Tuesday, 10 Nov 2020

Written Answers Nos. 438-462

State Examinations

Questions (438)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

Question:

438. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education if students sitting Irish in the leaving certificate in November 2020 can be accommodated with an aural and-or an oral examination in order to ensure equity with students that have been assessed and provided with a calculated grade based on aural and oral proficiency; if not, if the students will be credited a 100% award for the oral portion of exams as was originally announced in March 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34795/20]

Written answers

Minister for Education

The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations.

In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.

State Examinations

Questions (439)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Question:

439. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the reason those sitting the November 2020 leaving certificate examinations in language subjects will not be marked on an oral component or, alternatively, will not receive full marks in the oral component as was announced in March 2020. [34808/20]

Written answers

Minister for Education

The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations.

In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.

Question No. 440 answered with Question No. 424.

Education Policy

Questions (441)

Paul McAuliffe

Question:

441. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Education if consideration will be given to the lack of multi and non-denominational primary school places in Dublin 11; her plans in relation to the issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34811/20]

Written answers

Minister for Education

In 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. There are two school planning areas most relevant to the Deputy’s query: Scribblestown_FinglasWest and FinglasEast_BallymunD11.

Where data indicates that additional provision is required at primary or post primary level, the delivery of such additional provision is dependent on the particular circumstances of each case and may, depending on the circumstances, be provided through either one, or a combination of, the following:

- Utilising existing unused capacity within a school or schools,

- Extending the capacity of a school or schools,

Two new multi-denominational primary schools were established in 2015 and 2017; Pelletstown ETNS opened under the patronage of Educate Together in 2015 to serve the Pelletstown area, part of which is located in the Scribblestown_FinglasWest School Planning Area, and Scoil Sinéad which is located within the School Planning Area.

The requirement for additional school places is kept under on-going review and work on an updated exercise to assess needs for the coming years, including those which may arise in the school planning areas referred to above is at an advanced stage.

A patronage process is run after it has been decided, based on demographic analysis, that a new school is required. This patronage process is open to all patron bodies and prospective patrons. Parental preferences from parents of children who reside in the school planning areas concerned, together with the extent of diversity currently available in these areas, are key to decisions in relation to the outcome of this process. In order to best assist parents, my Department has developed an Online Patronage Process System (OPPS) and this provides objective information to parents and guardians which allows them to make an informed choice in expressing a preference for their preferred model of patronage and language of instruction i.e. Irish or English of the new school.

In addition, the Schools Reconfiguration for Diversity Process provides an opportunity to increase the number of multi-denominational schools nationwide. The process, which involves the live transfer of existing schools, is designed to provide additional multi-denominational schools in line with the expressed wishes of parents and the local school community.

The “Early Movers” provision of the Schools Reconfiguration Process enables school communities which have already decided to seek a transfer of patronage (independent of the survey process envisaged as part of the Schools Reconfiguration process) to engage with their school patron on the matter. A patron may transfer patronage under section 8 of the Education Act 1998. A number of patronage changes have taken place in recent years in this context. Any school which is seeking a transfer of patronage, should contact their school patron directly.

Departmental Meetings

Questions (442)

Paul McAuliffe

Question:

442. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Education the number of discussions her officials have had with officials in Fingal County Council in 2018, 2019 and to date in 2020 regarding future educational needs in the Meakstown, Dublin 11; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34812/20]

Written answers

Minister for Education

In 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, utilising data from a range of sources including information on planned and current residential development, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise. Meakstown is situated in the FinglasEast_Ballymun11 school planning area. 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 local authority to obtain the up-to-date data on significant new residential development in each area. My Department then makes an assessment of the existing capacity within the particular area and its ability to meet increased demand.

Where data indicates that additional provision is required at primary or post primary level, the delivery of such additional provision is dependent on the particular circumstances of each case and may be provided through either one, or a combination of, the following:

- Utilising existing unused capacity within a school or schools,

- Extending the capacity of a school or schools,

- Provision of a new school or schools.

