Written Answers Nos. 413-437
413. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Defence the full list of capital works projects valued at over €1.5 million in the Defence Forces that are ongoing at present; and when each capital project will be completed in tabular form. [34952/20]
View answerThe ‘Defence Forces 5 year Infrastructure Programme 2020 – 2025’, published earlier this year will facilitate the implementation of the policy approach contained in the White Paper on Defence and will enhance Defence Forces physical infrastructure and accommodation as an important component of defence capability. This Programme reflects the complex environment in which the Defence Forces operate and the corresponding need for appropriate infrastructure to provide for accommodation and training of personnel and the maintenance and storage of equipment for land, sea and airborne operational requirements.
The Revised Estimates for Public Services 2020 provides for a capital expenditure allocation of €19 million, for Subhead A.13 - Defence Forces Built Infrastructure; Construction and Maintenance - in the Defence Vote. This allocation facilitates the progression of a significant number of Defence Forces Built Infrastructure projects in various military installations located throughout the country.
The table below sets out the Defence capital works projects valued at over €1.5 million that are currently under construction and their anticipated completion date. The projected overall completion costs of these four projects is some €12.5 million.
|
Ongoing Capital Works Projects > €1.5m |
|
|
Project/Programme |
Anticipated Completion Date |
|
Upgrade of Accommodation Blocks Cathal Brugha Barracks, Dublin |
Q4 2020 |
|
Upgrade of the Oil Wharf and installation of Fire Detection and Firefighting System at the Naval Base, Haulbowline, Cork |
Q4 2020 |
|
Construction of new Gymnasium at Stephens Barracks, Kilkenny |
Q1 2021 |
|
Construction of new Gymnasium at Sarsfield Barracks, Limerick |
Q2 2021 |
414. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Defence if funding will be secured for the refurbishment of Block H in McKee Barracks; when works will commence; and the estimated timeframe for completion. [34953/20]
View answerThe Defence Forces Built Infrastructural Programme 2020-2025 was published in January 2020. This Programme, which is a 5 year plan, provides a blueprint for investment in the Defence Forces built infrastructure over a multi annual timeframe. Over the course of the Programme it is projected that some € 145m will be allocation to ensure programme delivery.
The upgrade of Block H in McKee Barracks is provided for in the Plan. The procurement process for this project is now well advanced and it is intended that the works will commence in 2021.
415. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Defence if funding will be provided in 2021 for the construction of two additional berths for Naval Service vessels at the Naval Base, Haulbowline, County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35310/20]
View answerThe Defence Forces Built Infrastructural Programme 2020-2025 was published in January 2020. This Programme, which is a 5 year plan, provides a blueprint for investment in the Defence Forces built infrastructure over a multi annual timeframe. Over the course of the programme it is projected that some €145m will be allocated to ensure programme delivery.
As part of this programme, I can confirm that the procurement process for the upgrading of Spencer Jetty at the Naval Base in Haulbowline is well advanced with a formal contract award to be made by my Department shortly. It is anticipated that the works will be completed within a 9 month timeframe and before end 2021.
The Plan also provides for additional berthage capacity at West Wall/Graving Dock within the Naval base. In addition, the Plan identifies the need for the development of a new 140m Jetty. The development of this project will be considered further as the Plan is implemented.
416. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Defence the number of full-time equivalent and part-time equivalent roles filled by his Department of posts at principal officer, assistant principal officer, higher executive officer, executive officer and clerical officer grades for the past five years; the cost to the Exchequer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35481/20]
View answerThe tables below provide details of the number of staff at Principal, Assistant Principal, Higher Executive Officer, Executive Officer and Clerical Officer grades, for the period from 2016 to 31 October 2020, in my Department. The tables also provide the payroll expenditure for those staff.
My Department recruits staff for full-time positions. However, a range of reduced attendance schemes, which are available to established civil servants, are availed of by staff of my Department and these are indicated as "part-time" in the tables below.
