Written Answers Nos. 149-152
149. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of persons engaged in Solas full-time training jobs in each year since it was established, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45527/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraSOLAS was established in October 2013. The operation of SOLAS Training Centres was transferred to the Education and Training Boards under two phases in January and July 2014. Since the transfer, training centre staff are now employees of the Education and Training Boards.
The most recent statistics available are for quarter two 2015. These statistics show there were 295.78 whole time equivalents employed as instructors/tutors in training centres. The equivalent figure for 2014 was 280.37.
150. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills why the Teaching Council of Ireland is proposing to abolish regulation 3 which allows Association Montessori Internationale and Sarojini Naidu Medical College graduates to teach in special schools and classes and in resource and as substitutes in mainstream schools; the percentage of teaching staff in special schools who fall under regulation 3; the educational basis and evidence supporting this decision; and the timeframe in which she expects this decision to be implemented. [45485/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Teaching Council Act, the Teaching Council is the body with statutory authority for the registration of teachers. Teachers are registered under The Teaching Council [Registration] Regulations 2009.
As the statutory professional standards body for teaching in Ireland, the Council is of the view that all teachers should be first and foremost qualified and registered as teachers in their given sector, whether primary or post primary.
The Deputy should note that the Teaching Council has not accredited any programmes from Sarojini Naidu Medical College. The data in relation to the employment of teachers in special needs schools is not available in my Department.
The Teaching Council is currently reviewing the Teaching Council [Registration] Regulations 2009 under the Teaching Council Act as amended in the Teaching Council (Amendment) Act 2015. The draft regulations will be submitted for the consent of the Minister in due course.
151. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will allocate funding to a school (details supplied) in County Donegal under the summer works scheme, when she will announce when schools will be allocated funding under this scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45491/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy that commensurate with the level of funding available for the Summer Works Scheme, applications, including that from the school referred to by the Deputy, will be assessed on a top down basis in accordance with the prioritisation criteria outlined in the governing Circular Letter for the Scheme. This Circular Letter (0055/2015), is available on my Department's website www.education.ie. It is my intention to publish a list of successful applicants at the end of February/early March 2016.
152. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the specific rules she was referring to in the public comments she made when committing to erasing rule 68 regarding the place of religion in the primary school curriculum, where she stated that she was also going to eliminate any other rules that do not speak to the diverse and welcoming nature of our modern school system, or if she made these comments rhetorically; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45500/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy will be aware that the Report of the Advisory Group to the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary Sector was published in April 2012. The Report recommended a review and updating of the Rules for National Schools and in particular, Rule 68.
As acknowledged in the Report, there is an overall context that many of the Rules are outdated and have been overtaken in whole or in part by legislation and directions in Department circulars.
At this point I have made no specific decision in relation to the Rules other than Rule 68. At the same time I have made it clear that the Rules generally must accord with the diverse and welcoming nature of our modern school system.
