Brendan Smith
Ceist:185. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the issues discussed at the recent North-South Ministerial Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22889/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraNorth-South Ministerial Council
Ceisteanna (185)
Freagraí scríofa
The twentieth Plenary meeting of the North South Ministerial Council (NSMC) was held at Dublin Castle on 5 June 2015.
At the meeting, which was chaired by the Taoiseach, there was a discussion on the policies being implemented to support economic growth, job creation and improve living standards in both jurisdictions.
The Council welcomed the discussions that have taken place across all NSMC sectors in relation to EU Funding Opportunities and the identification of relevant programmes where we can collaborate on accessing EU funding. Ministers agreed to continue to examine opportunities and progress in drawing down EU funding and that a further update on EU Funding Opportunities will be brought to the next Plenary meeting.
The NSMC welcomed the approval of the INTERREG V programme by the European Commission and looked forward to the early finalisation of the PEACE IV programme. Ministers welcomed the indications that good progress is being made towards reaching the joint target of €175 million in terms of cross-border projects under the Horizon 2020 Programme, and noted the work of InterTradeIreland and the All-Island Steering Group in raising awareness of this €80bn EU programme.
Ministers discussed the Progress Report prepared by the NSMC Joint Secretaries on the work of the North South Bodies and in the other NSMC areas for co-operation since the last Plenary meeting on 5 December 2014 in Armagh.
The Council noted that the development of new priorities for North/South cooperation was discussed at the NSMC Institutional meeting on 25 February 2015 and that 'new Sectoral Priorities' will be an agenda item at future Institutional meetings. The Council noted the decision that was agreed at the NSMC Institutional meeting whereby Ministers would review their current Work Programmes and that endorsement of any changes will be sought at a future NSMC Plenary meeting.
There was an extensive discussion on cross-border smuggling and fuel laundering. Ministers noted the on-going efforts by the relevant authorities in both jurisdictions to tackle this criminal activity which affects the lives and well-being of people on both sides of the border. The very detrimental environmental and health effects of fuel laundering were discussed and Ministers noted the introduction of the new fuel marker in both jurisdictions. The Council recognised the importance of closer co-operation between agencies in tackling and combating cross-border smuggling and fuel laundering and agreed that the topic be revisited at a future meeting.
The Council noted the continued engagement between officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister with stakeholders concerning the future development of the North West Gateway Initiative and the ongoing discussions on arrangements to hold a meeting of relevant Ministers on this in the North West. The Council further noted the current work by Donegal County Council and Derry City and Strabane District Council to develop new and collaborative cross-border arrangements at local government level to promote the development of the North West region, in cooperation with regional stakeholders and central governments.
The Council noted that, in line with the decision taken at the NSMC Institutional Meeting on 25 February 2015, the NSMC Joint Secretariat has consulted with Sponsor Departments and with Board members of the North South Implementation Bodies and Tourism Ireland Limited regarding the proposal to extend the existing terms of appointment of Board Members for 12 months. This consultation is currently ongoing. The Council agreed that decisions on Board appointments will be made before the expiry of the current Board members' terms of office in December 2015.
Ministers also noted the current position on setting up a North South Consultative Forum as envisaged in the Good Friday Agreement.
The Council approved a schedule of NSMC meetings proposed by the Joint Secretariat, including the next NSMC Plenary meeting in November 2015.
I look forward to continuing, with my colleagues in Government, to pursue opportunities for further North/South co-operation with the Northern Ireland Executive, particularly through the structures of the North South Ministerial Council.
Public Sector Staff Remuneration
Ceisteanna (186)
Peadar Tóibín
Ceist:186. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the annual cost of introducing a living wage or minimal-threshold gross salary of €11.45 an hour in his Department and the bodies under his aegis. [23490/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The potential cost of introducing an hourly rate of €11.45 per hour within the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is calculated at approximately €640,000 per annum.
