Tuesday, 19 Jun 2018

Written Answers Nos. 194-211

Schools Building Projects Applications

Ceisteanna (194)

Fiona O'Loughlin

Ceist:

194. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a request for funding by a school (details supplied) to upgrade its building will be considered. [26481/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

I can confirm that my Department has received an application for capital funding from the school referred to by the Deputy.

The application is currently under consideration and a decision will be conveyed to the school as soon as this process has been completed.

School Funding

Ceisteanna (195)

Brendan Ryan

Ceist:

195. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason for the delay in releasing funds to a school (details supplied) following a recent ruling; if the funds will be released as soon as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26539/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

Paragraph 13 of The Deed of Trust for Community Schools provide for State Indemnity. This indemnifies the Board of Management of Community schools and states the following -

- The State shall indemnify the Board and the teaching and non-teaching staff in respect of actions claims or demands taken or made against them arising out of the discharge of their duties whether in respect of pupils or otherwise.

In the case referred to by the Deputy, my Department has agreed to the granting of State Indemnity. Invoices have been received from the school identifying legal costs claimed by the legal team retained by the school. These invoices are currently being examined and a response will issue to the school as soon as possible.

Schools Facilities

Ceisteanna (196, 198)

Pat the Cope Gallagher

Ceist:

196. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an application by a school (details supplied) for an ASD unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26593/18]

Pat the Cope Gallagher

Ceist:

198. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an application by a school (details supplied) for major capital works at the school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26595/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

I propose to take Questions Nos. 196 and 198 together.

I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has issued approval in principle for temporary accommodation at the school in question to meet the most immediate accommodation requirements.

In addition my Department has approved the provision of additional permanent accommodation at the school referred to. Details of the current status of the building projects are available on my Department's website, www.education.ie - Building Works - Additional Accommodation.

The relevant ETB has been advised of the position in each respect.

Schools Facilities

Ceisteanna (197)

Pat the Cope Gallagher

Ceist:

197. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an application by a school (details supplied) for additional classroom accommodation for an ASD unit and the refurbishment of the existing metalwork room with added accommodation for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26594/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

I wish to advise that the school referred to by the Deputy has two applications with my Department for improved and additional accommodation, to cater for improved metalwork facilities and new ASD accommodation.

In light of the applications on hand, having regard to the constraints of the school site, my Department carried out a technical site visit. Once the conclusions from that visit are fully considered my Department will be in further contact with the school in respect of their applications.

Question No. 198 answered with Question No. 196.

Schools Building Projects Status

Ceisteanna (199)

Kevin O'Keeffe

Ceist:

199. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding two projects at a primary school (details supplied) in County Cork following the recent submission of further proposals. [26606/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

As the Deputy was previously advised, it is planned to carry out one project at the school to which he refers. The project will entail additional accommodation and car parking facilities.

Following a site visit by an official from my Department's Professional and Technical team, the school was issued with possible design solutions for the project. A recent proposal from the school was acceptable and, accordingly, approval has been given for the project to proceed to planning permission stage.

Scoileanna Gaeltachta

Ceisteanna (200)

Pat the Cope Gallagher

Ceist:

200. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Education and Skills the process for secondary schools within Gaeltacht areas which are considering changing their primary teaching language from English to Irish through the concept of tumoideachas or full immersion of teaching through the medium of Irish; the process of consultation for parents and school stakeholders before such a decision would be taken, outlining the process by which each parent's opinion would be sought and recorded by ballot or otherwise; his views on whether it is essential that no parents should feel excluded from a clearly defined process or that students should not be excluded from receiving secondary education through the medium of English if that is their preferred choice and which in many of these schools would have been the standard teaching practice for the past 50 years or more; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26622/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

Circulars 0034/2017 and 0022/2018 set out the process involved for post-primary schools in the Gaeltacht to participate in the Gaeltacht School Recognition Scheme to meet the aims of the Policy on Gaeltacht Education to ensure high quality Irish-medium educational provision in schools located in Gaeltacht language-planning areas. Schools in the Gaeltacht were invited to express an interest in the Gaeltacht School Recognition Scheme in 2017/ 2018 and were required to involve the school community and local language-planning committee in the decision-making process involved. The management of the consultation process with parents and the wider school community is a matter for the school management of each individual post-primary school.

