Written Answers Nos. 218-242
220. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the tender documents have been issued for the construction of a new primary school in Kanturk, County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37308/19]
View answerAs Deputy is aware the project for construction of a new primary school in Kanturk is devolved to the OPW for delivery.
The tender documents have not yet issued due to the necessity to make a technical specification amendment to them.
It is hoped that when this amendment is completed the project will proceed to tender.
221. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Education and Skills if suitable temporary accommodation will be provided for a school (details supplied); the reason for the delay in providing same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37312/19]
View answerThe school referred to by the Deputy is currently in temporary accommodation on the grounds of Grange Community College. The school moved in to this accommodation Monday, 9th September. The reason for the delay in the school moving in to the accommodation was due to building issues being finalised and certification of the building on the Building Control Management System.
222. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Skills the date on which the bus escort grant will be issued to a school (details supplied). [37334/19]
View answerSchool Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. In the 2018/2019 school year over 117,500 children, including over 13,000 children with special educational needs, were transported in over 5,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres at a cost of over €200m in 2018.
The purpose of the School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children with special educational needs arising from a diagnosed disability. In certain cases, the Department also provides funding to schools for the employment of escorts to accompany children whose care and safety needs require this level of support while they travel to and from school.
I can confirm that the bus escort grant for the school in question has been processed by the Department.
223. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to have an education trade mission to the United States of America before the end of 2019. [37376/19]
View answerThere are no plans at present to have an education trade mission to the United States of America before the end of 2019.
In May of this year, I led a three day education trade mission to Washington DC. I was accompanied on this trade mission by eleven Irish higher education institutions, where our objective was to promote the Irish higher education system as a partner for US Institutions in the areas of student, academic and research mobility and collaboration.
I addressed the opening plenary session at NAFSA: the Association of International Educators, on the future potential of today's students, how an international education can contribute significantly to the development of key skills for employment, and how studying abroad contributes significantly to a greater understanding, appreciation and tolerance in our world. Over 8,000 people attended this event, with the audience comprised of educators from all around the world, located in more than 3,500 institutions worldwide, in over 150 countries.
During my visit, I also met with Betsy DeVos, the US Secretary of Education and Marie Royce, the US Assistant Secretary of State for Educational & Cultural Affairs where we had meaningful discussions on how Ireland and the US can deepen its relationship in education to the mutual benefit of both Countries.
224. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the recruitment of 700 additional SNA posts for the 2020/2021 school term has been costed. [37377/19]
View answerThe number of SNA posts available for allocation by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) of the 2020/2021 school year has not yet been determined. Provision of SNA posts is dealt with by way of the annual budgetary process.
225. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the schools in Dublin 15 which have been requested to provide additional places for children with special needs in tabular form; the number of spaces provided to date by each school following a request; the number of children still awaiting a school place in Dublin 15 with special needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37439/19]
View answerEnsuring that every child has a suitable placement available to them is a key priority for me and the Government.
I am deeply conscious of the stress and anxiety facing parents and their children where difficulties are encountered in securing a school place.
As Minister I have a power under Section 37A of the Education Act 1998 to direct a school to provide additional provision where all reasonable efforts have failed.
The legislation provides for a very transparent series of steps which can ultimately lead to the issuing of a legally binding direction to a board of management.
The initial step in the process is for the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) to inform the Minister that there is a shortage of places in a particular area.
The legislation was formally activated for the first time on April 18th following a report from the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) outlining insufficient special school and special class capacity in Dublin 15.
The specific provision required was 8 additional primary ASD special classes providing 46 places and 40 special school places for students with complex needs.
Section 37A outlines a series of transparent steps which can ultimately lead to the issue by the Minister of a binding direction to schools to establish additional classes for children with special needs.
The first statutory notices under the legislation were served on 18 schools on 27 June and a second notice was served on 6 of these schools on 23 August. Copies of the notices and representations received from the schools are published on my Department’s website as provided for under the Act.
As new classes come on stream over coming weeks, the NCSE will keep in regular contact with the Parents of the children concerned and advise them of progress. Funding for the provision of home tuition is available to Parents as an interim measure until the children can enrol in school.
226. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Education and Skills if correspondence from a person (details supplied) will receive a reply; and if a copy of same will be provided to this Deputy. [37490/19]
View answerA reply to the correspondence referred to by the Deputy issued on 10th September 2019 by email.
The Deputy may request a copy from the individual concerned.
227. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Education and Skills the waiting time to have an appeal by persons (details supplied) heard by the student transport appeal board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37508/19]
View answerSchool Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department.
The purpose of my Department's School Transport Scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school.
In the 2018/2019 school year over 117,500 children, including over 13,000 children with special educational needs, were transported in over 5,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres at a cost of over €200m in 2018.
An appeal was lodged with the School Transport Appeals Board on the 13th August 2019.
