Bernard Durkan
Ceist:75. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if special provision will be made in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3698/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraStudent Grant Scheme
Ceisteanna (75)
Freagraí scríofa
The main support available to students is the statutory based Student Grant Scheme. To qualify for grant support, a student has to meet various criteria such as means, residency, nationality and progression.
The nationality requirements for the student grant scheme are set out in section 14 of the Student Support Act 2011 and regulation 5 of the Student Support Regulations 2016. To qualify for a student grant, the applicant must meet the nationality or prescribed immigration status requirements in his/her own right. The onus is on the grant applicant to provide the necessary documentary evidence as proof of his nationality or immigration status.
I understand that the student referred to by the Deputy made an application to SUSI and received the awarding authority's decision not to award a grant on 02/08/16. The student appealed this decision to an appeals officer and a decision upholding the original decision of the awarding authority was issued on 18/08/16. The student had the option of appealing that decision to the statutory independent Student Grants Appeals Board but failed to do so within the specified time period of 30 days.
There is no provision under the means tested student grant scheme to award a grant based on academic performance.
The individual concerned may wish to review the criteria for the various scholarship and bursary schemes supported by my Department, to determine if she might be eligible for support in 2017/18. Information on these schemes can be accessed at the following link: http://www.education.ie/en/Learners/Services/Scholarships/
Other possible options include the Student Assistance Fund and tax relief on fees.
Students in third-level institutions experiencing exceptional financial need can apply for support under the Student Assistance Fund. This Fund assists students, in a sensitive and compassionate manner, who might otherwise be unable to continue their third level studies due to their financial circumstances. Information on the fund is available through the Access Office in the third level institution attended. This fund is administered on a confidential, discretionary basis.
Tax relief at the standard rate of tax may be claimed in respect of tuition fees paid for approved courses at approved colleges of higher education including approved undergraduate and postgraduate courses in EU Member States and in non-EU countries. Further information on this tax relief is available from the Revenue Commissioners on www. revenue.ie.
Junior Cycle Reform
Ceisteanna (76)
Carol Nolan
Ceist:76. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the junior cycle profile of achievement will be different to the junior certificate; if it will be issued to students at the same time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3710/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
A phased implementation of the new Junior Cycle Programme commenced in schools in September 2014. One subject was introduced in 2014 - English. Two further subjects commenced in September 2016 - Business Studies and Science. The 'Framework for Junior Cycle 2015', published by my Department in August 2015, sets out the key changes under the new programme which includes a new award for students - the Junior Cycle Profile of Achievement (JCPA). During the years when students are studying subjects for which new specifications have been provided alongside existing Junior Certificate subjects, the results of the latter will be included in the JCPA. The format of the JCPA will evolve as the various phases of junior cycle reform are rolled out. The Junior Certificate will no longer be issued by the State Examinations Commission (SEC). However, the SEC will continue to issue provisional examination results to each examination student in September as in previous years.
Arrangements for 2017 and thereafter
Students who commenced first year in September 2014 (and thereafter) and who complete their Junior Cycle Programme in 2017 (and thereafter), will receive a Junior Cycle Profile of Achievement (JCPA) following completion of the Junior Cycle Programme.
The JCPA will differ from the Junior Certificate in a number of ways: 1) It is a report rather than a certificate, 2) It is awarded by the school, 3) It reports on a much wider range of student achievements over the 3 years of Junior Cycle including Subjects, Short Courses and Other Areas of Learning. Priority Learning Units will also be reported where the student has studied short courses at Level 2, and 4) Grades are no longer used as descriptors of achievement in State examinations
Junior Cycle Reform
Ceisteanna (77)
Carol Nolan
Ceist:77. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the measures he has put in place to ensure that junior certificate English students will not be disadvantaged should the ASTI vote to reject the proposals resulting from talks with his Department in 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3711/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Teachers of English who are members of ASTI have been directed by their union that, while they are to teach the new Junior Cycle subject specification, they are not to undertake Classroom Based Assessments (CBAs) with their students. CBAs form a key element of the new Junior Cycle. Therefore, students who are taught by a teacher who is a member of the ASTI will not receive a grade for their CBAs and also since the written Assessment Task which is to be completed by students is linked to the second CBA, which is worth 10% of the marks for the final examination, these students cannot complete the Assessment Task, or gain marks for this examination component. Candidates for Junior Cycle English in 2017 who do not complete the assessment task can only be marked and graded based on a maximum of 90% of the available marks.
