Written Answers Nos. 81-92
81. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Skills if additional moneys will be made available for restoration of posts of responsibility within schools by September 2018 in view of the fact that the amount allocated in budget 2017 does not allow for the restoration of posts to pre-moratorium levels (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47424/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraBudget 2017 provided for a new package of support for school leadership, including middle management posts for primary and post primary schools.
My department recently issued circular 0063/2017 Leadership and Management in Primary schools which sets out a framework for posts in recognised primary schools.
The commencement of restoration of middle management posts as part of an agreed distributed leadership model means that the rigidity of the longstanding moratorium on these posts has been lifted and schools can now fill middle management posts in line with circular 0063/2017. The lifting of the moratorium is an initial phase in the restoration of middle management posts and any future improvements to the number of posts allocated will be dependent on budgetary demands.
82. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he received a report (details supplied); and if a meeting will be scheduled with his Department regarding same. [47342/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that my Department has received correspondence, including a report, from the group referred to by the Deputy and that a response has issued.
As the Deputy may be aware, 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 the Department's own databases. With this information, my Department carries out nationwide demographic exercises at primary and post primary level to determine where additional school accommodation is needed.
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 within a school or schools
- Extending the capacity of a school or schools
- Provision of a new school or schools.
As with other school planning areas nationwide, the demographic data for the South Kildare school planning areas is being kept under ongoing review by the Department to take account of updated data. It is anticipated that decisions based on the nationwide demographic exercises will be announced before the end of 2017.
With regard to demand for particular models of school provision, it should be noted that the patronage process for new schools is a separate process which has been in place since 2011. This process is run after it has been decided that a new school is required. Parental preferences are central to this process and prospective patrons are required to provide evidence of demand for their particular school model and medium of instruction. Therefore, where, based on demographics, it might be indicated that a new school is required, it cannot be guaranteed that this would be a school under a particular type of patronage as this will be dependent to a large degree on parental preferences in the area at the time of a patronage process.
My Department is aware that representatives of Educate Together and the Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board recently entered into discussions regarding a possible partnership to provide Educate Together second-level provision in the Newbridge area of South Kildare, where significant additional places are being delivered. I welcome this development and consider it a great example of constructive co-operation between patron bodies in order to provide greater choice and diversity to the education system.
83. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if an application by a school (details supplied) for emergency summer works will be granted. [47348/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm to the Deputy that the school in question applied for funding under the Summer Works Scheme, to provide a roof over each of the school's courtyards.
The scheme is designed to address necessary and immediate works; funding is not made available for projects unless considered by the Department to be essential. In view of the scale of demand, nearly 50% of schools have applied for inclusion under the scheme and having regard to the constrained funding position, my Department advised the school that funding could not be provided for the works sought.
Almost €80 million has been approved to date under the Summer Works Scheme, in respect of over 640 school projects in categories 1 - 6. Details of the successful school applicants are published on my Department's website www.education.ie. The 2018 budgetary provision will allow my Department meet the carry over costs of summer works projects already approved, the assessment of applications in the remaining categories 7-10 is reliant on the availability of funding.
84. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an appeal by a school (details supplied); when a decision will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47359/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am pleased to inform the Deputy that an additional mainstream classroom has recently been approved for the school in question and the school authority have been informed.
85. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the search for a site for the proposed 1,000 pupil post-primary school (details supplied) in Dublin 24. [47386/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraOfficials in my Department have been working closely with officials from South Dublin County Council towards the acquisition of a permanent site to meet the needs of the school to which the Deputy refers. A number of potentially suitable sites were identified and my Department is currently engaging with landowners in respect of preferred site options. Due to commercial sensitivities it is not possible to provide further information at this time.
I can assure the Deputy that every effort is being made to secure a suitable site for the school as expeditiously as possible.
86. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the fact that the playing fields land at a college (details supplied) has been sold; if he has seen the contracts for such a sale; if his attention has been drawn to the legal case that is being taken by the board of the school to stop the deal closing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47394/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra87. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the board of a college (details supplied) will be supported in its endeavours including the legal proceedings to stop the sale of playing pitches in view of the fact that this school is funded by his Department and the fields are vital green space used by the students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47395/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 86 and 87 together.
I would like to clarify for the Deputy that the fields at the school in question are owned by the Congregation of Christian Brothers. The decision by the Congregation of Christian Brothers to dispose of land owned by the Congregation is a matter for the Brothers. In July 2017, the Congregation advised my Department in writing that the lands concerned were sold and that the Congregation had signed a legally binding contract with the purchasers and the Congregation could not reverse this transaction. My Department has not seen the contracts for sale.
My Department understands that the Board of Management or members of the Board of Management may be taking legal proceedings against the Congregation of Christian Brothers relating to the sale of the fields. My Department has no role in such proceedings.
88. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education and Skills if special needs assistants (details supplied) employed at the start of a school year do not have hours reduced in the course of the school year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47402/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe number of Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) employed in a school depends on the allocation given to the school by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), based on its assessment of the special educational needs of pupils in the school. My Department has no control over the allocation process to schools and is not in a position to influence the allocation process in light of the fact that the NCSE is an independent statutory body. A school’s allocation can increase or decrease and where schools receive a reduced allocation this can be for a variety of factors, such as pupils for whom the school had previously received an allocation have left, or have declining care needs. In light of this, the employment of SNAs may be reduced from full-time to part-time or may be terminated by way of redundancy where the approved allocation of the school is reduced.
