Paul Murphy
Question:463. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education if she will provide a progress report on the construction of the new school buildings for a school (details suppled). [35165/20]
View answerSchools Building Projects
Questions (463)
Written answers
The tender process for the school building project referred to by the Deputy is running as part of a wider process involving the tender of 8 major building projects. The first phase of the tender process to create a shortlist of contractors is complete. The second phase of the tender process is ongoing and is due to be completed in the coming months. The project is expected to commence on site in quarter 1 of 2021.
School Enrolments
Questions (464)
Fergus O'Dowd
Question:464. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education if concerns raised at the beginning of November 2020 by many parents in Drogheda, County Louth, in respect of the over-subscription of a school (details supplied) will be addressed; if assistance will be provided on the matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35181/20]
View answerWritten answers
I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has no record of receiving correspondence from the school authority in question in relation to the issue raised.
In quantifying the specific requirements for September 2021, the Department is in the final throes of concluding its nationwide demographic exercises to determine where additional school accommodation is needed at primary and post-primary level across the 314 school planning areas through a Geographical Information System. The GIS uses data from a range of sources, including Child Benefit Data from the Department of Employment Affairs & 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 strengthen this year through three specific initiatives:
(i) enhanced engagement with local authorities in relation to the information on residential development incorporated in the analysis process;
(ii) 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 be an important source of local knowledge. This will add to information also provided to the Department by local authorities or individual schools.
(iii) 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.
Similar to the process adopted for September 2020 readiness, the Department will be engaging further with patron bodies in November/December in advance of identifying specific September 2021 capacity pressure points priorities which will necessitate action.
School Accommodation
Questions (465)
Niamh Smyth
Question:465. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education the status of an application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35182/20]
View answerWritten answers
I can confirm that my Department is in receipt of an application for capital funding under the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme, from the school authority referred to by the Deputy. Once the application has been assessed, the school authority will be contacted directly with a decision.
School Transport
Questions (466)
Patricia Ryan
Question:466. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Education the number of post-primary school transport ticket holders in County Kildare for each academic year since 2016 to date, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35200/20]
View answerWritten answers
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.
As requested by the Deputy, Bus Éireann has confirmed the number of post-primary school transport ticket holders in County Kildare for each acedemic year from 2016 to date and this information is outlined in the table below.
|
School Year |
The number of Post Primary school transport ticket holders in County Kildare |
|
2016/17 |
2,672 |
|
2017/18 |
2,712 |
|
2018/19 |
2,862 |
|
2019/20 |
2,965 |
|
2020/21 |
2,785 |
School Patronage
Questions (467, 468)
Michael Creed
Question:467. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Education if she is satisfied that the period offered for expressions of interest with regard to patronage for a school (details supplied) is sufficient given the Covid-19 implications for communications and so on; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35237/20]
View answerMichael Creed
Question:468. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Education the number of expressions of interest received by her Department with regard to the recently advertised patronage for a school (details supplied). [35240/20]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 467 and 468 together.
As the Deputy may be aware, the patronage process for the post-primary schools due to open in 2021, including that for the Ballincollig school planning area, had been postponed earlier in the year, given the Covid-19 related restrictions in place at the time.
Despite the continuing situation with regard to Covid-19, my Department considered that it was important that the 2021 post-primary patronage process commence and be progressed in 2020 in order that the successful incoming school patrons would have sufficient time to make the necessary preparations for the schools’ opening in 2021 and in order to provide certainty and clarity for incoming patrons, parents and children alike in respect of the patronage and language of these schools. Accordingly, in October 2020, the Department commenced the Online Patronage Process System (OPPS) process for the four post-primary schools to be established in September 2021. Having confirmed the applicant patrons for each of the schools, on 23 October, the OPPS survey was opened for parents in the relevant school planning areas. A press release issued in this regard on 24 October. The OPPS will remain open for parents to express their preference for school patron until 9am on Monday 16 November.
