Written Answers Nos. 513-532
513. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education if the appointment of a fifth senior infants teacher in a school (details supplied) will be supported for the 2020-2021 academic year in view of the fact that class sizes here are higher than the EU and OECD average; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21598/20]
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 school referred to by the Deputy in the current school year.
The staffing schedule includes an appeals mechanism for schools to submit an appeal under certain criteria to an independent Appeals Board. Details of the staffing appeals process are available in Circular 18/2020. The next meeting of the Primary Staffing Appeals Board will be held in October and schools will be notified shortly of the closing date for receipt of applications.
514. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education the status of a Teaching Council number for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21610/20]
View answerUnder the Teaching Council Acts 2001-2015 the Teaching Council is the body with statutory authority and responsibility for the regulation of the teaching profession in Ireland including the registration of teachers in the State.
The person referred to by the Deputy should continue to liaise directly with the Teaching Council and follow their guidance regarding their registration. Applicants for registration are asked to ensure that all forms and supporting documentation submitted are correct and fully completed in advance of submission to avoid unnecessary delays.
515. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Education if provisions have been or are being made to provide PPE for persons returning to school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21617/20]
View answerAs set out in the Roadmap for the Full Return to School, to ensure access for schools, on a value for money basis, to a secure supply chain for any Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), Consumables and Equipment associated with COVID-19 Response Plans, the Department has established, following a procurement process, a multi-supplier arrangement from which schools can choose suppliers and products which best suit their needs.
All PPE, consumables and equipment requirements of schools under the Roadmap and with schools COVID-19 Response Plans, and in line with the public health advice, will be available through the Supply Arrangement including:
- Hand sanitiser dispensers;
- Hand sanitiser liquid;
- Hand soap;
- Disposable Paper Towels;
- Wipes;
- Gloves;
- Face masks
- Face coverings
- Face visors;
- Aprons; and
- Detergents etc.
An information pack has been emailed directly to all schools, including a User Guide, which sets out the steps schools should follow when purchasing goods from suppliers under the Supply Arrangement. Further guidance documents for Primary School/Special Schools and Post Primary School on on PPE, Consumables and Equipment was also published on the www.gov.ie/backtoschools on August 7th 2020. This included guidance to schools in identifying the potential volumes of PPE and consumables which they may require in line with their COVID-19 Response Plan.
More than €30 million of capitation supports has been made available to primary and post primary schools to fund its PPE/Hand Sanitiser requirements up to the end of the year.
This capitation grant rate up to the end of 2020, reflects the fact that there are a number of once off type costs which schools face in implementing COVID-19 Response Plans (i.e. installation of sanitiser units, signage/posters etc.) which will be incurred upfront. The COVID-19 Capitation Grant for 2021 up to the remainder of the school year, will be confirmed in December following review/monitor of usage in schools in the period up to the end of the year
Primary Level Capitation Grant
A COVID-19 Capitation Grant for PPE, Consumables and Equipment of €25 per pupil, with an enhanced rate of €100 per pupil attending a special school or attending a special class attached to a mainstream school will apply to fund school costs in this regard from reopening until the end of 2020 will apply.
Post-Primary Level Capitation Grant
A COVID-19 Capitation Grant for PPE, Consumables and Equipment of €40 per pupil, with an enhanced rate of €160 for students in special classes will issue to fund school costs in this regard from reopening until the end of 2020.
It is important to note that the COVID-19 Capitation Grant is specifically provided to support schools in minimising the risk of spread of infection of COVID-19. This COVID-19 Capitation Grant for PPE, Consumables and Equipment is ring-fenced funding provided to schools for the purchase of appropriate PPE, consumables and equipment required by schools in minimising the risk of spread of infection of COVID-19 in line with the Roadmap, public health advice, Return to Work Safely Protocol and their COVID-19 Response Plan and should only be used for that purpose. This includes PPE and consumables which may have been purchased by schools from sources outside of the Supply Arrangement established by the Department.
516. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education the way in which a three teacher school (details supplied) with 82 pupils, which is one pupil short of the 83 pupils needed to fit the criteria for a four teacher school will be able to maintain the social distancing requirements as set out in the protocols for the reopening of schools; if an exception will be made in the case in order to employ an extra teacher even on a temporary basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21628/20]
View answerThe Roadmap for Full Return to School set outs the plan for the safe and sustainable reopening of our schools. It has been developed in line with public health advice issued by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC), the Roadmap for Society and Business, and follows comprehensive and intensive engagement with education stakeholders including the school management bodies and staff representatives.
My Department is providing capital and current funding of an additional €377 million to support implementation of the roadmap. The supports are comprehensive across a range of areas and involve funding for measures such as PPE, hand sanitisation, enhanced cleaning and hygiene, physical distancing, management supports and substitution provision. It is also recognised that schools may require some reconfiguration works and this is supported by a once off enhanced minor works grant of €75 million to prepare their buildings and classrooms for reopening including an uplift for schools with SEN pupils.
The public health guidance recognises that the ability to achieve 1m physical distancing for junior infants to 2nd classes is not a prerequisite for facilitating a full return of all pupils. While there is the requirement for 1m physical distancing for the senior classes (3rd class to 6th class) schools also have the flexibility to organise their classes into bubbles and pods. The requirement in the public health guidance is for each pod to be 1m apart as distinct from each pupil in the pods.
My Department has published practical guidance for schools to help achieve physical distancing in line with public health advice and include:
- Reconfiguring classroom accommodation through the removal of unnecessary items of furniture, shelving etc.
- Using the largest classrooms for the senior classes
- Reviewing the size of each class so that there is a more even spread of pupils between each class
- Maximising available space within the footprint of the school
- If necessary, look at opportunities for sourcing any nearby accommodation for a large class e.g. parish hall, sports facilities etc. The Department supports same through the minor works grant and additional funding can be provided where necessary.
The public health advice recognises that the implementation of physical distancing will look different across the various ages and stages of learning and that a balanced and common sense approach should be applied in the implementation of measures, allowing for some flexibility when needed whilst noting that it must be applied in a practical way, recognising that the learning environment cannot be dominated by a potentially counterproductive focus on this issue.
While my Department has been in contact with a number of schools recently in an advisory capacity, including the school referred to by the Deputy, a reply will issue in the coming days in relation to individual requests received. Schools will be advised that they will have an option of an appeal to the Primary Staffing Appeals Board should they continue to experience difficulties, having first taken measures necessary to achieve physical distancing in line with published guidance.
517. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education the procedures in place for the resuming of practical subjects in secondary schools and the logistics of running home economic classes when the schools reopen in view of the fact that the roadmap omitted these complex subjects and teachers have received no guidance in relation to restarting; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21631/20]
View answerMy Department recently published guidance for post primary schools ‘Return to School Guidance for Practical Subjects in Post-Primary Schools and Centres for Education’ in relation to subjects that involve using equipment in order to support the safe implementation of the practical aspects of those subjects. This guidance aligns with the public health advice provided by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) for the safe reopening of schools and educational facilities
This guidance is available on my Department’s website
https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/7acad-reopening-our-post-primary-schools/#additional-guidelines-and-procedures
518. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education the status of an application by a school (details supplied). [21637/20]
View answerI can confirm that my Department is in receipt of an application for additional accommodation from the school referred to by the Deputy.
The application is currently under consideration and a decision will be conveyed directly to the school authority as soon as the assessment process is completed.
519. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education if teachers that studied abroad can complete an online course (details supplied) in lieu of attending the Gaeltacht course in order to obtain full registration with the Teaching Council; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21657/20]
View answerThe Teaching Council is the body with statutory responsibility for establishing and maintaining standards in the teaching profession in this State. It is also the designated competent authority for the recognition and assessment of qualifications and registration of teachers at Primary and Post Primary level.
Teachers who completed a primary initial teacher education programme outside of the State are registered with the Teaching Council under Regulation 2/ Route 1 primary with the condition of Irish Language Requirement (ILR).
