Wednesday, 29 Nov 2017

Written Answers Nos. 130-146

Schools Building Projects Status

Ceisteanna (130)

Joan Burton

Ceist:

130. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills when tenders will be invited for a new school (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50836/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

The building project referred to by the Deputy is for a new 24 classroom school including a Special Needs Unit, with a floor area of approx. 4,748m2.

The project is currently at Stage 2B of Architectural Planning - Detailed Design Stage, which includes applications for all statutory consents, including Planning Permission, Disability Access Certificate and Fire Safety Certificate and also the preparation of tender documentation. Planning Permission for this project was received in August of this year.

The Stage 2B report has just recently been received by my Department.  Once the Stage 2B submission has been reviewed, my Department will then revert to the school with regard to a timeframe for progression to tender.

Education and Training Boards

Ceisteanna (131)

Joan Burton

Ceist:

131. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board has concluded its examination of options for accommodation for a new school (details supplied) in Maynooth, County Kildare; if not, when the examination will be concluded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50837/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board is continuing to examine the options for accommodation for the school referred to by the Deputy which involves consideration of the timing and availability of appropriate infrastructure in the area.  My Department is continuing to work closely with Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board and An Foras Pátrúnachta in relation to the provision of appropriate accommodation for the establishment of the Gaelcholáiste.

Schools Building Projects

Ceisteanna (132)

Joan Burton

Ceist:

132. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reasons his officials have not yet communicated with the board of management of a school (details supplied) in County Kildare as to whether the school is to be a totally new-build school project or a refurbishment project; when the position will be clarified; when a design team will be appointed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50838/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

As the Deputy is aware, a building project for the school referred to is included in my Department's 6 Year Construction Programme.

A site visit to the school has since been undertaken by my Department which involved an assessment of the school building. The outcome of the visit is currently being considered and this will assist in determining how the accommodation needs of the school will be addressed. This includes the formulation of the accommodation brief i.e. defining the extent of extension / refurbishment to be provided. My Department has been liaising with the school’s Patron in this regard. When the brief formulation process has been completed, my Department will be in further contact with the Patron in relation to the next steps to be taken to initiate the architectural planning process for the project.

Schools Building Projects Status

Ceisteanna (133)

Joan Burton

Ceist:

133. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he has completed the schedule of accommodation requirements for the extension to a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; if completed, the accommodation requirements agreed; if not, when the schedule will be completed; when a design team will be appointed for the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50839/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

The Deputy will be aware that a building project for the school in question is included in my Department's 6 Year Construction Programme.

Following the site visit to the school by my Department, the preliminary work associated with the project has been initiated. This includes determining how the accommodation needs of the school will be met and this process is in train. My Department will be in further contact with the school patron when this process has been completed.

Schools Building Projects Status

Ceisteanna (134)

Joan Burton

Ceist:

134. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the invitation to tender for a new school (details supplied) in County Kildare has been sanctioned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50841/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

The Design Team for the major building project for the school in question submitted the original Stage 2B Report in August of this year and my Department found a number of omissions in this report. The original report was returned to the Design Team via the Board of Management for updating. 

An amended Stage 2B report has recently been received and is currently being reviewed by my Department. 

On completion of the review of this report, my Department will revert to the Board of Management with regard to the further progression of the project at that time.

Schools Building Projects Status

Ceisteanna (135)

Joan Burton

Ceist:

135. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the stage 2B documents including tender documents for a new school (details supplied) in County Kildare have been submitted to his Department for approval; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50842/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

The project referred to by the Deputy has been devolved for delivery to Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board (ETB).

My Department has not received the Stage 2B documents. I understand from the ETB that they will be submitted shortly.

Schools Building Projects Status

Ceisteanna (136)

Joan Burton

Ceist:

136. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the invitation to tender for a new school (details supplied) in County Kildare has been sanctioned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50843/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

The Design Team for the major building project for the school in question submitted the original Stage 2b Report in September of this year and my Department found omissions in this report. The original report was returned to the Design Team via the Board of Management for updating. 

