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Tuesday, 21 Jul 2020

Written Answers Nos. 410-429

School Accommodation

Ceisteanna (410)

Jennifer Whitmore

Ceist:

410. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education and Skills the cost of providing temporary accommodation for primary schools, including the renting of sites and allocated buildings for each of the past five years by county in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17035/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The information requested by the Deputy is not readily available in the format requested. However, the information is being collated by officials in my Department and will be made available to the Deputy very shortly.

School Accommodation

Ceisteanna (411)

Jennifer Whitmore

Ceist:

411. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education and Skills the cost of providing temporary accommodation for post-primary schools, including the renting of sites and allocated buildings for each of the past five years by county in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17036/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The information requested by the Deputy is not readily available in the format requested. However, the information is being collated by officials in my Department and will be made available to the Deputy very shortly.

Schools Building Projects

Ceisteanna (412)

Jennifer Whitmore

Ceist:

412. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a school (details supplied); if the school will be ready for pupils in August 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17050/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The school building project to which the Deputy refers is due to be ready for occupation for the school year 2020/2021.

Schools Building Projects

Ceisteanna (413)

Sorca Clarke

Ceist:

413. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education and Skills the progress of a school (details supplied); if the school will be ready for the students for the beginning of the 2020-21 school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17072/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Deputy will be aware that the project to which she refers has been devolved to Westmeath County Council (WCC) for delivery.

The new school building for the project is over 97% complete. There continues to be a very close engagement between WCC and its design team, the Department of Education and Skills (DES) and the contractor in relation to getting the remaining elements of work completed during the summer to enable the school reopen for the coming school year.

In that respect, officials from my Department and WCC, assisted by its design team, met with the contractor recently in the context of the dispute resolution processes of the Public Works Contract. This meeting generated a very positive outcome by way of agreement between the parties of a roadmap for completion by the end of July of the remaining works necessary to allow the school to open in September. Both WCC and the Department of Education and Skills now have much greater confidence that this will be achieved.

School Admissions

Ceisteanna (414)

Pauline Tully

Ceist:

414. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Education and Skills the boarding schools by county that will see an end to or a significant reduction in the number of boarders they will be allowed to take in when the new school term commences in September 2020 due to the ongoing social distancing protocols; and the details of the supports she plans to provide for boarding schools to assist them to make up the financial shortfall from the reduction in the intake of borders, in tabular form. [17080/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The interim public health advice received by my Department sets out the key public health requirements that will be required for a safe full reopening of schools in late August/September and the measures that will be required to achieve this.

The residential element of boarding schools are privately run operations and do not fall within the remit of my Department. Consequently, the information requested by the Deputy is not available. Schools must ensure that on reopening the boarding element of a school adheres to public health advice, the government's Roadmap for reopening society and business, and the Return to Work Safely protocol.

This public health advice will underpin ongoing engagements with education partners and stakeholders in terms of planning and providing guidance for schools in relation to logistical, curricular and wellbeing arrangements. This ongoing work includes consideration of financial supports and providing a drawdown framework to be established to enable schools purchase hand-sanitisers and PPE for use in the school and classroom. The procurement process for this framework has already commenced and it is intended these materials will be available in early August.

My Department’s ongoing work with education partners and other key stakeholders on guidance for reopening schools is aimed at reducing the burden on schools at a local level by providing central guidance and supports to the greatest extent possible by the end of July in order to allow time for schools to implement the necessary arrangements locally.

School Accommodation

Ceisteanna (415)

Holly Cairns

Ceist:

415. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education and Skills if an accelerated system for schools to get access to additional classroom space such as prefabs will be provided in order to accommodate social distancing for their return in September 2020. [17112/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

There has been a lot of engagement between my Department and stakeholders in relation to reopening in September and this engagement is ongoing. My Department’s number one priority, and the wider school sector is to reopen our schools as fully, normally and safely as possible at the start of the new school year. The Department and stakeholders are collectively focused on working through the detail on what the return to school will look like for all schools. The public health guidance is clear that we must maximise the space within the classroom to facilitate the pupils in the classroom and maximise the space within the existing school building in the first instance.

The range of school settings presents both opportunities and challenges. Flexibility and agility in how we respond is key. My Department is working through with school managers, leaders and staff on how best they can be supported to not only open schools but to ensure they remain open.

School Accommodation

Ceisteanna (416)

Holly Cairns

Ceist:

416. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education and Skills if clear guidance will be provided that classroom space designated for ASD or other special needs units will not be appropriated by schools out of necessity to accommodate social distancing, thus negating the pedagogical and social benefits of the separate units. [17113/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Public health advice for the reopening of schools and educational facilities underpins the important work of ongoing engagements with education partners and stakeholders in terms of planning and providing guidance for schools to ensure the return to school is safe for children and staff.

