Written Answers Nos. 242-254
242. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will review the eligibility for qualification for a special rate-third level grant to facilitate couples (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38946/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraTo qualify for the special rate of grant an applicant must meet the following conditions:a. Reckonable income must not exceed €22,703. b. On the 31st December of the relevant period the reckonable income must include an eligible long-term social welfare payment prescribed under the scheme. In the case of a student whose parents are divorced, legally separated or it is established to the satisfaction of the awarding authority that they are separated, the reckonable income shall be that of the applicant and the parent with whom the applicant resides. The income of a parent's partner who is not a legal guardian is not included in determining reckonable income. Where the reckonable income does not include a long-term social welfare payment, as listed in the Student Grant Scheme, the special rate of grant is not payable. I have no plans at present to change the criteria in relation to persons whose income is considered in determining reckonable income for student grant purposes.
243. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Education and Skills if it is her intention to have a minor works scheme available to all primary schools in 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38960/14]
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 in respect of the 2014/2015 school year.
244. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Pearse Doherty den Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna an bhfuil sí ar an eolas faoin drochstaid ina bhfuil scoil i gContae Dhún na nGall (sonraí curtha ar fáil) faoi láthair agus faoin drochbhail atá ar an mhórchuid den trealamh, rud atá ag cruthú deacrachtaí móra d’fhoireann agus do dhaltaí na scoile; an mbeidh an Roinn ag cur aon tacaíocht airgeadais bhreise ar fáil chun dul i ngleic leis na deacrachtaí; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [38972/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraMar is eol don Teachta, is é is cuspóir thar gach ní eile ag mo Roinnse ná a chinntiú go mbíonn rochtain ag gach páiste ar ionad fisiciúil scoile agus go mbíonn ar chumas ár gcóras scoile fónamh ar líonta méadaitheacha daltaí. Dá bhrí sin, i bhfianaise na sriantachtaí airgeadais a thagann ón riachtanas seo, mar atá leagtha amach sa Phlean Chúig Bliana, tá sé riachtanach tosaíocht a thabhairt, agus an maoiniú atá ar fáil á scaipeadh, d'ionaid bhunriachtanacha breise scoile a sholáthar chun freastal ar an éileamh déimeagrafach. Níl an scoil i gceist i gceantar ina bhfuil fás déimeagrafach sainaitheanta. In ainneoin a bhfuil thuas, is féidir liom a dheimhniú go bhfuair an scoil dá dtagraíonn an Teachta maoiniú suntasach faoi Scéim Oibreacha Éigeandála agus Scéim Oibreacha Samhraidh mo Roinne le blianta beaga anuas, agus gur leithdháileadh breis is €87,000 ar an scoil i gcomhair oibreacha ar a n-áiríodh díon nua a chur in áit chuid den díon a bhí uirthi agus oibreacha eile a dhéanamh ar an díon, coire nua a chur in áit an choire a bhí inti, fuinneoga agus doirse nua a chur inti, cairpéid agus dallóga a sholáthar agus oibreacha a dhéanamh ar chlós na scoile. Níos déanaí arís, chomh maith, tar éis do phost breise príomhshrutha rangsheomra bheith ceadaithe, leithdháil mo Roinn maoiniú ar an scoil i gceist i gcomhair píosaí scaoilte troscáin. Is ceadaithe d'údaráis na scoile iarratas i gcomhair Oibreacha Éigeandála a chur faoi bhráid más rud é go measann siad go dteastaíonn aon oibreacha eile gur den phráinn ar fad iad. Maidir le breithniú a dhéanamh ar iarratas i gcomhair Oibreacha Éigeandála, ní mór a chur in iúl d'údaráis na scoile gurb é príomhchuspóir na Scéime Oibreacha Éigeandála ná a chinntiú go mbíonn maoiniú ar fáil d'oibreacha práinneacha ag na scoileanna is mó a dteastaíonn acmhainní uathu de bharr ócáid éigeandála. Is éard is éigeandáil ann ná cás ina bhfuil baol láithreach ann don tsláinte, don bheatha, d'airnéis nó don chomhshaol, atá tobann, gan choinne agus a mbeadh beart ag teastáil láithreach dá bharr, nó cás, ó thaobh scoile de, a bheadh ina chúis leis an scoil nó cuid di gan a bheith ar oscailt mura gcuirfí i gceart é. Is féidir teacht ar shonraí faoin Scéim, mar aon le foirm iarratais ar chabhair dheontais, ar shuíomh gréasáin mo Roinne ag www.education.ie. Is ceadaithe d'údaráis na scoile chomh maith iarratas a chur isteach ar mhaoiniú chun troscán agus trealamh breise a sholáthar ar bhonn leanúnach de réir mar is gá leo iad.
245. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the follow-up regarding her Department's reducing costs to parents of school uniforms under Circular No. 63/2013; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38985/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra246. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the findings of her Department's reducing costs to parents of schools uniforms Circular No. 63/2013; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38986/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra247. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on action taken by her Department to address school uniform costs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38987/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 245 to 247, inclusive, together.
