Robert Troy
Ceist:580. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if additional space will be provided for a school (details supplied). [34571/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraSchools Building Projects
Ceisteanna (580)
Freagraí scríofa
I wish to advise the Deputy that the new school building project for the school in question is due to proceed to tender at the end of this month. The project will comprise a new 2-storey 6-classroom base special needs school with a General Purpose Room and a range of ancillary accommodation.
The National Council for Special Education has advised that the additional placements this project will deliver will meet the projected need for students with ASD and complex needs requiring a special school placement in the area.
School Transport
Ceisteanna (581, 582)
Aindrias Moynihan
Ceist:581. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the location from which a prospective applicant can get accurate information on the mileage rates available for the special transport grant. [34615/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAindrias Moynihan
Ceist:582. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the mileage rates available for the special transport grant; the way in which they compare to revenue mileage rates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34616/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 581 and 582 together.
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 for Children with Special Educational Needs is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children with special educational needs arising from a diagnosed disability.
A Special Transport Grant towards the cost of private transport arrangements may be provided, at the discretion of the Department, to families whose children are eligible for school transport in situations where:
- Bus Éireann is not in a position to provide a transport service;
- a child’s age, behavioural difficulties or medical needs are such as to make the provision of a transport service impracticable;
- an escort is considered necessary and the provision of such support is not feasible;
- the cost of establishing/maintaining a service is considered prohibitive.
The grant was introduced from the commencement of the 2011/12 school year and reflected the Motor Travel Rates applicable under Department of Finance Circular 07/2009 which were effective from 5th March 2009. The rate used was the rate applicable to cars with an engine capacity up to 1200cc i.e. 39.12 cent for the first 6,437 kilometres and 21.22 cent per kilometre thereafter.
Grants are calculated based on the mileage for four trips daily multiplied by the number of days a child attends school and this amount is considered to be a reasonable return for parents who are transporting their children to and from school.
The terms of the School Transport Scheme are applied equitably on a national basis.
Residential Institutions Statutory Fund
Ceisteanna (583, 584, 585)
Catherine Connolly
Ceist:583. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the outstanding amounts due by religious congregations to the Caranua fund in tabular form; when it is expected that the moneys will be collected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34618/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraCatherine Connolly
Ceist:584. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the outstanding amount due to the Caranua fund will be paid over in advance of the wind-down of the organisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34619/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraCatherine Connolly
Ceist:585. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to ensure that those religious congregations with outstanding amounts due to the Caranua fund will have paid in full in advance of the wind-down of the organisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34620/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 583 to 585, inclusive, together.
To date €101.59 million of the €110 million in contributions from religious congregations provided for in section 29(4) of the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act 2012 has been received and made available to Caranua. Additional added and accrued interest, not forming part of the €110 million, amounting to €1.382m has also been made available to Caranua.
Therefore. the amount of outstanding funding needed to achieve the €110 million maximum total amount (excluding interest) available to Caranua stands at €8.41 million. The Congregation of Christian Brothers has yet to complete an outstanding cash contribution of €8.8 million. I anticipate that the Congregation will complete its cash contribution this year and, therefore, that Caranua will have its full allocation of funding available to it at that stage. Any contributions received in excess of €110 million and any additional cash contributions offered by congregations will go towards the costs associated with the new Children’s Hospital.
As the Deputy is aware, following the recent publication of the Eligibility Review Caranua announced that it would cease to accept applications with effect from 1 August next. Caranua has publicised this cessation date and I would encourage anyone who has yet to submit an application to do so before 1 August. The Deputy will appreciate that closure of the organisation will not take place until the funding available to it has been expended. It is likely that this will take a period of time.
