Written Answers Nos. 119 - 138
119. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide, in tabular form, the number by county of prefabricated primary and post-primary school units being rented; the cost of same for the years 2011 to 2014 and for 2015 to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25714/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe number of prefab units that have been rented by county each year since 2011, is given in the following table for the Deputy's attention. It should be noted that a prefab unit may consist of one or more classrooms and/or ancillary accommodation. The rental cost of these prefabs was:
|
Year |
Amount |
|
2011 |
€20.49m |
|
2012 |
€19.04m |
|
2013 |
€15.84m |
|
2014 |
€14.32m |
|
2015 |
€13.94m (estimated) |
Under my Department's Prefab Replacement Initiatives 2012 and 2013 approval was given to 217 schools (209 primary and 8 post-primary) to replace 614 prefab units with permanent accommodation. In excess of €57m has been allocated to these initiatives, of which €47.5m has been paid to date. Of the total 217 approved school projects, 170 have been completed and a further 15 projects are on site.
Prefabricated unit rental by county 2011-2015
|
- |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
|
- |
No of units |
No of units |
No of units |
No of units |
No of units |
|
Carlow |
16 |
13 |
8 |
5 |
5 |
|
Cavan |
32 |
32 |
29 |
31 |
31 |
|
Clare |
54 |
55 |
43 |
40 |
41 |
|
Cork |
202 |
205 |
160 |
130 |
124 |
|
Donegal |
56 |
54 |
34 |
32 |
32 |
|
Dublin |
281 |
250 |
217 |
163 |
164 |
|
Galway |
125 |
110 |
93 |
101 |
100 |
|
Kerry |
32 |
31 |
27 |
21 |
20 |
|
Kildare |
77 |
75 |
53 |
54 |
52 |
|
Kilkenny |
16 |
15 |
16 |
11 |
12 |
|
Laois |
37 |
33 |
25 |
26 |
26 |
|
Leitrim |
4 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Limerick |
55 |
51 |
47 |
37 |
41 |
|
Longford |
9 |
9 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
|
Louth |
87 |
68 |
39 |
40 |
40 |
|
Mayo |
55 |
44 |
24 |
23 |
23 |
|
Meath |
87 |
76 |
55 |
46 |
47 |
|
Monaghan |
15 |
16 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
|
Offaly |
23 |
24 |
29 |
34 |
24 |
|
Roscommon |
6 |
4 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
Sligo |
20 |
19 |
9 |
9 |
9 |
|
Tipperary |
39 |
35 |
26 |
24 |
26 |
|
Waterford |
39 |
30 |
23 |
13 |
13 |
|
Westmeath |
32 |
30 |
29 |
27 |
27 |
|
Wexford |
70 |
64 |
45 |
38 |
32 |
|
Wicklow |
56 |
58 |
47 |
41 |
30 |
|
TOTAL |
1525 |
1405 |
1094 |
961 |
934 |
120. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will address concerns that the combination of rising rental prices and lack of supply of accommodation for students attending third level institutions will prohibit a large proportion of students living within a reasonable distance of their campus next year; and her plans to address this lack of supply of student accommodation. [25812/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI appreciate the concerns regarding the availability of accommodation for students and for that reason I have asked the HEA to report on this issue. The HEA are currently working on a draft report on student accommodation which will be available shortly and will give us an up to date picture of the situation.
In that context, I will continue to work with Government colleagues and stakeholders to explore ways to increase the availability of student accommodation where needed.
Many parts of the country are not experiencing the pressure on accommodation that we are seeing in Dublin and, to a lesser extent, Cork and Galway.
Some institutions provide a range of accommodation, and all colleges have an obligation to work with students' unions and other groups, to provide students with details on accommodation options.
Initiatives such as USI's 'Homes for Study' are of help to students and list suitable accommodation available to rent across Ireland.
In the longer term, the Government is committed to addressing the housing shortage through the Construction 2020 strategy. This will not resolve all of our problems immediately, but I am confident that the implementation of Construction 2020 will provide us with a sustainable housing stock in the medium to longer term.
121. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent of the engagement she has had with Middletown Centre for Autism and services offered to schoolchildren with autism; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25794/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Middletown Centre for Autism is a jointly funded initiative between my Department and the Department of Education in Northern Ireland supporting the promotion of excellence in the development of education to children and young people with autistic spectrum disorders.