While it would not be appropriate to provide figures relating to the number of patronage or language preferences expressed in respect of an OPPS process that is currently ongoing, I can say that while Covid-19 restrictions have undoubtedly affected the nature of communications between prospective patrons and school communities, based on the engagement to date in the process, it is expected that parental engagement figures will be generally within the levels experienced in previous OPPS surveys. Final figures will be provided in reports published at the end of the process.
I encourage parents of eligible children to express their preference on the website: https://patronage.education.gov.ie/
School Catchment Areas
Questions (469)
Louise O'Reilly
Question:469. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Education if her Department has examined schools having a minimum radius, centred on itself, included in its catchment area (details supplied). [35268/20]
View answerWritten answers
In relation to school admissions, it is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998 and the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018. My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in that area.
Under the provisions of the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018, all schools have drafted new policies, which will have been approved by the school patron by 15 September 2020, and should now be published on the schools website.
The act requires schools to clearly set out their selection criteria in their admission policies. Schools have discretion in relation to their admission criteria and how they are applied, giving a priority to a certain catchment area is permitted as a criterion under the act, and schools can apply this as a criterion should they wish to do so. The criteria to be applied by schools and the order of priority are a matter for the schools themselves.
New schools established since 2011 to meet demographic demand are required, in the first instance, to prioritise pupil applications from within the designated school planning area(s) which the school was established to serve. This does not preclude schools from enrolling pupils from outside of the school planning area where they have sufficient places, rather it reflects the need to accommodate in the first instance the demographic for which the school was established.
The requirement on new schools established since 2011 to prioritise enrolment from a particular school planning area(s) does not apply to or impact on the majority of existing schools established prior to 2011.
School Funding
Questions (470)
Brendan Griffin
Question:470. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education if grants and funding are available for a project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35275/20]
View answerWritten answers
It is the policy of the Department of Education and Skills not to endorse or promote any particular products, programmes, ventures, publications, professional consultants or companies. I am sure that you will appreciate the reasons for this decision.
It is the responsibility of each individual school to select the resources that it will use to support its implementation of the curriculum. A list of schools is available on our website www.education.ie.
An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta (COGG) which was established under the provisions of Article 31 of the Education Act of 1998 operates an established structure to cater for the educational needs of Gaeltacht schools and of Gaelscoileanna. The provision of teaching and learning resources is one of its main areas of work and a resource development funding scheme is advertised in spring each year. Further information is available at www.cogg.ie
Schools Refurbishment
Questions (471)
Darren O'Rourke
Question:471. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education when refurbishment works will be finished on a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35311/20]
View answerWritten answers
The new building for the school referred to by the Deputy is progressing satisfactorily and subject to no issues arising is due to be ready for occupation early in Quarter 2 of 2021.
Schools Refurbishment
Questions (472)
Darren O'Rourke
Question:472. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education when refurbishment works will be finished on a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35312/20]
View answerWritten answers
As the deputy will be aware, the project to which she refers has been devolved for delivery to Louth and Meath Education and Training Board (ETB).
I am pleased to confirm that construction of this school extension is nearing completion, which is anticipated in the first quarter of 2021.
Schools Building Projects
Questions (473)
Jennifer Whitmore
Question:473. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education when a decision will be made as to when a new school building will be open (details supplied); when officials from her Department were last on the site; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35319/20]
View answerWritten answers
On the specific matters that have impacted the handover of the building, the Department is taking the appropriate steps to ensure it is completely satisfied that the building is fit for handover prior to accepting it. The Department is engaging with the contractor in this regard under the appropriate terms of the public works contract. Some communication was received from the contractor on 30 September and was reviewed and assessed. That communication was deemed inadequate and a further notice issued to the contractor in October. A response was received at the end of October and this is being considered. While this process is under way, the Department will not make any further comment other than to say that we are expediting this as quickly as possible. There has been no requirement for Department officials to attend on site in a number of weeks due to the on-going matters.
