Tuesday, 11 Jun 2019

Capitation Grants

Questions (240)

Pat the Cope Gallagher

Question:

240. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to increase the capitation grants for schools in budget 2020; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a number of schools are struggling financially due to the reduced grants available under the capitation grants at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23487/19]

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Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I fully recognise the need to improve capitation funding for schools.

In the period 2011 to 2015 the capitation and related grants for schools were reduced by just over 11% in aggregate.

I am pleased to have been able to provide for a 5% increase in capitation funding for primary and post primary schools that will apply from the start of the 2019/20 school year. Over the course of the school year 2019/20, an additional €10 million will be allocated to primary and post primary schools, of which €4 million will be allocated in 2019.

I must be prudent in the context of ongoing budgetary pressures. Where it is not possible to do everything that I would like to do in the education sector in any one year I have to prioritise, especially in the context of increasing enrolments.

It is my intention to seek funding for further capitation increases in future budgets.

Scoileanna DEIS

Questions (241)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

241. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Pearse Doherty den Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna an féidir leis sonraí a chur ar fáil faoin dul chun cinn atá á dhéanamh aige chun clár DEIS a leasú d'fhonn scoileanna breise a chur le líon na scoileanna atá ag glacadh páirt sa scéim faoi láthair; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [23495/19]

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Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

Tá mo Roinn i mbun anailísiú sonraí i láthair na huaire i gcomhthéacs acmhainní atá le leithroinnt d'fhonn riachtanas a shainaithnítear a mheaitseáil, lena n-áirítear athróga a scrúdú arb eol iad a bheith ina réamh-mheastóirí maithe maidir le míbhuntáiste oideachais. Tá measúnú a dhéanamh ar gach Bunscoil agus Iarbhunscoil i láthair na huaire ag baint úsáid as an múnla aitheantais nua. Níl sé i gceist an clár DEIS a leathnú chuig aon scoileanna eile go mbeidh an anailís seo curtha i gcrích.

School Services Staff

Questions (242)

Brendan Smith

Question:

242. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to address the inequalities existing in the terms and conditions of primary school secretaries employed under boards of management; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23507/19]

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Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I recognise the very important work done by school secretaries, and indeed by other support staff, in the running of our schools and I am grateful to them for the contribution they make to our education system. I have spoken to a number of school secretaries about their employment conditions and understand the issues they have raised.

I have recently relaxed the moratorium for those C&C and ETB schools with enrolments of 700 and more which allow them to employ an additional School Secretaries up to a maximum of two per school. There are 91 schools in the C&C and ETB Sector who meet this criteria, based on the information currently available to this Department. This is an initial step and has taken immediate effect.

Schemes were initiated in 1978 and 1979 for the employment of Clerical Officers and Caretakers in schools. The schemes were withdrawn completely in 2008.

These schemes have been superseded by the more extensive capitation grant schemes. The current grant scheme was agreed in the context of the Programme for Economic and Social Progress, published in 1991.

The majority of primary and voluntary secondary schools now receive assistance to provide for secretarial, caretaking and cleaning services under these grant schemes. It is a matter for each individual school to decide how best to apply the grant funding to suit its particular needs. Where a school uses the grant funding for caretaking or secretarial purposes, any staff taken on to support those functions are employees of individual schools. Specific responsibility for the pay and conditions rests with the school.

On foot of a Chairman’s Note to the Lansdowne Road Agreement, my Department engaged with the Unions representing school secretaries and caretakers, including through an independent arbitration process in 2015. The Arbitrator recommended a cumulative pay increase of 10% between 2016 and 2019 for staff and that a minimum hourly pay rate of €13 be phased in over that period. This arbitration agreement covers the period up to 31 December 2019.

The arbitration agreement was designed to be of greatest benefit to lower-paid secretaries and caretakers. For example, a Secretary or Caretaker who was paid the then minimum wage of €8.65 per hour in 2015 prior to the arbitration has from 1 January 2019, been paid €13 per hour which is a 50% increase in that individual’s hourly pay.

