Written Answers Nos 256-272
256. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the primary schools newly occupied since July 2016 or due to be open by December 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12580/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am pleased to provide the Deputy with the list of new primary school buildings completed and occupied in 2016 and 2017 together with the new primary school buildings expected to reach substantial completion by the end of 2018.
New Primary Schools 2016-2017
|
County |
Roll No |
School |
|
|
1 |
Cork |
19851H |
Gaelscoil de hIde, Fermoy |
|
2 |
Cork |
20336V |
Midleton ETNS |
|
3 |
Cork |
20440Q |
Mallow Community NS |
|
4 |
Donegal |
20235P |
Letterkenny ETNS |
|
5 |
Dublin |
20015B |
Gaelscoil Bhaile Munna |
|
6 |
Dublin |
20047O |
Gaelscoil Bharra, Naomh Fionnbarra CLG, Ascal an Fhasaigh |
|
7 |
Dublin |
20394M |
Gaelscoil an Chuillann, Mulhuddart, D15 |
|
8 |
Dublin |
20401G |
Stepaside ET |
|
9 |
Dublin |
20411J |
Firhouse ETNS |
|
10 |
Galway |
17668G |
Scoil na bhForbacha, An Spidéal |
|
11 |
Galway |
17807R |
Cahergal NS |
|
12 |
Galway |
19994G |
GS Mhic Amhlaigh Knocknacarra |
|
13 |
Galway |
20123E |
GS Riabhach, Loughrea |
|
14 |
Kildare |
20428D |
GS Cuil Aodha, Kildare |
|
15 |
Laois |
19747M |
Scoil Bhríde, Knockmay, Portlaoise |
|
16 |
Laois |
20270R |
Holy Family Junior School, Portlaoise |
|
17 |
Laois |
20480F |
Holy Family Senior School, Portlaoise |
|
18 |
Limerick |
20193C |
Scoil Mocheallóg, Kilmallock |
|
19 |
Limerick |
20175A |
Limerick ETNS |
|
20 |
Limerick |
20181S |
GS an Raithin |
|
21 |
Louth |
19479N |
St John's NS, Rathmullan, Drogheda |
|
22 |
Mayo |
20230F |
Scoil Phadraig, Westport |
|
23 |
Meath |
20258E |
Gaelscoil an Bhredain Feasa, Mornington |
|
24 |
Roscommon |
18395C |
Cloonakilla N.S. |
|
25 |
Waterford |
19108B |
St Martin's Special School, Ballintuckle |
|
26 |
Wexford |
17450C |
Naomh Mhadoig, Poulfour |
|
27 |
Wexford |
20481H |
Bunscoil Nic Amhlaidh, Junior |
|
28 |
Wexford |
20482J |
Bunscoil Ris, Senior |
|
29 |
Cavan |
19608V |
Mullagh Central NS, aka St Killians, Cavan |
|
30 |
Cork |
20107G |
Gaelscoil Mhainistir na Corann, Midleton |
|
31 |
Dublin |
19624T |
SN Caitriona NS, Kenure, Rush, Co. Dublin. |
|
32 |
Dublin |
19872P |
Scoil Chaitlin Maude, Tallaght |
|
33 |
Dublin |
20168D |
Glasnevin ETNS |
|
34 |
Dublin |
20269J |
Scoil Chormaic CNS, Castlelands, Balbriggan |
|
35 |
Dublin |
20384J |
Powerstown ETNS, Tyrellstown |
|
36 |
Dublin |
20422O |
Scoil Aoife CNS, Tallaght West |
|
37 |
Dublin |
20426W |
Scoil Oscar CNS, Lucan |
|
38 |
Dublin |
20453C |
Broombridge ETNS, Cabra |
|
39 |
Galway |
20061I |
Gaelscoil Iarfhlatha, Tuam |
|
40 |
Laois |
18547W |
Faolan Naofa N.S., Ballyroan |
|
41 |
Louth |
18635T |
SN Tigh An Iubhair |
|
42 |
Louth |
19678T |
St Paul's NS, Rahmullan, Drogheda |
|
43 |
Meath |
20082Q |
Gaelscoil Thulach na nÓg, Dunboyne |
|
44 |
Meath |
20382F |
Gaelscoil Na Mí, c/o Donaghmore Ashbourne GAA, Ashbourne |
|
45 |
Meath |
20396Q |
Ashbourne Educate Together |
|
46 |
Waterford |
19885B |
Gaelscoil Philib Barún, Tramore |
|
47 |
Wicklow |
20178G |
Wicklow Educate Together |
|
48 |
Wicklow |
20208M |
St Joseph's and St Ernan's NS |
New Primary Schools 2018
|
County |
Roll No |
School |
|
|
1 |
Clare |
16677C |
CBS Ennis |
|
2 |
Clare |
19559L |
Chroisti Ri Ennis |
|
3 |
Cork |
13828F |
St Columba's Boys N.S. Douglas |
|
4 |
Dublin |
17961E |
Lusk National School |
|
5 |
Dublin |
20012S |
Griffith Barracks Educate Together, SCR, Dublin 8 |
|
6 |
Dublin |
20412L |
Old Bawn GS |
|
7 |
Galway |
12954F |
SN Bhride, Lackagh |
|
8 |
Leitrim |
20212D |
GS Cora Droma Ruisc, Leitrim |
|
9 |
Meath |
19813W |
Kildalkey Central NS |
|
10 |
Westmeath |
17327D |
Curraghmore NS |
257. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans for the progression of the Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12610/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware the Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016 was published in July 2016. The Bill which passed Committee Stage on 28 June 2017 and will shortly proceed to Report Stage, is an important piece of legislation which strives to create a new more parent-friendly, equitable and consistent approach to how school admission operates for the almost 4,000 primary and post-primary schools in this country.