The centre is a second tier service to complement existing provision for children with autism and it provides continuing professional development for schools and teachers and training courses for parents. It also has a research division. Currently the centre is providing direct outreach assessment and learning support to children in the south on a pilot basis.
In January of this year the Minister for Education in Northern Ireland and I opened the Centre's successful major international conference on the theme of "Enabling Education" which attracted professional staff and parents of children with autism. Subsequent to the North South Ministerial Council meeting in March we both visited the centre and met the management and staff.
122. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will be making provision for a summer works grant scheme for primary schools in the 2015-16 school year, sufficient to clear the backlog from 2014 as well as meeting the demands from additional national schools which will need works carried out in 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25768/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy will be aware of the announcement in March 2014 of almost €72 million for school improvements under the first round of the Summer Works Scheme for 2014. Earlier this year, I announced a further €36 million investment in the final part of the Scheme, representing a total allocation of almost €108 million in the 2014/15 period. This completed the programme for all applicant categories and there is therefore no backlog remaining. Details of the approved schools may be viewed on the Department's website.
The matter of a future Summer Works Scheme will be conditional on further funding being made available in the context of the next Budget. The Deputy will appreciate that I cannot at this stage anticipate any specific decisions the Government may take in this regard.
123. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the roll-out of high speed broadband for all primary and post-primary schools in Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25817/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department and the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources have invested heavily in the roll out of high-speed 100 Mbit/sec broadband to all post-primary schools. This has been a very successful initiative which is enhancing our young people's digital skills.
Ensuring that primary schools have good connectivity is challenging because we have 3,300 schools dispersed throughout the country. I accept that some primary schools in Dublin and elsewhere do not have good connectivity because of the broadband connectivity options available locally.
At present, my Department provides for internet connectivity for primary schools through public procurement. A competition has been initiated this month inviting tenders for upgrading connections for a significant number of primary schools. Improved broadband will be provided to schools where services are available and subject to cost constraints.
Addressing the issue of internet connectivity for primary schools will be a key priority in the forthcoming Digital Strategy for schools which I expect to launch shortly.
124. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on the documents released to this Deputy under the Freedom of Information Act 2014 (details supplied) that show a sustained increase of indicators utilised by her Department to determine the new school need over the past number of years in north Kildare; her further view on the evidence of recent years that also points to a very big increase in numbers looking for places in a Gaelscoil, multi-denominational or non-religious patronage models of education; her view that a new strategy is required to anticipate these continuing trends in north Kildare; if she will commit to initiating this process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25820/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraBased on the demographic data for the north Kildare area, which has been provided to the Deputy, significant capital investment has been made in primary schools in that area to sufficiently address their accommodation needs for the foreseeable future. As always, the area will be kept under review.
The extent of the increase in our demographics on a nationwide basis is such that the main focus of my Department's capital investment programme will remain on ensuring that every child can have access to a physical school place. This may result in pupils not getting a school of first choice. However, in areas where new schools are needed, the arrangements in place for determining who will run those schools place a heavy emphasis on parental demand and diversity of provision. In light of the demographic pressures, I have no plans to change this approach.
125. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will report on the public consultation process on the new proposals for education in the Gaeltacht; when the process will be complete; a timeframe for the introduction of the proposals following the consideration of the consultation process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25755/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 5th May, I launched the Policy Proposals for Educational Provision in Gaeltacht areas with my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Mc Hugh. Accompanying the launch was a consultation process whereby individuals and or organisations were invited by survey to provide their views on the policy proposals. Over 100 responses have been received to date. The closing date for responses to the survey is 3rd July.
Officials from my Department went to Killarney, Spiddal and Gweedore to hear the views of representatives of Gaeltacht schools and communities on the proposals.
In September, further focus group meetings will be held with representatives of Irish language and Gaeltacht organisations and other stakeholders. There will be a forum in October where the findings of the consultation process will be considered.
I expect to receive a report by the end of the year and to finalise my policy measures in relation to education in the Gaeltacht by spring 2016.
126. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide the additional accommodation that is urgently required by schools (details supplied) in counties Leitrim and Roscommon within the next 12 months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25766/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraOf the schools referred to by the Deputy, the first named school only that is identified in the details supplied has submitted an application for additional accommodation. I am pleased to advise the Deputy that my Department has recently approved a grant to the school for a learning support room.
