Written Answers Nos 114-133
114. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to extend the redeployment pilot scheme for secondary school teachers to include counties Cork, Clare and Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23694/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe core function of the redeployment arrangements has been to facilitate the redeployment of surplus permanent and CID holding teachers to other schools that have vacancies. The redeployment of all surplus permanent teachers is key to my Department's ability to manage within its payroll budget and ceiling on teacher numbers.
A voluntary redeployment scheme operated on a pilot basis in the Munster region, including counties Cork, Clare and Limerick, in 2015 and 2016. All permanent teachers in Munster were given an opportunity to volunteer for a transfer to other areas if such a transfer would free up a vacancy that would facilitate the redeployment of a surplus permanent teacher in the region.
The arrangement previously operated on a pilot basis in Connaught to facilitate the redeployment of surplus teachers in this region.
In 2017 the pilot voluntary redeployment scheme operates in counties Tipperary, Laois, Offaly, Westmeath and Longford. My Department has no plans to extend the redeployment scheme to other counties in 2017.
The criteria used for the allocation of teachers to post-primary schools for the 2017/18 school year, including the redeployment arrangements for the 2017/18 school year, is available on the Department's website education.ie.
115. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consider a mixed non-religious school for the site of Harold's Cross greyhound track recently purchased by his Department; if so, the timeframe for development; the general plans for the site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23696/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraOfficials from my Department have had preliminary discussions with officials from the relevant local authority regarding the zoning of the site.
With regard to specific school provision for the site referred to by the Deputy, my Department is currently engaged in a review of demographics which will determine the extent of new school provision required nationwide.
Initial projections indicate a requirement for additional places at post-primary level across both the school planning area where the site is situated and the adjoining school planning areas. Projected increases in the primary level population in these areas are also indicated.
Where a requirement for additional schools has been identified, a patronage assessment process will commence to determine who will operate such schools.
As the Deputy will be aware, the patronage assessment process includes the opportunity for parents to express their preference for a particular school model. These parental preferences are key to decisions made regarding patronage of all new schools.
116. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will amend his Department's decision to refuse the EAL teacher post appeal for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23717/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe criteria used for the allocation of teachers to primary schools is published annually on the website of the Department of Education and Skills. The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September. The staffing arrangements for the 2017/18 school year (Circular 0017/2017) were published recently.
The staffing schedule operates in a clear and transparent manner and treats all similar types of schools equally irrespective of location.
The staffing schedule includes an appeals mechanism for schools to submit an appeal under certain criteria to an independent Appeals Board. Details of the criteria for appeal are contained in the staffing schedule, Circular 0017/2017.
The school referred to by the Deputy submitted an appeal for consideration by the Appeals Board for the April 2017 meeting of the board under the EAL criteria. The Appeals Board determined that this appeal was unsuccessful. The school has been notified accordingly. The Appeal Board operates independently of the Minister and the Department and its decision is final.
My Department's Circulars 0013/2017 and 0014/2017 set out details of the new model for allocating special education teachers to schools.
The new Special Education Teaching allocation provides a single unified allocation for schools, based on each school’s educational profile.
No school, including the school to which the Deputy has referred, will lose supports as a result of the implementation of the new model.
An additional 900 teaching posts have been provided to support the introduction of this new allocation model. This represents a very significant investment in the provision of additional teaching support for pupils with special educational needs. This is additional to an increase of 41% in the number of resource teachers allocated to schools annually by the NCSE since 2011.
In relation to the school referred to by the Deputy in his question, this school had a General Allocation Model allocation of 40 hours for the 2016/17 school year, which combined with 33.15 resource teaching hours allocated to the school by the National Council for Special Education, gave a total allocation of 73.15 additional teaching hours for the 2016/17 school year.
As the profiled allocation for this school did not indicate an increased allocation requirement for the school for 2017/18, the school has maintained its existing level of allocation.
The special education teaching allocation for this school for 2017/18 is 73.15 hours.
There has therefore been no reduction to the special education teaching allocation for this school as a result of the introduction of the new allocation model.
The NCSE has announced the commencement of an independent appeals process through which schools may appeal the allocation made to their school if they believe the data upon which the allocation is based is incorrect or has been incorrectly used.
118. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Education and Skills if there are cost cutting plans being considered by Waterford Institute of Technology including redundancies, curtailment of campus opening hours and cuts in course contact hours; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23745/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra119. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Education and Skills the nature of the deficit at Waterford Institute of Technology; his plans to reduce the deficit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23746/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra120. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to shorten the opening hours of the College Street campus of WIT; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23747/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra121. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to cut the number of part-time or temporary lecturers and other staff at WIT; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23748/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra122. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Education and Skills the nature of the interaction between the HEA and WIT in addressing a deficit at the institute; the future role of the HEA in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23749/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra123. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the chair of the governing body of WIT; if it is occupied or vacant; the length of time it has been vacant or occupied; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23750/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra124. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to close the College Street campus of WIT during the summer months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23751/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra125. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to close the health science building at WIT for a month or months during the summer period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23752/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra126. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to introduce redundancies, either voluntary or compulsory, at WIT; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23753/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra127. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Education and Skills the protections in place for staff at WIT under the LRA in the context of redundancies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23754/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra128. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the management of WIT is considering cost cutting proposals at WIT to reduce its current deficit; the nature of such cuts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23755/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra129. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to cut contact hours of courses at WIT; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23756/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 118 to 129, inclusive, together.
My Department allocates recurrent funding to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for direct disbursement to the HEA designated higher education institutions, including Institutes of Technology (IoTs) such as Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT). The HEA allocates this funding to the institutions and the internal disbursement of funding is then a matter for the individual institution.
IoTs are autonomous bodies and are responsible for the management of the Institute, including the allocation of all of its income (both public and private) and for the day to day operations of the Institute.
The HEA has been closely monitoring the financial position of all of the IoTs and in particular are working closely with those Institutes operating in deficit to ensure appropriate mechanisms are put in place to eliminate the deficit as quickly as possible.
The Financial Review of the Institutes, published last year by the HEA, was carried out in order to provide an overview of the financial health of the sector, to consider capacity issues and to examine the challenges for the institutions given their respective plans for the future. The report makes a number of recommendations on how some of the issues which contribute to funding problems in the IoT sector can be addressed and my Department is working with the HEA in relation to those recommendations. This includes the establishment of a Working Group in order to consider the recommendations of the report. The report’s recommendations will also feed into the work being currently undertaken by the HEA on developing a sustainable funding model for the sector.
With regard to WIT, they are in year one of a three-year plan, agreed with the HEA, to return the institute to a balanced budget. The plan encompasses a range of activities to address declining student numbers. These include a reinvigorated targeting of the CAO market, focused retention measures and closer enterprise engagement. The HEA are monitoring progress of the three year plan to return WIT to a balanced budget, through quarterly reports, regular meetings and communication with the senior management. In addition, an external financial advisor has been appointed to WIT and he commenced engagement with senior management in February.
In line with normal business practices, I understand that WIT is reviewing its running costs and part of that process involves working through multiple scenarios for optimising resources. Third-level institutions have autonomy in relation to promotion policies and other human resource policies, subject to the requirement to comply with Government policy in respect of employment numbers. Employers in the higher education sector are also required to operate in accordance with the provisions of national industrial relations agreements including the Lansdowne Road Agreement (LRA). In the event that a union believes that an employer in the higher education sector is not acting in accordance with the terms of the LRA, that union can seek to have the matter addressed using the dispute resolution procedures provided for in the Agreement, and any individuals who have issues of dispute have a variety of dispute resolution options open to them.
The appointment of a new chair of the governing body at WIT is currently underway in my Department with the co-operation of the Public Appointments Service. The current chair expressed his wish to resign from the position. However, he is continuing in his role until such time as his replacement has been appointed.
130. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the changes to the integrated pharmacy degree training programme; the details of the requirement for student pharmacists to do a four-month placement in fourth year and an eight-month placement in fifth year without pay; the reasons for this; when the students were informed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23769/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra131. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason fees for the fifth year pharmacy integrated degree course in the three pharmacy schools are being increased in view of the fact students will spend eight months on placement without pay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23770/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra134. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the changes to the integrated pharmacy degree training programme requiring student pharmacists to do a four-month placement in fourth year and an eight-month placement in fifth year without pay; the reason for this; the date students were informed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23847/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra135. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason the fifth year pharmacy integrated degree course in the three pharmacy schools is being increased in view of the fact that students will spend eight months on placement without pay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23848/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 130, 131, 134 and 135 together.
The Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (PSI) is an independent statutory body and 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.
The new programme leads to a Master’s degree.
Further information in relation to these changes can be requested from the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland.
132. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills the buildings including each and every publicly funded school, university or education-related building and equipment worth in excess of €10,000 that were transferred in whole or in part from his Department or a body under the aegis of his Department to a religious order or body or a voluntary body or other non-State body in each of the years 2007 to 2016 and to date in 2017; the name of the religious order or body in question; the date of transfer; the value and purpose of the transfer; the consideration paid to the Exchequer in return for the transfer of each of these assets; the buildings including each and every publicly funded school, university or education-related building currently under construction which are being funded by his Department or a body under the aegis of his Department; the location it is intended to transfer in whole or in part to a religious order or body or a voluntary body or other non-State body; the projected value of the transfer; the purpose of the transfer; the amount spent to date; and details of equipment that is intended to be transferred. [23813/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has not transferred ownership of any buildings to the various bodies mentioned in the years referred to by the Deputy.
My Department provides funding for school building projects to be constructed on lands owned by religious orders and other non-state bodies (e.g. diocesan trusts) to facilitate existing schools in the context of the school building programme and such buildings are owned by the landowner. Where a school applies for significant capital grant funding to facilitate a building project for a school, such funding is provided on the basis that it will be legally secured.
In relation to equipment, the Department provides funding on a devolved basis to all schools to purchase equipment. Such equipment is owned by the relevant school in question.
With regard to bodies under my aegis, the information sought by the Deputy in regard to state bodies under the aegis of my Department is not routinely collated by my Department. Officials are making enquiries with the aegis bodies and will respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 42A
I refer to Parliamentary Question No. 23813/17 of 18/05/2017 in which you requested details on "the buildings including each and every publicly funded school, university or education related building and equipment worth in excess of €10,000 that was transferred in whole or in part from his department or a body under the aegis of his department to a religious order or body or a voluntary body or other non-State body in each of the years 2007 to 2016 and to date in 2017; the name of the religious order or body in question; the date of transfer; the value and purpose of the transfer; the consideration paid to the exchequer in return for the transfer of each of these assets; the buildings including each and every publicly funded school, university or education related building currently under construction which is being funded by his department or a body under the aegis of his department; the location it is intended to transfer in whole or in part to a religious order or body or a voluntary body or other nan State body; the projected value of the transfer; the purpose of the transfer; the amount spent to date; and details of equipment that is intended to be transferred."
In my reply which issued at the time, I had stated that the information supplied related to properties under my ownership only, and that information sought in respect of bodies under the aegis of my Department was not available at the time but would be forwarded to you separately.
This information has now been compiled and I can now confirm that a nil response also applies in respect of bodies under my aegis, i.e. no buildings or equipment in excess of €10,000 transferred.
133. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 89 of 11 May 2017, the seven activities originally selected for youth employment initiative, YEI, funding; the individual allocations for these activities over 2014-15; the amount of these funds that has been expended to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23825/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe seven activities originally selected for YEI funding and the individual allocations for these activities over 2014/15 are provided in the following table. As noted in the earlier reply, the YEI activities are fully funded up-front by the Exchequer and the EU Regulations allow for the 2014/15 allocations to be spent and claimed before the end of 2018. No payment application has been made in relation to the YEI or the ESF to date.
The ESF Managing authority maintains an overview of the activities selected for the YEI/ESF and the latest expenditure figures provided by these activities is also provided in the table. However, the Deputy should note that these figures are indicative and are likely to be adjusted in the context of actual expenditure declarations that will be made following the necessary verification work on claims in accordance with the EU Regulations. In addition, expenditure in 2017 and possibly a portion of 2018, including expenditure on the Community Training Centres which have been approved for the YEI with effect from 2017, will determine the final expenditure declarations included in the YEI claim that is to be submitted to the European Commission before the end of 2018.
|
Activity |
Total Allocation 2014/15 €m |
Total Spend to 31/12/2016 €m |
|
Back to Work Enterprise Allowance Scheme |
4.648 |
1.547 |
|
JobsPlus Incentive Scheme |
7.992 |
3.249 |
|
Tús |
35.347 |
16.664 |
|
JobBridge |
57.24 |
9.227 |
|
Youthreach (South and East Region only for 2014 & 2015) |
79.876 |
157.7 |
|
Momentum |
13.333 |
5.411 |
|
Social Inclusion & Community Activation Programme |
6.0 |
6.830 |
|
TOTAL |
204.436 |
200.628 |
