Tuesday, 20 Oct 2020

Written Answers Nos. 339-358

Irish Language

Questions (339)

Michael Ring

Question:

339. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Education if an exemption from studying Irish will be approved for siblings (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31159/20]

Written answers

Minister for Education

My Department issued two Circulars in August 2019 regarding exemptions from the study of Irish for both Primary and Post Primary schools. Circulars 052/2019 and 053/2019 refer.

Section 2.2 of both Circulars advise on the circumstances in which a pupil may be granted an exemption from the study of Irish. The decision to grant an exemption from the study of Irish is made by the principal , but it must be made following discussion with the pupil’s parent(s)/guardian(s), the class teacher, special education teachers where relevant, and the pupil.

Where the application for exemption from the study of Irish is refused, a parent/guardian can appeal the school’s decision to the Irish Exemptions Appeal Committee (IEAC) if they are dissatisfied with the schools decision.

The IEAC is bound by the terms of Section 2.4 of Circulars 052/2019 and 053/2019, which directs that the deliberations of the IEAC focus solely on the processes the school followed in reaching its decision and considers whether the school followed the process as prescribed by the Circulars. The IEAC do not have the remit to consider any other criteria in making their decision and are unable to overturn the original decision, but they can advise the school to review the process it originally followed in reaching its decision.

I wish to advise the Deputy that the parents of the student concerned appealed the decision not to grant an exemption for their children on 21st February 2020. Unfortunately, due to Covid-19, the appeal was not heard by the IEAC until 25th August 2020. Following on from the Appeal hearing, the IEAC requested some clarification on documentation that was submitted by the school in relation to the Irish Exemption refusal. This clarification was received in my Department on 12th October. The appeal will now be reconsidered at the next IEAC meeting.

Due to the sensitive and confidential nature of the documents examined at these appeal meetings, it is not feasible for the Department to hold an IEAC meeting online. The Department is monitoring the situation with regard to travel within the country and is hopeful that an IEAC meeting will take place in the not too distant future once the current restrictions are lifted.

School Staff

Questions (340)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

340. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education the status of the terms and conditions of employment and pensions of school secretaries (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31163/20]

Written answers

Minister for Education

I am keenly aware of the vital role contributed by school secretaries within school communities and I recognise the very important work done by these staff, and the other support staff in the running of our schools. I have met with Fórsa, who represent many of the secretaries working in schools.

In recognition of their role, I have put special arrangements in place for this 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 on the school premises. I have also extended the Employee Assistance Service to all school staff including secretaries.

The majority of primary and voluntary secondary schools receive assistance to provide for secretarial, caretaking and cleaning services under grant schemes. Where a school employs a staff member to support those functions those staff are employees of individual schools and responsibility for terms of employment rests with the school.

On foot of a Chairman’s Note to the Lansdowne Road Agreement, my Department implemented the 2015 recommendations of an independent arbitrator. The Arbitrator recommended a cumulative pay increase of 10% between 2016 and 2019 and that a minimum hourly pay rate of €13 be phased in over that period.

Fórsa trade union has tabled a follow-on claim from the 2015 agreement. Officials from my Department, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and School Management Bodies met with Fórsa on 1 October under the auspices of the Workplace Relations Commission.

I support the continued meaningful dialogue between the parties with a view to reaching a mutually acceptable solution. In that respect, I have asked my officials to examine closely pay issues for secretaries and caretakers, as well as very important wider matters relating to their conditions of work, in consultation with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. I welcome Fórsa’s recent announcement to defer industrial action and their commitment to resuming engagement with all parties at the WRC.

School Staff

Questions (341)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

341. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education the estimated full-year cost of providing 100 additional English teachers as additional language posts. [31169/20]

Written answers

Minister for Education

The Special Education Teaching allocation, as outlined in Circulars 0007/2019 (primary schools) and 0008/2019 (post primary schools), provides a single unified allocation for special educational support teaching needs to each school, based on each school’s educational profile and also encompasses the Language Support (EAL) allocation that schools were allocated in previous years.

Further temporary Language Support is also provided, as necessary, to schools that have high concentrations of pupils that require language (EAL) support. At primary level, these allocations are made on the basis of appeals by schools to the Primary Staffing Appeals Board and at post-primary level to the Post Primary Staffing Appeals Board.

The staffing arrangements for primary and post primary schools for the 2020/21 school year, as set out in Circular 0018/2020 (primary) and Circulars 0013/2020, 0014/2020 and 0015/2020 (post primary), which are available on the Department website, provides details on the staffing appeal process.

The cost of providing an additional 100 EAL teachers would be in the region of €5m per annum.

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Questions (342)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

342. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education the number of additional teachers required to reduce the pupil-teacher ratio at primary level from 26:1 to 23:1. [31170/20]

Written answers

Minister for Education

Under the Programme for Government there is a commitment to make further progress in reducing the pupil teacher ratios in primary schools and I am very aware of the issues faced by many schools in respect of teacher allocations and class sizes.

As part of the Budget 2021 measures, the Government have sought to deliver on this commitment by the announcement of a further 1 point change to the primary staffing schedule.

Primary schools in the current school year are provided with class teachers on the basis of one teacher for every 26 pupils which is historically the lowest level the staffing schedule has operated at. The recent Budget 2021 announcement continues to build on this progress and for the 2021/22 school year the staffing schedule will be on the basis of 1 teacher to 25 pupils.

