Written Answers Nos. 260-281
260. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the provision of a new school building project for a school (details supplied); if the acquisition of a new site for the school has been completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6725/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware the building project for the school in question is included on my Department's capital programme.
Officials in my Department have recently contacted officials in Fingal County Council for assistance under the Memorandum of Understanding in relation to the identification and acquisition of a suitable site. The relevant Local Area Plan provides for the location of a Post Primary School site in the Kenure area of Rush and engagement with the relevant landowners in respect of the potential acquisition of this site has commenced.
It is difficult to indicate a timeline for the completion of the acquisition of a site for the school in question as it is dependent on the outcome of current negotiations and also on the complexity of the conveyancing process. Once a site has been acquired, the project can progress to architectural planning.
261. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 38 of 22 January 2019, when he expects a full year's data to be available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6755/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs I indicated in Parliamentary Question No. 38 of 22 January 2019, a detailed analysis on the value and quality of the provision of the new contracted training multi supplier framework agreement is be undertaken.
SOLAS expects a full year's data will be available in Q2 2019. at which time arrangements will be made for the detailed analysis to be carried out.
262. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a new national school for the south Swords area of Fingal will be delivered in temporary accommodation at a location (details supplied) for the commencement of the September 2019 school year; if so, the number of classrooms that will be provided; and if other facilities such as physical education, a school bus and a special needs unit will be included. [6759/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra264. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills when the planning assessment process will be completed with regard to the delivery of a new national school for an area (details supplied) in County Dublin. [6761/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 262 and 264 together.
As the Deputy may be aware, the current focus for my Department is to prioritise the 17 schools due to be established in 2019 so that accommodation solutions can be put in place as soon as possible.
A planning application was lodged on 21 December 2018 for the location referred to by the Deputy. However, following further engagement with the local authority a better accommodation solution has been identified and this is currently being pursued. The application for planning permission at the National Show Centre will be withdrawn.
The school was announced as an 8 classroom school and will open with a single stream junior infant class in September 2019 in suitable interim accommodation.
The patronage process for the new primary schools opening in September 2019 is nearing completion and it is anticipated that the successful patrons will be announced later in February.
Due to their temporary nature, special education needs bases are not provided in start-up school accommodation, they are however, provided as part of the permanent accommodation projects for new schools.
In relation to the issue of school transport generally, the purpose of my Department's Primary School transport Scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school for children who reside remote from their nearest school.
School transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of my Department. Generally children are eligible for school transport where they reside not less than 3.2 kilometres from and are attending their nearest national school, having regard to ethos and language.
A minimum number of 10 eligible children residing in a district locality, as determined by Bus Éireann, are required before consideration may be given to the establishment of a school transport service, provided this can be done within reasonable cost limits.
263. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a new national school for the south Swords area of Fingal will give priority access to children from a catchment area (details supplied) for September 2019. [6760/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy may be aware, the Government recently announced plans for the establishment of 42 new schools over the next four years (2019 to 2022), including a new 8-classroom primary school to be established in 2019 to serve the Swords(South) school planning area. 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.
All new schools established since 2011 to meet demographic demand are required to prioritise enrolments from within the school planning area which the school was established to serve. This does not preclude schools from enrolling pupils from outside of the designated school planning area, rather it reflects the need to accommodate in the first instance the demographic for which the school was established.
The question of enrolment in individual schools is the responsibility of the managerial authority of those schools. It is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of schools to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act 1998 and the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018.
My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking places. Parents have the right to choose which school to apply to and where the school has places available the pupil should be admitted. However, in schools where there are more applicants than places available a selection process may be necessary. This selection process and the enrolment policy on which it is based must be non-discriminatory and must be applied fairly in respect of all applicants. However, this may result in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice.
As the Deputy is aware the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018, which was signed into law by the President on the 18 July 2018, is an important piece of legislation which will 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.
265. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Education and Skills the breakdown of the allocation in 2019 for the prefab replacement scheme; the dates in 2019 each construction project is expected to commence; if this will be impacted by the cost overrun with the national children's hospital; if he has been consulted by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6792/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department's capital allocation in 2019 is €941m of which €672m is being allocated for capital spending in primary and post-primary schools. The school sector allocation will be expended primarily on the delivery of large scale projects and on the Additional Accommodation Scheme. Since mid-2018 all schools approved additional accommodation under my Department Additional Accommodation Scheme are also having all necessary prefabs replaced as part of their additional accommodation project. The timing of when these projects go to construction is a matter for the school authority as all projects are devolved for delivery.
