Skip to main content
Normal View

Tuesday, 23 Jun 2020

Written Answers Nos. 101-123

Flood Risk Management

Questions (101)

Holly Cairns

Question:

101. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the policies and procedures that ensure there is a coherent whole-of-Government approach to flooding as outlined in the annual transition statement. [12653/20]

View answer

Written answers

The Interdepartmental Flood Policy Co-ordination Group was established to co-ordinate and inform the implementation of the 2004 National Flood Policy.

The Office of Public Works (OPW) chairs this Group, that meets twice yearly, and is leading a proactive and whole of Government response to flooding, across three strategic areas,

- Prevention - avoiding construction in flood-prone areas.

- Protection - taking feasible measures to protect areas against flooding.

- Preparedness - planning and responding to reduce the impacts of flood events.

To date the implementation of the Government's whole of Government approach to flood risk has delivered many sector led initiatives, including 2009 statutory planning guidelines and emergency response structures in preparing for and responding to a flood event. In 2018 Mr. Kevin Boxer Moran TD, Minister of State with Special Responsibility for Office of Public Works and Flood Relief published Implementing National Flood Risk Policy. This publications sets out the cross sectoral measures to manage flood risk in place and under development at that time.

The Group also set the direction for the development of the National Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme. The CFRAM programme was the largest study of flood risk ever undertaken by the State and assessed the flood risk for two thirds of the population. It produced the Flood Risk Management Plans and the evidence to support €1bn investment in flood relief under the National Development Plan 2018-2027 as part of Project 2040.

The Group also co-ordinated Climate Change Sectoral Adaptation Plan for flood risk management in line with its requirements under the National Adaptation Framework. The Plan, approved by Government in October 2019, sets out the cross sectoral impacts of climate change on flood risk. The long-term goal adopted on climate adaptation for flooding and flood risk management and set out in the Plan is to promote sustainable communities and support our environment through the effective management of the potential impacts of climate change on flooding and flood risk. To deliver on this goal, the Government has approved 21 actions across flood risk prevention, protection and preparedness, as well as further research and capacity building.

The Government’s whole of Government approach to flood risk management is in line with international best practice and has been independently endorsed by Dutch experts.

School Funding

Questions (102)

James Browne

Question:

102. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consider providing funding to schools that could not fundraise during the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11746/20]

View answer

Written answers

Fundraising activities are a matter for each Board of Management. However, my Department provides funding to support the day to day running costs of schools through capitation and ancillary funding and this funding is continuing to be made available in line with normal arrangements.

Furthermore, I am pleased to have been able to provide for a further 2.5% increase in standard capitation funding for primary and post-primary schools that will apply from the start of the 2020/21 school year. This builds on last year’s 5% increase in capitation announced in budget 2019. The combined increases given in 2019 and 2020 mean that circa 40% restoration will be achieved. All schools have received the benefit of the capitation increases awarded to date and it is my intention to seek funding for further capitation increases in future budgets.

My Department is also currently working with the Education Partners and relevant stakeholders in planning for the re-opening of schools 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.

School Transport

Questions (103)

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

103. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if parents that paid bus fees for the 20199-20 school year will be refunded the money paid for March, April, May and June 2020; and if not, if Bus Éireann will reduce the cost of the bus for the 2020-21 school year. [11883/20]

View answer

Written answers

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.

Given that the school transport services have not been available to children from 13th March, it was recently decided that at the end of the current school year a refund for that period of closure will be issued to parents. The Department has been engaging with Bus Éireann in developing a plan for facilitating these refunds and it is anticipated that refunds will start issuing to families at the end of June.

School Transport

Questions (104)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

Question:

104. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the prohibition of persons over 70 years of age to drive a school bus; his further views on whether this rule is ageist and discriminatory; and if he will consider the absence of legislation on health checks for public service drivers as a contributor to this rule and examining same. [12262/20]

View answer

Written answers

School transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the 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.

It is Bus Éireann company policy that normal retirement age for all Bus Éireann staff is currently 66 years. However Bus Éireann Part-time School Bus Drivers and drivers nominated by private operators who operate service as part of the School Transport scheme may continue to perform in the role provided they hold the requisite licence and satisfy an annual medical examination until they retire at age 70.

This policy and criteria is applied to all drivers who provide school transport services on behalf of Bus Éireann equally.

As the policy has already been reviewed to extend the retirement age from 66 to 70, there are no plans to have this age limit extended at present.

