Written Answers Nos. 108-125
108. Deputy Michael Harty asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on whether the shortage of science and technology teachers will dilute the Government's ambition for Ireland to become a European leader in STEM subjects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52092/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 2016/17 and in 2017/18, I provided for the recruitment of in the region of 3,000 teachers at post-primary level. All of the 2016-2017 posts have been successfully filled and the process for filling the additional posts in the current year is almost complete. We are successfully filling the posts that we are making available.
As the Deputy knows, last week I launched a STEM Policy Statement and Implementation Plan, which aims to make Ireland the best in Europe in STEM by 2026. This Policy Statement focusses on the many strengths in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics education in Ireland while providing a roadmap to address the areas for development.
Some schools have reported shortages in recruiting teachers in specific subjects at post primary level, including in STEM. The reasons for this are complex. Part of the reason is due to an imbalance in the availability of teachers in certain subjects – for example a large proportion of teachers training as Geography teachers and a smaller proportion choosing to train in subjects such as Physics.
As part of the implementation of the STEM Strategy I am determined to deliver increased teacher supply in key priority areas. My officials are gathering and analysing baseline data. We are also assessing specific policy initiatives which can accelerate supply in critical areas. This would include measures to deliver a higher proportion of those entering initial teacher education at undergraduate or masters level in the priority areas; to upgrade the skills of existing teachers; to identify possible sources of qualified persons who are not now teaching.
109. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the problems experienced by parents dropping their children to a school (details supplied) regarding the lack of parking and drop off facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52103/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra110. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a school (details supplied) will be relocated to permanent accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52104/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 109 and 110 together.
The school to which the Deputy refers is temporarily located in a property in the ownership of Teagasc in Kinsealy, Dublin 17 pending delivery of the school's permanent accommodation.
My Department is aware that the school has made contact with Fingal County Council's traffic engineer and Road Safety Officer and that the Council has completed a report recommending that appropriate parking options need to be identified. In this regard, my Department is engaging with Teagasc, the owners of the site, to explore how the traffic management issues can be resolved on the site.
My Department continues to liaise with Fingal County Council in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding in relation to the identification and acquisition of a suitable site for the school's permanent accommodation.
Due to commercial sensitivities relating to site acquisitions generally I am not in a position to provide further details at this time but I can assure the Deputy that the school patron will be informed of the proposed location for the school as soon as it is possible to do so.
111. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Skills the guidelines or Department policy regarding the voluntary contributions that many schools now request from parents of students as a matter of course; his views on the pressure that this puts on many families that are struggling to make ends meet; his further views on the fact that schools need to do this due to the fact that State funding falls short of school needs in many areas; his plans to address this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52105/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraVoluntary contributions may be sought from parents of pupils in recognised schools provided it is made absolutely clear to parents that there is no question of compulsion to pay and that, in making a contribution, they are doing so of their own volition and that a child’s place in the school or continued enrolment is not dependant on a willingness to make a contribution.
The manner in which voluntary contributions are sought and collected is a matter for school management, however their collection should be such as not to create a situation where either parents or pupils could reasonably infer that the contributions take on a compulsory character.
A school may seek payment to cover the cost of photocopied or other such learning materials where the amount sought by the school is consistent with the costs involved and the level of materials provided. It is also permissible for a school to seek payments in respect of extra-curricular activities provided such activities are not obligatory and individual pupils can choose whether or not to participate. No charge may be made, however, in respect of instruction in any subject of the school curriculum or for recreation or other activities where all pupils are expected to take part.
The Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016 prohibits the charging of fees or seeking payment or contributions as part of the school admission process or for continued enrolment in the school. The Bill passed Dáil Committee stage on the 28th June 2017 and will shortly proceed to Report Stage.
I am very conscious of the burden which can be placed on parents by the costs associated with school attendance. That is the reason why I issued a circular to schools requiring a keen cost approach to the selection of items which could impose costs and requiring consultation with parents on the elements that can create costs.
I believe that schools need to be accountable to parents and we need greater levels of communication, engagement and transparency in how schools serve their communities. Better information for parents, including information in relation to the collection and use of voluntary contributions, is an issue that I will be looking at in the context of my Department's work on a Parents' and Students' Charter.
I recognise the need to improve capitation funding for primary and post-primary schools having regard to the reductions that were necessary over recent years.
The Action Plan for Education aimed at making the Irish education and training service the best in Europe by 2026 outlines hundreds of actions to be implemented over the 3 year period from 2016 to 2019 which include restoring capitation funding as resources permit.
