Quinn, RuairíTuesday, 24 January 2012 |
Dáil Éireann Debate
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Written Answers - Pension Provisions
Was asked: the position regarding deductions from a pension in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. 
There is no deduction from the Pension of the person referred to by the Deputy for the value referenced by him in the details supplied. However, there is a deduction for a slightly higher amount whic...
Written Answers - Third Level Courses
Was asked: the position regarding the retaining of the programme of general nursing in Tralee Institute of Technology, County Kerry, in view of the integral role the course plays in the IT in attracting student...
A review group has been established by the Minister for Health to examine the content and structure of the current nursing and midwifery degree programmes including the points of entry, clinical place...
Written Answers - FÁS Training Programmes
Was asked: if he will examine the possibility of providing additional places on the competency determination validation electrical course, which is provided through Shannon Training Centre, in view of the fact ...
Was asked: the position regarding the delivery of a facility (details supplied) in County Kerry; if he will ensure that the matter will progress without any unnecessary delay; and if he will make a statement on...
Written Answers - Departmental Expenditure
Was asked: the amounts made available to the National Centre for Technology and Education in 2010 and 2011 and the amount expected to be made available for 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The 2012 allocation for the NCTE which is now part of the support services for schools is currently under consideration and my officials are having discussions with the management of the Dublin West E...
Written Answers - Special Educational Needs
Was asked: if there is a set standard number of hours that special needs assistants are expected to work per week; if he will provide details of same; if he will provide details of any extra hours or days over ...
In line with the nationally agreed contract for Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) full-time SNAs are required to work for the normal classroom hours including class break periods in the school that they...
Written Answers - Psychological Service
Was asked: the amount expended on the scheme for commissioning psychological assessments in 2010 and 2011; the number of assessments carried out under this scheme; the average cost of each assessment; the amoun...
As the Deputy will be aware all primary and post-primary schools have access to psychological assessments either directly through the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) or through the S...
Written Answers - Higher Education Grants
Was asked: if he will review the case of a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter for the relevant grant awarding authority. The Deputy will appreciate that in the absence of all of the relevant details that would be cont...
Written Answers - School Supervision and Substitution Scheme
Was asked: the total annual expenditure by him in 2009, 2010 and 2011, respectively, on providing temporary classroom cover for teachers who are on leave from their schools to facilitate practical and/or oral e...
The cost of substitution cover claimed by the managerial authorities of secondary and community/comprehensive schools to provide replacements for teachers absent from their teaching posts on work asso...
Written Answers - Departmental Funding
Was asked: if he will confirm if there will be any subsidies available for parents wishing to send their children to schools with a Protestant ethos when there is no alternative free schooling available in the ...
This Government recognises the importance of ensuring that students from a Protestant or reformed church background can attend a school that reflects their denominational ethos while at the same time ...
Written Answers - School Patronage
Was asked: when a decision will issue in relation to the patronage of a proposed new school (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Was asked: when he anticipates the establishment of a new primary school in a town (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Was asked: the consultations he has had with community and educational interests in an area (details supplied) in County Kildare, in which it is proposed to develop a new primary school; and if he will make a s...
I propose to take Questions Nos. 181, 182 and 183 together. In June 2011, I announced that 20 new primary and 20 new post-primary schools are to be established in the next six years across a number of...
Written Answers - Schools Building Projects
Was asked: if a new primary school is being planned for an area (details supplied) in Dublin 1.
I can confirm that my Department has secured a site in the area referred to by the Deputy. The new site is intended for the construction of a new primary school for occupation by an existing nearby sc...
Was asked: the position regarding construction works in respect of a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Responsibility for the delivery of this project was devolved to the Board of Management of the school in 2008 and the legal contract for the delivery of the works is between the Board of Management an...
Written Answers - Chaplaincy Services
Was asked: if he will provide a detailed breakdown of the financing of chaplaincy services in secondary schools and the cost of this service to the Exchequer per year; and if he will make a statement on the mat...
Chaplain posts are allocated in respect of Community and Comprehensive Schools and designated Community Colleges. There are currently 152 wholetime equivalent posts allocated in respect of chaplaincy...
Written Answers - Higher Education Grants
Was asked: if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a number of leaving certificate students who have applied for the higher education access route, HEAR, grant from as far back as August 2011, are stil...
The Higher Education Access Route (HEAR) is a third-level admissions scheme for students from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds. The scheme is operated by a number of higher education inst...
Written Answers - Book Loan Scheme
Was asked: if he will provide an update on plans to introduce a national book loan scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
My Department has undertaken a survey of schools to establish the current situation regarding school book rental and loan schemes. This survey has recently been completed. When the results of this sur...
