Written Answers Nos. 311-34
311. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if reimbursement under the July Provision in respect of tuition received in July 2012 will be sanctioned in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 13. [52842/12]
View answerThe July Education Programme is an educational programme operated by my Department for children who have been diagnosed with Autistic Spectrum Disorder and/or a severe to profound general learning disability.
The Home Based programme is available where a child cannot avail of the school based programme. A maximum of 40 hours' home tuition can be approved for the month of July .This allocation consists of a maximum of 10 hours per week for 4 weeks. Unused hours from any given week cannot transfer to a subsequent week.
Officials of the Department are aware of the case to which the Deputy refers.
Approval for this student to participate in this programme was issued on the 29 June 2012.
Following completion of the programme a claim form for payment was received in the Department. However, it came to light that the approved tutor did not provide the tuition. No grant aid was issued to the parent for tuition provided by an unapproved tutor. The parent received notification on the 26 October as to how to further process with the claim, but to date no additional claim has been received by the Department.
312. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a bus pass was refused in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare. [52846/12]
View answerChanges to the Post Primary School Transport Scheme mean that from the 2012/13 school year, school transport eligibility for all pupils newly entering a post primary school is determined by reference to the distance they reside from their nearest Post-Primary Education Centre having regard, as heretofore, to ethos and language.
In general, existing eligible and catchment boundary children including those who are not attending their nearest post primary centre retain their transport eligibility for the duration of their post primary education cycle provided there is no change to their current circumstances.
The child in question is not attending her nearest post primary school and is therefore not eligible for school transport.
Children who are not eligible for school transport, under the terms of the scheme, may apply to Bus Éireann for transport on a concessionary basis subject to a number of a conditions including the availability of spare seats on an existing service and the payment of the annual charge.
313. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a proposed development at a school (details supplied) in County Dublin. [52853/12]
View answerThe building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is currently at an advanced stage of architectural planning.
Due to competing demands on my Department's capital budget, imposed by the need to prioritise the limited funding available for the provision of additional school accommodation to meet increasing demographic requirements, it was not possible to include this project in the five year construction programme announced earlier this year.
Schools which have not been included in the five year construction programme, but which were announced for initial inclusion in the building programme will continue to be progressed to final planning stages in anticipation of the possibility of further funds being available to my Department in future years. The project referred to by the Deputy remains available to be considered for progression in that context.
314. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a proposed extension at two schools (details supplied) in County Dublin. [52854/12]
View answerThe major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at an early stage of architectural planning. My Department has just received the Stage 1 report from the Boards of Management and their Design Team and it is currently under review.
Due to competing demands on my Department's capital budget, imposed by the need to prioritise the limited funding available for the provision of additional school accommodation to meet increasing demographic requirements, it was not possible to include this project in the five year construction programme announced earlier this year.
Schools which have not been included in the five year construction programme, but which were announced for initial inclusion in the building programme will continue to be progressed to final planning stages in anticipation of the possibility of further funds being available to my Department in future years. The project referred to by the Deputy remains available to be considered for progression in that context.
315. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason permanent special needs assistants do not receive pay for public holidays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52892/12]
View answerAll Special Needs Assistants with a contracted appointment with a school receive an annualised salary (paid fortnightly). Public holiday pay is already included in this salary and no extra public holiday payment is due to be paid.
Substitute Special Needs Assistants receive payment in respect of public holidays in line with the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997, i.e. if the SNA has worked 40 hours in the 5 weeks prior to the public holiday, they will receive an additional day's pay.
316. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason the tender for the process of student grant application was awarded to the City of Dublin Vocational Education Committee; the judging criteria for the award; who were the listed applicants and the tender price submitted by each of the bidders. [52921/12]
View answerIn January 2011, my Department issued an Expression of Interest invitation to the VECs, local authorities or other public bodies who might be interested in taking on administrative responsibility for the centralised student grants awarding and payments function. A total of 10 proposals were received.
These proposals were examined by an independent selection panel against the evaluation criteria which was an integral part of the Expression of Interest procedure. On the basis of the review carried out by the panel at the initial stage of the process, four proposals were short-listed for oral presentation. Following oral presentation these proposals were assigned a ranking depending on their relative strengths under each of the evaluation criteria leading to the preferred proposal.
The selection panel evaluated the proposals under each of the following criteria:
- Organisational capacity to perform the function;
- Experience in dealing with comparable schemes/services;
- Existing core management, expertise and resources available to be deployed to the function;
- Capacity to deliver strong cost and efficiency benefits;
- Overall quality of the proposal for delivery of a central student grants function.
Following this process, the selection panel made a recommendation to the Minister for Education and Skills on the preferred proposal which was the City of Dublin VEC proposal to establish Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) as a unit of itself.