The Board has requested School Transport Section to provide a report in accordance with the terms of the Board’s Operating Procedures. When received, the Board will liaise directly with the family regarding the appeal date and their subsequent deliberations.
228. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the waiting times for SNA allocation appeals to be heard and concluded by the NCSE; and if he is satisfied with turnaround times. [37509/19]
View answerThe 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 is also responsible for managing the appeals process.
The closing date for receipt of appeals in regard to this school year's SNA allocations is Friday 27 September 2019.
Information on the appeals process and the timeframes involved are set out in a document published by the NCSE on their website www.ncse.ie.
229. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the development of a school in the Hollystown area of Dublin 15 will be considered in view of the fact there is now a sufficient population demographic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37515/19]
View answerIn order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a Geographical Information System, using data from a range of sources, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise. With this information, my Department carries out nationwide demographic exercises to determine where additional school accommodation is needed at primary and post-primary level.
Major new residential developments in a school planning area have the potential to alter demand in an area. In that regard, as part of the demographic exercises, my Department engages with each of the local authorities to obtain up-to-date data on significant new residential developments in each area. This is necessary to ensure that schools infrastructure planning is keeping pace with demographic changes as there is a constantly evolving picture with planned new residential development.
Where demographic data indicates that additional provision is required, the delivery of such additional provision is dependent on the particular circumstances of each case and may, depending on the circumstances, be provided through either one, or a combination of, the following:
- Utilising existing unused capacity within a school or schools,
- Extending the capacity of a school or schools,
- Provision of a new school or schools.
For school planning purposes, Hollystown is located in the Mulhuddart_Tyrrelstown_D15 school planning area. A new 1,000 pupil post-primary school (Le Chéile Secondary School) was established in 2014 to serve this school planning area and had just over 600 pupils enrolled in the 2018/19 school year. In addition, two new 16 classroom primary schools were established to serve this school planning area, Powerstown ETNS in 2011 and Gaelscoil an Chuilinn in 2012, both of which have existing capacity.
As the Deputy will be aware, in April 2018, the Government announced plans for the establishment of 42 new schools over the next four years (2019 to 2022), including a new post-primary school to be established in 2020 to serve the adjacent school planning areas of Blanchardstown_West_Dublin15 and BlanchardstownVge_Dublin15 as a regional solution.
While the recent announcement did not include a new school for the Mulhuddart_Tyrrelstown_D15 school planning area, the requirement for new schools will be kept under on-going review and in particular will have regard for the increased rollout of housing provision as outlined in Project Ireland 2040.
230. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will issue guidance to schools on the appropriate use of reduced timetables; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37526/19]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that the development of guidelines for schools on reduced timetables in schools is at an advanced stage.
My officials have been in ongoing consultation with officials from the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and Tusla's Education Welfare Service and it is intended to issue to the guidelines to all schools as soon as they are finalized.
231. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of children who are seeking but cannot secure a place within an ASD unit by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37527/19]
View answerEnsuring that every child has a suitable placement available to them is a key priority for me and the Government.
I am deeply conscious of the stress and anxiety facing parents and their children where difficulties are encountered in securing a school place.
As Minister I have a power under Section 37A of the Education Act 1998 to direct a school to provide additional provision where all reasonable efforts have failed.
The legislation provides for a very transparent series of steps which can ultimately lead to the issuing of a legally binding direction to a board of management.
The initial step in the process is for the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) to inform the Minister that there is a shortage of places in a particular area.
The legislation was formally activated for the first time on April 18th following a report from the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) outlining insufficient special school and special class capacity in Dublin 15.
The specific provision required was 8 additional primary ASD special classes providing 46 places and 40 special school places for students with complex needs.
New classes which will be coming on stream over coming weeks are the result of very intense engagement between the Department, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), Patron bodies and schools.
This follows the establishing of a Special School in Dublin 15, under the patronage of Dublin and Dun Laoghaire ETB.
The NCSE has also indicated that some Parents in South Dublin and Cork are experiencing difficulty securing school places for their children.
The NCSE is actively engaging at local level with schools, Patron Bodies and the families concerned to resolve the issues involved as soon as possible.
If, following completion of that work, the NCSE establishes that there is a shortage of places in either area it can inform me thereby activating the provisions contained in section 37A of the Education Act 1998.
232. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of progress on a building project (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37529/19]
View answerThe building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is in the process of being devolved to Waterford & Wexford Education and Training Board (WWETB) for delivery.
I can confirm that the schedule of accommodation for the proposed new school has been completed and a copy has been provided to the patron.
The next step in the process is to put in place a Service Level Agreement (SLA) between my Department and WWETB. The Department is currently carrying out the preparatory work necessary to issue the SLA to WWETB for its signature.
