Written Answers Nos. 842-860
842. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Education and Skills when the apprenticeship council will be established; her plans for reform of apprenticeship; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41429/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs part of the Government's Action Plan for Jobs initiative my Department managed a comprehensive review of the Irish Apprenticeship system to determine whether the current model should be retained, adapted or replaced. The review was tasked with taking into account the needs of both learners and industry and to ensure that we have a value for money system that is cost effective and sustainable into the future. An independent Review Group undertook a substantial consultation process with all major stakeholders as well as inviting submissions from members of the public. Following its analysis of the current system and the submissions received, the report of the Independent Review Group made a number of recommendations regarding a new structure for Apprenticeship, which is envisaged as being relevant to a much wider group of enterprise sectors. Recommendations were also made in relation to current apprenticeships. Following on from the review, an Apprenticeship Implementation Plan was published on the 30th June 2014. This is available on my Departments website, www.education.ie. I will shortly be announcing details of the membership of the Council. The Council will be enterprise led and will have representatives from business, trade unions, and further and higher education bodies. The first job of work of the new Apprenticeship Council will be to manage a call for proposals from industry for new apprenticeships. This call for proposals is expected to be made before the end of 2014.
843. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of persons who have applied for participation in the Momentum programme in each year since its inception; the number of persons approved for participation; the number of persons who completed their course; the annual cost of the scheme; her plans to review its operation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41447/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI understand from SOLAS who manage the Momentum Programme that no data is available on applications or queries to the Momentum programme prior to wait listing; potential participants are referred to the programme by the Department of Social Protection if they are eligible. 12,580 people were waitlisted for the first Momentum programme's projects which ran across 2013 and 2014. 7,656 persons were called to start projects of which 6,574 started. This information is collected and supplied for the entire programme and is not annualised. From the information available at this moment in time SOLAS have confirmed that approximately 4,000 participants will complete their Momentum project. To date, €15.9M has been spent and the total cost of Momentum 1 will be approximately €16.5M; This is not annualised but the total cost of the programme over its duration as this is a delivery outcome payment system as distinct from an annual allocation. In September of this year the MOMENTUM 2, 2014 was launched for up to 6,500 long-term jobseekers. I understand that the Momentum programme is currently being reviewed by an external consultant and a report will be published in due course.
844. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11 has been refused a full-time special needs assistant despite the repeated recommendation of professionals who have assessed their needs; if she will review the matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41504/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) for allocating a quantum of Special Needs Assistant (SNA) support for each school taking into account the assessed care needs of children qualifying for SNA support enrolled in the school. Where children have significant care needs whereby they may need additional support to be able to attend school, the NCSE may make an allocation of SNA support to the school to assist that child. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support. The criteria by which SNA support is allocated to pupils is set out in my Department's Circular 0030/2014, which issued to schools in April 2014 and which is available on my Department's website at www.education.ie. The Circular also sets out the role which professional reports play in supporting the SNA scheme. While professional reports play a valuable role in identifying the needs of a child, responsibility for deciding on the quantum of educational supports to be provided to schools rests with the National Council for Special Education, in accordance with my Department's policy. In considering applications for SNA supports for individual pupils, the SENOs take account of the pupils' needs and consider the resources available to the school to identify whether additionality is needed or whether the school might reasonably be expected to meet the needs of the pupils from its current level of resources. The deployment of SNAs within schools is a matter for the individual Principal/Board of Management. SNAs should be deployed by the school in a manner which best meets the care support requirements of the children enrolled in the school for whom SNA support has been allocated. It is a matter for schools to allocate support as required, and on the basis of individual need, which allows schools flexibility in how the SNA support is utilised. All schools have the names and contact details of their local SENO. 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. Schools who wish to apply for additional SNA support to support children with care needs in their schools may make such an application to the NCSE. Schools who wish to appeal the level of SNA allocation which has been made to them may do so via the appeals process which is set out at www.ncse.ie.
845. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of Irish citizen applicants who would be affected by amending the residency clause of the free fees initiative. [41935/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware the Exchequer funds tuition fees costs in respect of eligible students who are pursuing full-time undergraduate courses of study under my Department's Free Fees Initiative. The main conditions of the scheme are that students must be first-time undergraduates, hold inter alia EU/EEA/Swiss nationality in their own right, and have been ordinarily resident in an EU/EEA/Swiss state for at least three of the five years preceding their entry to an approved third level course. Where full-time undergraduate students do not qualify for free fees they must pay the appropriate fee as determined by their third level institution. In the case of students who do not meet the residency clause, higher education institutions have been requested to charge the more moderate EU fee to EU/EEA/Swiss nationals who have completed at least five academic years of study (Primary or Post-Primary level) in the EU/EEA or Switzerland. My Department has requested that the Higher Education Authority review this policy and at such time details of students who benefit under this proposal will be available. I have no plans to amend the residency clause of the Free Fees Initiative at present.
846. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which apprenticeships are available in all areas throughout the country at present; the uptake of such places; the extent to which the places available meet the demand; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42162/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe statistical information requested by the Deputy is held by SOLAS and I have asked them to reply directly to the Deputy with this information. In terms of meeting the demand for apprenticeships, apprenticeship is the recognised means by which people are trained to become craftspeople in certain designated trades in Ireland. It is a programme which is driven by employer demand, aimed at developing the skills of the apprentice to meet the needs of industry and the labour market. SOLAS approves the employer as competent to train apprentices, but does not limit or control recruitment numbers. Individual employers therefore control recruitment to apprenticeship. Following notification by the employer to SOLAS that recruitment has taken place, SOLAS registers the recruit on the apprentice register.
847. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to the difficulties for trainee teachers in their attempts to gain probationary teaching hours; her plans to put in place a strategy to address this problem; the options available in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; if they will be facilitated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40910/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra934. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the case of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; if this person will be allowed to complete an approved and sanctioned probationary period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42081/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 847 and 934 together. 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. Newly qualified teachers who obtain employment for 100 days in a teaching position deemed suitable for the purpose of probation are eligible to apply for inspection visits for the purpose of probation. In this particular case, the teacher obtained a position under the JobBridge programme. Teachers availing of the JobBridge programme who have full responsibility for a mainstream class of a minimum of 10 pupils are eligible to apply for inspection visits for the purpose of probation. However, when all details of the conditions of employment of the teacher in this case were provided to my Department's Inspectorate, it became clear that the teacher did not fulfil the conditions necessary to evaluate professional competence in all areas of practice. 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. Measures have also been put in place in recent years to alleviate the difficulties experienced by some teachers in securing employment to complete probation. The allocation of additional funding for the employment of teachers, due to the increase in numbers of pupils, in the 2015 budget will assist in creating additional positions which will further assist newly qualified teachers to obtain positions.
848. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a child (details supplied) in County Galway will be permitted to avail of a bus service under the school transport scheme to travel to the nearest multidenominational post-primary school, in view of the fact that eligibility for the scheme has explicit regard to ethos; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40920/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the terms of my Department's Post Primary School Transport Scheme, children are eligible for transport where they reside not less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest education centre as determined by my Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language. In relation to school transport provision, ethos relates to religious ethos and is in the context of provision for minority religions. Bus Éireann, which operates the scheme on behalf of my Department, has advised that the child in question is not attending his nearest post primary centre and is therefore not eligible for school transport. In general, children who are not eligible for school transport under the terms of the scheme may apply for transport on a concessionary basis subject to a number of conditions that are detailed in the scheme. In this regard, the family should liaise with their local Bus Éireann office in Galway (Tel. No. 091-537512) regarding the availability of school transport on a concessionary basis.
849. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding equipment to support a person with a disability (details supplied) in Dublin 17; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40983/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department provides grant-aid to schools to allow them to purchase specialist equipment which has been recommended by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) as being essential for pupils who have been diagnosed as having a serious physical and/or communicative disability to access the school curriculum. The scheme is driven by applications from schools on behalf of individual students, as and when specific needs present. Applications for assistive technology are made to the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) Special Educational Needs Organiser (SENO) with assigned responsibility for the school. The SENO examines applications and makes a recommendation to my Department. An application has not yet been commenced at school level in respect of the student referred to by the Deputy. The school is available to assist Parents in completing an application which will be forwarded to the SENO for consideration.
850. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Education and Skills in view of the most recent cuts to school budgets, which have resulted in principals in County Wicklow indicating they may not be able to heat their schools for every day of term over the winter months, the advice her Department is offering to schools facing this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40985/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department provides capitation funding to all recognised primary schools. The amount of grant paid to an individual primary school for capitation and ancillary services is determined by the school's enrolment, subject to a minimum grant for both capitation and ancillary services in respect of schools with enrolments up to 60, and a maximum ancillary services grant in the case of schools with enrolments of 500 or more. In 2015 the capitation grant will amount to €170 per pupil, a reduction of €3. The Ancillary Services Grant remains unchanged at €147 per pupil. The Deputy may wish to note that Circular 40/2009 clarifies issues relating to the allocation of funding for primary schools. The circular states that capitation funding provided for general running costs and funding provided for caretaking and secretarial services may be regarded as a common grant from which the Board of Management can allocate according to its own priorities. This Government has sought to protect education spending and maintain frontline education services as far as possible. However, levels of educational expenditure cannot be determined in a manner that ignores the economic reality. Consequently there is no scope to reverse the decision to reduce the level of capitation payable in 2015.
851. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of children currently waiting to receive a Baha hearing device; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40994/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy that my Department provides for an extensive range of supports to assist pupils who are Deaf or hard of hearing. In line with my Department's policy that children with special educational needs access appropriate education intervention in mainstream settings where possible, many Deaf or hard of hearing pupils are integrated into mainstream classes at primary and post-primary level with additional supports such as additional resource teaching and Special Needs Assistant (SNA) support. Other children who are deaf or hard of hearing may attend special schools or classes, which have lower pupil teacher ratios. In order to support the education of such pupils, grant-aid is provided to schools towards the provision of specialist equipment such as sound field systems and radio aids. The type of equipment provided is set out in my Departments Circular 10/2013 on the Assistive Technology scheme. I wish to advise the Deputy, however, that personal hearing/communication devices, as referred to in this question, are provided for children by the Department of Health through the Health Service Executive. As such, the Deputy may wish to direct his query in relation to the provision of such equipment to those bodies.
852. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on an extension of the deadline regarding a matter (details supplied) which concerns programmes at an international college of technology. [41048/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, the Minister for Justice and Equality and I announced a set of robust regulatory reforms of the international education sector on 2 September. The purpose of those reforms is to protect the consumer and educational interests of genuine international students, to tackle abuse of the labour market and the immigration regime, and to safeguard the strong international reputation of high-quality Irish education providers. It is the view of both myself and the Minister for Justice and Equality that the reforms are urgently required and will significantly enhance the overall quality of Ireland's international education offering, reduce the risk to our reputation from the activities of lower quality operators and enhance the net benefits of internationalisation to the labour market and wider economy. For that reason it is not proposed to delay their introduction.
853. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the funding streams available to programmes providing Traveller education. [41066/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra854. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the European funding streams that are available to assist Traveller education; if her Department has accessed this funding; the amount received; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41067/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 853 and 854 together. My Department does not operate programmes which provide for Traveller-only education and is not aware of any Traveller-specific European funding streams for education. Current policy in relation to Traveller education is underpinned by the Report and Recommendations for a Traveller Education Strategy (2006). The principle of inclusion is at the core of the Strategy. In keeping with this principle, additional resources provided in the education system for all, including Travellers, are allocated on the basis of identified individual educational need. My Department continues to spend in the region of €10million annually on the implementation of the recommendations of the Strategy to complete the transition to full integration of supports for Travellers within the education system.
855. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a decision will be reached in relation to an application for school transport supports in respect of persons (details supplied) in Dublin 17. [41097/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraBus Éireann, which operates the School Transport Scheme on behalf of my Department, has advised that a school transport service for the pupils in question commenced on 22nd October 2014.
856. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 194 to 197, inclusive, of 16 October 2014, if she is satisfied with the position of alternative arrangements for providing educational support to children of parents qualifying for the home tuition scheme being available in certain locations in the State and not in others, and the potential inconsistency in approach regarding the provision of support to all children of parents qualifying for the home tuition scheme. [41127/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra857. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 194 to 197, inclusive, of 16 October 2014, the reason alternative arrangements for providing educational support to children of parents qualifying for the home tuition scheme are not referenced in the home tuition circular despite a specific claim form having been created by her Department for one of the organisations (details supplied) in question. [41128/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 856 and 857 together. As advised in response to questions 194, 195, 196 and 197 on 16th October, the alternative arrangements to which the Deputy refers are not a feature of the Home Tuition Scheme and are accordingly not referenced in the annual Home Tuition Circular. As previously outlined, parents of children who are eligible for home tuition who sought alternative arrangements to be put in place for their tuition, were facilitated and arrangements were put in place with private commercial organisations which provide group tuition to children in a class type setting. Payment in these cases is made directly to the service provider and is calculated on a group rate basis. It is entirely appropriate that a template form would be developed and provided to the supplier in this and any other case to ensure that the payment process is properly concluded and documented. The availability of access to the services of private commercial organisations is not the responsibility of my Department. Children who are eligible to access Home Tuition under the terms of the Home Tuition scheme will have this entitlement fully met under the terms of the scheme. However, where parents of children who are eligible for Home Tuition under the terms of the scheme seek access to alternative arrangements such as those which are the subject of this question, and where such services are available to the parents and eligible children, my Department will continue to respond to such requests with consideration and sympathy and with whatever flexibility can be applied.
858. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding an application for an extension to a school (details supplied) in County Louth; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41156/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe project to which the Deputy refers is currently at Stage 2A (Developed Design) of the architectural planning process. Upon completion of this stage, the project will be authorised to progress to Stage 2B (Detailed Design) which includes application for planning permission and the preparation of tender documents. On completion of Stage 2b (Detailed Design), officials from my Department will contact the Board of Management with regard to the potential, at that time, for further progression of the project. Due to competing demands on my Department's capital budget, imposed by the need to prioritise the limited funding available for the provision of additional school accommodation to meet increasing demographic requirements, it was not possible to include this project in the 5 year construction programme announced in March 2012. School building projects, including the project referred to by the Deputy, which have been initiated but not included in the current five year construction programme will continue to be progressed to final planning stages in anticipation of the possibility of further funds being available to my Department in the future.
859. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans for the extension of the library at the University of Limerick due to over-capacity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41166/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am pleased to inform the Deputy that €10m will be made available next year for the library project in question. This project is designed to meet requirements for additional library space and information services at University of Limerick.
860. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a minor works grant will be granted to a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41199/14]
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. At this time there is no funding available within my Department's 2014 financial allocation for the payment of the 2014/2015 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.
