Jack Chambers
Ceist:560. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Education and Skills his Department's expenditure on external consultancy in 2017 and to date in 2018. [34263/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraDepartmental Expenditure
Ceisteanna (560)
Freagraí scríofa
Details of external consultancy expenditure by my Department for the year 2017 are available on the Department's website http://www.education.ie/en/Publications/Corporate-Reports/Financial-Reports/Expenditure-on-Consultancy/.
Information in relation to consultancy expenditure is compiled annually in respect of the previous year. Details in respect of consultants engaged in 2018 will be compiled and published early in 2019.
Departmental Appointments
Ceisteanna (561)
Jack Chambers
Ceist:561. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Education and Skills the detail of each non-Civil Service appointment that has been made in his Department; the pay grade of each appointment; and the relevant qualifications that each appointee has for his or her position. [34280/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The table below gives details of the ministerial appointments made at my Department to assist the Ministers of State and I in carrying out our duties.
They are non-established Civil Servants and as such they are subject to the terms of the Civil Service Code of Conduct and this is stated in their contracts of employment and the appointees concerned are also subject to the terms of the Ethics in Public Offices Acts.
Under the terms of the said Acts a copy of their respective contracts of employment were laid before the Oireachtas. In relation to the Special Advisers, details of their qualifications were also laid and these documents can be viewed by the Deputy.
Mr. Richard Bruton, T.D.
Minister for Education & Skills.
|
NAME |
GRADE |
|
Patrick Cluskey |
Special Adviser |
|
Sarah O’Neill |
Special Adviser |
|
Sean Divilly |
Civilian Driver |
|
John Murray |
Civilian Driver |
Mary Mitchell O’Connor, T.D.
Minister of State
|
NAME |
GRADE |
|
Roy Dooney |
Special Adviser |
|
Lynda McQuaid |
Special Adviser |
|
John Slattery |
Civilian Driver |
|
Neil Brady |
Civilian Driver |
|
Richard Moran |
Civilian Driver (temporary appointment) |
John Halligan, T.D.
Minister of State.
|
NAME |
GRADE |
|
Michelle Clancy |
Special Adviser |
|
Edward Cunningham |
Civilian Driver |
|
Gerard O'Brien |
Civilian Driver |
Departmental Expenditure
Ceisteanna (562)
Jack Chambers
Ceist:562. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Education and Skills his Department's expenditure on the purchase of newspapers and other media content, such as, print, digital and other forms in 2017 and to date in 2018. [34297/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Information in respect of payments made from Department’s administration expenditure for the purchase of newspapers, periodicals, magazines and subscriptions to online media content has been extracted from my Department’s Financial Management System (FMS). Total expenditure in 2017 was €22,681.09 and total expenditure to-date in 2018 is €7,119.50.
Departmental Staff Data
Ceisteanna (563)
Jack Chambers
Ceist:563. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of full-time equivalent press officers employed by his Department and him personally. [34314/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Press and Communications office of my Department consists of a Higher Executive Officer, two Executive Officers and one Clerical Officer, all of whom are Department staff. One of my Special Advisers who was appointed under the terms of the Guidelines on Ministerial Appointments as published by the Department of Public Expenditure & Reform has responsibility for media and communications.
Emergency Works Scheme Applications
Ceisteanna (564)
Niamh Smyth
Ceist:564. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education and Skills if matters raised in correspondence (details supplied) will be reviewed; the possible solutions to the issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34346/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I wish to advise the Deputy that the school in question has submitted an application for funding to my Department under the Emergency Works Scheme. My Department has requested additional information from the school and when this has been received and considered, a decision on the application will be conveyed to the school authority.
With regard to the school's application for additional accommodation, my Department's current priority is the provision of essential classroom accommodation to meet demographic need and where an additional teacher appointment is being made to a school. Enrolment levels at the school in question does warrant the appointment of an additional mainstream teacher and my Department was therefore not in a position to consider the school’s application for additional classroom accommodation.
