Written Answers Nos. 72-80
72. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to develop a permanent school building at a location (details supplied) in Dublin 2; if it is a temporary site to accommodate another school during redevelopment works; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31712/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn architectural design competition was announced in June 2014 to develop a primary school building on the site referred to by the Deputy. Details of the competition announcement are on my Department's website. There are no plans at present to facilitate temporary accommodation on this site for a school during redevelopment works.
73. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Education and Skills if independently managed community education providers will be considered for a fee waiver during the re-engagement process with Quality and Qualifications Ireland; if this takes account of the difficulty the fee would cause community education providers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31713/14]
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.
74. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she is concerned at the fact that budgets for education and training boards have been reduced by her Department following reviews of VEC-ETB bank accounts; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that in this review, moneys that were taken into account which were exclusively for school use, that is, school trips and tours, parents' associations and so on; her views on whether the existence of moneys cannot justify a reduction in funding to ETBs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31721/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy appears to be referring to the arrangement in 2013, where in Budget 2013 it was decided to reduce the non-pay grant to Vocational Education Committees (VECs)/ Education and Training Boards (ETBs) by €13.2 million. This decision took account of the capacity of VECs/ETBs to utilise cash balances on a once off basis.
In 2014, this reduction in exchequer funding was mostly reinstated. However due to other factors, mainly the ending of the contribution paid by local authorities, which ceased with the commencement of the Education and Training Boards Act 2013, and a reduction in receipts raised locally by the ETBs themselves (e.g. in relation to night classes) the Department was not in a position to fully restore the non-pay grant. However, ETBs are required to provide the same level of service in 2014 as in 2013 and a letter to each ETB will issue shortly in this regard.
With regard to funds collected for school trips or by parents' associations, it is the Department's view that such funds should be used only for the purposes for which they were collected.
75. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason the Kildare-Wicklow Education and Training Board received no funding for SOLAS activities and that this programme is administered in Athlone or Waterford instead of being administered from Naas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31730/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe reform of the further education and training (FET) sector envisages a key role for education and training boards (ETBs) in relation to the future delivery of FET in an integrated manner. Part of this involves the transfer of training centres from SOLAS to ETBs. 7 training centres and their staff transferred to ETBs on 1 January 2014 and the remaining 12 training centres transferred to 7 ETBs on 1 July 2014. Each training centre moved to the ETB in whose functional area the centre is located. 5 ETBs, including Kildare and Wicklow ETB, did not receive a training centre.
There has been extensive discussion on this matter between ETBs, SOLAS and the Department. While recognising that the Education and Training Boards Act 2013 provides for all ETBs having training functions, the paramount consideration for my Department is the continuity of training services for learners.
An agreed position for 2014 is in place whereby ETBs with training centres retain primary responsibility for training and continue to provide services to areas which do not have training centres. There is a process underway to consider the position for 2015 and beyond and a number of options are being examined.
76. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to provide capital budgets in order to support the development of SOLAS programmes by education and training boards across the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31732/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraSOLAS currently receives a small capital budget which relates to the training centre network formerly managed by FÁS and now transferred to the Education and Training Boards (ETBs). This funding is now allocated by SOLAS as appropriate to the relevant ETBs managing the training centres. While there is no dedicated capital budget for further education (former VEC) programmes a small amount of funding is allocated annually to ETBs in response to applications for funding for emergency works. In 2013 a total of €736,000 in such funding was allocated.
The recent FET strategy suggested that a dedicated capital funding provision should be a feature of allocations to the ETBs in order to support changes set out in the strategy and the development of further education and training services to learners. This will be considered in the context of the overall capital funding needs of the education and training sector.
77. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will investigate the safety issues in a school (details supplied) in County Kildare and if she will provide a positive resolution to the problems involved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31786/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe criteria used for the allocation of teachers to primary schools is published annually on the website of the Department of Education and Skills. 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 schedule operates in a clear and transparent manner and treats all similar types of schools equally irrespective of location. It currently operates on the basis of a general average of 1 classroom teacher for every 28 pupils, with lower thresholds for DEIS Band 1 schools. It includes the provision where schools experiencing rapid increases in enrolment can apply for additional permanent mainstream posts on developing grounds. In addition, a staffing appeals process is available to schools, including a new criterion for 2014/15 aimed at schools which make a significant contribution to absorbing demographic growth. The staffing arrangements, including detail of the appeals process, are set out in Circular 0007/2014 which is available on the Department website.
