Finian McGrath
Ceist:450. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the resource hours transfer (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37730/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraSpecial Educational Needs Service Provision
Ceisteanna (450)
Freagraí scríofa
I wish to advise the Deputy that under the model of education provision which is currently in place in Ireland, resources and supports are allocated to schools to provide for the education and care of children enrolled in those schools. Resources are not allocated directly to pupils. All schools have been allocated additional teaching resources to provide for children with special educational or learning support needs through general allocation processes. Additionally, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) allocates additional resource teaching hours to schools for children who have been assessed within the low incidence, or more complex, category of special need, as defined by my Department's Circular Sp Ed 02/05. The NCSE operates within my Department's established criteria for the allocation of Special Education supports and the staffing resources available to my Department. The allocations to schools are likely to change each year as qualifying children leave a school and are replaced by qualifying children enrolling in the school. for each qualified child enrolling in the school, a new application is required so that the overall school's allocation can properly reflect the needs of all qualified children. Schools who wish to make an application for additional low incidence resource teaching hours may make such an application to the NCSE. The NCSE are continuing to process applications for Resource Teaching support for the 2014/15 school year, where the necessary supporting documentation was not made available for the 26 March 2014 deadline. Decisions in relation to the remaining applications received by 22 September 2014 are expected to issue to schools in mid October. I also wish to advise the Deputy that the National Council for Special Education published its Report on a Proposed New Model for Allocating Teachers for Students with Special Educational Needs on 18th June 2014. One of the principal recommendations of the policy advice is that a new model should be developed for the allocation of additional teaching resources to mainstream schools, based on the profiled need of each school, which will ensure that a more equitable resource allocation system will be in place for students. To assist with the process of considering the report recommendations, my Department has begun to gather information required to develop the proposed new model. This will review how the proposed model will impact on schools. There will also be full and comprehensive consultation with stakeholders and education partners, including the parents of special needs children.
School Closures
Ceisteanna (451)
Finian McGrath
Ceist:451. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on an educational centre (details supplied) in Dublin 9; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37731/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I wish to advise that when the proposed sale of the property referred to by the Deputy was brought to the attention of the Department, my officials met with the Rosminians (Institute of Charity). I can advise the Deputy that my Department has sought and has been provided with assurances from the Rosminians (Institute of Charity) in relation to the future use of the campus and securing the interests of the educational provision for the children and continuity of existing services there.
Schools Building Projects Status
Ceisteanna (452)
Finian McGrath
Ceist:452. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on an educational centre (details supplied) in Dublin 9; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37732/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
My Department is currently finalising the accommodation brief for the proposed building project at the school referred to by the Deputy. The next stage involves the commencement of the architectural planning process to progress the project. In the meantime, my Department is in ongoing contact with the school in relation to its interim accommodation needs.
Teacher Training Provision
Ceisteanna (453)
Finian McGrath
Ceist:453. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding teacher training (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37733/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Section 22 (1) of the Education Act 1998 states the primacy of the teacher in the education and personal development of students in schools. The classroom teacher is responsible for educating all pupils in his/her class, including any pupil with a special educational need. SNAs are recruited specifically to assist in the care needs of pupils with disabilities in an educational context. At pre-service level, the learning outcomes for graduate teachers, set out by the Teaching Council, encompass the standards of teaching, knowledge, skill and competence together with the values, attitudes and professional dispositions which are central to the practice of teaching. They include the ability to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the role of teachers as educational leaders who contribute to creating and sustaining learning communities in their classrooms and in their schools, strategies for developing positive relationships and to communicate effectively with colleagues and to use appropriate class management and organisational skills to cater for a range of classroom situations. In addition my Department funds the national induction programme for teachers (NIPT) which provides an interactive workshop that focusses on the classroom environment and planning to support inclusion. An integral part of this is awareness of the teacher's role and relationship with the special needs assistant in the classroom. My Department also provides for a comprehensive system of continuing professional development (CPD) for teachers in the area of special educational needs, including working with SNAs. Central to this is the Special Education Support Service (SESS) which was established in September 2003. The brief of the SESS is to enhance the quality of learning and teaching of students with special educational needs through the provision of CPD and support for teachers in mainstream schools, primary and post-primary special schools, and special classes.
