Written Answers Nos. 159-183
159. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the specific guidance she has given directly to schools on the 2020 July provision; if none has been provided, the reason; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12988/20]
View answerMy Department published details of Summer Provision 2020 – Reconnecting with Education including a programme for children with complex special educational needs.
The programme is a significant expansion on the July Provision programme of previous years with the eligibility criteria widened to include approximately 9,000 additional primary aged children with complex needs.
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.
My Department issued guidance to these schools to support management and staff in the delivery of summer programmes for children with special educational needs and those experiencing educational disadvantage as we continue to operate in line with public health advice to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
This guidance includes information in respect of hand hygiene, physical distancing, use of PPE and a risk assessment template.
The programme is reliant on schools, teachers and Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) choosing to participate on a voluntary basis.
It is therefore a matter for the Board of Management of the school having regard to the resources available whether or not it will participate in the programme.
To date 231 have indicated they intend to provide the school based summer provision.
Home-based provision is 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.
A dedicated online registration system for families of children with complex 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 guidance on my Departments website.
A programme for DEIS schools for this Summer was also announced.
Full information on summer provision and its various strands, including guidance information for parents, is available at Gov.ie/summerprovision.
160. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the building programme for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12996/20]
View answerI am pleased to inform the Deputy that, in relation to the school to which he refers, my Department has recently approved this project to proceed to tender. This funding is being provided under my Department's Additional Accommodation Scheme 2018.
162. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will respond to correspondence (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13012/20]
View answerUnder the Assistive Technology scheme, as set out in my Department’s Circular 0010/2013, funding is provided to schools towards the cost of computers and specialist equipment, which are required for educational purposes. Equipment is provided under this scheme for children with more complex disabilities who, in order to access the school curriculum, require essential specialist equipment which they do not already have, or which cannot be provided for them through the school’s existing IT provision.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) is responsible for processing applications from schools for special educational needs supports. SENOs also make recommendations to my Department where assistive technology/specialised equipment is required. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in making recommendations for support.
In order to qualify for equipment under the assistive technology scheme, a student must have been diagnosed with a physical or communicative disability and must also have a recommendation in a professional assessment that the equipment is essential in order to allow the student to access the curriculum. It must also be clear that the existing I.T. equipment in the school is insufficient to meet the child's needs.
Schools make applications directly to the SENO, providing details of the student’s special educational needs or disability, including details of the approach taken by the school in making relevant interventions.
SENOs will review the application, and professional reports provided in support of same, in order to establish whether the criteria of the scheme have been met. They will then make a recommendation to my Department as to whether or not assistive technology is required; and based on this recommendation, my Department will decide on the level of grant, if any, to be provided.
Although equipment is sanctioned under the Assistive Technology scheme for use by particular students, it is the property of the school, and the school’s management authority is responsible for maintenance, repair, and insurance of the equipment.
In relation to the child named by the Deputy in his correspondence, an application has yet to be received by my Department, and may still be with the SENO for processing. The Deputy’s query will therefore be forwarded to the NCSE for direct reply.
163. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a reply will issue to correspondence received from a person (details supplied) in relation to the provision of school transport to a school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13028/20]
View answerSchool 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.
With regard to transport arrangements for the July Programme my Department will provide grant funding to support parents with the cost of transport arrangements for those children who are eligible for school transport and who have been approved to participate in the school based July Programme.
Schools are required to identify children who are on a School Transport service or who are in receipt of a grant. School Transport Section will be in contact with schools and families in regard to the arrangements for payment.
Grant payment is based on the distance that a family reside from their child’s school of attendance. The calculation is based on four trips per day (home to school and school to home, morning and afternoon) multiplied by the number of days a child attends school for the programme. The current rate of grant is 39.12 cent per kilometre for the first 6,437 kilometres travelled and 21.22 per kilometre for each kilometre travelled thereafter.
164. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a space will be made available on the summer or July provision for a child (details supplied). [13029/20]
View answerMy Department published details of Summer Provision 2020 – Reconnecting with Education including a programme for children with complex special educational needs.
