Wednesday, 27 May 2020

SOLAS Training and Education Programmes

Questions (101, 104, 105, 108, 191, 238, 291)

Robert Troy

Question:

101. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Skills when Safe Pass courses are expected to resume as part of the Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business. [7263/20]

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Aindrias Moynihan

Question:

104. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on whether urgent consideration should be given to resume Safe Pass courses delivered by SOLAS in view of the fact the construction industry has resumed activity under phase 1 of the Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7449/20]

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John Brady

Question:

105. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education and Skills when SOLAS will resume Safe Pass training courses. [7499/20]

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Norma Foley

Question:

108. Deputy Norma Foley asked the Minister for Education and Skills if Safe Pass training has resumed; the date for it to resume; and if Safe Passes that have expired have been extended. [8095/20]

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Charlie McConalogue

Question:

191. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills when providers of Safe Pass courses can start to provide courses to new entrants to the sector who have not had a Safe Pass certificate before; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7594/20]

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Robert Troy

Question:

238. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of contingencies for persons whose Safe Pass has expired and who require one to return to work (details supplied). [7872/20]

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Sorca Clarke

Question:

291. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education and Skills if those whose Safe Pass is due to expire before full reopening will be extended to cover the same period in view of current restrictions and health advice regarding social distancing. [8153/20]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills (John Halligan)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 101, 104, 105, 108, 191, 238 and 291 together.

Under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations 2013, construction workers in Ireland are legally bound to hold a valid Safe Pass Registration Card. The Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation recently amended these regulations to extend the validity of Safe Pass cards with an expiration date after the 1st March 2020 for the duration of the Covid-19 emergency period.

The delivery of Safe Pass courses is currently suspended in accordance with public health measures. SOLAS has examined the potential for online delivery as a means of continuing national construction health and safety courses while adhering to public health measures. No immediate solution has been identified that is equitable with the existing Safe Pass course delivery model, in being accessible to all eligible workers, provides real time course participants supports (literacy and numeracy) and interpreter services, as well as ensuring assessment integrity.

The timeline for return of Safe Pass training is under consideration, informed by public health advice. Contingency plans are also being put in place to support delivery of Safe Pass training within health and social distancing guidelines once restrictions are lifted.

School Transport

Questions (102)

Niamh Smyth

Question:

102. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a person (details supplied) has to pay a large amount each year for bus fees; if more school buses will be introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7306/20]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills (John Halligan)

School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of my Department.

In the current school year over 120,000 children, including over 14,200 children with special educational needs, are 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 €219m in 2019.

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 general children are eligible for school transport if they meet the distance criteria and are attending their nearest school.

All children who are eligible for school transport and who complete the application and payment process on time are accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation.

Children who are not eligible for school transport, but who complete the application process on time, are considered for spare seats that may exist after eligible children have been facilitated; such seats are referred to as concessionary seats. Where the number of ineligible children exceeds the number of spare seats available, Bus Éireann will allocate tickets for the spare seats using an agreed selection process.

The annual charge for school transport services is €100 per annum for primary children and €350 for post primary children with a maximum family charge of €220 for primary children only or €650 overall.

Children who are eligible for school transport and who hold valid medical cards (GMS Scheme) are exempt from paying the annual charge. In addition, there is no charge for children who are eligible for school transport under the terms of my Department's School Transport Scheme for children with Special Educational Needs.

Bus Éireann has advised that the family in question are not eligible for school transport as they are not attending their nearest school. Bus Éireann has also advised that a ticket was issued to the family referred to by the Deputy on a concessionary basis for the 2019/20 school year.

School transport scheme services operating for the 2020/21 school year will be determined by the number of children who complete the application and payment process on time and are deemed eligible for school transport.

Medical Qualifications

Questions (103)

Pauline Tully

Question:

103. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of places in medical schools; the number of Irish students admitted annually; the number of non-Irish students admitted annually; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7405/20]

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Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The Higher Education Authority collects data on the number of enrolments in the higher education institutions. The number of students enrolled in year 1 for the academic year 2017/18 (latest year for which full data is available) on the undergraduate full time honours degree doctor training courses by institution and domicile are outlined in the attached table.

Year 1

Questions Nos. 104 and 105 answered with Question No. 101.

