Written Answers Nos. 375-392
375. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Education and Skills whether recent reports that an organisation (details supplied) has paid the amount it owes to victims of abuse are accurate; if so, the manner in which this has been done; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20508/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe religious congregation referred to in the Deputy’s question was one of the 18 that was a party with the State to the 2002 Indemnity Agreement. That Agreement provided for a collective contribution of €128 million in cash, counselling and property.
In response to the call for further substantial contributions towards the costs of redress made in the aftermath of the publication of the report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse (the Ryan Report), many of the congregations that were party to the 2002 Indemnity Agreement made individual offers of cash and/or property. I should stress that these offers are voluntary and do not form part of any agreement. The Congregation in question offered an additional cash contribution of €5m, of which amount €2m has been paid. In 2012 the Congregation advised that it had decided to waive its claim for legal costs from the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse (CICA) and to offset this claim against the remaining cash contribution of €3m. The then Government agreed to reckon this set-off as a contribution towards the redress response, the amount of which will be calculated by applying the average discount achieved by CICA on its respondent legal costs. This exercise will be done once CICA has completed its work. The Congregation was advised that in the event that the amount of the set-off calculated on that basis is less than the €3m now outstanding the Government would expect it to make up the shortfall by way of a cash payment.
For the sake of completeness I should point out that one property offered by the Congregation under the 2002 Indemnity Agreement, the Sacred Heart Centre, Waterford, remains to be fully transferred. The completion of this transfer is at an advanced stage and the intended final recipient, the Health Service Executive, is in occupation of the property.
376. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills to outline the position regarding the provision of a new secondary school for the Malahide and Portmarnock areas of County Dublin, as announced in November 2015; if he has identified locations for the proposed schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20515/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy may be aware, a project to provide permanent accommodation for a new 1,000 pupil post primary school is included on my Department's Capital Programme.
Officials in my Department are liaising with officials in the relevant local authority in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding in relation to the identification and acquisition of a suitable site for this school.
Due to the commercial sensitivities relating to site acquisitions generally I am not in a position to provide further details at this time.
The new school will provide a regional solution for the two areas referred to by the Deputy. It is intended that the new school will initially operate on a temporary basis in interim accommodation from September 2017.
377. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills to outline the position regarding the provision of a new secondary school for the Swords area of County Dublin, as announced in November 2015; if he has identified locations for the proposed schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20516/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraArchitectural Planning has commenced for the delivery of a new Post Primary School in Swords. A site has been identified and is currently at advanced conveyancing stage.
Temporary accommodation is being arranged by the school patron, Dublin and Dún Laoghaire Education and Training Board. The school will open as scheduled in September 2017 in suitable interim accommodation pending delivery of the permanent school building.
378. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will review progress concerning the plans with regard to a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20522/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe project to which the Deputy refers is included in my Departments 6 Year Construction Programme 2016-21.
The school and its design team submitted their Stage 2(b) report for this major building project to my Department late last week and the submission is currently under review. Following receipt of that submission my Department has authorised the Board of Management to instruct their Design Team to commence the pre-qualification process for the assessment of suitably qualified contractors to which the project can be tendered.
On completion of the review of the stage 2(b) submission my Department will revert to the school with regard to the further progression to tender and construction stages at that time.
379. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna cén uair a chuirfear córas ceart leathanbhanda ar fáil do scoil (sonraí tugtha); cén fáth nach raibh sé ar fáil go dáta; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [20531/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIs é polasaí foriomlán mo Roinne an caighdeán nascachta is fearr a thairiscint do gach scoil ag teacht leis na réitigh theicniúla atá ar fáil sa mhargadh chomh maith le srianta airgeadais. Faigheann na hiar-bhunscoileanna ar fad nascacht 1000mb ar a laghad. Aithnítear an gá atá le nascacht leathanbhanda a fheabhsú do bhunscoileanna sa Straitéis Dhigiteach nua do scoileanna agus comhoibreoidh an Roinn leis an Roinn Cumarsáide, Gníomhaithe ar son na hAeráide agus Comhshaoil chun leathanbhanda feabhsaithe ar chur ar fáil do gach bunscoil.
