Written Answers Nos. 94-111
94. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Education and Skills the amount of the €210 million that was provided under the capital plan for the upgrade to school information and communication technology and wireless networks which has been spent; the number of schools this funding has gone to; the number of schools funding will be provided for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18746/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Digital Strategy for Schools 2015-2020 Enhancing Teaching Learning and Assessment, sets out the Department's vision for embedding ICT in teaching learning and assessment in primary and post-primary schools. The Strategy recognises the issues schools face in relation to ICT infrastructure, and funding of €210m is committed to address these requirements over the period of the Strategy. The first tranche of funding of €30m in respect of the 2016-2017 school year has now been issued to 3,158 primary schools and 666 post-primary schools.
Details of the ICT Infrastructure Grant Scheme in respect of the 2016-2017 school year, including eligibility criteria and the methodology applied to calculating the payments, can be found on the Department's website at http://www.education.ie/en/Circulars-and-Forms/Active-Circulars/cl0001_2017.pdf.
95. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Education and Skills the amount of the €110 million that was provided under the capital plan for investment in third level sector facilities which has been spent; the number of third level projects which have received this funding; the number of third level projects that will receive funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18747/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 2016-2021 Capital Plan provided direct Exchequer investment of €110m for the higher education sector, in addition to an existing allocation for the consolidation of the DIT campus at Grangegorman.
€21.5m of the €110m available for higher education under the Capital Plan was provided for disbursement in 2016. Following a reallocation of funding late last year, a further €10m was provided for capital projects in the higher education sector. This combined funding of €31.5m supported a total of 8 projects in the higher education sector, including, for example, the Glucksman Library in UL, the Confucius Institute in UCD and development of the Carriganore campus in Waterford IT. In addition, the Department distributed a devolved grant of €10m among the country's 14 Institutes of Technology, which funded urgent minor works and equipment renewal.
Much of the 2017 capital allocation for higher education will be required to deliver on existing commitments, including further funding tranches to the projects referenced above. The distribution of the remaining funds in future years will depend on a number of factors and this is being managed very carefully in consultation with the Higher Education Authority. As the Deputy can appreciate, there are many competing demands on the Department's higher education capital budget and any available funding will be considered in that context.
96. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Education and Skills the funding that was provided for in the capital plan for higher education research facilities; the funding that has been spent to date; the number of higher education research facilities that have received funding under the capital plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18748/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe funding provided to my Department's research subhead in 2017 is €40.6 million and funds the work of the Irish Research Council (predominantly funding PhD students and Post-Doctoral researchers), HEAnet and the Irish Centre for High End Computing. This is an increase of €3 million in the annual allocation to the subhead for the years 2013 to 2016.
The Programme for Research in Third Level Institutions (PRTLI) has been a core instrument for the development of research infrastructure; building basic research capability and helping to drive a strategic approach to research activity in the third level institutions. There have been five cycles of PRTLI funding to date, with total investment of some of €1.2 billion. This has been invested across the sciences, technologies, social sciences and the humanities.
Under Innovation 2020, Ireland’s five-year strategy for research and development, a further cycle of the PRTLI is to be developed to support investment in research infrastructure, for the maintenance and upgrading of existing facilities and equipment. A key element of Cycle 6 will also be the development of human capital.
Since 2010 the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation is responsible for the operation of the PRTLI.
98. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Education and Skills the amount of the €40 million funding provided for a project (details supplied) which has been spent; the amount of funding which has yet to be spent; when the project will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18750/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe consolidation of the DIT campus at Grangegorman represents a flagship infrastructural project for the higher education sector in Ireland. Total funding of €90.7m has been allocated towards the project, of which €40m was specifically included in the current Capital Plan.
To date, the capital funding allocated towards the project by the Department has resulted in the successful completion of the first phase. This phase includes the installation of primary utilities
and services, new public realm work and the opening of the first small tranche of facilities for approximately 1,200 staff and students.
The remaining balance of the allocation is approximately €30m which is fully committed and will be allocated primarily towards costs relating to the development of the central and east academic quads, which are to be delivered by PPP. Completion of the academic quads is currently projected for autumn 2019.
99. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Education and Skills the amount of the €200 million funding for third level sector PPP projects that has been spent; the number of projects which have been initiated and completed respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18751/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn late 2016, the Higher Education Authority (HEA) commenced a consultation process to update and consolidate the information available in relation to priority capital projects in higher education institutions (HEIs). The process also provided HEIs with the opportunity to identify those projects which they wished to put forward for consideration as part of the forthcoming higher education PPP programme, for which €200 million funding is made available under the Capital Plan.
The responses from HEIs will provide the Department with an up to date and comprehensive understanding of the full scale of capital requirements across the sector over the coming years. They will also assist in identifying which projects will be prioritised for both PPP and Exchequer funding, in the event that future funding levels permit.
An assessment of the submissions from HEIs is currently underway. Governance arrangements for the PPP programme are currently being put in place, involving this Department, as well as the HEA and the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA). It is envisaged that initial project selection will take place in the coming months.
100. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Skills when works at a school (details supplied) will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18849/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe project to which the Deputy refers commenced construction in July 2016 and is scheduled for completion in early 2018.
101. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18878/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations.
In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.
102. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the provision of a library can be facilitated for a college (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18879/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe library project referred to is the Junior Cycle Schools Programme (JCSP) Demonstration Library Project.
My Department is not currently accepting any new applications for the JCSP. The JCSP will be subject to a review at a future date when a substantial proportion of the new Framework for Junior Cycle is in place.
103. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a decision on an application by a school (details supplied) for funding will be forthcoming; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18884/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that the school referred to by the Deputy has recently submitted an application to my Department for significant capital funding for additional school accommodation.
The application will be considered and a decision will be conveyed to the school authority as soon as the assessment process has been completed.
104. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he travelled abroad as part of the St Patrick's Day celebrations; the locations he travelled to; the duration of the trip; the cost of the trip including travel and accommodation in addition to other expenses incurred; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18893/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraSt. Patrick’s Day offers a unique opportunity to promote Ireland’s economic and political interests overseas, with levels of publicity and media attention unmatched by the national day of any other country. Ministerial visits around this period are organised to ensure that we use this exposure to maximise the promotion of Ireland’s trade, tourism and investment interests and to spread a positive message about Ireland remaining a committed member of the EU.
As part of the St Patrick's Day Programme, I travelled to London on 15th March and returned to Ireland on Sunday 19th March 2017. The total cost of my flights was €348.29. There were no other travel or accommodation costs and no other expenses were incurred.
During my visit to London for St Patrick's Day, I met with some key UK Ministers, including Secretary of State for Education Justine Greening, Minister of State at the Department for Exiting the EU, David Jones and other senior politicians, as well as Irish groups. I took the opportunity to raise all of the Government's key Brexit priorities and, in particular, those relating to education. The discussions focused primarily on movement of people, North/South issues, labour market supply, research and opportunities for Ireland in the post-Brexit era. These meetings were very positive and gave me a good understanding of the UK Government's views on the impact of Brexit on Ireland and their desire that the impact on Ireland be minimised. The UK Ministers clearly expressed their wish to continue the priority they attach to the close co-operation and relationship with Ireland and will aim to protect that to the greatest extent possible after Brexit in the upcoming talks with the EU.
I also attended some business events focused on Irish enterprises and Irish business people in the UK, where I had the opportunity to hear about the challenges and opportunities around Brexit.
I also took in a number of cultural and St Patrick's Day-related events involving the Irish community.
105. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will review the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18911/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraCaranua, the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Board, is an independent statutory body established pursuant to the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act 2012 to oversee the use of the cash contributions of up to €110 million, pledged by the religious congregations, to support the needs of survivors of institutional child abuse. The processing of individual applications is a matter for Caranua itself and my officials have requested Caranua to examine the matter raised by the Deputy and to reply to her as soon as possible.
106. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the portion of the funding available to Caranua that has been distributed to persons who have made applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18912/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraCaranua is an independent statutory body established under the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act 2012. The legislation provides that €110 million in contributions from religious congregations will be made available to Caranua to help meet the needs of persons who, as children, were abused in residential institutions. To date some €97.3 million, comprising contributions and associated interest, have been received from congregations and deposited in the special investment account opened by the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA) in accordance with section 29 of the 2012 Act.
Caranua provides regular updates on its website (www.caranua.ie) in regard to the number of applications received, the amounts expended by it and related matters. The most recent update, which provides figures to 31 December 2016, indicates that in the period from its establishment in March 2013 to end December 2016 Caranua had expended some €56 million in support of former residents.
107. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an application for a Teaching Council number by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18922/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Teaching Council is, since 2006, the body with statutory authority and responsibility for the registration of teachers in this State.
Accordingly, a person with a query concerning his/her application for registration as a teacher should contact the Teaching Council directly in the matter.
108. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18923/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy may be aware I ran a public consultation process from 24th January to 20th March 2017 on the role of denominational religion in the school admission process and possible approaches for making changes.
The 8 week phase of receiving written submissions formed part of the broader 12 week consultation process which will include additional steps, including any follow-up consultation that is required, collation of responses and development of next steps.
My Department has begun the process of examining the submissions, including the submission referred to in the details supplied by the Deputy, and formulating next steps. Clearly I will not make any decisions around next steps until such time as all of the submissions have been examined and considered.
109. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a school (details supplied) in County Kilkenny will be losing a teacher post in the upcoming academic year 2017 to 2018, due to declining student numbers in recent years (details supplied); if staff numbers will be maintained; and if not, if a teacher will be redeployed. [18925/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe core function of the redeployment arrangements is to facilitate the redeployment of surplus permanent and CID holding teachers to other schools where vacancies exist. The redeployment of all surplus permanent teachers is key to the Department's ability to manage within its payroll budget and ceiling on teacher numbers.
A surplus teacher situation arises when a school has in its employment one or more teachers in excess of its approved staffing allocation. The Management of the school in question has confirmed to Department officials that a number of teachers employed in the school are due to resign/retire at the end of the current school year. The school is therefore not required to nominate a teacher for redeployment.
The criteria used for the allocation of teachers to post-primary schools for the 2017/18 school year, including the redeployment arrangements, is available on the Department's website.
110. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will give consideration to the concerns outlined in correspondence regarding school admissions policy (details supplied); if his attention has been drawn to the concerns of schools under the patronage of Protestant churches and particularly the smaller schools in rural Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18926/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy may be aware I ran a public consultation process from 24th January to 20th March 2017 on the role of denominational religion in the school admission process and possible approaches for making changes.
The 8 week phase of receiving written submissions formed part of the broader 12 week consultation process which will include additional steps, including any follow-up consultation that is required, collation of responses and development of next steps.
My Department has begun the process of examining the submissions and formulating next steps. Clearly I will not make any decisions around next steps until such time as all of the submissions have been examined and considered.
111. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills if SNAs who apply for the July provision need to supply a Teaching Council number (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18938/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Purpose of July Provision Programme Grant Scheme is to provide funding towards an extended school year for children with a severe or profound general learning disability or children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
Where eligible students cannot be accommodated in a school based programme, funding may be provided towards the provision of 40 hours home based tuition.
As home based tuition takes place outside the usual school structure it is important that the educational programme provided generally reflects that which would be provided in a school environment.
It is appropriate therefore that the qualification standard for home based tuition generally reflects that required in a school environment. Accordingly, it is a condition of the scheme that parents/guardians must recruit a tutor who is qualified in the relevant sector, and is registered with the Teaching Council, similar to the requirement for teachers in schools.
Where all efforts have failed to secure the services of a teacher qualified to teach in the sector concerned, the Department may consider the engagement of a person who is registered with the Teaching Council and has a primary degree (minimum Level 7 on the National Framework of Qualifications) in a relevant area.
Further general information regarding the home-based scheme is outlined in the July Provision Information Note which is available on my Department's website at the link below;
http://www.education.ie/en/Parents/Services/July-Provision/Home-Based-July-Provision-Information-Note.pdf