Typically, expenditure levels of between 70% and 80% of the capital allocation available to schools annually is in respect of large scale projects and the Additional Accommodation Scheme. The balance available in 2019 will be expended on site acquisitions, the Summer Works Scheme, the Emergency Works Scheme, furniture and equipment provision and other smaller programmes.
Information in relation to the current status of all school building projects is available on my Departments web-site and this information is updated on a regular basis.
I understand that the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform will clarify following today’s Cabinet meeting how cost pressures relating to the National Children’s Hospital will be addressed.
266. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Education and Skills the breakdown of the €15 million allocation for 2019 for a college (details supplied); the date in 2019 the project will commence; if this will be impacted by the cost overrun with the national children's hospital; if he has been consulted by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6794/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is anticipated that the TCD E3 project will commence construction during the second half of 2020, with a completion date in the second half of September 2022.
The project cost is estimated at €60m, including a contribution of €15m from the Exchequer.
I understand that the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform will clarify following today’s Cabinet meeting how cost pressures relating to the National Children’s Hospital will be addressed.
267. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Education and Skills the breakdown of the €18 million allocation for 2019 for an institute (details supplied); the date in 2019 the project will commence; if it will be impacted by the cost overrun with the national children's hospital; if he has been consulted by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6795/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraDundalk Institute of Technology (DKIT) is in the process of procuring a design team for a major refurbishment of its North and South Block buildings. It is anticipated that work will commence on site in the first half of 2020.
Approximately €18.5m has been allocated by the Department for this project, which will be undertaken in phases over a number of years. It is expected that only a limited portion of overall project costs will be drawn down by DKIT in 2019.
I understand that the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform will clarify following today’s Cabinet meeting how cost pressures relating to the National Children’s Hospital will be addressed.
268. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Education and Skills the breakdown of the €15 million allocation for 2019 for an institute (details supplied); the date in 2019 the project will commence; if it will be impacted by the cost overrun with the national children's hospital; if he has been consulted by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6796/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is envisaged that the Sports Science, Health and Recreation Building at the TU Dublin Tallaght Campus will commence on site in the second half of 2019.
The Department of Education and Skills has agreed to provide just over 50% of the total project cost of approximately €15m, with TU Dublin funding the balance. Payments will be made to TU Dublin over the construction period.
I understand that the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform will clarify following today’s Cabinet meeting how cost pressures relating to the National Children’s Hospital will be addressed.
269. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Education and Skills the breakdown of the allocation in 2019 for the higher education public private partnership, PPP, programme; the date in 2019 the programme will commence; if it will be impacted by the cost overrun with the national children's hospital; if he has been consulted by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6797/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe higher education PPP programme is currently in design stage and the costs incurred in 2019 will relate primarily to design team costs. These costs are estimated at €5m this year.
I understand that the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform will clarify following today’s Cabinet meeting how cost pressures relating to the National Children’s Hospital will be addressed.
270. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills when teacher supply panels will be introduced. [6805/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraManagement bodies and schools have, in recent years, reported difficulties in recruiting teachers. At primary level this relates mainly to the recruitment of substitute teachers and at post-primary level to the recruitment of teachers of particular subjects (e.g. STEM, modern foreign languages, Irish and Home Economics).
In response to these difficulties, the Teacher Supply Steering Group was established in March of last year and the Group is chaired by the Secretary General of my Department.
The Steering Group is considering the issues that impact on teacher supply, including: initial teacher education policy, provision, funding and support; data/research requirements; policies and arrangements for schools and teachers that impact on teacher mobility/supply; and promotion of the teaching profession.
The Steering Group is overseeing the implementation of the Action Plan for Teacher Supply, which was published in November 2018. Following from the Action Plan, the Department is undertaking an analysis of the potential for a supply panel scheme for primary schools.
271. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the development of an autism spectrum disorder, ASD, unit at a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6818/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has no record of receiving an application, for capital funding, for the provision of an ASD Unit at the school in question.
Should an application be received it will be considered and the school authority informed of the outcome.
272. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Education and Skills the amount of time allocated in a school day for national school children to have their breaks; the portion of this time allocated for eating; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6838/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraCircular 11/95 “Time in School” paragraph 3 states that a typical school day for Junior classes is 4 hours and 40 minutes and Senior classes 5 hours and 40 minutes with appropriate recreation i.e. 30 minutes. Under the Rules for National Schools, forenoon and afternoon breaks of five minutes each are allowed.
Where a recreation interval or break of a longer duration than the foregoing are taken (for example when children are allowed to have lunch in the classroom prior to the official commencement of the recreation interval) the length of the school day must be extended correspondingly.
Under the provisions of the Education Act, 1998, the Board of Management is responsible for the day to day running of a school. The arrangement within the recreation interval for pupils to eat their lunch is a matter for each Board of Management to determine. My Department has not issued guidelines to schools in this regard.
273. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna cad iad na socruithe atá á ndéanamh le freastal ar an éileamh ar oideachas dara leibhéal i ndeisceart Chathair Bhaile Átha Cliath le freastal ar na scoláirí atá ag fágáil na nbunscoileanna lán-Ghaelacha i mBaile Átha Cliath 6 (sonraí tugtha); agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [6922/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraMar is eol don Teachta, b’fhéidir, d’fhógair an Rialtas pleananna le deireanas le 42 scoil nua a bhunú sna chéad cheithre bliana eile (2019 go 2022), lena n-áirítear:
- iar-bhunscoil nua 1,000 dalta a fhreastalóidh ar cheantair pleanála scoile Bhaile Átha Cliath 6 Chluain Sceach agus Bhaile Átha Cliath 6W mar réiteach réigiúnach, agus a bhunófar in 2020; agus
- iar-bhunscoil nua 600 dalta a fhreastalóidh ar cheantair pleanála scoile Bhaile Átha Cliath 2 agus Bhaile Átha Cliath 4 agus a bhunófar in 2021.
Fógraíodh na scoileanna seo tar éis suirbhé náisiúnta déimeagrafach a rinne mo Roinn ar an ngá atá ann le bunscoileanna agus iar-bhunscoileanna ar fud na tíre. Tabharfaidh an t-achar pleanála ceithre bliana deis dúinn chun an bonneagar riachtanach seo a phleanáil agus a chur i gcrích.
Mar atá leagtha amach sa Phlean Gníomhaíochta (2018-2022) maidir le Straitéis 20 Bliain na Gaeilge (2010-2030), beidh deiseanna ann chun oideachas Gaeilge a leathnú lasmuigh den Ghaeltacht i bhfianaise na 42 scoil nua a bhunófar; déanfar breithniú ar leith ar bhunú Gaelscoileanna, Gaelcholáistí agus aonaid Lán-Ghaeilge mar chuid den phróiseas pátrúnachta nua.
Nuair a chinnfear go bhfuil gá le scoil nua chun freastal ar riachtanais dhéimeagrafacha i gceantar ar leith, eagróidh mo Roinn próiseas pátrúnachta chun pátrún na scoile a roghnú. Cuirfear teanga theagaisc na scoile nua beartaithe san áireamh mar dhlúthchuid den mheasúnú agus den mholadh a dhéanfar maidir le pátrún. Beidh an próiseas chun pátrún a cheapadh do scoileanna nua ar oscailt do gach foras pátrúnachta agus do phátrúin ionchasacha, lena n-áirítear pátrúin atá bainteach le soláthar Gaeilge agus go deimhin aon phátrún ionchasach ar mian leis oideachas Gaeilge a chur ar fáil.
Braithfidh torthaí an phróisis ar shainroghanna tuismitheoirí sa cheantar pleanála scoile lena mbaineann i gcás phátrúin agus teanga theagaisc na scoile, agus ar a mhéad éagsúlachta atá ar fáil cheana féin sna ceantair sin. Déanfar anailís mar chuid den phróiseas measúnachta ar a mhéad éagsúlachta atá ar fáil sa cheantar cheana féin, teanga san áireamh, agus sna ceantair pleanála scoile máguaird.
