Written Answers Nos. 231-240
231. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of Ireland’s plans to formally recognise the autonomous region of Kurdistan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8873/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland continues to support the territorial integrity of Iraq and does not propose to intervene in internal constitutional matters of Iraq, which are for decision by the Iraqi people and their democratically elected leaders.
232. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade given the violence and murder inflicted by the Islamic State on Yazidis and Christians, his proposals to request the United Nations Security Council to refer this ongoing barbarity to the International Criminal Court; his views on whether this violence and murder classifies as genocide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9180/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have repeatedly condemned the horrific violence against all civilians in Syria and Iraq and have stated that there must also be legal accountability for victims of the Syrian conflict. In 2014 we co-sponsored a resolution calling for referral of the situation in Syria to the International Criminal Court which was vetoed by Russia and China. Our support for referral of the situation in Syria to the International Criminal Court remains unchanged. I would also note that the UN Human Rights Council Commission of Inquiry has reported that the Assad regime is responsible for the majority of crimes against the Syrian people.
The High Commissioner for Human Rights concluded in his March 2015 report that, subject to a determination by an independent and competent court, ISIS may have committed war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. We echo his call that, in order to provide accountability and justice for the victims, all crimes are investigated in line with international human rights standards, and perpetrators are brought to justice.
Determining the validity of claims of genocide by ISIS/Daesh is a matter which should be undertaken by a legally competent court. I believe that this is a matter for decision by the International Criminal Court.
233. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to provide training programmes through SOLAS to ensure that unemployed persons can become qualified bus drivers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9021/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis is an operational matter for SOLAS. I have asked SOLAS to contact the Deputy directly to provide the information.
234. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Pearse Doherty den Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna an bhfuil sí toilteanach bualadh le coiste scoile (sonraí ar fáil) chun a n-iarratas ar Aonad a bhunú a phlé; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [8813/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraTá togra breithnithe ag mo Roinnse a rinne an Bord Oideachais agus Oiliúna sa cheantar dá dtagraíonn an Teachta chun oideachas trí Ghaeilge a sholáthar ag an dara leibhéal trí Aonad a chur ar bun i scoil atá ann cheana. Tá molta ag an Roinn gur gá don mBord céanna athmhachnamh a dhéanamh ar an togra chun déileáil le roinnt nithe a bheadh ábhartha chun éascú le hoideachas a sholáthar trí mheán na Gaeilge i mbealach níos sásúla agus níos inmharthana i gceantar freagrachta an Bhoird.
Tá oifigigh de chuid mo Roinnse tar éis teagmháil a dhéanamh ar an teileafón le déanaí le hionadaithe ó ghrúpa bunaithe na scoile agus tá molta acu dóibh gurb é an beart is cuí sa chás seo ná dul i gcomhairle leis an mBord arís maidir le hathmhachnamh ar an togra ar bhonn an mholta agus an tsoiléirithe atá faighte cheana ón Roinn. Tuigim go bhfuil cruinniú á shocrú leis an mBord. Beidh mo Roinnse sásta togra a mheá nuair a chuirfear faoi bhráid é.
235. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she is aware of a problem in the Student Universal Support Ireland application process whereby the input of a number of days, along with weeks, in the sections dealing with income is not permissible, to allow for accurate figures to be provided in the totals section; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8817/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAssessment of means under my Department 's student grant scheme is based on gross income from all sources of the applicant and his/her parent(s)/legal guardian, where applicable, with certain social welfare and health service executive payments being exempt.
I understand from SUSI, that under the current application process, all income apart from Department of Social Protection (DSP) income, is required to be input as an annual amount. DSP income is required to be input as a weekly amount - the student is required to input the number of weeks and the amount per week received and the system calculates an annual figure from this information. There is no facility for entering the number of days a DSP payment has been received. This annual figure is an indicative figure and in all cases SUSI verify the actual amount received in the relevant period through its data sharing facility with the DSP.
SUSI are currently working towards an application process where the applicant will not have to provide figures relating to income at time of application. In the near future it is envisaged that the student would simply indicate that there is income from a particular source and SUSI would be able to verify the actual amount received in the relevant period through data sharing facilities with the relevant body that hold the information on the payment.
236. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will reconsider a school's (details supplied) application for resource hours for September as opposed to October in order that a person is not without special needs assistant support for over a month and can therefore begin school in September; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8823/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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 Circular 0030/2014.
All schools were asked to apply for SNA support for the 2016/17 school year by 29th February 2016. The NCSE continues to accept applications in recognition that enrolments may not have been completed or where assessments were not completed. The NCSE will consider these applications and make further allocations to schools in respect of valid applications which have been received to September.
The NCSE will advise all schools of their allocations for SNA support for 2016/17 before the end of the current school year.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 www.ncse.ie.
Details of the manner in which a school, or parent, may appeal an SNA allocation decision is also available at www.ncse.ie.
