Wednesday, 20 Apr 2016

Written Answers Nos. 400-417

School Transport Data

Ceisteanna (400)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Ceist:

400. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education and Skills if her Department, in conjunction with the National Transport Office, has carried out an analysis of the effects on traffic congestion if every school in the country, urban and rural, were provided with a school transport service; if it has not been carried out, whether she would in consultation with the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport consider carrying out such a study; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7272/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills

My Department in conjunction with the National Transport Agency Office, has not carried out an analysis of the effect of traffic congestion on every school in the country as described by the Deputy.

Given that the purpose of my Department's School Transport Scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school, it is not envisaged that such a study would be undertaken.

Under the terms of my Department's Scheme children are eligible for school transport where they reside not less than 3.2 or 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest national school or post primary centre as determined by my Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.

School Furniture Provision

Ceisteanna (401)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Ceist:

401. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education and Skills if funding is available to a school (details supplied) in County Galway for the purchase of whiteboards at a cost of approximately €6,600; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7273/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

There is currently no specific programme funding that schools can draw down for ICT upgrades. Schools may however choose to spend Capitation funding on ICT equipment.

The new Digital Strategy for Schools 2015-2020 (Enhancing Teaching, Learning & Assessment), launched in October 2015, sets out a clear vision for the role of ICT in teaching, learning and assessment in primary and post primary schools.

The Strategy is focused on realising the potential of digital technologies to transform the learning experiences of students by helping them become engaged thinkers, active learners, knowledge constructors and global citizens who participate fully in society and the economy. The Strategy recognizes that schools require public investment in their ICT equipment and infrastructure and accordingly a fund of €210m to support the implementation of this Strategy is available beginning with an investment of €30m in the next school year (2016/2017) rising to €50m a year towards the end of the Strategy. Oversight and consultative structures for the implementation of the strategy are currently being finalized and my Department will be in communication shortly with schools on its progress.

Oibreacha Feabhsúcháin do Scoileanna

Ceisteanna (402)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Ceist:

402. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna cén uair a dhéanfar cinneadh ar an iarratas atá déanta ag scoil i gContae na Gaillimhe (sonraí leis seo) faoin scéim oibreacha samhraidh do 2016; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [7275/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

I gcomhréir leis an leibhéal maoinithe atá ar fáil don Scéim Oibreacha Samhraidh, déantar iarratais a mheas ar bhonn ó bharr anuas de réir na gcritéar um beartú tosaíochta a leagtar amach i gCiorclán Rialaithe na Scéime. Tá an Ciorclán seo (0055/2015) ar fáil ar shuíomh gréasáin mo Roinne www.education.ie

Tá sé ar intinn agam liosta iarratasóirí a n-éireoidh leo a fhoilsiú in am trátha.

School Transport Administration

Ceisteanna (403)

James Browne

Ceist:

403. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 441 of 22 March 2016, if she will confirm that Bus Éireann inspectors charging criteria for school transport is not in accordance with the agreed 1975 summary of accounting arrangements; and if she will further confirm that her Department does not directly audit the Bus Éireann inspectors charges; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7286/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills

My Department does not directly audit the Bus Éireann inspector's charges.

Bus Éireann has advised that for 2014 and prior years the audit opinion provided by Bus Éireann's external auditors states that the financial information of Bus Éireann's School Transport Scheme, which includes a charge in respect of School Transport Inspectors, is prepared, in all material respects, in accordance with the Summary of Accounting Arrangements relating to the Transport Scheme for Primary and Post-Primary School Children dated 1 January 1975.

Departmental Properties

Ceisteanna (404)

Paul Murphy

Ceist:

404. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will resolve the ongoing problem with the implementation of the pitch development proposals at a club (details supplied) in Dublin 24, due to a six-month delay; and to process a land swap with South Dublin County Council or agree to permit the construction of a boundary wall on her Department's land. [7287/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

I can confirm that my Department has received correspondence from the club referred to by the Deputy. This correspondence is under consideration and a response will issue shortly.

School Staff

Ceisteanna (405)

Joe Carey

Ceist:

405. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Education and Skills the additional criteria and exceptions her Department applies to the determination of qualification for teacher numbers in a national school when the basic pupil number figure is met; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7294/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

The criteria used for the allocation of teachers to primary schools is published annually. 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 arrangements for the 2016/17 school year (Circular 0007/2016) is available on the Department website.