I wish to advise the Deputy that the school uniform policy is a matter for each individual school and not my Department. The initiative late last year was aimed at strengthening the role of parents in how schools decide their policies on uniforms.
As part of the initiative in question, schools were requested to ballot parents on school uniform policy. This move was aimed at giving parents a much greater say on what if any uniforms a school should have and in turn to tackle the high costs of some uniforms.
The Deputy will be aware that I intend to bring forward proposals for a Parent and Student Charter.
This issue may need to be considered in the context of developing the Charter that each will be obliged to have. An important aspect of the Charter will be how parents receive information and feedback on the operation of school policies and how parents' concerns are addressed.
248. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the strategy to address the issue of voluntary contributions in primary and secondary schools here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38988/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraApart from those recognised fee-charging second level schools, recognised primary and post primary schools are precluded from charging school fees. Voluntary contributions by parents are permissible provided it is made absolutely clear to parents that there is no question of compulsion to pay and that, in making a contribution, they are doing so of their own volition.
It is not my Department's policy to prohibit the practice of schools seeking contributions from parents so long as it is made absolutely clear that the contributions concerned are voluntary. I have no plans to alter this position provided schools ensure that the contributions are sought in a manner that makes this clear to all concerned. It is also important that schools are cognisant of the financial pressures being experienced by many parents and that such fund-raising is carried out in a manner that is sensitive to these difficulties.
The Deputy will be aware that the Government gave approval in March of this year for drafting the Education (Admissions to Schools) Bill 2014 and the General Scheme has since been referred to the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel to the Government for drafting.
The 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. The legislative proposals will, inter alia, prohibit the charging of any fees or contributions as part of the school admission process.
I also believe that schools need to be accountable to parents and we need greater levels of communication, engagement and transparency in how schools serve their communities. Better information for parents, including information in relation to the collection and use of voluntary contributions, is an issue that I will be looking at in the context of my Department's work on developing plans for a Parents' and Students' Charter.
249. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the financial supports available for a mature student working full time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38989/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the terms of the student grant scheme, grant assistance is awarded to students who meet the prescribed conditions of funding including those which relate to nationality, residency, approved course, previous academic attainment and means.
Under my Department's student grant scheme, eligible candidates may receive funding provided they are attending an approved course at an approved institution, an approved course is defined as a full-time undergraduate course of at least two years duration or a full-time postgraduate course of not less than one year duration pursued in an approved institution.Students in third-level institutions experiencing exceptional financial need can apply for support under the Student Assistance Fund. This Fund assists students, in a sensitive and compassionate manner, who might otherwise be unable to continue their third level studies due to their financial circumstances
Information on the fund is available through the Access Officer in the third level institution attended. The fund is administered on a confidential, discretionary basis.
In addition to the student grant, tax relief at the standard rate of tax may be claimed in respect of tuition fees paid for approved courses at approved colleges of higher education. Further information on this tax relief is available from the Revenue Commissioners on www.revenue.ie
250. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will respond to the concerns raised by a person (details supplied) in County Cork regarding the fee-charging schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38993/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to inform the Deputy that I have been in discussions with all the education partners, which included Pre-Budget matters.
I met with the Joint Managerial Body which represents all voluntary secondary schools, including fee charging schools.
I received their Pre-Budget 2015 submissions, which covered the matters raised by the Deputy.
The Deputy will appreciate that I cannot at this stage anticipate any specific decisions the Government may take in the next Budget.
251. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to reinstate the third teacher in a school (details supplied) in County Roscommon, in view of the fact that they currently have an enrolment of 56 pupils the number needed for a three teacher school and in view of the fact that they were only one pupil short, based on last year's enrolment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38994/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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 30th September. The staffing process also includes an appeals mechanism for schools to submit an appeal under certain criteria to an independent Appeals Board. Circular 0007/2014, which is available on the Department website, sets out the staffing and appeals process for the 2014/15 school year.
The school referred to by the Deputy has submitted an appeal to the Primary Staffing Appeals Board. The Appeals Board will meet later this month and the school will be notified of the Board's decision in due course. The Appeals Board operates independently of the Minister and the Department and its decision is final.
252. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the criteria that allow for the provision of an access officer in a third level institution or college; the reasons an access officer is not available in all colleges including smaller colleges, bearing in mind the crucial financial assistance provided by an access officer to students; if she will provide a list of the colleges that have an access officer and those that do not; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38997/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraEach institution in receipt of exchequer funding, whether through the HEA or through the higher education grants scheme, is required to develop and implement a plan to support access by economically or socially disadvantaged people, people with disabilities and people from sections of society significantly under-represented in the student body. This has been a requirement under legislation for the universities and constituent colleges since the Universities Act 1997, for the Institutes of Technology since 2006 and for other institutions approved under the higher education grants scheme since the Student Support Act 2011. In addition, the Disability Act 2005 (section 26), requires the head of each public body, including education institutions, to authorise at least one member of staff to co-ordinate the provision of assistance and guidance to persons with disabilities in accessing the services provided by that body.