The school’s application for grant under the Summer Works Scheme was unsuccessful as the application did not meet the terms of the Scheme.
The Deputy will be aware that under the National Development Plan (NDP), increased funding has been provided for the school sector capital investment programme. This funding allows for a continued focus on the provision of new permanent school places to keep pace with demographic demand and also provides for an additional focus on the refurbishment of existing school buildings.
Under the Ireland Project 2040, we will invest €8.4 billion (compared to €4.9 billion in the previous decade) in primary and post primary school buildings. This will include the provision of 50 large scale school building projects and 20,000 school places in state of the art new buildings.
The immediate priority of my Department is providing 20,000 new and replacement school places each year, to ensure that every child has a school place. The government will focus in the medium term on the provision of PE facilities in schools and refurbishment of existing school buildings. The needs of the school referred to remains available to be considered in this context.
School Transport Provision
Ceisteanna (565)
Niamh Smyth
Ceist:565. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the post-primary school transport scheme will be reviewed in order to address the number of families in Counties Cavan and Monaghan being deemed ineligible due to the nearest school rule. [34347/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
School 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.
The purpose of my Department's School Transport Scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school.
Children are generally eligible for school transport if they satisfy the distance criteria and are attending their nearest school.
Children who are not eligible for school transport may apply for transport on a concessionary basis only which is subject to a number of terms and conditions that are detailed in the scheme.
Arising from commitments in the Programme for Government, a review of the Concessionary Charges and Rules element of the School Transport Scheme was undertaken.
The review was published in December 2016 and made recommendations on both the charges and the rules element of concessionary school transport.
The report also recommended that the number of concessionary places should be reduced in line with the rules introduced in 2012 on a phased basis. Previous plans to advance this option were put on hold, pending the completion of the review.
However upon consideration of the review and following discussions with the Cross Party Working Group which I established to feed into the review, I decided that there should be no planned programme of downsizing in the coming year except in line with normal operational decisions within the current scheme.
The terms of the School Transport Scheme are applied equitably on a national basis.
Emergency Works Scheme Applications
Ceisteanna (566)
Niamh Smyth
Ceist:566. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education and Skills if matters raised in correspondence (details supplied) will be reviewed and addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34348/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Deputy is referring to an application from the school in question for Emergency Works Scheme funding.
Following a review of the application by my Department's Professional and Technical staff, the school has been requested to submit additional information. When this is received and reviewed, a decision on the application will issue directly to the school authority.
Departmental Contracts Data
Ceisteanna (567)
Róisín Shortall
Ceist:567. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills the contracts awarded by his Department to a company (details supplied) in each of the past three years; the value of these contracts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34358/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
My Department has no record of any payments made to the company listed; M.CO Projects Ltd.
This company (M.CO Projects Ltd) is not registered as a supplier on my department's financial management system.
Oideachas Gaeltachta
Ceisteanna (568)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Ceist:568. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna an bhfuil sé i gceist múinteoir breise a cheapadh i Scoil Bhríde, Mionlach, i gCathair na Gaillimhe, ó tharla go mbeidh rang amháin sa scoil an bhliain seo chugainn ina mbeidh 42 scoláire; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [34378/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Déantar na critéir a bhíonn in úsáid chun poist teagaisc a leithdháileadh a fhoilsiú go bliantúil ar láithreán gréasáin na Roinne. Is í an phríomhthoisc chun leibhéal na n-acmhainní foirne a dhearbhú ag aon leibhéal scoile ar leith ná an sceideal foirne don scoilbhliain ábhartha agus an líon daltaí ar rolla na scoile ar 30 Meán Fómhair roimhe sin. Feidhmíonn an sceideal foirne ar bhealach soiléir agus trédhearcach agus caitear le gach scoil den chineál céanna go cothrom, beag beann ar an áit ina bhfuil an scoil suite.
