Written Answers Nos. 181-200
181. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education the number of years a school (details supplied) will remain at another location; if the specialist rooms, for example, the science lab, will be in place and ready for use when the new school year begins in August 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18526/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn reference to the school referred to by the Deputy, my Department can confirm that it is envisaged that the school will remain at the other location for approximately 3 years.
My Department will endeavour to ensure that the specialist rooms are being prioritised for September 2024 and will continue to keep the school updated through its Patron Body, as the project progresses.
182. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Education the status of the assimilation of primary school caretakers similar to school secretaries; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18537/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is committed to ensuring that grant-funded school caretakers will be afforded the opportunity to avail of a similar agreement that was offered to grant-funded school secretaries under the February 2022 WRC agreement. A deficit of data on caretaker terms and conditions despite a number of surveys had meant this was not possible at the time.
There has been ongoing engagement between officials within my Department and the Fórsa union regarding the development and implementation of a caretaker deal. Matters discussed have contributed to a clearer understanding of the differences in existing terms and conditions of caretakers compared to secretaries and have been helpful in forming and developing a further survey which is to be issued to schools in the near future.
The survey is an internal exercise which will allow the Department to gather and examine up to date and robust data on caretaker's terms and conditions of work and verify working patterns of grant funded school caretakers. Once the survey has been issued and schools have returned their replies, the Department will then be in a position to progress this claim further.
183. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on a school building project (details supplied); what this means in real terms for this school; when the school can expect construction work to commence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18540/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince 2020, my Department has invested in the region of €4.5 billion in our schools throughout the country, involving the completion of over 800 school building projects. Construction is currently underway at approximately 300 other projects, which includes 31 new school buildings. Projects at construction involve a total State investment of over €1.2bn.
I recently announced that close to 90 school building projects currently at tender stage will be authorised to proceed to construction over the course of 2024 and early 2025. In total, around €800 million will be invested in these projects under the department’s Large Scale Capital Programme and Additional Accommodation Scheme for essential classroom accommodation.
This level of construction rollout recognises the priority that Government puts on investment in education, including responding to the increased requirement for special education provision.
The project for the school referred to by the Deputy when complete will provide a new 16 classroom primary school building and accommodation, including 2 classrooms, for children with special educational needs on the permanent site for the school.
This project currently has planning permission and will, along with a number of other projects with planning permission, be brought to the level of employer-led design with a Design Team assigned to do so under the supervision of my Department’s Project Manager. The process of appointing the Design Team from my Department’s Frameworks of Consultants was completed in September 2023 and the project is now progressing through design development stages.
My Department will continue to liaise with school in relation to interim accommodation needs pending delivery of the school's permanent accommodation.
184. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on a school building project (details supplied); what this means in real terms for this school; when the school can expect construction work to commence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18541/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe project to which the Deputy refers has been devolved for delivery to the Central Remedial Clinic. The brief includes both the development of a new school building for pupils with special educational needs and a clinical services building. The project is currently at Stage 2a (detailed design) of the architectural planning design process.
The Stage 2a Report has recently been submitted to my Department and is under review by the Department's Professional and Technical team. It is envisaged that the Stage 2a meeting will be held with the Project Executive, Design Team and School Representatives next month. Thereafter upon Department approval of the Stage 2a report , the next stage of the process involves obtaining of the necessary statutory approvals, preparation of procurement documents for tendering and construction in due course.
In this regard, my Department has and will continue to work closely with the Central Remedial Clinic, School Representatives and Design Team in progressing this significant project.
I can assure you that my Department is committed to ensuring appropriate accommodation is available for the pupils in Scoil Mochua and will in the wider context outlined, ensure that this important project - as for all projects on the school building programme - is subject to the due diligence required under the public Infrastructure guidelines.
As the project is still at an early stage in the delivery process, it is not possible at this time to give a date for completion.
185. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on a school building project (details supplied); what this means in real terms for this school; when the school can expect construction work to commence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18542/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra186. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on a school building project (details supplied); what this means in real terms for this school; when the school can expect construction work to commence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18543/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra193. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on a school building project (details supplied); what this means in real terms for this school; when the school can expect construction work to commence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18550/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 185, 186 and 193 together.
The large scale capital project for the school referred to by the Deputy is part of a Campus project with two other schools. The project is included in the Department’s Construction Programme which will be delivered under the National Development Plan (NDP) as part of Project Ireland 2040 framework.
