Written Answers Nos. 306 - 320
306. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the treatment of pharmacy students in universities (details supplied); if he was consulted regarding this change; his views on whether it should be permissible; and if he will engage with the presidents of these institutions to reverse these changes. [19245/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (PSI) is an independent statutory body, established by the Pharmacy Act, 2007. It is charged with, and is accountable for, the effective regulation of pharmacy services in Ireland, including responsibility for supervising compliance with the Act. The PSI is responsible for defining and ensuring the standards of education and training for pharmacists qualifying in Ireland. This includes developing standards, policies and carrying out accreditation of pharmacy degree programmes.
The changes in the degree programme structure arise from the recommendations of the Pharmacy Education and Accreditation Reviews project and implementation has been overseen by the National Forum for Pharmacy Education and Accreditation.
The Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (Education and Training) (Integrated Course) Rules were signed by the Minister for Health in 2014.
These Rules underpin the implementation of the new five-year fully integrated Master’s degree programme in pharmacy which evolved from significant review of the previous training pathway, and international best practice assessment in this area. They also gave effect to new accreditation standards that were developed by the PSI and place the Core Competency Framework for Pharmacists on a statutory footing.
Moving to an integrated degree format which fully combines and integrates academic and workplace-based learning is designed to produce pharmacists who can more effectively contribute to patient care and understand the needs of the health system by having a more rounded ‘whole system’ understanding of pharmacy practice across the diversity of settings in which pharmacy is practised.
This change in the pharmacist qualification is designed to enable the pharmacists of the future to meet the changing needs of the healthcare system in Ireland. The degree will also allow greater integration with the very successful pharmaceutical industry reflecting the Government’s policy approach to the forging of strong partnerships with industry and collaborative links across academic institutions. Furthermore, moving to an integrated degree structure is intended to bring the education and training of pharmacists more closely into line with the format of the other members of the healthcare team, i.e. medicine, nursing, allied health.
The new five-year integrated Master’s degree in pharmacy, delivered by the three schools of pharmacy in Ireland (TCD, RCSI, UCC), has been developed in line with best international practice. It differs substantially from the former educational model, replacing the '4+1' structure that consists of a 4-year Bachelor pharmacy degree programme followed by a one-year internship programme or placement, with a fully integrated course structure.
Further information in relation to these changes can be requested from the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland.
307. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been brought to concerns raised by authorities of a school in (details supplied) County Donegal regarding the ongoing delays experienced to date in progressing a school building project which has been included as part of the capital programme 2016 to 2021; if construction of the project will begin in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19251/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe major building project for the school to which the Deputy refers is at an advanced stage of architectural planning - Stage 2(b) - Detailed Design, which includes the applications for Planning Permission, Fire Certificate and Disability Access Certificate and the preparation of tender documents. The Disability Access Certificate has been secured. The Fire Safety Certificate was granted in October 2016 following an appeal to An Bord Pleanála which was upheld.
The school and its Design Team have been authorised to apply for an extension to the planning permission which was previously secured in 2012 and an extension to that effect was lodged with the Local Authority at the end of March.
When all Statutory Approvals are secured the Design Team will finalise the Stage 2(b) - Detailed Design submission which will be submitted to the Department for review. Following receipt and consideration of that report my Department will revert to the school with regard to the further progression of the project at that time.
308. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to concerns raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19304/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 21 March 2002, the Labour Court recommended that LTI Community Training Supervisors should receive an increase in pay and that the total grant paid by FÁS to project sponsors for supervisor pay should be increased by 20%. Sponsors were to be advised that the total increased grant, less employers PRSI, should be paid to supervisors. This was implemented by FÁS.
The recommendation also stated that for future pay increases, the supervisors should have a pay relationship with and be ‘linked proportionally’ to Community Training Centre (CTC) Managers. Any benefit to the claimants arising from the pay relationship should be paid in accordance with the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness, which was in place at the time. Since then, LTI Community Training Supervisors have received increases under national agreements, in line with CTC Managers.
309. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills when funding will be provided for the accommodation requested by a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19343/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has been in recent contact with the school referred in respect of its request for prefabricated accommodation.
The school was advised to submit cost options to my Department for consideration. Once received, the matter will be considered further by my Department.
310. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 145 of 10 November 2016, the status of an application for funding a school building project for a school (details supplied); and the timeframe for a decision. [19352/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe position relating to an application for capital funding from the school referred to is as advised to the Deputy in my response to parliamentary question 145 last November. My Department met with the principal and members of the Board of Management of the school in September 2016. The school representatives were advised of my Department's commitments under the 6 Year Programme and that the emphasis is on ensuring that every child has access to a physical school place. In this context, the representatives were advised that my Department is not in a position to consider a request for capital funding for the school in question, at this time.
311. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Skills if funding for an extra classroom to accommodate a further teacher to be appointed will be approved for a school (details supplied); and if he will expedite a decision. [19353/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm to the Deputy that my Department has received an application for additional accommodation from the school concerned.
The application will be considered and a decision conveyed to the school authority as soon as the assessment process has been completed.
312. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19360/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy may be aware I ran a public consultation process from 24 January to 20 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 a broader 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.
313. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason for the delay in construction of a new school building project under the capital programme for a school (details supplied); the efforts he will make to prevent further delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19400/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe major building project for the school to which the Deputy refers is at an advanced stage of architectural planning - Stage 2(b) - Detailed Design, which includes the applications for Planning Permission, Fire Certificate and Disability Access Certificate and the preparation of tender documents. The Disability Access Certificate has been secured. The Fire Safety Certificate was granted in October 2016 following an appeal to An Bord Pleanála which was upheld.
The school and its Design Team have been authorised to apply for an extension to the planning permission which was previously secured in 2012 and an extension to that effect was lodged with the Local Authority at the end of March.
When all Statutory Approvals are secured the Design Team will finalise the Stage 2(b) - Detailed Design submission which will be submitted to the Department for review. Following receipt and consideration of that report my Department will revert to the school with regard to the further progression of the project at that time.
314. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 157 of 1 December 2016, if he has made contact with the education and training board in respect of a proposal submitted by a school (details supplied) to purchase an adjoining site for development; when the school can expect a decision in relation to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19404/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that my Department has responded to the ETB in question in respect of its proposal to purchase additional land for a substantial extension and refurbishment of the school referred to by the Deputy.
A major project for the ETB school referred to is not however included on my Department's 6 year Construction Programme (2016-2021) which is focused on providing essential school accommodation to meet demographic demand. The ETB were advised that it is therefore not possible to provide an indicative timeframe for the progression of a major project for the school in question at this time. However the ETB were advised that it was open to it to submit an application for additional accommodation in respect of the immediate deficits of essential classroom accommodation.
An application for additional accommodation has been received from the ETB, which is currently under consideration. My Department will be in further contact with the ETB concerned in the matter shortly.
In that regard the ETB submitted an application for replacement accommodation and a Special Class provision which is currently being assessed. My Department will be in contact with the ETB in the matter shortly.
315. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the concerns in the mid-west that the support for the reading recovery programme provided through a college (details supplied) may be reduced from September 2017; if he will ensure that these schools can continue to provide the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19413/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department, through the teacher support services and education centres, engages teachers on a full time basis annually for the provision of CPD through secondment from their schools. Having teachers with relevant and recent teaching experience and expertise is a key requirement for the role. It is a condition therefore that the maximum length of time that a teacher may be on secondment is five years, following which they return to their teaching roles within their schools. A limited alleviation of the application of the five year limit has been agreed to allow a small number of seconded personnel to serve for a further limited period.
In line with this policy, the term of secondment for the present Teacher Leader in Limerick has now ended.
My Department, through the Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST) has put plans in place to ensure that all schools currently participating in the programme, continue to do so for the coming school year. All newly identified DEIS schools from September 2017 will also be afforded the opportunity to access the programme in September.
Arrangements to recruit a Teacher Leader for Limerick Education Centre are also being finalised. The successful candidate will undergo training from September 2017 with a view to taking up the full time seconded post from September 2018.
316. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his officials will be in a position to carry out an assessment of a school (details supplied) in view of prefab replacement; if after the assessment, he will confirm that the prefabs need to be replaced in the context of the long term accommodation needs of the school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19416/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, it is my intention in accordance with the Programme for Government to replace school prefabs with permanent accommodation over the lifetime of my Department's capital programme 2016-2021.
To enable this development, my Department will be carrying out an assessment of the number of prefabs being used in schools to deliver the curriculum and to determine whether or not individual prefabs need to be replaced in the context of the long-term accommodation needs of each school involved. When completed, this assessment will quantify the number of prefabs to be replaced. It is intended that this assessment when finalised will enable the replacement of such prefabs to commence in 2019.
317. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an application for the summer works scheme by a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19421/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that my Department is in receipt of a Category 5 application (toilet upgrade), under the Summer Works Scheme (2016 - 2017) from the school to which the Deputy refers.