Special Educational Needs Service Provision
Ceisteanna (454)
Finian McGrath
Ceist:454. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding resource hours (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37734/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I wish to advise the Deputy that some €1.3 billion will be spent in support of children with Special Educational Needs this year, which represents approximately 15% of my Department's budget This provision is in line with expenditure in recent years and shows that despite the current economic difficulties, funding for special education has not been cut. This Government has been resolutely committed to protecting the level of investment being made to support children with special educational needs at a time when there has been a requirement to make expenditure reductions across a range of areas. It is an area of spending which has been prioritised above most other areas by this Government, despite the enormous pressures on all areas of public spending. The level of resources being devoted to supporting children with Special Educational Needs has been protected, and in some areas has been increased in 2014, to take into account increased demand and demographic growth. In December 2013 the Government announced that it was increasing the number of Special Needs Assistants available for allocation to schools, to reflect both demographic growth and increased demand for SNA support. The provision for SNA support has been increased by 390 posts to 10.965 posts available for allocation. This Government has also increased the overall number of resource teaching posts available to schools in recent years. Some 480 additional resource teaching posts were provided for the 2012/13 school year and an additional 480 posts have been made available for the 2014/15 year, in order to meet growing demand from schools for low incidence special educational needs support. No reduction was made to the amount of resource teaching time allocated to schools, per pupil in the 2013/14 school year, and no reduction is being made for the 2014/15 school year. There are now more additional resource teachers/learning support teachers in our schools than at any time previously. The General Allocation Model, which allocates over 4,200 Learning Support/Resource Teachers for all primary schools, is also now updated annually, based on the number of mainstream teaching posts in schools in the previous year, and is therefore updated annually to reflect growth in school size. Whereas I am not in a position to anticipate any future budgetary decisions or considerations, with regard to provision of resource teaching time, I can confirm that this Government will continue to do everything possible to protect the provision of services for children with special educational needs, and where possible to attempt to bring about improvements to services. Finally, I wish to advise the Deputy that the National Council for Special Education recently published its Report on a Proposed New Model for Allocating Teachers for Students with Special Educational Needs. This report is currently being considered by my Department and will assist my Department in considering how the resource teaching allocations process may be developed or improved for schools in the future.
Broadband Service Provision
Ceisteanna (455)
Charlie McConalogue
Ceist:455. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the provision of broadband for a school (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37759/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Under the Schools Broadband Access Programme the Department provides for the supply of internet connectivity for all recognised primary schools. A new framework was put in place in 2012 for the provision of this service, as a result of this the number of service providers has been expanded from 6 to 13 with the aim of ensuring that satisfactory solutions would be awarded to all schools. Where schools, such as Trentagh National School, were awarded slow DSL solutions or satellite solutions, the contracts were for one year only and the Department continues to re-tender these schools and to liaise with framework members in order to get these schools a higher speed solution. A further mini competition will take place before the end of this year and Trentagh National School will be offered out in that competition.
Student Grant Scheme Eligibility
Ceisteanna (456)
Derek Nolan
Ceist:456. Deputy Derek Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to amend the current reckonable income criteria for postgraduate Student Universal Support Ireland applicants who live with a boyfriend or partner, as these couples do not benefit from the tax credits afforded to married couples but are nonetheless deemed as a single entity for the purposes of measuring their income; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37772/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I understand the Deputy is referring to a cohabiting independent mature student and how they are assessed under the Student Grant Scheme. For student grants purposes, students are categorised according to their circumstances either as students dependent on parents or a legal guardian, or as independent mature students. A student may be assessed as an independent mature student if he or she has attained the age of 23 on the 1st of January of the year of first entry to an approved course or of re-entry following a break in studies of at least three years and is not ordinarily resident with his/her parents from the previous October. The reckonable income of an independent mature student is that of the candidate and of his or her spouse, civil partner or cohabitant where appropriate. The issue of tax credits afforded to couples who are not married is a matter for the Office of the Revenue Commissioners. I have no plans at present to change the eligibility arrangements in respect of independent mature students.
Special Educational Needs Staff Remuneration
Ceisteanna (457)
Billy Kelleher
Ceist:457. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Education and Skills in view of the salary increase for teachers entering since 2011, if she will also be reversing the pay reductions imposed on special needs assistants at that time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37773/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Public Service Stability Agreement 2013 – 2016 (Haddington Road Agreement) provides that revised salary scales shall be prepared for same grade entrants to the public service (including for example both teachers and special needs assistants) to incorporate the revision of salary scales introduced in 2011, in order to address the imbalance between those who entered the Public Service since 2011 and those who entered before that date. In this regard, following negotiations held under Section 2.31 of the Haddington Road Agreement, my Department issued circular 0058/2014 outlining changes to the incremental salary scale and part-time rates for special needs assistants who entered the public service on or after 1 January 2011. This Circular is available by clicking on the following link to my Department's website:https://www.education.ie/en/Circulars-and-Forms/Active-Circulars/cl0058_2014.pdf
School Funding
Ceisteanna (458)
Eamon Gilmore
Ceist:458. Deputy Eamon Gilmore asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a final decision may be expected in relation to an application for additional funding under the 2013 additional accommodation scheme for a school (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37794/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The school referred to by the Deputy recently submitted additional information in support of their request for additional funding. This additional information is currently being assessed and the school authorities will be notified of the outcome as quickly as possible.