In order to satisfy the ILR condition, a teacher must provide evidence of having completed an Aptitude Test (SCG – An Scrúdú le hAghaidh Cáilíochta sa Ghaeilge) or an Adaptation Period (OCG – Oiriúnú le hAghaidh Cáilíochta sa Ghaeilge) which includes attendance at a recognised Gaeltacht course. These programmes are run by Marino Institute of Education (MIE). The Teaching Council’s role is to evaluate the programmes which includes assessing the suitability of an online alternative to the Gaeltacht Placement element of the programme.
In some instances a registered teacher who had applied to undertake the Irish Language Requirement (ILR) with MIE in the 2019/20 academic year with the expectation of completing the ILR within the 2019/20 academic year, may now be unable, due to Covid-19 restrictions, to complete the required Gaeltacht period within this timeframe.
The Teaching Council’s position is that in instances where this impacts the expiry date of a teacher’s registration with conditions, such teachers should apply to the Teaching Council for an extension to the period of time to allow them to fulfil the ILR condition. The Council has confirmed that extensions will be granted by the Council on the understanding that the relevant teachers will fulfil the outstanding Gaeltacht period within this extended timeframe.
I wish to advise that a primary qualified teacher conditionally registered with the Council who has a shortfall in Irish may take up a teaching post in a primary school and will be remunerated on the teachers’ incremental salary scale.
520. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Education the provisions that will be made for private bus operators that convey secondary school pupils and now will be operating at 50% capacity but incurring the same costs. [21676/20]
View answerSchool Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2019/20 school year over 120,000 children, including over 14,200 children with special educational needs, were 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.
Updated health advice was received from NPHET on the 18th August, which impacts on the operation of post-primary school transport services. This advice stated that for secondary school students on school transport, social distancing should be ensured in line with that on public transport along with the wearing of face coverings.
Following the most recent advice from NPHET , the Government decided that the arrangements made for post-primary school transport scheme services would commence operation when schools re-open with additional measures and hygiene requirements in place and with the rolling implementation of measures to provide physical distancing, in line with those required on public transport, that is, using 50% passenger capacity, on post-primary services as required.
My Department is engaging with Bus Éireann in respect of these plans, in order to implement measures and I can confirm that any services that could operate from the start of the school year at 50% capacity has done so and over the coming period all other post-primary transport services will be re-organised and additional services will be provided as required to allow for physical distancing.
Commercial contractors who provide transport for schools on a private hire or commercial basis but who are not contracted by Bus Éireann to operate on the Department’s School Transport Scheme do not fall under the remit of the Department of Education. However, the Department has reminded schools and other stakeholders that public health advice is best practice on these services also.
521. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Oideachais an bhfuil sé i gceist aici stádas scoileanna beaga a bhronnadh ar na meánscoileanna ar na hoileáin; mura bhfuil, cén fáth atá leis sin agus iad ar na meánscoileanna is lú sa tír; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [21706/20]
View answerFoilsítear na critéir a úsáidtear chun múinteoirí a leithdháileadh ar scoileanna gach bliain ar shuíomh gréasáin na Roinne.
Is scoileanna Bord Oideachais agus Oiliúna (BOO) iad na scoileanna a bhfuil an Teachta ag tagairt dóibh.
Soláthraíonn an Roinn leithdháileadh foirne do gach BOO agus is faoi Phríomhfheidhmeannach na scéimeanna BOO lena mbaineann atá sé an leithdháileadh foirne sin a dháileadh, poist i Scoileanna Oileáin agus poist i Scoileanna Beaga san áireamh.
The criteria used for the allocation of teachers to schools is published annually on the Department's website.
The schools to which the Deputy refers are Education and Training Board (ETB) schools.
The Department provides a staffing allocation to each ETB and the distribution of this staffing allocation including Island School posts and Small School posts is a matter for the Chief Executive of the ETB schemes in question.
522. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education the contingency plans that have been put in place for structured online education for students including personalised feedback of first and second level schools in the event of a school having to close down partially or fully due to the Covid-19 pandemic; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21720/20]
View answer590. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education if her Department is developing an alternative programme for remote blended learning in the event of widespread school closures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22195/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 522 and 590 together.
