Written Answers Nos. 329-348
329. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the provision of a new site for a school (details supplied) as announced in November 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35951/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware the building project for the school in question is included on my Department's capital programme and a site acquisition process is underway.
Due to commercial sensitivities relating to site acquisitions generally I am not in a position to provide further details at this time.
330. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of 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 these proposed schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35952/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Patron of the new Malahide/Portmarnock post-primary school (Educate Together) has decided for operational reasons that it is in the best interests of the school to postpone its opening to September 2018.
Officials in my Department continue to liaise with officials in Fingal County Council in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding in relation to the identification and acquisition of a suitable site for the school. Due to commercial sensitivities relating to site acquisitions generally I am not in a position to provide further details at this time but I can assure the Deputy that the school patron will be informed of the proposed location for the school as soon as it is possible to do so.
Where a requirement for additional post-primary schools has been identified, details including proposed timelines related to the opening of the schools are made known by a Ministerial announcement. However, patrons may decide for different operational reasons in a particular year that it is in the best interests of a new post-primary school to defer its opening. In some cases there may be a timing issue, where many parents will have already committed to other second level schools in the area ahead of the announcement of the new school.
331. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of 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 these proposed schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35953/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Patron of the new Swords post-primary school, Dublin and Dún Laoghaire Education and Training Board (DDLETB) has decided for operational reasons that it is in the best interests of the school to defer its opening to September 2018.
The Patron has confirmed to the Department that Swords Community College will open in September 2018, with a high number of applications having already been received.
In respect of the permanent site my Department will continue to work in close co-operation with Fingal County Council and the site acquisition process is underway in respect of the permanent accommodation for this school.
332. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the provision of a permanent site for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35954/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware the building project for the school in question is included in my Department’s capital programme.
Officials in my Department continue to liaise with officials in Fingal County Council in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding in relation to the identification and acquisition of a suitable site for the school.
Due to commercial sensitivities relating to site acquisitions generally I am not in a position to provide further details at this time but I can assure the Deputy that the school patron will be informed of the proposed location for the school as soon as it is possible to do so.
333. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will reconsider the summer works scheme application by a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35990/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, the school referred to has submitted a Category 7 application for window replacement under the Summer Works Scheme (2016-2017).
The Deputy will also be aware that I announced details of the successful applicants under round two of the SWS (2016-2017) for categories 3–6, last May, details of which are published on my Department's website, www.education.ie.
Funding of €47 million is being made available and 438 schools nationwide will benefit from this announcement. Nearly 50% of all schools have applied for inclusion under the scheme which reflects a very high demand. The matter of considering additional categories, including the application from the school in question, is reliant on further funding becoming available.
In the meantime, it is open to the school to use its Minor Works Grant to undertake works in full or on a phased basis, as that grant permits, if the school considers the works to be a priority.
334. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education and Skills the proportion of third level students who opted for apprenticeship programmes in the academic year 2016-17. [35993/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn the 2016/2017 academic year there were over 218,000 students enrolled on both part-time and full-time Higher Education programmes, over 43,500 of which were new entrants. Also in 2016 there were over 11,000 apprentices in training on various phases of their apprenticeship, 3,821 of which were new registrations. The Action Plan to Expand Apprenticeship and Traineeship 2016-2020 sets out how the apprenticeship population will double in the coming years, with annual registrations rising to 9,000 by 2020.
It is important to note that the Education and Training Boards, funded by SOLAS, also offer a broad range of flexible high-quality programmes to meet the needs of learners to enable them to develop skills. They are providing over 270,000 places, to meet the needs of over 320,000 beneficiaries, with an annual investment of over €800 million.
335. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the implementation of the Action Plan on Bullying; his plans for development of a follow-up plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36000/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Action Plan on Bullying, which was published in January 2013, sets out my Department's approach to tackling bullying and promoting an anti-bullying culture in schools. It recommended 12 actions that focus on support for schools, teacher training, research and awareness raising and aim to ensure that all forms of bullying are addressed. A number of these actions have been implemented in full while others, which by their nature involve continuous action, are the subject of ongoing implementation.
