Thursday, 9 Jun 2016

Lansdowne Road Agreement

Ceisteanna (66)

Carol Nolan

Ceist:

66. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills why he has a notice on his website advising teachers who he deems to be in repudiation of the public service stability agreement 2013-2016, Lansdowne Road agreement, that they will lose the benefits to a contract of indefinite duration after two years, as set out in the report to the Minister for Education and Skills of the chairperson of the expert group on fixed-term and part-time employment in primary and second level education in Ireland (Ward report); his views on this approach and how he will administer it, given that this would be in contravention of data protection legislation; if he retains information pertaining to the union membership of teachers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15236/16]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

My Department has a responsibility to ensure that ASTI members are fully aware of the implications of their decision to withdraw from the Lansdowne Road Agreement. In doing so, ASTI members are opting to forego a series of benefits and protections, such as avoiding an increment freeze, continuation of the alleviation of the FEMPI Act 2013 pay cut for higher earners, the Supervision and Substitution payment of €796 due to be paid on 1 September and protection against compulsory redundancy. A further significant consequence will be the withdrawal of the benefits introduced for new teachers under the Ward Report, which enable them to gain permanent employment and full hours more quickly than before. I would prefer that those consequences are avoided. While ASTI have declined an invitation to engage with my Department on issues of concern to them, that invitation remains open.

In terms of implementation, my Department is conscious of the requirements of data protection legislation, and will put in place arrangements to distinguish between teachers represented by unions that have accepted the Lansdowne Road Agreement and teachers represented by unions that have not.

Higher Education Schemes

Ceisteanna (67)

Carol Nolan

Ceist:

67. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of places his Department reserved under the higher education access route scheme; if it filled all the reserved places; the average number of places, by course; the average number of points below the standard points level at which an applicant has been granted access to a course, each by institution, in each of the years 2006 to 2016 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15237/16]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

The Higher Education Access Route (HEAR) scheme is a third-level admissions scheme operated by a number of higher education institutions and not by my Department. Admissions under the HEAR scheme are regulated by the higher education institutions themselves. Each institution determines its own admission policy in relation to HEAR, the number of places they reserve for HEAR, and the allocation of those places. My Department or the Higher Education Authority does not collate data on the HEAR scheme at either institutional or aggregate level. Any requests for further information on the HEAR scheme can be directed to the Irish Universities Association, who coordinate the HEAR scheme for participating higher education institutions.

Higher Education Schemes

Ceisteanna (68)

Carol Nolan

Ceist:

68. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of places his Department reserved under the disability access route to education scheme for students with disabilities; if it filled all the reserved places with eligible applicants; the average number of places per course, each by institution, in each of the years 2006 to 2016 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15238/16]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

The Disability Access Route to Education (DARE) is a third-level admissions scheme for students with a disability.

The DARE scheme is operated by a number of higher education institutions and not by my Department. Admissions under the DARE scheme are regulated by the institutions themselves. Each higher education institution determines its own admission policy in relation to DARE, the number of places they reserve for DARE, and the allocation of those places. My Department, or the Higher Education Authority, does not collate data on DARE at either the aggregate or institutional level. Any requests for more detailed information about DARE should be directed to the Irish Universities Association (IUA) who coordinate the DARE scheme for participating institutions.

Access to Higher Education

Ceisteanna (69)

Carol Nolan

Ceist:

69. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the target and target percentage in respect of the proportion of the student body to be comprised of the target groups, and the procedures in place for monitoring progress, by third level institution, under the national plan for equity of access to higher education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15239/16]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

The new National Plan for Equity of Access to Higher Education, 2015-19, contains a number of targets that are intended to promote participation rates for those groups that are currently under-represented in higher education. These targets were developed in consultation with relevant stakeholders during the consultation process that informed the National Access Plan. These national targets will be reviewed in 2017 as part of a mid-term review of the National Access Plan. One of the actions in the National Access Plan is for each higher education institution to reflect the goals, objectives and targets of the Plan in their individual, institutional level, access plans, and in their annual compacts arising from the strategic dialogue process. This process of institutional alignment with the national targets and other key elements of the National Access Plan is currently under way.

