Written Answers Nos. 383-399
383. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna cén difríocht a dhéanfadh sé do scoil ó thaobh maoiniú agus leibhéal foirne de (sonraí tugtha) stádas neamhspleách a bheith aici seachas a bheith mar fho-aonad de scoil eile; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [15552/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIs faoi shainchúram Bord Oideachais agus Oiliúna atá an tAonad agus an scoil.
Is iondúil gur leibhéil rollaithe an phríomhthoisc i socrú deontais mhaoinithe neamhthuarastail a íocann mo Roinn le BOO maidir le gach scoil dara leibhéal laistigh dá scéim. Tá rollú an Aonaid seo san áireamh cheana chun críocha áireamh deontas don BOO cuí. Dá réir sin, ba theoranta an t-athrú sa leithdháileadh leis an BOO dá mbeadh an tAonad ag feidhmiú mar scoil neamhspleách. Léireodh sé seo feidhmiú tairseach íosta maidir le deontas ar leith.
Lena chois sin, tá suíomh an Aonaid ar leithligh ón bpríomhscoil curtha san áireamh cheana féin maidir le leibhéil foirne a thugtar don BOO, idir fhoireann teagaisc agus chúnta. Arís, is athrú an-teoranta a bheadh i gceist dá mbeadh sí ag feidhmiú mar scoil neamhspleách.
Ba chóir a thabhairt faoi deara fosta go bhfuil an-chuid féinrialach ag BOO i dtaca le dáileadh deontas ar a chuid scoileanna de. Dá réir sin, is faoin BOO atá sé a shocrú conas maoiniú a úsáid de réir tuairimí faoi riachtanais. Mar sin de, ní fhéadaim breith dheifnídeach a thabhairt ar cén maoiniú/fhoireann bhreise a gheobhadh an tAonad dá mbronnfaí stádas neamhspleách air laistigh de scéim BOO.
Níl aon chinneadh déanta maidir leis an Aonad dá dtagraíonn an Teachta stádas neamhspleách a bheith aige. Tá coiste bunaithe, áfach, le hathbhreithniú a dhéanamh ar thacaíocht do scoileanna áirithe, an tAonad san áireamh. Tabharfar an t-athbhreithniú chun cinn in 2018.
384. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a school transport route (details supplied) will be amended; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15577/18]
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.
Bus Éireann has advised that the extension to the service referred to is currently operating.
385. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 243 of 20 January 2018, the status of the application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15580/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that the school in question has recently provided further information to my Department in relation to the application for additional accommodation. This will now be considered and a decision on the application will be conveyed to the school authority when the assessment process has been completed.
386. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of legal actions currently being taken against his Department; the general nature and cause of the action; the county from which the legal action originates; and the cost of defending each categorised legal action in tabular form. [15590/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy is not readily available in my Department. The information is currently being collated and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as it is available.
387. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a decision has been made on the future patronage and-or ethos of the proposed new secondary school for Harold’s Cross, Dublin 6W. [15595/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, I announced plans for the establishment of 42 new schools over the next 4 years (2019 to 2022). This announcement follows nationwide, demographic exercises carried out by my Department into the future need for primary and post-primary schools across the country and the 4-year horizon will enable increased lead-in times for planning and delivery of the necessary infrastructure.
With regard to demand for particular models of school provision, it should be noted that the patronage process for new schools is a separate process. This process is run after it has been decided that a new school is required. Parental preferences are central to this process. The process is fair, transparent and open to all patrons, patron bodies and prospective patrons to apply for patronage of any planned new school under this process.
The patronage process for new schools is overseen by an external independent advisory group, the New Schools Establishment Group (NSEG). Following their consideration of my Department’s assessment reports, the NSEG submits a report with recommendations to me for consideration and final decision. The assessment reports and the NSEG recommendations for all such patronage processes are made available on my Department's website.
388. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna an bhfuil aon iniúchadh déanta ag a Roinn maidir le Gaelscoil a bhunú i mBaile Átha Cliath 12; agus mura bhfuil, cad iad na céimeanna atá sé ag dul a ghlacadh chun freastal ar an éileamh ar an nGaelscolaíocht sa cheantar. [15596/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra389. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna an bhfuil aon iniúchadh déanta ag a Roinn maidir le Gaelcholáiste a bhunú i mBaile Átha Cliath 8, 10 nó 12; agus mura bhfuil, cad iad na céimeanna atá sé ag dul a ghlacadh chun Gaelscolaíocht ar an dara leibhéal a chur ar fáil do dhaltaí sa cheantar atá á lorg agus ar gá dóibh faoi láthair taisteal amach as an gceantar chun freastal ar Ghaelcholáiste. [15597/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraTógfaidh mé Ceisteanna Uimh. 388 agus 389 le chéile.
Mar a bheidh sé ar eolas ag an Ionadaí, d’fhógair mé pleananna chun 42 scoil úr a bhunú thar na 4 bliana amach romhainn (2019 go 2022), lena n-áirítear iarbhunscoil úr a bhunófar in 2020 agus bunscoil úr a bhunófar in 2019 chun freastal ar limistéir phleanála scoile Bhaile Átha Cliath 6_Cluain Sceach & ar Bhaile Átha Cliath_6W (ina gcuimsítear cuid de cheantar poist Bhaile Átha Cliath 12) mar réitigh réigiúnacha. Tagann an fógra seo sna sála ar chleachtaí déimeagrafacha ar fud na tíre a rinne mo Roinn maidir leis an ngá a bheidh ann amach anseo le haghaidh bunscoileanna agus iarbhunscoileanna ar fud na tíre agus leis an tréimhse 4 bliana beifear ábalta na tréimhsí tosaithe maidir le pleanáil agus seachadadh an bhonneagair riachtanaigh a mhéadú.
Nuair a chinnfear, bunaithe ar anailís dhéimeagrafach, go dteastaíonn scoil úr, tionólfar próiseas pátrúnachta. Is féidir le gach iarratasóir ionchasach pátrúin soláthar oideachais trí Ghaeilge a mholadh ina n-iarratas. Tá roghnachas tuismitheoirí do gach pátrún ó thuismitheoirí páistí atá ina gcónaí sa cheantar pleanála scoile, mar aon le méid na héagsúlachta atá ar fáil faoi láthair sa cheantar, tábhachtach do chinntí i dtaca le toradh an phróisis seo. Tá roghnachas tuismitheoirí maidir le meán teagaisc na scoile úir ina chuid shonrach den phróiseas measúnaithe agus cuireann sé bonn eolais faoi chinntí maidir le meán teagaisc na scoile.
390. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the summer works scheme for 2018. [15625/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Summer Works Scheme is designed to allow schools to carry out small and medium sized building works that will improve and upgrade existing school buildings.
The current Summer Works Scheme 2016 -2017 was applied on a multi-annual basis. The Deputy will 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.
391. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a school's (details supplied) planned extension and refurbishment; the work carried out to date; the next steps in this regard; the timeframe of the works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15638/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra392. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason previous parliamentary questions seeking updates on a school (details supplied) have delivered a paucity of information in response; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15639/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 391 and 392 together.
The Deputy will be aware that a building project for the school to which he refers is included on the 6-year Construction Programme. In this regard, my Department has carried out a site visit to the school and work has progressed to the project brief stage. This process is currently in train. My Department will be engaging with the school authority relating to commencing the architectural planning process for the project shortly.
394. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills the steps he has taken to support the provision of an Educate Together national school in Whitehall, Dublin 9; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15708/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, on the 30th January, 2017, I announced new plans aimed at providing more multi-denominational and non-denominational schools across the country, in line with the choices of parents, families and school communities and the Programme for Government commitment in this area.
The Schools Reconfiguration for Diversity process for supporting transfers of schools to multi-denominational patrons in response to the wishes of local families is based around principles of transparency and cooperation. Therefore, there will be a very substantial level of consultation of local communities in the process, both with the Education and Training Boards in the initial phase to establish evidence of demand by consulting pre-school parents and subsequently through the requirement for the existing patron to consult with local community and school interests in proposing to transfer patronage of an existing school to an alternative patron body.
In that process, the existing patron will also take into account proposals from all prospective multi-denominational patrons that wish to be considered. In the final instance, an application for a formal transfer of patronage will have to be made by the existing patron under the Education Act 1998, which will require my approval.
