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Tuesday, 4 Nov 2014

Written Answers Nos. 861-876

Minor Works Scheme Applications

Ceisteanna (861)

Eric J. Byrne

Ceist:

861. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a minor works grant will be granted to a school (details supplied) in Dublin 12; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41200/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Circular Letter 0062/2013, which was published as the minor works grant for the school year 2013/2014 issued last November, stated that the grant will only be paid in future years as funding permits. Under my Department's Infrastructure and Capital Investment Programme 2012-2016 the primary focus is on meeting demands for additional school places. My Department's capital allocation for 2015 was agreed as part of the budgetary process. Expenditure commitments arising on projects under construction and schemes/initiatives under delivery have a first call on this allocation. Funding is also required for new projects and schemes/initiatives that will be advanced during 2015. Accordingly no decisions can be taken regarding a minor works grant for 2015/2016 at this time. I am aware that whenever my Department is in a position to issue a minor works grant to primary schools with permanent recognition it is welcomed as a valuable contribution towards the cost of maintaining school infrastructure.

Teachers' Remuneration

Ceisteanna (862, 863)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl

Ceist:

862. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding payment in respect of a teacher in County Meath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41223/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Charlie McConalogue

Ceist:

863. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a person (details supplied) will be paid by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41247/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 862 and 863 together. Section 30 of the Teaching Council Act 2001, which was enacted on the 28 January 2014, prohibits the paymaster by law from paying any person who is employed as a teacher in a recognised school unless he/she is registered with the Teaching Council. Circular 0052/2013 outlines the procedures on the commencement of Section 30 in recognised schools. Section 4.1 of Circular 0052/2013 states that employers must ensure that all persons proposed for employment (casual and non-casual) provide evidence of current registration prior to the commencement of his/her employment. Section 4.4 of Circular 0052/2013 outlines the limited exceptions permitted under Ministerial regulations made under Section 24 (8) of the Education Act 1998 (as amended by the Education (Amendment) Act 2012) whereby unregistered people may be employed in place of registered teachers. The regulations stipulate that an unregistered person may not be paid from public funds for a period of more than 5 consecutive school days. The person referred to by the Deputy registered with the Teaching Council with effect from the 26th September 2014. Any claims in respect of the person concerned input by the school prior to the 26th September must not exceed the five day rule as the person was not registered with the Teaching Council. An official from my Department will investigate the claims input on the On-Line Claims System prior to the 26th September to ensure that the claims which did not exceed the five day rule are paid.

Scéim Deontais do Mhionoibreacha

Ceisteanna (864)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Ceist:

864. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna cathain a íocfar deontais faoi Scéim na Mionoibreacha, 2014 leis na scoileanna atá ag súil leo chun deisiúchán riachtanach a dhéanamh ar a bhfoirgnimh agus a gclósanna. [41271/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Tá sé ráite in Imlitir 0062/2013, a foilsíodh agus an Deontas Mionoibreacha á eisiúint don scoilbhliain 2013/2014 i Mí na Samhna seo caite, "ní íocfar an deontas sna blianta amach romhainn ach nuair a bheidh an maoiniú á cheadú sin". Faoin gClár Infheistíochta Infreastruchtúir agus Caipitil 2012-2016 táthar ag díriú ar an éileamh ar ionaid bhreise scoile a shásamh. Ag an tráth seo, níl aon mhaoiniú ar fáil as leithdháileadh airgeadais mo Roinnese do 2014 chun an Deontas Mionoibreacha do 2014/2015 a íoc. Tá a fhios agam go mbíonn fáilte ag pobail scoile agus ag comhlachtaí bainistíochta roimh Dheontas Mionoibreacha aon uair a mbíonn ar chumas mo Roinn-se é a eisiúint (chuig bunscoil ar bith a bhfuil aitheantas buan aici), mar gur ranníocaíocht luachmhar é i leith an chostais a bhaineann le hinfreastruchtúr scoile a chothabháil.

