Written Answers Nos. 201-220
201. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 96 of 31 May 2018, the number of times his Department has been in contact with the school (details supplied) to date in 2018; the details of the correspondence or discussions with the school to resolve the outstanding issues in relation to the provision of a new building for the school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27693/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware projects for the schools referred to are included in my Department's 6 year Capital Programme.
In light of site issues arising my Department is in contact with the Patron for the schools in question. In this regard, a response is awaited by my Department in respect of its most recent written communitcation with the Patron, issued towards the end of May.
202. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a person (details supplied) will be provided with a full-time special needs assistant in September 2018. [27764/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible for allocating a quantum of Special Needs Assistant (SNA) support for each school annually taking into account the assessed care needs of children qualifying for SNA support enrolled in the school.
The NCSE allocates SNA support to schools in accordance with the criteria set out in Department Circular 0030/2014, which is available on the Department's website at www.education.ie, in order that students who have care needs can access SNA support as and when it is needed.
In considering applications for SNA supports for individual pupils, the NCSE take accounts of the pupils' needs and considers the resources available to the school to identify whether additionality is needed or whether the school might reasonably be expected to meet the needs of the pupils from its current level of resources.
SNAs are not allocated to individual children but to schools as a school based resource.
SNA allocations to all schools can change from year to year as children with care needs leave the school, as new children with care needs enrol in a school and as children develop more independent living skills and their care needs diminish over time.
My Department’s policy is to ensure that every child who is assessed as needing SNA support will receive access to such support. In line with this policy, I announced last month that 800 additional SNAs will be allocated for the beginning of the next school year, with a further 140 expected to be allocated by the end of the year.
By the end of this year, there will be a total of 15,000 Special Needs Assistants working in our schools, a 42% increase on 2011.
The NCSE Appeals Process may be invoked by a parent or a school where it is considered that a child was not granted access to SNA support on the grounds that Department policy was not met in accordance with Circular 0030/2014.
Schools may also appeal a decision, where the school considers that the NCSE, in applying Department policy, has not allocated the appropriate level of SNA support to the school to meet the special educational and/or care needs of the children concerned.
Where a school has received its allocation of SNA support for 2018/19, but wishes new enrolments or assessments to be considered, which were not taken into account when the initial allocation was made, they may continue to make applications to the NCSE. The closing date for receipt of any appeals in regard to SNA allocations is Friday, 28th September 2018.
As this question relates to a particular child I have referred the question to the NCSE for their direct reply.
203. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a school (details supplied); when a design team for the new school will be appointed; the timeframe for the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27767/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Design Team for the major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy was appointed in 2014. The project is currently at an advanced stage of architectural planning Stage 2b (Detailed Design), which includes the application for statutory approvals and the preparation of tender documents.
The school and its design team was authorised to commence the prequalification process to select a shortlist of contractors for tender stage on 18th June 2018. Pre-qualification normally takes between 8 and 12 weeks to complete.
Once the prequalification process is complete my Department will be in contact with the Board of Management with a view to progressing the project to tender stage.
204. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the difficulty experienced by a school (details supplied) in Dublin 4 in trying to obtain information concerning its new permanent building; the impediments which surround the progress of the project; if his attention has been further drawn to the lack of accurate communication between his Department and the school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27771/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe school building project to provide the permanent accommodation for the school referred to by the Deputy has commenced architectural planning under the Department's “Rapid” - Design and Build Programme. The school has been informed of it’s permanent location.
A planning permission to provide temporary accommodation for the school on the permanent site is currently under third party appeal to An Bord Pleanála. The school has been informed that until the temporary accommodation can be provided it will remain at its current temporary location from the start of the 2018/19 school year.
The design process for the permanent accommodation is being progressed in preparation for the planning application which will be the next key milestone in the progression of the project.
Department officials recently contacted the school Principal to advise on the status of the planning permission for the temporary accommodation and also to request contact details for the school over the summer months.
