Tuesday, 20 Oct 2020

Written Answers Nos. 319-338

Schools Building Projects

Questions (319)

Dara Calleary

Question:

319. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Education the position regarding the development of new school buildings for a school (details supplied) in County Mayo. [30996/20]

Written answers

Minister for Education

The project referred to by the Deputy is included in my Department’s Construction Programme which is being delivered under the National Development Plan.  

 The major building project is currently at an advanced stage of architectural planning Stage 2b – Detailed Design, which includes securing Planning Permission, Fire Certificate and Disability Access Certificate and the preparation of tender documents.

The review of the Stage 2(b) submission has been completed by my Department and comments have issued requesting the Design team to carry out one final review of the tender documentation taking on board my Department's comments.

The Design Team has completed the pre-qualification process to produce a shortlist of building contractors.

An enabling works process must be completed prior to the project progressing to Tender Stage 3. Those enabling works are being carried out in conjunction with the ESB. Upon completion of the enabling works, my Department will contact the Board of Management in relation to the progression of the major project.

Schools Building Projects

Questions (320)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

Question:

320. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education her plans with regard to a permanent building for a school (details supplied); her views on the space constraints faced by the school in future school years, the need for additional space to facilitate the planned growth of the school and the request by the school for a new school building; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30999/20]

Written answers

Minister for Education

I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department is in receipt of an application, under the Additional School Accommodation Scheme, from the school in question.  Once the application has been assessed, the school authority will be contacted directly with a decision.

Schools Building Projects

Questions (321)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

Question:

321. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education the status of the development of a new school building at a school (details supplied); the reasons for the delays experienced to date in this project; if funding will be made available for construction to proceed by the end of 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31000/20]

Written answers

Minister for Education

The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy progressed to an advanced stage of architectural planning, Stage 2(b) – Detailed Design, in September 2019.  Stage 2(b) includes the applications for Planning Permission, Fire Safety Certificate & Disability Access Certificate and the preparation of tender documents. All Statutory approvals have been secured and the Design Team is currently working on the completion of the Stage 2(b) report for submission to my Department.

My Department understands from the Design Team Leader that it is expected that the Stage 2(b) report for this project will be submitted to the Department for review in November 2020.

As soon as the Stage 2(b) Report has been completed, submitted, reviewed and approved, the Department will revert to school with regard to the further progression of the project.

State Examinations

Questions (322)

Gerald Nash

Question:

322. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education when the outcome of the initial appeals in the context of the 2020 leaving certificate results will be available; the expected timeline for the completion of the entire appeals process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31012/20]

Written answers

Minister for Education

The 2020 Leaving Certificate Calculated Grades appeals process has concluded and the appeal outcomes were made available to students at 12pm on Friday 16 October through the Calculated Grades Student Portal.

In the processing of the appeals, the Calculated Grades Executive Office in my Department reviewed a total of 33,301 individual subject records belonging to 12,216 students.  This number excludes students who initially entered for an appeal but later withdrew their application.

As a result of the process, a total of 18 increased grades have been awarded to 18 individual students.  Eleven of these were upgrades following an appeal by the student. A further seven grades were upgraded following quality assurance checks as part of the appeals process which involved checks on the documentation submitted by schools; the entry of that data on to the schools' data collection system; and the subsequent transmission of the data through the various IT systems used in the generation of calculated grades.

The appeals process was a process review focussed on looking for errors in the transmission and processing of student data through the process.  It was not possible to appeal the information (estimated percentage mark or rank order) provided by the school.  Due to the nature of the Calculated Grades system the professional judgement of the school was outside of the appeals process.  The design of the statistical model and the application of the national standardisation process was also outside of the scope of the appeals process. 

The CAO were also notified of changes to students’ results on 16 October. Candidates who are eligible for a new offer as a result of the upgraded mark received following the appeals process will be contacted as soon as possible.

Students unhappy with the outcome of the above process can invoke a separate process to have their appeal reviewed by independent Appeals Scrutineers. These scrutineers are independent of my Department. The independent Appeals Scrutineers will check to ensure the correct procedures were followed throughout the appeals process. The scrutineers will have access to the records and documentation considered in the appeals process.

