Written Answers Nos. 598-616
598. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she is aware of the recent concerns of teaching staff at a school (details supplied) in County Donegal regarding the long-term future of the school; her plans to ensure that the school will continue to remain open and serve the local community; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15612/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that my Department has not received any correspondence from the school referred to by the Deputy regarding its long term viability.
I recognise that small schools are an important part of the social fabric of rural communities and will continue to be so. It is for that reason that I recently announced that a voluntary protocol for amalgamation is being developed for the very smallest schools. The protocol is still under development. Under the protocol, my Department will write to the patrons of all such schools that are located within an 8 km distance of another school of similar patronage and language of instruction. The letter will invite them to reflect on the benefits that amalgamation opportunities might provide in order to create more sustainable school communities into the future. Engagement with the protocol will be entirely voluntary.
599. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a postgraduate certificate in education degree from an English university (details supplied) is recognised here, for teaching purposes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15613/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Teaching Council Act 2001, the Teaching Council is, since March 2006, the regulator and standards body for the teaching profession.
Accordingly, it holds authority and responsibility for the registration of teachers in the State.
As the question refers to an operational matter for the Teaching Council, I am referring it to the Council for direct reply.
600. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Education and Skills to outline the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kildare had an application for a school transport grant refused; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15646/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn general, children with special educational needs are eligible for school transport if they are attending the nearest recognised mainstream school or unit that is or can be resourced, to meet their special educational needs under Department of Education and Skills' criteria.
The child in question is eligible for school transport and Bus Éireann has advised that the child can be accommodated on an existing service.
However, the parent has indicated that this service is not suitable and my Department is awaiting further information in this regard.
Payment of the grant will be reviewed when this information is received.
601. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the adequacy of responsibility for management of applications to Caranua being solely a matter for Caranua, a process in which her Department has no role, meaning that persons who have suffered outrageously, due to State failures of oversight in the past, must now advocate on their own behalf with yet another State agency, Caranua, without support from any agency outside of the one they may be experiencing delays or refusals from; her plans to address this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15699/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraCaranua is an independent statutory body established under the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act 2012. The chief executive is accountable to the Board for the efficient and effective management of Caranua. While I have no statutory role in relation to Caranua's applications procedures, my officials and I are in regular contact with the Chair and the chief executive to discuss matters relating to the performance of the organisation. As the Deputy may be aware, the Board has commissioned an external review of its structures, processes and systems.
Caranua has recently published its Customer Service Charter in February which sets out target processing times for the various stages of its application process. Caranua is amenable to scrutiny by the Oireachtas, including its committees. Caranua's administrative actions are subject to review by the Ombudsman and its decisions can be appealed to the independent appeals officer appointed under the 2012 Act.
602. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide a date for review of the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund or a date upon which she might consider the question of a review of the operation of the fund; and whether she plans to leave survivors of institutional abuse in limbo once again, uncertain as to whether their partners or children, whose needs are often a huge source of stress to the abuse victim, may be able to access assistance from the Caranua fund. [15700/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI intend to consider the question of a review of the arrangements relating to eligibility for assistance from Caranua, the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund, later this year by which time a clearer picture should have emerged regarding the uptake of the funding available.
603. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills to set out her views on concerns that a State agency, applying an element of discretion in deciding on cases of extreme hardship for persons who were outrageously abused under the State's watch, and her Department not performing either regular or ongoing audits or having oversight of this application of discretion has the effect of inflicting unnecessary and further hardship on persons who have already suffered enough, and who, rightly, may be deeply suspicious of the State, its agencies and their secretive decision-making processes, due to the State's failures of oversight in the past. [15701/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is a matter for the Board of Caranua to determine its criteria for making decisions in accordance with the provisions of the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act 2012 Act and I have no role in that process. Any former resident who is dissatisfied with a decision made by Caranua on their application can appeal that decision to the independent appeals officer in accordance with section 22 of the 2012 Act. I expect to receive Caranua's annual report for 2014 shortly and I understand that this Report will address the use of the exceptional circumstances criteria. This report will then be laid before each House of the Oireachtas in accordance with the provisions of the 2012 Act.
604. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she is satisfied that it is appropriate in the case of the rejection of an application for funds from Caranua that the only recourse for a person who may have suffered horrendous abuse in a residential institution is to an appeals officer, whose decisions are entirely opaque since the appeals officer is not subject to oversight by the Ombudsman, or the expensive and adversarial route of a High Court appeal, a route described by her predecessor as long and often traumatic; and if this will form part of her promised review. [15703/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraDecisions of Caranua may be appealed to the independent Appeals Officer appointed under section 21 of the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act, 2012. A person who is affected by the Appeals Officer's decision may appeal to the High Court on a point of law. The Appeals Officer has determined 45 decisions to date and I expect to receive his first report in relation to the performance of his functions shortly. This report will then be laid before each House of the Oireachtas in accordance with the provisions of the 2012 Act. Caranua comes within the scope of the Ombudsman Acts 1980 to 2012 and its administrative actions are subject to review by the Ombudsman. I have no plans to include these arrangements within the review of eligibility which I propose to consider later this year.
605. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will seek to rebalance the funding of science research such that the Government's preference for funding oriented basic research, applied research and over-basic research in view of the fact that this preference has led to steadily decreasing numbers of research staff in Irish universities, the unavailability of hands-on laboratory training for science students and a knock-on effect on Irish universities' international rankings. [15704/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra606. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills to set out her plans to review the imbalance of funding between applied and basic science and engineering research in view of the fact that this imbalance has led to a systemic distortion of research incentives that is at odds with her Department's role as overseer of education rather than industrial innovation. [15707/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 605 and 606 together.
The Strategy for Science, Technology & Innovation 2006 to 2013 (SSTI) was a broad based strategy which covered funding for research and innovation across all disciplines and across the full continuum of research from basic to applied, as well as commercialisation of research. The Government remains committed to the further development of our research ecosystem given the key role that it plays not only in underpinning economic recovery and maintaining Ireland's competitiveness, but also given its centrality to the quality of our higher education system and the broader societal developments that research drives.
As the Deputy will be aware, the process of developing a successor strategy to the SSTI is underway. The formulation of the new Strategy provides a clear opportunity for Ireland to develop a new whole-of-Government strategy for research and innovation that can build on the progress made to date and is timely as Ireland moves into a new phase of economic growth and societal development. An Interdepartmental Committee, under the chairmanship of the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, has been tasked with developing proposals for this new Strategy. I am represented on this Committee by officials from my Department and they are closely engaged with the process. An important element of this process is stakeholder and public consultation and some 75 submissions have been received, including from the higher education sector. The issue of future funding for all areas of research will be considered in the context of the completion of this work.
607. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Clare and that person's correspondence with her the action the person in question can take, in view of the clear fault in the system of marking in the leaving certificate examination process and the fact that there has been a clear injustice done; and if a change in the marking system should be made as there is clearly a flaw in the system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15709/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations. As part of its remit the SEC is required to maintain standards year on year and this it endeavours to achieve by the processes it has in place for the preparation of examination papers and other test items, and by the quality assurance procedures it implements at the examining and appeal stages of the State examinations.
The same marking scheme is applied strictly and in exactly the same way to the work of all candidates in the cohort taking the particular examination. Each candidate is anonymous and examining proceeds without reference to school location or centre.
In respect of the determination of grade boundaries, all examination systems have grade boundaries. In Ireland 'fixed' grade boundaries apply (i.e. the mark equating to particular percentages from the point at which one moves from the award of one grade to another) and the standard setting process, operates within this framework. The manner in which a candidate achieves an overall grade varies from subject to subject; for example in multi-components – marks for the different components are aggregated. It is emphasised to examiners that every mark is important and that they should be accurate and exact in their application of a marking scheme in order to award an appropriate mark for the work presented. As is the case in all examination systems there will always be candidates whose mark falls one mark short of a grade boundary.
A formal appeals process is provided by the SEC. It is open to every candidate to appeal the result awarded in any particular subject. The Leaving Certificate appeal process is a sophisticated process which provides candidates, who have fallen short by one or more marks to achieve the grade they may desire, every opportunity to determine that the marking scheme that applied to all candidates, was in fact applied correctly to them and that the mark finally awarded is in fact the correct mark that should apply.
In the case of the grading system applied by the SEC neither a system of 'rounding up' or 'rounding down' of percentages applies. Grading tables are drawn up on the basis of the exact mark awarded corresponding to a particular grade band (e.g. for an examination marked out of 400, such as Leaving Certificate Biology, a mark of 360 will be awarded a grade of A1 (90% or more) and a mark of 359 will be awarded a grade of A2 (85% or more and less than 90%).
608. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills to outline the arrangements which will be made to accommodate a child (details supplied) in Dublin 9 with Asperger's syndrome who has been attending an autism spectrum disorder base-class since 2011 and is due to transfer to secondary school in September 2015, in view of the fact that the child's psychological assessment states that he requires a similar specialist base-class in secondary school, but the follow-on secondary school does not have sufficient places to accommodate the child; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15728/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI 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. All schools have the names and contact details of their local SENO. Parents are encouraged to liaise with the local SENO to discuss placement options for their child.
I have arranged for the Deputy's request relating to provision for a child in Dublin to be forwarded to the NCSE for their attention and direct reply.
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.
Details of all of the special classes for children with special educational needs which are attached to mainstream schools are published each year on the NCSE website at www.ncse.ie.
609. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills to set out the position regarding home tuition and school placement in respect of a student (details supplied) in Dublin 3; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15732/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy that, further to information provided under Parliamentary Question 158 dated 25th March 2015, no application has been received under the Home Tuition Schemes administered by my Department, from the person referred to by the Deputy. As previously stated it is not clear if the pupil in question would qualify for either scheme from the limited information provided by the Deputy.
