Written Answers Nos. 137-161
137. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update in respect of a school (details supplied) in County Louth; and the future viability of the school and deployment of staff. [11145/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra138. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will report on the outcome of a meeting that was scheduled to take place in September 2017 between his Department, school authorities and the patron of a school (details supplied) in County Louth. [11146/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 137 and 138 together.
The decision making authority for a school closure rests with the Patron of a school, and this is subject to the agreement of the Department. Any proposal to close a school must involve consultation with all of the relevant stakeholders, parents, teachers, students and local communities and follow decisions taken at local level. The Patron has not informed my Department of any decision in relation to the future viability of the school.
Senior Officials in my Department held a meeting with the school management on 20th September 2017, to discuss the viability of the school. I understand at that meeting the school management indicated they are in favour of the school remaining open.
My Department is in ongoing contact with the single manager and Patron of Scoil Náisiúnta Bhrighde in relation to the issues arising including its future viability.
139. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans with respect to the review associated to the accommodation needs of a school (details supplied); when a decision can be expected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11150/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that my Department recently received a request to review an application for additional accommodation from the school referred to by the Deputy. This is currently under consideration and a decision will be conveyed to the school authority as soon as the process has been completed.
140. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a site for a new school (details supplied) in County Kildare. [11155/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is in the process of acquiring the site for a new building for the school to which the Deputy refers. The site acquisition is well advanced. At this point it is not anticipated that the finalisation of the acquisition will impact on the timelines for delivery of the building project.
The project is being advanced for tender preparation while conveyancing is being completed. My Department recently wrote to the school in this regard and outlined the timeframe for progression of the project to tender stage.
141. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position with regard to the tenders for a new school (details supplied) in County Kildare. [11156/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe building project for the school to which the Deputy refers is at an advanced stage of architectural planning, Stage 2b – Detailed Design, which includes the applications for Planning Permission, Fire Cert and Disability Access Cert and the preparation of tender documents. All statutory approvals have been obtained.
The Design Team is currently finalising the stage 2b documentation and expects to submit the finalised Stage 2b Report to my Department shortly.
Upon receipt and review of this outstanding documentation and providing no other issues arise, my Department will then revert to the Board of Management with authorisation to complete pre-qualification of Contractors. When the pre-qualification process has been completed the project will then be progressed to tender stage.
142. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the active school building projects and refurbishments and or retrofits here by county; the stage of the process they are at as of the end of February 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11160/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra150. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the active school building projects and refurbishments and or retrofits by county; the stage of the process each is at as of the end of February 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11241/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 142 and 150 together.
I wish to advise the Deputy that details of smaller scale capital projects that have been approved devolved funding under my Department's additional accommodation scheme may be viewed on my Department's website www.education.ie which is updated regularly. The responsibility for progressing and delivering these projects rests with the relevant school authority.
In relation to the information sought by the Deputy relating to major capital projects, my Department will arrange to collate the information and I will arrange to have it forwarded to the Deputy as soon as it becomes available.
143. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Education and Skills if work on a school (details supplied) which was identified as a location for a new build in 2015 and at which a site has been identified for the new build will commence in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11161/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy will be aware that a building project for the school to which she refers is included in my Department's 6 Year Capital Programme.
My Department officials have been working closely with officials in the relevant local authority under the Memorandum of Understanding for the acquisition of school sites with a view to securing a site for the school in question. Local Authority officials, on this Department’s behalf, are currently engaged with a landowner with a view to reaching agreement on a proposed acquisition. The Deputy can be assured that all parties are working to advance the site acquisition process as expeditiously as possible.
144. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the funding provided for capital projects for scouting organisations by his Department in the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11187/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has not provided capital funding for projects for scouting organisations during the past five years.
145. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department offers further supports for students from Gaeltacht and island areas (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11215/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraTo satisfy the terms and conditions of the student grant scheme in relation to progression, a student must be moving from year to year within a course, having successfully completed the previous year or be transferring from one course to another, where the award for the subsequent course is of a higher level than the previous course. The objective of this policy is to help as many students as possible to obtain one qualification at each level of study.
A student holding a Level 8 qualification would not satisfy the progression requirements of the Scheme on commencing another undergraduate Level 8 degree programme.
However, tax relief at the standard rate of tax may be claimed in respect of tuition fees paid for approved courses at approved colleges of higher education including approved undergraduate and postgraduate courses in EU Member States and in non-EU countries. Further information on this tax relief is available from the Revenue Commissioners on www.revenue.ie.
I understand that a student from another European Union (EU) country studying in Northern Ireland can apply for a student loan to cover the cost of tuition fees. Further information is available on www.studentfinanceni.co.uk.
Some third level colleges provide supports to their students. The student in question may wish to contact the relevant college in Northern Ireland for advice on the type and range of supports that may be available in that particular college.
146. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the possibility of introducing a national accreditation programme for car mechanics; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11223/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra147. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the types of mechanics apprenticeships that are currently in operation; the number of persons availing of such schemes; and his plans to expand these schemes. [11224/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 146 and 147 together.
