Education cuts deepen as expenses gravy train rolls on Sinn Féin’s Education Spokesperson Seán Crowe TD has called on Minister, Ruairí  Quinn, TD, to explain what measures his Department intends to introduce to prevent the abuse of expenses at Third Level Institutions. Crowe referred to the issue at the yearly Estimates Meeting, when he asked […]

Tallaght Hospital – an example of all that is wrong with the Irish healthcare system – Deputy Seán Crowe   Speaking in the Dáil on Tuesday evening on a Sinn Féin Private Members’  Bill which seeks to secure funding for essential services in hospitals  across the Irish State, Dublin South West TD Seán Crowe highlighted  problems […]

SF determined to resist cuts to SNAs – Deputy Seán Crowe Speaking after raising the issue of cuts to SNAs during a committee meeting in the Dáil that looked at education budget estimates, Sinn Féin’s Education Spokesperson Deputy Seán Crowe said: “Cuts to SNAs in schools across the state are having a far reaching and […]

LUAS extension a good news story for Tallaght – Crowe Dublin South West TD Seán Crowe has welcomed today’s opening of the Luas Citywest 4.2km extension that will serve existing communities and developments in Fettercairn, Cheeverstown (Brookfield and Ard Mor), Citywest, Fortunestown and Saggart. Speaking after attending the opening of the new line, Deputy Crowe said it […]

Crowe supports Tallaght Hospital South Dublin West Sinn Féin TD Seán Crowe joined members of the Tallaght Hospital Action Group this afternoon protesting at the cuts being imposed on Tallaght Hospital and the loss of services that has endangered the lives of patients. Crowe, who lives in Tallaght, is a member of the Tallaght Hospital Action Group,and has campaigned […]

Crowe – Investment in Education Investing in Future Sinn Féin’s Dáil Education Spokesperson  Deputy Seán Crowe, has met with officials’ from the Association of Secondary Teachers, Ireland, (ASTI) including The Union’s Assistant General Secretary, Moira Leydon, and Diarmaid de Paor, the organisation’s Deputy General Secretary Describing the meeting as ‘ useful and informative,’ the Tallaght based TD said he […]

Patients in Danger at Tallaght Hospital Dublin South West TD Seán Crowe has said he shares many of the concerns expressed by The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) who today highlighted the fact that Tallaght Hospital is not effectively managing the risks to patients requiring acute admission. Deputy Seán  Crowe who lives in Tallaght and is long time […]

Crowe  more resouces needed after Coroner Highlights Hospital Failure Dublin South West TD Seán Crowe has supported comments made today by Dublin county coroner Dr Kieran Geraghty who described Tallaght Hospital as being a “very dangerous place to be for anybody, let alone a sick patient” Crowe, who lives in Tallaght has long campaigned for additional resources for […]

Crowe slams Council over Bully Boy  threat to residents Sinn Féin TD Seán Crowe has described as unacceptable, the outrageous the bully boy tactics being used by  Dún Laoghaire/ Rathdown County Council in  threatening to send debt collectors to the homes of residents who have fallen behind with their bin payments including many pensioners. Deputy […]

The questions below are questions put the The Minister for Education and Skills

Uimhir:11, 9

Ceist Pharlaiminte

Chun an Aire Oideachais agus Eolaíoctha
To the Minister for Education and Science

To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans for the vocational
education committees..
– Michael Colreavy. (Nominated by: Seán Crowe).

To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to
the fact that County Louth Vocational Education Committee will see a 200
student increase in its first year post primary classes in September 2011; if
his further attention has been drawn to the work being conducted by the VEC
sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
-Gerry Adams. (Nominated by: Seán Crowe).

For ORAL answer on Wednesday, 4th May, 2011.
Reference Number: 9834/11, 9836/11

Freagra

Minister Ruairí Quinn

I propose to take questions 11 and 9 together.