The staffing schedule which now stands at a new historical low of 1 teacher for every 25 pupils will help ensure better teacher retention in primary schools while also ensuring that one less pupil is required to retain or recruit a teacher.

Each one point adjustment to the primary staffing schedule requires approximately 300 posts.

Schools Building Projects

Questions (343)

Thomas Pringle

Question:

343. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education the status of a new school building project for a school (details supplied) which is due to be completed by 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31182/20]

Written answers

Minister for Education

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

The project is currently at an advanced stage of architectural planning, Stage 2(b) - Detailed Design, which includes the application for statutory approvals and the preparation of tender documents.

Following the Stage 2(a) Stakeholders meeting the school agreed to the addition of a 2 classroom SEN base to the project brief and a Stage 2(a) Addendum report for this change to the brief has been submitted to the Department for review and approval.

Upon approval of the Stage 2(a) Addendum the Design Team will proceed to lodge applications for the statutory approvals for the project. When these have been secured the Design Team will proceed to prepare the tender documents and finalise the Stage 2(b) report.

Upon completion of the Stage 2(b) report, it will then be submitted to the Department for review.

Upon receipt and review of the completed Stage 2(b) report, the Department will revert to Board of Management with regard to the further progression of the project at that time.

State Examinations

Questions (344)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

344. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education when students will receive the results of their leaving certificate grade appeals (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31186/20]

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.

School Staff

Questions (345)

Neale Richmond

Question:

345. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Education the number of substitute teachers from supply panels that have been deployed since schools have reopened by county in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31206/20]

Written answers

Minister for Education

The Roadmap for the Full Return to School provides for comprehensive supports across a range of areas to allow for the safe reopening of schools.

Among the supports provided is the extension of the Substitute Teacher Supply Panel. The scheme has been expanded from a pilot scheme consisting of 6 base schools to 115 base schools, providing substitute cover to over 2,100 schools across the country.

These Supply Panels were established to work alongside the existing methods of sourcing substitute teachers whether through a school’s own panel of regular substitutes or the National Substitution portal service.

The list of Substitute Teacher Supply Panels, including the number of teachers in each cluster, is attached.