There are currently five nationally accredited apprenticeship programmes in mechanics in operation in Ireland, one of which is a Motor Mechanics apprenticeship. Details of the apprentice population in each of these programmes at the end of February 2018 is set out in the attached tabular statement.
This Government is committed to supporting the increased registration of apprentices across all sectors. New apprenticeship registrations have risen from 2,698 in 2014 to 4,843 in 2017, which represents an increase of almost 80%. To support the continued growth in registrations across both our existing craft apprenticeships and our new apprenticeships, Budget 2018 saw an allocation of €122m, which represents an increase of almost 24% on the 2017 allocation of €98.7m .
Apprentice Population Mechanical Pre 2016 Apprenticeships
|
Trades |
YTD Feb-18 |
|
Mechanical Based |
|
|
Aircraft Mechanics |
150 |
|
Agricultural Mechanics |
154 |
|
Construction Plant Fitting |
248 |
|
Heavy Vehicle Mechanics |
503 |
|
Motor Mechanics |
1305 |
|
Total |
2,210 |
148. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the options available for the parents of a child (details supplied) to continue their education based on the advice of health professionals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11239/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra149. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the options available for a child (details supplied) to undertake the leaving certificate applied in a local school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11240/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 148 and 149 together.
It is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998. The enrolment policy must be non-discriminatory and must be applied fairly in respect of all applicants. My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in the area.
Parents can choose which school to apply to and where the school has places available the pupil should be admitted. However, in schools where there are more applicants than places available a selection process may be necessary. 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. However, this may result in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice.
Section 29 of the Education Act, 1998 provides for an appeal by a parent or guardian to the Secretary General of my Department, or in the case of an Educational Training Board (ETB) school to the ETB in the first instance, where a Board of Management of a school, or a person acting on behalf of the Board, refuses to enrol a student in a school, expels a student or suspends a student for 20 or more days in any school year. Further information on the Section 29 appeals process is available on the Department's website www.education.ie.
The Educational Welfare Service of the Child and Family Agency (EWS) is the statutory agency which can assist parents who are experiencing difficulty in securing a school place for their child. The EWS can be contacted at 01-7718500.
In relation to the Leaving Certificate Applied (LCA) programme, the programme is one of the three leaving certificate options made available by my Department for senior cycle students. The LCA is a two-year programme designed for those students who do not wish to proceed directly to higher education or for those whose needs, aptitudes and learning styles are not fully catered for by the other two Leaving Certificate programmes.
It is a matter for each individual school to decide whether or not to put in place the LCA programme in its own school.
My Department’s National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) provides educational psychological support to all primary and post-primary schools. It is open for the parents of the student concerned to raise their specific concerns about the educational development and progress of their child with the Principal of the school the student currently attends. This can be done with a view to the school raising those concerns with an assigned NEPS psychologist.
151. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Education and Skills the system in place for students who wish to avail of swimming lessons when the nearest facility is 50 km away (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11243/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAt primary level, Physical Education is one of seven curriculum areas within the revised Primary School Curriculum which was introduced in 1999. A minimum of one hour of physical education per week is recommended for all primary school pupils. The curriculum has been structured so as to allow individual schools a high degree of flexibility and choice in the planning of a broad and balanced Physical Education programme for pupils, and includes six broad strands featuring Athletics, Dance, Gymnastics, Games, Outdoor and Adventure activities and Aquatics.
The Physical Education curricula at both primary and second level have been developed on the understanding that facilities available to schools vary. Consequently, they offer a level of flexibility that allows each individual school to design a programme that can be delivered using the resources and supports available to it.
Where schools decide to provide pupils with swimming classes in school time, they are expected to fund them from resources already available to them. Under the Rules for National Schools, while voluntary contributions may be sought, no school may charge a fee as a condition of admission to an activity provided within school hours.
152. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Education and Skills the exact date for the commencement of extension works to a school (details supplied) in view of the fact same were to commence in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11246/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe major building project referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of architectural planning - Stage 2(b), which includes the applications for Planning Permission, Fire Certificate and Disability Access Certificate and the preparation of Tender Documents. All statutory approvals have been secured.
In February 2017 the Stage 2b (Detailed Design) was approved, pending the completion of the process to carry out a short-listing of suitably qualified building contractors. The prequalification process commenced in July 2017 and is currently in progress.
On completion of the prequalification process, the Department will be contacting Cork ETB to inform the ETB of a timeframe for progression to tender and construction stages.
153. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if an emergency task force can be set up to include all patronage bodies and senior officials from his Department to tackle the primary school places crisis in Fingal, particularly in Swords and Balbriggan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11249/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department uses a Geographical Information System to identify the areas under increased demographic pressure nationwide. The system uses data from the Central Statistics Office, Ordnance Survey Ireland, the Department of Social Protection and information from my Department’s own databases. With this information, my Department is currently carrying out demographic analyses to determine where additional school accommodation is needed at primary and at post-primary level. It is anticipated that decisions based on these exercises will be announced in the coming weeks.
In relation to the Balbriggan school planning area, my Department’s main responsibility is to ensure that the existing schools in the Balbriggan area can, between them, cater for the demand from within the school planning area in the 2018/19 school year. It is important that school size is monitored and that a balance is preserved among all schools in the school planning area to ensure that one school is not expanding at the expense of another school.
