Tuesday, 13 Oct 2015

Written Answers Nos. 383-400

Student Grant Scheme Administration

Ceisteanna (383)

Robert Troy

Ceist:

383. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will grant a decision on a Student Universal Support Ireland review for a person (details supplied). [35414/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

As part of a comprehensive customer service and communications strategy provided by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI), to ensure that all necessary avenues are open to applicants to receive the information they need, a dedicated email and phone line service is provided by SUSI for Oireachtas members. This was established to meet an identified need for applicants who choose to engage the assistance of their public representatives in making enquiries about their grant applications.

This service compliments the established channels provided by SUSI which include online application tracking, a dedicated website, a telephone helpdesk, email and social media, including Facebook and Twitter. Enquiries may be emailed direct to SUSI at [e-mail]. SUSI are responding to email queries within a matter of days.

If an individual applicant considers that she/he has been unjustly refused a student grant, or that the rate of grant awarded is not the correct one, she/he may appeal, in the first instance, to SUSI.

Where an individual applicant has had an appeal turned down in writing by SUSI and remains of the view that the scheme has not been interpreted correctly in his/her case, an appeal form outlining the position may be submitted by the applicant to the independent Student Grants Appeals Board.

Schools Building Projects Status

Ceisteanna (384)

Seán Fleming

Ceist:

384. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a school building (details supplied) in County Kildare; if this will be included in the forthcoming five-year plan-capital building programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35415/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

I wish to advise the Deputy that the building project to host the proposed amalgamation of the schools to which he refers is at an early stage of the architectural planning process. The Pre Stage 1 meeting was held in November 2014 and the Department requested a number of points be addressed as part of the Stage 1 report. An Addendum to the Stage 1 report was furnished to the Department by the Board of Management and Design Team on the 18th August last and the project has now been authorised to progress to Stage 2(a), which is the developed sketch design stage.

Upon successful completion of Stage 2(a) and subject to no issues arising, this project will be authorised to proceed to Stage 2(b) - Detailed Design Stage, which includes applications for Planning Permission, Fire Safety Certification, Disability Access Certification and the preparation of tender documents.

School building projects, including the project in question, which have not been included in the current five year construction programme, are being progressed to the final planning stages and are available to be considered in the context of the new 6 Year Construction Plan that I intend to announce in the coming weeks.

Schools Building Projects Status

Ceisteanna (385)

Seán Fleming

Ceist:

385. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a school building (details supplied) in County Kildare; if this will be included in the forthcoming five-year plan-capital building programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35416/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

The school building project referred to by the Deputy is included on the current 5 year construction programme announced in 2012. It is listed on the programme to proceed to tender and construction in 2015/16.

The project is at an early stage of Architectural Planning. Following the Pre Stage 1 meeting in February 2015, the project was authorised to progress to Stage 2A, which is the developed sketch design stage. The Stage 2A meeting was held in June 2015 and the Design Team was requested to complete and submit the Stage 2A report. This report was received in my Department on the 25th September and is currently under review.

Upon successful completion of stage 2A and subject to no issues arising, this project will then be authorised to proceed to Stage 2B - Detailed Design Stage, which includes applications for Planning Permission, Fire Safety Certification, Disability Access Certification and the preparation of tender documents.

Schools Building Projects Status

Ceisteanna (386)

Paul Connaughton

Ceist:

386. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the conveyancing process regarding a school building (details supplied) in County Galway has been concluded; if not, when it is envisaged this process will conclude; when it is planned to commence work on the new school building; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35424/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

As the Deputy will appreciate, due diligence must apply in relation to any site acquisition.

With regard to the proposed site for the school referred to by the Deputy, the conveyancing process is at an advanced stage. Due to commercial sensitivities it is not possible to provide further details but the relevant matters are being progressed.

In the interim period the Department has progressed plans for the delivery of the school building. Planning permission has been obtained and assuming no further issues arise, the Department expects to be in a position to advance the project to construction once the conveyancing process has been satisfactorily concluded.

