Thomas Byrne
Question:107. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a new school building (details supplied). [13928/16]
View answerSchools Building Projects Status
Questions (107)
Written answers
The major building project for the school in question is at an advanced stage of architectural planning, Stage 2(b) - Detailed Design, which includes the applications for Planning Permission, Fire Certificate and Disability Access Certificate and the preparation of Tender Documents. All statutory approvals have been secured and the Design have been authorised to complete Stage 2b.
The design team will submit the stage 2(b) report to the Department when it is completed and the Department will revert to the school with regard to the further progression of the project following consideration of that report.
School Accommodation
Questions (108)
Billy Kelleher
Question:108. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will sanction a 12th classroom to facilitate a school's (details supplied) enrolment figures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13929/16]
View answerWritten answers
I wish to advise the Deputy that the school to which he refers has been allocated funding under my Department's Additional Accommodation Scheme to provide an additional mainstream classroom and accommodation for an ASD class. The final approval letter issued on 17th May last.
Subsequently, my Department received an appeal from the school referred to, seeking approval for the provision of further classroom accommodation. The appeal is currently under consideration and a decision will be conveyed to the school authority as soon as this process is finalised.
Summer Works Scheme Applications
Questions (109)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:109. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an application by a school (details supplied) for funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13957/16]
View answerWritten answers
I wish to advise the Deputy that the application submitted by the school under the Summer Works Scheme (SWS) 2016-2017 does not include for the additional accommodation needs referred to. It is, however, open to the school to submit an application under my Department's Emergency Works Scheme in respect of essential works required to facilitate a child with special needs. The appropriate application is available on my Department's website, www.education.ie.
Special Educational Needs
Questions (110)
Mick Wallace
Question:110. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the implementation of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004, including the date for its full implementation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13968/16]
View answerWritten answers
A number of sections of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004 have been commenced, including those establishing the National Council for Special Education and those promoting an inclusive approach to the education of children.
The remaining sections of the EPSEN Act have yet to be commenced. Legal advice indicates that the EPSEN Act, as it is currently constituted, may not be implemented on a phased, or age cohort, basis.
The NCSE has published a Plan for the Implementation of the EPSEN Act. This report, which was published in 2006, made recommendations which suggested that additional investment over a period of years of up to €235m per annum, across the education and health sectors, would be required to fully implement the EPSEN Act.
My Department's opinion is that the level of investment required could be significantly greater than that envisaged in the NCSE report.
While awaiting the full implementation of the EPSEN Act, the NCSE has published a number of policy advice papers which make recommendations aimed at developing a better or more effective alternative to the current resource allocation model, and which aims to move the system towards ultimate implementation of the EPSEN Act.
These reports include the NCSE policy advice on Supporting Students with Special Educational Needs in Schools, published in 2013, and the Report of the Working Group on a Proposed New Model for Allocating Teaching Resources for pupils with Special Educational Needs, published in 2014.
The alternative model is currently being piloted in 47 schools and the effectiveness of the pilot is being reviewed. This review will allow us to take into account the learning experiences of schools, principals, pupils and the views of parents over the course of the pilot.
It is therefore intended to bring into effect many of the good ideas contained in the EPSEN Act, on a non-statutory basis initially, through policy developments across a range of areas, in conjunction with NCSE policy advice.
Under the Programme for a Partnership Government, I have also committed to consulting with stakeholders to see how best to progress sections of the EPSEN Act that were introduced on a non-statutory basis.
Special Educational Needs Staff
Questions (111)
Mick Wallace
Question:111. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a school (details supplied) will retain its current number of special needs assistants for the 2016-17 school year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13969/16]
View answerWritten answers
I wish to advise the Deputy that recent years have seen an increase in the number of SNAs from 10,575 posts in 2011, to 12,040 to June 2016. In the same period the number of children accessing SNA support has grown from approximately 22,000 to some 30,000 by the end of 2015.
The increase in SNA numbers has been supported by a very significant increase in the Budget for SNAs, rising from €332 million in 2011 to €402 million by the end of 2015.
This is a higher level of Special Needs Assistant (SNA) support than ever before, which ensures that children with special educational needs can continue to participate in education and be supported in a manner appropriate to their needs.
The Deputy will be aware that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), is responsible for allocating a quantum of Special Needs Assistant (SNA) support for each school annually taking into account the assessed care needs of children qualifying for SNA support enrolled in the school. Where children have significant care needs whereby they may need additional support to be able to attend school, the NCSE may make an allocation of SNA support to the school to assist that child.
The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support, which is set out in my Department's Circular 0030/2014.
All schools were asked to apply for SNA support for the 2016/17 school year by 29th February 2016.
The NCSE continues to accept applications in recognition that enrolments may not have been completed or where assessments were not completed. The NCSE will consider these applications and make further allocations to schools in respect of valid applications which have been received to September.
The NCSE is currently assessing demand for SNA support for the coming school year and will advise all schools of their allocations for SNA support for 2016/17, before the end of the current school year.
All schools have the names and contact details of their local SENO. Parents may also contact their local SENO directly to discuss their child's special educational needs, using the contact details available on www.ncse.ie.
As the Deputy's question relates to the allocation of SNA support by the NCSE to a particular school, I have referred this question to the NCSE for their consideration and direct reply to the Deputy.
Schools Building Projects Status
Questions (112)
Catherine Connolly
Question:112. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education and Skills when he will make a decision on the construction of a boundary wall between a school and a residential area, given health and safety requirements and that the necessary documents, costings and revised costings have been submitted; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13970/16]
View answerWritten answers
The Planning and Building Unit of my Department has carried out an initial review of the cost estimate provided for the replacement of the wall at the school in question.
On foot of this examination a number of issues require to be addressed by the Board of Management. A letter regarding these matters will issue in the next few days.
When the requested information has been provided, the matter will be considered further.
Teacher Redeployment
Questions (113)
Brendan Griffin
Question:113. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will review a case and provide panel rights to a person (details supplied); the options available to the person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13989/16]
View answerWritten answers
The core function of the redeployment arrangements is to facilitate the redeployment of all surplus permanent teachers to other schools that have vacancies. Thereafter, schools are required under the panel arrangements to fill permanent vacancies from supplementary panels comprised of eligible fixed-term (temporary/substitute) and part-time teachers.
The arrangements for panel access for fixed-term (temporary), substitute and part-time teachers to the Supplementary Redeployment Panel for the 2016/17 school year are set out in Circular 0058/2015 which is available on the Department website.
Applicants must meet all of the published criteria in order to gain access to the Supplementary Redeployment Panel.
The teacher referred to by the Deputy failed to meet the criteria and is therefore ineligible to be included on the Supplementary Redeployment Panel.