Written Answers Nos. 417 - 439
417. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna an gcailleann múinteoirí atá ag múineadh i nGaelscoil agus a bhfuil an liúntas as múineadh trí Ghaeilge acu, an liúntas sin má aistríonn siad go Gaelscoil eile; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [16617/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThug an Rialtas faomhadh do roinnt áirithe beart a bhaineann le liúntais seirbhíse poiblí tar éis don Aire Caiteachais Phoiblí agus Athchóirithe athbhreithniú a dhéanamh ar fud na seirbhíse poiblí ar fad ar liúntais agus íocaíochtaí préimhe.
Mar thoradh ar chinneadh an Rialtais, táthar tar éis an Liúntas do Mhúineadh trí Ghaeilge a tharraingt siar i gcás tairbhithe nua ar fud na seirbhíse poiblí le héifeacht ó 1 Feabhra 2012. Íocfar an liúntas sin i gcónaí do dhuine ar bith a bhí ag fáil an Liúntais do Mhúineadh trí Ghaeilge ar 31 Eanáir 2012, ach amháin sa chás go n-éiríonn an múinteoir as an jabról sin nó go n-aistríonn sé/í ó scoil amháin go scoil eile nó ó fhostaitheoir amháin go fostaitheoir eile ar 1 Feabhra 2012 nó ina dhiaidh sin. Áit a ndéantar múinteoir a ath-imlonnú faoin scéim chomhaontaithe ath-imlonnaithe, ní mheasfar é seo a bheith ina scor.
Tá tuilleadh eolais maidir leis an toradh ar an athbhreithniú ar liúntais foilsithe i gCiorclán 0008/2013 atá le fáil ar shuíomh gréasáin mo Roinne www.education.ie.
418. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna ar réitíodh plean gnó maidir leis na liúntais as múineadh trí Ghaeilge agus múineadh sa Ghaeltacht lena chur chuig an Roinn Caiteachais Phoiblí agus Athchóirithe; murar réitíodh cén fáth nár réitíodh; agus má réitíodh cén uair a cuireadh chuig an Roinn Caiteachais Phoiblí agus Athchóirithe é; cén toradh nó aisfhreagra a fritheadh air; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [16618/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraCuireadh cás Gnó maidir le liúntais a íoctar le múinteoirí, agus an Liúntas um Mhúineadh trí Ghaeilge agus Deontas na Gaeltachta san áireamh, faoi bhráid na Roinne Caiteachais Phoiblí agus Athchóirithe mar chuid den Athbhreithniú ar Liúntais na hEarnála Poiblí agus Íocaíochtaí Préimhe i 2012. Foilsíodh an cás gnó seo ar shuíomh gréasáin na Roinne Caiteachais Phoiblí agus Athchóirithe.
Scríobh an tAire Caiteachais Phoiblí agus Athchóirithe chuig mo Roinn ar an 4 Deireadh Fómhair 2012 ag tabhairt le fios go raibh Cinneadh Rialtais déanta na liúntais seo a chur ar ceal do thairbhithe nua le feidhm ón 1 Feabhra 2012 agus go raibh athbhreithniú le déanamh ar na liúntais do thairbhithe reatha. Tá cóip den litir seo ar fáil freisin ar shuíomh gréasáin na Roinne Caiteachais Phoiblí agus Athchóirithe.
419. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will review the circumstances of a Student Universal Support Ireland grant in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16619/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraOfficials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland that the student referred to by the Deputy has had his application reviewed and a revised award letter issued on 6th December 2012.
The Deputy will appreciate that in the context of Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) having received in excess of 69,000 applications that some errors may inevitably arise when handling a high volume of applications within a relatively short timeframe. While every effort is made by SUSI to ensure that applicants are processed correctly, SUSI accepts that, following its quality assurance procedures, it emerged that this applicant received an incorrect letter and it regrets any inconvenience caused.