Co. Louth VEC has informed my Department that it is projecting an increased
enrolment of 216 students in September 2011. My Department has therefore given
provisional approval for an additional 11 teaching posts which will be subject
to confirmation of the actual enrolment in September. All vacancies and any
additional teaching posts should where possible be filled through the
redeployment of surplus permanent teachers.

Devolved funding for nine additional mainstream classrooms was approved by my
Department in 2010 for schools that operate under the management of County
Louth VEC, in order to cater for their immediate accommodation needs. The
classrooms are currently in construction and should be ready for occupation in
September 2011.

I appreciate the record of accomplishment of Vocational Education Committees
throughout this country in delivering a high quality education. The VEC system
has made a significant contribution to the development of our education system.
It has a tradition of providing high quality education and of placing a
particular emphasis on meeting the needs of the most disadvantaged in our
society.

As the Deputy will be aware, the previous Government decided to reduce the
number of VECs from 33 to 16, and on the merger of particular VECs. I want to
ensure that progress is made in bringing about a reduction in the number of
VECs. I invited the Irish Vocational Education Association (IVEA) to submit
alternative rationalisation proposals, as it had expressed concerns regarding
the configuration of the proposed new entities.

The IVEA will be responding shortly. I have made clear to the IVEA that while I
am open to considering proposals on alternative configurations, the invitation
does not mean that the process of rationalisation will be slowed or diminished
in any way. In considering the submission from IVEA regarding particular
mergers, I will be seeking savings and ensuring that the new structure will
involve a substantial reduction in the number of individual bodies but with
each one of greater scale than is the case at present. I am confident that this
merger will ensure an even higher quality educational service for students and
the public alike.

Regardless of the final shape of the re-configuration, there will still be a
requirement for co-operation and joint endeavour between all of the new local
bodies. The current work on arriving at a single grant awarding body for the
student support schemes is a good example of avoiding duplication and achieving
improved public service delivery.

The enormous challenges faced by the education system, and our country, place
demands on all of our public services to innovate and re-invent. The
rationalised new bodies will position the VEC sector to turn these challenges
into opportunities.

Uimhir:12

Ceist Pharlaiminte

Chun an Aire Oideachais agus Eolaíoctha
To the Minister for Education and Science

To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the date on which he will publish
a plan for the full implementation of the EPSEN Act 2004..
– Aengus Ó Snodaigh. (Nominated by: Seán Crowe).

For ORAL answer on Wednesday, 4th May, 2011.
Reference Number: 9852/11

Freagra

Minister Ruairí Quinn

The Programme for Government sets out that education will be a priority for
this Government and that we will endeavour to protect and enhance the
educational experience of children, young people and students. To that end, we
are committing – during the tenure of this Government – to the publication of a
plan for the implementation of the Education for Persons with Special
Educational Needs Act 2004 (EPSEN) to prioritise access for children with
special needs to an individual education plan. The priority will be to move to
a system where necessary supports follow a child from primary to second level
and to achieve greater integration of special needs-related services.

The Deputy will know that a number of sections of the EPSEN Act have already
been commenced.

As required under the Act, the NCSE made recommendations regarding the
implementation of EPSEN which suggested additional investment over a period of
years of up to €235m per annum across the education and health sectors. My
Department’s opinion is that the level of investment required would be greater
than that envisaged in the NCSE report.

In the light of the very difficult economic situation, and these significant
costs, the previous Government deferred the full implementation of EPSEN.

It is my intention to prepare a plan to implement EPSEN in line with the
programme for Government, subject to the serious financial constraints which we
have inherited from the previous Fianna Fáil/Green Party Government. All parts
of the EPSEN legislation, which have not been commenced to date, will have to
be considered during this process. The Deputy will appreciate that commencement
of individual aspects of the EPSEN legislation in isolation is difficult
because of linkages across the various sections. Given the extent of the
considerations required and also requirements to consider a number of other
priority policy areas in relation to the education of children with special
educational needs, it is not possible at this point to advise a specific date
for the publication of this plan at this early stage of the Government’s term
in office.