Written Answers Nos. 169-187
169. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of new school extensions carried out in the past two years by county in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17402/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am pleased to inform the Deputy that the information requested is available on my Department's website www.education.ie in the format requested.
170. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a school project (details supplied); if the project will go to construction in 2019; if the funding required will be ring-fenced in view of the recent announcement of 40 new school projects for the east of the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17404/18]
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. All statutory approvals have been secured.
The Stage 2b submission has been reviewed by the Department and my Department issued comments on the stage 2b submission to the school and its Design Team. My Department requested confirmations from the Design Team that it carries out one final review of all of its tender documentation to ensure compliance with DoES requirements. The Design Team has been requested to submit written confirmation from each Design Team member including the PSDP that they have completed this review and are satisfied that the Tender Documents are complete, correct and in compliance with DoES and Building Control (Amendment) Regulations (BC(A)R) tender documentation requirements. A response is awaited.
Upon receipt of these confirmations, my Department will then revert to the school with regard to the further progression of the project.
Further to the finalization of Stage 2b, my Department recently issued a letter to the school and its Design Team advising them of a timeframe for the progression of this project. The recent announcement of new school projects has no implications for this project in terms of funding or timeframe for progression.
171. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an application by a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17415/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware an application was received by my Department from the school referred to for the provision of additional accommodation in respect of both classroom and ancillary accommodation. The application was assessed by my Department and it was determined at that time that there was no deficit of essential accommodation at the school. That decision was advised to the school authority.
My Department subsequently received a request to review the application and the decision. The review process recently concluded and the school was advised of the outcome directly.
172. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the amalgamation of schools (details supplied) in the form of one school with junior and senior schools will be reconsidered in view of the successful temporary arrangement with respect to the schools in advance of the completion of the new school buildings; if so, the way in which it will be approached; if not, the reason therefor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17421/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra180. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the issue of a junior and senior school (details supplied) in County Kildare will be revisited in advance of the opening of the school buildings; if so, the way in which to achieve this; if not, the reason therefor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17462/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 172 and 180 together.
In 2011 the establishment of 20 new post-primary schools was announced across a number of locations nationwide to cater for increased student numbers, including a new 1,000 pupil post-primary school to be established in Maynooth in 2014. Following completion of a patronage process in 2012, Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board (formerly County Kildare VEC) was announced as patron of the school, which opened with an Irish-medium Aonad in 2014. The Community College was established on the basis that it would be a separate entity from the existing post-primary school and would provide for all years from First to Sixth Year, when fully developed.
As an interim measure, pending delivery of a permanent school building, the Community College has been sharing premises with Maynooth Post-Primary School. The project providing for two new post-primary school buildings to cater for each of these schools 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 entered examinership.
173. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills the changes that will be carried out to an Scrúdú le haghaidh Cáilíochta sa Ghaeilge for entry into primary school teaching; when these changes will be carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17423/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Teaching Council is the independent regulatory body for the teaching profession which maintains the register of teachers in the State.
Completion of the SCG (An Scrúdú le hAghaidh Cáilíochta sa Ghaeilge) is accepted by the Teaching Council as evidence that a teacher who qualified abroad has addressed the Irish Language Condition for registration purposes.The SCG is administered by Marino Institute of Education (MIE).
My Department is not aware of any changes planned in relation to the SCG examination.
174. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 641 of 16 January 2017, the further proposals that will be in place for Springboard in September 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16174/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraSpringboard+ is managed by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) on behalf of the Department of Education and Skills. An evaluation framework underpins the initiative with ongoing monitoring of its impact. Springboard+ forms part of the Government’s Action Plan for Jobs, Action Plan for Education and the National Skills Strategy, which aims to increase the number of people in employment to 2.1 million by 2020. The programme is funded through the National Training Fund and the ESF Programme for Employability, Inclusion and Learning (PEIL) 2014-2020.
In January the HEA issued a competitive call, for course proposals in areas of demonstrated skills needs, to be considered for funding under Springboard+ 2018. The deadline for receipt of proposals was Friday, 9 March. 496 proposals were received, an increase of 76 on last year. 29% of the proposals were in the area of ICT, 26% in Engineering, Manufacturing and Construction, and 22% in Business and Administration. The remainder of the proposals are in areas such as Natural Sciences, Agriculture, Health, and more generic courses. A large number of the proposals feature blended and online learning.
Decisions on proposals for funding are made by a panel of experts with industry and educational experience, supported by the HEA. An independent process auditor oversees the assessment and selection process.
I, along with Minister Halligan expect to have the recommendations of this expert panel shortly, with a launch date of Springboard+ 2018 expected in May/June 2018.
175. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the way in which a person is placed on a supplementary special needs panel (details supplied). [17439/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra176. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the way in which a special needs assistant who was made redundant in 2017 can apply to be placed on a supplementary panel. [17440/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions 175 and 176 together.
