Written Answers Nos 75-85
75. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he is satisfied that there is enough primary school capacity in Clontarf, Dublin 3; the details of this planning area; the procedures in place for demographic planning; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13419/18]
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 Clontarf, Dublin 3 is located in the Killester-Raheny-Clontarf school planning area. There are 25 Primary schools in this school planning area.
As with other school planning areas nationwide, the demographic data for the area referred to by the Deputy will be kept under ongoing review by my Department to take account of updated data. It is anticipated that decisions based on the nationwide demographic exercises will be announced in the coming weeks.
77. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the steps his Department is taking to ensure that a child (details supplied) in Cork city receives an appropriate school place for 2018-19. [13423/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy 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) which is a separate independent statutory body, plans and co-ordinates the provision of education and support services to children with special educational needs, in consultation with the relevant education partners and the Health Service Executive (HSE).
The NCSE is aware of emerging need from year to year, and where special provision, including special class or special school provision, is required, it is planned and established to meet that need.
The NCSE has advised my Department that there is an emerging need for additional Special School placement options in the Cork area. My Department continues to work with the NCSE to ensure that there is appropriate planning in place to ensure that all children who require special school placements can access such placements. This process is ongoing.
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. My Department and the NCSE has no role in relation to processing applications for enrolment to schools.
Accordingly, the NCSE advises Parents, to seek to enrol their child, by applying in writing, to the 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 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.
Where Parents have been unsuccessful in enrolling their child in a special school placement for the 2018/19 school year, they should update their local SENO to inform the planning process.
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.
The NCSE is aware that many parents seek to enrol their child in a number of special schools and as such, an accurate figure on the number of additional placements required for next September will not emerge until Special Schools have completed their 2018/19 enrolment process.
The NCSE has advised that they continue to work with schools, parents, NEPS, health professionals and other staff who are involved in the provision of services in the Cork area for children with special educational needs, to ensure that each child has a school placement appropriate to their needs for the 2018/19 school year.
78. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an application for extra facilities by a school (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13442/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy that my Department received an application for the provision of additional accommodation at the school referred to in respect of both classroom and ancillary accommodation. The application was assessed by my Department and it was determined that there was no deficit of essential accommodation at the school. This decision was advised to the school authority.
My Department recently received a request for a review of the application from the school and this is currently being considered. My Department will be in further contact with the school on the matter.
79. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of persons who have commenced an apprenticeship programme by gender; the number of persons who have terminated their apprenticeship before completion; and the main reasons for non-completion in each of the years 2015 to 2017, in tabular form. [13458/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following tables:
Registration (all occupations) by Gender 2015-2017
|
Year Registered |
Female |
Male |
Grand Total |
|
2015 |
8 |
3,145 |
3,153 |
|
2016 |
37 |
3,784 |
3,821 |
|
2017 |
110 |
4,733 |
4,843 |
|
Grand Total |
155 |
11,662 |
11,817 |
Registration 2015-2017 by current status
|
Year Registered |
Left trade |
UNEMPLOYED (left employer) |
REDUNDANT (let go due to lack of work) |
Holding (no response to offer of placement or assessment) |
FINISHED (all phases complete) |
LIVE (currently active) |
Grand Total |
|
2015 |
402 |
227 |
57 |
33 |
22 |
2,412 |
3,153 |
|
2016 |
359 |
209 |
45 |
15 |
6 |
3,187 |
3,821 |
|
2017 |
254 |
194 |
64 |
5 |
- |
4,326 |
4,843 |
|
Grand Total |
1,015 |
630 |
166 |
53 |
28 |
9,925 |
11,817 |
9,925 are currently active in their apprenticeship
28 have finished all phases of their apprenticeship
1,864 are not currently active in their apprenticeships as per above
80. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the arrangements in place for officials in his Department to meet the community and voluntary pillar to discuss educational issues of importance to that sector; his plans to meet the pillar in the coming months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13459/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy that, in previous years, under the arrangements in place for the Social Partnership process, officials in my Department met on a regular basis with the Community and Voluntary Pillar to discuss educational issues raised by that sector. A series of bilateral meetings took place between Officials in my Department and the Community and Voluntary (C&V) Pillar over a number of years. The last such meeting took place in November 2015.
In recent years engagement with members of the C&V Pillar has taken place either bilaterally or largely through the structures established to implement Better Outcomes Brighter Futures, the National Policy Framework for Children and Young People 2014-2020.
In light of the Deputy's question, I have requested officials of my Department to make contact with the current representative of the C&V Pillar to establish whether there are any particular issues for discussion that are not already dealt with under existing structures.
81. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the progress towards the implementation of the commitment in a Programme for Partnership Government that primary school buildings must be available for after-school care provision and the commitment that additional capitation would be linked to availability of school buildings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13460/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for a Partnership Government committed to the utilisation of primary school buildings for after-school care provision for school age children to offer more options and flexibility to parents, where there is demand for such a service, in partnership with community groups or private providers.