Home Tuition Scheme Funding

Ceisteanna (387)

Charlie McConalogue

Ceist:

387. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills to clarify the reason the hourly rate for home tuition has changed from €38.87 per hour to €26.61 per hour; when this change came into effect; the policy with which it is in line; the reason she has permitted this reduction given that home tuition must be carried out by fully-qualified teachers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35427/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

The hourly rates of pay for Home Tuition are aligned to my Department's Circular 0015/2015 which sets out the hourly rates for teachers.There are two rates of payment applicable to tutors engaged in the provision of Home Tuition - the standard rate and the modified rate. These current rates came into effect from the commencement of the 2015/16 school year.

The standard rate is payable to tutors registered with the Teaching Council where (1) A qualified Primary School Teacher teacher is tutoring a primary student (2) A qualified Post-Primary School Teacher is tutoring a post-primary student.

Teachers who are not registered by the Teaching Council as qualified in the sector for which tuition is being provided, will receive the modified rate of payment. Teachers who are registered and qualified and who are in receipt of payment of a public service pension will also receive the modified rate of payment.

Details of these rates are set out in the appendix of the Home Tuition Circular 0038/2015 which is available on www.education.ie.

Schools Establishment

Ceisteanna (388)

Jerry Buttimer

Ceist:

388. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans for new schools; the estimated number required; the way in which the ethos will be determined; the way in which parents and communities may commence the establishment of a new school; if the same approach will be taken for special needs schools and other units; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35443/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

In the past ten years, total pupil enrolment in our first and second level schools has risen by almost 100,000 pupils. The bulk of this increase has been at first level and it is now feeding through to second level. Enrolment levels are still rising annually at both levels and an estimated 55,000 additional places will be required nationally by 2022. Clearly, this level of additionality will require the provision of new schools. I cannot be precise though on the number of new schools that will be required as it will depend on the distribution of the increase within areas and the extent to which the increase can be met by existing schools or extensions to existing schools.

The process for new school establishment was revised by my predecessor in June 2011 and full details of the process are published on my Department's website. New schools are established to meet demographic demand. Once the Department has identified the need for a new school, its location and projected enrolment level, a process is conducted to allow for different patrons/bodies to be considered as the patron of the new school. The main criterion for the selection of the patron body is the extent to which a school under its patronage would extend or strengthen diversity of provision in the area, having regard to the views of parents. Since the revised process was announced in June 2011, the patronage of 44 schools has been determined under the revised procedures (19 primary schools and 25 post-primary schools). In addition, 8 primary schools have opened under the patronage divesting process.

In general, the Department's policy is to integrate children with special educational needs into the mainstream primary school system wherever possible. Many of our new schools have special education units included within them. However, special schools are also necessary to meet the educational needs of pupils whose needs cannot be adequately catered for in a mainstream primary school. The need to establish a new special school would be identified by the National Council for Special Education in conjunction with the Department. The necessity would arise where there is a specific and quantified need that could not reasonably be met through existing provision. Any process to establish a new special school would have to take account of the views of parents who are the key stakeholders with regard to their child.

School Accommodation Provision

Ceisteanna (389)

Michael Creed

Ceist:

389. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will confirm receipt of an application for additional accommodation at a school (details supplied) in County Cork, which is necessary to facilitate the enrolment of a child with a disability; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35459/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

I can confirm that my Department is in receipt of an application for additional accommodation from the school referred to by the Deputy.

The application is currently being considered and my Department will be in direct contact with the school authorities concerned as soon as the assessment process has been concluded.

School Transport Eligibility

Ceisteanna (390)

Robert Troy

Ceist:

390. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide free school transport for a child (details supplied) In County Longford. [35502/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills

Under the terms of my Department's Primary School Transport Scheme children are eligible for transport where they reside not less than 3.2 kilometres from and are attending their nearest national school.

The child referred to by the Deputy is not eligible for school transport as she is not attending her nearest national school.

Children who are not eligible for school transport, may apply for transport on a concessionary basis only which is subject to a number of conditions including the availability of spare seats on an existing service and payment of the annual charge.

However, Bus Éireann has advised that the child cannot be accommodated on the existing service as this service is operating to capacity.