Maintenance support is not available for students entering postgraduate courses in the academic year 2012/13. Students entering approved postgraduate courses who meet the qualifying conditions for the special rate of grant will be eligible to have their post-graduate tuition fees paid up to the maximum fee limit under the Student Grant Scheme.
If an individual applicant considers that she/he has been unjustly refused a student grant, she/he may appeal, in the first instance, to SUSI. Where an individual applicant has had an appeal turned down in writing by SUSI and remains of the view that the scheme has not been interpreted correctly in his/her case, an appeal form outlining the position may be submitted by the applicant to the independent Student Grant Appeals Board. The relevant appeal form will be available on request from SUSI.
420. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will confirm the number of two, three and four teacher schools in County Tipperary; if he will provide a guarantee that these schools will be protected and maintained into the future; if his attention has been drawn to the vital role played by these schools in rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16634/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy is provided in the National School Annual Census return. The census for the current school year (2012/13) is being finalised at present and results will be published on my Department's website later in the year. In the meantime, the full list of primary schools in county order with their enrolments for the 2011/12 school year can be found on my Department's website the following link: http://www.education.ie/en/Publications/Statistics/stats_FULL_SCHOOL_LIST_2011-2012.xls.
A table follows outlining the numbers of two, three and four teacher schools in Co Tipperary in 2011/12.A report on the value for money review of the provision of small primary schools is almost finalised. The terms of reference of the Review acknowledge the important role that primary schools play in their local communities.
Number of 2, 3 and 4 Teacher Schools in Tipperary in 2011/2012
|
Total Teacher Size |
Number of Schools |
|
2 |
30 |
|
2.5 |
1 |
|
3 |
13 |
|
3.5 |
1 |
|
4 |
15 |
|
4.5 |
1 |
421. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will expedite a student grant application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16637/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraOfficials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland, that on 10th April 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.
422. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will approve a school transport application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath. [16645/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the terms of my Department's School Transport scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs arising from a Diagnosed Disability, children are eligible for transport where they:
- have special educational needs arising from a diagnosed disability in accordance with the designation of high and low incidence disability set out in Department of Education and Skill's (DES) Circular 02/05 and
- are attending the nearest recognised: mainstream school, special class/special school or a unit, that is or can be resourced, to meet their special educational needs.
Eligibility is determined following consultation with the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) through its network of Special Education Needs Organisers (SENO).
My Department has not received an application for school transport on behalf of the child referred to by the Deputy in the details supplied.
423. Deputy Seán Conlan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason the legislation governing the Student Union Support Ireland grant discriminates against students whose parent for the purposes of assessment of income is in receipt of an allowance as a dependant of a cohabiting partner (details supplied). [16652/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraTo qualify for the special rate of grant an applicant must meet the following conditions:
1. Reckonable income must not exceed €22,703.
2. On the 31st December of the relevant period the reckonable income must include an eligible long-term payment prescribed under the scheme.In the case of a dependent candidate, the reckonable income taken into account is that of the candidate and of the candidate's parents or legal guardian: Section 2 of the Student Support Act 2011 provides that "parent" includes an appointed guardian or an adoptive parent.
The Student Support Act 2011 and the Social Welfare Act 1952 are the legislative basis for the provision of differing services and supports. The Student Support Act 2011 is for the provision of supports for further and higher education and, therefore, its conditions are specific to that purpose.
424. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Education and Skills if there is any financial support available, such as maintenance grants, for Irish resident students who undertake full-time undergraduate study in the United States of America; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16667/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe scheme of student grants extends maintenance grants to full-time undergraduate courses of not less than two years duration which are pursued in approved courses in approved institutions in another EU Member State. Courses pursued in countries outside of the EU are not approved for grants purposes.
425. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a student grant application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16686/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra451. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will investigate a student grant application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16938/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 425 and 451 together.
Officials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland, that on 15th April 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.
426. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the exact criteria which will govern the decisions to leave open or close the many hundreds of rural schools throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16690/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra439. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will give an assurance to the 600 small schools here that their future is secure despite recommendations contained in the report on small schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16853/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 426 and 439 together.
