Written Answers Nos 215-221
215. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the amount paid by a company (details supplied) to broadband service providers, by provider for services in 2017; the amount paid by service type by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12095/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe company referred to by the Deputy provides a range of services to schools on behalf of the Department in respect of the Schools Broadband Access Programme. This includes management of the 100Mbp/s broadband programme for post-primary schools, which is wholly managed by the company referred to.
Contracts entered into by the company are procured in accordance with procurement regulations, and are subject to the usual commercial considerations.
The broadband programme is funded by the Department, and in 2017 funding amounted to €9.4m in total.
Information regarding the breakdown of payments made by the company, type and county is not held by the Department and in any event, its disclosure may be commercially sensitive.
216. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Education and Skills if SUSI grants will be paid to all full-time students attending private colleges (details supplied); the estimated amount it would cost to extend the SUSI grant scheme to these colleges; if the recommendation of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills on this issue will be accepted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12112/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder my Department's student grant scheme, eligible candidates may receive funding provided they are attending an approved course at an approved institution, as defined in the scheme. The definition of an approved institution is set out in Section 7 of the Student Support Act 2011 and Regulation 3 of the Student Support Regulations 2017.
The recommendations of the Joint Oireachtas Committee report will have to be considered in the context of the final recommendations of the Committee in relation to a long term funding model for higher education.
As committed to in the Programme for Government, the Cassells' report has been referred to the Education Committee as part of the process for formulating a plan for the future of the sector. In order to inform its consideration of the review, the Committee have requested further information from my Department on each of the potential policy options. The recommendations from the Joint Committee will inform future decisions in this policy area. Before receiving the recommendations of the Joint Oireachtas Committee, the Government has moved to increase funding into the sector. In 2018, we will invest €100m more into higher education than in 2016, before the Expert Group's report was published.
217. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there is dissatisfaction among school secretaries with their terms and conditions (details supplied); his plans to review the terms and conditions of these persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12122/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 1978 and 1979, schemes were initiated for the employment of Clerical Officers and Caretakers in primary and secondary schools. Staff employed on these schemes are paid directly by my Department and are not paid via grant funding. The 1978 and 1979 schemes are being phased out and have been superseded by a more extensive capitation grant scheme.
The majority of primary and voluntary secondary schools in the Free Education Scheme now receive capitation grant assistance to provide for secretarial, caretaking and cleaning services. Capitation related grants are issued to the majority of primary and post-primary schools to employ such staff. Within the capitation grant schemes, it is a matter for each individual school to decide how best to apply the grant funding to suit its particular needs.
Where a school uses the capitation grant funding to employ a secretary, such staff are employees of individual schools. My Department therefore does not have any role in determining the pay and conditions under which they are engaged. These are matters to be agreed between the staff concerned and the school authorities. My Department has no plans to develop an alternative scheme for schools to employ secretaries separate to the current system of capitation grant assistance.
Notwithstanding the above, in 2015 my Department agreed to engage with the union side in relation to the pay of school secretaries and caretakers who are employed using grant funding and to enter an arbitration process. The Arbitrator recommended a cumulative pay increase of 10% between 2016 and 2019 for school secretaries and caretakers comprehended by the terms of the arbitration process and that a minimum hourly pay rate of €13 for such staff be phased in over the period 2016 to 2019. Grant funding used by schools to fund the salaries of ancillary staff is also being improved on a phased basis between 2016 and 2019 following the arbitration process. These increases are in order to enable schools implement the arbitration outcome for grant funded secretaries and caretakers and to also implement the restoration of salary for cleaners arising from the unwinding of FEMPI legislation.
In December 2017, my Department published circular letter 0078/2017 for primary schools and circular letter 0079/2017 for voluntary secondary schools, setting out the application of the third phase increases of the Arbitrator’s recommendations. The circulars are available at:
Circular 0078/2017: https://www.education.ie/en/Circulars-and-Forms/Active-Circulars/cl0078_2017.pdf
Circular 0079/2017: http://www.education.ie/en/Circulars-and-Forms/Active-Circulars/cl0079_2017.pdf
The increases recommended by the Arbitrator are binding and must be applied by all schools who employ staff to whom the Arbitrator's recommendation applies.
218. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a decision on an application for an exceptional teaching post, ETP, position for a school (details supplied) will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12125/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Council for Special Education (NCSE), which is a separate independent statutory agency, is responsible through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), for planning and coordinating the provision of education and support services to children with special educational 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.
The NCSE has advised the school to which the Deputy refers that an exceptional teaching post has been sanctioned. A full review regarding this exceptional teaching post will take place in December 2018.
219. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Education and Skills the rationale for a demographic exercise when the five schools targeted by this measure have been providing his Department with pre-enrolment numbers for the four coming years demonstrates the demand for full stream schools; when this demographic exercise is due for completion; the reason his Department has not secured to date the two empty school buildings in Tramore; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12138/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, the 2012 Report of the Advisory Group to the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary Sector recommended that demand for patronage diversity should be met in areas of stable population by divesting patronage of existing schools where there is evidence of parental demand for change.
In this context, in 2012/13, my Department undertook surveys of parental preferences in 43 areas of stable population to establish the level of demand for a wider choice in the patronage of primary schools. These areas were all stable in terms of population growth, so no new school places were required. However sufficient demand for more choice emerged in 28 areas, including the area referred to by the Deputy.
Under the patronage divesting process, a school could be opened where a school building became, or was due to become available, as a result of an amalgamation/closure of an existing school. Tramore ETNS opened from temporary accommodation in September 2014 under the patronage divesting process pending its permanent accommodation becoming available.
A case has been submitted by Educate Together to the Department to further expand a number of schools opened under the patronage divesting process including this school and this is currently under consideration in the context of the nationwide demographic exercises to identify areas of demographic growth and determine where additional school accommodation is needed and this work is almost complete.
In this regard, Educate Together and the Department had a constructive meeting today concerning the case put forward by Educate Together. Both parties reiterated their commitment to work together to increase diversity of school provision in line with the needs of the communities in these areas. It is envisaged that the detailed response to the case submitted by Educate Together will issue from the Department next week.
My Department has announced a new Patronage Reconfiguration process, which will accelerate the delivery of multi-denominational and non-denominational schools, to reach 400 multi-denominational and non-denominational schools by 2030. Unlike the previous process, this plan will focus on live transfers, so that a school which transfers under this process would not be reliant on temporary accommodation.
220. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Education and Skills the progress made in the provision of school transport for a child (details supplied) in County Cork. [12140/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraSchool transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department.
Currently over 116,000 children, including almost 12,000 children with special educational needs, are being transported in over 4,500 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres annually at a total cost of almost €190 million in 2017.
Children are eligible for transport where they reside not less than 4.8 kms from and are attending their nearest education centre as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
Bus Éireann have advised that an application for school transport has been received and Medical Card details have been supplied. A ticket will issue to the family in the coming days.
221. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Skills when he last met formally with the CEO and chairperson of Caranua; the issues discussed; when he will next meet the CEO and chairperson; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12150/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI last met with the Chair of Caranua on 7 December 2016. The Chief Executive and officials of my Department also attended that meeting. A range of relevant issues were discussed at that meeting including Caranua's performance and the progress the organization was making particularly with regard to meeting clients’ needs and delivering a quality service. It would be my intention to meet the Chair again later this year. I should point out also that officials of my Department meet with the Chair and Chief Executive on a regular basis, both in the context of the Performance Delivery Agreement in place with Caranua and to discuss other specific issues as they arise.