I wish to advise the Deputy that nearly 50% of schools have applied for inclusion under the Summer Works Scheme (SWS) which reflects a very high demand. The current SWS was announced in late 2015 and is being applied on a multi-annual basis for the years 2016 and 2017.
Details of successful school applicants in respect of Categories 1 and 2 were announced in April 2016 and are published on my Department’s website www.education.ie. Assessment of valid projects in further categories is now being undertaken by my Department, subject to the overall availability of funding, in accordance with the terms and conditions of the scheme as outlined in Circular Letter (0055/2015), which may be accessed on my Department's website. I expect to be in a position to announce a further round of the SWS in due course.
318. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a school (details supplied) has not been allocated enough SNA teacher hours to meet the demand within the school. [19422/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraSpecial Needs Assistant (SNA) support is provided specifically to assist recognised primary, post primary and special schools to cater for the care needs of pupils with disabilities in an educational context, where the nature of these care needs have been outlined in professional reports as being so significant that a pupil will require adult assistance in order to be able to attend school and to participate in education.
SNAs are not allocated to individual pupils but to schools, as a school based resource. The National Council for Special Education (NCSE), which is a separate statutory agency, allocates a quantum of SNA support for each school annually, taking into account the care needs of all of the qualifying children enrolled in the school, and on the basis of the assessed care needs of all of the children concerned, rather than solely by reference to a pupils disability categorisation.
SNAs do not have a pedagogical role and it would not be appropriate for pupils with special educational needs to be taught by SNAs. The classroom teacher is responsible for educating all pupils in his/her class, including any pupil with a special educational need. Additional teaching resources are also allocated to mainstream schools to support pupils with special educational needs.
The NCSE have up to and including the current school year, also allocated Low Incidence Teaching Hours (LITH) to schools to support children who have an identified special educational need within the low incidence, or more complex, category of special need, as defined by my Department's Circular Sp Ed 02/05, to which the Deputy refers.
The new model for allocating special education teachers to schools which has been introduced for the 2017/18 school year, replaces teaching resources allocated under the Low Incidence Teaching Hours and the General Allocation Model for primary schools. The new model provides a single unified allocation of special educational teaching support to schools. Allocations based on the school profiles issued to all schools on 7th March, details have also been published on the NCSE website. My Department’s Circular 0013/2017 for primary schools sets out the details of the new model for allocating special education teachers to schools.
The aim of this new model is to deliver better outcomes for children with special educational needs. Substantial research, analysis, consultation with service users and stakeholders, and piloting have gone in to the development of this model and all of the evidence points to the fact that this new system will deliver better outcomes for children.
The new model will give greater autonomy to schools to allocate resources to the pupils who most need these resources, regardless of their diagnosis. No school will lose supports as a result of the implementation of the new model. In addition, no school will receive an allocation, for the support of pupils with complex needs, less than the allocation they received to support such pupils during the 2016/17 school year. No allocation made for such pupils by the NCSE will be removed from schools as long as that pupil remains in the school.
In circumstances where a parent is dissatisfied as to the extent of additional support teaching time which has been allocated to their child from within a schools allocation, the normal course of action open to a parent would be to raise this matter with the school Principal in the first instance, and to request that additional teaching be provided to their child.
In the event that a parent raised an issue in relation to the allocation of additional support for their child with the school Principal, and remains dissatisfied with the manner in which the school Principal addressed their complaint, the next course of action open to the parent would be to raise this matter directly with the Board of Management of the School, who are the body which has responsibility for the management of the school.
319. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 160 of 30 March 2017, if he will extend the school summer works scheme for 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19458/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy that nearly 50% of schools have applied for inclusion under the Summer Works Scheme (SWS) which reflects a very high demand. The current SWS was announced in late 2015 and is being applied on a multi-annual basis for the years 2016 and 2017. We are therefore not accepting further applications at this time.
Details of successful school applicants in respect of Categories 1 and 2 were announced in April last and are published on my Department’s website www.education.ie. Assessment of valid projects in further categories is now being undertaken by my Department, subject to the overall availability of funding, in accordance with the terms and conditions of the scheme as outlined in Circular Letter (0055/2015), which may be accessed on my Department's website. I expect to be in a position to announce a further round of successful SWS applications in due course.
320. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide a statement of service from his Department in respect of a person's employment (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19478/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraA statement of service has issued to the person referred to by the Deputy.