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 approach in relation to improvements in grant funding was applied, as appropriate, at post-primary level.
Capitation funding remains a priority for me to address during the lifetime of the Action Plan as resources permit.
113. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a person (details supplied) is entitled to compensation after years of abuse in an industrial school. [52117/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe legacy of abuse against children and young people, whether in residential institutions, in day schools, or in any other setting, is appalling. It is impossible to even imagine what some people endured. In recognition that survivors may need the help of counsellors, there is a National Counselling Service, run by the Health Service Executive which provides counselling services to those who have been abused in childhood, with priority given to those abused in residential institutional care. Perhaps this service may be of assistance.
While there was a redress scheme in place for people who had suffered abuse in a number of scheduled institutions, it is no longer open to new applicants. The Residential Institutions Redress Amendment Act, 2011 removed the Board's power to accept late applications.
The legislation removing the Board's power to consider late applications also required the Board to advertise this fact. Given Ireland's pattern of immigration to the UK, the Board advertised in the Daily Mail and the Sun in the UK. The Board also wrote to all solicitors on record and placed a notice on its website as well as advising the survivor groups and outreach centres in the UK. It also arranged for the Irish embassies to be advised of the closing date.
Since 17th September 2011, the Redress Board has been closed for applications.
114. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Education and Skills when his Department was notified that the preferred contractor was withdrawing its tender for a new school (details supplied); if a reason for withdrawing was given; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52118/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra115. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if tenders supplied for construction of a new school (details supplied) in 2016 and 2017 now remain valid; if not, when a new tendering process will commence; the length of time a new tender process will take; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52119/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 114 and 115 together.
My Department was informed on 28th September 2017 that the lowest tenderer for the project referred to by the Deputy was not in a position to stand over its tendered sum and had withdrawn from the process.
A tender report for the 2nd lowest tender was received in the Department on 27th November 2017 and is currently being examined by the Department. Subject to no issues arising it is envisaged that construction of this school should commence in the 1st quarter of 2018.
116. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of persons who have applied to Caranua for support; the number of applications that have been granted each year since its establishment to date in 2017; the number and value of awards given in each year, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52125/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraCaranua is an independent statutory body established under the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act 2012. The legislation provides that €110 million in contributions from religious congregations will be made available to Caranua to help meet the needs of persons who, as children, were abused in residential institutions. To date some €101million, comprising contributions and associated interest, has been received from congregations and deposited in the special investment account opened by the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA) in accordance with section 29 of the 2012 Act.
Caranua’s annual reports which may be accessed on its website (www.caranua.ie) provide extensive details regarding the organisation’s activities including information regarding the number of applications received and the number of persons in receipt of supports and various related matters. Caranua also provides regular updates on its website in regard to these matters. The most recent published update, which provides figures to 30 September 2017, indicates that in the period from its establishment in March 2013 to that date Caranua had received 6,024 applications and had expended some €66.2 million in support of 4,886 applicants.
120. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Skills when the permanent school building for a school (details supplied) will begin construction; the timeframe for completion of the school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52147/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe school in question is currently at tender stage. The indicative timeline is for construction to commence in quarter 1 of 2018. A more precise timeline can be provided when the contract has been awarded. The Department will keep the School informed in this regard.
123. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education and Skills the expenditure by his department by heading (details supplied) in each of the years since June 1997 to January 2011, in tabular form; and the miscellaneous expenditure not relating to set department budgets pertaining to the headings. [52220/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAll of the details requested are not readily available within my Department and it would involve a very significant amount of administrative time to identify, retrieve from storage, and examine all relevant files in order to compile the information in question.
The FMS Financial Management System used by the Department did not become fully operational until 2004 and does not format the relevant details into the categories as requested by the Deputy. However, I attach a listing for the years 1997 to 2010 as compiled in response to previous parliamentary questions tabled previously. This listing includes expenditure on consultancies and may include consultancies on PR, communications and reports commissioned during the period indicating the costs involved.
In relation to advertising, my Department incurs expenditure in connection with a wide range of educational programmes and schemes including staff appointments in the education sector; invitations to attend local hearings; invitations to forward submissions on education-related schemes/projects; invitations to tender for school building projects. Attached is a listing of expenditure compiled from the FMS for 2004-2010.
Information on Consultants, Experts and Advisors engaged by the Department of Education and Skills (formerly the Department of Education and Science) during the years 1997 to 2010, inclusive, is contained in the following links.
