Thursday, 3 Dec 2015

Written Answers Nos. 252-62

School Transport Provision

Ceisteanna (252)

John Browne

Ceist:

252. Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will clarify the rules of entitlement relating to the provision of school transport for children with disabilities so that these rules can be applied fairly; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43328/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills

The purpose of the School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children with special educational needs arising from a diagnosed disability.

Under the terms of my Department's School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs children are eligible for transport where they are attending the nearest recognised: mainstream school, special class/special school or a unit, that is or can be resourced, to meet their special educational needs.

Eligibility is determined following consultation with the National Council for Special Education through its network of Special Education Needs Organisers.

The terms of the Scheme are applied equitably on a national basis.

Home Tuition Scheme Provision

Ceisteanna (253)

Tom Fleming

Ceist:

253. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide home tuition for a child (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43330/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

The purpose of the Home tuition scheme is to provide a compensatory educational service for children who, for a number of reasons such as chronic illness, are unable to attend school. The scheme also provides a compensatory educational service for children with special educational needs seeking an educational placement. Provision is also made for early intervention for children with autism.

Eligibility in this regard is determined in consultation with the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) through the local Special Educational Needs Organiser (SENO).

An application for Home Tuition for the child referred to by the Deputy was received in Special Education Section of my Department on 30 November. This application has now been processed and home Tuition Provision has been approved. A letter has issued to the parents of the child.

Further Education and Training Programmes

Ceisteanna (254)

Pearse Doherty

Ceist:

254. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of further education and training courses available, by education and training board, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43337/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

SOLAS publishes an annual integrated Further Education and Training (FET) Services Plan that provides information on the range of further education and training funded by the Irish Government. It sets out in detail how the State's investment in FET will be used by SOLAS and the 16 Education and Training Boards (ETBs).

The 2015 Service Plan sets out in detail the budget allocation for all FET programmes and presents the range of provision, including participant numbers, by ETB, by funding programme and by occupational cluster. A copy of the 2015 FET Service Plan is on the SOLAS website at www.solas.ie.

Education and Training Boards

Ceisteanna (255)

Pearse Doherty

Ceist:

255. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills the full-time, part-time, evening, and online courses provided by Donegal Education and Training Board, by category, by location, by intake number to each course, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43338/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

This is an operational matter for the Donegal Education and Training Board (ETB) who manage the programmes in question. I have asked the ETB to contact the Deputy directly to clarify the position.

School Accommodation Provision

Ceisteanna (256)

Billy Timmins

Ceist:

256. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of schools renting prefabricated units and the number of these that are newly rented, and purchased, by cost, by school, by county, since January 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43345/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

Currently, 366 primary and post-primary schools are renting prefab accommodation.

Details of these schools by county, together with the current cost and the number of newly rented units since 2014 at each school, is attached for the Deputy's attention.

My Department has grant aided the purchase of twenty three prefabs units since 2014. Six of these were previously rented by schools and have now been purchased. A breakdown by county of these prefabs is also attached for the Deputy's attention.

Prefab rental incorporating current annual rent with newly rented prefabs since Jan 2014