Is ag leibhéal áitiúil na scoile a dhéantar cumraíocht na ranganna agus leithdháileadh na múinteoirí ranga. Is í treoir mo Roinne do scoileanna ná go gcoimeádtar an líon daltaí in aon rang ar leith chomh híseal agus is féidir, le gach toisc chomhthéacsúl curtha san áireamh (m.sh. cóiríocht ranga, rollúchán luaineach srl.). Iarrtar ar údaráis scoileanna freisin, más féidir, leas a bhaint as an neamhspleáchas atá acu faoin sceideal foirne chun ranganna níos lú a bheith acu do na ranganna sóisearacha. Toisc go mbíonn an sceideal foirne ag feidhmiú chuig meán ginearálta 1 mhúinteoir ranga do gach 26 dalta, má bhíonn rang mór sa scoil is gnáthach go mbíonn rang beag sa scoil freisin.
Maidir leis an scoil dá dtagraíonn an Teachta, bhí rollúchán 190 ag an scoil sin ar 30 Meán Fómhair 2017. Soláthraíonn a leithéid foirniú príomhshrutha de Phríomhoide Riaracháin agus 7 múinteoirí ranga don scoilbhliain 2018/19. Beidh 3 Mhúinteoir Oideachas Speisialta ag an scoil freisin.
Tá meicníocht achomhairc mar chuid den sceideal foirne inar féidir le scoileanna achomharc foirne a chur isteach faoi chritéir ábhartha chuig Bord Achomhairc neamhspleách. Níl aon achomharc curtha isteach ag an scoil chuig an mBord Achomhairc um Sholáthar Foirne d’fhoirniú breise don scoilbhliain 2018/19. Maidir le hiarratais foirnithe don scoilbhliain 2018/19, beidh an Bord Achomhairc ag teacht le chéile don uair dheireanach i mí Dheireadh Fómhair. Más mian leis an scoil achomharc a dhéanamh ar an leibhéal foirne atá aici, tá fáil ar na sonraí ina leith sin in Imlitir 0010/2018, foilsithe ar láithreán gréasáin mo Roinne.
English Translation
The criteria used for the allocation of teaching posts is published annually on the Department website. The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September. The staffing schedule operates in a clear and transparent manner and treats all similar types of schools equally irrespective of location.
The configuration of classes and the deployment of classroom teachers are carried out at local school level. My Department's guidance to schools is that the number of pupils in any class is kept as low as possible taking all relevant contextual factors into account (e.g. classroom accommodation, fluctuating enrolment etc.). School authorities are also requested, where possible, to use their autonomy under the staffing schedule to implement smaller class sizes for junior classes. Given that the staffing schedule operates to a general average of 1 classroom teacher for every 26 pupils, if a school has a large class it generally also has a small class.
The school referred to by the Deputy had an enrolment of 190 on 30th September 2017. This provides for a mainstream staffing of Administrative Principal and 7 classroom teachers for the 2018/19 school year. The school will also have 3 Special Education Teachers.
The staffing schedule includes an appeals mechanism for schools to submit a staffing appeal under certain criteria to an independent Appeals Board. The school has not submitted an appeal to the Primary Staffing Appeals Board for additional staffing for the 2018/19 school year. The Appeals Board will meet for the final time in respect of staffing applications for the 2018/19 school year in October. If the school wishes to appeal its staffing, details are available in Circular 0010/2018, published on my Department’s website.
Oideachas Gaeltachta
Ceisteanna (569)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Ceist:569. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna cé mhéad am breise múinteoireachta a chuirfear ar fáil do Scoil Bhríde, Mionlach, i gCathair na Gaillimhe, an bhliain seo chugainn ó tharla gur scoil Ghaeltachta í an scoil atá ag glacadh páirt sa scéim nua do scoileanna Gaeltachta; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [34379/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Freagra:
Faoin Scéim Aitheantais Scoileanna Gaeltachta agus mar atá leagtha amach in Imlitir 0021/2018, beidh 15 uaireanta breise páirtaimseartha in aghaidh na seachtaine ar fáil do Scoil Bhríde, Mionlach, Gaillimh don scoilbhliain 2018/19 do thacaíocht teanga na Gaeilge. Déanfar athbhreithniú ar na huaireanta breise páirtaimseartha seo in 2019.