School Transport Eligibility

Ceisteanna (391)

Timmy Dooley

Ceist:

391. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Education and Skills if full home status was awarded to students attending secondary schools in County Limerick in circumstances where the school attended is not the school closest to their home; the criteria under which these awards were made; when this new assessment process commenced; when it ceased; if the criteria changed nationally, or just for Limerick schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35563/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills

The Deputy may be aware that a Common Application System (CAS) was agreed between the post-primary schools in the Limerick area. The CAS is the process by which the transfer of 6th class primary school children to the participating post-primary schools is managed; there are currently 15 post primary schools participating in the system. This administrative system ensures that a coordinated approach can be taken to enrolments in the area.

This system has been facilitated through the Limerick Education Centre (LEC) with support from my Department. Such support includes the provision that children who reside in the Limerick area are eligible for school transport where their nearest post primary school is included in the CAS, they have enrolled through the CAS and they reside not less than 4.8 kilometres from their school of attendance.

This arrangement reflects the eligibility criteria for school transport nationally insofar as children are eligible for Post Primary School Transport where they reside not less than 4.8 kilometres from, and are attending, their nearest education centre as determined by my Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.

Applications for school transport may be completed on Bus Éireann's website at www.buseireann.ie.

School Transport Applications

Ceisteanna (392)

Jack Wall

Ceist:

392. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a child (details supplied) in County Kildare will receive a school transport ticket; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35567/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills

Bus Éireann, which operates the School Transport Scheme on behalf of my Department, has advised that it has no record of an application for school transport from the family referred to by the Deputy.

In this regard the family in question should contact their local Bus Éireann office in Dublin at 01 8302222.

Student Grant Scheme Applications Data

Ceisteanna (393)

Charlie McConalogue

Ceist:

393. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of new and renewal applications to Student Universal Support Ireland for the current academic year, received; refused; awaiting a decision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35573/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

The Grants Online Application system for the 2015/16 academic year is still open although the deadline for receipt of applications for priority processing has passed. Late applications will continue to be accepted by SUSI until early November. Final 2015/16 outturn information will not be available until after the deadline for receipt of applications has passed and all applications have been processed to finality.

However, the position as of the 4th October 2015 is as follows: - SUSI has received 105,778 (63,805 New and 41,973 Renewal)student grant applications for the 2015/16 academic year of which 14,609 were received after the Priority Processing Closing dates. - 68,793 (65%) applications have been processed to completion. Of which 56,267 applications have been awarded a grant, 9,087 have been refused a grant and 3,439 applications have been cancelled.

Of the 36,985 pending applications, SUSI is currently awaiting documentation from 12,994 students and will continue to finalise grant applications as this documentation is received.

Schools Building Projects Status

Ceisteanna (394)

Brian Walsh

Ceist:

394. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on works to be carried out at a school (details supplied) in County Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35581/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

I wish to confirm that the school referred to by the Deputy recently submitted a Major Capital Application for an extension and refurbishment project. In addition the school in question also submitted an application under the Additional Accommodation scheme to meet its immediate accommodation needs.

As the Deputy will appreciate, due to the competing demands on my Department's capital budget imposed by the need to prioritise the funding available for the provision of essential school classroom accommodation, it is not possible to provide an indicative timeframe for the progression of a major project for the school in question at this time. However, I can confirm that to assist the assessment process a technical site visit was undertaken at the school recently.

In the meantime my Department has recently given approval to the school in question for the provision of a resource room and a disabled access toilet to meet its immediate accommodation needs.

Education Expenditure

Ceisteanna (395)

Seamus Kirk

Ceist:

395. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Education and Skills the amount spent on the capital education infrastructure from 2000 to 2010, by county, in tabular form; the allocation for primary, secondary and third level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35621/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

Details of total capital funding expended on a county basis on primary and post primary capital projects between 2000 and 2010 are shown in the table below. The structure and diversity of some grant schemes are such that they do not lend themselves to extracting data readily on a county basis. Funding under such schemes appear under the general heading "other". Expenditure on third level capital project is given by sector rather than county between 2000 and 2010.