Written Answers - School Staffing
Was asked: if he will not cut three teachers at a school (details supplied) in Dublin 5.
The announcement I made on the 11th January in relation to my Department reporting to me within four weeks refers only to the impact of the withdrawal of certain posts allocated under previous disadva...
Written Answers - Pension Provisions
Was asked: if he will review an application for a supplementary pension in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The application for a supplementary pension by the person to whom the Deputy refers is being processed by officials in the Pension Unit of my Department.
Written Answers - Teachers’ Remuneration
Was asked: the position regarding a qualification allowance in respect of a person (details supplied)
Was asked: if he will provide clarification of his plans for any changes to the masters degree allowance for teachers in budget 2012; if he will commit to maintaining the payment due to the beneficial effect it...
I propose to take Questions Nos. 191 and 235 together. Circular 70/2011, which clarified the position on qualification allowances for teachers, schools and the public, was published on my Department’s...
Written Answers - School Accommodation
Was asked: the current cost of prefab rental and projected cost of prefab rental between now and 2017 in a school (details supplied) in County Mayo.
The current cost of prefab rental at the school referred to by the Deputy is €48,448.40 per annum. With regard to the question of the projected cost of prefab rental between now and 2017, a review of...
Written Answers - School Enrolments
Was asked: if he will provide details of the study carried out in Ballina, County Mayo, identifying the areas in which, due to demographic changes, there may be a requirement for significant school provision ov...
The Forward Planning Section of my Department has examined all areas of the country to determine where additional school provision will be required at both primary and post-primary level up to 2017. ...
Written Answers - School Transport
Was asked: if he will clarify the situation regarding the closed school rule and entitlement of siblings to school transport when other siblings are already in receipt of this service; if this will be available...
Was asked: the number of eligible pupils required for the establishment and/or retention of a school bus service in September 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers - School Closures
Was asked: the names of schools he intends to close in County Cork; and the dates on which he intends to close them.
I want to clarify for the Deputy that I have no intention to forcibly close any schools, in County Cork or elsewhere in Ireland, arising from the announcement I made on 5th December 2011. I would advi...
Written Answers - Special Educational Needs
Was asked: if any consideration has been given to the combining of learning support and resource teachers in rural areas when clustering would mean that the teachers would have to spend a prolonged amount of ti...
Was asked: if his attention has been drawn to the disproportionate impact that the decoupling of learning support and resource hours will have on small schools; if he will review this policy decision; and if he...
I propose to take Questions Nos. 197 and 233 together. The new simplified approach to the General Allocation Model of support for schools will make it easier to automatically update it annually in lin...
Written Answers - School Accommodation
Was asked: if he will consider the allocation of funds to a school (details supplied) in County Dublin in order that the prefabs currently accommodating six classes will be replaced with a permanent structure.
My Department has asked the school, referred to by the Deputy, for further information relating to its application for permanent accommodation. When this information is received the application will b...
Written Answers - School Curriculum
Was asked: if changes are proposed to the physics curriculum; if so, the reason for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment has developed revised draft syllabuses in Leaving Certificate Physics, Chemistry and Biology. The Council has just completed a public consultation pr...
Written Answers - Schools Building Projects
Was asked: when he expects the building to commence following his announcement of a new school (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the project to which he refers has commenced on site.
Written Answers - Higher Education Grants
Was asked: if he will provide an update on the student grant application in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11; if he will provide a comprehensive list of any information or documents outstandi...
Officials in my Department have confirmed that the student referred to by the Deputy made an application to City of Dublin VEC. The awarding authority have confirmed that a decision letter issued to ...
Written Answers - Education Staff
Was asked: if he is satisfied that our education service which is dependent on teachers, lecturers and tutors will be adequately staffed after the deadline for retirement in February 2012; the number of teacher...
My Department is very conscious of the potential impact on service provision of the expected increase in retirements on or before 29 February 2012. The effective management of staffing resources withi...
Written Answers - Pupil-Teacher Ratio
Was asked: if, in regard to budget 2012, along with all other cuts in education, Gaeltacht schools are being particularly targeted and are under threat because of the proposals; he will appreciate the work and ...
Was asked: if he will at the very minimum suspend the retrospective element of the reduction in the pupil-teacher ratio for all schools with fewer than 86 pupils.
Was asked: if his attention has been drawn to the impact that his decision to increase the pupil-teacher ratio in Irish medium schools to that of mainstream schools will have on a school (details supplied) in C...
Was asked: the effect that changes to pupil-teacher ratios and DEIS criteria announced in budget 2012 will have on a school (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Was asked: the impact the budgetary decisions in relation to two, three and four teacher schools will have on each primary school in County Mayo based on their enrolment as of 30 September 2011 in tabular form....
