Written Answers Nos. 292-311
292. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education and Skills the entire appeals process that will be available to leaving certificate students that are unsatisfied with their calculated grades in 2020. [8167/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra294. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on putting in place an arbitration and mediation process for appeals on matters relating to the 2020 leaving certificate arrangements as the means of both addressing the issues involved and lessening the amount of potential court cases. [8207/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 292 and 294 together.
As part of the calculated grades process where a student is not satisfied with their calculated grade it can be appealed to my Department. The appeal system is set out in the information available on my Department’s website. The appeals mechanism will ensure that each step in the process leading to the generation of a calculated grade has been followed correctly and that all data has been used and transferred correctly.
The appeals process will not examine the initial estimated mark that was decided by the subject teacher. The teacher is the best placed person to examine the work of the student and give a balanced professional judgement, based on evidence, about the expected achievement of the student.
The appeal process will include a three-stage process involving:
- Stage 1: Checks will be undertaken to ensure that the data was recorded correctly by the school and that it was transferred correctly into the data collection system.
- Stage 2: There will also be a review to ensure that the data was correctly received and processed in the calculated grade model.
- Stage 3: Students unhappy with the outcome of this process can seek a review by Independent Appeal Scrutineers.
If students are unhappy with the outcome of this review, there will be an opportunity to sit the examinations at a later stage when it is safe and practicable to do so.
In addition, the Department will arrange for an independent expert unconnected with the design of the calculated grades model to provide overall validation on the model, including the operation of the appeals system
295. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the cycle to work scheme of his Department will be immediately reinstated. [8208/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt was necessary for operational reasons to temporarily suspend the cycle to work scheme arising from the COVID 19 lockdown.
The priority of my Department during the lockdown period has been to ensure that the 125,000 payees on the payrolls continued to be paid on a fortnightly basis.
I am glad to advise the Deputy that my Department will accept new applications for the Cycle to Work scheme from the 8th June 2020. The information on my Department's website has been updated to reflect this.
297. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education and Skills the steps he is taking to ensure higher and further education institutions are facilitating students of courses with practical elements to receive alternative forms of course work or credit to enable them to acquire their qualification or progress to the next stage. [8210/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing the onset of the Covid-19 outbreak, significant work has been undertaken by a stakeholder group chaired by the Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) and including the representative bodies of education providers in the further and higher education sectors to address issues relating to the maintenance of the quality and standards of qualifications. This group has focused on the implementation of a range of alternative arrangements, where appropriate and necessary, in order to meet these standards. Such alternative arrangements are being applied at an institutional level for teaching and learning, assessments and for practical course elements.
These arrangements have been developed to ensure that qualifications achieved by students during this period will be valued and regarded exactly as in any other year.
Providers have been communicating directly with their students to inform them of the measures that are being implemented for their particular courses to enable them to acquire their qualification or progress to the next stage. Students should contact their provider if they have any queries, including in relation to the practical elements of their courses.
298. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education and Skills the way in which young children will be expected to socially distance from one another if schools resume in September 2020; and if consideration has been given to the well-being and practicalities of same for young children. [8217/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn the 1 May 2020, the Taoiseach announced as part of the "Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business" that schools will commence opening on a phased basis at the beginning of the 2020/2021 academic year.
My Department is engaging and working with the education partners and relevant stakeholders on planning arrangements for the re-opening of schools in accordance with the timeframe outlined in the roadmap and all decisions on how schools are to safely re-open and operate will be consistent with public health advice
The wellbeing of our school communities will be a fundamental element of any plan to ensure a successful return to school. I recognise the need to support the wellbeing of our students and school staff in order to support successful re-engagement with teaching and learning.
As part of this engagement, each of the education partners were given the opportunity to outline the key issues that they would like to have considered in the context of re-opening schools. The issues raised by the education partners include those referred to by the Deputy in his question.
These will now be worked through in detail as part of the development of the roadmap for reopening schools. This work will also be informed by guidance and experience from other jurisdictions.
299. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education and Skills if provisions are being made to continue home schooling platforms from September 2020 onwards for parents who wish for their children to remain at home to continue their education until such time as parents are of the view it is safe for their children to return to school. [8218/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn the 1 May 2020, the Taoiseach announced as part of the "Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business" that schools will commence opening on a phased basis at the beginning of the 2020/2021 academic year.
My Department is engaging and working with the education partners and relevant stakeholders on planning arrangements for the re-opening of schools in accordance with the timeframe outlined in the roadmap and all decisions on how schools are to safely re-open and operate will be consistent with public health advice.
As part of this engagement, each of the education partners were given the opportunity to outline the key issues that they would like to have considered in the context of re-opening schools. The issues raised by the education partners include those referred to by the Deputy in his question.
These will now be worked through in detail as part of the development of the roadmap for reopening schools. This work will also be informed by guidance and experience from other jurisdictions.
300. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education and Skills if grant thresholds are being extended; and if the registration fee has been considered for abolition (details supplied). [8220/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraSUSI’s online application process for student grant applications for the 2020/21 academic year opened on 23rd April, 2020. Students are advised to submit their renewal student grant application as soon as possible. The priority closing dates for the 2020/21 academic year are the 11th June 2020 for renewal applicants and the 9th July 2020 for new applicants.
