Tuesday, 26 Apr 2016

Written Answers Nos. 389-401

School Transport Tendering

Ceisteanna (389, 390)

Michael Healy-Rae

Ceist:

389. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills if, further to Parliamentary Question No. 1262 of 22 September 2015, she will provide details of the list of registration numbers of the purchased buses for years 2006 to 2015; the date of purchase; the year of manufacture of the school buses; the costs of each bus in the list; the model or type of the buses and the source of the funding of each of the buses; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8269/16]

Michael Healy-Rae

Ceist:

390. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 1262 of 22 September 2015, her views on whether the Government of the day would be failing in its obligations to Dáil Éireann under the Constitution and Standing Orders by failing to give information sought in parliamentary questions; her views on the fact that there is great concern in the private bus industry about officials from her Department withholding information on the fact that Bus Éireann is being overcompensated, thus causing damage to the natural growth of the private bus industry; her further views on whether the information was not given in her answer regarding the cost to Bus Éireann of the recently purchased school buses and did not give the source of the funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8270/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills

I propose to take Questions Nos. 389 and 390 together.

As I indicated to the Deputy in my reply last Thursday, Bus Éireann has advised that the level of detailed information sought by the Deputy could not be compiled within the required timeframe. I have now asked Bus Éireann to include the additional detailed information now being sought in the response which will be sent directly to the Deputy.

As was stated in the previous reply referred to, Bus Éireann school transport vehicles are generally maintained within a 20 year age limit and the Company was in the process of procuring an additional 20 school buses for delivery in 2016. I can confirm that the cost of these buses, being funded from the risk reserve, is some €4.4 million.

Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Board

Ceisteanna (391)

Clare Daly

Ceist:

391. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills to investigate and address allegations that Caranua has suspended the awards to certain applicants for housing assistance, stating that the award of moneys will be contingent on the number of other survivors that apply. [8220/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

Caranua, the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Board, is an independent statutory body established pursuant to the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act 2012. Administrative and operational issues such as those raised in the Deputy's question are day to day matters that are the responsibility of Caranua itself and I have no role in those matters. I have arranged to have the Deputy's question forwarded to Caranua with a view to having a response provided to her directly as soon as possible.

Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Board

Ceisteanna (392, 414)

Clare Daly

Ceist:

392. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills to investigate and address continuing concerns regarding delays in the processing of applications to Caranua. [8221/16]

Mick Barry

Ceist:

414. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on the reports of delays in payments and poor treatment, in respect of the Caranua redress scheme, experienced by survivors of abuse (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8463/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

I propose to take Questions Nos. 392 and 414 together.

Caranua, the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Board, is an independent statutory body established pursuant to the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act 2012. Administrative and operational issues such as those raised in the Deputies' questions are day to day matters that are the statutory responsibility of Caranua itself and I have no role in relation to them.

Caranua commenced accepting applications in January 2014 and I am advised that to date in excess of 5,000 applications have been received. Caranua provides updates on its website (www.caranua.ie) in regard to the number of applications received and related matters. The most recent update shows that by end February 2016, Caranua had made payments of some €43m to or on behalf of 2,927 applicants.

I understand that Caranua takes all complaints seriously and that it has a Customer Service Charter and Feedback and Complaints Policy which may be accessed on the organisation's website. The website allows applicants to provide feedback, submit comments and make formal complaints in cases where there is dissatisfaction with the quality of service provided. Furthermore, Caranua comes within the scope of the Ombudsman Acts 1980 to 2012 and its administrative actions are subject to review by the Ombudsman.

If the Deputies are aware of cases where there have been inordinate delays in the processing of individual applications or if they are aware of specific instances of poor service being provided I would encourage them to raise the matter directly with Caranua.

Schools Building Projects Status

Ceisteanna (393, 394)

Darragh O'Brien

Ceist:

393. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills to provide an update on the provision of a new secondary school for the Malahide and Portmarnock area of County Dublin, as announced in November 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8254/16]

Darragh O'Brien

Ceist:

394. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the provision of a new secondary school for the Swords area of County Dublin, as announced in November 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8255/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

I propose to take Questions Nos. 393 and 394 together.

My Department uses a Geographical Information System (GIS) to identify where the pressure for school places will arise. The GIS uses data from the Central Statistics Office, Ordnance Survey Ireland, the Department of Social Protection and information from my Department's own databases.

The outcome of the latest demographic exercises was that in November 2015, I announced the establishment of 13 new schools to open nationwide in 2017 and 2018 to cater for increased demographic needs. One of the new post-primary schools will serve the Swords school planning area and one will serve the Malahide and Portmarnock school planning areas. Both new schools are scheduled to open in 2017 and both are included in my Department's six year construction programme (2016-2021). Details on the progress of all projects on this programme will be published on my Department's website and this will be updated regularly.

