Written Answers Nos. 114-122
114. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he is aware that students on Quality and Qualifications Ireland, QQI, degrees from low-income families are not receiving their Student Universal Support Ireland entitlements at certain QQI-approved colleges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21461/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder my Department's student grant scheme, eligible candidates may receive funding provided they are attending an approved course at an approved institution as defined in the scheme.
The definition of an approved institution is set out in Section 7 of the Student Support Act 2011 and Regulation 3 of the Student Support Regulations 2016.
However, tax relief on tuition fees may be available for students attending courses in institutions which are not approved for the purposes of grant support, such as private colleges. Details in relation to this relief are available from the Revenue Commissioners on www.revenue.ie.
115. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the education facilities at a school (details supplied); the type of structure through which classes are being delivered; if he has approved funding for the rebuilding of this school; the timeframe for completion of this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21484/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe School referred to by the Deputy is currently in temporary accommodation on the All Hallows Site consisting of 21 Prefabricated Classrooms covering 1,072m2. It was necessary for the school to vacate its permanent school building following weather related damage. The school will continue to operate in Temporary Accommodation pending the delivery of a new school building. A major building project for the School has been included in the 6 year construction programme 2016-20 and is scheduled to commence construction in 2017. The original brief for this project was an extension/refurbishment of the existing permanent school building.
A Project Manager and Design Team have been appointed to deliver this project. The Stage 1, initial sketch design stage has been completed and the project has progressed to Stage 2A, which is the developed sketch design stage. Following a review of the brief at stage 1, the Department has authorised a revised brief for the project which is now to deliver a new 350 pupil post primary school with a total floor area of 6,687m2 including an MDVI (Multiple Disabilities and Visual Impairment) unit and a PE hall on the original school site.
Upon successful completion of Stage 2A the project will progress to complete Stage 2B, Detailed Design, which includes the application for statutory approvals and the preparation of Tender Documents for Contractors.
116. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the education facilities at a school (details supplied); if planning has been approved for two classrooms; the timeframe for completion; the exact location of this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21485/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra117. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will build a 450-pupil primary school (details supplied) if planning has been approved; the timeframe for completion; the location of this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21486/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra118. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a Gaelscoil and-or an Educate Together school will be built in the Drumcondra, Fairview and Marino areas of County Dublin; if planning has been approved for such a school; the timeframe for completion of this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21487/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 116 to 118, inclusive, together.
Following the outcome of the recent patronage process I announced that a new primary school under the patronage of Educate Together will open in September 2016 to serve the Drumcondra/Marino/Dublin 1 school planning area.
The Deputy will be aware that a project for the provision of a building for this new school is included in my Department's 6 Year Construction Programme announced last November. It is envisaged that this project will proceed to tender/construction in 2018, as outlined in the Programme.
In the interim period, this school will open in suitable temporary accommodation at the All Hallows Campus, Drumcondra and my Department has worked closely with the Local Authority in this regard. A contractor has been appointed to provide the temporary accommodation and we are continuing to liaise with the school patron, Educate Together.
119. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of awarding a concessionary bus pass to a person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21490/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe purpose of my Department's School Transport Schemes is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school.
Under the terms of my Department's Primary School Transport Scheme children are eligible for transport where they reside not less than 3.2 kilometres from and are attending their nearest national school as determined by my Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
Bus Éireann has advised that the child in question is not eligible for school transport as she is not attending her nearest school. Furthermore, Bus Éireann has advised that there is no service from where the child in question resides to the school referred to by the Deputy.
The terms of the Primary School Transport Scheme are applied equitably on a national basis.
120. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of new recruits to the education sector in each of the years 2011 to 2013; and the number of whole-time equivalent recruits. [21975/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI will arrange for the information that is available in relation to teachers paid on payrolls operated by my Department to be forwarded directly to the Deputy.
121. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the status of the one blanket national tender for book stocks (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21424/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra122. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will suspend the national library procurement tender process that is scheduled to be published in September 2016 by a period of 12 months to allow time to put through a new Bill with clear cultural exemptions for library procurement; if he is aware that the procurement policy will force the closure of bookseller library suppliers and long-established businesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21462/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 121 and 122 together.
The provision of public library services is a matter for each local authority in its capacity as a library authority under the Local Government Act 2001. This includes the procurement of books and other library related services. My Department has no direct role in these matters. Local authorities must adhere, however, to national and EU requirements when undertaking procurement processes for the delivery of goods and services to public libraries. These requirements do not preclude Irish companies from tendering for such contracts.
I understand that the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) is working with the Educational Procurement Service (EPS) on a library category procurement under the new Office of Government Procurement centralised model. As current contracts with library authorities will start to expire from Spring 2017, the LGMA intends to commence the procurement process in the Autumn with a view to ensuring that new contracts are in place by early 2017. For this reason, it would not be practical to defer the procurement process at this stage. The LGMA is establishing a working group to oversee the procurement process, however, and this group will consider options for the addition of a social clause as part of the tender preparations.
