Written Answers Nos. 81-90
81. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Education and Skills when she will approve funding to improve a secondary school playing pitch (details supplied) in County Longford; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31834/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra82. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will approve funding for sports facilities in respect of a school (details supplied) in County Longford; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31835/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 81 and 82 together.
An all-in devolved grant was recently approved for the second school to which the Deputy refers in order to provide two additional resource classrooms. This decision was conveyed to the school authorities by letter in May 2014.
As the Deputy will be aware, my Department's over-riding objective is to ensure that every child has access to a physical school place and that our school system is in a position to cope with increasing pupil numbers. This will continue to be the main focus for capital investment by my Department in the coming years. While my Department will continue to provide additional and improved classroom accommodation in our schools, it is not currently in a position within available funding to consider applications from schools for upgrading works to playing pitches and the provision of sporting facilities.
83. Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she has granted funding for emergency works required by a school (details supplied) in County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31856/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe management authority of the school referred to by the Deputy submitted an application for funding under my Department's Emergency Works Scheme for yard works for their school building.
As the scope of works for which funding was sought is outside the terms of the scheme it cannot be considered for funding. The school authority has been informed of this decision.
84. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a fee waiver for QQI re-engagement will be applied to community education organisations that operate on a not-for-profit basis in order that they can continue to offer accredited courses to learners in their communities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31870/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraQuality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) is due to publish its policy in relation to re-engagement with its providers shortly. Re-engagement, or the formal agreement of quality assurance (QA) procedures with QQI, is a requirement for legacy providers, such as those referred to by the Deputy, under the Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training ) Act, 2012. It will happen only once for a provider; thereafter the provider will have to undergo periodic review of the effectiveness of its QA procedures.
The re-engagement process will allow providers to demonstrate their capacity in respect of the development, ownership and implementation of their QA procedures, including the development of programmes and assessment of learners.
The fees to be applied to legacy providers seeking to re-engage with QQI have yet to be determined. QQI's proposals in that regard, and any associated issues, will be considered when they are made.
85. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position of her Department in relation to the application made to the forward planning section for a new 800-pupil Gaelcholáiste in Ballincollig, County Cork; if her attention has been drawn to the pressing need for this development in view of the demand for places over the coming years to cater for the students from the four Gaelscoileanna in the area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31871/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm to the Deputy that the Department recently received a submission concerning the establishment of an all-Irish post-primary school to serve the Ballincollig area.
The Department's current five-year construction plan is focused on meeting 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 accommodate increasing pupil numbers.
The submission in question will, therefore, be considered in the context of the overall need for additional school places and or new schools to meet demographic demands into the future.
86. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding school transport in respect of children (details supplied) in County Wexford. [31874/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the terms of my Department's Primary School Transport Scheme children are eligible for transport where they reside not less than 3.2 kilometres from and are attending their nearest national school as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language. An eligible child for whom no transport service is available may, following an application for transport within the prescribed time limits, receive a Remote Area Grant towards the cost of private transport arrangements.
Children who are not eligible for school transport may apply to Bus Éireann for transport on a concessionary basis only subject to a number of conditions that are detailed in the scheme.While it is the prerogative of parents to send their children to the school of their choice, eligibility for school transport is to the nearest school.
The terms of the School Transport Schemes are applied equitably on a national basis.
87. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Skills the steps she will take to ensure that the exemptions and waiver provided for in specified circumstances pursuant to section 80 of the Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Act 2012 applies to QQ1, formerly FETAC, re-engagement for community education organisations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31908/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraQuality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) is due to publish its policy in relation to re-engagement with its providers shortly. Re-engagement, or the formal agreement of quality assurance (QA) procedures with QQI, is a requirement for legacy providers, such as those referred to by the Deputy, under the Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training ) Act, 2012. It will happen only once for a provider; thereafter the provider will have to undergo periodic review of the effectiveness of its QA procedures.
The re-engagement process will allow providers to demonstrate their capacity in respect of the development, ownership and implementation of their QA procedures, including the development of programmes and assessment of learners.
The fees to be applied to legacy providers seeking to re-engage with QQI have yet to be determined. QQI's proposals in that regard, and any associated issues, will be considered when they are made.
88. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Education and Skills when funding will be provided for a school (details supplied) in County Cork for the prefab that it has no option but to install; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31924/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, a new school building for the gaelscoil in question is included on my Department's Five Year plan to go to construction in 2015/2016.
I also wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has been working in conjunction with Cork County Council towards securing a permanent site to meet the needs of the gaelscoil concerned. In that regard, potential options have been identified and my Department is progressing the current preferred option. However the acquisition of the preferred site option is subject to the completion of a process which is currently ongoing.
More recently, the gaelscoil concerned submitted an application for additional accommodation to replace some of the existing classrooms. This application is being considered and the gaelscoil will be advised of the outcome in the coming days.
89. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which she and her Department have explored the possibility of the acquisition of further religious-held property under the terms of the residential institutions redress scheme as a means of addressing the current chronic shortage of social housing; if she will provide a full account of any such plans in this regard; the targets in terms of the number of units; and the timelines that have been set for the delivery of units through this approach. [31964/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraResponsibility for social housing policy is primarily a matter for my colleague the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government. In that regard, I understand that a new Social Housing Strategy is to be published by Q3 2014 and that in order to assist in its development, the Housing Agency has invited submissions by 31 July 2014.
Under the provisions of the 2002 Indemnity Agreement between the Government and CORI, representing the religious congregations who managed residential institutions, the congregations agreed a contribution of €128 million by way of cash contributions, funding for counselling services and property transfers.
In response to the call for further substantial contributions following publication of the Ryan Report, the Congregations offered additional voluntary contributions of cash and properties, which they have valued at €348.51m. €110 million of cash contributions are being provided to the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund (Caranua). The proposed voluntary property transfers are to various State bodies and voluntary/community organisations. In that regard I understand that a congregation has completed the transfer of two properties to social housing organisations.
My predecessor has repeatedly asked congregations to enhance their contributions towards the cost of the response to abuse and I reiterate that call now. While the Government's preference would be for additional cash contributions, further property offers could be considered, including any that would be suitable for social housing.
90. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding Portakabin classrooms at a school (details supplied) in Dublin 13; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31973/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy that my Department provided grant aid of €250,000 to the school to which he refers in May 2009 to purchase a new prefabricated unit. It would be expected that this accommodation would still be in good condition.
I also wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has provided grant aid amounting to €1.965 million to the school in recent years which has facilitated considerable improvement works. The projects undertaken include toilet and window replacement, mechanical and electrical upgrade, provision of ramps and roof replacement.