EU Programmes

Questions (105)

Martin Browne

Question:

105. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he has examined if other European supports such as the European Globalisation Fund are available to provide support staff of a company (details supplied) that may be laid off in Shannon Airport. [12433/20]

View answer

Written answers

The European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) is an EU co-funding instrument to assist workers who are made redundant as a result of globalisation or due to a global financial and economic crisis. The measures that can be co-financed by the EGF include targeted training and other personalised support for the reintegration of redundant workers into the labour market.

To be eligible for EGF assistance, there must be at least 500 redundancies in a specific company (including suppliers / downstream producers) in a 4 month period, or at least 500 redundancies in a specific sector in a 9 month period. In exceptional circumstances, applications can be made where the minimum threshold number of redundancies is not entirely met and the Member State can substantiate that there is a serious impact on employment and the local, regional or national economy. EGF applications must specify the number of redundancies that have occurred within the applicable reference period and must be submitted within 12 weeks of the end of that period.

Applications for EGF support for workers made redundant due to the economic impact of COVID-19 may be considered where the series of measures introduced by the Government to support businesses to retain jobs do not succeed in particular instances. In this context I understand that the Aviation Recovery Action Plan setting out recommendations for consideration by Government as appropriate, is expected next month.

My officials in the EGF Managing Authority are continuing to monitor developments in relation to the proposed redundancies. Temporary lay-offs do not constitute redundancies within the scope of the EGF. There are a range of supports for workers at this time, full details of which are available at www.gov.ie.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (106, 226)

Catherine Connolly

Question:

106. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the NCAD MSc in medical device design, summer courses; the plan in place for the summer courses; when the students will return; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12556/20]

View answer

Anne Rabbitte

Question:

226. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason the HEA has not issued guidance to NCAD, Dublin, on the running of the MSc in medical device design, which normally runs through the summer until 20 August; the return date for students on the course; if they will be provided a refund in view of them being unable to fulfil in-class practical work; when summer courses are expected to commence more generally; the public health advice for running such courses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12355/20]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 106 and 226 together.

To assist with the development of plans for the re-opening and operation of higher education in an environment that may require social distancing and other public health requirements, my Department is engaging with relevant stakeholders from the higher education sector. This work is ongoing, and it is hoped that a communication for the sector will be published in the coming weeks.

However higher education institutions are autonomous bodies, and therefore are entitled to regulate their own administrative affairs. Decisions on how courses will operate will be made by each institution, and arrangements will vary between institutions and between courses. Therefore NCAD is best placed to provide you with information on the status of the course in question.

Special Educational Needs

Questions (107)

Seán Crowe

Question:

107. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to deal with the chronic shortage of ASD places for students at primary and secondary schools in south-western areas of Dublin; if his attention has been drawn to the challenges facing parents trying to locate places for their children in the 2020-21 school year; the number of places per school; and the advice that will be given to parents who cannot source a place in the new school year. [11649/20]

View answer

Written answers

Ensuring that every child has a suitable school placement is a key objective of my Department. Significant resources are allocated each year to ensure that appropriate supports are available for children with special educational needs.

Since 2011, the number of special classes in mainstream schools has increased almost threefold, from 548 to 1,618 for the 2019/2020 school year; with 1,353 of these catering for children with autism.

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.

The NCSE is planning a further expansion of special class and school places nationally to meet identified need for next year. This process is ongoing.

It is open to any school to make an application to the NCSE for the establishment of a 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.

Normally, special class and 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 school places.

As Minister for Education & Skills, I have power under Section 37A of the Education Act 1998, to direct a school to provide additional provision where all reasonable efforts have failed. This legislation has been used to good effect in the recent past. This experience 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 29 October 2019 following a report by the NCSE which identified children in South Dublin needing special education school places. Since then, the NCSE in consultation with the relevant education stakeholders, has been testing the capacity amongst 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.

The next steps in the process have been considered by my Department, in conjunction with the NCSE, and I understand a submission on this will be with me shortly.

In circumstances, where no placement available for a child with Special Educational Needs, the Department can provide Home Tuition grant funding towards the provision of 20 hours home tuition per week as an interim measure until the NCSE confirms that a placement is available.