Primary Capital Spend by County 2000-2010

County	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010
Armagh	€0	€0	€0	€0	€2,466,548	€15,377	€17,241	€162,457	€243,269	€0	€0
Carlow	€341,342	€465,367	€2,199,301	€1,776,102	€964,343	€953,865	€7,803,500	€7,728,475	€5,738,560	€2,963,209	€5,042,685
Cavan	€1,135,629	€1,028,374	€1,052,401	€2,974,657	€2,031,717	€4,224,242	€3,905,225	€5,775,293	€7,863,415	€2,759,536	€5,349,495
Clare	€1,527,799	€1,548,238	€6,966,903	€2,466,508	€1,825,623	€3,211,179	€5,539,033	€7,995,461	€8,573,920	€6,746,190	€6,519,625
Cork	€11,136,825	€18,048,875	€15,770,820	€14,470,391	€10,921,397	€12,397,327	€13,709,800	€25,897,572	€26,245,880	€25,729,943	€27,923,222
Donegal	€2,438,452	€4,537,697	€7,727,446	€2,860,687	€4,161,285	€5,664,929	€6,599,097	€10,423,380	€11,445,372	€12,871,779	€8,798,898
Dublin	€18,191,925	€33,534,287	€45,789,526	€32,496,505	€34,384,269	€66,630,891	€68,052,427	€96,836,759	€128,759,172	€74,242,036	€78,501,593
Galway	€2,649,880	€3,624,018	€4,642,697	€3,223,698	€5,387,395	€14,404,239	€9,530,055	€17,686,787	€17,252,669	€11,553,560	€12,924,576
Kerry	€1,136,716	€1,103,080	€1,986,450	€1,780,093	€2,717,257	€5,522,606	€5,097,150	€11,451,066	€8,013,251	€5,592,618	€8,491,115
Kildare	€2,717,261	€10,677,213	€5,809,267	€10,888,634	€8,631,891	€19,233,843	€11,787,732	€9,941,257	€35,717,254	€20,139,636	€24,888,960
Kilkenny	€1,042,532	€1,646,380	€4,247,791	€3,741,068	€1,157,203	€2,258,830	€2,783,307	€5,001,972	€8,524,712	€7,188,376	€4,495,630
Laois	€475,607	€395,923	€1,495,432	€1,373,810	€1,808,824	€2,602,752	€5,487,369	€10,020,086	€8,518,021	€6,224,466	€5,475,823
Leitrim	€88,840	€368,223	€952,109	€614,960	€428,111	€990,167	€771,259	€3,317,339	€2,513,653	€992,268	€1,056,465
Limerick	€1,875,195	€8,060,884	€8,671,462	€7,600,491	€5,010,603	€12,065,338	€8,320,907	€10,667,334	€7,302,807	€7,635,917	€9,621,335
Longford	€176,103	€362,215	€739,110	€1,327,162	€1,190,479	€2,649,460	€1,518,724	€1,552,861	€4,565,680	€3,428,271	€2,819,215
Louth	€244,545	€1,901,360	€2,474,232	€2,028,713	€1,290,245	€3,798,621	€3,174,345	€4,494,937	€14,690,550	€11,169,356	€10,530,687
Mayo	€3,051,483	€2,670,337	€5,353,532	€4,392,390	€3,390,618	€6,966,133	€6,580,851	€8,700,826	€10,287,846	€10,642,174	€8,205,460
Meath	€3,347,385	€4,626,610	€4,013,042	€3,107,293	€6,407,205	€10,042,487	€4,374,547	€11,542,495	€16,382,077	€19,659,492	€17,078,208
Monaghan	€721,329	€920,618	€4,618,804	€1,890,261	€1,858,306	€2,159,885	€1,351,107	€4,626,070	€3,719,882	€4,199,922	€5,265,770
Offaly	€444,649	€2,808,499	€6,673,345	€4,721,749	€3,247,058	€5,183,920	€4,783,593	€7,738,225	€16,519,533	€3,685,656	€5,931,307
Roscommon	€346,838	€1,445,498	€4,424,522	€3,409,020	€2,237,014	€1,560,692	€1,636,682	€4,204,486	€6,998,707	€3,369,831	€5,031,528
Sligo	€1,280,194	€1,407,135	€1,832,138	€2,465,698	€1,747,942	€3,914,912	€3,662,900	€4,189,229	€4,085,064	€1,528,448	€2,831,905
Tipperary	€845,603	€2,163,678	€3,685,389	€3,919,502	€4,487,757	€2,781,764	€5,884,461	€15,744,787	€9,673,814	€7,341,435	€9,613,569
Waterford	€2,005,676	€1,450,086	€1,118,441	€2,964,692	€2,300,888	€3,611,973	€8,053,995	€12,379,675	€9,598,003	€7,233,667	€9,331,879
Westmeath	€737,840	€965,652	€2,097,683	€3,500,370	€3,159,496	€2,157,793	€5,957,316	€6,305,151	€20,970,523	€4,416,032	€7,138,415
Wexford	€880,553	€1,663,645	€2,739,937	€1,890,299	€4,329,738	€11,834,884	€6,856,809	€15,577,786	€27,643,405	€11,046,571	€14,196,564
Wicklow	€3,090,158	€3,215,221	€6,066,850	€8,495,677	€5,058,112	€4,128,314	€5,801,146	€8,037,200	€28,065,430	€10,814,025	€9,296,680
Other	€41,063,957	€29,190,889	€19,639,557	€45,060,307	€48,069,718	€55,713,577	€35,857,660	€69,751,481	€38,623,014	€44,895,605	€0
TOTAL	€102,994,315	€139,830,000	€172,788,186	€175,440,738	€170,671,039	€266,680,000	€244,898,238	€397,750,450	€488,535,483	€328,070,019	€306,360,608