An access element of the HEA funding allocation model recognises performance by each institution in relation to access and supports those institutions in developing an appropriate infrastructure to support participation by students from target groups in the national access plan. These groups include students from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds, those with disabilities and mature new entrants to higher education. Each of the 26 HEA funded institutions has at least one access officer or another designated person with responsibility for this area of policy and practice.
Student Assistance Funding is managed on behalf of the Department by the Higher Education Authority. This fund is administered on a local basis by thirty-one participating higher education institutions to those students who are most in need. Each participating institution is advised of its individual allocation in advance of the academic year in order to facilitate timely planning and disbursement to students. The HEA approved an allocation for the Student Assistance Fund for the 2014/15 academic year of €6.6m.
The table details the Higher Education Authority (HEA) designated institutions with access officers.
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Higher Education Institution |
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Universities |
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Dublin City University |
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National University of Ireland, Galway |
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National University of Ireland, Maynooth |
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Trinity College Dublin |
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University College Cork |
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University College Dublin |
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University of Limerick |
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Institutes of Technology |
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Athlone IT |
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Cork IT |
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Dublin Institute of Technology |
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Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art Design and Technology (IADT) |
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Dundalk IT |
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Galway-Mayo IT |
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IT Blanchardstown |
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IT Carlow |
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IT Sligo |
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IT Tallaght |
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IT Tralee |
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Letterkenny IT |
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Limerick IT |
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Waterford IT |
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Other HEA colleges of higher education |
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Mary Immaculate College |
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Mater Dei Institute |
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National College of Art and Design |
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St. Patrick's College Drumcondra |
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RSCI |
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St Angela's College |
253. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Education and Skills if every child with Down's syndrome who started school in September 2014 will receive full resource hours and access to a full-time or part-time special needs assistant. [39016/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy that all children with Down syndrome will have access to resource teaching support for the coming year, either through a schools General Allocation Model, if the child has Mild General Learning Difficulties, or via an allocation made to schools by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), if the child is in the low incidence special educational needs range, as defined by my Departments Circular 02/05.
The NCSE report on Supporting Students with Special Educational Needs in Schools has now been published and is available on the NCSE website www.ncse.ie. The report recommends that under a new resource allocation model proposed by the NCSE, children should be allocated additional resources in line with their level of need, rather than by disability category.
The NCSE report states that the NCSE is confident that the introduction of a new allocation model will overcome the difficulty posed by all children with Mild General Learning Disabilities, including children with Down syndrome, who have additional difficulties and who can be supported according to their level of need and in line with their learning plan process.
In the meantime, schools are reminded that they can differentiate the level of learning support granted to ensure that available resources are used to support children in line with their needs.
I wish to advise the Deputy also that schools may apply to the NCSE for Special Needs Assistant (SNA) support for children with special educational needs who have care needs in schools, in accordance with the criteria set out in my Departments Circular 0030/2014 on the SNA scheme.
Many children with Down syndrome receive access to SNA support in schools. I must advise, however, that SNA support is provided on the basis of the assessed care needs of individual children as opposed to being allocated automatically on the basis of a particular disability diagnosis.
Schools who wish to make applications for SNA support to the NCSE for children with special educational needs for the current school year may continue to make such applications to the NCSE.
254. Deputy Derek Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if anti-bullying and suicide prevention numbers were published on post-primary school homework journals in 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39050/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraHomework journals are generally used by pupils every day and can therefore be a useful mechanism for schools to communicate important information to pupils in relation in relation to matters such as anti-bullying, mental health and suicide prevention. However, my Department has not prescribed that schools must use such journals or that they should contain specific information.
The Deputy may be aware that my Department, along with the Department of Health and the HSE, jointly published 'Well-Being in Post- Primary Schools: Guidelines for Mental Health Promotion and Suicide Prevention' in 2013. The guidelines provide practical advice to post-primary schools on how they can promote mental health and well-being in an integrated manner within the school environment. The Guidelines build on the significant work already taking place in schools, including through the Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) curriculum, the whole-school guidance plan, the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) continuum of support model and the HSE Health Promoting Schools Process. Information is also provided on how to access support from the SPHE Support Service and other external agencies and support services.
The Deputy will also be aware that new anti-bullying procedures for all primary and post primary schools were published at the beginning of the 2013/14 school year. The purpose of these procedures is to give direction and guidance to school authorities and school personnel in preventing and tackling school-based bullying behaviour amongst its pupils. In that regard, the procedures recognise that a positive school culture and climate is the cornerstone for preventing bullying and the procedures contain provide practical tips for building such a positive culture and climate. Under the procedures, the Board of Management must also ensure that the school's anti-bullying policy is regularly highlighted and promoted on a school-wide basis with particular attention being given to incoming pupils and their parents. The procedures are not prescriptive in relation to how this should be done and it is open to schools to do so in the manner that best suits their individual circumstances.
