dail Questions February 2004

To ask the Minister for Education and Science if there are early plans to increase student registration fees or reintroduce third level fees for the 2004|2005 college year; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

For ORAL answer on Thursday, 19th February, 2004. Reference Number: 5227|04, 5249|04

Minister for Education and Science (Mr Noel Dempsey, T.D.)

The student charge is levied by third level institutions to defray the costs of examinations, registration and students services. These costs continue to be incurred by the third level institutions. On the 13th November, 2003 I announced, as part of the 2004 estimates for my Department, that the student charge will increase from €670 to a proposed level of €750. It has to be remembered that students who are eligible for means tested student support have the student charge paid on their behalf by the Local Authorities or the Vocational Education Committees, in addition to any grant they are entitled to. No student, where the family income is at or less than €40,000 will pay this charge.

The student charge is paid by the students on an academic year basis. The level of the charge for each year since 1997 is as follows:

1997|98 €317
1998|99 €330
1999|20 €353
2000|01 €371
2001|02 €396
2002|03 €670
2003|04 €670
2004|05 €750 proposed

II have no plans to re introduce third level tuition fees for the 2004|05 academic year.

To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will report on the progress being made to fast track the start-up of Griffeen Valley Educate Together School for September 2004.

For ORAL answer on Thursday, 19th February, 2004. Reference Number: 5226|04

Minister for Education and Science (Mr Noel Dempsey, T.D.)

A new 16-classroom school for Griffeen Valley Educate Together is one of over 200 significant school building projects that are scheduled for proceeding to tender and construction as part of the 2004 school building programme.

In view of the pressures for school accommodation in the Lucan area, my Department used a design and build contract as an innovative method to fast-track the delivery of this project from a greenfield site to a new school
building.

The tendering process for this project took place in the third quarter of 2003. The successful contractor has designed the school building and recently received planning permission for it. Construction is expected to commence shortly and is due to be completed for September 2004.

To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reasoning behind the decision to remove the physical education and sports maintenance grant from schools; and his views on whether this constitutes a wise long term cost saving, in view of the huge health and educational benefits of physical education and the importance of getting children involved from an early age.

For ORAL answer on Thursday, 19th February, 2004. Reference Number: 5223|04

Minister for Education and Science (Mr Noel Dempsey, T.D.)

Physical Education is a compulsory part of the curriculum for primary schools.In October 2000, my Department introduced an annual physical education grant for all primary schools. Since the introduction of the scheme, my Department provided in excess of €5.5 million in grant aid to primary schools under this scheme for schools to provide coaching or mentoring in connection with physical education or for the purchase of resource materials associated with the provision of physical education.

Materials and equipment purchased by schools in previous years will generally be available to them for the current year.

In 2002, primary schools designated as disadvantaged schools received a grant of €1,270 while other recognised primary schools received a grant of €635. Approximately €2.4 million was allocated to schools in 2002 under this scheme.

In the light of the current budgetary constraints, I decided to withdraw payment of the grant from 2003. However, schools may use their ordinary capitation grant which has been increased to €121.58 with effect from 1 January
2004. The position will be kept under review as part of the normal Estimates Process in the coming years.

To ask the Minister for Education and Science the amount of money his Department spent on internet access for schools in 2002 and 2003; the amount that has been allocated for 2004; the percentage increase or decrease in real terms allowing for average annual inflation rates; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

For ORAL answer on Thursday, 19th February, 2004. Reference Number: 5224|04

Minister for Education and Science (Mr Noel Dempsey, T.D.)

In the 2002|03 academic year my Department assisted schools in respect of Internet access on the basis of subventing the telephone line rental, Internet Service Provider subscription cost and up to two hours dial-up usage per day. In all these supports cost some €2.2 million.

In the 2003|04 year my Department adjusted its support provision for schools' Internet access having regard to the advent in mid-2003 of significantly cheaper flat rate Internet services in the market and in view of Departmental budget constraints. An Internet support grant of €200 for a PSTN line and €300 for an ISDN line is being made available in the 2003|04 academic year, the total cost of which will be in the region of €1 million. While, in absolute terms, this represents a reduction in funding of over 50%, a more competitive market means that Internet usage charges to schools can be at least 30% lower than in the previous year as a result of the recently introduced flat rate service.