The programme is a significant expansion on the July Provision programme of previous years with the eligibility criteria widened to include approximately 9,000 additional primary aged children with complex needs.
The programme aims to ensure, in so far as possible, that these children 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 complex special educational needs.
The eligibility criteria includes the following categories of children:
1. Pupils with a diagnosis of Autism
2. Pupils with severe and profound learning difficulties
3. Any child in special school or a special class in a Primary 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
Funding for summer provision is not available to in respect of children who are not covered by the programme criteria. A child must meet at least one of the eligibility criteria.
Where an eligible child cannot access a school based programme, they can apply for the home based strand.
If a Parent is in doubt about their child’s eligibility, they should consult their child’s school or contact my Department. Contact details are available on my Departments website https://www.education.ie/en/Parents/Services/summerprovision/summer-education-programme-2020.html.
165. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills if clear and concise information will be provided to parents, schools and the HSE in relation to summer provision and also that children with a moderate intellectual disability or Down's syndrome that attend secondary school be included along with children that had their assessments put on hold due to the Covid-19 pandemic. [13031/20]
View answerMy Department published details of Summer Provision 2020 – Reconnecting with Education including a programme for children with complex special educational needs.
The programme is a significant expansion on the July Provision programme of previous years with the eligibility criteria widened to include approximately 9,000 additional primary aged children with complex needs.
The programme aims to ensure, in so far as possible, that these children 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 complex special educational needs.
The eligibility criteria includes the following categories of children:
1. Pupils with a diagnosis of Autism
2. Pupils with severe and profound learning difficulties
3. Any child in special school or a special class in a Primary 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
Funding for summer provision is not available to in respect of children who are not covered by the programme criteria. A child must meet at least one of the eligibility criteria.
If a Parent is in doubt about their child’s eligibility, they should consult their child’s school or contact my Department. Contact details are available on my Departments website https://www.education.ie/en/Parents/Services/summerprovision/summer-education-programme-2020.html.
166. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education and Skills if an inspector has been contacted or has contacted a school (details supplied) as raised in Dáil Éireann on 20 May 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13050/20]
View answerThe 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 appeal from the school submitted by the Deputy was considered by the Primary Staffing Appeals Board and deemed ineligible as the appeal did not meet the criteria published in Circular 18/2020. The Primary Staffing Appeals Board operates independently of the Department and its decision is final.
167. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will review a case (details supplied). [13054/20]
View answerMy Department published details of Summer Provision 2020 – Reconnecting with Education including a programme for children with complex special educational needs.
In developing the programme, my officials had extensive discussions with stakeholders.
I am aware there is an ongoing dialogue with Down Syndrome Ireland on the programme.
The programme is a significant expansion on the July Provision programme of previous years with the eligibility criteria widened to include approximately 9,000 additional primary aged children with complex needs.
The programme aims to ensure, in so far as possible, that these children 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 complex special educational needs.
The eligibility criteria includes the following categories of children:
1. Pupils with a diagnosis of Autism
2. Pupils with severe and profound learning difficulties
3. Any child in special school or a special class in a Primary 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
Funding for summer provision is not available to in respect of children who are not covered by the programme criteria. A child must meet at least one of the eligibility criteria.
If a Parent is in doubt about their child’s eligibility, they should consult their child’s school or contact my Department. Contact details are available on my Departments website https://www.education.ie/en/Parents/Services/summerprovision/summer-education-programme-2020.html.
168. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna cad iad na bearta a dhéanfaidh sí chun a chinntiú go mbeidh caighdeán cuí i labhairt na Gaeilge ag na daltaí ardteiste a rachaidh ar aghaidh chuig na coláistí oiliúna i mí Mheán Fómhair 2020 ós rud é nach raibh aon scrúdú béil ann i mbliana; an dtabharfaidh an tAire aon treoir do na coláistí oiliúna faoin méid sin; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [13070/20]
View answerCaithfidh ardchaighdeán líofachta sa Ghaeilge a bheith ag mic léinn ar dhul isteach i gClár Oideachais Tosaigh do Mhúinteoirí dóibh de bhrí gur riachtanas é chun Gaeilge a mhúineadh a bheith inniúil sa Ghaeilge agus in ann í a úsáid mar ghnáth-theanga chumarsáide sa seomra ranga.