Base School Roll No	Base County	Base Town	Base School Name	Substitute Positions per Base
13105L	Carlow	Bagenalstown	St Brigid's Monastery NS	2
18424G	Carlow	Carlow	Scoil Nais Iosef Naofa	3
08490N	Cavan	Cavan	St. Clare's Primary School	3
14211P	Cavan	Kingscourt	Scoil na Lathrach 2 ( Muff NS)	2
17625L	Cavan	Virginia	Cnoc An Teampaill	2
16908S	Clare	Ennis	Sixmilebridge N.S.	3
19838P	Clare	Ennis	Gaelscoil Mhichil Ciosog	3
20041C	Clare	Kilrush	St. Senans, Convent of Mercy N.S.	2
17755B	Cork	Ballincollig	Scoil Naomh Mhuire C	3
17168J	Cork	Bandon	S N Inis Eoghanain	2
16087E	Cork	Bantry	Kealkill NS	1
13450F	Cork	Cobh	Bunscoil Rinn An Chabhlaigh	3
13980L	Cork	Cork city Centre	S N B Togher Cork	3
19993E	Cork	Cork City North *	Gaelscoil An Ghoirt Alainn	4
14784Q	Cork	Dunmanway	Dunmanway BNS	2
19256Q	Cork	Mallow	Scoil Ghobnatan	3
02278I	Cork	Mill Street	Mill Street Convent National School	2
19404F	Cork	Mitchelstown	Sn Mhuire	3
20105C	Cork	Passage West	Star of the Sea Primary School	3
15627F	Donegal	Buncrana	St Muras N S	3
17260U	Donegal	Donegal	Scoil an Linbh Íosa	2
17503U	Donegal	Donegal	S N Adhamhnain	1
16821G	Donegal	Inishowen	Clochar Padraig Naofa	2
16672P	Donegal	Letterkenny	St Patricks N S	3
14910S	Donegal	Lifford	St Mary's National School (Castlefinn NS)	2
19605P	Dublin	Dublin 15	Blakestown Way	3
19303W	Dublin 9	Ballymun	Virgin Mary GNs	3
19662E	Dublin 10	Ballyfermot	St Michaels Ns	3
20029M	Dublin 11	Finglas	St Brigids Infant NS	4
19406J	Dublin 13	Donaghmede	Holy Trinity Sen National School	4
19904C	Dublin 14	Dundrum	Holy Cross NS Dundrum	4
14939T	Dublin 14	Rathfarnham	Rathfarnham Parish N.S.	4
19769W	Dublin 15	Blanchardstown	Scoil Thomais Laurel Lodge	4
20383H	Dublin 15	Hansfield	Hansfield ETNS	2
19314E	Dublin 16	Ballinteer	Scoil Na Maighdine Mhuire Boy	4
19524P	Dublin 17	Darndale	Our Lady Immaculate Sen NS	3
19220S	Dublin 22	Clondalkin	Scoil Ide	4
19765O	Dublin 25	Tallaght	St Thomas Senior	4
19308J	Dublin 3	Clontarf	St. Brigids B.N.S.	4
11894I	Dublin 4	Sandymount	Scoil Mhuire	3
19919P	Dublin 5	Artane *	St. Davids N.S.	3
13612F	Dublin 6W	Terenure *	Presentation Primary School	4
20091R	Dublin 7	Phibsboro	St. Peters National School	4
20429F	Dublin 8	Dublin City Centre	St James's Primary School	3
20223I	Dublin Co	Lucan	Gaelscoil Eiscir Riada	3
20303G	Dublin Co	Lucan	Lucan East ETNS	3
19001G	Dublin North Co	Ballyboughal	Ballyboughal NS	3
16332O	Dublin North Co	Skerries	St Patricks N S	4
19535U	Dublin North Co	Swords	Brackenstown Senior N.S.	4
19320W	Dublin South Co	Dunlaoghaire	Our Lady of Good Councel	4
16071M	Galway	Athenry *	Scoil Chroi Naofa	3
17198S	Galway	Ballinasloe	Creagh NS	3
19973V	Galway	Clifden	Clifden	1
19932H	Galway	Connemara	Scoil Mhic Dara	1
19795A	Galway	Galway City	Tirellan Heights N S	4
20465J	Galway	Gort	Gort NS	3
19276W	Galway	Tuam	St Colmans Mxd N S	3
00538V	Kerry	Dingle	Clochar Daingean	1
19512I	Kerry	Killarney	St. Olivers Ns	3
04062S	Kerry	Listowel	Presentation Primary N.S.	2
18247K	Kerry	Tralee	S N Mhuire Na Mbraithre	3
18288B	Kildare	Athy	Scoil Mhichil Naofa	3
20403K	Kildare	Kildare Town	Kildare Town ETNS	3
19407L	Kildare	Leixlip *	Scoil Bhride	3
00779U	Kildare	Maynooth	Presentation Convent	4
20023A	Kildare	Newbridge	Gaelscoil Chill Dara	3
19523N	Kilkenny	Kilkenny City	School Of The Holy Spirit Special School	3
17827A	Laois	Portarlington	Scoil Phadraig	3
19747M	Laois	Portlaoise	Scoil Bhride Ns	3
20071L	Laois	Rathdowney	Scoil Bhride	2
20432R	Leitrim	Carrick On Shannon	Scoil Mhuire	3
19800N	Limerick	Castletroy	Milford NS	3
20193C	Limerick	Kilmallock	Scoil Mocheallog	2
16715H	Limerick	Limerick	St John The Baptist Boys N S	3
12975N	Limerick	Newcastlewest	St Josephs Convent	3
15680J	Limerick	Patricks Well	Roxboro National School	3
20128O	Longford	Ballymahon	ST Matthews Mixed NS	2
20101R	Longford	Granard	The Sacred Heart Primary N.S.	2
18178R	Longford	Longford	St Josephs Convent	3
17059E	Louth	Drogheda	Scoil Na Mbraithre Sn	4
16760M	Louth	Dundalk	Dromiskin Mixed N S	3
15555G	Mayo	Ballina	Breafy N S	3
20089H	Mayo	Ballinrobe	St. Josephs N. S.	2
20142I	Mayo	Ballyhaunis	Scoil Iosa	2
18694M	Mayo	Castlebar	Convent Of Mercy N S	3
19768U	Meath	Ashbourne	Scoil Mhuire	3
19813W	Meath	Kildalkey	St. Dympna's National School	3
20352T	Meath	Navan *	Ard Rí Community N.S.	3
16923O	Monaghan	Monaghan	Urbleshanny National School	2
20174V	Monaghan	Monaghan	Scoil Eanna	3
12370C	Offaly	Birr	St Brendan's Monastery	3
20267F	Offaly	Edenderry	Scoil Bhride Primary School	3
19713S	Offaly	Tullamore	Arden Boys Ns	3
13757I	Roscommon	Castlerea	Tarmon NS	2
20498B	Roscommon	Roscommon	St Coman’s Wood Primary School	3
18979F	Sligo	Sligo	S N Ursula	3
20019J	Sligo	Tubbercurry	Holly Family School	2
16725K	Tipperary	Carrick On Suir	SN Mhuire Na Mbraithre	2
16344V	Tipperary	Nenagh	St. Mary's Jnr B.N.S.	3
19874T	Tipperary	Thurles	Presentation Primary School	3
01862M	Tipperary	Tipperary	Tipperary G.N.S.	3
18716T	Tipperary	Cahir	Cahir BNS	2
19814B	Waterford	Dungarvan	Scoil Gharbáin	3
19629G	Waterford	Waterford	Holy Cross School	3
19947U	Waterford	Waterford City	Mount Sion Primary School	3
19948W	Westmeath	Athlone	Sc. Na Gceithre Maistri	3
20188J	Westmeath	Mullingar	Mullingar ETNS	3
08221J	Wexford	Enniscorthy	St Senans National Sch	3
19739N	Wexford	Wexford	Scoil Mhuire Coolcotts	3
20482J	Wexford	Wexford	Bunscoil Ris	3
20469R	Wicklow	Arklow	St. Johns Senior School	3
20110S	Wicklow	Blessington	St Mary's Senior N.S	3
17537O	Wicklow	Bray	Scoil Padraig Naofa	3
19748O	Wicklow	Shillelagh	Shillelagh	2
15676S	Wicklow	Wicklow Town	Padraig Naofa B N.S.	2
			115 Bases	328
	*Pilot Schools

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Questions (346)

Neale Richmond

Question:

346. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Education the supports in place to protect teachers from Covid-19, including access to tests, when a child in their class tests positive; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31207/20]

Written answers

Minister for Education

Covid-19 response plans are the means through which schools can best prevent the introduction and spread of Covid-19 in the school environment. Covid-19 response plans set out the practical steps schools must take to minimise the risk of introduction and transmission of Covid-19 in the school environment and provide for the safe operation of schools.

