Education & Skills Questions | EoghanMurphy.ie

Posted May 8th, 2012

Uimhir:102

Ceist Pharlaiminte

Chun an Aire Oideachais agus Eola?octha
To the Minister for Education and Science

To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will review a case (details
supplied) regarding lack of school places..
- Eoghan Murphy.

* For WRITTEN answer on Wednesday, 22nd February, 2012.
Reference Number: 10123/12

Reply

Minister Ruair? Quinn

The selection and enrolment of pupils in schools is the responsibility of the
authorities of the individual school. My Department?s main responsibility is to
ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking
school places in an area. However, this may result in some pupils not obtaining
a place in the school of their first choice. As schools may not have a place
for every applicant, a selection process may be necessary. This selection
process and the enrolment policy on which it is based must be
non-discriminatory and must be applied fairly in respect of all applicants.

Under section 15 (2) (d) of the Education Act, 1998, each school is legally
obliged to disclose its enrolment policy and to ensure that as regards that
policy that principles of equality and the right of parents to send their
children to a school of the parents choice are respected.

Section 29 of the Education Act, 1998 provides for an appeal by a parent or
guardian to the Secretary General of my Department, or in the case of a
Vocational Education Committee (VEC) school to the VEC in the first instance,
where a Board of Management of a school, or a person acting on behalf of the
Board, refuses to enrol a student in a school, expels a student or suspends a
student for 20 or more days in any school year. My Department has no authority
to compel a school to admit a pupil, except in the case of an appeal under
section 29 of the Education Act, 1998 being upheld.

The National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) is the statutory agency which can
assist parents who are experiencing difficulty in securing a school place for
their child. The NEWB may be able to offer assistance and advice on securing a
school placement within the pupil?s area. The contact details for the NEWB in
your area is National Educational Welfare Board, 16-22 Green Street, Dublin 7,
phone number 01-8738700.

imhir:77

Ceist Pharlaiminte

Chun an Aire Oideachais agus Eola?octha
To the Minister for Education and Science

To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on a matter (details
supplied) regarding the general allocation model..
- Eoghan Murphy.

It has been requested that schools be able to combine hours allocated under the
general allocation model in order to be able to hire one full time teacher as
opposed to two part time ones, for example it was argued that spreading
resources across part time teachers would in effect result in a net loss of
hours teaching to children.

* For WRITTEN answer on Thursday, 16th February, 2012.
Reference Number: 8924/12

Reply

Minister Ruair? Quinn

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 in each school. Schools will
also have autonomy on how to deploy the resource between language support and
learning support depending on their specific needs. The arrangements for the
staffing allocation under the General Allocation Model (GAM) are specifically
designed to facilitate GAM hours being clustered into full-time posts ? either
entirely within their own school or with a nearby neighbouring school.

The new GAM allocations are being done in 5-hour blocks which is the equivalent
of the tuition time for a full school day. Teachers that are in shared posts
between schools can therefore operate local arrangements that enable their
travel to a neighbouring school to be done, where possible, from the start of
the school day thus avoiding loss of tuition time.

Any re-clustering of learning support (GAM) and language support hours into
full-time posts will be operated at school level with schools having greater
autonomy rather than the previous Department led approach.

My Department will be notifying schools in the coming weeks of the new staffing
arrangements for 2012/13 school year.

mhir:119

Ceist Pharlaiminte

Chun an Aire Oideachais agus Eola?octha
To the Minister for Education and Science

To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to establish a database
or network of PHD students at universities in the country and details of their
work so as to create a portal into this important state resource..
- Eoghan Murphy.

?

* For WRITTEN answer on Wednesday, 15th February, 2012.
Reference Number: 8909/12

Reply

Minister Ruair? Quinn

My Department has no plans to create a database or network that is dedicated
specifically to Ph.D. students at Irish universities.

However, funding was provided under the Department?s Strategic Innovation Fund
to the Irish Universities Association in 2008 to develop a national online
repository for research publications from Irish universities. This initiative
aims to make Irish research material more freely accessible, and to increase
the research profiles of individual researchers and their institutions.