Supervision and Substitution Scheme Staffing
Ceisteanna (459)
Sandra McLellan
Ceist:459. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will change the practice of schools not being allocated a replacement if a teacher is out sick; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37801/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The terms of the supervision and substitution arrangements for primary and second level schools were revised under the Public Service Stability Agreement 2013-2016 (Haddington Road Agreement). Under the terms with effect from the beginning of the 2013/14 school year, each teacher is required to provide 43 hours supervision and substitution per annum. This includes providing substitution cover for all uncertified sick leave absences. The full terms of the arrangements are outlined in Circular 33/2013 for primary schools and Circular 6/2014 for second level schools. It is a matter for the managerial authority of each primary and second level school to implement these arrangements. Teachers absent on certified sick leave should submit medical certification documentation to the managerial authority for their absences. If medical certification is submitted the managerial authority can employ a substitute teacher to cover the certified absence. The substitute teacher employed to cover certified sick leave absences in primary, voluntary secondary and community/comprehensive schools are paid by my Department. Substitute teachers employed in Education and Training Board schools are paid by the ETBs.
Education and Training Boards
Ceisteanna (460)
Eric J. Byrne
Ceist:460. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the education and training board (details supplied) in Dublin 12; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37825/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
This is an operational matter for the City of Dublin Education and Training Board and I have asked them to contact the Deputy directly.
Pupil-Teacher Ratio
Ceisteanna (461)
Regina Doherty
Ceist:461. Deputy Regina Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills in the event that the pupil-teacher ratio were reduced for junior and senior infants to 20:1, the number of new teachers that would be required; the cost to the Exchequer of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37836/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Teacher allocations to all schools are approved annually by my Department in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolment. The staffing schedule at primary level operates on the basis of 1 classroom teacher for an average of every 28 pupils. More favourable ratios operate in DEIS schools. Each one point adjustment to the current 28.1 schedule at primary level is estimated to cost of the order of 250 posts (€15m). A significant amount of analysis would be required to provide an indicative estimate for the costings requested by the Deputy. It is not possible in the time available, to undertake such an analysis. This information will be provided to the Deputy as soon as it can be gathered. Given the current budgetary environment there is no scope in the short term to consider improvements to pupil teacher allocation ratios. My Department's focus for the foreseeable future is on targeting any additional resources to cater for the continuing increase in demographics at all levels in the education system.
Fee Paying Schools
Ceisteanna (462)
Anthony Lawlor
Ceist:462. Deputy Anthony Lawlor asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide details of the costs involved in the transfer of Kilkenny College from fee-paying status to public school status; if she will provide a detailed comparison of the costs incurred by her Department between the time when the school was fee-paying and its current status as a public school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37837/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The net indicative cost to teacher salaries in Kilkenny College which transferred to the free education scheme in 2013/14 is in the order of €430,000. This had reduced to approx. €340,000 in the current school year due to the increase in pupil enrolments. It is expected that any further increase in enrolments in the following years will further offset the issue of the extra Department funded teaching posts.Capitation and Capital Grants provided to Kilkenny College were as follows:
|
Year |
Amount |
|
2013 |
€3,128,634 |
|
2014 |
€416,800 |
The capital grant was utilised by the school to meet liabilities incurred for building and associated works undertaken which would have been eligible for consideration for such funding, that would otherwise be met from fee income, had the school not entered the Free Education Scheme.
Schools Building Projects Status
Ceisteanna (463)
John McGuinness
Ceist:463. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Skills the progress being made with the funding and construction of a school building project (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; the position regarding each project; the timeframe for completion of each stage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37850/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The main building project for the first school to which the Deputy refers is included in my Department's five year construction programme to proceed to Tender and Construction in 2015/16. All statutory approvals have been received and the Design Team are currently working on the Stage 2b (Detailed design) tender documents for submission to the Department for review and approval. When the stage 2(b) submission has been received and assessed my Department will then be in touch with the school authorities regarding the progression of the project to tender stage. My Department has no record of receiving a recent application for a building project from the second school referred to by the Deputy.
Teacher Training Provision
Ceisteanna (464, 518)
Jerry Buttimer
Ceist:464. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will review the mandatory Gaeltacht placement for students training as primary teachers, which was recommended in a May 2012 report from the Gaeltacht working group; the measures she will take to reduce the costs of the placement incurred by students; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37868/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra
Michael McGrath
Ceist:518. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to the financial burden facing primary school student teachers nationwide since the abolition of the subsidy granted to B. Ed students to undertake a mandatory Gaeltacht placement as part of their degree; if she will review the situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38256/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 464 and 518 together.
