Tuesday, 11 Jul 2017

Written Answers Nos. 206-220

Student Grant Scheme Administration

Ceisteanna (206)

Marcella Corcoran Kennedy

Ceist:

206. Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason students enrolled in third level courses that are dependent on their parents for financial support may only have income earned during holiday periods disallowed for assessment of total family income under SUSI grant applications; the reason income earned by students during term time is disallowed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32164/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills

The assessment of means under my Department's student grant scheme is based on gross income from all sources, with certain social welfare and health service executive payments being exempt.

In the assessment of means, a deduction can be made for holiday earnings made by the applicant from employment outside of term time but within the reference period. I increased the value of this income disregard from €3,809 to €4,500 in the 2016 scheme.

The student grant scheme contains a number of qualifying thresholds for various grant values. These gradations allow students just over a threshold margin, to remain in receipt of a grant, albeit at a reduced rate that reflects their relative income vis-à-vis other applicants.

Irish Language

Ceisteanna (207)

Peadar Tóibín

Ceist:

207. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department carried out a cost study on the establishment of a support centre for Irish language medium education; if so, the results of such a study; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32168/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

My Department has no proposals to carry out a cost study in relation to the establishment of a support centre for Irish language medium education at this time.

Departmental Expenditure

Ceisteanna (208, 209)

Carol Nolan

Ceist:

208. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the unallocated spend within his Department for 2017; the details of expenditure allocated to programmes in 2017 which are due to cease in 2017; the funds which will become available within his Department's expenditure profile in 2018 due to changes in demand for services, goods and or changes to costs within his Department and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32179/17]

Carol Nolan

Ceist:

209. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the amount allocated to his Department under budget 2017; the amount of this that remains to be spent in his Department; the headings under which the unspent allocation has been made; the anticipated spend between July 2017 and 31 December 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32180/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

I propose to take Questions Nos. 208 and 209 together.

The 2017 Gross Voted Expenditure Allocation for my Department is €9,171 million. The net overall allocation for my Department, taking account of forecast appropriations-in-aid in 2017, is €8,675m. These figures do not include the non-voted National Training Fund.

All expenditure has been allocated under the four main programme areas as outlined in the Revised Estimates Volume:

1. First and Second Level Schools €6.598b (72%)

2. Skills Development €343m (4%)

3. Higher Education €1.585b (17%)

4. Capital Services €645m (7%)

Almost 81% of the current allocation, some €6,838 million, is accounted for by pay and pensions.

None of our major programmes are expected to cease in 2017.

I anticipate that the remaining net allocation of €4,439 million will be spent between July and December.

It is too early in the year to identify the expected end-year expenditure position for my Department, especially given that the academic year starts in September when many of the new budgetary measures will take effect. I expect that there will be a range of expenditure pressures which will need to be managed in line with trends of recent years, including demographic pressures and superannuation costs.

The Department’s Budget for 2018 will be negotiated as part of the annual Estimates process, and will have regard to levels of demand for services, Government policy priorities as set out in the Programme for Government, the Confidence and Supply Arrangement and the Action Plan for Education as well as the views of the Oireachtas.

Youthreach Programme Staff

Ceisteanna (210)

Paul Murphy

Ceist:

210. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of A and B posts of responsibility that are held by regional co-ordinators and co-ordinators and resource persons in Youthreach nationally; if regional co-ordinators in Youthreach for Dublin city and county and the education and training boards for counties Limerick and Clare hold A and B posts of responsibility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32202/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills

I note that the Deputy refers to Youthreach Coordinators and Resource Persons.  A and B posts apply to Teacher grades.  Youthreach Co-ordinators and Resource Persons are distinct grades with their own salary scales.

Special Educational Needs Staff

Ceisteanna (211)

Fergus O'Dowd

Ceist:

211. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will address the concerns of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32209/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

The Deputy will be aware that I recently announced that 975 additional SNAs will be available for allocation to schools from September 2017 which is a 7.5% increase to meet the demands for the new school year.

A total of 13,990 SNA posts will now be available at a gross annual cost of €458 million. This is more SNAs than we have ever had previously and will ensure that all children who qualify for SNA support can continue to receive access to such support.  In total, the number of SNAs available has increased by over 32% since 2011, when 10,575 posts were available.