Roll no	Name	County	Current annual rent	Newly rented prefab units since 2014
04077I	St Brigid's NS	Carlow		1
17514C	Clonegal NS	Carlow		0
17994T	SN Fhoirtcheim	Carlow		0
20370V	Saplings School	Carlow		0
		Carlow	€115,287.60
08490N	St Clare's PS	Cavan		0
16057S	Convent of Mercy NS	Cavan		0
16083T	St Mary's NS	Cavan		0
16093W	Scoil Naomh Brid	Cavan		1
16959M	Curravagh NS	Cavan		0
18059J	St Anne's NS	Cavan		2
19439B	Holy Family NS	Cavan		2
19608V	St Kilian's NS	Cavan		1
19871N	Scoil Naomh Padraig	Cavan		0
70380I	Breifne College	Cavan		2
		Cavan	€467,100.81
14757N	Scoil na Mainstreach	Clare		0
15981A	Lakyle NS	Clare		0
16677C	CBS Bunscoil Inis  Senior School	Clare		1
16908S	Sixmilebridge NS	Clare		3
17583V	Knockanean NS	Clare		0
18639E	Ballynacally NS	Clare		0
19849U	GS Donncha Rua	Clare		0
20086B	Ennis Educate Together NS	Clare		0
20245S	Ennistymon National School	Clare		0
20313J	Mol an Oige NS	Clare		0
20452A	Scoil na Maighdine Muire	Clare		0
61940T	CBS Ennistymon	Clare		1
70840Q	Ennistymon VEC	Clare		0
		Clare	€648,653.82
01272O	Glandore NS	Cork		0
01867W	Castlelyons B.N.S.	Cork		2
07242M	Cloghroe NS	Cork		0
10047I	Macroom  Convent NS       (St Joseph's)	Cork		0
12004A	Mallon No1 NS	Cork		0
13234W	Cloughduv NS	Cork		0
13512B	Scoil Mhuire Lourdes	Cork		1
13889C	Shanbally NS	Cork		0
14052V	St Colmans BNS	Cork		0
14116V	Kilbrittan NS	Cork		1
14839P	Clondrohid National School	Cork		1
15165Q	Ballintotas NS	Cork		0
15484J	SN an Chroí Naofa	Cork		0
15646J	Coomhala NS	Cork		0
16681Q	Charleville CBS Primary School	Cork		1
17011W	St Mochomóg's NS	Cork		0
17103E	Scoil Cholchair Mhuire	Cork		2
17972J	Killmurry NS	Cork		0
18000W	Scoil Mhuire Naofa	Cork		2
18128C	Scoil Mhuire NS	Cork		0
18217B	Scoil Padre Pio	Cork		0
18428O	Bailenóra NS	Cork		0
18483W	School of Divine Child	Cork		0
18535P	St John's GNS	Cork		0
19351K	Cill Chriodain	Cork		0
19381T	Rathmore NS	Cork		0
19557H	Caheragh NS	Cork		0
19672H	Scoil Mhuire na nGrást	Cork		0
19801P	Drimoleague Junior School	Cork		0
19851H	GS de Hide	Cork		1
19881Q	GS Charraig Uí Leighin	Cork		4
19886D	Gaelscoil Tomais Daibhis	Cork		1
20049S	Ringaskiddy Lower Harbour NS	Cork		0
20107G	Gaelscoil Mhainistir na Corann	Cork		0
20265B	Gaelscoil Chionn tSaile	Cork		1
20336V	Midleton Educate Together NS	Cork		4
20413N	Douglas/Rochestown ETNS	Cork		1
62050O	The Hamilton High School	Cork		0
62090D	Scoil Mhuire Gan Smál	Cork		5
62170B	Sacred Heart Sec School	Cork		0
62440E	Christian Brothers Secondary School	Cork		0
62460K	St Francis College	Cork		0
62730N	St Patricks College	Cork		0
71102I	Schull Community College	Cork		1
76064F	Glanmire Comm College	Cork		3
76273O	Gaelcolaiste Carraigaline	Cork		1
91499E	Kinsale Community School	Cork		1
		Cork	€1,886,140.60
12077E	Scoil Naomh Fiachra	Donegal		1
18625Q	Scoil Cholmcille	Donegal		0
19724A	Little Angels Special School	Donegal		0
19967D	Scoil Iosagain	Donegal		0
20235P	Letterkenny Educate Together	Donegal		1
62830R	St. Eunan's College	Donegal		0
		Donegal	€450,933.80

Table cont.

Table cont.