EU Funding

Ceisteanna (865)

Seán Kenny

Ceist:

865. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Skills the projects within her Department that received EU funding in 2013; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41278/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

In 2013, the European Commission allocated EU funding to Ireland under the Lifelong Learning Programme 2007-2013 covering school, adult and higher education and vocational education and training. Funding was provided directly to, and managed by, Léargas - The Exchange Bureau and the Higher Education Authority, which are the National Agencies for the Programme in Ireland. Funding was also allocated directly to this Department to cover the management of the Eurydice Information Network in Ireland. The Lifelong Learning Programme has now been replaced by the new Erasmus+ Programme, 2014-2020. The European Social Fund supports programmes across the education, training, inclusion and equality sectors. A full list of the 2013 beneficiaries from the ESF is available on the website esf.ie under the section 'HCI-OP 2007-2013'. In December 2012, the EU contributed 50% co-funding under the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) for a programme of guidance, training, education and enterprise supports for 585 workers made redundant at the Talk Talk call centre facility in Waterford and a number of ancillary enterprises, with the funding balance coming from national sources. The EGF programme supports were delivered throughout 2013 and up to the end of February 2014. The programme was managed nationally by the EGF Managing Authority in the Department and a final report was submitted to the European Commission on 28 August 2014. The European Commission also made a funding contribution to the holding of six Conferences on education and training matters, held under Ireland's EU Presidency in the first six months of 2013.

Cáilitheacht faoin Scéim Deontais do Mhionoibreacha

Ceisteanna (866)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Ceist:

866. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna an bhfuil Gaelscoil Inse Chóir, Baile Átha Cliath 8 i dteideal deontas faoi Scéim na Mion-Oibreacha, 2014 agus cathain a dháilfear an deontais úd ar an scoil. [41284/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Faoi Imlitir 0062/2013, a foilsíodh agus an Deontas Mionoibreacha á eisiúint don scoilbhliain 2013/2014 i mí na Samhna seo caite, cuirfear maoiniú ar fáil do gach bunscoil a bhfuil lánaitheantas aici, an scoil i gceist san áireamh, ar an mbonn "nach n-íocfar an deontas sna blianta amach romhainn ach nuair a bheidh an maoiniú á cheadú sin". Ag an dtráth seo, níl aon mhaoiniú ar fáil as leithdháileadh airgeadais mo Roinn do 2014 chun an Deontas Mionoibreacha do 2014/2015 a íoc.

Scéim Deontais do Mhionoibreacha

Ceisteanna (867)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Ceist:

867. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna an gcuirfidh sí liosta ar fáil de na scoileanna i mBaile Átha Cliath 2, 4, 6, 6W, 8, 10, 12 agus 20 atá i dteideal deontas faoi Scéim na Mion-Oibreacha, 2014 agus cathain a dháilfear an deontas úd orthu. [41285/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Faoi Imlitir 0062/2013, a foilsíodh agus an Deontas Mionoibreacha á eisiúint don scoilbhliain 2013/2014 i Mí na Samhna seo caite, cuirfear maoiniú ar fáil do gach bunscoil a bhfuil lánaitheantas aici ar an mbonn "nach n-íocfar an deontas sna blianta amach romhainn ach nuair a bheidh an maoiniú á cheadú sin". Taobh amuigh de na trí scoil atá liostaithe, tá lánaitheantas ag gach bunscoil eile i mBaile Átha Cliath 2, 4, 6, 6w, 8, 10, 12 agus 20. Ag an dtráth seo, níl aon mhaoiniú ar fáil as leithdháileadh airgeadais mo Roinnese do 2014 chun an Deontas Mionoibreacha do 2014/2015 a íoc. Scoil Náisiúnta Ag Foghlaim le Chéile Phort na Sliogán, Foirgnimh Dhumhach Thrá, Bóthar Chúirt Shíomóin, Droichead na Dothra, Baile Átha Cliath 4 – Uimh. Rolla 20441S.