The criteria for recognition as a Gaeltacht School includes a requirement for schools to develop a whole-school action plan for improvement linked to language-based criteria to set out how the school will, on a phased basis, take the steps necessary to enhance Irish-medium educational provision in classrooms and to extend the use of Irish as the language of communication, instruction and socialisation within the school. The specific content of these action plans is a matter for each individual school to consider as it applies to its own unique sociolinguistic context in consultation with its board of management and school community.

The Policy on Gaeltacht Education 2017-2022 sets out a comprehensive strategy for education in the Gaeltacht. This Policy, following widespread public consultation, sets out a wide range of actions for improved Irish-medium educational provision in schools in the Gaeltacht .

Parallel provision of Irish-medium and English-medium educational provision is available in some Gaeltacht areas, particularly those that are immediately adjacent to areas not designated as within the boundaries of the Gaeltacht. As highlighted in the Policy on Gaeltacht Education 2017-2022, it is not intended during the lifetime of this Policy to extend parallel provision to Gaeltacht areas where such is not currently available.

Scoileanna Gaeltachta

Ceisteanna (201)

Pat the Cope Gallagher

Ceist:

201. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Education and Skills the secondary schools within the Gaeltacht which have opted for tumoideachas Gaeilge or full immersion through the medium of Irish especially focusing on schools which previously provided teaching through the medium of English; the schools that are proposing to provide no teaching of the various subjects through the medium of English for their future student intake despite such a choice being available for many decades previously; his views on whether it is proper or just in removing an entitlement to secondary school education through the medium of English when parents both desire and request same and disagree with the concept of tumoideachas Gaeilge or full immersion of Irish in teaching in their local secondary school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26623/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

Circulars 0034/2017 and 0022/2018 set out the process involved for post-primary schools in the Gaeltacht to participate in the Gaeltacht School Recognition Scheme and action-planning for improvement process to meet the aims of the Policy on Gaeltacht Education to ensure high quality Irish-medium educational provision in schools located in Gaeltacht language-planning areas.

Schools in the Gaeltacht were invited to express an interest in the Gaeltacht School Recognition Scheme in 2017/ 2018 and were required to involve the school community and local language-planning committee in the decision-making process involved. The management of the consultation process with parents and the wider school community is a matter for the school management of each individual post-primary school.

An extensive national and local public consultation process informed the development of the Policy on Gaeltacht Education 2017-2022, with over 550 written and online submissions received and considered by the Department of Education and Skills. The Policy was also informed by national and international research reports that highlight the cognitive and academic benefits of immersion education including the learning of other languages.

Parallel provision of Irish-medium and English-medium educational provision is available in some Gaeltacht areas, particularly those that are immediately adjacent to areas not designated as within the boundaries of the Gaeltacht. As highlighted in the Policy on Gaeltacht Education 2017-2022, it is not intended during the lifetime of this Policy to extend parallel provision to Gaeltacht areas where such is not currently available.

Third Level Staff Data

Ceisteanna (202, 203)

Kathleen Funchion

Ceist:

202. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of university teaching staff employed on a casual basis. [26636/18]

Kathleen Funchion

Ceist:

203. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of university teaching staff paid on an hourly basis. [26637/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

I propose to take Questions Nos. 202 and 203 together.

The data requested by the Deputy is not collected or collated by my Department and is a matter for the Universities as the employers.

However, in 2016 an Expert Group reported on the level of fixed-term and part-time employment in third-level lecturing, this Expert Group was provided for under the Haddington Road Agreement. To inform the Report of the Expert Group on Fixed-Term and Part-Time Employment in Lecturing (also known as the Cush Report) my Department collated data on the level of fixed-term and part-time employment in lecturing in each Institute of Technology and University.

The information collated is in the following table.