I should add that the funding support provided by my Department is an interim provision pending the introduction of a broadband Internet service for all first and second level schools. I hope to be in a position to make an
announcement in this regard in the near future.

To ask the Minister for Education and Science the plans that are in place to increase the number of second level school places in the Lucan area over the coming 12 to 18 months, particularly in relation to the development of Adamstown, which has already seen its first planning applications.

For ORAL answer on Thursday, 19th February, 2004. Reference Number: 5218|04

Minister for Education and Science (Mr Noel Dempsey, T.D.)

There are four post primary providers operating in the Lucan area. In total, the four schools currently provide 2,420 places.

In the past five years all four post primary schools have shared in a massive and sustained capital investment programme of almost €7m, which has significantly boosted capacity and substantially improved facilities. This €7m has been in addition to an investment of €12m in primary schools in the Lucan area. Accordingly, over the past five years, a sum of €19m has been invested in providing and upgrading educational provision in Lucan.

As a direct result of this investment, Coláiste Phádraig will in 2004 benefit from the completion of a major extension project which will increase capacity at the school by 300 pupil places.

In addition, a project to provide a new building for Coláiste Cois Life will also proceed to tender and construction this year. This will provide places for 600 pupils, some 400 additional places relative to existing capacity.

A third school, St. Joseph's College, will have its major extension project completed this year also which will provide an overall capacity of 725 pupil places. This is deemed sufficient to meet demand from pupils in its catchment area.

On foot of this unprecedented level of investment in schools in the Lucan area, pupil places will be increased overall by 25% over a period of five to six years. I am confident that the Deputy will accept that this represents a very clear commitment on behalf of the Government to deliver educational infrastructure in areas that are recognised as rapidly developing.

I might draw the Deputy's attention to the reality that enrolments in post primary schools in the immediate Lucan hinterland have shown a decline in the last 5 years. Almost 500 pupils places are available between these schools which can be used to alleviate any difficulties in Lucan should the need arise.

I am satisfied that the massive capital investment in the Lucan area will ensure that the demand for post- primary school places will match supply well into the future. However, my Department will continue to monitor developments to ensure that any emerging additional demands are addressed as expeditiously as possible.

In relation to the proposed development of the Adamstown Strategic Development Zone, the Deputy will appreciate that this development is an entirely separate entity from Lucan. It has its own educational infrastructural requirements which have been carefully mapped out by the local authority in consultation
with my Department. The Deputy will be aware that the phased delivery of the development, as endorsed by An Bord Pleanála, is specific in terms of targeted delivery for infrastructure including schools. My Department is working with the local authority and the developers to ensure that emerging needs in Adamstown are addressed commensurate with the development if the area.

To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of education welfare officers now in place; the number expected to be in place by the end of 2004; his Department's estimates with regard to the minimum number of officers required for the National Education Welfare Board to be able to carry out its statutory duties adequately on a nationwide basis; the likely timescale for reaching that number; the statutory role of the education welfare officer, that is under the Education Welfare Act, and the difference between this role and that of a home school liaison co-ordinator; if a vacuum currently exists in terms of responsibility for children who drop out of school; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

For PRIORITY answer on Thursday, 19th February, 2004. Reference Number: 5217|04

Minister for Education and Science (Mr Noel Dempsey, T.D.)

The National Educational Welfare Board was established to ensure that every child attends school regularly or otherwise receives an education.

The Board is developing a nationwide service to provide welfare-focused services to children, families and schools. The Board's authorised staffing complement is eighty four (84). It has recently advertised a competition to fill fifteen (15) vacancies. When these vacancies are filled the staff composition will be as follows: eleven (11) head office staff and sixty-five (65) educational welfare staff supported by (8) clerical support staff.

