Written Answers Nos 511-528
511. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on a much needed new secondary school (details supplied) in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2256/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, the religious congregation that owns existing school properties in Ennistymon has offered to transfer the properties concerned to the State as part of its offer made in response to the publication of the report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse (the Ryan Report). The land in question, which the Government has agreed to accept, together with the lands already in the ownership of the Department, will be sufficient to meet the overall site requirements of the new school, referred to by the Deputy.
My Department, through the Chief State Solicitor's Office, is currently working with the Solicitors acting on behalf of the Congregation concerned on the legal procedures and mechanisms required to facilitate the transfer of this additional land.
Once the necessary legal conveyancing process to facilitate the site transfer has been completed, my Department can consider the progression of this project. I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department will also continue to maintain its on-going contact with the school authorities in the matter.
512. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education and Skills if construction-related apprenticeships can be taken up on public or private projects in the State awarded to non-resident contractors. [2259/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraApprenticeship is the route through which persons are trained to become craftspeople in Ireland. The main craft trades have been designated by SOLAS and come within the scope of the statutory apprenticeship system. Apprenticeship in Ireland is administered and managed by SOLAS in co-operation with the Higher Education Authority, my Department, Employer Bodies and Trade Unions.
In order to become an apprentice in Ireland a person must first secure employment in the trade. Once a firm offer of a contract of apprenticeship has been made by the company to the potential apprentice the company requires SOLAS approval to register their employee as an apprentice.
SOLAS has a range of criteria to approve both indigenous and non-indigenous companies to recruit and register apprentices.
513. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a school (details supplied) in County Kildare will receive an increased allocation of special needs support for new entrants which has been ratified; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2279/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy that my Government recently committed, as part of the budget announcements made last year, to provide for 365 new Special Needs Assistant (SNA) posts to support children with special educational needs in schools in 2015, bringing the total number of SNAs available for allocation in 2015 to 11,330 posts.
This is the highest level of SNA allocation that we have ever had, and will ensure that children with special educational needs can continue to participate in education and be supported in a manner appropriate to their needs.
I also 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 annually taking into account the assessed care needs of children qualifying for SNA support enrolled in the school. Where children have significant care needs to the extent that they 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.
All schools were asked to apply to the NCSE for SNA support for the 2014/15 school year by 26 March 2014. The NCSE published details of their allocations for SNA support for the 2014/15 school year in June 2014. The NCSE completed a second round allocations for SNA provision for the 2014/15 school year in October 2014, details of which are available on the NCSE website, www.ncse.ie.
Details of the SNA allocations which have been made to each school is available on the NCSE website.
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.
Should a school wish to make an application for additional SNA support for a child who was not previously considered for SNA support, or who is due to enrol to a school, they may do so 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.
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.
514. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on amending legislation regarding the assessment of income of parents and students attending college and seeking grant assistance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2290/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe assessment of means under my Department's student grant scheme is based on gross income from all sources. Therefore, all income is assessed from the same starting point, eliminating any distortion which might arise from different spending decisions.
The means test arrangements of the student grant scheme are applied nationally. In the case of both employed and self-employed applicants, gross income is assessed with certain specified social welfare and health service executive payments excluded.
The eligibility of an applicant, or the level of the grant awarded, may be re-assessed by the awarding authority in the event of a change of circumstances in the academic year.
I have no plans at present to depart from the above practice in respect of the determination of income.
515. Deputy Anthony Lawlor asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding an examination by her Department of the capacity of existing schools in an area (details supplied) in County Kildare; if a review has been completed of the purchase of land at a school; the plans in place for the site; the proposed site and capacity of the school to future-proof enrolments in the area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2316/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that a conveyancing process is underway with regard to the acquisition of lands adjacent to the school referred to by the Deputy. This acquisition is primarily aimed at facilitating access to the adjacent school.
My Department has recently completed a nationwide demographic review to determine where additional primary school places might be needed from 2015 onwards. On foot of this review, it has been determined that there is sufficient primary educational infrastructure in the Naas area to meet its demographic needs for the foreseeable future.
516. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a student grant application was refused in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2430/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs 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 compliments 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 oireachtas@susi.ie. SUSI are responding to email queries within a matter of days.
517. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide a list of all land and sites owned by her Department in the east Cork area (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2452/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraWith regard to the areas referred to by the Deputy (Cobh, Carrigtwohill, Midleton and Youghal) the following are the sites registered in the Property Registration Authority in the name of the Minister for Education and Skills:17 acres - Youghal (Pobailscoil na Tríonóide/Youghal Community School)
0.6 acres - Youghal (Gaelscoil Choráin).
518. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Skills the cost to date of the proposed amalgamation for Cork IT and Tralee IT; if there is a specific budget for this work; the timeframe for completion of the project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2453/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn Autumn 2014, CIT and IT Tralee, which had been allocated €200,000 in 2014, reported jointly on expenditure of this funding to the Higher Education Authority. In general the funding was applied to costs associated with the due diligence process (€58,999.38), analysis of structures for management and governance (€21,800.19), travel costs (€2365.11) and overheads (€12,474.70) and amounted to €95, 639.38. This represents direct project expenditure and does not include matched funding from both Institutes which is comprised of staff and other resources allocated to the project which is estimated at €114,770.00.
In August 2014, the HEA announced a further dedicated call for submissions in respect of the costs of mergers being undertaken as part of the National Strategy. A total of €2,000,000 was made available for this call. CIT and IT Tralee submitted a joint application and were awarded €766,667 in respect of their proposal, having regard to the scale of the project, the level of co-funding provided by institutions, and the track record of success in the development of the project to date. A report on funding expenditure and activity will be submitted to the HEA in mid-2015.
The consortium envisages merging in mid-2016.
519. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding an appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny regarding their application to retire on grounds of ill-health; if the outcome of the oral hearing will be expedited; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2466/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person to whom the Deputy refers made application for retirement on ill-health grounds and availed of the appeal process, in accordance with the procedure outlined in documentation provided to applicants and available on my Department's website: www.education.ie.
The statutory basis for Ill Health Retirement pension benefit for members is contained in the Secondary, Community and Comprehensive School Teachers Pension Scheme 2009 and the Primary School Teachers Pension Scheme 2009 as appropriate. The person to whom the Deputy refers was notified of the positive outcome of the process in December 2014 and pension benefit payments have commenced.
520. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Education and Skills if there are grants or other forms of financial assistance available to help persons meet the costs of part-time study; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2473/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraTax relief is available in respect of fees for part-time courses. Students can contact the Revenue Commissioners for details or go on line at www.revenue.ie. Full details of this relief are available from the Revenue Commissioners.
Under the Student Grant Scheme, 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 order to be considered for a grant a student is required, under Section 8 (1) (b) of the Student Support Act 2011, to be pursuing a full-time course.
There are no plans at present to extend the scope of the student grant scheme to part-time courses in the State or in another EU Member State.
521. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Education and Skills the amount spent by her Department on special advisers for each of the past four years; the way this compares with the four years from 2007 to 2010; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2504/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra522. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Education and Skills the amount spent by her Department on ministerial drivers and associated travel expenses for each of the past four years; the way this compares with similar expenditure for the four years from 2007 to 2010; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2520/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 521 and 522 together.
The information sought is being compiled at present and will be forwarded to the Deputy shortly.
523. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on the development of the proposed technological university in the south east. [2547/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is committed to delivering a wide-ranging reform programme in higher education to enhance the quality of research, teaching and engagement. Restructuring the system and in particular the establishment of Technological Universities forms a key part of the reform programme.
As you are aware, recently Waterford IT announced that they were suspending moves towards merger with IT Carlow, which could lead to the creation of a Technological University in the South East. The Government has reiterated its commitment to the creation of a multi-campus Technological University of the South East, as outlined in the Programme for Government. The process and criteria to attain this new status were published in early 2012.