As part of the implementation of the Action Plan, National Anti-Bullying Procedures for schools, which were published in September 2013, are currently being implemented by all 4,000 primary and post primary schools in the country.
Other actions include support for anti-bullying awareness raising initiatives and the development and roll out of anti-bullying training materials for parents, teachers and Boards of Management. In addition, the national anti-bullying website, www.tacklebullying.ie, was launched as a single point of information and support for young people, parents and teachers affected by bullying.
As outlined in the "Action Plan for Education 2017", my Department is committed to continuing implementation of the Anti-Bullying Action Plan through continued support for the development of anti-bullying training materials and awareness-raising initiatives, which include support for schools, teacher training, research and awareness raising and aim to ensure that all forms of bullying are addressed.
In addition, the 2016 Programme for a Partnership Government includes a commitment "to review implementation of the National Action Plan on Bullying in our schools" as part of the development of an "LGBT Youth Strategy that will encompass education, youth services mental health and other issues". The Department of Children and Youth Affairs is taking the lead on the LGBT Youth Strategy and an Oversight Committee has been established which includes a representative from my Department.
336. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the review of PLC courses; when publication of this review can be expected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36001/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe report of the SOLAS/ESRI evaluation of the PLC Programme has been submitted to my Department and is under consideration. Following consideration of the report, plans for publication will be discussed with SOLAS.
337. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of persons in 2016 and to date in 2017 on each apprenticeship scheme; the progress made on introducing new apprenticeship schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36002/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information sought by the Deputy in relation to the number persons on each apprenticeship scheme in 2016 and to date in 2017 is set out in the table.
In January this year the Action Plan to Expand Apprenticeship and Traineeship in Ireland 2016-2020 was published, which sets out how State agencies, education and training providers and employers will work together to deliver on the Action Plan for Education commitments on the expansion in the area. As the employment and economic situation improves we continue to see strong growth in apprenticeship registrations. At the end 2016 there were 3,821 new apprenticeship registrations which compared to 1,430 registrations in 2012. The upward trend is expected to continue in the coming years with annual registrations forecast to grow from 4,947 at the end of 2017 to 9,000 by 2020.
To date five new apprenticeship programmes have been developed by the Apprenticeship Council following its first call for proposals in 2015, in Insurance Practice, Industrial Electrical Engineering, Polymer Processing Technology, Manufacturing Technology and Manufacturing Engineer. A further ten programmes are scheduled to get under way later this year in various sectors including hospitality, accounting and financial services.
A key commitment set out in the Plan for this year was the issuing of a second call for proposals to refresh the pipeline of proposals already established through the first call. The second call issued on 4 May and will remain open until 1 September.
Apprentice Population 2016 - 2017 by Sector and Trade.
|
Population at end: |
2016 |
2017 |
|
(to June) |
||
|
Construction Total |
2249 |
2485 |
|
Brick and Stonelaying |
87 |
100 |
|
Cabinet Making |
3 |
3 |
|
Carpentry and Joinery |
882 |
962 |
|
Floor and Wall Tiling |
0 |
|
|
Painting and Decorating |
51 |
58 |
|
Plastering |
39 |
53 |
|
Plumbing |
1034 |
1152 |
|
Stonecutting and Stonemasonry |
27 |
30 |
|
Wood Manufacturing and Finishing |
128 |
127 |
|
Wood Machinist |
||
|
Electrical Total |
4158 |
4617 |
|
Aircraft Mechanics |
146 |
140 |
|
Electrical |
3410 |
3823 |
|
Electrical Instrumentation |
260 |
275 |
|
Electronic Security Systems |
61 |
87 |
|
Instrumentation |
30 |
35 |
|
Refrigeration |
239 |
257 |
|
Engineering Total |
1640 |
1728 |
|
Farriery |
15 |
17 |
|
Industrial Insulation |
31 |
34 |
|
M.A.M.F. |
578 |
587 |
|
Metal Fabrication |
618 |
655 |
|
*Pipefitting |
60 |
75 |
|
Sheet Metalworking |
94 |
115 |
|
Toolmaking |
244 |
245 |
|
Motor Total |
2249 |
2310 |
|
Agricultural Mechanics |
148 |
157 |
|
Construction Plant Fitting |
215 |
225 |
|
Heavy Vehicle Mechanics |
470 |
481 |
|
Motor Mechanics |
1264 |
1288 |
|
Vehicle Body Repairs |
152 |
159 |
|
Printing & Paper Total |
19 |
19 |
|
Print Media |
19 |
19 |
|
Printing |
||
|
Bookbinding |
||
|
Grand Total |
10,315 |
11,159 |
*Please note: From end of 2016 Pipefitting is included in the Engineering Family of Trade.
