Written Answers Nos. 1 - 118
108. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on Barnardos research stating that an extra €103 million per annum would ensure free primary education for all schoolchildren; her plans to deliver this important strategic investment in education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25699/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am aware of the research referred to by the Deputy.
The Government's focus in recent years has been on stabilising the country's finances to ensure that funding could continue to be provided for the provision of essential services such as health, education and social protection. This is the best way of protecting and improving services. A key priority for funding at primary level is catering for our rising demographics so that every child has a school place.
I do recognise the need for further investment at primary level in particular to improve capitation funding to help schools with their day to day costs. In the last Budget, I was able to secure the first increase in education spending in recent years. I am determined to continue pressing the case for increased investment in education in the forthcoming budget.
109. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will meet representatives from a school (details supplied) in County Donegal, given that the school is in urgent need of a new building; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25808/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, a building project for the school to which he refers is currently being progressed within my Department's architectural planning process.
Planning Permission for the project was granted by Donegal County Council prior to the appointment of the design team. Following appointment, the Design Team was authorised to advance directly to Stage 2a Developed Design. The school's Design Team are currently working on updating site surveys and investigations in accordance with planning conditions in preparation for the Project Stage 2a Stakeholder Meeting with my Department. Arrangements for this meeting, which will include the school, will be made following receipt of confirmation from the school and Design Team that the Stage 2a material is ready. Following this meeting and subject to no issues arising, the project will be progressed to the final stages of architectural planning and will then be well placed for consideration for inclusion in future construction programmes.
114. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on the maintenance of religious beliefs as grounds for teachers and other workers in education to be refused employment or to be disciplined. [25806/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government contains a commitment that "People of non-faith or minority religious backgrounds and publicly identified LGBT people should not be deterred from training or taking up employment as teachers in the state."
A Private Members' Bill, the Employment Equality (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2013, was debated in Seanad Éireann in 2013. That Bill imposed a stricter test for discrimination on educational or medical institutions that are in receipt of public funding. The Government accepted the Bill in principle. The Bill is currently at Committee stage in the Seanad.
Prior to framing amendments to the Bill, the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission designate was asked to undertake a public consultation and examine the issues involved in relation to amending Section 37 of the Employment Equality Acts 1998 - 2011. Its report was referred to the Attorney General's Office for further consideration.
Work is now progressing on draft amendments to this Bill which were approved by Cabinet earlier today, and will be debated in Seanad Éireann tomorrow.
115. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she is aware of the practice within some institutes of technology of appointing chaplains and using public funds to do so without advertising, tendering or following public procurement or public appointment guidelines; the public funding that was used to pay for chaplain roles in 2012-13 and 2013-14; and her plans to rectify this. [25734/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI understand that most third level institutions provide chaplaincy services for their student body and such provision is a matter for individual Institutes of Technology (IoTs). My Department allocates recurrent funding to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for direct disbursement to the HEA designated higher education institutions including the IoTs. The HEA allocates this funding to the institutions and the internal disbursement of funding is then a matter for the individual institution.
The recruitment of staff is a matter for individual IoTs and should be in line with public sector appointment criteria and the provisions of the Employment Control Framework for the sector.
My Department does not hold details on the amount of funding allocated internally by IoTs for chaplaincy services; however, I have requested my officials to seek to have this information collated and forwarded directly to the Deputy.
116. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of children who left a primary school in summer 2014 and who failed to enrol in a secondary school in September 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25702/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy is not yet available.
One of the many benefits of the introduction of the Primary Online Database is that it will enable the progress of children through the education system to be accurately monitored. From 2015/2016 onwards the Primary Online Database will provide the Department with the capacity to compile this vital information on children that do not make the transition from primary to post-primary education.
117. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on the use of religion to determine admission to schools. [25805/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraParents can choose which school to apply to and where the school has places available the pupil should be admitted.
However, in schools where there are more applicants than places available a selection process is necessary. This selection process and the enrolment policy on which it is based must be non-discriminatory and must be applied fairly in respect of all applicants.
The Equal Status Act provides that a primary or post-primary school does not discriminate where the objective of the school is to provide education in an environment which promotes certain religious values, it admits persons of a particular religious denomination in preference to others or it refuses to admit as a student a person who is not of that denomination and, in the case of a refusal, it is proved that the refusal is essential to maintain the ethos of the school.
The recently published Education (Admission to Schools) Bill does not propose changes to the Equal Status Act.
118. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will be pushing for greater supports for lone parents from rural areas to access educational opportunities, including online courses, access to child care, supports for travelling to the place of education and so on; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25807/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraCurrently there are a range of supports available to learners, including lone parents, accessing educational opportunities.
Learners on SOLAS training programmes and the Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme are paid a training allowance in lieu of their Department of Social Protection payment. They are also eligible for meal and travel allowances and for childcare support under the Childcare in Education and Training Scheme which is operated by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs.
Financial support is also available under my Department's Student Grant Scheme for learners attending PLC and higher education courses.
There are flexible further education and training programmes available to suit learners' needs including online options such as the SOLAS eCollege and part time options under the Back to Education Initiative. Many of the programmes available under the higher education Springboard+ initiative are available online enabling people to access them regardless of where they reside in the country.