Before Christmas, I announced a new process to reinvigorate the technological university of the South East project. Mr. Michael Kelly is leading a process of consultation with regional stakeholders, the governing bodies, staff and students in Waterford Institute of Technology and Carlow Institute of Technology in order to develop a shared vision for a technological university in the South East.
As former Chairman of the Higher Education Authority, Mr. Kelly is very well known within the sector. He has also played a leading role chairing the consortium which is seeking to establish a Technological University in the Dublin region, and so has an in-depth knowledge of what is needed to create such an institution. Mr. Kelly is due to report early in 2015.
524. Deputy Derek Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the amount, across all funding streams, spent on modernisation, refurbishment, and improvement works on schools (details supplied) in County Galway since 2009; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2548/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy that the total capital funding issued in the period 2009 to 2014 in respect of the schools referred to by the Deputy amounted to over €420,000 in the case of the first named school and to over €225,000 in the case of the other school.
525. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Education and Skills if her Department has completed a study of the future accommodation needs at a school (details supplied) in County Kildare in view of its strategic location in a rapidly growing catchment area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2558/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 2013 my Department approved a devolved grant to provide additional accommodation at the school to which the Deputy refers. The project is at an advanced stage and is nearing completion.
My Department is currently analysing the latest demographic data on a nationwide basis to determine where additional post-primary school accommodation might be needed from 2016 onwards. This process includes an examination of the area where the school concerned is located. When this exercise has been completed arrangements will be made to make additional accommodation available where it is needed.
526. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Education and Skills when she will announce the school summer work scheme in order that boards of management can plan ahead for their improvement works in the summer of 2015. [2563/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy will be aware that my Department's over-riding objective is to ensure that every child has access to a physical school place and that our school system is in a position to cope with increasing pupil numbers. To ensure that this is achieved, the delivery of major school projects to meet significant demographic demand nationally will be the main focus for capital investment in schools in the coming years. In view, therefore, of the need to prioritise available funding for the provision of essential school accommodation to meet this demand, it is not possible for me to advance with a new summer works programme in 2015.
Over 1,600 applications were received under the 2014 Summer Works Scheme. In total, the spending of more than €70 million on the 2014 Summer Works Scheme has been approved to allow over 770 schools undertake improvement works. In that regard, I wish to advise the Deputies that provision has been made in the 2015 allocation, on foot of the budget, for the carryover costs of such improvement works approved in 2014.
Commensurate with the level of funding set aside for the Scheme, applications were assessed on a top down basis in accordance with the prioritisation criteria outlined in the Circular accompanying the Scheme. Unfortunately, due to the scale of demand for funding under the Scheme, it was not possible to grant aid all applications. However, in accordance with the Scheme's Circular, these applications will be retained and will be prioritised for consideration under further rounds of the Summer Works Scheme in the future, subject to availability of funding.
527. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will confirm funding for an autism support unit for County Longford in respect of which contact has been made with her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2564/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra528. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Education and Skills the schools in County Longford that provide autism specific education for primary and for second level students; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2565/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 527 and 528 together.
I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department's policy focuses on ensuring that all children with special educational needs can have access to an education appropriate to their needs and abilities.
A range of placement options for pupils with special educational needs is provided in order to ensure that all pupils can receive a school placement. Many pupils with special educational needs will be able to attend a local mainstream school, whereas for pupils who have needs which require more specialist interventions, special class and special school placements are provided for.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE), through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), is responsible for establishing special classes in various geographical areas as required. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support.
SENOs engage with schools annually in order to plan for, and to open, new special classes each year, in order to ensure there are sufficient special class placements available at primary and post primary school level to meet demand in a given area.
Details of all of the special classes for children with special educational needs which are attached to mainstream schools are published each year the NCSE website www.ncse.ie. This list details the number of classes which are available on a per county basis.
I can advise that there are currently 6 special classes for children with autism attached to primary schools and 2 special classes attached to post primary schools in Co. Longford for the 2014/15 school year.
The NCSE will continue to monitor and review the requirement for special class places in particular areas and has capacity to open such new special classes where necessary.