Special Educational Needs

Questions (108)

Seán Crowe

Question:

108. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to deal with the chronic shortage of ASD places for students at primary and secondary schools in Dublin; if his attention has been drawn to the challenges facing parents trying to locate places for their children in the 2020-21 school year; the number of places per school; and the advice that will be given to parents that cannot source a place in the new school year. [11650/20]

View answer

Written answers

Ensuring that every child has a suitable school placement is a key objective of my Department. Significant resources are allocated each year to ensure that appropriate supports are available for children with special educational needs.

Since 2011, the number of special classes in mainstream schools has increased almost threefold, from 548 to 1,618 for the 2019/2020 school year; with 1,353 of these catering for children with autism.

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.

The NCSE is planning a further expansion of special class and school places nationally to meet identified need for next year. This process is ongoing.

It is open to any school to make an application to the NCSE for the establishment of a 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.

Normally, special class and 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 school places.

As Minister for Education & Skills, I have power under Section 37A of the Education Act 1998, to direct a school to provide additional provision where all reasonable efforts have failed. This legislation has been used to good effect in the recent past. This experience 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 29 October 2019 following a report by the NCSE which identified children in South Dublin needing special education school places. Since then, the NCSE in consultation with the relevant education stakeholders, has been testing the capacity amongst 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.

The next steps in the process have been considered by my Department, in conjunction with the NCSE, and I understand a submission on this will be with me shortly.

In circumstances, where no placement available for a child with Special Educational Needs, the Department can provide Home Tuition grant funding towards the provision of 20 hours home tuition per week as an interim measure until the NCSE confirms that a placement is available.

School Staff

Questions (109)

Seán Crowe

Question:

109. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the decision to reduce the teaching staff by one teacher at a school (details supplied) will be reviewed in view of the impact of Covid-19 to date on junior infants and their schooling. [11656/20]

View answer

Written answers

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 arrangements for the 2020/21 school year are available in Circular 18/2020, which is published on the Department website.

The staffing schedule currently operates at a general average of 26 pupils to every 1 teacher which is historically the lowest ever allocation ratio at primary level.

There will be no change to the mainstream staffing of the school referred to by the Deputy in the 2020/21 school year

The configuration of classes and the deployment of classroom teachers are done at local school level. The Department's guidance to schools is that the number of pupils in any class is kept as low as possible taking all relevant contextual factors into account (e.g. classroom accommodation, fluctuating enrolment etc.). School authorities are also requested, where possible, to use their autonomy under the staffing schedule to implement smaller class sizes for junior classes.

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Questions (110)

Seán Crowe

Question:

110. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Skills if clarity will be provided to school principals and school boards outlining the requirements and the financial support they will be given in terms of additional demands and costs on schools returning post-Covid-19 lockdown, particularly the additional cost of cleaning and hygiene measures. [11657/20]

View answer

Written answers

On Friday 12th June my Department published the report to Government “Planning for reopening schools in line with the Roadmap for reopening society and business” https://www.education.ie/en/The-Department/Announcements/framework-for-reopening-and-operating-schools.html.

Detailed engagement with education partners and stakeholders is underway in relation to the development of public health guidance in a school setting. 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.

My Department will establish a drawdown framework for schools to enable the purchase by schools of supplies such as hand-sanitisers for use in the school and classroom. The procurement process for this framework is commencing immediately and it will also deal with any other potential PPE requirements. It is not envisaged that significant PPE will be required in school settings. All requirements for PPE in schools will be in line with public health advice.

Education and Training Boards

Questions (111)

Réada Cronin

Question:

111. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the development and its readiness for students and staff for the school year 2020-21 of a campus (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11664/20]

View answer

Written answers

I can inform the Deputy that the project to which she refers has been devolved for delivery to Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board (KWETB).

The Covid-19 situation has impacted on the timeline for delivery of this project to the extent that the project will not now be fully completed by September 2020. In that context, KWETB, supported by my Department, is putting in place contingency arrangements to provide for the needs of the schools in question until their new buildings are ready for occupation in October.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (112)

Réada Cronin

Question:

112. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will come to an arrangement with providers of the July provision liability regarding a child or staff member who may become seriously ill with Covid-19 in view of the fact they have not received comprehensive replies from their insurance providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11665/20]

View answer

Written answers

My Department has published details of a summer programme for children with special educational needs enrolled in special schools, special classes and mainstream classes. The programme incorporates some aspects of the July Provision of previous years.

