Written Answers Nos. 443-465
443. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason home tutors are treated as PAYE employees but pay a class S PRSI contribution; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4778/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy refers to the change in payment arrangements for Home Tuition.
First, I want to clarify that under the Home Tuition Scheme, home tutors have always been engaged by the parents/guardian of the child who is to receive tuition. The change in payment arrangements has not altered this. Home tutors do not have a contractual relationship with the Department of Education and Skills.
The change in payment arrangements from September 2015 was on foot of instructions from the Revenue Commissioners that payments under the Home Tuition Scheme are subject to statutory deductions at source.
In order to facilitate parents, my Department agreed to act solely as payroll agents on their behalf. Payment of the home tuition grant now issues directly to the approved tutor via my Department's Non-Teaching Staff payroll. Home tutors continue to be engaged by the parent/guardian to provide tuition.
Any further queries in relation to PAYE and USC should be directed to the Revenue Commissioners.
The Department of Social Protection has determined that Home Tutors are engaged under a contract for service and are therefore self-employed and subject to PRSI Class S. Any further queries in relation to PRSI Class should be directed to the Department of Social Protection.
I will forward to the Deputy a Payroll Information Note for Home Tutors, which is published on my Departments website.
444. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a major extension for a school (details supplied) in County Galway has not gone to tender; when it will go to tender; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4785/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe project for the School to which the Deputy refers is one of the research strands in the programme for the introduction of Nearly Zero Energy School Buildings. Nearly Zero-energy means a building that has a very high energy performance. The research and design stages for this school are substantially complete and the tender documentation is currently being finalised.
445. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the precise amounts in euros for the "Return to risk associated with School Transport business" forming part of the "contribution" as referred to on her Department's website in the explanatory notes published with the audited statement of accounts of Bus Éireann for each of the years 2011 to 2015, in tabular form; and if she will state in tabular form what this money was spent on. [4792/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe accounting rules governing Bus Éireann's operation of the School Transport Scheme are laid down in the 1975 Summary of Accounting Arrangements. These Arrangements require Bus Éireann to charge my Department for all direct costs - contractors, fuel, maintenance etc.
In line with the Accounting Arrangements, a charge of 13% of certain direct costs is levied to cover all other costs associated with the Scheme. This charge is commonly referred to as the School Transport Management Charge. The School Transport Management Charge is used to defray immediate overheads incurred by Bus Éireann in respect of the School Transport Scheme. Any surplus which may remain after accounting for the overheads referred to earlier is used to provide a reserve for additional expenditure which may be required in connection with the School Transport Scheme; this is commonly referred to within the Company as the risk reserve fund. These funds can only be used in respect of the School Transport Scheme and as stated on the website provide for:
- Specific capital investment in School Transport services and administration for example IT to deliver future cost savings.
- Portion of general capital investment for example garage equipment that serves all three businesses – Commercial, PSO and School Transport.
- Reduction of cost base through voluntary severance for schools staff (direct and support).
- Return to risk associated with School Transport business.
The following table shows the opening and closing balance and committed expenditure for 2011 to 2014 and draft figures for 2015 subject to audit.
Schools Summary- Transport Management Charge
|
- |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
|
Risk Reserve |
Actual |
Actual |
Actual |
Actual |
Draft Subject to Audit |
|
€'m |
€'m |
€'m |
€'m |
€'m |
|
|
Opening Balance from Previous Year |
8.1 |
8.2 |
9.7 |
11.7 |
12.0 |
|
Increase in Current Year |
3.5 |
1.9 |
2.9 |
3.1 |
0.0 |
|
Charged: |
|||||
|
Contribution to Vol Severance Programmes |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
(1.2) |
0.0 |
|
Contribution to Capital Investment** |
(0.4) |
(0.4) |
(0.9) |
(0.8) |
(0.8) |
|
Pension Provision - Drivers |
(3.0) |
0.0 |
0.0 |
(0.8) |
0.0 |
|
Closing Balance - Risk Reserve |
8.2 |
9.7 |
11.7 |
12.0 |
11.2 |
|
Committed Expenditure |
|||||
|
IT Project |
(0.8) |
(0.3) |
|||
|
School Fleet Acquisition |
(4.4) |
(4.4) |
|||
|
Closing Balance - Available Risk Reserve |
6.8 |
6.5 |
** Includes School IT System
446. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the transfer of a site to allow plans for a new school (details supplied) in County Galway to proceed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4793/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy may be aware, the building project for the school to which he refers is included in the 6 year construction programme that I announced last November. Officials from my Department have worked closely with officials from Galway County Council under the Memorandum of Understanding for the acquisition of school sites towards procuring a suitable site for this building project. The conveyancing process in respect of the site in question is at an advanced stage and once this is completed the project for the school will advance into architectural planning.
447. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of special needs assistant hours for a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4794/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) for allocating Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) to schools to support children with special educational needs. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support. The criteria by which SNA support is allocated to pupils is set out in my Department's Circular 0030/2014. It should be noted that SNA allocations are not made to individual children, but are made to schools to support the care needs of children with assessed special educational needs. Such support is provided in order to facilitate the attendance of those pupils at school and also to minimise disruption to class or teaching time for the pupils concerned, or for their peers, and with a view to developing their independent living skills. The deployment of SNAs within schools is a matter for the individual Principal/Board of Management. SNAs should be deployed by the school in a manner which best meets the care support requirements of the children enrolled in the school for whom SNA support has been allocated. It is a matter for schools to allocate support as required, and on the basis of individual need, which allows schools flexibility in how the SNA support is utilised. Details of the manner in which a school or parent may appeal the level of SNA allocation which has been made to support a child in school, to the NCSE, is set out on the NCSE website.
All schools have the contact details of their local SENO, while Parents may also contact their local SENO directly to discuss their child's special educational needs, using the contact details available on the NCSE website. As the matter referred to in this question relates to an allocation for an individual child, I will arrange to have the matter referred to the NCSE for their attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
448. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will conduct a review of the decision to decline an aonad for the proposed Coláiste Loch Gile for County Sligo given that the organisers believe they have met all the criteria and that the option of a sruth, which was offered instead, cannot be met due to the lack of Irish speakers in the host school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4813/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraMayo, Sligo and Leitrim Education and Training Board (ETB) has been considering the development of an Aonad at Ballinode College, Sligo. It was noted that there were likely to be capacity issues for a school with a second level enrolment of some 160 pupils in providing adequately for an Aonad, particularly given that the Commission on School Accommodation had recommended that a school should have a minimum enrolment of 375 to sustain an Aonad. In the circumstances, my Department has advised that the ETB should re-examine this proposal for Irish medium provision at second level to see how best it might be delivered both successfully and sustainably.
449. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she is aware that the wheelchair access lift in Coláiste Cholmcille in Ballyshannon, County Donegal, which two students wish to use, has been broken for a number of years; her plans to fix this lift; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4817/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has no record of an application for funding from the school to which the Deputy refers to repair its lift.
It is open to the school to use funding provided by my Department for its day to day running costs for this purpose. Otherwise, the school may apply to my Department for funding under the Emergency Works Grant Scheme. Details of how to apply for funding under this Scheme are available on my Department's website at www.education.ie.
450. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the provision of an additional teacher in a school (details supplied) in County Cork. [4826/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe staffing arrangements for primary schools for the 2016/17 school year are set out in Department Circular 0007/2016 which is available on the Department website.
An appeals process is available to small schools losing a classroom post in the event that they can show that their projected enrolments are sufficient to allow them to retain their classroom teacher in the longer term. Details of the appeal criteria are set out in the published staffing arrangements. The school referred to by the Deputy submitted an appeal to the March 2016 meeting of the Primary Staffing Appeals Board. The school has been informed that its appeal has been upheld on the basis that it achieves an enrolment of 55 pupils on 30 September 2016. The Primary Staffing Appeals Board operates independently of the Department and its decision is final.
451. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide the Bus Éireann maintenance charges per kilometre for school transport to her Department for the years 2010 to 2015, inclusive, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4837/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraBus Éireann has advised that maintenance costs are influenced by a number of factors including the age profile of the fleet, the annual kilometres operated, the technical specification of the vehicle and the safety standards required by legislation and the additional safety measures demanded by the company.
Safety is Bus Éireann's highest priority and this is reflected in the vehicle maintenance regime and procedures that it has put in place, such as random checks of maintenance standards and audits including contractors' school buses, conducted on behalf of Bus Éireann by internationally recognised experts in the field of vehicle maintenance systems and safety standards that take place in the intervening period between annual statutory vehicle roadworthiness tests.
This investment in best practice vehicle maintenance improves the standards of all vehicles that are used to provide services under the School Transport Scheme nationally, and not only those operated directly by Bus Éireann. In addition, Bus Éireann conducts thorough six-weekly preventative maintenance checks incorporating stringent safety inspections on all of its school transport vehicles, as well as other measures that are in addition to and designed to further enhance statutory vehicle safety standard requirements.
This investment in best practice maintenance systems is reflected in the costs. The maintenance costs per KM for the Bus Éireann Schools Fleet is set out in the following table.
|
- |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
|
€ per KM |
1.10 |
1.02 |
1.00 |
1.02 |
1.07 |
1.15 |
452. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Education and Skills when she will sign a contract with the winning contractor for a new school building (details supplied) in County Galway; the reason for the delay; when work will start; and the timescale for the development of the project. [4848/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraScoil Phobail Community School, Clifden, County Galway, is at an advanced stage of the tender process for the provision of a new school and demolition of the existing building. The supplementary tender report for the project was recently submitted to the Department and is currently being reviewed. When the review is completed the Department will be in contact with the school authorities in relation to the further progression of the project.
453. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Education and Skills to investigate the provision of an exemption to help a person (details supplied) in County Dublin coping with dyslexia; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4852/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations.
The State Examinations Commission operates a scheme of Reasonable Accommodations in the Certificate Examinations. Full details of the scheme are available from their website:
www.examinations.ie/candidates/reasonableaccommodations.
In view of this I have forwarded the Deputy's query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to him.
454. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on the explanatory notes published with the audited statement of accounts of Bus Éireann, published on her Department's website, in relation to the precise amounts spent by Bus Éireann for return to risk associated with school transport business forming part of the contribution for each of the years 2011 to 2015; if she received this breakdown in written format; when the information was received; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4862/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe accounting rules governing Bus Éireann's operation of the School Transport Scheme are laid down in the 1975 Summary of Accounting Arrangements. These Arrangements require Bus Éireann to charge my Department for all direct costs - contractors, fuel, maintenance, etc.
In line with the Accounting Arrangements, a charge of 13% of certain direct costs is levied to cover all other costs associated with the Scheme. This charge is commonly referred to as the School Transport Management Charge.
The School Transport Management Charge is used to defray immediate overheads incurred by Bus Éireann in respect of the School Transport Scheme. Any surplus which may remain after accounting for the overheads referred to above is used to provide a reserve for additional expenditure which may be required in connection with the School Transport Scheme; this is commonly referred to within the Company as the risk reserve fund.
These funds can only be used in respect of the School Transport Scheme and as stated on the website provide for:
- Specific capital investment in School Transport services and administration for example IT to deliver future cost savings.
- Portion of general capital investment for example garage equipment that serves all three businesses.
– Commercial, PSO and School Transport.
- Reduction of cost base through voluntary severance for schools staff (direct and support).
- Return to risk associated with School Transport business.
The table shows the opening and closing balance and committed expenditure for 2011 to 2014 and draft figures for 2015 subject to audit.
The latest breakdown of the risk reserve was provided by Bus Éireann to my Department in written format in 2015.
