Tuesday, 21 Oct 2014

Written Answers Nos. 520-537

Departmental Investigations

Ceisteanna (520)

Willie O'Dea

Ceist:

520. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Education and Skills when an investigation was carried out into employment conditions at a site (details supplied); the person who carried it out; the issues that were investigated; if bogus sub-contracting and underpayment of bricklayers were included in the matters for investigation; if the investigation was concluded; the findings of the investigation; if issues were referred to another State authority, for example, the Revenue Commissioners, the Department of Social Protection, the National Employment Rights Authority, the Health and Safety Authority or any other body; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40127/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

As the Deputy has not identified which school project he is referring to and as my officials were unable to contact the Deputy's office for clarification, I am unable to provide an answer to the question. However, when details of the project are supplied I will be happy to answer the question.

Teaching Council of Ireland

Ceisteanna (521)

Jim Daly

Ceist:

521. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she is satisfied that the current minimum number of students for probation of ten students as laid down by the Teaching Council should apply to island schools that cannot meet this criterion; if she is willing to make an exception to this rule to allow island schools equal opportunity to their mainland counterparts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40143/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

The 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. In order to achieve full registration, a teacher's work is evaluated in a mainstream setting where his/her ability to manage a full class, among other criteria, has been satisfactorily demonstrated.

Accordingly, for the purpose of completion of probation for full registration, a newly qualified teacher is expected to teach a mainstream class consisting of 10 or more pupils.

If a newly qualified teacher is unable to complete probation in the time period specified by the Council he/she should apply to the Council for an extension to that period.

Minor Works Scheme Restoration

Ceisteanna (522)

Tony McLoughlin

Ceist:

522. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the minor works grant, which was granted last year and which is crucial for many rural schools, will be allocated again in 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40175/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

Circular 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) 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.

Third Level Funding

Ceisteanna (523)

Brendan Griffin

Ceist:

523. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if funding will be provided for a third level facility (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40179/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

I am pleased to inform the Deputy that €10m of direct Exchequer funding will be made available next year for the project to which he refers. This project is one of the three major capital projects in Irish universities which will benefit from the €20m of funding in 2015 that formed part of my budget announcement on Tuesday, 14th October.

School Staffing

Ceisteanna (524)

Seán Fleming

Ceist:

524. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will approve the appeal in respect of a school (details supplied) in County Offaly against the decision to reduce the number of teachers in the school to three; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40186/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

The criteria used for the allocation of teachers to primary schools is published annually. 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 arrangements for the 2014/15 school year are set out in Circular 0007/2014 which is available on the Department website. There is no change to the staffing of the school referred to by the Deputy for the current 2014/15 school year. The school has four classroom teachers (including the Principal teacher) based on an enrolment of 91 pupils at 30 September, 2013. Data in relation to enrolment figures in primary schools in the current school year are not yet available to my Department. The number of pupils enrolled in individual schools is provided in the National School Annual Census and refers to the number of pupils enrolled as of the 30th of September in the given academic year. The National School Annual Census is generally returned by schools to the Department by end October. The staffing arrangements for the 2015/16 school year will be published early in 2015 and this will enable schools to determine their staffing levels for the 2015/16 school year. The staffing process also includes an appeals mechanism for schools to submit an appeal under certain criteria to an independent Appeals Board. The Appeals Board operates independently of the Minister and the Department and its decision is final.

School Enrolments Data

Ceisteanna (525)

Alan Farrell

Ceist:

525. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Education and Skills the enrolment figures for each secondary level school in Malahide and Swords, County Dublin in tabular form; the number of students in each year group within each school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40208/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

The information sought by the Deputy is not readily available. The Deputy may wish to note that the total enrolments in each post-primary school by county is available on my Department's website at the following link. http://www.education.ie/en/Publications/Statistics/Data-on-Individual-Schools/

The data refers to 2013/14 which is the most recent data available.

School Enrolments Data

Ceisteanna (526)

Alan Farrell

Ceist:

526. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Education and Skills the enrolment figures for each primary level school in Malahide and Swords, County Dublin in tabular form; the number of students in each school in the area by year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40209/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

The Department does not have schools categorised in a standard way according to suburb-town. The individual enrolments information for each school in the country is available, categorised by county and local authority, on the Department's website at http://www.education.ie/en/Publications/Statistics/Data-on-Individual-Schools/

The Deputy will find the relevant information for the schools he is interested in there.

School Accommodation

Ceisteanna (527)

Alan Farrell

Ceist:

527. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Education and Skills in view of the fact that in parts of Malahide and Swords, County Dublin, the number of students at primary school level who will be progressing to second level education in the coming years is greater than the capacity of the secondary level schools in the area, her plans to resolve this issue and ensure there is adequate capacity for these students as they progress to second level education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40210/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

My Department is currently analysing the latest demographic data on a nationwide basis to determine where additional school accommodation might be needed from 2015 onwards. This process includes an examination of the Malahide and Swords areas. When this exercise has been completed arrangements will be made to make additional accommodation available where it is needed.