Schools Data

Questions (323, 324, 325, 326)

Catherine Connolly

Question:

323. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education the measures her Department is taking to ensure that the standard of education in EROC schools is in line with that in recognised school settings; the number of inspections by her Department of EROC schools that have taken place since the memorandum of understanding allowing inspections was signed by her Department and the Department of Justice in November 2019; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31019/20]

Catherine Connolly

Question:

324. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education the number of emergency reception and orientation centres here in which primary level teaching is being provided to refugee children; the number of children per EROC currently in receipt of primary education in-house; the number of these children who have been receiving in-house primary education for one, two, three and more than four months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31020/20]

Catherine Connolly

Question:

325. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education the details of the joint assessment and protocol for education provision within EROCs by her Department and the Department of Justice as mentioned in the 2019 annual report of the Ombudsman for Children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31021/20]

Catherine Connolly

Question:

326. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education the professional qualifications required for teachers to be employed in EROC schools; the number of teachers currently employed to teach in EROCs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31022/20]

Written answers

Minister for Education

I propose to take Questions Nos. 323 to 326, inclusive, together.

There are two Emergency Reception and Orientation Centres (EROCs) in which primary level teaching is being provided: in Clonea, Co. Waterford and in Ballaghaderreen, Co. Roscommon.  There are 9 children at primary level currently accessing education in EROCs, 7 children since January  2020 and 2 since September 2020.  When all school buildings closed in March as part of the response to Covid-19, enrolment in local mainstream schools was delayed pending school re-opening.

Children did not transfer to local mainstream schools when they re-opened in September as they were not considered school–ready and some families were due to be resettled.   Any of the children who are now school ready and where no arrangements are in place for resettlement, will be transitioned to local primary schools after the mid-term break.

The Department has mandated relevant Education and Training Boards (ETB) to provide for the interim educational needs of families accommodated in EROCs.  The agreed protocol between this Department and Education and Training Boards sets out arrangements for the delivery of on-site education provision within EROCs and transition to local mainstream schools.  A Memorandum of Understanding was put in place between the Department of Education and Skills with the Department of Justice and Equality to facilitate inspections of the EROC schools.   

It is intended that these two education settings located in EROCs will be subject to annual inspection.  During the period of school closures and since September, inspectors have engaged with education settings attached to EROCs in the same way as they have engaged with schools.   

 During the period of school closures from March to June 2020, inspectors contacted schools with a view to offering advisory engagements.  The main purpose of the advisory engagements was to offer the school principal an opportunity to engage with the inspector on the continuity of learning during the period of school building closures.  In that regard, inspectors also contacted the education settings at the two Emergency Reception and Orientation Centres to offer advisory engagements.  These offers were taken up in both instances and the advisory engagements were scheduled and carried out.

Inspectors are currently contacting schools to offer further advisory engagements focused on issues relating to the resumption of schooling, wellbeing and the delivery of the curriculum.  In that regard, the education settings attached to EROCs have been offered advisory engagements and it is expected that these will be scheduled to take place in the near future.

In both EROCs, the teachers of primary level children are qualified primary teachers. These teachers  may also avail of the educational support services of the Department of Education, including the advice and support of the National Educational Psychological Services (NEPS), the National Council for Special Educational Services (NCSE), the Inspectorate and appropriate Continuous Professional Development (CPD) through the Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST).

Special Educational Needs

Questions (327)

David Stanton

Question:

327. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 396 of 15 September 2020, if her attention has been drawn to a person (details supplied) who is without a special school place; if she will ensure that an appropriate school place to meet the person’s additional school needs will be made available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31049/20]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills

I would like to reassure the Deputy that ensuring that every child has a suitable school placement is an ongoing priority for my Department. 

While the NCSE continues to experience difficulty in securing special school placements in certain areas of Cork, I am aware that a placement had been secured for this child in a special school. 

I also understand that the local Special Educational Needs Organiser (SENO) continues to support the family and the school to address concerns regarding this placement.

A number of options are being explored locally to ensure that these concerns and the child's needs can be addressed.

Schools Building Projects

Questions (328)

Jim O'Callaghan

Question:

328. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Education the date on which a new school (details supplied) will be put out to tender; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31050/20]

Written answers

Minister for Education

The building project at the school referred to by the Deputy was authorised to progress to tender stage last week. The tender process normally takes between 4 to 6 months to complete. 

Once the project commences on site, it is anticipated that it will take approximately 78 weeks to complete the work.

Schools Building Projects

Questions (329)

Emer Higgins

Question:

329. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Education the status of plans for a new building for a school (details supplied); and the timeline for the delivery of same. [31051/20]

Written answers

Minister for Education

The major building project referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of Architectural Planning – Stage 2(b) - Detailed Design. 