The school referred to by the Deputy submitted an application for consideration by the Primary Staffing Appeals Board at its June 2014 meeting. The Appeals Board determined that the appeal did not satisfy the published criteria as set out in Circular 0007/2014. The Appeal Board operates independently of the Minister and the Department and its decision is final.
Day to day running of a school is a matter for the Board of Management of each school. Schools are required to take all reasonable precautions to ensure the safety of pupils and to participate in supervising pupils when the pupils are on the school premises, during school time and/or on school activities.
The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) is the national statutory body with responsibility for ensuring that health and safety requirements are met by all employers, including schools. The Authority also provides information and advice to organisations to assist them in ensuring that their responsibilities in respect of health and safety in the workplace are met.
The Health and Safety Authority in conjunction with the Kilkenny Education Centre issued guidance to all primary schools in relation to managing safety, health and welfare. These guidelines were developed following consultation with relevant stakeholders. This guidance is published on the website of the Health and Safety Authority.
78. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason the provision of special needs assistants was reduced for the school year 2014-15 from four to two in a school (details supplied) in County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31797/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) for allocating a quantum of Special Needs Assistant (SNA) support for each school annually taking into account the assessed care needs of children qualifying for SNA support. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support. The criteria by which SNA support is allocated to pupils is set out in my Department's Circular 0030/2014.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) have allocated over 10,900 Special Needs Assistant (SNA) posts in schools to support students with special needs for the 2014/2015 school year. The exact numbers of SNAs will become clear when enrolments of students in mainstream schools are finalised in September. All students who are eligible to access SNA support and for whom an application has been made, will have this support in place in September.
The deployment of SNAs within schools is a matter for the individual Principal/Board of Management. SNAs should be deployed by the school in a manner which best meets the care support requirements of the children enrolled in the school for whom SNA support has been allocated. It is a matter for schools to allocate support as required, and on the basis of individual need, which allows schools flexibility in how the SNA support is utilised.
It is important to note that each school's allocation of SNA support can change from year to year and may be increased or decreased as students who qualify for SNA support enrol or leave a school. New students with care needs may, or may not, enrol to replace students who have left, for example, or SNA allocations may be decreased where a child's care needs have diminished over time. There is always a significant churn of posts within the system.
Details of the mechanism for schools/ parents to appeal a decision in relation to the allocation of SNA support by the NCSE are available on the NCSE website at www.ncse.ie.
79. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding access to a special needs assistant in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Longford; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31829/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) for allocating a quantum of Special Needs Assistant (SNA) support for each school annually taking into account the assessed care needs of children qualifying for SNA support. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support. The criteria by which SNA support is allocated to pupils is set out in my Department's Circular 0030/2014.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) have allocated over 10,900 Special Needs Assistant (SNA) posts in schools to support students with special needs for the 2014/2015 school year. The exact numbers of SNAs will become clear when enrolments of students in mainstream schools are finalised in September. All students who are eligible to access SNA support and for whom an application has been made, will have this support in place in September.
The deployment of SNAs within schools is a matter for the individual Principal/Board of Management. SNAs should be deployed by the school in a manner which best meets the care support requirements of the children enrolled in the school for whom SNA support has been allocated. It is a matter for schools to allocate support as required, and on the basis of individual need, which allows schools flexibility in how the SNA support is utilised.
It is important to note that each school's allocation of SNA support can change from year to year and may be increased or decreased as students who qualify for SNA support enrol or leave a school. New students with care needs may, or may not, enrol to replace students who have left, for example, or SNA allocations may be decreased where a child's care needs have diminished over time. There is always a significant churn of posts within the system.
Details of the mechanism for schools/ parents to appeal a decision in relation to the allocation of SNA support by the NCSE are available on the NCSE website at www.ncse.ie.
80. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding school catchment boundaries in respect of a school (details supplied) in County Westmeath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31833/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the terms of my Department's Post Primary School Transport Scheme children are eligible for school transport where they reside not less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest education centre as determined by my Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language. 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. In general, existing eligible and catchment boundary children including those who are not attending their nearest post primary centre retain their transport eligibility for the duration of their post primary education cycle provided there is no change to their current circumstances.
Siblings of these children and other children who are not attending their nearest school may apply for school transport on a concessionary basis only in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Post Primary School Transport Scheme. The terms of the School Transport Schemes are applied equitably on a national basis.