Institutes of Technology

Questions (106)

Claire Kerrane

Question:

106. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a decision will be made on an application (details supplied) for a pension abatement waiver submitted in July 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7522/20]

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Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I wish to advise the Deputy that Section 52 of the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012 provides for pension abatement for employees in the public sector ; Section 52(4) provides for the waiver of such abatement at the discretion of the Minister of Public Expenditure & Reform.

I understand that the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform recently issued their decision on an application for a waiver of abatement in relation to the person concerned and advised his employer accordingly.

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Questions (107)

Anne Rabbitte

Question:

107. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a student based at a network (details supplied) is entitled to the pandemic unemployment payment if already in receipt of jobseeker's; if he will reinstate the travel allowance of €12.70 and the meal allowance of €4; if not, when is he expecting to reintroduce such allowances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7769/20]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills (John Halligan)

The National Learning Network (NLN) provides training through the Specialist Training Provider programme on behalf of Education and Training Boards. Participating learners receive a training allowance in lieu of certain social welfare entitlements.

The COVID 19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment was introduced as a time-limited emergency measure to meet the surge in unemployment which resulted from the effects of the Coronavirus pandemic. The conditions for receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment are that a person must of working age between 18 and up to 66 years old, have been in employment immediately prior to 13th March and have lost their employment and income due to the impact of the pandemic. This payment is not payable in addition to a jobseeker's payment. If the student concerned satisfies the conditions for the Pandemic Unemployment Payment they should contact the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection to ensure that they are in receipt of the appropriate type of payment.

Circular 23 /2020 was issued by my Department in March 2020 to guide learner payments during the current crisis. While training allowances continue to be paid to learners until they can complete their course, additional payments that assist in the cost of actual attendance on training courses and / or work experience such as travel and meals are only paid when they are incurred. Therefore they would not generally apply when centres are closed.

Question No. 108 answered with Question No. 101.

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Questions (109, 301)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

109. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if financial supports and measures will be made available to ensure social distancing measures can be properly implemented on school buses when schools are reopened in the 2020/2021 school year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8115/20]

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Seán Crowe

Question:

301. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Skills if specific advice or information has been given to the bus fleet including private bus operators which provide students with transport to and from schools nationwide regarding future plans in relation to spacing, safety and the possible lifting of Covid-19 restrictions. [8259/20]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills (John Halligan)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 109 and 301 together.

School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education and Skills.

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 current school year over 120,000 children, including over 14,200 children with special educational needs, are 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 €219m in 2019.

The decision taken by the Government to close schools with effect from 13th March 2020 was taken in the interest of protecting our pupils, their families, teachers and those members of the wider community and is one of the many measures taken to support efforts to contain the spread of Covid-19.

On the 1st May 2020, the Taoiseach announced as part of the “Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business” that schools will commence opening on a phased basis at the beginning of the 2020/2021 academic year. The Department is currently working with the education partners and relevant stakeholders in planning for this phased re-opening which will be based on public health advice and which will put the best interests of our school population first.

The operation of school transport services in September 2020 will be informed by the outcome of this planning for re-opening schools.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (110)

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

110. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the phase under which educational services and facilities that deliver measures for children with disabilities will be allowed reopen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8174/20]

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Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

On the 1st May 2020, the Taoiseach announced as part of the "Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business" that schools will commence opening on a phased basis at the beginning of the 2020/2021 academic year.

My Department is currently working with the Education Partners and relevant stakeholders in planning for this re-opening which will be based on public health advice. As part of this engagement, each of the education partners were given the opportunity to outline the key issues that they would like to have considered in the context of re-opening schools.

The issues raised by the education partners will now be worked through in detail as part of the development of the roadmap for reopening schools.

A core objective will be to ensure that schools and other education settings can re-open and operate in a safe manner that is consistent with public health advice.

In the interim, my Department has provided a range of support and guidance for schools on how to provide for the continuing education for pupils over the current school closure period.

Supports are provided to schools and teachers engaged in distance learning and these are available at https://www.education.ie/en/covid-19/#14.

In addition to the general guidance that has been provided for schools, additional support material has also been provided specifically on how schools should provide for the continuity of education for children with special educational needs. This guidance is available at:

https://www.education.ie/en/Schools-Colleges/Information/National-Emergencies-Public-Health-Issues/guidance-continuity-of-schooling-supporting-pupils-with-sen-primary.pdf

https://www.education.ie/en/Schools-Colleges/Information/National-Emergencies-Public-Health-Issues/guidance-continuity-of-schooling-supporting-students-with-sen-post-primary.pdf.

