Written Answers Nos. 182-201
182. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the condition of buildings being used by a school (details supplied) for children with a diagnosis of autism in Kilbarrack, Dublin 5; and if capital funds will be allocated to ensure the school is provided with a permanent building of the highest standard and of sufficient size to allow the school meet the growing demand for its educational services. [41505/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe school to which the Deputy refers is co-located in a permanent school building with another school in Kilbarrack which has spare capacity. In late 2015, my Department provided funding for reconfiguration works in the building to provide improved accommodation for the school.
As the Deputy will be aware, my Department’s current priority is focused on the provision of essential classroom accommodation to ensure that every child will have access to a physical school place and where an additional teacher is being appointed.
My Department considers that the school's accommodation needs are being met in the existing building.
183. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills if staffing levels at a school (details supplied) in County Donegal will be reduced for the 2017-18 academic year; if his attention has been drawn to the implications of such a move for the school's ability to cater for the educational needs of children residing in the local area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41506/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe criteria used for the allocation of teaching posts is published annually on the Department website. 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 schedule also includes an appeals mechanism for schools to submit an appeal under certain criteria to an independent Appeals Board.
The staffing schedule operates in a clear and transparent manner and treats all similar types of schools equally irrespective of location.
The school referred to by the Deputy submitted an application for consideration by the Appeals Board at its April 2017 meeting under the small school criterion. The appeal was provisionally approved by the Appeals Board pending confirmation of the actual enrolments on 30 September 2017. The school has been notified of the outcome of the appeal. Pettigo National School has until Wednesday, 4 October to submit their enrolment figures as part of this process.
The Appeals Board operates independently of the Department and its decision is final.
184. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason his Department decided to change the way it paid school secretaries; the reason it has decided to stop the 1978-79 scheme; if his attention has been drawn to the large differences in secretaries' pay between different schools nationwide; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that under the capitation grant scheme, many school secretaries are forced to claim jobseeker's allowance for the summer months to make ends meet; his views on whether this is a fair way to treat school secretaries in view of the work they do; if he will consider changing the system to ensure that as a minimum, school secretaries are hired by schools for an entire year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41520/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraSchemes were initiated in 1978 and 1979 for the employment of Clerical Officers and Caretakers in primary and secondary schools. Staff employed on these schemes are paid directly by my Department and are not paid via grant funding. The 1978 and 1979 schemes are being phased out and have been superseded by a more extensive capitation grant scheme.
The majority of primary and voluntary secondary schools in the Free Education Scheme now receive capitation grant assistance to provide for secretarial, caretaking and cleaning services. Capitation related grants are issued to the majority of primary and post-primary schools to employ such staff. Within the capitation grant schemes, it is a matter for each individual school to decide how best to apply the grant funding to suit its particular needs.
Where a school uses the capitation grant funding to employ a secretary, such staff are employees of individual schools. My Department therefore does not have any role in determining the pay and conditions under which they are engaged. These are matters to be agreed between the staff concerned and the school authorities. My Department has no plans to develop an alternative scheme for schools to employ secretaries separate to the current system of capitation grant assistance.
Notwithstanding the above, in 2015 my Department agreed to engage with the union side in relation to the pay of school secretaries and caretakers who are employed using grant funding and to enter an arbitration process. The Arbitrator recommended a cumulative pay increase of 10% between 2016 and 2019 for school secretaries and caretakers comprehended by the terms of the arbitration process and that a minimum hourly pay rate of €13 for such staff be phased in over the period 2016 to 2019. My Department has recently published Circular letter 0025/2017 for voluntary secondary schools and Circular letter 0026/2017 for primary schools, setting out the application of the second phase increases of the Arbitrator’s recommendations. The circulars are available at:
Circular 0025/2017: http://www.education.ie/en/Circulars-and-Forms/Active-Circulars/cl0025_2017.pdf,
Circular 0026/2017: http://www.education.ie/en/Circulars-and-Forms/Active-Circulars/cl0026_2017.pdf.
The increases recommended by the Arbitrator are binding and must be applied by all schools who employ staff to whom the Arbitrators recommendation applies. The circulars issued by my Department set out the revised rates of grant funding for schools and an application process whereby schools can apply for additional funding in order to enable them to pay the revised rates set out in the circulars.
187. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position with regard to the proposed Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board, KWETB, Education Together school in Celbridge, County Kildare; if agreement has been reached in respect of the selection of a site; when it is expected approval will issue, in view of the extreme shortage of school places in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41547/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraCelbridge Community School, which is under the joint patronage of Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board and Educate Together, opened in 2015 in temporary accommodation.
I can confirm that agreement in principle has been reached in respect of the potential acquisition of a site for permanent accommodation. The next stage in the acquisition process is the completion of the conveyancing process. Officials in my Department are liaising with the vendor in order to progress the acquisition.
188. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost in 2018 of recruiting an extra 30 full-time education psychologists for the national education psychologist services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41611/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can inform the Deputy that my Department's National Educational Psychological Service provides educational psychological support to all primary and post-primary schools. This involves direct support in the event of a critical incident, access to national and regional support and development work to build school capacity to support students, access to a NEPS psychologist for responses to queries arising, and access to individual pupil casework via a NEPS psychologist or through the Scheme for the Commissioning of Psychological Assessments, SCPA.
