Seán Haughey
Question:523. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Education if she will introduce an occupational injury scheme for teachers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36820/20]
View answerSchool Staff
Questions (523)
Written 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.
Teacher Training
Questions (524)
Seán Haughey
Question:524. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Education if she will bring forward a scheme for continuous professional development for teachers particularly for teachers involved in special education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36821/20]
View answerWritten answers
My Department ensures that a range of high-quality models of continuing professional development (CPD) is provided to teachers and school leaders through its support services: the Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST), the Junior Cycle for Teachers (JCT), the National Induction Programme for Teachers (NIPT), through the Centre for School Leadership (CSL), the national network of Education Centres and appropriate groups, bodies and institutions who are empowered to design, develop and deliver CPD programmes. All CPD provision is constantly reviewed and refined to meet the needs of schools, teachers and to improve the learning opportunities for students.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) also provides a programme of Teacher Professional Learning. These programmes are directed specifically to teachers of students with special educational needs. In 2019, 16,511 teachers were engaged in professional development and learning at NCSE seminars and whole staff seminars.
The NCSE also offer a range of in-school supports for schools and they facilitate those teachers working with students with autism to access courses provided through the Middletown Centre for Autism.
The professional development needs of teachers in recent years have been addressed through the provision of an induction programme for newly qualified teachers, dedicated support for school leaders, national CPD for curricular and policy reform, and ongoing support for teachers.
All CPD programmes provided by Department-funded support services to teachers include provision for teaching and learning in the inclusive classroom through differentiated teaching methodologies. Graduates of the reconfigured initial teacher-education programmes must now demonstrate the achievement of learning outcomes in the areas of:
- applying knowledge of the individual potential of students, their disposition towards learning and their backgrounds, identities and learning styles to their teaching;
- assessment of learner needs and evaluation of progress;
- classroom management strategies for differentiated learning;
- knowledge and understanding of themes such as inclusion and diversity and how these are related to life experiences.
Through Cosán, the Teaching Council’s national Framework for Teachers’ Learning, the Teaching Council is seeking to foster a culture of professional learning based on teachers’ active engagement in their own learning, for their benefit and that of their students.
My Department is working with the Teaching Council to support the development and embedding of Cosán within the continuum of teacher education and taking account of existing supports, resources and structures that are already in place.
As I understand it, the evidence gathered by the Teaching Council has led it to the conclusion that ongoing learning by teachers should be both encouraged and incentivised so as to ensure authentic engagement, in a way that is sustainable and impactful. Through the Cosán Development Process, the Council is exploring with the profession how this can be best achieved.
Departmental Staff
Questions (525)
Catherine Murphy
Question:525. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education the number of teachers and special needs assistants employed by her Department by county in 2018, 2019 and 2020, in tabular form. [36829/20]
View answerWritten answers
The information sought by the Deputy is not readily available in the format requested. A reply will be issued directly to the Deputy as soon as the requested information can be collated.
Home Tuition Scheme
Questions (526)
Catherine Murphy
Question:526. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education the number of teachers and special needs assistants employed under the home tuition scheme for children and young persons in 2018, 2019 and 2020, by county in tabular form. [36830/20]
View answerWritten answers
The purpose of the Special Education Home Tuition Scheme is to provide a compensatory educational service for children who, for a number of reasons such as chronic illness, are unable to attend school. The scheme also provides a compensatory educational service for children with special educational needs seeking an educational placement and provision is made for early educational intervention for children with autism.
As tuition takes place outside the usual school structure it is important that home tutors are qualified to provide an educational programme. Accordingly, it is a condition of the scheme that parents/legal guardians recruit a tutor who is appropriately qualified and registered with the Teaching Council.
Where all efforts have failed to secure the services of a teacher qualified to teach in the sector concerned, the Department may consider the engagement of a person who is registered with the Teaching Council and has a primary degree (minimum Level 7 on the National Framework of Qualifications) in a relevant area, e.g. Psychology.
Under the Home Tuition Scheme, Home Tutors have always been engaged by the parents/guardian of the child who is to receive tuition. Home tutors do not have a contractual relationship with this Department.
My Department acts solely as payroll agent on behalf of parents. Payment of the home tuition grant issues directly to the approved tutor via my Department's Non-Teaching Staff payroll.
This Department does not keep lists of tutors available to carry out Home Tuition.