Summer Provision 2020 – Reconnecting with Education, is a significantly expanded programme for children with complex special educational needs which aims to re-establish the child’s relationships and connection with school and their peers as a basis for learning and participation and to help the child to re-engage in learning and social activities and help them adapt to new routines and changes. The programme aims to ensure, in so far as possible, that the child can reintegrate/transition into their planned education setting for the next school year with their peers. In-school or home-based supports by teachers and SNAs will help to prevent regression among children with special needs.

The eligibility criteria has been widened to include the following categories of children:

1. Pupils with a diagnosis of Autism

2. Pupils with severe and profound learning difficulties

3. Any child in a special class or special school

4. Children transitioning into a special class or special school from early year’s settings

5. Pupils in primary school mainstream classes who present with the following disabilities:

- Children with Down syndrome

- Children who are Deaf or most severe hard of hearing

- Children who are blind or have a most severe visual impairment

- Children who have a moderate general learning disability

- Children with severe emotional behavioural difficulties

All special schools and primary schools with special classes are invited to provide the school based summer provision for their students. This programme will run for a minimum of two weeks and can extend up to four weeks where the schools, teachers and Special Needs Assistants are willing to participate.

Home-based provision will be available where a child’s local school is not providing a programme or does not have the capacity to accommodate a child in a planned programme this year. In this situation my Department will provide grant funding towards the engagement by Parents of a registered teacher / SNA to provide home based support for 10 hours a week for 4 weeks. My Department has no role in providing insurance in these situations.

The programme will be reliant on schools, teachers and Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) choosing to participate on a voluntary basis.

A dedicated online registration system for families of children with special needs to access Summer Provision is now available on Gov.ie/summerprovision

Parents are asked to register their participation online, providing some outline information of the extent of their participation in the programme e.g. number of weeks.

Once registered, the parent is then free to plan and organise the programme for their child by consulting with the child’s school and securing the services of a teacher or SNA.

I also announced a programme for DEIS schools for this Summer.

Information on summer provision and its various strands, including guidance information for parents, is available at Gov.ie/summerprovision

Detailed public health guidance is being compiled at present and will be made available before the schemes commence, to enable appropriate planning to take place.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (113)

Réada Cronin

Question:

113. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide guidance to July provision providers as to the way in which they will enforce social distancing; the potential consequences for students with intellectual disabilities who do not understand the rationale for social distancing and breach the two metre guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11666/20]

View answer

Written answers

My Department has published details of a summer programme for children with special educational needs enrolled in special schools, special classes and mainstream classes. The programme incorporates some aspects of the July Provision of previous years.

Summer Provision 2020 – Reconnecting with Education, is a significantly expanded programme for children with complex special educational needs which aims to re-establish the child’s relationships and connection with school and their peers as a basis for learning and participation and to help the child to re-engage in learning and social activities and help them adapt to new routines and changes. The programme aims to ensure, in so far as possible, that the child can reintegrate/transition into their planned education setting for the next school year with their peers. In-school or home-based supports by teachers and SNAs will help to prevent regression among children with special needs.

The eligibility criteria has been widened to include the following categories of children:

1. Pupils with a diagnosis of Autism

2. Pupils with severe and profound learning difficulties

3. Any child in a special class or special school

4. Children transitioning into a special class or special school from early year’s settings

5. Pupils in primary school mainstream classes who present with the following disabilities:

- Children with Down syndrome

- Children who are Deaf or most severe hard of hearing

- Children who are blind or have a most severe visual impairment

- Children who have a moderate general learning disability

- Children with severe emotional behavioural difficulties

All special schools and primary schools with special classes are invited to provide the school based summer provision for their students. This programme will run for a minimum of two weeks and can extend up to four weeks where the schools, teachers and Special Needs Assistants are willing to participate.

Home-based provision will be available where a child’s local school is not providing a programme or does not have the capacity to accommodate a child in a planned programme this year. In this situation my Department will provide grant funding towards the engagement by Parents of a registered teacher / SNA to provide home based support for 10 hours a week for 4 weeks. My Department has no role in providing insurance in these situations.

The programme will be reliant on schools, teachers and Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) choosing to participate on a voluntary basis.

A dedicated online registration system for families of children with special needs to access Summer Provision is now available on Gov.ie/summerprovision

Parents are asked to register their participation online, providing some outline information of the extent of their participation in the programme e.g. number of weeks.

Once registered, the parent is then free to plan and organise the programme for their child by consulting with the child’s school and securing the services of a teacher or SNA.

I also announced a programme for DEIS schools for this Summer.