The Schools Board of Management will be invited to view the plans for the new school in advance of the planning application being submitted to the local authority.
Since the start of this year, Department officials have also been meeting on a monthly basis with the schools Patron Body. My Department has through its communications with the schools Patron Body endeavored to keep the schools management informed of all developments.
205. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if tender documents have been issued in relation to prefabs for a school (details supplied); the community consultation that was undertaken in advance of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27772/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraTender documents have issued in respect of the temporary accommodation for the school to which the Deputy refers.
A decision to grant planning permission for the temporary accommodation was made by Dublin City Council on the 26th January 2018. The Department through its Project Manager for this project engaged with third parties who had expressed observations to the Dublin City Council Planning Authority and arranged meetings as requested.
The decision to grant planning permission was subsequently appealed by a number of third parties to An Bord Pleanála. The decision of An Bord Pleanála is currently awaited.
206. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a school (details supplied) will receive funding in order to accommodate the increasing enrolment numbers at the school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27787/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy that, in March 2017, my Department approved in principle the provision of temporary accommodation to provide additional mainstream classroom facilities for 2017 and 2018.
Site works and associated costs were approved in July 2017 and the first prefab was installed. Subsequently the school sought significant additional costs associated with this project, not previously approved or considered. My Department requested clarification in respect of the additional costs - this remains outstanding.
Significant site costs and associated works have been indicated in respect of the installation of the temporary accommodation required for 2018.
My Department has contacted the school authorities on a number of occasions, including detailed written communication, to advise on the clarification required regarding the significant costs associated with the installation of the temporary accommodation, for both 2017 and 2018. Once this clarification is received my Department will be in a position to consider the matter further.
207. 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. [27789/18]
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 project for this school has been identified for delivery as part of a programme for the appointment of a Programme Manager. My Department expects to be in further contact with the school authority shortly on the matter.
208. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the completion of schools and educational facilities (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27792/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe liquidation of Carillion Construction affected five school buildings, including the school specifically referred to by the Deputy, and one further education college across four sites in Bray, Wexford, Carlow and Kells. These projects form the Schools Bundle 5 Public Private Partnership (PPP) programme.
Following the liquidation of Carillion Construction Ltd, a tender process to identify a replacement contractor for the completion of the buildings has been carried out. I was pleased that I was able yesterday to welcome confirmation from DIF and the project lenders regarding the appointment of a replacement works contractor. This provides a clear pathway forward for the completion of all the schools in Schools Bundle 5 PPP Project.
In this respect, arrangements are being put in place for the appointment of a replacement contractor to facilitate the completion of the three most advanced schools by the end of August and to undertake survey and preliminary work at the other three buildings in the programme, including the school referred to by the Deputy. This preparatory work is intended to facilitate the remaining construction work being completed by the end of December.
These arrangements, which follow a retendering process, provide for a contractor to be mobilised in the coming days and for work to recommence on site in the coming weeks. I would like to thank DIF and the Project Funders for their co-operation through this process and to acknowledge, in particular, the work of the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) in representing the interests of the State and the school communities.
Contingency planning remains in place for all six facilities. Students and staff of the school referred to by the Deputy will continue to be accommodated in their existing buildings until the new buildings are completed. The relevant ETB, supported by the Department of Education and Skills, is also putting in place additional temporary accommodation arrangements to cater for its increased enrolments.
209. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aindrias Moynihan den Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna an bhfuil oifigeach Gaeilge ceaptha dá Roinn; an post lánaimseartha atá ann nó an bhfuil dualgais bhreise ar an oifigeach Gaeilge; cén grád atá ag an oifigeach Gaeilge; an bhfuil sé nó sí ábalta a ghnó nó a gnó a dhéanamh trí Ghaeilge; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [27805/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraNíl aon oifigeach Gaeilge tiomanta san Roinn Oideachais agus Scileanna ag an bpointe seo. Is iad na príomhghráid sa Roinn atá gafa le seirbhísí a sheachadadh ar phobal na Gaeilge ná na gráid a bhaineann le cigireacht na scoileanna agus le soláthar na seirbhísí síceolaíochta oideachais a chuireann An tSeirbhís Náisiúnta Síceolaíochta Oideachais ar fáil do scoileanna i gceantair Ghaeltachta agus do Ghaelscoileanna. Tá 24 síceolaí oideachais sa tSeirbhís faoi láthair atá inniúil sa Ghaeilge agus a chuireann a gcuid seirbhísí proifisiúnta ar fáil trí Ghaeilge. Tá 51 cigire i Rannán Chigireacht na Scoileanna ag an mbunleibhéal agus tá 48 díobh seo freagrach as scoileanna ina múintear an siollabas trí Ghaeilge. Tá 11 de na cigirí seo freagrach as scoileanna Gaeltachta mar go bhfuil na scoileanna sin mar chuid den cheantar acu. Ag an mbunleibhéal is speisialtóirí in ábhar-réimsí na cigirí den chuid is mó. Cuireann foireann na cigireachta iar-bhunleibhéal a cuid seirbhísí ar fáil chomh maith do scoileanna ina múintear an curaclam trí Ghaeilge.
Ó bunaíodh an Gaeltacht um Oideachas Gaeltachta san Roinn in 2017, tá seirbhísí trí mheán na Gaeilge ar fáil san Roinn chun tacú le scoileanna Gaeltachta agus chun an Pholasaí don Oideachas Gaeltachta 2017-2022 a chur i bhfeidhm.
Faoi láthair tá dóthain de bhaill foirne proifisiúnta ann atá inniúil sa Ghaeilge chun seirbhísí proifisiúnta a sheachadadh do na scoileanna i gceist. I dteannta sin tá líon oifigigh riaracháin atá ábalta plé le fiosrucháin trí mheán na Gaeilge.
210. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of teaching principals in primary schools by county in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27829/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra211. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the burden of work placed on teaching principal teachers in primary schools across the country; his views on whether further supports are necessary for these principals in order to avoid burnout; and his plans to address their challenges. [27830/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 210 and 211 together.
1,765 out of 3,114 primary schools have a teaching principal in the 2017/18 school year with just over 24% of the primary pupil population enrolled in schools that have teaching principals.
The Irish education system has certain characteristics that have influenced the evolution of the Principal’s role. The distribution of the population necessitates a relatively large number of small primary schools. In the case of Principals in smaller schools, while management and administrations duties are smaller in scale than those of larger schools, they must be undertaken in addition to their full-time teaching duties.
The enrolment required for administrative principal in ordinary schools, Gaelscoileanna and schools in the Gaeltacht is 176 pupils, or 113 if operating a specialist autism unit.
Schools that have less than this enrolment have teaching principals. Recently published Circular 40/2018 is available on the Department’s website, which outlines the number of days that teaching principals may take as release time in a school year in order to assist them fulfilling their principal duties. Under these arrangements my Department pays for a substitute teacher to be employed by a school to facilitate administrative functions to be undertaken by the teaching principal.
Building on measures in previous budgets to enhance school leadership, Budget 2018 made €0.4 million available to fund almost 4,600 additional release days for teaching principals in primary schools. This additional funding will see an increase in the number of release days available to teaching principals in the 2018/19 school year to 17, 23 or 29 days depending on the size of the school.
Budget 2017 allowed for the commencement of restoration of middle management posts as part of an agreed distributed leadership model and meant lifting the rigidity of the longstanding moratorium on these posts at primary and post-primary levels. This recognises the key role school leadership has in promoting a school environment which is welcoming, inclusive and accountable.
€2.75m was allocated in Budget 2017 to restore middle management positions i.e. the equivalent of approximately 1,300 middle management posts (Assistant Principal I and Assistant Principal II) at both Primary and Post-Primary. (2,600 in total)
The selection and recruitment process is well under way in most of our primary schools and the majority of these new middle management posts will be filled in the current school year, including schools where the Principal is a "Teaching Principal".