The project brief includes the phased construction of two 16 classroom primary schools for with a PE hall for the post primary school on a shared campus.
The Department’s planning and building unit is currently assessing its work programme and priorities for 2024 in the context of overall requirements. The campus remains a priority for delivery, in line with the accommodation issues present at the schools.
The tender process was undertaken and a contractor identified.
The next steps for the project will be the completion of the tender process and progression to Stage 4 – Construction.
The Department of Education, want to reassure the school communities that the school building project will be progressed and delivered.
The Department will update the school authorities when there is a further update on the progression of the major projects.
187. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on a school building project (details supplied); what this means in real terms for this school; when the school can expect construction work to commence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18544/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe large scale project at the school referred to by the Deputy commenced Architectural Planning Stage 4 - Construction in September 2022.
The Project brief is an extension combined with refurbishment and upgrade works to the existing buildings to cater for 1,000 pupils.
Works are progressing on site with an expected completion date of Quarter 1 2025.
188. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on a school building project (details supplied); what this means in real terms for this school; when the school can expect construction work to commence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18545/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe large scale capital project at the school referred to by the Deputy, is at Architectural Planning Stage 3 – Tender Action and Award. The project brief includes a new extension and refurbishment of the existing building, to provide accommodation for 1000 pupils with classrooms for children with Special Educational needs.
The tender report is currently under review by my Department and upon completion of this review, Department officials will be in contact with DDLETB regarding the next steps involved in progressing the project.
Since 2020, my Department has invested in the region of €4.5 billion in our schools throughout the country, involving the completion of over 800 school building projects with construction currently underway at approximately 300 other projects, which includes 31 new school buildings. These 300 projects currently at construction involve a total State investment of over €1.2bn. This is a record level of investment in our schools and highlights the Government’s very strong track record of delivery in providing additional capacity and modern facilities for our school communities.
There are also approximately 90 projects currently at the tender stage including a further 28 new school buildings. All of these new school buildings are flagship projects in their area and transform the education infrastructure for those school communities.
My Department has always operated a tightly prioritised approach to the school building programme, that is primarily focused on the delivery of additional capacity where required. This will continue to be the case.
189. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on a school building project (details supplied); what this means in real terms for this school; when the school can expect construction work to commence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18546/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe school building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is being delivered under my Department’s Design and Build Programme and will deliver a new 1,000 pupil post-primary school and accommodation, including 4 classrooms, for children with special educational needs.
The Invitation to Tender issued in April 2023, as part of a bundle of projects for 10 schools issued to the Department's Framework of Design and Build Contractors. The assessment of tenders has now concluded and a Letter of Intent (LOI) has issued to the preferred tenderer. This allows the preferred tenderer to put in place the Bond, Insurances, and confirmations of all legal arrangements required under the Contract.
The next step will be the issue of the Letter of Acceptance (LOA) to the successful contractor. This will be done following further engagement with the successful contractor in relation to the tender for the design and construction of the new schools. This engagement will also provide clarity on the contractor’s programme of works for the delivery of the project and timelines. Following receipt of all the necessary documentation and clarifications, my Department will then be in a position to issue the LOA which will allow the contractor to mobilise on site.
My Department will update the school and its patron body once the LOA has issued and will continue to liaise with school in relation to interim accommodation needs pending delivery of the school's permanent accommodation.
190. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on a school building project (details supplied); what this means in real terms for this school; when the school can expect construction work to commence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18547/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe large scale capital project for the school referred to by the Deputy is included in my Department’s Construction Programme which will be delivered under the National Development Plan (NDP) as part of Project Ireland 2040 framework.
The project brief includes the Demolition of the existing school and the phased construction of a three storey 1,000 pupil Community School with classrooms for children with special education needs and a PE Hall.
My Department’s planning and building unit is currently assessing its work programme and priorities for 2024 in the context of overall requirements. The large scale capital project remains a priority for delivery, in line with the accommodation issues present at the school.
The project is at an advanced stage of Architectural Planning Stage 3 – Tender Action and Award, the tender process was undertaken, and a contractor identified. The next steps for the project will be the completion of the tender process and progression to Stage 4 – Construction.
Department officials were in contact with the school authority to reassure them that the school building project was progressing and will be delivered.
191. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on a school building project (details supplied); what this means in real terms for this school; when the school can expect construction work to commence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18548/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince 2020, my Department has invested in the region of €4.5 billion in our schools throughout the country, involving the completion of over 800 school building projects. Construction is currently underway at approximately 300 other projects, which includes 31 new school buildings. Projects at construction involve a total State investment of over €1.2bn.
