Jonathan O'Brien
Ceist:791. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the procedures in place to monitor use of public moneys provided to the Union of Students of Ireland. [1268/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraHigher Education Institutions
Ceisteanna (791)
Freagraí scríofa
My Department allocates recurrent funding to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for direct disbursement to the HEA designated higher education institutions. The HEA allocates this funding to the institutions and the internal disbursement of funding is then a matter for the individual institution. My Department, or the HEA, does not provide funding to the Union of Students in Ireland and has no role in relation to it, including any audit function with respect to its funding. As the Deputy may be aware, the Student Contribution, which is payable by students who qualify for free fees funding, includes certain student service activities including student union services.
Data Protection
Ceisteanna (792)
Anthony Lawlor
Ceist:792. Deputy Anthony Lawlor asked the Minister for Education and Skills regarding the primary online database, if she will provide in tabular form the Government Departments including her Department, agencies and others who will have access to or are provided student information from the database; if she will provide a list of the precise information or parts of the system that each will have access to; the reason information should be retained until the child reaches the age of 30; if additional comments added at the discretion of the school will be visible to Departments, agencies and others or could be transferred as part of the process of migrating the student file to another school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1338/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Primary Online Database (POD) may only be accessed through password controlled accounts. Only the school that the pupil attends and a small number of Department staff will have access to an account. No agency or other Government Department will have access to the Primary Online Database. The Department proposes in the future to share some of the personal data stored on POD with other State bodies. These are: - Central Statistics Office, under the Statistics Acts to assist with the compilation of national statistics. - The National Council for Special Education, under the Education Welfare Act, in order to assist in supporting resource allocation in relation to pupils with special educational needs. - The Child and Family Agency, under the Education Welfare Act, to ensure that each child of compulsory school age is in receipt of an education. - To meet the Department's business needs in regard to the allocation of resources to schools, the Department will share a limited amount of each pupil's personal data, including a child's PPS number with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform PPSN validation service, or directly with the Department of Social Protection Client Identity Database area, in order to validate the identity of each pupil and ensure that the correct resource allocation is granted to each school.
The Department will put in place a data user agreement with each of these bodies, which includes the purpose for which the body requires the data, its storage, security and retention. The current retention policy for Primary Online Database (POD) data is for records to be maintained for the longer of either the period up to the pupil's 30th Birthday or for a period of ten years since the student was last enrolled in a primary school. In future schools will no longer be required to keep the Clárleabhar therefore POD will be the official register of pupils in schools and data will be retained to allow pupils to obtain their records in the future. The Department's retention policy is for audit and accounting purposes as pupils' data is used in the allocation of teaching posts and funding to schools. The policy also serves to trace retention trends in the education system, is important for longitudinal research and policy formation, as well as being an important statistical indicator nationally and internationally. Aggregate and not individual data is used for the majority of these purposes. This retention policy has been agreed with the Data Protection Commissioner and the Department is continually reviewing its retention policy for pupil data in consultation with the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner.
The notes area on POD was suggested by the management bodies for schools that will use POD as their only administrative system for information which is required at school level only. This information does not transfer with the pupil to another school and once POD is fully operational this area will not be visible to Department users. Under no circumstances are the additional comments available to Departments, agencies or anyone outside of the pupil's current school.
Departmental Legal Cases
Ceisteanna (793)
Finian McGrath
Ceist:793. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on a matter (details supplied) regarding victims of sexual abuse; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1340/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As announced on 16th December last, the Government approved proposals to offer out of court settlements to those bringing cases of school sexual abuse against the State where the cases come within the terms of the European Court of Human Rights decision and meet certain other criteria. The State Claims Agency will be engaging with the solicitors involved. I can confirm that in cases where settlements are agreed the State will pay, in addition to the settlement amount, such reasonable costs as agreed by the State Claims Agency.
Special Educational Needs Service Provision
Ceisteanna (794)
Brendan Griffin
Ceist:794. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills when assistive technology will be made available in respect of a child (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1342/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I wish to advise the Deputy that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) is responsible for processing applications from schools for special educational needs supports. SENOs also make recommendations to my Department where assistive technology is required. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in making recommendations for support, which is set out in my Department's Circular 0010/2013.
In order to qualify for equipment under the assistive technology scheme, a child must have been diagnosed with a physical or communicative disability and must also have a recommendation in a professional assessment that the equipment is essential in order to allow the child to access the curriculum. It must also be clear that the existing I.T. equipment in the school is insufficient to meet the child's needs.
I can advise the Deputy that an application for assistive technology support for the child referred to in this question was received in my Department in recent days. A response will issue to the school shortly regarding this matter, following consideration of the application.