Student Grant Scheme Eligibility

Ceisteanna (528)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Ceist:

528. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will review the decision by the Student Universal Support Ireland not to award a person (details supplied) in Dublin 6W a student grant to allow her to finish her final year of her degree because she could not provide SUSI with a utility bill from October 2007, despite providing it with all other requested documentation, including proof of independent residency at her current address for the past five years. [40245/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

As part of a comprehensive customer service and communications strategy provided by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI), to ensure that all necessary avenues are open to applicants to receive the information they need, a dedicated email and phone line service is provided by SUSI for Oireachtas members. This was established to meet an identified need for applicants who choose to engage the assistance of their public representatives in making enquiries about their grant applications. This service complements the established channels provided by SUSI which include online application tracking, a dedicated website, a telephone helpdesk, email and social media, including Facebook and Twitter.

Enquiries may be emailed direct to SUSI at [e-mail]. SUSI are responding to email queries within a matter of days. If an individual applicant considers that she/he has been unjustly refused a student grant, or that the rate of grant awarded is not the correct one, she/he may appeal, in the first instance, to SUSI. Where an individual applicant has had an appeal turned down in writing by SUSI and remains of the view that the scheme has not been interpreted correctly in his/her case, an appeal form outlining the position may be submitted by the applicant to the independent Student Grants Appeals Board. An appeal has not been submitted by the student.

Student Grant Scheme Applications

Ceisteanna (529, 530)

Charlie McConalogue

Ceist:

529. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a decision is expected on a student grant application (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40249/14]

Charlie McConalogue

Ceist:

530. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a decision is expected on a student grant application (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40250/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

I propose to take Questions Nos. 529 and 530 together.

As part of a comprehensive customer service and communications strategy provided by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI), to ensure that all necessary avenues are open to applicants to receive the information they need, a dedicated email and phone line service is provided by SUSI for Oireachtas members. This was established to meet an identified need for applicants who choose to engage the assistance of their public representatives in making enquiries about their grant applications. This service complements the established channels provided by SUSI which include online application tracking, a dedicated website, a telephone helpdesk, email and social media, including Facebook and Twitter. Enquiries, such as that raised by the Deputy, may be emailed direct to SUSI at [e-mail]

Schools Building Projects Status

Ceisteanna (531)

Tony McLoughlin

Ceist:

531. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills when she expects that the autism unit and corridor extension at a school (details supplied) in County Leitrim will commence construction; the expected completion date for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40281/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

As the Deputy will be aware, my Department approved significant devolved funding for the school in question to the relevant Education Training Board (ETB) to provide an ASD unit and 3 additional general classrooms. My Department is liaising with the ETB, in question, who are currently in the process of obtaining planning permission and other statutory approvals for the project concerned. It is anticipated that when such approvals are obtained, the project can proceed to tender and construction.

Energy Conservation

Ceisteanna (532)

Seán Kyne

Ceist:

532. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if her Department has plans in place or is considering plans to support the introduction of environmentally friendly and energy efficient methods of heating or generation of electricity, such as biomass fuels and wood pellet burning, for schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40321/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

All new technologies and approaches to sustainable energy efficiency are tested to ensure compatibility with school design and operational requirements. Successful and repeatable results are then incorporated into all new school designs and refurbishments.

In 2006 the Department of Education & Skills commenced a unique project in relation to biomass energy use in schools to evaluate the suitable application and performance and compatibility of biomass systems. The evaluation process included school heating requirements in terms of heating demand characteristics, controls, reliability, fuel storage and maintenance and operation and customer satisfaction. The evaluation of the 14 sites that formed the Biomass Deployment Pilot Programme from 2007 to 2009 met the overall objective in that it trialled a number of boiler types for integration into a representative sample of educational buildings which included both new and existing structures.

The project was assessed by independent consultants. The pilot highlighted the positive and negative aspects in the challenges of successfully integrating biomass into the school stock. This was not achieved without some issues and the overall level of satisfaction was rated at approx. 56%. The study found that biomass boilers can provide an efficient and renewable form of heating in schools but cannot be deemed an exact fit. It is also considered that it will prove difficult to match the small schools in the country with biomass heating on an operational and costs basis. The study found that as reflected in the satisfaction rating, biomass systems can require a significant amount of management input on site to ensure that they operate at optimum level and provide reliable heating to the school.