Proposals were received from the following public bodies in response to Expression of Interest Invitation:
1. Cork City and County Councils;
2. Donegal County Council;
3. City of Dublin VEC;
4. County Dublin VEC and County Donegal VEC;
5. Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council;
6. Local Government Computer Services Board;
7. Kerry County Council;
8. Kerry Education Service;
9. Pobal;
10. Waterford City & County Councils.
While indicative delivery costs, were provided by each of the bodies they were not as such tender prices, as this was an expression of interest process.
These indicative costs were considered under the evaluation criteria which examined the capacity of the bodies to deliver strong cost and efficiency benefits. Each of short-listed proposals was marked under all of the evaluation criteria heading.
317. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason some pupils of a secondary school (details supplied) in County Dublin, are being refused entry because they don't fall into the criteria of having an older sibling that attends the school or where they are an only child, and the steps he will take to address this perceived discrimination. [52925/12]
View answerThe enrolment of pupils in a school is a matter for the individual school. It is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of schools to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998.In this regard a board of management may find it necessary to restrict enrolment to children from a particular area or a particular age group or, occasionally, on the basis of some other criterion. In formulating an enrolment policy a school must, however, ensure it is lawful and applied fairly to all applicants.
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 Educational 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 are, National Educational Welfare Board, Block 3, Floor 1, Grove Court, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15, phone number 01-8103260.
The Deputy will be aware that last year, I launched a discussion paper on school enrolment. The "Discussion Paper on a Regulatory Framework for School Enrolment" contains suggestions on how to make the process of enrolling in schools more open, equitable and consistent.
I invited education partners and interested parties to submit their views to my Department by the 28 of October last year. The feedback from this consultation will help inform the nature and scope of a new regulatory framework for school enrolment.
318. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will expedite a higher education grant in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11, in view of the fact that this person was wrongly advised on a number of occasions to apply through the Student Universal Support Ireland system; the reason SUSI will not now communicate with the CDVEC to assist with the processing of this application at the earliest possible date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52938/12]
View answerOfficials in my Department have confirmed with CDVEC, that in the case of the student referred to by the Deputy who is a renewal applicant that a grant has been awarded and an award letter issued on 22 November, 2012.
319. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if funding has been sanctioned for a school (details supplied) in County Cork; the timeframe for the completion of the proposed project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52960/12]
View answerThe major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at an early stage of architectural planning. The stage 2(a) submission is currently with my Department for review. Once the stage 2(a) is approved the project will progress to stage 2(b) which includes applications for planning permission, Fire Safety Certification, Disability Access Certification and the preparation of tender documents.
Due to competing demands on my Department's capital budget, imposed by the need to prioritise the limited funding available for the provision of additional school accommodation to meet increasing demographic requirements, it was not possible to include the project referred to by the Deputy in the five year construction programme.
Schools which have not been included in the five year construction programme, but which were announced for initial inclusion in the building programme will continue to be progressed to final planning stages in anticipation of the possibility of further funds being available to my Department in future years. The project referred to by the Deputy remains available to be considered for progression in that context.
320. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding an application to Student Universal Support Ireland in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; when a decision will issue and if the application will be expedited. [53035/12]
View answerOfficials in my Department have confirmed with SUSI, the new centralised grant awarding authority, that further supporting documentation was received from the student referred to by the Deputy and the application will be reviewed shortly. SUSI will contact the student directly in relation to the outcome.
321. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he is satisfied that legislative measures to protect the religious ethos of schools do not act as a barrier to enrolment; if any complaints have been made to his Department in respect of pupils being denied the opportunity to enrol in a school on grounds of religious ethos; if any cases against the State have been taken on these grounds; his plans to review these legislative provisions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53037/12]
View answerThe 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 rights of parents to send their children to a school of the parents choice are respected.
Equality legislation, which also outlaws discrimination in relation to the admission of a student, makes provision for exemptions to apply in the case of single sex schools and in the case of schools where the objective is to provide education in an environment that promotes certain religious values. The legislation provides that any school that has this objective may admit a student of a particular religious denomination in preference to other students.
The Deputy will be aware that last year, I launched a discussion paper on school enrolment. The "Discussion Paper on a Regulatory Framework for School Enrolment" contains suggestions on how to make the process of enrolling in schools more open, equitable and consistent.
I invited education partners and interested parties to submit their views to my Department by the 28 of October last year. The feedback from this consultation will help inform the nature and scope of a new regulatory framework for school enrolment, the primary aim of which will be to ensure that every child is treated fairly and that every child has a place at school.
322. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding teachers who were employed in the vocational education committee sector prior to January 2011 when new pay rates and conditions were introduced and who have since transferred to the primary school sector teaching; if they will they be paid on the pre-2011 pay rate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53038/12]
View answerThe Deputy will appreciate that it is difficult to reply to the issues raised in the absence of specific details. As the query relates to payment of the personnel in two different sectors issues regarding the qualifications held by them have to be considered.
