Written Answers Nos. 706-20
707. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education and Skills the details of vacant State properties and land, including car parks not in use, owned by her Department or by bodies or agencies under the aegis of her Department by square footage, by location and by local authority, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6912/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy in relation to vacant State properties and land in my ownership follows. The information provided refers to property in my ownership for which there are no immediate plans in place for development but does not include those currently vacant properties in my ownership in respect of which there are such plans.
As the Deputy will appreciate, the information in relation to bodies and agencies under the aegis of my Department is not held centrally in my Department. This information is currently being collated and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as it is available.
Properties in the Ownership of the Minister for Education & Skills in respect of which there are no immediate plans for development
|
Location |
County |
Size (Acres) |
Local Authority |
|
Aghina |
Cork |
1.57 |
Cork County Council |
|
Ballincollig |
Cork |
0.15 |
Cork County Council |
|
Garryvicleheen, Thurles |
Tipperary |
4 |
Tipperary County Council |
|
Rathcoole |
Dublin |
4 |
South Dublin County Council |
|
Rathcroghan |
Roscommon |
1.5 |
Roscommon County Council |
|
St. John’s Well, Fairhill |
Cork |
1.07 |
Cork City Council |
|
Carna |
Galway |
8.17 |
Galway County Council |
|
Ashbourne |
Meath |
22.41 |
Meath County Council |
|
Colley St. |
Wicklow |
1.48 |
Wicklow County Council |
708. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the change in the tendering process by SOLAS; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6930/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis is an operational matter for SOLAS and the Education and Training Boards.
SOLAS have informed that in 2013, through an e-tender notification, it established a panel and managed the pre-qualification process for the provision of contracted training for the Education and Training Boards (ETBs). This panel is due to expire in early 2017. A new procurement framework for the delivery of the required service will be established by the Office of Government Procurement (OGP) and operated by the ETBs for the purpose of delivering contracted training services.
The OGP have posted a notice inviting the sector to provide feedback on the draft proposal for the operation of the framework. All interested parties may submit their views.
I understand that the following approaches were included to ensure that small and medium sized businesses retain the opportunity to be listed on the new framework:
- Significant reduction in the turnover requirements regarding the financial capacity for applicants
- Limiting the number of lots for which a larger company can apply
- Limiting the minimum number of businesses that will be listed
- Providing a viable sub-contracting option at tender stage and for specific technical contracts, to ensure that small businesses can avail of additional opportunities if they are not listed on the framework
- Encouraging joint venture options by early notification of upcoming changes.
I understand that while the market will ultimately determine the outcome of a regulated tender process, a maximum of 90 businesses can pre-qualify. Each of these can nominate 3 sub-contractors at the tendering stage, which means that there could potentially be up to 270 businesses on the listing for contracted training at the end of the process. There will be opportunities for small, medium and large indigenous training businesses within the new framework. It should also be noted that there are currently 250 listed businesses on the current panel of which only a small percentage are actively responding to tender invitation opportunities.
709. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an application for assistive technology by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6932/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Council for Special Education (NCSE) through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) is responsible for processing applications from schools for special educational needs supports. SENOs also make recommendations to my Department where assistive technology is required. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in making recommendations for support, which is set out in my Department's Circular 0010/2013.
In order to qualify for equipment under the assistive technology scheme, a child must have been diagnosed with a physical or communicative disability and must also have a recommendation in a professional assessment that the equipment is essential in order to allow the child to access the curriculum. It must also be clear that the existing I.T. equipment in the school is insufficient to meet the child's needs.
I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has not, to date, received an application for assistive technology support for the child referred to in his question.
710. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on opening a gap in the fencing between a shopping centre and a school (details supplied) to allow permeability which is what families and businesses in the community desire; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6979/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that my Department has recently received a revised proposal for funding towards the proposed walkway from the school to which the Deputy refers.
This proposal is currently being considered and my Department will be in further contact with the school authority concerned as soon as the assessment process has been concluded.
711. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of special needs assistants operating in schools in Dublin 15 in each of the past five school years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6980/16]
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 schools to support children with special educational needs. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support, as set out in my Department's Circular 0030/2014.
In July 2015, 610 additional SNA posts were provided to the end of 2015, while Budget 2016 provided an additional 100 posts to meet additional demand to June 2016, bringing the total SNA number available for allocation to 12,040. This is a higher level of Special Needs Assistant (SNA) support than ever before, which will ensure that children with special educational needs can continue to participate in education and be supported in a manner appropriate to their needs.
It is important to note that each school's allocation of SNA support can change from year to year and may be increased or decreased as students who qualify for SNA support enrol or leave a school. New students with care needs may, or may not, enrol to replace students who have left, for example, or SNA allocations may be decreased where a child's care needs have diminished over time. The deployment of SNAs within schools is then 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.
The NCSE has published details of SNA allocations for schools from 2012 to 2015 on its website, which are available to view on a per county basis, including Dublin 15 and can be accessed using the following link: http://ncse.ie/statistics.
I will arrange for the Deputy's request for information relating to 2011 to be forwarded to the NCSE for their attention and direct reply.
712. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students availing of a third level maintenance grant, by constituency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6981/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI understand from SUSI that it does not collate data in the format requested by the Deputy. However, data relating to student grant recipients is available by the county of origin of the recipient.The following table details the breakdown by county of SUSI student grant awards for the 2015/16 academic year and reflects the position as at 13 April 2016.
|
County |
Breakdown |
|
Carlow |
954 |
|
Cavan |
1415 |
|
Clare |
1967 |
|
Cork |
6901 |
|
Donegal |
3076 |
|
Dublin |
11507 |
|
Galway |
4093 |
|
Kerry |
2590 |
|
Kildare |
2534 |
|
Kilkenny |
1352 |
|
Laois |
1162 |
|
Leitrim |
655 |
|
Limerick |
2834 |
|
Longford |
741 |
|
Louth |
2146 |
|
Mayo |
2567 |
|
Meath |
2553 |
|
Monaghan |
1238 |
|
Offaly |
1305 |
|
Roscommon |
1189 |
|
Sligo |
1073 |
|
Tipperary |
2560 |
|
Waterford |
1774 |
|
Westmeath |
1582 |
|
Wexford |
2539 |
|
Wicklow |
1768 |
713. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Education and Skills the average waiting time for payment of third level maintenance grants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6982/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is not possible to provide reliable average waiting times for the payment of maintenance grants. Awards are processed quickly through the system but are ultimately dependent on the complexity of each individual application. On the award of a maintenance grant, students are put into payment as soon as their colleges confirm that they are registered and attending the approved course and as soon as the student submits his/her bank details through the online SUSI account.
There is a Management Framework Agreement in place between my Department and CDETB which sets out key performance metrics for SUSI. SUSI has exceeded all of the metrics set for processing payments in the current academic year. For example, the target for 31 December 2015 for new awards was 85% whereas the outcome was 86%.
714. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the construction of an autism spectrum disorder unit at a school (details supplied) in Dublin 15; why no work has taken place at this site since October 2015; when the unit will be completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6983/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe project to which the Deputy refers has been devolved to the school authority for delivery.
My Department is available to liaise with the school at its request if there is an issue with the delivery of the project.
715. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to previous parliamentary questions, to outline the three proposals made to her for the use of a site at Gaol Road in Kilkenny; if she has advanced any of the proposals for consideration; when she will make a final decision on the use of site; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6995/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy that various inquiries have been received related to possible access to the site in question for non-educational purposes. I wish to confirm to the Deputy that the site, in question, is required for educational purposes and that planning permission has being obtained by the relevant Educational and Training Board for the provision of educational accommodation on the site concerned.
716. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of children with autism spectrum disorder in County Kilkenny who are waiting for an appropriate school placement with supports such as special needs assistants; if she is aware of the large number on the waiting list for a school (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and her plans to deal with this issue. [6997/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy that the policy of my Department is that children with special educational needs, including children with autism, should be included where possible and appropriate in mainstream placements with additional supports provided. In circumstances where children with special educational needs require more specialised interventions, special school or special class places are also available.
The enrolment of a child to a school is a matter, in the first instance, for the parents of the child and the Board of Management of a school. My Department has no role in relation to processing applications for enrolment to schools and it does not maintain details of waiting lists in schools.
Parents can choose to enrol children with autism in an early intervention class from the age of three and where such a placement is not available home tuition may be approved. Children with autism over the age of four may also be eligible for home tuition if a school placement is not available for them.
The Deputy will be aware that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), is responsible for processing applications from primary and post primary schools for special educational needs supports, including the establishment of special classes in various geographical areas as required. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support.
The NCSE continues to monitor and review the requirement for special class places in particular areas and has capacity to establish such new special classes where necessary subject to the willingness of schools to open classes.
I understand that the number of special classes for students with ASD in Co. Kilkenny is 16, 6 of which are at post primary level, 8 at primary level and 2 are early intervention classes.
Full details of all of the special classes currently provided is available at www.ncse.ie.
The NCSE has also advised that SENOs are currently liaising with schools regarding the establishment of further classes for 2016/17 school year.
I have arranged for the Deputy's request for specific detail in relation to placement availability in the area and school referred to, to be forwarded to the NCSE for their attention and direct reply.
717. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Skills to provide a bus service for a school (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and if she will expedite a positive response. [6998/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraChanges to my Department's Primary School Transport Scheme were announced in December 2010 by the then Government as part of measures contained in Budget 2011 and derived from recommendations contained in the Value for Money review of the scheme.
The changes announced covered the uniform application of the distance eligibility criterion, the cessation of the Closed/Central School Rule (CSR), an increase from seven to ten in the minimum number of eligible children required to establish or retain a service and the introduction of charges for eligible primary children.
Children who had an eligibility for school transport prior to the introduction of the changes retained this eligibility for the duration of their education at that school provided there was no change in their circumstances.
Siblings of these children who are not eligible for school transport, may apply for transport on a concessionary basis only in accordance with the terms of the School Transport Scheme.
In this regard, Bus Éireann has advised that both children are availing of a school transport service, one on an eligible basis, the other on a concessionary basis.
The changes to school transport provision are applied uniformly and equitably on a national basis.
While it is the prerogative of parents to send their children to the school of their choice, eligibility for school transport is to the nearest school.
718. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the tendering process for the new post-primary school in Maynooth in County Kildare, including if the cost-benefit analysis is concluded; when construction will commence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7004/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra734. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the tendering process for the new post-primary school in Maynooth in County Kildare; if the cost-benefit analysis is concluded; when will construction commence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7115/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 718 and 734 together.
The project to which the Deputy refers has been tendered. An assessment of the Tender Report is at an advanced stage in the Department. A Cost benefit Analysis for the project is awaited from the local Education and Training Board. When both of these matters have been concluded, the Department will be in contact with the Education and Training Board with regard to the next steps for the project.
720. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Skills why a person (details supplied) has not qualified for a higher third level grant from Student Universal Support Ireland. [7012/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraTo be eligible for the higher postgraduate rate of fee grant, an applicant has to be in receipt of one of the eligible payments as provided for in Schedule 2 of the Scheme and have reckonable income below €22,703.
The reckonable income of the student referred to by the Deputy included one of the eligible payments however, the total reckonable income exceeded the €22,703 limit.