I recently announced that close to 90 school building projects currently at tender stage will be authorised to proceed to construction over the course of 2024 and early 2025. In total, around €800 million will be invested in these projects under the department’s Large Scale Capital Programme and Additional Accommodation Scheme for essential classroom accommodation.
This level of construction rollout recognises the priority that Government puts on investment in education, including responding to the increased requirement for special education provision.
The project for the school referred to by the Deputy when complete will provide a new 16 classroom primary school building and accommodation, including 4 classrooms, for children with special educational needs on the permanent site for the school.
The planning application was submitted to the local authority on 20th December 2023. A Request for Further Information was received from the local authority on 22nd February 2024 and the Department’s Project Manager and its Design Team are actively preparing a response. It is not possible to provide a timeframe for the progression of the project to tender and construction stages until such time as the necessary statutory approvals have been secured.
My Department will continue to liaise with the school and patron body in relation to interim accommodation pending delivery of the permanent school and to provide any updates in relation to progress on the school building project.
192. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on a school building project (details supplied); what this means in real terms for this school; when the school can expect construction work to commence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18549/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe campus project referred to by the Deputy is being delivered under my Department’s Design and Build Programme and will deliver a new 1,000 pupil post-primary school and accommodation, including 4 classrooms, for children with special educational needs and a new 16 classroom primary school and accommodation, including 2 classrooms, for children with special educational needs on the ETB-owned site at Fortunestown Lane.
The Invitation to Tender issued in April 2023, as part of a bundle of projects for 10 schools issued to the Department's Framework of Design and Build Contractors. The assessment of tenders has now concluded and a Letter of Intent (LOI) has issued to the preferred tenderer. This allows the preferred tenderer to put in place the Bond, Insurances, and confirmations of all legal arrangements required under the Contract.
The next step will be the issue of the Letter of Acceptance (LOA) to the successful contractor. This will be done following further engagement with the successful contractor in relation to the tender for the design and construction of the new schools. This engagement will also provide clarity on the contractor’s programme of works for the delivery of the project and timelines. Following receipt of all the necessary documentation and clarifications, my Department will then be in a position to issue the LOA which will allow the contractor to mobilise on site.
My Department will update the school and its patron body once the LOA has issued and will continue to liaise with school in relation to interim accommodation needs pending delivery of the school's permanent accommodation.
194. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on a school building project (details supplied); what this means in real terms for this school; when the school can expect construction work to commence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18551/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is currently at an advanced stage of Architectural Planning - Stage 2(b) Detailed Design, where the Design Team secure all Statutory Approvals, and complete the suite of tender documents.
The project is in the process of transferring to my Departments Adapt Programme.
The ADAPT Programme uses a professional external Project Manager to co-ordinate and drive the Design Team to achieve the best possible timeframe for the project through the stages of Architectural Planning to Tender and Construction.
A replacement Design Team has just been procured to progress this project by the Adapt Programme, and an initial briefing meeting will shortly be convened.
The Design Team will then carry out a due diligence review of the project documentation prepared to date, and will provide a report to my Department outlining their programme for completion of Stage 2 (b).
The outgoing Design Team are to submit a revised planning application to the Local Authority, and until all Statutory Approvals have been secured, and the updated programme received from the replacement Design Team , it will not be possible to provide a potential date for construction to commence.
195. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on a school building project (details supplied); what this means in real terms for this school; when the school can expect construction work to commence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18552/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra196. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on a school building project (details supplied); what this means in real terms for this school; when the school can expect construction work to commence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18553/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 195 and 196 together.
The school referred to by the Deputy is part of a joint major building project for St Thomas JNS & Scoil Áine SNS and will be delivered under my Department's ADAPT Programme.
The ADAPT Programme uses a professional external Project Manager to co-ordinate and drive the Design Team to achieve the best possible timeframe for the project through the stages of Architectural Planning to Tender and Construction.
The project is currently at the initial stage of Architectural Planning, Stage 1 – Preliminary Design, where the Design Team assess the site and current school buildings and prepare their initial sketch schemes.
A preferred design option, including the scope and extent of works to be carried out will be established during this early stage.
The Stage 1 Report was received from the Design Team in late Q4 2023 and the Stage 1 Stakeholders meeting was held in December 2023 between representatives from the Board of Management, Project Manager, Design Team and my Department.
