Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Tuesday, 27 Feb 2018

Written Answers Nos. 279-291

Schools Site Acquisitions

Ceisteanna (279)

Darragh O'Brien

Ceist:

279. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the provision of a new secondary school for the Swords area of County Dublin, as announced in November 2015; if locations for the proposed school have been identified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10085/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the acquisition of a site at Mooretown, Swords to accommodate the new post primary school has completed.

The planning application for the permanent school building, as included on my Department's capital plan, is currently being finalised and is expected to be lodged shortly.

Schools Site Acquisitions

Ceisteanna (280)

Darragh O'Brien

Ceist:

280. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the provision of a new secondary school for the Malahide and Portmarnock areas of County Dublin, as announced in November 2015; if locations for these proposed schools have been identified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10086/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

As the Deputy may be aware, a project to deliver permanent accommodation for the new post primary school to serve Malahide/Portmarnock, as announced in November 2015, is included on my Department's capital plan.

Officials in my Department are continuing to liaise with officials in Fingal County Council under the Memorandum of Understanding for the acquisition of school sites in order to secure a suitable site to facilitate this project.  A suitable site has been identified and engagement in this regard is ongoing with a view to securing a site as expeditiously as possible.

My Department continues to keep Educate Together, as patron of the school, appraised of developments in the site acquisition process.

Schools Site Acquisitions

Ceisteanna (281)

Darragh O'Brien

Ceist:

281. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the provision of a permanent site for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10087/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

As the Deputy is aware, the project to provide permanent accommodation for the school in question is included on my Department's Capital Programme.

Officials in my Department continue to liaise with officials in the relevant local authority in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding in relation to the identification and acquisition of a suitable site for this school and the process is ongoing. 

My Department is in contact with the school patron to appraise them of progress in this regard.

Schools Site Acquisitions

Ceisteanna (282)

Darragh O'Brien

Ceist:

282. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the provision of a new site for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10088/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The lands at Hedgestown National school, as referred to by the Deputy, were purchased by the St Laurence O'Toole Diocesan Trust, on behalf of the Board of Management.

An initial site adjacent to the school, was procured from Fingal County Council and transferred ownership on 1st June 2017.

The second site was purchased from a private vendor and ownership transferred on 18th October 2017.

My Department received copies of the deeds of transfer in November 2017.

Schools Site Acquisitions

Ceisteanna (283)

Darragh O'Brien

Ceist:

283. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding progress on a new school building project for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10089/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

As the Deputy is aware the building project for the school in question is included on my Department's capital programme.

A new school site is required to accommodate this project and officials in my Department have been in contact with the school patron and trustees in relation to the site acquisition.

Schools Building Projects Status

Ceisteanna (284)

Darragh O'Brien

Ceist:

284. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills when the next phase of the school building for a school (details supplied) will commence; the status of this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10090/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I am pleased to inform the Deputy that construction of the second phase of the school building project in question commenced in January 2018 and subject to no issues arising the project should take approximately 18 months to complete,

Schools Site Acquisitions

Ceisteanna (285)

Darragh O'Brien

Ceist:

285. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the provision of a new site for a school (details supplied) as announced in November 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10091/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

As the Deputy is aware, a project to provide permanent accommodation for the school in question is included on my Department's Capital Programme.

Officials in my Department continue to liaise with officials in the relevant local authority in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding in relation to the acquisition of a suitable site for this school.  Discussions with relevant parties regarding the potential acquisition of a preferred site option are currently in progress with a view to advancing matters as expeditiously as possible.

I can assure the Deputy that my Department is in communication with the school patron and representatives to keep them appraised of progress and they will be informed of the proposed location as soon as it is possible to do so.

Schools Site Acquisitions

Ceisteanna (286)

Joan Burton

Ceist:

286. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department will engage with officials from Kildare County Council to resolve the issue of the siting of a proposed new school (details supplied) in County Kildare in order that the project can be advanced through architectural planning; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10132/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

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

A site is required to progress the building project. The Patron is providing the site for the new school and the site originally offered by the Patron was not suitable. The Patron has been requested to identify an alternative site and a response from the Patron is awaited.