Stage 2(b) is arguably the most complex and detailed of all the stages in Architectural Planning.  In addition to securing the necessary statutory approval, it also includes the preparation of complex and detailed tender documents. Additionally, there have been changes to building regulations which the Design Team have been required to incorporate into its design and tender documents.

Stage 2(b) documents previously received by my Department were deemed incomplete and were returned to the Design Team for amendment. A revised Stage 2(b) report was subsequently received and reviewed by the Department.  Comments on the Stage 2(b) report issued to the Design Team and they have since provided the Department with updated and amended documents as requested. 

Upon completion of the review of the updated documents, the Department will be in contact with the school and its design team regarding the further progression of this project.

In order to expedite progress, the school and its design team has recently been authorised to commence the pre-qualification progress to select a short-list of contractors in parallel with the review of the updated Stage 2(b) documentation.

Public Procurement Contracts

Questions (330)

Emer Higgins

Question:

330. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Education the reason her Department has not responded to or acknowledged a request for an investigation and review of an e-tendering process outcome (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31103/20]

Written answers

Minister for Education

I can inform the Deputy that the correspondence to which she refers will be responded to directly in the coming days.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (331)

John Paul Phelan

Question:

331. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Education if it is the responsibility of her Department or each individual management board to ensure adequate PPE is supplied to teachers, staff and students of each primary and post-primary school in the State; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31111/20]

Written answers

Minister for Education

On 27 July last the Government published the Roadmap for the Full Return to School, along with details of a significant financial package to support the implementation of the measures in the roadmap. The package of supports is expected to cost in excess of €437 million in the 2020/2021 school year and this includes funding for a 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.

Following a centralised procurement process, my Department has established a multi-supplier arrangement from which schools can choose a supplier and select the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), Consumables and equipment products that best suits their needs and the requirements under the Roadmap for the Full Return to School:

https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/b264b-roadmap-for-the-full-return-to-school/.

This ensures schools have access to, on a value for money basis, a secure supply chain of various PPE and consumables under the Roadmap and their COVID-19 School Response Plan including hand sanitisers,  sanitiser fluids, face coverings/visors, gloves, wipes etc.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (332)

John Paul Phelan

Question:

332. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Education the plans that have been put in place by her Department to ensure access to online education for all students if the State returns again to a lockdown situation if Covid-19 infection rates continue to rise; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31112/20]

Written answers

Minister for Education

It remains the Government’s and my Department’s key objective for schools to remain open and to continue to operate as normally as possible.  However, I recognise that despite the best efforts of all stakeholders, there will be situations where individual pupils or groups of pupils, teachers, or possibly entire school communities, are requested by Public Health HSE to self-isolate or restrict their movements because of a case or cases of Covid-19.

There is an absolute necessity for schools to be prepared for these situations, for them to continue to support their pupils and to provide for continuity of learning. This is particularly important in the context of pupils with special educational needs, pupils at risk of educational disadvantage and pupils at risk of early school leaving.

Schools are aware of the need to be agile in providing for continuity of schooling in the future. Contingency planning is required to support continuity of pupils/students’ learning and the use of digital technology where possible will be used to facilitate this. It is important that planning and the adoption of approaches are based on a whole-school approach. Given the fluidity of requirements to meet the various potential scenarios that living with Covid-19 entails, it is important that schools review and adapt their plans over the coming weeks and months as the situation evolves and as the experience of schools in providing for continuity of learning increases.

Extensive guidance and supports have been and continue to be made available by my Department and its support services to support schools to plan for the transition to online and remote learning and this guidance is all available at  

https://www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/a128d-back-to-school/?referrer=http://www.gov.ie/backtoschool/  

The guidance includes links to a range of materials and supports developed by the Digital Technologies team of the Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST) such as learning platforms and online tools which can be used to support remote learning. Those resources continue to be available to schools.

In addition, my Department has issued ICT grant funding to schools to address ICT needs including digital devices, communication/learning platforms, software and other ICT solutions to support the provision of remote learning. Additional grant aid will issue during the current school year.

My Department’s Inspectorate is supporting school communities to provide effectively for the learning and progression of all learners during the first term of the 2020/21 school year.

The situation we find ourselves in is evolving all the time.  My Department, in working with the whole of Government, will keep the situation under review and update any advices to schools as required. It is with the work of all our stakeholders together that we will continue to provide the best education for all our pupils/students.

