Written Answers Nos. 367-378
School Transport Eligibility
367. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin   asked the Minister for Education and Skills where families had previously relied on the medical card for school transportation purposes for children; if these families will be in a position to avail of the free service if a parent has been granted a medical card but a child has not; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47145/14]
Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills (Deputy Damien English): The purpose of my Department's Primary and Post Primary School Transport Schemes is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school or education centre. The annual charge for children availing of school transport services is €100 and €350 for primary and post primary children respectively; the charge is subject to an annual family maximum of €650. Charges may be paid in two instalments in July and December. Only children who are eligible for school transport and who hold valid medical cards (GMS Scheme) are exempt from paying the annual charge; charges are not waived in cases where a parent only holds a medical card.
Education and Training Boards Places
368. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if and when a place on the Naas technology project FÁS course level 5 will be offered in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47249/14]
Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Jan O'Sullivan): This is an operational matter for the Kildare Wicklow Education Training Board and I have asked them to contact the Deputy directly to clarify the position.
Schools Recognition
369. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the names of primary schools in each county with temporary recognition; the year in which temporary recognition was granted to those schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46735/14]
372. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the steps her Department requires a school to undertake to achieve permanent recognition; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46738/14]
Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Jan O'Sullivan): I propose to take Questions Nos. 369 and 372 together.
For the Deputy's convenience, I have enclosed a table outlining the primary schools with temporary recognition and the year in which they were established.
Newly established schools are generally required to undergo a period of provisional recognition, during which the operation of the school and the growth in pupil numbers are monitored. Among the factors considered in determining if permanent recognition is to be awarded are the long-term viability of the school, current and projected enrolments and that the school is operating in accordance with the Rules for National Schools and complies with relevant legislation including the Education Act.
Primary Schools with Provisional Recognition | County | School Name | Date Established |
|---|
| Dublin City | John Scottus NS, Northumberland Road, Dublin 4 | 1999 | | Donegal | Gaelscoil Cois Feabhaill, Moville | 2001 | | Donegal | Gaelscoil an Eirne, Ballyshannon | 2002 | | Cork | Gaelscoil an Mhuscrai, Blarney | 2003 | | Limerick | Limerick City East ETNS, Rosbrien | 2003 | | Laois | Gaelscoil an tSli Dara, Borris-in-Ossory | 2005 | | Limerick | Children’s Ark NS, Midwest Regional Hospital, Limerick City | 2006 | | Wicklow | Blessington ETNS, Blessington | 2006 | | Dublin 5 | St Michael’s Special School, Kilbarrack | 2007 | | Galway | GS na bhFilí, Gort | 2007 | | Louth | St Francis NS, Dundalk | 2007 | | Leitrim | Gael Scoil Chluainín, Manorhamilton | 2007 | | Clare | Raheen Woods, Tuamgraney | 2008 | | Clare | Mol an Oige, Ennistymon | 2008 | | Cork | Scoil Phadraig Naofa, Rochestown | 2008 | | Kildare | Maynooth ETNS, Maynooth | 2008 | | Carlow | Saplings Carlow Town | 2010 | | Cork | Cork CABAS (Scoil Aislinn), Boreenmanna Road Cork City | 2010 | | Dublin 24 | ABACAS Kilnamanagh, | 2010 | | Dublin 14 | Saplings Rathfarnham | 2010 | | Dublin 5 | ABACAS Kilbarrack | 2010 | | Co. Dublin | Red Door, Monkstown | 2010 | | Dublin Fingal | Scoil Chormaic, Castlelands, Balbriggan | 2010 | | Galway | Merlin Woods NS, Doughiska, | 2010 | | Galway | Abalta Special School, Bishop O’DonnellRoad, Galway City | 2010 | | Kildare | Saplings, Kill | 2010 | | Kilkenny | Saplings, Goresbridge | 2010 | | Kilkenny | Jonah Project, Kilkenny Town | 2010 | | Louth | ABACAS Drogheda, Drogheda | 2010 | | Laois | Portlaoise ETNS, Portlaoise | 2010 | | Meath | Stepping Stones, Kilcloon | 2010 | | Dublin Fingal | Powerstown ETNS, Mulhuddart | 2011 | | Dublin Fingal | Blanchardstown West ETNS, Blanchardstown | 2011 | | Meath | Gaelscoil na Mí, Ashbourne | 2011 | | Dublin 14 | Ballinteer ETNS, Ballinteer | 2012 | | Dublin | City West ETNS, City West | 2012 | | Dublin | City West Community NS, City west | 2012 | | Dublin | Stepaside ETNS, Stepaside | 2012 | | Dublin Fingal | Gaelscoil an Chuilleann, Mulhuddart | 2012 | | Kildare | Kildare Town ETNS, Kildare Town | 2012 | | Meath | Ashbourne ETNS, Ashbourne | 2012 | | Cork | Douglas/Rochestown ETNS, Douglas, Cork | 2013 | | Dublin 24 | Firhouse ETNS, Firhouse | 2013 | | Dublin 8 | Portobello ETNS, James’s Street | 2013 | | Dublin 24 | Gaelscoil Teach Guise, Tallaght | 2013 | | Dublin 18 | Gaelscoil Sliabh Rua, Kiltiernan | 2013 | | Co. Dublin | Scoil Oscar, Lucan | 2013 | | Kildare | Gaelscoil Mhic Aodha, Kildare Town | 2013 | | Cork | Mallow Community NS, Mallow | 2014 | | Dublin Fingal | Malahide/Portmarnock ETNS, Swords | 2014 | | Dublin 4 | Shellybanks ETNS, Ballsbridge | 2014 | | Dublin 24 | Scoil Aoife Community NS, Tallaght | 2014 | | Galway | Knocknacarra ETNS, Knocknacarra | 2014 | | Meath | Trim ETNS, Trim | 2014 | | Waterford | Tramore ETNS, Tramore | 2014 |
Minor Works Scheme Eligibility
370. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason payment of the minor repairs grant is confined to schools with permanent recognition; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46736/14]
371. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason schools with temporary recognition will not be paid the minor repairs grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46737/14]
Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Jan O'Sullivan): I propose to take Questions Nos. 370 and 371 together.