Faoin gClár Rochtana Leathanbhanda do Scoileanna atá ann faoi láthair déanann mo Roinne foráil do nascacht idirlín a sholáthar i gcomhair bunscoileanna agus iar-bhunscoileanna aitheanta. Cuireadh creat ina raibh 14 sholáthraí páirteach ar fáil in 2012 a d’áirithigh go bhfuil réitigh níos fearr ar fáil do scoileanna.
Faoin gclár reatha, déanann mo Roinn athbhreithniú, ar bhonn leanúnach, ar infhaighteacht seirbhísí agus déanann sí uasghrádú ar scoileanna nuair a bhíonn deis ann sin a dhéanamh. I gcás na scoile a bhfuil an Teachta ag tagairt di, tá mo Roinne ag leanúint de bheith i dteagmháil le roinnt soláthraithe ag súil le seirbhís leathanbhanda níos fearr a sholáthar. Mar sin féin, mar is eol don Teachta, d'fhéadfadh éagsúlachtaí a bheith ag baint le hacmhainn leathanbhanda ag brath ar shuíomh tíreolaíochta agus tá sé sin ag cur isteach ar an tseirbhís is féidir a sholáthar don scoil seo.
380. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education and Skills to outline his plans to locate an autism or ASD class in a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20533/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis 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.
Almost 18,000 students in schools have been diagnosed with autism. The Department of Education and Skills invests over €300m annually in providing additional resources specifically to support students with autism in schools enabling:
- 63% of students to attend mainstream schools
- 26% to attend special classes in mainstream primary and post-primary schools, and
- 11% to attend special schools.
Enrolment in an ASD special class should only be considered where it has been demonstrated that a student requires the support of a special class because he/she is unable to learn effectively in a mainstream class for most or all of the school day even with appropriate supports.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE), through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), in consultation with the relevant education partners, is responsible for the establishment of special classes in various geographical areas where there is an identified need.
As you may be aware, the number of special classes has more than doubled, from 548 in 2011 to 1153 across the country now, of which 889 are special Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) classes. The number of special classes at post-primary level has doubled in the past three years and continues to rise rapidly.
The NCSE, in looking to open special classes, must take into account the present and future potential need for such classes, taking particular account of the educational needs of the children concerned. The NCSE will also take account of location and sustainability in looking to establish special classes in certain areas.
The NCSE has indicated that it has sanctioned an additional special class in the area for the forthcoming school year which will provide sufficient placements to meet demand.
The school referred to by the Deputy should continue to liaise with the local SENO in regard to establishing a special class in the future as required.
381. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education and Skills to outline his plans to extend the July provision to children with Down's syndrome and ASD; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20534/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy will be aware that the Programme for a Partnership Government includes a commitment to examine the adequacy of current special education access and funding provision.
In addition the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) Policy Advice on Educational Provision for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders was published in July 2016.
In developing this policy advice, the NCSE reviewed the Department's July Provision scheme. The NCSE consulted widely with parents, professionals and other stakeholders and interested parties while also conducting research. The Policy advice is available on the NCSEs website www.ncse.ie.
The policy advice recommends that relevant stakeholders should discuss the development of a national, day activity scheme that provides a structured, safe, social environment for all students with complex special educational needs for one month of the summer holidays.
My Department has convened an Implementation Group with representatives of the NCSE, NEPS, the Inspectorate and external representatives to ensure that the Report’s recommendations are fully and appropriately considered and that a timetable for implementation is prepared. The work of the Implementation Group is ongoing.
My officials will engage with officials in the Department of Social Protection, the Department of Health and other relevant stakeholders in regard to implementing the recommendations in relation to July Provision.
I have no plans to extend the existing July Provision Scheme while this process is ongoing.
382. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a DEIS band school (details supplied) will have exclusive access to a full-time home school community liaison teacher; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the school has had no contact from his Department since the matter was first raised, despite his response to a previous parliamentary question to the effect that departmental officials have been engaging with the school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20556/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy that, arising from his previous question on behalf of this school, officials of my Department wrote to the school in question on the 27th April last regarding this matter.
The school has been advised that it is not proposed to make any amendment to the existing level of HSCL supports allocated for the 2017/2018 school year pending the outcome of an updating of the new DEIS identification model to reflect 2016 National Census data and 2016/17 school data from my Department's online pupil database. The school in question will continue to receive shared access, along with its junior school, to a HSCL teacher for the 2017/2018 school year.
This will be followed by a further assessment of all schools in autumn 2017 which will provide the basis for the future allocation of resources to schools, including HSCL services.
The Deputy may also wish to note that there are a number of specific actions relating to the HSCL Scheme, and to future arrangements for the clustering of schools to receive such resources in the new DEIS Plan which I launched earlier this year. Work on implementing these actions is being taken forward by my Department together with the Child and Family Agency Tusla which has responsibility for the management of the HSCL scheme, and our education partners including schools.
383. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills to set out the level of completion of primary online database questionnaires by parents; if completion rates are low in certain schools or in certain areas compared to other areas; and his views on low questionnaire completion rates. [20557/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Primary Online Database (POD) is a nationwide individualised database of primary schools pupils, facilitating the monitoring of educational progress as pupils move through the primary education and on to post primary. Once a year schools are asked to complete an annual census return, in which schools verify the number of pupils in their school and the details of those pupils. All primary schools completed this return for the 2016/2017 academic year.
This information is used for:
- teacher allocation and payment of capitation and other grants
- resource allocation and planning purposes
- statistical information
- register of pupils.
This data is supplied by schools and it is the responsibility of schools to ensure the quality of the data for all of the uses associated with POD.
Further information on the data collected on POD can be found on the Department's website here: http://www.education.ie/en/Publications/Statistics/Primary-Online-Database-POD-/.
384. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if, in circumstances in which primary online database questionnaires are not fully completed, this could affect a school's designation status for DEIS; and if this is considered a significant problem with the new DEIS identification and assessment by his Department. [20558/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Primary Online Database (POD) is a nationwide individualised database of primary schools pupils, facilitating the monitoring of educational progress as pupils move through the primary education and on to post primary. It is used for:
- completion of the National School Annual Census
- teacher allocation and payment of capitation and other grants
- resource allocation and planning purposes
- statistical information
- register of pupils
- centralised updating of school information.
As the Deputy is aware the identification process for assigning DEIS status has been developed using the CSO Small Area data as represented in the Haase Pratschke Index of Deprivation (HP Index) combined with DES POD and PPOD data. This data is supplied by schools and it is the responsibility of schools to ensure the quality of the data for all of the uses associated with POD, including the designation of DEIS status.
385. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 109 of 13 April 2017 to set out the number of retirements confirmed for the school; the number of these retirements that relate to management or non-teacher posts; and the number that relate to teaching posts. [20560/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department has been informed of the resignation of the Principal and Deputy Principal in the school referred to by the Deputy. These resignations are due to take effect at the end of the current school year.
386. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills to outline the status of the provision of a permanent site for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20563/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy may be aware, a project to provide permanent accommodation for the school in question is included on my Department's Capital Programme.
Officials in my Department are liaising with officials in the relevant local authority in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding in relation to the identification and acquisition of a suitable site for this school.
Due to the commercial sensitivities relating to site acquisitions generally I am not in a position to provide further details at this time.
389. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if all DEIS band 1 primary schools are allocated one home school liaison officer, HSCL, each; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that two DEIS band 1 schools (details supplied) at present share a home school liaison officer; his plans to ensure they are allocated a HSCL each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20584/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe matter referred to by the Deputy relates to the assignment of a Home School Community Liaison (HSCL) Coordinator where the assignment of the current Coordinator serving the school in question is due to expire at the end of the current school year.