As provided for under Section 10 of the Education (Welfare) Act, 2000, I have arranged for officials of my Department to work with the Board to ensure that any opportunities for integrated working between educational welfare officers and staff on other educational disadvantage programmes whose work involves a school attendance element are exploited to the maximum. I consider the implementation of protocols for such integrated working on attendance matters between the NEWB and, in particular, the Home|School|Community Liaison Scheme,
the School Completion Programme and the Visiting Teacher Service for Travellers to be very important. When in place, these will assist the NEWB in carrying out its remit and ensure that all available existing resources are utilised to the full. I consider it essential that the Board should focus on ways in which it can deliver the service with its authorised personnel and with the help of other personnel involved in the area. When this has been achieved, I will consider the position again taking into account the available resources.

The duties of the Educational Welfare Officer include fostering an appreciation of the value of education, advising schools and parents on school attendance issues and on strategies to promote regular school attendance, dealing with poor attendance or early school leaving case referrals from schools using a welfare-orientated approach and initiating legal proceedings under the Act, where appropriate.

The duties of the Home|School|Community Liaison Co-ordinator include developing processes for active co-operation between home, school and relevant community agencies in promoting the educational interests of the children and visiting parents' homes. School attendance issues and learning needs are commonly discussed during these visits. Their duties also include developing parents as prime educators, enabling them to support their children's learning and addressing, through a Local Committee, school-related issues in the community
which impinge on attendance and learning.

Significant scope exists for integrated working between Educational Welfare Officers and Home|School|Community Liaison co-ordinators and discussions between the NEWB and officials of my Department are continuing with a view to finalising protocols for this as soon as possible.

Section 21 of the Act requires the principal of a recognised school to inform an educational welfare officer in writing where a pupil is absent from school for more than 20 days or where s|he is of the view that a student is not attending school regularly. This covers the situation in which a student under the age of 16 drops out of school entirely and the NEWB has put procedures in place to classify all such cases as urgent and prioritise them accordingly. Arrangements are also in place in the areas covered by my Department's School Completion Programme to target children under 16 who have dropped out of school for particular support, with the aim of ensuring their earliest possible return to full-time education.

I am satisfied that these procedures address the issue of responsibility for children who drop out of school early.

For ORAL answer on Wednesday, 25th February, 2004.Ref No: 6106|04 Lottery: 19

Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, (John O'Donoghue, T.D.)

The closing date for receipt of applications under the current round of the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme was 31 July 2000. No application was made in respect of a swimming pool in Lucan before that date.

An interdepartmental Working Group was set up in August 1999, to develop guidelines and advise on the other key issues for the operation of a Public Private Partnership (PPP) approach in relation to swimming pools. The group was chaired by my Department and made up of members from the then Department of the Environment and Local Government, the Office of Public Works and representatives from three local authorities. The work of this group is now being used to assist my Department in formulating future policy on swimming pools in the context of an Expenditure Review of the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme, which is currently underway and due to be completed by the middle of this year.

This review is examining, among other things, how the programme has worked to date, the benefits which have accrued to the areas where pools have been built and what changes, if any, are required to ensure the effective and efficient delivery of the programme. In that context, finite exchequer resources and the potential of private sector involvement in the provision of swimming pool facilities will be considered. On completion of this review, the question of revising current guidelines and re-opening the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme will be considered. Should the programme be re-opened, all local authorities will be notified.

Government policy in relation to the Public Private Partnership process is coordinated by the Department of Finance with advice on individual projects available from the National Development Finance Agency. In general terms, Public Private Partnerships can be a useful vehicle in the provision of large scale infrastructure and amenities to address the needs of expanding communities. Cooperation between local authorities and private sector can act as a means of supplementing and expanding such facilities. However while it is open to local authorities to pursue this process in relation to any project which they intend to promote, it is generally accepted that the scale of investment in a swimming pool project is not sufficiently large to support a formal PPP.

To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the situation regarding the publication of guidelines on public private partnership which has held up swimming pool projects with local authorities due to the delay in publication.