Scoil Náisiúnta Ag Foghlaim le Chéile Portobello, 16 Ardán Fhearchair, Baile Átha Cliath 2 – Uimh. Rolla 20430N.

Scoil Náisiúnta John Scotus, Bóthar Northumberland, Baile Átha Cliath 4 – Uimh. Rolla 20103V.

Scéim Deontais do Mhionoibreacha

Ceisteanna (868)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Ceist:

868. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna cad é an leagan amach a bhéas ar Scéím na Mion-Oibreacha, 2015 agus cad é an spriocdháta a bhéas ann don scéim sin i 2015. [41286/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Dúradh in Imlitir 0062/2013, a foilsíodh agus an deontas mionoibreacha á eisiúint don scoilbhliain 2013/2014 i mí na Samhna seo caite, nach n-íocfar an deontas sna blianta amach romhainn ach nuair a bheidh an maoiniú á cheadú sin. Faoi Chlár Infheistíochta Infreastruchtúir agus Caipitil 2012-2016 mo Roinne táthar ag díriú go príomha ar an éileamh ar ionaid bhreise scoile a shásamh. Comhaontaíodh leithdháileadh caipitil mo Roinne do 2015 mar chuid den phróiseas buiséadach. Tá éileamh tosaíochta ag tiomantais chaiteachais a bheas ag teacht as tionscadail atá á dtógáil, agus as scéimeanna/tionscnaimh atá á seachadadh, ar an leithdháileadh seo. Tá maoiniú ag teastáil chomh maith do thionscadail nua agus do scéimeanna/tionscnaimh a chuirfear ar aghaidh in 2015. Dá réir sin ní féidir aon chinntí a ghlacadh maidir le deontas mionoibreacha do 2015/2016 ag an dtráth seo. Tá a fhios agam go mbíonn fáilte roimh dheontas mionoibreacha aon uair a mbíonn ar chumas mo Roinnese é a eisiúint chuig bunscoil ar bith a bhfuil aitheantas buan aici, mar ranníocaíocht luachmhar i leith an chostais a bhaineann le hinfreastruchtúr scoile a chothabháil.

School Transport Eligibility

Ceisteanna (869)

John McGuinness

Ceist:

869. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the bus service to Ballinabranna, County Carlow will change its route slightly to facilitate persons (details supplied) in County Carlow to travel to Red Rock quarry and then onto Whelan's Cross. [41320/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Under the terms of my Department's Primary School Transport Scheme children are eligible for transport where they reside not less than 3.2 kilometres from and are attending their nearest national school as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language. Bus Éireann which is responsible for operating the scheme has advised that the children in question are not eligible for school transport as they are not attending their nearest school.

They are currently availing of school transport on a concessionary basis and in accordance with the terms of the scheme this service cannot be extended or altered as this would result in additional cost to the State. The terms of the scheme are applied equitably on a national basis.

Bullying in Schools

Ceisteanna (870)

Anthony Lawlor

Ceist:

870. Deputy Anthony Lawlor asked the Minister for Education and Skills the plans in place for anti-bullying training for teachers in primary schools; the funding in place to run these training programmes; her proposals to extend this training to ensure all teachers are trained; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41344/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

All trainee primary teachers receive training on the SHPE curriculum and Stay Safe programme which include elements on anti bullying and related behaviours. The Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST) are leading the provision of support in anti bullying for both primary and post primary schools. Phase one of the anti bullying support was delivered in February and March 2014. A two hour workshop was delivered across all education centres at primary and post primary level and the workshops provided an overview of the DES anti-bullying procedures and the development of policy. In addition a webcast was developed which provides an overview of the workshop and is available on the PDST website. Support was offered to all schools and a total of 90 workshops were delivered and over 1,500 teachers attended the workshops. The next phase of the Anti-Bullying seminar is due to commence this week and a one day seminar is being offered across the Education Centres in relation to Awareness Raising, Prevention and Intervention Strategies based on the DES Anti Bullying Procedures at both primary and post primary level. A set of support materials have been developed for the seminar and are available for schools as a resource through the PDST website. The overall cost is estimated at €86,000 plus personnel costs for 2014. In addition to this training the Stay Safe programme is supported by the Professional Development Service for Teachers in primary schools. This programme is currently being revised.

