Written Answers Nos. 862-878
862. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to ensure that Gaeltacht island schools' specific needs are recognised by her Department’s policy, including with regard to teacher allocation; if she is aware of the negative impact that her Department's redeployment policy is having on island schools; and her plans to address this matter. [20246/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraTeacher allocations to all schools are approved annually by my Department in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolment. The criteria for the allocation of posts are communicated to school managements annually and are available on the Department website.
At post primary level and in addition to teacher allocations based largely on pupil teacher ratios, an ex-quota allocation of one teaching post is also allocated to Island schools. In accordance with the published staffing arrangements each school management authority is required to organise its subject options within the limit of its approved teacher allocation. The deployment of teaching staff in the school, the range of subjects offered and ultimately the quality of teaching and learning are in the first instance a matter for the school management authorities.
At post primary level and in accordance with existing arrangements, where a school management authority is unable to meet its curricular commitments within its approved allocation, my Department considers applications for additional short term support i.e., curricular concessions. Short term support is needed (normally for one year but not exceeding 2/3 school years) to enable the school authority to respond to the identified difficulty in meeting essential curricular commitments to pupils within the normal staffing allocation.
The detail of the curricular concession process is set out with the criteria for the allocation of posts and is also available on the website.
At primary level the staffing arrangements 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 circular also sets out the improvements to the staffing schedule for the 2015/16 school year for small schools. These improvements are improved retention thresholds for the 2nd, 3rd and 4th classroom teacher and also the improved appointment and retention thresholds for isolated one-teacher schools. The allocation processes also includes an appeals mechanism under which schools can appeal against the allocation due to them under the staffing schedules. The appeal procedures are also set out in the published staffing arrangements. The Appeals Board operates independently of the Department and its decision is final.
The Government's approach to restoring the economy has helped Ireland to return to a position where we are seeing economic growth. It is a continuing improvement in our economic growth over a sustained period that will enable us to move to a point where we can look again at providing for additional teacher resources in schools which could bring about further improvement in PTR, class size and support for classroom teachers.
The challenge for all schools is to ensure that they utilise their allocated resources to best effect to maximise teaching and learning outcomes.
My 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.
863. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to ensure that Student Universal Support Ireland applications can be made at the same time as Central Applications Office applications. [20247/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraReconfiguring the application process alongside the CAO applications process is not a straightforward proposition. For example one of the key eligibility criteria for receiving grant funding is the assessment of reckonable income.
Income details supplied by Revenue and/or Department of Social Protection for the relevant period for assessment purposes would not be available when the CAO application process opens in November. Extending the application processing window would not necessarily increase processing efficiency and may indeed add some layers to the process.
864. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the total amount spent on capitation grants for the year 2013-2014 split between primary and post-primary schools; the total amount which will be spent on capitation grants, between primary and post-primary schools, for the school year 2014-2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20267/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department provides capitation funding to all recognised primary and post primary schools within the free education scheme.
My Department provides funding to primary schools by way of per capita grants, subject to a minimum grant equivalent to 60 pupils and a maximum grant equivalent to 500 pupils. In 2014, €188million was provided in per capita grant funding to primary schools, the provision for 2015 is €191 million.
The funding arrangements made by my Department for post primary schools reflect the sectoral division of our second-level system. At the core of all arrangements is reliance upon capitation as the principal determinant of funding.
My Department provides funding to Community and Comprehensive schools on a budget basis that is based mainly on pupil numbers, but also take into account additional factors which vary from school to school such as age of buildings, size of school etc.
With regard to the ETB sector financial allocations are made to ETBs as part of a block grant. ETBs are given a high level of autonomy in the management and appropriation of this grant and each is allowed to distribute its allocations in line with its priorities and perceptions of need.
My Department provides funding to voluntary secondary schools by way of per capita grants. In 2014, €94 million was provided in per capita grant funding to voluntary secondary schools, the provision for 2015 is €96 million.
Fee charging schools do not receive any capitation or related grants from my Department.
865. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on the review of the post-leaving certificate sector; when the review is expected to be completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20268/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraSOLAS has commissioned the evaluation work for the review of the PLC sector and has established an evaluation oversight group. It expects to make the findings of the evaluation available early in 2016.
866. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 551 of 12 May 2015, if she will provide an update on Project IRIS, inclusive research in Irish schools, completed by the National Council for Special Education; the outcome of this research piece; when it will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20286/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra867. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 551 of 12 May 2015, the date of completion of the National Council for Special Education report; the reason for the delay of this report; the intended timeframe or the next steps for policy implementation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20287/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 866 and 867 together.