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE), which is an independent statutory agency, is responsible, through its network of Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), for processing applications from schools for special educational needs supports, including SNA support.

The NCSE allocates SNA support to schools in accordance with the criteria set out in my Department's Circular 0030/2014, which is available on my Department's website at www.education.ie, in order that students who have care needs can access SNA support as and when it is needed. 

Responsibility for deciding on the quantum of educational supports and resources to be allocated to schools to support individual pupils rests with the NCSE. It should be noted that SNA allocations are not made to individual children, but are made to schools to support the care needs of children with assessed special educational needs in the school. 

The level of SNA support allocated to schools can change from year to year, as students with care needs leave the school, as new students with care needs enrol, or as students develop more independent living skills as they get older and their care needs diminish over time.

The National Council for Special Education has advised all schools of their allocations for SNA support for the coming 2017/18 school year. Details of the allocations which have been made to schools have now been published on their website www.ncse.ie.

The NCSE continues to process applications for access to SNA support which are received after the April deadline.  Such applications will be processed in the order in which the applications are received.  

In circumstances where a school, or parent, is unhappy with the allocation of SNA support which has been made, or considers the level of support allocated is not sufficient to meet the care needs of the pupils concerned, the school or parent may appeal that decision via the NCSE appeals process.  Details of the NCSE appeals process is available at www.ncse.ie.

The local SENO is available to discuss any concerns that parents have about the present or future educational needs of their child. All schools have the contact details of their local SENO and contact details are also available on the NCSE website at www.ncse.ie.

Education and Training Provision

Ceisteanna (212)

John McGuinness

Ceist:

212. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Skills if an application for the local training initiative programme in respect of a centre (details supplied) will be approved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32211/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills

This is an operational matter for Kilkenny and Carlow Education and Training Board (KCETB) who I understand have been in contact with the relevant Centre. I have arranged for KCETB to contact the Deputy directly in relation to this matter.

State Examinations

Ceisteanna (213)

Thomas Byrne

Ceist:

213. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if there have been changes in the criteria for accessing a scribe for the leaving certificate examination; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32214/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations. The Commission in this regard operates a scheme of Reasonable Accommodations in the Certificate Examinations.

In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.

School Accommodation Provision

Ceisteanna (214)

Jack Chambers

Ceist:

214. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the planned extension and development of a school (details supplied) in Dublin 15; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32225/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

Tender documents for the School Building project to which the Deputy refers are currently being prepared for issue to Contractors. It is anticipated that a Contractor will be appointed in Quarter 4, 2017, with handover of the new school building in Quarter 4, 2018.

Schools Building Projects

Ceisteanna (215)

Jack Chambers

Ceist:

215. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Education and Skills the precise location of the new secondary school for the Castleknock and Carpenterstown area under the patronage of an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32226/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

My Department has been working closely with Fingal County Council under the Memorandum of Understanding for the acquisition of school sites in order to identify and procure a suitable site for the new secondary school for the Castleknock and Carpenterstown area. A number of potential site options have been identified and these are currently under consideration.

Due to commercial sensitivities relating to site acquisitions generally I am not in a position to provide further details at this time but the school patron will be informed of the proposed location for the school as soon as it is possible to do so.

In the interim the school will open in September 2017 at the former Institute of Horology property, Mill Road, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15 on a temporary basis.

Schools Building Projects Status

Ceisteanna (216)

Eamon Scanlon

Ceist:

216. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding an application for an extension to a school (details supplied) in County Sligo; the progress to date with the proposal; the details of the extension involved; when construction is likely to commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32243/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department received an application from the school referred to for additional accommodation to provide classrooms, specialist rooms and ancillary accommodation.

The process of assessing the application is currently being progressed and my Department will be in contact with the school authorities in the matter as soon as possible.

Special Educational Needs Staff

Ceisteanna (217)

Martin Heydon

Ceist:

217. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an application for a special needs assistant for a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32269/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

The Deputy will be aware that I recently announced that 975 additional SNAs will be available for allocation to schools from September 2017 which is a 7.5% increase to meet the demands for the new school year.