The guidance notes that there is a particular need for pupils with special educational needs (SEN) to have regular, ongoing schooling. While all pupils need to be supported to maintain their engagement in learning, those with SEN are among those who need most support at this time. Examples of strategies and measures to ensure that the needs of pupils with SEN are catered for, are provided in the guidance documents and a range of resources are also identified for parents.

It sets out the role of schools and teachers in engaging with pupils with SEN and the role of teachers and school leaders to support such pupils. It advises schools as to how best to keep in touch with parents and guardians and how to keep pupils with SEN safe and engaged in the distance learning environment.

The guidance sets out the role of the special education teacher to support children with special educational needs at this time. It notes that the special education teacher’s knowledge of their pupils’ priority learning needs and agreed targets, as outlined in the pupil support file, will enable them to work with parents and guardians to choose appropriate supports in a remote learning environment.

Special Education Teachers (SETs) are asked to carefully examine how progress on the existing learning targets in student support plans can be reasonably extended by home learning. They are asked to use this knowledge to communicate with the pupils and their parents and guardians and to establish what methods will work best to achieve continuity of learning for the pupils.

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is also providing a range of online resources for parents and teachers to support home learning for children with special educational needs during the Covid 19 restrictions.

In addition to the normal supports, the NCSE is providing online resources for children with Special Educational Needs who are at home as a result of the schools’ closure.

Supports provided include those relating to general learning and difficulties for pupils with SEN, Curriculum support, speech language and communication, occupational therapy support, guidance around behaviour, and learning and rresources on ‘Visiting Teachers Support’ for a teacher who teaches children with sensory impairment

Details of the full range of supports that the NCSE provides for teachers and parents is available at: https://ncse.ie/online-resources.

The Department of Education and Skills’ NEPS psychologists have also developed advice and resources for young people to manage and stay well when schools are closed. The NEPS advice & resources for keeping children and young people well during Covid-19 are available at https://www.education.ie/covid19/wellbeing/.

Guidelines for continued provision of Guidance Counselling and resources available to support practice are available at https://www.education.ie/en/Schools-Colleges/Information/Post-Primary-School-Policies/Policies/Guidance-Plan.html.

Guidance for parents of primary school pupils, which sets out what they should expect in relation to engagement in distance learning from schools, and how they can support their child in a home schooling environment is also available at:

https://www.education.ie/en/Schools-Colleges/Information/continuity-of-schooling/continuity-of-schooling.html.

I also recently announced that a special €10 million fund is being made available to support the purchase of technology and devices for disadvantaged students, including students with special educational needs.

This is additional to the latest round of funding for ICT under the Digital Strategy for Schools whereby €40m grant funding will be distributed in the coming weeks to eligible. €10m additional funding is also now issuing to schools to support children and young people who are at risk of educational disadvantage during the period of school closures.

While recognising the difficulty that school closure has had for parents and pupils, particularly in relation to pupils with special educational needs, my Department will continue to support and encourage schools to provide as much continuity of education as possible for such pupils, while continuing to engage with public health officials and stakeholders in relation to when schools may re-open and operate in a safe manner that is consistent with public health advice.

State Examinations

Questions (111)

Holly Cairns

Question:

111. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on putting in place a system to monitor the success, challenges and failures of the 2020 leaving certificate arrangements as a case study for future reforms of the senior cycle assessment in post-primary schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7057/20]

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Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The postponement of the Leaving Certificate examinations from summer 2020 to a later date and the provision of Calculated Grades to Leaving Certificate students have occurred solely as a response to the circumstances caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. The decisions to postpone the examinations and offer Calculated Grades were informed by health advice and by advice from an advisory committee of stakeholders, including representatives of students, teachers, parents and school managers, which I established in April 2020. The way in which the advisory group worked to examine the challenges facing the education system and to find solutions is an example of how I have been determined to involve stakeholders in building educational policy and approaches to implementation. I have also been clear with stakeholders about the exceptional nature of the challenges that Ireland and its educational system faced in 2020 because of Covid-19 and it was clearly understood among all the partners that the arrangements in place for the provision of Calculated Grades will not be regarded as a precedent or as agreement by teachers, principals or schools to implement such arrangements in future years.

Work at the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment on the Review of Senior Cycle has continued throughout 2020 and is nearing completion. The NCCA is completing an Advisory Report on the review setting out areas of work and plans to be pursued in the future development of senior cycle education.