An amended Stage 2B report has recently been received and this is currently being reviewed by my Department. 

On completion of the review of this report my Department will revert to the Board of Management with regard to the further progression of the project at that time.

Apprenticeship Data

Ceisteanna (137, 138)

Niall Collins

Ceist:

137. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Education and Skills the funding allocated in 2018 for all craft-based and consortia-led apprenticeships from the national training fund and the Exchequer; and the number of persons forecasted to be in craft-based and consortia-led apprenticeships by the end of 2018. [50928/17]

Niall Collins

Ceist:

138. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Education and Skills the spend on apprenticeship training in 2016 and 2017; the craft-based and consortia-led apprenticeship population in 2016 and to date in 2017; the number of male and female apprentices in training by each employment sector and sub sector in 2016 and to date in 2017 for craft-based and consortia-led apprenticeships, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50929/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills

I propose to take Questions Nos. 137 and 138 together.

The 2018 budget allocation for apprenticeship training is €122m which represents an increase of almost 24% on the 2017 allocation of €98.7m. The 2018 allocation will support an apprenticeship population in the region of 13,000 by the end of 2017 and the new registrations which are targeted, under the Government's Apprenticeship and Traineeship Plan, to reach over 6,000 during 2018. In 2018 all funding for craft based and consortia led apprenticeships will be provided from the National Training Fund.  The total expenditure on apprenticeship training was €69.6m in 2016 and is €69m to end October in 2017.

The information requested by the Deputy in relation to the craft based and consortia apprenticeship population in 2016 and to date in 2017 is set out in the attached table.

 Apprentice Population 2015 - 2016 by Sector, Trade and Gender

Population at end: October 2017				2016				Oct 2017 YTD
		Female	Male	Grand Total		Female	Male	Grand Total
Construction Total		6	2,267	2,273		5	2,745	2,750
Brick and Stonelaying			87	87			114	114
Cabinet Making			3	3			2	2
Carpentry and Joinery		1	888	889		2	1,081	1,083
Floor and Wall Tiling								-
Painting and Decorating		1	52	53		1	78	79
Plastering			39	39			62	62
Plumbing		2	1,045	1,047		1	1,223	1,224
Stonecutting and Stonemasonry			27	27			33	33
Wood Manufacturing and Finishing		2	126	128		1	152	153
Electrical Total		19	4,172	4,191		25	5,231	5,256
Aircraft Mechanics			143	143		3	164	167
Electrical		16	3,422	3,438		18	4,308	4,326
Electrical Instrumentation		1	265	266		2	297	299
Electronic Security Systems			62	62		1	114	115
Industrial Electrical Eng			12	12			31	31
Instrumentation		1	28	29		1	41	42
Refrigeration		1	240	241			276	276
Engineering Total		1	1,646	1,647		7	1,801	1,808
Farriery			15	15			18	18
Industrial Insulation			30	30			41	41
Manufacturing Engineering (Level 6)						1	30	31
Manufacturing Engineering (Level 7)						3	16	19
M.A.M.F.			575	575		1	592	593
Metal Fabrication			626	626		1	650	651
Pipefitting		1	60	61		1	76	77
Polymer Processing Tech							22	22
Sheet Metalworking			96	96			116	116
Toolmaking			244	244			240	240
Financial Total		27	40	67		90	117	207
Accounting Technician						29	22	51
Insurance Practice		27	40	67		54	88	142
International Financial Services Associate						1	1	2
International Financial Services Specialist						6	6	12
Hospitality Total						6	11	17
Commis Chef						6	11	17
Motor Total		6	2,242	2,248		6	2,344	2,350
Agricultural Mechanics			148	148			148	148
Construction Plant Fitting			213	213			241	241
Heavy Vehicle Mechanics			470	470			516	516
Motor Mechanics		6	1,256	1,262		5	1,279	1,284
Vehicle Body Repairs			155	155		1	160	161
Printing & Paper Total		1	18	19		1	17	18
Print Media		1	18	19		1	17	18
Grand Total		60	10,385	10,445		140	12,266	12,406

School Textbooks

Ceisteanna (139)

Michael Healy-Rae

Ceist:

139. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills if charging for primary school books (details supplied) is in keeping with article 42.4 of the Constitution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50957/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

School book rental schemes have an important role to play in reducing the cost of school books for parents. Circa. 95% of primary schools and 65% of post-primary schools operate a book rental scheme. 