The Deputy will be aware that the Programme for a Partnership Government commits that we will invest additional resources in the National Educational Psychological Service to ensure earlier intervention and access for young children and teenagers and to offer immediate support to schools in cases of critical incidents. The Programme commits to bring the total number of NEPS psychologists to 238 from the current sanctioned limit of 173. Delivery on this commitment is underway in 2017 with an additional 11 NEPS psychologists recruited or in the process of being recruited currently.
In answer to the Deputy's particular question, the direct cost of providing 30 additional NEPS psychologists would be approximately €2.25 million per annum.
189. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if an application for an extension to a school (details supplied) can be expedited. [41655/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that the school referred to by the Deputy has submitted an application to my Department for significant capital funding for additional accommodation. The application is currently being assessed and my Department expects to be in a position to convey a decision on the application to the school shortly.
190. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Catherine Connolly den Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna an dtabharfaidh sé soiléiriú maidir le stádas an iarratais atá déanta ag scoil (sonraí tugtha), go háirithe ós rud é gur chuir an scoil an soiléiriú ar na costais a bhí iarrtha ag an Roinn isteach an 29 Meitheamh 2017; an bhfuil cinneadh déanta ina leith; mura bhfuil, cén uair a bheidh cinneadh déanta; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [41713/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraCheadaigh mo Roinn deontas cineachta suntasach i Meán Fómhair 2014 don scoil i dtrácht le haghaidh leathnú buan agus oibreacha athchumraíochta trína ndéanfaí gach cóiríocht réamhdhéanta a bhaint de láithreán na scoile.
Fuair mo Roinn soiléiriú i dtaca le moladh le haghaidh réimse níos leithne d’oibreacha ina bhfuil impleachtaí costais suntasacha i gceist. Tá an t-ábhar á mheas faoi láthair agus beidh mo Roinn i dteagmháil leis an scoil arís maidir leis an ábhar chomh luath agus is féidir.
191. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide funding for the development of a car park at a school (details supplied). [41725/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe school referred to by the Deputy was approved funding to build a standalone extension comprising four mainstream classrooms, two SET rooms and a WC for assisted users.
The school authority has sought significant additional funding to provide car parking on a greenfield site at the rear of the school.
My Department’s Planning and Building Unit have requested the school authority to explore and provide designs and costings for three alternative design options for the project within the confines of its existing site.
As soon as this information is received it will be considered and the school authority will be advised of the outcome.
192. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason for the delay in the commencement of building a new school (details supplied) in Dublin 1; the timeframe for planning permission to be applied for; the timeframe for the school to open; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41771/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing a review of the brief for Gaelscoil Choláiste Mhuire, my Department has approved a significant increase to the brief, which will now provide a 16-classroom school on the site at Dominick Street. The original brief was for an eight-classroom school.
Due to this increase in the scope of works for the project, my Department will tender for a replacement Design Team to take the project forward to Stage 2B – Detailed Design Stage, which includes the applications for Planning Permission, Fire Certificate, Disability Access Certificate and the preparation of Tender Documents. The need to replace the design team arises from a fees uplift request for each member of the design team which greatly exceeded the 50% upper limit increase allowed under the EU Procurement Directive.
The Department is anxious to provide improved accommodation for Gaelscoil Choláiste Mhuire and in this context it is committed to advancing the building project for the permanent school building as quickly as possible. However, until the new design team is appointed and it reports to the Department it will not be possible to provide a more indicative timeframe for the completion of the project.
193. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department has assessed the demand for secondary-school places in Dublin 7, with particular reference to the new Scribblestown and Pelletstown communities along the Royal Canal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41778/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas. The locations referred to by the Deputy are situated close to the border of two school planning areas, Scribblestown/Finglas West school planning area which is currently served by three post-primary schools and Cabra/Phibsboro/D7 school planning area which is currently served by eight post-primary schools.
My Department uses a Geographical Information System, GIS, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise. The GIS uses data from a range of sources, including the Central Statistics Office, Ordnance Survey Ireland, the Department of Social Protection and my Department's own databases.
Where demographic data indicates that additional provision is required, the delivery of such additional provision is dependent on the particular circumstances of each case and may, depending on the circumstances, be provided through either one, or a combination of, the following:
- Utilising existing unused capacity with a school or schools,
- Extending the capacity of a school or schools,
- Provision of a new school or schools.
My Department is currently carrying out nationwide demographic exercises at primary and post-primary level to determine where additional school accommodation is needed. It is anticipated that decisions based on these exercises will be announced later in 2017.
194. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the progress that has been made regarding locating a permanent site for a school (details supplied); if he has directed Dublin City Council to actively engage with landowners with a view to securing such a site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41779/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraOfficials in my Department have been working toward the acquisition of a permanent site to meet the needs of the school to which the Deputy refers and have engaged with officials in Dublin City Council in that respect. My Department has reached agreement with the landowner and the acquisition is currently progressing through the conveyancing stage. Following the completion of the acquisition, the architectural planning process for the provision of a new permanent building for the school in question will commence.
