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Tuesday, 27 May 2014

Written Answers Nos. 234 - 249

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Ceisteanna (234)

Derek Keating

Ceist:

234. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will examine a difficult situation (details supplied) whereby a young boy who has moderate learning disabilities cannot find appropriate educational accommodation and is currently in a school that caters for children with mild intellectual disabilities and, therefore, is not receiving any of the related Health Service Executive services; and if he will agree this matter is now urgent. [22513/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

My Department provides for a range of placement options for pupils with special educational needs in order to ensure that all pupils can receive a school placement. Many pupils with special educational needs will be able to attend a local mainstream school, whereas for pupils who have needs which require more specialist interventions, special class and special school placements are provided for. The enrolment of a child to 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 Educational Welfare Services of the Child and Family Agency is the statutory agency which can assist parents who are experiencing difficulty in securing a school place for their child. They will try to help parents to find a school placement if their child has been unable to secure a school placement to date. The Educational Welfare Services, Child and Family Agency, can be contacted at 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. The NCSE also recently published a Guide for Parents and Guardians of Children and Young People with Special Educational Needs on Choosing a School. This guide is also available at www.ncse.ie. Where a parent seeks to enrol their child in a school and that 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. The availability of Health related services are a matter for the HSE and questions relating to such services can be addressed to my colleague the Minister for Health.

Schools Building Projects Status

Ceisteanna (235)

Derek Keating

Ceist:

235. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on the progress being made for the provision of a new 1,000 pupil school for a school (details supplied) in County Dublin, in view of the fact that the board and the design team have been waiting for a stage 1 meeting for the past six months and the school is currently unable to provide for the total number of students enrolled for September 2014, including some of the existing students who are currently enrolled, and this situation is therefore very urgent for the school; and the way he will help to progress this issue. [22515/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The project referred to by the Deputy is currently at an early stage of Architectural Planning. The Design Team were appointed in August 2013. Following a request by the Board of Management the Schedule of Accommodation has been revised and was recently issued to the school. The Design Team are working on finalising the Pre Stage 1 documents for presentation to my Department. This meeting is scheduled for mid-June 2014. Upon satisfactory completion of Stage 1 and subject to no issues arising, the project will proceed to Stage 2(a) - Developed Sketch Design. This project is on the five year building programme to proceed to Tender and Construction in 2014/15.

School Accommodation

Ceisteanna (236)

Simon Harris

Ceist:

236. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Education and Skills the action his Department has taken to date to ensure that all children in an area (details supplied) have a school place for the school year 2014-15; when a review of accommodation needs in this area will be complete; how soon following this review he expects to make a decision regarding additional classes for the schools in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22538/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Deputy will be aware that 15 additional classrooms were put in place in the area to which he refers for the 2013/2014 school year onward following the completion of two new 16 classroom school buildings for a Gaelscoil and an Educate Together school. Devolved funding has also been made available for the provision of a further 5 mainstream classrooms to cater for accommodation needs in the area in 2013, 2014 and onwards. The breakdown of this accommodation provision is:

- St. Laurence's N.S. - 2 classrooms

- St. Patrick's N.S. - 2 classrooms

- St. Kevin's N.S. - 1 classroom

I am aware that the schools in the area are engaging with each other in the context of addressing enrolment demand for September 2014. My Department will continue to keep the matter under review.

Adult Education

Ceisteanna (237, 238, 239)

Gerry Adams

Ceist:

237. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Education and Skills when the decision was made to close the community training centre, Mullaghcrone, Drogheda, County Louth; the reason that the decision was taken to close this service that caters for 48 service users at present; if any consultation took place between his Department and the experienced staff at the centre; the date on which the centre is scheduled to close; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22543/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Gerry Adams

Ceist:

238. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Education and Skills if Louth and Meath Education and Training Board was consulted as part of the decision to terminate services at the community training centre, Mullaghcrone, Drogheda, County Louth; if Louth and Meath Education and Training Board was identified as the replacement for the current services at Drogheda; the date on which this consultation took place; if the current community training centre was part of the consultation at this stage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22544/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Gerry Adams

Ceist:

239. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will reverse the decision made to close the community training centre, Drogheda, County Louth noting that the centre has been in operation for 30 years and provides an invaluable service to 48 persons between the ages of 16 and 21 years old; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22545/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 237 to 239, inclusive, together.

These issues are operational matters for SOLAS. I have made enquires and I am informed that the final decision to cease funding of Drogheda Community Training Centre (CTC) was made by SOLAS in April 2014. This decision was taken following a review of learning outcomes and value for money. Funding for Drogheda CTC will cease as of 8 May 2015. As the Board of Management of Drogheda Community Training Centre is responsible for the overall governance of the centre, the issues regarding the centre have been regularly discussed with them and this includes formal correspondence in March 2013 in which SOLAS notified the Board of Management of their intention to consider the cessation of funding for the centre. Louth Meath Education and Training Board (LMETB) were advised of the difficulties relating to the centre as part of the transformation and amalgamation of SOLAS regional training into the Education and Training Boards.

