Written Answers Nos. 191-201
191. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the expenditure on consultancy by her Department; the number of consultants engaged by her Department in the years 2011 to 2014; the names of the consultancy companies awarded contracts; and the steps which have been taken to reduce the expenditure on consultancy, and the reliance on consultants by her Department, in these years, and for the future. [18960/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested is outlined on the following tables. It should be noted by the Deputy that the 2014 expenditure includes several engagements which commenced in 2013 but final payment was not made until 2014. It is also the case that significant investment has been made in the use of consultant services to progress components of the public sector reform agenda for example digital strategy in schools and shared services projects. My Department continues to monitor proposals to engage external consultants to ensure value for money.
|
Completion date |
Status of Report |
reports/reviews/studies |
Total Cost 2011 |
|
December-11 |
* |
2011 annual review paper on Northern Ireland Postgraduate Courses |
€2,420.00 |
|
April-11 |
No Report |
Recommendations to the Minister on the preferred proposal for designation of a single awarding authority together with recommendations considered necessary in relation to modification or development of the preferred proposal for implementation purposes |
€1,927.86 |
|
October-14 |
No Report |
Subscription for provision of ICT research, advice, guidance & related services 1/10/2011 - 30/09/2012 |
€35,150.49 |
|
November-10 |
* |
Review in an appeal against an inspection under section 13 (9) of the Education Act 1998 |
€920.00 |
|
March-11 |
Published by the HEA June 2011 |
Criteria for the proposed re-designation of amalgamated institutes of Technology Universities arising from the recommendations of the National Strategy for Higher Education to 2030 |
€9,075.00 |
|
June-11 |
Completed |
Advice on necessary redactions and initial advice on possible updated accounting arrangements |
€8,410.71 |
|
January-12 |
Published April 2012 |
Report to the Minister on the Forum on Patronage & Pluralism in the Primary Sector. |
€20,000.00 |
|
March-12 |
Published March 2012 |
Evaluation of the Special Education Support Service. |
€97,866.01 |
|
December-11 |
Published February 2012 |
Evaluation of the Initial Implementation of Síolta, the National Quality framework for Early Childhood Education |
€31,280.92 |
|
November-11 |
Published November 2011 |
Evaluation of the training and education programmes for the unemployed delivered under LMAF 2010 |
€52,003.38 |
|
August-11 |
Published ESF website August 2011 |
Mid term Evaluation of the Human Capital Investment Operational Programme 2007-2013 |
€61,589.00 |
|
April-11 |
* |
Audits of the national agencies for the Lifelong Learning Programme in Ireland to serve as the basis for the submission of Declarations of Assurance from International Section to the European Commission |
€13,212.99 |
|
June-11 |
* |
Pensions advisory work relating to the establishment of a pension scheme for staff of the NCTE |
€4,791.60 |
|
April-12 |
* |
Commercial Financial & Technical Procurement advice for Schools Broadband Tender |
€63,632.51 |
|
October-11 |
* |
External audit of Dell and Waterford Crystal EGF programmes |
€5,445.00 |
|
* Internal reports -not for publication |
2011 Total: |
€407,725.47 |
|
Completion date |
Status of Report |
Reports/Reviews/Studies |
Total Cost 2012 |
|
March-13 |
* |
Commercial, financial and technical advice on the procurement of broadband services for schools |
€52,040.42 |
|
December-11 |
Published |
Evaluation of the Initial Implementation of Síolta, the National Quality framework for Early Childhood Education |
€16,747.68 |
|
2012 |
* |
IT Security Audit of the EUSF IT Database |
€5,063.91 |
|
June-12 |
* |
Audit of Labour Market Activation Fund (LMAF) |
€9,839.14 |
|
December-12 |
No Report |
Provision of Oracle Financials training support along with training documentation in the implementation of Performance Budgeting |
€2,070.00 |
|
December-12 |
No Report |
Provision of Oracle Financials training support along with training documentation in the implementation of Performance Budgeting |
€17,302.88 |
|
January-13 |
No Report |
Training and expert advice relating to the Public Service Pensions Bill and training and advice in relation to the Legal Framework and Family Law |
€2,700.00 |
|
February-12 |
* |