Under the Teaching Council Act, 2001, the Teaching Council is the body with statutory regulatory authority to review and accredit initial teacher education programmes. As such it is the Council, not the Minister, that sets out the programme criteria. Changes to the structure and content of the Gaeltacht Placement arose from the Teaching Council's new accreditation criteria, published in June 2011 (Initial Teacher Education: Criteria and Guidelines for Programme Providers) which provide, inter alia, for "an extended and reconceptualised Gaeltacht residency which will now form part of the overall programme and be under the direct jurisdiction of the teacher education providers." The Teaching Council established a Gaeltacht Placement Working Group and published a report in May 2012 which, among other things, provides for the placement duration to be extended to take place in two blocks of two weeks and a common course content across all initial teacher education providers. Initial teacher education providers have responsibility for quality assuring the content, teaching and assessment of the Gaeltacht element of initial teacher education programmes. My Department supports the changes as contributing to overall quality improvement in initial teacher education. A decision was made to abolish payments by my Department towards the cost of attendance at Gaeltacht courses by initial teacher education students with effect from September 2012. In making difficult decisions such as this, priority was given to protecting resources for front line education services as far as possible in the coming years, which is especially challenging with rising numbers of school-going children. The changes to the gaeltacht placement grant were publicised in advance of implementation so that students would be aware of the new arrangements before embarking on Initial Teacher Education programmes. I can appreciate that supporting a student through third level education can be challenging. However, I am not in a position to reinstate funding to this area.
Student Grant Scheme Expenditure
Ceisteanna (465)
Michael Moynihan
Ceist:465. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will commit to protecting the student maintenance grant at its current level in budget 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37881/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
There was no change in Budget 2014 to any of the student grant rates including the non-adjacent or adjacent rates of grant or the higher special rate of grant for the 2014 financial year. The aim of the student maintenance grant scheme has always been to make a contribution to the cost of going to college; covering the full cost has never been a feasible option. The Student Contribution, which currently stands at €2,750, is payable by students who qualify under the free fees schemes. Students who qualify under my Department's student grant scheme have the contribution paid on their behalf by the Exchequer I empathise with students and I am very conscious of the fundamental role played by the student grant scheme in supporting families who are putting their children through further and higher education. As the Deputy will be aware, the reality of our economic situation presents significant challenges that have to be reconciled with limitations on public resources. This is a very stark reality, which, unfortunately, means that changes to any public service, including the student grant scheme, cannot be ruled out. For this reason it is the responsibility of Government to take into consideration all areas of public services when formulating Budget 2015. Ultimately, our budgetary decisions now will play a major part in creating a sustainable economy and in regaining our economic independence. As the Deputy will be aware all proposals made in relation to education expenditure including changes to student grants will be considered in the context of the Budget 2015.
Third Level Funding
Ceisteanna (466, 467, 476)
Michael Moynihan
Ceist:466. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to increase further the student contribution charge in budget 2015; if she acknowledges the difficulty this charge causes already hard-pressed families; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37882/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraMichael Moynihan
Ceist:467. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the €25 million in higher education funding that has been held back from the higher education budget in the past two years will be returned; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37883/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra
Michael Creed
Ceist:476. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she is satisfied that the cash balances held by the higher education sector have been depleted; if so, if she proposes to reinstate the €25 million budget cut to the sector initiated in 2013; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37927/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 466, 467 and 476 together.
The decision to increase the Student Contribution, which stands at €2,750 for the current academic year, to €3,000 by 2015/16 has already been signalled by the previous Minister. It should be noted that some 50% of students who qualify for free fees have the Student Contribution paid on their behalf by the Exchequer under my Department's Student Grant Scheme. A 2012 Comptroller and Auditor General report noted that Universities and Institutes of Technology (IOTs) had cash balances of €706 million at the end of the 2010/11 academic year. When account was taken of restricted reserves and other capital funding requirements, and pension reserves, the cash balance for recurrent purposes was €568 million which also included private sources of income. Due to the significant cash balances identified, a decision was taken in Budget 2013 to apply a reduction of €25m to the sector so as to ensure a more prudent management of existing cash balances. This funding was not restored in Budget 2014 as it was felt that the Higher Education Institutions still had significant amounts of cash at their disposal. The Deputy will appreciate that in line with normal practice I am unable to comment on the budgetary process. An Expert Working Group chaired by Peter Cassells is currently preparing a Report on future funding policy for higher education. The objective is to identify a range of approaches that, combined, will achieve a sustainable funding base to address the continual expansion of the sector while protecting the quality of education.
Student Accommodation
Ceisteanna (468)
Michael Creed
Ceist:468. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Education and Skills her proposals to promote the rent-a-room relief scheme as a partial solution to the crisis in student accommodation provision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37887/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The rent-a-room scheme was introduced in the Finance Act 2001 as an incentive to encourage individuals to let rooms in their sole or main residence. Further information on the rent-a-room scheme is available from the Revenue Commissioners who provide a guidance note in the "Leaflets" section of their website, www.revenue.ie. I have no proposals to promote the rent-a-room scheme as it does not fall within the remit of my Department.