The Health Protection Surveillance Centre and the HSE have published guidance for managing potential cases of COVID-19 in educational settings, which includes the testing strategy within an educational facility ‘Schools Pathway for COVID-19, the Public Health approach’

https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/a0bff-reopening-our-primary-and-special-schools/

This guidance provides that the HSE Department of Public Health will liaise directly with schools regarding any actions to be taken following a Public Health Risk Assessment. In practice, this involves the HSE Department of Public Health liaising directly with the designated contact, usually the school principal of the public health instructions. These instructions are for implementation of public health measures required under Infectious Diseases legislation.

My Department has also recently published detailed FAQs for school principals in relation to the COVID-19 Testing Pathway for school communities. These FAQs will greatly assist principals to understand and manage situations as they arise in their schools and they include HSE contact details, including for out of hours for any queries that the FAQs do not address.

https://assets.gov.ie/88265/66f357e5-087d-4e27-af5d-d9f0c8897851.pdf

Schools Site Acquisitions

Questions (347)

Neale Richmond

Question:

347. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Education the status of the provision of a permanent site for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31208/20]

Written answers

Minister for Education

The acquisition of the permanent site for the school in question, (known locally as the “Glass Bottle” site) on the Goatstown Road, was completed by my Department in June 2019.

The site will provide for a campus development of 1000 pupil Post Primary School with 4 class Special Education Needs Unit and 16 Classroom Primary School with a 2 class SENU.

The primary school, the subject of the question, opened in 2019 in interim accommodation.

The Post primary school which is part of the campus development opened in interim accommodation this year.

With regard to plans for interim accommodation for the Post primary secondary school on the permanent site, my Department’s planning permission application to Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Co. Co. was lodged on 2nd April, 2020. A request for further information (RFI) was received from the local authority in relation to the planning application, and the response to this RFI is currently being completed for submission.

The permanent building project for both schools is currently at early architectural planning stage. The next key milestone in the progression of the permanent project will be the submission of the planning application to the Local Authority. The planning application for permanent accommodation will proceed after a decision is provided on the planning application for interim accommodation.

In advance of the submission of the planning application, the school in question will be invited to review the plans. Once all statutory approvals have been secured, the project will then proceed to tender and construction stages.

My Department will continue to keep the patron body and the school community updated as the project progresses.

School Facilities

Questions (348)

Neale Richmond

Question:

348. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Education if a secondary school (details supplied) can provide online learning for students not able to attend class in person; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31228/20]

Written answers

Minister for Education

The Health Protection Surveillance Centre and HSE has published guidance in relation to the return to school for at risk groups. The advice confirms that for the vast majority of children, can return to school and it is important for the overall health and wellbeing for children to attend school. This is consistent with public health advice internationally. The guidance is available at the following link.

https://www.hpsc.ie/a-z/respiratory/coronavirus/novelcoronavirus/guidance/educationguidance/HSE%20advice%20on%20return%20to%20school.pdf

My Department has published guidance to support schools in making adapted education provision for students with an underlying medical condition who cannot return to school because they are medically certified as being at ‘very high risk’ to COVID-19. All other students are expect to attend school except where otherwise directed in accordance with public health advice.

The guidance for post-primary schools on supporting students certified as ‘very high risk’ is available via the following link https://assets.gov.ie/86732/17f3cc49-72ad-4986-98fc-51037d93369e.pdf

The guidance provides that supports will be provided for these students through designated teachers from within the staffing resources of the school. Schools have discretion to manage and redistribute their teaching support resources in order to best meet the learning needs of their students, including students at ‘very high risk’ to COVID-19. Facilitating engagement with and among pupils is essential to their learning experience and maintaining their social and emotional development.

Teachers can facilitate this through online interaction, providing feedback on work completed, organising project work that pupils can complete as part of a group and providing learning experiences based on pair work and group work. Early and ongoing two-way communication between the pupil’s school, class teacher, designated teacher where relevant, and the home will be essential to supporting the pupils’ engagement with their learning and their continuous connection with their classmates and school community.

School Staff

Questions (349)

Niall Collins

Question:

349. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Education the status of an issue (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31231/20]

Written answers

Minister for Education

I am keenly aware of the vital role contributed by school secretaries within school communities and I recognise the very important work done by these staff, and the other support staff in the running of our schools. I have met with Fórsa, who represent many of the secretaries working in schools.

In recognition of their role, I have put special arrangements in place for this 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 on the school premises. I have also extended the Employee Assistance Service to all school staff including secretaries.

The majority of primary and voluntary secondary schools receive assistance to provide for secretarial, caretaking and cleaning services under grant schemes. Where a school employs a staff member to support those functions those staff are employees of individual schools and responsibility for terms of employment rests with the school.