I can assure the Deputies that there is no decision to close small or rural schools. I am aware of the concerns of the small rural schools and I am cognisant of the importance of schools to rural communities.
Our current configuration of small primary schools is being examined by my Department in a value for money review. This review had been commenced by my predecessor in office is part of the normal review processes undertaken by Departments on selected areas of expenditure. Among the issues the review will take into account are questions such as availability of diversity of provision, ethos of schools, parental choice, language of instruction, travel distances, transport costs and the impact of schools on dispersed rural communities. The review is at an advanced stage of preparation. I expect to publish it shortly and I look forward to a constructive engagement on its findings.
427. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide information on the status of a student grant application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; the current status of this payment; the reason for the conflicting information being received by the person; if his attention has been drawn to the hardship and distress being caused as a result; if he will ensure payment of this application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16699/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn appeal from the student in question was considered by the independent Student Grants Appeals Board on the 13th February, 2013. I understand that the awarding authority was requested to seek clarification as to the course. Officials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland that the student referred to by the Deputy has been issued with a decision on 12th April , 2013.
428. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason the National Council for Special Education advised him in June 2011 that there were school placements available for children attending Achieve who were not in receipt of home tuition. [16704/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra429. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason the National Council for Special Education or his Department did not identify a school placement for a child (details supplied) to attend in October 2011; and the reason this was in the best interests of the child. [16705/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 428 and 429 together.
The Deputy will be aware that Home Tuition Scheme provides for a compensatory educational service for children who are unable to attend school for a number of reasons such as chronic illness, or for whom there are no available placements.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is an independent agency with responsibility for determining the appropriate staffing levels to support pupils with special educational needs in mainstream and special schools. The NCSE operates within my Department's established criteria for the allocation of supports to schools and the staffing resources available to my Department. The NCSE also provides support and advice to parents of children with special educational needs who are seeking educational placements for their children and clarifies availability of school placements for the purpose of home tuition applications.
The NCSE identified placements for the children referred to by the Deputy in June 2011. Home tuition was approved for the children for a 4 week period from the start of the 2011/2012 school year as the placements previously identified by NCSE had been taken by other children and were no longer available. One of the special classes for autism approved by NCSE at this time did not open until December 2011 as the school needed additional time to recruit the additional teaching and SNA staff required. Home Tuition was further approved for the child to which the Deputy has referred until the date that the new class physically opened on the basis that he was unable to access placement during this period. This approval was provided notwithstanding that the child had not been enrolled by then and remains not enrolled in the school despite the identification of the placement. The NCSE and the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) remain available to assist the parents of the child in question with school placement options in recognised schools should the parents choose to avail of this assistance.
430. Deputy Peter Mathews asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will outline the position regarding a redundancy package in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 6W; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16711/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraA redundancy payment to the person referred to by the Deputy was issued on 3rd January 2013. This payment was calculated in line with the redundancy arrangements for Special Needs Assistants, which were agreed at a national level in 2006 and the details of which are outlined in my Department's circular 58/2006.
This enhanced redundancy scheme provides for redundancy compensation of twice the statutory terms. The circular states that the period of service reckonable for redundancy payment purposes will only consist of the period of the Special Needs Assistant's continuous service in the school in which he/she was last employed. The schools referenced by the Deputy are separate schools with separate roll numbers and are therefore separate employers. As a result, the redundancy payment to the person referred to by the Deputy was calculated based on the person's service in the school in which she last served.
This redundancy payment is currently the subject of an appeal to the Employment Appeals Tribunal.
431. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the concerns of the Munster Survivors Support Services Limited regarding the statutory fund established for the survivors of institutional child abuse; if he will take these concerns on board; his views on the plans for the fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16717/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra452. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he has met with Munster Survivors Support Services Limited to discuss the particular concerns regarding the residential institutions redress scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16959/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 431 and 452 together.
