Written Answers No. 204-225
204. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the construction of a new school (details supplied); when it is expected that the school community can move into the new building; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21731/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra205. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the construction of a new school (details supplied); when he expects the school community to be able to move into the new building; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21734/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 204 and 205 together. The schools referred to by the Deputy are currently under construction and the projects are due to be completed by the end of July 2017. The new school buildings will be handed over immediately following completion.
207. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a SNA will be approved for a person (details supplied); his plans regarding the lack of places in mainstream schools for children with autism in Kilkenny city; his further plans to provide funding and other supports to deal with this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21747/17]
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.
The Department of Education and Skills considers it essential that in assessing the need for special class placements the individual needs of children should be properly assessed to determine the appropriateness of special class provision for them.
Some students, although academically able to access the curriculum in mainstream, may find it too difficult to manage full-time placement there. This can be due to significant difficulties in areas such as behaviour or sensory needs which have not been ameliorated, even with appropriate intervention, in mainstream.
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.
The NCSE continues to establish additional special classes to support children with Special Educational Needs including Autism as required. Since 2011 the NCSE has increased the number of such classes by over 50% from 548 in 2011 to 1153 across the country now, of which 889 are Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) special classes.
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.
With regard to the area mentioned by the Deputy, there are currently 17 ASD special classes in Kilkenny City and County. Of these, 2 are ASD early intervention classes, 9 are primary ASD special classes and 6 are post primary ASD special classes. There are also 5 special schools in the area.
The NCSE has informed my Department that they are satisfied that there are sufficient ASD special class placements to meet existing demand in the area. The NCSE will continue to engage with schools in the Kilkenny area in relation to opening additional special classes as required.
Parents/Guardians who may need advice or are experiencing difficulties in locating a school placement should contact their local Special Educational Needs Organiser (SENO) who can assist in identifying an appropriate educational placement for their child. Contact details are available on www.ncse.ie .
The NCSE also has responsibility, through its network of local SENOs for allocating a quantum of Special Needs Assistant (SNA) support for each school annually taking into account the assessed care needs of children qualifying for SNA support enrolled in the school. Where children have significant care needs whereby they may need additional support to be able to attend school, the NCSE may make an allocation of SNA support to the school to assist that child.
The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support, which is set out in Circular 0030/2014.
All schools were asked to apply for SNA support for the 2017/18 school year by 6th April 2017. The NCSE continues to accept applications in recognition that enrolments may not have been completed or where assessments were not completed. The NCSE will consider these applications and make further allocations to schools in respect of valid applications which have been received to September.
The NCSE will advise all schools of their allocations for SNA support for 2017/18 before the end of the current school year.
As the Deputy's question relates to the allocation of SNA support by the NCSE to an individual school/student, I have referred this question to the NCSE for their consideration and direct reply to the Deputy.
208. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Skills the action he is taking to address the lack of places at primary and secondary level for students with autism in counties Carlow and Kilkenny; if he will appoint an official from his Department to assist individual families to source places or provide alternatives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21749/17]
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.
My Department considers it essential that in assessing the need for special class placements the individual needs of children should be properly assessed to determine the appropriateness of special class provision for them.
Some students, although academically able to access the curriculum in mainstream, may find it too difficult to manage full-time placement there. This can be due to significant difficulties in areas such as behaviour or sensory needs which have not been ameliorated, even with appropriate intervention, in mainstream.
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.
Students enrolling in ASD Special Classes must have a report from a relevant professional or team of professionals (for example, psychologist, speech and language therapist, psychiatrist) stating that:
- S/he has ASD
- S/he has significant learning needs that require the support of a special class setting and the reasons why this is the case.
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.
The NCSE continues to establish additional special classes to support children with Special Educational Needs including Autism as required. Since 2011 the NCSE has increased the number of such classes by over 50% from 548 in 2011 to 1153 across the country now, of which 889 are Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) special classes.
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.