Dé hAoine, 8 Bealtaine, fógraíodh go raibh scrúduithe na hArdteistiméireachta á gcur siar. Tar éis cinneadh na Comh-Aireachta, bhí sé de rogha ag daltaí gráid ríofa a fháil sna hábhair a bhí á ndéanamh acu agus scrúduithe na hArdteistiméireachta 2020 a dhéanamh níos déanaí nuair a mheasfar go bhfuil sé sábháilte na scrúduithe a reáchtáil. Rinneadh an cinneadh seo tar éis an chomhairle sláinte phoiblí agus eolas eile a mheasúnú agus féachaint ar na himpleachtaí a ghabh leis na scrúduithe a reáchtáil ar an dáta athsceidealta de 29 Iúil 2020.
Is iad gráid ríofa an tslí is fearr le meastóireacht chruinn a fháil ar an marc a gheobhadh dalta i ngach comhpháirt den scrúdú. Meastar gurb iad na múinteoirí is fearr a d’fhéadfadh breithiúnas cothromaithe a thabhairt ar conas mar a d’éireodh le dalta sna scrúduithe agus cén marc is dócha a gheobhadh sí nó sé. Agus gráid mheasta á gcinneadh acu, iarradh ar mhúinteoirí féachaint ar an bhfianaise a bhain le hinniúlacht ó bhéal, inniúlacht éisteachta agus inniúlacht scríofa sna teangacha. Measadh marc agus rangú do gach ábhar Ardteistiméireachta amhail is gur chríochnaigh daltaí gach ceann de chomhpháirteanna ábhartha an chúrsa, go raibh na scrúduithe béil agus praiticiúla déanta, amhail is gur lean an scolaíocht ar aghaidh mar is gnách in 2020, agus go ndearnadh na scrúduithe mar is gnách.
I gcás na dteangacha, thángthas ar an marc agus an rangú measta amhail is go ndearnadh an scrúdú béil agus gur marcáladh é mar is gnách. Ciallaíonn sé sin go mbeidh an grád ríofa chomh gar agus is féidir do thoradh na hArdteistiméireachta traidisiúnta agus inchomparáide le gráid Ardteistiméireachta i mblianta roimhe seo.
Ina theannta sin, bheadh na daltaí tar éis am a chaitheamh sa chúigiú agus sa séú bliain ag ullmhú do na scrúduithe béil suas go dtí dúnadh na scoileanna agus bheidís i mbun staidéir agus ag ullmhú dóibh suas go dtí an tseachtain roimh thosach beartaithe na gcomhpháirteanna seo den scrúdú. Fógraíodh ar an 19 Márta go raibh na scrúduithe béil agus na comhpháirteanna praiticiúla á gcur ar ceal. Bhí na scrúduithe sin le tosú an tseachtain dár gcionn, ar an 23 Márta.
169. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will clarify the position of schools (details supplied) in the current capital programme; if both schools have secured capital funding; the position in the departmental approval process each project currently sits; the location for each of the permanent schools; and the arrangements in place for temporary classrooms for each school in 2020/2021. [13099/20]
View answerA planning application for the first school to which the Deputy refers was lodged with the relevant Local Authority on 20 May 2020 and a decision is awaited. The tendering process for the procurement of prefabricated accommodation for the project is currently ongoing.
It is envisaged that the school will open in suitable interim accommodation for the 2020/2021 academic year. In anticipation of any potential delays on the decision on the planning application due to the current Covid-19 situation, contingency accommodation will be made available for the school on the Citywest Education Campus on a short-term basis until such time as the project for its planned interim accommodation is completed.
