Written Answers Nos. 405-424
405. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the position with regard to school secretaries and caretakers being made direct employees of her Department; the latest engagement she has had with representative groups on this matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13956/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI recognise the very important work done by these staff, and the other support staff in the running of our schools.
In Budget 2020 the number of secretaries and caretakers in certain schools was increased, allowing schools with enrolments of 500-625 to fill secretary vacancies provided they have fewer than 1.5 secretaries; schools with enrolments of 626-699 to fill vacancies provided they have fewer than two secretary posts filled, and schools of 700 or more to fill caretaker vacancies provided they have fewer than two caretakers. These measures will take effect from September 2020.
In Spring 2019 the moratorium was relaxed for those C&C and ETB schools with enrolments of 700 and more which allows them to employ additional school secretaries up to a maximum of two per school. There are 91 schools in the C&C and ETB Sector who meet this criteria, based on the information currently available to this Department. This was an initial step and took immediate effect.
Schemes were initiated in 1978 and 1979 for the employment of clerical officers and caretakers in schools. The schemes were withdrawn completely in 2008. These schemes have been superseded by the capitation grant schemes. The current grant scheme was agreed in the context of the Programme for Economic and Social Progress, published in 1991.
The majority of primary and voluntary secondary schools now receive assistance to provide for secretarial, caretaking and cleaning services under these grant schemes. It is a matter for each individual school to decide how best to apply the grant funding to suit its particular needs. Where a school uses the grant funding for caretaking or secretarial purposes, any staff taken on to support those functions are employees of individual schools. Specific responsibility for terms of employment rests with the school.
On foot of a Chairman’s Note to the Lansdowne Road Agreement, my Department engaged with the Unions representing school secretaries and caretakers, including through an independent arbitration process in 2015. The Arbitrator recommended a cumulative pay increase of 10% between 2016 and 2019 for staff and that a minimum hourly pay rate of €13 be phased in over that period. This arbitration agreement covered the period up to 31 December 2019.
The arbitration agreement was designed to be of greatest benefit to lower-paid secretaries and caretakers. For example, a secretary or caretaker who was paid the then minimum wage of €8.65 per hour in 2015 prior to the arbitration has from 1 January 2019, been paid €13 per hour which is a 50% increase in that individual’s hourly pay.
The increases recommended by the Arbitrator are binding and must be applied by all schools who employ staff to whom the Arbitrator’s recommendation applies.
A survey of Secretaries and Caretakers undertaken in 2019 identified some schools that are non-compliant with the provisions of the 2015 Arbitration Agreement, and my Department has contacted these schools to remind them of their obligations under the agreement, as implemented through various circulars. The links below will bring you to the most recent circulars in respect of the pay increases under the 2015 Arbitration Agreement.
https://www.education.ie/en/Circulars-and-Forms/Active-Circulars/cl0076_2018.pdf
https://www.education.ie/en/Circulars-and-Forms/Active-Circulars/cl0077_2018.pdf
Officials from my Department attended a meeting of the Joint Committee on Education and Skills on the 9th of April 2019 to discuss the status of non-teaching staff.
In May last year officials from my Department had discussions with FÓRSA trade union representatives as part of a planned meeting. FÓRSA took the opportunity to formally table a pay claim.
This was tabled as a follow-on claim from the pay agreement for this cohort of staff which lasted until December 2019. The Department issued surveys on the 10th of July 2019 to establish the full current cost of the trade union’s claim. This is standard practice.
Officials from the Department met with FÓRSA representatives in September 2019. Management Bodies representing the employers of schools impacted by the action were also in attendance at the meeting. The purpose of the meeting was to further explore the details of the pay claim as presented by FÓRSA and the nature of the industrial action.
On 30 September 2019 FÓRSA requested the Department to agree to use the services of the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) to resolve the dispute. As is normal practice the Department agreed to use the industrial relations machinery of the state in an effort to resolve this matter.