The supplementary assignment arrangements for Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) were established on foot of proposals brought forward by the Labour Relations Commission when the Haddington Road Agreement was being agreed. These supplementary assignment arrangements for SNAs continue to operate under the Public Service Stability Agreement 2018 - 2020, and both unions representing SNAs, namely SIPTU and FÓRSA, have signed up to that agreement. As set out in the LRC proposals, the supplementary assignment arrangements for SNAs only apply to current SNAs who are notified that they are to be made redundant. Accordingly, the purpose of these arrangements is to facilitate eligible SNAs who are being made redundant by one employer in filling SNA vacancies that may become available in another school / ETB.
Once an SNA with a minimum of one year's service (service in a substitute capacity i.e. covering for maternity leave, sick leave, career breaks, job-sharing etc. does not count) is notified by his/her employer that s/he is to be made redundant then s/he shall be deemed to be a member of a supplementary assignment panel for SNAs. The detailed supplementary assignment arrangements for SNAs for the 2017/2018 school year are set out in Departmental Circular 0042/2017 which issued on 25 May 2017 and which is available on the Department's website at the following address:
http://www.education.ie/en/Circulars-and-Forms/Active-Circulars/cl0042_2017.pdf
The operation of this panel is described and outlined in Circular 0042/2017 and it is designed to be as flexible as possible which enables all eligible SNAs, who have the requisite Panel Form 1 completed by their former employer, to apply for any SNA position that is advertised by a school or an ETB with no sectoral, diocesan or geographical limitations imposed. Every eligible SNA will remain on the panel for two years with a view to getting further employment. If they are not successful over that period of time in obtaining a further SNA position then they will be eligible for a redundancy payment. Furthermore, an SNA may opt out of this supplementary assignment panel at any point in time triggering the processing of his/her redundancy payment in line with the terms set out in the SNA redundancy scheme (DES Circular 58/06) or any revision of same that is applicable at that time.
It should be noted that this does not prevent any person, including newly qualified SNAs, from applying for SNA vacancies but employers are obliged to give precedence to applicants who are members of the SNA Supplementary Assignment Panel.
The Supplementary Assignment Panel arrangements are reviewed by my Department on an annual basis in conjunction with an independent Supplementary Assignment Manager, the school management bodies and the two unions representing SNA staff (FÓRSA and SIPTU).
My Department has set up a dedicated e-mail address to deal with all queries in relation to the SNA Supplementary Assignment Panel and any queries in respect of the operation of the Panel can be directed to this dedicated e-mail address: snasupplementpanel@education.gov.ie.
177. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills when the 950 jobs for special needs assistants will become available. [17441/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra975 additional SNAs posts were made available for allocation to schools from September 2017 which was a 7.5% increase to meet the demands for the 2017/18 school year. This brought the total SNA posts available last September to 13,990.
Financial provision for some 1091 additional SNAs was made in Budget 2018. Of these 130 have been made available for allocation from January to June 2018. The remaining posts will be required to meet qualifying applications from September to end December 2018.
The total number of SNA posts available currently is 14,120 at a gross annual cost of € 462 Million. This is more SNAs than we have ever had previously and will ensure that all children who qualify for SNA support can continue to receive access to such support.
In total, the number of SNAs available has increased by over 33% since 2011, when 10,575 posts were available.
Details of SNA allocations which have been made to schools are available on a county by county and individual school basis, on the NCSE website at www.ncse.ie.
The NCSE are currently processing SNA applications from schools for the coming school year and aims to respond in May 2018 to valid applications for access to SNA support received.
178. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the preparation allowance is only paid to persons who held this entitlement prior to February 2012, that is, the school-based July provision (details supplied); his views on whether this decision is fair; his plans to review this anomaly; and the number of schools affected by same. [17459/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraArising from the Public Service Wide Review of Allowances and Premium Payments which commenced in 2012, the Preparation Allowance of €1401 previously paid under the school based July Programme was withdrawn in 2013 for anyone who did not hold it prior to 1 February 2012.
Any post holder who held the allowance before 1 February 2012 can continue to receive this allowance if they are still in the same job role and continue to carry out the duties in the school where the entitlement previously existed. If a post holder moves to a different school, the entitlement is lost and cannot be regained.
In 2017, some 67 post holders from a total of 219 schools were eligible to receive this allowance. There are no plans to revisit the withdrawal of this allowance.
The duties formerly associated with the Preparation Allowance, which mirror those assigned to role of Overseer, have been subsumed into that role, which is a fully remunerated post under the terms of the programme.
179. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to correspondence (details supplied) regarding a contractor entering into examinership and the consequences for a project in Maynooth, County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17461/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am aware of the correspondence and wish to inform the Deputy that work is continuing on site and both schools are due to be completed in May 2019 as per contract.
