Written answers
Thursday, 8 July 2010
Department of Education and Science
Departmental Reports
10:00 pm
Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 748: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the number of reports commissioned by her Department in the past five years; the number commissioned and not published on her website; the cost of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31658/10]
Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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While the Deputy has sought the relevant information for the past five years, I understand that he has indicated to my officials that he is satisfied to receive information in relation to reports commissioned by my Department over the last three years as this information is readily available. Accordingly the information in relation to reports commissioned in the years 2007 to 2009 in set out below.
The total number of reports commissioned during 2007-2009 totals 32 and of these 24 were not published on my Department's website. The total cost of the 32 reports commissioned was approximately €1.075 million.
For the Deputy's information, since November 2008 it is Departmental policy to distribute reports by electronic means where feasible. The aim of this policy is to reduce the need to print official documents and thereby reduce printing and distribution costs.
| Report Title | Reason for Report | Year Set up & Commissioned | Published on Department's Website | Cost |
| ("no report" if no | (2007, 2008 or 2009) | |||
| report was commissioned) | "Yes" or "No" | |||
| Minister's ICT in Schools Strategy Group | To advise on the priorities for investment in ICT in Schools. | 2008 | Yes | €50,137.30 |
| ICT in Schools Joint Advisory Group of the Minister | To explore, with industry, possible approaches to implementing the recommendations set out in the Strategy Group Report | 2009 | No | Nil |
| Joint Review of North South educational exchanges and supporting mechanisms | To identify a range of options and to make recommendations to the two Departments of Education on the most appropriate mechanism to coordinate, manage and jointly fund North South cooperative activities in the education and youth sectors. | 2007 | No | €11,759.87 |
| IT Service Delivery Capacity Review | The reason for the review was to assess the service delivery capacity of the IT Unit, to provide recommendations for improvements and to produce a high level implementation plan. | 2007 | No | €55,720.00 |
| Learner Database | Undertake study on feasability and desirability of coordinating on-line collection of data from schools. | 2008 | No | €26,379.69 |
| Educational Disadvantage in Primary Schools in Rural Areas. This report is the first of a number of reports due to be produced by the Educational Research Centre (ERC) as part of their evaluation of the DEIS action plan. | DEIS, the Department's Action Plan for Educational Inclusion was published in 2005.A vital element of the DEIS initiative is the commitment to develop and implement an in-depth programme of research and evaluation to inform policy formation and to facilitate a better understanding of the role which interventions have to play in the achievement of better outcomes for children targeted by the DEIS action plan.In this context, the Department has commissioned the Educational Research Centre (ERC) to conduct an independent evaluation of measures in the School Support Programme (SSP) over the period of the DEIS action plan to 2010.The ERC produced a report on Rural Disadvantage in March 2009, entitled "Educational Disadvantage in Primary Schools in Rural Areas".The costs of the evaluation of DEIS are largely being borne by the ERC as part of their contract with the Department. Additional Costs associated with data collection which largely relate to travel and subsistence are recouped from the Department. | Commissioned Earlier (2005) | Yes | NIL - see column 2 |
| OECD - Thematic Review of Migrant Education- Country Report - Ireland | To assess the provision being put in place for migrant students at pre-school, primary and post-primary level in Ireland. | 2008 | No | €65,000.00 |
| ESRI - "Adapting to Diversity: Irish Schools and Newcomer Students" | To carry out and subsequently analyse a detailed survey of primary and post-primary schools addressing the question of migrant education | 2008 | No | €254,157.00 |
| Value for Money Review of Expenditure on English as an Additional Language | To analyse current and previous expenditure in this area and to make recommendations for more effective and efficient use of resources. | 2008 | No | Research carried out internally - The quality assessor's (external) costs amounted to €3,371.63 |
| Paper on Southern Irish Postgraduates in Northern Ireland | Commissioned in the context of the Student Support Bill | 2007 | No | €6,030.00 |
| Review of Paper on Southern Irish Postgraduates in Northern Ireland | Section 9 (4) of the Student Support Bill allows the Minister to prescribe courses that are provided in Northern Ireland as approved courses having regard to the relevant purposes outlined at subsection (8). Subsection (6) provides that the Minister shall, no less than once a year, conduct a review of the course for the purpose of satisfying himself or herself that it continues to fulfil any one of the relevant purposes mentioned in subsection (8). The review paper was commissioned to meet the requirement at Subsection (6) of the Student Support Bill. | 2009 | No | €2,000.00 |
| NEPS ICT Systems Requirements Analysis | An analysis of requirements for an information management system for the National Educational Psychological Service. | 2006/7 | No | €55,055.00 |
| National Strategy for Higher Education | Development of a new national strategy for higher education. | 2009 | No | not yet completed |