In order to address the various issues within the claim and to arrive at a mutually acceptable solution, the Department and Management Bodies are in discussions with FÓRSA under the auspices of the WRC. These talks are subject to the normal procedures including confidentiality. The talks began in the WRC in October.
Following industrial action, which commenced on the 10th January 2020, both parties have agreed to return to talks at the WRC. FÓRSA agreed to the WRC request to suspend their ongoing work-to-rule to allow the talks to progress. This suspension was effective from 21st January 2020.
406. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on the situation many students face due to the lack of income and employment available to them over the summer months which might otherwise have been available; if she is considering income supports for such students; and if she has had discussions with the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection in connection with the issue. [13969/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am conscious of the difficulties being experienced by students and their families as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and of the importance of the Student Grant Scheme and related supports, such as the Student Assistance Fund and the Fund for Students with Disabilities. These supports have a fundamental role in assisting families who are putting their children through further and higher education.
Accordingly, the following arrangements have been put in place:
For the 2020/21 academic year, student grant applications will be assessed based on gross income from all sources for the period 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2019.
If a student or party to their application experiences a change in circumstances that is not a temporary change and is likely to continue for the foreseeable future, they can apply to have their application assessed under the change in circumstances provision of the relevant Student Grant Scheme. Following such a review, the applicant may fall within the thresholds to become eligible for grant assistance or be entitled to an increased rate of grant or the special rate of grant.
The Student Grant Scheme provides for different levels of income thresholds where families have (i) less than 4 dependent children (ii) between 4 and 7 dependent children and (iii) 8 or more dependent children. In recognition of the additional cost to families where more than one person is attending college, income thresholds may also be increased by up to €4,830 for each additional family member attending college at the same time. In this way, the Student Grant Scheme is responsive to the individual circumstances of particular families.
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).
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.
My officials have been in contact with their counterparts in the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection. They have advised me that full-time students who had part-time employment when the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment was introduced in March, can avail of this support payment.
It was announced on June 5th that the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) will now be extended from 9 June until Phase 5 of the Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business (currently scheduled to begin on 10 August). I welcome this decision which further supports students who have lost their income due to the pandemic.
Although there will now be a two level payment structure to link the Pandemic Unemployment Payment level to prior earnings, no person on the lower rate of payment will receive less on PUP than they were previously paid by their employer.
The Student Assistance Fund (SAF) provides financial assistance to students experiencing financial difficulties while attending third level. Students can be assisted towards the rent, childcare costs, transport costs and books/class materials. The total allocation for the SAF is €9.1 million which includes an additional €1m added to the Fund in 2017 for part-time students who are lone-parents or members of the other access target groups. Prior to that the fund supported full-time students only. In December 2018 a further €1 million was added to the Fund for students attending Professional Masters of Education courses, who are experiencing financial difficulty. This funding continued into 2019 and 2020. Institutions have the autonomy to maximise the flexibility in the Student Assistance Fund to enable HEIs to support students during the COVID-19 situation.
In addition, tax relief at the standard rate of tax may be claimed in respect of tuition fees paid for approved courses at approved colleges of higher education. Further information on this tax relief is available from a student’s local Tax Office or from the Revenue Commissioners website, www.revenue.ie
407. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the provision of new schools (details supplied); the status of same; the expected delivery times; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13975/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that agreement in principle has been reached with a landowner for the acquisition of a site at Donaghcumper, Celbridge. This site is presently proposed to facilitate the permanent accommodation needs of St. Patrick's National School, Celbridge Community School and St. Raphael's Special School on a campus type arrangement.Work is progressing and is ongoing in respect of technical matters crucial to the delivery of the acquisition. We are continuing to actively engage regularly with Kildare Co. Co. and the Landowner - in relation to same. It remains a priority for the Department to make progress on this acquisition. Due to the commercially sensitive nature of site acquisitions in general, I am unable to elaborate further but please rest assured that this project is being given our full attention.
408. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will make amendments to the retrospective transport scheme for low-income families whose children are accessing summer provision in special schools (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14006/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra412. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will consider transport options for those availing of July provision as a matter of urgency in view of the fact parents are under significant strain (details supplied). [14018/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra413. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to the fact that her Department has indicated that it is unable to provide school transport for the July provision of a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14021/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra442. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if bus transport will be provided for the students participating in the July provision programme in a school (details supplied) in circumstances in which all steps have been taken to ensure maximum participation in the programme, including safe bus transport plans which have been agreed with bus escorts, drivers and bus contractors; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14253/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 408, 412, 413 and 442 together.
School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education and Skills.
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.
In the 2019/20 school year over 120,000 children, including over 14,200 children with special educational needs, were transported in over 5,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres at a cost of over €219m in 2019.
With regard to transport arrangements for the July Programme my Department will provide grant funding to support parents with the cost of transport arrangements for those children who are eligible for school transport and who have been approved to participate in the school based July Programme.
Schools are required to identify children who are on a School Transport service or who are in receipt of a grant. School Transport Section will be in contact with schools and families in regard to the arrangements for payment.
Grant payment is based on the distance that a family reside from their child’s school of attendance. The calculation is based on four trips per day (home to school and school to home, morning and afternoon) multiplied by the number of days a child attends school for the programme. The current rate of grant is 39.12 cent per kilometre for the first 6,437 kilometres travelled and 21.22 per kilometre for each kilometre travelled thereafter.
409. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the extension to a school (details supplied) under the school building programme; the timeline for the commencement and completion of the project; and if this project will be completed as a matter of urgency in view of the significant need for additional space at the school. [14007/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of Architectural Planning – Stage 2b (Detailed Design) which includes the application for statutory approvals and the preparation of tender documents.
The Stage 2(b) report has been submitted to my Department for review by Dublin Dún Laoghaire Education and Training Board, who is the client for the project.
Upon review my Department will be in contact with the client regarding the further progression of this project.
410. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will address matters raised in correspondence (details supplied) on an athletic track or stadium for east County Meath; and if she will set up the required meetings between her Department and Meath County Council to discuss such proposals. [14010/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm to the Deputy that my Department has received the proposals to which he refers. However, I also wish to inform him that my Department does not provide funding for athletics facilities. I would advise him to refer the matter to the Minister for Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht in that context.
411. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a further appeal by a school (details supplied); if her Department will use discretion in view of the circumstances and projections to hand; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14011/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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 staffing schedule includes an appeals mechanism for schools to submit a staffing appeal under certain criteria to an independent Appeals Board. The appeal from the school referred to by the Deputy was considered by the Primary Staffing Appeals Board and deemed ineligible as the appeal did not meet the criteria published in Circular 18/2020. The Primary Staffing Appeals Board is independent of the Department and its decision is final.
414. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Education and Skills the costings carried out on the programme for Government; and if she will provide documents on those costings. [14028/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government agreed in June 2020 includes a number of commitments that are relevant to my Department. In the months ahead, I will be developing proposals to give effect to these commitments and such proposals will be costed in the normal manner with due regard to budgetary considerations.
The briefing materials provided by Government Departments (including the Department of Education and Skills) to political parties as part of Government formation discussions have been published by the Department of the Taoiseach and the documents are located at https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/7b927-programme-for-government-documents/
415. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the policy guidelines for the July provision programme will be reconsidered to include children in secondary school with Down's syndrome (details supplied). [14045/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department published details of Summer Provision 2020 – Reconnecting with Education including a programme for children with complex special educational needs.
The programme is a significant expansion on the July Provision programme of previous years with the eligibility criteria widened to include approximately 9,000 additional primary aged children with complex needs.
The programme aims to ensure, in so far as possible, that these children can reintegrate/transition into their planned education setting for the next school year with their peers.
In-school or home-based supports by teachers and SNAs will help to prevent regression among children with complex special educational needs.