Question:
To ask the Minister for Education and Skills how many additional teaching hours will Scoil Bhríde, Menlo, Galway receive next year, as this is a Gaeltacht school that is taking part in the new Scheme for Gaeltacht schools; and if he could make a statement in relation to the matter.
Answer:
Under the Gaeltacht School Recognition Scheme and as outlined in Circular 0021/22018, Scoil Bhríde, Menlo, Galway, will receive an allocation of 15 additional part-time Irish-language support hours per week in the school year 2018/19. These additional part-time hours will be reviewed in 2019.
Oiliúint Múinteoirí
Ceisteanna (570)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Ceist:570. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna an bhfuil sé i gceist aige a chinntiú go mbeidh an scrúdú don Teastas Gaeilge do Mhúinteoirí iar-Bhunscoile ar siúl níos mó na uair amháin sa mbliain toisc, faoin gcóras atá ann faoi láthair, go bhféadfadh go mbeadh ar mhúinteoir a thosaíonn ag múineadh i nGaelcholáiste i mí Eanáir fanacht go dtí Bealtaine na bliana dár gcionn leis an liúntas a fháil don cháilíocht seo; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [34380/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Mar thoradh ar an ngéarchéim eacnamaíochta, b’éigean roinnt bearta a chur i bhfeidhm chun caiteachas poiblí a laghdú ar mhaithe le hairgreadas poiblí a chobhsú. Tar éis don Aire Caiteachais Phoiblí agus Athchóirithe athbhreithniú a dhéanamh ar liúntais agus ar phréimh-íocaíochtaí trasna na seirbhíse poiblí, d’fhaomh an Rialtas bearta maidir le liúntais na seirbhíse poiblí. Mar thoradh ar chinneadh an Rialtais, tarraingíodh siar liúntais áirithe le héifeacht ó mhí Feabhra 2012 i gcás lucht sochair nua. Bhí an liúntas don Teagasc trí Ghaeilge dá dtagraíonn an Teachta san áireamh sna bearta seo.
Is gá an Teastas Gaeilge do Mhúinteoirí Iarbhunscoile chun an riachtanas sa Ghaeilge le haghaidh ceapacháin mar mhúinteoir in iarbhunscoileanna a chomhlíonadh i gcás na gcatagóirí seo a leanas:
- múinteoirí atá fostaithe i scoileanna Gaeltachta
- múinteoirí atá fostaithe i scoileanna ina bhfuil an Ghaeilge mar ghnáthmheán teagaisc (maidir le hábhair seachas an Ghaeilge)
- múinteoirí a mhúineann ábhar ar bith (cés móite den Ghaeilge) trí mheán na Gaeilge i scoil ar bith.
Reáchtálann Coimisiún na Scrúduithe Stáit na scrúduithe don Teastas Gaeilge do Mhúinteoirí Iarbhunscoile i mí Feabhra/Márta gach bliain. Bíonn deis ag na hiarrthóirí sin nach n-éiríonn leo pas a ghnóthú sa scrúdú i mí Feabhra/Márta an scrúdú a athdhéanamh i mí na Bealtaine.
Bíonn saoirse ón scrúdú don Teastas Gaeilge do Mhúinteoirí Iarbhunscoile ag aon iarrthóir a bhfuil
- céim sa Ghaeilge aige/aici ó údarás aitheanta bronnta céimeanna agus an Ghaeilge mar ábhar sa scrúdú deiridh nó
- pas faighte aige/aici sa scrúdú cainte sa Ghaeilge le haghaidh cláraitheachta mar mheánmhúinteoir nó
- pas faighte aige/aici sa scrúdú cainte don Teastas i dTeagasc na Gaeilge nó
- pas faighte aige/aici sa bhéaltriail don Cheard-Teastas Gaeilge.