I am also informed that training for early school leavers will be reviewed with a view to enhancing provision in the Drogheda area. Early school leavers who would normally have been referred to Drogheda CTC will receive priority referral to other suitable education or training programmes in the Drogheda area provided by or supported by LMETB. This includes programmes that will be transferred to the ETB by virtue of the transfer of the FÁS North East Training Centre on 1 July 2014. Current learners will be supported to complete existing programmes. Over the next 12 months SOLAS Training North East, in conjunction with Louth Meath Education and Training Board, LMETB, will engage with all relevant stakeholders with a view to further enhancing provision for early school leavers in the Drogheda area.

School Accommodation

Ceisteanna (240)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Ceist:

240. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education and Skills the progress to date with providing a school (details supplied) in County Galway with a new school building; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22566/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

As the Deputy will be aware, the Department's priority is to target its limited capital budget for the provision of additional school accommodation in identified areas of demographic growth. Major school building projects, including for the school referred to by the Deputy, that are not included in the current Five Year Construction Programme, will continue to be progressed subject to available funding into Architectural Planning. My Department is currently reviewing the accommodation brief for the school concerned and will be in contact with the school in this regard shortly.

School Staffing

Ceisteanna (241, 272)

John McGuinness

Ceist:

241. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will insist on the teaching posts being maintained at a school (details supplied) in County Kilkenny in view of the fact that the number of pupils is set to increase in September 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22571/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Charlie McConalogue

Ceist:

272. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will uphold an appeal made by a primary school (details supplied) and appoint an additional teacher from September 2014 instead of September 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22952/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 241 and 272 together.

The criteria used for the allocation of teachers to primary schools is published annually. The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September. The staffing arrangements for the 2014/15 school year are set out in Circular 0007/2014 which is available on the Department website. The staffing schedule includes the provision whereby schools experiencing rapid increases in enrolment can apply for additional permanent mainstream posts on developing grounds, using projected enrolment for September 2014.

In addition, the staffing process includes an appeals mechanism for schools to submit an appeal under certain criteria to an independent Appeals Board. The Appeals Board operates independently of the Department and its decision is final. The school referred to by the Deputy achieved sufficient enrolment in September 2013 to maintain its current mainstream staffing level of Principal and two classroom teachers for the 2014/15 school year. The school has not submitted an appeal to the Primary Staffing Appeals Board to date.

School Funding

Ceisteanna (242)

Jonathan O'Brien

Ceist:

242. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the fact that students at a school (details supplied) in County Galway have no access to on-site sports facilities and that their fundraising efforts have raised significant finance for building a sports hall; and if part funding will be provided in order that they may have a sports hall on site. [22594/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

My Department devolved very significant funding to the school, referred to by the Deputy, in 2010 and 2011 to provide additional general classrooms, specialist rooms and ancillary accommodation to meet the schools accommodation needs. As the Deputy is aware, the primary aim at the core of the Five Year Construction Plan is focused on meeting additional demographic demands to ensure that every child will have access to a physical school place and that our school system is in a position to cope with increasing pupil numbers. The Plan prioritises major school projects in areas where future significant demographic changes have been identified. In that context, my Department is not in a position to prioritise funding for the sports facilities in question and I am not in a position to provide an indicative timeframe for the progression of the project at this time.

School Accommodation

Ceisteanna (243)

Jonathan O'Brien

Ceist:

243. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of schools with no on-site sports facilities. [22595/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The specific information sought by the Deputy is not readily available. However, the Deputy can be assured that my Department fully recognises the key role of physical exercise within the school environment and continues to respond to the need to improve PE facilities for all pupils attending schools within the constraints of the available funding. I wish to advise the Deputy that the Physical Education curriculum has been designed on the basis that facilities in schools may vary. Many primary schools have a general purpose room and practically all schools have outdoor play areas which are used for teaching different aspects of the P.E. programme. A similar situation with sports halls and outdoor facilities applies at second level. In addition, many schools use adjacent local facilities, including public parks, playing fields and swimming pools.

The provision of playspace, where site conditions and circumstances allow, is one of the issues considered in the architectural design of new schools and major extensions. The level of facilities, including playspace, that can be provided in schools will therefore vary depending on the extent of classroom accommodation needed for the school. A suite of technical guidance documents is available on my Department's website (www.education.ie) to assist design teams in best practice in the design and development of projects and to encourage them to take a complete design team approach from project conception. These documents cover all aspects of the development of a building project for both internal and external works.

My Department's design guidelines for schools include guidance in the provision of P.E. Halls, general purpose rooms and outdoor hard play areas such as basketball courts. Other P.E. facilities, e.g. pitches are provided, where appropriate, and in the context of available resources, as part of the Department's school building programme. In the context of my Department's co-operation with local authorities in identifying suitable sites for schools, the location of sporting facilities is one factor taken into account in locating schools. The Deputy may be aware of my Department's role in developing shared community facilities in the Fingal County Council area, which has made facilities available to the wider community on a shared basis with the school.