The requirement for additional school places is kept under on-going review and work on an updated exercise to assess needs for the coming years, including those which may arise in the FinglasEast_Ballymun11 school planning area, is at an advanced stage.

In addition to ongoing demographic analyses, my Department continues to liaise with Fingal County Council in respect of potential longer-term requirements for educational provision in all areas of Fingal. My Department engages further on such matters with the Council through the review of the County Development Plan, preparation of Local Area Plans and other relevant statutory planning processes.

School Patronage

Questions (443)

Paul McAuliffe

Question:

443. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Education her plans for changes to the patronage competition system for new schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34813/20]

Written answers

Minister for Education

A patronage process is run after it has been decided, based on demographic analysis, that a new school is required. The patronage process is open to all patron bodies and prospective patrons.

An Online Patronage Process System (OPPS) has been in operation under my Department since 2018 and provides objective information to parents in the relevant school planning areas to assist them in making an informed choice about their preferred model of patronage and language of instruction for the new school. (Previously, applicant patrons were required to collect parental preferences directly from parents and submit these with their application to the Department.)

A prospective patron can chose the school(s) it wishes to apply for and complete an application form in that regard for each school, for submission to my Department. The Department provides details on the OPPS of the school(s) and the list of applicant patrons which have applied for patronage of the school(s). Parents can then access the OPPS website, which allows them to access the appropriate survey for their area, to input the details of the eligible child(ren) and to select their preferred patron and language of instruction (with the exception of the Irish-medium primary Gaelscoileanna which have been designated as Irish-medium prior to the opening of the OPPS - in the case of these schools, parents can select their preferred patron but not language of instruction). Parental preferences from parents of children who reside in the school planning areas concerned, together with the extent of diversity currently available in these areas, are key to decisions in relation to the outcome of the process.

The patronage process for new schools is overseen by an external independent advisory group, the New Schools Establishment Group (NSEG). Following their consideration of my Department’s assessment reports, the NSEG submits a report with recommendations to me for consideration and final decision. The assessment reports and the NSEG recommendations for all such patronage processes are made available on my Department's website.

While all such matters are kept under review, at present, my Department has no plans to make changes to the OPPS process.

School Staff

Questions (444, 445, 446)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Question:

444. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the number of schools which have lost a teacher in the 2020-21 academic year. [34819/20]

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Question:

445. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the number of appeals by schools to retain their staffing levels and not lose a teacher in the 2020-21 academic year which were successful. [34820/20]

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Question:

446. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education if the exceptional circumstances of Covid-19 are taken into account by the board of appeals when considering appeals of a reduction of staffing levels in schools. [34821/20]

Written answers

Minister for Education

I propose to take Questions Nos. 444, 445 and 446 together.

Teaching 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 my Department and the Primary Staffing Appeals Board were very cognisant of the impact of COVID-19 on schools and in that context have 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.

Due to falling demographics 390 posts were lost in schools while 202 posts were gained 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.

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.

Schools Building Projects

Questions (447)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

447. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education the date on which the constructions works on a school (details supplied) will be completed; the estimated cost of the project; and if issues have been identified to date that will impact on the projected commissioning of the school. [34841/20]

Written answers

Minister for Education

The project to which the Deputy refers initially commenced on site in April 2020 and work recommenced on 18 May following the Covid 19 restrictions.

The project will cost approximately €6.4m including construction costs and fees.

The project is progressing very well and subject to no issues arising is due to be completed in October 2021

Special Educational Needs

Questions (448)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Question:

448. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education when schools will be provided with clear guidance on the way in which and when children with special educational needs can integrate into mainstream classes during the school day. [34868/20]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills

There is an extensive range of supports and resources available to schools on the provision of an inclusive education for children with special educational needs. These are available to access on the websites of both my Department and the NCSE.

The Deputy will also be aware of my belief that children with special needs should receive their education in placements which are appropriate to their needs alongside their peers wherever possible unless such an approach would be inconsistent with the best interests of the individual child or other children in the school. This approach is consistent with the provisions of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs (EPSEN) Act 2004.

