcome for pupils.
Circular 31/2011 details a cascade of measures for recruitment of teachers, prioritising unemployed registered teachers over retired registered teachers and registered teachers over unregistered persons. Also in October last year my Department issued circular 46/2011 which permits schools to participate in JobBridge, the National Internship Scheme.
It is in the public interest that there is an adequate supply of qualified teachers. However, even with the best possible systems in place, securing equilibrium between demand and supply is not an exact science, and is subject to quite a number of variables. Recent developments, such as the EU rules on mutual recognition of qualifications, have also meant that supply is more difficult to control and predict.
I intend to explore the matter of teacher supply further with the HEA, the Teaching Council, and the initial teacher education providers, as appropriate.
82. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Education and Skills when payment will issue in respect of a student (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51980/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraOfficials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI), the new centralised grant awarding authority, that the student referred to by the Deputy was paid the first instalment of their grant on 18 October, 2012.
83. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will review the position of schools which following amalgamation have lost full DEIS status; if he will have regard to the staffing implications for such schools following the loss of disadvantaged status; if he will further reconsider the position of students coming from such schools and wishing to avail of third level access programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51981/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraA key priority for me is to continue to prioritise and target resources at schools with the most concentrated levels of educational disadvantage. The current economic climate and the challenge to meet significant targets on reducing public expenditure and operating within a ceiling on overall teacher numbers, limits opportunities and means that there is no capacity to provide for an extension of full DEIS status to these schools.
The policy of my Department is to continue to provide supports to the newly amalgamated school in respect of the number of eligible pupils from the former DEIS school/s.
The Higher Education Access Route (HEAR) is a third level admissions scheme for school leavers from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Eligibility is determined by a combination of indicators relating to financial, social and cultural circumstances. A person must meet the Low Income indicator as well as a combination of two other indicators from a range of five different indicators. The completion of five years in a school designated as DEIS is just one of the five relevant indicators.