School Transport Administration
Ceisteanna (187, 188, 189)
Brendan Griffin
Ceist:187. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the action Bus Éireann took in response to its own findings that 30% of the buses it contracts to the Department of Education and Skills to carry school children were faulty and dangerous; and if Bus Éireann tested the remaining 92.5% of the buses it uses daily. [22852/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraBrendan Griffin
Ceist:188. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will disclose the correspondence between Bus Éireann and the relevant safety authorities, and others, from December 2014, when Bus Éireann discovered that there was a safety issue with buses passing the national annual road safety test. [22853/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraBrendan Griffin
Ceist:189. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of Bus Éireann's own buses that were tested by the same testing company that tested the subcontractors' buses; and the number of Bus Éireann buses that passed the test. [22854/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 187 to 189, inclusive, together. I have referred the Deputy's questions to Bus Éireann for direct reply.
Special Educational Needs Service Provision
Ceisteanna (190)
Seán Ó Fearghaíl
Ceist:190. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide details on the National Council for Special Education guidelines for allocating special needs assistants to students transitioning from primary to post-primary school; if it is the case that, even where a student has a manifest behavioural special need, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or autism spectrum disorder, such students have to undergo a period of within-school assessment prior to being eligible for a special needs assistant; if, due to the delays in the allocation of assistants to these students in their first year of post-primary school, this system of allocation is congruent with the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22715/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) for allocating a quantum of Special Needs Assistant (SNA) support for each school annually taking into account the assessed care needs of children qualifying for SNA support enrolled in the school.
Where children have significant care needs whereby they may need additional support to be able to attend school, the NCSE may make an allocation of SNA support to the school to assist that child.
The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support. The criteria by which SNA support is allocated to pupils is set out in my Department's Circular 0030/2014.
The Circular explains that transition to Post Primary school should be recognised as a critical time for a student with special educational needs. The Circular sets out that a key goal of SNA support is to help children to develop their independent living skills, and that continued and ongoing access to SNA support is generally not desirable for post-primary students, unless essential, as it can impede their independence and socialisation needs at an important developmental stage of their life.
Accordingly, whereas SNA support will be provided to post primary schools when required, only pupils with chronic and serious care needs will normally be allocated SNA support in post primary schools. In considering applications for SNA support from post primary schools the NCSE will take into account the importance of the requirement to allocate necessary care supports with the right of a child to acquire personal independence skills.
All schools have been asked to apply to the NCSE for SNA support for the 2015/16 school year by 18th March, 2015.
The NCSE will consider all applications for SNA support which have been made by schools and all schools will be advised of their revised SNA allocations for the 2015/16 school year, prior to the end of the current school year.
Schools who wish to appeal the level of SNA allocation made to them may do so via the appeals process which is set out at www.ncse.ie.
All schools have the names and contact details of their local SENO. Parents may also contact their local SENO directly to discuss their child's special educational needs, using the contact details available on www.ncse.ie.
Departmental Reports
Ceisteanna (191)
Niall Collins
Ceist:191. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the Report on the Configuration and Development of Post-Primary Schools in Limerick City, Croom and Pallaskenry 2014 to 2024 is completed; when it will be published; if it will be published before September 2015; the reason for the delay in completing and publishing it; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22724/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I wish to advise the Deputy that the Report concerned, which I will make available on receipt, is currently being finalised. Any delay, I understand, is due to more up to date school demographic information being incorporated into the Report.
As the Deputy may be aware, my Department is currently undertaking a nationwide demographic exercise to determine where additional post-primary school accommodation might be needed from 2017 onwards. In that context, the Report concerned will assist in identifying the educational accommodation needed in the Limerick area to cater for increased demand.
Special Educational Needs Service Provision
Ceisteanna (192)
Jack Wall
Ceist:192. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason an application for a special needs assistant for a child (details supplied) in County Kildare has not been accepted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22738/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) for allocating resource teachers and Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) to schools to support children with special educational needs.
The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support. The criteria by which SNA support is allocated to pupils is set out in my Department's Circular 0030/2014.
The deployment of SNAs within schools is then a matter for the individual Principal/Board of Management. SNAs should be deployed by the school in a manner which best meets the care support requirements of the children enrolled in the school for whom SNA support has been allocated. It is a matter for schools to allocate support as required, and on the basis of individual need, which allows schools flexibility in how the SNA support is utilised.