Consortia-Led Apprenticeships Total 2016/2017.
|
Electrical |
|
|
Industrial Electrical Eng |
12 |
|
Engineering |
|
|
Manufacturing Engineering (Level 6) |
9 |
|
Manufacturing Engineering (Level 7) |
7 |
|
Polymer Processing Tech |
16 |
|
Financial Services |
|
|
Insurance Practice |
70 |
|
Total (Consortia-Led) |
114 |
338. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of new accommodation and facilities at a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36027/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy that the school in question has submitted an application to my Department for capital funding for additional accommodation. The application is being considered and a decision will be conveyed to the school authority as soon as the assessment process has been completed.
339. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the planning and architectural process on the planned expansion of a school (details supplied); the details of the accommodation and facilities that are to be encompassed as part of these plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36048/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe project to which the Deputy refers is to refurbish and provide a five-classroom extension and associated ancillary accommodation.
The Stage 2b Detailed Design Report was submitted to my Department by the Board of Management and its Design Team. Following receipt of the Stage 2b submission requests for further information were issued to the Design Team through the Board of Management of the school. Additional information has recently been received and is currently being reviewed in the Department.
As soon as the review has been completed the Department will revert to the Board of Management with regard to the further progression of the project at that time.
340. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the planning and architectural process on the planned expansion of a school (details supplied); the details of the accommodation and facilities that are to be encompassed as part of these plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36049/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe project to which the Deputy refers is to provide a new school with two Early Intervention/pre-school Classrooms, six Mild Moderate Classrooms, nine ASD Classrooms, three Severe and Profound Classrooms and associated ancillary accommodation.
The project has reached an advanced stage of architectural planning, Stage 2b, which involves securing the statutory approvals and the preparation of tender documents. The Design Team is currently working on completing the Stage 2b submission.
When the Stage 2(b) submission has been submitted and approved, my Department will revert to the Board of Management at that time with regard to the further progression of the project to tender and construction.
341. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the planning and architectural process on the planned expansion of a school (details supplied); the details of the accommodation and facilities that are to be encompassed as part of these plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36050/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at Stage 2(a) of the Architectural Planning process, the Developed Design Stage.
The brief for this project will provide an extension and refurbishment for a 24 classroom school with teaching accommodation for 11.5 Special Education Teachers.
A brief change request was received from the Board of Management, encompassing a number of amendments to the agreed Stage 1 initial design. Included in this request is an increase in floor area, alterations to the roof design, updating of the road and changes to the car park layout. This change request is currently under review and my Department will revert to the Board of Management once the review is complete.
Upon the successful completion of Stage 2(a) the project will then be authorised to progress to complete Stage 2(b) - Detailed Design, which includes the applications for statutory approvals and the preparation of Tender Documents.
The project is included on my Department's six-year Capital Programme 2016 – 2021.
342. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the planning and architectural process on the planned expansion of a school (details supplied); the details of the accommodation and facilities that are to be encompassed as part of these plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36051/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, a building project to deliver a major extension for the school referred to is included on my Department's six-year construction programme.
It is my Department's intention to undertake a site visit to the school in the context of initiating the architectural planning process for the project and my Department will be in contact with the school in due course in that regard.
343. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of progress made on the planning and architectural process made on a planned expansion of a school (details supplied); the details of the accommodation and facilities that are to be encompassed as part of these plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36052/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe project to which the Deputy refers is to provide an eight classroom extension and general refurbishment, with provision for a new General Purpose room and additional play area.
The project has reached an advanced stage of architectural planning, Stage 2b, which involves securing the statutory approvals and the preparation of tender documents. The Design Team is currently working on completing the Stage 2b submission.
When the Stage 2(b) submission has been submitted and approved, my Department will revert to the Board of Management at that time with regard to the further progression of the project to tender and construction.
344. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to review SNA hours in a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36145/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Special Needs Assistant (SNA) scheme provides schools with additional adult support staff to assist children with special educational needs who have significant additional care needs, in an educational context, in recognised primary and post-primary schools. The criteria by which SNA support is allocated to pupils is set out in my Department’s Circular 0030/2014, which is available at www.education.ie.
I recently announced that an additional 975 SNA posts 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 SNA support. Responsibility for deciding on the quantum of educational supports and resources to be allocated to schools to support individual pupils rests with the NCSE. In making allocations to schools, the NCSE takes into account the assessed individual needs of all children with identified needs in the school.
The NCSE has advised all schools of their allocations for SNA support for the coming 2017/18 school year, including the school in question. Details of SNA allocations which have been made to schools, have been published by the NCSE on their website at http://ncse.ie/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/NCSE-17_18-SNA-Allocation-Primary.pdf.
Where a school wishes to make an application for SNA support in respect of a child who was not considered as part of this allocation process they may continue to make such applications to 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.
In circumstances where a school, or parent, is unhappy with the allocation of SNA support which has been made, or if it is considered that the level of support allocated is not sufficient to meet the care needs of the pupils concerned, the school or parent, may appeal the decision via the NCSE appeals process. Details of the NCSE appeals process are available at www.ncse.ie.
DES Circular 0013/2017 for primary schools and 0014/2017 for post primary schools were published on 7 March 2017. These Circulars set out the details of the new model for allocating special education teachers to schools.
The revised allocation model replaces the generalised allocation process at primary and post-primary school level for learning support and high incidence special educational needs, and the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) allocation process which provided additional resource teaching supports to schools, to support pupils assessed as having Low Incidence disabilities.
The new model provides one single allocation to schools based on the profile. Schools will be frontloaded with resources to provide additional teaching support to all pupils who need such support.
The NCSE notified all schools of their special education teaching allocations for September 2017 on 7 March 2017.
The NCSE also published details of the appeals process on the NCSE website: www.ncse.ie. Schools who wished to submit an appeal were asked to do so by 31 March 2017.
In relation to the particular school referred to by the Deputy, under the old allocation model, this school had a Learning Support allocation of 40 hours for the 2016/17 school year, which combined with 13.60 resource teaching hours allocated to the school by the National Council for Special Education, gave a total allocation to the school of 53.60 additional teaching hours for the 2016/17 school year.
The profiled allocation for the school, including the additional baseline provision, for 2017/18 amounts to 47.50 hours in total. However, the school has maintained its existing level of allocation of 53.60 hours which includes a retained amount of 6.10 and a baseline amount of 16.73 hours. Accordingly, the school has been allocated some 22.83 hours more than its profile indicates.
Schools could appeal whether the data used to calculate their school profile was correct and complete and whether it was correctly applied in the calculation of their 2017/18 allocation.
DES Circulars 0013/2017 and 0014/2017 outline the basis on which the Education Research Centre determined the allocations for all schools.