On foot of a Chairman’s Note to the Lansdowne Road Agreement, my Department implemented the 2015 recommendations of an independent arbitrator. The Arbitrator recommended a cumulative pay increase of 10% between 2016 and 2019 and that a minimum hourly pay rate of €13 be phased in over that period.

Fórsa trade union has tabled a follow-on claim from the 2015 agreement. Officials from my Department, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and School Management Bodies met with Fórsa on 1 October under the auspices of the Workplace Relations Commission.

I support the continued meaningful dialogue between the parties with a view to reaching a mutually acceptable solution. In that respect, I have asked my officials to examine closely pay issues for secretaries and caretakers, as well as very important wider matters relating to their conditions of work, in consultation with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. I welcome Fórsa’s recent announcement to defer industrial action and their commitment to resuming engagement with all parties at the WRC.

School Transport

Questions (350)

Michael Ring

Question:

350. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Education the position in relation to school transport provision for siblings (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31234/20]

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 Primary School Transport Scheme, children are eligible for school transport where they reside not less than 3.2kms from and are attending their nearest Primary School 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.

Children who apply for transport but who are not eligible under the terms of the scheme are considered for spare seats that may exist after eligible children have been facilitated; such seats are referred to as concessionary seats.

Concessionary transport may vary from year to year and cannot be guaranteed for the duration of a child’s primary school education cycle. Where the number of ineligible children exceeds the number of spare seats available Bus Éireann allocates tickets for the spare seats using an agreed selection process.

Bus Eireann has confirmed that the children to whom the Deputy refers reside 0.9kms from their nearest primary school and are therefore not eligible under the terms of the scheme. Bus Éireann has also confirmed that payment for school transport for the 2020/2021 school year was received by the family in question on 8th September 2020 and that the service was operating to capacity when payment was made. A refund will issue to the family in the coming weeks.

School Staff

Questions (351)

Paul McAuliffe

Question:

351. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Education if she will provide a list of each of the teaching supply panels by county in tabular form; the number of teachers on each panel; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31272/20]

Written answers

Minister for Education

The Roadmap for the Full Return to School provides for comprehensive supports across a range of areas to allow for the safe reopening of schools.

Among the supports provided is the extension of the Substitute Teacher Supply Panel. The scheme has been expanded from a pilot scheme consisting of 6 base schools to over 115 base schools, providing substitute cover to over 2,100 schools across the country.

These Supply Panels were established to work alongside the existing methods of sourcing substitute teachers whether through a school’s own panel of regular substitutes or the National Substitution portal service.

The list of the teaching supply panels are below.

