Written Answers Nos. 142-152
142. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason teachers who work in an ASTI school but choose not to join a union have not received pay increments, with collective bargaining being cited as the reason, as it is not the role of the employer to couple pay parity with union membership; if it is constitutional to treat non-union member teaching staff in this way; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7568/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe current position is that the Lansdowne Road Agreement as set out in Section 2 of Circular 0045/2016 applies to teachers employed in Designated Community Colleges, Community and Comprehensive Schools and Voluntary Secondary Schools who are TUI members. The Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Acts 2013 and 2015 as set out in Section 3 of the Circular applies to all other teachers employed in such schools. The circular is available on my Department’s website and can be accessed at:
http://www.education.ie/en/Circulars-and-Forms/Active-Circulars/cl0045_2016.pdf
In addition, a comprehensive FAQ document is also available on my Department’s website:
http://www.education.ie/en/Education-Staff/Information/Public-Service-Stability-Agreement-Haddington-Road/FAQs-on-the-Lansdowne-Road-Agreement-Post-Primary-Teachers.pdf
As is the norm with public service collective agreements, the Lansdowne Road Agreement was negotiated with trade unions which are recognised as representing staff in the public service (including teachers). It is normal practice in the public service that the decision of the trade union recognised as holding representative rights for a particular grade or sector will determine the position for all relevant staff in that grade/sector. This context does not allow for acceptance or rejection of collective agreements by staff on an individual basis.
Accordingly, there is no proposal at this time to treat teachers separately based on the fact that they are not a member of a trade union. However, since the announcement of the ASTI ballot result my Department has received a number of queries from both ASTI members and teachers who are not members of a trade union about union membership. Therefore, having regard to the circumstances of the dispute with the ASTI, this is an issue that I will keep under review going forward.
143. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 30 of 18 January 2017 and his commitment to review the proposal to have an advertisement for Pieta House services in school journals, if he will provide an update. [7574/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has considered this proposal. I agree that information on a comprehensive range of support services should be available to schools and young people in Ireland. I also believe that suicide prevention should form part of a balanced and age-appropriate strategy to promote mental health and wellbeing among children and young people.
I believe that an appropriate and immediate response should be triggered within schools and from health services when a young person experiences a mental health crisis.
I recognise the valuable services of Pieta House in supporting those in suicidal crisis. It is not possible for me to require schools to include specific information in school journals.
However my Department’s focus remains on assisting schools in the implementation of the guidelines provided and in providing advice and clarity to both staff and pupils on the range of services both statutory and non-statutory which exist outside the school supporting all aspects of mental health and wellbeing.
144. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason no primary schools in an area (details supplied) have an autistic spectrum disorder, ASD, unit; if there has been a review of this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7589/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy will be aware that this Government is committed to ensuring that all children with Special Educational Needs, including those with autism, can have access to an education appropriate to their needs, preferably in school settings through the primary and post primary school network.
Such placements facilitate access to individualised education programmes which may draw from a range of appropriate educational interventions, delivered by fully qualified professional teachers, with the support of Special Needs Assistants and the appropriate school curriculum.
In respect of children with ASD who cannot be accommodated in mainstream education, they may be enrolled in special classes or special schools where more intensive and supportive interventions are provided. Special classes are for students who have a recommendation for a special class placement in their professional reports.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), for allocating resource teachers and special needs assistants to schools to support students with Special Educational Needs, including Autism. It is also the role of the NCSE to make appropriate arrangements to establish special classes in schools in communities where the need for such classes has been identified.
Special classes within mainstream schools are intended for children who, by virtue of their level of Special Educational Needs, cannot reasonably be educated in a mainstream class setting, but who can still attend their local school in a special class with a lower pupil–teacher ratio of 6:1 at primary level and 6:1.5 at post primary level, and also have Special Needs Assistant support normally amounting to 2 SNAs for a class of 6 children.
Progress in developing this network has been significant and in addition to the special school placements there are currently 1,153 special classes throughout the country at primary and post primary level of which 889 are for children with Autism.