2016
|
Grade |
Full-Time |
Part-Time |
Total |
|
Principal |
15 |
3 |
18 |
|
Assistant Principal |
39 |
2 |
41 |
|
Higher Executive Officer |
48 |
14 |
62 |
|
Executive Officer |
61 |
22 |
83 |
|
Clerical Officer |
82 |
27 |
109 |
|
Pay (excluding PRSI) |
€14,332,168 |
2017
|
Grade |
Full-Time |
Part-Time |
Total |
|
Principal |
15 |
3 |
18 |
|
Assistant Principal |
42 |
2 |
44 |
|
Higher Executive Officer |
49 |
15 |
64 |
|
Executive Officer |
69 |
29 |
98 |
|
Clerical Officer |
72 |
27 |
99 |
|
Pay (excluding PRSI) |
€14,990,270 |
2018
|
Grade |
Full-Time |
Part-Time |
Total |
|
Principal |
16 |
3 |
19 |
|
Assistant Principal |
44 |
1 |
45 |
|
Higher Executive Officer |
59 |
11 |
70 |
|
Executive Officer |
82 |
24 |
106 |
|
Clerical Officer |
66 |
24 |
90 |
|
Pay (excluding PRSI) |
€15,254,541 |
2019
|
Grade |
Full-Time |
Part-Time |
Total |
|
Principal |
16 |
3 |
19 |
|
Assistant Principal |
50 |
2 |
52 |
|
Higher Executive Officer |
59 |
14 |
73 |
|
Executive Officer |
85 |
21 |
106 |
|
Clerical Officer |
75 |
21 |
96 |
|
Pay (excluding PRSI) |
€16,081,355 |
Up to 31st October 2020
|
Grade |
Full-Time |
Part-Time |
Total |
|
Principal |
18 |
2 |
20 |
|
Assistant Principal |
49 |
3 |
52 |
|
Higher Executive Officer |
69 |
13 |
82 |
|
Executive Officer |
90 |
17 |
107 |
|
Clerical Officer |
71 |
18 |
89 |
|
Pay (excluding PRSI) |
€14,256,378 |
417. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education if her Department facilitates the release of personal information under the general data protection regulation, GDPR, by persons with personal data in the archive of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse. [34752/20]
View answerThe Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse consisted of two separate and distinct Committees: the Confidential Committee, and the Investigation Committee.
The specific mandate of the Confidential Committee was to hear the evidence of those survivors of childhood institutional abuse who wished to report their experiences in a confidential setting.
The Investigation Committee was to inquire into the manner in which children were placed in, and the circumstances in which they continued to be resident in institutions during the relevant period and to inquire into the abuse of children in institutions and to determine the causes, nature, circumstances and extent of such abuse.
The testimony of persons coming before the Investigation Committee was subject to challenge, including by legal representatives of those individuals, institutions and organisations against whom allegations of abuse were made. The operating procedures used by the Investigation Committee are published on Commission's website. The complainant, their legal representatives and all respondents got copies of all documenation at the time.
The records of the Commission are not Departmental records and the release of these records is a matter for the Commission.
418. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Education if a school bus ticket will be issued for a child (details supplied) whose sibling has a ticket and is on the bus; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35229/20]
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.
Eligibility is determined following consultation with the National Council for Special Education through its network of Special Education Needs Organisers. Applications for transport provision, under the terms of this scheme, should only be completed in circumstances where children are not in a position to avail of standard school transport services.
The Department and Bus Éireann are very conscious of the specialised nature of transport provision for children with special educational needs. This is reflected in the standard of dedicated service provided and the fact that these services are generally planned and timetabled to operate on a door-to-door basis.
In certain cases, the Department also provides funding to schools for the employment of escorts to accompany children whose care and safety needs require this level of support while they travel to and from school.
One of the children, to whom the Deputy refers, is eligible under the terms of the School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs, and Bus Éireann has advised she is availing of a service that caters for a number of children; there is also an escort on board this service.