The portal, rian.ie, was launched in 2010 and provides open access to the research
of the seven universities and the Dublin Institute of Technology. I understand
that there are proposals to extend this initiative to other institutions.

I understand that there are a number of other initiatives under development
across the sector, which aim to showcase and promote Irish research
internationally and these developments are to be welcomed.
?

Uimhir:229

Ceist Pharlaiminte

Chun an Aire Oideachais agus Eola?octha
To the Minister for Education and Science

To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the total amount of the education
budget for 2012; and the breakdown in spending between the different categories
and levels of education, both as a percentage of the total budget but also in
monetary terms..
- Eoghan Murphy.

?

* For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 31st January, 2012.
Reference Number: 5293/12

Reply

Minister Ruair? Quinn

The 2012 Gross Budget Allocation for Vote 26: Education & Skills was almost
?8,672 million. Expenditure on Education services in Vote 26 is accounted for
under seven main headings in Vote 26 as follows:

PROGRAMME???????????????AMOUNT??????????? %????????? ?M

Administration????????????????????????????????????????????????????
?91.7????????? 1%
Other Services??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
?329.4????????? 4%
First Level Education??????????????????????????????????????????????
?3,109.5??????? 36%
Second Level Education??????????????????????????????? ?2,957.6??????? 34%
Third Level & Further Education????????????????????????????? ?1,566.3??????? 18%
Capital Services??????????????????????????????????????????????????
?474.2????????? 5%
Skills Development & Further Education?????????????????? ?142.8????????? 2%

????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? TOTAL?????????? ?8,671.5

To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to
the disproportionate impact Budget 2012 will have on the ability of D?IS
schools to meet the needs of their pupils; and the supports he proposes to
implement to mitigate this serious loss of resources for children attending
these schools..
-Eoghan Murphy.

?

*For WRITTEN answer on Thursday, 15th December, 2011.

Reply

Minister Ruair? Quinn

The Government has prioritised targeted supports for schools with the most
concentrated levels of educational disadvantage. These supports will continue
to be targeted through the Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools (DEIS)
scheme, which is focussed on 670 primary schools and 195 post-primary schools
with particularly high levels of disadvantage. This scheme is designed to
ensure that the most disadvantaged schools benefit from a comprehensive package
of supports.

The creation of a dedicated DEIS Band 1 pupil teacher ratio of 22:1 in the
Budget will secure a more favourable staffing allocation for these primary
schools in comparison to the mainstream pupil teacher ratio of 28:1. While the
new staffing schedule gives greater autonomy to DEIS Band 1 schools, the
schools should continue to prioritise their staffing allocation to implement
more favourable pupil teacher ratios in junior classes, in line with DEIS
policy.

The Government is also providing ?13 million in enhanced funding for DEIS
schools, ?2 million in school book funding for DEIS schools, as well as a ?26
million investment in the Home School Community Liaison scheme. All of these
areas have been protected from reductions in expenditure for 2012. In addition
?28 million will be provided next year for the School Completion Programme, a
major component of DEIS, funded by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs.

Furthermore DEIS post-primary schools will be targeted for additional support
through an improved staffing schedule of 18.25:1, which is a 0.75 point
improvement compared to the existing standard 19:1 that applies in post-primary
schools that do not charge fees (or compared to the 21:1 ratio that will apply
in fee-charging schools).

All Band 2 urban DEIS Schools will be subject to the mainstream staffing
schedules from 2012/13 onwards.

DEIS Urban primary schools are currently entitled to the allocation of
administrative principals on lower enrolment and staffing figures than apply in
primary schools generally.? From 2012/13 school year, the allocation of
administratie principals will be enrolment based only. In DEIS Urban Band 1
schools, an enrolment of 116 pupils will facilitate the principal becoming an
administrative principal, while an enrolment of 145 will apply in Band 2 urban
primary schools, compared to 178 in other schools. Schools affected by the
change to allocating principals on enrolment basis only, will retain their
administrative principal? status until there is a change of principal in the
school.? When an administrative principal post needs to be filled in future,
the allocation will be made on an enrolment basis only.??

