Written Answers Nos. 229-241
229. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide a list of all State board appointments since the 2011 general election; the person who recommended each appointment; the credentials of those appointed; if the vacancy was publicly advertised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39282/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are no State Boards operating under the aegis of my Department.
230. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has raised concerns to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland regarding her decision to establish a panel relating to parade disputes; his views that such reviews will undermine the Parades Commission and its remit to make independent determinations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39290/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraSecretary of State Villiers and I met on 7 October to review progress in preparations for all-party talks. Minister of State Seán Sherlock TD also participated in the meeting. We discussed the key areas for resolution in the forthcoming talks process and the Secretary of State’s proposals for a mediation panel on the parade situation in North Belfast, which had been published earlier that day.
I had previously advised the Secretary of State that, to succeed, any mediation initiative in North Belfast must not undermine the authority of the Parades Commission as the body that makes lawful determinations in respect of individual parades; must not impede the commencement of wider talks amongst the Northern Ireland parties that will address, inter alia, the overall issue of parades; and must secure cross community support, particularly in the local community directly impacted by the parade in North Belfast.
In my discussions with the Secretary of State on 7 October, I raised in particular her statement regarding the establishment of a mediation process in relation to the parading situation in North Belfast. I urged the Secretary of State to ensure that, in taking this initiative forward, she now does everything possible to secure cross-community support, and particularly that it earns the confidence of those directly affected on the ground by the parading situation at Woodvale and Ardoyne.
Successive Governments have emphasised the importance of dialogue between Parade organisers and local residents. We have also emphasised the need for an independent body, such as the Parades Commission, making determinations on Parades, the vast majority of which pass off peacefully. The Parades Commission, as the lawful designated authority, has a very important role in creating a stable framework for the handful of contentious Parades that remain.
The forthcoming Political Talks offer an opportunity for the Northern Ireland Executive Parties to address the overall Parades situation and other outstanding issues that are preventing Northern Ireland from making further progress on its journey to a peaceful, prosperous and reconciled society. I look forward to participating in these talks and the Government stands ready to work with our partners in the British government, and with the active support of the US Administration, to assist in whatever way we can.
231. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has discussed with members of the Northern Ireland Executive the violence (details supplied) that erupted in Belfast on 6 and 7 October 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39291/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraA pipe bomb device was thrown at a police patrol on the Crumlin Road, North Belfast, early in the morning of 6 October. The PSNI stated their belief that the pipe bomb, later found outside the front gates of Holy Cross Church in Ardoyne, was intended to kill police officers. Eight nearby homes were evacuated while Army bomb experts made the device safe.
I have been undertaking intensive consultations with Northern Ireland Party Leaders and with Secretary of State Theresa Villiers MP in the run up to the forthcoming Political Talks. They all share my abhorrence of such attacks on the police and the wider community.
I visited Holy Cross Church in July and am well aware of the good work carried out there. This helped inform my immediate public condemnation of this attack. The disruption and trauma which the recent attack imposed on church goers and others going about their daily business, was an attack on the entire community. My officials remain in contact with the community affected, including local clergy.
I wish to reiterate my support for the Police Service of Northern Ireland, whose continuing professionalism in the face of many challenges is recognized by all sides of the community. I have urged anyone with information on this attack to pass it directly to the PSNI.
232. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of persons who are on public or Civil Service pensions who have been recruited for work on any basis, permanent or temporary, under the remit of his Department in 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39549/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraDetails are set out in the following table of the retired officials of my Department who were re-hired temporarily during the period in question:
2012
|
Grade |
Position Held |
Duration |
|
Assistant Secretary |
Passport Appeals Officer |
Three-year contract from 20 January 2012 to deal with appeals as and when they arise (resigned from the position on 25 April 2014) |
|
Deputy Secretary |
Tánaiste’s Special Representative in connection with Ireland’s Chairmanship of the OSCE, 2012 |
Contract for a maximum of 30 weeks spread over the twelve months of 2012 |
|
Assistant Secretary |
To assist in the preparation of files for the National Archives |
Contract for a maximum of 10 weeks spread over the twelve months of 2012 |
|
Counsellor |
To assist in preparations for the Irish Presidency of the European Union in January – June 2013 |
Contract from 1 May 2012 to 30 June 2013 |
|
First Secretary |
Embassy Canberra (temporarily filling vacant post) |
Contract from December 2012 to March 2013 |
2013
|
Grade |
Position Held |
Duration |
|
Assistant Secretary |
To assist in the preparation of files for the National Archives |
Contract for a maximum of 10 weeks spread over the twelve months of 2013 |
2014
|
Grade |
Position Held |
Duration |
|
Assistant Secretary |
To assist in the preparation of files for the National Archives |
Contract for a maximum of 10 weeks spread over the twelve months of 2014 |
|
Counsellor |
Passport Appeals Officer |
Three-year contract from 4 April 2014 to deal with appeals as and when they arise |
|
Senior Development Specialist |
To assist with a Consular Services project |
Contract for an initial 3 month period in 2014 |
Two retired civil servants, with previous service in other Departments, were given short-term Temporary Clerical Officer contracts in the Passport Office during 2012 and 2013.