Review of an appeal against an inspection under section 13(9) of the Education Act |
€718.75 |
|
December-12 |
No Report |
Provision of Oracle Financials functional & accounting advice in moving from a four vote operating unit to a single operating unit |
€11,606.90 |
|
2020 |
No Report |
Provision of international expertise on Literacy & Numeracy to the Literacy and Numeracy Implementation Advisory Committee |
€3,870.13 |
|
October-14 |
No Report |
Subscription for provision of ICT research, advice, guidance & related services |
€36,788.67 |
|
October-12 |
* |
Completion of a workplace assessment for staff member with a disability and resulting report |
€370.00 |
|
April-11 |
No Report |
Costs relating to Recommendations to the Minister on the preferred proposal for designation of a single awarding authority together with recommendations considered necessary in relation to modification or development of the preferred proposal for implementation purposes which were paid in 2012 |
€83.66 |
|
December-12 |
* |
2012 annual review paper on Northern Ireland Postgraduate Courses |
€1,845.00 |
|
April-12 |
* |
Audits of the national agencies for the Lifelong Learning Programme in Ireland to serve as the basis for the submission of Declarations of Assurance from International Section to the European Commission |
€16,568.10 |
|
* Internal reports -not for publication |
2012 Total: |
€177,615.24 |
|
Completion date |
Status of Report |
Reports/Reviews/Studies |
Total Cost 2013 |
|
June-13 |
* |
Review of an inspection report under Section 13(9) of the Education Act 1998. |
€460.00 |
|
December-13 |
No Report |
2013 annual review paper Northern Ireland Postgraduate Courses |
€1,845.00 |
|
October-13 |
No Report |
Consulting services in relation to the Management Framework Agreement between City of Dublin Education & Training Board and the Department of Education & Skills for the centralised Administration of Student Grants. |
€5,904.00 |
|
March-14 |
Feb-15 |
Review of Visiting Teachers for children with hearing & Visual Impairment (VTHVI) Service, Ireland |
€10,947.00 |
|
March-14 |
Feb-15 |
Review of Visiting Teachers for children with hearing & Visual Impairment (VTHVI) Service, Ireland |
€0.00*** |
|
February-13 |
No Report |
Post Performance Budgeting Support- Consultancy |
€2,169.14 |
|
October-14 |
No Report |
IT Leaders Advisor Subscription 07/2013 to 06/2014 including credit in respect of 07-08/2013. Provision of ICT Research, advice, guidance and related services. |
€41,061.50 |
|
November-13 |
* |
External Review of historic funding and financial arrangements for Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA) centres funded by the Department. |
€0.00*** |
|
Q2-2014 |
No Report |
To assist in development of a new organisational design for Education & Training Boards (ETBs) and SOLAS |
€0.00*** |
|
Q2-2014 |
Report due May 2014 |
Provision of external expert assistance for the development of a Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA) and implementation roadmap for an integrated payroll shared service for the ETB/SOLAS sector in accordance with the shared services commitments set out in the Government's Public Service Reform Plan. |
€0.00*** |
|
February-14 |
* |
Consultancy Services to provide input to ICT Census of Primary, Post Primary and special schools and analysis of census data |
€0.00*** |
|
March-13 |
No Report |
Pensions Advisory work relating to the establishment of a pension scheme for the staff of the NCTE |
€2,152.50 |
|
April-14 |
1st report April14 final report June/July 14 |
Ex-Ante Evaluation of the ESF Operational Programme in preparation for the period 2014-2020 |
€0.00*** |
|
January-14 |
* |
External Audit of EGF Talk Talk Programme |
€0.00*** |
|
April-14 |
* |
Audits of the national agencies for the Lifelong Learning Programme in Ireland to serve as the basis for the submission of Declarations of Assurance from International Section to the European Commission. |
€14,475.34 |
|
January-13 |
No Report |
Provision of training & advice relating to the Public Service Pensions Bill |
€200.00 |
|
December-14 |
No Report |
Provision of customised Business Process Improvement training to include coaching (with provision of advice) of relevant staff |
€4,428.00 |
|
March-14 |
No Report |
Shared Financial Services Project - provision of Oracle Financials support to set up purchasing module |
€7,595.25 |
|
December-13 |
Audits of the national agencies for the new Erasmus+ Programme in Ireland to serve as the basis for the submission of the ex-ante compliance assessment from International Section to the European Commission. |