The Design Team and School Authorities were requested to consider comments from my Department and submit a Stage 1 Addendum Report with some revisions to the design options being presented for consideration.
The Addendum Report has been received in the Department, and upon review, the school and its design team will be advised of the further progression of the project.
Until the project design is at a stage where statutory approvals are secured by the Design Team, it will not be possible to provide an estimated onsite date.
197. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Education whether her Department will consider a refurbishment of a building for a school building project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18568/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm to the Deputy, that my Department is in receipt of an application under the Additional Schools Accommodation (ASA) scheme from the school in question. The project involves the reconfiguration of rooms in a vacant 1950s building to create 2x Special Education Needs Classrooms.
The purpose of the ASA scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream and special education classroom accommodation is available to cater for pupils enrolled each year and where the need cannot be met by the school’s existing accommodation.
Since 2020, my Department has invested in the region of €4.3 billion in our schools throughout the country, including the completion of over 750 school building projects with construction currently underway at approximately 300 other projects, which includes 34 new school buildings.
School building projects at construction involve an overall State investment of over €1.2 billion. We also have a large modular accommodation programme delivering urgently needed school places. This is a record level of investment in our schools and highlights the Government’s very strong track record of delivery in providing additional capacity and modern facilities for our school communities
The Department’s overall approach is to ensure that available capacity is maximised to the greatest extent possible as part of its consideration of applications for additional accommodation. Additionally, the Department is working to ensure that projects in the pipeline for planning and delivery are focused on maximising their alignment with overall capacity requirements.
The main focus of the Department’s capital funding over the last decade and for the coming period is on provision of critical additional capacity to cater for increasing demographics and children with special education needs.
The Department is required to manage the overall school building programme so that we target and prioritise areas that are under greatest pressure for additional school places. This reflects our fundamental objective of ensuring the availability of a school place for every child.
In Wexford alone, since 2020 my Department has invested €100.5m in our schools and completed 39 school building projects.
At the present time there are:
• 11 projects under construction
• 3 projects at Stage 3 - Tender
• 6 projects at Stage 2b - Detailed Design
I can confirm that my Department has arranged for the appointment of a project manager, under the Project Manager Framework. This project manager was tasked with undertaking a buildings condition report on this vacant building, in order to make an assessment on the suitability of the building for development and the costs this will entail
The report has recently been finalised and is currently being considered by officials in my Department. The school authorities will be contacted in due course in relation to this matter.
198. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education when the guidelines for the primary school book grant will issue for 2025; and the allowance per student. [18580/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn March 2023 I introduced a groundbreaking new free Primary Schoolbook Scheme, that has provided funding directly to recognised primary and special schools to provide at a minimum, free schoolbooks, workbooks and copybooks to pupils.
More than 563,000 pupils enrolled in approximately 3,230 recognised primary schools, including over 130 special schools, have benefited from this new measure from September 2023.
This scheme requires that parents and guardians are not asked to buy or rent any schoolbooks, workbooks or copybooks while ensuring that primary and special schools retain the autonomy to choose schoolbooks and classroom resources that meet their curricular requirements.
Detailed guidance on the implementation of the scheme was published in March 2023 and funding issued to schools in advance of the start of the 2023/24 school year.
The scheme guidance for 2024/2025 is currently being finalised and has been informed by an evaluation of year 1 of the scheme and engagement with all relevant stakeholders.
Details of the scheme for the 2024/25 school year, including the per capita rate for 2024/25, will be announced shortly.
199. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Education the reason that a school (details supplied), as an ETB school, has not received DEIS status; when the school can be reconsidered for this status; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18581/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department provides a wide range of supports to all schools, DEIS and non-DEIS, to support the inclusion of all students and address barriers to students achieving their potential.
Supplementing the universal supports available to all schools, the Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools (DEIS) Programme is a key policy initiative of my Department to address concentrated educational disadvantage at school level in a targeted and equitable way across the primary and post-primary sector.
In March 2022, I announced the single largest expansion of the DEIS programme. This benefited 361 schools. The programme now includes in the region of 1,200 schools and supports approximately 260,000 students. 1 in 4 students and 30% of schools are now supported in the programme.
This expansion added an additional €32million to my Department’s expenditure on the DEIS programme from 2023, bringing the overall Department of Education allocation for the programme to over €180million.
Schools that were identified for inclusion in the programme were those with the highest levels of concentrated disadvantage as identified through the refined DEIS identification model, which is an objective, statistics-based model. Schools were not required to apply for inclusion in the DEIS programme and the model was applied fairly and equally to all schools.