The Educational Welfare Service (EWS) of TUSLA, the Child and Family Agency, is the statutory agency which can assist parents who are experiencing difficulty in securing a school place for their child. The EWS may be able to offer assistance and advice on securing a school placement within the pupil's area. The contact details for TUSLA is Educational Welfare Service, Tusla, Floors 2-5, Brunel Building, Heuston South Quarter, Dublin 8.
610. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on the location, patronage, timeline and proposed opening date of the recently-announced primary school in Greystones, County Wicklow; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15786/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe new primary school for the Greystones/Delgany school feeder area will open in September 2015.
The patronage determination process to establish who will run the school is at an advanced stage.
A site for permanent accommodation for the school is being actively pursued. Pending a site acquisition, interim temporary accommodation is being arranged in Greystones for the school.
611. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 705 of 15 April 2015 the way she proposes that the child travels to school in view of the fact there is no transport servicing that child's nearest school and the child's parents cannot afford private transport; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15800/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the terms of my Department's Primary School Transport Scheme, a child who is eligible for school transport but for whom no transport service is available may, following an application for transport within the prescribed time limits, receive a Remote Area Grant towards the cost of private transport arrangements.
While it is the prerogative of parents to send their children to the school of their choice, eligibility for school transport is determined to the nearest school, having regard for ethos and language.
Children who are not eligible for school transport may avail of transport on a concessionary basis only subject to a number of terms and conditions including the availability of spare seats on existing services and payment of the annual charge of €100 which can be paid in two instalments in July and December.
612. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will issue a statement to all boards of management of primary and secondary schools regarding the practice of employing retired teachers on a short-term basis, when there is a significant problem with the number of unemployed teachers who are unable to secure permanent or long-term contract positions; if she will clarify the situation in connection with the legal role of her Department in these contracts of employment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15824/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraSection 24 of the Education Act 1998, as amended by the Education (Amendment) Act 2012, provides that the appointment, suspension and dismissal of teachers are the responsibility of Boards of Management of recognised schools.
The policy of my Department is to ensure, as far as possible, that the Managerial Authorities of Primary and Post Primary schools give priority to unemployed registered teachers who are fully qualified when filling vacant teaching posts. While it is schools that employ teachers my Department has issued a number of Circulars addressing this issue in recent years.
Under these Circulars School Principals must maintain a list of unemployed registered teachers who are available for substitute work at short notice and report to the Board of Management on any exceptional occasion where they have had to engage a registered teacher who is retired. Circular 31/2011 details a cascade of measures for the recruitment of teachers, prioritizing registered teachers over retired registered teachers and unregistered people.
A retired teacher who returns to teaching on or after 1 February 2012 will commence at the first point of the incremental salary scale (i.e. the lowest point or starting salary for teachers). Incremental credit for service prior to 1 February 2012, qualification allowances and certain job role allowances are also not payable. This measure represents a significant financial disincentive for teachers who retired at the top of their salary scale, often with a post of responsibility allowance, to return to teaching.
613. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide in tabular form the number of retired public service pensions in payment in each year from 2008 to 2014, under the aegis of her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16051/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information available in my Department in relation to teachers and special need assistants is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy.
614. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills to set out the total value of public sector pensions in payment and the average public sector pension in 2014 under the aegis of her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16061/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information available in my Department in relation to teachers and special need assistants is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy.
615. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to explain the reason there were 40 families awaiting access to emergency family accommodation at the beginning of March 2015 and why on 30 March 2015 there were still 40 families awaiting access to emergency family accommodation; and the action he is taking, in April 2015, to allocate appropriate provisions to Dublin City Council in order that the council can provide emergency accommodation to these families, while they are awaiting housing provision. [15160/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department’s role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of housing authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. In accordance with section 10 of the Housing Act 1988, statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of accommodation and related services for homeless persons rests with individual housing authorities and I have no function in the matter.
My Department does not fund any homeless accommodation or service directly but provides funding to lead housing authorities on a regional basis. Housing authorities also contribute to the funding costs for their areas from their own resources. In 2014, my Department provided €35.3 million in Exchequer funding to Dublin City Council, as the lead authority for the Dublin Region, towards the operational costs of homeless accommodation and related services under Section 10 arrangements. The 2015 regional allocations are currently being finalised with a view to their confirmation shortly.
616. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when the Central Statistics Office finalised its report with regard to the sector classification of Irish Water in the national accounts and submitted it to EUROSTAT; when a final response is expected from EUROSTAT on this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15164/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraA key component of the strategy to establish Irish Water is that Irish Water will be classified as a Market Corporation under Eurostat rules and as a result, will not, other than in relation to Government support, be included in the calculation of the General Government Balance. The Government remains confident that Irish Water will pass the Market Corporation Test.
The Central Statistics Office (CSO) is responsible for engagement with Eurostat on such matters, and my Department has engaged with that office and has provided the necessary information to facilitate this work. The CSO has confirmed that a classification proposal on Irish Water is currently with Eurostat. The CSO has further stated that this is a closed process and that it is awaiting the final adjudication by EUROSTAT.