Stádas Scoile

Questions (333, 334)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

333. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Oideachais cad iad na critéir le haghaidh stádas meanscoile “scoil bheag” a bhaint amach; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [31122/20]

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

334. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Oideachais cén fáth a bhfuil stádas “scoil bheag” ag roinnt scoileanna faoi chúram Bhord Oideachais agus Oiliúna na Gaillimhe agus Ros Comáin (GRETB) a bhfuil suas le 165 scoláire ag freastal orthu agus nach bhfuil an stádas sin ag roinnt scoileanna eile a bhfuil cuid acu i bhfad níos lú ná iad (sonraí tugtha); agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [31123/20]

Written answers

Minister for Education

Tógfaidh mé Ceisteanna Uimh. 333 agus 334 le chéile.

Foilsítear 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 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 Small School posts is a matter for the Chief Executive of the ETB scheme in question.

Schools Building Projects

Questions (335)

Neale Richmond

Question:

335. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Education the status of a building for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31124/20]

Written answers

Minister for Education

The tender process for the school building project referred to by the Deputy is running as part of a wider process involving the tender of 8 major building projects. The first phase of the tender process to create a shortlist of contractors is complete.  The second phase of the tender process is ongoing and is due to be completed in the coming months.  The project is expected to commence on site in quarter 1 of 2021.

School Transport

Questions (336)

Michael Ring

Question:

336. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Education the reason a pupil (details supplied) is not being provided with school transport when all other children on the route have been given provided with same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31138/20]

Written answers

Minister for Education

School 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 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. Under the terms of the Post Primary School Transport Scheme, children are eligible for school transport where they reside not less than 4.8kms from and are attending their nearest Post Primary School/Education Centre as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.

All children who are eligible for school transport and who completed the application and payment process on time have been accommodated on school transport services for the 2020/21 school year where such services are in operation. The closing date for payment for the 2020/2021 school year was Tuesday 4th August 2020.

Bus Eireann have confirmed, that the child to whom the Deputy refers, is eligible for School Transport. Payment for School Transport for the 2020/2021 school year was received on 8th September 2020 and as such is a late payment. 

Late applicants and/or families who pay late are not guaranteed a seat and will only be allocated a seat if capacity is available once seats are allocated to those families who applied and paid on time for transport services for the 2020/2021 school year. In addition, payments or submission of medical card details for Post-Primary seats completed or made after 4th August 2020 will be only considered when 50% capacity, required by new Covid19 public health guidelines, is achieved on each route.

In the event of not securing a ticket where no capacity exists, or on cancellation, a full refund will be issued.

School Staff

Questions (337)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

Question:

337. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education the difficulties posed by the pandemic in reorganising schools which are due to lose a teacher; if she has considered postponing the loss of teachers in such cases until after the resolution of the pandemic in view of the challenges as outlined in the case of a school (details supplied) in County Kildare. [31150/20]

Written answers

Minister for Education

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 30th September.

The staffing arrangements also include a provision whereby schools experiencing rapid increases in enrolment can apply for additional permanent mainstream posts on developing grounds, using projected enrolment.

The school referred to by the Deputy was allocated a temporary teaching post on this basis.  My Department are currently reviewing enrolment returns and will contact schools this week to confirm staffing for the remainder of the school year.

School Equipment

Questions (338)

Paul McAuliffe

Question:

338. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Education her plans to provide funding and resources to enable schools to provide technology to staff members who require same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31151/20]

Written answers

Minister for Education

As part of the implementation of the Digital Strategy for Schools 2015-2020 - Enhancing Teaching, Learning and Assessment, funding of €210m for ICT Infrastructure will be distributed by my Department to primary and second level schools over the five years of the Strategy. €110m has issued over the last three years and a further €50m has issued in respect of the 2019-2020 school year. It is expected a further tranche of €50m will issue in the 2020-2021 school year.  

This ICT Grant funding issues to schools, as schools are best placed to identify the requirements of their own student and/or teachers and have autonomy to do so, within the criteria applying to this funding. In the context of the current public health crisis this funding can be focussed on assisting schools to address ICT needs including devices, software and other ICT solutions to support the provision of remote learning.  This can include the purchase of ICT devices that can be shared with students and/or teachers who do not have access to devices, essential learning platforms and other ICT infrastructure to support the provision of remote learning.

Resources to support distant learning have been developed by the Department's support service, the Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST) and are available at https://www.pdst.ie/DistanceLearning. Scoilnet the Department’s educational portal has open access to a wide variety of resources and information developed by various services including: the PDST, Junior Cycle for Teachers (JCT), the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS), the National Council for Special Education. These resources can all be accessed at https://www.scoilnet.ie/support/. Scoilnet also provides open access to extensive educational resources including Worldbook Online, at www.scoilnet.ie