Written Answers Nos. 115-133
115. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of appeals made to the school transport appeals board over each of the past ten years, by county, in tabular form; the number of appeals that were successful and not successful respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5005/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra116. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the school transport appeals board has ever made a recommendation to his Department regarding the operation of the school transport scheme, as is provided for in the terms of reference to the board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5006/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra117. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department has sought the advice of the school transport appeals board regarding the operation of the school transport scheme; the frequency with which this advice has been sought since the value for money review changes were implemented; if the advice of the board was sought in respect of the review on concessionary charges and rules carried out before Christmas 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5007/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 115 to 117, inclusive, together.
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.
The School Transport Appeals Board is independent of my Department.
Under the terms of reference of the Board, the Board determines appeals against decisions made by, or on behalf of, the Department of Education and Skills regarding the provision of school transport services and/or grant-aid under the terms of the School Transport Schemes.
As previously advised, no comprehensive review of the implementation of the recommendations arising from the value for money review of the school transport scheme has been undertaken. While the Board was advised of the review of concessionary charges and rules element of the school transport scheme, the Board was not asked to make a submission.
The Board has made recommendations in relation to particular appeals in which it has sought a review of the original decision taken having regard to additional information which had been submitted to the Board. General comments such as keeping the relevant web pages updated in relation to the operation of the school transport scheme have also been made.
The Programme for Government commits to a review of the criteria and guidelines for the School Transport Appeals Board.
The level of detail requested by the Deputy is not available over a ten year period. However, I can advise that since 2014, 583 appeals were made to the Board, none of which were upheld. However, a number of appeals were referred by the Board to my Department's School Transport Section for clarification and/or further consideration arising from additional information which came to light during the appeals process.
118. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he has had negotiations with the leadership of the INTO regarding the directive to refuse to participate with the Droichead programme and the impact this has for newly qualified teachers in the area of special needs; the date the discussions took place; his plans to have further discussions regarding the concerns of INTO on this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5008/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra120. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the INTO has communicated its concerns to his Department in respect of the Droichead programme; the steps he has taken to address these concerns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5010/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 118 and 120 together.
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.
The INTO issued a directive to its members not to co-operate 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.
Under the pay measures which the Department agreed in September 2016 with the INTO it was agreed there would be an immediate time-bound engagement involving relevant parties, to resolve issues with Droichead, including the current directive on non-cooperation. The INTO has since met with the Teaching Council and the Council undertook a review of Droichead Policy which resulted in a revised Policy being approved by the Council on 12 December 2016. The revised policy does not change the requirement for teachers in a special education setting to avail of Droichead.
I can confirm that the INTO have raised the issue of resources to support the implementation of the new policy. My Department is considering the impact of the new policy adopted by the Council.
119. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on whether the current directive of the INTO with respect to the Droichead scheme will have an impact on the further recruitment of resource teachers in order to implement the new resource allocation model for children with special educational needs in September 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5009/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy will be aware that on 18 January last, I announced that a new model for allocating Special Education Teaching Resources to mainstream primary and post primary schools will be introduced from September 2017.
I also announced that an additional 900 teaching posts will be provided to support the introduction of this new allocation model.
This substantial additional provision will ensure that:
- Up to 1,000 schools will receive additional allocations, where the new model indicates additional need.
- No school will receive an allocation of resources less than the allocation they received in the 2016/17 school year.
The provision of an additional 900 teaching posts is a very significant investment in the provision of additional teaching support for pupils with special educational needs in our schools.
It is intended that a new Circular will issue to schools in the coming weeks which will set out the full details of the scheme, including the qualification and registration requirements for new Special Education Teaching posts. It is not expected that the directive of the INTO with respect to the droichead scheme will have an impact on the recruitment of teachers to implement the new resource allocation model for September 2017.
121. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the main concerns of the education sector as discussed in the sectoral dialogues on Brexit; the steps his Department proposes to take in addressing these concerns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5011/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department held an Education Stakeholder Forum on Brexit on 14 November 2016 to outline plans for the Department’s ongoing engagement with the sector in its preparations for the Brexit negotiation phase. Following this plenary event my Department convened consultation fora for the schools sector, the further education and training sector and the higher education and research sector. These events facilitated the widest possible involvement of stakeholders across our education system and facilitated my Department in achieving a fuller understanding of their issues and concerns as we continue to plan for the UK’s exit from the EU. The following table outlines the main points of concern that were raised at the sectoral events.
Input from all three education sectors is being analysed and will feed into preparations for the next All-Island Civic Dialogue on 17 February 2017. The Department is continuing to develop and refine scenario plans for Brexit and the impact on the education sector. A further meeting of the Education and Research Subgroup of the Economy and Trade Work Group chaired by my Department is proposed for February.