Base School Roll No	Base County	Base Town	Base School Name	Substitute Positions per Base
13105L	Carlow	Bagenalstown	St Brigids Monastery NS	2
18424G	Carlow	Carlow	Scoil Nais Iosef Naofa	3
08490N	Cavan	Cavan	St. Clares Primary School	3
14211P	Cavan	Kingscourt	Scoil na Lathrach 2 ( Muff NS)	2
17625L	Cavan	Virginia	Cnoc An Teampaill	2
16908S	Clare	Ennis	Sixmilebridge N.S.	3
19838P	Clare	Ennis	Gaelscoil Mhichil Ciosog	3
20041C	Clare	Kilrush	St. Senans, Convent of Mercy N.S.	2
17755B	Cork	Ballincollig	Scoil Naomh Mhuire C	3
17168J	Cork	Bandon	S N Inis Eoghanain	2
16087E	Cork	Bantry	Kealkill NS	1
13450F	Cork	Cobh	Bunscoil Rinn An Chabhlaigh	3
13980L	Cork	Cork city Centre	S N B Togher Cork	3
19993E	Cork	Cork City North *	Gaelscoil An Ghoirt Alainn	4
14784Q	Cork	Dunmanway	Dunmanway BNS	2
19256Q	Cork	Mallow	Scoil Ghobnatan	3
02278I	Cork	Mill Street	Mill Street Convent National School	2
19404F	Cork	Mitchelstown	Sn Mhuire	3
20105C	Cork	Passage West	Star of the Sea Primary School	3
15627F	Donegal	Buncrana	St Muras N S	3
17260U	Donegal	Donegal	Scoil an Linbh Íosa	2
17503U	Donegal	Donegal	S N Adhamhnain	1
16821G	Donegal	Inishowen	Clochar Padraig Naofa	2
16672P	Donegal	Letterkenny	St Patricks N S	3
14910S	Donegal	Lifford	St Mary's National School (Castlefinn NS)	2
19605P	Dublin	Dublin 15	Blakestown Way	3
19303W	Dublin 9	Ballymun	Virgin Mary GNs	3
19662E	Dublin 10	Ballyfermot	St Michaels Ns	3
20029M	Dublin 11	Finglas	St Brigids Infant NS	4
19406J	Dublin 13	Donaghmede	Holy Trinity Sen National School	4
19904C	Dublin 14	Dundrum	Holy Cross NS Dundrum	4
14939T	Dublin 14	Rathfarnham	Rathfarnham Parish N.S.	4
19769W	Dublin 15	Blanchardstown	Scoil Thomais Laurel Lodge	4
20383H	Dublin 15	Hansfield	Hansfield ETNS	2
19314E	Dublin 16	Ballinteer	Scoil Na Maighdine Mhuire Boy	4
19524P	Dublin 17	Darndale	Our Lady Immaculate Sen NS	3
19220S	Dublin 22	Clondalkin	Scoil Ide	4
19765O	Dublin 25	Tallaght	St Thomas Senior	4
19308J	Dublin 3	Clontarf	St. Brigids B.N.S.	4
11894I	Dublin 4	Sandymount	Scoil Mhuire	3
19919P	Dublin 5	Artane *	St. Davids N.S.	3
13612F	Dublin 6W	Terenure *	Presentation Primary School	4
20091R	Dublin 7	Phibsboro	St. Peters National School	4
20429F	Dublin 8	Dublin City Centre	St James's Primary School	3
20223I	Dublin Co	Lucan	Gaelscoil Eiscir Riada	3
20303G	Dublin Co	Lucan	Lucan East ETNS	3
19001G	Dublin North Co	Ballyboughal	Ballyboughal NS	3
16332O	Dublin North Co	Skerries	St Patricks N S	4
19535U	Dublin North Co	Swords	Brackenstown Senior N.S.	4
19320W	Dublin South Co	Dunlaoghaire	Our Lady of Good Councel	4
16071M	Galway	Athenry *	Scoil Chroi Naofa	3
17198S	Galway	Ballinasloe	Creagh NS	3
19973V	Galway	Clifden	Clifden	1
19932H	Galway	Connemara	Scoil Mhic Dara	1
19795A	Galway	Galway City	Tirellan Heights N S	4
20465J	Galway	Gort	Gort NS	3
19276W	Galway	Tuam	St Colmans Mxd N S	3
00538V	Kerry	Dingle	Clochar Daingean	1
19512I	Kerry	Killarney	St. Olivers Ns	3
04062S	Kerry	Listowel	Presentation Primary N.S.	2
18247K	Kerry	Tralee	S N Mhuire Na Mbraithre	3
18288B	Kildare	Athy	Scoil Mhichil Naofa	3
20403K	Kildare	Kildare Town	Kildare Town ETNS	3
19407L	Kildare	Leixlip *	Scoil Bhride	3
00779U	Kildare	Maynooth	Presentation Convent	4
20023A	Kildare	Newbridge	Gaelscoil Chill Dara	3
19523N	Kilkenny	Kilkenny City	School Of The Holy Spirit Special School	3
17827A	Laois	Portarlington	Scoil Phadraig	3
19747M	Laois	Portlaoise	Scoil Bhride Ns	3
20071L	Laois	Rathdowney	Scoil Bhride	2
20432R	Leitrim	Carrick On Shannon	Scoil Mhuire	3
19800N	Limerick	Castletroy	Milford NS	3
20193C	Limerick	Kilmallock	Scoil Mocheallog	2
16715H	Limerick	Limerick	St John The Baptist Boys N S	3
12975N	Limerick	Newcastlewest	St Josephs Convent	3
15680J	Limerick	Patricks Well	Roxboro National School	3
20128O	Longford	Ballymahon	ST Matthews Mixed NS	2
20101R	Longford	Granard	The Sacred Heart Primary N.S.	2
18178R	Longford	Longford	St Josephs Convent	3
17059E	Louth	Drogheda	Scoil Na Mbraithre Sn	4
16760M	Louth	Dundalk	Dromiskin Mixed N S	3
15555G	Mayo	Ballina	Breafy N S	3
20089H	Mayo	Ballinrobe	St. Josephs N. S.	2
20142I	Mayo	Ballyhaunis	Scoil Iosa	2
18694M	Mayo	Castlebar	Convent Of Mercy N S	3
19768U	Meath	Ashbourne	Scoil Mhuire	3
19813W	Meath	Kildalkey	St. Dympna's National School	3
20352T	Meath	Navan *	Ard Rí Community N.S.	3
16923O	Monaghan	Monaghan	Urbleshanny National School	2
20174V	Monaghan	Monaghan	Scoil Eanna	3
12370C	Offaly	Birr	St Brendan's Monastery	3
20267F	Offaly	Edenderry	Scoil Bhride Primary School	3
19713S	Offaly	Tullamore	Arden Boys Ns	3
13757I	Roscommon	Castlerea	Tarmon NS	2
20498B	Roscommon	Roscommon	St Coman’s Wood Primary School	3
18979F	Sligo	Sligo	S N Ursula	3
20019J	Sligo	Tubbercurry	Holly Family School	2
16725K	Tipperary	Carrick On Suir	SN Mhuire Na Mbraithre	2
16344V	Tipperary	Nenagh	St. Mary's Jnr B.N.S.	3
19874T	Tipperary	Thurles	Presentation Primary School	3
01862M	Tipperary	Tipperary	Tipperary G.N.S.	3
18716T	Tipperary	Cahir	Cahir BNS	2
19814B	Waterford	Dungarvan	Scoil Gharbáin	3
19629G	Waterford	Waterford	Holy Cross School	3
19947U	Waterford	Waterford City	Mount Sion Primary School	3
19948W	Westmeath	Athlone	Sc. Na Gceithre Maistri	3
20188J	Westmeath	Mullingar	Mullingar ETNS	3
08221J	Wexford	Enniscorthy	St Senans National Sch	3
19739N	Wexford	Wexford	Scoil Mhuire Coolcotts	3
20482J	Wexford	Wexford	Bunscoil Ris	3
20469R	Wicklow	Arklow	St. Johns Senior School	3
20110S	Wicklow	Blessington	St Mary's Senior N.S	3
17537O	Wicklow	Bray	Scoil Padraig Naofa	3
19748O	Wicklow	Shillelagh	Shillelagh	2
15676S	Wicklow	Wicklow Town	Padraig Naofa B N.S.	2
			115 Bases	328
*Pilot Schools