Post-Primary Capital Spend by County 2000-2010

COUNTY	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010
CARLOW	€2,093,438	€3,807,021	€1,405,780	€656,533	€1,816,452	€2,406,067	€10,279,001	€10,167,804	€2,008,138	€1,195,059	€2,929,087
CAVAN	€736,153	€578,540	€1,391,298	€1,705,731	€4,017,092	€7,541,460	€3,442,102	€2,712,857	€1,811,485	€3,234,910	€4,906,936
CLARE	€1,952,104	€4,606,580	€9,073,812	€5,242,977	€2,090,748	€2,365,655	€3,005,309	€1,651,247	€1,266,667	€2,979,906	€2,642,737
CORK	€15,352,898	€23,939,465	€23,181,422	€21,643,616	€22,256,473	€21,538,741	€17,773,555	€16,049,930	€14,716,468	€12,834,284	€12,707,320
DONEGAL	€6,115,320	€8,777,244	€4,788,749	€3,370,077	€7,816,285	€18,356,419	€10,976,420	€10,773,020	€6,848,133	€4,992,800	€9,071,191
DUBLIN	€35,785,437	€34,624,389	€31,118,809	€38,810,347	€48,907,677	€64,274,988	€68,719,769	€54,671,024	€36,519,540	€55,476,138	€55,005,599
GALWAY	€2,946,542	€7,623,091	€8,940,820	€5,346,231	€9,266,297	€8,662,235	€10,596,567	€7,340,747	€5,944,868	€11,464,341	€8,355,929
KERRY	€7,663,601	€15,584,967	€5,489,774	€3,475,032	€4,991,898	€5,759,824	€6,267,142	€6,829,163	€1,168,698	€4,787,966	€4,335,543
KILDARE	€8,829,549	€7,688,385	€8,100,961	€3,795,274	€1,673,875	€9,638,370	€10,797,485	€12,947,876	€2,978,511	€15,941,082	€11,550,372
KILKENNY	€3,763,559	€7,706,978	€1,795,551	€706,614	€2,536,294	€2,946,078	€1,213,601	€2,348,027	€1,159,595	€2,527,889	€2,242,694
LAOIS	€3,567,392	€4,481,220	€1,288,666	€5,491,533	€2,039,876	€7,540,985	€7,415,621	€1,724,993	€5,294,988	€9,631,878	€658,793
LEITRIM	€157,660	€282,899	€547,517	€726,381	€1,228,876	€383,728	€178,927	€2,532,712	€6,804,569	€2,243,848	€1,316,230
LIMERICK	€10,423,310	€8,993,251	€7,764,278	€3,009,507	€4,252,861	€9,833,705	€15,216,461	€11,175,508	€10,789,992	€4,593,909	€9,924,408
LONGFORD	€1,291,156	€1,748,564	€401,557	€295,600	€87,981	€1,125,732	€1,312,113	€1,636,383	€683,442	€1,764,891	€2,101,451
LOUTH	€1,432,762	€1,516,637	€4,186,167	€3,051,277	€1,386,289	€5,251,975	€3,837,819	€5,741,964	€2,002,563	€5,149,240	€6,084,127
MAYO	€2,552,645	€2,410,628	€5,063,687	€5,795,555	€1,326,958	€1,880,225	€3,297,244	€4,974,300	€14,531,633	€6,945,596	€7,190,808
MEATH	€10,940,087	€9,248,078	€4,010,558	€2,860,028	€4,335,439	€5,773,449	€9,378,169	€15,803,914	€2,050,371	€11,336,196	€5,767,116
