Written Answers Nos. 263 - 286
263. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Finance his views on whether the introduction of a carbon tax on solid fuels will have a detrimental effect on the competitiveness of businesses involved in the sale of solid fuels and employment in the industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53048/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra264. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Finance his views on whether the introduction of a carbon tax on solid fuels will have a detrimental effect on social welfare recipients who rely on coal or peat briquettes as the only means of heating their homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53049/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra266. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Finance his views on whether the introduction of a carbon tax on solid fuels should be deferred due to the sourcing of coal and peat from Northern Ireland where lower environmental standards apply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53051/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 263, 264 and 266 together.
These questions relate to potential Budgetary measures. It is the usual practice for the Minister for Finance not to speculate or comment in advance of the Budget what it will contain and I do not propose to deviate from that practice.
265. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Finance his views on the pre-budget submission by the solid fuel trade group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53050/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have received a pre-Budget submission from the Solid Fuel Trade Group. Its contents will be considered in the context of the forthcoming Budget and Finance Bill. As Deputies are aware it would not be appropriate for me to comment in advance on possible Budget decisions.
268. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Finance the position regarding the number of new State agencies, forums and task forces that have been established in 2012; the number of new employees there are as a result of this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53699/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn response to the Deputy’s question one new body was established under the aegis of my Department in 2012. Details of the body are contained in the following table:
|
Name of Body |
Established |
No of new Employees |
|
The Credit Union Restructuring Board |
Established in 2012 on an administrative basis under the Dept of Finance pending enactment of the Credit Union Bill 2012 |
It has no employees of its own at this stage. |
269. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan den Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna cé mhéid bunscoil agus iarbhunscoil atá i gcóiríocht shealadach agus cén céatadán díobh siúd gur scoileanna lán-Ghaeilge iad; cad iad na scoileanna atá ag fanacht le cóiríocht bhuan agus cé chomh fada is atá na scoileanna sin ag fanacht le cóiríocht bhuan. [52328/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraNíl an t-eolas atá á lorg ag an Teachta maidir le scoileanna atá i gcóiríocht sealadach le fáil láithreach. Cuirfidh oifigigh mo Roinne an t-eolas le chéile agus cuirfidh siad chuig an Teachta é chomh luath agus is féidir.
270. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a student grant application in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 3 will be expedited; and the reason for the delay [52375/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraOfficials in my Department have confirmed with SUSI, the new centralised grant awarding authority, that further supporting documentation was received from the student referred to by the Deputy on 13th November 2012 and the application will be reviewed shortly. SUSI will contact the student directly in relation to the outcome.
271. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on whether the Government should include the Irish language and the Gaeltacht in the Education and Training Boards Bill 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52943/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 20 year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010 to 2030 promotes an integrated approach to the Irish Language which is consistent with best international practice. The Government has committed to supporting strategy in the programme for Government 2011 to 2016.
The Deputy will be aware that Vocational Education Committees are public bodies which fall within the terms of the Official Languages Act 2003. It is intended that the Education and Training Boards Bill 2012 will preserve this position and Education and Training Boards will be obliged to meet the relevant Irish language requirements.
In the circumstances, I am satisfied that the new Education and Training Boards will be in a position to meet their requirements in relation to the Irish Language and to the Gaeltacht without specific provisions being made in the Bill.
272. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education and Skills the level of additional resources released by his Department to resolve the delay in processing student grant applications; the date by which all outstanding applications will be processed; and the support offered to students struggling financially to stay in education due to this delay. [52171/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn total, there is now 96 staff working in Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI), 33 of which are permanent and 63 of which are temporary. 20 of the 63 temporary seasonal staff were recruited in the last two months. SUSI is also supported by 129 temporary staff working in the outsourced company engaged by SUSI to support the processing of student grants. This includes 40 additional resources since September and an additional 50 temporary staff since mid-November. An additional 20 temporary staff, on top of the 129, have just been approved and they have yet to take up their positions. In addition, officials in my Department have been providing assistance to SUSI on an on-going basis.
SUSI is aiming to progress all applications received to date between now and the end of the year and is aiming to achieve a target of 33,000 awards in total by the end of the year and I expect that target to be met. SUSI is staffed to the level that has been requested and all the necessary resources should be in place to enable them to process applications to completion, subject to all the necessary documentation being in order to enable them to make a decision in each case.