My Department has no record of receiving applications for additional accommodation from the other schools referenced in the details supplied. It is open to the schools to submit an application if they have identified a deficit of classroom accommodation to meet increasing enrolments or to accommodate an additional teacher appointment. Application forms can be found on my Department's website www.education.ie.
127. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the recommended pupil-teacher ratio for best practice; the extent to which this ratio is currently being exceeded at primary level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25715/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAverage class size and the ratio of teachers to students are two important measures of the resources that we make available to schools. While our average class size at primary level is over 3 pupils higher than the OECD average it is only slightly above the OECD average in relation to PTR. My focus in Budget 2015 was on obtaining the additional funding that was necessary to provide for demographic growth which will result in an estimated 1,700 additional teachers and SNAs in our schools in the coming school year. This comes on top of an extra circa 2,300 teachers over the last 2 years.
I announced some improvements in the staffing schedule for small primary schools in February 2015. These are the only changes that I will be making to the staffing arrangements for schools for the 2015/16 school year.
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.
128. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on the anti-bullying policies of the education and training boards; the policies in place to ensure employee consultation in the drafting of these policies; the frequency at which they are reviewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25815/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe current "Bullying Prevention Policy – Complaints Procedure for ETB Staff" was agreed by the ETBI/Unions' Consultative Forum. The policy has been implemented in the sector since 1 September 2013. It replaced a Code of Practices for Dealing with Bullying and Harassment, issued in September 2006.
The ETBI/Unions' Consultative Forum provides a forum through which the discussion and drafting of agreed policies and procedures applicable to the ETB sector is facilitated. The Forum comprises nominees from relevant stakeholders including management and unions. The Forum is the architect of nationally agreed policies and procedures currently in place in the ETB sector. It reviews the policies and procedures as required and is the channel through which issues of interpretation and clarification are addressed.
Each Education and Training Board is responsible for implementing policies to counter bullying and harassment in the workplace. ETBs are not required to report incidents of bullying and harassment to my Department.
A copy of the policy and accompanying guidance notes are available on www.etbi.ie.
129. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she is aware of a policy paper recently launched by Barnardos calling for an additional €103 million in education funding to provide a truly free primary education system; and her plans to move towards a primary schools system where parents do not pay towards the cost of books or transport. [25737/15]
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.
130. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Education and Skills in view of the fact that she has amended downwards the number of pupils required for the retention of teachers in two-teacher, three-teacher and four-teacher national schools, if she will consider reducing the numbers needed for the appointment of teachers in two-teacher, three-teacher and four-teacher schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25767/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe criteria used for the allocation of teachers to primary schools are published annually on the website of the Department of Education and Skills. The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September. The staffing arrangements for the 2015/16 school year are set out in Circular 0005/2015.
The circular 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. These are the only changes that I will be making to the staffing arrangements for schools for the 2015/16 school year.
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.
131. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she is aware of the results of a survey of academics in institutes of technology commissioned by the Irish Federation of University Teachers and the Teachers Union of Ireland that shows that lecturers are spending time on language and writing skills with students to the detriment of actual teaching time and that many international students are being recruited to courses despite not meeting course requirements; her plans to address this matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25733/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraUniversities and institutes of technology, under the Universities Act 1997 and the Institutes of Technology Acts, are autonomous bodies and, as such, have responsibility for their own academic affairs, including issues relating to the admission of students.
Therefore it is a matter for the institutes themselves to set admissions requirements for individual programmes of education and training and to ensure that students meet those requirements before commencing their studies.
The process of setting admissions requirement forms part of the overall procedures for the quality assurance of education and training which the institutes are required to establish under the Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Act, 2012, and which are subject to review by Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) from time to time.
132. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills in view of the damage to the reputation of the National University of Ireland by recent high profile discrimination against female academic staff and applicants at the National University of Ireland Galway, if she will back the Services, Industrial, Professional and Technical Union's call for an independent equality review. [25700/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have previously expressed my concerns regarding the very serious shortcomings identified by the Equality Tribunal in the case brought by Dr Sheehy-Skeffington against NUI Galway.
However, the response of NUI Galway in unreservedly accepting the ruling of the Tribunal and in establishing a Task Force to address related issues is to be welcomed. I have repeatedly stated my view that having the broadest possible support for the Task Force is central to its important work and I continue to urge NUIG to ensure that every effort is made to achieve that goal.