Officials from my Department attended a meeting of the Joint Committee on Education and Skills on 9 April to discuss the status of non-teaching staff.

Officials from my Department recently had discussions with FÓRSA trade union representatives as part of a planned meeting. FÓRSA took the opportunity to formally table a pay claim.

This was tabled as a follow-on claim from the current pay agreement for this cohort of staff which lasts until December 2019. The Department will seek to establish the full current cost of the trade union’s claim. This is standard practice.

FÓRSA's claim will be fully considered once the current costings have been determined on completion of the survey. The Department is fully open to having further dialogue with FÓRSA once this work has been undertaken.

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Questions (243)

Kathleen Funchion

Question:

243. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of additional teaching positions which would be required in primary schools to restore the appointment figures for the third and fourth mainstream teacher to the level they were at in 2010, that is, 49 and 81. [23512/19]

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Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

Budget 2012 increased the appointment and retention ratios for small schools, i.e. schools with four classroom teachers or fewer.

Since 2015, measures have been introduced to improve the staffing of these schools which has seen improvements in the appointment and retention thresholds for the 2nd, 3rd and 4th classroom teacher and more favourable enrolment thresholds for one teacher schools situated 8km or more from the nearest school of the same type of patronage and/or language of instruction.

Budget 2017 announced two adjustments in relation to one teacher schools. Where the school is the sole primary school on an island the school will be able to appoint a second teacher. In relation to single teacher schools generally with an enrolment of 15 or more pupils the school can apply to the staffing appeal board for a second post where the single teacher has children across 6 or more class groups.

Small schools have also benefitted from the 1 point improvement to the primary staffing schedule for all schools implemented in 2016 and again in 2018. For the current school year, the staffing schedule at Primary level operates on a general average of 26 pupils to every 1 teacher (26:1) which is historically the lowest ever allocation ratio at primary level.

In addition, the staffing process includes an appeals mechanism for schools to submit a staffing appeal under certain criteria, including a specific appeal measure for small schools, to the Primary Staffing Appeals Board.

The estimated cost of restoring the staffing schedule for small schools to pre-2012 levels would be approximately €3.5 million.

Schools Data

Questions (244)

Kathleen Funchion

Question:

244. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of primary schools that had a teaching staff of one, two or three teachers in 2010 but closed following the increase in the appointment figures. [23513/19]

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Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The information requested by the Deputy is available in the following table.

Number of schools with 3 or fewer teachers in 2010, by year of closure

Year of Closure	Schools Closed	Schools Amalgamated	Total
2011	3	3	6
2012	7	3	10
2013	4	4	8
2014	6	5	11
2015	6	6	12
2016	3	2	5
2017	2	5	7
2018	3	5	8
Total	34	33	67

