Written Answers Nos. 460-479
460. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an additional school accommodation application by a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32416/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to confirm to the Deputy that the school in question has submitted an application to my Department for additional school accommodation.
The application will be assessed and a decision will be conveyed to the school authority as soon as the assessment process has been completed.
461. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a person (details supplied) is unable to access school transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32432/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraSchool transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department.
Currently over 116,000 children, including over 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.
Under the terms of my Department’s School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs, children are eligible for school transport where they are attending the nearest recognised: mainstream school, special class/special school or a unit, that is or can be resourced, to meet their special educational needs.
The National Council for Special Education through its network of Special Education Needs Organisers acts in an advisory role to my Department on the suitability of placements for children with special educational needs.
The School Transport Section of my Department received an application for special education needs school transport for the child in question on 3rd July 2018 for the 2018/19 school year.
Bus Éireann has been requested to provide a report on the availability of transport for the 2018/19 school year and the family will be contacted when this report is received.
The terms of the School Transport Schemes are applied equitably on a national basis.
462. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 87 of 13 June 2018, if the review in regard to a school (details supplied) has been completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32491/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe review to which the Deputy refers is expected to be completed shortly. My Department will be in contact with the school directly when an outcome is available.
464. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the development of a special needs unit in a school (details supplied); the reason work has been halted; when it will resume; when the unit will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32502/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe school referred to by the Deputy was approved a devolved grant under my Department's Additional Accommodation Scheme 2012 to provide a 1 Classroom ASD Unit & 1 SET Classroom.
Unfortunately, the original contractor left the site and his contract was terminated by the school authority. The school authority has since tendered the works remaining to be carried out. It recently submitted a Tender Report to my Department for those works and this has been approved. The school will now move to award a contract to the successful bidder to have the remaining works completed.
465. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the expenditure incurred by his Department in respect of legal fees in each of the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32524/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe expenditure incurred by my Department in respect of legal fees in each of the past three years is set out in the attached table.
|
Legal Fees Incurred by Department of Education and Skills |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
|
|
Total |
€92,364.25 |
€175,070.76 |
€353,623.15 |
466. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education and Skills the cost of ensuring there is an arts education officer in each education and training board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32541/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe main focus of payroll budgets for the foreseeable future in ETBS is to cater for increasing demand for teachers and special needs assistants arising from increasing student numbers at post-primary level.
Other staffing matters such as staff involved in administration, maintenance and training provision are dealt with centrally by my Department having regard to factors such as affordability within payroll budgets and priorities determined by individual ETBs.
I have no plans to approve an arts education officer in each education training board. The cost of providing an arts education officer in each of the 16 ETBs would depend on the level agreed for such role and would be commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of that post.
An objective of the Arts in Education Charter is the Local Arts Education Partnerships (LAEPs). The impact of co-operative efforts by the statutory agencies, the local authorities and the ETBs, in conjunction with the regional Teacher Education Centres and other agencies, has the potential to re-shape the landscape of arts in education provision in Ireland to the great benefit of young people throughout the country. Creative Youth, the plan for Pillar 1 of Creative Ireland, commits to piloting Local Creative Youth Partnerships. These will be based on the model outlined in the Arts in Education Charter. An announcement around these Partnerships will be made shortly.
467. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to recent issues with the salaries of teachers in which the tax deductions were calculated incorrectly; and if the teachers will be recompensed for the error. [32542/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is the responsibility of all employees to ensure that their Certificate of Tax Credits and Standard Rate Cut Off Point are available to their employer. The Certificate sets out the total amount of the tax credits and standard rate cut-off point to which employees are entitled together with the equivalent weekly and monthly figures.
The details as submitted by Revenue are implemented in each payroll period for which the certificates are received. The details on the certificate are calculated by the Revenue Commissioners and this Department has no authority to amend the certificates. If any teachers paid on payrolls operated by my Department are of the opinion that the details submitted by Revenue are or were incorrect, they should contact their local Revenue office to ensure that an amended certificate is submitted.
468. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the correct procedure for the appointment of a designated liaison person and deputy designated liaison person as stipulated within the 2017 child protection procedures for primary and post-primary schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32543/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn accordance with section 3.5 of the Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post Primary Schools 2017, it is the responsibility of all boards of management to designate a senior full-time member of the registered teaching staff of the school as the designated liaison person (DLP) for the school.
It is expected that the DLP will normally be the principal.
It is also the responsibility of the board of management to designate another member of the full time registered teaching staff of the school (to be known as the deputy DLP) to assume the responsibilities of the DLP, in the absence of the DLP. It is expected that, where possible, the deputy DLP will normally be a deputy principal of the school.
The Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools 2017 are available on my Department's website www.education.ie.
470. Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if there is a panel of special needs assistants, SNAs, in each county; if an SNA must have specific qualifications to be part of the panel prior to applying for an advertised position; the length of time for which a panel runs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32562/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraTo answer the Deputy's query, 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 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. The detailed supplementary assignment arrangements for SNAs for the 2018/2019 school year are set out in Departmental Circular 0034/2018, which issued on 17 May 2018, and which is available on the Department's website at the following address: http://www.education.ie/en/Circulars-and-Forms/Active-Circulars/cl0034_2018.pdf.
This circular describes and outlines the operation of the panel arrangements 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. The supplementary assignment arrangements for SNAs only apply to current SNAs who are notified that they are to be made redundant. 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. 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.
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.
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.
471. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department has contracted the legal services of a company (details supplied) at any point over each of the past six years; if so, the costs involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32639/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has not contracted for legal services from the firm referred to by the Deputy at any point over each of the last six years.
472. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of newly trained carpenters who will qualify in 2019. [32651/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra473. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of newly trained plumbers who will qualify in 2019. [32652/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra474. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of newly trained electricians who will qualify in 2019. [32653/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra475. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of trained blocklayers who will qualify in 2019. [32654/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 472 to 475, inclusive, together.
The Advanced Certificate Craft (Level6) is awarded to apprentices who achieve the required standard in each of the seven training phases of a craft apprenticeship. Craft apprenticeships generally take 4 years to complete. Four training phases involve on the job training with a SOLAS-approved employer and the other three phases are off the job with an Education and Training Board or an Institute of Technology. Outlined below is an estimate of the numbers of apprentices who may qualify in 2019 in each of the four apprenticeships referred to by the Deputy.
Blocklayers - 18 (200% increase on 2017)
Electricians - 820 (96% increase on 2017)
Plumbers - 250 (56% increase on 2017)
Carpenters - 200 (110% increase on 2017).
476. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the patronage change of a school (details supplied) in County Kildare. [32682/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, I developed the new schools reconfiguration for diversity process, which is aimed at providing more multi-denominational and non-denominational schools across the country, in line with the choices of families and school communities and the Programme for Government commitment for 400 such schools by 2030.
I believe that this new Schools Reconfiguration process, which involves the transfer of live schools, has the potential to significantly increase patron diversity in our school system.
A number of schools or communities have approached their existing patron seeking a voluntary transfer of patronage under this process, including the school to which the Deputy refers. Discussions in this regard are at an advanced stage.
477. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills when an all-weather pitch will be completed at a school (details supplied); and the status of same. [32692/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe school building for the school referred to by the deputy was handed over for occupation on 1 September 2017. However, as part of the contract for this project, there remain some outstanding works at the adjacent GAA Club, including completion of the all-weather pitch and re-instatement work to the car park. There are also a number of snags to be resolved in the school building including issues relating to the heating system.
The Department has terminated the contract with the building contractor under Clause 12 of the Public Works Contract.
There is a Performance Bond in place for the project and the Design Team is liaising with the Bondsman with the intention of calling on the Bond to cover the costs of finishing out the works.
The Design Team is currently finalizing a detailed scope of works which are outstanding, and the Bondsman will be requested to have the works completed without the need for a public tender process. This is the most expeditious way of completing the works. If the Bondsman is not prepared to complete the works, the Design Team will tender for a completion contractor to carry out the works and the remediation of the outstanding snags, and the costs will be presented to the Bondsman.
My Department is committed to getting all the outstanding works completed as soon as possible.
478. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of implementing the recommendations of the report of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection on tackling back to school costs, published in June 2013. [32697/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Joint Oireachtas Report on school costs was published in 2013.
Given the wide ranging nature of the issues raised in the report it is not feasible to provide an estimated cost for its implementation.
Notwithstanding this, I wish to make clear that I strongly support any measures that can be put in place to reduce costs for parents.
To deliver on my ambition to be the best we have to improve information and complaint procedures for parents and students, particularly in relation to costs.
I want to give parents a strong voice in ensuring costs are always kept to a minimum. My Department published Circular Letter 32/2017 which details the measures to be adopted by schools to reduce the cost of school uniforms and other costs. The publication of this Circular was one of the actions outlined in the Action Plan for Education 2016-2019.
Schools have to do everything possible to keep costs down for parents, including the use of generic items, sew on or iron on crests, and making sure that various elements of the uniform can be purchased in multiple stores.
In the Action Plan for Education I have committed to the restoration of capitation payments and increasing the financial support for book rental schemes, in order to reduce or eliminate school book costs for parents.
I believe that full transparency in relation to the use of any voluntary contributions is important information for parents to have. The Parent and Student Charter will require every school to set out a financial statement, which will include information on how any voluntary contributions are used.
This is part of a suite of measures including legislation regarding School Admissions which is intended to reform information and procedures around the process of school enrolment, and the commencement of fitness to teach, which for the first time allows a complaint to be made about a registered teacher to the Teaching to Council.
My colleague, the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, has also increased the back to school allownce by €2.1m this year, bringing the total investment in the scheme to €49.5m.
I believe that these actions will significantly strengthen the focus on reducing school costs for parents.
479. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of introducing a single-tier pay scale for teachers. [32698/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraSection 11 of the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017 provides that “the Minister [for Public Expenditure and Reform] shall, within three months of the passing of this Act, prepare and lay before the Oireachtas a report on the cost of and a plan in dealing with pay equalisation for new entrants to the public service.”
The report laid before the Oireachtas on foot of this provision by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform assesses the cost of a further change which would provide a two scale point adjustment to new entrants recruited since 2011. The total cost of such an adjustment across the public sector is of the order of €200 million, of which Education accounts for €83 million. The report also acknowledges that, during the financial crisis, there were policy changes which affected remuneration in different occupations across the public sector (including education). Addressing any issues arising from changes which are not specifically detailed in the report would give rise to additional costs over and above the foregoing figures.
The matter of new entrant pay is a cross sectoral issue, not just an issue for the education sector alone. The Government supports the gradual, negotiated repeal of the FEMPI legislation, having due regard to the priority to improve public services and in recognition of the essential role played by public servants.
The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform’s report will inform discussions among the parties to the agreement on remaining salary scale issues in accordance with the commitment in the Agreement to consider the issue of new entrants’ pay. That process commenced with a first meeting on 12 October 2017. The three teacher unions attended that meeting. Further talks were held on the 27 of April with all public service unions in relation to new entrant pay. Engagement between the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the trade unions has been ongoing and meetings are currently taking place as the parties continue to work through the various aspects of this issue.
