Seán Fleming
Question:301. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding July provision in respect of a child (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6453/20]
View answerSpecial Educational Needs
Questions (301)
Written answers
I am committed to running a summer Provision type programme for children with complex needs this year as soon as it is safe to do so and in accordance with public health advice.
My Department is exploring a number of options for a summer education programme for children with complex special needs.
The primary aim of the proposed programme would be to limit potential regression in learning thereby ensuring in so far as possible that these children can reintegrate and transition into their planned education setting for next year with their peers.
This may be done through a targeted level of supports to address regression of social skills and re-establish tolerance of routines paving the way for reintegrating full time into education when schools reopen in the autumn.
Question No. 302 answered with Question No. 247.
Question No. 303 answered with Question No. 225.
Question No. 304 answered with Question No. 159.
Third Level Admissions
Questions (305)
Aodhán Ó Ríordáin
Question:305. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding steps being taken to ensure that students applying for third level through the CAO with leaving certificate results from different years are not advantaged or disadvantaged compared with students with predictive results from 2020. [6482/20]
View answerWritten answers
On Friday 8th May I announced the decision to postpone the Leaving Certificate and offer students calculated grades, which can be used as a basis for entry into tertiary education. This decision was made following the assessment of public health advice, and was made in the best interests of students and all those involved in running the state exams.
The system whereby calculated grades are generated includes a process of national standardisation in which marks and rankings submitted by schools will be examined and may be adjusted using statistical methods to ensure a common national standard is applied. Profiles of achievement at Leaving Certificate level over the last three years will be used as part of this process and this will help ensure that the grades issued remain in line with national performance standards over time.
Student Accommodation
Questions (306)
Dara Calleary
Question:306. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he discussed the situation of on-campus accommodation and the rental status of students in on-campus accommodation with college authorities (details supplied); the further discussions he has had with college authorities regarding the refunding of moneys paid for on-campus accommodation which subsequently could not be accessed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6484/20]
View answerWritten answers
Before the announcement of closures on March 12, my Department had been in regular contact with its partners in the tertiary education sector in the context of Covid-19.
Immediately following the Taoiseach’s announcement of closures on March 12, the communications section issued a detailed statement to all stakeholders in the tertiary sector informing them of the decision to close schools, pre-schools and further and higher education settings. This statement was widely circulated through our social media channels, email and website and the Department was available to assist our partners with any outstanding issues of concern.
Subsequent to this, the Department has been in regular contact with its stakeholders and partners in the tertiary education sector to address the challenges faced by students in this difficult time.
The Department understands based on the information available to it that the majority of students in university-owned accommodation will receive pro-rata refunds if they vacate their accommodation. I have indicated that I would wish to see this principle applied in the case of all students who have vacated their student accommodation however it is not within the remit of my Department to direct any accommodation provider to offer a refund.
Where students are receiving a refund from their accommodation provider they should contact the provider directly for details on how this refund will be facilitated.
Third Level Admissions
Questions (307)
Thomas Byrne
Question:307. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the details of the consultation he and his Department have undertaken with the CAO since the announcement to cancel the leaving certificate. [6497/20]
View answerWritten answers
My Department has been engaging on an ongoing basis with stakeholders from the tertiary education system, including the CAO, regarding the implications of the changes to the Leaving Certificate on entry to tertiary education. I am conscious of the desire for clarity with regard to CAO timelines and this is being worked through with our stakeholders. I understand further information on this will be published as soon as details are finalised.
The Deputy should note that Higher Education institutions (HEIs) are autonomous with regard to management of their academic affairs including admissions procedures. The CAO process applications for undergraduate, and some postgraduate, courses on behalf of the HEIs. Decisions on admissions are made by the HEIs who then instruct the CAO to make offers to successful candidates. As such, neither I as Minister nor my Department have any role in relation to the operation of the CAO.