Student Assistance Fund

Ceisteanna (70)

Carol Nolan

Ceist:

70. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the amount his Department allocated under the student assistance fund by institution in each of the years 2006 to 2016 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15240/16]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

The Student Assistance Fund provides financial supports to students who are experiencing short-term or ongoing financial difficulties. The Fund is administered locally within each higher education institution. Funds are provided on an annual basis to each institution by the Higher Education Authority. The attached tables provide the level of funding provided through the Student Assistance Fund for the past ten years, and a breakdown of the allocation to each higher education for the past five years, for which final data are available. One of the commitments in the new National Plan for Equity of Access to Higher Education, 2015-19, is to review the Student Assistance Fund. This review has recently been completed. It is my understanding that the review will be published shortly by the Higher Education Authority.

Table 1: Funding allocated to institutions under the TLA Funding programmes.

Academic Year	€m
2005-06	5.8
2006-07	6
2007-08	6.2
2008-09	5
2009-10	5
2010-11	5
2011-12	9
2012-13	11
2013-14	8.35
2014-15	6.6

Higher Education Institution	SAF Allocation 2014-15 €
Dublin City University	352,161
National University of Ireland, Galway	485,954
National University of Ireland, Maynooth	326,196
Trinity College Dublin	406,792
University College Cork	552,251
University College Dublin	627,402
University of Limerick	382,669
Total Universities	3,133,425
Athlone Institute of Technology	183,853
Cork Institute of Technology	302,850
Dublin Institute of Technology	547,351
Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design & Technology	87,264
Dundalk Institute of Technology	183,862
Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology	273,544
Institute of Technology Blanchardstown	142,699
Institute of Technology Carlow	207,256
Institute of Technology Sligo	198,359
Institute of Technology Tallaght	141,104
Institute of Technology Tralee	123,884
Letterkenny Institute of Technology	139,146
Limerick Institute of Technology	225,105
Waterford Institute of Technology	315,790
Total Institutes of Technology	3,072,067
Mary Immaculate College	110,520
Mater Dei Institute	18,746
National College of Art and Design	34,700
National College of Ireland	77,355
St. Patricks College Drumcondra	55,360
Church of Ireland College of Education	6,071
Froebel College of Education
Marino Institute of Education	29,388
Pontifical College	24,745
Royal College of Surgeons Ireland	18,061
St Angela's College, Sligo	19,561
Tipperary Institute
Total Other Colleges	394,507
Grand Total	6,599,999

Access to Higher Education

Ceisteanna (71)

Carol Nolan

Ceist:

71. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the proportion of the performance funding per third level institution that is allocated by the Higher Education Authority to higher education institutions based on the outcome of the annual review of the national plan for access to higher education; if the annual review of progress under the plan has taken place for 2015 and 2016; if any institutions failed to meet their targets under the review; if any proportion of performance related funding was withheld from the institution as a result; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15241/16]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

The National Plan for Equity of Access to Higher Education, 2015-2019, was published in December 2015.

One of the actions in the National Access Plan is for each higher education institution to reflect the goals, objectives and targets of the Plan in their individual, institutional level, access plans and in the annual compacts arising from the strategic dialogue process. This process of institutional alignment with the National Access Plan is currently under way. In the current round of strategic dialogue, higher education institutions are being asked by the Higher Education Authority to demonstrate the extent to which their institutional level priorities and targets have regard to the new National Access Plan. The outcome of this process is one of a number of factors that may inform future decisions by the Higher Education Authority on funding levels for individual institutions. Progress on the National Access Plan will be reviewed in 2017.

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Ceisteanna (72)

Carol Nolan

Ceist:

72. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills to provide a breakdown per county of the number of children who are currently being taught in primary school classes of over 25 pupils; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15242/16]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

Provisional results from the 2015/2016 National School Annual Census showing the breakdown by county of the number of children at primary level in classes of 25 or more are shown in the attached table. Final figures will be published at the end of June. Further details on individual school class size are available on my Department's website at www.education.ie/en/Publications/Statistics/Data-on-Individual-Schools/.

PROVISIONAL DATA ONLY

Number of pupils in each class size range at county level, 2015/2016.

Class size range: (number of pupils)