Schools Building Projects Status
Ceisteanna (795)
Jonathan O'Brien
Ceist:795. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a permanent building will be found for a school (details supplied) in County Cork. [1348/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The school referred to by the Deputy is part of a new education campus comprising three new school buildings which has been devolved to Cork Education & Training Board for delivery.
The project is at an advanced stage of architectural planning and subject to the planning process it is envisaged that construction of all three schools will commence in 2015.
Schools Site Acquisitions
Ceisteanna (796)
Jonathan O'Brien
Ceist:796. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the purchase of a site for the new community college in Carrigtwohill, County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1349/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Officials from my Department have been working very closely with officials from Cork County Council to secure a site for the school referred to by the Deputy. I can confirm that a suitable site has been identified and the conveyancing process in relation to its acquisition is underway.
In tandem with completion of the conveyancing process, the project is being progressed under the Department's Design and Build programme. A project manager has already been appointed and the school authorities will be contacted in the coming months to view plans for the school.
Teachers' Remuneration
Ceisteanna (797)
Ciaran Lynch
Ceist:797. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Education and Skills the timeframe for the completion of the internal job evaluation to be carried out in University College Cork to establish the correct rate of pay for employees of the Tyndall National Institute; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1353/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Tyndall job evaluation exercise has been completed and the consultant's report was referred to the UCC Tyndall Job Evaluation Oversight Committee on the 22nd December for their consideration.
Institutes of Technology
Ceisteanna (798)
Mary Lou McDonald
Ceist:798. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Education and Skills her view on whether it is appropriate for an educational institution (details supplied) to withhold a qualification from a student on the grounds that exam fees have not been paid. [1359/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Institutes of Technology are autonomous institutions within the meaning of the Institutes of Technology Act 2006. The management of their academic affairs, including issues surrounding the collection of examination fees and relevant action where there are outstanding debts, are matters for the Governing Authority of each institution. Neither I nor my Department have any involvement in such matters. I would like to inform the Deputy that apprentices are paid a training allowance by SOLAS for phases of their training spent in IoTs. This allowance ranges from €293 to €647 per week depending on the trade and phase of the apprenticeship programme. If however, an apprentice is experiencing difficulty in paying an examination fee they should bring their case to the attention of the relevant staff within the institute.
National Educational Welfare Board Remit
Ceisteanna (799)
Jonathan O'Brien
Ceist:799. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the legal threshold for excluding students from primary and post-primary schools on a temporary and permanent basis. [1367/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Education Welfare Act 2000 requires all schools to have in place a Code of Behaviour. The Act requires that a school Code of Behaviour shall, inter alia, specify the standards of behaviour that shall be observed by each student attending the school, the measures that may be taken when a student fails or refuses to observe those standards, the procedures to be followed before a student may be suspended or expelled from the school concerned and the grounds for removing a suspension imposed in relation to a student.
The Act also requires that the code must be prepared in accordance with guidelines issued by the National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB). The NEWB's publication "Developing a Code of Behaviour: Guidelines for Schools" was issued to schools in 2008 and includes guidance on the legal and procedural requirements governing suspension and expulsion as well as the features of good educational practice in the use of these sanctions.
Section 29 of the Education Act, 1998 provides for an appeal by a parent or guardian to the Secretary General of my Department, or in the case of an Educational Training Board (ETB) school to the ETB in the first instance, where a Board of Management of a school, or a person acting on behalf of the Board expels a student or suspends a student for 20 or more days in any school year.
Application forms for taking a section 29 appeal are available on my Department's website or by contacting Section 29 Administration Unit at 0761 108584 or by emailing section29@education.gov.ie .
Student Support Schemes
Ceisteanna (800)
Charlie McConalogue
Ceist:800. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the financial supports available to postgraduate students in the arts and humanities with the exception of the excellent schemes operated by the Irish Research Council; the impact her decision to abolish postgraduate grant support has had on research in the arts and humanities; if she will restore postgraduate grants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1372/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
In the context of the necessary but difficult expenditure reduction measures announced in Budget 2012, new students entering postgraduate courses from the 2012/13 academic year onwards are not entitled to maintenance payments under the Student Grant Scheme. However, those who do 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.
A postgraduate student may qualify to have a €2,000 contribution made towards the costs of their fees. The income threshold for this payment is €31,500 for the 2014/15 academic year, increasing relative to the number of family dependents.
Tax relief is also available on postgraduate tuition fees. Details in relation to this relief are available from the Revenue Commissioners. In addition to this, the Student Assistance Fund will continue to be made available through the access offices of third-level institutions to assist students in exceptional financial need.
For students, affordability is just one of a number of factors that impact on participation rates in higher education. There are a range of wider factors that also impact on participation, including social and cultural issues, prior academic attainment and teacher and parental expectations. In access terms, it is considered that the requirement to pay postgraduate tuition fees would be likely to be a greater obstacle to entry than lack of maintenance support.
