Tuesday, 22 Jan 2013

Written Answers Nos. 235-244

School Accommodation

Ceisteanna (238, 264, 270)

Michael Healy-Rae

Ceist:

238. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding a school prefab; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2600/13]

Brendan Griffin

Ceist:

264. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a grant will issue to a school (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2971/13]

Tom Fleming

Ceist:

270. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a rental grant in respect of a school (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3100/13]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

I propose to take Questions Nos. 238, 264 and 270 together.

I can confirm that a review of the temporary accommodation at the above school took place in July 2012 as per standard practice when the rental contract was due to expire. My Department advised the school at that time that rental grant aid would continue to be approved until June 2013. Correspondence in the matter has been received recently from the school. My Department will be in direct contact with the school authority when this correspondence has been assessed.

Third Level Fees

Ceisteanna (239)

Clare Daly

Ceist:

239. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills in view of the increases in third level registration fees, the plans he has to safe guard university access programmes for those socioeconomic groups who have traditionally been excluded from such institutions. [2614/13]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Ruairí Quinn)

Students qualifying for a student grant have their student contribution paid by the Exchequer. For families of less than four dependent children, the threshold for the payment of the student contribution is €51,380. A further income threshold of €55,920 exists for a grant of 50% towards the student contribution. This ensures that students from lower socioeconomic groups are not adversely impacted by the increases in the student contribution. The higher education access programmes continue to be supported by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) with funding from my Department as part of the implementation of the current National Access Plan (2008-2013). Some €29 million was allocated to 27 higher education institutions in 2012 as the access premium in their core funding and the HEA has advised my Department that the same magnitude of funding will be allocated for access in 2013. Work has commenced by the HEA on the development of a new national access plan for 2014 onwards. This will include new targets to increase participation by under-represented groups. Further dialogue between the HEA and institutions on access funding and programmes will also take place as part of the implementation of the National Strategy for Higher Education.

Student Grant Scheme Appeals

Ceisteanna (240)

Robert Troy

Ceist:

240. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will expedite a Student Universal Support Ireland appeal in respect of a person (details supplied). [2630/13]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

Officials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland that the student referred to by the Deputy has, on appeal, been awarded a grant and an award letter issued on 21 January 2013.

Student Grant Scheme Appeals

Ceisteanna (241)

Dan Neville

Ceist:

241. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a college grant application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2636/13]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

Officials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland that it is in receipt of an appeal on foot of its decision on the grant application from the student in question. As soon as the appeal is reviewed, the student will be notified directly of the outcome.

Student Grant Scheme Applications

Ceisteanna (242)

Seán Fleming

Ceist:

242. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a third level grant will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Laois; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2643/13]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

Officials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland, that on 31 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.

Institutes of Technology Issues

Ceisteanna (243, 253, 254, 255)

Paudie Coffey

Ceist:

243. Deputy Paudie Coffey asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on the commitment in the Programme for Government on the establishment of a technological university in the south east; if the Higher Education Authority is taking this commitment into consideration while developing a new structure for the third level sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2657/13]

Paudie Coffey

Ceist:

253. Deputy Paudie Coffey asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views that the delivery of a technological university for the south east will positively impact on the region as a whole economically; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2861/13]

Paudie Coffey

Ceist:

254. Deputy Paudie Coffey asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will confirm if the joint application from Carlow Institute of Technology and Waterford Institute of Technology to develop into the technological university for the south east will meet the benchmarks as outlined in the report on the criteria for technological university designation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2862/13]

Paudie Coffey

Ceist:

255. Deputy Paudie Coffey asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the third phase for designation of technological universities will be complete in February 2013 as initially outlined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2863/13]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

I propose to take Questions Nos. 243 and 253 to 255, inclusive, together.

As the Deputy is aware, I endorsed the framework for system development laid out in the National Strategy for Higher Education to 2030 which outlines a developmental pathway towards designation as a Technological University for merged institutes of technology who seek to apply. The roll-out of the approved process now provides an opportunity to meet the commitment set out in the Programme for Government to "explore the establishment of a multi-campus Technical University in the South East". In relation to the evolutionary pathway laid out in the National Strategy for institutes of technology, the implementation process is well under way. The Landscape document published in February 2012 lays out a clear four stage process and criteria for institutes of technology who wish to apply for designation as a technological university. The process for designation is designed to ensure educational quality, objectivity, international expertise, fairness and transparency. The process will consist of four stages overseen by HEA, with an independent international panel of experts to advise the Authority in the final stages. The first stage requires institutes of technology to submit a formal expression of interest in merging and seeking designation. I understand from HEA that three such expressions of interest have been received. One of these is a proposal that Waterford Institute of Technology and Carlow Institute of Technology to seek designation. The Higher Education Authority is considering all proposals and its advice on system configuration in March 2013 will include advice on the progress of institutes of technology interested in seeking designation to the second stage of the designation process. Having regard to the process that has been put in place to assess proposals for designation as technological universities, I do not propose to comment specifically on any potential applications for designation by any group of Institutes of Technology.

Student Grant Scheme Applications

Ceisteanna (244)

Tom Fleming

Ceist:

244. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a student grant will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2668/13]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

Officials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland that on 15 January 2013, 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.