The Roadmap to Support the Full Reopening of Schools continues to be implemented in schools. The Roadmap includes specific guidance and a dedicated financial package for the Special Education Sector. Pupils in special classes should continue to interact, or integrate, with mainstream classes and move between classes. The Guidelines do not prevent this. Schools continue to do their best in the interest of all students.

Special class provision in mainstream primary and post primary schools is a central element of the continuum of education provision in place to support children with special educational needs. This continuum extends from full-time placement in mainstream classes to full time enrolment in special schools with a number of options in between including access to a range of additional supports and for those children whose assessment of need includes a recommendation, access to special class provision.

My Department supports this continuum through a range of dedicated supports in line with the needs of the child. These supports include the provision of teachers, special needs assistants and psychological support from the National Psychological Service. In addition, there are specialist supports provided by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE). The Council has published Guidelines for Setting Up and Organising Special Classes for Primary and Post-Primary Schools. The guidelines advise that students enrolled in special classes should be included in mainstream classes, to the greatest extent possible, in line with their abilities. The Council provides extensive professional development programmes for teachers and advice for schools, parents and families

The overall aim of the continuum is to ensure that every child is supported in the journey of realising their potential through education in an inclusive and caring school environment.

State Examinations

Questions (449)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Question:

449. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education if it is planned that the leaving certificate examinations will go ahead as planned in November 2020. [34870/20]

Written answers

Minister for Education

The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations.

The State Examinations Commission has recently confirmed that leaving certificate exams will proceed as planned later this month.

I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations for further details to be sent to you.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (450)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

Question:

450. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education if derogations are available to allow retired teachers return to substitute teaching for the period of the Covid-19 pandemic to assist in cases in which they otherwise would not be allowed do so under the terms of their retirement agreement as in cases such as that of a teacher (details supplied); if so, if consideration will be given to introducing such derogations; and the process for applying for a derogation. [34886/20]

Written answers

Minister for Education

Teachers retire under various schemes, dependent on their respective circumstances. Under the Early Retirement Scheme for Teachers, Retirement at the end of the 2007/2008 School Year, applicable in this particular case, there were three strands.

Strand 1 applies to permanent teachers with not less than 15 years whole time or actual pensionable service, and who are consistently experiencing professional difficulties in their teaching duties. Strand 2 relates to permanent teachers whose retirement will provide their school with an opportunity to enhance the education service provided through facilitating changes and the teacher must be aged 55 years or more and have a minimum of 20 years wholetime or actual pensionable service. Strand 3 applies to permanent teachers who are in posts which are surplus to requirement and from which they may not readily be redeployed and which will not be filled should they leave the post. Teachers who have less than 5 years of actual pensionable service, will not, however qualify for a pension.

The strand under which the person to whom the Deputy refers retired, does not allow for return to teaching, and there is no derogation from this. A declaration is signed at retirement to accept the terms of the retirement. There are no plans to amend the rules of this scheme.

Officials from the Pension Unit of my department will make direct contact with the person concerned to provide further clarification to them in relation to the terms of their retirement.

Special Educational Needs

Questions (451)

Gino Kenny

Question:

451. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Education her future plans for special educational schools and also the six reading schools; the extra resources she will provide for mainstream schools to accommodate children with more significant additional needs especially in the context of Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34895/20]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is currently undertaking Policy Advice on Education Provision in Special Classes and Special Schools to examine whether placement in specialist settings brings about improved educational outcomes and experiences, relative to their ability, for students with special educational needs.

This Policy Advice is to be completed and a report submitted by NCSE in December 2020.

A progress report was published in November 2019 by the NCSE. This summarises NCSE’s progress to date, emerging findings and steps to complete the advice.

When the Policy Advice is received later this year it will be considered by the Department.