In advance of any submission of an appeal, schools were asked to read carefully the DES Circulars and in particular the relevant sections, which relate to the breakdown of the allocation, which may be under consideration for appeal.
The NCSE is now concluding the appeal process and it is hoped that decisions will issue to schools in the coming days.
The model will also allow for some additional provision for exceptional circumstances or where a school’s enrolment levels increase very substantially prior to the next review of the model.
It is acknowledged that there are circumstances which may arise in schools, which fall outside the appeals process put in place by the NCSE in March 2017(NCSE 03/2017) to support the new special education teaching model. This includes circumstances where the school profile significantly changes following the allocation process e.g. a developing school where the net enrolment numbers significantly increase year on year.
Schools have recently been advised of the qualifying criteria for such allocations. Schools who qualify for additional allocations on the grounds that they will receive additional developing posts in accordance with the primary and post primary staffing schedules for 2017, will also provisionally receive additional special education teaching allocations, less any retained element contained within their profiled allocation.
Schools which have qualified for additional allocations on the grounds of developing status will be notified of these allocations.
The National Council for Special Education will support schools in managing their special education teaching allocations in the first instance. Only in very exceptional circumstances, where it can be demonstrated that the school's profile has changed very significantly since the allocation was made to the school, may an additional allocation of hours be made to the school.
Guidelines for schools on the organisation, deployment and use of their special education teachers to address the need of pupils with special educational needs have also now been published and are available on my Departments website.
The Guidelines will support schools to reflect on how they can review and manage their timetabling practices to ensure the timetable is sufficiently flexible to meet the needs of all pupils in their school who have special needs. The Guidelines encourage schools to ensure they deploy their resources appropriately to meet the needs of all of the children in their school who require additional teaching support, including pupils with emerging needs, or new entrants.
345. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills the details of each body or organisation that is scheduled to receive in excess of €1 million from his Department's Vote of expenditure or the group of Votes of expenditure connected with his Department in 2017 for the provision of services by the body or the organisation concerned; the amount involved in each case; if there is a signed service level agreement in place in respect of the services to be carried out by these bodies or organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36155/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information sought by the Deputy is not readily available. Officials in my Department are collating the information and I will arrange to have it forwarded to the Deputy as soon as it becomes available.
The deferred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
346. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to seek further clarification from the Christian Brothers in relation to a claim made by the congregation in correspondence to a person (details supplied) of 3 July 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36237/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy that in the response sent by the Congregation of Christian Brothers to my Department on 3 July stating that the surplus lands at Clonkeen College have been sold, the Congregation stated and I quote "The surplus lands at Clonkeen College have been sold. Both the Congregation and the purchasers have signed and exchanged legally binding contracts. We would like to confirm for the record that the Congregation cannot reverse this transaction."
347. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Skills if as a registered charity the Christian Brothers is required to get the approval of the charities regulator for the sale of school lands or playing pitches attached to school lands (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36238/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraReferral to the Charities Regulatory Authority is not a matter for my Department. The functions of the Charities Regulator are set out in the Charities Acts (as amended). It is a matter for the Congregation to comply with any relevant regulations in relation to land disposal.
348. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a person (details supplied) was refused a place on a school bus, in view of the fact they were forced to transfer to a school outside of the area due to bullying which the education and training board are aware of. [36256/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraSchool transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department.
Currently almost 116,000 children, including some 12,000 children with special educational needs, are being transported in over 4,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million km annually.
Under the terms of my Department's Post-Primary School Transport Scheme children are eligible for school transport if they reside not less than 4.8 km from and are attending their nearest school.
The child in question is not eligible for school transport under this Scheme and may avail of transport on a concessionary basis only which is subject to a number of conditions, including payment of the annual charge; this charge may be paid in two instalments in July and December.
The family should liaise with their local Bus Éireann office (Tel. No. 021 4557137) if they wish to obtain further information regarding the availability of concessionary transport.
The terms of the scheme are applied equitably on a national basis.