School Patronage
Ceisteanna (586)
John Lahart
Ceist:586. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education and Skills the way in which the patronage of the new primary school for Donabate to be built by 2020 will be decided; when it will be decided by; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34641/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the Deputy will be aware, I recently announced plans for the establishment of 42 new schools over the next four years (2019 to 2022), including a new 16 classroom primary school to serve the Donabate school planning area to be established in 2020. This announcement follows nationwide, demographic exercises carried out by my Department into the future need for primary and post-primary schools across the country.
A patronage process is run after it has been decided, based on demographic analysis, that a new school is required. This patronage process is open to all patron bodies and prospective patrons. Parental preferences for each patron, from parents of children who reside in the school planning areas concerned, together with the extent of diversity currently available in these areas, are key to decisions in relation to the outcome of this process.
An Online Patronage Process System (OPPS) has been developed by my Department to provide objective information to all parents which will allow them to make an informed choice about their preferred model of patronage for their child’s education. Parental preferences were previously collected based on direct engagement with patron bodies. The Online Patronage Process System (OPPS) is currently live for the post-primary schools to be established in 2019. It is planned that the Patronage Process for new schools to be established in 2020 will commence in 2019.
The patronage process for new schools is overseen by an external independent advisory group, the New Schools Establishment Group (NSEG). Following their consideration of my Department’s assessment reports, the NSEG submits a report with recommendations to me for consideration and final decision. The assessment reports and the NSEG recommendations for all such patronage processes are made available on my Department's website.
An initial phased start-up is envisaged for the new schools, which typically involves the use of interim accommodation. However, this is the first time the requirement for new schools is set out over a 4-year horizon and this will provide a better lead-in period for the planning and delivery of permanent accommodation solutions.
In line with the policy on the use of state assets (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Circulars 11/15 and 17/16), my Department will be seeking to maximise the use of sites already in my ownership and of available properties in the ownership of other State bodies, where these are considered suitable.
In addition as part of my Department's ongoing engagement with Local Authorities in respect of statutory planning processes and under the MoU on school site acquisitions, my Department will be examining all potential suitable site options, including appropriately zoned sites, to serve the relevant areas.
Taking into account all of the above, decisions will then be made as part of the site acquisition process in relation to appropriate sites for all the schools announced and will be confirmed at a later date.
School Patronage
Ceisteanna (587)
John Lahart
Ceist:587. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education and Skills the way in which the patronage of the new primary schools for Swords north and south to be built by 2019 are to be decided; and when they will be decided by. [34642/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the Deputy will be aware, I recently announced plans for the establishment of 42 new schools over the next four years (2019 to 2022), including two new 8 classroom primary schools to serve the Swords school planning area to be established in 2019. This announcement follows nationwide, demographic exercises carried out by my Department into the future need for primary and post-primary schools across the country.
A patronage process is run after it has been decided, based on demographic analysis, that a new school is required. This patronage process is open to all patron bodies and prospective patrons. Parental preferences for each patron, from parents of children who reside in the school planning areas concerned, together with the extent of diversity currently available in these areas, are key to decisions in relation to the outcome of this process.
An Online Patronage Process System (OPPS) has been developed by my Department to provide objective information to all parents which will allow them to make an informed choice about their preferred model of patronage for their child’s education. Parental preferences were previously collected based on direct engagement with patron bodies. The Online Patronage Process System (OPPS) is currently live for the post-primary schools to be established in 2019. The Patronage Process for the primary schools to be established in 2019, including the new primary schools referred to by the Deputy, will commence later this year.
The patronage process for new schools is overseen by an external independent advisory group, the New Schools Establishment Group (NSEG). Following their consideration of my Department’s assessment reports, the NSEG submits a report with recommendations to me for consideration and final decision. The assessment reports and the NSEG recommendations for all such patronage processes are made available on my Department's website.
An initial phased start-up is envisaged for the new schools, which typically involves the use of interim accommodation. However, this is the first time the requirement for new schools is set out over a 4-year horizon and this will provide a better lead-in period for the planning and delivery of permanent accommodation solutions.