Further information in relation to student grant assistance is available from SUSI’s website, www.susi.ie. The telephone number for SUSI’s Helpdesk is 0761 087 874.
The income threshold for the special rate of grant has been increased from €24,000 to €24,500 for the 2020 scheme, so as to ensure that students from families dependent on welfare will continue to be eligible for the special rate of grant. (This reflects the Budget 2019 increase to the maximum point of the weekly State Contributory Pension, plus maximum Qualified Adult Allowance for a person over 66 years).
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 stands at €3,000 since 2014/2015. It is important to recognise that the exchequer pays this contribution (or part of it) on behalf of almost 50% of eligible undergraduate students as part of the student support grant.
The projected financial impact of Covid19 on Higher Education and the Tertiary Education system as a whole is being assessed by the Department of Education and Skills as part of its ongoing analysis of the impact of Covid19 on the education sector overall. The provision of additional financial support to support Tertiary Education to ensure that it can contribute fully to economic recovery and to meeting priority skill needs will be examined in the context of overall expenditure management and budgetary policy. The Department will continue to engage with key stakeholders to safeguard the recovery of the tertiary education sector.
The Student contribution position will also form part of the comprehensive economic review currently underway under the European Commission DG Reform’s Structural Reform Support Programme on Increasing the Future Sustainability of Higher and Further Education Provision in Ireland. The review encompasses the review of the funding options for higher education included in the 2016 (Cassells) Report of the Expert Group on Future Funding of Higher Education. The study is scheduled to be substantially complete in Q4 2020.
303. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to extend paid maternity leave as a result of Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7083/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra304. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if consideration will be given to a temporary extension of maternity leave and maternity benefit in view of the Covid-19 pandemic (details supplied). [7084/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra305. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he has considered extending maternity leave in cases in which the woman has no access to a childminder or spouse at home to mind the child in view of the fact that women on maternity leave have little access to childminding pending the phased opening of the economy; and the way in which the issue can be resolved for women due back from maternity leave that have a childminder or a spouse at home and are finding it impossible in view of the fact the employer cannot put them on the workplace payment nor can they access the pandemic unemployment payment. [7098/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra306. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will consider extending maternity leave if the crèches and childcare facilities do not have the capacity to take on young children due to Covid-19 restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7145/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra307. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans in place to extend maternity leave and maternity leave benefit in view of Covid-19 and the restrictions this has put on mothers; if consultations have taken place over the impact Covid-19 restrictions have had on mothers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7391/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra309. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to extend maternity benefit and maternity leave on a temporary basis in view of the difficulties experienced by new mothers in sourcing childcare and returning to work during the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7517/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra310. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to extend maternity leave for new mothers that have been impacted by Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7688/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra311. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if maternity leave and the maternity benefit will be temporarily extended in view of the interruption to patient and new baby support groups caused by the Covid-19 crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7810/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra314. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if due consideration will be given to extending the period of maternity leave for new mothers who have given birth since the Covid-19 restrictions were introduced. [8154/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra315. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to extend maternity leave in view of the fact that childcare facilities are closed due to Covid-19 restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8183/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra316. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if maternity leave will be extended for an additional three months for all current recipients to enable them avail of the benefits of support groups and access to family members. [8201/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra332. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if there is flexibility by which maternity leave payments can be extended due to exceptional circumstances during the Covid-19 crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7202/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra357. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if consideration will be given to extend paid maternity leave and benefit due to the Covid-19 crisis. [7863/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 303 to 307, inclusive, 309 to 311, inclusive, 314 to 316, inclusive, 332 and 357 together.
I am conscious of demands on parents at this time and hope that the additional measures to support working parents that I have introduced in recent years, including the new parent’s leave scheme and an extension of parental leave, are helping to ease some of these demands. These matters are being examined by Government.
As the law now stands, a mother is entitled to this leave irrespective of the duration of her current employment. The mother can take maternity leave from casual or part-time employment. She can take up to 26 weeks of paid maternity leave, and up to a further 16 weeks of unpaid leave. Two weeks must be taken before the baby is due, and at least four weeks must be taken after the birth. As Minister of State for Justice and Equality, the legislation that governs the provision of maternity leave is my responsibility. The provision of maternity benefit is under the remit of the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection.
In addition to maternity leave, each parent may also avail of two weeks of parent’s leave during the first year of a child’s life and may qualify for parent’s benefit during this period.
Parental leave is also available which entitles parents to take unpaid leave from work to spend time looking after their children. Parents can take up to 22 weeks of parental leave for each eligible child before their 12th birthday.
308. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if the same protection for commercial tenants as for residential tenants in the context of recent evictions by landlords of businesses will be introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7489/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government has introduced a broad range of measures and supports to respond to the needs of businesses that are experiencing difficulties due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In particular I am strongly supportive of the efforts being made by the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation to assist businesses.
Where commercial rents are concerned, this area of the law is very complex and characterized by a multiplicity of contractual arrangements that reflect the diversity of the landlord and tenant relationship in the commercial sphere. I urge all parties to commercial leases to show forbearance and understanding during this very difficult time.