The NCSE invited schools to make applications for SNA support for children who have assessed care needs for the coming 2015/16 school year by 18th March 2015, for their consideration.
The NCSE are currently considering all of the applications for support which have been received, including those which have been received after the 18th March, and will advise schools of the outcome of their applications ahead of the new school year.
Schools who wish to appeal the level of SNA allocation made to them may do so via the appeals process which is set out at www.ncse.ie.
All schools have the contact details of their local SENO, while parents may also contact their local SENO directly to discuss their child's special educational needs, using the contact details available on www.ncse.ie.
School Patronage
Ceisteanna (193)
Sandra McLellan
Ceist:193. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans for the transfer of patronage to Educate Together for one of the national schools in Cobh in County Cork; if she will identity the school that is to be transferred; the timeframe for this transfer; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22740/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
To date, nine new primary schools have opened or are scheduled to open under the patronage divesting process.
Discussions are continuing with the main Catholic patrons to identify areas where further new schools can open from 2016 onwards. The Cobh area will be included in these discussions.
Special Educational Needs Service Provision
Ceisteanna (194)
Bernard Durkan
Ceist:194. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the progress to date in determining eligibility for a special needs assistant in the case of a child (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22787/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) for allocating resource teachers and Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) to schools to support children with special educational needs.
The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support. The criteria by which SNA support is allocated to pupils is set out in my Department's Circular 0030/2014.
The deployment of SNAs within schools is then a matter for the individual Principal/Board of Management. SNAs should be deployed by the school in a manner which best meets the care support requirements of the children enrolled in the school for whom SNA support has been allocated. It is a matter for schools to allocate support as required, and on the basis of individual need, which allows schools flexibility in how the SNA support is utilised.
The NCSE invited schools to make applications for SNA support for children who have assessed care needs for the coming 2015/16 school year by 18th March 2015, for their consideration.
The NCSE are currently considering all of the applications for support which have been received, including those which have been received after the 18th March, and will advise schools of the outcome of their applications ahead of the new school year.
Schools who wish to appeal the level of SNA allocation made to them may do so via the appeals process which is set out at www.ncse.ie.
Parents may also contact their local SENO directly to discuss their child's special educational needs, using the contact details available on www.ncse.ie.
School Accommodation
Ceisteanna (195)
Bernard Durkan
Ceist:195. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if additional financial support will be facilitated in the case of a school (details supplied) in County Kildare to link two sanctioned additional classrooms to the main school buildings, with particular reference to ongoing health and safety concerns; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22789/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The school referred to by the Deputy has been allocated funding under my Department's Additional Accommodation Scheme to provide a new two classroom stand-alone extension.
The school management authority has recently submitted a request of additional funding to link the new extension to the existing school building and this request is currently being considered and the school authority will be notified of the outcome as quickly as possible.
Teacher Secondment
Ceisteanna (196)
Seán Fleming
Ceist:196. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 180 of 7 May 2015, if all secondees were consulted or informed prior to the advertisement of leadership roles within the support services that an alleviation of the five-year secondment limit would apply to seconded teachers taking on such leadership roles; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22799/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
It is Department policy to apply alleviations to meet the business needs of each of the support services, for example, to provide for continuity in management, planning and leadership and retention of expertise. The nature of the CPD provision and the phase of delivery in respect of each individual support service is also taken into account.
Alleviations do not apply exclusively to leadership roles and only arise where the business needs of the service require it. This position is reviewed annually.
SOLAS Funding
Ceisteanna (197)
Helen McEntee
Ceist:197. Deputy Helen McEntee asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide, in tabular form, the businesses in County Louth that are receiving SOLAS funding; the amount of funding each of these businesses received in 2014 and in 2015 to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22806/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
This is an operational matter for SOLAS and I have asked SOLAS to reply directly to the Deputy with the information requested.