I understand the Task Force has already made a number of recommendations to the Governing Authority of NUIG, including:
- the creation of a new post of vice-president of equality and diversity, reporting to the President and responsible for developing gender equality policies, career development paths for women and identifying "gender champions",
- ensuring all management bodies, promotions committees and interview boards comprise a minimum of 40 per cent women,
- the review of all promotion and progression procedures by an external expert by the end of October, and
- the roll out of compulsory "unconscious bias" training.
I am sure the Deputy will agree that these are important preliminary recommendation and I understand the Governing Authority has accepted them in their entirety. I now expect the Governing Authority to implement these, and any further recommendations of the Task Force, as a matter of urgency.
133. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on the recent survey (details supplied) carried out by the Irish Heart Foundation researching the state of nutrition standards in post-primary schools which found that 40% of schools surveyed did not offer free, clean drinking water; and her plans to reform dietary and nutrition standards in secondary schools. [25813/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI welcome the valuable findings in the Irish Heart Foundation Survey from 39 post primary schools published in April.
The Government published "Healthy Ireland - A Framework for Improved Health and Wellbeing 2013 - 2025". "Healthy Ireland" aims to improve the health not only of our students but also of our nation.
Education has a key role to play in the "Healthy Ireland" agenda. In fact, my Department, having consulted with the Department of Health and the HSE, will, in September, issue guidance for post-primary schools, initially, on promoting healthy lifestyles.
At the same time, the Department of Health will publish updated guidelines for post primary schools on the development of healthy eating policies.
Data from my Department's own Lifeskills Survey, 2012, indicate that almost all post-primary schools provide information to students on the importance of a balanced diet. Some 325 post-primary schools responded to the 2012 Survey.
Data from the 2015 survey are currently being analysed.
134. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the purchase of a site for the three-school Crana College campus in Buncrana in County Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25811/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware a joint technical inspection of a number of potential site options for a proposed campus development in Buncrana has been conducted by officials from my Department and officials from Donegal County Council.
A technical report is currently being compiled by the professional and technical staff from my Department. When the technical report has been completed, the recommendations will be considered by my officials with a view to advancing the site acquisition process.
It is not possible to give a definitive timeframe for the completion of the acquisition at this time. However assuming no issues arise, once the site has been acquired the project will be advanced to the architectural planning stage.
135. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on the concerns of many teachers regarding the impact the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership will have on the education system here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25795/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership is being negotiated by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (DJEI) on behalf of the Irish Government. My department are monitoring the negotiations which are now in the tenth round by actively engaging with DJEI throughout the negotiation process.
It is intended that nothing in the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership will affect the rights of the Irish Government to regulate education services in the way that Government wishes to do so.
136. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the evaluation process under which a school is designated under the delivering equality of opportunity in schools scheme; if the evaluation process is subject to ongoing review; if schools not currently included in the scheme are eligible to apply for consideration, particularly in the interests of equity between schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25754/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy may be aware, I have recently commenced a process to renew the DEIS programme.
Pending the outcome of this work, which will be ongoing during the next school year, I do not intend to make any changes to the current programme, including the addition of further schools.
137. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to encourage schools to provide alcohol and drug awareness programmes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25816/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraSchools are already supporting students to develop the key skills and knowledge to enable them to make informed choices when faced with a range of difficult issues, including alcohol and drugs. This is mainly done through the Social Personal and Health Education (SPHE) programme, which has a specific module on the use and misuse of a range of substances.
SPHE is mandatory in all primary schools. It will also form part of the new mandatory 'Wellbeing' component of junior cycle, along with P.E. and C.S.P.E. Schools are also encouraged to deliver the SPHE programme in senior cycle.
Schools have access to a number of resources that support the delivery of the substance use module of SPHE. Examples include the "Walk Tall" Programme for primary pupils and a post-primary resource called "On My Own Two Feet".
The latest data available to my Department (Lifeskills survey, 2012) indicate that almost all schools are providing their students with information on drug and alcohol abuse.
138. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Skills if there is any possibility of fast-tracking the transfer of a school (details supplied) in County Dublin to its permanent location, as the school has been waiting 20 years and is completely unable to cope in its current temporary location; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25822/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe current position relating to the school in question was outlined to the Deputy by my colleague, the Minister of State, Damien English, T.D., during the Topical Issue Debate on Tuesday last 23rd June. The Minister confirmed that my Department is committed to advancing the special school building project to the next stage as quickly as possible so that the building in question can be vacated and made available to the school to which he refers.