I can confirm that, further to consultation with relevant school authorities, guidelines on the use of School Buildings outside of School Hours were published in October 2017; these can be viewed on my Department's website. The purpose of these guidelines is to provide guidance for schools in relation to the use of school buildings outside of school hours and for those schools who are considering putting such arrangements in place.
82. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the vacancies on the boards and governing authorities of the higher education institutions nominated by Government in tabular form; the process for such appointments; if such vacancies will be publicly advertised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13461/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraHEIs are not considered State Boards and therefore the Public Appointments Service (PAS) is not involved in the process for filling positions arising on their Governing Bodies. The exception to this is in respect of Chairpersons of the Governing Bodies of the Institutes of Technology (IoTs) where PAS has agreed to undertake the appointment process for such positions.
The process for selecting and appointing members of the Governing Bodies of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) varies depending on the type of institution and the legislation governing it.
In the case of IoTs, the appointment of the Governing Body is governed by the provisions of Section 6 of the RTC (Amendment) Act 1994 (as amended by the Institutes of Technology Act 2006) which also states that the Governing Body of an IoT will comprise of the Chairperson, President of the Institute and 17 ordinary members. Under the Act, the Minister for Education and Skills appoints the ordinary members to the Governing Body of an Institute of Technology, on the recommendation of the local Education and Training Board. The full details are outlined in the relevant legislation.
A similar process is provided for the appointment of the Governing Body in Dublin Institute of Technology under the Dublin Institute of Technology (Amendment) Act, 1994.
The process for the appointment of a Governing Body of a University is set out in Section 16 of the Universities Act 1997 which also states that the Governing Body of a University will comprise between 20 and 40 members. Section 16 (3)(c) of the Universities Act provides that between 1 and 4 of those members will be appointed by the Governing Body on the nomination of the Minister for Education and Skills, following consultation by the Minister with the President of the University.
Additionally, in the case of the National College of Art and Design (NCAD), the NCAD Act 1971 outlines that my Department select and appoint members to its Governing Body. In that context, my Department undertakes an advertising campaign to seek applications from interested persons and selects suitable candidates based on the qualifying criteria from which I, as Minister, select and appoint the members to the Governing Body.
The Deputy should also be aware that the Technological Universities Act 2018 contains provision for the streamlining of the governing bodies of technological universities in line with best international practice and the National Strategy on Higher Education to 2030.
The Technological Universities Act 2018 will also bring the requirements for other IoTs into line with those for technological universities in this regard, within twelve months of the coming into operation of the relevant sections of the Act and amends the relevant existing legislation accordingly.
The following is a list of the Governing Bodies of the higher education institutions outlining details of current vacancies:
|
Higher Education Institution |
Total number of places on Board |
Members nominated and/or appointed by Minister/Government |
Board positions currently vacant where member nominated and/or appointed by Minister/Government |
|
Athlone IoT |
19 |
19 |
0 |
|
Cork IoT |
19 |
19 |
0 |
|
Dublin City University |
28 |
1-4 |
0 |
|
Dublin IoT |
20 |
20 |
0 |
|
Dún Laoghaire IADT |
19 |
19 |
0 |
|
Dundalk IoT |
19 |
19 |
1 |
|
Galway-Mayo IoT |
19 |
19 |
0 |
|
IoT Blanchardstown |
19 |
19 |
0 |
|
IoT Carlow |
19 |
19 |
0 |
|
IoT Sligo |
19 |
19 |
0 |
|
IoT Tallaght |
19 |
19 |
0 |
|
IoT Tralee |
19 |
19 |
0 |
|
Letterkenny IoT |
19 |
19 |
0 |
|
Limerick IoT |
19 |
19 |
0 |
|
National College of Art & Design |
11 |
4-6 |
6 |
|
National University of Ireland, Galway |
40 |
1-4 |
0 |
|
Maynooth Univeristy |
32 |
1-4 |
2 |
|
Trinity College Dublin |
27 |
1 |
1 |
|
University College Cork |
39 |
1-4 |
0 |
|
University College Dublin |
39 |
1-4 |
0 |
|
University of Limerick |
35 |
1-4 |
0 |
|
Waterford IoT |
19 |
19 |
0 |
*The process for filling the vacancies in NCAD will be completed shortly. The processes for filling other vacancies is ongoing.
83. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the provision of a new school building for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13470/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, 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 will be undertaking a technical site visit to the school and contact will be made with the school authorities in this regard.
84. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the delivery of the required refurbishment and extension to a school (details supplied) has been devolved to KWETB; when a design team will be appointed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13472/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, 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 Education Training Board (KWETB) for delivery and it is my Department's intention to engage with KWETB shortly in this regard.
85. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if tenders have been invited for a school (details supplied); the closing date for receipt of tenders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13473/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraTenders have been invited for the school project in question. The closing date for receipt of tenders is 9 May 2018.