Architectural planning has commenced for the permanent project for the school with site surveys underway. The permanent site for the project is located at Coolamber Drive, Rathcoole.
Regarding the second school referred to by the Deputy, I can confirm that my Department has approved temporary accommodation to cater for the school’s interim accommodation needs. The responsibility for the installation of this accommodation has been devolved to the Board of Management.
Similarly architectural planning has commenced for the permanent project for this school with site surveys also underway.
The new school will be located on the site adjacent to the current school site.
When planning is secured for these schools, they will proceed to tender and construction.
Officials of the Department have been in contact with the schools to advise of their current status.
170. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Education and Skills the appeals process for students that were self-taught and did not receive a grade for subjects in which they were self-taught; the reason their pre-leaving certificate examinations are not sufficient for estimating grades; her plans to rectify same; when they will get to sit an exam; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13100/20]
View answer189. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of external leaving certificate candidates that were unable to register for predicted grades through the P-POD system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13218/20]
View answer190. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Education and Skills if all external leaving certificate candidates will be in receipt of a calculated grade; if she is satisfied that her Department communicated effectively with such candidates and that candidates were adequately informed of the process they needed to follow in order to receive a calculated grade; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13219/20]
View answerIt was announced on Thursday 25 June that all out-of-school Leaving Certificate 2020 students are being contacted directly by my Department to notify them of an application process for Calculated Grades. These are students who entered for their examinations as external candidates and who indicated that they were not attending for tuition at any school, or centre of education recognised by the State Examinations Commission for the purposes of holding examinations.
The Calculated Grades Executive Office (CGEO) is emailing each of the 923 students who are classified as out-of-school learners to outline the steps they need to follow to be considered for Calculated Grades. The process is set out in the Guide to Calculated Grades for Out-of-school Learners which is available on my Department’s website.
The arrangements seek to include as many out-of-school students as possible in the Calculated Grades system provided that there is credible, satisfactory evidence from an appropriate source, on which an estimated percentage mark can be based.
The process for out-of-school students seeks to mirror the fundamental principles which applied to the Calculated Grades process which schools have undertaken for their students. Both schemes are grounded in principles of objectivity, fairness, and equity. It is necessary to ensure students in both categories are treated in a comparable manner which means that those exercising professional judgement on their behalf should not rely on any one source of evidence. In the school based process, teachers were advised to exercise caution in relation to pre-Leaving Certificate (“mock”) examinations. Students in this group will be asked to apply to the CGEO by sending the application form through registered post by Thursday 2 July 2020 with details of their engagement with tuition on a subject-by-subject basis.
Following assessment of the application, the CGEO will seek an estimated percentage mark from the source nominated by the student and will make an assessment as to whether the estimated mark can be accepted in line with the principles and requirements of the scheme.
Students will be notified of decisions, and reason(s) for decisions, in writing and will have a right of appeal subject to setting out grounds for the appeal. The appeal will involve a review of the original decision. Any student dissatisfied at that stage will have access to an independent appeals scrutiny process.
Every effort will be made to provide a calculated grade for as many students as possible, provided there is credible and satisfactory evidence, from an appropriate source, on which an estimated percentage mark can be based. Where this is not possible, students will have the opportunity to sit the 2020 Leaving Certificate examinations at a later date when safe to do so.
It should be noted that the Irish University Association (IUA) announced on 25 June that, in the extraordinary circumstances of 2020, students who have applied for a Calculated Grade in a subject or subjects in the Leaving Certificate 2020, with a view to satisfying matriculation/basic minimum entry requirements and for whom the CGEO has been unable to award such a grade in the subject(s), will be granted an exemption in the subject(s) solely for matriculation/basic minimum entry purposes. Full details can be found on the IUA website.
A total of 683 students have yet to complete the initial registration process for Calculated Grades. Of these, some 80 are out-of-school learners. The Calculated Grades Executive Office continues to attempt to engage with those students yet to register, through making direct contact with the students themselves.
172. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the temporary prefabricated accommodation for a school (details supplied) while the permanent buildings are being built; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13104/20]
View answerI can confirm that in relation to the school to which the Deputy refers, a contract is due to be awarded this week (commencing 29 June, 2020) for the additional interim accommodation required for the school for the next academic year. However, a decision in relation to planning permission for this additional accommodation is still awaited. It should be noted that these delays are related due to the Covid-19 restrictions.
My Department is in contact with the school Principal and the Patron Body in relation to the matter.
173. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education and Skills the financial assistance available to private school bus operators that have suffered a loss of income as result of Covid-19 and that will not be able to resume services, leaving up to 90,000 students without school transport; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13105/20]
View answerSchool 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.
Following the initial announcement that schools would be closed from the 13th to the 29th March to support efforts to contain the spread of Covid-19, and in light of the exceptional circumstances, it was agreed that school transport contractors operating on the School Transport Scheme would be paid at the normal rate for the period up to 29th March 2020. It was further decided that a payment of 50% would be afforded for the week commencing Monday 30th March until Friday 3rd April 2020.
Thereafter, the normal arrangements applied for the period of scheduled school closures associated with the Easter Holidays (6th April – 17th April inclusive). It was subsequently agreed that contractors should be paid for a further 5 days at 50% to cover the period Monday 20th April to Friday 24th.
In light of the most recent announcement that schools will remain closed until the end of current school year it has been decided that these contractors will continue to be paid at 50% while schools are closed in the current school year.
My Department is not in a position to provide funding for private bus contractors not contracted to operate on the Department’s School Transport Scheme.
174. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a recently submitted application for emergency works by a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13106/20]
View answerI am pleased to inform the Deputy that the additonal works to which he refers have been approved. They have now been incorporated into the existing project being delivered under my Department's Additional Accommodation Scheme.
175. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding July provision facilities that are being organised by many schools in conjunction with teachers and special needs assistants; if specific guidelines will be issued to these schools with regard to social distancing and safety relating to Covid-19; and if these guidelines will be issued to school management as soon as possible. [13109/20]
View answerMy Department published details of Summer Provision 2020 – Reconnecting with Education including a programme for children with complex special educational needs.
The programme is a significant expansion on the July Provision programme of previous years with the eligibility criteria widened to include approximately 9,000 additional primary aged children with complex needs.
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.
My Department issued guidance to these schools to support management and staff in the delivery of summer programmes for children with special educational needs and those experiencing educational disadvantage as we continue to operate in line with public health advice to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
This guidance includes information in respect of hand hygiene, physical distancing, use of PPE and a risk assessment template.
The programme is reliant on schools, teachers and Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) choosing to participate on a voluntary basis.
It is therefore a matter for the Board of Management of the school having regard to the resources available whether or not it will participate in the programme.
To date 231 have indicated they intend to provide the school based summer provision.
Home-based provision is 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.
A dedicated online registration system for families of children with complex 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 guidance on my Departments website.
A programme for DEIS schools for this Summer was also announced.
Full information on summer provision and its various strands, including guidance information for parents, is available at Gov.ie/summerprovision. Public health guidance has also issued to schools.
176. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education and Skills if additional resources will be made available to reduce class sizes in a school (details supplied) in view of the fact that classes are being amalgamated and the sizes of classes are increasing to over 30 from September 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13113/20]
View answerThe 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.
There is no change to the staffing of the school referred to by the Deputy for the 2020/21 school year.
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 appeal received from the school referred to by the Deputy has been refused by the Primary Staffing Appeals Board on the basis that the grounds of the appeal do not warrant a departure from the staffing schedule. The Primary Staffing Appeals Board is independent of the Department and its decision is final.
177. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will amend the summer provision programme to allow children transitioning to mainstream schools from an early years setting that have a diagnosis as laid out in the guidance document to avail of the programme and receive support from a tutor in the same way a child transitioning to a special school or class; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13117/20]
View answer178. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason she will not allow those children transitioning to a mainstream school that have a diagnosis as laid out in the document to participate in the summer provision programme (details supplied). [13118/20]
View answer211. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a child (details supplied) cannot qualify for the new expanded home-based July summer provision programme despite having severe emotional and behavioural difficulties; if there is a way by which their parents can get them accepted onto the programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13359/20]
View answer262. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if parents that hire tutors and teachers to carry out and deliver services under the July and summer provision programme to allow their child transitioning into a mainstream school will qualify for reimbursement from her Department for costs. [13687/20]
View answer263. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if parents that hire tutors and teachers to carry out and deliver services under the July and summer provision programme for their child due to the fact that her Department is failing to fully carry out the summer provision programme will qualify for reimbursement from her Department for costs. [13688/20]
View answer264. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of schools that have signed up July and summer provision programme to date. [13689/20]
View answer265. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason her Department has excluded every child transitioning to mainstream schooling regardless of their diagnosis from accessing the July and summer provision programme. [13690/20]
View answerMy Department published details of Summer Provision 2020 – Reconnecting with Education including a programme for children with complex special educational needs.
The programme is a significant expansion on the July Provision programme of previous years with the eligibility criteria widened to include approximately 9,000 additional primary aged children with complex needs.
The programme aims to ensure, in so far as possible, that these children 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 complex special educational needs.
The eligibility criteria includes the following categories of children:
1. Pupils with a diagnosis of Autism
2. Pupils with severe and profound learning difficulties
3. Any child in special school or a special class in a Primary 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
Funding for summer provision is not available to in respect of children who are not covered by the programme criteria. A child must meet at least one of the eligibility criteria.
If a Parent is in doubt about their child’s eligibility, they should consult their child’s school or contact my Department. Contact details are available on my Departments website https://www.education.ie/en/Parents/Services/summerprovision/summer-education-programme-2020.html .
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.
To date 231 have indicated they intend to provide the school based summer provision.
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 complex 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 guidance on my Departments website.
Full information on summer provision and its various strands, including guidance information for parents, is available at Gov.ie/summerprovision
In relation to support for pre-school children the Department of Children and Youth Affairs launched a dedicated campaign and website to supports transition called “Lets Get Ready” which has received a positive response so far.
This resource has been prepared jointly with my Department. It is universal in scope, and is aimed at children returning to pre-school as well as children returning to or transitioning to school.
Information on the site is at a level for all to understand and include a section called ‘Ready for Everyone’ to specifically support transitions for children with special/additional needs.
The website, which is being updated and reviewed by the DCYA based on the feedback from various sources, is available at https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/74b0d-ready-for-everyone.
179. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if confirmation of the recommendation by a taskforce in an area (details supplied) in County Kerry in respect of Gaeltacht schools will be provided; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13130/20]
View answerThe 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.
There is no change to the staffing of the schools concerned for the 2020/21 school year.
The unique challenges facing Gaeltacht schools and their importance in the maintenance of Irish as the main language of Gaeltacht communities is recognised. To support the delivery of high quality Irish-medium education in Gaeltacht schools, the Gaeltacht School Recognition Scheme was launched in 2017 as part of the overall implementation of the Policy on Gaeltacht Education 2017-2022. Under the terms of the Scheme, a package of additional targeted supports is being provided to these schools from September 2018 to support the delivery of high-quality Irish-medium education. These additional supports include:
- access to an annual grant of €1200 grant for the purchase of Irish-medium teaching resources
- additional Irish-language support teaching hours based on school enrolment
- additional continuing professional development for teachers, delivered by COGG
- additional Inspectorate support via advisory visits to support schools in meeting their targets in the implementation of Irish-language-based criteria.
Schools in the Scheme have also been permitted to form clusters to create temporary full-time posts by combining part-time Irish language support hours. From 2019 schools in the Scheme had the option to combine part-time Irish language support hours with special education teaching hours to create temporary full-time posts, provided that teachers selected had a high level of proficiency in the Irish language and an understanding of immersion education, so that they could fulfill the roles, as appropriate.
180. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Education and Skills if there is an alternative application process in place for those applying for SUSI that do not have a public services card and cannot organise the face-to-face meeting to receive one; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13131/20]
View answerStudents are not required to hold a Public Services Card in order to apply to SUSI for funding.
Students can register for a SUSI account online at www.SUSI.ie. When registering an account, the student will be required to provide the following information:
- PPS number,
- First name,
- Surname,
- Date of birth,
- Email address.
Alternatively, students can login to their SUSI account using their verified MyGovID.
181. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the new major refurbishment or construction of new schools that have commenced in County Kildare; the date on which each construction project will be completed; and the school construction projects nationally that are the subject of conciliation in tabular form. [13133/20]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table:
|
School construction projects nationally that are the subject of conciliation |
Roll Number |
County |
|
St.Francis Special School |
19337Q |
Laois |
|
Maynooth ETNS |
20292E |
Kildare |
|
Colaiste Bhaile Chlair and Claregalway ETNS |
20211B/76233C |
Galway |
|
St.Columba's Boys NS, Douglas |
13828F |
Cork |
|
Davis College,Mallow |
71020G |
Cork |
|
Holy Family NS, Mullingar |
17327D |
Westmeath |
Regarding new major refurbishment or construction of new schools that have commenced in County Kildare, my Department’s website shows the current position on all school projects on the Capital Programme, as well as listing the schools that have had large-scale projects completed from 2010 to date.
These are listed on a county basis.
The information is available at www.education.gov.ie and is updated regularly.
183. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if applicants for higher education grants that worked during the Covid-19 emergency will not incur a reduction or cessation of SUSI grant entitlement in view of the fact that they worked as requested during the emergency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13165/20]
View answerI am conscious of the difficulties being experienced by students and their families as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and of the importance of the Student Grant Scheme and related supports, such as the Student Assistance Fund and the Fund for Students with Disabilities. These supports have a fundamental role in assisting families who are putting their children through further and higher education.
Accordingly, the following arrangements have been put in place:
For the 2020/21 academic year, student grant applications will be assessed based on gross income from all sources for the period 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2019.
The means test arrangements of the Student Grant Scheme are applied nationally. Student grant applications are means tested on gross income from all sources earned inside and outside the State within a specified reference period. In the case of both employed and self-employed applicants, gross income, before deduction of income tax or universal social charge, is assessed with certain specified social welfare and health service executive payments excluded. Therefore, all income is assessed from the same starting point.
The Student Grant Scheme provides for different levels of income thresholds where families have (i) less than 4 dependent children (ii) between 4 and 7 dependent children and (iii) 8 or more dependent children. In recognition of the additional cost to families where more than one person is attending college, income thresholds may also be increased by up to €4,830 for each additional family member attending college at the same time. In this way, the Student Grant Scheme is responsive to the individual circumstances of particular families.
The income threshold for the special rate of grant has been increased from €24,000 to €24,500 for the 2020 scheme, so as to ensure that students from families dependent on welfare will continue to be eligible for the special rate of grant. (This reflects the Budget 2019 increase to the maximum point of the weekly State Contributory Pension, plus maximum Qualified Adult Allowance for a person over 66 years).
Apart from the Student Grant Scheme, students in third-level institutions experiencing exceptional financial need can apply for support under the Student Assistance Fund. This Fund assists full-time and part-time students, in a sensitive and compassionate manner, who might otherwise be unable to continue their third level studies due to their financial circumstances. Details of this fund are available from the Access Office in the third level institution attended. Institutions have the autonomy to maximise the flexibility in the Student Assistance Fund to enable HEIs to support students during the COVID-19 situation.
In addition, tax relief at the standard rate of tax may be claimed in respect of tuition fees paid for approved courses at approved colleges of higher education. Further information on this tax relief is available from student’s local Tax Office or from the Revenue Commissioners website, www.revenue.ie