Thereafter, the ETB will procure a design team for the project to design the building, obtain the necessary statutory planning permission and move the project onward to construction in due course. As the project is at an early stage in the delivery process, it is not possible at this time to give a date for its completion.
233. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to increase the number of special education teaching hours in a school (details supplied) in the 2019/2020 academic year; the number of additional hours the school is likely to receive; when those hours will be sanctioned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37531/19]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that DES Circulars 0007/2019 for primary schools and 0008/2019 for post primary schools provide details of how the allocations of Special Education Teachers have been updated for schools from September 2019, based on updated profile data.
All schools have now received revised allocations for September 2019.
As the re profiling occurred, some schools gained additional allocations, where the profile indicator data indicates these schools have additional needs. Some schools received slightly reduced allocations, where the data indicates less need, and some schools maintained their existing allocations.
No school has lost a full special education teaching post as a result of the re profiling process.
There has also been be no reduction to the overall number of special education teaching posts within the school system. There are currently over 13,400 special education teachers in schools, an increase of 37% since 2011.
Under the allocation model, schools have been provided with a total allocation for special education needs support based on their school profile.
The school referred to by the Deputy has 10 special education teaching hours, or 0.4 of a special education teacher post, for an enrolment of 41 pupils at the time the profile was developed.
Both my Department and the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) are committed to ensuring that all schools are treated equally and fairly in the manner in which their school profiles have been calculated.
Accordingly, a number of review processes have been put in place to support schools.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) published details of an appeal process for the 2019 allocation process for schools on their website www.ncse.ie.
Schools were advised that the appeal will consider circumstances where schools considered that their school profile was calculated incorrectly, using the data set out in DES Circulars 007 and 008 2019. An appeal could be submitted for a review of the information used and of the calculation of the allocation.
The NCSE wrote to schools on 31st May, 2019 to advise them of the outcome of the appeals.
A second process will be put in place to address circumstances where the school profile significantly changed following the allocation process e.g. a developing school where the net enrolment numbers significantly increased.
The criteria for qualification for mainstream school developing school posts are set out in the Primary and Post Primary School Staffing Schedule for the 2019/20 school year.
Schools who qualify for additional mainstream developing school posts, in accordance with these criteria, will also qualify for additional Special Education Teaching Allocations to take account of this developing status.
Finally, it is acknowledged that there are some circumstances, which may arise in schools, which fall outside the appeals process, or allocations for developing school status.
These relate to exceptional or emergency circumstances which could not have been anticipated e.g. where the school profile changes very significantly, or where other exceptional circumstances have arisen in a school and which may require a review of schools capacity to provide additional teaching support for all pupils who need it in the school, or of their utilisation of their allocations.
A process will also be available where schools can seek a review of their allocations in the coming months, including the utilisation of their allocations, in circumstances where a school considers that very exceptional circumstances have arisen subsequent to the development of the profile.
I am satisfied that there are in place a number of processes which can review the special education teacher allocation for schools where necessary.
The very significant levels of additional provision we have made in recent years to provide additional Special Education Teachers means that all schools are resourced to provide for the special educational needs of children in their schools.
234. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae 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. [37547/19]
View answerThe school to which the Deputy refers recently submitted an application for additional funding to address roof issues. This application, which was made to my Department under the Emergency Works Grant Scheme, is currently under consideration by officials in my Department. A decision will issue directly to the school authority once it is made.
235. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education and Skills the specialised supports and staffing being put in place for a school (details supplied). [37571/19]
View answerThe new Danu Community Special School in Dublin 15, under the patronage of Dublin and Dun Laoghaire ETB has been established and will be catering for up to 40 students with complex needs.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) determines the staffing level for special schools based on the pupil profiles and the disability category of each pupil enrolled.
To date the NCSE has allocated a Principal teacher, 7 classroom teachers and 12 SNAs to the new school.
The NCSE will continue to liaise with the school throughout the school year and the school may apply for additional staffing resources where there is an identified need in line with normal procedures.
I am anxious that the Principal, teachers, SNAs and other staff in the new school are appropriately supported during the challenging start-up terms.
My Department, through NEPS, the Inspectorate, the NCSE and in collaboration with the Middletown Centre for Autism developed a programme of professional learning for the staff in this new special school.
This programme includes a period of intensive upskilling before the students commence school which is currently being delivered to the staff of Danu Special School.
This will be followed by as ongoing mentoring, coaching and in-school support during throughout the school year.
This is in addition to the extensive professional development and other supports already available to special schools through the NCSE Support Service.
The NCSE and National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) have committed to ensuring that provision is in place to support the new school throughout the school year.
As the placements in the school come on stream over coming weeks, the NCSE will work closely with the School and keep in regular contact with the Parents of the children concerned to ensure there is a planned approach to the start-up of the new school.
236. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will report on the level of liaison between the National Council for Special Education and service providers and preschools to ascertain the level of future need for ASD school places; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37572/19]
View answerThe National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has a statutory function to plan and co-ordinate the provision of education and support services to children with special educational needs, in consultation with the relevant education partners, DCYA and the HSE. This includes the establishment of special class and special school placements in various geographical areas where the NCSE identifies need.
As the Deputy questions relates to how the NCSE consults with the service providers and preschools to plan for future need I have forwarded it to the NCSE for direct reply.
237. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of schools in the western areas of County Dublin asked to provide additional places in accordance with section 37A of the Education Act 1998; the number of these schools that already have special education classes; the number of these schools in DEIS areas; the number of these schools that were provided with additional funding to provide for an ASD appropriate educational environment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37573/19]
View answerEnsuring that every child has a suitable placement available to them is a key priority for me and the Government.
I am deeply conscious of the stress and anxiety facing parents and their children where difficulties are encountered in securing a school place.
As Minister I have a power under Section 37A of the Education Act 1998 to direct a school to provide additional provision where all reasonable efforts have failed.
The legislation provides for a very transparent series of steps which can ultimately lead to the issuing of a legally binding direction to a board of management.
The initial step in the process is for the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) to inform the Minister that there is a shortage of places in a particular area.
The legislation was formally activated for the first time on April 18th following a report from the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) outlining insufficient special school and special class capacity in Dublin 15.
The specific provision required was 8 additional primary ASD special classes providing 46 places and 40 special school places for students with complex needs.
Section 37A outlines a series of transparent steps which can ultimately lead to the issue by the Minister of a binding direction to schools to establish additional classes for children with special needs. The DEIS status of a school or the operation of an existing special class are not determining factors in the legal process.
37A of the Education Act 1998 (as inserted by Section 8 of the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018).
- April 18th - The legislation was formally activated following a report from the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) outlining insufficient special school and special class capacity in Dublin 15.
- April 30th - I appealed to schools and patrons to make more provision for children with special education for September 2019.
- May 27th - I wrote to the principals and chairpersons of boards of management in 22 schools in Dublin 15 requesting that they give serious consideration to the need for more special education provision.
- May 28th - The establishment of the new Danu Community Special School, under the patronage of Dublin and Dun Laoghaire ETB, was confirmed, with places for 40 children with special needs for the 2019/20 school year.
- June 27th - The Department served statutory notices under Section 37A (5) on 18 schools and 2 patrons in Dublin 15. These notices communicated my opinion that they should make additional provision for children with special educational needs.
- 30 July & 1 August – Consultations on the need for additional special education provision took place with two patron bodies.
- August 7th - Technical teams began site visits, with 10 schools initially, to carry out first-hand assessments of the accommodation available and consider its suitability for additional provision of special classes.
- August 23rd – Second legal notice served under Section 37A on 6 schools in Dublin 15, one of which has since agreed to establish a special class
- 30th August – consultation with boards of management and principal of the six schools
- 3rd September – site visits to schools completed
- Week commencing 9th September – consideration of representations received from schools who were served S37A notices on 23rd August.
Copies of the notices and representations received from the schools are published on my Department’s website as provided for under the Act.
There is a package of teaching, special needs assistants, training and funding supports available to each school for the new classes. Capital Funding is also available where it is necessary to re-configure existing spaces within the school to accommodate the new class.
As new classes come on stream over coming weeks, the NCSE will keep in regular contact with the Parents of the children concerned and advise them of progress. Funding for the provision of home tuition is available to Parents as an interim measure until the children can enrol in school.
238. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an application for a full-time SNA by a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37577/19]
View answerThe 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.
As this question relates to a particular child, I have referred the question to the NCSE for their direct reply.
239. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Education and Skills if children, particularly in cases of children with special needs attending primary school, may be enrolled in more than one primary school in order that they can benefit from attending special schools and classes but may also attend a second school to allow them socialise with friends and so on; if dual enrolment is available to children in these cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37626/19]
View answer240. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of children availing of dual-enrolment in primary schools. [37627/19]
View answer241. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Education and Skills if children, particularly in cases of children with special needs attending post-primary school, may be enrolled in more than one post-primary school in order that they can benefit from attending special schools and classes but may also attend a second school to allow them socialise with friends and so on; if dual-enrolment is available to children in these cases at post-primary level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37628/19]
View answer242. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of children availing of dual-enrolment in post-primary schools. [37629/19]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 239 to 242, inclusive, together.
My Department does not facilitate the dual enrolment of children in schools and the NCSE Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) can only allocate resources to schools in respect of those pupils enrolled in a school. Consequently, there are no records.
However, dual placement arrangements are a feature of transitional plans for children who are transferring from one placement to another and should be managed locally by the relevant Boards of Management.In addition, some children with special educational needs in special schools or special classes may also attend mainstream classes on a part-time basis in line with their abilities, and local arrangements are made by the relevant boards of management.