With regard to the areas mentioned by the Deputy, there are currently 24 ASD special classes in County Carlow. Of these, 5 are ASD early intervention classes, 11 are primary ASD special classes and 8 are post primary ASD special classes. There are also 2 special schools in County Carlow. Regarding County Kilkenny, there are currently 17 ASD special classes. 2 are ASD early intervention classes, 9 are primary ASD special classes and 6 are post primary ASD special classes. There are also 5 special schools in County Kilkenny.
The NCSE has informed my Department that they are generally satisfied that there are sufficient ASD special class placements to meet existing demand in both areas. The NCSE will continue to engage with schools in the areas concerned in relation to opening additional special classes as required.
Parents/Guardians who may need advice or are experiencing difficulties in locating a school placement should contact their local Special Educational Needs Organiser (SENO) who can assist in identifying an appropriate educational placement for their child. Contact details are available on www.ncse.ie.
209. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans following the recently concluded consultation on school admissions; his further plans to publish the results; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21789/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe public consultation process referred to by the Deputy on the role of denominational religion in the school admission process and possible approaches for making changes ran from 24 January to 20 March 2017.
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.
Submissions may be published in due course on my Department’s website subject to the requirements of the Freedom of Information Acts.
213. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Education and Skills when he will approve the sale of an old school building (details supplied) in County Dublin; if he will investigate the delay and take the necessary steps to ensure approval is forthcoming; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21850/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraOfficials from my Department are currently considering a request received in respect of the property referred to by the Deputy and will be in contact with the relevant property owners as soon as possible.
214. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position in relation to the proposed provision of the walkway between two locations (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21851/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe school referred to by the Deputy was allocated a grant in June 2016 to assist with the provision of a walkway which is being part funded by two other parties. The school authority have since sought additional funding from my Department in respect of consultant fees for the project.
My Department’s Planning and Building Unit requested additional information in March and as soon as this information is received and considered the school authority will be informed of the outcome.
215. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the timeline for the building of a school (details supplied) in Corduff, Dublin 15; if the funding is in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21852/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe major school building project to which the Deputy refers is at an advanced stage of architectural planning - Stage 2(b). All statutory approvals have been secured.
However, following the necessary appointment of a replacement Mechanical & Electrical Engineer the Design Team in association with the newly appointed Engineer are working on a revised M&E report which will be submitted to the Department when it is completed. My Department will revert to the school with regard to the further progression of the project following consideration of that report.
216. Deputy Maria Bailey asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of scheme for commissioning psychological assessments, SCPA, assessments completed for the academic year 2015-16 for which certification of completion of assessment forms have been submitted by school principals between 6 September 2015 and 30 September 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21906/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy may be aware my Department’s National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) provides an educational psychological service to schools through the direct assignment of a NEPS psychologist and in some cases through by providing schools access to the Scheme for Commissioning Psychological Assessments (SCPA) where schools can have an assessment carried out by a member of the panel of private psychologists approved by NEPS, and NEPS will pay the psychologist the fees for this assessment directly.
Schools availing of the SCPA scheme arrange and schedule the assessment with the SCPA psychologist and the parents of the pupil concerned and, when completed, the Principal submits a form to NEPS certifying that the assessment has been satisfactorily conducted and the assessment report submitted to the school and parents according to the guidelines provided for the scheme. Based on this submission NEPS make the appropriate payment to the SCPA psychologist. In the period specified by the Deputy in her question some 1,914 payments were made based on forms returned by schools.
217. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the refurbishment works on a school at a location (details supplied); when this building will be available for use by a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21915/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is my Department's intention to relocate the school referred to by the Deputy to their proposed new location as their long-term permanent accommodation. The new proposed building will, however, require significant remediation works and my Department will be in further contact with the Patron on this matter.
In the interim, the school has been advised to extend the lease at its current location to June 2018.
218. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a reply will issue to a person (details supplied) who is awaiting a Teaching Council number; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21977/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Teaching Council Acts the Teaching Council is, since 2006, the statutory body for the registration of teachers in the State.