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Ceisteanna (871)

Anthony Lawlor

Ceist:

871. Deputy Anthony Lawlor asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on the current level of engagement between her Department and the Department of Health in terms of employing psychologists and occupational therapists for national schools; her views on whether there should be greater engagement between both Departments; her views on whether it is currently unfeasible for schools to have to liaise with a number of different agencies in order to secure a national disability service for needy pupils; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41345/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I wish to advise the Deputy that an integrated approach is adopted by the education and health sectors to target resources to the areas of greatest need and to integrate services to the greatest extent possible. My Department works with service-providing partners in the health and disability sectors to support the co-ordinated delivery of services to families of children with special educational needs. The interdepartmental Cross-Sectoral Team, comprising of representatives of the Departments of Education and Skills, Health and Children, the National Council for Special Education and the Health Service Executive, plans for co-ordinated service delivery across the disability sector. In addition, my Department is a member of the Health and Education Steering Committee which has been established to progress the National Programme on Progressing Disability Services for Children and Young People. The Programme is based on the recommendations of the Report of the National Reference Group on Multidisciplinary Services for Children aged 5-18 Years produced by representatives of the professions and management involved in delivering multi-disciplinary services to children which is available on the HSE website www.hse.ie. The long term goal of this Programme is to bring consistency in service delivery and a clear pathway to services for all children with disabilities according to need. Implementation of this Programme will have a positive impact on the provision of clinical services for all children requiring access to health related supports, regardless of where they live or which school they attend. Finally, outside of the structured engagements to which I have referred, officials of my Department regularly conduct bilateral meetings with their colleagues in the Department of Health and the HSE on matters of common interest, including issues concerning the distribution of support services.

School Staff

Ceisteanna (872)

Anthony Lawlor

Ceist:

872. Deputy Anthony Lawlor asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on the introduction of a dedicated resource teacher for each junior infant class in mainstream classes in order to help young children transition into primary school level and, in particular, to assist those with English language difficulties; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41346/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I wish to advise the Deputy that all mainstream primary schools have been allocated additional resource teaching and learning support allocations under the General Allocation Model to support children with mild general learning difficulties, learning support needs, or English Additional Language (EAL) support. The General Allocation Model (GAM) currently allocates over 4,200 Learning Support/Resource Teachers to primary schools, and is now updated annually, based on the number of mainstream teaching posts in schools in the previous school year, reflecting any growth in school size. The criteria by which such resources are allocated to schools under the GAM is set out in my Department's Circular 07/2014. Schools then have autonomy to deploy their GAM resource allocations to children depending on their specific needs. It is a matter for schools to monitor and utilise their allocation of additional teaching support to best support the needs of identified pupils, including pupils in junior infant classes, in accordance with my Department's guidance. The teaching time afforded to each individual pupil is therefore decided and managed by schools, taking into account each child's needs. In addition, 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. 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.

School Staff

Ceisteanna (873)

Anthony Lawlor

Ceist:

873. Deputy Anthony Lawlor asked the Minister for Education and Skills if there is a correlation between the STen results of a school and the level of resources provided by her Department; if schools with higher STen results receive less resource funding; the way schools are being incentivised to increase their STen results; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41347/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I wish to advise the Deputy that Resource Teaching and Learning Support resources are currently allocated to schools in accordance with the criteria outlined in my Department's Circulars 07/2014 and 02/05. The current allocation system does not presently take into account standardised test results, or Sten results, of schools, in allocating resources to schools to support children with special educational needs. I wish to advise the Deputy that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) published a Report on a Proposed New Model for Allocating Teachers for Students with Special Educational Needs on 18th June 2014. The NCSE, consulted widely with education partners, representatives of the disability sector, stakeholders and parent representative groups, during the course of the development of this policy advice. The report recommends that a new allocation model should be developed, based on a schools educational profile, while providing a baseline allocation to every mainstream school to support inclusion. The report recommends that in developing educational profile of a school that account would be taken of: The number of students with complex special educational needs in a school; Percentages of students performing below a certain threshold on standardised test results; Social context of school which includes gender, primary school location and educational disadvantage. My Department is currently collecting information which will be required to develop the proposed new model. Following consideration of this data, my Department will also consider whether, and from what date a new model might be implemented. I also wish to advise the Deputy that following publication of the working group report, my Department invited education partners, stakeholders, and parent representative groups to make written submissions in relation to the NCSE report. 27 written submissions have been received to date, from interested parties. My Department also held a number of consultation meetings on 1st and 3rd October last with stakeholders, education partners, and parent representative groups. Consultation has been a key feature of the development of this policy advice to date and I can confirm that consultation will continue to take place at each stage of the development of proposals for any new model.

Schools Amalgamation

Ceisteanna (874)

Noel Coonan

Ceist:

874. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a school amalgamation project (details supplied) in County Tipperary; if funding has been made available for the project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41367/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

A proposal to amalgamate the schools in question was first mooted by the Patron and schools some years ago. The proposal included a request for significant capital funding to facilitate the amalgamation. As it was not possible to provide this funding, the amalgamation did not proceed. The schools have recently re-activated the amalgamation proposal and submitted a revised application to my Department. This application will now be considered and a decision will be conveyed to the schools as soon as this process has been completed.

Student Grant Scheme Eligibility

Ceisteanna (875)

Olivia Mitchell

Ceist:

875. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to the fact that Trinity College, Dublin is extending four-year degree courses to five years, describing the last year as a postgraduate year even though said year is necessary for accreditation with professional bodies; if the Student Universal Support Ireland grant will take this change into consideration and allow students currently studying these courses to continue to receive a grant for their fifth year of study; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41368/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

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. In regard to the degree courses referred to by the Deputy, in Trinity College Dublin, students can be considered for funding in the normal manner under the Student Grant Scheme. The qualifying conditions for undergraduate students will apply for the first four years of the degree courses with students eligible for consideration for maintenance grants and fee elements, as applicable. For the fifth and final year, the postgraduate element of the five year programme, those who meet the qualifying conditions for the special rate of grant under the Student Grant Scheme are eligible to have their post-graduate tuition fees paid up to the maximum fee limit of €6,270. Otherwise a postgraduate student may qualify to have a €2,000 contribution made towards the costs of their fees if he/she meets the income criteria.

School Curriculum

Ceisteanna (876)

Eoghan Murphy

Ceist:

876. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to extend the curriculum in secondary schools to financial education and financial risk management in order to equip young people to take advantage of the greater freedoms they will have to manage their own pension funds in the future, arising from changes to pension fund legislation and trends in the pension industry that have taken place over the past 15 years, and the need arising therefrom for citizens to have a better understanding of financial planning and an appreciation of the importance of and the techniques involved in financial risk management. [41373/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The management of personal finance is an important life skill which must be practised by everyone, young and old. To enable students to understand financial management skills as they apply to households and businesses both the current Junior Certificate Business Studies and Leaving Certificate business syllabuses include learning outcomes that focus on budgeting and financial management. While these subjects are optional on the curriculum the level of take up of the subjects is high. Also of relevance are the Transition Year business programmes developed by schools. Given the current ongoing review of syllabuses, in particular the Junior Cycle Business Studies syllabus, work is ongoing on strengthening existing curricular approaches to financial literacy development. A number of organisations are working towards supporting the development of financial literacy and nearly all of the resources they develop are free to schools and are widely used. Quite often links exist between individual schools and organisations in the community including for example, banks, credit unions and the Money Advice and Budgetary Service (MABS), and these links provide the basis for the use of relevant resources.

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