In line with the policy on the use of state assets (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Circulars 11/15 and 17/16), my Department will be seeking to maximise the use of sites already in my ownership and of available properties in the ownership of other State bodies, where these are considered suitable.
In addition as part of my Department's ongoing engagement with Local Authorities in respect of statutory planning processes and under the MoU on school site acquisitions, my Department will be examining all potential suitable site options, including appropriately zoned sites, to serve the relevant areas.
Taking into account all of the above, decisions will then be made as part of the site acquisition process in relation to appropriate sites for all the schools announced and will be confirmed at a later date.
Departmental Staff Data
Ceisteanna (588)
Barry Cowen
Ceist:588. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of unfilled vacancies in his Department; the time these vacancies have been open from when the roles were first advertised to date for each vacancy or group of vacancies; the number of unfilled vacancies in each agency under his remit; the time these vacancies have been open from when the roles were first advertised to date for each vacancy or group of vacancies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34680/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The information requested by the Deputy relating to the number of unfilled vacancies in my Department is provided in the following table. Candidates have been requested from the Public Appointments Service open and interdepartmental competition panels to fill these outstanding administrative and professional/technical vacancies.
Information concerning vacancies within bodies under the aegis of my Department is not collated centrally and is a matter for each Body. Officials at my Department will request the information from the agencies and I will arrange to have this information forwarded to the Deputy.
Details of outstanding vacancies in the Department of Education and Skills at 20th July 2018
|
Administrative Grade Vacancies |
Dublin |
Athlone |
Tullamore |
|
Assistant Principal |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Higher Executive Officer |
1 |
1 |
0 |
|
Higher Executive Officer (ICT specialist) |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Executive Officer |
4 |
2 |
2 |
|
Executive Officer (IT Specialist) |
1 |
1 |
0 |
|
Executive Officer (Irish language panel) |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
Clerical Officer |
1 |
5 |
0 |
|
Total |
8 |
11 |
2 |
|
Professional/technical Vacancies |
|
|
Primary District Inspector |
3 |
|
Early Years Inspector |
1 |
|
Educational Psychologist* |
19 |
*The Public Appointments Service competition to fill the Educational Psychologist vacancies closed on 22.6.2018. The Department expects to receive assignments from this panel soon.
State Examinations
Ceisteanna (589)
Catherine Murphy
Ceist:589. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to a submission (details supplied) by a person regarding the use of single-use plastics for pre-submitted elements of the State examinations; if he will conduct a review of this practice and or find a suitable alternative tamper-proof parcel for this component of the examinations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34697/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
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.
EU Directives
Ceisteanna (590)
Jim O'Callaghan
Ceist:590. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the details of the EU directives that fall under his remit not yet transposed into law; the deadline imposed by the EU for the transposition of same; and the estimated date for the transposition of those directives into law. [34708/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
My Department holds the co-ordination responsibility for the transposition of two EU Directives; Directive 2013/55/EU and Directive (EU) 2018/958.
- Directive 2013/55/EU, which amends Directive 2005/36/EC on the recognition of professional qualifications, was transposed into Irish law by SI 8 of 2017 on 17th January 2017. The European Commission issued a letter of formal notice regarding infringement proceedings to Ireland on 19th July 2018 following an assessment of the compliance of Member States with the provisions of this Directive. The compliance issues highlighted by the Commission relate primarily to the transparency, reporting and notification requirements of this Directive. My Department is currently reviewing this material to assess what actions are required.
- Directive (EU) 2018/958 on a proportionality test before adoption of new regulation of professions was recently adopted at European level and was published on 9th July 2018. This Directive is to be transposed by Member States by 30th July 2020.
Schools Building Projects Status
Ceisteanna (591)
Charlie McConalogue
Ceist:591. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a new building extension to a school (details supplied) will commence in autumn 2018; the status of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34725/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the Deputy may be aware, the project to which he refers has been devolved for delivery to the local Education and Training Board (ETB).