Information on summer provision and its various strands, including guidance information for parents, is available at Gov.ie/summerprovision

Detailed public health guidance is being compiled at present and will be made available before the schemes commence, to enable appropriate planning to take place.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (114)

Réada Cronin

Question:

114. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department will provide PPE and training for staff providing the July provision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11667/20]

View answer

Written answers

My Department has published details of a summer programme for children with special educational needs enrolled in special schools, special classes and mainstream classes. The programme incorporates some aspects of the July Provision of previous years.

Summer Provision 2020 – Reconnecting with Education, is a significantly expanded programme for children with complex special educational needs which aims to re-establish the child’s relationships and connection with school and their peers as a basis for learning and participation and to help the child to re-engage in learning and social activities and help them adapt to new routines and changes. The programme aims to ensure, in so far as possible, that the child can reintegrate/transition into their planned education setting for the next school year with their peers. In-school or home-based supports by teachers and SNAs will help to prevent regression among children with special needs.

The eligibility criteria has been widened to include the following categories of children:

1. Pupils with a diagnosis of Autism

2. Pupils with severe and profound learning difficulties

3. Any child in a special class or special school

4. Children transitioning into a special class or special school from early year’s settings

5. Pupils in primary school mainstream classes who present with the following disabilities:

- Children with Down syndrome

- Children who are Deaf or most severe hard of hearing

- Children who are blind or have a most severe visual impairment

- Children who have a moderate general learning disability

- Children with severe emotional behavioural difficulties

All special schools and primary schools with special classes are invited to provide the school based summer provision for their students. This programme will run for a minimum of two weeks and can extend up to four weeks where the schools, teachers and Special Needs Assistants are willing to participate.

Home-based provision will be available where a child’s local school is not providing a programme or does not have the capacity to accommodate a child in a planned programme this year. In this situation my Department will provide grant funding towards the engagement by Parents of a registered teacher / SNA to provide home based support for 10 hours a week for 4 weeks.

The programme will be reliant on schools, teachers and Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) choosing to participate on a voluntary basis.

A dedicated online registration system for families of children with special needs to access Summer Provision is now available on Gov.ie/summerprovision

Parents are asked to register their participation online, providing some outline information of the extent of their participation in the programme e.g. number of weeks.

Once registered, the parent is then free to plan and organise the programme for their child by consulting with the child’s school and securing the services of a teacher or SNA.

I also announced a programme for DEIS schools for this Summer.

Information on summer provision and its various strands, including guidance information for parents, is available at Gov.ie/summerprovision

The programmes will focus on children with complex needs, within defined categories. All programmes will run in line with public health guidance.

Detailed public health guidance is being compiled at present and will be made available before the schemes commence, to enable appropriate planning to take place.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (115)

Réada Cronin

Question:

115. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the policies and protocols providers of the July provision should put in place if a student or staff member starts to display Covid-19 symptoms in school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11668/20]

View answer

Written answers

My Department has published details of a summer programme for children with special educational needs enrolled in special schools, special classes and mainstream classes. The programme incorporates some aspects of the July Provision of previous years.

Summer Provision 2020 – Reconnecting with Education, is a significantly expanded programme for children with complex special educational needs which aims to re-establish the child’s relationships and connection with school and their peers as a basis for learning and participation and to help the child to re-engage in learning and social activities and help them adapt to new routines and changes. The programme aims to ensure, in so far as possible, that the child can reintegrate/transition into their planned education setting for the next school year with their peers. In-school or home-based supports by teachers and SNAs will help to prevent regression among children with special needs.

The eligibility criteria has been widened to include the following categories of children:

1. Pupils with a diagnosis of Autism

2. Pupils with severe and profound learning difficulties

3. Any child in a special class or special school

4. Children transitioning into a special class or special school from early year’s settings

5. Pupils in primary school mainstream classes who present with the following disabilities:

- Children with Down syndrome

- Children who are Deaf or most severe hard of hearing

- Children who are blind or have a most severe visual impairment

- Children who have a moderate general learning disability

- Children with severe emotional behavioural difficulties

All special schools and primary schools with special classes are invited to provide the school based summer provision for their students. This programme will run for a minimum of two weeks and can extend up to four weeks where the schools, teachers and Special Needs Assistants are willing to participate.