Ag an bpointe seo, níl aon phlean ann chun cur le líon na n-ócáidí ar a reáchtálann Coimisiún na Scrúduithe Stáit an scrúdú don Teastas Gaeilge do Mhúinteoirí Iarbhunscoile.
Broadband Service Provision
Ceisteanna (571)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Ceist:571. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to ensure that SOLAS training centres have the same access to high speed broadband as primary and secondary schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34463/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Education and Training Board (ETB) Training Centres (formerly FÁS Training Centres) originally had broadband links through the FÁS network. Following the establishment of SOLAS and the amalgamation of the former Vocational & Education Committees (VECs), a project was undertaken by my Department to provide these Training Centres with a Government Network connection. I can confirm that this project has been completed and all of the ETB Training Centres have been provided with high speed connectivity through Government Networks.
Gaeltacht Policy
Ceisteanna (572)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Ceist:572. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to solve the crisis in some island schools in hiring teachers since the island and Gaeltacht allowances were abolished; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34464/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Minister Bruton recently established the Teacher Supply Steering Group, which is chaired by the Secretary General of the Department of Education and Skills.
The Group is considering the issues that impact on teacher supply, including: initial teacher education policy, provision, funding and support. They are also considering data/research requirements; policies and arrangements for schools and teachers that impact on teacher mobility/supply; and promotion of the teaching profession.
At this point the Steering Group and the working groups reporting to it, have met on a number of occasions. The Group met again on 29th June and we hope to be in a position to announce further measures in this areas outlined above over the coming months.
As part of the implementation of the Policy on Gaeltacht Education 2017-2022, the Department provided 2 additional teaching posts for the teacher education program at NUI, Galway, Máistir Gairmiúil san Oideachas (Professional Masters of Education), through secondment arrangements. The purpose of providing these 2 additional posts is to increase the number of post-primary teachers who can provide a range of subjects through the medium of Irish. This provision will continue for the 2018/19 school year.
Under the Gaeltacht Policy also, a new Masters in Education (M.Oid) for primary and post-primary teachers and principals will commence in September 2018. There will be up to 30 places available annually on this part-time programme. The purpose of this programme is to increase the number of teachers who can provide high quality education through the medium of Irish and increase the ability of those currently teaching through Irish.
The Gaeltacht Education Unit will begin the three-year pilot project in 2018/19 to digitally connect post-primary schools in the Gaeltacht. The purpose of this pilot project is to increase the range of curriculum subjects available for students in Gaeltacht post-primary schools so that they can access subjects that are not currently available to them in their post-primary schools.
School Transport Applications
Ceisteanna (573)
Niamh Smyth
Ceist:573. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the case of a person (details supplied) will be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34524/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
School 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.
The purpose of my Department's School Transport Scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school.
Children are generally eligible for school transport if they satisfy the distance criteria and are attending their nearest school.
Bus Éireann is responsible for the planning and timetabling of school transport routes. Bus Éireann endeavours, within available resources, to ensure that each eligible child has a reasonable level of school transport service in the context of the Scheme nationally.
Where practicable, and subject to considerations of cost and logistics, routes are planned to avoid an eligible child having to travel more than 2.4 kms to or from a pick up/set down point or to have travel and waiting times in excess of 1.5 hours per day. Routes are planned on the basis of the locations of children who are eligible for school transport only.
It is important to note that all children who are eligible for school transport are accommodated under the terms of the scheme.
The child referred to by the Deputy is not attending his nearest primary school and is therefore not eligible for school transport.
The terms of the School Transport Scheme are applied equitably on a national basis.
School Transport
Ceisteanna (574)
Niamh Smyth
Ceist:574. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the case of a person (details supplied) will be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34525/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
School 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.
The purpose of my Department's School Transport Scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school.
Children are generally eligible for school transport if they satisfy the distance criteria and are attending their nearest school.
