Written Answers Nos. 212-231
221. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Education and Skills if there has been progress in relation to delivering an ASD-specific unit or school for the Dublin 12 area capable of addressing the shortfall in the places available to parents who are trying to find local schools with places for their children with special educational needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7750/20]
View answer223. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department has received a communication from the City of Dublin ETB in relation to having an interest in running an ASD-specific school in the Dublin 12 area; and if so, his views on such a proposal. [7752/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 221 and 223 together.
The provision of education for children with special needs is an ongoing priority for Government.
Currently, almost 20% of the total Education Vote or €1.9bn is invested in supporting children with special needs.
As a result the numbers of special education teachers, special needs assistants and special class and school places are at unprecedented levels.
The majority of children with special educational needs attend mainstream class, where they may access additional supports if required.
But some students may find it difficult to manage full-time placement in mainstream and so placement in a Special Class or Special School setting may be deemed appropriate where placement in mainstream class is not in the best interests of the child.
Special Schools funded by my Department are established as special primary schools and cater for children and young persons with complex special educational needs from the age of 4 years until the end of the school year in which they reach their 18th year.
Provision in our 124 special schools has also increased from 6,848 placements in 2011 to 7,872 this year.
Nationally, 167 new special classes opened this school year, which means there are 1,618 special classes in place, compared to 548 in 2011.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children nationwide; has well established structures in place for engaging with schools and parents; and seeks to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all children who have been identified as needing special class placements.
It is open to any school to make an application to the NCSE for the establishment of specialised provision and where sanctioned, a range of supports, including capital funding, is made available to the school. My Department works closely with the NCSE in this regard. In considering these applications, however, the NSCE, in conjunction with the school buildings unit of my Department, will be required to take into account the capacity of a school to establish such a class, including the provision of sufficient accommodation space within the school.
The NCSE is planning a further expansion of special class and special school places nationally to meet identified need for next year. This process is ongoing.
Normally, special class and special school places are established with the full cooperation of the schools in areas where they are required. However there are some parts of the country where the NCSE has faced challenges in getting schools and their patrons to voluntarily agree to provide special class or special school places.
I know that this can cause much anguish for parents and families involved
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.
I would prefer to see schools volunteer to provide more places rather than places being secured on the back of an order or a direction from me. It is the right thing for the children in a community.
The legislation was used for the first time in April 2019, in respect of the Dublin 15 area.
Significant progress was made in a relatively short period with the establishment of Danu Special School as well as six schools offering to open special classes.
The experience of Dublin 15 shows that real and practical challenges can be addressed by working together to provide additional special class and special school places.
The legislation was activated for a second time on the 29th October, 2019 following a report by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) which identified 82 children in South Dublin needing special education school places in the current school year and a further potential 68 children needing special education school places in 2020/21.
Since then, as required under the Act, the NCSE in consultation with the relevant education stakeholders, has been testing the capacity among schools in the South Dublin area.
On 21 April 2020 I received a report from the NCSE, pursuant to Section 37A(2) of the Education Act 1998 (as inserted by section 8 of the Education (Admissions to Schools) Act 2018) in respect of South Dublin, as the NCSE Council remains of the opinion that there is an insufficient number of special class and special school places within the South Dublin area for September 2020.
Before reaching this opinion, the NCSE has undertaken substantial work reviewing provision and accommodation in the 231 mainstream primary and 23 special schools in South Dublin.
Following engagement between NCSE local personnel and school management and Patrons, very good progress has been achieved. 78 ASD primary school special class placements and 12 ASD early intervention special class places have been created in 14 schools in South Dublin, with 13 new ASD special classes and 2 new ASD early intervention special classes to open for September 2020.
However, the NCSE has reported that to date, an insufficient number of schools have indicated a willingness to open addtional special classes. The NCSE is of the opinion that should this continue, there remains a need for an addtional 43 ASD primary special class places and 36 special school places in South Dublin.
The report also outlines the schools that should be requested to make additional provision.
This report will now be considered and if I agree with the position as set out by NCSE, next steps in the process will be considered which may include serving a statutory notice on schools identified if required.
At each stage of the process, schools are given the opportunity to make representations and there is also an option for arbitration.
Statutory notices issued under the Act together with the representations received from the schools are published on the Department’s website.
The necessary steps in the Admissions Act process, will continue to be expedited to ensure that every child has a suitable school placement, which is the key objective of my Department.
No communication referred to by the Deputy has been received by my Department.
222. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department or the NCSC have had contact with the owners of a school (details supplied) in relation to its future educational use; and if his Department has considered purchasing, asking for it to be donated to the State or leasing it. [7751/20]
View answerI wish to confirm to the Deputy that when a school building becomes vacant as a result of closure/amalgamation/replacement, the future use of the old building is in the first instance a matter for the property owner.
When the property owner applies to the Minister for permission to either use the property for community purposes or to sell it, my Department makes an assessment as to whether the property is required for future educational use. If it is concluded that the property has no viable future educational use, my Department permits that it may be used for community or other purposes or may be sold.
My Department has not received correspondence from the property owner in this regard.
224. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Education and Skills when work will start on a school (details supplied); the construction timeline; if he is satisfied that the school will be completed and ready for opening in September 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7754/20]
View answerThe permanent project for the school referred to by the Deputy is being delivered under my Department's Design & Build Programme.