Home-based provision will be available where a child’s local school is not providing a programme or does not have the capacity to accommodate a child in a planned programme this year. In this situation my Department will provide grant funding towards the engagement by Parents of a registered teacher / SNA to provide home based support for 10 hours a week for 4 weeks.

The programme will be reliant on schools, teachers and Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) choosing to participate on a voluntary basis.

A dedicated online registration system for families of children with special needs to access Summer Provision is now available on Gov.ie/summerprovision

Parents are asked to register their participation online, providing some outline information of the extent of their participation in the programme e.g. number of weeks.

Once registered, the parent is then free to plan and organise the programme for their child by consulting with the child’s school and securing the services of a teacher or SNA.

I also announced a programme for DEIS schools for this Summer.

Information on summer provision and its various strands, including guidance information for parents, is available at Gov.ie/summerprovision

The programmes will focus on children with complex needs, within defined categories. All programmes will run in line with public health guidance.

Detailed public health guidance is being compiled at present and will be made available before the schemes commence, to enable appropriate planning to take place.

Third Level Institutions

Questions (116)

Gerald Nash

Question:

116. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education and Skills the third level institutions that will be required to comply with the revised code of practice for the governance of third level institutions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11685/20]

View answer

Written answers

A revised Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies was introduced by Government in 2016. In order to ensure compliance with the revised Code, both the Technological Higher Education Association (THEA) and the Irish Universities Association (IUA) engaged with its membership in the development of revised Governance Codes for both the Institutes of Technology and the Universities.

Following engagement and agreement by their respective membership cohorts, the Code of Governance of Institutes of Technology was published by the THEA in 2018 and the Code of Governance of Irish Universities was published by the IUA in 2019. These Codes provide a framework for their respective members for the application of best practice of corporate governance.

Apprenticeship Programmes

Questions (117, 118)

Gerald Nash

Question:

117. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the work of the Apprenticeship Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11686/20]

View answer

Gerald Nash

Question:

118. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the work of the national apprenticeship advisory committee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11687/20]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 117 and 118 together.

The Apprenticeship Council was appointed by the then Minister for Education and Skills in November 2014. The establishment of the Council was a key action in the implementation of recommendations from the independent 2014 Review of Apprenticeship Training in Ireland. The Council is enterprise-led with representatives from business, trade unions, further and higher education bodies and the Department of Education and Skills.

The Council’s achievements to date include overseeing 2 calls for proposals for new apprenticeships in 2015 & 2017. 30 new apprenticeship programmes have been developed spanning a variety of sectors ranging from financial services and ICT to hospitality and biopharma. The Council will continue to work on the expansion of the apprenticeship system with a further 22 programmes in development in various sectors including construction, engineering and agriculture. The Council has also developed detailed arrangements and guidance for the development of a new apprenticeship and plays a leading role in relation to employer feedback on the sustainability of new apprenticeships.

The National Apprenticeship Advisory Committee (NAAC) is a sub-committee of the SOLAS board rather than a body appointed by the Minister or convened by the Department. I have asked SOLAS to send the information requested to the Deputy directly.

Apprenticeship Programmes

Questions (119, 120, 121, 122, 123)

Gerald Nash

Question:

119. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of apprentices participating in an apprenticeship in each apprenticeship programme in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11688/20]

View answer

Gerald Nash

Question:

120. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of apprentices participating in an apprenticeship programme by county in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11689/20]

View answer

Gerald Nash

Question:

121. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of apprentices by age cohorts 16 to 17, 18 to 21, 22 to 25 and more than 25 years of age, respectively, participating in an apprenticeship programme in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11690/20]

View answer

Gerald Nash

Question:

122. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education and Skills the new apprenticeship programmes approved since 2014; the title of each apprenticeship programme; the year each was approved; the number of apprentices participating in the programme in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11691/20]

View answer

Gerald Nash

Question:

123. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education and Skills the funding provided for apprenticeships in each of the years 2018, 2019 and 2020, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11692/20]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 119 to 123, inclusive, together.

To date 30 new apprenticeship programmes have been developed spanning a variety of sectors ranging from financial services and ICT to hospitality and biopharma. A further 22 programmes are in development in various sectors including construction, engineering and agriculture. Details of all these programmes together with current participation levels are set out in the attached tabular statements.

The current apprentice distribution county by county, details of apprentice participation by age and the apprenticeship funding from 2018 to 2020 are also set out in the attached tabular statements.

New Apprenticeships

Apprenticeship Funding

By County

By age of current population

Population

Top
Share