University	Headcount	Part-time Permanent	Part-time fixed-term	Full-time fixed-term	Full-time permanent	NOT full-time and permanent
UCD	1036	66	52	80	838	198
UCC	748	60	15	70	603	145
TCD	729	31	36	149	513	216
NUIM	278	4	8	14	252	26
NUIG	2422	160	1659*	13	590	1832
UL	612	34	68	134	376	236
DCU	580	0	155	89	336	244
Total	6405	355	1993	549	3508	2897

Notes:

All numbers in Table 1 are headcounts. The reference date is the end of Q3 2015.

Part-time is defined as working less than full hours on a voluntary basis. Employees who were full time and who have opted for less than full hours voluntarily (e.g. work-sharing, parental leave or shorter working year scheme).

Four employment patterns are identified. Permanent full-time, and three types of “atypical” employment: Permanent part-time, fixed-term part-time and fixed-term full-time.

*The figure of 1659 for part-time and fixed-term provided for NUIG includes a figure of 1646 employees who are described by NUIG as hourly paid (equating to 85.6 FTEs).

Third Level Staff Remuneration

Ceisteanna (204)

Brendan Ryan

Ceist:

204. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the salary level and scale for professors and heads of department at NUI Maynooth in September 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26651/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

I set out in the table the Professorial Salary Scale from 2006. It should be noted that not every Head of Department would have been on that scale due to the concept & practice of rotating headships, established in NUI Maynooth in 2001.

The information from NUI Maynooth is in the following table.

Date
01/06/2006	01/01/2006
€105,926	€103,342
€111,999	€109,267
€118,071	€115,191
€124,147	€121,119
€130,221	€127,045
€136,298	€132,974

School Staff

Ceisteanna (205)

Michael Healy-Rae

Ceist:

205. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the situation with regard to the difficulties faced by school secretaries (details supplied) who are not employed by his Department will be addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26658/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

To answer the Deputy, the majority of primary and voluntary secondary schools in the Free Education Scheme receive capitation grant assistance to provide for secretarial, caretaking and cleaning services. Capitation related grants are issued to the majority of primary and post-primary schools to employ such staff. Within the capitation grant schemes, it is a matter for each individual school to decide how best to apply the grant funding to suit its particular needs.

Where a school uses the capitation grant funding to employ a secretary, such staff are employees of individual schools. My Department has no plans to develop an alternative scheme for schools to employ secretaries separate to the current system of capitation grant assistance.

Notwithstanding that, in 2015 my Department agreed to engage with the union side in relation to the pay of school secretaries (and caretakers) who are employed using grant funding and to enter an arbitration process. The Arbitrator recommended a cumulative pay increase of 10% between 2016 and 2019 for school secretaries (and caretakers) comprehended by the terms of the arbitration process and that a minimum hourly pay rate of €13 for such staff be phased in over the period 2016 to 2019. Grant funding used by schools to fund the salaries of ancillary staff is also being improved on a phased basis between 2016 and 2019 following the arbitration process. These increases are in order to enable schools implement the arbitration outcome for grant funded secretaries (and caretakers).

In December 2017, my Department published circular letter 0078/2017 for primary schools and circular letter 0079/2017 for voluntary secondary schools, setting out the application of the third phase increases of the Arbitrator’s recommendations. The circulars are available at:

Circular 0078/2017: https://www.education.ie/en/Circulars-and-Forms/Active-Circulars/cl0078_2017.pdf

Circular 0079/2017: http://www.education.ie/en/Circulars-and-Forms/Active-Circulars/cl0079_2017.pdf

The increases recommended by the Arbitrator are binding and must be applied by all schools who employ staff to whom the Arbitrator's recommendation applies.

Capitation Grants

Ceisteanna (206)

Kathleen Funchion

Ceist:

206. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills the way in which capitation grants are calculated; and the rates for primary and post-primary schools. [26739/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

The two main grants paid by my Department to recognised schools are the Capitation grant to cater for day to day running costs such as heating, lighting, cleaning, insurance, general up-keep etc and the Ancillary Services grant to cater for the cost of employing ancillary services staff.

The enrolment in the individual schools is the main driver of grants paid.