Circular 63/2017 was issued by the Department in September 2017 which deals with and sets out a leadership and management framework for posts in recognised primary schools.
While the Principal is ultimately responsible to the Board of Management for the management and leadership of the school, the Deputy Principal occupies a position of vital importance within the senior leadership team in each school. The Deputy Principal co-operates with the Principal in the fulfilment of the Principal's role and acts or deputises as the Principal in the Principal's absence.
In relation to the duties assigned to Assistant Principal posts, the Principal following consultation with staff, agree the schedule of duties as best meet the needs of the school. These duties are designed to reduce the workload of the Principal.
I recently announced an extension to the arrangements for schools with teaching principals to cluster their release days into full-time posts, with one teacher covering the release days of all the schools in the cluster. Up to 50 principal release cluster posts will be put in place for the 2018/19 school year. This measure will assist teaching principals to more effectively plan their release days for the benefit of the school.
Any additional increase in the number of release days will be considered as part of the next annual budgetary process alongside the many other demands from the education sector.
The following table sets out a breakdown of the number of teaching principals in primary schools by county as requested.
Teaching Principals by county in 2017/18 school year
The Principals in these schools are in schools with less than 176 pupils:
|
COUNTY |
Number of teaching Principals 2017/18 |
|
CARLOW |
19 |
|
CAVAN |
57 |
|
CLARE |
88 |
|
CORK |
184 |
|
DONEGAL |
140 |
|
DUBLIN |
48 |
|
GALWAY. |
155 |
|
KERRY |
101 |
|
KILDARE |
31 |
|
KILKENNY |
46 |
|
LAOIS |
42 |
|
LEITRIM |
29 |
|
LIMERICK |
83 |
|
LONGFORD |
24 |
|
LOUTH |
21 |
|
MAYO |
138 |
|
MEATH |
52 |
|
MONAGHAN |
43 |
|
OFFALY |
39 |
|
ROSCOMMON |
79 |
|
SLIGO |
49 |
|
TIPPERARY |
113 |
|
WATERFORD |
40 |
|
WESTMEATH |
47 |
|
WEXFORD |
59 |
|
WICKLOW |
38 |
|
Total |
1765 |
212. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a site inspection has been carried out at a location (details supplied) by the design team for the project to evaluate the extent of work required to complete the project following the liquidation of a company; when the retendering for the project will commence; when it is hoped to have new contractors on-site to complete the project; if there is a new hoped for completion date for the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27864/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe delivery of the projects referred to by the Deputy has been devolved to Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board (KWETB).
KWETB, its design team and officials from my Department’s Planning and Building Unit are working closely to ensure that a new contractor is appointed as quickly as possible to complete both schools. An eTender's notice has been forwarded to eTenders for publication seeking expressions of interest from contractors wishing to be considered for the completion of the project. The notice will be published later this week. Identification of all outstanding works necessary to complete both schools is also ongoing.
213. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason for the delay in sanctioning an application by a school (details supplied) to become co-educational; when a decision will be conveyed to the school board of management; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27865/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm to the Deputy that my Department has received an application from the Patron, of the school in question, for a change in status.
The application is currently under consideration and a decision will be conveyed to the Patron as soon as this process has been completed.
215. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 177 of 8 May 2018, the full extent of the works envisaged for a school (details supplied); if a design team has been appointed for the project; if not, when one will be appointed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27867/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy that the project brief for the school in question has been finalised and furnished to the Patron who I understand has provided details directly to the school. The project will include the construction of additional classrooms and ancillary accommodation.
My Department will be in further contact with the school authority relating to the commencement of the architectural planning process which will include the appointment of a design team.
216. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding affordable student housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27877/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Student Accommodation Strategy (NSAS) was published in July of 2017 and was delivered as part of the Government’s housing strategy Rebuilding Ireland. The National Student Accommodation Strategy is an important element of the overall housing strategy, in ensuring that increased levels of student accommodation are available to meet the needs of our growing student cohort.