County	0-9 pupils	10-19 pupils	20-24 pupils	25-29 pupils	30+ pupils	Total	Number of pupils in classes of 25 or more
Carlow	9	343	1,406	3,491	2,272	7,521	5,763
Cavan	38	988	2,976	4,058	1,509	9,569	5,567
Clare	65	1,830	3,826	4,619	3,260	13,600	7,879
Cork	86	6,260	15,092	23,902	15,745	61,085	39,647
Donegal	115	2,619	4,528	7,295	4,299	18,856	11,594
Dublin	37	13,591	27,249	63,020	30,391	134,288	93,411
Galway	122	4,465	7,647	10,481	6,848	29,563	17,329
Kerry	101	2,043	4,352	6,121	3,248	15,865	9,369
Kildare	7	989	5,834	15,153	7,051	29,034	22,204
Kilkenny	27	829	2,467	4,768	2,785	10,876	7,553
Laois	16	828	2,787	4,701	2,363	10,695	7,064
Leitrim	7	494	1,062	1,540	543	3,646	2,083
Limerick	31	2,370	4,871	8,882	6,088	22,242	14,970
Longford	8	846	1,296	1,649	1,341	5,140	2,990
Louth	0	1,371	4,133	6,584	4,662	16,750	11,246
Mayo	226	2,352	3,888	4,946	2,906	14,318	7,852
Meath	15	831	4,556	12,823	8,095	26,320	20,918
Monaghan	29	855	1,977	2,932	1,797	7,590	4,729
Offaly	0	1,111	3,182	3,401	2,112	9,806	5,513
Roscommon	83	1,294	1,781	2,766	1,476	7,400	4,242
Sligo	34	994	2,081	2,531	1,724	7,364	4,255
Tipperary	29	2,450	4,913	7,152	3,864	18,408	11,016
Waterford	15	1,117	2,963	6,753	3,289	14,137	10,042
Westmeath	14	1,090	2,651	4,908	2,383	11,046	7,291
Wexford	14	1,154	4,704	7,668	4,826	18,366	12,494
Wicklow	14	870	3,527	8,561	4,498	17,470	13,059
Total	1,142	53,984	125,749	230,705	129,375	540,955	360,080

Note: The data contained in this sheet is sourced from the 2015/2016 National School Annual Census and refers to pupils in mainstream classes only.

Source: Statistics Section, Department of Education and Skills.

Teacher Data

Ceisteanna (73)

Carol Nolan

Ceist:

73. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of teachers and lecturers who are currently employed by his Department on less than 20 hours per week; the number of these that are on temporary contracts; the number that are on contracts of indefinite duration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15244/16]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

The numbers of primary and post primary teachers paid on my Department's payroll in May 2016, on less than full hours on temporary and CID contracts are as follows: Number of Post Primary RPT (temporary) staff on less than 22 hours per week is 1,859.

Number of Post Primary CID (Contract of Indefinite Duration) staff on less than 22 hours per week is 960. Number of Primary RPT (temporary) staff on less than full time hours per week is 454.

Number of Primary CID (Contract of Indefinite Duration) staff on less than full time hours per week is 42.

Teachers employed by the Education and Training Boards (ETBs) are paid on their individual payrolls. The information in relation to the ETBs would have to be obtained from them individually.

National Educational Welfare Board Staff

Ceisteanna (74)

Carol Nolan

Ceist:

74. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of psychologists that would be required under the National Educational Psychological Service to provide a psychologist to pupil ratio of 1:5,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15245/16]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

I can inform the Deputy that my Department's National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) provides educational psychology service to all primary and post primary schools through an assigned NEPS psychologist and in some cases through the Scheme for Commissioning Psychological Assessments (SCPA). My Department, over the course of recent economic difficulties, has not only maintained psychologist staffing levels within NEPS, but has increased them by some 10% since late 2008, to 162 whole time equivalent psychologists currently employed. My Department is actively engaged with the Public Appointments Service to recruit nine further psychologists to NEPS from an existing panel of qualified professionals developed for this purpose and it is envisaged that most of these posts will be filled in the immediate future. The Programme for a Partnership Government commits that we will invest additional resources in the National Educational Psychological Service to ensure earlier intervention and access for young children and teenagers and to offer immediate support to schools in cases of critical incidents. The Programme commits to bring the total number of NEPS psychologists to 238 from the current sanctioned limit of 173. Based on current years' enrolment I can inform the Deputy that to provide for a 1:5,000 ratio of NEPS psychologists to pupil would require some 185 whole-time-equivalent psychologist staff taking into account the existing management structures.

Schools Building Projects Status

Ceisteanna (75)

Brendan Griffin

Ceist:

75. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the schools announced in his Department's capital school building programme earlier this year remain on that programme; and if the schools in respect of County Kerry remain on it. [15267/16]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

As the Deputy is aware, the 6 Year Capital Plan (2016 - 2021), announced last November, as part of the Government's €2.8 billion schools capital investment programme, details the major school building projects that are scheduled to proceed to tender/construction over the lifetime of the Plan. It is my Department's intention to progress these projects, including the projects listed for County Kerry, through the various stages of the architectural planning process as outlined in the Plan.