Written Answers Nos. 245-253
245. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will change the criteria for the Croí Cónaithe scheme to include houses which have a functioning septic tank built to the standards prevailing when the house was constructed. [61743/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant was launched as part of the Croí Cónaithe (Towns) Fund. The grant benefits those who wish to turn a formerly vacant house or building into their principal private residence. The grant was initially launched in respect of vacant properties in towns and villages and as of the 15 November, the grant was expanded to include eligible vacant properties in both cities and rural areas. This ensures that maximum use is made of existing dwellings for residential purposes. Further details are available on the following link: www.gov.ie/en/press-release/969fb-vacant-property-refurbishment-grant-expanded-to-cities-and-remote-rural-areas/.
Included in the scheme outline for local authorities and prospective applicants is a list of categories of works which are eligible for grant assistance. While works in respect of septic tanks are not included, houses with septic tanks are not precluded from applying for the relevant works covered by the grant, subject to fulfillment of the rest of the criteria for the grant. Applications are assessed by the local authority which includes a site inspection to ensure the works applied for are eligible and the costs proposed are appropriate.
Vacant Homes Officers (VHOs) in each local authority are in place to provide applicants with further details on the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant.
246. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the funding that was provided to Limerick from his Department in 2022, broken down by project in tabular form. [61578/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Foreign Affairs provided funding for projects in Co. Limerick in 2022 as outlined in the table.
|
Project |
Organization |
Funding Amount |
|
Ubuntu Project |
University of Limerick |
€270,000 |
|
Future of European Studies Conference |
University of Limerick |
€10,000 |
|
Africa Day |
Limerick County Council |
€7,500 |
|
European Expo |
Hunt Museum |
€6,000 |
|
School of Journalism |
University of Limerick |
€2,500 |
247. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Defence if his Department will consider changing the age limit to entice more people to join the Naval Service (details supplied). [61415/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy has noted, the age limits for personnel wishing to enter the Defence Forces are as set out in Regulations made pursuant to the Defence Act 1954, as amended. The nature of military service requires that the age profile of personnel in the Defence Forces must be appropriately managed to ensure that capability requirements are met and, in that context, the entry age limits are currently under review.
248. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Defence the funding that was provided to Limerick from his Department in 2022, broken down by project in tabular form. [61573/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraVote 36 Defence is managed through a single programme with all operational outputs delivered from a single set of forces encompassing the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service. Expenditure by my Department is mainly on pay and allowances, operational costs and capital investment across the Defence Forces.
My Department does not provide funding on a geographic basis, with the limited exception of the funding provided from the Defence Vote in respect of Civil Defence and Defence Forces Built Infrastructure. The table below outlines the funding provided from Vote 36 (Defence) in the year to date in 2022 that relates to Limerick.
|
2022 – Defence Funding - Limerick |
Amount |
|
Civil Defence Operations (incl. Dormant Account Funding) |
€150,062 |
|
Defence Forces Built Infrastructure - Upgrade of Gym in Sarsfield Barracks |
€119,617 |
249. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education if she will set out all moneys paid to barristers, including items such as letter writing and court appearances, including the dates on which these payments were made, in respect of the Student Transport Scheme Limited v. Department of Education and Skills from 2012 to date in 2022, in tabular form. [61437/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. In the last school year over 121,400 children, including over 15,500 children with special educational needs, were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country at a cost of over €289m in 2021.
The matters referred to by the Deputy are part of ongoing adjudication proceedings and, for that reason, the Department of Education is not in a position to provide the information requested.
250. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Education the position regarding increased capacity for provision of school transport including where previous concessionary places had been made available; the status with regard to certain students (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61452/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. In the last school year over 121,400 children, including over 15,500 children with special educational needs, are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country at a cost of over €289m in 2021.
In July 2022, Government announced funding for the waiving of school transport scheme fees for the coming school year as part of a wider package of cost of living measures.
Ticket registration for the 2022/23 school year closed on 29 July by which time almost 130,000 applications/registrations were received for mainstream school transport. This figure includes 44,299 new applications as well as roll-overs from the previous school year.
Children are eligible for transport at primary level where they reside not less than 3.2 kilometres from and are attending their nearest national school, and at post primary level where they reside not less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre as determined by the department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
Temporary Alleviation Measures at post-primary level will be continued for the 2022/2023 school year pending completion of the review of the School Transport Scheme. This will mean that transport arrangements will continue to be provided for a number of post-primary students who are attending their second nearest school, who have applied and registered on time and who live more than 4.8 km from their nearest school. Families who normally would pay an annual ticket charge will not be charged a fee for their school bus ticket for the 2022/23 school.
Children who are eligible for school transport and who have completed the application process on time will be accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation.
Children who are not eligible for school transport, but who completed the application process on time, will be considered for spare seats that may exist after eligible children have been facilitated; such seats are referred to as concessionary seats.