Assessment and examination arrangements will comprise an important area of the Advisory Report. However, while the commentary in that report may refer to aspects of the assessment arrangements which are a feature of this year’s Leaving Certificate, it must also take account of the exceptional circumstances behind the arrangements that will apply this year and the understanding of the partners around their introduction. In addition, the Senior Cycle Review is intended to provide a framework for a broad range of learning and assessment arrangements, including terminal examinations, building on extensive research and evidence from Ireland and other educational systems.

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Questions (112)

Paul Donnelly

Question:

112. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Education and Skills when parents and teachers can expect a detailed plan on the way in which they can return to school in September 2020; and if schools will receive financial support to fund a risk assessment and funding for extra works required. [7064/20]

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Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

On the 1st May 2020, the Taoiseach announced as part of the "Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business" that schools will commence opening on a phased basis at the beginning of the 2020/2021 academic year. The Department is currently working with the Education Partners and relevant stakeholders in planning for this re-opening which will be based on public health advice. As part of this engagement, each of the education partners were given the opportunity to outline the key issues that they would like to have considered in the context of re-opening schools. These will now be worked through in detail as part of the development of the roadmap for reopening schools. The Department is conscious of the need for early clarity on key issues in order to facilitate and support planning for schools re-opening in September.

A core objective will be to ensure that schools and other education settings can re-open and operate in a safe manner that is consistent with public health advice.

State Examinations

Questions (113)

John Lahart

Question:

113. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education and Skills if junior certificate or leaving certificate examinations material had been already prepared for the 2020 exam; if so, if these papers can be salvaged for future examinations; the cost of preparing these papers; the function of State Examinations Commission staff for the coming months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7070/20]

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Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations.

In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.

National Educational Psychological Service

Questions (114, 216)

Seán Crowe

Question:

114. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Skills the recommendations and written instructions from NEPS to students and schools during the Covid-19 pandemic, particularly for those preparing for cancelled examinations. [7074/20]

View answer

John Brady

Question:

216. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the performance of his Department in supporting the well-being of students in relation to the announcements regarding the leaving certificate 2020. [7740/20]

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Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I propose to take Questions Nos. 114 and 216 together.

I am acutely aware of the challenges faced by students, teachers and families at this difficult time. The welfare of students and that of their families is front and centre in all decision making. My Department has worked closely with the Department of Health and the HSE on the In This Together campaign which aims to help everyone in Ireland to Stay Connected, Stay Active, and look after their Mental Wellbeing throughout the Covid-19 Emergency. The In This Together campaign draws together the huge range of advice and support that is available for people of all ages. To support the wellbeing and mental health of our Leaving Certificate students at this time, a dedicated page on the InThis Together site contains online advice for Leaving Certificate students. This webpage includes a series of supports on managing wellbeing, stress and anxiety, developed by NEPS. The webpage also includes links to more individualised support for students to access, should these be needed. It is recognised that some vulnerable groups of students may require a more focused, stepped-up level of intervention and the Department has worked with the Department of Health and HSE to ensure the most appropriate services and resources are clearly signposted for those students. A planning group has been established by my colleague, the Minister for Health and includes representatives from the Department of Health, the HSE, and the NGO sector, in recognition of the fact that prior to, during and following national emergencies there is a need to support certain members of the population with their emotional, cognitive, social and physical needs.

The stepped care approach recognises that at present, there already exists services that offer online text and telephone supports to people seeking mental health information and advice. These include the Samaritans; Pieta House; MyMind; Turn2Me; Aware; Crisis Text Ireland; Shine; BeLongTo; LGBT Ireland; Jigsaw; Bodywhys and Childline. The YourMentalHealth.ie website provides a ‘one-stop-shop’ portal for people seeking information, supports and services, including information on accessing urgent help and a mental health text messaging support service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days each week to connect people with trained volunteers. These services augment the work of NEPS and assist students who may be feeling anxious at this time. In addition, additional support services have been identified for the general population that can assist students and their families at this time.

During this challenging time the school building may be closed but schools have structures in place to support students. It has often been the case, that the first port of call for Leaving Certificate students who are experiencing distress has been their school. Schools have developed excellent and flexible systems of support. Many schools have a designated Student Support Team, while other schools have equivalent systems and structures, but may use different terminology to describe their arrangements, such as ‘Care Team’ or ‘Pastoral Care Team’. Either way, the structures schools have in place will continue to have a key role identifying issues and students for discussion by the Student Support Team with appropriate action/ follow-up. In these uncertain times, the familiarity of these school structures and personnel will offer continuity and reassurance to students. A guidance document for Post-Primary Schools on supporting the wellbeing of students and the role of Student Support Teams was written by NEPS and has been published by my Department.