School Closure List

Roll Number	School Name	County	Number of Teachers in 2010	Year Closed	Amalgamated?
02749V	Ballyraggett BNS	Kilkenny	3	2018	Yes
07048Q	Mohober National School	Tipperary	2	2015	Yes
08241P	Scropul National School	Clare	2	2012	Yes
08958O	SN An Eanaigh Cailíní	Galway	2	2014	Yes
10191P	Coore National School	Clare	3	2012	Yes
12626L	SN Coill a tSidheain	Mayo	2	2017	Yes
13351D	Clonigulane National School	Clare	2	2013	Yes
13478E	Droimdiogach National School	Clare	2	2014	Yes
13944H	SN Naomh Atrachta	Sligo	2	2011	Yes
13945J	Eskaragh National School	Mayo	2	2013	Yes
14400S	Richmond National School	Mayo	3	2018	Yes
14425L	SN Doire Uí Bhriain	Galway	2	2016	Yes
14671D	Creevagh National School	Mayo	2	2018	Yes
14865Q	Kilocrann National School	Mayo	3	2018	Yes
14923E	Keenagh Natinal School	Mayo	3	2013	Yes
15007V	Party National School	Mayo	3	2017	Yes
15327Q	Cahermurphy National School	Clare	2	2013	Yes
16142J	SN Mín na Manrach	Donegal	2	2012	Yes
16901E	St Patricks Boys Junior School	Cork	3	2015	Yes
17359Q	St Cormac's NS	Offaly	2	2011	Yes
17620B	Rossmore National School	Tipperary	3	2017	Yes
17621D	Scoil Náisiúnta an Bhealaigh	Tipperary	2	2017	Yes
17687K	Tullycrine national School	Clare	2	2014	Yes
17718S	SN Seosamh Naofa	Sligo	3	2014	Yes
17764C	SN Baile Tuirinne	Galway	2	2016	Yes
17898A	St Joseph's National School	Clare	2	2014	Yes
18175L	Banagher National School	Mayo	2	2018	Yes
18547W	Faolan Naofa NS	Laois	2	2017	Yes
18846J	An Daingin	Clare	2	2015	Yes
18901O	Rathmorrel National School	Kerry	2	2015	Yes
19421F	Kilross National School	Tipperary	2	2015	Yes
19464A	SN Naomh Colmcille	Dublin	3	2015	Yes
19923G	St Joseph's NS	Sligo	2	2011	Yes
02327S	Mantua National School	Roscommon	1	2012	No
07101R	Inisclough National School	Cork	2	2013	No
08316U	Newtown National School	Tipperary	2	2017	No
09658H	Glenisland School	Mayo	2	2016	No
10531N	Dromerin National School	Kerry	3	2012	No
12713G	Corober National School	Cavan	3	2015	No
12815O	Cregduff National School	Mayo	3	2014	No
13951E	Lettermacow National School	Galway	3	2016	No
14065H	Sherkin Island National School	Cork	2	2016	No
14195U	SN An Gleanna Mhóir	Mayo	2	2013	No
15228O	Corgary National School	Galway	2	2013	No
15705W	Rathkell National School	Mayo	2	2012	No
15883A	Killegney National School	Wexford	2	2012	No
15968I	Baltard National School	Clare	3	2013	No
16295L	SN a Chorrain	Mayo	3	2015	No
16535F	Timolin National School	Kildare	2	2014	No
16630W	Carra National School	Mayo	2	2018	No
16951T	SN na Craoibheleithe	Leitrim	2	2015	No
16952V	Coogue National School	Mayo	2	2011	No
17076E	Glenroe National School	Limerick	3	2015	No
17094G	SN Rath Cruachán	Roscommon	2	2015	No
17132L	Drumnamore National School	Leitrim	2	2012	No
17267L	Scoil Iobar Naofa	Wexford	3	2015	No
17552K	Scoil Bhrighde	Donegal	2	2018	No
17558W	Scoil Náisiúnta Rosan	Leitrim	2	2012	No
17679L	SN Brighde	Tipperary	3	2014	No
17699R	Tureen National School	Kerry	2	2014	No
17724N	Baile an Clochain National School	Longford	2	2012	No
17998E	SN Muire an tSolais	Galway	2	2014	No
18100D	Lisgriffin National School	Cork	2	2018	No
18211M	SN Ciaráin Naofa	Galway	2	2011	No
18222R	Carnageehy National School	Galway	2	2014	No
18440E	Clonkeen National School	Kerry	3	2011	No
18559G	Killenaive National School	Tipperary	2	2017	No

Schools Data

Questions (245)

Kathleen Funchion

Question:

245. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of primary schools that have total teacher numbers (details supplied). [23514/19]

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Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The information requested by the Deputy is available in the following table. The data is given for the 2017/2018 academic year. Data for 2018 is being finalised, and will be available at the end of June.