Because of the nature of concessionary transport for non-eligible children and the priority of providing places for eligible children, there may be an excess of demand over supply for concessionary places, in these cases Bus Éireann will allocate tickets for spare seats using a random selection process.
Bus Éireann has advised that they have no record of an application for the first pupil referred to by the Deputy. Bus Éireann further advise that the remaining pupils referred to by the Deputy in this case are not eligible for school transport and there are no existing seats available on services for the 2022/23 school year.
251. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Oideachais céard iad na riachtanais iontrála Ghaeilge nach mór do mhac léinn a chomhlíonah chun áit a fháil ar chúrsa múinteoireachta bunscoile sna coláistí tríú leibhéal atá maoinithe ag an Stát. [61529/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra252. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Oideachais céard iad na riachtanais iontrála Ghaeilge nach mór do mhac léinn a chomhlíonadh chun áit a fháil ar chúrsa múinteoireachta bunscoile sna coláistí tríú leibhéal príobháideacha ag leibhéal fo-chéimithe agus iar-chéimithe araon. [61530/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 251 and 252 together.
Tá sé beartaithe agam ceisteanna parlaiminte 61529/22 agus 61530/22 a thógáil le chéile.
Creidim go bhfuil an Teachta ag tagairt don chlár fochéime dá ngairtear Baitsiléir Oideachais (B.Ed. Sruth Ginearálta) agus don chlár iarchéime dhá bhliain dá ngairtear Máistir Gairmiúil san Oideachas (MGO) don mhúinteoireacht bhunscoile.
Tá ceithre cinn d’Institiúidí Ardoideachais Státmhaoinithe ag soláthar oideachas tosaigh múinteoirí (OTM) don mhúinteoireacht bhunscoile. Soláthraíonn gach ceann díobh sin clár fochéime OTM/B.Ed. agus clár iarchéime/MGO ar bhonn lánaimseartha:
- Ollscoil Mhá Nuad (a chuimsíonn Coláiste Oideachais Froebel roimhe seo);
- Coláiste Mhuire gan Smál, Luimneach;
- Institiúid Oideachais OCBÁC (a chuimsíonn Coláiste Oideachais Naomh Pádraig roimhe seo, Coláiste Oideachais Eaglais na hÉireann agus Institiúid Mater Dei);
- Institiúid Oideachais Marino.
Tá soláthraí príobháideach amháin, Coláiste Hibernia, nach soláthraíonn ach amháin clár iarchéime (MGO) (bunscoil agus iar-bhunscoil). Ní sholáthraíonn sé cúrsa fochéime.
Sonraíonn mo Roinnse na bunriachtanais iontrála sna croí-ábhair: Gaeilge, Béarla agus Matamaitic i gcomhair iontrála chuig cláir um Oideachas Tosaigh Múinteoirí (OTM) lena chinntiú go bhfuil sé de chumas ag múinteoirí bunscoile ceannaireacht a ghlacadh sna réimsí suntasacha sin d'fhoghlaim daltaí. Is é an riachtanas iontrála reatha san Ardteistiméireacht ná H4 sa Ghaeilge.
Ní mór go mbeadh an leibhéal riachtanach i nGaeilge, i mBéarla nó i Matamaitic na hArdteistiméireachta ag na hiarrthóirí go léir, lena n-áirítear lucht fágála scoile, mic léinn lánfhásta agus céimithe ollscoile, nó sin a chomhionann atá ceadaithe i gcomhair iontrála chuig cláir OTM don bhunoideachas.
I gcás mic léinn lánfhásta agus mic léinn atá ag dul isteach sa chlár iarchéime agus ar mic léinn iad nach sásaíonn na bunriachtanais iontrála sa Ghaeilge, sa Bhéarla nó sa Mhatamaitic, tá sé de rogha ag an iarrthóir an Ardteistiméireacht a dhéanamh an athuair nó tabhairt faoi chúrsa staidéir ar féidir ceann de na cáilíochtaí malartacha san ábhar (sna hábhair) atá i gceist a ghnóthú as mar atá léirithe sa Mháistir Gairmiúil san Oideachas (Múinteoireacht Bhunscoile) Riachtanais Iontrála agus Nósanna Imeachta a foilsíodh do 2022. Nasc: gov.ie - Conas cáiliú mar mhúinteoir bunscoile (www.gov.ie)
Beidh na riachtanais iontrála do 2023 á bhfoilsiú ag an Roinn go han-ghairid.
253. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Oideachais céard é an caighdeán Gaeilge nach mór a bheith ag iar-mhac léinn de na coláistí tríú leibhéal Stáit le bheith cáilithe chun feidhmiú mar mhúinteoir bunscoile i scoileanna ina múintear trí Bhéarla agus i scoileanna ina múintear trí mheán na Gaeilge. [61531/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra254. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Oideachais céard é an caighdeán Gaeilge nach mór a bheith ag iar-mhac léinn de na coláistí oiliúna múinteoirí príobháideacha le bheith cáilithe chun feidhmiú mar mhúinteoir bunscoile i scoileanna ina múintear trí Bhéarla agus i scoileanna ina múintear trí mheán na Gaeilge. [61532/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 253 and 254 together.
Is éard a mholfainn ná plé le PQanna 61531/22 agus 61532/22 le chéile.
I gcomhréir le ciorclán 0044/2019, ní mór do mhúinteoirí i mbunscoileanna a bheith cáilithe chun an réimse d’ábhair bhunscoile a mhúineadh do pháistí idir 4 agus 12 bhliain d’aois. Dá réir sin, ní mór d’iarratasóirí a léiriú chun sástacht na Comhairle Múinteoireachta go bhfuil siad inniúil chun an Ghaeilge a mhúineadh agus chun an réimse d’ábhair atá ar an gcuraclam bunscoile a mhúineadh trí mheán na Gaeilge sula dtugtar aitheantas iomlán dóibh chun dul ag múineadh i ranganna príomhshrutha i mbunscoileanna.
Aithnítear é seo go soiléir sa cháipéisíocht a bhaineann le Caighdeáin na Comhairle Múinteoireachta, ó thaobh na gcaighdeán a leagtar amach don Ghaeilge ag leibhéal na bunscoile, agus go gcaithfidh na cláir oiliúna tosaigh múinteoirí cloí leo chun creidiúnú a fháil.
Idir 2019 agus 2020, rinne an Chomhairle athbhreithniú ar a polasaí maidir leis na caighdeáin a bhaineann le cláir ITE roimh an dara timthriall d’athbhreithniú agus de chreidiúnú a dhéanamh ar chláir ITE.
Rinneadh aiseolas ón bpróiseas seo a ghlacadh isteach sna caighdeáin athbhreithnithe: Céim: Caighdeáin in Oideachas Tosaigh Múinteoirí (2020) Tá gach clár ITE nua agus na cinn atá ann cheana féin ag teacht le Céim anois: Caighdeáin don Oideachas Tosaigh Múinteoirí, do mhic léinn na chéad bhliana.
De réir chaighdeáin nua na Comhairle Múinteoireachta, caithfear féinmhuinín agus inniúlacht gach múinteoir faoi oiliúint ar fud gach clár bunscoile ITE, a gcuid Gaeilge labhartha san áireamh, a fhorbairt go leibhéal cuí le go mbeidh sé ar a gcumas curaclam Gaeilge na bunscoile a mhúineadh.
Maidir le mic léinn i mbun an B. Ed. and M.Ed trí mheán na Gaeilge a forbraíodh le déanaí, tugadh caighdeáin shonracha bhreise isteach dóibh maidir le hiontráil agus fágáil agus iad mar seo a leanas:
B.Oid trí Mheán na Gaeilge. (2019):
I Meán Fómhair 2019, cuireadh tús in Institiúid Oideachais Marino le B.Oid trí mheán na Gaeilge ceithre bliana ar fhad do mhúinteoirí bunscoile (Baitsiléir san Oideachas trí mheán na Gaeilge) agus critéir iontrála agus fágála Gaeilge breise ag baint leis. Sa chonradh atá ag Institiúid Oideachais Marino leis an Roinn Oideachais faoi láthair, tá foráil ann do chúig cohórt mac léinn, agus an cúigiú cohórt ag tabhairt faoin gclár ITE cheithre bliana in 2023. Chun áit ar an gclár seo a bhaint amach, caithfidh gach iarrthóir:
- na híosriachtanais iontrála do gach clár oideachais tosaigh do mhúinteoirí bunscoile a bhaint amach, mar a chinneann an tAire Oideachais
- na pointí CAO atá riachtanach don chlár oideachais tosaigh múinteoirí a bhaint amach.
- Leibhéal B1 ar Chomhchreat Tagartha na hEorpa um Theangacha (CEFR) i ngach réimse inniúlachta teanga sa Ghaeilge a bhaint amach.
Ar fhágáil an B.Oid dóibh, ní mór do mhic léinn a léiriú go bhfuil caighdeán “úsáideoir inniúil” Leibhéal C1 (CEFRL) bainte amach acu trí thriail inniúlachta sa Ghaeilge a dhéanamh (a rinneadh í a bhailíochtú go seachtrach), triail a ndéanann tástáil ar na hinniúlachtaí teanga ar fad (éisteacht, léamh, plé ó bhéal, cumas chur in iúl, scríbhneoireacht) sa Ghaeilge.
Tá súil agam go bhfuil an t-eolas seo cabhrach.
