Written Answers Nos. 172-191
172. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to address a matter in relation to the recommencement of third-level education (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7436/20]
View answer233. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Skills if it is planned that colleges and universities will commence their respective academic years as normal; if delays are expected; and if his Department has begun planning for a scenario in which they are not in a position to commence the academic year as normal. [7790/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 172 and 233 together.
Higher Education Institutions are autonomous institutions and are entitled to regulate their own academic affairs and administrative processes. Therefore the timelines for re-opening are a matter for each institution to decide.
The national co-ordination group for tertiary education is meeting on a regular basis to consider key issues impacting the tertiary sector, including arrangements for re-opening insitutions. These arrangements will be dependent on public health advice, and will be communicated to learners as soon as possible.
173. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will intervene in the ongoing dispute at the University of Limerick regarding refunds for students that have paid for campus accommodation and have not been able to use it for the past number of months. [7478/20]
View answerMy Department is working with representatives from the higher education sector to address the challenges faced by students in this difficult time. I understand based on the information available to me that the majority of students in university-owned accommodation will receive pro-rata refunds if they have vacated their accommodation.
I have called on the University of Limerick to join with the other universities and offer refunds to students who have left, however universities are autonomous bodies and its not within my remit to direct any institution to offer a refund. I have also discussed this matter directly with the Chancellor of UL. I understand that the issue is currently under active consideration by the UL governing body, and that a decision will be made shortly.
174. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the building of the new educate together primary school on Harcourt Terrace; if this project has been impacted by the current crisis; the timeline for commencement and completion of the project; and when the school will officially open. [7480/20]
View answerThe major building project referred to by the Deputy is currently at an advanced stage of architectural planning, Stage 2b – Detailed Design, which includes the applications for Planning Permission, Fire Cert and Disability Access Cert and the preparation of tender documents. All statutory approvals have been obtained.
The Design Team have completed the pre-qualification process. It is currently anticipated that the project to which the Deputy refers will progress to tender stage later this year, with construction commencing early in 2021.
A tender stage normally takes between 7 and 8 months to complete.
175. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consider offering children with disabilities a return to school before September 2020 as teachers are in place (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7486/20]
View answerOn 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 is 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.
176. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on a proposal in respect of the July provision (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7497/20]
View answerMy 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.
177. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Skills if students of social care will be given clarity with regard to their placements; if they will not be held up from graduating as a result of placements being cancelled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7501/20]
View answerSince the onset of the Covid-19 outbreak, significant work has been undertaken by a stakeholder group chaired by the Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) and including the representative bodies of education providers to address issues relating to the maintenance of the quality and standards of teaching and learning, assessment and qualifications. This group has focused on the implementation of alternative arrangements, where appropriate and necessary, to meet both these standards and, where applicable, the educational accreditation criteria established by Professional Recognition Bodies (PRBs).
In the case of Social Care, the awards standards established by QQI reflect the accreditation criteria that have been set out by CORU, Ireland's multi-profession Health and Social Care Regulator and consequently the relevant PRB for this profession. Engagement is ongoing between members of the stakeholders group, QQI and CORU to ensure that necessary arrangements are put in place to maintain standards of education and training in this area so that students graduate with the relevant professional competencies that have been set out by CORU and which are reflected in QQI’s award standards and so that the position is clarified for students.
178. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide clarity on the July provision for 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7503/20]
View answerMy 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.
179. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a reply will issue to correspondence regarding a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7504/20]
View answer185. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a full immersion Gaelcholáiste (details supplied) for County Louth; if a decision can be expected in time for the beginning of the 2020/2021 school year; if not, if he will consider expediting the decision process with an appropriate deadline; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7540/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 179 and 185 together.
I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is in active discussion with An Foras Pátrúnachta in relation to a proposal for a Gaelcholáiste under the patronage of An Foras Pátrúnachta to also have a campus in County Louth. The parties are assessing options in Dundalk for the upcoming school year. All parties are conscious of the short timeframe to the start of the school year and I wish to advise the Deputy that every effort is being made to expedite this assessment. A response will issue to correspondence received in this regard.
180. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Education and Skills the progress in relation to the new build at a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7523/20]
View answerI can confirm to the Deputy that my Department has received a Stage 2b report from the school to which she refers. My Department will be in contact with the school directly once its review of this report has been completed.
181. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a payment to a person (details supplied) will continue after they reach 66 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7528/20]
View answerAn occupational pension awarded to a teacher on medical grounds will remain in payment when the retiree attains 66 years of age.
It should be noted that a teacher who is awarded a pension on medical grounds may not subsequently engage in teaching.
Where a full recovery is made and a teacher wishes to return to teaching or employment outside of teaching in the public or private sector, fresh medical evidence of fitness must be submitted for review by the Occupational Health Service (OHS) engaged by my Department. Where a teacher is deemed as no longer medically unfit to teach, payment of pension benefits will cease and will only resume at normal retirement age or the date on which the new contract of employment ends, whichever is the later; on resumption, benefits will be re-calculated without the additional years awarded as part of the initial retirement on grounds of ill health.
182. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Education and Skills the guidelines schools and principals will receive in terms of public health safety before they return to reopen schools. [7529/20]
View answer183. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Education and Skills when he expects to be able to issue schools with public health requirement guidelines for the reopening of schools. [7530/20]
View answer219. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department will be issuing guidelines pertaining to the safe reopening of primary schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7745/20]
View answer220. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Skills if adjustments will be made on health and safety grounds to the pupil-teacher ratio operational in primary schools for the 2020/2021 academic year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7746/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 182, 183, 219 and 220 together.
On the 1 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 engaging and working with the education partners and relevant stakeholders on planning arrangements for the re-opening of schools in accordance with the timeframe outlined in the roadmap and all decisions on how schools are to safely re-open and operate will be consistent with 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 National Return to Work Safely Protocol has been published, and this protocol will inform discussions with all education partners so that appropriate guidance for schools is developed and arrangements put in place in time for the new school year. This work will also be informed by guidance and experience from other jurisdictions and from advice published by international bodies such as the World Health Organisation and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).
184. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Education and Skills the additional funding resources schools will have in order to pay for the new public health and safety requirements they will have to implement. [7531/20]
View answerOn 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. 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.
186. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the July provision is going ahead in 2020; if not, if it will be facilitated in the homes of the children; the alternate plans he is developing for the July provision; when these plans will be made public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7547/20]
View answerMy 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.
188. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Education and Skills the programme in existence or being planned going forward for apprenticeships in Carlow town or county in view of the fact that Carlow is a manufacturing town. [7567/20]
View answerApprenticeships are demand driven educational and training programmes, which aim to develop the skills of an apprentice in order to meet the needs of industry and the labour market. As apprentices are employees, the demand for apprenticeship is primarily met by the employer base in any area. Each region in the country has a dedicated apprenticeship support system which is managed by the local Education and Training Board (ETB). In this particular situation it is managed by Kilkenny and Carlow ETB.
As national programmes, apprenticeships are delivered via a range of education and training providers and it is not practical to offer the full range of apprenticeship trades in each training location. This does not preclude employers from any specific region from participating in these apprenticeships.
In terms of the manufacturing sector, there are two main apprenticeships in Manufacturing Engineering and Manufacturing Technology available as well as apprenticeships in associated functions such as ICT, Sales, Accounting Technician and Logistics/Supply Chain. A further apprenticeship in Manufacturing Data Integration Engineer is currently in development.
The 55 national apprenticeship programmes currently available are open to all eligible employers who wish to train apprentices in their particular sector, subject to suitability to train being assessed and approved by SOLAS via the local ETB. Interested employers who wish to be approved to train apprentices in a particular occupation should contact their local ETB or fill out an expression of interest form online on the apprenticeship jobs portal which is available on the website www.apprenticeship.ie.
189. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Education and Skills the engagement held with the organisers of a competition (details supplied) in view of Covid-19 restrictions. [7579/20]
View answerThe Department of Education and Skills can confirm that it has engaged with the organisers of the BT Young Scientist and Technologist Exhibition around the 2021 event. The organisers of the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition have confirmed to the Department that they are currently monitoring timelines around schools re-opening across the country and the Government’s roadmap for re-opening the country. These decisions will determine any changes that may need to be made in relation to the delivery of the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition 2021.
We will continue to engage with them as new information and guidelines emerge. The organisers remain committed to the running of the competition. All decisions will be guided by the most up to date advice from the National Public Health Emergency Team.