The project is currently in the early stages of the architectural planning process. In this regard, the stage 1 submission is currently being examined in my Department. The outcome of this examination will be conveyed to the ETB as soon as it is available.
It is not possible to provide a timeline for the construction phase of the project until it has passed through architectural planning, including the statutory planning processes and the tender phase.
Schools Building Projects Status
Ceisteanna (592)
Charlie McConalogue
Ceist:592. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a school building project (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34726/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I am pleased to inform the Deputy that funding was recently approved to carry out works to enable the school in question to move to the premises to which he refers.
The project has been devolved for delivery to the school authority. It is now a matter for the school authority to advance the project.
School Accommodation Provision
Ceisteanna (593)
Robert Troy
Ceist:593. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of applications by a college (details supplied) for works. [34740/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I can confirm to the Deputy that the school in question submitted an application for additional accommodation.
The application will be considered and a decision will be conveyed to the school authority as soon as the assessment process has been completed.
Special Educational Needs Service Provision
Ceisteanna (594)
Thomas Byrne
Ceist:594. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the implementation of the National Council for Special Education’s policy advice on educational provision for children with autism spectrum disorders; the progress made on implementing each of the 11 recommendations in tabular form; the timeframe for its implementation; and the estimated full year cost of same. [34743/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
A key priority for this Government is ensuring that children with special educational needs are supported and given the opportunity to reach their full potential.
In 2018, some €1.78 billion will be invested in Special Education. This represents an increase of almost 42% since 2011 and amounts to almost one fifth of the Department’s overall Budget.
The National Council for Special Education’s Policy Advice on Educational Provision for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders was published in July 2016. The report acknowledges that there has been substantial investment in the education of students with autism over the 14 years since the publication of the last major report on autism in 2001. The report sets out 11 recommendations, for further improvement and outlines associated actions to give effect to its recommendations. Many of these recommendations relate to the services provided by other Departments or agencies, including the HSE.
My Department has convened an Implementation Group with representatives of the NCSE, NEPS, the Inspectorate and representatives from other Departments and agencies to ensure that the Report’s recommendations are fully and appropriately considered.
While a number of the recommendations, including those on the development of additional primary and post primary provision, have already been partially or substantially implemented, work is planned on the implementation of the remaining recommendations, including those for other parties. The NCSE estimates that implementing the school based recommendations in the report will cost an additional €20m per annum.
It is acknowledged that the implementation of a number of the recommendations, including that on the development of an alternative scheme to the Extended School Year Scheme, will be challenging. I have asked my officials to prepare a progress report setting out expected timeframes for full implementation and I expect that report by Autumn.
School Transport Provision
Ceisteanna (595)
Niamh Smyth
Ceist:595. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a matter regarding a bus route will be reviewed (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34753/18]
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.
Bus Éireann has advised that the pick-up point referred to by the Deputy has been assessed as being suitable as a pick-up point under the School Transport Scheme.
Parents are expected to make suitable arrangements to bring their children to and from the school bus, taking whatever safety precautions they may deem necessary to do so.
The terms of the School Transport Schemes are applied equitably on a national basis.
Post-Leaving Certificate Courses
Ceisteanna (596)
Jan O'Sullivan
Ceist:596. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of post-leaving certificate, PLC, places available at the Drogheda Institute of Further Education in each of the years 2014 to 2017 and to date in 2018; the number of additional places that will be made available to the institute for the 2018-2019 academic year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34910/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
SOLAS, the Further Education and Training Authority, is responsible for the allocation of PLC places to Education and Training Boards (ETBs) within the overall national provision and this is done through their annual service planning process. ETBs are then responsible for the allocation of places to PLC colleges in their areas.
Based on demand overall in 2017/2018, the national allocation for 2018/2019 has been reduced from 32,688 to 30,136. However, given the demands in Louth Meath ETB (LMETB), its allocation has not been affected. The 2018/2019 allocation for LMETB is 1,724, with 755 being allocated to Drogheda Institute of Further Education.