15142E	Donaghmoyne NS	Monaghan		0
16954C	St Michaels NS	Monaghan		0
		Monaghan	€8,634.60
17827A	St Patrick's NS	Offaly		0
18406E	St Francis BNS	Offaly		0
18797W	SN Naomh Iosef	Offaly		0
65582Q	St. Mary's Secondary School	Offaly		0
65620V	Sacred Heart School	Offaly		0
72540O	Oaklands Community College	Offaly		9
		Offaly	€287,927.64
05220P	St Michaels NS	Roscommon		1
13262E	Cloverhill NS	Roscommon		1
13757I	Tarmon NS	Roscommon		2
16816N	Attyrory NS	Roscommon		0
17266J	St. Mary's NS	Roscommon		0
18395C	Cloonakilla NS	Roscommon		2
72290R	Roscommon Community College	Roscommon		1
		Roscommon	€114,463.68
18298E	Culfadda NS	Sligo		0
20044I	Gaelscoil Chnoc Na Re	Sligo		2
		Sligo	€94,948.62
01594N	Scoil Eoin Naofa	Tipperary		0
10120P	Our Lady of Mercy NS	Tipperary		0
12540B	Clonmore NS	Tipperary		0
16276H	Carrig NS	Tipperary		2
17779P	Powerstown NS	Tipperary		0
18716T	Cahir Boys NS	Tipperary		0
19230V	Scoil Chormaic	Tipperary		0
20007C	GS Chluain Meala	Tipperary		1
20085W	GS Charraig Na Siuire	Tipperary		0
20451V	Borrisoleigh BNS	Tipperary		0
65440T	Our Lady's Secondary School	Tipperary		1
		Tipperary	€379,439.30
17159I	Garranbane NS	Waterford		0
19488J	Scoil Naomh Gobnait	Waterford		1
19885B	Gaelscoil Philib Barun	Waterford		0
20050D	Gaelscoil na nDeise	Waterford		0
20170N	Bunscoil Chill Mhic Thomaisin	Waterford		0
91509E	Blackwater Community School	Waterford		0
		Waterford	€104,800.20
17102C	Cluain Buinne	Westmeath		0
17327D	Curraghmore NS	Westmeath		0
18640M	St Josephs NS	Westmeath		0
18764H	Ardnagrath NS	Westmeath		0
18864L	Coosan NS	Westmeath		1
19848S	St Etchens NS	Westmeath		0
20063M	Scoil an Chlochair	Westmeath		0
20188J	Mullingar ETNS	Westmeath		0
20238V	GS an Choillin	Westmeath		0
63321U	Mercy Secondary School	Westmeath		1
		Westmeath	€408,655.64
08221J	St Senans Primary	Wexford		0
16828U	Oylegate NS	Wexford		0
17450C	Poulfour NS	Wexford		0
17610V	Scoil Baile Fada	Wexford		0
17913Q	Our Lady of Fatima NS	Wexford		0
18336J	Boolavogue NS	Wexford		0
19240B	St. Patrick's Special School	Wexford		0
20003R	St Aidans Primary	Wexford		0
63640R	CBS Wexford	Wexford		0
		Wexford	€276,825.45
12529N	St Saviour's NS	Wicklow		0
13932A	St Michaels GNS	Wicklow		0
14398L	Glebe NS	Wicklow		0
16874E	St Joseph's GNS	Wicklow		0
17181B	St Joseph's NS	Wicklow		0
18502A	Talbotstown NS	Wicklow		0
18962L	St Ernan's BNS	Wicklow		0
19522L	St Catherine's Spec School	Wicklow		0
20080M	GS An Inbhir Mhoir	Wicklow		1
20346B	Kilcoole Primary School	Wicklow		0
70740M	Arklow Community College	Wicklow		0
70790E	Colaiste Bhride	Wicklow		0
		Wicklow	€388,911.00

Prefabs Purchased since 2014

County	Roll No	School	Number of Prefabs Purchased	Number of Rented Prefabs Bought out
Carlow	04077I	St Brigid's NS, Grange, Tullow		1
Cavan	08490N	St. Clare's Primary School, Cavan Town	1	3
Cork	18458A	Scoil Bernadette, Bonnington, Montenotte	3
Cork	19978I	Maultatrahane NS		1
Cork	19415K	Scoil an Athar Tadhg, Carrignavar	2
Donegal	19724A	Little Angels Special School, Knocknamona, Letterkenny	2
Donegal	12077E	Scoil Naomh Fiarchra, Illilstrim	1
Dublin	76085N	Gaelcholaiste Reachrann	1
Kildare	20351R	Naas CNS	2
Longford	14386E	Stonepark National School	1
Meath	18106P	Lismullen NS, Garlow Cross, Navan	1
Roscommon	18395C	Cloonakilla NS, Bealnamulla, Athlone		1
Sligo	65180T	Ursuline College, Finisklin, Sligo	1
Wicklow	20243O	Gaelscoil na Lochanna	2
		Totals	17	6

Schools Building Projects Status

Ceisteanna (257)

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

257. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a building project (details supplied) in County Roscommon, and when it is expected to be completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43347/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

The project referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of the tender process. My Department is currently awaiting the submission of the Tender Report. Subject to no issues arising it is envisaged that this project will commence on site in the first quarter of 2016 with a build period of approximately 15 months.

School Staff

Ceisteanna (258)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Ceist:

258. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education and Skills the steps she will take to ensure the future and ethos of the small minority faith schools in rural Ireland and to ensure they have adequate staff numbers; the number of these schools that have one, two, or more than two mainstream classroom teachers; the changes made to the pupil-teacher ratio for these schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43354/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

The criteria used for the allocation of teachers to primary schools is 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 schedule operates in a clear and transparent manner and treats all similar types of schools equally. The staffing arrangements for primary schools for the 2015/16 school year are set out in Department Circular 0005/2015 which is available on my Department's website.

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 one-teacher schools situated 8km or more from the nearest school of the same type of patronage and/or language of instruction.

This package of measures will provide rural communities with security about the future of their small schools, recognising the essential social function which small schools can play, especially in isolated communities.

