Written Answers Nos. 533-550
533. Deputy Frank Feighan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the initiatives to deal with obesity that have been taken in the past ten years; the programmes or proposed programmes being rolled out to deal with this problem; and if a specific budget is being set aside for this purpose. [4789/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is involved in a number of measures to promote student well being as part of the overall government 'Healthy Ireland' agenda that is being led by the Department of Health. This encompasses measures to promote physical activity, healthy eating, and overall healthy lifestyles.
Schools are required to deliver a minimum of 1 hour per week Physical Education at primary level and 2 hours per week at post primary level. In 2012, this Department carried out a Lifeskills Survey in primary and post primary schools. The data indicated that, in addition to this formal PE provision, over 80% of schools encourage not only physical activity and regular exercise during school breaks, but they also facilitate young people's participation in sport outside school time.
My Department's Professional Development Support Service for Teachers (PDST) is currently developing a CPD programme for primary and post primary teachers in P.E.. The initial focus of this professional support will be on developing fundamental movement skills and building the knowledge, skills and capacity of teachers to meet the physical literacy needs of learners through the P.E. curriculum.
The Department also supports the Active Schools Flag. This initiative, which was launched in 2009, recognises schools that provide a quality programme for all students and promote physical activity across the whole school community. A total of 434 primary and 33 post primary schools have achieved an Active Schools Flag to date. More schools are registering to participate each year.
Physical activity by pupils is not the sole remit of schools. PE in schools is designed to complement activity and other lifestyle habits outside of school. In fact, this "whole of life" approach is being adopted in the National Physical Activity Plan, which is currently being finalised by a cross-sectoral working group co-chaired by the Department of Health and the Department of Tourism and Sport. The Department of Education and Skills is a member of this group.
Supporting our young people to acquire the knowledge and develop the skills to make healthier choices in life is also very important to overall student well-being. The issue of promoting healthy eating is addressed in schools through subjects such as Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE), and Home Economics as well as in PE. With such skills and knowledge it is hoped that our young people will make appropriate choices so that this informed approach will help to reduce the incidence of obesity in our young people.
In my November 2014 proposal on junior cycle, Well-being is included as a compulsory element of a school's junior cycle programme. It would include Physical Education; Social, Personal and Health Education; and Civic Social and Personal Education.
In addition, I will shortly be issuing guidance to all schools about measures to promote healthy lifestyles. This guidance encompasses measures to promote healthy eating, healthy vending, as well as the promotion of P.E. and Physical Activity. The guidance has been drafted in consultation with the Department of Health and the HSE.
534. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the amount of funding invested by her Department in schools in County Cork, broken down by year, between 2011 and 2014, and by primary and post-primary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4800/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra535. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the amount of funding invested by her Department in schools in County Cork since 2011, broken down by school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4801/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra537. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the amount of funding invested by her Department in schools in Cork South-West, broken down by year between 2011 and 2014, and by primary and post-primary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4812/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra538. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the amount of funding invested by her Department in schools in Cork South-West since 2011, broken down by school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4813/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 534, 535, 537 and 538 together.
The capital funding issued to schools in the primary and post-primary sectors in County Cork in the years 2011 to 2014 is as follows:
PRIMARY
2011 - €24.8m
2012 - €23.8m
2013 - €31.1m
2014 - €37.4m
POST-PRIMARY
2011 - €6.4m
2012 - €7m
2013 - €14.2m
2014 - €16.2mIt is not possible to provide data in respect of a region within a county. However, if the Deputy wishes to nominate a specific school, I would be happy to provide the level of capital funding issued in such an instance.
536. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to review the measures taken with regard to teachers' allowances as outlined in her Department's Circular 70/2011. [4802/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe public service-wide review referred to in Circular 70/2011, was carried out by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. As a result of the review, qualification allowances were abolished with effect from 1 February 2012. My Department's Circular 0008/2013 outlines the effect of this decision on teachers.
539. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the provisions her Department has in place for providing transport for students with disabilities who wish to attend the North West Regional College in Derry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4814/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is responsible for the provision of school transport within this jurisdiction.As the college referred to by the Deputy is not within this jurisdiction the provision of school transport does not arise.
540. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding funding applications in respect of a school (details supplied) in County Kerry. [4871/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 8 January, 2015 the school referred to by the Deputy was sanctioned a devolved grant under my Department's Additional Accommodation Scheme to provide a Resource Room.
The school has recently submitted an application for funding for sewerage works under my Department's Emergency Works Scheme. This application is currently under consideration and the school authorities will be notified of the outcome once this assessment has been completed.
541. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a person (details supplied) in County Laois who is in receipt of one-parent family payment will be approved for a SUSI grant for a third level education course where the application was not submitted in the original timescale because the person who was on this payment was advised by the Department of Social Protection that if they were returning to college, they should apply for the back to education allowance which they did and then were told they were not eligible for the grant because they are in receipt of this payment and then sought to have their payment transferred back to the one-parent family payment to make them eligible, by which time they were informed by SUSI they were too late to make the application; if she will ensure that this person is not left without their SUSI grant and that a decision be made to accept this application which is due to circumstances between two Departments outside the control of the person concerned; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4881/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI understand from SUSI that the applicant to whom the Deputy refers, has been advised to submit a late application. Upon receipt of same, the case will be reviewed in light of the additional information provided.
542. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills if it is open to schools to apply for one off funding for developing a play space facility; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4896/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe provision of playspace, where site conditions and circumstances allow, is one of the issues considered in the architectural design of new schools and major extensions. My Department's design guidelines for schools include guidance in the provision of P.E. Halls, general purpose rooms and outdoor hard play areas such as basketball courts.
I wish to assure the Deputy that my Department fully recognises the key role of physical exercise within the school environment and continues to respond to the need to improve PE facilities for all pupils attending schools within the constraints of the available funding.
I also wish to advise the Deputy that the Physical Education curriculum has been designed on the basis that facilities in schools may vary. Many primary schools have a general purpose room and practically all schools have outdoor play areas which are used for teaching different aspects of the P.E. programme. A similar situation with sports halls and outdoor facilities applies at second level. In addition, many schools use adjacent local facilities, including public parks, playing fields and swimming pools.
In December 2014, the Minor Works Grant issued to all primary schools for the school year 2014/2015 at a cost of over €28 million and it is open to schools to use this funding for the development of a play facility.
Where schools are unable to address all issues arising on an incremental basis, it is open to the school authority to apply for funding for developing play space under the Summer Works Scheme.
The Deputy will be aware that spending of more than €70 million was approved for the 2014 Summer Works Scheme to allow over 770 schools undertake improvement works. This allowed for the funding of applications received under categories 1-6. Schools which had applied under categories 7-10 were advised that their applications would be retained for prioritisation if funding for further summer works projects could be secured for 2015.
543. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason her Department is developing a primary online database; the reason her Department is seeking to collect data in relation to the ethnicity and religion of students; the length of time which it is planned to store data collected via the primary online database system; the places this data will be stored; the persons that will have access to this data; if her Department has engaged with the Data Protection Commissioner on this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4897/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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 education 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.Parental consent is also required to answer the questions relating to religion and ethnic or cultural background. The information in relation to religion is being gathered purely for statistical purposes – there will be no other use made of this information. In relation to ethnicity and cultural identity, organisations like the Irish Traveller Movement and advocates of greater social equality have been campaigning for a record of Traveller identity to be kept as part of a learner database for many years. This is to allow us to determine the effect of targeted educational interventions on Travellers, and indeed to direct the additional capitation grant funding to schools who enrol Traveller pupils.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 pupil's 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. My Department has consulted with the Data Protection Commissioner in December 2013 and no issues of concern were raised at that time. My Department will review, on an ongoing basis, our retention policy taking account of any concerns raised. I am also aware that the Data Protection Commissioner has made clear that there is still active engagement between her office and my Department on this issue. I welcome that confirmation.The Department takes the protection of pupil's data very seriously. Pupil data is stored securely in the Department's Oracle database. This database is hosted on the Department's servers which are located in the Revenue Commissioners data-centre in St Johns' Road. Access to the servers is protected by both Revenue and Government firewalls. Staff of the Revenue Commissioners do not have access to the data in the database. POD application roles have been developed which limit school staff to viewing and maintaining their own pupil records. Access within the Department to POD data is limited to the POD team which is currently less than 15 people. No agency or other Government Department will have direct access to the Primary Online Database.
544. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will make arrangements for a meeting between her Department's building unit and a delegation from a school (details supplied) in County Donegal to discuss future development plans for a new school building and development of the school campus; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4923/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, as a result of planning permission for a new school building for the school in question being refused by An Bord Pleanála in 2012, the school authorities were requested to identify and prioritise the most urgent health and safety issues within the existing school building. The accommodation needs which emanated from that assessment were considered and in July 2013, my Department approved substantial funding to improve the accommodation facilities available at the school. The scope of works approved permitted the school authorities to carry out works including roof repairs, replacement of windows & doors and of two heating boilers, the upgrade of dust extraction systems plus the provision of a fire alarm & emergency lighting. In addition, in September 2013, the school in question was invited to participate in the Prefab Replacement Scheme II to replace four temporary rented general classrooms with permanent accommodation and in February 2014, my Department approved further devolved funding to provide two new Science Rooms. The Department is aware that the school authorities have been developing proposals in relation to the further future development of the school and have asked the school to forward these proposals. Once the proposals have been received the matter will be considered further. In the event that further clarifications are required, officials from the Department will be in contact with the school authorities.
545. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will liaise with the Office of Public Works in order to have temporary premises in place for the summer in respect of a school (details supplied) in Dublin 8. [4932/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am pleased to inform the Deputy that my Department has recently informed the Office of Public Works that they may lodge a planning application for the temporary accommodation required to facilitate the decant of the school in question.
546. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a tender will be allocated in respect of a school (details supplied) in Dublin 8; when the broadband speed will be updated and improved; when the PDST will be reviewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4936/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Schools Broadband Access Programme, my Department provides for the supply of internet connectivity for all recognised primary schools. A framework involving more providers was put in place in 2012 which ensures that improved solutions are available to schools. The Department is continually working with providers to ensure that where possible improved services are made available to schools.The broadband connection for Francis St. C.B.S. will be re-tendered in the first half of 2015 with a view to having a improved connection in place for September 2015. In relation to the issues raised by Francis St C.B.S. regarding the Schools Broadband Service Desk, enquiries are being made about these matters and a response will issue to Francis St. C.B.S. as soon as possible.
547. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the financial support received from the Department for the development of sports facilities at a school (details supplied) in County Westmeath. [4946/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 2011/2012 an extension refurbishment programme was carried out at the school referred to by the Deputy at a cost of circa €4.8m. As part of these works a new single storey P.E. Hall with ancillary accommodation including toilets, changing rooms, stores, offices and a first floor viewing balcony was provided. The works also included the provision of an all-weather pitch.
548. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding an application by schools (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4963/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application in relation to the proposed amalgamation of schools referred to by the Deputy has recently been received by my Department. This proposal is currently under consideration and officials from my Department will be in contact with the Management Authority of the schools concerned shortly.
549. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding the honours degree allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4992/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 2012 a public service-wide review of allowances was carried out by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. As a result of the review, qualification allowances were abolished with effect from 1 February 2012. Department of Education and Skills Circular 0008/2013 outlines the effect of this decision on teachers.
In Paragraph 12 of Circular 0008/2013 an exception is made in the case "where as at 5 December 2011, a teacher in employment on that date and eligible for receipt of a qualification allowance in respect of the post they held on that date, was actively undertaking a course of further study leading to an additional qualification, provided that the teacher does not cease to be a registered student on that course before its completion. Such individuals may apply to the Department/VEC (now ETB) as appropriate for a derogation from the general position within 3 months of the date of receipt of the award." Teachers who were not in employment in an Oireachtas funded post on 5 December 2011 and not eligible for receipt of a qualification allowance in respect of any teaching post on that date, do not qualify for payment of an allowance in respect of the qualification related to the course being undertaken at that time.
The issues raised by the Deputy have been brought to the Teachers' Conciliation Council (TCC) by representatives of the teachers concerned and it would therefore not be appropriate to comment further until the issues have been deliberated on by that forum. The TCC is part of the scheme of Conciliation and Arbitration Scheme for Teachers, the purpose of which is to provide a means of dealing with claims and proposals relating to the salaries and terms and conditions of teachers. The Council is composed of representatives of the teacher representative bodies, school management, the Department of Education and Skills, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and is chaired by an official of the Labour Relations Commission.
550. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will report on the evaluation of Springboard; if the evaluation reports are made available; if she will report on the group charged with evaluating the programme; and her plans to increase the number and scope of the courses available to jobseekers. [4993/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe evaluation framework for Springboard provides for ongoing monitoring and evaluation of outputs. Reports published by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) to date provide information on the number and profile of participants, number of awards granted, and employment outcomes. Overall, feedback on Springboard is very positive: 40% of the 2012/13 graduates were in employment/self-employment within 6 weeks of graduating – rising to 52% within 6 months of graduation.
Evaluations have been carried out by the HEA, with support from the UCD Geary Institute and Eustace Patterson Ltd. The evaluation reports are available on the Springboard website at www.springboardcourses.ie.
A call for proposals for courses to be run under Springboard 2015 published to higher education providers and on the HEA website at www.hea.ie on 28 January. The deadline for submissions is Wednesday, 11 March 2015. Details of courses subsequently selected for funding and the eligibility criteria for participation will be available on the dedicated information and applications website www.springboardcourses.ie from May 2015
