Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 24 September 2014

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection

Vote 26 - Update on Pre-Budget and Policy Issues: Minister for Education and Skills

1:10 pm

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

On page 3, it states, "keeping within the 2015 current expenditure ceiling a further net saving of €39 million is required in 2015". Perhaps the Minister can clarify that. If that figure is correct, could the Minister clarify whether that €39 million includes previously announced cuts from previous budgets, such as multi annual cuts to funding, for example the capitation grants, the increase in the student contribution fee, or is that €39 million outside of what has already been announced? If that is the case, what is the total amount of net savings the Minister is seeking in the budget?

I have a couple of brief questions on programme A. They are policy issues which will feed into budget issues. One relates to the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, working group and the new model for allocation. I read the briefing document that the Minister received when she took up office. It states that the new model is not expected to be implemented next year, so I presume that there will be no funding set aside for that. The Minister might clarify that. The briefing document she received states that the new model might not be in place until 2016-17, which she might also be able to confirm.

The other issue I want to touch on briefly concerns new teachers.

There is an amendment to the Teaching Council Act coming forward which relates to the vetting of new teachers. It only covers the teaching profession and excludes everyone else within a school setting. People like special needs assistants and caretakers will not be covered by the amendment. It states in the Minister's briefing document that there would be a risk in the appointment of SNAs to schools as a result of that vetting legislation. What steps will be taken in 2015 to address those delays or possible delays?

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