In addition, I have announced a 1 point improvement to the primary staffing schedule in the context of Budget 2016. The improved staffing schedule which is available on the Department website will be implemented for the 2016/17 school year. The staffing arrangements for all schools for the 2016/17 school year will be published early in 2016.

The Statistics Section of my Department's website contains extensive data relating to schools, including teacher numbers. The most recent published information relates to the 2014/15 school year.

School Accommodation Provision

Ceisteanna (259)

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

259. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills the exact boundaries upon which projections for the demand for new schools in Dublin are based and the specific criteria and data within these boundaries that are used to identify whether a need exists or not; the banding or ranking system that applies to how resources are allocated, once a need is identified, to ascertain which schools get funded first; and how this process was utilised in the recent announcement of funding for schools in Dublin. [43378/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

For planning purposes the Department divides the country into geographic areas each with several primary schools feeding into a post-primary centre, consisting of one or more post-primary schools. These defined areas facilitate the orderly planning of school provision and accommodation needs. My Department uses a Geographical Information System (GIS) to identify where the pressure for additional school places will arise. The GIS uses data from the Central Statistics Office, Ordnance Survey Ireland and the Department of Social Protection in addition to information from the Department's own databases. It also uses data from the local authorities. With all of this information, my Department carries out nationwide demographic exercises to determine where additional school accommodation is needed at primary and post-primary level. On 17 November last, I announced that 4 primary schools and 9 post-primary schools will open in 2017 and 2018, as a result of the outcome of the latest demographic exercises.

In the case of the 6 Year Programme, the positioning of the projects in terms of year to commence construction is informed by the anticipated progress that each project will make as it progresses through the various stages of the architectural planning process. All projects will be progressed with a view to proceeding to tender and construction stages at the earliest possible opportunity. My Department will be in communication with the schools concerned in due course in relation to the next steps to be taken.

Stádas Thionscadail Tógála Scoileanna

Ceisteanna (260)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Ceist:

260. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna Chun a fhiafraí den Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna an bhfuil conraitheoir ceaptha le foirgneamh scoile nua a thógáil (sonraí thíos); má tá, cén conraitheoir a bheidh ag déanamh na oibre; cén uair a thósóidh an obair ar an scoil; cén uair a chríochnóidh an obair; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [43390/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

Tá an tionscadal a ndéanann an Teachta tagairt dó beagnach i gcrích ó thaobh an phróisis tairisceana de. Fuarthas an Tuairisc Tairisceana le déanaí sa Roinn. Mura mbíonn aon cheisteanna ag éirí aisti táthar ag súil go leanfar ar aghaidh leis an tionscadal ar an láthair sa chéad ráithe de 2016. Go dtí go mbronntar an conradh, ní féidir ainm an chonraitheora a n-éireoidh leis/léi a chur ar fáil. Agus é ar an láthair, glacfaidh an tionscadal tuairim is 12 mhí le cur i gcrích.

Third Level Staff Data

Ceisteanna (261)

Finian McGrath

Ceist:

261. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of absenteeism in third level colleges (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43410/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

Universities 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 sick leave and absenteeism. Accordingly, neither my Department nor the Higher Education Authority holds the specific information requested by the Deputy.

However, it should be noted that, following a review of sick leave arrangements, a new Public Service wide sick leave scheme has been introduced across the Public Service. The Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) (Amendment) Act 2013, provided the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform with the power to make regulations that set out the specific details of the Public Service Sick Leave Scheme. These regulations are contained in SI 124 of 2014 and set out the terms for the granting of sick leave. This came into effect in the education sector on 1 September 2014.

DES Circular Number 0062/2015 is the recent Circular detailing the sick leave arrangements for all staff in Institutes of Technology. This Circular issued to the Director / President of each Institute of Technology on 1 December 2015. This Circular can be accessed via the following link.

http://www.education.ie/en/Circulars-and-Forms/Active-Circulars/cl0062_2015.pdf.

Similarly, a circular giving effect to these revised sick leave arrangements for all staff in the rest of the Higher Education Sector issued to the Higher Education Authority for dissemination to all Universities and other Third Level Colleges under the remit of the HEA on 1 December 2015.

Special Educational Needs Staff Remuneration

Ceisteanna (262)

Patrick O'Donovan

Ceist:

262. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Education and Skills when the payroll payment for substitute Special Needs Assistant duties will be made for a person (details supplied) in County Wexford; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43453/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

Schools input details of days worked by substitute Special Needs Assistants (SNA) through my Department's Online Claim System and payment is made in the next payroll run after the claims are submitted.

The substitute SNA in question will receive payment on 3rd December. A tax certificate for the person concerned was received from the Revenue Commissioners and will be applied to her payment on 3rd December.