Schools Summary- Transport Management Charge
|
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
|
|
Risk Reserve |
Actual |
Actual |
Actual |
Actual |
Draft Subject to Audit |
|
€'m |
€'m |
€'m |
€'m |
€'m |
|
|
Opening Balance from Previous Year |
8.1 |
8.2 |
9.7 |
11.7 |
12.0 |
|
Increase in Current Year |
3.5 |
1.9 |
2.9 |
3.1 |
0.0 |
|
Charged: |
|||||
|
Contribution to Vol Severance Programmes |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
(1.2) |
0.0 |
|
Contribution to Capital Investment** |
(0.4) |
(0.4) |
(0.9) |
(0.8) |
(0.8) |
|
Pension Provision -Drivers |
(3.0) |
0.0 |
0.0 |
(0.8) |
0.0 |
|
Closing Balance- Risk Reserve |
8.2 |
9.7 |
11.7 |
12.0 |
11.2 |
|
Committed Expenditure |
|||||
|
IT Project |
(0.8) |
(0.3) |
|||
|
School Fleet Acquisition |
(4.4) |
(4.4) |
|||
|
Closing Balance- Available Risk Reserve |
6.8 |
6.5 |
** Includes School IT System
455. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will make a decision on the allocation of moneys to a school (details supplied) in County Donegal for its refurbishment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4876/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra487. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will make a decision on a school building (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5113/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 455 and 487 together.
As the Deputy is aware, a very significant grant was approved in principle for the school in question, in October 2013, for refurbishment works subject to certain conditions being met. In August 2015 my Department was in a position to issue final approval as the school had confirmed the specified conditions were now satisfied.
However, in November 2015, a request for substantial additional funding was received in my Department, together with various cost plans and refurbishment options. The documentation is being assessed within my Department's Building Unit and a decision will be conveyed to the school authorities as soon as this process has been completed.
456. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to progress a technological university in the south east; the amount spent on the application process to date; and the funding she or the Higher Education Authority is providing to facilitate this process. [4897/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information sought by the Deputy is being compiled by the Department and will be forwarded directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
457. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of two late applications by persons (details supplied) in County Cork submitted to Student Universal Support Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4909/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is the responsibility of each individual student to ensure that his/her application is submitted before the deadline. The national student grant awarding body, SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland), opened its online application system for the 2015/2016 academic year on 22 April 2015 with a closing date for receipt of applications of 5 November 2015. Late applications may be accepted by SUSI, where a student has had an exceptional change of circumstances as outlined in Article 32 of the Student Grant Scheme 2015; provided such application is not later than one month before the end of the academic year to which the application relates. All requests for late applications are examined and considered on a case-by-case basis. In accepting a late application, SUSI will have established that an exceptional change of circumstance has occurred and will have considered why the request was not made before the deadline. The students referred to by the Deputy may contact the SUSI support desk at 076-108 7874, to enquire about making a late application for the 2015/16 academic year, if they believe that an exceptional change of circumstance has occurred.
458. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status the progression of a school building and site purchase in County Meath (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4967/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe project to deliver a new building for the school referred to by the Deputy was included in the list of projects recently announced to go to construction in 2019-2021.
As the Deputy will be aware, officials in my Department have been working closely with officials from Meath County Council towards the acquisition of a permanent site to meet the needs of the school to which he refers. A number of potentially suitable sites were identified and attempts to progress their acquisition were unsuccessful. However an alternative site is currently under consideration. I appreciate that the process is taking a considerable length of time but I can assure the Deputy that the acquisition of a suitable site for the school is very active on the programme of site acquisitions and every effort is being made to secure a suitable site for the school as expeditiously as possible. Due to commercial sensitivities it is not possible to provide further information at this time.
459. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status regarding the provision of a special needs assistant for a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4969/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), for allocating Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) to mainstream Primary and Post Primary schools and to Special Schools to assist children with special educational needs who also have additional and significant care needs.
Such support is provided in order to facilitate the attendance of these pupils at school and also to minimise disruption to class or teaching time for the pupils concerned, or for their peers, and with a view to developing the independent living skills of children with special educational needs.
The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support. Circular 0030/2014, which is available on my Department's website www.education.ie, sets out my Department's policy in relation to the Special Needs Assistant (SNA) scheme.