The staffing schedule operates in a clear and transparent manner and treats all similar types of schools equally. For the 2016/17 school year, the staffing schedule operates on the basis of a general average of 1 classroom teacher for every 27 pupils with lower thresholds for DEIS Band 1 schools.

The staffing schedule includes an appeals mechanism for schools to submit an appeal under certain criteria to an independent Appeals Board. Details of the criteria for appeal are contained in the staffing schedule, Circular 0007/2016. The Primary Staffing Appeals Board operates independently of the Department and its decision is final.

School Transport Administration

Ceisteanna (406, 407)

Clare Daly

Ceist:

406. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 699 of 6 April 2016, if she will clarify if her Department conducts reviews of Bus Éireann maintenance charges. [7295/16]

Clare Daly

Ceist:

407. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 699 of 6 April 2016, if she will clarify if all of the reviews referred to in her reply are conducted by members of the Bus Éireann board, employees of Bus Éireann or persons or organisations paid by Bus Éireann. [7296/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills

I propose to take Questions Nos. 406 and 407 together.

My Department does not directly audit or review the Bus Éireann maintenance charge.

Reviews of Bus Éireann's maintenance systems and procedures are conducted by Pricewaterhousecoopers, CIE Group Internal Audit and the Bus Éireann Audit Review Group which includes members of the Board of Bus Éireann.

Youthreach Programme Staff

Ceisteanna (408)

Willie O'Dea

Ceist:

408. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a person (details supplied) in County Limerick who is employed as a resource worker is not allowed incremental credit for teaching experience and is compelled to accept a salary at point one of the salary scale which is a fraction of the hourly rate the person was paid as a substitute secondary school teacher; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7305/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills

Resource Persons are employed in Youthreach Centres and have their own separate salary scale and terms and conditions. There is no incremental credit scheme in place for Resource Persons.

Student Grant Scheme Eligibility

Ceisteanna (409)

Michael Fitzmaurice

Ceist:

409. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Education and Skills why it is difficult for persons (details supplied) under 23 years of age to apply independently for a third level grant in their own right. [7346/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

For student grants purposes, students are categorised according to their circumstances either as students dependent on parents or a legal guardian, or as independent mature students.

A student may be assessed as an independent student if he/she has attained the age of 23 on the 1st of January of the year of first entry to an approved course or on re-entry to an approved course following a break in studies of at least three years, and is not ordinarily resident with his/her parents from the previous 1 October. Otherwise he/she would continue to be assessed on the basis of his/her parents' income.

When considering whether a student meets the conditions to be assessed independently of his or her parents, grant awarding authorities are obliged to satisfy themselves beyond doubt that an acceptable degree of proof of independent living in the relevant period has been submitted by the grant applicant. Confirmation that a student is living separately from his/her parents is, of itself, not sufficient to establish independent status.

If an individual applicant considers that she/he has been unjustly refused a student grant, 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.

Emergency Works Scheme Applications

Ceisteanna (410)

Brendan Griffin

Ceist:

410. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if emergency works will be provided for a school (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7358/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

The emergency works grant application from the school to which the Deputy refers is under consideration. As soon as a decision is taken the school authorities will be notified directly.

School Accommodation

Ceisteanna (411)

Charlie McConalogue

Ceist:

411. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 437, 438 and 442 of 19 January 2016, when a reply will issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7363/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

I wish to confirm that my Department is currently collating the information requested by the Deputy and this will be forwarded to him as soon as possible.

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Ceisteanna (412)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Ceist:

412. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Education and Skills to approve a request for a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12 to be granted the assistance of a special needs assistant. [7384/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) for allocating a quantum of Special Needs Assistant (SNA) support for each school annually taking into account the assessed care needs of children qualifying for SNA support enrolled in the school. Where children have significant care needs whereby they may need additional support to be able to attend school, the NCSE may make an allocation of SNA support to the school to assist that child.

The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support, which is set out in my Department's Circular 0030/2014.

All schools were asked to apply for SNA support for the 2016/17 school year by 29th February 2016. The NCSE will consider all applications for SNA support which have been made by schools. SENOs will 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.

Schools will be advised of their revised SNA allocations for the 2015/16 school year, prior to the end of the current school year.

All schools have the names and contact details of their local SENO. Parents may also contact their local SENO directly to discuss their child's special educational needs, using the contact details available on www.ncse.ie.

As the Deputy's question relates to the consideration of an the SNA allocation by the NCSE to an individual, I have referred this question to the NCSE for their consideration and direct reply to the Deputy.

