Carol Nolan
Ceist:84. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills to increase the rates of the student grant for undergraduate students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11045/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraStudent Grant Scheme
Ceisteanna (84)
Freagraí scríofa
The eligibility criteria for student grants including the income thresholds is reviewed annually in my Department and approved by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. No changes to the thresholds were included in Budget 2016.
As the Deputy will be aware, all proposals made in relation to education expenditure, including changes to income thresholds, will be considered in the context of Budget 2017.
Programme for Government Priorities
Ceisteanna (85)
Thomas Pringle
Ceist:85. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plan to create a three-year strategy in the first 100 days of this Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11052/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the Deputy will be aware, the Programme for a Partnership Government provides for a three-year statement of strategy for my Department within the first 100 days and a framework for measuring its progress. The Strategy will be informed by the Government's Programme for a Partnership Government and aims to advance the transformation of the education system to support the principles of the Programme in the development of a strong economy and a fair and compassionate society.
The Programme sets out the following eight areas of priority:
1. Prioritising Early Years
2. Tackling Disadvantage
3. Diversity and Choice for Parents
4. Promoting Excellence and Innovation in Schools
5. Promoting Creativity and Entrepreneurial Capacity in Students
6. Making Better use of Educational Assets within Communities
7. Special Needs Education
8. Meeting the Skills Needs of the Future
I am currently launching a call for stakeholder consultation to gather views on the development of the new strategy.
Programme for Government Initiatives
Ceisteanna (86)
Thomas Pringle
Ceist:86. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills when he will outline the programme for Government proposed action plan on education inclusion; how he will consult on the plan; the timeline for the completion of the plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11053/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the Deputy may be aware, a process to review DEIS, the Action Plan for Social Inclusion, is ongoing. The majority of the review work programme is scheduled for completion by the end of the current school year.
The overall scope of the review is to assess the existing DEIS Programme in the context of evaluations to date and any relevant policy and other developments, in order to inform future policy on educational disadvantage.
The review project involves a number of strands.
Stakeholder consultation is a key component of the process and, at the outset, the education partners were invited for their views on both the current and future operation of the programme. Comprehensive submissions were received and are being considered as part of the review. Further stakeholder engagement will take place over the coming weeks including an Education Partners Forum which is to take place on 23 May 2016.
An internal DEIS Advisory Group within my Department is considering the make-up of the current DEIS School Support Programme in the context of the learning from the implementation of the programme to date and the input of education stakeholders.
An Interdepartmental Group is considering current and potential future supports to tackle educational disadvantage provided by other Government Departments and agencies in order to ensure greater cohesion and cross-sectoral cooperation for future service delivery.
A Technical Advisory Group is examining available data sources in order to develop an improved identification process for the inclusion of schools in any future resource allocation framework to tackle educational disadvantage.
During this process, all aspects of the DEIS programme are being considered including the identification of schools.
Legislative Programme
Ceisteanna (87)
Thomas Pringle
Ceist:87. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills when he will publish the draft heads of the new admissions and excellence Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11054/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Programme for Government gives a commitment to publish a new School Admissions and Excellence legislation, taking account of current draft proposals.
When I have had an opportunity as Minister to review and consider how best to legislate for school admissions so that they operate in a fair and transparent way, I will bring legislation to the Houses of the Oireachtas.
I look forward to working with members on the basis of partnership when progressing this Bill.
School Patronage
Ceisteanna (88)
Thomas Pringle
Ceist:88. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills his proposals for continued divestment given the commitment in the programme for Government for new approaches to speed up divestment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11055/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Government is committed to progressing the development of a dynamic and innovative education system that reflects the diversity of 21st century Ireland. The Programme for a Partnership Government reflects the Government's objective of strengthening parental choice and further expanding diversity in our school system, specifically by increasing the number of non-denominational and multi-denominational schools with a view to reaching 400 by 2030.
In addition to the phased transfer of Catholic schools to new patrons, which is already under way, this will require considering new ideas and new approaches to substantially accelerate the changes in school provision in order to achieve greater diversity. The Government is committed to working with all stakeholders to facilitate this process and I will be progressing these matters as a priority.
Psychological Assessments Waiting Times
Ceisteanna (89)
Michael McGrath
Ceist:89. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills to urgently provide access to a child psychologist for a person (details supplied) with special needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11065/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I can inform the Deputy that my Department's National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) provides an educational psychology service to all primary and post-primary schools through an assigned NEPS psychologist and in some cases through the Scheme for Commissioning Psychological Assessments, full details of which are on the Department's website. Under this scheme, schools can have an assessment carried out by a member of the panel of private psychologists approved by NEPS, and NEPS will pay the psychologist the fees for this assessment directly.
I can inform the Deputy that my Department, over the course of recent economic difficulties, has not only maintained psychologist staffing levels within NEPS, but has increased them by some 10% since late 2008, to 165 whole time equivalent psychologists currently employed.
The Programme for a Partnership Government commits that we will invest additional resources in the National Educational Psychological Service to ensure earlier intervention and access for young children and teenagers and to offer immediate support to schools in cases of critical incidents. The Programme commits to bring the total number of NEPS psychologists to 238 from the current sanctioned limit of 173.
In common with many other psychological services and best international practice, NEPS has adopted a consultative model of service. The focus is on empowering teachers to intervene effectively with pupils whose needs range from mild to severe and transient to enduring. Psychologists use a problem-solving and solution-focused consultative approach to maximise positive outcomes for these pupils. NEPS encourages schools to use a continuum-based assessment and intervention process whereby each school takes responsibility for initial assessment, educational planning and remedial intervention for pupils with learning, emotional or behavioural difficulties. Teachers may consult their NEPS psychologist should they need to at this stage in the process. Only in the event of a failure to make reasonable progress, in spite of the school's best efforts in consultation with NEPS, will the psychologist become involved with an individual child for intensive intervention or assessment.
This system allows psychologists to give early attention to urgent cases and also to help many more children indirectly than could be seen individually. It also ensures that children are not referred unnecessarily for psychological intervention.
I would advise that if there are concerns in relation to the educational development of the student referred to in Deputy's question, they should be raised in the first instance with the Principal of the school he is attending, with a view to Principal discussing the situation with the assigned NEPS psychologist.
Education and Training Boards
Ceisteanna (90)
Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:90. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11080/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
This is an operational matter for Cork ETB. I have asked the board to contact the Deputy directly to clarify the position of the person concerned.