|
Brexit Sectoral Consultation Event |
Main points raised |
|
Primary and Secondary Education Sector Dublin, 23 January 2017 |
- Responding to ethnic and religious diversity in post-Brexit Ireland - Cross-border learner access to education - Teacher mobility/recognition of qualifications - Planning/Economic/Financial impacts - Continuity of institutional framework for North-South cooperation - Continuity of European Union funding for cross-border programmes |
|
Further Education and Training Sector Dublin, 14 December 2016 |
- The economy/trade - The Common Travel Area – movement of people - Future of the EU/EU funding - Northern Ireland – North-South Cooperation - Protection of vulnerable citizens |
|
Higher Education and Research Sector Dundalk, 19 December 2016 |
- Impact on research collaboration and partnerships between education institutions and enterprise - Impacts on North-South collaboration - Threats and opportunities for research funding - Implications for Government investment policy - Implications for UK/Ireland student flows - Impact on UK/Ireland mobility, and career development of academic staff - Implications for international profile and reputation of Higher Education institutions - Possible consequences for the mutual recognition of qualifications |
122. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to roll out the politics and society subject in secondary schools; the timeframe for same; if the subject will be available in all schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5012/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe roll-out of the new Leaving Certificate subject of Politics and Society commenced in 41 schools from September 2016, following an open invitation to introduce this as an optional Leaving Certificate subject. Politics and Society aims to develop the student's ability to be a reflective and active citizen, in a way that is informed by the insights and skills of social and political science. The introduction of the specification is part of my Department's commemoration of 1916 and its commitment to education for sustainable development. The subject will be available to all schools from 2018.
123. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the progress of the modern foreign languages strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5013/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI held a meeting with key stakeholders in relation to the Foreign Languages Strategy in December. This has informed my thinking on this matter. I am at present finalising the Strategy document. It will be presented to Government before it is published. I expect that this process will be completed by the end of March.
124. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of schools and other educational institutions or programmes in receipt of INTERREG funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5014/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department does not have responsibility for INTERREG funding and therefore does not have the information requested. The Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) in Northern Ireland manages the programme. My officials have asked the SEUPB for the relevant information, which will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as it is received.
The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 42A
I refer to Parliamentary Question No. 124 of 2 February 2017 in which you asked for information on the number of schools and other educational institutions or programmes in receipt of INTERREG funding.
In my reply, I had stated that the information sought was not available at the time but would be forwarded to you separately. I am now in a position to provide the relevant information.
According to the information supplied to my Department by the relevant managing authorities, the recipients of INTERREG funding within our education system are largely higher education institutions. Tabulated below is summary information on the programmes, numbers of beneficiary Irish educational institutions, and numbers of projects - note that some institutions are involved in more than one project. The Annexes to this letter forwarded to the Deputy provide fuller information, including funding details.
|
Programme |
Numbers of beneficiary Irish educational institutions |
Numbers of projects involving Irish educational institutions |
Relevant Annex No. |
|
INTERREG IVA (2007-13) |
10 |
12 |
1 |
|
INTERREG VA (2014-20) |
5 |
5 |
2 |
|
Ireland Wales Cooperation Programme 2014-2020 |
7 |
7 |
3 |
|
North West Europe Transnational Co-operation Programme |
3 |
4 |
4 |
|
INTERREGNorthern Periphery & Arctic Programme |
4 |
5 |
5 |
|
INTERREG Europe Programme |
2 |
2 |
5 |
125. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the amount of EU funds provided to his Department for the purposes of cross-Border education projects; the number of projects in receipt of such funds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5015/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraNo EU funds have been provided to my Department for the purposes of cross border education projects over the past five years.
My Department, however, supports some 10 cross-border co-operation and exchange projects managed by parties external to the Department. Total expenditure by this Department in supporting North/South programmes in 2016 amounted to €581,616. The categories and numbers of participants North and South are contained in the following table.
North/South Funded Programmes in 2016
|
Categories |
No. of Participants North & South |
|
Schools |
1,666 |
|
Youth Groups |
39 |
|
Teachers/Trainers |
2,575 |
|
Students |
256,844 |
|
Young People |
7,245 |
|
3rd Level Institutions |
70 |
126. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of procurement contracts over each of the past five years over a value of or equivalent to €25,000 that have been awarded by his Department to companies based in Northern Ireland or Britain; the value of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5016/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy is not readily available. I will have a list of the procurement contracts over each of the past five years over a value of or equivalent to €25,000 that have been awarded by my department to companies known to be based in Northern Ireland or Britain compiled and forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.
127. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the areas in which teacher supply is an issue; and the actions his Department will take as a result of the report prepared by the Teaching Council on the issue. [5017/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe attention of my Department has been brought to reported shortages in certain subject areas, such as Home Economics. However, comprehensive data on teacher supply and demand in specific subject areas is not available to my Department.
The Deputy is aware that the Teaching Council has provided its advice and report to my Department on the matter of teacher supply. My Department is currently considering the report and its recommendations, and will then determine which actions should be taken.
128. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the progress in the review of adult and further education referenced in the programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5018/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe review of adult and further education is referenced in the Programme for a Partnership Government as something that would be undertaken by the Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills. The inclusion of the review on the agenda of the Committee and its timing will be determined through consultation with the Committee.
129. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if there has been a directive issued by his Department in respect of the preference for a company (details supplied) as an insurance provider for schools; if this matter is subject to central procurement; if it is possible for schools to arrange insurance with an alternative provider; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5019/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has not issued any directive in relation to insurance providers to schools. In general, the arrangements for insurance for schools are a matter for their associated Patrons or Trustees/Trustee Bodies.
The Schools Procurement Unit (SPU) was established in 2014 as the central support resource for providing advice and guidance to all primary and post-primary schools on any procurement related matter, including engaging with contracts and frameworks established by the Office of Government Procurement (OGP). Compliance with public procurement guidelines and legislation remains the responsibility of the individual schools and their Boards of Management.
130. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 67 of 19 October 2016, if he will provide similar data in respect of the number of assessments only, as opposed to casework, undertaken by NEPS psychologists for the years 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2014-15; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5020/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI would inform the Deputy that officials in my Department are currently compiling the data requested in her question and I will arrange to have it forwarded to her without delay.