Bus Éireann is responsible for the planning and timetabling of school transport routes. Bus Éireann endeavours, within available resources, to ensure that each eligible child has a reasonable level of school transport service in the context of the Scheme nationally.
Where practicable, and subject to considerations of cost and logistics, routes are planned to avoid an eligible child having to travel more than 3.2 kilometres to or from a pick up/set down point or to have travel and waiting times in excess of 2.5 hours per day. Routes are planned on the basis of the locations of children who are eligible for school transport only.
It is important to note that all children who are eligible for school transport are accommodated under the terms of the scheme.
The child referred to by the Deputy is not attending her nearest post primary school and is therefore not eligible for school transport.
The terms of the School Transport Scheme are applied equitably on a national basis.
Oideachas Gaeilge
Ceisteanna (575)
Peadar Tóibín
Ceist:575. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Peadar Tóibín den Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna chun a fhiafraí den Aire cad é líon na scoileanna ina mbíonn an Fhoghlaim Chomhtháite Ábhar agus Teangacha á cleachtadh. [34528/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Ní bhailíonn an Roinn sonraí den chineál seo na níl a leithéid ar fáil. Tá saoirse ag scoileanna cur chuige Foghlaim Chomhtháite Ábhar agus Teanga (FCÁT/CLIL) a úsáid agus tá an cur chuige seo curtha chun cinn cheana féin ag roinnt de na Boird Oideachais agus Oiliúna.
Leagan an Plean Gníomhaíochta Cúig Bliana na Straitéise 20-Bliain don Ghaeilge 2018-2022 amach réimse leathan de ghníomhartha don oideachas lena n-áirítear tiomantas na Roinne Oideachais agus Scileanna páipéar scóipe agus plean gníomhaíochta do chur i bhfeidhm FCÁT/ CLIL a fhorbairt le linn 2018-19.
Sa bhreis air sin, tá sé i gceist ag an Roinn píolótú a dhéanamh ar fheidhmiú FCÁT / CLIL mar mhodh chun tacú le foghlaim na Gaeilge thar na leibhéil réamhscoile, bunscoile agus iarbhunscoile le linn 2019-2021.
Institutes of Technology Funding
Ceisteanna (576)
Robert Troy
Ceist:576. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to introduce legislation to enable institutes of technology to borrow for the provision of student accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34556/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Institutes of Technology Act 2006 includes a provision to allow Institutes of Technology to borrow. The Technological Universities Act contains a similar provision for a borrowing framework for Technological Universities.
These are similar to the provision in the Universities Act 1997 which provides for universities to borrow within a framework agreed with the Higher Education Authority. This framework for the universities, which was agreed with my Department and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, has been in operation for many years.
The economic crisis in previous years and continuing constraints on Government as a result of EU fiscal rules on expenditure and debt levels has been the reason in preventing the agreement of a borrowing framework for Institutes of Technology.
Decisions in relation to the potential for Institutes of Technology to borrow must be viewed in the context of general government debt: Institutes of Technology are classified as within General Government, while Universities are classified as outside General Government. This means that any borrowing by Institutes of Technology would impact on general government debt.
As regards Technological Universities, a borrowing framework would have to be agreed between the Higher Education Authority and my Department and approved at Ministerial level, and have the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and Finance. No decision has been taken at this time on the borrowing ability of Technological Universities.
On the question of student accommodation generally, the National Student Accommodation Strategy seeks to ensure that an increased supply of student accommodation reaches the market. Rebuilding Ireland: Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness was published in July 2016 and laid out an action-oriented approach to addressing the national accommodation crisis. Pillar four of Rebuilding Ireland focused on the supply of rented accommodation. Actions included the implementation of affordable renting initiatives as well as encouraging build-to-rent developments to enhance the supply of student accommodation (among others).