In order to ensure fairness in the distribution of resources available under
the DEIS plan, it is no longer possible to allow some schools to retain legacy
posts on a concessionary basis that pre-date the introduction of the DEIS
scheme. As a result, a decision has been taken to withdraw posts (428 posts)
from earlier disadvantage programmes/schemes in 270 primary schools and 163
post primary schools that exceed what equivalent schools are entitled to under
DEIS or to which non-DEIS schools are not entitled.

As part of the alleviation measures, DEIS band 1 junior schools will be placed
on a staffing schedule based on an average of 1 teacher for 20 pupils. 32
schools that have legacy posts that provided for 1 teacher for every 15 pupils
in junior classes only will now have a staffing schedule that operates on the
basis of an average of 1 teacher for 18 junior pupils.

The special position of DEIS schools will also be recognised in adjustments to
the General Allocation Model which is used to allocate learning and language
support teaching posts to schools.

All schools will be notified in January 2012, three months earlier than normal,
of their staffing entitlements under the new arrangement including any
alleviation measures that may apply. This will allow schools to plan for the
school year beginning in September.

Uimhir:112

Ceist Pharlaiminte

Chun an Aire Oideachais agus Eola?octha
To the Minister for Education and Science

To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he has any plans to make Irish
a non-compulsory subject at leaving certificate level (details supplied); and
if so, when does he predict this will happen..
- Eoghan Murphy.

Reply

Minister Ruair? Quinn

This Government is committed to supporting the overall thrust of 20 Year
Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030, and to the delivery of the goals and
targets proposed. As part of this, a thorough reform of the Irish curriculum
and the way Irish is taught at primary and second level will be undertaken. The
priority is to take steps to improve the quality and effectiveness of the
teaching of Irish. Only when these steps have been implemented, the question of
whether Irish should be optional at Leaving Certificate will be considered.

A revised Leaving Certificate curriculum in Irish began in all schools in
September 2010 for first examination in 2012. The revised programme provides
for an increase in the proportion of marks available for oral assessment to
40%, and is aimed at promoting a significant shift in emphasis towards Irish as
a spoken language, where students can communicate and interact in a spontaneous
way, and where Irish is spoken every day in schools.
The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment has been asked to review
this syllabus in the light of the experiences of students in the first
examination.

imhir:88

Ceist Pharlaiminte

To the Minister for Education and Science

To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his policy regarding to staff
receiving free parking places at the school where they work: if they are
entitled to free parking places on public roads in the vicinity of the school;
if the school is entitled to subsidise parking by staff on public roads; and
his views that it is appropriate that a school may give up valuable space for
permanent car parking that could be used more appropriately for children in the
school..
- Eoghan Murphy.

* For WRITTEN answer on Wednesday, 16th November, 2011.
Reference Number: 35022/11

Reply

Minister Ruair? Quinn

This Government is committed to supporting the overall thrust of 20 Year
Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030, and to the delivery of the goals and
targets proposed. As part of this, a thorough reform of the Irish curriculum
and the way Irish is taught at primary and second level will be undertaken. The
priority is to take steps to improve the quality and effectiveness of the
teaching of Irish. Only when these steps have been implemented, the question of
whether Irish should be optional at Leaving Certificate will be considered.

A revised Leaving Certificate curriculum in Irish began in all schools in
September 2010 for first examination in 2012. The revised programme provides
for an increase in the proportion of marks available for oral assessment to
40%, and is aimed at promoting a significant shift in emphasis towards Irish as
a spoken language, where students can communicate and interact in a spontaneous
way, and where Irish is spoken every day in schools.
The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment has been asked to review
this syllabus in the light of the experiences of students in the first
examination.

To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his policy regarding to staff
receiving free parking places at the school where they work: if they are
entitled to free parking places on public roads in the vicinity of the school;
if the school is entitled to subsidise parking by staff on public roads; and
his views that it is appropriate that a school may give up valuable space for
permanent car parking that could be used more appropriately for children in the
school..
- Eoghan Murphy.

* For WRITTEN answer on Thursday, 24th November, 2011.
Reference Number: 36765/11

Reply

Minister Ruair? Quinn

My Department makes provision for car parking spaces within the vested school
site in the context of general school design. The level of provision may depend
on the particular school project, the site conditions prevailing and the
requirements of Local Authorities.