Was asked: if he will advise comprehensively as to the position of a primary school (details supplied) in County Longford in relation to staffing schedule adjustments announced in budget 2012 in the context of ...
Was asked: the context of primary school staffing, as announced in budget 2012 and with particular reference to the staffing schedule for schools with less than 86 pupils, which will increase the minimum number...
I propose to take Questions Nos. 203, 206, 227 to 229, inclusive, 237 and 238 together. At a time of great strain in our public finances, we have to ensure that the very valuable but limited resources...
Written Answers - Public Service Contracts
Was asked: the position regarding the tendering of works (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The Works to which the Deputy refers were competitively tendered as is required under EU regulations. The Contractor appointed was deemed to have submitted the most economically advantageous tender wh...
Written Answers - Redundancy Payments
Was asked: the position regarding the redundancy claim in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
A redundancy application from the person referred to by the Deputy was received by my Department on 15th September 2011. Applications are processed in date order of receipt and every effort is being ...
Written Answers - Schools Refurbishment
Was asked: if the summer works programme will go ahead in 2012; and if so, if a school in County Westmeath can secure funding to acquire land in the interest of safety for additional parking.
As the Deputy is aware, the Government’s Medium Term Infrastructure and Capital Investment Framework, which was published on 10th November last, sets out the demographic challenge facing the education...
Was asked: the position regarding an application for an extension and refurbishment to a school (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Was asked: the band rating assigned to a school (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 208 and 209 together. The school to which the Deputy refers applied to my Department for major capital works. This application was assessed in accordance with the pub...
Written Answers - Special Educational Needs
Was asked: if he will lift the embargo on the sanctioning of extra resource hours.
The Deputy will be aware that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) for allocating resource teache...
Was asked: if he will allow flexibility in the allocation of resource teachers in order that allocation is based on the projected needs of schools on 1 September 2012 enrolment rather than 31 December 2011.
I wish to advise the deputy that over 1,600 primary schools throughout the country will be identified as base schools for about 2,450 full-time resource teaching posts. The aim is to have a good geogr...
Written Answers - School Staffing
Was asked: the number of pupils attending a school (details supplied) in County Donegal in the 2010-11 academic year on which the teacher allocation for the academic year 2011-12 was based; and if he will make ...
Was asked: the number of pupils attending a school (details supplied) in County Donegal in the 2011-12 academic year on which the teacher allocation for the academic year 2012-13 will be based; and if he will m...
I propose to take Questions Nos. 212 and 224 together. The Statistics Section of my Department’s website contains extensive data at individual school level in county order. The most recent information...
Written Answers - FÁS Training Programmes
Was asked: the reason for the reduction in the payment to students attending the National Learning Network, Hollyhill, County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers - Higher Education Grants
Was asked: the vocational education committee grants for mature students, the reason it is necessary for students to provide evidence of independent residency for the year preceding application and in the case ...
For student grants purposes, students are categorised according to their circumstances either as students dependent on parents or a legal guardian, or as independent mature students. An independent ma...
Written Answers - Schools Funding
Was asked: if he will consider engaging with the Department of Finance to examine the impact that the VAT changes have on schools that visit open farms in view of the fact that these visits can be considered as...
I am not aware of the particular issue raised by the Deputy. I have therefore arranged for an official from my Department to contact the Deputy directly on the matter. However, any issues in relation...
Written Answers - Special Educational Needs
Was asked: the reason a home tuition grant was refused in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 24; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The Deputy will be aware that the purpose of the Home Tuition Scheme is to provide a compensatory educational service for children who, for a number of reasons such as chronic illness, are unable to a...
Written Answers - School Staffing
Was asked: if he will examine the issue of job-sharing for principals of primary schools; the difficulties that are being encountered for principals of schools that may require to take parental leave; if he wil...
Jobsharing and parental leave are currently the subject of discussions at a subcommittee of the Teachers Conciliation Council. The Teachers Conciliation Council is the recognised forum for dealing wit...
Written Answers - Traveller Education Strategy
Was asked: if he will examine the closure of a centre (details supplied) in County Laois; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers - Schools Building Projects
Was asked: the position regarding the granting of funds to a school (details supplied) in County Meath for the development of their school building; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
An application for additional funding for a building project at the school referred to by the Deputy was received by my Department. Officials in the Planning and Building Unit have requested addition...
Written Answers - Postgraduate Education
Was asked: if his attention has been drawn to the situation whereby business degree graduates who are attempting to access postgraduate diplomas in education are being refused the back to education allowance du...