The NCSE, in consultation with the relevant education partners, must take into account the present and future potential need, location and sustainability in looking to establish special classes in certain areas. In this regard the NCSE has advised that they are continuing to engage with schools in the area referred to by the Deputy in opening special classes to where there is an identified need for special class provision.
The NCSE recently launched guidelines for Boards of Management and Principals of Primary and Post Primary schools which provide information on setting up and organising special classes. These guidelines are available to download from www.ncse.ie.
As details relating specifically to the area referred to by the Deputy are not readily available in my Department, I have arranged for the Deputy's question to be forwarded to the National Council for Special Education for their attention and direct reply.
With regard to Co. Dublin (city and county), the NCSE has advised that there 119 ASD special classes attached to mainstream primary schools of which 19 are ASD Early Intervention classes. Details of all special classes for children with special educational needs, including those in County Dublin, are available on www.ncse.ie.
145. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Education and Skills when necessary funding will be allocated for essential roof repairs to a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7652/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe school to which the Deputy refers applied to my Department for Emergency Works Scheme funding for roof works.
As the scope of the works proposed were outside the terms and conditions of the Scheme, the school was advised to submit a scaled back application. As soon as this is received it will be assessed and the school authority will be notified directly of the outcome.
148. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding funding for a school bus in County Kerry. [7727/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraSchool transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of my 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.
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 the Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language. A minimum number of 10 eligible children residing in a distinct locality, as determined by Bus Éireann, are required before consideration may be given to the retention of a school transport service, provided this can be done within reasonable cost limits.
Decisions in relation to the retention or establishment of school transport services for the 2017/18 school year will be made when all applications submitted for school transport have been assessed and payments made. However, families should liaise with their local Bus Éireann office at 066 7164750 if they require additional information on school transport services.
In general, families of eligible children, for whom there is no school transport service available, will be paid the Remote Area Grant towards the cost of making private transport arrangements. The terms of the Primary School Transport Scheme are applied equitably on a national basis.
149. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of trips outside the State taken by either him or his Minister of State in tabular form; the locations they were to; the purpose of each trip; the duration of each trip; the officials who accompanied any Minister on each trip; and the costs of flights, accommodation and any other expenses incurred per person on each trip. [7729/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraPlease find the answer in the following table.
|
No of Trips |
Ministers Trips |
Dates Travelled |
Destination |
Purpose of Trip |
Flight Costs |
Accommodation Costs |
T & S Claims |
Gifts |
|
1 |
Minister Richard Bruton |
China |
Education Trade Mission incorporating Ireland's receipt of Country of Honour at an International Conference |
|||||
|
Minister |
19-21/10/2016 |
China |
As above |
Paid by Enterprise Ireland (EI) |
Paid by EI |
NIL |
€577.88 |
|
|
|
Officials x 2 |
19-21/10/2016 |
China |
As above |
Paid by EI |
Paid by EI |
NIL |
NIL |
|
|
Officials x 3 |
16-25/10/2016 |
China |
As above |
€7,801.07 |
€775.72 |
€1,900.96 |
NIL |
|
Subtotal |
|
|
|
|
€7,801.07 |
€775.72 |
€1,900.96 |
€577.88 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2 |
Minister Richard Bruton |
Brussels |
Education Council Meeting |
|||||
|
Minister |
21/11/2016 |
Brussels |
As Above |
€152.98 |
NIL |
NIL |
NIL |
|
|
Officials x 2 |
21/11/2016 |
Brussels |
As Above |
€344.94 |
NIL |
€161.20 |
NIL |
|
|
Official x 1 |
20-22/11/2016 |
Brussels |
As Above |
€429.97 |
€299.00 |
€235.52 |
NIL |
|
|
Subtotal |
€927.89 |
€299.00 |
€396.72 |
NIL |
||||
|
TOTAL for Minister Bruton |
€8,728.96 |
€1,074.72 |
€2,297.68 |
€577.88 |
||||
|
1 |
Minister of State John Halligan |
London |
Meeting with the Irish Community on EU/UK matters |
|||||
|
Minister |
15-16/06/2017 |
London |
As Above |
€508.10 |
€542.65 |
NIL |
NIL |
|
|
Official x 1 |
15-16/06/2016 |
London |
As Above |
€597.36 |
€542.65 |
NIL |
NIL |
|
|
Subtotal |
€1,105.46 |
€1,085.30 |
NIL |
NIL |
||||
|
2 |
Minister of State John Halligan |
Tel Aviv |
