Written Answers Nos. 229-238
229. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education and Skills the annual cost of introducing a living wage or minimum-threshold gross salary of €11.45 per hour in her Department and the bodies under her aegis. [25355/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe data requested by the Deputy are not collected or collated by my Department. There are more than 3,700 individual employers in the education and training sector and it would require a disproportionate amount of time and administrative resources to gather the data sought by the Deputy.
230. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will ensure there is financial assistance for students on education and training board courses who are not entitled to social welfare payments or other financial assistance. [25368/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe main financial support available to students attending further and higher education courses is my Department's Student Grant Scheme. Under the student grant scheme, eligible candidates may receive funding, provided they are attending an approved course at an approved institution and meet the prescribed conditions of funding, including those which relate to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means.
My Department's student grant scheme provides maintenance grants to Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) students pursuing approved PLC courses in the State. In general, an approved PLC course is defined as a prescribed full-time course in an approved PLC centre.
The eligibility of an individual is a matter for SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland) to determine upon receipt of the relevant application form and supporting documentation. The online application process for 2015/16 is now open.
231. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the projected cost of providing school transport for pupils who live in Urris, County Donegal for the new school route from Urris to Buncrana via Clonmany for the next school year, 2015-2016; the cost of providing school transport for pupils who live in Urris, County Donegal on the previous school route from Urris to Carndonagh via Clonmany for the 2014-2015 school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25373/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy is regarded as commercially sensitive and cannot be released.
232. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of academic positions in third level educational institutions filled through labour activation and training schemes including but not limited to Youthreach, JobBridge, Tús work placement initiative, JobsPlus, MOMENTUM, the vocational training opportunities scheme, Foras Áiseanna Saothair - the Irish National Training and Employment Authority, Solas, international work experience and training, Gateway and community employment in 2014. [25374/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraUniversities and institutes of technology, as autonomous institutions under the terms of the Universities Act 1997 and the Institutes of Technology Acts respectively, are responsible for the day to day management of their own affairs, including matters relating to the recruitment of staff. Therefore the filling of particular posts within institutions is a matter for the institutions themselves and, for that reason, neither my Department nor the Higher Education Authority holds the specific information requested by the Deputy.
233. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of academic positions in third level educational institutions that have been filled through labour activation and training schemes, including, but not limited to Youthreach, JobBridge, Tús work placement initiative, JobsPlus, MOMENTUM, the vocational training opportunities scheme, Foras Áiseanna Saothair – the Irish National Training and Employment Authority, Solas, international work experience and training, Gateway and community employment since the beginning of 2015. [25375/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraUniversities and institutes of technology, as autonomous institutions under the terms of the Universities Act 1997 and the Institutes of Technology Acts respectively, are responsible for the day to day management of their own affairs, including matters relating to the recruitment of staff. Therefore the filling of particular posts within institutions is a matter for the institutions themselves and, for that reason, neither my Department nor the Higher Education Authority holds the specific information requested by the Deputy.
234. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of academic staff employed by third level educational institutions during 2014. [25376/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe number of whole time equivalent core academic staff employed in the third level sector at 31 December 2014, including Universities, Institutes of Technology and other HEA funded institutions, Teacher Training Colleges, DIAS and RIAM and Dublin Dental Hospital, was 9,214.
235. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of academic staff employed by third level educational institutions during 2015 to date. [25377/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe number of whole time equivalent core academic staff employed in the third level sector at 31 March 2015, including Universities, Institutes of Technology and other HEA funded institutions, Teacher Training Colleges, DIAS and RIAM and Dublin Dental Hospital, was 9278.
236. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding an assessment to qualify for a reader for the leaving certificate in 2015 in respect of a pupil (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25408/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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.
237. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 711 of 16 June 2015, the cost of providing an additional ten full-time personnel focusing on health and well-being; the number of post-primary teachers who attended any of the three seminar days on mental health in the past three years; the maximum numbers these seminar days may accept; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25416/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe creation of a Wellbeing Team in the Professional Development Service for Teachers costs in the region of €1.5 million per annum in programme and salary costs.
As well as the provision from PDST, other support services in my Department support teachers in the area of Wellbeing. The National Behaviour Support Service, Junior Cycle for Teachers, the Special Education Support Service and the Education Centre network have included provision for supporting teachers in the area of Wellbeing in their work plans.
In the 2012-2013 school year 271 teachers attended a total of 24 sessions in Mental Health training, in 2013-2014, 141 teachers attended a total of 24 sessions and in 2014-2015, 258 teachers attended a total of 17 sessions in Mental Health training. The recommend maximum number of teachers who may attend each session is 25.
As well as the provision of this training the PDST provide a range of supports to teachers in the area of Wellbeing at primary and post primary level in the form of seminars, workshops and in school support.
The Deputy may also be aware that my Department's National Educational Psychological Supports Service works with both primary and post-primary schools and is concerned with learning, behaviour, social and emotional development of students.
238. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on the role of the applied language centre in University College Dublin in the education of language teachers, the teaching of the English language to foreign students and the provision of language graduates for the business sector; the number of students, teachers and host families involved; the success of the centre's programmes in this regard; the role of her Department in terms of funding, departmental oversight and other support or guidance in helping to deliver the centre's public educational objectives; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25431/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraUCD is an autonomous institution within the meaning of the Universities Act 1997. The management of its academic affairs and organisational structures are matters for which the Governing Body and the management authorities of UCD are responsible.
All universities receive a block grant from the Higher Education Authority and it is a matter for each institution to determine how it is allocated internally. Accordingly, I have no function in relation to the structures in place within the UCD Applied Language Centre.