Was asked: the reason behind a 2006 decision between him, the Higher Education Authority and the Postgraduate Applications Centre which saw a points cap being imposed on business degree graduates seeking to stu...
I propose to take Questions Nos. 220 and 221 together. The Postgraduate Applications Centre Ltd (PAC) was established in 1998 to centrally process and assess applications to PDE courses. A common poi...
Written Answers - School Supervision and Substitution Scheme
Was asked: the amount of additional substitution hours given to schools for use at their discretion; the amount of hours returned unused by schools in the last academic year; the monetary value of this and the ...
Substitution is paid where teachers are absent from teaching duties in their school on absences approved by the managerial authority of the school and as detailed in Circulars issued by my Department....
Written Answers - School Accommodation
Was asked: if he has considered building an additional eight new classes at a school (details supplied) in County Meath to provide for his projected growth in the number of children in the Navan area over the c...
The Deputy will be aware that my Department established a new primary school in Navan in September 2010. In addition, other developments including extensions to existing schools together with the prov...
Written Answers - School Staffing
Was asked: the position regarding a school (details supplied) in Dublin.
I fully acknowledge that the reduction in resources to second level schools will be challenging for schools.However, the change must be seen in the context of the major challenges we have as a Governm...
Written Answers - Pension Provisions
Was asked: when he expects that payment of pension entitlements will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The procedure for the payment of pension entitlements is initiated by the retiree completing the appropriate pension application form. Officials in the Pension Unit of my Department have been in cont...
Written Answers - Schools Amalgamation
Was asked: if he has conducted research into the value of infant primary schools and, by extension, senior primary schools; if he has ever conducted research into the value of single gender primary schools, and...
My Department has been in contact with the Deputy’s Office and I understand that the question relates to my Department’s general position regarding school amalgamations. The decision making authority ...
Written Answers - Schools Building Projects
Was asked: if he will prioritise the building of a new school (details supplied) in County Kerry; the position regarding same; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I am pleased to inform the Deputy that accommodation brief for the school referred to by the Deputy has been completed. The appropriate method for delivery of this project is being considered and a fi...
Written Answers - Redundancy Payments
Was asked: when a person (details supplied) in County Clare will receive payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
A redundancy application from the person referred to by the Deputy was received by my Department on 7th September 2011. Applications are processed in date order of receipt and every effort is being ma...
Written Answers - Schools Amalgamation
Was asked: if he will review the closed school rule in view of the serious additional financial pressure this will place on parents of children in small rural schools he is attempting to amalgamate; and if he w...
Written Answers - School Staffing
Was asked: if he will reverse the cut of permanent learning support teacher in a school (details supplied) in County Dublin.
The new simplified approach to the General Allocation Model of support for schools will make it easier to automatically update it annually in line with the changes in the number of classroom teachers ...
Written Answers - Teacher Education
Was asked: if he will meet with a person (details supplied).
I will arrange for the Deputy to be contacted on this matter by the Teacher Education Section of my Department.
Written Answers - Third Level Fees
Was asked: if there is any financial assistance available for students attending the Irish College of Humanities and Applied Sciences, Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Under my Department’s student grant schemes, eligible candidates may receive funding provided they are attending an approved course at an approved institution as defined in the relevant scheme. I unde...
Written Answers - Behavioural Support Service
Was asked: the role of the National Behavioural Support Service; the numbers working in the service; the cost of the service in 2010 and 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I would like to inform the Deputy that the National Behaviour Support Service (NBSS) was established by the Department of Education & Skills in 2006 in response to the recommendation in School Matters...
Written Answers - Teacher Education Centres
Was asked: the teacher education centres that have received support from him in 2010 and 2011; the amount of such support received by each; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The details the Deputy has requested are set out in the accompanying document. Budget allocations are made following consideration of proposals submitted by each Education Support Centre in January o...
Written Answers - Departmental Expenditure
Was asked: the amount made available to the National Qualification Authority of Ireland in 2010 and 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The National Qualifications Authority of Ireland (NQAI) received Exchequer funding in the amount of €2.438m in 2010 and €2.478m in 2011.
Written Answers - Departmental Agencies
Was asked: if robust service level agreements between parent Departments and State bodies are now in place for all non-commercial State agencies.
As the Deputy will be aware, an extensive programme of reform has been ongoing since this Government came to office. The recently published Public Sector Reform Plan identifies the introduction of new...
Written Answers - Departmental Expenditure
Was asked: the total amount paid in remuneration and expenses that are paid to members of publicly appointed State boards both public sector and semi-State in 2011; his views that savings can be made in this ar...
The information requested by the Deputy is contained in the accompanying table. In line with the requirements of the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies, details of the number of Board...
| Last Updated: 07/02/2012 19:01:40 |
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