Schools Building Projects
Questions (474)
Jennifer Whitmore
Question:474. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education when officials from her Department met a company (details supplied) regarding a new school building; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35320/20]
View answerWritten answers
On the specific matters that have impacted the handover of the building, my Department is taking the appropriate steps to ensure it is completely satisfied that the building is fit for handover prior to accepting it. My Department is engaging with the contractor in this regard under the appropriate terms of the public works contract. Some communication was received from the contractor on 30 September and was reviewed and assessed. That communication was deemed inadequate and a further notice issued to the contractor in October. A response was received at the end of October and this is being considered. While this process is underway, my Department will not make any further comment other than to say that we are expediting this as quickly as possible.
Schools Building Projects
Questions (475)
Jennifer Whitmore
Question:475. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education the role of the clerk of works during the building of a new school (details supplied); if the clerk can identify issues with the school building; the stage at which issues with the school building were identified; the actions her Department has taken to address the issues since they were identified; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35321/20]
View answerWritten answers
The building project referred to by the Deputy is being delivered under my Department's Design & Build programme. This delivery programme uses a professional external Project Manager to progress the project through the relevant stages of architectural planning, tendering and construction. There is also a full-time Clerk of Works present on site and represents the interests of my Department in regard to ensuring that the quality of both materials and workmanship are in accordance with architects/engineers drawings and specifications and design information.
On the specific matters that have impacted the handover of the building, my Department is taking the appropriate steps to ensure it is completely satisfied that the building is fit for handover prior to accepting it. My Department is engaging with the contractor in this regard under the appropriate terms of the public works contract. Some communication was received from the contractor on 30 September and was reviewed and assessed. That communication was deemed inadequate and a further notice issued to the contractor in October. A response was received at the end of October and this is being considered. While this process is underway, my Department will not make any further comment other than to say that we are expediting this as quickly as possible.
School Enrolments
Questions (476)
Johnny Mythen
Question:476. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the difficulties some families are facing in accessing second-level school places for their children in Wexford town due to a shortage of spaces; her plans to deal with the issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35324/20]
View answerWritten answers
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:
1. enhanced engagement with local authorities in relation to the information on residential development incorporated in the analysis process;
2. 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.
3. 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.
The delivery of a building project for Selskaer College, Wexford Town to construct a new 1,000 pupil school has been agreed and its delivery is being devolved to Waterford and Wexford Education and Training Board (WWETB).
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 Funding
Questions (477)
Robert Troy
Question:477. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education the possible funding avenues available to a school to install a fire alarm system; and if her Department will urgently assist schools that do not currently have a fire warning system in place. [35334/20]
View answerWritten answers
I would like to inform the Deputy that the funding of Life Safety Systems, under which category this falls, was announced under my Department's Summer Works Scheme last year.
If a particular school did not apply for funding of Life Safety Systems under that round of the Summer Works Scheme, an application should now be made under the Emergency Works Scheme, which is the proper mechanism for delivering projects of this nature.
Details of how to apply for funding under this scheme can be found on the Department's website at https://www.education.ie/en/Circulars-and-Forms/Active-Circulars/cl0068_2020.pdf
School Funding
Questions (478)
Robert Troy
Question:478. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education the funding and grant avenues available to a school that urgently needs to upgrade its heating system. [35335/20]
View answerWritten answers
I would like to inform the deputy that the correct mechanism for uprgrading heating systems falls within the scope of my Department's Summer Works Scheme; schools are free to apply for funding under this scheme when it next opens for applications.
If the heating system in a particular school completely fails, the school may apply for funding through the Emergency Works Scheme; details of this scheme are available on the Department's website.