Schools Building Projects Status

Ceisteanna (287)

Joan Burton

Ceist:

287. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he has appointed a design team for the required refurbishment and extension to a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10133/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

My Department is committed to providing a permanent accommodation solution for the school referred to by the Deputy. In that regard, a building project for the school to which he refers is included on my Department's 6 year Construction Programme. In the context of progressing the building project, my Department has undertaken a site visit to the school. The next step includes the formulation of the accommodation brief for the project and this process is in train. My Department will be liaising with the school in due course in the context of initiating the architectural planning process for the project.

Schools Building Projects Status

Ceisteanna (288)

Joan Burton

Ceist:

288. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he has appointed a design team for the required refurbishment and extension to a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10134/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

My Department is committed to providing a permanent accommodation solution for the school referred to by the Deputy. In that regard, a building project for the school to which she refers is included in my Department's 6-Year Construction Programme. In the context of progressing the building project, my Department has undertaken a site visit to the school.

The building project will be devolved to Kildare Wicklow Educational Training Board (KWETB) for delivery and my Department will be engaging with KWETB shortly in this regard.

Schools Building Projects Status

Ceisteanna (289)

Joan Burton

Ceist:

289. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he has satisfied himself that the construction of a campus (details supplied) in County Kildare is progressing according to the timeframe; if the project will be completed on time in May 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10137/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The project to which the Deputy refers is progressing satisfactorily. There is no reason at this point in time to suggest that the project will not be completed within contract with the due completion date being May 2019.

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Ceisteanna (290)

Fiona O'Loughlin

Ceist:

290. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a case in County Kildare in which a person (details supplied) has been unable to secure a place for school will be examined. [10158/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

My Department provides for a range of placement options and supports for schools which have enrolled students with special educational needs, in order to ensure that wherever a child is enrolled, s/he will have access to an appropriate education.

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is a separate independent statutory body whose functions include planning and co-ordinating the provision of education and support services to children with special educational needs in conjunction with schools and the Health Service Executive (HSE). The NCSE, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), is responsible for processing applications from schools for special educational needs supports as required. The NCSE is aware of emerging need from year to year and where special provision is required it is planned and established to meet that need.

The NCSE’s SENO responsibility includes planning and co-ordinating the provision of education and support services to children with special educational needs, including supporting children and parents in identifying school placement options and resource needs. Each SENO works in an assigned local area with parents, schools, teachers, psychologists, health professionals and other staff who are involved in the provision of services in that area for children with special educational needs.

In dealing with parents of children with special educational needs, SENOs support children and their parents in identifying school placement options and resource needs; keeping parents informed of what resourcing decisions are being made on their child’s behalf. The SENO will also discuss any concerns that parents have about the present or future educational needs of their child. The local SENO is available to discuss the issues the parents have with regard to a special school placement for the child in question and to offer support and expertise. SENO contact details can be obtained at: http://ncse.ie/seno-contact-list.

The enrolment of a child in a school is a matter, in the first instance, for the parents of the child and the Board of Management of a school. This Department has no role in relation to processing applications for enrolment to schools.

Accordingly, parents are advised to seek to enrol their child, by applying in writing, to their school/s of their choice as early as possible.

It is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998. The criteria to be applied by schools in such circumstances are a matter for the schools themselves. This selection process and the enrolment policy on which it is based must be non-discriminatory and must be applied fairly in respect of all applicants. Under section 15 (2) (d) of the Education Act 1998, each school is legally obliged to publish its enrolment policy.

Section 29 of the Education Act 1998, provides parents with an appeal process where a board of management of a school or a person acting on behalf of the Board refuses enrolment to a student. Where a 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 either the relevant Educational Training Board or to the Secretary General of this Department.

Parental Leave

Ceisteanna (291)

Michael McGrath

Ceist:

291. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a parent can lose out on parental leave by virtue of the fact their child reaches the upper qualifying age limit in cases in which the parent is out on carer's leave caring for another child in the family with a disability; his plans to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9392/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

As the Deputy will be aware, the Government has approved drafting of a Family Leave Bill, which will consolidate all existing family leave legislation such as parental leave, carer's leave, maternity leave and adoptive leave into one Act while making necessary amendments and improvements. 

There will be an opportunity for any anomalies, such as the one that the Deputy has raised, to be considered within the context of this project.

Barr
Roinn