I wish to advise the Deputy that Project Iris is a longitudinal study commissioned by the National Council for Special Education to examine the provision of special education in Irish schools and the outcomes and experiences of students with special educational needs (SEN). The report from this study is currently being finalised in preparation for publication. The NCSE will provide a copy to the Minister on publication.
As previously stated in my answer to Parliamentary Question No. 551 of 12th May, the National Council for Special Education is currently at an advanced stage in the preparation of its policy advice on educational provision for students with autism. This is a large piece of work which has required extensive consultation and consideration. The NCSE has advised me that they expect the report to be concluded and delivered shortly.
On receipt of this report my Department will consider its contents and recommendations and will decide on an implementation framework and timeframe.
868. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of children attending the six projects providing education services to children with autism in the years 2013, 2014 and to date in 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20288/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra869. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 552 of 12 May 2015, when the requested information, in tabular form, will be made available by her officials; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20289/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 868 and 869 together.
Group arrangements are put in place where parents/guardians of children who are eligible for home tuition seek alternative arrangements and my Department responds to, and facilitates the parents/guardians, by putting in place agreements with private pre-school providers which provide group tuition to children in a class type setting.
I wish to advise the Deputy that the number of children attending the six pre-school providers referred to during the school years 2012/2013, 2013/2014 and 2014/2015, in respect of whom payments were made by my Department, were in the region of 46, 176 and 198 respectively. It should be noted that in many cases children may have availed of these placements for short periods of time while placements in state funded schools were being finalized. It should also be noted that the providers may provide services to other children who are not supported under the Department's Home Tuition scheme and the Department would not have details of these children.
In relation to the response to question 552 of 12th May 2015. The response will be issued to the Deputy before the end of this week.
870. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to increase the capitation of national schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20290/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe last Budget included an increase in spending on education for the first time in recent years, amounting to additional funding of €60m during 2015. That increase has provided funding for 1,700 additional teachers and SNAs to be recruited for our schools, as well as funding important reforms. However, it was not possible to secure the funding which would be required to also increase the rates of capitation paid to our schools.
I am determined that education will be prioritised for further investment in future years, and I believe that increasing the staffing and funding of our schools should be priorities for such investment.
871. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide, in tabular form, the number of national primary schools that have a teaching principal; the number that have vacant principal positions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20291/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Statistics Section of my Department's website contains extensive data relating to schools at primary and post-primary level. The most recent published information relates to the 2013/2014 school year. Based on the published information for the 2013/14 school year there were 1,829 teacher principal posts at primary level. Data in relation to the 2014/15 school year will be published later in the current school year.
My Department does not hold any information in relation to vacancies at principal teacher level in primary schools. Under the terms of the Education Act the employment of teachers including principals is a matter for individual Boards of Management.
872. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the terms of reference for the review of Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools; if social aspects are being reviewed along with academic aspects; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20292/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe process I announced recently to renew the DEIS Programme has a number of strands: a consultation process with the education partners to inform the development of appropriate measures to tackle educational disadvantage; an inter-Departmental Group to ensure a joined-up approach to delivery of services in DEIS; and a Technical Group to develop a revised identification process for schools. The overall process is being overseen by a DEIS Advisory Group located within my Department. Terms of reference for these groups are currently being finalised and I will make them available to the Deputy as soon as they are approved. The Deputy can be assured that the review process will encompass all aspects of educational disadvantage, including socio-economic factors.
873. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the investment that is planned for information and communications technology infrastructure, training and class delivery for national schools in the coming years in view of the growing importance of technical skills such as coding for education and employment opportunities. [20293/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Digital Strategy for Schools will be finalised in the coming weeks and sets out an ambitious five plan to further embed ICT in teaching, learning and assessment. Under this Strategy the Department will identify a set of funding priorities annually over the lifetime of the Digital Strategy. The annual funding plans will take cognisance of the economic climate and the availability of public funds. Improvements to ICT infrastructure and more flexible forms of continuous professional development have been identified as priorities under the Strategy. The Strategy also recognises the importance of students developing 21st century skills and while coding is not a subject on the Primary School Curriculum, it is taught and used as an activity through which pupils can be enabled to develop a wide range of competences, some of which are specific to particular subjects (especially Mathematics) and some of which are applicable across the curriculum and outside of school.
874. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans and the timeframe to reduce the pupil-teacher ratio in primary schools to the European Union average; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20294/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy focus in Budget 2015 was on obtaining the additional funding that was necessary to provide for demographic growth. The last Budget included an increase in spending on education for the first time in recent years, amounting to additional funding of €60m during 2015.