The inclusion of student accommodation was designed to both supply housing to students and to free up space in the traditional rental sector. A target of 7,000 additional purpose built student accommodation bed spaces to be delivered by end 2019 was set. The National Student Accommodation Strategy was launched in July 2017 and set out measures designed to facilitate the supply of Purpose Built Student Accommodation (PBSA).
As of the end of Q2 2018, a total of:
- 2,990 bed spaces have been completed since the launch of Rebuilding Ireland.
- There are 7,257 bed spaces on site, and
- Planning has been granted for an additional 7,154 bed spaces
This represents a total 17,401 extra bed spaces either complete or in the planning process at the end of Q2 2018.
Recent price increases in privately run Purpose Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) complexes have given cause for concern. My colleague, the Minister of State for Higher Education, has met with representatives of the students’ unions involved.
The Minister of State for Higher Education and the Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development are currently working together to ensure that the most appropriate solution is delivered to provide predictability for students and their parents, while ensuring that the supply of new accommodation is not adversely affected.
School Transport Fees
Ceisteanna (577)
Robert Troy
Ceist:577. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the exploratory work carried out regarding the reintroduction of free travel for students; and if he will provide a costing for the proposal. [34558/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
School 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.
The purpose of my Department's School Transport Scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school.
The annual charge for school transport services is €100 per annum for primary children and €350 for post primary children with a maximum family charge of €220 for primary children only or €650 overall. Children who are eligible for school transport and who hold valid medical cards (GMS Scheme) are exempt from paying the annual charge.
In Addition, there is no charge for children who are eligible for school transport under the terms of my Department's School Transport Scheme for children with Special Educational Needs.
There are no plans to change the current charges for the 2018/19 school year.
The terms of the School Transport Schemes are applied equitably on a national basis.
Third Level Fees
Ceisteanna (578)
Robert Troy
Ceist:578. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to commence a reduction in the third level contributions. [34561/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the Deputy will be aware, under my Department’s free fees schemes, the Exchequer provides funding toward the tuition fee costs of eligible students with students paying the student contribution which currently stands at €3,000.
There has been no increase in the Student Contribution since 2015 and that the exchequer pays this contribution (or part of it) on behalf of almost 50% of undergraduate students who are in receipt of student grant assistance.
It is important to note the wider funding challenges that we are facing in relation to higher education. My Department recently agreed to undertake the economic evaluation of the policy options presented in the Cassells report, as requested by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills.
I have also commenced the process of reinvesting in higher education. Since publication of the Cassells Report I have prioritised additional investment in higher education in Budget 2017 and Budget 2018. As a result, my Department is investing €100m more in higher education in 2018 compared to 2016. I will look to build on this investment in budget 2019 and beyond.
Schools Building Projects
Ceisteanna (579)
Robert Troy
Ceist:579. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans for a second-level school in Kinnegad, County Westmeath. [34564/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
In order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a Geographical Information System, using data from a range of sources, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise. With this information, my Department carries out nationwide demographic exercises to determine where additional school accommodation is needed at primary and post-primary level.
Where demographic data indicates that additional provision is required, the delivery of such additional provision is dependent on the particular circumstances of each case and may, depending on the circumstances, be provided through either one, or a combination of, the following:
- Utilising existing unused capacity within a school or schools,
- Extending the capacity of a school or schools,
- Provision of a new school or schools.
As the Deputy may be aware, I announced plans for the establishment of 42 new schools over the next four years (2019 to 2022). This announcement follows nationwide demographic exercises carried out by my Department into the future need for primary and post-primary schools across the country and the 4-year horizon will enable increased lead-in times for planning and delivery of the necessary infrastructure.
In addition to the new schools announced, there will be a need for further school accommodation in other areas in the future. Based on the current analysis, this need can be addressed through either planned capacity increases in existing schools or additional accommodation or extensions to existing schools.
While the announcement did not include a new post-primary school in Kinnegad (which is located in the Killucan school planning area), I have highlighted that the requirement for new schools will be kept under on-going review and in particular would have regard for the increased rollout of housing provision as outlined in Project Ireland 2040.