It is anticipated that the project will proceed to tender later this year.
My Department has informed the school and its patron body that it will be working to have the first phase of the school's permanent accommodation handed over for occupation as early as possible in the 2021/22 school year.
225. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Education and Skills when he will announce a permanent location for the new secondary school for the Blanchardstown village and the Blanchardstown west planning area; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the delay in providing clarity on the permanent location is causing difficulties for enrolment in view of the fact parents are unsure as to the location it will be finally based; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7755/20]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, included in the Government announcement in April 2018 for plans to the establish 42 new schools over the four years from 2019 to 2022 was a new post-primary school to be established in 2020 to serve the Blanchardstown_West_D15 and BlanchardstownVge_D15 school planning areas as a regional solution.
The patronage process for this new school is complete and patronage was awarded to Dublin and Dún Laoghaire Education and Training Board (DDLETB) in December 2019.
In line with the policy on the use of State assets (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Circulars 11/15 and 17/16) the Department are seeking to maximize the use of sites already in its ownership and of available properties in the ownership of other State bodies, where these are considered suitable.
Identified site options are currently being considered including potential campus solutions on existing post-primary school sites. The suitability of these site options are currently being technically assessed by our Professional & Technical staff. It is expected that this process will be complete in the coming weeks.
Unfortunately, due to certain sensitivities I am not in a position to indicate their location at this time, however, the proposed location for the school will be made known as soon as it is possible to do so.
226. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the Teaching Council is operating during the Covid-19 crisis; if it is accepting registration and re-registration applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7756/20]
View answerThe Teaching Council has informed me that due to the current Covid-19 emergency, its offices are closed to the public and its staff are working remotely. During the initial stages of the lockdown new applications for registrations were suspended as they could not be processed remotely. I am advised that with effect from the 5th of May, on a limited basis and in keeping with public health guidelines, a small number of staff are attending the office to carry out essential work which cannot be done remotely including processing applications for registration. Given the nature of the current crisis and limited access to the workplace, delays in processing applications should be expected.
Applicants for registration are asked to ensure that all forms and supporting documentation submitted are correct and fully completed in advance of submission. Missing documentation will require further follow-up with the applicant which can lead to delays in registration.
The Teaching Council also advises that the majority of registration renewals are done online and that renewals received by post are also being processed. Similar delays may be experienced for renewals, where not conducted through the online system, due to public health guidelines and limitations on staff accessing the office to process post.
227. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to ensure adequate special needs school transport supports are put in place without further delay for a person (details supplied). [7763/20]
View answerSchool 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 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. Children are eligible for transport where they have special educational needs arising from a diagnosed disability in accordance with the Department's criteria and are attending the nearest recognised mainstream school, special class/special school or a unit, that is or can be resourced to meet their special educational needs. Eligibility is determined following consultation with the National Council for Special Education through its network of Special Education Needs Organisers.
The School Transport Section of my Department is currently liaising with the parent in regard to her application for transport for her son.
228. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Education and Skills the progress on a school building project (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7765/20]
View answerThe Major Building Project for the school referred to by the deputy is included in my Department’s Construction Programme which is being delivered under the National Development Plan. The project in question is at Stage 1 of architectural planning which entails preliminary design of site and location suitability and initial sketch scheme.
A review in 2019 of the demand for post primary provision in the area resulted in an increase in the schedule of accommodation to cater for up to 1,300 pupils. The Department met with the school and the increase was accepted by the school. Agreement was also obtained from the school patron on a reservation of space on the school site for future educational development.
Initially, it had been anticipated that this project would be delivered in the form of an extension and refurbishment. However, through ongoing engagement with the school, its Board of Management and Trustees (CEIST), the option of a New Build is currently being explored by the Department.
The Design Team has been instructed to provide an initial sketch scheme for a 1300 pupil school, and submit to the Department for review.
Following this review my Department will then be in contact with the Board of Management of the school with regard to the progression of the project.
229. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the ten persons who are normally employed at the State Examinations Commission in order to deal with examination papers. [7766/20]
View answerThe 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.
230. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the construction of a new school building for a school (details supplied); the stage the plans are at; when it is anticipated that construction will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7768/20]
View answerThe project to which the Deputy refers has been devolved for delivery to the local Education and Training Board (ETB).
Under this arrangement, I can confirm that the ETB has appointed a design team for the project to design the buildings, obtain the necessary statutory planning permissions, and move the project onward to construction in due course.
As the project has not yet commenced architectural planning, it is too early in the process to provide a timeline for completion of the works.
231. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consider introducing a means-tested intervention to assist student accommodation providers that may not be able to reimburse students for the time they will not be using student accommodation due to Covid-19 restrictions which would allow students to end their tenancy early without financial penalty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7771/20]
View answer286. Deputy Norma Foley asked the Minister for Education and Skills the action he will take with operators of student accommodation to seek refunds for students who left the accommodation on the instruction of his Department on 12 March 2020. [8098/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 231 and 286 together.
My 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. While I would wish to see this principle applied in the case of students who were residing in privately owned student accommodation also, it is not within the remit of my Department to direct any accommodation provider to offer a refund.