The guidance for schools, when fully developed, will include templates that can be used by schools as a guide to reconfigure classrooms in line with the physical distancing requirements published in the interim public health advice. This will include guidance for ASD and other special needs units.

It is envisaged that this guidance will be finalised by the end of July in order to allow time for schools to implement the necessary arrangements locally.

School Transport

Ceisteanna (417)

Holly Cairns

Ceist:

417. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will enhance the school transport remote area grant to cover the real costs for children who live on islands but go to school on the mainland. [17114/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department.

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 2019/2020 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.

Under the terms of my Department's School Transport Schemes children are eligible for school transport where they reside not less than 3.2 kms from and are attending their nearest national or reside not less than 4.8 kms from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre as determined by my Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.

An eligible child for whom no transport service is available may, following an application for transport within prescribed time limits, receive a Remote Area Grant towards the cost of private transport arrangements. This grant is also payable for eligible children who may have to travel 3.2 kms or more to or from a designated pick up/set down point.

The grant amount is distance related and is payable annually at a fixed daily rate, to each eligible family, regardless of the number of children from the same family, travelling to a particular school.

There are no plans to change the rate of the remote area grant.

Student Accommodation

Ceisteanna (418, 424, 427)

Mattie McGrath

Ceist:

418. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the measures she will introduce to provide protections for third level students in circumstances in which many are expected to pay accommodation deposits and a number of months' rent up front when it is not clear whether they will be attending their colleges for classes in the coming term; if she will ensure that legislative protections are introduced to ensure that those providing student accommodation cannot take advantage of students in view of the current circumstances; if her attention has been drawn to the large demands being placed on students for payments up front despite the fact that many received no refunds for last term; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17127/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Seán Sherlock

Ceist:

424. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she has engaged with universities and institutes of technology on rental options for those who will have to split time for remote learning and face-to-face learning; and if she will intervene in the student rental market on costs and guarantees. [17257/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Seán Sherlock

Ceist:

427. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Education and Skills the steps she will take for those students who have already entered into lease agreements with landlords for the 2020-21 academic year; and the position if they are informed that their course material will be delivered remotely and they are no longer in need of the rental accommodation. [17260/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 418, 424 and 427 together.

The national co-ordination group for tertiary education is meeting on a regular basis to consider key issues impacting the tertiary sector, including arrangements for re-opening institutions. These arrangements will be dependent on public health advice, and will be communicated to learners as soon as possible.

Student accommodation license terms including cost, duration, refund and cancellation policies should be set out in the license agreement signed at the beginning of the academic year. While I would hope that accommodation providers would show flexibility to students in the current times, agreements between students and accommodation providers are a private matter, and neither I nor my Department have any remit to issue instructions in relation to the private rental market.

School Management

Ceisteanna (419)

Pauline Tully

Ceist:

419. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Education and Skills if boarding for students in a school (details supplied) is ending; the possible financial implications for the school; and if the decision will result in the subsequent redundancies of catering and household staff due to the lack of protocols for the operation of boarding schools when the new term commences in September 2020. [17178/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I wish to advise the Deputy that the issues raised is a matter for the school authority and not a matter for my Department.

School Equipment

Ceisteanna (420)

James Lawless

Ceist:

420. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Skills if PPE will be provided for teachers upon their return to classrooms; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17180/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The interim public health advice received by my Department sets out the key public health requirements that will be required for a safe full reopening of schools in late August/September and the measures that will be required to achieve this.

This public health advice will underpin ongoing engagements with education partners and stakeholders in terms of planning and providing guidance for schools in relation to logistical, curricular and wellbeing arrangements. The advice also contains important measures required for infection prevention and control to ensure a full return to school is safe for children and staff.

My Department has also arranged for a drawdown framework to be established to enable schools purchase hand-sanitisers and PPE for use in the school and classroom. The procurement process for this framework has already commenced and it is intended these materials will be available in early August.

My Department's ongoing work with education partners and other key stakeholders on guidance for reopening schools is aimed at reducing the burden on schools at a local level by providing central guidance and supports to the greatest extent possible by the end of July in order to allow time for schools to implement the necessary arrangements locally.