The overall principle is that teachers who taught in the VEC Sector before 1 January 2011 and commenced in a primary school teaching post after 1 January 2011 will be paid at the pre-2011 rates of pay as set out in my Department's circular 40/2011.
323. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Education and Skills when the Student Universal Support Ireland application will be processed in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cavan; the date on which first payment will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53039/12]
View answerOfficials in my Department have confirmed with SUSI, the new centralised grant awarding authority, that further supporting documentation was received from the student referred to by the Deputy and his application will be reviewed shortly. SUSI will contact the student directly in relation to the outcome.
324. Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for Education and Skills when an application for a higher education grant will be approved in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Wexford. [53079/12]
View answerOfficials in my Department have confirmed with SUSI, the new centralised grant awarding authority, that further supporting documentation was received from the student referred to by the Deputy and her application will be reviewed shortly. SUSI will contact the student directly in relation to the outcome.
325. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the number of new State agencies, forums and task forces that have been established in 2012; the number of new employees there are as a result of this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53697/12]
View answerInformation in respect of the number of new State agencies and Forums that have been established in 2012 are in the following table. For the Deputy's information, no Task Forces were established in 2012.
|
Name of Entity |
State Agency |
Forum |
No. of new employees |
|
Talk Talk consultative Forum |
- |
Forum |
Nil |
|
Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) (Note 1) |
State Agency |
- |
Nil |
|
Anti-Bullying Forum and Working Group on Anti-Bullying |
- |
Forum and Working Group |
Nil |
|
European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) Review Forum |
- |
Forum |
Nil |
|
Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Board (Note 2) |
State Agency |
- |
- |
|
Irish Research Council (IRC) (Note 3) |
State Agency |
- |
Nil |
|
National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning (Note 4) |
- |
Forum |
- |
Note 1 The Further Education and Training Awards Council (FETAC) the Higher Education and Training Awards Council (HETAC) and the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland (NQAI) were merged to form Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI). QQI was established on the 6 November 2012.
Note 2 The establishment of the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Board is provided for in the relevant legislation which was enacted earlier this year. The arrangements for its establishment are currently being pursued.
Note 3 The IRC is an amalgamation of the Irish Research Council for Humanities and Social Sciences and the Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering and Technology
326. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in respect of the appointment of Mercer in June 2012 to examine pay levels across banking institutions, if he has made any similar appointments to examine pay levels in quangos, Government agencies, Government Departments or other organs and bodies funded by the State. [52451/12]
View answerThe appointment of Mercer in June 2012 to examine pay levels across banking institutions is a matter for the Minister for Finance.
Pay rates in the public service were reduced by up to 30% and a progressive pension related reduction (averaging approximately 7%) applied through the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Acts of 2009-2011. The rates of reduction applied to senior grades were based on the recommendations of the Body tasked with reviewing pay rates for senior levels of public servant.
The legislation under which the salary reductions were effected provide for an annual review in June each year by me, as Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, of the measures implemented. Completed reports on the reviews undertaken are laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas. In the most recent reviews of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Acts of 2009-2011, I concluded that there is a need to continue to apply the reductions in remuneration of public servants, and other measures controlling the cost of the public service pay and pensions bill, provided for under the Acts.
I have no plans to appoint consultants to undertake a separate examination of public service pay levels in public service bodies. I have no responsibility for pay levels in bodies outside of the public service (with the exception of CEO’s in the commercial semi-state bodies).
327. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when problems with the website www.etenders.gov.ie of the National Procurement Office will be ironed out; his views on the nature of those problems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52704/12]
View answerThe upgrade to the eTenders website was launched on Monday 12 November. Even allowing for the trebling of the server capacity for the initial days following the launch, the volume of users accessing the system caused a delay in the server response times. Some incorrect server settings were also detected that day. These access and response issues were resolved that day and have not arisen since. Contrary to reports carried in the press, the upgraded system did not crash nor was it launched with any bugs in the system.
In relation to live tenders that transferred from the old system to the new system, over the weekend of 10 November, some data migration issues arose and were resolved within a few days.
Data migration issues from the previous operator to the new operator of the eTender website also created problems for Suppliers to receive alerts within their area of business about new tenders published from Monday 12 November.
The National Procurement Service has communicated with all Suppliers and public sector bodies registered on eTenders, advised of the solutions, apologised for the early problems and acknowledged the inconvenience arising.
Separately, users to the national portal informed the NPS of claims that they had received unsolicited marketing emails from the previous operator of the service, marketing a new service. This caused confusion among public sector buyers and suppliers.
The NPS is in discussions with the Office of the Data Protection Commission and is aware that the previous operator has issued an apology to users of the old eTenders website for using their contact details for this purpose.
328. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his proposals to reduce costs incurred in respect of engaging external consultants across Government Departments and State agencies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51632/12]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, as part of the Comprehensive Expenditure Report 2012-2014 , published by my Department on 5 December 2011, I set out expenditure ceilings for all Departments. These ceilings act as an upper limit on expenditure and ensure Departments seek to maximise efficiency gains in all areas. In order to facilitate Departments in driving these efficiency gains, and to ensure better value for money and maintain service levels where possible, the Government have agreed the following reforms to the public procurement function:
i. integrating procurement policy, strategy and operations in one office through the establishment of a National Procurement Office (under the aegis of my Department) which will be headed by a Chief Procurement Officer;
ii. strengthening spend analytics and data management;
iii. examining the specifications set out for goods and services;
iv. evaluating demand levels to assess how demand (volume) can be reduced; and,
v. strengthening vendor and category management.
I would also remind the Deputy that, in addition to the downward pressure on overall expenditure exerted by the Departmental ceilings, fees on professional services engaged by Departments have been subject to a minimum 8% reduction since 2009.
329. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the position regarding the number of quangos, State agencies, forums and task forces that have been abolished in 2012; the position in relation to staff members of the agencies that have been abolished; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52257/12]
View answerI refer the Deputy to my answer to Question No. 16 answered on Wednesday 21 November, 2012 regarding progress on the agency rationalisation measures contained in the Public Service Reform Plan.
With regard to the position of the staff members of the agencies involved, one of the guiding principles which inform the Government's approach to agency rationalisation is respect for staff interests, and specifically that the Government will abide by the commitments given in the Croke Park Agreement in considering and implementing specific agency rationalisation proposals, subject to the necessary flexibilities, in particular on redeployment, being delivered.
From the start of this reform process, I have made clear that these proposals to rationalise specific agencies are in no way a reflection on the dedication, commitment and professionalism of the staff and agencies involved. It is rather that the Government’s commitment to providing a leaner and more focused public service requires us all to look at new ways of delivering services.
330. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the position regarding the number of new State agencies, forums and task forces that have been established in 2012; the number of new employees there are as a result of this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52258/12]
View answerNo new State agencies, forums or task forces have been established by my Department in 2012.
331. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will make a budget statement on 5 December next before or after the Minister for Finance or on the preceding day, as happened in December 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52311/12]
View answerAs stated in my reply to the Deputy on 20 November, 2012, I will be making a statement to the House on Wednesday, 5 December, pertaining to the 2013 expenditure estimates, while my colleague Minister Noonan will make a separate financial statement on the same day. At this stage, it is anticipated that Minister Noonan will deliver his financial statement after which I will be announcing the 2013 expenditure measures.
332. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide, in tabular form, the number of staff in his Department or in bodies which fall under the remit of his Department whose annual remuneration including salary, pension and benefits at 31 December 2011 fell into bands of €400,000 and above, between €300,000 to €399,999, between €200,000 to €299,999 and between €150,000 to €199,000; and if he will provide a breakdown of the positions held by the staff in relevant pay brackets. [52507/12]
View answerIn response to the Deputy's question the following table outlines the number of staff in my Department or in bodies which fall under the remit of my Department whose annual remuneration including salary, pension and benefits at 31 December 2011 fell into bands of 400,000 and above, between 300,000 to 399,999, between 200,000 to 299,999 and between 150,000 to 199,000; and a breakdown of the positions held by the staff in relevant pay brackets:
|
Pay Bracket |
Number of Staff |
Position held |
|
>400,000 |
None |
|
|
300,000 – 399,999 |
None |
|
|
200,000 – 299,999 |
1 |
-Secretary General, Department of Public Expenditure and Reform |
|
150,000 – 199,999 |
4 |
- Director General, Institute of Public Administration - Chairman, Office of Public Works - Principal Architect, Office of Public Works - Chief Medical Officer, Department of Public Expenditure and Reform |
333. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he has made any contacts requesting staff whose annual salary is more than €200,000 in his Department or in any body under the remit of his Department, to waive 15% of their salary or such amount in excess of €200,000 whichever is the lesser; if he has, the date on which he first made this contact; the number of staff who acquiesced to the request for the waiver; the number of staff who refused the request for the waiver and the number of staff who have not responded to the request for the waiver. [52508/12]
View answerNo staff in my Department or in any body under the remit of my Department are in receipt of an annual salary of more than 200,000.
334. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will make provision under the new lottery licensing regime to provide funding for organisations currently in receipt of resources from the Department of Justice and Equality under the charitable lotteries scheme which will be gradually wound down; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52611/12]
View answerThere are no plans to make provision under the next National Lottery licence regime for the funding of specific organisations.
It is the intention that under the next licence, money raised by the National Lottery for good causes will continue to be applied for the following purposes: sport and other recreation, national culture and heritage (including the Irish language), the arts, health of the community, youth, welfare and amenities.