During the period of school closures my Department provided schools with a series of “Continuity of Schooling Guidance” documents to help education professionals and parents to support children learning in a remote environment. The events surrounding COVID-19 and the public health restrictions which resulted in the emergency closure of schools to learners has highlighted the absolute necessity for schools to be prepared to continue to support their students and be able to provide for continuity of teaching and learning in the event of any public health measures that require any closures of schools or individual classes in the future.
The continuity of teaching and learning during the emergency period was achieved with significant additional effort from school staff working remotely to ensure students were supported during this time. Most schools put in place arrangements to communicate with students and parents demonstrating innovation and resilience to provide local responses that addressed their own context.
As a contingency for any future closures, whether localised or at a bigger scale, and to ensure compliance with any public health restrictions, it is essential that all schools are prepared and have in place appropriate measures to continue to deliver teaching and learning whether for closure of a class group or the school. In this regard, my Department is in the process of drafting a circular to ensure that all schools are prepared. The next step is to engage with the education stakeholders to inform final drafting of the circular.
The circular will provide guidance and support to schools to put in place arrangements, building on the work already done by schools, to facilitate communication with and between staff, between staff and learners and to facilitate development of online approaches to remote and blended learning in the event that such is required. It is planned that the circular will issue following consultation with education stakeholders.
My Department is also reviewing all guidance documents to update as required to support schools further in maintaining continuity of schooling for all learners.
523. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education if a person (details supplied) with teaching qualifications from abroad will be allowed to apply for employment here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21722/20]
View answerUnder the Teaching Council Acts 2001-2015 the Teaching Council is the body with the statutory authority and responsibility for the regulation of the teaching profession in Ireland including the registration of teachers in the State.
It is a function of the Council under the Teaching Council Acts (s7(2)) to act as the competent authority for recognition of qualifications obtained by a person who has applied under this Act for registration as a teacher. A person who has completed teacher education qualifications outside the State and is seeking to register with the Teaching Council must have their qualifications assessed to determine that they are comparable and equivalent to accredited qualifications in Ireland. The Teaching Council recommend that teachers apply in advance of their planned return to or commencement of teaching in Ireland.
When recruiting people to teaching positions, employers must comply with the registration requirements of the Teaching Council Act and with S.I. No. 32/2014. Section 30 of the Teaching Council Acts requires that an applicant for a teaching position in a recognised school be registered with the Teaching Council in order to be paid from Oireachtas-voted funds.
Therefore the person referred to by the Deputy should liaise directly with the Teaching Council on this matter and the Teaching Council will be able to advise him on his application for registration to be able to teach here. Information on the process and what an applicant must do to get registered is available on the Teaching Council website at: https://www.teachingcouncil.ie/en/Registration/How-do-I-register-/How-Do-I-Register.html
524. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Education if the hiring of extra school buses by her Department due to Covid-19 will be under the same terms and conditions including payment as applies to the existing school transport fleet; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21723/20]
View answerSchool Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2019/20 school year over 120,000 children, including over 14,200 children with special educational needs, were 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.
Based on the public health advice published in early July, my Department has been planning for School Transport Scheme services for the 2020/2021school year to fully operate, but with additional measures and hygiene requirements in place. The Department has been engaging intensively with Bus Éireann in regard to the logistics for the safe operation of School Transport Scheme services for the 2020/2021 school year.
On foot of this advice it was decided by Government that the operation of post-primary school transport services would commence operation when schools re-open pending the development of additional measures to support physical distancing on the post primary buses. My Department is engaging with Bus Éireann to implement these measures on a rolling basis to support this physical distancing as required.
Given the timing of this most recent advice from NPHET so close to the start of the new term, my Department is not withdrawing post-primary transport services as to do so would cause difficulty for many families in getting their children to school. My Department is engaging with Bus Éireann to implement measures so that any services that can operate from the start of the school year at 50% capacity will do so and over the coming period all other post-primary transport services and services for children of post-primary school going age will be re-organised and additional services will be provided as required to allow for physical distancing.
Bus Éireann is conducting a full assessment to see where re-organisation or re-scheduling of services is possible. In addition, Bus Éireann has recently invited applications from operators who wish to be considered for the provision of additional post-primary services that may be required. These services are required to cater for additional capacity in light of the most recent public health advice and will continue to be required while that advice remains in place. The general terms and conditions for these contracts will be in line with what Bus Éireann currently hold with existing school transport contractors.
525. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education the status of an application by a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21752/20]
View answerI am pleased to inform the Deputy that permission to proceed to construction for the project in question was recently given to the school to which he refers.
526. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Education if she will address the concerns regarding predicated grades; the method used to calculate the grades; and if the release of predicted grades by teachers will be delayed by a week in view of the negative impact this will have on the appeals process and CAO offers. [21773/20]
View answerThe design of the Calculated Grades model was informed by advice from a Technical Working Group comprising experts drawn from the State Examinations Commission, the Inspectorate of my Department, the Educational Research Centre, and international external expertise.
The standardisation process undertaken was an iterative statistical modelling, which by its very nature, was an evolving model.
Research makes clear that because teacher judgments are made in the context of each school, they need to be examined and adjusted at a national level to ensure comparability across different schools and that a common national standard is applied.
Schools will have taken different approaches to providing estimated percentage marks for their students. While clear guidance was provided to schools in avoiding bias during the process of estimating marks for their students, it is inevitable that some schools will have been overly harsh in their estimations while others will have been overly generous. This is to be expected given that there is no national standard on which to base an estimated percentage mark.
The standardisation process seeks to bring schools into line with each other across a national standard. This results in some estimated marks being reduced while others will have increased. This process also ensures that the results issued in 2020 will have the same status as those issued in previous or future years.
The Leaving Certificate results from any one year are considered equivalent to the results from any other year. This is because the results each year are subject to a process of national standardisation through the marking processes undertaken by the State Examinations Commission. This year, the national standardisation process combines the school-sourced data and certain historical data to ensure the Calculated Grades reflect standards that are properly aligned across schools and with a national standard.
On 1 September, I announced details in relation to the Calculated Grades model following approval of proposals made to Government. The change proposed removed the use of school-by-school historical data in the standardisation model. I was conscious that the use of such data had been criticised in public commentary about calculated grades and that it had led in other jurisdictions to accusations that students attending disadvantaged schools in those jurisdictions were at risk of being treated unfairly.
The change made placed a greater emphasis on the estimated marks provided by schools to individual students. The process, through the examination and adjustment of estimated percentage marks from schools, still fulfilled its key role of ensuring that the calculated grades iron out the unfairness that could arise when different schools applied various standards when judging the performance of students.
Technical details of the Calculated Grades model and standardisation process have been published on the date of issue of the results. To issue the technical detail of the modelling process in advance of the release of grades would risk detracting from the core principle of providing the most fair and equitable set of results for each candidate. It may have also increased anxiety levels among students as they may have begun to speculate on the final grade they were to receive.
527. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Education the measures she has put in place to fund the salaries of ancillary staff for schools that were subject to the independent arbitration process which granted them a 10% increase between 2016 and 2019; and the status of discussions for a follow-on claim from the 2015 pay agreement between her Department, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, school management bodies and a union (details supplied) under the auspices of the Workplace Relations Commission. [21774/20]
View answerI recognise the very important work done by these staff, and the other support staff in the running of our schools.
In recognition of this, I have put special arrangements in place for the coming school year whereby schools will be funded to employ a replacement secretary or caretaker in the event that staff who are at very high risk of contracting serious illness from COVID-19 cannot work from the school premises. I have met with Fórsa, who represent many of the secretaries working in schools.
Schemes were initiated in 1978 and 1979 for the employment of clerical officers and caretakers in schools. The schemes were withdrawn completely in 2008. These schemes have been superseded by the capitation grant schemes. The current grant scheme was agreed in the context of the Programme for Economic and Social Progress, published in 1991.
The majority of primary and voluntary secondary schools now receive assistance to provide for secretarial, caretaking and cleaning services under these grant schemes. It is a matter for each individual school to decide how best to apply the grant funding to suit its particular needs. Where a school uses the grant funding for caretaking or secretarial purposes, any staff taken on to support those functions are employees of individual schools. Specific responsibility for terms of employment rests with the school.