As of the end of May this year 2,990 bed spaces have been completed since the launch of Rebuilding Ireland. Countrywide, there are 7,017 bedspaces being built, 2,354 of which will be available for the coming academic year, with over 2,800 the following year.
The potential pipeline of accommodation is also encouraging. 7,017 bed spaces have been granted planning permission. We should therefore meet, if not exceed, the Rebuilding Ireland targets of 7,000 purpose built bed spaces by the end of 2019 and 21,000 bed spaces by 2024.
My Department 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, and have provided funding to the USI for this purpose. The 2018 #HomesforStudy campaign was launched today the 25th of June.
217. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding adjacency rates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27879/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe student maintenance grant is a contribution towards the living costs of a student. It is not intended to cover the full costs of attending college. The student grant scheme does however, provide for different levels of maintenance support, depending on means. Grants are also provided at adjacent and non-adjacent rates. The higher non-adjacent rates are intended to provide additional support to those students who may be living away from home.
Budget 2011 provided for a number of student grant measures which came into effect for the 2011/12 academic year, including the change in the assessment of the qualifying distance criterion for the non-adjacent rate of grant from 24 kilometres to 45 kilometres.
The 24km distance criterion was originally set in 1968 and had not been updated in more than 40 years. Since then, significant improvements have taken place in the road and rail network and it is considered that the revised distance criteria is more consistent with the type of distances that students may legitimately be expected to commute to college.
Students in third-level institutions experiencing exceptional financial need can apply for support under the Student Assistance Fund. This Fund assists students, in a sensitive and compassionate manner, who might otherwise be unable to continue their third level studies due to their financial circumstances. Information on the fund is available through the Access Officer in the third level institution attended. This fund is administered on a confidential, discretionary basis.
218. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills when the list of schools that will be implementing computer science at leaving certificate level in 2020 will be announced; and if new applications will be accepted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27915/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe specification for the new Leaving Certificate Computer Science (LCCS) subject was approved by the Council of the NCCA and the Minister in December 2017. Following a public call to schools, the Steering Group established to oversee implementation of LCCS selected and approved 40 schools that will introduce the subject in September 2018 as part of the phase 1 roll-out. The first examination of the LCCS will take place in June 2020.
It is my Department’s intention to offer Leaving Certificate Computer Science to all interested schools from September 2020. An open call will be made for expressions of interest from schools in 2019.
219. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills when the list of schools that will begin implementing physical education at leaving certificate level in 2020 will be published. [27916/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe specification for Leaving Certificate Physical Education (LCPE) will provide learners with an opportunity to study physical education for the Leaving Certificate examination, providing an additional optional Leaving Certificate subject. The new examinable subject will be introduced in September 2018 into a cohort of 64 post-primary schools participating in the phase 1 implementation of this new subject.
It is my Department’s intention to offer LCPE to all interested schools from September 2020. An open call will be made for expressions of interest from schools in 2019.
220. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills when the list of schools that will implement politics and society at leaving certificate level in 2020 will be announced; if new applications will be accepted; and if new schools have been admitted to provide the subject since it was first commenced in September 2017. [27917/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraA new specification for Leaving Certificate Politics and Society was introduced in September 2016 to a selected Phase 1 cohort of 41 schools who were selected from almost 120, following an open invitation to introduce this as an optional Leaving Certificate subject. The first examination in Leaving Certificate Politics and Society took place on 20 June, 2018.
The introduction of the specification was part of the Department of Education and Skills commemoration of 1916 and its commitment to education for sustainable development.
Phase 2 (availability to all interested schools) has commenced with all schools having been asked to express their interest in providing Politics and Society as an option for their students from September 2018. The decision to offer optional subjects rests with individual schools. Over 55 schools are availing of Continuous Professional Development from the Professional Development Service for Teachers to assist in the implementation of Politics and Society in their schools from this September. This brings the total number of schools providing Politics and Society for Leaving Certificate to nearly 100.