In terms of resources, my Department is committed to supporting every child with special educational needs to receive an education. We will spend approximately €2 Billion, or over 20% of the total educational budget annually, on making additional provision for children with special educational needs next year. This represents an increase of over 50% in total expenditure since 2011.

This investment will allow us to provide over 1,200 extra special class places next year.

There are currently over 13,550 Special Education Teachers allocated to mainstream schools, supporting the additional learning needs of pupils, of which 9,325 are allocated to primary schools. This represents an increase of 40% in the provision for Special Education Teachers since 2011.

An additional 145 Special Education Teachers will also be available for allocation next year.

The number of SNAs in the school system has increased by almost 60% since 2011. Approximately 1,000 additional SNAs will also be allocated to schools next year, bringing the total number to 18,000.

COVID-19 has negatively impacted across all aspects of society including the area of education which saw the closure of schools. My Department recognised that such school closures can have a particular impact on children with special educational needs and provided specific guidance for schools to support continuity of learning for these children during the school closure period. This guidance has been updated recently to support children and schools in the event of a class or school closure due to COVID-19.

A significantly expanded summer education programme for children with complex special educational needs was also provided, which aimed to prevent regression among children with special needs.

Knowing that schools are the best place to support the education and well-being of all children it has been a priority of this Government to ensure that schools could reopen in a way that is safe and sustainable. A financial package of over €375 million has been provided to support the reopening of schools. There is a dedicated package for the special education sector, which includes provision for additional staffing, reconfiguration of classes, enhanced cleaning, Personnel Protective Equipment (PPE) and access to additional psychological supports.

Additional provisions are also being made for children with special needs including an enhanced COVID-19 rate payable in respect of students attending special schools and special classes, including special classes in mainstream primary schools.

Priority has also been afforded to managing children's well-being, allowing opportunities to catch-up on key areas of learning and taking the time to meet the needs of individual children as they present in schools. Each school is best placed to support the needs of their individual students and schools are afforded flexibility in how they address these needs.

My Department will continue to work with stakeholders, in line with the public health guidance, to ensure that schools remain open and delivering education to support all children including those with special educational needs.

Overall, I am satisfied that the enhanced supports under the return to school package, combined with the very significant levels of provision currently available will ensure that pupils with special educational needs can continue to be supported in schools.

Teaching Council of Ireland

Questions (452)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

452. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education if an application by a person (details supplied) will be expedited; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34896/20]

Written answers

Minister for Education

Under the Teaching Council Acts 2001-2015 the Teaching Council is the body with statutory authority and responsibility for the regulation of the teaching profession in Ireland including the registration of teachers in the State.

The Teaching Council registers teachers under the Teaching Council Acts and the Teaching Council (Registration) Regulations 2016. The standard timeframes for processing of applications varies between 4-8 weeks where an applicant holds Irish qualifications accredited by the Council. The peak registration processing period for the Teaching Council is from July to September. Throughout the pandemic, the Council has continued to register teacher in as far as possible within these timeframes.

The Teaching Council inform me that the person referred to by the Deputy is registered with effect from 4 November 2020. Should the individual have any queries regarding their registration I would advise they liaise directly with the Teaching Council.

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Questions (453)

Marc MacSharry

Question:

453. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Education if a school (details supplied) HEAnet promised upgrade can be brought forward as the current service is very poor and not fit for purpose particularly during Covid-19 restrictions in which students are unable to log on to class from home if self-isolating due to Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34904/20]

Written answers

Minister for Education

Through the Schools Broadband Access Programme the Department provides for the supply of internet connectivity for all recognised primary and post primary schools, and some 98% of schools are included in this scheme. The Department's High Speed Broadband Programme, provides all recognised post-primary schools, high speed broadband with a minimum broadband speed of 100mbs. There are 58 special schools also included in this programme, managed for the Department by HEAnet.