NEPS psychologists continue to be available to provide advice and support to school principals, teachers, students, parents. NEPS provides consultation for school staff who may have concerns about individual students. NEPS supports schools in putting interventions in place for students with identified difficulties, and in signposting to more specialist support, when needed, including onward referral to the HSE and other local mental health services.

NEPS is proactively exploring a number of innovative ways to continue to provide educational psychological services to school communities at this time.

School Transport

Questions (115)

Cathal Crowe

Question:

115. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the school transport scheme for pupils will be reassessed in view of the difficulties facing parents in getting their children accepted into their nearest school (details supplied). [7077/20]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills (John Halligan)

School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education and Skills.

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 current school year over 120,000 children, including over 14,200 children with special educational needs, are 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 €219m in 2019.

In general children are eligible for school transport if they meet the distance criteria and are attending their nearest school.

Children who are eligible for school transport and who complete the application process on time are accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation. Children who are not eligible for school transport, but who complete the application process on time, are considered for spare seats that may exist after eligible children have been facilitated; such seats are referred to as concessionary seats. Where the number of applications from ineligible children exceeds the number of spare seats available, tickets are allocated using an agreed selection process.

In cases where the Department is satisfied that the nearest school is full, eligibility for school transport will be determined based on the distance that children reside from their next nearest school having regard to ethos and language. If a family has further information in regard to the closest school being full they should contact School Transport Section of my Department. Further information in this regard is available on my Department's website www.education.ie.

Special Educational Needs

Questions (116)

Alan Kelly

Question:

116. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the July provision is going ahead; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7086/20]

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Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

My Department is aware of concerns that the closure of schools has impacted hardest upon families who have children with complex needs whose wellbeing and engagement with learning depend very much on the routine of school and their relationships with other students, teachers and Special Needs Assistants.

They have also lost out on specialist supports during this closure period.

My Department has taken a number of initiatives to support children and young people who are at risk of educational disadvantage during the period of school closures.

These include –

- Guidance issued to all schools to support the ongoing learning of children with special educational needs and children who are at risk of disadvantage;

- Guidance and resources developed by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) on supporting children with special educational needs

- €10m in ICT grant funding to schools towards the purchase of technology and devices to support students at risk of educational disadvantage.

- Continued funding of Home Tuition or, where this is not possible, flexibility to bank hours for use at a later time in the year

- Resources to support good mental health and wellbeing amongst students produced by the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS)

- To help schools plan for the new academic year, schools have been informed that their SNA allocation is being frozen at this year’s level and there is provision for additionality where this might be required. No school will therefore have a lower allocation for the next school year.

- The Middletown Centre for Autism has developed a range of online resources for children and young people with Autism and their parents on education provision in the Home.

Unfortunately, due to the Covid-19 health crisis, it is not possible to deliver the normal July Provision programme in the same way and at the same time as in other years.

However my Department is planning for 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.

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.

Planning is underway and consultations with stakeholders have commenced. The willingness of schools, teachers and SNAs to participate are key to the provision of a summer education programme.

An announcement will be made as soon as possible.

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Questions (117)

Cathal Crowe

Question:

117. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Skills if an additional teacher will be appointed at a school (details supplied) to improve the pupil-teacher ratio at the school; and the status of the application for additional accommodation, including a purpose built special class at the school. [7104/20]

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Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

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 school referred to by the Deputy submitted an appeal to the Primary Staffing Appeals Board The Appeals Board has deemed the appeal ineligible under the criteria set out in Circular 18/2020 and the school has been notified of this decision.

The Primary Staffing Appeals Board operates independently of the Department and its decision is final.

I can confirm that my Department is in receipt of an application for additional school accommodation for the school referred to by the Deputy. Once the application has been assessed, the school authority will be contacted directly with a decision.

Special Educational Needs

Questions (118, 277)

Catherine Connolly

Question:

118. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the outcome of the review of the July provision programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7127/20]

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Catherine Connolly

Question:

277. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the application process for the July provision programme; the details of the planned expansion of the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8037/20]

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Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I propose to take Questions Nos. 118 and 277 together.