| Application by Waterford Institute of Technology for designation as a University - Advice to the Minister for Education and Science | Dr. Jim Port, JM Consulting, conducted a preliminary examination of Waterford Institute of Technology's application for designation as a university having regard to: (i) the national strategy for the development of Irish higher education, (ii) the implications for regional development in the South-East in the context of the National Spatial Strategy, and (iii) any likely implications for the overall structure of higher education in Ireland. | 2007 | Yes | €21,334 |
| Designing Primary Schools for the Future | The key objective of this project was to assess the implications for primary school building design of current and anticipated future developments in teaching and learning methods, tools and technologies. | 2007 | No | €89,183.74 |
| Review of Overhead Costs & Other Indirect Costs for the Administration of the School Transport Scheme | Recommendation in the Internal Audit Report (November 2007). | 2009 | No | €55,701 (excl VAT) €67,676.72 (incl. VAT) |
| School Transport Value for Money Report | Approved by Government as a topic for inclusion as part of the 2009-2011 round of Value for Money Reviews. | 2009 | No | |
| Future skills demand within the Early Childhood Care and Education Sector | In 2008, a report on future skills demand within the Early Childhood Care and Education Secto was commissioned. The report would support the development of a National Childcare Training Strategy which is now known as the Workforce Development Plan for the sector. The report hasn't been completed because of the rate of change within the ECCE sector and within the economy. When the report was commissioned, the economy was still expected to grow according to the ESRI at the time.At the time, the report was to cost €41,000 (excl VAT). €10,959.49 (excl VAT) is still payable for the report | 2008 | No | 41,000 (excl. VAT) 10,959.49 (excl. VAT) still payable |
| Investing Effectively in Information & Communications Technology in Schools 2008 - 2013 | To advise on the priorities for investment in ICT in Schools. | 2008 | Yes | €50,137.30 |
| Smart Schools = Smart Economy | To explore, with industry, possible approaches to implementing the recommendations set out in the Strategy Group Report. | 2009 | No | Nil |
| Broadband Evaluation Report | Consultant engaged to carry out independent analysis of progress and developments in the Broadband programme and to make appropriate recommendations for programme adjustments on the basis of this analysis. | 2008 | Yes | €74,363.05 |
| An evaluation of the Post-Graduate Certificate/Diploma Programme of Continuing Professional Development in Special Educational Needs (Autistic Spectrum Disorder). | To provide an external evaluation of the quality of a Post-Graduate programme partially sponsored by the Department for the continuing professional development of teachers of children with ASDs and by extension the value for money. | 2008 | No | €5,000.00 |
| Education for Sustainable Development. | Development of National Strategy for Education for Sustainable Development. | 2007 | No | €46,610.00 |
| Value for Money Review of the Youth Encounter Project carried out by DES officials and DES Inspectorate and Published September 2008. | * This cost is in relation to the assessment of the report by an Independent Evaluator in accordance with the guidelines for VFM reports set by the Department of Finance | Yes | *€3,267 | |
| Scoping Paper in relation to Disability in Further Education. | To ascertain the parameters of provision for learners with disabilities in Further Education and Lifelong learning. | 2008 | No | €4,087.00 |
| Development of a National English Language Policy and Framework for Legally-Resident Adult Immigrants. | In 2007, The Department of Education and Science, in conjunction with the Reception and Integration Agency, commissioned a report on the "Development of a National English Language Policy and Framework for Legally-Resident Adult Immigrants" (the functions of the RIA in this matter were subsequently assumed by the Office of the Minister for Integration). The objective of the report was to assist in the development of policy and a framework for progress in this field. The report cost was split between the Department of Education and Science and the Office of the Minister for Integration. The Department of Education and Science component of the cost was 116,409.13. The OMI component of the cost was 124,494.13. The report has not yet been published and copies have not been laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas. | 2007 | No | DES: €116,409.13 OMI: €124,494.13 |
| "So, is there more than what's the score?" | Exploring literacy as part of a holistic initial assessment process in a lifelong learning society. | 2008 | No | €15,000.00 |
| Evaluation of the Youthreach Special Educational Needs (SEN) Pilot Initiative. | To calculate the impact and indicate possible amendments. | 2007 | Yes | €52,060.00 |
| Review of Development Education Centre and associated services provided by Daughters of Charity, St. Vincent's Navan Road, Dublin. | Evaluation of pilot project | 2008 | No | €6,400.00 |
| Policy Options for New Student Contributions in Higher Education, Report to Minister for Education and Science. | Options for the reintroduction of third level fees. | 2009 | Yes | N/A |
| Career framework for contract researchers in Higher Education, Report to Higher Education Research Group | To develop strategy for career structures for Researchers. | 2008 | No | N/A |
| Evaluation of Pilot Quality Standards Framework Initiative. | This report was commissioned by Youth Affairs Section which has now transferred to the Department of Health and Children. | 2008 | No | €32,790.00 (cost in 2008 €29,290) |
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