A total of 13,990 SNA posts will now be available at a gross annual cost of €458 million. This is more SNAs than we have ever had previously and will ensure that all children who qualify for SNA support can continue to receive access to such support.  In total, the number of SNAs available has increased by over 32% since 2011, when 10,575 posts were available.

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE), which is an independent statutory agency, is responsible, through its network of Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), for processing applications from schools for special educational needs supports, including SNA support.

The NCSE allocates SNA support to schools in accordance with the criteria set out in my Department's Circular 0030/2014, which is available on my Department's website at www.education.ie, in order that students who have care needs can access SNA support as and when it is needed. 

Responsibility for deciding on the quantum of educational supports and resources to be allocated to schools to support individual pupils rests with the NCSE. It should be noted that SNA allocations are not made to individual children, but are made to schools to support the care needs of children with assessed special educational needs in the school. 

The level of SNA support allocated to schools can change from year to year, as students with care needs leave the school, as new students with care needs enrol, or as students develop more independent living skills as they get older and their care needs diminish over time.

The National Council for Special Education has advised all schools of their allocations for SNA support for the coming 2017/18 school year. Details of the allocations which have been made to schools have now been published on their website www.ncse.ie.

The NCSE continues to process applications for access to SNA support which are received after the April deadline.  Such applications will be processed in the order in which the applications are received.  

In circumstances where a school, or parent, is unhappy with the allocation of SNA support which has been made, or considers the level of support allocated is not sufficient to meet the care needs of the pupils concerned, the school or parent may appeal that decision via the NCSE appeals process.  Details of the NCSE appeals process is available at www.ncse.ie.

The local SENO is available to discuss any concerns that parents have about the present or future educational needs of their child. All schools have the contact details of their local SENO and contact details are also available on the NCSE website at www.ncse.ie.

Higher Education Courses Applications

Ceisteanna (218)

Robert Troy

Ceist:

218. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the details of the higher education access route; if this can still be accessed for the 2017/2018 college year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32302/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills

The Higher Education Access Route (HEAR) scheme has been operated by the Irish Universities Association (IUA) and regulated by the higher institutions themselves and not by my Department.

The operational management of HEAR has now transferred to the Central Applications Office (CAO).

I understand from the CAO that in order to be considered for the 2017/2018 college academic year, applicants must have applied to the CAO by 1st February 2017, fully completed their online HEAR application by 1st March 2017 and submitted supporting documents to the CAO by 1st April 2017.  HEAR applications for entry to college 2017 are now closed.

However, applicants applying to the CAO for entry to college for the academic year 2018/19 can apply to HEAR when the CAO application re-opens on 6th November 2017.

Any further queries in relation to making a HEAR application should be directed to the CAO at http://www.cao.ie.

School Accommodation Provision

Ceisteanna (219, 231, 235, 241)

Jack Chambers

Ceist:

219. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to build a permanent school for a national school (details supplied); if this development will be fast tracked; the interim facilities that will be put in place until the new build is completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32312/17]

Catherine Martin

Ceist:

231. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the fact that first class pupils in a school (details supplied) will from this September 2017 be forced to be bused to another school (details supplied) in order to have a classroom and that due to this, they will lose up to 30 minutes of the school day; if instead of this, temporary accommodation could be provided on site at the school; the status of obtaining a permanent site and building for the school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32738/17]

Catherine Martin

Ceist:

235. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the date that the planning application will be submitted for two prefabs at the temporary location of a school (details supplied) to accommodate the school's first class pupils; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32824/17]

Ruth Coppinger

Ceist:

241. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will expedite the provision of a site, buildings and resources for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32957/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

I propose to take Questions Nos. 219, 231, 235 and 241 together.

I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has been liaising with the patron body of the school referred to by the Deputy with regard to additional accommodation required for September 2017.

As the Deputy may be aware, this is a developing school located in rented temporary accommodation in Rathborne, Dublin 15 which will require two additional classrooms for September 2017. Work is ongoing to provide additional prefab accommodation at this location as soon as possible and it is expected that an application for planning permission will be submitted this week.