As the Deputy's question relates to the allocation of SNA support by the NCSE to an individual school, I have referred this question to the NCSE for their consideration and direct reply to the Deputy.
237. Deputy Kate O'Connell asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans for and progress in providing a multidenominational secondary school for the Terenure and Harold's Cross areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8830/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department completed demographic analyses at primary and post-primary level late last year, using the Department's 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. The outcome of these demographic analyses was that on 17 November 2015 I announced the establishment of 4 new primary schools and 9 new post-primary schools to open in 2017 and 2018, including a new post-primary school which will open in September 2018 to serve the Dublin South City Centre area, which includes the areas to which the Deputy refers.
The patronage determination process for new schools is a separate process, which is run after it is decided that, based on the demographic data, a new school is required. Parental preferences are central to this process and prospective patrons are required to provide evidence of demand for their particular type of school. It is open to all patrons, patron bodies and prospective patrons to apply for patronage of a new school under this process.
I am pleased to advise the Deputy that I have recently issued an invitation to all patron bodies and prospective school patron bodies to apply for the patronage of the nine new post primary schools including the school to serve Dublin South City Centre area. Details can be found on the Department of Education & Skills website at www.education.ie.
238. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Education and Skills if there are enough school places available for entry to primary schools in the Carpenterstown area of County Dublin; if the area is one of the areas experiencing increased demographic pressure as termed in response to Parliamentary Question No. 116 of 21 April 2016; if she will consider establishing another school to cater for the demographic needs in the Carpenterstown area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8843/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware 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, based on the GIS, is that on 17 November 2015, I announced the establishment of 13 new schools to open in 2017 and 2018 to cater for demographic needs.
As part of this announcement I noted that a number of areas nationwide are experiencing increased demographic pressures and the Department will keep the demographic data under ongoing review. For the Carpenterstown Dublin 15 school planning area, this review will take account of updated enrolment and child benefit data and also the impact of capacity increases in adjacent school planning areas. Once the review of the latest available data has been completed the matter of establishing new schools that will be required beyond 2018 can be considered.
239. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on the practice of primary schools seeking a non-refundable fee to hold places for children; if she supports this practice; and if she will consider taking measures to prevent this practice [8851/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraA key requirement for all recognised schools in the Free Education Scheme, is that the school does not operate a charge, in whatever form, that is in effect a mandatory fee and that is contrary to the principle of not charging fees. Voluntary contributions may be sought from parents, provided it is made clear to parents that there is no compulsion to pay and that a child's place in the school or continued enrolment is not dependant on a willingness to make a contribution.
Registration fees are sometimes requested by schools in order to avoid "double booking" of pupils in schools. Under current arrangements, schools are allowed to request a booking fee/registration fee when considering applicants for enrolment, provided this is refundable at all times following a decision on enrolment.
The Education (Admission to Schools) Bill, which was published in April of last year, contained a provision prohibiting the charging of fees or seeking payment or contributions as part of the school admission process or for continued enrolment in the school. Unfortunately, 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 admissions needs to be a priority for the next government.
240. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on changes to regulation 3 which relates to the employment of Montessori and other categories of teachers; if she will provide an assurance that teachers in this category will not be adversely affected by changes to the regulation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8852/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra251. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Skills to clarify the regulation changes being implemented by the Teaching Council with regard to removing regulation 3 which will result in Level 8 degree holders in Montessori Education being unable to teach in a special school setting or as a resource teacher in a mainstream setting. [8942/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra252. Deputy Seán Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Skills the up to date position regarding the proposed abolition of regulation 3, Montessori and other categories; if she will ensure that a fair and appropriate consultation will take place with the interested parties, particularly with the body of teachers trained by a college (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8957/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 240, 251 and 252 together.
The Teaching Council is the body with statutory responsibility and authority for regulation of the teaching profession including the registration of teachers under the Teaching Council Acts 2001-2015.
The Teaching Council's pathways to registration were set out initially in the Teaching Council [Registration] Regulations 2009, under which graduates with certain Montessori qualifications (Level 8 on the National Framework of Qualifications) met the requirements of Regulation 3 (Montessori and other categories).
Further to publication of its draft revised registration regulations to reflect current policy on teacher education in 2014 and significant stakeholder engagement, the Teaching Council intends to provide for persons currently registered with the Council under Regulation 3 on the basis of holding a level 8 Montessori qualification. The Council also intends to allow for the registration of persons who obtain a level 8 Montessori qualification, where the course was commenced on or before 1 October 2016 and the qualification obtained before the end of 2021.
The Department has no plans to change the current position whereby teachers who are registered with a level 8 Montessori qualification under Regulation 3 (or its equivalent in the new regulations) are eligible for employment as teachers of pupils with special education needs in recognised mainstream primary schools and special schools.