My Department supports the operation of book rental schemes through the funding provided under its school books grant scheme.  Under this scheme, my Department provides funding of €16 million annually to all recognised primary and post-primary schools in the free education scheme.  In addition €15.7 million seed capital was provided over three years to support the establishment of book rental schemes in primary schools.

One of the actions as part of the Action Plan for Education is to strengthen the focus on reducing school costs for parents by increasing the financial support for book rental schemes, in order to reduce/eliminate school book costs for parents as resources permit. 

Providing additional funding for book rental schemes will be addressed during the lifetime of the Action Plan for Education.

It is a matter for the Board of Management of each individual school to decide on its own policy in relation to the use of textbooks in the school. Individual schools should adopt a cost-conscious approach to the selection of books in their classes. My Department has published a circular to school authorities and ETBs regarding measures to be adopted by schools to reduce the costs which include the provision of a book rental scheme.  The circular can be accessed on my Department’s website at https://www.education.ie/en/Circulars-and-Forms/Active-Circulars/cl0032_2017.pdf

Minor Works Scheme

Ceisteanna (140)

John McGuinness

Ceist:

140. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Skills when the minor works grant will be paid to primary schools (details supplied); if he will consider placing such grants on a fixed schedule alongside capitation and ancillary services grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50958/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

The normal practice is for the Minor Works Grant to be announced towards the end of the year as funding permits.

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”.  

Schools Building Projects Applications

Ceisteanna (141)

Mick Barry

Ceist:

141. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a school (details supplied) can be included on the school build programme for a new build on a locally identified site in view of the rapid expansion in numbers at the school since 2013 and the condition of the current building. [51113/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

I can confirm that my Department received a major capital application from the school to which the Deputy refers for the development of a new school building.

A project for the school has not been included in my Department's 6 Year Construction Programme and it is, therefore, not possible to provide an indicative timeframe for the delivery of a major project for the school at this time.

However, my Department has recently granted approval to the school for the provision of additional rented accommodation to facilitate the appointment of a developing teaching post.

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Ceisteanna (142)

Thomas Byrne

Ceist:

142. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated full-year cost of implementing a one point reduction in average class size at primary level; and the estimated full-year cost for reducing the average class size to 23 pupils. [51115/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

The 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.

Budget 2018 includes a further one point improvement in the staffing schedule in primary schools which brings the position to the most favourable ever seen at primary level. This measure will further assist all schools at the upper end of their individual respective bands. This budget measure delivers on a commitment made in the Confidence and Supply Agreement and Programme for Government to reduce primary schools class size.

These changes will come into effect in September 2018 for the 2018/19 school year.

Each 1 point adjustment to the primary staffing schedule is estimated to cost in the region of €16.5m per annum.

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Ceisteanna (143)

Thomas Byrne

Ceist:

143. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated full-year cost of implementing a one point reduction in the average class size at post-primary level. [51116/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

Teacher allocations to all schools are approved annually by my Department in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolment. The criteria for the allocation of posts are communicated to school managements annually and are available on the Department website.

Each 1 point adjustment to the pupil teacher ratio at post primary level is estimated to cost in the region of €63m per annum.

School Staff

Ceisteanna (144)

Thomas Byrne

Ceist:

144. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated full-year cost of fully restoring the staffing schedule for retaining and gaining a teacher who applied to schools before 2012 for three, four and five teacher schools. [51117/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

Budget 2018 marked the second year of major reinvestment in the education sector, as we continue to implement the Action Plan for Education, which has the central aim to make the Irish Education and training service the best in Europe within a decade.