This year my Department is providing over €31 million to support research activities across a range of programmes by the Irish Research Council. The schemes specifically focus on providing funding support to postgraduate students and early-career post-doctoral fellows. The awards from the Council to post graduate students include funding for tuition fees and an annual stipend of €16,000. Funding is also available from other research funding agencies, including Science Foundation Ireland.
I have no plans at present to change the current arrangements.
Schools Establishment
Ceisteanna (801)
Niall Collins
Ceist:801. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Education and Skills when she will publish the Report on the Configuration and Development of Post-Primary Schools in Limerick City, Croom and Pallaskenry for the period 2014-2024; when action will be taken on this report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1374/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I wish to advise the Deputy that it is envisaged that the review of the configuration and development of post-primary provision for Limerick City and part of its environs which is currently being finalised will be made available in the coming weeks.
School Transport Eligibility
Ceisteanna (802)
Finian McGrath
Ceist:802. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding support required in respect of a person in County Monaghan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1377/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I wish to advise the Deputy that children with special educational needs are eligible for school transport if they are attending the nearest recognised: mainstream school, special class, special school or a unit, that is or can be resourced, to meet their special educational needs under Department of Education and Skills' criteria.
I understand that the child in question is availing of my Department's school transport scheme and also that the pupil is supported by a Bus Escort in doing so. The Bus Escort provides assistance to support this child's care needs while he is being transported to and from school.
While attending the school, the child's care needs are then provided for through Special Needs Assistance support.
My Department therefore provides care supports to support this child's transportation and attendance at school, in addition to providing for educational teaching support.
If it is considered that additional heath care related nursing assistance is also required, in addition to the care supports which have been provided, an application for such support should be made to the Health Service Executive (HSE) who has responsibility for the provision of nursing services.
Questions relating to the provision of such health care services may also be addressed to the HSE, or to my colleague, the Minister for Health.
Data Protection
Ceisteanna (803)
Jonathan O'Brien
Ceist:803. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if there is any penalty for parents who do not supply PPS numbers of their children to schools as part of the school surveys of pupils on behalf of her Department. [1417/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Department has developed an individualised electronic database of primary school pupils (POD – the Primary Online Database). The primary purpose of POD will be to monitor the educational progress of primary pupils (in DES aided schools), throughout the primary system and onwards to post primary level and to help them develop their full educational potential. Once up and running other secondary purposes of POD will include becoming the basis for the allocation of teachers and capitation grants. Aggregated POD data will also be used for the production and publication of primary level statistics. A PPS number is an individual's unique identification number for all dealings with the Public Service, including Social Welfare, tax, education and health services. Having the PPSN on the database will help ensure that there are no duplicate records in the system i.e that two schools do not have the same child on their roll. In the future we will be able to track pupils from early childhood education, to primary school and onto post-primary, which will allow us to ensure that every child in the State of compulsory school age is in education. The Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005, Section 262 allows for the collection of the PPSN by schools and the Department of Education and Skills:Section 262 of the Act states (4) A person shall give to a specified body his or her personal public service number and the personal public service numbers of his or her spouse and children, where relevant, as required by the body for the purposes of the person's transaction. (6) (a) Where a specified body has a transaction with a person, the Minister may share the person's public service identity with the specified body to the extent necessary for authentication by the specified body of the person's public service identity. From September 2016 POD will be used for the calculation of capitation payments and teacher allocations therefore all pupils must be on POD in order to be counted for school's capitation payment and teacher allocation purposes.