State Examinations
Ceisteanna (198)
Tom Fleming
Ceist:198. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will examine the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry who is currently sitting the leaving certificate examination and is severely disadvantaged for authorised support for reader and scribe aid, as a valid application for same was refused and subsequently refused on appeal, despite the fact that an independent assessment by a reputable and qualified agency that was submitted to the appeals board recommended a need for these supports and the case was finally appealed to the Ombudsman for Children, who, unfortunately, because of the Department's guidelines could not carry out its function due to non-discretion to overturn the decision, but the ombudsman did advise the State Examinations Commission that cognisance should be taken of this student's dyslexia, which inhibits this student's ability for self-expression in a justifiable manner in the examination process; if she will intercede and make the necessary allowance which the ombudsman recognised was necessary and which the ombudsman conveyed to the State Examinations Commission; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22816/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations.
In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.
State Examinations
Ceisteanna (199)
Jonathan O'Brien
Ceist:199. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she is aware of concerns raised by students following the ordinary level leaving certificate mathematics paper 1 examination this year in relation to elements of the higher level paper being incorporated into this; if there is a strategy of making ordinary level mathematics papers more difficult in order to push students into doing the higher level papers; and her plans to address this with the State Examinations Commission. [22837/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I am aware that concerns have been raised by students about the content of the ordinary level Leaving Certificate Mathematics paper 1. I have asked the State Examinations Commission to bring these concerns to the attention of the Chief Examiner for the examination. Commentary and correspondence on the examination from teachers, professional bodies and other interested parties is considered by the Chief Examiner in developing the draft marking scheme.
The State Examinations Commission has assured me that, as is normal practice, prior to finalising the marking scheme, it will apply the draft marking scheme to a random sample of scripts so as to test the effectiveness of the examination paper and the scheme in setting and maintaining standards year on year. The outcomes of the random sampling will be analysed and if the outcomes indicate that the paper and/or the marking scheme is too hard or too easy the marking scheme will be adjusted to take account of this. This will ensure consistency in the marking of the examination and fairness to all candidates.
I can assure the Deputy that there is no intention to set an examination paper which is not suitable to the curriculum which ordinary level students have studied. The paper is devised specifically for the needs of ordinary level students and reflects the ordinary level curriculum.
School Accommodation
Ceisteanna (200)
Catherine Murphy
Ceist:200. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if funding will be made available for a general purpose room in respect of a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; the plans in place for the continued development of this school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22857/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I wish to advise the Deputy, that since 2010, my Department has been working with the school in grant aiding both improved and additional accommodation. More recently and in conjunction with the school, a further extension is currently being planned. When completed, the school will have sufficient accommodation to operate as an 8 classroom school and the school has expressed its satisfaction with the level of accommodation being proposed.
Student Grant Scheme Appeals
Ceisteanna (201)
Bernard Durkan
Ceist:201. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the basis on which a higher education grant has been refused in the case of a student (details supplied) in Dublin 24; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22867/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Officials in my Department have confirmed that the student referred to by the Deputy has appealed the decision of the awarding authority to the independent Student Grants Appeals Board.
The appeal was received by the Board on 25 April 2015 and will be heard within the timeframe set out in the Student Support Act 2011. The Board will notify the student directly of the outcome of the appeal.
Schools Building Projects Status
Ceisteanna (202)
Brendan Smith
Ceist:202. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the proposed project for a school (details supplied) in County Cavan; when this project is likely to go to tender; the likely timescale for construction and provision of new permanent accommodation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22890/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The project to provide permanent accommodation for the school to which the Deputy refers is currently at Stage 2a (Developed Design) of the architectural planning process.
A tender exercise for a replacement Consultant Mechanical & Electrical Engineer became necessary in order to complete the Stage 2(a) design. This tender exercise is currently concluding and when the new appointment is made the Replacement Engineer will be involved with the other members of the design team in the completion of the Stage 2(a) design followed by the conclusion of Stage 2(b).
Planning Permission, Fire Safety Certification and Disability Access Certification have been obtained for this project. The conclusion of Stage 2(b) will also include the completion of tender documents.
Due to competing demands on my Department's capital budget, imposed by the need to prioritise the limited funding available for the provision of additional school accommodation to meet increasing demographic requirements, it was not possible to include this project in the 5 year construction programme announced in March 2012.
School building projects, including the project referred to by the Deputy, which have been initiated but not included in the current five year construction programme will continue to be progressed to final planning stages in anticipation of the possibility of further funds being available to my Department in the future.