Bus Éireann has advised that the other sibling resides 0.4km from home to their nearest school, and is not eligible for school transport under the terms of the Primary School Transport Scheme as they are not attending their nearest school. The school that they are attending is 12.8kms from where the family reside. Bus Eireann will issue a full refund to the family.
419. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Education the status of progress on a building project for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34527/20]
View answerI am pleased to inform the Deputy that the building project for the school to which he refers is being devolved for delivery to Waterford & Wexford Education and Training Board (WWETB).
A Service Level Agreement (SLA) in respect of this project has been issued to WWETB. The next step is for the ETB to procure a Design Team to design the buildings, obtain the necessary statutory planning permissions, and move the project onward to tender and construction in due course.
420. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Education the status of a building project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34549/20]
View answerThe school to which the deputy refers was approved funding under the Additional Accommodation Scheme 2018 to facilitate construction of three classrooms, one resource room, two standard WC and one WC for assisted users.
A Stage 1 submission was received in my Department which indicated that there are site restrictions applicable to the project, which have cost implications for its delivery. A site visit was carried out by officials from the Department's Professional & Technical Team on the 5th October with a view to progressing this project.
Officials are currently reviewing this project in my Department and will revert to the school when this review has been completed.
421. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education if she will outline the progress in securing a site for the proposed school (details supplied) in Killester, Raheny and Clontarf, County Dublin; when construction will commence on a permanent site; and her plans to assist the school develop enrolments in view of the fact its temporary accommodation is located entirely outside the catchment that it is intended to serve. [34551/20]
View answerA permanent site option for the new 16 classroom for the school to which the Deputy refers has been identified and it is in the school planning area. Given the commercial sensitivities associated with land acquisitions generally I am not in a position to comment further at this time.
The process for the provision of permanent accommodation for the school can be advanced when the acquisition of the site has concluded.
The school opened in September 2019 to serve the Killester Raheny Clontarf school planning area. It is currently located in interim temporary accommodation at Suttonions Rugby Club which is acknowledged is outside the school planning area. At the time of opening all potential options in the school planning area were considered and were found to be either unsuitable or unavailable. The school was announced as a single stream school and provision to accommodate same has been provided on the interim location at Suttonions Rugby Club.
422. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Education the status of a building project for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34577/20]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that a building project for the school in question is included on my Department's school building programme and a site has been acquired.
My Department is engaging directly with the school authority in relation to the school's long-term accommodation requirement. Information has been requested from the school authority and as soon as this is received the project will be advanced.
423. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education if an allowance will be made for a student (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34592/20]
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 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 has confirmed, that the child to whom the Deputy refers, is eligible for School Transport. However, payment for School Transport for the 2020/2021 school year was received on 7th September 2020 and as such is a late payment and no ticket has issued for transport for the current school year.
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 Covid19 public health guidelines, is achieved on each route.
424. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Education the way in which the planned investment of €5 million in Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools, or DEIS schools, will be allocated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34603/20]
View answer433. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education her plans to allocate the €5 million for DEIS schools announced in Budget 2021. [34778/20]
View answer440. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Education the way in which the planned €5 million investment in DEIS schools will be allocated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34810/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 424, 433 and 440 together.
I am pleased to advise the Deputies that under Budget 2021 I have announced a general reduction in the mainstream staffing schedule to 25:1. While there has been a reduction in mainstream class size in recent years, there has not been a corresponding reduction for those Urban Band 1 DEIS schools who are already allocated a preferential staffing schedule of 20:1 for schools catering for junior classes only and 24:1 for schools catering for senior classes only. Most DEIS Urban Band 1 schools operate vertical schools with a ratio of 22:1.
As an initial step in addressing this, I have focused on a reduction in the Senior DEIS Urban Band 1 primary schools and therefore there will be a one point reduction in their staffing schedule from 24:1 to 23:1.
The total Budget allocation of additional funding of €2million in 2021, with a full year allocation of €5million in 2022 provides for further supports to be allocated as part of the DEIS programme to those schools catering for the highest concentrations of educational disadvantage. My Department continues to support those schools most in need. My Department is considering options on how best to achieve this.
425. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Education the additional resources, including staffing allocated, to all DEIS Band 1 schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34604/20]
View answerDEIS - Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools, is my Department’s main policy initiative aimed at tackling educational disadvantage in primary and post primary schools.
In the 2020/21 school year there are 887 schools, including 229 DEIS Band 1 Urban primary schools, participating in the DEIS programme serving in the region of 185,000 students.
My Department will invest in the region of €125 million this year on the DEIS programme. Details of the all the supports available to DEIS Schools can be found at: https://www.education.ie/en/Schools-Colleges/Services/DEIS-Delivering-Equality-of-Opportunity-in-Schools-/DEIS-Supporting-Information/Supports-to-DEIS-Schools.html
In addition to the supports provided by my Department the majority of DEIS schools participate in the School Completion Programme (SCP) and the School Meals Programme (SMP). SCP is a key support under DEIS and the desired impact of the programme is the retention of young people to Leaving Certificate level, equivalent qualification or a suitable level of educational attainment which enables them to transition into further education, training or employment.
The objective of the SMP is to provide regular, nutritious food to children who are unabl e, due to lack of good quality food, to take full advantage of the education provided to them. Research shows the value of the provision of adequate and nutritious meals for a child's health, learning, attention and educational achievement. The programme is an important component of policies to encourage school attendance and extra educational achievement.
426. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Education the reason for the decision to extend the planned class size reductions to DEIS Band 1 senior schools only, and not DEIS Band 1 junior and vertical schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34605/20]
View answer434. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the criteria applied to class size reduction; and the reason DEIS Band 1 schools vertical and junior school are not included in the class size reduction. [34779/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 426 and 434 together.
Under Budget 2021 I have announced a general reduction in the mainstream staffing schedule to 25:1. While there has been a reduction in mainstream class size in recent years, there has not been a corresponding reduction for those Urban Band 1 DEIS schools who are already allocated a preferential staffing schedule of 20:1 for schools catering for junior classes only and 24:1 for schools catering for senior classes only. Most DEIS Urban Band 1 schools operate vertical schools with a ratio of 22:1.
As an initial step in addressing this, I have focused on a reduction in the Senior DEIS Urban Band 1 primary schools and therefore there will be a one point reduction in their staffing schedule from 24:1 to 23:1.
The total budget allocation of additional funding of €2 million in 2021, with a full year allocation of €5 million in 2022 provides for further supports to be allocated as part of the DEIS programme to those schools catering for the highest concentrations of educational disadvantage. My Department continues to support those schools most in need. My Department is considering options on how best to achieve this.
427. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education the rules of school buses (details supplied); the number of children a school bus can safely carry in Covid-19 times; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34624/20]
View answerSchool Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. The purpose of the 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.
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 all school transport scheme services - both Bus Éireann services and private contractor operator services.
Based on the public health advice published in early July, and the updated advice received from the HPSC on 7th August and from NPHET on 18th August, the Department has been planning for School Transport Scheme services for the 2020/2021 school year to fully operate, but with additional measures and hygiene requirements in place and with the rolling implementation of measures on post-primary services as required to provide physical distancing, using 50% of passenger capacity. The implementation of 50% capacity has been put in place where possible over the last number of weeks and over the coming weeks, Bus Éireann will be implementing 50% capacity on a rolling basis as soon as it is possible to do so on all remaining routes. Government has agreed to provide the necessary funding to ensure that full implementation of the public health recommendation is achieved as quickly as possible on all post-primary services.
Bus Éireann and the Department of Education have put in place measures to support infection prevention and control on primary and post-primary services. The Department has also issued detailed information and guidance to parents and children on the operation of school transport services for the 2020/2021 school year. Measures include all post-primary students wearing masks, all bus drivers and bus escorts receiving PPE where necessary, as well as funding to support additional cleaning and hygiene measures, including the provision of sanitiser on all buses. Seating plans with pre-assigned seating are also in place on all routes, with children sitting next to their siblings or classmates where possible which reduces interaction on school transport services.
428. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Education the position regarding the pay and working conditions of school secretaries many of whom are paid through the ancillary grants scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34640/20]
View answerI 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. This arbitration agreement covered the period up to 31 December 2019 and has been fully implemented.
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.
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 have been engaging with with Fórsa on the claim, most recently on 27th of October under the auspices of the Workplace Relations Commission.
At that meeting it was agreed that further discussions would be held under the auspices of the WRC with a view to assessing the individual elements comprising the totality of the union’s claims. It is noted that these WRC discussions are taking place within the context of recent Dáil comments concerning the regularisation of pay, conditions of employment and pension provision of School Secretaries and Caretakers.
I acknowledge the complex work that will now be involved in trying to develop all issues in order to reach an agreed outcome. In that regard an understanding has been agreed on a pathway to progress the issues, comprising of several key strands.
I welcome and support the continued meaningful dialogue between the parties with a view to reaching an agreed outcome.
429. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education the position regarding the attempts by school secretaries to improve their work, pay and pension conditions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34649/20]
View answerI 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. This arbitration agreement covered the period up to 31 December 2019 and has been fully implemented.
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.
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 have been engaging with with Fórsa on the claim, most recently on 27th of October under the auspices of the Workplace Relations Commission.
At that meeting it was agreed that further discussions would be held under the auspices of the WRC with a view to assessing the individual elements comprising the totality of the union’s claims. It is noted that these WRC discussions are taking place within the context of recent Dáil comments concerning the regularisation of pay, conditions of employment and pension provision of School Secretaries and Caretakers.
I acknowledge the complex work that will now be involved in trying to develop all issues in order to reach an agreed outcome. In that regard an understanding has been agreed on a pathway to progress the issues, comprising of several key strands.
I welcome and support the continued meaningful dialogue between the parties with a view to reaching an agreed outcome.
430. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Education when work will begin on the autism spectrum disorder unit for a school (details supplied); the timeframe for the works and expected opening date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34672/20]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has no current record of receiving an application for additional accommodation from the school in question.
My Department's capital investment programme provides for devolved funding for additional classrooms for existing schools where an immediate enrolment need has been identified. All school capital projects that have been approved, by my Department, under the Additional School Accommodation Scheme (ASA), may be viewed on my Department’s website, www.education.ie, which is updated regularly.
431. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education the number of primary schools that have requested an additional teacher, based on the availability of classrooms rather than student numbers, to enable smaller classes and social distancing between 1 May and 31 October 2020, by county, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34760/20]
View answerTeaching posts are allocated based on confirmed enrolments from the previous September and the staffing schedule includes an appeals mechanism for schools to submit a staffing appeal under certain criteria to an independent Appeals Board.
This year the Department and the Primary Staffing Appeals Board are very cognisant of the impact of COVID-19 on schools and in that context has looked carefully at all decisions on the allocation of teaching posts where schools have reduced enrolments to ensure that all decisions are reasonable and all schools are treated fairly.
The staffing schedule operates in a clear and transparent manner and treats all similar types of schools equally, irrespective of location.
In relation to appeals dealt with by the Primary Appeals Board, 195 appeals were submitted by schools. These included schools that were due to lose a post and schools that sought to gain an additional teaching post based on projected enrolments. 14% of these schools were unsuccessful in their appeal with the main reason being instances where schools had forecasted a larger intake of pupils than materialised and in some cases the overall number of pupils returned on 30th September was lower than last’s years enrolment and did not warrant an additional teacher based on current staffing schedules.
432. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education if the crisis of secondary school places in Greystones district, County Wicklow (details supplied) will be addressed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34772/20]
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.
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.
Where demographic data indicates that additional provision is required, the delivery of such additional provision is dependent on the particular circumstances of each case and may, be provided through:
- Utilising existing unused capacity within a school or schools,
- Extending the capacity of a school or schools, and
- Provision of a new school or schools.
As the Deputy will be aware, in April 2018 the Government announced plans for the establishment of 42 new schools over the next four years (2019 to 2022), including a new regional solution for the Kilcoole and Greystones area and this new school opened in Greystones for the 2020/2021 school year.