I would point out that the previous model of divestment yielded only a very limited number of schools for transfer to multi-denominational patrons (10 since 2013). I believe that the new schools reconfiguration for diversity process has the potential to significantly increase patron diversity in our school system with a target of reaching 400 multi-denominational and non-denominational schools by 2030.
While these new structures are being introduced, my Department will continue to work with the main stakeholders to progress delivery of diversity in areas already identified (of which Whitehall is one), in 2018 and beyond.
395. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a school building project (details supplied) in County Cork; and when construction will commence. [15722/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy will be aware that a building project for the school to which he refers is included in my Department's Capital Programme.
The formulation of the accommodation brief for the project is being finalised which will in due course allow my Department to liaise with the school in the context of initiating the architectural planning process for the project.
396. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the recent 27% year-on-year increase in rent at a student residence (details supplied); and his plans to address exorbitant rents in the student accommodation sector. [15734/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am aware of the recent price increases for purpose built student accommodation in certain private developments.
The Government’s housing strategy, Rebuilding Ireland, seeks to address the current shortage of housing supply. The National Student Accommodation Strategy (NSAS) which I launched in July 2017, together with the Minister of State for Higher Education and the Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, is an important element of this framework and was developed in response to the particular issues affecting student accommodation in light of the pressures which currently exist throughout the rental sector.
To date, 2,687 additional bed spaces have been provided since the launch of Rebuilding Ireland. As of end March, 2018, there were an additional 5,842 bed spaces actively being built, with over 2,570 of these due to come on stream for the 2018/2019 academic year and almost 3,270 the following year.
Work is being progressed to address the supply of purpose built student accommodation. In the interim, the Department of Education and Skills and the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government are working with The Union of Students Ireland to support the #HomesforStudy campaign which promotes the provision of ‘digs’ accommodation for students as an alternative to both purpose built student accommodation and the general rental market.
The Interdepartmental Working Group on Student Accommodation has been asked to assess the impact of licence arrangements on residents of purpose built student accommodation.
397. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to audit school physical education and sports facilities in order that capital provision may be made for upgrading and construction of new school sports halls and facilities in budget 2019 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15751/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is fully committed to providing that schools who wish to offer the new Leaving Certificate Physical Education Specification and the Senior Cycle Physical Education Framework (non-examinable) in the future will be able to do so.
The Deputy will be aware that under the National Development Plan (NDP), increased funding has been provided for the school sector capital investment programme. This funding allows for a continued focus on the provision of new permanent school places to keep pace with demographic demand and also provides for an additional focus on the refurbishment of existing school buildings to include the building and modernisation of PE facilities in post-primary schools.
Under the Ireland Project 2040, we will invest €8.4 billion (compared to €4.9 billion in the previous decade) in primary and post primary school buildings. This will include the provision of 50 large scale school building projects and 20,000 school places in state of the art new buildings.
The immediate priority of my Department is providing 20,000 new and replacement school places each year, to ensure that every child has a school place. The government will focus in the medium term on the provision of PE facilities in schools.
I have no plans to undertake an audit of schools' PE facilities.
398. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the provision of a new secondary school for the Swords area of County Dublin as announced in November 2015; if locations for the proposed school have been identified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15758/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy may be aware, the proposed location for the new post-primary school referred to by the Deputy is in Mooretown, Swords.
This school building project is on my Department's Rapid Design & Build Programme and the project is currently at architectural planning stage.
399. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the provision of a new secondary school for the Malahide and Portmarnock areas of County Dublin as announced in November 2015; if locations for these proposed schools have been identified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15759/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, a project to deliver permanent accommodation for the new post primary school to serve Malahide/Portmarnock, as announced in November 2015, is included on my Department's capital plan.
Officials in my Department are continuing to liaise with officials in Fingal County Council under the Memorandum of Understanding for the acquisition of school sites in order to secure a suitable site to facilitate this project. A suitable site has been identified and engagement in this regard is ongoing with a view to securing a site as expeditiously as possible.
My Department continues to keep Educate Together, as patron of the school, appraised of developments in the site acquisition process.