This funding will be used to provide 1,700 additional teachers and SNAs for our schools, as well as to fund prioritised reforms, such as implementation of the literacy and numeracy strategy, reform of junior cycle, and the introduction of education focused pre-school inspections. The improvements in the Primary Staffing Schedule for small schools which I announced in February last are the only changes that I will be making to the staffing arrangements for schools for the 2015/16 school year.
The Government's approach to restoring the economy has helped Ireland to return to a position where we are seeing economic growth. It is a continuing improvement in our economic growth over a sustained period that will enable us to move to a point where we can look again at providing for additional teacher resources in schools which could bring about further improvement in PTR, class size and support for classroom teachers.
The challenge for all schools is to ensure that they utilise their allocated resources to best effect to maximise teaching and learning outcomes.
875. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a person (details supplied) entering third level education for the first time can avail of the free fees scheme if the person is taking a masters course and not an undergraduate course. [20295/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe main criteria of the Free Fees Initiative provides that students must be first-time undergraduates, hold inter alia EU/EEA/Swiss nationality in their own right, and have been ordinarily resident in an EU/EEA/Swiss state for at least three of the five years preceding their entry to an approved third level course. Assistance under the scheme is not available for courses at postgraduate level.
Higher education institutions are autonomous bodies and the criteria governing the level of tuition fees to be charged in the case of postgraduate study is a matter for the institutions to determine.
Tax relief is available on postgraduate tuition fees paid. Details in relation to this relief are available from the Revenue Commissioners at www.revenue.ie.
876. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of survivors of institutional abuse she has met during the past three months; her plans to reply to the questions posed by these survivors; and the reason survivors are not permitted to write to the board to query their applications. [20317/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI met with representatives of the group Right to Peace on 22nd April having previously met with them in December 2014. A range of issues were discussed at the meeting and I will be writing to the representatives to follow-up on a number of issues shortly.
Section 20(7) of the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act, 2012 provides that decisions of Caranua on applications made to it are made by the chief executive officer or staff member to whom the chief executive officer delegates the function. There is an independent appeals officer to whom applicants can appeal decisions made by Caranua on their applications.
Caranua is an independent statutory body whose Board is responsible for the performance of its functions.
877. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the amount of funding allocated to Towards Healing for the provision of counselling services for survivors of institutional abuse. [20319/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraTowards Healing, which is funded by the Catholic Church, provides counselling and related support to survivors of institutional, clerical or religious abuse and their families. My Department has no function in relation to this service and provides no funding to it.
As the Deputy may be aware Caranua, the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Board, has agreed a Memorandum of Understanding with Towards Healing for the provision of counselling services to former residents who wish to continue receiving counselling via Towards Healing. The arrangement covers those former residents who are eligible for support from Caranua and who have received 80 counselling sessions from Towards Healing and whose further counselling needs have been recommended by an independent review panel to be clinically appropriate. Caranua will pay Towards Healing the agreed costs of the counselling services received by eligible former residents.
878. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills in respect of the 2014-2015 academic year, if she will provide, in tabular form, the number of Student Universal Support Ireland applicants, per county, who, upon revision of their application having been carried out, have had their student grant revoked, and their eligibility subsequently refused, and whereby applicants have since been informed that they are now liable for any overpayments made in respect of any payments that were previously awarded; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20321/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe following table details the number of students, by county, who following review by SUSI have had their student grant revoked and their eligibility subsequently refused in the academic year 2014/15 to date. These applicants have since been informed that they are liable for repayment of any overpayments made in respect of any payments having previously been awarded.
These 165 applications have been refused for various reasons, including:
- In 62 cases, SUSI was informed that the students were actually repeating a year which then made them ineligible for funding;
- In 31 cases, students withdrew from their third level studies during the year which was identified in subsequent reviews;
- In 18 cases, SUSI was informed through data-sharing exchange with the Department of Social Protection that these students in receipt of BTEA after they had initially been awarded.
SUSI 2014/15 Grants Refused following Review by County
|
County |
No. of Students |
|
Cavan |
5 |
|
Clare |
9 |
|
Cork |
7 |
|
Donegal |
3 |
|
Dublin |
13 |
|
Galway |
17 |
|
Kerry |
10 |
|
Kildare |
8 |
|
Kilkenny |
2 |
|
Laois |
3 |
|
Leitrim |
1 |
|
Limerick |
19 |
|
Longford |
1 |
|
Louth |
6 |
|
Mayo |
5 |
|
Meath |
5 |
|
Monaghan |
6 |
|
Offaly |
5 |
|
Roscommon |
8 |
|
Sligo |
5 |
|
Tipperary |
5 |
|
Waterford |
7 |
|
Westmeath |
3 |
|
Wexford |
10 |
|
Wicklow |
2 |
|
Grand Total |
165 |