For ORAL answer on Wednesday, 26th February, 2003.Ref No: 5689|03

Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism (John O'Donoghue)

The inter-departmental working group on a Public Private Partnership (PPP) approach to the provision of swimming pools under the local authority swimming pool programme has furnished a report to my Department.

The report has been under consideration in the Department in the context of recent developments in the area of PPPs, including the agreement of a national PPP policy framework, which sets out principles which must underpin the PPP process in Ireland and the State Authorities (Public Private Partnership Arrangements) Act 2002, the primary purpose of which was to remove any doubt as to the authority of state authorities to enter into PPPs.

From 2000, under the current local authority swimming pool programme, a total of 55 applications for assistance, which had to be submitted prior to 31st July, 2000, are being processed. 10 have been or will shortly be completed, 2 are on site and a further 43 are at various stages of development.

To assist the Department is formulating future policy on swimming pools, my Department will undertake an Expenditure Review of the local authority swimming pool programme this year. This review will examine, among other things, how the programme has worked to date, the benefits which have accrued to the areas where pools have been built through the existing programme, initiatives aimed at managing the current level of indebtedness and amendments, if any, which may be required to ensure the effective and efficient delivery of the Programme. In that context and in consultation with the Department of Environment and Local Government, the potential of a Public Private Partnership approach to swimming pool provision by local authorities will be considered.

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To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if his Department has plans to develop or fund multi-use public-private sports facilities in conjunction with local authorities.

For ORAL answer on Wednesday, 26th February, 2003.Ref No: 5698|03 Lottery: 9

Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism (John O'Donoghue):

Under the national lottery-funded sports capital programme administered by my Department, funding is allocated to projects directly related to the provision of sports and recreational facilities at local, regional and national level. While the majority of the funding allocated under the Programme is provided to voluntary and community groups, there is provision in the Programme for applications to be submitted by Local Authorities. For example, under the 2002 programme grants to the value of over €9.2 million were awarded to some 29 projects either directly to local authorities or for projects where the local authority was working in partnership with a sports club or a community organisation.

In terms of multi-purpose sports complexes available to the wider community, it has been a deliberate policy of the programme, particularly in the past two years, to fund a number of such multi-sport centres under the management and control of, and located on sites owned by; local authorities, keeping in mind the existing facilities in a region. Of course such applications must, like all others, meet the terms and conditions of the sports capital programme.

Some such sports centre projects include those for Finglas, Waterford City, Navan, Ballymun, Carlow, Letterkenny and Portlaoise. Significant contributions towards the estimated cost of these projects were made by my Department on the basis that the local authorities involved would be able to raise the balance of the funding required for their completion. Certainly, I would encourage them and those local authorities planning similar facilities in the future to consider securing private sector funding proposals to assist in completing such projects.

Of the multi-purpose sports centres listed above, those for Ballymun, Finglas, Letterkenny and Portlaoise, apart from securing funding through the sports capital programme, plan to include swimming pools as part of their overall sports complex and have also applied for funding under the local authority swimming pool programme to that end. The Deputy will be aware that under this programme grants are available towards the development of new pools or the refurbishment of existing pools. The maximum grant available is 80% of the eligible cost of the project or, in disadvantaged areas 90% of it, up to a maximum of €3.8 million. Currently there are 43 projects at various stages of development under the programme.

In the overall context of the provision of sports facilities throughout the country, and in building on the substantial investment this and the previous Government has made in this area, which includes allocating over €213 million to 2,900 projects under the sports capital programme and over €57 million under the local authority swimming pool programme, this Government intends to put in place a long-term strategic plan to ensure the development of sports facilities throughout the country.

It is envisaged that a national audit of local sports facilities will also be undertaken in tandem with the development of the long-term strategy. An inter-agency steering group will be set up by the middle of this year to devise the long-term strategy for the development of sports facilities. This group will include members from a number of Government departments engaged in funding sport and recreational facilities and will examine further ways to ensure a strategic approach to facility provision.

I would hope that the strategic plan for the funding of facilities will be in place for the 2004 sports capital programme.