Occupational Injuries Benefit
Questions (479)
Richard Bruton
Question:479. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education if she will consider extending an occupational injury scheme to teachers, similar to that which applies to gardaí and nurses, in view of the risk exposures the profession faces. [35362/20]
View answerWritten answers
The provision of an occupational injury scheme for teachers is the subject of a claim, being brought to the Teachers' Conciliation Council (TCC). Discussions are taking place under the auspices of the TCC, to which the Department, management representatives and unions are all party.
As the proceedings of the TCC are confidential, it would not be appropriate for me to make any further comment while the claims remain under consideration.
DEIS Scheme
Questions (480, 483)
David Cullinane
Question:480. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Education if matters raised in correspondence (details supplied) will be addressed; if the concerns of the staff will be addressed; if DEIS band 1 and vertical schools will be included in the reduction in the pupil-to-teacher ratio; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35374/20]
View answer
Gary Gannon
Question:483. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education the reason there has not been a similar decrease in the staffing schedule for urban band 1 junior schools and vertical schools as there has been in mainstream classrooms, given that research shows the impact of class size and achievement is most effective in the first four years of schooling and that children from low socioeconomic backgrounds benefit most from lower class sizes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35443/20]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 480 and 483 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 €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.
Education Policy
Questions (481)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Question:481. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education the basis on which the status of a small school, or scoil bheag, was granted to certain secondary schools nationwide; the criteria for eligibility for this status; the method by which a school may apply for this status; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35385/20]
View answerWritten answers
The criteria used for the allocation of teachers to schools is published annually on the Department's website.
The schools to which the Deputy refers are Education and Training Board (ETB) schools.
The Department provides a staffing allocation to each ETB and the distribution of this staffing allocation including Small School posts is a matter for the Chief Executive of the ETB schemes in question.
Special Educational Needs
Questions (482)
Catherine Connolly
Question:482. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 820 of 3 November 2020, if a deadline will be provided by which all eligible applicants for the reimbursement of the agreed mileage rate under the July provision transportation grant will be reimbursed, in view of the fact that some families have been waiting four months for the repayment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35394/20]
View answerWritten answers
School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education and Skills. 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.
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.
With regard to transport arrangements for the Summer Programme, my Department committed to providing grant funding to support families with the cost of transport arrangements for those children who were eligible for school transport and who were approved to participate in the school based Summer Programme.
Schools were required to identify children who availed of a School Transport service or who were in receipt of a grant. School Transport Section issued correspondance to schools outlining what was required in order to process such payments.
School Transport Section has commenced processing payment of these grants. I can assure the Deputy that the grant payments for the Summer Programme is being prioritised by officials at this time and payments will continue to be processed in the coming weeks.
Question No. 483 answered with Question No. 480.
Education Costs
Questions (484)
Gary Gannon
Question:484. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education the estimated cost to decrease the staffing schedule for urban band 1 and junior and vertical schools by one point in line with all other schools. [35444/20]
View answerWritten answers
Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools (DEIS) is the main policy initiative of my Department to address educational disadvantage at school level. My Department will spend in the region of €125 million in 2020 on the DEIS Programme.
Under Budget 2021 I have announced a general reduction in the mainstream staffing schedule to 25:1. Each 1 point adjustment to the primary staffing schedule is estimated to cost in the region of €4.7m in the first year and €14.4m for the full year. The cost of a similar adjustment to the staffing schedule in Urban Band 1 schools is estimated to cost in the region of €2.8 million for the full year.
DEIS Scheme
Questions (485)
Gary Gannon
Question:485. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education the further supports made available to DEIS schools catering for the highest concentrations of education disadvantage from the budget allocation of €2 million in 2021; and the detail of the full allocation of €5 million in 2022 announced in budget 2021. [35445/20]
View answerWritten answers
I am pleased to advise the Deputy 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.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Questions (486)
Gary Gannon
Question:486. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education her views on the recent ballot outcome of a union (details supplied) and its members to take industrial action due to numerous issues of safety facing schools; and the action taken by her Department to engage with these concerns. [35446/20]
View answerWritten answers
The reopening of schools has been a very important milestone for Irish children and society. The safety and wellbeing of staff, students and the whole school community has been of paramount importance in the Government’s planning for school reopening. Planning for school reopening was undertaken in close consultation and discussion with key education partners. Since schools reopened, that intensive stakeholder engagement has continued on a weekly basis with senior officials in my Department and representatives of trade unions and management bodies. The views of stakeholders, including the ASTI, have been taken into consideration at every stage of the process, including the emphasis on a Public Health led approach.
