Written Answers Nos. 138-43
138. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which discussions are ongoing with the relevant unions with a view to achieving an amicable settlement in respect of reform of the junior certificate cycle and-or any other outstanding issues; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15962/15]
View answerI have accepted Paraic Travers' revised and clarified proposal of 23 February as the basis for agreement on the implementation of Junior Cycle reform. It addresses, I believe, concerns on the union side while retaining many of the important benefits for learners.
I have a mandate to act responsibly on behalf of our junior cycle students, their parents and our wider society. That is why I have signalled my intention to now proceed with implementation of Junior Cycle reform on the basis of the Travers proposals. And it is my intention to work with all interested partners in advancing that. I remain open to the two post-primary teacher unions coming on board and working with not only the Department, but also the other education partners.
However, I cannot wait indefinitely for the teacher unions'. I cannot entertain further efforts to seek to erode essential elements of the new programme. I held a conference on 26 March called Junior Cycle Advancing Implementation. Representatives of the two teachers unions attended the opening session of this conference. Videos and presentations from that conference are available on my Department's website at www.education.ie. I want the teacher unions involved. The Travers 23 February document is the basis for the way forward. If the Unions accept this then I would be willing to work with them alongside the other partners on implementing the reform of the junior cycle.
139. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which class sizes and pupil-teacher ratios in the classroom have fluctuated in the past six years; the extent to which it is expected to progressively improve the ratio; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15963/15]
View answerThe statistics section of my Department's website contains extensive data relating to schools at primary and post-primary level. The most recent published information relates to the 2013/2014 school year.
Data in relation to the 2014-15 school year will be published later in the current school year.My focus in Budget 2015 was on obtaining the additional funding that was necessary to provide for demographic growth. The last Budget included an increase in spending on education for the first time in recent years, amounting to additional funding of €60m during 2015. This funding will be used to provide 1,700 additional teachers and SNAs for our schools, as well as to fund prioritised reforms, such as implementation of the literacy and numeracy strategy, reform of junior cycle, and the introduction of education focussed preschool inspections.
The improvements in the primary staffing schedule for small schools which I announced in February last are the only changes that I will be making to the staffing arrangements for schools for the 2015/16 school year. The staffing arrangements for schools currently include the provision where schools experiencing rapid increases in enrolment can apply for additional permanent mainstream posts on developing grounds. Such posts are provisionally approved pending confirmation of actual enrolment on the following 30 September.
The Government's approach to restoring the economy has helped Ireland to return to a position where we are seeing economic growth. It is a continuing improvement in our economic growth over a sustained period that will enable us to move to a point where we can look again at providing for additional teacher resources in schools which could bring about further improvement in PTR, class size and support for classroom teachers. The challenge for all schools is to ensure that they utilise their allocated resources to best effect to maximise teaching and learning outcomes.
140. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she remains satisfied regarding the availability of adequate special needs classes at primary and secondary level, the regions and areas most likely to require extra facilities in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15964/15]
View answer141. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which she remains satisfied regarding the availability of resource or special needs teachers at primary and secondary level; the extent to which she expects to be in a position to provide extra facilities in areas most in need in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15965/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 140 and 141 together.
The Deputy will be aware that this Government is committed to ensuring that all children with Special Educational Needs can have access to an education appropriate to their needs, preferably in school settings through the primary and post primary school network. Many pupils with special educational needs will be able to attend a local mainstream school, whereas for pupils who have needs which require more specialist interventions, special class and special school placements are provided for.
As part of Budget 2015, I announced that an additional 365 Special Needs Assistant (SNA) posts are being provided in 2015, as well as an additional 480 Resource Teachers, to take into account increased demand and demographic growth and to ensure that children can continue to have access to additional supports in school. This is the highest number of Resource Teaching and SNA support that we have ever had. In addition, over 130 new Special Classes have been established for the 2014-15 school year. The number of special classes attached to mainstream schools is growing annually and there are now approximately 860 Special Classes in place around the country.
The NCSE will continue to engage with schools in order to plan for, and to open, new special classes each year in order to ensure there are sufficient special class placements available at primary and post primary school level to meet demand in a given area. These increases, building on increases which have already been provided in recent years, will ensure that children with special educational needs can continue to participate in education and be supported in a manner appropriate to their needs. Investment in education has been a priority for this Government and we have been resolutely committed to protecting, and in some instances increasing, the level of investment being made to support children with special educational needs at a time when there has been a requirement to make expenditure reductions across a range of areas.
It is an area of spending which has been prioritised above most other areas by this Government, despite the enormous pressures on all areas of public spending.
142. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which she proposes to replace, extend or upgrade primary and second level accommodation in various areas, indicating a particular deficiency in this regard; if she expects to be in a position to augment her Department’s proposals for remediation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15966/15]
View answer143. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which her already published school building programme merits further enhancement, arising from demographic changes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15967/15]
View answer145. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the degree to which she remains satisfied regarding the adequacy of primary and secondary level school places, in the towns and villages throughout County Kildare; if she foresees further action by way of augmentation, in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15969/15]
View answer151. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which facilities need to be upgraded and-or replaced in smaller or rural primary schools throughout County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15975/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 142, 143, 145 and 151 together.
I wish to advise the Deputy that over €2.2 billion in funding is being invested by my Department under its Five-Year School Capital Investment Plan, 2012 – 2016. Over €1.5 billion of this is being allocated for the funding of major school building projects across the country, including Co. Kildare. The balance is being used for programmes such as the additional accommodation scheme, the prefab replacement initiative, the Emergency Works Scheme and the acquisition of sites. The primary focus of the plan is on meeting demographic demands to ensure that every child will have access to a physical school place and that our school system is in a position to cope with increasing pupil numbers.
In addition, my Department considers applications on an ongoing basis from individual schools for funding to meet an immediate accommodation requirement because of increased enrolments and where an additional teacher is being appointed. My Department continues to review the most up to date demographic information to ensure that any emerging school accommodation shortfall, at both primary and post primary level, is identified and met in a timely manner.
The Deputy will also be aware that I recently announced a €36 million investment programme for the upgrade of 559 schools throughout the country, including schools in Kildare, under the current Summer Works Scheme (SWS). The 559 projects recently approved, will bring the total number of school projects being funded under the SWS to over 1,300, involving a total expenditure of almost €108 million. A list of these schools is available on my Department's website.
In addition, in November 2014, I announced the allocation of more than €28 million to primary schools under the Minor Works Grant Scheme. This will allow schools to carry out improvement works to school buildings and grounds. The current status of all projects, and details of schools approved capital funding, may be viewed on my Department's website at www.education.ie and this will be updated regularly throughout the year.