Research and Development

Ceisteanna (421)

Emer Higgins

Ceist:

421. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on setting up a register of capabilities in which companies operating here could record details of the type of industry they are in, the research and development and production facilities they have and the experience, skills and qualifications their technical persons have in order to enable a university or researcher to tap into industry facilities and expertise to build on their initial laboratory-based research; her views on linking joining the register and keeping records up to date with the research and development tax credit regime in order that a company that wants to claim the tax credit in future years has to be on the register and has to certify that their details are up to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17227/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Innovation 2020, Ireland’s national strategy for research and development, science and technology recognises the need for greater collaboration between enterprises and the public research system, including the higher education institutions (HEIs). Collaboration is necessary to create the critical mass for world-leading research in many disciplines. Government agencies including Enterprise Ireland, Knowledge Transfer Ireland, Science Foundation Ireland and the Irish research Council are proactive in this area with their enterprise-facing schemes.

Knowledge Transfer Ireland (KTI) is the national office that helps enterprises to benefit from access to Irish expertise and technology by making it simple to connect and engage with the research base in Ireland. KTI works with business, investors, universities, Institutes of Technology, State research organisations, research funders and government agencies to maximise access to State-funded technology, ideas and expertise in order to drive innovation.

Mobility between industry and academia forges important linkages between research and innovation performers and is a vital element of a researcher’s development, providing the opportunities to gain first-hand experience in a commercial research environment while also providing industry with access to highly specialised trained researchers from the HEIs. Through Innovation 2020 there is enhanced existing support for the bilateral flow of researchers between academia and industry through programmes including the Science Foundation Ireland Industry Fellowship and the Irish Research Council Employment-based Postgraduate and Enterprise Partnership programmes.

In relation to the establishment of a skills and facilities register of the type referred to, there is a need to be cognisant of the commercial sensitivities of industry with regard to an open register detailing information of research and development activities. In addition, as most companies in this area are SMEs, a considerable proportion may not have the capacity to facilitate the type of university/researcher access outlined. As such, any initiative of this type could perhaps only practicably operate on a voluntary basis.

Research and Development Tax Credit is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Finance.

State Examinations

Ceisteanna (422)

Michael Healy-Rae

Ceist:

422. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans regarding leaving certificate students who have missed tuition (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17232/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Following the school closure in March 2020, my Department published a range of guidance to assist schools and teachers in ensuring continuity of teaching and learning for students as well as supporting their wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This guidance aimed, inter alia, to ensure regular engagement of students in lessons, tasks and learning experiences across the range of curriculum subjects, provision of regular assignments and regular, practical, supportive and customised feedback on work submitted.

Schools adopted various ways to engage with their students in accordance with the technology and broadband resources available in school and at home, including by post, e-mails, communication apps, the school website, use of other digital communicative platforms, including live meetings. Schools were asked to be conscious of pupils who may not have access to online facilities and to adapt approaches so that these pupils continued to have the opportunity to participate in learning.

The aim of these distance learning approaches, the guidance which issued to all schools and the regular engagement with students, was to ensure that students stayed connected with and progressed their learning. These actions will, therefore, have helped to minimise the impact of school closure. The reopening in time for the start of the new school year remains a top priority for my Department.

In the context of planning for a return to school which is underway, the Department recently published a report to Government on Planning for reopening schools in line with the Roadmap for reopening. This report is available on my Department’s website.

It is recognised that schools continue to be best placed to make decisions about how to support and educate all their learners during this period. My Department will continue to collaborate with the NCCA to develop guidance to schools to assist them in their planning for the next school year so as to ensure that curricular priorities are delivered and that teaching and learning is optimal in these circumstances, guided at all times by public health advice.

Students going into sixth year in post primary schools are a group that will receive a particular focus in the context of their preparations for the Leaving Certificate examinations in 2021. The State Examinations Commission (SEC) has statutory responsibility for the operation of the state examinations. My Department will engage with the SEC and the NCCA in the development of fair and robust assessment arrangements in relation to both the Junior Cycle and Leaving Certificate examinations for 2021.

My Department is acutely aware of the challenges faced by students at this difficult time, and how the current circumstances will continue to present challenges into the future. The welfare of students is, and will continue to be, front and centre in all decision making.

Third Level Education

Ceisteanna (423, 425)

Seán Sherlock

Ceist:

423. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she has met universities and institutes of technology regarding whether specific course material will be delivered either face-to-face or remotely. [17256/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Seán Sherlock

Ceist:

425. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she has engaged with universities and institutes of technology on the way in which library services will be delivered under social distancing. [17258/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 423 and 425 together.

To assist with the development of plans for the reopening and operation of higher education in an environment that may require social distancing and other public health requirements, the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science is engaging with relevant stakeholders from the higher education sector, and this has included meetings with the Minister. The importance of informing students of arrangements for the new semester in a timely manner forms part of these discussions and all those involved are committed to this. This work is ongoing, and it is hoped that a communication for the sector will be published later this month.

However, Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are autonomous institutions and are entitled to regulate their own academic affairs and administrative processes. Decisions on how courses and campus services will operate will be made by each institution, and arrangements will vary between institutions and between courses. The HEIs will communicate the arrangements for the new academic year to students as soon as these arrangements have been finalised. Questions on arrangements for a specific institution or course should be directed to the institution in question.

Question No. 424 answered with Question No. 418.
Question No. 425 answered with Question No. 423.

Student Grant Scheme

Ceisteanna (426)

Seán Sherlock

Ceist:

426. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will raise the threshold for postgraduate SUSI grants to allow for the economic uncertainty due to Covid-19. [17259/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter for the centralised student grant awarding authority SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland) to determine.

For the 20/21 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.

Postgraduate students who meet the qualifying conditions for the special rate of grant under the Student Grant Scheme are eligible for a maintenance grant of up to €5,915; the income threshold in 2020/21 for this grant is €24,500. Qualifying postgraduate students may also be eligible to have their tuition fees paid up to a maximum fee limit of €6,270.

Alternatively, a postgraduate student may qualify to have a €2,000 contribution made towards the cost of his/her fees. The income threshold for this payment is €31,500 for the 2020/2021 academic year.

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 SUSI to have their application assessed under the change in circumstances provision.

In the case of a change of circumstances all household income, and not just the income of the person experiencing the change, will be assessed/reassessed on the basis of the current year (2020). Any award or adjustment will take effect from the month in which the change occurred. This provision may benefit some students whose income has fallen in 2020 due to Covid-19 issues.

My Department is fully aware of the difficulties being experienced by students and their families as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. A working group on mitigating educational disadvantage is supporting ongoing responses to what is an evolving situation, to ensure the continuation of crucial funding sources such as SUSI grants, the 1916 Bursary Scheme, the Student Assistant Fund, Fund for Students with a disability and other allowances. All stakeholders in this group have worked to support learners without access to sufficient technology and to ensure the continuation of services offered by access and disability offices, guidance counsellors and counselling services.

Students in third-level institutions experiencing exceptional financial need can apply for support under the Student Assistance Fund. This Fund assists full-time and part-time students, in a sensitive and compassionate manner, who might otherwise be unable to continue their third level studies due to their financial circumstances. Details of this fund are available from the Access Office in the third level institution attended. 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 students’ local Tax Offices or from the Revenue Commissioners website, www.revenue.ie.

Question No. 427 answered with Question No. 418.

Schools Building Projects

Ceisteanna (428)

Michael Ring

Ceist:

428. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Education and Skills when necessary remedial works will commence on a school (details supplied) in County Mayo; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17272/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

My Department has commissioned and just this week received a report with estimated costing to carry out comprehensive repairs on the roof of the school referred to by the Deputy. The Department is also awaiting a report with costings on the sewerage system at the school which is due in very shortly.

Once these reports have been examined, decisions will be made in respect of what remedial works are required and when these can be carried out.

The Board of Management of Gaelscoil na Cruaiche is being kept informed of all developments.

Departmental Funding

Ceisteanna (429)

Seán Haughey

Ceist:

429. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will continue to fund an organisation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17306/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

For over 20 years, my Department, has provided funding to the organisation referred to by the Deputy towards the day-to-day expenses of the community-based drug rehabilitation project in question by way of an annual grant. The grant allocation is approved on an annual basis with the conditions of funding set out in the annual allocation letter which includes full compliance with the provisions of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Circular 13/2014.

The circular outlines the public financial management principles, procedures, and additional reporting requirements that must be followed in the governance of grant funding as well as compliance with all public financial procedures and legislation. The overall principle is that there should be transparency and accountability in the management of public money in line with economy, efficiency and effectiveness. To ensure compliance with these requirements, as grantor, my Department must ensure that it has an effective grant-funding supervision regime in place for all of the grants it administers to inform evidence based decision making and to ensure it achieves best value for money in the use of public monies.

In line with its obligations as grantor, my Department carried out a review of funding of the project in 2011 and has since then provided over €1.3 million in funding for the project.

In correspondence with the organisation in 2019 my Department advised that it was planning a review of funding of the project as one of a number of grants under similar review. The review commenced in Quarter 4, 2019 and it was intended to complete the series of reviews by the end Quarter 1, 2020. However, owing to COVID-19 this has not been possible.

I am pleased to confirm that my Department will continue to fund the project in 2020 pending completion of the review. In this regard, three quarterly instalments of the 2020 grant have been paid to the organisation, the most recent having been paid last month.

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