My Department and the Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board, to whom the project has been devolved for delivery, are closely monitoring the project in the context of the main contractor having recently enter examinership.
181. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason for the decision to introduce a new mathematics curriculum just as teachers have become used to the old one (details supplied); if his attention has been drawn to the disquiet among experienced teachers in regard to the introduction of the new curriculum and the lack of consultation which preceded its introduction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17463/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt has been nearly 20 years since the introduction of the current Primary School Mathematics Curriculum in 1999. Much has changed and happened since then. In meeting the demands of unprecedented societal and educational change, it is important to review and update the curriculum to ensure children are afforded a high-quality, coherent, and more relevant mathematics education that will contribute towards their personal and academic learning and development. The Primary Mathematics Curriculum will aim to develop learners’ conceptual understanding, procedural fluency, strategic competence, adaptive reasoning and productive disposition. Equipping learners with these five strands of Mathematical proficiency will provide them with vital life skills and a foundation for citizenship in the 21st century.
The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) began developing the new Primary Mathematics Curriculum in September 2016. This curriculum is for all children and is underpinned by the view that every child is capable of engaging with mathematical concepts and ideas from birth. Initial work focused on junior infants to second class. Consultation on a draft of this part of the curriculum began in October 2017 and finished in mid-March 2018. Consultation included online questionnaires, consultation seminars in Limerick, Sligo and Dublin, written submissions and a network of schools working with the draft curriculum.
Work has begun on the analysis of the data gathered through the consultation. This work will be presented in a consultation report which will be published on the NCCA website before the summer. The report will also set out next steps for work on the primary mathematics curriculum including work on the senior classes.
The Department of Education and Skills recently agreed to a proposed revised schedule for the implementation of the new Primary Mathematics Curriculum, whereby the curriculum will be introduced to schools as a single-stage implementation, from Junior Infants through to 6th class, rather than in two stages, Junior Infants to 2nd class and then 3rd class to 6th class, as originally planned. The revision arises in good part from learning from the implementation of the Primary Language Curriculum, including listening to extensive feedback received from that process. While the revised approach to implementation of the new Primary Mathematics Curriculum will impact on timing at the initial stages, the proposed date for full implementation of the curriculum in all years of primary, September 2021, remains unchanged.
Following the recent changes made by the to the implementation plans, the NCCA will publish the draft curriculum for junior infants to sixth class in late 2018 for consultation. This draft will incorporate work carried out on foot of findings from the recent consultation. The second consultation will again include work with a network of schools.
For further information including the extensive body of mathematics research which informed the development of the draft curriculum, see https://www.ncca.ie/en/primary/primary-developments/maths-curriculum#panel2.
182. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Education and Skills the grant support available to a board of management of a secondary school in need of substantial refurbishment and housed in a protected structure of historical value; if there is a new scheme available for such schools; the process by which they apply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17465/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy that applications for major capital projects, including applications from schools with protected structures, will be considered on receipt of an application for Major Capital Works (form SLE). The application form is available on my Departments website on www.education.ie
183. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an application for funding in respect of a school (details supplied) in County Cork. [17468/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe school to which the Deputy refers submitted an application for funding under my Department’s Emergency Works Scheme to construct a school carpark. The application and subsequent appeal were refused as the works sought are outside the scope of the scheme. The provision of a carpark is more appropriate to a future Summer Works Scheme.
184. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if approval will issue to a school (details supplied) in County Meath in respect of its application for additional school accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17479/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has received an application for additional accommodation from the school referred to by the Deputy.
The school has provided additional information in support of the application and this is being considered. A decision on the application will be conveyed to the school authority when the assessment process has been completed.
185. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the delivery of the required extension to a school (details supplied) in County Kildare has been devolved to Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board; when a design team will be appointed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17480/18]
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.
186. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the conveyancing process relating to the acquisition of a site for a new college and school (details supplied) in County Kildare has been completed; if the site is now in the ownership of his Department; when a design team will be appointed for both projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17481/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that my Department is in the process of acquiring a site to accommodate the schools to which the Deputy refers.
The site acquisition and conveyancing process may take some time. In order to provide certainty for the school, the acquisition is also subject to planning permission being obtained. My Department is aware of the current temporary arrangements for the school and, subject to no issues arising, will be progressing the project to architectural planning as soon as it is possible to do so.
Officials in my Department are awaiting an update from the vendor in respect of this site acquisition with a view to progressing the site acquisition process.
187. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of tenders received by the closing date of 16 April 2018 for the construction of a four classroom extension to a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; if the extension will be constructed during the school summer holidays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17483/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe school to which the Deputy refers was allocated funding under my Department's Additional Accommodation Scheme to provide four mainstream classrooms.
As the project has been devolved to the school authority for delivery my Department would not be aware of the number of tenders received or when work is due to commence on site.
