Written Answers Nos. 119-129
119. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Education and Skills the stage of the project and funding as announced in 2015 of a major school building project for a post-primary school in County Carlow (details supplied); when the project will start; the level of funding that is allocated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10580/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that a project for the school referred to by the Deputy is included on my Department's 6 Year Construction Programme.
It is my Department's intention to arrange a site visit to the school in the context of initiating the architectural planning process for the project. My Department will be in contact with the school in due course in that regard. In the interim an application for temporary accommodation to address immediate needs is currently being considered by my Department and a decision will be conveyed to the school authority shortly.
120. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if there is a grant available to second level schools for the provision of a computer lab (details supplied). [10586/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy that it is open to school authorities to submit applications for additional accommodation under my Department's Additional Accommodation Scheme www.education.ie.
All applications for additional accommodation are considered in the context of the very significant challenges facing my Department in prioritising available capital funding for essential mainstream classrooms to meet the demand for extra school places and where an additional teacher has been appointed.
121. Deputy Regina Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of teachers employed by his Department and-or ETBs as unqualified eligible part-time or full-time teachers since 1994; and the number of these ETBs that are or were on the incremental salary pay scale. [10588/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy is not readily available. Information will be sent directly to the Deputy as soon as it is compiled.
The deferred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
122. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason his Department's map relates to Finglas and Scribblestown but not Pelletstown in respect of the proposed new school for Pelletstown, Dublin 7; the reason a new school would be located in Pelletstown, when there is already a new school there and that location would not be accessible to children in the Finglas north and south areas; the origins of this proposal in view of the fact that schools in these areas have spare capacity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10601/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 17 November 2015 the establishment of three new primary schools in 2017 and one new primary school in 2018 was announced by my Department. The new primary school for Pelletstown, Dublin 7 (also known as Scribblestown or Ashtown) was part of this announcement.
In relation to the demographic analyses, my Department uses a Geographical Information System (GIS) to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise. In order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, the Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas. The GIS uses data from a range of sources, including the Central Statistics Office, Ordnance Survey Ireland, the Department of Social Protection and my Department's own databases. With this information, my Department carries out nationwide demographic exercises at primary and post-primary level to determine where additional school accommodation is needed. The requirement for this new school arose from such demographic analyses conducted by my Department.
It was determined that a new primary school was required to meet the level of anticipated future demand in the area. While the proposed new school will cater for children living in the Scribblestown/Finglas West school planning area, given the emerging population pattern combined with recent and imminent new residential developments in the wider area, it is intended to locate the school within or close to the general Pelletstown area, which is located adjacent to the boundary of Scribblestown/Finglas West school planning area.
123. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Education and Skills the allocated hours for physical education in the curriculum at post primary schools. [10602/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraPost-Primary schools are required to provide Physical Education for all students. The recommended time currently is two hours of Physical Education per week at all class levels.
124. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the updated cost-benefit analysis and financial robustness element of the tender process for the Maynooth Education Campus, Maynooth, County Kildare, has been completed; if approval of the issue of the letter of intent has issued to Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board; the conditions required of the letter of intent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10628/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am pleased to be able to inform the Deputy that all aspects of the tendering process for the Maynooth Education campus project have been satisfactorily completed and my Department gave approval to the Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board on 27th February last to issue a Letter of Intent to award a contract to the preferred bidder.
The conditions contained in the Letter of Intent relate to the usual proofs required from a Contractor in relation Tax Clearance, Insurances, Bond etc. Assuming that the preferred bidder can comply with these requirements, my Department would expect the project to be on site in a few months’ time.
125. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he has received the supplementary tender report regarding a school (details supplied); if final approval has now issued to sign contracts for construction of the new school; when construction will commence; the construction timetable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10629/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe school to which the Deputy refers is at an advanced stage of the tender process. The School was authorised to issue a Letter of Intent to the preferred tenderer on 17th January 2017. The completed supplementary tender report is expected in my Department in early March and subject to no issues arising it is anticipated that construction will commence in the second quarter of 2017. The project is scheduled to take 24 months to complete.
126. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason for the delay in considering a request for capital funding for a school (details supplied); when the school authorities will receive a substantive response to their application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10630/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that the school referred to by the Deputy has submitted an application for major capital works to my Department. Applications for major capital works are considered in the context of the very significant challenge facing my Department in prioritising available capital funding for essential mainstream classrooms to meet the demand for extra school places and where an additional teacher has been appointed. My Department will convey a decision on the application directly to the school authority as soon as the application process has been finalised.
127. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the design team for a new school (details supplied) has submitted the review of the impact to tender documents for the project arising from changes introduced in public works contracts; if the design team has submitted revised tender documents for the project; if the review and tender documents have been approved by his Department; when tenders will be invited for the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10632/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe school and its design team have not yet submitted the report to my Department. Upon receipt and review of the Stage 2b submission my Department will revert to the Board of Management with regard to the further progression of the project at that time.
128. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the announcement from Galway Mayo Institute of Technology that a significant number of courses are to be axed at the campus; and the way this will impact on his Department's Action Plan for Education and it's aims. [10633/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra129. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the reduction of State funding from 2008 to 2014 is affecting the range and quality of courses offered by institutes of technology; and if he has been informed by the governing bodies of any IT of plans to reduce the level of services as a result of budget shortcomings. [10634/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 128 and 129 together.
My Department allocates the recurrent funding to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for direct disbursement to the HEA designated higher education institutions, including the Institutes of Technology (IoTs) such as Galway Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT). The HEA allocates this funding to the institutions and the internal disbursement of funding is then a matter for the individual institution. Higher Education Institutions are autonomous bodies and are responsible for their own day to day affairs, including the allocation of all of its income (both public and private). They are also responsible for the provision and management of courses at their institution.
My Department and the HEA are aware of the financial difficulties being experienced by a number of the Institutes of Technology (IoTs), including GMIT. The HEA has been closely monitoring the financial position of all of the IoTs and in particular it is working closely with those Institutes operating in deficit to ensure appropriate mechanisms are put in place to eliminate the deficit as quickly as possible.
The Financial Review of the Institutes, published last year by the HEA, was carried out in order to provide an overview of the financial health of the sector, to consider capacity issues and to examine the challenges for the institutions given their respective plans for the future. The report makes a number of recommendations on how some of the issues which contribute to funding problems in the IoT sector can be addressed and my Department is working with the HEA in relation to those recommendations. These policy recommendations will also feed into the work being undertaken on developing a sustainable funding model for the sector.
In addition, the HEA has a policy framework in place for engaging with vulnerable IoTs which requires Institutes to submit a three-year plan to return them to a balanced budget situation. If the Institute is unable to demonstrate how a return to a balanced budget can be achieved within this timeframe, or if actual performance deviates significantly from the plan, then the HEA will seek the appointment of an independent financial expert to work with the Governing Body and Executive Management Team to agree a revised plan and programme of remedial action. The HEA and the GMIT executive are engaged in ongoing contact in relation to the financial difficulties being experienced by GMIT.
Funding overall for the higher education sector is a key concern for me, particularly in light of the additional pressure that will fall on the system over the next decade or so - an issue which is clearly set out in the Report of the Expert Group on the Future Funding for Higher Education, which is currently with the Joint Oireachtas Committee for consideration. However, in seeking to address the issue in the short term, I have for the first time in nine years secured additional funding for the sector with €36.5m additional being made available this year and €160m additional overall over the next three years.
In addition, in Budget 2017 the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and I announced a policy review with the aim of designing and implementing a sustainable and predictable multi-annual funding model for higher and further education and training involving increased Employer and Exchequer contributions from 2018. The review will be undertaken as part of the overall response to meeting the anticipated skills needs in the economy over the coming years, in line with the policy framework set out in the National Skills Strategy.
It will include an analysis of the business case for enhanced investment in the higher and further education and training sectors. In this context it will identify key elements of the new funding model and of the expected impacts, including those on employers. The review will include consultation with stakeholders. It is expected that the policy review will be published by the end of April 2017, and will complement the ongoing work by the Oireachtas Committee in relation to the Cassells report.