Officials from my Department are currently engaging with the Office of the Attorney General on the development of a number of legislative proposals which the Minister hopes to bring forward to Government for approval shortly.
The Bill will proceed to Report Stage once work on these amendments has been finalised.
258. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if an appeal submitted by a school (details supplied) will be successful; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12614/18]
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.
259. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if DEIS status will be awarded to a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12623/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraWe have, for the first time, introduced an objective, statistics based model for deciding which schools merit inclusion in the DEIS programme, so that all stakeholders can have confidence that we are targeting extra resources at those schools with the highest concentrated levels of disadvantage. The methodology adopted to assess levels of disadvantage in schools is based on centrally held data with a uniform application across the entire school system to assess levels of disadvantage in primary and post-primary schools.
A detailed document explaining the methodology used in the identification process is available on the Department’s website at: https://www.education.ie/en/Schools-Colleges/Services/DEIS-Delivering-Equality-of-Opportunity-in-Schools-/DEIS-Identification-Process.pdf
An update of the identification model is currently under way. This will take account of updated school data as provided by schools for the current school year combined with the Pobal HP index of deprivation, based on CSO small area population statistics derived from the 2016 national census. It is envisaged that this process will be completed by the end of quarter 1 this year.
Should this exercise reveal that any school, including the school referred to by the Deputy, which did not qualify for DEIS in 2017 meets the criteria applicable to schools with the highest concentration of disadvantage based on the updated information then additional schools may be included subject to available resources.
260. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an application by a school (details supplied) for funding to upgrade toilets, heating and windows in the school building; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12638/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI with to advise the Deputy that my Department has approved additional mainstream classroom and special needs accommodation to the school authority in question to cater for increasing enrolments. The responsibility for installing the accommodation concerned has been devolved directly to the school authority.
The school applied for funding for the works referred to by the Deputy under my Department's emergency works scheme. The purpose of the emergency works scheme is solely for unforeseen emergencies or to provide funding to facilitate inclusion and access for special needs pupils. An emergency is deemed to be a situation which poses an immediate risk to health, life, property or the environment which is sudden, unforeseen and requires immediate action and in the case of a school if not corrected would prevent the school or part thereof from opening. As the scope of works applied for were outside the terms of the emergency works scheme, they could not be considered for emergency funding.
261. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of educational psychologists; the number of vacancies that are unfilled by county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12656/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy may be aware my Department’s National Educational Psychological Service, NEPS, provides educational psychological support to all primary and post-primary schools. This involves direct support in the event of a critical incident, access to national and regional support and development work to build school capacity to support students, access to a NEPS psychologist for responses to queries arising, and access to individual pupil casework via a NEPS psychologist or through the Scheme for the Commissioning of Psychological Assessments, SCPA.
