Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Deputy McConalogue covered almost everything, but I have some brief questions on policy issues. How is the action plan on bullying progressing and how is the success of its roll-out being measured? Perhaps the Minister would give an update on it. Also, will he outline how the guidelines on mental health are proceeding? How is the Department measuring their success or lack of it?

With regard to the reform of the junior cycle, a reply I received recently to a parliamentary question stated that it would cost approximately €10 million in total to implement it. It is expected to cost €5 million this year. Deputy McConalogue asked some of the relevant questions about that, but perhaps there could be more discussion of it. Obviously, that is important in view of the current impasse between teachers and the Department regarding its roll-out.

With regard to the value for money report on SNAs, one of the key outputs for 2014 is to provide other supports for pupils with special educational needs and to further implement the recommendations of the value for money report on SNAs. Can we get more detail on that? What elements of the report is the Minister hoping to implement in 2014 and at what cost?

As regards DEIS, I read recently that the Minister is in discussions with the Minister of Education in Northern Ireland, whose Department is looking at the DEIS model. As far as I am aware, there were some discussions between both Departments on how to evaluate the success of DEIS. I recall that when I was speaking to the Minister, Mr. John O'Dowd MLA, he said the Department was examining some cross-Border initiatives particularly in respect of schools in disadvantaged areas and it was looking at the DEIS model in this State and, perhaps, taking on board the lessons that have been learned and implementing it in the North.

I had noted a question on early school years education but I cannot locate it now. I will return to it later. With regard to the National Educational Psychological Service, NEPS, the target for last year was that the NEPS would be available to approximately 95% of the target population and this year we intend to roll it out to all schools. Will that target be reached this year? The target for 2013 was 95% of the target population and one of the key outputs for this year is that it will reach all ordinary and second level schools.

On Question Time yesterday we discussed the funding for the book rental scheme. It is €5 million over three years which is coming from national lottery funds. Again, could we discuss that a little further? The Minister said yesterday that he would consider the possibility of getting more information during the course of 2014 and reviewing the scheme at the end of this year, to see if we could help schools that have school book rental schemes but are in the very early stages of getting them off the ground.

I might have further questions based on the Minister's replies.