0.00*** |
|
|
* Internal reports not for publication |
2013 Total: |
€91,237.73 |
*** Consultancies engaged in 2013 but where no payment had been made by year end
|
Completion Date |
Status of Report |
Purpose of Consultancy |
Total Cost 2014 |
|
Jun-15 |
No Report |
Provision of ICT research, advice, guidance and related services to the IT Unit |
42,435.00 |
|
Jun-14 |
Not Known |
Review of the Visiting Teachers service for blind and visually impaired and deaf and hard of hearing (VTVHI) |
€15,363.24 |
|
Nov-13 |
* |
External Review of funding and financial arrangements for Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA) centres funded by the Department. |
€4,000.00 |
|
Feb-14 |
No Report |
Accessibility audit of the Department's website |
€4,850.00 |
|
Apr-14 |
No Report |
Creation of brand guidelines and logo re Springboard, ICT Skills Conversion, Momentum, the Skillnets Jobseekers Programmes, Job Bridge and Jobs Plus |
€5,412.00 |
|
Mar-15 |
No Report |
SUSI Review - Phase 1. Review of the learning gained from the establishment of the Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI). |
€7,000.00 |
|
Dec-14 |
No Report |
Review Paper on Southern Irish Postgraduates in Northern Ireland, to comply with Section 8(5) of the Student Support Act 2011. |
€1,845.00 |
|
Jun-14 |
No Report |
Consultancy Service provided to MAC in relation to Planning Activities. |
€2,892.50 |
|
Nov-14 |
Affidavit to Court of Appeal |
Specialist expert advice on the application by STS Ltd to adduce new evidence to the Court of Appeal in its appeal of the HC judgement of 23rd October, 2012 |
€35,842.20 |
|
Feb015 |
No Report |
Provision of Oracle Financials consultancy services to support the proof of concept phase of the preparation of the move to the Financial Shared Services Project |
€34,557.50 |
|
Jan-15 |
Published Jan 2015 |
Report on the Evaluation of DEIS |
0*** |
|
Dec-14 |
No |
New organisational design for ETBs and SOLAS |
11,623.50 |
|
Jul-14 |
No |
Provision of support for the development of the Business Case for ETB Shared Services Payroll Project |
81,549.00 |
|
Jun-14 |
Jun-14 |
Leading a Working Group on proposals for a new model for allocating teaching resources for students with special educational needs to mainstream schools. |
€9,880.00 |
|
Apr-14 |
No |
Audits of the national agencies for the Lifelong Learning Programme in Ireland to serve as the basis for the submission of Declarations of Assurance to the European commission |
€14,975.25 |
|
Dec-13 |
No |
Audits of the national agencies for the Erasmus + Programme in Ireland to serve as the basis for the submission of Declarations of the ex ante compliance assessment to the European commission |
€10,455.00 |
|
Jul-14 |
Jan-15 |
Ex Ante Evaluation of the ESF Operational Programme |
€53,218.00 |
|
Jan-14 |
No |
External Auditing Services |
€3,195.39 |
|
Feb-15 |
No |
Advice and guidance on the development and implementation of the Digital Strategy for schools. |
€33,517.50 |
|
Nov-14 |
No |
As part of the development of the Digital Strategy for schools, the running of focus groups, conducting analysis and summarise the data, and reporting findings |
€19,000.00 |
|
Sep-14 |
The provision of input to ICT census of primary, post-primary, and special schools and analysis of census data |
€24,624.00 |
|
|
Jun-14 |
No |
Business Process Improvement Training (BPI) |
€23,899.65 |
|
Mar-15 |
No |
Provision of Guidelines relating to best practice approach by management regarding delegation, meeting and coaching skills. |
€2,447.70 |
|
* Internal reports not for publication |
€442,582.43 |
*** Consultancies engaged in 2014 but where no payment had been made by year end
192. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Skills the recourse that is open in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 16, who was unsuccessful in an appeal for an examination reader for the leaving certificate examination, but who has an ongoing medical need for such examination support. [18970/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations.
The State Examinations Commission operates a scheme of Reasonable Accommodations in the Certificate examinations. Applications for such accommodations are submitted by schools on behalf of their students. Full details of the scheme are available for downloading from their website: www.examinations.ie/candidates/reasonableaccommodations.
In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.
193. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will review the case of a student (details supplied) in County Tipperary who has applied for a reader for the leaving certificate examinations and has been refused. [18993/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations.
The State Examinations Commission operates a scheme of Reasonable Accommodations in the Certificate examinations. Applications for such accommodations are submitted by schools on behalf of their students. Full details of the scheme are available for downloading from their website: www.examinations.ie/candidates/reasonableaccommodations.
In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.
194. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if temporary accommodation will be made available to a school (details supplied) in County Kerry during a construction phase; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19005/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware the school referred to was approved funding on a devolved basis, for the provision of accommodation for an ASD Unit and a resource teaching room.
The school in question subsequently reverted to my Department regarding interim temporary accommodation requirements pending the delivery of the new school extension.
My Department, subject to the agreement of the school, is arranging for the relocation of a Department owned prefab which it considers will meet the school's interim temporary accommodation needs.
195. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the threshold number for the retention of three mainstream teachers in an offshore island school for 2015-16; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19006/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe staffing arrangements for primary schools for the 2015/16 school year are set out in Department Circular 0005/2015 which is available on my Department's website at www.education.gov.ie.
Section 1 of the Circular sets out the retention arrangements for Island Schools in the event that a reduction in the pupil numbers of an island school will result in the loss of the second or third classroom teaching post and where the school is the only primary school remaining on the island. The retention threshold for the third classroom teaching post is 45 pupils where the school is the only primary school remaining on the island. The particular staffing arrangements for island schools that are set out in the published Department Circular 0005/2015 are designed to reflect the isolated nature of an island school that is only accessible by sea/air and the operational and practical difficulties that this can create for the school and, in particular, the availability of teaching staff.
196. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a school (details supplied) in County Kerry will be considered an offshore island school for teacher allocation purposes due to a number of factors; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19007/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has already set out previously the position in relation to the staffing of the school referred to by the Deputy for the coming school year. As part of the information supplied the Deputy has raised the question as to whether my Department is in breach of the Lisbon Treaty. I will arrange for my Department to seek some advices on this matter and revert to the Deputy in relation to the outcome.
197. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of new school buildings and extensions sanctioned by her Department in County Kerry during the 31st Dáil Éireann by comparison with the 28th, 29th and 30th Dáileanna Éireann; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19008/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department's records that are readily available are in respect of the years 2000 to date. The following tables provide a list of new schools and large scale extensions/refurbishments that were completed in the period 2000 to 2014. In addition the tables includes three new schools that are under construction and these when completed will finalise the delivery of large scale school projects in Kerry that were included in the five year plan announced in March 2012.
New Schools completed 2000-2014
|
Roll No |
School |
Year |
|
|
1 |
14767Q |
Aughacasla, Co Kerry |
2000 |
|
2 |
91504R |
Rathmore Community School |
2001 |
|
3 |
76068N |
Coláiste na Sceilge, Caherciveen |
2002 |
|
4 |
61280D |
Meánscoil An Leith-Triúigh, Bréanann, Trá Lí |
2005 |
|
5 |
20111U |
Rathmore NS |
2007 |
|
6 |
91511O |
Dingle Community School, Dingle |
2007 |
|
7 |
20196I |
Ballybunion NS |
2011 |
|
8 |
17646T |
O'Brennan NS, Kielduff, Tralee |
2012 |
|
9 |
20197K |
Kenmare NS, Kenmare |
2012 |
Large Scale Extensions/Refurbishments completed 2000-2014
|
Roll No |
School |
Year |
|
|
1 |
61450C |
Presentation Secondary School, Tralee |
2000 |
|
2 |
15878H |
Derryquay Mixed NS |
2003 |
|
3 |
91503P |
Kenmare Community School |
2003 |
|
4 |
Cappanalea Outdoor Education Centre |
2003 |
|
|
5 |
09938N |
Curranes N.S., Castleisland |
2005 |
|
6 |
15033W |
SN Treasa Naofa Mixed, Cill Floinn |
2005 |
|
7 |
18759O |
Cahir National School, Kenmare, |
2005 |
|
8 |
08791E |
Lisivigeen Mixed NS, Killarney |
2006 |
|
9 |
10050U |
St. Gertrude's NS Scairt Liath |
2007 |
|
10 |
19548G |
Nano Nagle NS Lixnaw |
2008 |
|
11 |
61440W |
St Mary's CBS, Tralee |
2012 |
|
12 |
19512I |
St Oliver's National School, Ballycasheen, Killarney |
2014 |
New Schools under construction
|
Roll No |
School |
|
|
1 |
16898S |
SN Naofa Breandan, Blennerville |
|
2 |
20229U |
Nagle Rice NS, Milltown |
|
3 |
61410N |
Presentation Secondary School, Milltown |
198. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she envisages that teacher retention thresholds for small Gaeltacht schools will be reduced from the 2014-2015 requirement levels of 19 pupils for two teacher, 53 pupils for three teacher and 83 pupils for four teacher schools as part of the new policy on education in Gaeltacht areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19020/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department launched its "Policy Proposals for Educational Provision in Gaeltacht areas" on 5 May, 2015. The proposals aim to strengthen Irish-medium provision in Gaeltacht schools. They include a range of policy options and measures that could potentially address the challenges facing Gaeltacht schools. Interested parties have been invited to provide their views in relation to the policy options set out in the document. This will be done through a survey and responses are requested by 15 June 2015. It is hoped that organisations and individuals in the Gaeltacht and with an interest in Gaeltacht education will respond to the survey. It is also intended to meet with stakeholder groups during the consultation process. It is expected that there will be a forum in the autumn where the findings of the consultation will be considered.
Such responses will inform the development of a Gaeltacht Education Policy. The level of resourcing required to deliver the agreed policy will be a key consideration when the consultation is concluded. The new Gaeltacht Education policy should be available in 2016.
199. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills in view of the relatively small number of valid applications received by the National Council for Special Education for additional resource teaching hours for children with Down's syndrome for the 2015-2016 school year, her views on whether the condition should be added to the low incidence list, under a new resource teacher allocation model; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19027/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra200. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills the total number of children in mainstream education who have Down's syndrome; if she is aware of the implications for future resource provision, and forward planning within the education system, associated with the current absence of the condition on the low incidence list; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19028/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 199 and 200 together.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has advised that 165 valid applications have been received from schools to date, in respect of children with Down syndrome, not already supported through the NCSE annual allocation process. However, the allocation process for the 2015/16 school year has not concluded and additional applications may also be received under any second round application process.
All children with Down syndrome had previously been entitled to receive additional teaching support either through the General Allocation Model or if they had an additional low incidence disability, as set out in my Departments Circular 02/05. However, as Down syndrome had not previously been designated as a distinct category for resource allocation purposes, it is not possible to categorically state how many children with Down syndrome currently attend mainstream education.
The Deputy will be aware that I recently announced that additional resources will be allocated to schools, as an interim measure, to support those children with Down syndrome, who are not already supported through the (NCSE) low incidence resource teaching annual allocation process.
I advised that this measure was being introduced in recognition of the length of time it will take to introduce the new resource teacher allocation model and the fact that children with Down syndrome experience a cluster of difficulties relating to this syndrome, in addition to general learning difficulties, including speech and language developmental delays.
In the context of the recent announcement that the proposed new model for allocating resource teachers to schools will not now be introduced from September 2015, I have reviewed the position in relation to what steps might be taken to improve educational provision for children with Down syndrome in mainstream schools.
On 24th of March, I announced that the Government has agreed that additional resources will be allocated to schools, as an interim measure, to support those children with Down syndrome, who are not already supported through the National Council for Special Education's (NCSE) annual allocation process.
This measure is being introduced now in recognition of the length of time it will take to introduce the new resource teacher model which was recommended by the NCSE.
Under the interim measure schools will receive 2.5 resource teacher hours per week for each qualifying child.
This new allocation means there will now be certainty regarding the provision which will be made for children with Down syndrome with a Mild General Learning Difficulty.
As my Department is continuing to develop the new allocation model for schools and is currently working to devise a pilot of the new model, I do not propose to amend the current list of low incidence disabilities pending the introduction of a new allocation model.
I can confirm, however, that interim allocations for children with Down syndrome, as set out above, will remain in place until such time as the proposed new model for allocating teaching supports to children with special education needs comes into force.
201. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the schools that were built in Dublin Mid-West constituency from 2002 to 2011 and from 2012 to date in 2015; the schools outstanding in the school building programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19041/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy is being compiled in my Department and will be forwarded to her as soon as possible.