My Department has been working closely with the Department of Health and the HSE to achieve our shared objective to keep schools and staff and students safe. In order to maintain confidence amongst teachers and other staff, children and their parents, public health doctors have committed to a weekly engagement with key trade union representatives and management body representatives. This weekly engagement is being facilitated by my Department and this forum will allow all parties to exchange information, to progress appropriate developments as necessary and to enhance the effectiveness of public health interaction with schools during the pandemic. I can also confirm that the public health response to schools has been further enhanced by the HSE through the increased resourcing of the existing dedicated School Teams in each HSE area to assist schools/settings where a positive case of COVID-19 is identified. These teams are being led by public health professionals augmented by staff from the Department of Education who will be reassigned to the HSE.
To support the provision of a safe environment in schools, my Department secured very significant funding of over €375 million. This has enabled schools to put in place enhanced cleaning and hygiene arrangements, modify buildings and rooms to facilitate physical distancing, hire extra and replacement teachers and purchase PPE through a procurement framework. My Department continues to work with schools in this respect. The funding has been put in place to support schools in implementing their COVID-19 response plans, which have been informed by public health expert advice from the HPSC. In instances where a school class or year group has to isolate for 14 days due to Covid-19, my Department is working with stakeholders to ensure that continuity of teaching and learning takes place. This includes advising schools to provide access to school owned devices for students or teachers where this is a barrier. ICT funding of €50m was provided to schools earlier this year and schools were advised to use this funding to purchase additional devices if required.
In relation to high risk staff, an enhanced occupational healthcare service has been put in place. Very High Risk staff are permitted to work from home and other staff in the normal and higher risk categories can return to the workplace provided appropriate risk mitigation are in place and implemented according to their School COVID-19 Response plan. This is in line with the approach being adopted in other areas of the public sector including the health sector. A review process has been put in place where concerns remain.
In terms of the ASTI directives to members during the current COVID-19 emergency situation, employees may be asked and may go beyond normal working arrangements to facilitate the continuation of delivery of educational services. In relation to terms of employment measures implemented on a temporary basis during this emergency period. My Department has confirmed to the unions that such measures will not be implemented on a permanent basis without the normal discussion process taking place through the usual industrial relations mechanisms. It is accepted that such temporary measures are being operated by staff on a without prejudice basis and will not be used in any way by my Department as a precedent in any subsequent industrial relations discussions.
My Department will continue to engage with all education partners, including ASTI, in the coming months.
Departmental Staff
Questions (487)
Michael Fitzmaurice
Question:487. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Education the number of full-time equivalent and part-time equivalent roles filled by her 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 she will make a statement on the matter. [35482/20]
View answerWritten answers
The information requested by the deputy on roles filled by my department in the past five years is below. There has been a significant amount of staffing change in the last number of years and the majority of the roles filled below are backfill of vacancies which arose where staff left on retirements, promotions or transfers.
With regard to the cost to the Exchequer, my department has provided a table below of the current salary mid-point for each scale requested. The mid-point is provided as not every new entrant to the department starts on point one of the scale, in particular where they have come to the department on mobility and are already established in their grade. Furthermore, as the majority of the posts filled were backfill where vacancies arose, in this instance there may not be a cost to the Exchequer. Please note that 134 approximately of the overall staffing of the Department of Education will be transferring to the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science in the coming weeks.