Meeting with Israeli Minister for Science Technology and Space and Meetings with Palestinian Ministers for both Education and Labour |
|||||
|
Minister |
7-10/11/2017 |
Tel Aviv |
As Above |
€1,383.42 |
€474.08 |
NIL |
€232.82 |
|
|
Officials x 2 |
7-10/11/2016 |
Tel Aviv |
As Above |
€2,766.84 |
€948.14 |
€674.99 |
NIL |
|
|
Subtotal |
€4,150.26 |
€1,422.22 |
€674.99 |
€232.82 |
||||
|
TOTAL for Minister Halligan |
€5,255.72 |
€2,507.52 |
€674.99 |
€232.82 |
150. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a promised new school (details supplied) in County Wexford; if the building will still be completed within the timeframe of the five year school building programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7765/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe major building project referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of architectural planning - Stage 2(b), which includes the applications for Planning Permission, Fire Certificate and Disability Access Certificate and the preparation of Tender Documents. All statutory approvals have been secured.
The Design team are currently working on the completion of the stage 2(b) submission. Once the Stage 2b (Detailed Design) submission is received and reviewed by my Department and subject to no further issues arising my officials will revert to the school with regard to the further progression of the project at that time.
151. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on correspondence regarding a school (details supplied) in Dublin 8; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7766/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe staffing process for the 2017/18 school year is currently underway in the Department and the details in relation to same will be published shortly on my Department's 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 previous 30 September.
The staffing schedule operates in a clear and transparent manner and treats all similar types of schools equally. It currently operates on the basis of a general average of 1 classroom teacher for every 27 pupils with lower thresholds for DEIS Band 1 schools.
The staffing arrangements includes the provision whereby schools experiencing rapid increases in enrolment can apply for additional permanent mainstream posts on developing grounds, using projected enrolment for the following September. In the current school year, three developing posts were provisionally sanctioned to the school referred to by the Deputy. The enrolment achieved by the school on 30 September 2016 was sufficient to retain two of these posts. The school submitted a staffing appeal to the October 2016 meeting of the Primary Staffing Appeals Board. This appeal was refused on the basis that the grounds of the appeal did not warrant the allocation of an additional post under the terms of the published staffing arrangements. The Primary Staffing Appeals Board operates independently of the Minister and the Department and its decision is final.
The configuration of classes and the deployment of classroom teachers are done at local school level. Depending on the circumstances of the school, e.g. fluctuating enrolment, accommodation available, there may be a variation in the size of the classes in the school. School authorities are requested to ensure that the number of pupils in any one class is kept as low as possible, taking into account all of the above factors.
Given that the staffing schedule operates to a general average of one classroom teacher for every 27 pupils, if a school has a large class it generally also has a small class.
152. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans to provide pension entitlements to retained firefighters who are paying a pension levy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7754/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 2008, retained fire-fighters were given the option of joining the Local Government Superannuation Scheme (LGSS) and receive a pension and retirement lump sum based on their pensionable remuneration and length of service. Retained fire-fighters who opted not to join the scheme receive, on retirement, a gratuity of 1/8th of the annual retainer multiplied by the number of years of actual service (up to a maximum of four times the annual retainer). All retained fire-fighters appointed after 1 January 2013 must join the Single Public Service Pension Scheme.
The Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2009 states that any public servant who is a member of a public service pension scheme is entitled to a benefit under such a scheme, or receives a payment in lieu of membership of such a scheme, is subject to Pension Related Deduction (PRD) from their remuneration. Additional pension benefits do not arise as a result of this deduction.
The payment of the retirement gratuity to retained firefighters who are not members of the LGSS is a payment in lieu of membership of a pension scheme and, as such, all retained fire-fighters, whether members of a public service pension scheme or not, are subject to the deduction outlined in the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2009. Responsibility for this legislation rests with my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.