In this regard, my Department will continue to monitor the position in the Balbriggan area, but considers that there is adequate accommodation between the existing primary schools in the Balbriggan area to meet demand.
Regarding the position in the Swords school planning area, my Department has recently contacted all of the primary schools in the Swords area to review their projected enrolments for September 2018. The schools concerned generally commenced their enrolment process for the new junior infants in early January of this year and this process is not yet complete. In that regard, the level of demand for all schools is not available at this point. Each school has issued invitations for enrolment through school notes and local announcements and are currently offering places in line with their respective enrolment policies. My Department will continue to liaise with the schools and their Patrons to keep the matter under review in the coming weeks with a view to putting any necessary arrangements in place to address any accommodation needs.
154. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the amount his Department is paying the diocese of Cork and Ross for the leasing of the building for a Gaelscoil (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11338/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy that funding provided by my Department, to the school management authority, to meet the rental costs of the premises occupied by the Gaelscoil concerned, amounts to almost €120,000 per annum.
155. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of construction on the grounds of a Gaelscoil (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11339/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Design Team for the School to which the Deputy refers has recently been authorised to proceed to tender. Subject to no issues arising, it is anticipated that construction will commence in the third quarter of 2018.
156. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if permission from the Charities Regulator is required prior to sale of property for the new build of a school (details supplied); if so, the timelines involved; and if this will present a problem in the sequencing of relevant timelines for delivery of the school on current schedule. [11346/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra158. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if there are other issues that may delay the legal process of transfer of property for the new build at a school (details supplied); and if so, the details of same. [11348/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 156 and 158 together.
My Department is in the process of acquiring the site for a new building for the school to which the Deputy refers. The site acquisition is well advanced. It would not be appropriate to provide details of the site acquisition due to commercial sensitivities. However I can assure the Deputy that at this point it is not anticipated that the completion of conveyancing will impact on the timelines for delivery of the building project.
The project is being advanced for tender preparation while conveyancing is being completed. My Department recently wrote to the school in this regard and outlined the timeframe for progression of the project to tender stage.
157. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the contingency plans in place for the new build for a school (details supplied). [11347/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe building project for the school to which the Deputy refers is at an advanced stage of architectural planning, Stage 2b – Detailed Design, which includes the applications for Planning Permission, Fire Cert and Disability Access Cert and the preparation of tender documents. All statutory approvals have been obtained.
The Design Team is currently finalising the stage 2b documentation and expects to submit the finalised Stage 2b Report to my Department shortly.
Upon receipt and review of this outstanding documentation and providing no other issues arise, my Department will then revert to the Board of Management with authorisation to complete pre-qualification of Contractors. When the pre-qualification process has been completed the project will then be progressed to tender stage.
The school has submitted an application to my Department for additional temporary accommodation. This application is currently being assessed and a decision will be conveyed to the school authority as soon as possible.
The school should continue to submit applications to the Department for required additional temporary accommodation pending construction of this new school.
159. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will address a query with regard to the Teaching Council regarding a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11359/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Teaching Council is the independent regulatory body with statutory authority for the professional regulation of teachers in this State. My Department does not have any direct involvement in the registration of teachers by the Council.
Decisions of this nature are a matter for the Teaching Council and the person referred to by the Deputy should continue to liaise directly with the Council in this matter.
160. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to extend eligibility to third level educational maintenance and fees grants to the offspring of persons who meet residency conditions in the State and that hold a stamp 4 visa; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11407/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the terms of the student grant scheme, grant assistance is awarded to students who meet the prescribed conditions of funding including those which relate to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means. The nationality requirements for the student grant scheme are set out in section 14 of the Student Support Act 2011 and regulation 5 of the Student Support Regulations 2017. To qualify for a student grant, it is the candidate's nationality or his/her immigration status in the State that determines whether or not he/she meets the nationality requirement outlined in the Act and Regulations. Possession of a 'stamp 4' does not automatically satisfy the nationality requirement of the student grant legislation.
The Department of Justice and Equality adjudicates on a person's entitlement to remain in the State and on the stamp that is awarded where permission to remain is sanctioned. I understand a 'stamp 4' can be awarded to categories of applicants other than those specified in the Student Support Act and the Student Support Regulations.
Article 32 of the Student Grant Scheme 2017 provides for a review of eligibility for the award of a grant in the event of a change of circumstances in the academic year, including a change in relation to a student's nationality or immigration status. Where a student acquires Irish citizenship by naturalisation, or is granted one of the permission to remain criterion provided for in the Act or Regulations during the course of their studies, he/she may apply to SUSI to have his/her application re-assessed.
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 form outlining the position may be submitted by the applicant to the independent Student Grants Appeals Board.
161. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education and Skills when the reappraisal of a school building project (details supplied) will be completed; when a decision will be made on the proposed extension of the school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11408/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise you Deputy that a review of the needs of the school is currently being carried out in the context of the projected demographic position in the Athenry area. Once this review is completed, my Department will be in contact with the school.