The school referred to by the Deputy has a high speed broadband connection of 100 Mbit/s which is uncontended and symmetrical, meaning this is a dedicated service to the school. Given that this is an uncontended service the school should have 100Mbp/s connectivity. HEAnet is currently conducting an extensive upgrade programme for post-primary schools that has already seen some 47% of schools upgraded to speeds greater that 200Mbp/s. A further 380 post-primary schools are now due an upgrade to that level of connectivity. That will see over 80% of post-primary schools with connections of 200 Mbp/s or higher.

This upgrade programme is based on demonstrated requirements, and in the current circumstances the system is being closely monitored to prioritise those most in need of the higher speed connectivity, in line with contractual and procurement regulations.

Under this upgrade programme, Holy Faith secondary school has now been awarded to a provider of high speed fibre broadband, and the new service provider will be in contact with the school in due course. In the interim, the current service provider is working to increase the current broadband speeds to 200mb/s and this work is expected to be finalised over the coming week.

The delivery of high quality broadband connectivity for all schools is a key objective of my Department, to support the embedding of digital technologies in teaching and learning. The Schools Broadband Programme is operated by my Department at an annual cost of some €13m.

State Examinations

Questions (454)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Question:

454. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education if the bonus for completing leaving certificate exams through Irish was taken into consideration not just by teachers when providing the teachers’ grades, but specifically by the algorithm as it was applied to give calculated grades to students from Gaelscoileanna. [34921/20]

Written answers

Minister for Education

As previously advised to the Deputy, Circular letter 0037/2020, ‘Calculated Grades for Leaving Certificate 2020 - Guide for Schools on Providing Estimated Percentage Marks and Class Rank Orderings’, which was published on 21 May, set out the guidance for schools on the operation of the Leaving Certificate calculated grades process. The document provided detailed information on the process of estimating marks for students to receive calculated grades.

This included guidance to schools that, in arriving at an estimated percentage mark in the case of students who were entered to take their examinations through Irish, the teacher should base her/his estimate of the student’s likely mark on the assumption that the bonus that is applicable for answering the written paper through Irish is included in the estimate. Therefore, as the bonus marks for sitting examinations through the medium of Irish had already been provided in the teacher estimates, this would also have been reflected in the final Calculated Grades awarded to the students following the national standardisation process.

Further detailed guidance for schools on the application of bonus marks that would have applied in the case of students answering the written examinations through Irish was published on 28 May 2020 and is available at www.gov.ie/leavingcertificate

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (455)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Question:

455. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education if a sample sanitiser from a company (details supplied) was assessed and evaluated by a team with the necessary technical competencies and cross-sectoral knowledge; the outcome of the process; and if issues were flagged with the product. [34931/20]

Written answers

Minister for Education

The Education Sector Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) procurement agreement July 2020 provided for the supply of the following PPE products, from 14 suppliers, for use in schools and other education settings: Wipes; Hand Soaps; Facemasks; Gloves; Hand Sanitiser; Protective Clothing; and Safety Glasses.

As part of the selection process suppliers were required to confirm that their products were compliant with the regulations; to provide documentation and samples of products; and to give examples of contracts in the last two years which included supply to the Irish public sector. The RFI specifically requested that interested suppliers confirm that all products comply with Regulation (EU) No. 528/2012, commonly known as the Biocidal Products Regulation, and with the European Union (Biocidal Products) Regulations 2013 (S.I. 427/2013); and to confirm that all products comply with Regulation (EU) 2016/425 of 9 March 2016 on personal protective equipment.

On 22 October 2020 the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine notified my Department that it had removed ViraPro hand sanitiser from the product register. On the same day my Department removed the supplier of Virapro and its entire product offering from the procurement agreement and advised all schools to stop using the ViraPro sanitiser. These products have been on general sale and not just available through the education sector framework.

On Friday 23 the Department of Agriculture advised not to use any Virapro branded product and this was communicated to schools. My Department immediately commenced a review of biocidal products included in the Education Sector PPE procurement agreement. This involved reviewing 172 items from 14 suppliers. The outcome of this review was a decision to take 43 biocidal and 9 other products off the approved list for schools because it has not been possible to satisfactorily confirm their registration status as part of this review. These products will not be included in my Department’s approved list for schools until their registration status has been confirmed. The Department has no evidence that these products are unsafe.