Accordingly, inquires regarding registration should be made to the Teaching Council.
219. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department has failed to reach an arrangement with Caranua regarding office accommodation and rent; and his views on the suggestion that Caranua pays over €750,000 from the survivors fund for office space to which survivors have no access. [22011/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraCaranua is an independent statutory body and would, therefore, be expected to procure its own accommodation and meet any related expenses. Section 30 of the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act 2012 provides that all expenses incurred by Caranua under the Act "shall, subject to the approval of the Board, be charged on the investment account to the benefit of the Agency". The investment account is operated on Caranua's behalf by the NTMA and is funded by contributions from religious congregations.
Caranua has been provided with accommodation at a property in central Dublin assigned to the Department of Education and Skills by the Office of Public Works (OPW). It is understood that the lease on the property is expiring shortly and is not being renewed. Caranua will therefore have to vacate the premises later this year. It is also understood that OPW is in the process of finalising alternative accommodation arrangements for Caranua.
220. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding autism units in schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22014/17]
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.
This policy has been informed by published research, including the Report of the Task Force on Autism (2001), the Evaluation of Educational Provision for Children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD) (2006) and the NCSE’s policy advice on Supporting Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (2016).
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.
My Department considers it essential that in assessing the need for special class placements the individual needs of children should be properly assessed to determine the appropriateness of special class provision for them.
Some students, although academically able to access the curriculum in mainstream, may find it too difficult to manage full-time placement there. This can be due to significant difficulties in areas such as behaviour or sensory needs which have not been ameliorated, even with appropriate intervention, in mainstream.
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.
Students enrolling in ASD Special Classes must have a report from a relevant professional or team of professionals (for example, psychologist, speech and language therapist, psychiatrist) stating that:
- S/he has ASD
- S/he has significant learning needs that require the support of a special class setting and the reasons why this is the case.
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.
The NCSE continues to establish additional special classes to support children with Special Educational Needs including Autism as required. Since 2011 the NCSE has increased the number of such classes by over 50% from 548 in 2011 to 1153 across the country now, of which 889 are Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) special classes.
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 informed the Department of Educational and Skills that, in general, they are satisfied that there are sufficient ASD special class placements to meet existing demand.
The NCSE has not identified the need to establish ASD special classes in every school in the country and as such my Department has no plans to do.
My Department will continue to support the NCSE in opening ASD special classes in areas where there is an identified need.
221. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consider a change in policy to allow grant support and some other financial supports for persons who seek to change educational disciplines or career in order to find employment, even if the level of education in the new discipline or subject they wish to take has already been attained in another discipline; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22030/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraTo satisfy the terms and conditions of the student grant scheme in relation to progression, a student must be moving from year to year within a course, having successfully completed the previous year or be transferring from one course to another, where the award for the subsequent course is of a higher level than the previous course.
The objective of this policy is to help as many students as possible to obtain one qualification at each level of study. This is necessary given the level of demand on the student grant budget from first time students and students that are progressing with their studies to a higher level.
Students who don’t qualify for support, may be able to claim tax relief at the standard rate of tax in respect of tuition fees paid for approved courses at approved colleges of higher education including approved undergraduate and postgraduate courses. Further information on this tax relief is available from the Revenue Commissioners.
Another option for prospective students is Springboard which provides free, flexible reskilling and upskilling opportunities at higher education level for unemployed and previously self-employed people in areas of emerging skills needs. Also included under the Springboard+ banner are ICT conversion courses. Further details on Springboard+ courses and eligibility are available at www.springboardcourses.ie
222. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans to review, revise or change the current motor tax regime, in view of recent reports that the current model which is targeted at reducing CO2 emissions has had the unintended effect of increasing emissions of nitrogen oxides and PM2.5 and in view of public health concerns and concerns surrounding EU 2020 emissions targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21987/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are no plans currently in train to change the basis of charging for motor tax. However, policy in the area may be subject to review at any time in the context of wider fiscal or environmental policy considerations, such as the Clean Air Strategy currently being developed by my colleague, the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment.
223. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the value of funding ring-fenced under the capital assistance scheme to provide housing for young persons exiting State care in 2017 and 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22027/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere is no ring-fenced amount set aside under the Capital Assistance Scheme in relation to young persons exiting State care. My Department is working with the Department of Children and Youth Affairs on the promotion of suitable projects for this particular housing need and the approach that is being followed is to monitor the demand and requirement for such housing and to meet the need from within the funding provision available under the Capital Assistance Scheme.
The funding provision for the Capital Assistance Scheme for 2017 is €66 million and good funding availability is also anticipated for 2018, as part of the €5.35 billion secured under Rebuilding Ireland. It is preferable that the Capital Assistance Scheme funding is made available on a demand-led basis to ensure it is used to the maximum, but with a commitment to respond to the needs identified in respect of housing for young persons exiting State care.
224. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the safeguards in place to stop households being charged twice for water charges in circumstances in which a person (details supplied) operates a business from within their house which does not have a water supply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21396/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince 1 January 2014, Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels. The Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 provides that Irish Water shall collect charges from its customers in receipt of water services provided by it. The Act also provides that responsibility for the independent economic regulation of the water sector is assigned to the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) and the CER has been given statutory responsibility for protecting the interests of customers. Domestic water charges have been suspended since 1 July 2016.
Any business connected to a public water supply is liable for charges as a non-domestic customer. If the premises is also used for domestic purposes it is termed a mixed-use customer. From 1 January 2015 mixed-use customers were billed separately for their domestic and non-domestic water services and had a separate account number for each. Mixed-use customers were charged for the domestic component of their usage based on occupancy. It should be noted that the charging arrangements for the non-domestic component of the customer’s water use remain the same as operated by local authorities in 2013. In the case of a metered customer, the volume to be charged at the non-domestic rate is the metered volume in excess of the current local authority domestic allowance.
The CER is progressing a review of all aspects of non-domestic water tariffs and in conjunction with Irish Water will establish an enduring non-domestic tariff framework. The CER has recently published an information note informing customers and interested parties about the project and will shortly engage in a period of public consultation on the enduring tariff framework for non-domestic water and/or wastewater customers of Irish Water.
Irish Water has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. The team can be contacted via email at oireachtasmembers@water.ie or by telephone on a dedicated number, 1890 578 578.
Furthermore, the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) has a statutory responsibility to provide a complaints resolution service to Irish Water customers who have an unresolved dispute with the utility. A Customer Care Team has been set up within the CER to deal directly with customers who have complaints. Further information about CER's complaints procedure is available on their website at http://www.cer.ie/customer-care/water/complaints .
225. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the total allocation of funding his Department and all local authorities have given to each individual approved housing body in each of the past ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21513/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are a range of funding and delivery mechanisms available to local authorities to deliver social housing supports in partnership with Approved Housing Bodies, i.e. through the Capital Assistance Scheme, the Capital Loans and Subsidy Scheme, the Communal Facilities Scheme, the Approved Housing Body Mortgage to Rent Scheme, the Capital Advance Leasing Facility and the Social Housing Current Expenditure Programme. The funding under these programmes is provided directly to local authorities, who in turn, advance the funding to Approved Housing Bodies, as appropriate.
The funding provided by my Department since 2007 to local authorities in respect of the housing programmes listed above is set out in the following table. The data for 2015 and 2016 includes amounts which were self-funded by certain local authorities from surplus Local Property Tax receipts.
|
2016 €m |
2015 €m |
2014 €m |
2013 €m |
2012 €m |
2011 €m |
2010 €m |
2009 €m |
2008 €m |
2007 €m |
|
154.77 |
148.55 |
111.38 |
118.02 |
138.10 |
103.16 |
179.13 |
232.88 |
221.28 |
153.47 |