Individual school authorities are responsible, in the first instance, for
ensuring the safety and welfare of children and others in their care, including
traffic management measures and general school organisation. The matter of
parking on public roads does not come within the remit of my Department and is
appropriate to the relevant Local Authority. The position relating to a school
subsidising staff parking on public roads from within its own resources is a
matter for the individual school authority.

Uimhir:170

To the Minister for Education and Science

To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans for a site containing a
school building and land, purchased by his Department on Haddington Road,
Dublin 4..
- Eoghan Murphy.

?

* For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 20th September, 2011.
Reference Number: 24773/11

Reply

Minister Ruair? Quinn

My Department has acquired the former school building and lands at the location
to which the Deputy refers to provide additional school accommodation for the
projected increase in pupil numbers in the area.

It is intended that the site will be developed to meet some of this need and
this is currently being explored by my Department in consultation with the
existing primary schools.?

?

Uimhir:191

To the Minister for Education and Science

To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reasoning behind Dublin City
Council changing the requirements for non-adjacent grants for independent
mature students, resulting in a cut of ?2000; and the reason this cut is not
means tested in the case of a person(details supplied)..
- Eoghan Murphy.

* For WRITTEN answer on Thursday, 21st July, 2011.
Reference Number: 22122/11

Reply

Minister Ruair? Quinn

The changes to the student grants scheme to which the Deputy refers were
introduced by the previous Fianna F?il ? Green Party Government under Budget
2011.

These changes alter the qualifying distance criterion for the non-adjacent rate
of grant from 24kms to 45kms and remove the automatic entitlement of mature
students to the non-adjacent rate of grant.

While these measures will result in changes to the rate of grant payable, none
of the measures will result in a student losing a grant or becoming ineligible
for a grant.

All student grants applications are means tested and qualifying students
receive the rate of grant available under the scheme in accordance with their
individual circumstances.

Students on particularly low incomes will continue to receive a ?top-up? in the
special rate of maintenance grant and the Student Assistance Fund at some ?5m
continues to be made available through the access offices of third-level
institutions to assist students in exceptional financial need.?

Uimhir:154

Ceist Pharlaiminte

To the Minister for Education and Science

To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to
the bureaucratic and costly requirements imposed on schools awaiting the summer
works programme; and his plans to reform this system..
- Eoghan Murphy.

?

* For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 19th July, 2011.
Reference Number: 20786/11

Reply

Minister Ruair? Quinn

As the Deputy is aware all funding allocated under my Department?s Devolved
Schemes including the Summer Works Scheme to allow school management
authorities carry out building or improvement works to their schools, must be
offered to the market in accordance with EU and National procurement guidelines.

School management authorities must comply with all the requirements of
Technical Guidance Documents TGD 007 and TGD 008 (Design Team Procedures for
Small Works and Engaging Professional Consultants for Small Works respectively)
which are available on my Department?s website. Failure to do so may expose the
school management authorities to challenge and subsequent financial penalties
from a consultant or contractor who feels he/she was not afforded an
opportunity to tender. Any such challenge could also result in the project
being substantially delayed.

As these guidelines provide a balanced approach by allowing access for smaller
firms while also ensuring that appropriate consultants are engaged for small
works I do not propose to make any changes.

Uimhir:71

To the Minister for Education and Science

To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to the commitment in the
Programme for Government 2011-2016 to replace F?S, if he will clarify the
specific functions undertaken by F?S which are his responsibility; if the
skills training aspect of F?S are and will be continue to be his
responsibility; the way these functions will be implemented in the absence of
F?S, and the timeline for any transfer of responsibilities..
- Eoghan Murphy.

?

* For WRITTEN answer on Thursday, 21st April, 2011.
Reference Number: 8942/11

Reply

Minister Ruair? Quinn

Following the commencement on 1 January 2011 of the relevant sections of the
Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2010, the Department of Social
Protection assumed the funding and overall responsibility for F?S employment
services and employment programmes. My Department has retained the funding and
overall responsibility for the remaining functions of F?S, including the
provision of skills training.

I am currently reviewing options regarding the provision of further education
and training and the structures to support it.

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