While I have not met with the Munster Survivors Support Services Limited I am aware of their view that the contributions from the congregations should be given directly to the survivors and that the congregations should only deal directly with survivors on the issue of reparation whether offered in cash or via property. I am aware that other survivors also advocated a simple distribution of the available money rather than the establishment of the Statutory Fund. However the purpose of the Fund is, as advocated in the original motion passed by Dáil Éireann, intended for the support of victims. In this regard, eligible former residents will have a range of needs, with some likely to require more significant interventions than others.
I have recently established the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund (RISF) Board pursuant to the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act, 2012. The Board will oversee the use of the cash contributions of up to €110 million pledged by the religious congregations to support the needs of some 15,000 survivors of residential institutional child abuse, who have received awards from the Residential Institutions Redress Board or equivalent Court awards. Supports across a range of services, including mental health services, health and personal social services and housing services, as well as education services will be available.
The Board held its inaugural meeting on 27th March and has commenced work on the arrangements to be put in place for the operation of the Fund. Further publicity will be undertaken as the work of the Board progresses and a website with detailed information on the Fund's services will be developed.
433. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will address the need for a co-educational secondary school to meet the demand for a non-fee paying local secondary school in an area (details supplied) of County Dublin, in view of the fact that there are currently eight national primary schools in the area, the need for a non-fee paying secondary school was identified in the local area plan, which formed part of the Dún Laoghaire County Council Development Plan 2004; his plans for this urgent development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16728/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, in June of 2011, I announced that 20 new post primary schools are to be established up to 2017 across a number of locations to cater for increasing demographics. This announcement included a proposal to establish a Gaelcholáiste in the general Ballinteer/Stepaside area of South Dublin which will commence in September 2014. An English medium post primary school will commence operation post September 2015. My Department will continue to monitor enrolments in all areas, including the area referred to by the Deputy, to ensure that there is sufficient school accommodation to meet any projected future demand.
434. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he is satisfied that he is meeting the special needs requirements in primary and post primary schools in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16746/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy that this Government is committed to the protection of frontline services for pupils with special educational needs.
The Programme for Government sets out that education will be a priority for this Government and that we will endeavour to protect and enhance the educational experience of children, young people and students.
The continued commitment of this Government to special education provision, at a time when savings are being required across a range of expenditure areas has ensured that children with special educational needs can continue to have access to educational facilities in line with their requirements.
Approximately 15% of the entire budget of my Department – some €1.3 billion – was spent in support of children with Special Educational Needs in 2011/12. The provision for the 2012/13 school year is in line with expenditure last year and shows that despite the current economic difficulties, the overall level of funding for special education has been retained.
In line with this Government's commitment to protect frontline services for pupils with special educational needs:
- 10,575 whole time equivalent (wte) Special Needs Assistant (SNA) posts are being provided for primary, post-primary and special schools for the current school year in order to support the care needs of pupils with disabilities.
- Approximately 9,950 learning support/resource teacher posts, including those provided under the General Allocation Model, are also being provided in primary & post primary schools in order to provide additional teaching support to pupils with special educational needs.
- Over 1,100 teachers are also being provided for in special schools providing teaching to pupils with various disabilities at much reduced pupil: teacher ratios, for example the autism PTR is 6:1 and the moderate general learning disability PTR is 8:1.
- Enhanced levels of school capitation are payable to most special schools and special classes and special School Transport arrangements for pupils with disabilities are provided at a cost of over €60m per year.
- Approximately €1.3m is also provided annually to schools for assistive technology support.
- Early educational intervention is provided for children with autism from 2½ years of age. There are now 76 early intervention classes for children with autism attached to mainstream schools that are funded by the Department. Funding is also provided through the home tuition programme for children with autism who are unable to access placement in an early intervention class.
- An extended school year is also currently available for pupils who have either a severe/profound general learning disability or who have autism.
The level of investment being provided will ensure that provision can continue to be made to provide for the educational requirements of children with special educational needs in mainstream primary and post primary schools and special schools this year, including such schools in Co. Kerry.