Youthreach Programme
Questions (308)
Thomas Byrne
Question:308. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if consideration will be given to allowing Youthreach students receive predictive grades for Quality and Qualifications Ireland, QQI, Levels 3 and 4 in view of his recent announcements. [6498/20]
View answerWritten answers
Education and Training Boards (ETBs) have agreed a framework for determining and implementing reasonable alternative methods of assessment for their learners, while ensuring that learning outcomes can continue to be assessed and approved by academic governance. Each ETB has developed more detailed contingency plans at provider level, submitted to Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI), and published on each ETB’s website. These alternative methods are currently being applied across ETB provision, including for Youthreach learners taking part in QQI levels 3 and 4 programmes. These alternative methods do not include the provision of predicted or calculated grades.
ETBs have participated fully in structures established with the higher and further education sectors to manage the response to Covid-19. All agencies, awarding bodies and other relevant stakeholders continue to work closely to ensure that ETB learners currently undertaking, or due to undertake, assessments, or completing 2020 academic calendar courses for the purpose of progression within further education and training, or to higher education or the world of work, will be facilitated to do so.
Third Level Admissions
Questions (309, 376)
Thomas Pringle
Question:309. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Teaching Council is requiring the completion of a two-week Gaeltacht placement for certain cohorts of students before their qualifications from a college (details supplied) will be recognised in 2021 while for others who started the relevant course six months earlier, the requirement has been waived; the reason for this divergence and inequality of treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6500/20]
View answer
Frank Feighan
Question:376. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will address a matter regarding a college course (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6832/20]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 309 and 376 together.
As you may be aware, my Department and the Teaching Council issued a joint statement on 23 March 2020 advising that in light of the emergency measures being adopted in relation to Covid-19, students who are in the final year of their Initial Teacher Education programme will not be required to complete the usual Gaeltacht Learning Period in order to graduate in summer 2020.
In the case of student teachers in all other years of their ITE programme, the Gaeltacht requirement is being postponed, to be fulfilled at a later point in the programme.
Completion of the Gaeltacht placement is an important element of programmes of initial teacher education for primary teachers and therefore a requirement for registration with the Teaching Council.
School Staff
Questions (310)
Robert Troy
Question:310. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to ensure that the current level of teaching staff will be maintained at a school (details supplied). [6502/20]
View answerWritten answers
The criteria used for the allocation of teaching posts is published annually on the Department website. 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. The staffing schedule includes an appeals mechanism for schools to submit a staffing appeal under certain criteria to an independent Appeals Board.
The Primary Staffing Appeals Board considered a staffing appeal from the school referred to by the Deputy under the Small Schools criteria. The Appeals Board has deemed the appeal ineligible and the school has been notified of this decision.
The Primary Staffing Appeals Board operates independently of the Department and its decision is final.
Question No. 311 answered with Question No. 159.
Special Educational Needs
Questions (312)
Charlie McConalogue
Question:312. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the July provision scheme in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6513/20]
View answerWritten answers
I am committed to running a summer Provision type programme for children with complex needs this year as soon as it is safe to do so and in accordance with public health advice.
My Department is exploring a number of options for a summer education programme for children with complex special needs.
The primary aim of the proposed programme would be to limit potential regression in learning thereby ensuring in so far as possible that these children can reintegrate and transition into their planned education setting for next year with their peers.
This may be done through a targeted level of supports to address regression of social skills and re-establish tolerance of routines paving the way for reintegrating full time into education when schools reopen in the autumn.
Departmental Data
Questions (313)
Thomas Pringle
Question:313. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students from Singapore studying here; if he in conjunction with Enterprise Ireland is taking additional steps to attract more students from Singapore to come here to study; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6514/20]
View answerWritten answers
There were 484 students from Singapore studying in Ireland in our universities, institutes of technology and private colleges in the 2017/18 academic year.
In 2017, Enterprise Ireland, under the Education in Ireland brand, dedicated a new full time education resource based in Singapore to develop international education links and opportunities in the ASEAN region for Irish higher education institutions.
As a result of the COVID pandemic, Education in Ireland is currently working on attracting students from Singapore by increasing social media engagement in the region, by hosting online webinars with agents, international schools and students in the region and by developing and participating in online education fairs where Irish higher education institutions showcase their colleges to students from the region.
DEIS Scheme
Questions (314)
Thomas Pringle
Question:314. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated full-year cost if the capitation paid to Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools, DEIS, schools increased by 30%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6525/20]
View answerWritten answers
The Deputy will be aware that on the 6th May last, I announced the early payment of the €16 million DEIS grant for the 2020/21 school year.