The review was undertaken in consultation with the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine Testing, which is responsible for the testing, approval and certification of all biocidal products for sale in the State and to which I would refer the Deputy for further information.

Immediately following the product review my Department on Thursday 29 October, 2020 wrote to all schools to advise them of changes to the approved list of products on the Education Sector PPE procurement agreement, and the steps they can take to procure new stock if they need to. Suppliers on the agreement committed to swift processing of orders and delivery to support schools, and work is ongoing with suppliers to ensure that schools are restocked to meet their needs.

My Department has added a new supplier to the PPE Agreement, this supplier had engaged in the original process and they have now completed the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine biocidal registration process. In total 23 new products have been added which includes product from the new supplier and a number of products from existing suppliers on the agreement.

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has commenced reference sample testing for products other than ViraPro. To-date they have analysed reference samples relating to 39 products on the Education Sectors current framework of hand sanitisers. Laboratory analysis confirms that these products are in accordance with their respective conditions of registration. In addition, one unregistered product has been analysed. No issues in relation to safety or efficacy have been identified. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is continuing to increase its testing of product on the market to provide reassurance in relation to compliance with approved product specifications.

School Transport

Questions (456)

Steven Matthews

Question:

456. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education if there are provisions being considered to supplement public transport with additional school transport particularly under level 5 restrictions which reduced capacity on public transport to the point to which it is inaccessible to many students. [34945/20]

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.

School Transport services for the 2020/2021 school year commenced on the 26th August 2020. All children who are eligible for school transport and who applied and paid by the deadline have been accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation.

Based on the public health advice published in early July, and the updated advice received from the HPSC on 7 August and from NPHET on 18 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 per cent 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 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 the additional capacity is rolled out, where spare capacity is created, further tickets will be allocated to those children eligible for the scheme who have paid late and for other applicants seeking concessionary tickets.

School Staff

Questions (457)

Patrick Costello

Question:

457. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Education the estimated cost of providing two additional guidance counsellor positions for schools with over 950 pupils. [34954/20]

Written answers

Minister for Education

The estimated full year cost of providing two additional guidance counsellor positions to schools, including ETB schools, with over 950 pupils is €5.1m.

School Transport

Questions (458)

Michael Ring

Question:

458. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Education if school transport will be provided to a student (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34968/20]

Written answers

Minister for Education

School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2019/20 school year over 120,000 children, including over 14,200 children with special educational needs, were transported in over 5,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres at a cost of over €219m in 2019.

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

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

Bus Eireann has confirmed, that the child to whom the Deputy refers, is eligible for School Transport. Medical card details for School Transport for the 2020/2021 school year were received on 7th September 2020 and as such were submitted late.

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.

Schools Building Projects

Questions (459)

Pádraig O'Sullivan

Question:

459. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education when a new school will be built to accommodate the pupils from a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34970/20]

Written answers

Minister for Education

The school referred to by the Deputy will be part of a shared campus. The building project will also deliver a new Post Primary school and the new special school building will provide 11 classrooms and associated ancillary accommodation to cater for pupils with a range of learning disabilities.

In December 2018, the project completed Stage 2a (Developed Design Stage) and has been authorised to proceed to Stage 2(b), Detailed Design, which includes the applications for Planning Permission, Fire Cert and Disability Access Cert and the preparation of tender documents.

Planning permission for this particular project was sought earlier than usual in the architectural planning process, during Stage 2(a), as a means to identify any potential issues which might arise.

Earlier this year, my Department reviewed and approved a Brief Change Request relating to traffic management and this has now been incorporated by the Design Team into the tender documentation.

In June 2020, my Department received further Brief Change Requests and the Stage 2(b) submission for this project. The review of the Stage 2(b) tender documentation is currently nearing completion.