The eligibility criteria includes the following categories of children:
1. Pupils with a diagnosis of Autism
2. Pupils with severe and profound learning difficulties
3. Any child in special school or a special class in a Primary School
4. Children transitioning into a special class or special school from early year’s settings
5. Pupils in primary school mainstream classes who present with the following disabilities:
- Children with Down syndrome
- Children who are Deaf or most severe hard of hearing
- Children who are blind or have a most severe visual impairment
- Children who have a moderate general learning disability
- Children with severe emotional behavioural difficulties
Following a decision from Cabinet this week the home based summer programme is also open to children with down syndrome who are attending post primary school.
Funding for summer provision is not available to in respect of children who are not covered by the programme criteria. I have asked my officials to review the programme having regard to the need to ensure equity as far as possible. A child must meet at least one of the eligibility criteria.
If a Parent is in doubt about their child’s eligibility, they should consult their child’s school or contact my Department. Contact details are available on my Departments website
https://www.education.ie/en/Parents/Services/summerprovision/summer-education-programme-2020.html
Full information on summer provision and its various strands, including guidance information for parents, is available at Gov.ie/summerprovision
416. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the external consultancy organisation or provider which delivered diversity and inclusion training within her Department from 2018 to date; the costs associated with such services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14053/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraTo advance our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) programme my Department has been involved in a wide range of activities as well as organising a series of online Lunch and Learn events for staff to promote the EDI conversation in the Department.
My Department have not engaged the services of any external consultancy organisation or provider in respect of EDI programmes. All initiatives have been organised by the staff of my HR Unit and the Lunch and Learn events were carried out either by charitable organisations who have not charged us a fee, or in the case of a Women in Public Life event, by a serving Civil Servant and therefore also without cost.
417. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the expenditure her Department incurred in respect of external legal fees in each of the years from 2016 to date in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14070/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe expenditure incurred by my Department in respect of external legal fees during the years in question is as follows:
|
Year |
Expenditure on external legal fees |
|
2016 |
€92,715.50 |
|
2017 |
€46,790.62 |
|
2018 |
€106,312.43 |
|
2019 |
€50,336.66 |
|
2020 |
€128,350.63 |
The Deputy may wish to note that fees paid in a given year may relate to work carried out in different year.
418. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to extend the stability fund for Gaeltacht Irish summer colleges to other foreign language colleges; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14082/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department understands that foreign language colleges, as private businesses, have access to a range of supports that are available to all small and medium enterprises that have been impacted by Covid 19. Details on the range of supports provided are available from the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation at the following website link
https://dbei.gov.ie/en/What-We-Do/Supports-for-SMEs/COVID-19-supports/Government-supports-to-COVID-19-impacted-businesses.html
In addition, the Wage Subsidy Scheme, operated by the Revenue Commissioners is also available as a support to continue to allow businesses affected by Covid 19 pay the wages of staff.
In May 2020, the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht announced the approval of a once-off emergency measure worth €4.7m to support the stabilisation of the Gaeltacht Irish summer college sector.
The stabilisation fund is being provided as a specific once-off measure with the overall objective of ensuring the ongoing viability of the sector thereby enabling it to continue to contribute to the systematic effort being made to support the language and Gaeltacht regions in line with the overarching objectives of the Government’s 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030 and the accompanying 5 -Year Action Plan for the Irish Language 2018-2022
419. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of school bus services and on reports of the cancellation of services by Dublin Bus for a number of schools including a school (details supplied). [14111/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraSchool Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department.
In the 2019/20 school year over 120,000 children, including over 14,200 children with special educational needs, were transported in over 5,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres at a cost of over €219m in 2019.
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.
Under the terms of the scheme, children are eligible for school transport if they satisfy the distance criteria (3.2km at primary and 4.8km at post-primary) and are attending their nearest school as determined by my Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language. Distance eligibility is determined by Bus Éireann by measuring the shortest traversable route from the child’s home to the relevant school.
All children who are eligible for school transport and who complete the application and payment process on time are accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation.
Bus Éireann has confirmed that the service referred to by the Deputy was a service that was operated by Dublin Bus and that Dublin Bus has withdrawn this service. This service was part of a number services operated separately by Dublin Bus and children paid fares or availed of a range of weekly tickets when travelling. These services do not fall under the remit of my Department’s School Transport Scheme.
420. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of the free schoolbooks pilot scheme scheduled for September 2020; and the additional estimated budget that would be required to expand the scheme to schools nationwide. [14112/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department provides a book grant to all recognised primary and post primary schools within the Free Education Scheme in order to provide assistance for books including Book Rental Schemes. Under this scheme, the Department provided funding of €16.9 million in 2019 to all of these schools.
In addition additional funding of €991,424.00 was allocated to 102 Primary DEIS schools for a new pilot programme for the 2020/21 school year. The aim of this pilot is to provide free school books for students in the schools involved, and to support these schools in eliminating the cost of school books for parents. Under Circular 46/2013, DEIS schools receive a book grant of €21 per student. This pilot will provide an additional €64 per student to increase the overall book grant rate to €85 per student enrolled in the school. This additional funding issued to schools in May 2020.
School book rental schemes have an important role to play in reducing the cost of school books for parents and in order to support the establishment of book rental schemes my Department provided €15.7 million seed capital in 2014, 2015 and 2016 to primary schools. Circa. 96% of primary schools and 68% of post-primary schools operate a book rental scheme
It is a matter for the Board of Management of each individual school to decide on its own policy in relation to the use of book grant funding in the school but they are expected to adopt a cost-conscious approach to the selection of books for use in their classes. The current arrangement relies on the local knowledge of the school in order to ensure a fair allocation of funds to those most in need. Therefore, my Department does not hold information in relation to these costs.
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 is €40M.
421. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated value of voluntary contributions to the education sector; and the estimated required increase in the capitation grant to reasonably replace voluntary contributions for most schools. [14115/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe government has increased the capitation grant in each of the last two budgets.
I understand the need for improved capitation funding and I am pleased that a further 2.5% increase in standard capitation funding for primary and post-primary schools will apply from the start of the 2020/21 school year. This builds on last years 5% increase in capitation announced in budget 2019.
The combined increases given in 2019 and 2020 mean that circa 40% restoration will be achieved.
All schools have received the benefit of the capitation increases awarded to date. It is my intention to seek funding for further capitation increases in future budgets.
There is no information available to my Department that may be used to assess the full year cost of funding schools in order to allow them to abolish the voluntary contribution. However, in addition to the increases above the estimated cost of increasing the standard capitation for all schools by 1%, 5% and 10% is set out in the following table.
|
% increase |
€m |
|
1% |
2.22 |
|
5% |
11.09 |
|
10% |
22.18 |
422. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the functions of the proposed new education research and policy section within her Department; the effect such a body will have on the way in which education policy is directed; and the way in which the function is currently conducted. [14116/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government contains a commitment to establish a new Education Research and Policy Section within my Department, which will be tasked with ensuring that educational policy development in Ireland is informed by a strong evidence base, is outcomes focused, and cognisant of best international practices. The arrangements for the establishment of the section are under active consideration at present.
423. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on a matter regarding a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14124/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraHigher Education Institutions (HEIs) are academically independent and have the right to determine their own policies and procedures for academic affairs. Issues in relation to the review of examination results in HEIs are matters for the individual institution concerned in the first instance. The Department does not have any function in relation to these matters.
The Ombudsman examines complaints from the public in relation to certain actions of education providers including HEIs. Further information on the complaint procedures of the Office of the Ombudsman is contained in the link below for your information.
424. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an application by a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14130/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraProjects allocated funding under the 2020 Summer Works Scheme relate to applications submitted by schools in category 10 from the Summer Works Scheme 2016/17 and category 1 from the Summer Works Scheme 2020 onwards. Commensurate with the level of funding set aside for the Scheme, applications are being assessed on a top down basis in accordance with the prioritisation criteria outlined in the Circular accompanying the Scheme. In that context, applications submitted for other works/categories, such as the one referred to by the Deputy, will be considered under future rounds of the Summer Works Scheme.