New school establishment procedures provide that a process is conducted to select the patron of a new school. This process is due to take place shortly for the new schools to be established in 2017. The new school patronage process is open to all patrons (and prospective patrons) who will be required to provide evidence of parental demand for their particular type of school.

Question No. 395 answered with Question No. 387.

Summer Works Scheme Applications

Ceisteanna (396)

Robert Troy

Ceist:

396. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason for the delay in the processing of applications for the summer works scheme 2016-2017; when she expects her Department to notify schools if their applications were successful or not; and when she expects to publish a list of successful applicants. [8295/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

I wish to advise the Deputy that applications are currently being assessed, commensurate with the level of funding available for the Summer Works Scheme, 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 shortly.

School Placement

Ceisteanna (397)

Michael McGrath

Ceist:

397. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a person (details supplied) will receive an appropriate school place for the coming 2016-2017 school year. [8296/16]

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 ASD, 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.

However, parents/guardians who may need advice or are experiencing difficulties in locating a school placement should contact their local Special Educational Needs Organiser (SENO) who can assist in identifying an appropriate educational placement for their child. Contact details are available on www.ncse.ie.

The SENO can also advise parents in relation to supports which may be available to support children with special educational needs, including special transport arrangements which may be made available.

The NCSE have also published a Guide for Parents and Guardians of Children and Young People with Special Educational Needs on Choosing a School. This guide is also available at www.ncse.ie.

Schools Site Acquisitions

Ceisteanna (398)

Darragh O'Brien

Ceist:

398. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on the provision of a permanent site for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8323/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

A site option has been identified by my Department for the school referred to by the Deputy. Officials from my Department are liaising with officials from Fingal County Council in order to fully assess the technical feasibility of this site.

Due to commercial sensitivities attaching to site acquisitions generally, I am unfortunately not in a position to provide further details at this time.

Schools Building Projects Status

Ceisteanna (399)

Paul Kehoe

Ceist:

399. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Education and Skills the current status of a new school building for a school (details supplied); when construction is expected to commence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8332/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

The major building project for the School referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of architectural planning - Stage 2(b),which includes the applications for the Fire Certificate and Disability Access Certificate and the preparation of Tender Documents. Planning permission has been secured.

The school building project for this school was included on the 2012/16 five year construction programme and is scheduled therein to proceed to construction in 2016. The design team will submit the stage 2(b) report to my Department when it is completed and my Department will revert to the school with regard to the further progression of the project following consideration of that report.

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Ceisteanna (400)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Ceist:

400. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education and Skills the approximate cost that would be associated with changing the reappointment level of a second classroom teacher on island schools to eight instead of the 15 pupils, as is the case at present for schools, whose numbers dropped below eight and lost their second classroom teacher; the number of extra teachers that would have to be employed as a result of such a decision for the school year 2016-2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8343/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

It is estimated that 2 schools on the islands, where they are the only school on an island, would benefit from such a measure at a cost in order of €120,000 in a full year. Where it is feasible, schools with low enrolments on islands where there is more than one school of the same patronage should be encouraged to amalgamate.

As I outlined in my previous reply, resources were limited in the recent budget, but it is my view that it is open to a new Government within the next budget to consider similar measures for not only island schools but for all small remote schools.

Substance Abuse Prevention Education

Ceisteanna (401)

Maureen O'Sullivan

Ceist:

401. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the policies and programmes on prevention and education in respect of drugs and alcohol for young persons; if there is dedicated staff in her Department on this matter; and if there have been evaluations of these programmes. [8357/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) is particularly important in regard to educating our young people about substance misuse both at primary at post-primary level. Through the SPHE curriculum the issue is dealt with in a sensitive, spiral and developmental manner.

The Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST) provides support for schools with all aspects of the implementation of the SPHE curriculum including substance misuse issues. My Department's Inspectorate, including dedicated SPHE inspectors at post-primary level, visit SPHE lessons and provide support and advice to teachers and schools.

In 2013 an interim review of the National Drugs Strategy was held to review progress to date on agreed actions. In September 2013, my Department Inspectorate published a composite report based on the subject inspections of SPHE carried out in post primary schools in 2010/11. My Department in 2014 published a Report of the Working Group on Educational Materials for use in SPHE in Post- Primary Schools and Centres of Education, with particular reference to Substance Use Education in the context of SPHE.

My Department, the Department of Health and the HSE are collaborating through the Health and Wellbeing partnership as a means of enriching and enhancing the health and well-being of children and young people in the school setting. Both service strands bring different and complementary knowledge and understandings about the needs of children and young people and strategies to address these. The objective of the renewed partnership is to build on previous experience and foster greater collaboration and co-operation in the implementation of both Departments' policies on health promotion in the school setting.