Teacher Redeployment

Ceisteanna (244)

Jonathan O'Brien

Ceist:

244. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a person (details supplied) in County Donegal will be placed on the panel; the reasons she has received two different sets of advice from his Department regarding her ability to meet the earnings threshold; the appeals process open to her; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22596/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The core function of the redeployment arrangements is to facilitate the redeployment of all surplus permanent teachers to other schools that have vacancies. Thereafter, schools are required under the panel arrangements to fill permanent vacancies from supplementary panels comprised of eligible fixed-term (temporary/substitute) and part-time teachers. Arrangements for panel access for fixed-term (temporary), substitute and part-time teachers to the Supplementary Redeployment Panel for the 2014/15 school year are set out in Circular 0057/2013 which is available on the Department website. Applicants must meet all of the published criteria in order to gain access to the Supplementary Redeployment Panel and there is no appeal process. I understand that the teacher made enquiries with my Department relating to her earnings at a point in time. However based on her total earnings in 2013 she failed to meet the salary criterion relating to earnings accumulated in 2013. She is therefore ineligible to be included on the Supplementary Redeployment Panel for the 2014/15 school year. The responsibility for meeting the requirements of the circular rests with the teacher.

Teachers' Remuneration

Ceisteanna (245)

Timmy Dooley

Ceist:

245. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a teacher who was in receipt of an allowance for teaching through the medium of the Irish language in the gaelscoil in Tullamore is no longer in receipt of the allowance now that the teacher is a permanent member of staff in another gaelscoil, (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22606/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I understand that officials from my Department were in contact with the person referred to by the Deputy and that the matter is now resolved.

School Enrolments

Ceisteanna (246)

Jonathan O'Brien

Ceist:

246. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a child (details supplied) in Dublin 4 has been refused a place in a local school due to the fact that the school has changed the admissions procedure to prioritise access for daughters of past pupils and girls attending Belmont primary school meaning the child does not qualify for a place; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the ability of schools to discriminate against children in this manner puts these children at a massive disadvantage when it comes to securing a school place; that his proposed changes to the admissions system will still allow for discrimination in this manner; the steps he will take to address this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22611/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

It is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998. In this regard a Board of Management may find it necessary to restrict enrolment to children from a particular area or a particular age group or on the basis of some other criterion. The criteria to be applied by schools in such circumstances are a matter for the schools themselves. This selection process and the enrolment policy on which it is based must be non-discriminatory and must be applied fairly in respect of all applicants. Under section 15 (2) (d) of the Education Act 1998, each school is legally obliged to publish its enrolment policy.

Section 29 of the Education Act 1998, provides parents with an appeal process where a board of management of a school or a person acting on behalf of the Board refuses enrolment to a student. 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 either the relevant Educational Training Board or to the Secretary General of my Department. The Child and Family Agency is the statutory agency which can assist parents who are experiencing difficulty in securing a school place for their child. The Agency can be contacted at 01 6352854 or by e-mail at info@tusla.ie. The Deputy will be aware that the Government recently gave approval for drafting the Education (Admissions to Schools) Bill 2014. My aim in bringing forward legislative proposals in relation to school admission is to improve the admissions process and to ensure that the way schools decide on applications is structured, fair and transparent.

Education and Training Boards

Ceisteanna (247)

Terence Flanagan

Ceist:

247. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide some background information regarding the takeover of an organisation (details supplied) in Dublin 13 by SOLAS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22623/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Funding is provided by my Department, through SOLAS, for further education and training programmes, including adult literacy. The literacy programme is delivered locally through the network of Education and Training Boards (ETBs). I understand from City of Dublin ETB that an adult literacy service is provided by the ETB in the centre referred to by the Deputy. There is no question of SOLAS taking over the centre. The ETB will continue to have responsibility for the operation of the literacy service. The extent of the literacy service to be provided and the organisation of classes in any centre is a matter for the ETB.

School Funding

Ceisteanna (248)

John O'Mahony

Ceist:

248. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a school (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive funding to carry out works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22653/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is not in receipt of any application or proposal from the school in question. It is open to the Board of Management to submit an application to my Department for consideration. Any application received will be considered in the context of competing demands on my Departments capital budget: the main priority of which is the provision of essential additional classroom accommodation to meet increasing demographic requirements.

Weight of Schoolbags

Ceisteanna (249)

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

Ceist:

249. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Skills in reference to the report by a working group in 1998, which recommended that no child carry over 10% of his or her body weight, yet children are carrying books and backpacks three times their weight, the reason this is not implemented in practice in all educational institutions here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22658/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The report of the Working Group on the Weight of School Bags recognised that many of the solutions to this issue belong at local school level and made various recommendations in this regard, such as optimum use of storage facilities, developing pupil organisation skills and timetabling. My Department issued circulars to all primary and post-primary schools in 2005 to highlight the potential health hazard of overweight schoolbags and to outline a range of local measures that could be put in place to help alleviate the problem. The circulars referred to the recommendations of the report. It is a matter for each individual school to determine which particular measures are most suited to its individual circumstances and to how the school concerned organises teaching and learning. The circulars (PC 13/05 and M35/05) and the report of the Working Group on the Weight of School Bags are available on my Department's website at www.education.ie.

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