The funding was paid ahead of schedule to all schools in the DEIS programme to help support students who are most at risk of educational disadvantage during the Covid-19 school closures.
There are currently 890 schools with more than 180,000 students in the DEIS programme.
In the event that there was an increase of 30% in the DEIS Grant, the annualised grant would be €21m approximately, based on the 2020/21 grants at Primary and Post-Primary level. Schools should use the DEIS grant to implement measures to support their targets in the various themes as set out under DEIS Plan.
Question No. 315 answered with Question No. 159.
Student Universal Support Ireland
Questions (316)
Patrick Costello
Question:316. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated full-year cost of each 2.5% increase in grants under the SUSI scheme. [6537/20]
View answerWritten answers
The estimated full year cost to increase the maintenance grant rates by 2.5% is €4m.
Special Educational Needs Staff
Questions (317)
Patrick Costello
Question:317. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated full-year cost of each 250 new special needs assistants recruited. [6538/20]
View answerWritten answers
My Department's policy is to ensure that every child who is assessed as needing Special Needs Assistant (SNA) support will receive access to such support.
In 2019, in the region of €1.9 billion was invested in Special Education, nearly one fifth of the overall Education budget. Budget 2020 has provided for 1,064 additional SNAs posts, for allocation in 2020, which will bring the total number of SNA posts in schools to over 17,000 in 2020, an increase of over 60% since 2011. The additional cost of these posts is €13 million and the provisional 2020 total allocation to SNA pay is €602 million.
The pay at entry of a new entrant Special Needs Assistant, inclusive of employer PRSI, is €27,674 so the estimated cost of 250 SNAs would be €6,918,500.
Special Educational Needs Staff
Questions (318)
Patrick Costello
Question:318. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of new special needs assistants who will be recruited to deal with children and young persons on their return to school in view of the Covid-19 pandemic. [6539/20]
View answerWritten answers
Budget 2020 has provided for 1,064 additional SNAs posts, for allocation in 2020, which will bring the total number of SNA posts in schools to over 17,000 in 2020, an increase of over 60% since 2011.
Schools have been notified of the arrangements for the allocation of SNA support in respect of students in mainstream classes for 2020/21. The arrangements include the following provisions:
- 2019/20 mainstream class SNA allocations will be frozen, from the date of issue of Circular 0030/2020, and will automatically rollover into the 2020/21 school year. This means that no school will receive an allocation less than that which they have on the date of issue of this Circular and existing SNAs currently in standard SNA posts can continue in these posts for the next school year in the normal way.
- Schools may apply to the NCSE for additionality where they can demonstrate that the current allocation does not meet additional care needs within the mainstream classes in the school. Applications for additionality arising from significant new or emerging additional care needs, which cannot be catered within existing allocations, will be dealt with by way of an exceptional review process.
- A diagnosis of a disability, or a psychological or other professional report, will not be necessary for this process.
- The role of the SNA to support the care needs of students in mainstream classes, as set out in Circular 0030/2014, remains unchanged.
- It is expected that schools will review and reprioritise the deployment of SNAs within mainstream settings and allocate resources to ensure those with the greatest level of need receive the greatest level of support. Providing access to SNA support continues to be based on primary care needs as outlined in DES Circular 0030/2014.
Detailed information on the NCSE exceptional review process is published on the NCSE website www.ncse.ie.
The NCSE will endeavour to respond to all applications for exceptional review received prior to 22nd May 2020 by 30th June 2020 and in that regard, it will prioritise applications from schools with no current SNA allocation and developing schools.
Applications for an Exceptional Review received after 22 May 2020 will continue to be processed once all other applications have been completed.
The exceptional review process for mainstream allocations will be available to schools throughout the 2020/21 school year.
A new frontloading model for allocating Special Needs Assistants to primary and post primary schools for students in mainstream classes only was to be introduced in the 2020/21 school year as part of the phased roll out of the School Inclusion Model (SIM). Due to the disruption caused by the Covid-19 public health crisis, the introduction of the model has been deferred for one year.
Question No. 319 answered with Question No. 222.
Question No. 320 answered with Question No. 150.