Thursday, 19 Apr 2018

Written Answers Nos. 137-147

School Accommodation Provision

Questions (137)

Paul Kehoe

Question:

137. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an application by a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17171/18]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I can confirm to the Deputy that the school in question submitted an application for additional accommodation. The application will be considered and a decision will be conveyed to the school authority as soon as the assessment process has been completed.

School Accommodation Provision

Questions (138)

Tony McLoughlin

Question:

138. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a decision on an application by a school (details supplied) will be made; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that if a decision is not forthcoming the school will have no other option but to begin implementing student caps from 2019 onwards; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that a phased development plan for this application would be possible; if an official in his Department will make contact with the school to discuss the matter further; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17173/18]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I wish to confirm to the Deputy that an application seeking significant levels of additional accommodation has been received from the school referred to.

The application is currently being considered and a decision will be advised to the school authorities shortly.

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Questions (139)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

139. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to facilitate an additional specialised educational unit as a part of a campus (details supplied); if the existing units will be extended to accommodate additional pupil needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17177/18]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible for organising and planning provision for children with Special Educational Needs, including the establishment of special classes in mainstream primary and post primary schools.

Special classes offer a supportive learning environment to students with ASD who are unable to access the curriculum in a mainstream class, even with support, for most or all of their school day. Special classes are for students who have a recommendation for a special class placement in their professional reports.

Should the NCSE identify the requirement for additional special class placements in the area it will contact schools in the area in relation to establishing an ASD special class. Schools may also apply to the NCSE to open a special class where a need has been identified in their area i.e. a number of students have professional reports indicating they require the support of a special class.

The NCSE, in looking to open special classes, must take into account the present and future potential need for such classes, taking particular account of the educational needs of the children concerned. The NCSE will also take account of location and sustainability in looking to establish special classes in certain areas.

In addition, the NCSE will consider:

- the school’s accommodation and accessibility

- the number of special classes, if any, already in the school.

With regard to Co. Kildare in particular, there are 4 special schools and 66 special classes attached to mainstream schools. Of these, 6 are ASD early intervention classes, 41 are primary ASD classes and 12 are post primary ASD classes. The number of ASD special classes in Co. Kildare have increased from 17 in 2011/2012 to 65 in 2017/2018.

The NCSE has informed my Department that they intend to establish a number of new ASD Special Classes in Co. Kildare for 2018/19 school year to meet currently identified need.

In the case of all new schools, it is general practice to include a Special Needs Unit (SNU) in the accommodation brief for new school buildings, unless local circumstances indicate that it will not be required. A two classroom Special Needs Unit is being provided in each of the two post-primary schools currently under construction in the area referred to by the Deputy. Both of these schools are due to be completed by May 2019.

Parents/Guardians who may need advice or are experiencing difficulties in locating a school placement, including special class placement, should contact their local Special Educational Needs Organiser (SENO) who can assist in identifying an appropriate educational placement for their child. Contact details are available at http://ncse.ie/seno-contact-list.

My Department continues to work with the NCSE to ensure that there is appropriate planning in place to ensure that all children who require special class placements can access such placements in schools within their communities.

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Questions (140)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

140. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to provide an autism unit (details supplied) for the Maynooth area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17179/18]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible for organising and planning provision for children with Special Educational Needs, including the establishment of special classes in mainstream primary and post primary schools.

Special classes offer a supportive learning environment to students with ASD who are unable to access the curriculum in a mainstream class, even with support, for most or all of their school day. Special classes are for students who have a recommendation for a special class placement in their professional reports.

Should the NCSE identify the requirement for additional special class placements in the area it will contact schools in the area in relation to establishing an ASD special class. Schools may also apply to the NCSE to open a special class where a need has been identified in their area i.e. a number of students have professional reports indicating they require the support of a special class. 

The NCSE, in looking to open special classes, must take into account the present and future potential need for such classes, taking particular account of the educational needs of the children concerned. The NCSE will also take account of location and sustainability in looking to establish special classes in certain areas. 

In addition, the NCSE will consider:

- the school’s accommodation and accessibility

- the number of special classes, if any, already in the school.

With regard to Co. Kildare in particular, there are 4 special schools and 66 special classes attached to mainstream schools. Of these, 6 are ASD early intervention classes, 41 are primary ASD classes and 12 are post primary ASD classes. The number of ASD special classes in Co. Kildare have increased from 17 in 2011/2012 to 65 in 2017/2018.

The NCSE has informed my Department that they intend to establish a number of new ASD Special Classes in Co. Kildare for 2018/19 school year to meet currently identified need.

In the case of all new schools, it is general practice to include a Special Needs Unit (SNU) in the accommodation brief for new school buildings, unless local circumstances indicate that it will not be required. A two classroom Special Needs Unit is being provided in each of the two post-primary schools currently under construction in the area referred to by the Deputy. Both of these schools are due to be completed by May 2019.

Parents/Guardians who may need advice or are experiencing difficulties in locating a school placement, including special class placement, should contact their local Special Educational Needs Organiser (SENO) who can assist in identifying an appropriate educational placement for their child. Contact details are available at http://ncse.ie/seno-contact-list.

My Department continues to work with the NCSE to ensure that there is appropriate planning in place to ensure that all children who require special class placements can access such placements in schools within their communities.