I can inform the Deputy that during 2017 my Department worked actively with the Public Appointments Service, PAS, to fill 11 NEPS psychologist vacancies nationally from a recruitment panel established for this purpose and to recruit an additional 11 psychologists allowed in Budget 2017 expanding NEPS overall numbers to 184 w.t.e posts.
I can further inform the Deputy that currently, there are five vacant posts. Candidates have been identified for two of these vacancies and start dates agreed, the remaining three vacancies are being pursued with PAS. I intend to fill these three vacancies as soon as possible.
In relation to the Deputy’s question I can clarify that NEPS psychologists are not, per se, assigned by county but work within a regional and local office structure serving the needs of schools in their immediate vicinity. For the Deputy’s information, a breakdown of NEPS staff count, headcount and whole-time equivalent, by region and office location along with the sites of the current vacancies follows.
The Deputy may be aware also under the provisions of Budget 2018 that NEPS psychologist numbers will expand by another 10 posts form the start of the new academic year. Plans for the filling of these posts are currently being developed by my Department.
NEPS Staffing Count by Region 16/3/2018
|
NEPS Region |
Office |
Head Count |
W.T.E. (*) |
Vacancy |
|
Dublin (Nth.) |
Clondalkin Office |
6 |
5.8 |
|
|
James Joyce St. Office |
23 |
20.8 |
||
|
Dublin (Sth.) /Mid Leinster |
Dun Laoghaire Office |
17 |
16.5 |
|
|
Clondalkin Office |
6 |
5.8 |
1 |
|
|
Naas Office |
10 |
8.5 |
1 |
|
|
Mid-Munster |
Clonmel Office |
5 |
4.6 |
|
|
Cork Office |
22 |
19.0 |
1 |
|
|
N-East |
Cavan Office |
5 |
4.8 |
|
|
Drogheda Office |
10 |
8.2 |
1 |
|
|
Navan Office |
7 |
6.4 |
||
|
N-West |
Letterkenny Office |
8 |
6.8 |
|
|
Mullingar Office |
8 |
7.9 |
||
|
Sligo Office |
4 |
3.4 |
||
|
S-East |
Kilkenny Office |
7 |
6.5 |
|
|
Portlaoise Office |
5 |
4.9 |
||
|
Waterford Office |
6 |
5.6 |
||
|
Wexford Office |
7 |
6.3 |
||
|
South West |
Ennis Office |
7 |
6.4 |
1 |
|
Limerick Office |
10 |
9.0 |
||
|
Tralee Office |
6 |
5.8 |
||
|
West |
Castlebar Office |
6 |
6.0 |
|
|
Galway Office |
12 |
11.3 |
||
|
Roscommon Office |
2 |
1.8 |
||
|
No Region |
Head Office Dublin |
2 |
2.0 |
|
|
Grand Total |
201 |
184.1 |
5 |
(*) Whole-time Equivalent (w.t.e.) taking into account effect of work-sharing and parental leave
262. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills when the summer works scheme will be reopened for applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12705/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe current Summer Works Scheme, SWS, is being applied on a multi-annual basis. The Deputy will also be aware that nearly 50% of schools have applied for inclusion under the scheme which reflects a very high demand.
Almost €80 million has been approved to date under the Summer Works Scheme, in respect of over 640 school projects in categories 1 - 6. Details of the successful school applicants are published on my Department's website www.education.ie.
The 2018 budgetary provision will allow my Department to meet the carry over costs of summer works projects already approved. The assessment of applications in the remaining categories 7-10 as well as proceeding with any future summer works scheme is reliant on the availability of funding.
263. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills if an application by a school (details supplied) for additional accommodation will be approved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12709/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that my Department received an application in February for additional accommodation from the school referred to by the Deputy.
The application will be assessed and a decision will be conveyed to the school authority as soon as the assessment process is completed.
264. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will address a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12725/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn addition to a starting pay of nearly €36,000, newly recruited teachers also benefit from the terms of the Ward Report which reduced the qualifying period for a contract of indefinite duration to two years and removed career break and secondment categories of objective grounds which had previously prevented some teachers from obtaining permanency in their positions. The Ward Report also contains measures designed so that part-time teachers can increase their working hours and gain full-time contracts more easily than before.
