Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 9 September 2020
178. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education the estimated amount of additional funding drawn as part of the plan to reopen schools; if the full €75 million was used for minor capital works; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23015/20]
View answerThe Government at its meeting on 27 July agreed the publication of the Roadmap for the Full Return to School, and approved a significant financial package of €437 million to support the implementation of the measures in the roadmap for the school year 2020/21. The package of supports was estimated to cost €211 million in 2020 and €226 million in 2021.
The range of supports being made available to schools includes additional financial supports to provide for additional staffing, management supports, enhanced cleaning, hand hygiene and personal protective equipment costs under the Covid-19 response plans.
The Government also approved a package of minor works grants as part of the July Stimulus to support schools to prepare their buildings and classrooms for reopening.
At the end of August 2020, €137 million (€71m capital grants and €66m current grants) of the approved supports have been paid directly to all of the country's State funded primary and post-primary schools along with bringing forward the payment of €30 million of primary minor works grants planned for later in the year.
As part of the package of supports, at post-primary level, 1080 additional teachers are being allocated to help reduce class sizes and also for additional Guidance Provision. A teacher allocation equivalent to a pupil teacher ratio reduction of 0.6 has been allocated to schools in the free scheme to help reduce class sizes. This allocation supports the important work of teaching and learning and provide additional teachers needed to support teacher substitution, management of physical distancing requirements by reallocating class timetables in schools to smaller groups class sizes where necessary. The equivalent to a pupil teacher ratio reduction of 0.1 has been provided in respect of Guidance provision to support student wellbeing. It is recognised that, notwithstanding these measures to post primary schools, challenges may remain to allow some post primary schools to fully and safely reopen. A teacher allocation, through an appeal process, is available to support these schools. The extension of the Substitute Teacher Supply Panel at primary level has resulted in the scheme been extended from 6 to over 100 base schools, providing substitute cover to over 2,000 schools across the country.