Schools Building Projects Status

Ceisteanna (413)

Maurice Quinlivan

Ceist:

413. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the total amount of funding that has been secured, and expended, to date, for the construction of a proposed secondary school in the Limerick city east area; the total amount of funding that it is envisioned will be provided; the schedule of expending these funds; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7397/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

As the Deputy is aware, I announced details in November 2015, of the major school building projects that are scheduled to proceed to construction over the next six years, as part of the Government's €2.8 billion capital investment programme.

A new post primary school for the area to which the Deputy refers was included in this announcement. My Department has commenced the process of identifying a suitable site for the proposed school development and the project is scheduled to proceed to tender and construction in 2018 as outlined in the programme. In that regard no funding has been expended to date. You will also appreciate that due to commercial sensitivities and so as not to invalidate the procurement process, it is not possible to provide details of the level of funding allocated to any major capital project until the procurement process has been completed.

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Ceisteanna (414)

Fiona O'Loughlin

Ceist:

414. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on correspondence concerning a person (details supplied) regarding autism unit places in schools in County Kildare. [7387/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

I 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. Kildare is 57, 11 of which are at post primary level, 41 at primary level and 5 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.

Any queries related to the Domiciliary Care Allowance should be directed to The Department of Social Protection.

I have arranged for the Deputy's request for specific detail in relation to placement availability in the area referred to, to be forwarded to the NCSE for their attention and direct reply.

Broadband Service Provision

Ceisteanna (415)

Michael McGrath

Ceist:

415. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills when an upgrade to the broadband service at a primary school (details supplied) in County Cork will be completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7399/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

The overall policy of my Department is to offer the best quality connectivity to all schools in line with technical solutions available in the market and financial constraints. All post primary schools receive at least 100mbts connectivity. The need to improve broadband connectivity to primary schools is recognised in the new Digital Strategy for schools and the Department will collaborate with DCENR to provide enhanced broadband to all primary schools.

Under the Schools Broadband Access Programme the Department provides for the supply of internet connectivity for recognised primary and post primary schools. A framework involving 14 providers was put in place in 2012 which has ensured improved solutions are available to schools. The most recent drawdown of the framework last September had approximately 90% of school connections retendered, including the school referred to by the Deputy. These awards have seen over 1,100 schools awarded connections of 30Mbit/s or greater, approximately 400 of these connections have been installed to date and the remainder will be installed in the coming months.

In the case of the school referred to by the Deputy, the provider awarded has been unable to provide the broadband service as anticipated, and so the Department will re-award this school to the next most appropriate provider. However, as the Deputy will be aware, broadband capacity can vary due to geographical location and this is impacting the service that can be provided to this school.

Under the current programme the Department continually reviews the availability of services and upgrades schools where the opportunity arises.

Teacher Recruitment

Ceisteanna (416)

Jim O'Callaghan

Ceist:

416. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the recruitment of new secondary school teachers in the coming school year for qualified teachers who are subbing at various schools and have no job security. [7400/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

The policy of my Department is to ensure, as far as possible, that the Managerial Authorities of Primary and Post Primary schools give priority to unemployed registered teachers who are fully qualified when filling vacant teaching posts. It is schools that employ teachers and not my Department.

Circular 31/2011 details a cascade of measures for the recruitment of teachers. Under this Circular School Principals must maintain a list of unemployed registered teachers who are available for substitute work at short notice and prioritise such teachers in making appointments.

School Staff

Ceisteanna (417)

Fiona O'Loughlin

Ceist:

417. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills to approve an additional classroom teacher for a school (details supplied) in County Kildare from September 2016 in accordance with the staffing schedule. [7420/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

The criteria used for the allocation of teaching posts for the 2016/2017 school year is set out in Circular 0007/2016. 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 30 September 2015.

The staffing arrangements at primary level also include an appeals mechanism for schools to submit an appeal under certain criteria to the Primary Staffing Appeals Board.

The school referred to by the Deputy submitted an application for consideration by the Appeals Board at its March meeting. The Appeals Board determined that the appeal did not satisfy all of the published criteria as set out in Circular 0007/2016. The Appeal Board operates independently of the Department and its decision is final.

The staffing arrangements at primary level also includes the provision whereby schools experiencing rapid increases in enrolment can apply for additional permanent mainstream posts on developing grounds, using projected enrolment for the following September, in this case September 2016. The school referred to by the Deputy submitted an application for an additional teacher on developing grounds but this was refused as it did not meet the criteria set out in Circular 0007/2016.