My Department has also requested the National Council for Special Education to provide policy advice to the Department, in accordance with its role under the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs (EPSEN) Act, on the appropriate nature and configuration of educational supports which should be provided to schools to support children with special educational needs.
In preparing its advice the NCSE has consulted widely with representative bodies and education partners. The advice from the NCSE is expected in the coming months.
It is intended that the significant resources to support children with Special Educational Needs are deployed to ensure the best possible outcomes for students. The advice will be a key input into achieving this goal.
435. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills the action he has taken to improve the processing system for student grant applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16750/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn external review of Student Universal Support Ireland's business processes is currently being undertaken to inform improvements in the system for the 2013/14 academic year. The review is at an advanced stage and is currently being finalised by Accenture the company carrying out the review.
In advance of the review SUSI is currently undertaking various measures to improve the processing system for 2013/14. In order to reduce the volume of documents required to be supplied by applicants SUSI is currently liaising with other public service organisations such as Revenue and the CAO with a view to putting arrangements in place to facilitate block transfer of data directly from organisation to organisation in compliance with data protection requirements. Also next year it is proposed that applicants will be able to track the progress of their application online.
436. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills the initiatives he has introduced to tackle cyber bullying in all schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16751/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is probably aware, on 29th of January last, Minister Fitzgerald and I published the Action Plan on Bullying which sets out twelve actions to help prevent and tackle bullying in primary and second level schools. I have ring-fenced €500,000 to support implementation of these actions this year.
As part of the Action Plan, new anti-bullying procedures for all primary and second level schools are currently in development in consultation with the education partners. These new procedures will include a specific reference to cyber bullying. These will be issued to all schools at the beginning of the next school year.
Since the Action Plan was launched, the Department of Education and Skills has also supported an awareness raising initiative specifically targeted at young people on the topic of cyber bullying. This campaign was launched as part of Safer Internet Day in February.
Central to promoting safer use of the Internet by young people is a strong commitment to changing behaviour and raising the knowledge, skills and attitudes around preventing, responding to and reporting cyber bullying incidents. Implementation of the Action Plan on Bullying will increase capacity in these areas and build on my Department's current strategy to ensure that internet safety is mainstreamed throughout the school's teaching, learning and other practices. Resources are available on www.webwise.ie and include guidelines on developing Acceptable Use Policies.
437. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide details of a proposed new school (details supplied) in County Dublin; the type of school; the size; the catchment area; the time scale for its construction; and when it expects to start enrolment. [16769/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, in June of 2011, I announced that 20 new primary schools are to be established up to 2017 across a number of locations to cater for increasing demographics. This announcement included a proposal to establish a new primary school in Lucan. The new school will commence operation in September 2013 under the patronage of County Dublin VEC to be located in interim start-up accommodation. My Department is currently working with the Local Authority to source a suitable site for the long term needs of the new school. The enrolment policy for the new school has been developed by the school's management authorities.
438. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department has reviewed the impact statement prepared by Ballyfermot College for Further Education assessing the impact of the new 19:1 student teacher ratio, which is resulting in the redeployment of 18 teaching posts and loss of 10 teaching posts equating to a 20% loss in teaching capacity to the serious detriment of the College’s ongoing capacity to deliver high-quality specialist courses, noting that many of these courses have a proven track record in supporting the employability of BCFE students and which have supported and sustained many domestic small and medium enterprises, including a number of internally-renowned firms in the areas of animation and associated creative and digital fields. [16772/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraBallyfermot College of Further Education is operated as an approved Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) centre by City of Dublin Vocational Education Committee (CDVEC). Resources are allocated by my Department under the PLC programme to CDVEC and further distribution of these resources to colleges under its remit, including Ballyfermot College, is a matter for CDVEC.
As you are aware all VECs will have until next September to plan for the reduced allocation across their schools/colleges so that they can continue to deliver programmes which closely meet the needs of both students and employers. My Department has received an impact statement from CDVEC on the effect of the regression in the PLC pupil teacher ratio on each of its PLC centres including Ballyfermot College. This is currently being considered along with impact statements from a number of other VECs.
