Written Answers Nos. 196-220
196. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he has satisfied himself the interests of the State are being protected in relation to the defective works carried out at a building project (details supplied). [50435/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra197. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills when he expects outstanding matters to be resolved in connection with the completion of a project (details supplied). [50436/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 196 and 197 together.
The two schools referred to by the Deputy were devolved to the National Development Agency (NDFA) for delivery. The NDFA are waiting written confirmation from the contractor with specific details of the next steps and timelines to full resolution of the roofing issues.
I understand from the NDFA that the contractor remains committed to resolving the matter fully and is continuing to carry out preventative and reactive maintenance on the roof in the interim. Pending the resolution of the outstanding issues full retention monies are being held by the NDFA.
198. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason for the relocation of the Youthreach programme formerly located in Whitehall, Artane, Dublin, to the Finglas area; if this is a permanent move; and his plans for ensuring the location of a Youthreach programme in the Coolock and Artane areas. [50459/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing the sale of the former St. John of God School in Kilmore Road, Artane, the Youthreach project was temporarily moved by City of Dublin Education and Training Board (CDETB) to premises in Whitehall, while efforts were made to identify suitable alternative accommodation in the Coolock area.
Earlier this month, Youthreach staff and students moved from the Whitehall premises to a temporary facility in Finglas because of health and safety concerns.
CDETB has been actively seeking permanent premises in the Coolock area for over 18 months. It is considering a number of possible options and is examining renovation costs. It is committed to the return of the Youthreach programme to the area as soon as possible.
In the meantime, CDETB are seeking alternative temporary premises closer to the Coolock area with a view to moving staff and students as soon as possible. I have asked CDETB to keep me informed of developments.
199. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if an Irish resident who has been working as a physiotherapist abroad for more than five years is required to pay non-EU fees to study medicine on his or her return. [50481/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe position is that to qualify for funding towards tuition fees, students must be first-time undergraduates, hold inter alia EU/EEA/Swiss nationality in their own right, and have been ordinarily resident in an EU/EEA/Swiss state for at least three of the five years preceding their entry to an approved third level course. These rules apply to all students from all EU/EEA/Swiss states. Students undertaking a second undergraduate qualification are not entitled to support under the scheme.
Where students do not qualify for free fees funding they must pay the appropriate fee - either EU or Non-EU, as determined by each higher education institution. These institutions are autonomous bodies and the level of fee payable by students who do not meet the requirements of the free fees scheme is a matter for the relevant institution to determine.
Tax relief is available on fees paid and students can apply to the Student Assistance Fund for financial support if needed.
200. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a school (details supplied) can use funding under the summer works scheme for repairs to his roof. [50483/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has been engaging with the school's patron relating to the matter in question. My Department has indicated to the patron that the request was approved in principle subject to the patron providing full information relating to the proposal. This information is awaited and will be considered further when received.
201. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will examine the case of a person (details supplied) who has not been able to secure a place in a second level school for the past two years. [50484/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe enrolment of a child to a school is a matter in the first instance for the parents of the child and the Board of Management of a school.
Where a parent seeks to enrol their child in a school and that school refuses to enrol a pupil, the school is obliged to inform parents of their right under Section 29 of the Education Act 1998 to appeal that decision to the Secretary General of my Department. Only where an appeal under Section 29 is upheld, may the Secretary General of my Department direct a school to enrol a pupil.
Children may be eligible for home tuition where a determination is awaited in respect of an expulsion or refusal to enrol is taken under section 29 of the Education Act, 1998.
An application for home tuition for the child referred to by the Deputy was received in my Department in recent days. The Education Welfare Service has advised my Department that the local Education Welfare Officer (EWO) is providing assistance to the family.
The NCSE is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENO), for allocating resources to schools to support students with special educational needs. The NCSE operates within the Department's criteria in allocating such support.
The parents of the child referred to by the Deputy are also encouraged to continue to liaise with their local Special Educational Needs Organiser (SENO) for advice on supports and further assistance. Contact details are available on www.ncse.ie.
202. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Education and Skills the date by which the minor works grant will be made available to primary schools; if this grant will be a guaranteed yearly payment in order to assist schools to adequately budget for the year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50488/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe normal practice is for the Minor Works Grant to be announced towards the end of the year if funding permits. Over the next number of weeks the issue of the Minor Works Grant 2017/2018 will be considered in the context of my Department's overall capital position.
Circular Letter 0062/2013 which provides guidance in respect of the Minor Works Grant states that "the grant will only be paid in future years as funding permits". In that context it is vital that schools take this stipulation into account before commencing any infrastructure related works.
203. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 187 of 21 November 2017, the date for the publication of the GMIT working group's final report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50494/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe report of the GMIT working group has now been submitted to my Department. I will consider the findings and recommendations in the report, in conjunction with officials in my Department. The report will be published before the end of 2017.
204. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will address a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50498/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs part of a comprehensive customer service and communications strategy provided by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI), to ensure that all necessary avenues are open to applicants to receive the information they need, a dedicated email and phone line service is provided by SUSI for Oireachtas members.
This was established to meet an identified need for applicants who choose to engage the assistance of their public representatives in making enquiries about their grant applications. This service complements the established channels provided by SUSI which include online application tracking, a dedicated website, a telephone helpdesk, email and social media, including Facebook and Twitter. Enquiries may be emailed direct to SUSI at oireachtas@susi.ie. Staff in SUSI are responding to email queries within a matter of days.
If an individual applicant considers that she/he has been unjustly refused a student grant or that the rate of grant awarded is not the correct one, she/he may appeal, in the first instance, to SUSI within the required statutory timeframe.
Where an individual applicant has had an appeal turned down in writing by SUSI and remains of the view that the scheme has not been interpreted correctly in his/her case, an appeal may be submitted by the applicant via www.studentgrantappeals.ie outlining the position to the independent Student Grants Appeals Board, again, within the required timeframe.
205. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the consideration he has given to amendment of the student support scheme to resolve issues which continue to arise (details supplied) in relation to grant eligibility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50506/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn calculating reckonable income under the Student Grant Scheme, the awarding authority considers income from all sources earned inside and outside the State within a specified reference period, including income from gifts and inheritance.
Article 24(6) of the Student Grant Scheme 2017 provides that gifts or inheritances received in the reference period will be included as reckonable income. This will be taken into account for one year only. Grant assistance may not be awarded in any case where the reckonable income exceeds the prescribed income limits for the award of a grant.
If any of the persons whose income is under consideration received a gift or an inheritance in the reference period, these are included in reckonable income, unless in the case of an independent student, the gift or inheritance was between the applicant and his or her spouse, civil partner or cohabitant; or in the case of a dependent student, the gift or inheritance was between parents or to the applicant from his or her parent(s).
If an individual applicant considers that she/he has been unjustly refused a student grant or that the rate of grant awarded is not the correct one, she/he may appeal, in the first instance, to SUSI.
Where an individual applicant has had an appeal turned down in writing by SUSI and remains of the view that the scheme has not been interpreted correctly in his/her case, an appeal may be submitted by the applicant via www.studentgrantappeals.ie outlining the position to the independent Student Grants Appeals Board within the required timeframe.
206. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consider returning to the pre-2010 non-adjacent distance rate with regard to SUSI grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50511/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe student maintenance grant is a contribution towards the living costs of a student. It is not intended to cover the full costs of attending college. The student grant scheme does however, provide for different levels of maintenance support, depending on means. Grants are also provided at adjacent and non-adjacent rates. The higher non-adjacent rates are intended to provide additional support to those students who may be living away from home.
Budget 2011 provided for a number of student grant measures which came into effect for the 2011/12 academic year, including the change in the assessment of the qualifying distance criterion for the non-adjacent rate of grant from 24 kilometres to 45 kilometres.
The 24km distance criterion was originally set in 1968 and had not been updated in more than 40 years. Since then, significant improvements have taken place in the road and rail network and it is considered that the revised distance criteria is more consistent with the type of distances that students may legitimately be expected to commute to college.
The current qualifying distance of 45km for the higher non-adjacent rate of student grant takes into account a reasonable radius within which students may commute on a daily basis. There were no proposals to amend the distance criterion in Budget 2018.