From time to time, a number of retired Public Sector officials and retired Civil Servants from other Departments are engaged to assist on interview boards in my Department.
My Department’s Development Cooperation Division also occasionally engages a small number of retired staff for short-duration specialist consultancy projects connected with the activities of Irish Aid.
The policy of my Department regarding the re-engagement of retired officials is to do so to the minimum extent possible. However, for certain once-off or short-duration projects, it is more productive and cost-effective to re-engage retired staff who already have the relevant expertise and experience than to go through a time-consuming and relatively expensive recruitment, induction and training process. Where it occurs, retired staff are usually re-engaged on a pension abatement basis, which means in effect that they continue to receive their pensions and are paid correspondingly reduced salaries by the Department.
233. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will reverse the cut in the grant in respect of students (details supplied) who must spend a period of time in a Gaeltacht; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38897/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra281. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on a matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39273/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 233 and 281 together.
The decision to abolish the Gaeltacht Placement grants, from September 2012, has to be viewed in the context of the prevailing requirement to reduce costs and achieve efficiencies where possible. 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 decision to abolish the grants was not taken lightly, and it has to be viewed in the context of the prevailing requirement to reduce costs and achieve efficiencies where possible. 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.
To assist with the costs of the Gaeltacht placement, students who are in receipt of a student grant which includes a 100% fee grant, or who would have qualified for a full fee grant but for the Free Fees Schemes, can apply for funding towards travel and accommodation costs under the field trip element of a fee grant, subject to the normal terms and conditions of the scheme. Apart from the student grant system, in circumstances of particular need students may apply for support under the Student Assistance Fund. Information in relation to this fund is available through the Access Officer in the third level institution attended.
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.
234. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding transport needs in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry [38930/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince the introduction of the incidental transport facility for Youthreach learners in 1997, significant changes have occurred with regard to both the cost and scope of the School Transport Scheme itself, and in general with regard to child protection requirements / guidelines.
Given the age of the individual at the date of the commencement of his Youthreach course, the individual does not meet the criteria for availing of transport on a concessionary basis.
The terms of the scheme are being applied equitably on a national basis.
235. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on a matter (details supplied) regarding the minor works grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38874/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraCircular Letter 0062/2013 which was published as the Minor Works Grant for the school year 2013/2014 issued last November states "the grant will only be paid in future years as funding permits". The focus under the Infrastructure and Capital Investment Programme 2012-2016 is on meeting the demand for additional school places. Consequently, there is no funding provided at this time in the 2014 capital allocation for the payment of a Minor Works Grant.
I am aware that whenever my Department is in a position to issue a Minor Works Grant (to all primary schools with permanent recognition) that it is welcomed by school communities and management bodies including the school in question as a valuable contribution towards the cost of maintaining school infrastructure.
236. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on the recommendations for actions in the education system contained in the new Royal College of Physicians of Ireland policy statement on obesity here; the measures she will implement on the matter of obesity (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38880/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe policy statement by the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland contains a number of recommendations relevant to the education sector. I welcome the fact that a number of these recommendations relate to initiatives that are already being supported by my Department.
These include the continued support for the expansion of the Active Schools Flag initiative, which is funded by my Department with support from the Health Service Executive. At present, there are 1,343 schools registered for the programme. Some 422 schools (391 primary and 31 post primary) have already been awarded their flags.
The report also recommends the expansion of the Health Promoting Schools Initiative to include more primary and post-primary schools. The results of the last Lifeskills survey, published by my Department in January 2014, indicated that 40% of primary and 37% of post primary schools are participating in this initiative. My Department will be cooperating with the Department of Health and the HSE to encourage more schools to participate in the future.
A further recommendation relates to the promotion of healthier food options in post primary schools. My Department is currently developing guidance for schools on this issue in conjunction with the Department of Health and the HSE.
My Department is also involved in a number of other initiatives to improve physical activity and thereby contribute to tackling obesity. These include the development of the National Physical Activity Plan which is being led by the Departments of Health and Children, a 'Get Active' pilot initiative in schools in Galway, Mayo and Dublin, and the 'Points for Life' initiative which aims to promote physical literacy and motor skills in children from a young age so as to help tackle childhood obesity and promote participation in sport.
These initiatives complement the continued focus on the implementation of Physical Education in all schools, as well as the provision of appropriate information to students, through the Social Personal and Health Education programme in particular, to enable them to make healthy food and lifestyle choices.
The policy statement by the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland recognises that obesity is a societal problem and that it needs a society wide response. My Department is committed to ensuring that the education system promotes healthy living and overall well-being among the student population. However, these efforts must be complemented and supported by other major stakeholders such as parents, the media and the wider community.
237. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason the student assistance fund is not available in certain third level institutes (details supplied) in County Tipperary; her views that this is fair; if her attention has been drawn to the financial hardship and distress being caused to students as a result; if she will extend the student assistance scheme to cover all third level institutions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38890/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Student Assistance Fund is allocated annually to the universities, the institutes of technology, the colleges of education and a number of other recurrently-funded higher education institutions. The objective of the Fund is to provide financial assistance to full-time undergraduate or postgraduate students in need of such support. The Fund is intended to support students whose participation in higher education would otherwise be at risk as a direct result of financial difficulties.
The Student Assistance Fund, which co-financed by the European Social Fund under Ireland's Human Capital Investment Operational Programme is allocated to higher education institutions that are recurrently funded by the HEA or my Department. As St. Patrick's College Thurles is not recurrently funded, it is not eligible for an allocation under the Fund.
Financial support for students is delivered in a number of guises, not least through the Free Fees Scheme and the Student Grant. Four undergraduate courses in St. Patrick's College Thurles are approved for both Free Fees and the Student Grant. These are:— BA (Hons) in Education, Business Studies & Religious Studies Programme [4 years]— BA (Hons) in Education, Irish & Religious Studies [4 years]— BA (Hons) in Education, Business Studies and Accounting [4 years]— BA (Hons) in Education, Irish and Business Studies [4 years]
It is considered good practice that institutions not in receipt of the Student Assistance Fund would, nevertheless, operate a hardship Fund to enable financial support to be provided to students in limited circumstances.
238. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will review the funding of a centre (details supplied) in County Cork; if she will put in place a funding structure that will ensure the long-term viability of the centre in order that it may continue to deliver educational opportunities for teenagers outside of a formal school setting; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38904/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am aware of the difficult situation in which the centre in question finds itself in which arises from the decision of its main funder to withdrawal financial support.
In 2014 my Department will provide 968 teacher co-operation hours, under the Co-operation Hours Scheme operated by the local Education and Training Board (ETB), and non-pay funding of €47,500, to the centre.
This Government is committed to addressing educational disadvantage and while services such as this centre meet a particular demand, it is also important to reflect on the significant additional targeted resources which are deployed for the purpose of combating educational disadvantage and early school leaving. These include intensive literacy and numeracy programmes, out-of-school, after school and holiday time supports as well as special needs supports provided to assist young people at risk. It should be noted that there has been a substantial expansion of these initiatives since the establishment of this facility in 1996.
The major budgetary pressures within my Department place significant constraints on its capacity to support existing programmes and, consequently, given the significant range of educational disadvantage interventions already supported by my Department, there is no scope to meet a request for additional funding for this organisation beyond the level of support currently allocated.
The Educational Welfare Services of the Child and Family Agency, TUSLA, which has a statutory remit in relation to school attendance, can provide assistance to parents or guardians in finding appropriate educational placements for all children including those currently in the centre which is the subject of this question.
239. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 88 of 7 May 2014, if this information was ever received by her Department from the Department of Social Protection; and if she will provide this information. [38926/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraInformation in regard to WPP numbers was received from the Department of Social Protection and forwarded to the Deputy on 24 June 2014. I have asked my Department to forward a copy of the letter to the Deputy.
240. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if there has been further progress in securing a site for a school (details supplied) in County Cork; if the project is still on target to go to construction in 2015/2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38935/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe conveyancing process for the site intended to provide for the new school building referred to by the Deputy is currently underway and my officials are working to ensure that the process is completed as soon as possible.
Once the site acquisition is completed, my Department will be in contact with the relevant school authorities in relation to the progression of the school building project.
241. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to the refusal by her Department to facilitate a diploma in education in Sherkin Island national school; if this has been the case in the past; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38936/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Teaching Council is the body with statutory authority, under the Teaching Council Act 2001, for establishing procedures and criteria for the probation of teachers. All primary teachers must complete their probation successfully before they can achieve full registration with the Teaching Council. As part of the probationary process, at the request of the Teaching Council, the Inspectorate of my Department evaluates the professional competence of primary teachers. The conditions under which teachers are eligible for probation are outlined by the Teaching Council.
Newly qualified teachers, including those who are availing of JobBridge in order to complete probation, are expected to teach a mainstream class usually consisting of a minimum of 10 pupils. This class size will enable inspectors to evaluate the teacher's ability to manage a mainstream class.
It was brought to the attention of the Inspectorate in August 2014, that teachers availing of JobBridge who had applied for inspection visits for the purpose of probation were in some instances given responsibility for a very small number of pupils. The Inspectorate consulted with the Teaching Council and it was agreed that teachers availing of JobBridge should have full responsibility for the minimum of 10 pupils in order to ensure that inspectors could evaluate their ability to manage a full mainstream class.
This information was placed on the website of Limerick Education Centre, which administers details of probationary teachers, following the consultation. Any teacher availing of JobBridge, who applied to Limerick Education Centre for inspection visits for the purpose of probation after the information was placed on the website, was subject to the condition that they were responsible for a minimum of 10 pupils.
Therefore, not all schools or teaching assignments provide a suitable setting for probation evaluation to take place in line with the Teaching Council's current requirements.