On foot of a Chairman’s Note to the Lansdowne Road Agreement, my Department engaged with the Unions representing school secretaries and caretakers, including through an independent arbitration process in 2015. The Arbitrator recommended a cumulative pay increase of 10% between 2016 and 2019 for staff and that a minimum hourly pay rate of €13 be phased in over that period. This arbitration agreement covered the period up to 31 December 2019.
The arbitration agreement was designed to be of greatest benefit to lower-paid secretaries and caretakers. For example, a secretary or caretaker who was paid the then minimum wage of €8.65 per hour in 2015 prior to the arbitration has from 1 January 2019, been paid €13 per hour which is a 50% increase in that individual’s hourly pay.
The increases recommended by the Arbitrator are binding and must be applied by all schools who employ staff to whom the Arbitrator’s recommendation applies.
A survey of Secretaries and Caretakers undertaken in 2019 identified some schools that are non-compliant with the provisions of the 2015 Arbitration Agreement, and my Department has contacted these schools to remind them of their obligations under the agreement, as implemented through various circulars. The links below will bring you to the most recent circulars in respect of the pay increases under the 2015 Arbitration Agreement.
https://www.education.ie/en/Circulars-and-Forms/Active-Circulars/cl0076_2018.pdf
https://www.education.ie/en/Circulars-and-Forms/Active-Circulars/cl0077_2018.pdf
In May last year Fórsa trade union tabled a follow-on claim from the 2015 pay agreement. Officials from my Department, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and School Management Bodies are in discussions with Fórsa under the auspices of the Workplace Relations Commission.
528. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Education when a person (details supplied) will be facilitated in relation to school transport for their child; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21777/20]
View answer533. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Education when a person (details supplied) will be facilitated in relation to school transport; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21824/20]
View answer536. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Education when a person (details supplied) will be facilitated in relation to school transport; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21831/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 528, 533 and 536 together.
School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of my Department. In the current school year over 120,000 children, including over 14,200 children with special educational needs, are transported in over 5,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres at a cost of over €219m in 2019.
Bus Eireann have confirmed that the child, to whom the Deputy refers to, is currently on a Special Educational Needs service from where he resides to the school that he is attending. The service is a 15 seater vehicle which caters for one other child and a school bus escort. This child is currently being offered transport within the guidelines of the school transport scheme.
529. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education if the need for a primary and or post-primary school in Meakstown (details supplied) will be addressed; if a site will be considered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21783/20]
View answerIn order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a Geographical Information System, using data from a range of sources, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise. With this information, my Department carries out nationwide demographic exercises to determine where additional school accommodation is needed at primary and post-primary level. For school planning purposes Meakstown is located in the Finglas East_Ballymun_Dublin 11 school planning area.s
Major new residential developments in a school planning area have the potential to alter demand in that area. In that regard, as part of the demographic exercises, my Department engages with each of the local authorities to obtain the up-to-date information on significant new residential development in each area. This is necessary to ensure that schools infrastructure planning is keeping pace with demographic changes as there is a constantly evolving picture with planned new residential development.
Where data indicates that additional provision is required, the delivery of such additional provision is dependent on the particular circumstances of each case and may, depending on the circumstances, be provided through either one, or a combination of, the following:
- Utilising existing unused capacity within a school or schools,
- Extending the capacity of a school or schools,
- Provision of a new school or schools.
As the Deputy will be aware, since April 2018, the Government announced plans for the establishment of 45 new schools over the 4 year period 2019 to 2022. In addition to the new schools announced, there may be a need for further school accommodation in other areas in the future which can be addressed through either planned capacity increases in existing schools or additional accommodation or extensions to existing schools.
While a new school has not been announced for the Finglas East_Ballymun_Dublin 11 school planning area, the requirement for new schools is kept under on-going review and in particular has regard for the increased rollout of housing provision as outlined in Project Ireland 2040.
My Department is currently working on an updated demographic exercise to assess needs for the coming years. This work is at an advanced stage.
530. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Education when a decision will issue to persons (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21796/20]
View answerSchool Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2019/20 school year over 120,000 children, including over 14,200 children with special educational needs, were 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 arising from a diagnosed disability.
School transport services are operated by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education & Skills. 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 (NCSE) through its network of Special Education Needs Organisers (SENO).