Students in third-level institutions experiencing exceptional financial need can apply for support under the Student Assistance Fund. This Fund assists students, in a sensitive and compassionate manner, who might otherwise be unable to continue their third level studies due to their financial circumstances. Information on the fund is available through the Access Officer in the third level institution attended. This fund is administered on a confidential, discretionary basis.
207. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a decision was made to remove the special needs assistant support for a person (details supplied); if this decision will be reviewed; and if this decision will be reversed. [50569/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Council for Special Education (NCSE), which is an independent statutory agency, is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) for allocating a quantum of Special Needs Assistant (SNA) support for each school annually taking into account the assessed care needs of children qualifying for SNA support enrolled in the school. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support, as set out in Circular 0030/2014.
In considering applications for SNA supports for individual students, the SENOs take account of the student's needs and considers the resources available to the school to identify whether additionality is needed or whether the school might reasonably be expected to meet the needs of the students from its current level of resources. SNAs are not allocated to individual students but to schools as a school based resource.
Details of SNA allocations which have been made to schools for the 2017/18 school year have been published by the NCSE on their website at http://ncse.ie/statistics.
Where a school has received its allocation of SNA support for 2017/18, but wishes new enrolments or new assessments to be considered, which were not taken into account when the initial allocation was made, they may continue to make applications to the NCSE.
The NCSE Appeals Process may be invoked in the following instances:
- a parent or a school where it is considered that a child was not granted access to SNA support on the grounds that Department policy was not met in accordance with Circular 0030/2014.
- a school may also appeal a decision, where the school considers that the NCSE, in applying Department policy, has not allocated the appropriate level of SNA supports to the school to meet the special educational and/or care needs of the child(ren) concerned.
All schools have the contact details of their local SENO and parents may also contact their local SENO directly to discuss their child's special educational needs, using the contact details available at http://ncse.ie/seno-contact-list.
The NCSE has advised that the school should submit a new application for SNA support for the student referred to by the Deputy, as additional information in support of the application, which was not available at the time of the annual allocation process, has now become available. My officials have asked the NCSE to liaise with the School to ensure that the additional information is considered.
208. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the development of a school (details supplied); if all conveyancing issues that have been ongoing since June 2016 have been rectified; if his Department has met Galway County Council; if the design team for this project has met Galway County Council; if outstanding issues have been addressed, for example, the footpath and connectivity with the town; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50601/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe current position regarding the school in question is that the planning application is in progress and is expected to be ready to lodge late December or early January. Representatives of the school attended a meeting with Department Officials last week to bring them up to date on the project and to review the plans prior to lodging. Department Officials and the Design Team for the project have met with the Planning Authority and all matters arising in relation to the design and infrastructure are being addressed through the Planning process.
In tandem with this the conveyancing process in respect of this acquisition is at an advanced stage. The finalisation of the acquisition has been delayed to date as some technical issues raised as part of the conveyancing process needed to be clarified. These issues have been resolved for the most part and the Department expects to be in a position to finalise the contracts shortly.
209. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the development of a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50602/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra210. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the development of a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50603/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra211. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the development of a project (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50604/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 209 to 211, inclusive, together.
I wish to advise the Deputy that major projects for the two schools referred to are included in my Department’s 6 year Construction Programme.
My Department’s proposal is to co-locate the two schools in question on the current Gairmscoil Mhuire site once that site is vacated. In this regard, I wish to advise the Deputy that a major project for Gairmscoil Mhuire is progressing through the architectural planning process.
My Department has received an application from Galway and Roscommon ETB regarding funding for the upgrading of the sub-office located in Roscommon town. My Department has had ongoing engagement with personnel in the ETB in relation to this matter. There are many competing demands for capital investment within the education sector and this application is being considered within that context. My Department will be in touch with the ETB in relation to same.
212. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the development of a further education training centre in Mervue, County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50605/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraGalway Roscommon Education & Training Board have confirmed that their training centre in Mervue, Galway, is currently developing an extra workshop for electrical apprentices. This is in response to the growing demand nationally for electrical apprentices.
Following a procurement process, it is envisaged that this work will begin in the next two weeks and should be completed in early 2018. This additional workshop will increase the Centre’s capacity to run 4 classes per year and will alleviate the need for local electrical apprentices to travel outside of Galway to attend their off the job phases.
213. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of ETB's that have a public base of over 500, 750, 1000 and 1200, respectively; the number of ancillary staff designated to each school, by county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50606/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department provides each Education and Training Board with an Administrative and Maintenance staffing allocation. When allocating non-teaching (i.e. ancillary) posts in ETB schools, in recent years my Department adopted the following approach as a means of providing a minimum level of staffing for schools during the public service moratorium.
- Schools with enrolments in excess of 250 pupils have an entitlement to 1 Whole Time Equivalent (WTE) School Secretary at Grade III level and 1 WTE Caretaker
- Cleaning Hours are allocated on the basis of 4.5 hours per pupil per annum (p.a.) up to a maximum annual cleaning allocation of 1 Cleaner or 2028 hours and a minimum annual cleaning allocation of 0.25 of a cleaner post or 520 hours. p.a.
- Schools with enrolments below 250 pupils would have an minimum entitlement to 0.5 WTE School Secretary at Grade III level and 0.5 WTE Caretaker
In many schools staffing levels are higher than the above entitlements as staff numbers did not reduce down to the minimum levels during the moratorium.
Based on the latest staffing returns received from the individual ETBs, there are 907.82 WTE non-teaching (i.e. ancillary) staff employed in schools across the ETB Sector as outlined in the tables. The way staffing is allocated to individual ETB schools and colleges and other activities within the ETB scheme is a matter for each ETB, accordingly it is not possible to provide a break-down between individual schools or on a county basis.
If the Deputy requires the information on a school by school or county basis, the relevant ETB will be able to supply the information.
Non-Teaching Maintenance Staffing in ETB Schools
|
CDETB |
DDLETB |
Cork |
LCETB |
WWETB |
GRETB |
LMETB |
KWETB |
CMETB |
Donegal |
Kerry |
KCETB |
LOETB |
LWETB |
MSLETB |
Tipperary |
Total |
|
|
Grade |
WTE |
WTE |
WTE |
WTE |
WTE |
WTE |
WTE |
WTE |
WTE |
WTE |
WTE |
WTE |
WTE |
WTE |
WTE |
WTE |
WTE |
|
Assistant Caretaker |
0.00 |
5.81 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
5.81 |
|
Assistant Porter |
18.84 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
18.84 |
|
Caretaker |
0.00 |
30.00 |
36.70 |
19.62 |
12.22 |
22.73 |
19.30 |
20.50 |
15.50 |
13.78 |
8.18 |
13.50 |
7.00 |
7.00 |
19.80 |
12.61 |
258.44 |
|
Cleaner |
0.00 |
35.42 |
39.03 |
12.59 |
10.49 |
9.46 |
13.08 |
16.45 |
14.03 |
9.49 |
4.86 |
11.78 |
2.00 |
5.60 |
6.32 |
5.64 |
196.24 |
|
General Operative |
70.35 |
2.90 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.36 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
73.61 |
|
Head Porter |
2.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
2.00 |
|
Maintenance Person |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
2.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
2.00 |
|
Porter |
9.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
2.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
11.00 |
|
Senior Caretaker |
0.00 |
4.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
4.00 |
|
Senior Porter |
9.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
9.00 |
|
Total |
109.19 |
78.13 |
75.73 |
32.21 |
24.71 |
32.19 |
32.38 |
36.95 |
29.53 |
23.27 |
13.04 |
25.64 |
9.00 |
14.60 |
26.12 |
18.25 |
580.94 |
214. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Education and Skills the cost of prefabricated buildings in each of the years 2011 to 2016 and to date in 2017 for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50607/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe table outlines the amount issued by the Department on prefabricated buildings in respect of the school referred to by the Deputy in each of the years 2011 to 24th November 2017.
My Department’s proposal under the six year Construction Programme is to locate the school in question on the current Gairmscoil Mhuire site once that site is vacated.
|
School |
Roll No |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
|
GAELSCOIL RIADA |
20237T |
78,338 |
84,950 |
154,710 |
66,796 |
130,927 |
232,541 |
127,329 |
215. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Education and Skills the amount prefabricated buildings have cost on hire in each of the years 2011 to 2016 and to date in 2017 for a school (details supplied). [50608/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe table outlines the amount issued by the Department on hiring prefabricated buildings in respect of the school referred to by the Deputy in each of the years 2011 to 24th November 2017.