I appreciate that the process is taking a considerable length of time but I can assure you that the acquisition of a suitable site for the school is very active on the programme of site acquisitions and every effort is being made to secure the suitable site for the school as expeditiously as possible.
196. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will examine SI No. 394 of 2017, Education Support Centres (Appointment and Secondment of Directors) Regulations 2017, in view of the fact there are concerns that it will not lead to effective management; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41816/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department arranges for the secondment of teachers from their teaching posts for the purpose of developing and providing CPD for teachers and for appointment as Directors of Education Support Centres, ESC's.
By their nature, secondments are not permanent appointments and are renewed each year subject to ongoing need and policy requirements.
Secondment arrangements provide flexibility and ensure that the in-service needs of teachers and other support priorities of the school system can be met within the resources available. Having teachers with relevant and recent teaching experience and expertise is a key requirement for the role. It is a condition therefore that the maximum length of time that a teacher may be on secondment is five years, following which they return to their teaching roles in their schools. In this way, their expertise and knowledge is not lost to the system. Each ESC has a management committee and staff which ensures continuity at a local level.
Section 37 of the Education Act 1998 provides the legislative basis for the establishment and regulation of Education Centres. Section 37(6) of the Act makes provision to make regulations relating to a number of matters in ESCs such as the appointment of management committees, funding, staffing, provision of information to the DES and other operational matters.
Regulations have now been introduced under Section 37 (6). These regulations, which have been flagged for some time, are effective from 1 September 2017.
I am satisfied that these regulations will lead to more robust procedures in appointing Directors which in turn will lead to more efficient and effective management of Education Centres.
197. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a person (details supplied) who is enrolled in a school has not been given a timeframe for when their school bus service will begin; the reason there has been a delay; the measures being taken to address the situation; when the bus service will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41846/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraSchool transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department.
During the 2016-17 school year almost 116,000 children, including some 12,000 children with special educational needs, were transported in over 4,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres annually.
In general, children with special educational needs are eligible for school transport if they are attending the nearest recognised mainstream or special school that is or can be resourced, to meet their special educational needs under Department of Education and Skills' criteria.
My Department received the application for school transport in September and the child in question is eligible for school transport.
Bus Éireann has reported that the school transport service commencened this week.
198. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a person (details supplied) who is enrolled in a school has not been given a timeframe for when their school bus service will begin; the reason there has been a delay; the measures being taken to address the situation; when the bus service will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41847/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraSchool transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department.
During the 2016-17 school year almost 116,000 children, including some 12,000 children with special educational needs, were transported in over 4,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres annually.
In general, children with special educational needs are eligible for school transport if they are attending the nearest recognised mainstream or special school that is or can be resourced, to meet their special educational needs under Department of Education and Skills' criteria.
My Department received the application for school transport in September and the child in question is eligible for school transport.
Bus Éireann advised that the school transport service commenced this week.
199. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide a progress report for a school (details supplied); the options being considered for the new school building; the timeframe for its delivery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41909/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Design Team appointment for the major building project referred to by the Deputy has recently been completed and the project has now entered early architectural planning/design stages.
My Department has authorised the Design Team to commence Stage 1 of architectural planning as per the Department’s Design Team Procedures 2012. Stage 1 is the initial sketch design stage and includes an analysis of all the constraints of the site, developing a preferred option and ensuring that that preferred option is the most optimum for the delivery of the project brief.
The project is included in the Department's six-year construction programme and is scheduled therein for construction in 2019-2021.
200. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Education and Skills when he expects a school (details supplied) to go to tender stage for the new school building; the timeframe for project delivery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41910/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe major building project for the school to which the Deputy refers is at an advanced stage of architectural planning - Stage 2(b) - Detailed Design. The design team are currently working on completing Stage 2(b) of the architectural planning process. When complete, the stage 2(b) report will be submitted to my Department. When this submission has been received and reviewed, my Department will then be in further contact with the school authorities as regards the progression of the project to tender stage.
201. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the refusal of Caranua to provide funeral expenses for a person (details supplied) who was a survivor of a residential institution and who has received a payment from the redress board, in view of the fact that the organisation has changed its criteria to include funeral expenses; and the statutory basis for excluding applications of this nature. [41911/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraCaranua, the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Board, is an independent statutory body established pursuant to the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act 2012 to oversee the use of the cash contributions of up to €110 million, pledged by the religious congregations, to support the needs of survivors of institutional child abuse. The determination of the criteria by reference to which Caranua may make decisions in respect of applications to it is a statutory function of the organisation itself and I have no role in that process. Furthermore, I have no role in Caranua’s day to day operations including in relation to the processing of individual applications. I should point out also that decisions of Caranua may be appealed to an independent Appeals Officer appointed under section 21 of the 2012 Act and that a person who is affected by a decision of an Appeals Officer may appeal to the High Court on a point of law.