Grúpa seachtrach neamhspleách comhairle atá i bhfeighil an phróisis phátrúnachta maidir le scoileanna nua, an Grúpa um Bunú Scoileanna Nua. Tar éis don Ghrúpa seo tuairiscí measúnaithe mo Roinne a bhreithniú, cuireann siad tuairisc agus moltaí ar fáil domsa le haghaidh mo bhreithniú agus mo chinnidh deiridh. Cuirtear na tuairiscí measúnaithe agus moltaí an Ghrúpa i gcás gach próiseas pátrúnachta ar fáil ar shuíomh gréasáin na Roinne.
274. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if each capital application for schools in County Wexford will be granted; the type and extent of each application; the status of each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6960/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy that the current status of large-scale projects, including those in Wexford, being delivered under the school building programme may be viewed on my Department's website, www.education.ie and this information is updated regularly. In addition, a list of large-scale projects completed from 2010 to date may also be viewed on the website.
The Capital Programme also provides for devolved funding for additional classrooms, if required, for schools where an immediate enrolment need has been identified or where an additional teacher has been appointed. In this regard, I can confirm that my Department has recently received applications, for such funding, from four schools' in Wexford. The applications will be assessed and a decision conveyed to the school authorities when the assessment process has been completed.
All school capital projects that have been approved by my Department under the Additional Accommodation Scheme, may be viewed on my Department’s website, www.education.ie , which is updated regularly.
275. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the distance from Dublin 12 to the nearest school with a designated classroom for students with autism. [6980/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has a statutory function to plan and co-ordinate the provision of education and support services to children with special educational needs including Autism, in consultation with the relevant education partners and the Health Service Executive (HSE). This includes the establishment of special class and special school placements in various geographical areas where there is an identified need.
Since 2011, the NCSE has increased the number of special classes from 548 in 2011 to 1,459 across the country now, of which 1,196 are Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) special classes.
The number of ASD special classes in Co. Dublin have increased from 66 in 2011/2012 to 197 in 2018/2019. There are currently 13 ASD special classes in Dublin 12 - 1 ASD early intervention class, 7 primary ASD classes and 5 post primary ASD classes.
Details of all special classes for children with special educational needs are available by county on the NCSE website at www.ncse.ie.
From time to time, the NCSE identifies local areas where additional special class provision is required. In those circumstances, SENOs work with the schools and families concerned to resolve the issues involved.
The Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018 will assist in addressing this issue where the NCSE is of the opinion that there is insufficient education provision for children with special educational needs in an area.
Section 8 of the Act, which commenced on the 3rd of December 2018, provides the Minister with a power, after a process of consultation with the NCSE, the board of management and the patron of the school, to compel a school to make additional provision for the education of children with special educational needs.
Parents/guardians who may need advice or are experiencing difficulties in locating a school placement, including special class placement, should contact their local Special Educational Needs Organiser (SENO) who can assist in identifying an appropriate educational placement for their child. Contact details are available at http://ncse.ie/seno-contact-list.
My Department will continue to support the NCSE in opening ASD special classes in areas where there is an identified need.
276. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of payments of home-school tuition made to persons in the Dublin 12 area. [6981/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy is not readily available. My Department will reply directly to the Deputy as soon as this information has been compiled.
277. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the review of the Youthreach programme; when it will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7018/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Further Education and Training Strategy (2014-2019) committed SOLAS to organising a schedule of independent evaluations of key areas of further education and training provision to ensure that they are effective in delivering the objectives of the programme for FET learners. The evaluation of Youthreach is part of this series of evaluations
The purpose of the Youthreach evaluation is to generate policy-relevant knowledge concerning the outputs and outcomes of the Youthreach programme (i.e. Youthreach centres and Community Training Centres) and the effectiveness of this provision. Following a competitive tendering process, the ESRI was awarded the contract to conduct the independent Youthreach evaluation throughout 2018, with the final report submitted to SOLAS in December. SOLAS have developed a response document to the findings, which is currently being reviewed by my Department and SOLAS. It is envisaged both the evaluation and response document will be published before the end of Q1 2019.
278. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Catherine Connolly den Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna maidir le Ceist Uimhir 147 ar an 19ú Aibreán 2018, cad iad torthaí an phróisis comhairliúcháin a chuir Bord Oideachais agus Oiliúna na Gaillimhe agus Ros Comáin ar bun le grúpaí agus eagraíochtaí pobail áitiúla mar aon leis an tSeirbhís Oideachais Leanúnaigh agus Scileanna maidir le hIonad Teagmhála na nÓg i dTír an Fhia, Conamara; an bhfuil an próiseas comhairliúcháin curtha i gcrích; an bhfuil na torthaí ar fáil go fóill; cad iad na moltaí a rinneadh ina thaobh; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [7019/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraClár oideachas agus oiliúna é Youthreach a sholáthraítear i suíomhanna lasmuigh den scoil do dhaoine óga idir 16 – 20 bliain d’aois a bhfuil an príomhchóras scolaíochta fágtha go luath acu. Clár breisoideachais atá ann a bhíonn á stiúrú ag na Boird Oideachais agus Oiliúna (BOO).
Tá críoch á chur faoi láthair le meastóireacht ar an gclár Youthreach, agus tá sé i gceist go bhfoilseofar é i ráithe 1 2019. Déanfaidh an mheastóireacht seo iniúchadh ar tháirgeachtaí agus ar thorthaí an chláir Youthreach agus ar éifeachtacht an tsoláthair seo. Cuirfear moltaí ar fáil sa tuarascáil freisin ar an tslí inar féidir an clár a fhorbairt sa todhchaí.
In 2018, bhí sé i gceist 4,372 áit a sholáthar ar fud na tíre. Tá laghdú suntasach tagtha ar an uimhir seo le blianta beaga anuas, díreach os cionn an tríú cuid, mar thoradh go príomhadh ar na rátaí coinneála níos airde san iar-bhunoideachas. Ba é ráta luathfhágla na hÉireann do 2017 ná 5%, ceann de na rátaí luathfhágala scoile is ísle san AE. Tá an pátrún seo le feiceáil go soiléir in iarthar na Gaillimhe. Chuir Bord Oideachais agus Oiliúna na Gaillimhe agus Ros Comáin (GRETB) in iúl do mo Roinn go bhfuil rátaí coinneála níos airde in iar-bhunscoileanna agus laghdú dá réir ar an éileamh ar sholáthar oideachais athdheise do luathfhágálaithe scoile sa cheantar áitiúil. I bhfianaise an easpa éilimh seo, rinne GRETB cinneadh gan an clár Youthreach a sholáthar san ionad atá i gceist. Shocraigh GRETB cúrsaí de chineál eile a chur ar fáil san ionad nár bhain go díreach le Youthreach chun deis a chruthú do rannpháirtíocht an phobail níos leithne.
Bhí oifigigh ó mo Roinn i dteagmháil le GRETB, agus cuireadh in iúl dóibh go rabhthas i dteagmháil le páirtithe leasmhara sa cheantar, ina measc Muintearas, Comhairle Ceantar na nOileáin, agus Ionad Oidhreachta Comhar Chuigeal chun riachtanais áitiúla, ó thaobh oiliúna agus oideachais a aithint in 2018. Is iad na réimsí a aithníodh mar thoradh ar an gcomhairliúchán seo ná: Scileanna Tógála; Sláinte & Scéimh; Ealaín; Scileanna Meáin, Fáilteachas. Bhí sé i gceist go ndéanfaí na cúrsaí seo a reachtáil agus bhí maoiniú cuí SOLAS aitheanta. Rinne an t-ionad na cúrsaí seo a fhógairt go háitiúil ach ní raibh aon ghlacadh leo. Aithníodh éileamh breise d’oiliúint Spóirt agus Áineasa le linn an phróisis chomhairliúcháin agus cuireadh Oiliúnacht phíolótach i Spóirt & Áineasa ar fáil ag QQI Leibhéal 5 agus tá an cúrsa seo ag tarlú faoi láthair i gcomhar leis an Spórtlann i Leitir Móir.
I ngeall ar an easpa éilimh do sholáthar de chineál eile i rith an lae, leanfaidh GRETB ag cur deiseanna ar fáil i Leitir Mór trína roinn Oideachas Pobail. I measc na gcúrsaí beidh Scéimh; Gruagaireacht; Cócaireacht; Uaschúrsáil; Oiliúint Lotnaidicíde; Oiliúnt ar Sábh Slabhra; Sláinte & Folláine; Do Ghnó Féin a Chur ar Bun; Oiliúint an Oiliúnóra; Bácáil; Grianghrafadóireacht; Fíodóireacht Chiseán; Snoíodóireacht Chloiche; Láimhsiú Sábháilte; Bád Mionsamhlach a Thógail; An Chéad Fhreagróir Garchabhrach. Ghlac trí chéad agus fiche naoi rannpháirtí páirt sna cúrsaí seo in 2018.
