Written Answers Nos 172-187
172. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason schools in counties Sligo and Leitrim were not included in his Department's pilot scheme for physical education for the leaving certificate programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11793/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraA very significant number of schools, approximately 360, applied to participate in the Phase 1 rollout of Leaving Certificate Physical Education (LCPE) and/or the Senior Cycle Physical Education (SCPE) Framework, with many applications being of high quality. Given that a limited number of 80 schools was selected for participation in phase 1 it was inevitable that a large number of schools that submitted quality applications would unfortunately not be selected. However, it is my intention that all schools will be able to offer LCPE (examinable) and/or SCPE (non-examinable) from September 2020, with preparation for their introduction commencing during the 2019/20 school year.
The Steering Group chaired by this Department to oversee the implementation of LCPE and SCPE considered the responses provided by schools to the Phase 1 School Selection Survey, many of which demonstrated high levels of satisfaction against the relevant criteria. The Steering Group also sought to ensure that the schools selected included a broad spread by school type. The requirement to select a relatively small number of schools to form the phase 1 cohort has resulted in a much larger number of schools being disappointed not to be selected. However, it was important that a limited number of schools be chosen for this first phase in order to ensure a managed introduction of the subject and framework in the schools selected and to facilitate the intensive engagement required to gain the necessary learning to facilitate the planned later rollout to all interested schools.
173. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to provide post-primary schools for an area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11798/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy may be aware, in order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas. My Department uses a Geographical Information System (GIS) to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise. The GIS uses data from a range of sources, including the Central Statistics Office, Ordnance Survey Ireland, the Department of Social Protection and my Department's own databases. With this information, my Department carries out nationwide demographic exercises at primary and post-primary level to determine where additional school accommodation is needed.
Where demographic data indicates that additional provision is required, the delivery of such additional provision is dependent on the particular circumstances of each case and may, depending on the circumstances, be provided through either one, or a combination of, the following:
- Utilising existing unused capacity within a school or schools
- Extending the capacity of a school or schools
- Provision of a new school or schools.
For school planning purposes, the Saggart and Citywest areas are located within the Tallaght and Newcastle_Rathcoole school planning areas.
Nationwide demographic exercises involving all school planning areas, including the Tallaght and Newcastle_Rathcoole school planning areas, which will determine where additional school accommodation will be needed in the future, are currently ongoing and this work is almost complete.
174. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a permanent location for schools (details supplied) has been secured; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11799/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am pleased to inform the Deputy that my Department has agreed to acquire a property for the schools in question. The conveyancing process to complete the acquisition is currently in the final stages.
175. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he has had discussions with the Minister for Justice and Equality or the Reception and Integration Agency, RIA, about the need for additional spaces, teachers and educational resources regarding the proposed direct provision centre in Lisdoonvarna, County Clare; and his plans to ensure the education needs of the residents will be met. [11801/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere has been ongoing engagment between my officials and RIA since the decision to open this centre in Lisdoonvarna. My officials have also been engaging with the local schools and Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board in relation education provision for asylum seekers accommodated in the centre. An official of my Department along with an official from RIA also met with the schools in Lisdoonvarna last week in relation to this matter.
176. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of persons holding Civil Service positions above clerical officer grade in his Department who entered the Civil Service via a route other than through an open competition run by the Public Appointments Service or its predecessors; the grades of each; and the basis for the non-standard recruitment [11856/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the terms of the Guidelines for Ministerial Appointments published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform my Department presently employs five special advisers and six civilian drivers which are non established Civil Servants. The five special advisers and six civilian drivers are assigned to the Minister, and to the two Ministers of State in the Department. The special advisers were appointed by Government and the civilian drivers' appointments were made after my Department secured an exclusion order from the Commission for Public Service Appointments (C.P.S.A.).
At administrative level two principal officers were recruited for the Public Service Reform Office under the terms of the Department's recruitment licence issued to it by the C.P.S.A.
177. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Education and Skills the directions provided to the payment of staff in the public sector and Civil Service that fall under the direction of his Department for the days during Storm Emma when staff were directed to stay at home; if deductions in pay and annual leave were made to staff in the public sector or Civil Service as a result of days lost during the storm; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11873/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing information and advice from the National Emergency Coordination Group and in line with the weather protocol agreed with Staff Representatives in cases of severe weather conditions my Department was closed from 2.30pm on Wednesday 28th February and remained closed on Thursday 1st and Friday 2nd of March. No deductions in pay or annual leave were made to the Department's staff directed to remain at home as a result of the weather conditions.
178. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Skills if an application by a school (details supplied) for another teacher will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11888/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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 operates in a clear and transparent manner and treats all similar types of schools equally irrespective of location.
The staffing schedule also includes an appeals mechanism for schools to submit a staffing appeal under certain criteria to an independent Appeals Board. Details of the appeal process and application form are available in Circular 0010/2018, "Staffing Arrangements in Primary Schools for the 2018/19 School Year", which is published on the Department website.