The issue of regional reallocation of PLC places is one of the recommendations arising from the PLC Review which the PLC Programme Improvement Advisory Group will be looking at during 2018. The number of PLC places available at the Drogheda Institute of Further Education from 2014–2017 is outlined in the following document.
Drogheda College of Further Education
|
Academic Year |
Approved PLC places |
|
2013/14 |
709 |
|
2014/15 |
709 |
|
2015/16 |
709 |
|
2016/17 |
755 |
|
2017/18 |
755 |
Commencement of Legislation
Ceisteanna (597)
Catherine Martin
Ceist:597. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills when the Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016 will be commenced; if the provisions of the Bill, particularly those relating to the partial removal of the baptism barrier, will be applicable for the 2019-2020 school year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34913/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018, which was signed by the President on the 18th July 2018, is an important piece of legislation which strives to introduce a more parent-friendly, equitable and consistent approach to how school admissions policy operates for the almost 4,000 primary and post-primary schools in this country and a fair and balanced school admission process for all pupils.
The provisions of the Act aim to make it easier for parents to more easily access local schools and to enrol their children in a school that meets their needs. The Act will require schools to be fair and transparent in deciding how to prioritise children for admission to the school.
The main provisions of the Act include measures to:
- Ensure that where a school is not oversubscribed (which relates to 80% of schools) it must admit all students applying;
- Ban waiting lists, thus ensuring that parents who move into a new area are not disadvantaged;
- Ban fees relating to admissions in non-fee paying schools;
- Require all schools to publish their admissions policies, which will include details of the provisions for pupils who decline to participate in religious instruction;
- Provide for a situation where a child (with special needs or otherwise) cannot find a school place, and allow the National Council for Special Education or Tusla (Child and Family Agency) to designate a school place for the child.
- Provide a power for the Minister to compel a school to open a special class or classes where the National Council for Special Education has identified a need for such provision within an area.
The Act also contains a provision which will amend the Equal Status Act 2000, to prohibit the use of religion as a selection criterion in primary school admissions with certain protections provided to ensure that a child of a minority religion can access a school providing a religious instruction or religious education programme consistent with his or her religious beliefs.
I believe that it is unfair that parents, who might otherwise not do so, feel pressure to baptise their children in order to gain admission to the local school. I have already stated my intention to commence the provisions relating to the removal of the "baptism barrier" and the power to open a special class as early as possible after commencement of the Act.
Pupil-Teacher Ratio
Ceisteanna (598)
Richard Boyd Barrett
Ceist:598. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Skills the full-year cost of reducing the pupil-teacher ratio to 18:1 by paying all staff on the pre-2011 pay scale. [35057/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Budget 2018 marks the second year of major reinvestment in the education sector, as we continue to implement the Action Plan for Education, which has the central aim to make the Irish Education and training service the best in Europe within a decade. Budget 2018 provided nearly 650 additional teaching posts at post-primary level for the 2018/19 school year.
Each 1 point adjustment to the pupil-teacher ratio at post-primary level is estimated to cost in the region of €63m per annum. The cost of this adjustment based on salary rates applicable in 2011 is estimated to be in the region of €65.5m.
Education Costs
Ceisteanna (599)
Richard Boyd Barrett
Ceist:599. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Skills the full-year cost of implementing provisions (details supplied). [35058/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The information requested by the Deputy in relation to full year cost of measures is set out in the following table.
Providing free primary and secondary school books to all pupils across all fully publicly funded schools
School book rental schemes have an important role to play in reducing the cost of school books for parents. The most recent figures available indicate that circa 95% of primary schools and 68% of post-primary schools operate a book rental scheme.
My Department supports the operation of book rental schemes through the funding provided under its school books grant scheme. Under this scheme, my Department provides funding of €16.5 million annually to primary and post-primary schools in the free education scheme.