School Transport

Questions (352)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

352. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education if she will consider the request by a school (details supplied) for a larger bus to ensure transport for all its students while adhering to public health guidelines; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31386/20]

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 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. The Department has also been engaging with Bus Éireann on the logistics involved with the rolling implementation of measures on post-primary services as required to provide physical distancing, in line with those required on public transport, aligned to the public health advice received shortly before schools reopened which advised that the post-primary scheme should run at 50% capacity. The implementation of 50% capacity has been put in place where possible over the last number of weeks, while Bus Éireann has been carrying out a detailed analysis of the resources required to fully implement the advice on all routes. Over the coming weeks, Bus Eireann will be implementing 50% capacity on a rolling basis as soon as it is possible to do so on each individual route.

Government has agreed to provide the necessary funding to ensure that full implementation of the public health recommendation of running buses for post-primary children is achieved as quickly as possible on the post-primary scheme and on the special educational needs scheme for post-primary children. As well as additional funding, significant numbers of additional vehicles, drivers and bus escorts will be required. Bus Éireann is implementing different means of providing extra capacity with existing operators, including upgrading vehicles, additional runs or additional vehicles being provided. Where additional services will need to be procured, Bus Éireann has put in place a framework of operators that are willing to provide additional services where required.

An analysis has been conducted to determine what is required to fully implement all post-primary school services to operate at 50% capacity. The estimated full year cost to operate all services at 50% capacity is between €87m and €135m with an estimated requirement for an additional 1,600 drivers and vehicles and 650 additional School Bus Escorts. Further detailed planning is being done through the local offices on a route by route basis to plan appropriate measures to provide the additional capacity required.

With regard to the school referred to by the Deputy, Bus Éireann has confirmed that there are currently a number of Transport Services for pupils with Special Educational Needs operating to this school. One of these services has a pupil of post-primary school going age on board. The Bus Éireann local office is currently assessing this route in order to comply with the public health 50% capacity guidelines and measures will be implemented as soon as possible.

State Examinations

Questions (353)

Paul McAuliffe

Question:

353. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Education if changes to the leaving certificate 2021 are currently being considered; and if a predicted grades option will remain for students that wish to avail same. [31455/20]

Written answers

Minister for Education

My Department is acutely aware of the disruption caused to students as a result of school closures resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic and which led the decision not to run the state examinations this summer.

In the context of the return to schools of students for the 2020/21 school year my Department published a range of documentation and support material as part of the Roadmap for the Full Return to School, which is available at www.gov.ie/backtoschool. This includes guidelines on the adjusted assessment arrangements for state examinations in summer 2021. The Assessment Arrangements for Junior Cycle and Leaving Certificate Examinations 2021 are available at the following link: https://www.education.ie/en/Schools-Colleges/Information/Curriculum-and-Syllabus/assessment-arrangements-junior-cycle-and-leaving-certificate-examinations-2021.pdf .

As schools have significant autonomy in determining how to sequence and pace learning for students in their schools, no centrally prescribed adjustment of the curriculum and courses of study have been made for students taking the certificate examinations in 2021. Consequently, the most appropriate way to reflect and take account of the challenges for students that have occurred in 2019/20, and may occur in 2020/21, was to incorporate adjustments to the certificate examinations in 2021.

These adjustments have been arrived at through discussions between my Department, the State Examinations Commission (SEC) and the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) and key stakeholders. The key stakeholders that were consulted in relation to the document included unions representing teachers, and school management bodies.

The State Examinations Commission (SEC), which has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations, intends to operate the 2021 state examinations as normally as possible, with appropriate contingency built in, in line with prevailing public health advice. It is not intended that there would be any change to the length of the written examinations.

For subjects where the SEC issues project briefs during the 2020/21 school year, the intention is to issue these at least four weeks earlier than normal. For subjects with course work completion dates typically late in the school year, schools will be asked to submit this coursework two weeks earlier than normal as a contingency measure. In this context teachers are being encouraged to plan and undertake these projects as early as possible in the programme of study.

School Transport

Questions (354)

Denis Naughten

Question:

354. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education when a person (details supplied) will receive payment; the reason for the delay in same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31468/20]

Written answers

Minister for Education

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

In the 2019/2020 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 Department's 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.

In general, children with special educational needs are eligible for school transport if they are attending the nearest school that is resourced to meet their special educational needs. Eligibility is determined following consultation with the National Council for Special Education through its network of Special Education Needs Organisers (SENO).

The child referred to by the Deputy is eligible for school transport under the terms of the School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs and the family is in receipt of a special Transport Grant for the child. The payment of an additional grant to cover a temporary diversion was under consideration by School Transport Section. This additional grant has now been approved and will be processed in the coming days.