In the interim, a number of options were explored with the patron body of the school. Following a Board of Management meeting in May, 2017 the preferred option of the school, supported by the patron body, was to temporarily accommodate two of the classes in the nearby Broombridge Educate Together NS, Bannow Road, Dublin 7 (which is in my ownership) as a short-term arrangement, pending delivery of the additional prefab accommodation. Broombridge Educate Together NS is a new 16-classroom school which opened in its permanent accommodation only last year with most of its purpose-built rooms available for use.

Where it may be more convenient, parents may wish to drop their children directly to the Broombridge Educate Together NS property which is located some 3km from the Rathborne site. Arrangements are also being made to provide bus transport from the current Rathborne location up to Broombridge Educate Together NS pending delivery of the temporary prefab accommodation on the Rathborne site. Once the prefabs are installed, the classes temporarily located in Broombridge ETNS will move back to the existing rented accommodation in Rathborne, Dublin 15.

The Deputy will be aware that a building project for the school in question is included in my Department's 6 Year Construction Programme. The current site of the school in Rathborne, Dublin 15 is a temporary site. A suitable permanent site for the school's permanent accommodation has been identified and discussions are ongoing with the landowner with a view to acquiring this site.  Following this, the project for the new school building can progress into architectural planning.

School Patronage

Ceisteanna (220)

Joan Burton

Ceist:

220. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the consultations his Department has carried out with stakeholders regarding the updating of the reconfiguration plan to transfer patronage of schools from the Catholic Church to other school bodies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32376/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

As the Deputy will be aware, following discussions on patronage divesting with education stakeholders and patron bodies in 2016, on the 30th January, 2017, I announced new plans aimed at providing more multi-denominational and non-denominational schools across the country, in line with the choices of parents, families and school communities and the Programme for Government commitment in this area. 

This will involve the Education and Training Boards in the initial phase, as the State’s local education authorities, identifying areas where there is likely to be demand for greater diversity and they will work with pre-school services to establish evidence of this demand among the cohort of pre-school parents. Consultation with the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and with Childcare Committees Ireland in relation to administering the surveys of pre-school parents is ongoing and it is anticipated that this phase will commence in the autumn when the survey arrangements have been finalised and tested.

There will then be discussions between individual ETBs and the existing patrons/landowners concerning the possible transfer of schools to accommodate this demonstrated demand for diversity. Each ETB will prepare a report for my Department outlining the levels of demand within their functional areas and the responses of the existing patrons as to how this might be accommodated through the reconfiguration of existing school provision. 

In the subsequent and separate implementation phase, where the level of demand for multi-denominational schools is sufficient to justify transfer of a school from denominational to multi-denominational patronage, a process will commence to give effect to that. There will be a role for the existing patron/landowner in consulting with local community and school interests, including parents and taking into account proposals from different prospective multi-denominational patrons.  It is envisaged that transfers will largely be by way of voluntary transfer of live schools by existing patrons.

This new process for supporting transfers of schools to multi-denominational patrons in response to the wishes of local families is based around principles of transparency and cooperation. Therefore, there will be a very substantial level of consultation of local communities in the process, both with the ETBs in the initial phase to establish evidence of demand by consulting pre-school parents and subsequently through the requirement for the existing patron to consult with local community and school interests in proposing to transfer patronage of an existing school to an alternative patron body.  In that process, the existing patron will also take into account proposals from all prospective multi-denominational patrons that wish to be considered. In the final instance, an application for a formal transfer of patronage will have to be made by the existing patron under the Education Act 1998, which will require Ministerial approval.

It is important to acknowledge the voluntary nature of these transfers, given that the current patron is in most cases the owner of the land on which the school stands.  My Department will develop protocols on patronage transfer with existing patrons to ensure that school and local communities and prospective patrons are fully consulted before a decision is made.  I am confident that this process will respect the views of all parties - parents, local schools and communities and patrons.

While these new structures are being introduced, my Department will continue to work with the main stakeholders to progress delivery of diversity in areas already identified, in 2017 and beyond. 

I look forward to working constructively with all education stakeholders and patron bodies in this important endeavour and I would ask all parties to put aside sectional or self interest in pursuing the national objective of providing greater diversity of school provision in line with the choices of parents, families and school communities.