MONAGHAN	€3,467,005	€1,984,575	€2,764,629	€893,440	€1,383,104	€1,387,826	€7,471,868	€7,080,986	€1,023,873	€5,202,138	€6,261,586
OFFALY	€1,079,328	€4,150,420	€2,915,204	€1,945,414	€2,640,455	€1,172,703	€2,429,144	€2,086,750	€1,295,066	€846,203	€3,176,096
ROSCOMMON	€546,115	€1,424,836	€3,846,799	€579,636	€602,054	€505,370	€695,453	€2,177,484	€633,452	€1,217,305	€2,565,462
SLIGO	€2,559,693	€4,909,800	€1,535,285	€1,075,054	€766,224	€2,384,492	€8,561,170	€3,628,105	€1,879,362	€2,222,109	€1,975,975
TIPPERARY	€2,347,913	€1,471,709	€5,082,341	€6,961,306	€6,527,911	€4,508,261	€5,480,872	€8,090,812	€7,119,024	€6,218,030	€7,167,552
WATERFORD	€9,737,026	€4,539,157	€12,677,355	€6,043,172	€1,798,532	€8,455,554	€2,337,706	€4,241,840	€4,582,346	€3,599,108	€4,698,781
WESTMEATH	€3,170,504	€4,875,957	€1,931,290	€5,482,823	€4,204,917	€1,898,445	€2,463,152	€8,918,812	€2,346,296	€2,865,998	€2,114,593
WEXFORD	€4,808,282	€4,908,120	€5,525,004	€1,242,356	€1,083,623	€4,457,639	€6,339,812	€11,413,861	€7,128,281	€5,560,250	€10,622,846
WICKLOW	€1,755,102	€2,336,351	€7,801,589	€13,157,691	€2,510,847	€5,938,727	€7,829,000	€13,636,663	€3,262,745	€3,446,978	€5,653,988
OTHER	€9,426,980	€3,684,344	€8,717,222	€8,131,990	€20,857,324	€28,592,869	€22,164,585	€16,116,548	€9,427,543	€8,222,981	€0
Grand Total	€154,501,558	€177,903,205	€171,346,128	€151,495,195	€162,406,363	€234,581,521	€249,480,066	€246,473,331	€155,277,649	€196,501,033	€191,027,221

Third Level Capital Expenditure 2000 to 2010

Direct Exchequer

-	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010
-	€	€	€	€
IoT Sector	77,962,979	122,723,686	122,692,237	41,755,142	44,030,174	14,529,196	38,802,853	40,071,030	35,981,005	58,817,202	51,185,599
HEA Sector	61,701,184	64,479,670	46,763,478	12,587,705	19,996,841	31,999,219	39,985,179	38,658,410	24,961,430	76,538,231	111,080,416
Small Colleges	3,838,266	7,711,428	4,663,634	1,966,399	115,721	0	111,465	205,382	157,565	1,954,305	165,000
R& D	12,697,381	2,539,476	8,513,437	7,834,275	32,500,000	44,299,803	37,084,386	68,500,000	94,300,000	62,377,219	6,616,144
Totals	156,199,810	197,454,260	182,632,786	64,143,521	96,642,736	90,828,218	115,983,883	147,434,822	155,400,000	199,686,957	169,047,159