Schools Building Projects

Questions (355)

Neasa Hourigan

Question:

355. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Education the progress of the new school building for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31471/20]

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.

Special Educational Needs Staff

Questions (356)

Mark Ward

Question:

356. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Education if she will respond to correspondence (details supplied) in relation to the allocation of special needs assistants and rectify discrepancies in the allocation. [31475/20]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills

The NCSE has responsibility for planning and coordinating school supports for children with special educational needs including the allocation of SNAs and reviews.

The Special Needs Assistant (SNA) scheme is designed to provide schools with additional adult support staff who can assist children with special educational needs who also have additional and significant care needs. Such support is provided in order to facilitate the attendance of those pupils at school and also to minimise disruption to class or teaching time for the pupils concerned, or for their peers, and with a view to developing their independent living skills.

SNAs are not allocated to individual children but to schools as a school based resource. The deployment of SNAs within schools is a matter for the individual Principal/Board of Management of the school. SNAs should be deployed by the school in a manner which best meets the care support requirements of the children enrolled in the school for whom SNA support has been allocated.

When a school has been allocated an SNA, the Board of Management, as the employer, is responsible for filling the vacancy. Details of the recruitment process which applies to SNAs is detailed in Department Circular 0051/2019: Recruitment and Appointment Procedures for Special Needs Assistants (SNAs), which is available on the Department’s website at: https://www.education.ie/en/Schools-Colleges/Information/Employing-Special-Needs-Assistants-SNAs-/Special-Needs-Assistant-Recruitment-and-Qualifications.html

Circular 0051/2019 sets out the role of the Board of Management in the appointment of SNA’s. The circular states that the Board of Management, in accordance with the procedures set out in the circular, is responsible for the appointment of SNAs in schools. Any such appointment is subject to the prior approval of the school’s Patron/ETB.

The Circular further sates that an SNA shall only be appointed to a post which is to be filled within the allocation of posts approved by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE).

The matter of Lucan Community National School increased SNA allocation approval is a matter for the NCSE. The Departments payroll only funds SNA posts sanctioned by the NCSE.

The query raised refers to the School's SNA allocation and related communications. Accordingly, I have referred the question to the NCSE for their direct reply. As Minister, I have no role in making determinations in individual cases.

Special Educational Needs Staff

Questions (357)

Mark Ward

Question:

357. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Education the way in which the additional funding for special needs assistants announced in budget 2021 will be allocated; and the way in which schools will avail of same. [31476/20]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills

Budget 2021 provided for an additional 990 additional SNAs for allocation to schools, bringing the total numbers to 18,000 by December 2020. This allocation of SNAs is to meet the care needs of pupils in 2021 and will enable the establishment of new special classes, creation of new places in special schools, support children in mainstream classes and the transition to the new allocation model for the 2021/22 school year.

There are currently 16,969 Special Needs Assistants allocated to schools. Budget 2021 increase to 18,000 Special Needs Assistant (SNA) posts represents an increase of increase of 70% in the number of SNAs provided since 2011 at which point 10,575 SNAs were available.

A new model for allocating Special Needs Assistants to primary and post primary schools for students in mainstream classes only was to be introduced in the 2020/21 school year as part of the phased roll out of the School Inclusion Model (SIM).

In light of the ongoing Covid-19 crisis the Frontloaded Allocation Model for Special Needs Assistants was deferred until the beginning of the 2021/22 school year.

As it was too late to run the traditional applications-based process for the allocation model, special arrangements were put in place to facilitate SNA allocations for mainstream classes the 2020/21 school year. The arrangements did not impact on the way SNAs are allocated to special classes and special schools.

The SNA allocation that applied to mainstream classes were frozen from the date of issue of Circular 0030/2020 and automatically rolled over into the 2020/21 school year.

Schools can apply to the NCSE for additionality, by way of an exceptional review process, where they can demonstrate that the current allocation does not meet additional care needs within the mainstream classes in the school.

Further advice will issue in the course of the 2020/21 school year on the introduction of the frontloaded model with effect from September 2021. This will outline the overall approach, including the professional development and other supports to be made available for schools and teachers.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (358)

Cian O'Callaghan

Question:

358. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Education if she will extend teacher illness of a family member leave during the Covid-19 pandemic; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31505/20]

Written answers

Minister for Education

The general principles to apply to the management of COVID-19 includes the safety and welfare of employees and the minimisation of the impact of COVID-19 on teaching and learning.

The current COVID-19 arrangements in place for teachers are outlined in my Department’s Circular Letter 0049/2020.

The Circular outlines that special leave with pay may be granted to teachers who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 or who are recommended to self-isolate.

In addition, the Circular caters for teachers who are advised to restrict their movements where they are a close contact of a confirmed COVID-19 case or live with a person who has COVID-19 symptoms, or those teachers at very high risk of serious illness from contracting COVID-19. As these categories of teachers cannot attend the workplace, they are facilitated with alternative working arrangements to the maximum extent possible e.g. working from home.

Based on the current HSE advice, a person who must care for a child who is required to self-isolate due to COVID-19, must restrict their movements during the 10 day period of the child’s self-isolation and also for a further 7 days after the child’s period of self-isolation ends. During this 17 day period of restricted movement, the teacher must not attend the workplace. The employer will facilitate alternative working arrangements to the maximum extent possible e.g. working from home, during this period.