Tionscadail Tógála Scoileanna

Questions (141)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

141. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna cén uair a cheadófar airgead chun síneadh a chur le scoil (sonraí tugtha) agus chun athchóiriú a dhéanamh uirthi freisin; an mbeidh mórán moille leis an gceadú ó tharla go bhfuil an t-eolas a bhí ar iarraidh curtha isteach anois; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [17183/18]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

Faoi mar is eol don Teachta, cheadaigh mo Roinn deontas cineachta nach beag leis an scoil i gceist i mí Mheán Fómhair na bliana 2014, chun síneadh buan agus oibreacha athchumraithe a dhéanamh lena n-éascófaí go mbainfeadh  gach cóiríocht réamhdhéanta de shuíomh na scoile.

Is eol duit freisin go raibh mo Roinn ag feitheamh ar a thuilleadh eolais i ndáil le plean costais leasaithe, rud a fuarthas cúpla lá ó shin (13 Aibreán). Táthar ag iniúchadh an phlean costais leasaithe faoi láthair, agus beidh mo Roinn i dteagmháil leis an scoil faoin ábhar go luath.

Schools Site Acquisitions

Questions (142, 143)

Thomas Byrne

Question:

142. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if sites have been identified and secured and permission granted for proposed new primary schools in areas (details supplied) in tabular form. [17186/18]

Thomas Byrne

Question:

143. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if sites have been identified and secured and permission granted for proposed new post primary schools in areas (details supplied). [17193/18]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I propose to take Questions Nos. 142 and 143 together.

As the Deputy is aware, I recently announced the opening of 42 new schools over the next 4 years.  This announcement followed nationwide demographic exercises carried out by my Department into the current and future need for primary and post-primary school places across the country.

Following on from the announcement, the locations for all of the schools will be determined as part of the site acquisition process.

In line with the policy on the use of state assets (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Circulars 11/15 and 17/16), my Department will be seeking to maximize the use of sites already in my ownership and of available properties in the ownership of other State bodies, where these are considered suitable.

In addition as part of my Department's ongoing engagement with Local Authorities in respect of statutory planning processes and under the MoU on school site acquisitions, my Department will be examining all potential suitable site options, including appropriately zoned sites, to serve the relevant areas.

Taking into account all of the above, decisions will then be made as part of the site acquisition process in relation to appropriate sites for all the schools announced and will be confirmed at a later date.

Schools Building Projects Applications

Questions (144)

John Brassil

Question:

144. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an application by a school (details supplied) for a new building; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17194/18]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

As the Deputy is aware, a building project for the school to which he refers is included in my Department's 6 Year Construction Programme.

In the context of progressing the project, a school site visit by my Department's technical staff has been undertaken. My Department is considering the outcome from that visit and will be in further contact with the school authorities on the matter in due course.

Teacher Redeployment

Questions (145)

Mary Lou McDonald

Question:

145. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of teachers transferred to alternative schools on health grounds in each of the years 2007 to 2017, in tabular form. [17196/18]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

Redeployment schemes exist to facilitate the transfer of teachers in cases where a surplus exists in a school or Education and Training Board (ETB) and in cases of school closure.

In the ETB sector, each ETB may transfer teachers between schools within that ETB. My Department does not hold statistics on such transfers, regardless of the reason for which they occur.

Teacher Discipline

Questions (146)

Mary Lou McDonald

Question:

146. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of instances in which the procedures set out in circulars (details supplied) prior to their being superseded by Circular 0071/2014, have been ceased by an employer and replaced by an informal route in each of the years 2007 to 2017, in tabular form; and the details of the informal route taken. [17197/18]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The procedures set out in Circular 0071/2014 (and Circular 0059/2009 prior to its being superseded by 0071/2014) may be commenced or ceased at different stages by the employer depending on the circumstances of the individual case concerned. My Department does not hold statistics on such cases.

Teagmháil na nÓg

Questions (147)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

147. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna ar iarr Bord Oideachais agus Oiliúna na Gaillimhe agus Ros Comáin cead air deireadh a chur leis an aon ionad amháin de Theagmháil na nÓg (Youthreach) atá suite i dTír an Fhia i nGaeltacht na Gaillimhe agus ina gcuirtear cúrsaí ar fáil trí Ghaeilge; má d’iarr, ar tugadh an cead sin; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [17204/18]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills

Rinne oifigigh ó mo Roinn fiosrú le Bord Oideachais agus Oiliúna na Gaillimhe agus Ros Comáin (GRETB). Tá sé tugtha le fios acusan go bhfuil fás tagtha ar líon na scoláirí ón gceantar atá ag fanacht sa soláthar oideachais ag an dara leibhéal agus an Ardteistiméireacht á déanamh acu. Cuirtear fáilte roimh an bhfás sin agus dá bharr sin tá laghdú suntasach tagtha ar an éileamh atá ar sholáthar Theagmháil na nÓg. Fanfaidh ionad Theagmháil na nÓg i Leitir Móir oscailte don bhliain acadúil seo chugainn ionas gur féidir leis na scoláirí a gcuid staidéir a chríochnú agus teastas a bhaint amach. Tá sé curtha in iúl ag GRETB do mo Roinnse go bhfuil siad ag dul i gcomhairle le grúpaí agus eagraíochtaí pobail áitiúla chomh maith le SOLAS, an tSeirbhís Oideachais Leanúnaigh agus Scileanna, lena chinntiú go leanfar de bheith ag freastal ar na riachtanais oideachais agus oiliúna go léir atá ag an bpobal áitiúil agus ag na ceantair máguaird agus go ndéanfar soláthar do na riachtanais sin.