Inniúlacht sa Ghaeilge sa Státseirbhís
Ceisteanna (804)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Ceist:804. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna bunaithe ar an treoir a thug an Roinn Caiteachas Phoiblí agus Athchóirithe do gach Roinn, cad é líon agus cad iad gráid na bpost dá mbeidh státseirbhísigh atá inniúil sa Ghaeilge agus sa Bhéarla ag teastáil; cad é líon na bpost sin a bhfuil duine leis an gcumas cuí Gaeilge agus Béarla iontu cheana féin, arna bhriseadh síos de réir gráid; cén cháilíocht Ghaeilge atá riachtanach do na poist sin; i gcás nach bhfuil an treoir ón Roinn Caiteachais Phoiblí agus Athchóirithe comhlíonta, cad é údar na moille agus cén uair a dhéanfar an scrúdú; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [1429/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Is iad na príomhghráid sa Roinn atá gafa le seirbhísí a sheachadadh ar phobal na Gaeilge ná na gráid a bhaineann le cigireacht na scoileanna agus le soláthar na seirbhísí síceolaíochta oideachais a chuireann An tSeirbhís Náisiúnta Síceolaíochta Oideachais ar fáil do scoileanna i gceantair Ghaeltachta agus do Ghaelscoileanna. Tá 24 síceolaí oideachais sa tSeirbhís faoi láthair atá inniúil sa Ghaeilge agus a chuireann a gcuid seirbhísí proifisiúnta ar fáil trí Ghaeilge. Tá 51 cigire i Rannán Chigireacht na Scoileanna ag an mbunleibhéal agus tá 48 díobh seo freagrach as scoileanna ina múintear an siollabas trí Ghaeilge. Tá 11 de na cigirí seo freagrach as scoileanna Gaeltachta mar go bhfuil na scoileanna sin mar chuid den cheantar acu. Ag an mbunleibhéal is speisialtóirí in ábhar-réimsí na cigirí den chuid is mó. Cuireann foireann na cigireachta iar-bhunleibhéal a cuid seirbhísí ar fáil chomh maith do scoileanna ina múintear an curaclam trí Ghaeilge. Faoi láthair tá dóthain de bhaill foirne proifisiúnta ann atá inniúil sa Ghaeilge chun seirbhísí proifisiúnta a sheachadadh do na scoileanna i gceist.
Departmental Expenditure
Ceisteanna (805)
Barry Cowen
Ceist:805. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide in tabular form the total photography costs for her Department per annum in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014; the costs incurred from use of the Ministerial allowance; a list of occasions for which photographers were booked; the photographers used; a breakdown of costs associated with each occasion that a photographer was used; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1444/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The following tabular statement contains details of expenditure on photography at the Department in the years requested by the Deputy.
In addition to this a sum of approximately €7,400 was paid in July 2014 by my Department for the restoration, framing and installation of photographs in order to establish a photo gallery of Ministers and Secretaries General who have served in the Department. 2014 marked the 90th anniversary of the Department in its modern form since the establishment of the Ministers and Secretaries Act 1924.
|
Cost |
Occasion |
|
€381.15 (€315 + €66.15 VAT) |
Copies of photographs of a school project and their use on an A1 display board which was submitted to the Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland for the joint RIAI/Department colloquium on school design which was held on June 30th 2011 in Dublin. |
|
€301.35 (€245 + €56.35 VAT) |
Photographs taken on June 12th 2012 and circulated to media on the occasion of the visit of the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence Against Children, Marta Santos Pais, to participate in an international jury to oversee the design competition of a memorial to victims of childhood abuse in institutions in Ireland. |
|
€154.98 (€126 + €28.98 VAT) |
Photographs of Minister Quinn with a representative of the Migrant Rights Centre Ireland and 4 students on July 24th 2013 to publicise changes to third level fees to benefit migrant students. |
|
€172.20 (€140 + 32.20 VAT) |
Photographs of Minister Quinn with the National Parents Council on September 6th 2013 to publicise funding for anti-bullying training for parents. |
|
€154.98 (€126 + €28.98 VAT) |
Photographs taken of Minister Quinn with Brazilian students studying in Ireland on October 7th 2013 to publicise his trade mission to Brazil later that month. |
|
€404.93 (€335 + €69.93 VAT) |
Photographs taken at the launch of the Digital Strategy for Schools on December 2nd 2013. |
|
€413.28 (€336 + €77.28 VAT) |
Photographs taken for the launch of the ISSU’s report on May 23rd 2014. |
|
€361.62 (€294 + €67.62 VAT) |
Photographs taken to announce the winners of the Ireland History Competition on May 29th 2014. |
|
€17.22 (€14.00+€3.22 VAT) |
Jpeg – Minister Jan O’Sullivan, Seal of Office on 15th August 2015 – Maxwell Photography |
Public Relations Contracts Data
Ceisteanna (806)
Barry Cowen
Ceist:806. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide in tabular form the use of external public relations firms employed by her Department per annum in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014; a list of uses of the external public relations firm; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1452/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I refer to the response to questions 501 and 512 in December 2014. The information supplied at that time has not changed.
Special Educational Needs Service Provision
Ceisteanna (807)
Ciaran Lynch
Ceist:807. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Education and Skills the changes proposed regarding learning support and resource teacher allocation; if she will address the concerns raised by a school principal (details supplied) in County Cork [1492/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I wish to advise the Deputy that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) published its Report on a Proposed New Model for Allocating Teachers for Students with Special Educational Needs on 18th June 2014. The report recommends that a new allocation model should be developed, based on a school's educational profile, while providing a baseline allocation to every mainstream school to support inclusion.
My Department is currently collecting and considering 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.
A further series of consultations are scheduled to take place with these groups in the coming weeks, which will assist in developing proposals in relation to the new model.