Tá sé curtha in iúl ag m’oifigigh dom go bhfuil comhairliúcháin á thosú arís ag GRETB agus fáilteofar roimh ionchur ón bpobal áitiúil maidir le riachtanais cúrsaí. Tá sé i gceist ag GRETB tús a chur le cúrsaí mara i mbliana agus táthar ag súil go mbeidh spéis ag daoine a leithéid de chúrsaí a dhéanamh toisc go bhfuil uiscechultúr mar thionscail atá lonnaithe sa cheantar. Tá sé i gceist ag GRETB bolscaireacht a dhéanamh arís ar na cláracha Fáilteachais.
Beidh deis eile, níos déanaí i mbliana, cur isteach arís ar chláir CIA/PLC réamh-phrintíseacht agus beidh GRETB ag cur roinnt cúrsaí eile faoi bhráid SOLAS don mhaoiniú. Má éiríonn leo, déanfar ceann acu seo a lonnú i Leitir Móir, ag brath ar an éileamh.
Leanfaidh GRETB ag cur soláthar oideachais ar fáil do roinnt gníomhaireachtaí sa cheantar freisin - Seirbhísí Meabhairshláinte na Ceathrún Rua; Bruach na Mara (Bráithre na Carthanachta); Rehabcare (Casla). Soláthraíonn GRETB os cionn 9,500 uair an chloig teagaisc in aghaidh na bliana do sheirbhísí i gConamara chun ábhair a chur ar fáil ar nós Drámaíocht; Ealaín; Gairneoireacht; Eacnamaíocht Bhaile; Potadóireacht; Forbairt Phearsanta; Scileanna Maireachtála Neamhspleách; TFC; Litearthacht & Uimhearthacht.
279. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason free school transport is not being provided to a child (details supplied); when the appeal lodged regarding the case will be decided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7020/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraSchool transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department.
There are currently over 117,500 children, including over 13,000 children with special educational needs, transported in over 5,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres annually.
Under the terms of my Department’s School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs, children are eligible for school transport where they have special educational needs arising from a diagnosed disability and are attending the nearest recognised school/class that is resourced to meet their special educational needs
Eligibility is determined following consultation with the National Council for Special Education through its network of Special Education Needs Organisers.
The child in question is not attending the nearest school/class that is resourced to meet his special educational needs and is therefore not eligible for school transport
An appeal was lodged with the School Transport Appeals Board on the 4th February 2019 and the Board will liaise directly with the family regarding the appeal date and their subsequent deliberations.
280. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education and Skills the progress made to date on providing a new school building for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7025/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy will be aware that a building project for the schools in question is included in my Department's 6 Year Construction Programme.
The options for providing this accommodation are currently being explored and my Department will continue to liaise directly with the school authority in this regard.
281. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a full psychological service will be restored to a school (details supplied); the reason for the delay in same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7026/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department’s National Educational Psychological Service provides educational psychological support to all primary and post-primary schools. This involves direct support in the event of a critical incident, access to national and regional support and development work to build school capacity to support students, access to a NEPS psychologist for responses to queries arising, and access to individual pupil casework via a NEPS psychologist or through the Scheme for the Commissioning of Psychological Assessments (SCPA).
All mainstream schools in Galway City and County receive a service from NEPS psychologists based in the Galway Office. As the Deputy may be aware there were two psychologist vacancies in this office, all schools continue to have access to support and development, critical incident and advisory support from NEPS and pupil casework via their assigned psychologist or via SCPA. The school to which the Deputy refers in his question has heretofore, in this academic year, been in receipt of assessment services via SCPA.
I can inform the Deputy that a new recruit, sourced from the recruitment panels administered by the Public Appointments Service, took up office in Galway in early January. I understand that a meeting has taken place recently with the school in question, the NEPS Regional Director and the new psychologist, preparatory to her taking up her assigned duties with the school following a short period of induction to the service.
For the Deputy’s information a candidate for the second staffing vacancy has been identified through PAS and a start date agreed in the next two months.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