The Higher Education Authority (HEA) on foot of a request from my Department, has written to all higher education institutions requesting them to show flexibility and consideration, as most have done in the past, to students who may be awaiting a decision on their grant application and/or payment of grants. The HEA has requested institutions to consider not withdrawing facilities such as library or exam access, given that these students are awaiting decision on their grant applications. The situation is being kept under review.
In addition to the maintenance grant support is also available to students under the Student Assistance Fund which assists students in third-level institutions in exceptional financial need. Information on the fund is available through the Access Officer in the third level institution attended. The Access Officers themselves will also continue to provide support and advice to students to enable them to continue with their studies. My Department has asked the Higher Education Authority for an up to date report on the demand for the scheme.
273. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will restore the funding for the Student Assistance Fund to €10 million in view of the hardship that many students are experiencing; and if he will commit to not cutting this fund any further. [52189/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra280. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will agree to continue funding the student assistance fund beyond 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52335/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra308. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Education and Skills the level of funding provided to the student assistant fund; his plans to continue this important source of financial support for students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52797/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 273, 280 and 308 together.
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 (HEA) on behalf of my Department and is funded under the National Development Plan, with assistance from the European Social Fund.
The budget for the Student Assistance Fund has been increased from €5m in 2008/09, 2009/10 and 2010/11 to €9m in 2011/12 and stands at €8m for the current academic year.
My Department has asked the HEA for an up to date report on the demand for the scheme. I have no plans at present to discontinue the Fund. Examinations are taking place across all areas of Government spending which will inform funding allocations for the coming years. In this context, I am sure the Deputies will appreciate that in line with normal practice I am unable to comment on the available funding allocation for next year during the budgetary deliberative process.
274. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consider the retention of home economics teacher education at a campus (details supplied) in County Sligo; if he will provide the campus and NUI Galway an opportunity to demonstrate their capacity to fulfil the vision of the initial teacher education report in the most cost efficient manner possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52196/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra298. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consider the retention of home economics teacher education at a campus (details supplied) in County Sligo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52467/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 274 and 298 together.
I have accepted the recommendations set out in a report commissioned by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) on the structures of initial teacher education. The purpose of the report was to identify possible new structures to improve initial teacher education in Ireland so that it is comparable with the best in the world.
The international panel of education experts recommended that teacher education be provided in six "centres for teacher education". Currently there are 19 state funded providers of ITE (and three non-state funded) offering more than 40 college programmes in primary and post-primary teaching. The new collaborations recommended by the international panel will mean that there will be a smaller number of centres for ITE offering education across multiple sectors from early childhood to primary, to post primary to adult education. These centres for teacher education will also possess a critical mass in terms of research capacity which is not always possible in smaller institutions.
The HEA has been requested to consult with the relevant parties and to prepare a detailed plan on how to implement the recommendations of the Panel. I understand that this process has started and a plan is expected by the end of the year.
I will consider the implementation plan when received and make a further announcement at that stage.
275. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Education and Skills when construction work will commence on building a permanent school building (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52227/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraA major capital project for the school referred to by the Deputy was included in the 5 year capital investment programme announced earlier this year, with a view to commencing construction in 2014/2015.
My Department are currently liaising with Galway County Council in relation to the identification and acquisition of a suitable site.
276. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number and the percentage number of pupils who took honours and pass level maths for the junior and leaving certificate for each of the past five years; the steps being taken to increase that number in the forthcoming years. [52314/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations. I wish to inform the Deputy that statistics in relation to the Leaving Certificate examinations (2000 - 2012), including mathematics, can be downloaded from State Examinations Commission website:- www.examinations.ie/statistics. There are a number of initiatives currently underway to improve the quality of teaching and learning so as to ensure that the outcomes for our students in this curricular area continue to improve over the next number of years. These initiatives include my publication of the National Literacy and Numeracy Strategy last year, the introduction of Project Maths, the prioritisation of Continuing Professional Development for our Maths teachers, the funding by my Department of a post-graduate Diploma in Maths to upskill out-of- field Maths teachers, the request to schools for greater amount of time for teaching maths both at primary and post primary levels. In addition, I welcome provision of 25 bonus points from Higher Education institutions for Leaving Certificate students who achieve a grade D3 or higher in higher level maths. All of these initiatives, including the 25 bonus points, have contributed to much higher number of candidates taking honours level maths in this year's examinations. The number of higher level candidates in 2012 was 11,131 compared to 8,237 in 2011.
277. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Education and Skills the actual number and the percentage number of pupils who took honours and pass level history for the junior and leaving certificate for each of the past five years; the steps being taken to increase that number in the forthcoming years. [52315/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations. I wish to inform the Deputy that statistics in relation to the Junior Certificate and Leaving Certificate examinations (2000 - 2012), including the number of candidates who completed Junior and Leaving Certificate History, can be downloaded from State Examinations Commission website:- www.examinations.ie/statistics. In the new Junior Cycle, as described in my Framework for Junior Cycle, all students will be expected to achieve 24 statements of learning over the three years of their Junior Cycle. These include valuing local, national and international heritage and understanding the importance of the relationship between past and current events and the forces that drive change and understanding the origins and impacts of social, economic and environmental aspects of the world around him/her. It is clear therefore that the development of a student's historical awareness skills, will be necessary to achieve the required junior cycle outcomes. Overall, I am in favour of leaving the decisions on what subjects are offered to the discretion of the school, and of students having as broad a range of options to choose from as possible.
278. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No.72 of 24 October 2012, if he will outline the options available to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52320/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe teacher referred to by the Deputy is a post-primary qualified teacher who was placed on the Special National Subsidiary Redeployment Panel for the 2012/13 school year under the terms of Circular 0012/2012. The terms for the subsidiary special national panel allow for the inclusion of eligible post primary trained teachers on the panel to be appointed to certain permanent posts, i.e., in special schools where a proportion of the pupils are of post-primary age and where second level programmes are being provided by the school. Under the staffing arrangements for the current school year which are set out in Department Circular 0007/2012 the latest date for filling a permanent post on a permanent basis through the subsidiary/supplementary panels was the first working day of November. Thereafter posts are filled on a fixed term basis and if sustained by a school will be filled from the relevant redeployment panel in the 2013/14 school year.
My Department has just recently published Circular 0038/2012 which sets out the revised panel access arrangements for the 2013/14 school year. Under these arrangements the teacher in question has automatic access to the Supplementary Special National Panel for the 2013/14 school year. She retains the right to be offered certain permanent vacancies in special national schools for which she is eligible as outlined above. All circulars referenced are available on the Department website.
279. Deputy Regina Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consider increasing the funding to boards for administrative costs for the outsourcing of school accountancy work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52327/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraGiven the scale of our economic crisis, I have no scope to introduce new or additional funding measures to assist schools generally or for specific purposes, such as that referred to by the Deputy.
281. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding documentation in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick. [52344/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis is a day to day operational matter for FÁS.
I am informed by FÁS the results of the individual in question were signed off by his local (Mid West) Results Approval Panel (RAPS) on 12th November, 2012. I am informed that his CSCS Card will issue from FÁS in Baggot Street in the coming weeks.
282. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a person (details supplied) in County Offaly may expect a decision on an application for student grant. [52355/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraOfficials in my Department have confirmed with SUSI, the new centralised grant awarding authority, that on reviewing the application of the student referred to by the Deputy that additional documentation is required and a letter requesting this documentation will issue shortly by SUSI directly to the student.
284. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a person (details supplied) in County Offaly may expect a decision on an application for student grant. [52357/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraOfficials in my Department have confirmed with SUSI, the new centralised grant awarding authority, that on the 23rd November, 2012 a request for further documentation was issued to the student referred to by the Deputy. When the requested documentation is returned the student will be notified directly of the outcome.
285. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a person (details supplied) in County Offaly may expect a decision on an application for student grant. [52358/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraOfficials in my Department have confirmed with SUSI, the new centralised grant awarding authority, that in the case of the student referred to by the Deputy a decision has now been made and a letter will issue shortly directly to the student outlining the position.
286. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a person (details supplied) in County Offaly may expect a decision on an application for student grant. [52359/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraOfficials in my Department have confirmed with SUSI, the new centralised grant awarding authority, that on the 25th October 2012 a request for further documentation was issued to the student referred to by the Deputy. When the requested documentation is returned the student will be notified directly of the outcome.