A survey from Barnardos indicates that it would require an additional investment of around €40 million per annum to provide all school children with free school books. It should be noted that this €40 million estimate is in addition to the Department's existing annual investment under the school books grant scheme.
Abolishing all fees for third level students both capitation and tuition
Based on the number of students that qualified for free fees funding in the academic year 2016/17 (and were therefore liable to pay the Student Contribution), and taking into account overall expected increases in student numbers, it is estimated that the net cost to my Department of abolishing the Student Contribution for the 2018/19 academic year would be €203m. This figure takes into account the resulting reduction to my Department's Student Grant Scheme budget.
With regard to funding towards tuition fees at undergraduate level, my Department provided funding of c€300m in the academic year 2016/17 under the free fees schemes.
Restoring the capitation grant to pre-2010 levels
The figure provided in the following table is based on the cost associated with restoring capitation rates for Primary and Post-Primary schools in the Free Education Scheme to 2010 levels.
Improvements have been made for the restoration of grant funding that is used by schools to fund the salaries of ancillary staff. The ancillary grant was increased by €6 in 2016, €5 in 2017 and €5 in 2018 in order to enable primary schools to implement the arbitration salary increase for grant funded school secretaries and caretakers and to also implement the restoration of salary for cleaners arising from the unwinding of FEMPI legislation. A similar type approach in relation to improvements in grant funding was applied as appropriate, at post-primary level.
Restoring student grants to pre-2008 levels.
It is not possible to definitively calculate the cost of the various adjustments that have been made to the student support system since 2008, particularly in light of the demographic changes that have taken place.
There is now one statutory based scheme operated by a centralised awarding authority whereas in 2008 there were four separate schemes operated by sixty-six awarding authorities. In the interregnum the scheme has undergone many changes which make it difficult to compare like with like.
To put it in context, in 2008/09 there were 57,261 students who benefited from grant support at a cost of €264m, whereas in 2016/17 there were 78,904 students in receipt of grant support at a cost of €365m.
However, it is estimated that it would cost in the region of €100m to reverse all of the adjustments that have been made to the student grant scheme since 2008.
Abolishing student fees for all EU postgraduate students.
The cost to the State associated with the abolition of postgraduate fees is dependent on varying factors associated with type study i.e. full-time or part-time, varying fees associated with different course types and higher fees for international students. However, based on the fact that the academic year 2016/2017, there were 11,671 EU students registered on postgraduate courses, and using the average cost of an EU postgraduate course, the estimated cost to the State of abolishing fees for EU postgraduate students would be €80m. It should also be noted that under my Department's Student Grant Scheme, funding of €10m was provided for postgraduate tuition fees in 2016/17; taking this into account, the net additional cost to my Department would therefore be in the region of €70m.
Restoring support for guidance teachers to pre-2008 levels
Following Budget 2018, the equivalent of 100 additional guidance posts have been allocated to our second-level schools with effect from September 2018. The annual cost of restoring these 100 posts is in the region of €6m.
Measures announced by my Department as part of Budgets 2016, 2017 and 2018 mean that 500 of the 600 guidance posts that were withdrawn in Budget 2012 will be restored to schools from September 2018. Schools were advised in early February 2018 in their staffing schedule of their guidance allocation for the 2018/19 school year.
Full year cost of measures
|
Details |
Estimated Full Year Cost |
|
Indicative estimate of providing free primary and secondary school books to all pupils across all fully publicly funded schools based on a survey by Barnardos |
€40m |
|
Abolishing student contribution for third level students |
€203m |
|
Abolishing tuition fees paid through Free Fees Initiative for third level students |
€300m |
|
Restoring the capitation grant to Primary and Post-Primary schools to pre-2010 levels |
€35.6m |
|
Abolishing student fees for all EU post graduate students |
€70m |
|
Restoring student grants to pre-2008 levels |
In excess of €100m |
|
Restoring support for guidance teachers to pre-2008 levels |
€6m |