My Department requested the ASTI to provide an immediate derogation from their directive regarding the CBAs for current teachers of English in order that some current third year English students are no longer unfairly and unjustifiably disadvantaged.
Following talks with the teacher unions in late 2016, facilitated by the Chair of the Teachers Conciliation Council, it was provided that, on a once-off basis, the NCCA and SEC would communicate arrangements in respect of a second calendar window in the 2016/17 school year to allow for the completion and submission of the Junior Cycle English Assessment Task by students who were prevented from meeting the initial deadline. These arrangements were notified to schools in the week beginning 19th December 2016.
This second window was agreed as a result of an acknowledgement by the parties that a significant number of students were not in a position to meet the timing requirement of completion between 5th and 9th December 2016, as a result of industrial action taken by the ASTI.
I welcome the decision of the ASTI to give its members a say on the overall offer now available following the recently concluded talks under the Chair of the Teachers Conciliation Council. In addition to the elements relating to Junior Cycle, the proposals involve immediate pay increases and other benefits for ASTI members. While the ASTI’s leadership has recommended rejection, a decision on whether to accept the proposals or to reject them and engage again in industrial action will now be taken by the wider membership at ballot. The ASTI is currently conducting its ballot of members and it is important to respect the democratic process that is now underway.
School Management
Ceisteanna (78)
Carol Nolan
Ceist:78. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason his Department has refused a school (details supplied) permission to establish a third stream in view of the clear demand for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3712/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Department recently met with representatives of the school referred to by the Deputy and it was agreed that a further meeting would be convened within the coming weeks.
It was agreed also that this would allow adequate time for updated demographic data, taking into account overall current and projected pupil numbers in the Kilcock area, and the enrolment position in the case of the Scoil Uí Riada and other schools in Kilcock; the various factors that contribute to the compilation and operation of any waiting lists; the impact of expansion of school capacity in the case of Scoil Uí Riada on other schools in an area to be clarified and assessed. As part of this process, this further information was supplied by the school to the Department last week. The information is currently being considered and the Department expects to be in further contact with the school authority and Patron in relation to the data assessment process.
School Transport Review
Ceisteanna (79)
Carol Nolan
Ceist:79. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a review of the implementation of the value for money for school transport recommendations has ever been carried out; if his Department intends to modify these in any way; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3713/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
School transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department.
Currently in the region of 114,000 children, including some 10,000 children with special educational needs, are being 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.
No comprehensive review of the implementation of the recommendations arising from the value for money review of the school transport scheme has been undertaken.
The Deputy will be aware that in December 2016 I published a review of the concessionary charges and rules element of the School Transport Scheme and I have decided upon consideration of the review to continue with the current position regarding school transport on a concessionary basis.
In addition the Programme for Government commits to a review of the criteria and guidelines for the School Transport Appeals Board.
School Transport Data
Ceisteanna (80)
Carol Nolan
Ceist:80. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the total number of students, other than those with special educational needs, who avail of school transport either on concessionary or non-concessionary basis over each of the past ten years, by county in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3714/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
School transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department.
Currently in the region of 114,000 children, including some 10,000 children with special educational needs, are being 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 has been requested to forward the information directly to the Deputy.
School Transport Data
Ceisteanna (81)
Carol Nolan
Ceist:81. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of school transport bus routes in operation, other than those for children with special educational needs and those availed of under the remote area grant, over each of the past ten years in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3715/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
School transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department.
Currently in the region of 114,000 children, including some 10,000 children with special educational needs, are being 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 has been requested to forward the information directly to the Deputy.
School Transport Data
Ceisteanna (82)
Carol Nolan
Ceist:82. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of school bus routes which have been eliminated or reduced due to lower numbers of eligible pupils, resulting in the loss of school transport for concessionary students previously availing of the service over each of the past ten years by county in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3716/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
School transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department.
Currently in the region of 114,000 children, including some 10,000 children with special educational needs, are being 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. Overall, the number of school transport bus routes has risen from 5,001 in 2011 to 5,256 in 2016.
Families of eligible children, for whom a school transport service was withdrawn as it fell below the minimum number, are eligible for the remote area grant towards the cost of making private transport arrangements.