Number of schools by total teaching staff, 2017/2018

Total Teachers (Whole Time Equivalent)	Number of Schools
1-7	1,569
8-11	342
12-13	243
14-16	244
17-19	166
20-23	197
24-26	129
27-30	88
31-35	47
36+	86
Total	3,111

Special Educational Needs Staff Data

Questions (246)

Pat the Cope Gallagher

Question:

246. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Education and Skills if 18 national schools in County Donegal have experienced cuts in the number of special needs assistants allocated to their respective schools; the reason the cuts have occurred; the appeals mechanism open to these schools; the names of the 18 schools directly affected by his decision to reduce the allocation of SNAs for the county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23515/19]

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Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I announced on 27 May that 792 additional SNA posts will be allocated to schools for the beginning of the 2019/20 school year, with up to 130 additional posts expected to be allocated by December 2019.

By the end of this year, there will be up to 15,950 SNAs working in our schools, an increase of over 51% since 2011.

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) 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.

The NCSE allocates SNA support to schools in accordance with the criteria set out in Department Circular 0030/2014, which is available on my Department's website at www.education.ie , in order that students who have care needs can access SNA support as and when it is needed.

In considering applications for SNA support for individual pupils, the NCSE take account of the pupils' needs and consider the resources available to the school to identify whether additionality is needed or whether the school might reasonably be expected to meet the needs of the pupils from its current level of resources.

SNAs are not allocated to individual children but to schools as a school based resource.

SNA allocations to all schools can change from year to year as children with care needs leave the school, as new children with care needs enrol in a school and as children develop more independent living skills and their care needs diminish over time.

The NCSE Appeals Process may be invoked by a parent or a school where it is considered that a child was not granted access to SNA support because the requirements outlined in Circular 0030/2014 were not complied with. Schools may also appeal a decision, where the school considers that the NCSE, in applying Department policy, has not allocated the appropriate level of SNA support to the school to meet the special educational and/or care needs of the children concerned.

Where a school has received its allocation of SNA support for 2019/20, but wishes new enrolments or assessments to be considered, which were not taken into account when the initial allocation was made, they may continue to make applications to the NCSE.

The closing date for receipt of appeals in regard to SNA allocations is Friday 27 September 2019.

The NCSE publish the allocations for individual schools for each school year and this information is available on their website, www.ncse.ie.

School Staff Appeals Mechanism

Questions (247)

Michael Fitzmaurice

Question:

247. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of times in the past five years national schools, that were in danger of losing a teacher due to a drop in pupil numbers, won an appeal to the primary staffing appeals board and maintained their number of teachers for the following academic year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23535/19]

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Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September.

The staffing schedule operates in a clear and transparent manner and treats all similar types of schools equally irrespective of location.

A staffing appeal process is available to schools. Some of the appeal criteria set out in the staffing arrangements allow for appeal posts to be allocated on a provisional basis, pending confirmation of the school's enrolment in the following September. In these cases, where the required enrolment is not reached, the appeal post is suppressed at the end of October.

The information requested by the Deputy is being compiled and will be forwarded directly to him.

Special Educational Needs Staff Remuneration

Questions (248)

David Cullinane

Question:

248. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a special needs assistant, who has 13 years full service as a SNA and is undertaking job-sharing, will, in the case of a redundancy occurring in that job-sharing job, lose 13 years full service and only be paid for half of those years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23539/19]

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Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

In the calculation of a redundancy payment such as that referred to by the Deputy the 13 years full time service given by the Special Needs Assistant would be taken into account in the calculation.

The service undertaken by that Special Needs Assistant during the period of a subsequent job-sharing arrangement would also be taken into account in the calculation of any redundancy payment.

Calculation of the amount due will, in accordance with the terms of the Redundancy Payments Act, 1967, be based on salary applying at the time of redundancy.

Further information in relation to job sharing arrangements and redundancy payments for special needs assistants are outlined in Circulars 0041/2014 and 0058/2006.

Special Educational Needs Staff Data

Questions (249)

Niamh Smyth

Question:

249. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of new posts (details supplied) that are completely new posts and not extensions of existing posts; if he will provide a breakdown of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23545/19]