Where a full-time SNA post within a school is reduced to a part-time post, the issue of redundancy payment in respect of the loss of hours may arise. Redundancy arrangements for SNAs are set out in Department Circular 0058/2006.
In addition, as per the provisions of the Supplementary Assignment Arrangements for SNAs which were established on foot of proposals brought forward by the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) when the Haddington Road Agreement was being agreed and which continue to operate under the Public Service Stability Agreement 2018 - 2020, and both unions representing SNAs, namely SIPTU and IMPACT, have signed up to that agreement, where a school/ETB has an additional allocation of SNA hours/posts, then that additional allocation of hours/posts must be offered to any existing part-time SNAs in that employment, in order of seniority, before the employer has recourse to recruitment. These arrangements are set out in Department Circular 0042/2017 (which can be accessed via the link https://www.education.ie/en/Circulars-and-Forms/Active-Circulars/cl0042_2017.pdf).
On 5 July 2017, I announced that 975 additional SNAs were to be allocated to schools over the period September to December 2017, a 7.5% increase in SNA numbers in order to meet the level of assessed demand. This announcement brings the total number of SNAs to 13,990, representing an increase in the total numbers of SNAs of 32%, from 10,575 to 13,990 since 2011.
In addition, and as announced as part of Budget 2018, funding is being allocated for the recruitment of over 1,090 new SNAs in 2018 (based on current forecasts), including some 130 posts which will be filled in the period between January and June next year, with the remainder being appointed from September 2018. This brings the total number of SNAs to over 15,000.
While reduced hours or redundancies will unavoidably occur in individual schools due to a variety of circumstances, these increases in SNA numbers coupled with the operation of the Supplementary Assignment Panel Arrangements make it more likely that SNAs can avoid redundancy and that part-time SNAs can gain or regain full-time employment.
89. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans for the required extended temporary accommodation necessary to accommodate the intake of students in September 2018 in a school (details supplied); the site location; the timeframe for delivery of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47406/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe school referred to by the Deputy is currently located in temporary accommodation across two sites. My Department is working in close co-operation with the patron body, Educate Together, and Cork County Council regarding the arrangements for temporary accommodation for the 2018/19 school year. My Department, in consultation with the local authority, is currently exploring the feasibility of accommodating the school on an interim basis, at a site which is located in the vicinity of the proposed permanent site for the school.
As the Deputy may be aware, a site acquisition process for the school is currently underway and a suitable permanent site for the school has been identified. Agreement in principle with the landowners has been reached and the acquisition process in respect of this site is currently at the conveyancing stage.
My Department is aware of the limitations of the current temporary accommodation and every effort is being made to progress additional temporary accommodation and the permanent accommodation for the school as expeditiously as possible.
90. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the acquisition of a permanent school site for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47407/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department has identified a suitable permanent site for the school to which the Deputy refers and agreement in principle in respect of this proposed acquisition, subject to satisfactory conveyancing, was reached in February 2017. This Department requested draft contracts at that time.
The site in question is currently not accessible and aspects of the design and delivery of the access road to the site needed to be discussed with the landowner. Work has been ongoing in the interim in relation to this. On foot of these discussions, the vendor provided draft contracts in August 2017 and this enabled the Chief State Solicitor’s Office to commence engagement with respect to this.
It is important to note that the ongoing site acquisition process is not hindering the delivery of the permanent accommodation for the school as preliminary design work has commenced in respect of this project. The Design Team has already had some engagement with officials in the relevant Local Authority in that regard and will shortly be holding formal pre-planning discussions with a view to further advancing the project.
The Department is aware of the limitations of the school's current temporary accommodation and every effort is being made to progress the permanent accommodation for the school as expeditiously as possible.
91. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to put a defibrillator in each school in the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47433/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy that the decision to install a defibrillator is made at local school level and is a matter for the board of management of each individual school.
The question of the need for defibrillators to be made available in places, such as schools, and any training needs arising is primarily a public health matter and would therefore be a matter for the Department of Health.
92. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education and Skills the progress made to date in discussions with the INTO regarding a permanent exchange scheme for primary school teachers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47463/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe provisions of the teacher exchange scheme are set out in Circular letter 0017/2015 the contents of which were agreed under the auspices of the Teachers Conciliation Council.
In 2016 the scheme was reviewed under the auspices of the Teachers Conciliation Council and to facilitate this review the maximum period for which an exchange may occur was extended to allow applicants a sixth year of exchange in the school year 2016/17. Following a request from teacher representatives that a voluntary transfer scheme for Primary Teachers be considered it was decided to extend the maximum period for which an exchange may occur for one further year. Therefore the period for which an exchange may occur for those teachers in their fifth or sixth year of exchange was extended for one further year subject to other provisions of the Circular being complied with, i.e. application by the teacher to his/her Board of Management and the approval of the Board of Management being obtained.
The Teachers Conciliation Council is part of the scheme of Conciliation and Arbitration for Teachers and was set up to deal with claims and proposals relating to the terms and conditions of employment of teachers. The Council is composed of representatives of the teacher unions, school management, the Department of Education and Skills and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and is chaired by an official of the Workplace Relations Commission. The proceedings of the Teachers Conciliation Council are confidential.