The following links are the most recent circulars published on my Department's website which outline the rates in relation to capitation related grants.

Primary Circulars

https://www.education.ie/en/Circulars-and-Forms/Active-Circulars/cl0028_2016.pdf

https://www.education.ie/en/Circulars-and-Forms/Active-Circulars/cl0078_2017.pdf

Post Primary Circulars

https://www.education.ie/en/Circulars-and-Forms/Active-Circulars/cl0029_2016.pdf

https://www.education.ie/en/Circulars-and-Forms/Active-Circulars/cl0079_2017.pdf

School Accommodation Provision

Ceisteanna (207)

Tony McLoughlin

Ceist:

207. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an application for additional accommodation made by a school (details supplied); if funding will be made available for this project in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26745/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

I wish to confirm to the Deputy that my Department received an application for additional accommodation from the school in question earlier this month.

My Department is considering the application and a decision will be conveyed to the school authority as soon as this process has been completed.

Irish Language

Ceisteanna (208, 209)

Alan Farrell

Ceist:

208. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he has engaged with an institute (details supplied) regarding its obligation to adhere to section 5 (1)(c) of the Institute For Advanced Studies Act 1940, in regard to its obligation to provide funding for fieldwork in order to carry out the requirement of a school to record spoken Irish; the actions he will take to ensure those who have participated in such projects receive the payments they are owed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26766/18]

Alan Farrell

Ceist:

209. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Education and Skills the action he has taken to support efforts to record spoken Irish to benefit the educational environment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26767/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

I propose to take Questions Nos. 208 and 209 together.

My Department allocates recurrent funding directly to a small number of institutions that are currently not under the designation of the HEA, including the institution referred to by the Deputy. However, the internal disbursement of that funding is then a matter for the individual institution. Such institutions are autonomous bodies and are responsible for their own day to day affairs, including the allocation of all of its income (both public and private).

The institution referred to by the Deputy was established under legislation which underpins its statutory functions, including the 'phonetic investigation of existing Irish dialects and the recording of the living Irish speech'. In that context, the institution provides facilities for the furtherance of such advanced study and research and for the publication of the results of such study and research, which is facilitated, in part, by the funding allocated to it by the Department.

Special Educational Needs Staff

Ceisteanna (210)

Fergus O'Dowd

Ceist:

210. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education and Skills the progress made to date on the implementation of the front-loading of inclusion support assistant posts; if the recommendation of the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, will be implemented by September 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26770/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

As the Deputy will be aware, in September 2016, I requested the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) to lead a comprehensive review of the Special Needs Assistant (SNA) Scheme, in consultation with other relevant Departments and State Agencies. The Review set out to ensure that the Scheme is achieving the best outcomes possible for children with special educational needs.

The Comprehensive Review of the Special Needs Assistant Scheme was published by the NCSE on 30 May 2018 and contains 13 recommendations. One of these recommendations is the development of a frontloaded model for allocating supports to schools for children with special educational needs who have additional care needs.

My Department is developing proposals to implement the recommendations of the Review. This will involve substantial engagement with key Departments and agencies as well as consultation with Education and Health Partners, Parent representatives and other stakeholders and developing proposals for early action on developing, on a pilot basis, a new allocation model and a national training programme.

The SNA allocations for September 2018 have already been made as part of the normal applications process. In order to meet the level of assessed demand, I announced on 18 May 2018 the provision of 800 additional Special Needs Assistant posts for allocation to schools for the beginning of the next school year, with a further 140 expected to be allocated over the period September to December 2018. Accordingly there is no prospect of a new model being implemented from September 2018.

Ensuring children with special educational needs are given the opportunity to fulfil their potential is a key priority for this Government. There will be 15,000 SNAs working in our schools by the end of the year, a 42% increase on 2011. My Department's policy is to ensure that every child who is assessed as needing SNA support will receive access to such support.

State Examinations Fees

Ceisteanna (211)

Catherine Martin

Ceist:

211. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the amount accrued through the administrative fee required to be paid by pupils sitting the junior or leaving certificate examinations. [26789/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations.

In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.