In addition, teachers can be recruited on a permanent basis ab initio, once the school/ETB is within its authorised allocation of teaching posts and the criteria outlined in Department circulars for filling teaching posts are complied with.
Subsequent to this, there has been an increase in the number of posts available and the number of teachers recruited in the school year. Some 2,300 new teachers were recruited in 2016-2017 and 2,900 are being recruited in 2017-2018.
265. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding teacher supply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12727/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy is referring to correspondence from a person concerning the supply of teachers of STEM subjects and to her eligibility for a student grant.
As the Deputy will be aware, additional investment has allowed the successful recruitment of over 5,000 additional teachers in the last two years. Since 2012/2013, there are 8,900 more teachers in our schools. No other part of the public service has seen growth on this scale, which is testament to the Government’s commitment to, and the importance of education in, fulfilling our national ambitions.
The numbers of graduates from initial teacher education, ITE, programmes have also remained broadly constant. Over 8,000 primary and 7,600 second level teachers have graduated in the last five years and in 2018 it is estimated that approximately 3,300 primary and post primary teachers will graduate.
In November 2017 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 STEM 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, and as part of the implementation of the policy I am determined to deliver increased teacher supply in key priority areas.
At post primary level, following consultation with the Irish Universities Association, I recently announced an expansion of the number of available places on post primary ITE programmes at both undergraduate and postgraduate level. I also announced that there will be additional places provided in the priority areas of STEM, Irish and foreign languages.
I am also establishing a teacher supply steering group which will consult with key stakeholders and consider all options to achieve the increases in teacher supply needed to address shortages of substitute teachers at primary level and shortages of teachers of certain areas, including STEM subjects, at post primary level. The first meeting of the steering group will take place in the coming weeks.
The correspondence to which the Deputy refers also concerns the eligibility for a grant of a person who has already completed a number of years of a level 8 course and has commenced a different level 8 course.
The position is that, in order to be eligible for a grant under the Student Grant Scheme 2017, a student must be progressing i.e. he/she 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.
Under the terms of the Student Grant Scheme 2017 a grant will not be paid to a student for a repeat period of study on the same course or on a different course, irrespective of whether or not a grant was paid previously. Article 15(7) (c) of the Scheme states that a student, having attended but not completed any Level 8 course, is required to complete an equivalent period of study on an approved Level 8 course before being eligible to be considered for a grant.
266. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 117 of 8 March 2018, the amount expended in each of the years 2014 to 2017 for initiatives (details supplied) in tabular form. [12738/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe PEIL operational programme allocations for the years 2014-2017 together with estimated expenditure figures for the years concerned are set out in the following table:
|
Year |
ESF Allocation - €m |
YEI Allocation - €m |
Exchequer Allocation - €m |
Overall OP Allocation - €m |
Estimated Expenditure - €m |
|
2014 |
73 |
38 |
73 |
184 |
193 |
|
2015 |
74 |
30 |
74 |
179 |
217 |
|
2016 |
76 |
0 |
76 |
152 |
259 |
|
2017 |
78 |
0 |
78 |
156 |
265 |
The estimated expenditure figures provided are only indicative and are based in some instances on the allocations made to beneficiaries for activities in the relevant years.
As advised in my earlier response, preparations are underway for the submission of a first payment application to the commission in Quarter 3 2018. This payment application will be based on simplified cost models, such as flat-rate financing and unit cost models. It is only when the expenditure declarations have been submitted and examined by the ESF authorities that it will be possible to ascertain the actual amounts of ESF eligible expenditure.
267. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans for the provision of a new primary school for Swords in view of the fact the existing primary schools are at capacity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12765/18]
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.
Nationwide demographic exercises involving all school planning areas, including the Swords school planning area, which will determine where additional school accommodation will be needed in the future is currently ongoing and this work is almost complete.
My Department has also 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.
268. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the review of the social, personal and health education courses at senior cycle; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12767/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraA review of senior cycle programmes and vocational pathways in senior cycle has been commenced by the NCCA with a view to recommending areas for development. As a first step, to inform this review, the NCCA commissioned research to scope international developments in upper secondary education. This research will feed into a public consultation process in spring 2018, which commenced with a conference on senior cycle review on Tuesday 20 February. The Department will be active participants in this important review process. The Social, Personal and Health Education Framework will be considered within the broad context of provision at senior cycle.
269. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education and Skills the timeframe for the review of junior cycle social, personal and health education courses to take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12768/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social, Personal and Health Education, SPHE, curriculum is mandatory at primary level and up to junior cycle at post-primary level. A Framework for SPHE at Senior Cycle is also available to schools. The SPHE curriculum aims to provide a range of diverse and inclusive skills such as communicating, making decisions, knowing where to find reliable data, belonging and integrating, handling conflict constructively, dealing with bullying, expressing feelings and emotions, substance abuse, resisting peer pressure, personal safety, values and mutual respect.
As part of the new Framework for Junior Cycle (2015) a new short course in SPHE was developed by the NCCA and now available to schools. This short course is available in addition to the existing SPHE curriculum.
The Framework for Junior Cycle additionally provides for a new area of learning at junior cycle called Wellbeing. Wellbeing crosses the three years of junior cycle and build on substantial work already taking place in schools in support of students’ wellbeing. This area of learning includes learning opportunities to enhance the physical, mental, emotional and social wellbeing of students. SPHE along with PE and CSPE forms a core part of the new Wellbeing Programme. The junior cycle Wellbeing programme begins with 300 hours of timetabled engagement and will build up to 400 hours by 2020 as the new junior cycle is implemented fully in schools.
270. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to make changes to the terms and conditions of service of primary school principals that would encourage them to defer retirement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12828/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraLegislation is currently being drafted to provide for the Government decision to change the compulsory retirement age of some public servants. In this regard my Department is currently preparing a circular letter which will notify all education and training sector employers and staff of temporary arrangements to allow certain staff, including primary school principal teachers, be retained in employment beyond their current compulsory retirement age of 65 years. It is anticipated that these temporary arrangements will apply until the legislation which will provide for an increase in the compulsory retirement age in public sector pension schemes, including the education sector pension schemes, is in place.
271. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a special needs assistant application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12841/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraSpecial Needs Assistants, SNAs, are provided to assist recognised schools to cater for pupils with disabilities, who have additional and significant care needs, in an educational context and where the nature of these care needs have been outlined in medical and other professional reports as being so significant that a pupil will require additional adult assistance in order to be able to attend school and to participate in education.
The National Council for Special Education, NCSE, which is an independent statutory agency, is responsible, through its network of local special educational needs organisers, SENOs, for allocating a quantum of special needs assistant, SNA, support for each school annually taking into account the assessed care needs of children qualifying for SNA support enrolled in the school.
The NCSE allocates SNA support to schools in accordance with the criteria set out in Department Circular 0030/2014, which is available on the Department's website at www.education.ie, in order that students who have care needs can access SNA support as and when it is needed. My Department’s policy is to ensure that every child who is assessed as needing SNA support will receive access to such support.
In considering applications for SNA supports for individual pupils, the SENOs take account of the pupils' needs and consider the resources available to the school to identify whether additionality is needed or whether the school might reasonably be expected to meet the needs of the pupils from its current level of resources. SNAs are not allocated to individual children but to schools as a school based resource.
Schools who wish to make applications for SNA support should apply to the NCSE. The deadline for applying for SNA support for the 2018/19 school year was extended from 28 February to 7 March 2018 due to the effects of adverse weather. The NCSE continues to accept applications after this date.
The NCSE aims to respond in May 2018 to valid applications for access to SNA support received.
The NCSE appeals process may be invoked by a parent or a school where it is considered that a child was not granted access to SNA support on the grounds that Department policy was not met in accordance with Circular 0030/2014.
Schools may also appeal a decision, where the school considers that the NCSE, in applying Department policy, has not allocated the appropriate level of SNA supports to the school to meet the special educational and/or care needs of the child/ren concerned.
If a parent considers that their child is not accessing a sufficient level of SNA support they should address their concerns to the school in the first instance.
All schools have the contact details of their local SENO and parents may also contact their local SENO directly to discuss their child's special educational needs, using the contact details available at http://ncse.ie/seno-contact-list.
272. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on charges for resitting examinations in universities; his plans to prevent the practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12843/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraHigher education institutions are autonomous bodies and therefore the day to day operations including the determination of the fee rate applicable for individual students in relation to re-sitting examinations is a matter for the governing authority of each institution.
Accordingly, my Department has no function in relation to such matters. The final decision on this issue is a matter for the individual higher education institution.