My Department’s proposal under the six year Construction Programme is to provide a new 1,000 pupil school.
|
School |
Roll No |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
|
GAIRMSCOIL MHUIRE, ATHENRY |
71270G |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
€180,526 |
€21,448 |
€21,746 |
€21,746 |
216. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Education and Skills the cost of renting prefabricated buildings in each of the years 2011 to 2016 and to date in 2017 for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50609/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe table outlines the amount issued by the Department on hiring prefabricated buildings in respect of the school referred to by the Deputy in each of the years 2011 to 24th November 2017.
My Department’s proposal under the six year Construction Programme is to locate the school in question on the current Gairmscoil Mhuire site once that site is vacated.
|
School |
Roll No |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
|
COLAISTE AN EACHREIDH |
76102K |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
254,861 |
33,015 |
48,487 |
48,487 |
217. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Skills when he last met the chief executive officer of SOLAS; if he will report on the issues discussed; when he will meet him next; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50626/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe last formal meeting I held with the Chief Executive Officer of SOLAS was on 5 April 2017. This meeting was scheduled to discuss the draft SOLAS Corporate Plan 2017 - 2019.
I also meet the CEO of SOLAS at certain launches, announcements or visits to Further Education and Training settings. I last met the CEO at a visit to the Dublin Dun Laoghaire Education and Training Board training centre in Baldoyle in the context of the European Vocational Skills Week 2017.
Regular meetings take place between officials from my department and SOLAS under the Performance Delivery Agreement between SOLAS and my Department.
I have no upcoming meetings scheduled at this time with the CEO of SOLAS.
218. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to concerns raised on behalf of an association (details supplied); the way in which he plans to address these concerns; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that only 12% of young persons are meeting the guideline of 60 minutes of physical activity per day; his plans to address concerns on the optional nature of physical education at senior cycle for those not taking physical education for their leaving certificate; the timeframe for the implementation of leaving certificate physical education; the CPD facility development plans and teaching time allocation for leaving certificate physical education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50673/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe specification for a new examinable Leaving Certificate Physical Education subject (the specification) and a new non-examinable Framework for Senior Cycle Physical Education (the Framework) were approved by me in February 2017, following development by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA).
Implementation of Leaving Certificate PE as a subject has recently been re-emphasised as a Government priority, having been included in last year’s Programme for a Partnership Government. The priority is to introduce, on a phased basis, the subject in a group of schools from September 2018. These developments are in keeping with the strong emphasis from my Department on promoting and encouraging Healthy Lifestyles for all students and commitments in the Programme for Partnership Government and the National Physical Activity Plan, reflecting the concern to ensure that all young persons in our schools engage in some form of physical activity.
In terms of identifying the schools to participate in Phase 1 of the implementation of Leaving Certificate Physical Education, it is proposed that an open call to all post-primary schools will be issued by the NCCA in December and a selection panel will then choose the schools to participate in Phase 1. Schools will be given the option to decide if they wish to implement the specification, the Framework or both. Schools will be provided with information in the December call in order to allow them make an informed decision. It is proposed from September 2020 that Leaving Certificate PE will be optional in all schools.
The Department and its agencies will continue with the development and implementation of a programme of CPD, supporting teachers in Phase 1 schools to ensure that they are in a position to implement the specification and the Framework from September 2018.
The timetabling of Leaving Certificate Physical Education (LCPE) and Senior Cycle Physical Education (SCPE) will be a matter for the school to decide. LCPE is designed to be taught in a minimum of 180 hours in total over the two years of fifth and sixth year. The SCPE Framework is designed to be taught over the two or three years of senior cycle education. It is recommended that a double period per week (approximately 80 minutes) is made available as the minimum requirement for teaching Senior Cycle Physical Education.
219. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna cén líon iomlán foirne atá fostaithe ina Roinn faoi láthair; cé mhéid post atá daingnithe nó aitheanta ag an Roinn (i scéim teanga, nó ar aon bhealach eile) mar phoist a bhfuil riachtanas Gaeilge ag baint leo; cé mhéid duine atá ann ag a bhfuil líofacht i nGaeilge agus atá ag feidhmiú sna poist sin atá daingnithe no aitheanta mar phoist a bhfuil riachtanas Gaeilge ag baint leo; an bhfuil sé beartaithe ag an tráth seo aon phost eile de chuid na Roinne a aithint mar phoist a bhfuil riachtanas Gaeilge. [50680/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra220. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna cé mhéid folúntas a líonadh ina Roinn ó thús na bliana seo; cé mhéid de na folúntais sin a bhain le poist a bhí sainaitheanta mar phoist a raibh Gaeilge riachtanach ina leith; cé mhéid folúntas atá le líonadh faoi láthair agus cé mhéid de na folúntais siúd atá sainaitheanta mar fholúntais a bhfuil riachtanas Gaeilge ag baint leo. [50697/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 219 and 220 together.
Is iad seo a leanas na ceapacháin agus ardú céimeanna sa Roinn Oideachais agus Scileanna go dtí seo i 2017:
Ardú Céimeanna
|
Grád |
Uimhir |
|
Príomh Cigire Cúnta |
1 |
|
Roinn Cigire |
4 |
|
Ard Siceolaí Oideachais |
1 |
|
Rúnaí Cúnta |
2 |
|
Príomh Oifigeach |
2 |
|
Leas Príomh Oifigeach |
7 |
|
Ard Oifigeach Feidhmiúcháin |
19 |
|
Oifigeach Riaracháin |
2 |
Ceapacháin
|
Grád |
Uimhir |
|
Leas Príomh Cigire |
1 |
|
Cigire Luachblianta |
4 |
|
Roinnchigire Bunscoile |
4 |
|
Cigire Iar- bhunscoile |
1 |
|
Síceolaí Oideachais |
27 |
|
Staitisteoir |
1 |
|
Innealtóir Grád 1 |
1 |
|
Ailtire |
1 |
|
Priomhoifigeach |
2 |
|
Priomhoifigeach Cúnta |
0 |
|
Ard Oifigeach Feidhmiúcháin |
4 |
|
Oifigeach Riaracháin |
4 |
|
Oifigeach Feidhmiúcháin |
12 |
|
Oifigeach Cléireachais |
41 |
|
Glantóir |
2 |
Faoi láthair tá 1,300 nó mar sin duine fostaithe inson Roinn Oideachais agus Scileanna.
Is iad na príomhghráid sa Roinn atá gafa le seirbhísí a sheachadadh ar phobal na Gaeilge ná na gráid a bhaineann le cigireacht na scoileanna agus le soláthar na seirbhísí síceolaíochta oideachais a chuireann An tSeirbhís Náisiúnta Síceolaíochta Oideachais ar fáil do scoileanna i gceantair Ghaeltachta agus do Ghaelscoileanna. Tá 24 síceolaí oideachais sa tSeirbhís faoi láthair atá inniúil sa Ghaeilge agus a chuireann a gcuid seirbhísí proifisiúnta ar fáil trí Ghaeilge. Tá 51 cigire i Rannán Chigireacht na Scoileanna ag an mbunleibhéal agus tá 48 díobh seo freagrach as scoileanna ina múintear an siollabas trí Ghaeilge. Tá 11 de na cigirí seo freagrach as scoileanna Gaeltachta mar go bhfuil na scoileanna sin mar chuid den cheantar acu. Ag an mbunleibhéal is speisialtóirí in ábhar-réimsí na cigirí den chuid is mó. Cuireann foireann na cigireachta iar-bhunleibhéal a cuid seirbhísí ar fáil chomh maith do scoileanna ina múintear an curaclam trí Ghaeilge. Faoi láthair tá dóthain de bhaill foirne proifisiúnta ann atá inniúil sa Ghaeilge chun seirbhísí proifisiúnta a sheachadadh do na scoileanna i gceist.
I mí Éanair 2017 bunaigh mo Roinn Aonad nua An tAonad um Oideachas Gaeltachta. Tá ceathrar ag obair ann is tá siad go léir líofa í nGaeilge. I dteannta sin tá líon oifigigh riaracháin atá ábalta plé le fiosrucháin trí mhéan na Gaeilge".