In order to expedite the progression of this major building project, my Department authorised the school and its Design Team to commence the pre-qualification process to select a shortlist of contractors while the Department was reviewing the stage 2(b) submission. The Design Team submitted a draft pre-qualification report to the Department recently and last week my Department authorised the Design Team to complete the pre-qualification process.

Subject to the review of the Stage 2(b) submission, with no issues arising and completion of the pre-qualification process, my Department will revert to the ETB and Board of Management of the school with regard to the further progression of the project.

School Staff

Questions (460)

Pádraig O'Sullivan

Question:

460. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education the reason for the delay in payment to a teacher (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34972/20]

Written answers

Minister for Education

Teachers are employed by the managerial authorities of schools. The managerial authorities must submit certain documentation to the payroll section of my Department to enable teachers to be paid on the payrolls.

In the case referred to by the Deputy the managerial authority did not submit notification of the teacher resuming in her teaching post in the school in September 2020.

Staff in my Department only became aware of the position when contacted by the person referred to.

I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the person has been advised that she will be paid full salary on the 12th November.

Schools Amalgamation

Questions (461)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

461. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education the plans of her Department for either second-level school amalgamations or new second-level schools in the city of Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35146/20]

Written answers

Minister for Education

In 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 (GIS). The GIS uses data from a range of sources, including Child Benefit Data from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection and the Department's own school enrolment databases, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise.

The process has been strengthened this year through three specific initiatives:

- enhanced engagement with local authorities in relation to the information on residential development incorporated in the analysis process;

- additional engagement with patron bodies in relation to their local knowledge on school place requirements. Education and Training Boards, Diocesan offices and national patron bodies such as Educate Together, An Foras Pátrúnachta etc. can also be an important source of local knowledge. This will add to information also provided to the Department by local authorities or individual schools.

- Utilising the information gleaned from schools under the national inventory of school capacity completed by individual schools last year as part of POD, P-POD returns process.

Where data indicates that additional provision is required at primary or post primary level, the delivery of such additional provision is dependent on the particular circumstances of each case and may be provided through either one, or a combination of, the following:

- Utilising existing unused capacity within a school or schools,

- Extending the capacity of a school or schools,

- Provision of a new school or schools.

Since 2018, 47 new schools to cater for demographic demand have been announced to be established over the period 2019-2022 and included in that number is a new 1,000 post-primary school for Galway City/Oranmore which opened in September 2019. In addition St. Mary’s College and Our Lady’s College are due to amalgamate from Sept 2021 with the amalgamation being catered for at St. Mary’s College. The Department has agreed to the expansion of this amalgamated school to 1,000 pupils. Additional accommodation is being provided for the school for Sept 2021 to cater for immediate needs”.

Similar to the process adopted for September 2020 readiness, the Department will be engaging further with patron bodies later this month in advance of identifying specific September 2021 capacity pressure points priorities which will necessitate specific action.

In a ‘normal’ year, addressing the increase demands for school places, whilst challenging, is manageable - generally through utilisation of existing spare capacity within schools, rental, temporary accommodation or other short term measures pending the delivery of permanent accommodation.

School Staff

Questions (462)

Michael Lowry

Question:

462. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education if the case of a teacher (details attached) will be examined who is teaching in a school in County Tipperary under the temporary teacher reassignment process since 2011 and is ineligible for inclusion on the supplementary teaching panel; the reasons for same; the reason such teachers are treated differently to other teachers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35155/20]

Written answers

Minister for Education

The Supplementary Panel is open to application from fixed-term and substitute teachers who meet the published eligibility criteria. For the current school year, this criteria is set out in Circular 64/2019, available on the Department website.

The service reckonable for access to the Supplementary Panel is service as a fully qualified teacher in a post paid for by the Department of Education, excluding previous permanent service, previous service as a post-primary teacher, incremental credit and unqualified service.

As teachers involved in the temporary teacher reassignment scheme retain their permanent status, these teachers would not meet the eligibility criteria for the Supplementary Panel.