This does not include expenditure from the S&T Fund

In 2005 the sub head for the IoTs Small colleges and R&D were amalgamated

Student Grants Data

Ceisteanna (396)

Michael Fitzmaurice

Ceist:

396. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students who received a third level maintenance grant; the amount spent on these grants for the academic year 2014-15; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35623/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

Grants are available under the student grant scheme for students attending approved courses in approved institutions in further and higher education. In the 2014/15 academic year there were 80,551 grant holders and expenditure amounted to €353,481,954.18.

Student Grants Data

Ceisteanna (397)

Michael Fitzmaurice

Ceist:

397. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of mature students who qualified to have their fees paid by the Government; the cost of Government spending on third level maintenance grants for mature students for the academic year 2014-15; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35624/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

Grants are available under the student grant scheme for students attending approved courses in approved institutions at further and higher education. Grants are paid to qualifying students in respect of maintenance, fees and/or student contribution.

The answers to the specific questions posed by the Deputy are as follows:

- 1,603 mature students qualified to have their tuition fees paid for the 2014/2015 academic year;

- The total cost of spending on the third level maintenance grant for mature students in the 2014/2015 academic year was €12,646,966.

Emergency Works Scheme Applications

Ceisteanna (398)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Ceist:

398. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an application under the essential emergency works scheme lodged by a school (details supplied) in County Galway; when a decision will be made, given the urgency of the works required; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35626/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

In July 2015 the school referred to by the Deputy was requested to submit an application for funding under my Department's Emergency Works Scheme to address health and safety issues at their school.

To date no application has been received. Should an application be received it will be assessed and the school authority will be notified of the outcome.

Departmental Agencies Board Appointments

Ceisteanna (399)

Colm Keaveney

Ceist:

399. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she is satisfied that no conflict of interest exists between a person's (details supplied) membership of the board of the National Council for Special Education and the person's role as an adviser to the Minister for Health; the date on which the person was appointed to the board; the remuneration and expenses the person has received to date, since being appointed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35638/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

The current Council of the NCSE were appointed in accordance with new arrangements for appointments to State Boards, introduced by this Government in 2011.

There is no remuneration or fee for the position. However, travel and subsistence allowances are paid in respect of journeys undertaken to attend meetings of the Board or to transact its business. A total of €645.92 travel and subsistence was paid to the person referred to by the Deputy for 2013/2014. Travel and Subsistence claims for 2015 have not been finalised by NCSE.

In accordance with the Code of Business Conduct for Members of Council of the NCSE and Members of Council Committees, which is available on the NCSE website at www.ncse.ie, Council members are expected to ensure that all their activities are governed by the ethical standards reflected in this Code in letter and in spirit.

I have obtained the assurance of the CEO and of the Chairperson of NCSE that they are satisfied that the person in question has complied fully with the code by making known his role with the Minister for Health and, has at all times, acted with due care, skill, prudence and diligence and acted in the utmost good faith in the discharge of his functions as a Council member.

Finally, I wish to advise the Deputy that the term of office of the current Council will come to an end on 31 December 2015. My Department has commenced the process of appointing a new Council for the period 2016 to 2018 in accordance with the Guidelines on Appointments to State Boards, introduced by my colleague the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in November 2014.

Early Childhood Care and Education

Ceisteanna (400)

Terence Flanagan

Ceist:

400. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the early childhood care and education scheme (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35646/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

Childcare providers participating in the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) are in contract with the Department of Children and Youth Affairs to deliver the pre-school year free of charge to qualifying children enrolled in their service.

It is a condition of this contract that any deposit paid by a parent to a childcare provider to secure a place under the ECCE programme, where the child continues to avail of the service, must be refunded to the parent by the end of October in the year the child was enrolled.

Parents should in the first instance raise this matter with the childcare provider.