The DEIS Identification process is based on the principle of concentrated disadvantage and the proportion of students from disadvantaged backgrounds within a school. The DEIS identification model aimed to identify those schools with the highest levels of disadvantage or the highest proportion of students from disadvantaged backgrounds within a school using the school’s enrolment data and national census data as represented by the Pobal HP Deprivation index which is publicly available.
It is possible for two neighbouring schools to have a different profile in terms of proportion of students from disadvantaged backgrounds and the relative weighting of disadvantage apportioned in each. The designation of neighbouring schools to DEIS or non DEIS does not mean that there is no educational disadvantage present in one school but that the concentrated level of educational disadvantage of the two schools is different.
A detailed paper on the refined DEIS identification model is available on gov.ie .
In accordance with Circular 0019/22 schools that were not satisfied with the outcome following the application of the DEIS identification model to their school enrolment data were provided with the opportunity to have that outcome reviewed. The DEIS appeals process was applied fairly across all appellants, the window for appeals has now closed and the results are final. My Department will continue to support schools to deliver high quality, inclusive teaching and learning to students and young learners.
The extension of the DEIS programme to new schools is just one component of work in my vision for an inclusive education system which supports all learners to achieve their potential. While the DEIS programme supports those schools with the highest levels of concentrated educational disadvantage, I also recognise that there are students at risk of educational disadvantage in all schools. Since June 2020, and over the past four budgets, I have secured funding to provide measures to support children in this regard.
My Department recognises the need to target resources to those schools who need them most and the next phase of work will explore the allocation of resources to all schools to tackle educational disadvantage.
The DEIS Plan is based on the premise that in order to have the maximum possible impact on providing opportunities for students most at risk of educational disadvantage, then extra resources need to be targeted as closely as possible at those students with the greatest level of need. This will involve further development of the existing DEIS programme, to create a more dynamic resource allocation model where levels of resources more accurately follow the levels of need identified by objective data.
To support this work my Department has invited the OECD Strength Through Diversity: Education for Inclusive Societies Project to review the current policy approach for the allocation of resources to support students at risk of educational disadvantage in Ireland. This review is ongoing and the OECD team estimate that the review will be complete in Q2 of 2024. This review will provide an independent expert opinion on the current resource allocation model for the DEIS programme and, drawing on international examples, inform a policy approach for an equitable distribution of supplementary resources to support students at risk of educational disadvantage attending all schools, both DEIS and non-DEIS.
In addition to this, following the National Census conducted in April 2022, an updated HP Deprivation index has now been generated by Pobal. My Department is engaging with Pobal regarding this development and this, along with other data, will be thoroughly reviewed to inform future resource allocation aimed at tackling educational disadvantage.
200. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Education when the minor works grant for primary schools will be paid. [18582/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince 2020, the Department of Education has invested in the region of €4.5 billion to add capacity and develop and upgrade school facilities across the country for the almost one million students and over 100,000 staff that learn and work in our schools every day. The Minor Works Grant is one important element of this record level of capital investment in school infrastructure.?
The Department recognises the importance of the Minor Works Grant to primary schools. Under Project Ireland 2040, a commitment was given that the Minor Works Grant would be paid in either December or January of the school year to all primary schools, including special schools. In recent years my Department’s approach has been to pay the Minor Works Grant to primary schools in advance of the start of the following school year in order to facilitate a better lead in period for schools to plan any maintenance or minor works during the summer period.
Between 2018 and 2023 in the region of €310 million in Minor Works Grants and Enhanced Minor Works Grants has been allocated to schools. The Minor Works Grant for the current school year 2023/2024, was paid in April 2023, to all primary schools including special schools.
Schools have the autonomy to use this funding for maintenance and small-scale improvements to school buildings and grounds. Given that each school setting is different, individual schools are best placed to decide how best to use this funding to address their particular needs.
The works that can be undertaken under the Minor Works Grant Scheme include maintenance and small-scale improvements to school buildings and grounds, improvement or replacement of mechanical and electrical services, the purchase of standard furniture and educational equipment, the purchase of floor coverings and window blinds, the purchase of IT related equipment, ventilation improvements, and enhancements to outdoor learning environments.
Arrangements are currently being made for the payment of €29 million in Minor Works grants to primary schools and special schools for the forthcoming 2024/25 school year and these payments will issue shortly.