The NCSE recently asked all schools to submit applications for SNA support for the 2016/17 school year, including for new pupils who will be enrolling to schools in September, by 29th February, 2016.
The NCSE will also continue to process applications for access to SNA support which are received after this deadline. Such applications will be processed in the order in which the applications have been received.
Having considered the applications received, the NCSE will advise all schools of their SNA allocations in advance of the coming school year. All schools have the contact details of their local SENO. Parents may also contact their local SENO directly to discuss their child's special educational needs. Details of the manner in which a school or parent may appeal the level of SNA allocation which has been made to support a child in school, to the NCSE, is set out on the NCSE website.
I also wish to advise the Deputy that Circular 0030/2014 explains that SNA support is not provided to pre-school services which operate outside of the primary or special school provision.
I can advise, however, that the vast majority of supports for childcare, including pre-school education, is provided by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs. The principal vehicle for the delivery of pre-school education is the free Pre-School Year in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme which was introduced in January 2010 and provides for early learning in a formal setting to children in the year before they commence primary school.
The Health Service Executive (HSE) currently provides for care support for pupils with special needs attending a range of HSE funded pre-schools. As such, questions relating to provision of such services should be addressed to the HSE, or to my colleague, the Minister for Health.
460. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills to support Educate Together's four essentials for equality in education commitment (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4970/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe government has prioritised a more pluralist system of patronage for our schools. In this regard, new arrangements were put in place in 2011 for the establishment of new primary and post-primary schools. These arrangements give parents an opportunity to express their preference for the type of new school to be established. Since 2011, forty-five new schools have been established in areas of demographic need and all of these have involved consultation with parents as to their preferred type of school. Over 90% of the new schools (forty-one out of the forty-five) have a multi-denominational ethos.
It has also been a priority to expand diversity of provision in the existing school network. Given that most of the existing primary schools are under the patronage of the Catholic church, there has been an ongoing engagement with the Catholic Church with regard to transferring patronage of schools in particular areas. To date, eight new primary schools have opened under the patronage divesting process. Work is ongoing to deliver new options for parents in other areas as quickly as possible.
With regard to funding, the education budget for 2016 is the largest investment in education in recent years. An additional €144m has been provided and this will drive reform, provide a better learning environment for students and teachers and provide additional supports at higher level.
461. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills to support the EQUATE Open the School Gates campaign (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4971/16]
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 may be 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. However, this may result in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice.
Under the Equal Status Act, schools are not permitted to discriminate in admission on any of the grounds set out in the Act. However the Act contains an exemption which permits schools in which the objective is to provide education that promotes certain religious values, to admit a student of a particular religion in preference to others.
The Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2015 published in April of last year contained a number of important changes to make enrolment policies fairer and more transparent.
The issue of the need to amend the Equal Status Act was not a feature of the consultation paper published in advance of the Admission to Schools Bill. When the Oireachtas committee considered this matter, it simply noted that "there is a potential tension between Articles 42 (Education) and 44 (Religion) of Bunreacht na hÉireann, and this poses a particular difficulty when legislating in this policy area." No amendment to the Equal Status Act has been included in the published Admission to Schools Bill.
I have subsequently made clear my view that this is a matter that does need to be reviewed and addressed, and will need to be a priority for the next Government. The government has also prioritised a more pluralist system of patronage for our schools. Progress in this regard has been made by introducing new procedures for the establishment of new schools and by expanding the diversity of the existing primary school network.
In regard to new school establishment, the Government introduced arrangements in 2011 that give parents an opportunity to express their preference for the type of new school to be established. Since 2011, forty-five new schools have been established in areas of demographic need and all of these have involved consultation with parents as to their preferred type of school. Over 90% of the new schools (forty-one out of the forty-five) have a multi-denominational ethos.
It has also been a priority to expand diversity of provision in the existing primary school network. Given that most of the existing primary schools are under the patronage of the Catholic church, there has been an ongoing engagement with the Catholic Church with regard to introducing a greater diversity of school patronage in areas of identified demand.
To date, eight new primary schools have opened under the patronage divesting process and work is ongoing to deliver new options for parents in other areas as quickly as possible.
462. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills to support a school in its request for a grant for a JobBridge scheme employment (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4972/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraJobBridge is a national internship scheme administered by the Department of Social Protection. The scheme was introduced to provide a pathway to appropriate employment, training and education opportunities for a specific cohort of jobseekers on the Live Register. Changes to the scheme are therefore a matter for the Department of Social Protection in the first instance.
Recognised Schools and Education and Training Boards may participate in the scheme if they wish under Department of Education and Skills Circular 46/2011. An internship must not cause an existing member of staff to be displaced from the school or be used to fill a current vacancy in the school. Interns are in addition to any staffing allocation a school/ETB has.
Interns in schools are employed by the schools themselves and they continue to be paid their existing social welfare entitlement from the Department of Social Protection plus an additional €50 per week whilst participating in the scheme. The intern in the school in question was employed as an office receptionist. My Department provides funding by way of per capita grants to all voluntary secondary schools within the Free Education Scheme which includes funding for secretarial and caretaking services.
The school referred to by the Deputy is a voluntary secondary school within the Free Education Scheme and receives funding on the same basis as other voluntary secondary schools. The Deputy may wish to note that Circular 48/2009 clarifies issues relating to the allocation of funding to voluntary secondary schools. The circular states that capitation funding provided for general running costs and funding provided for caretaking and secretarial services may be regarded as a common grant which the Board of Management can allocate according to its own priorities.
I have no plans to change the current funding arrangements.
463. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on correspondence concerning funding under the summer works scheme in respect of a school in Dublin 9 (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4973/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to confirm to the Deputy that my Department is in receipt of an application from the school in question under the Summer Works Scheme.
Commensurate with the level of funding available for the Scheme, applications including that from the school concerned, 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 in due course.
464. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on correspondence concerning a shortage of schools in the Dublin Bay North area and to consider a request to open another non-denominational school in this area so that families will have a choice in the schooling of their children (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4974/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraRegarding new school provision, my Department uses a Geographical Information System to identify the areas under increased demographic pressure nationwide. The system uses data from the Central Statistics Office, Ordnance Survey Ireland, the Department of Social Protection and information from the Department's own databases. With this information, my Department carries out demographic exercises to determine where additional school accommodation is needed at primary and post-primary level. The outcome of the latest demographic exercises was that in November 2015, I announced that 4 new primary schools and 9 new post-primary schools will open in 2017 and 2018 to cater for increased demographic needs. My Department is keeping the demographic data for the school planning areas nationwide under ongoing review, to take account of updated enrolment and child benefit data and also the impact of existing and planned capacity increases to existing schools.
In relation to school admissions, it is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998. The enrolment policy must be non-discriminatory and must be applied fairly in respect of all applicants. However, in schools where there are more applicants than places available a selection process may be necessary, and this may result in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice.
Section 29 of the Education Act, 1998 provides for an appeal by a parent or guardian to the Secretary General of my Department, or in the case of an Educational Training Board (ETB) school to the ETB in the first instance, where a Board of Management of a school, or a person acting on behalf of the Board, refuses to enrol a student in a school, expels a student or suspends a student for 20 or more days in any school year.
The Educational Welfare Service of the Child and Family Agency (EWS) is the statutory agency which can assist parents who are experiencing difficulty in securing a school place for their child. The EWS can be contacted at 01-7718500.
465. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding admission policies of secondary schools in Dublin Bay North and the long waiting lists for those persons living in the locality (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4975/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998. The enrolment policy must be non-discriminatory and must be applied fairly in respect of all applicants.
My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in the area. Parents 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 may be necessary and this may result in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice.
The Education (Admission to Schools) Bill, which was published in April of last year, provides an over-arching framework to ensure that how schools decide on who is enrolled and who is refused a place in schools is more structured, fair and transparent. It was not possible to bring this complex piece of legislation through both Houses of the Oireachtas in the timeframe available. However, I have made it clear that a legislative framework for school admission is required and needs to be a priority for the next government.