In this case, it has been reported that the required professional report(s) submitted for the child do not meet the Department of Education and Skills criteria for attending the relevant setting and the child in this case is therefore not deemed eligible for school transport to the school referred to by the Deputy under the terms of the scheme.
531. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the number of primary and post-primary teachers, respectively on secondment from their teaching posts to positions within her Department or Department-funded bodies; and her plans to release some of these teachers to ensure greater numbers of teachers in the classroom. [21798/20]
View answerThe teacher secondment scheme is designed to facilitate the temporary assignment of a teacher to a vacant position in a host organisation, where the work to be carried out by the seconded teacher is of clear benefit to the education system.
A secondment must be based on mutual agreement between the teacher, the school authority and the host organisation and is subject to approval by my Department. When considering secondment applications schools are requested to consider national/education objectives and policies and to facilitate, where possible, the release of teachers to national programmes for the benefit of the wider school community.
According to data from my Department’s Teachers Payroll System there are approximately 467 teachers on secondment at present.
A total of 335 teachers are on secondment to the Teacher Education Section (TES) funded support services and Education Centres. Of these, 158 are primary teachers and 177 are post primary teachers. In addition, teachers are seconded to a range of other support programmes including special education support services, representative bodies and other initiatives.
The four national Teacher Education Support Services are:
- Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST)
- Junior Cycle for Teachers (JCT)
- National Induction Programme for Teachers (NIPT) and
- The Centre for School Leadership (CSL)
In addition, there are 21 full time and 9 part time Education Centres across the country.
The quality of our teaching profession is a critical factor in sustaining and enhancing the quality of education outcomes. My Department promotes the quality of teaching and learning through the provision of continuing professional development (CPD) and supports for teachers and school leaders. The professional development needs of serving teachers in recent years have been addressed through the provision of an induction programme for newly-qualified teachers, dedicated support for school leaders, national CPD for curricular and policy reform, and ongoing support for teachers. My Department ensures that a range of high-quality models of CPD is provided to teachers and school leaders through its support services, the national network of Education Centres and appropriate groups, bodies and institutions who are empowered to design, develop and deliver CPD programmes.
My Department has developed guidance for schools to assist them in their planning for reopening so as to ensure that curricular priorities are delivered, ongoing student progression is supported and that teaching and learning is optimal in a new school environment.
During the period when schools were closed, the TES Support Services continued to provide supports to schools and teachers remotely. Planned face-to-face CPD support was adapted and delivered remotely via webinars. A significant level of support was provided to support schools and teachers in providing remote teaching and learning to students.
As schools re-open, it is anticipated that teachers and school leaders will continue to require a significant level of support in the 2020/21 school year in a number of key areas, many of which relate to the specific challenges posed by Covid-19. Examples of key areas include:
- Health and Wellbeing including Child Protection
- Leadership
- Induction for Newly Qualified Teachers (Droichead)
- DEIS schools/supporting students at risk of educational disadvantage
- Digital Technologies
- Teacher technical competence
- Using Digital Technologies in enhancing teaching, learning and assessment
- Leading teaching and learning in schools (for Principals and school leaders)
Schools will also require support and guidance in relation to continuing to teach those students at very high risk to Covid-19 who cannot attend school. Support may also be required where a school or class within a school, based on public health advice, have to move to a remote teaching and learning environment on a temporary basis.
532. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Education the status of an application for an extension to a school (details supplied). [21806/20]
View answerApproval for funding has been given to the school to which the Deputy refers for a two phase project under the Additional Accommodation Scheme 2019.
The Phase 1 accommodation consists of 2 general Classrooms, 3 WCs, 1 WC Assisted User and 1 Science Lab with prep area, a DCG room and ancillary. A Stage 2b report and a request to go to Tender was recently submitted to my Department and is currently being assessed by officials in my Department.
The Phase 2 accommodation consists of 4 general classrooms and 1 Construction room. My Department recently agreed that a two classroom SEN base could be included in this phase. A brief is currently being formulated on this project which should issue to the school shortly.
Department officials have been in regular contact with the principal in relation to this matter.