The following post-primary schools currently serve the Greystones School Planning Area:
- Temple Carrig Secondary School Greystones - this is a co-educational school with capacity for 750 pupils and was established in 2014.
- St. David’s Secondary School Greystones is a co-educational school and a major building project to expand the school to cater for 750 pupils commenced on site in October 2020. This project is expected to be completed in 22 months i.e. by July 2023.
- Greystones Community College - this new school was established in 2020 as a regional solution for the Kilcoole/Greystones area. The proposal is to provide permanent accommodation for 1,000 pupils in the school when it is fully developed. Discussions are ongoing with the landowner of a designated site at Charlesland, Greystones, with a view to acquiring the site to construct the new school.
Greystones Community College opened its doors to 64 first year pupils in September 2020 in interim accommodation in Greystones Lawn Tennis Club. My Department is looking at all potential options in the area in the short and medium term ahead of the school’s move to its designated permanent site in Charlesland, Greystones. This will include the provision of appropriate temporary accommodation, including specialist rooms, as quickly as possible as the current school year progresses. My officials will continue to work closely with Kildare and Wicklow ETB and the school to ensure that the needs of the school community are met.
In addition, there is the existing school in the adjacent Kilcoole School Planning Area, Coláiste Chraobh Abhann, which currently has accommodation for 750 pupils and for which there is a major project approved to expand the school to 1,000 pupils. This project is in early architectural planning and is being delivered by the National Development Finance Agency. Additional temporary accommodation was approved in 2019 to cater for expanding enrolments pending completion of this extension. It is open to the school's patron to submit an application for additional interim accommodation to my Department should this be required.
My Department is satisfied that with the establishment of Greystones Community College as a new regional school for the Greystones/Kilcoole area and with the completion of the building projects at St. David’s Secondary School, Greystones and Coláiste Chraobh Abhann, Kilcoole that the resulting additional permanent accommodation will be sufficient to cater for future demand in the area.
435. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the number of DEIS Band 1 schools, per countym that are expected to lose a teacher this academic year. [34780/20]
View answerDEIS – Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools, is my Department’s main policy initiative aimed at tackling educational disadvantage in primary and post primary schools.
In the 2020/21 school year there are 887 schools participating in the DEIS programme serving over 185,000 students.
My Department will invest in the region of €125 million this year on the DEIS programme. This investment includes the provision of
- 419 Home School Community Liaison Coordinators serving 539 schools, catering for approximately 156,000 pupils.
- Additional posts for DEIS Band 1 primary schools to allow for a reduced pupil teacher ratio.
- Curriculum supports
- Priority access to continuing professional development
- School Excellence Fund - DEIS
- DEIS grants and enhanced book grants.
Details of the all the supports available to DEIS Schools can be found at:
https://www.education.ie/en/Schools-Colleges/Services/DEIS-Delivering-Equality-of-Opportunity-in-Schools-/DEIS-Supporting-Information/Supports-to-DEIS-Schools.html
Due to falling demographics in the current school year, 46 Urban Band 1 DEIS schools lost teaching posts while 24 of these schools gained posts due to increasing demographics. The surplus teachers were redeployed into vacancies in schools in time for the start of the 2020/21 school year. This redeployment took place before the Summer break in accordance with the teacher redeployment schemes and staffing schedules. The staffing schedule operates in a clear and transparent manner and treats all similar types of schools equally, irrespective of location.
The attached table shows details by county as requested by the Deputy.
436. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education the status of a new permanent building for a school (details supplied); her views on the tender process for same; the current intended timelines for delivery; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34792/20]
View answer437. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education her views on the space constraints faced by a school (details supplied) in future school years; if contingency planning will be required in order to accommodate future student cohorts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34793/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 436 and 437 together.
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.
My Department is aware of the constraints faced by the school authorities and will work closely with the school authorities to ensure that sufficient accommodation is in place for the 2021/2022 school year.