Budget 2018 provides for an additional 1280 teaching posts in the 2018/19 school year.  This includes a one point improvement in the staffing schedule in primary schools which brings the position to the most favourable ever seen at primary level.

These changes will come into effect in September 2018 for the 2018/19 school year.

The criteria used for the allocation of teachers to primary schools is published annually on the website of the Department of Education and Skills. 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 operates in a clear and transparent manner and treats all similar types of schools equally irrespective of location.

Following a review of the staffing allocation for Small Primary Schools, Budget 2017 announced two adjustments in relation to one teacher schools. Where the school is the sole primary school on an island the school will be able to appoint a second teacher. In relation to single teacher schools generally with an enrolment of 15 or more pupils the school can apply to the staffing appeal board for a second post where the single teacher has children across 6 or more class groups.  The detailed arrangements have been set out in the staffing schedule circular for the 2017/18 school year. 

The cost of restoring the 2011/12 staffing schedule for small schools would be approximately €5m.

Capitation Grants

Ceisteanna (145, 149, 151)

Thomas Byrne

Ceist:

145. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated full-year cost of restoring capitation grants to primary schools to pre 2010 levels; and the estimated full-year cost of a 10% increase in the capitation grant to primary schools. [51118/17]

Thomas Byrne

Ceist:

149. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated full-year cost of restoring capitation and related grants to primary and post-primary schools to pre-2011 levels. [51123/17]

Thomas Byrne

Ceist:

151. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated full-year cost of a 20% increase per annum in the per capita capitation to voluntary secondary schools; and the estimated full-year cost of a 10% increase in the capitation to community and comprehensive schools. [51125/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

I propose to take Questions Nos. 145, 149 and 151 together.

The estimated cost of increasing the rate of capitation by 20% in voluntary secondary schools is circa €10.3m.

The estimated cost of increasing the rate of capitation by 10% to community and comprehensive schools is circa €1.6m.

The estimated cost of increasing the rate of capitation in primary schools by 10% is circa €9.9m.

The estimated cost of restoring capitation in primary schools to pre-2010 levels is circa €17.3m.

The overall cost of restoring capitation grants in primary and post-primary schools to pre-2010 levels is circa €35m.

I do recognise the need to improve capitation funding for primary and post-primary schools having regard to the reductions that were necessary over recent years.

Budget 2018 marks the second year of major reinvestment in the education sector, as we continue to implement the Action Plan for Education, which has the central aim to make the Irish Education and Training service the best in Europe within a decade. In 2018, the budget for the Department of Education will increase by €554 million to over €10 billion.

Due to the many competing demands for the available funding it was not possible to make progress in Budget 2018 on restoring capitation funding to schools. Capitation funding remains a priority for me to address as part of the Action Plan.

The process is underway for restoring grant funding that is used by schools to fund the salaries of ancillary staff. The ancillary grant was increased by €6 in 2016 and €5 in 2017 in order to enable primary schools implement the arbitration salary increase for grant funded school secretaries and caretakers and to also implement the restoration of salary for cleaners arising from the unwinding of FEMPI legislation. A similar type approach in relation to improvements in grant funding was applied, as appropriate, at post-primary level.

School Staff

Ceisteanna (146)

Thomas Byrne

Ceist:

146. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated full-year cost of providing schools with one administration day per week for teaching principals to cover the establishment of a permanent pool of teachers to replace teaching principals on their administration day. [51119/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

Circular 12/2016, which is available on the Department website, outlines the number of days that teaching principals may take as release time in a school year in order to assist them fulfilling their principal duties. Under these arrangements my Department pays for a substitute teacher to be employed by a school to facilitate administrative functions to be undertaken by the teaching principal. Under the current arrangements the number of days that principal teachers may take as release time in each school year ranges between 15 and 25 days depending on the size of the school.

Building on measures in previous budgets to enhance school leadership, Budget 2018 made €0.4 million available to fund additional release days for teaching principals in primary schools. This additional funding will see an increase in the number of release days available to teaching principals in the 2018/19 school year.

Enabling teaching principals to have one release day per week would cost approximately €12 million per annum.