Written Answers Nos. 65-70
65. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on recurring issues involving school insurance and school opening hours (details supplied); his further views on whether this would fall under the Ombudsman's remit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32163/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder Section 15 of the Education Act 1998, the Board of Management is the body charged with the direct governance of a school. Schools are required to take all reasonable precautions to ensure the safety of pupils and responsibility for the appropriate supervision of students is therefore a matter for the individual Board of Management.
While my Department does not issue specific guidelines on requirements for supervision in specific situations, it acknowledges that the degree of supervision required of school authorities varies with the individual circumstances.
In general, it is the duty of the Board of Management (delegated by the Trustees in schools where there are Trustees) to put in place comprehensive insurance cover for schools.
The precise nature and terms of an individual school's insurance is a matter between the individual school and its insurers.
66. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans for schools (details supplied) following the recent acquisition of the campus by his Department; if he will provide a timeline for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32169/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe closure of the private schools to which the Deputy refers has recently been announced by the patron body.
The Department of Education and Skills has acquired the school campus and it will be used for school purposes in the future. While the proposed school to be accommodated on the campus has not been determined at this point, there are several school needs arising in the area and its future use will be considered in that context.
67. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Education and Skills when his Department will close the sale of an old national school building (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32170/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe building referred to by the Deputy is not in my ownership, and in common with other buildings of its kind, where significant grant aid is provided by the Department for the development of school premises, investment is secured by way of a long-term legal agreement known as a charging lease.
In circumstances where a property has ceased to be used as a school, and a request is received to release the State's interest secured under a charging lease, such requests are considered in the context of the specific circumstances which pertain to the individual property.
Officials from my Department are currently considering a request received in respect of the property referred to by the Deputy and will be in contact with the relevant property owners as soon as possible.
68. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the minor works grant is being paid in 2016 (details supplied). [32219/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe normal practice is for the Minor Works Grant to be announced late in the year if funding permits. The issue of the Minor Works Grant 2016/2017 will be considered in the context of my Department's overall capital position later this year.
69. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an application to sanction the appointment of a second permanent teacher for a school (details supplied) in County Roscommon; the expected timeframe for a decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32231/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe criteria used for the allocation of teaching posts for the 2016/2017 school year is set out in the Staffing Schedule (Circular 0007/2016) which is available on the Department website. 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 schedule also includes an appeals mechanism for schools to submit an appeal under certain criteria to an independent Appeals Board.
The school referred to by the Deputy submitted an application for consideration by the Appeals Board at the March meeting of the Primary Staffing Appeals Board. The Appeals Board gave provisional approval to the school for an additional mainstream teaching post for the 2016/17 school year. This decision was conditional on the school achieving the projected 30 September 2016 enrolments figures. The school achieved the required enrolment on that date and has been informed that it will retain the post for the remainder of the school year.
70. Deputy Michael Harty asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 627 of 18 October 2016, if he will extend the existing Dangan-Clooney bus service in County Clare by 2 km to Quin village (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32240/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraSchool transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department.
During the 2016/17 school year in the region of 114,000 children, including some 10,000 children with special educational needs, were transported in over 4,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres annually.
Bus Éireann is responsible for the planning and timetabling of school transport routes on behalf of my Department. Routes are planned based on the locations of children who are eligible for school transport.
I understand that the children in question are not eligible for school transport as they are not attending their nearest post primary centre. Children who are not eligible for school transport may avail of school transport on a concessionary basis only subject to a number of terms and conditions including that there are spare seats available on an existing school bus service and on payment of the annual charge. Routes will not be extended or altered, additional vehicles will not be introduced, nor will larger vehicles or extra trips using existing vehicles be provided to cater for children travelling on a concessionary basis.
The terms of the Post Primary School Transport Scheme are applied equitably on a national basis.
