Written Answers Nos 451-467
451. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills when the new school building for a school (details supplied) will be progressed in view of the fact that there has been no movement on the building since the agreed schedule of accommodation with his Department in September 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16358/18]
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.
452. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of delivery of new school buildings under the ADAPT 18 programme; the number of new schools that have been delivered; the status of all projects under the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16361/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraADAPT stands for Accelerated Delivery of Architectural Planning and Tendering.
It is a pilot programme of 20 major projects which uses a professional external Project Manager (PM) to coordinate and drive the respective design teams on each project. The intention of ADAPT is to provide an improved, accelerated delivery timeframe for each of those projects.
The Project Manager was appointed in mid 2015 and the design teams for each of the projects were appointed in January 2016.
17 of the 20 projects have to date reached advanced architectural planning with most currently completing stage 2(b).
453. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which primary and second level school building requirements are being met in Clane, County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16367/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department's Capital Programme (2016-2021) continues to address the challenges posed by the significant bulge in pupil enrolments going through our schools. This has seen a significant expansion in the rate of provision of new school places. The Capital Programme details the school projects that are being progressed through the architectural planning process, which includes a building project for a primary school in Clane, County Kildare.
The Deputy will be aware that 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 current and future need for primary and post-primary school places across the country. The requirement for new schools will be kept under on-going review and in particular will have regard to the impact of the increased roll-out of housing provision to meet balanced regional development as outlined in Project Ireland 2040.
454. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a reply will issue to correspondence from a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16388/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe issues raised in the correspondence referred to by the Deputy have been considered by my Department. The correspondence was resubmitted to my Department and a response has issued.
The issues raised relate to teacher mobility and the redeployment arrangements at primary level.
The redeployment arrangements is the first method used to fill vacancies in the primary school system. Permanent teaching vacancies at primary level are filled, in the first instance, by permanent/CID holding teachers that are surplus in their own schools. Following this process, permanent vacancies are filled by eligible teachers on Supplementary Panels. Once the redeployment panels have cleared, primary schools with permanent vacancies may proceed to open competition to fill these vacancies. Temporary posts are filled by open competition which appropriately qualified teachers are eligible to apply for.
The redeployment arrangements are reviewed and agreed annually with the Education Partners (i.e. School management bodies, Teacher Unions etc). Arrangements for the 2018/19 school year have been finalised and are available on the Department website in Circular 0010/2018.
Circular 0063/2017, "Leadership and Management in Primary Schools", has introduced the phasing in of open competition for Deputy Principal posts. From 2022, all primary schools will be able to fill Deputy Principal posts through open competition, where vacancies exist. It is envisaged that this development will support teacher mobility and provide promotional opportunities for teachers.
455. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a request has been made by the Louth Meath Education and Training Board, LMETB, for resources to develop playing pitches at a school (details supplied); when this work will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16391/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has received an application from LMETB for funding to develop playing pitches at the school referred to by the Deputy.
The Deputy will be aware that my Department has already provided significant P.E. facilities at the education campus in question for the benefit of the primary and post-primary schools on the campus. This includes two general purpose rooms, three external ball courts and two Junior Play areas for the primary school. In addition, a P.E. hall and six external hard play areas were provided at the post-primary school.
I understand that the LMETB has also developed a one acre pitch on the campus.
The application from LMETB must be considered in the context of my Department's current priority which is the provision of essential classroom accommodation in areas where significant demographic need has been established to ensure that each child will have access to a physical school place. In the circumstances, my Department is not in a position, at this point, to provide funding for the purpose for which it was sought.
456. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the planned new school development at a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16392/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe major building project for the school referred to by the deputy is at an advanced stage of architectural planning Stage 2b (Detailed Design), which includes the application for statutory approvals and the preparation of tender documents. All statutory approvals have been secured.
My Department gave approval to the school authorities to have their Design Team commence the process of Pre-Qualification of Contractors, my Department has been informed by the Design Team that this process is now complete.
The Design Team recently submitted a revised Stage 2(b) to my Department. Upon review of the revised submission the Department will revert to the school with a timeframe for progression of the project to tender stage.
A letter issued to the school and it's Design Team on 8 March 2018 outlining the projected timeframe for progression of this project to tender and construction stage and the steps involved.
457. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the planned new school development at a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16393/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe project to which the Deputy refers has been devolved for delivery to the National Development Finance Agency. The project is currently at stage 2 B of the architectural planning process. Planning permission has been sought. A request for further information by the local authority on the planning application was responded to recently and a decision on the planning permission application is now awaited.
458. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an application by a school (details supplied) for a permanent extension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16411/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe school to which the Deputy refers was approved a grant under my Department's Additional Accommodation Scheme 2017 to provide a resource room.
Additional funding was approved by my Department in February 2018 following a submission from the school and the scope of works was increased to bring the overall level of accommodation to be provided to 2 resource rooms.
The school reverted to my Department in March 2018 requesting approval for an increased floor area and for the resource accommodation to be provided by way of a single general sized classroom. Approval was subsequently given by my Department for the school to proceed with this proposal on condition that the school undertakes to fund any costs over and above the grant for two separate resource rooms.
As this is a devolved project it is now a matter for the School Authority to advance the project.
459. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an application by a school (details supplied) for additional school accommodation due to a growth in roll numbers; if funding will be granted for the installation and rental of two prefabricated buildings to accommodate two extra classes from 1 September 2018 for the 2018-19 academic year until a permanent solution is agreed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16412/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that my Department has received an application for additional accommodation from the school referred to by the Deputy.
My Department has requested additional information from the school authority relating to the application and once this is received and considered, a decision will be conveyed to the school.
460. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an application by a school (details supplied) for an extension and associated building works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16413/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that my Department has received an application 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.
461. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the likely impact on a construction project (details supplied) following the appointment of an examiner to a group; if the completion date will be met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16418/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe building project to which the Deputy refers is continuing to progress to schedule. My Department and the local ETB, to whom the project has been devolved for delivery, are closely monitoring the project in the context of the main contractor having recently entering examinership.
462. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of clerical officers and clerical assistants in his Department on temporary contracts by years of service; if these officers will be offered permanent positions in the Civil Service when they have served a fixed period of time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16428/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department currently has 32 Temporary Clerical Officers (TCOs) engaged across four locations, to supplement the existing staffing cohort of the Department. The majority of TCOs have been appointed to positions which are temporary due to the short-term nature of the body of work or in a small number of cases the positions are to cover a number maternity or long-term sick leave absences, for which contracts of indefinite duration would not be warranted.
The clerical assistant grade no longer exists in the civil service.
|
Location |
Number of TCOs |
Less than 1 year |
1-2 years |
2-3 years |
3 + years |
|
Dublin |
7 |
5 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
|
Tullamore |
9 |
9 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Athlone |
15 |
5 |
4 |
5 |
1 |
|
Navan |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
Total |
32 |
19 |
7 |
5 |
1 |
463. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education and Skills the grant fund that was received by a former school (details supplied). [16465/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe table outlines annual funding issued by my Department to the school referred by the Deputy from 2004 – 2017.
This includes capitation related funding that is provided by my Department to schools as a contribution towards ancillary costs and general running expenses including heating, lighting, cleaning, general upkeep, the stocking of libraries and the purchase of equipment. It also includes other financial supports such as grants towards the cost of capital projects, ICT infrastructure, etc.
The Deputy should note that funding provided in 2008/2009 includes capital funding for a new school and also funding provided in 2015/2016 includes capital funding for additional classrooms.
|
Year |
Amount |
|
2004 |
€49,688 |
|
2005 |
€61,205 |
|
2006 |
€106,360 |
|
2007 |
€97,164 |
|
2008 |
€2,275,374 |
|
2009 |
€1,658,764 |
|
2010 |
€110,739 |
|
2011 |
€117,153 |
|
2012 |
€163,413 |
|
2013 |
€111,556 |
|
2014 |
€146,945 |
|
2015 |
€715,945 |
|
2016 |
€541,272 |
|
2017 |
€172,176 |
464. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the delivery of new schools (details supplied) in County Kildare. [16469/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe major building project referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of architectural planning Stage 2b (Detailed Design), which includes the application for statutory approvals and the preparation of tender documents. A decision to grant Planning Permission and Disability Access Certificate has been secured from Kildare County Council. A decision on the Fire Safety Certificate is expected shortly.
Once all Statutory Approvals are received the Design Team will work on finalising the Stage 2b report which will be submitted through the Board of Management to my Department.
Upon receipt and review of this report my Department will revert to the Board of Management with regard to the further progression of the project at that time.
A letter issued from my Department to the Board of Management on 9 March 2018 outlining the projected timeframe for the progression of this project to tender and construction stage and the steps involved.
465. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Education and Skills the expected completion time for an extension for a school (details supplied) in County Kildare. [16470/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe building project to which the Deputy refers is expected to be completed in time for the commencement of the 2018/19 school year.
466. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason for the decision to cut funding to a centre (details supplied) resulting in its likely closure; if the decision will be reversed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16519/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraEnsuring every child is supported and given the opportunity to reach their full potential is a key priority for this Government.
The Department is committed to improving educational outcomes for members of the Traveller and Roma communities.
St. Thomas’s Clonshaugh is a school with Special School designation dating from a period when separate education provision for members of the Traveller community was the norm.
The phasing out of segregated education provision for Traveller children began in 2006 in accordance with Government policy which was developed in consultation with Traveller representative groups.
St. Thomas’s is currently the only remaining education centre for segregated post-primary provision for Traveller students in the country.
The Department of Education and Skills has been engaging with the Patron of St Thomas’s for many years to progress the transfer of its student cohort to the mainstream school system in line with this agreed national policy.
It is important to note that, as with all schools under private patronage, the decision in relation to school closure, amalgamation etc. ultimately rests with the Patron.
In order to ensure a smooth and effective transition of provision for students, my officials are engaging with the school Patron and the Educational Welfare Service of Tusla in relation to future education provision for the current student cohort in St. Thomas’s. Tusla’s Educational Welfare Service is available to work with parents to source school places for the current pupil cohort, including 3 students at Leaving Certificate level who would be due to sit exams in 2019.
467. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Education and Skills if funds will be released to a body (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16612/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy that provision has already been made for the use of the majority of the funds realised from the sale of the property in question. The further utilisation of the balance of the funds involved remains under consideration and the body will be advised when possible.