Under Circular 0062/2013 the Minor Works Grant is issued to schools with permanent recognition. This is a continuation of the position which existed in earlier Minor Works Grant circulars.
Since 2008 schools opening for the first time are given a once-off capital allocation of €5,000 in addition to the start-up grant. Newly established schools are generally required to undergo a period of provisional recognition, during which the operation of the school and the growth in pupil numbers are monitored. Among the factors considered in determining if permanent recognition is to be awarded are the long-term viability of the school, current and projected enrolments and that the school is operating in accordance with the Rules for National Schools and complies with relevant legislation including the Education Act.
It is a matter for schools with provisional recognition to apply to the Department seeking permanent recognition. Any school which attains permanent recognition during the course of the school year 2014/2015 will be issued with the 2014/2015 Minor Works Grant.
Question No. 372 answered with Question No. 369.
Departmental Funding
373. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the financial contribution her Department makes to running the Irish Primary Principals Network; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46744/14]
Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Jan O'Sullivan): The Irish Primary Principal's Network (IPPN) is a professional body which provides support and services to school Principals in their role as school leaders and engages with the Department on issues relevant to this area. As a body, it provides Continuous Professional Development (CPD) to Principals and this programme is supported by the Department. The Department also facilitates the secondment of a teacher from a school to act as director of the IPPN. The funding provided by my Department in this regard was approximately €179,000 in 2013.
Broadband Service Provision
374. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason students attending courses run by Solas and the education and training board do not have access to the enhanced broadband deals through campus which are available to most other third level organisations; and her plans to deal with the matter. [46746/14]
Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Jan O'Sullivan): Special offers from private service providers for students undertaking Further Education and Training courses - which are provided by Education and Training Boards and others, and funded by SOLAS - are a policy/marketing matter for the companies in question. SOLAS and Education and Training Boards Ireland would welcome special deals for FET learners from private service providers.
School Transport Applications
375. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Education and Skills when the special transport grant will be approved in respect of a person (detail supplied) in County Laois to enable them to attend the closest school to them that accepts them. [46752/14]
Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills (Deputy Damien English): I am pleased to advise the Deputy that my Department has sanctioned a Special Transport Grant for the family in question for the 2014/15 school year.
Education and Training Boards
376. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the policies and procedures for staff of the County Dublin and Dún Laoghaire Education and Training Board on bullying and harassment in work; the way these policies are reviewed; and the procedures her Department has in place for any reviews of the policies. [46783/14]
377. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide the number of members of staff in the County Dublin and Dún Laoghaire Education and Training Board who have made complaints of bullying and-or harassment against other members of staff and the number of these complainees who have been transferred to another section of the CDDETB following their complaint. [46784/14]
Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Jan O'Sullivan): I propose to take Questions Nos. 376 and 377 together. The ETBI/Unions' Consultative Forum provides a forum through which the discussion and drafting of agreed policies and procedures applicable to the sector is facilitated. The Forum comprises at least one nominee from all the relevant stakeholders - management and unions. The ETBI/Unions' Consultative Forum is the architect of the nationally agreed policies and procedures currently in place in the sector. The Forum reviews the policies and procedures as required and is the channel through which issues of interpretation and clarification are addressed. Each Education and Training Board is responsible for implementing these policies to counter bullying and harassment in the workplace. The current "Bullying Prevention Policy – Complaints Procedure for ETB Staff" was agreed by the ETBUI/Unions' Consultative Forum. The policy has been implemented in the sector since 1 September 2013. It replaced a Code of Practices for Dealing with Bullying and Harassment, issued in September 2006. A copy of the policy and accompanying guidance notes are available to download from the website of Education and Training Boards Ireland www.etbi.ie. Education and Training Board are not required to report incidents of bullying and harassment to my Department. Therefore, the information requested by the Deputy in respect of the number of members of staff in the County Dublin and Dún Laoghaire Education and Training Board that have made complaints of bullying and/or harassment against other members of staff and the number of these complainees that have been transferred to another section of the DDLETB following their complaint is not available in my Department.
Schools Building Projects Status
378. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the new building project for a school (details supplied) in County Wicklow; if the site has been purchased; if planning permission has been applied for; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46789/14]
Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Jan O'Sullivan): The school to which the Deputy refers is to be delivered as part of the Schools Bundle 5 PPP project. This bundle comprises one primary school, four post primary schools and one Institute of Further Education.
The site acquisition process for the school in question is underway, however, due to commercial sensitivities associated with property acquisitions generally, I am unable to provide further information at this time. The planning documentation is almost complete and this will be lodged as soon as my Department is in a position to do so.
The school is currently on schedule for delivery by the end of 2016. |
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