The reassignment of HSCL duties is part of the normal cycle of the HSCL scheme and the allocation of a full or a shared teacher to these duties is related to the number of targeted pupils in the school in terms of educational disadvantage.
HSCL Coordinator posts are full time posts allocated to DEIS (urban primary and post primary) schools. Some HSCL posts are allocated on a shared basis between DEIS schools (in cluster groups) and can be shared across the two bands or sectors: primary and post primary level.
The Deputy may wish to note that officials of my Department are currently engaging with the school in question to ensure that access to HSCL support is in place for the coming school year to ensure the continuity of this important DEIS support. It is not proposed to make any amendment to the level of HSCL supports allocated for the 2017/2018 school year pending the outcome of an updating of the new DEIS identification model to reflect 2016 National Census data and 2016/17 school data from my Department's online pupil database. This will be followed by a further assessment of all schools in Autumn 2017 which will provide the basis for the future allocation of resources including HSCL services.
The Deputy may also wish to note that there are a number of specific actions relating to the HSCL Scheme, and to future arrangements for the clustering of schools to receive such resources in the new DEIS Plan which I launched earlier this year. Work on implementing these actions is being taken forward by my Department together with the Child and Family Agency Tusla which has responsibility for the management of the HSCL scheme, and our education partners including schools.
391. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a bachelor’s degree obtained by a person (details supplied) in Bucharest, Romania, is recognised as equal in value and status to a bachelor’s degree obtained in other accredited universities here and the wider European Union countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20641/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraQuality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI), the State Agency responsible for maintaining the National Framework of Qualifications, operates NARIC Ireland – the National Academic Recognition Information Centre. NARIC Ireland is responsible for providing advice on the recognition of foreign qualifications in Ireland and provides comparability statements for a number of qualifications from various countries, including Romania, which may be downloaded from its website at http://www.naric.ie.
It should be noted that the profession of psychologist is regulated in Ireland for the purposes of working in the publicly funded health service. The Department of Health is designated as the Irish competent authority for this profession. Details on the qualification requirements and recognition processes for this profession are available from the Department of Health’s website at the following link: http://health.gov.ie/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Information-note.pdf.
392. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Education and Skills to set out the rules of governance set out by his Department that boards of management, teachers and parents associations must adhere to as the minimum guidelines to protect the safety of children attending both national and post-primary schools in circumstances in which an offender is known to a school or reported to a school and confirmed by An Garda Síochána; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20665/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the provisions of the Education Act, 1998, the Board of Management is the body charged with the direct governance of a school and has responsibility for ensuring the health and safety of its staff and pupils.
My Department has issued "Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools" based on the "Children First – National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children 2011" (Children First) and which apply to all primary and post-primary schools. The purpose of the procedures is to give direction and guidance to school authorities in the implementation of Children First when dealing with allegations/suspicions of child abuse and neglect.
The procedures make very clear the reporting and investigation mechanisms to be followed where there are reasonable grounds for concern that children may have been abused or neglected, are being abused or neglected, or are at risk of abuse or neglect and the lead role of Tusla (the Child and Family Agency).
Where there is a concern that a person poses a potential threat to public safety (including to the safety of a school’s staff or pupils) the responsibility for dealing with such a situation rests primarily with An Garda Síochána in accordance with its duty to protect the community, to undertake criminal investigations and to bring offenders to justice. In any case where a school is concerned about a threat to the safety of pupils or staff, it should ensure that it liaises closely with and follows the advice of An Garda Síochána in relation to the safety and protection of its pupils and staff. A school should also contact and seek the advice of Tusla in relation to any child protection issues arising and should ensure that any health and safety measures necessary in relation to protecting both staff and pupils are put in place.
My Department’s National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) has also provided all schools with guidelines and resource materials in relation to dealing with traumatic or critical incidents. In addition, NEPS psychologists are available, upon request from school authorities, to attend at a school to provide direct assistance and advice to the school community where necessary.