The school referred to by the Deputy submitted an application for consideration by the Appeals Board at its March meeting under the Additional Enrolments in October 2017 criteria. The Appeals Board considered the appeal and determined that it did not satisfy all the published criteria as set out in Circular 0010/2018.
The school has been notified of the outcome of the appeal. The Appeals Board operates independently of the Department and its decision is final.
179. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an application by a school (details supplied) for additional accommodation. [11909/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy that the school in question submitted an application to my Department for capital funding for additional accommodation.
The application will be assessed and a decision will be conveyed to the school authority as soon as the assessment process has been completed.
180. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties being experienced by pupils attending a school (details supplied); if the site has been identified as a priority site by the school capital appraisal section; when the conveyancing process will commence; when it will be completed; and if it has been or will be passed to the major projects section. [11911/18]
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 conveyancing process is well advanced.
I can confirm that the project is at an advanced stage of architectural planning: the project is being progressed by the design team while conveyancing is being completed. The project is expected to shortly complete stage 2(b) of the architectural planning process. This is the final stage of the design process for any school.
The school's design team has indicated that it expects to complete stage 2(b) shortly and will then make its submission to my Department. Once stage 2B has been completed, pre-qualification of building contractors takes place. Pre-qualification on average takes 2-3 months. Following pre-qualification, the tender process will then commence. The average length of the tender process is 7-8 months.
Construction is expected to commence in Quarter 3 of 2019.
A letter has recently issued to the school to explain timelines and the further steps of the project in detail. My Department is fully committed to completing the project as soon as possible.
181. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of securing a permanent site for a school (details supplied) in the Castleknock and Carpenterstown area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11925/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is included in the Department’s 6 year construction programme.
Officials in the Department continue to work closely with officials in the relevant local authority in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding in relation to the acquisition of a suitable location for the school.
My Department is working to advance the site acquisition process for the school in question as quickly as possible and the school patron will be informed of the permanent location at the earliest possible date.
Once a suitable site has been secured, a project to provide permanent accommodation for the school will be progressed into the architectural planning process.
182. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason teachers who teach abroad in private schools cannot be included in the incremental credit scheme operated by his Department in view of the fact that teachers who emigrated did so due to the fact they could not secure positions here in public schools. [11939/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe criteria for the award of incremental credit for recognised post-primary teachers under Circulars 29/2007 and 29/2010 were agreed under the auspices of the Teacher Conciliation Council (TCC). The Council is comprised of representatives of teachers, school management, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Department of Education and Skills and is chaired by an official of the Workplace Relations Commission.
Where a party to the TCC has a concern regarding the terms of a Department Circular, including existing provision for teaching abroad in private schools, they may request that the matter be placed on the agenda of a TCC meeting for consideration.
183. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an application by a school (details supplied) in County Donegal for the provision of six additional classrooms; if these facilities will be provided; if so, when the additional classrooms will be available for use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11940/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe relevant ETB has submitted an application for additional accommodation on behalf of the school to which the Deputy refers. This application is being assessed and a decision will be conveyed to the school authority shortly.
185. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the grant funding that was made available to provide two new resource rooms at a school (details supplied) in County Dublin will be increased. [11954/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe school to which the Deputy refers was approved a devolved grant under my Department's Additional Accommodation Scheme 2016 to provide 2 Resource Rooms. This project was devolved to the School Authority for delivery.
The School Authority has recently submitted the tender report and supporting documentation. The Department has requested further information and clarification on the project and once this has been assessed by my Department, the school will be notified of the outcome.
186. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 103 of 28 February 2018, the nature and number of consultations in 2016 referred to in his reply; and if survivor groups were involved in these consultations. [11957/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra188. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 103 of 28 February 2018, the evidence that there has been an increase in face-to-face meetings with survivors and Caranua staff or applicant advisers. [11959/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 186 and 188 together.
As the Deputy is aware, Caranua (the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund) is an independent statutory body and I as Minister have no role in relation to its day to day operations. The organisation publishes regular updates regarding its activities on its website including minutes of its Board meetings. These updates and Board minutes provide the type of information sought by the Deputy. Furthermore, Caranua is required to prepare an annual report of its activities to the Minister for Education and Skills. The most recent annual report covers 2016 and was laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas and published in July 2017. That report summarises the engagement that the organisation has had with stakeholders in relation to a range of matters including those referred to by the Deputy in her questions. The 2017 annual report will, on its publication, report similarly.
187. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 103 of 28 February 2018, if he has satisfied himself that the changed criteria introduced by the board of Caranua forced some survivors into an opt-in system while others who were above a €15,000 limit were barred from opting in, effectively operating a two-applications system which was not called for in the legislation. [11958/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraCaranua is an independent body established under the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act 2012. I have no role in regard to its day to day operations nor do I have any role in relation to the determination of the criteria by reference to which Caranua may make decisions in relation to applications - that is a function specifically assigned to the Board under the legislation.