The level of detailed information requested by the Deputy is not available for each of the past ten years. The following table shows the number of services withdrawn by county over the last eight years and the overall number of children affected by these withdrawals, total figures are not available for all of the years. It is important to note that these are gross and not net figures. Additional routes have also been added, which are not reflected in these numbers.
|
County |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
|
Carlow |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|||||
|
Cavan |
1 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
||||
|
Clare |
1 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
||||
|
Cork |
4 |
1 |
11 |
2 |
1 |
6 |
3 |
7 |
|
Donegal |
1 |
3 |
1 |
|||||
|
Dublin |
4 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
||||
|
Galway |
5 |
2 |
1 |
6 |
3 |
6 |
||
|
Kerry |
3 |
2 |
6 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
|
|
Kildare |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
|||
|
Kilkenny |
3 |
2 |
||||||
|
Laois |
1 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
||||
|
Leitrim |
4 |
|||||||
|
Limerick |
1 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
5 |
3 |
||
|
Longford |
1 |
1 |
||||||
|
Louth |
2 |
1 |
||||||
|
Mayo |
1 |
1 |
5 |
1 |
1 |
|||
|
Meath |
5 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
||||
|
Monaghan |
1 |
3 |
||||||
|
Offaly |
3 |
3 |
1 |
|||||
|
R'common |
7 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
||||
|
Sligo |
1 |
1 |
4 |
1 |
1 |
|||
|
Tipperary |
2 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
6 |
|||
|
Waterford |
1 |
3 |
||||||
|
W'meath |
1 |
1 |
||||||
|
Wexford |
2 |
1 |
1 |
|||||
|
Wicklow |
1 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
||
|
Total |
14 |
7 |
76 |
11 |
20 |
28 |
36 |
37 |
|
No of Children Affected by withdrawal of service |
||||||||
|
Eligible |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
81 |
162 |
191 |
166 |
206 |
|
C'ssionary |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
6 |
29 |
40 |
113 |
129 |
School Transport Data
Ceisteanna (83)
Carol Nolan
Ceist:83. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of school bus routes which have been downsized as a result of normal operations over each of the past ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3717/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
School transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department.
Currently in the region of 114,000 children, including some 10,000 children with special educational needs, are being 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 has advised that routes are organised annually to cater for the children who are eligible for school transport in advance of the new school year, also taking into account the number of children who are finished in school.
The vehicle used to operate a particular route may be changed, for example a route may be combined with another, but the capacity of the vehicle used would continue to be sufficient to cater for the number of children who are eligible for school transport.
I understand Bus Éireann do not retain the details of vehicle changes and/or circumstances where the number of seats available have been reduced. Therefore the information requested by the Deputy is not available.
Teaching Council of Ireland
Ceisteanna (84)
Carol Nolan
Ceist:84. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of resource teachers who are currently on restricted probation as a result of the directive by the INTO; his plans to address this issue; the number of resource teachers who are currently teaching in schools without full probation; the steps taken by his Department to date to resolve the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3718/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Teaching Council is the statutory body with responsibility for professional standards at all stages of the teaching career. It has established standards for post-qualification professional practice, as set out in Droichead, the new model of induction and probation for newly qualified primary and post-primary teachers. The Droichead programme was the subject of a three-year pilot before it was approved by the Council in March 2016. The programme is being introduced on a phased basis since last September.
During the growth and development phase of Droichead, teachers employed in a special education or restricted setting must avail of the Droichead programme to achieve full registration with the Council. While a new policy on teacher probation was adopted by the Teaching Council last December, this does not change the requirement for teachers in a special education setting to avail of Droichead.
The INTO issued a directive to its members not to cooperate with or participate in Droichead from 1 July 2016. This directive has prevented newly qualified teachers employed in special education settings from participating in Droichead since September and thereby closed off the registration pathway. I hope the INTO will review its approach.
My Department is considering the impact of the changes to the Droichead policy.
The Teaching Council has confirmed that there are 4,868 teachers who currently have the condition of probation/Droichead attached to their teacher registration. This is the number of individuals registered with the Teaching Council and should not be taken as an indicator of employment status in schools (e.g. teaching in mainstream, teaching in SEN settings (resource and/or learning support), teaching outside the state and those not currently teaching).