One outcome from the project highlighted the potential market for Energy Supply Companies (ESCO) to provide a heat contract to schools based on biomass heating, where the ESCO finances, operates and maintains the system and sells heat to the school. The Department also makes allowances for same in all new school designs via our Technical Guidance Documents, thus ensuring that there are no barriers to an ESCO being developed on a new school site.

The potential for renewables in schools is under continued review by my Department's Energy Research Programme with continued research and by monitoring improvements in technology and the market place.

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Ceisteanna (533)

Michael Healy-Rae

Ceist:

533. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding academic support in respect of persons (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40344/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Jan O'Sullivan)

I wish to advise the Deputy that all State funded primary schools have been allocated additional resources to provide for children with special educational needs enrolled in school.

In primary schools, additional teaching supports for pupils with special education needs are provided through two channels.

Under the terms of the General Allocation Model (GAM) of teaching supports, schools are resourced to cater for pupils whose educational psychological assessment places them in the high incidence, or less complex, disability category. All mainstream Primary schools have been allocated additional teaching resources under the GAM to cater for children with high incidence special educational needs.

Separately, 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. It is a matter for schools to monitor and utilise their allocation of additional teaching support to best support the needs of identified pupils, in accordance with my Department's guidance. Should a parent be dissatisfied with the manner in which the resources or facilities which have been provided to support their child's education are being applied in school, they should raise this matter directly with their school Principal or the Board of Management of the school. Schools may also apply to the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) for Special Needs Assistant (SNA) support in respect of 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. Schools who wish to make applications for SNA support for children with special educational needs for the current school year may continue to make such applications to the NCSE. Details of the NCSE application criteria are available at www.ncse.ie. Parents may also contact their local SENO directly to discuss their child's special educational needs, using the contact details available on www.ncse.ie. Finally, I wish to advise the Deputy that the availability of Health related services, such as occupational therapy support, is a matter for the Health Service Executive (HSE). Questions relating to such health services should therefore be addressed to the HSE, or to my colleague, the Minister for Health.

Teacher Recruitment

Ceisteanna (534)

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

534. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a system is in place to ensure that candidates referred to an education and training board by recruitment companies meet the standard of candidate offered by these companies in their initial tender; if she will outline this system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40351/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

I understand that the Deputy is referring to the use of recruitment agencies by Education and Training Boards (ETBs) to fill teaching positions. The information requested by the Deputy is not readily available in my Department and would involve an inordinate amount of administrative time to compile. The recruitment and appointment of teachers to fill teaching posts is a matter for the individual school authority (including ETBs), subject to procedures agreed under Section 24(3) of the Education Act 1998 (as amended by the Education (Amendment) Act 2012). Under Circular 0031/2011 issued by my Department, each employer shall ensure that each person proposed for appointment to a teaching post for which salary grant is being sought must:

(a) Be registered with the Teaching Council in accordance with Part 3 of the Teaching Council Act 2001

and

(b) Have qualifications appropriate to the sector and suitable to the post for which s/he is to be employed (referred to in this circular as "appropriately qualified").

However, if the Deputy has a particular case in mind and provides me with the particulars, I will ask my officials to take the matter up with the relevant ETB and revert to you in due course.

Teacher Recruitment

Ceisteanna (535)

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

535. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of unfilled teaching posts currently advertised by the education and training boards; and the average length of time between the initial advertising of a post and it being filled. [40352/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

The information requested by the Deputy is not readily available in my Department and would involve an inordinate amount of administrative time to compile.

Student Grant Scheme Applications

Ceisteanna (536)

Tom Fleming

Ceist:

536. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will examine a third level education grant application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40383/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

As part of a comprehensive customer service and communications strategy provided by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI), to ensure that all necessary avenues are open to applicants to receive the information they need, a dedicated email and phone line service is provided by SUSI for Oireachtas members. This was established to meet an identified need for applicants who choose to engage the assistance of their public representatives in making enquiries about their grant applications. This service complements the established channels provided by SUSI which include online application tracking, a dedicated website, a telephone helpdesk, email and social media, including Facebook and Twitter. Enquiries, such as that raised by the Deputy, may be emailed direct to SUSI at [e-mail]. SUSI are responding to email queries within a matter of days.

Minor Works Scheme Restoration

Ceisteanna (537)

Brendan Smith

Ceist:

537. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 96 of 15 October 2014, if provision will be made in her Department's 2015 capital allocation for a minor works grant scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40399/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

My Department's capital allocation for 2015 was agreed last week on the occasion of the Budget. The task over the next number of months is to calculate the expenditure commitments arising on projects under construction and schemes/initiatives under delivery. Such commitments will have a first call on the 2015 capital allocation and thereafter consideration will be given to projects and schemes/initiatives to be advanced during 2015. Until this process is finalised no decision can be taken on the issue of a Minor Works Grant 2015/2016 or otherwise.