Please see tutor numbers paid for the calendar years for 2018, 2019 and 2020 below:
|
County |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
|
Carlow |
40 |
28 |
17 |
|
Cavan |
17 |
24 |
19 |
|
Clare |
90 |
81 |
46 |
|
Cork |
286 |
272 |
226 |
|
Donegal |
41 |
57 |
45 |
|
Dublin |
366 |
397 |
286 |
|
Galway |
121 |
119 |
52 |
|
Kerry |
75 |
50 |
40 |
|
Kildare |
100 |
111 |
63 |
|
Kilkenny |
48 |
33 |
27 |
|
Laois |
47 |
58 |
28 |
|
Leitrim |
17 |
16 |
13 |
|
Limerick |
147 |
127 |
93 |
|
Longford |
30 |
28 |
28 |
|
Louth |
58 |
43 |
23 |
|
Mayo |
50 |
46 |
30 |
|
Meath |
111 |
112 |
79 |
|
Monaghan |
19 |
14 |
14 |
|
Offaly |
54 |
53 |
38 |
|
Roscommon |
45 |
43 |
42 |
|
Sligo |
17 |
21 |
9 |
|
Tipperary |
84 |
72 |
53 |
|
Waterford |
42 |
23 |
37 |
|
Westmeath |
58 |
43 |
41 |
|
Wexford |
51 |
63 |
37 |
|
Wicklow |
88 |
72 |
39 |
School Staff
Questions (527)
Catherine Murphy
Question:527. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education the timeline for hiring the additional 2,100 teachers and special needs assistants as announced in October 2020; and the number of teachers and special needs assistants who will be recruited by county in tabular form. [36831/20]
View answerWritten answers
Budget 2021 continues the programme of major reinvestment in primary and post-primary education system and demonstrates clearly the Government’s commitment to, and support for, schools and students. Building on the initiatives set out in the Programme for Government, the budget for the Department of Education will be €8.9 billion in 2021, an increase of €410 million or some 5 five per cent on 2020.
Overall, 1,065 new teaching posts will be created for the 2021/22 school year. 403 of these posts will be working with children with special educational needs both in mainstream schools and in special schools.
Another 394 posts will be created at primary level to reduce further the primary staffing schedule by one point, bringing this to a historically low level of 25:1, and to reduce the retention schedule by three points. This measure will help to ensure that less pupils are required to recruit or retain a teacher.
Some 268 additional mainstream teachers in schools will be recruited to meet demographic-related demand due to the expected overall increases in the number of pupils enrolled in schools at both primary and post primary levels.
Schools will be able to ascertain their teacher allocation for the 2021/22 school year when the staffing schedule is published early next year.
Budget 2021 also provided for almost 1000 additional Special Needs Assistants bringing the total numbers to 18,000 by December 2021. This represents an increase of 70% in the number of SNAs provided since 2011 at which point 10,575 SNAs were available. This allocation of SNAs is to meet the care needs of pupils in 2021 and will enable the establishment of new special classes, creation of new places in special schools, support children in mainstream classes and the transition to the new allocation model for the 2021/22 school year. Further details will be communicated to schools later in this school year.
School Accommodation
Questions (528)
Róisín Shortall
Question:528. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education the reason an application under the schools capital appraisal scheme (details supplied) in Dublin 11 has been refused; if this decision can be reviewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36838/20]
View answerWritten answers
I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department received an application, from the school in question, for consideration under the Additional School Accommodation Scheme. On completion of the assessment process, it was determined that the school had sufficient permanent accommodation on site to cater for their existing staffing cohort.
The school authority recently appealed this decision and provided further information, which is under review. In this regard officials from my Department are currently communicating with the school authority in order to progress the matter.
School Staff
Questions (529)
Brendan Howlin
Question:529. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 142 of 5 November 2020, if the eligibility for full incremental credit will be re-examined for a person (details supplied) who is currently employed in a school and who earned incremental credit in a school in Libya and was assured that this service would be fully credited to them; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36841/20]
View answerWritten answers
The criteria required to have incremental credit awarded to post-primary school teachers are set out in the Department of Education Circulars 29/2007 & 29/2010 the contents of which were agreed under the auspices of the Teachers' Conciliation Council (TCC). This Council is comprised of representatives of the teacher unions, school management bodies, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, and the Department of Education chaired by an Official of the Workplace Relations Commission. The terms and conditions set out in that circular were agreed, by negotiation, under the auspices of the TCC.
As Mr. Barry is employed in Selskar College, which is an ETB school, his application will have to be processed by Waterford and Wexford Education and Training Board (WWETB).
School Transport
Questions (530)
Niamh Smyth
Question:530. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education if school transport for a child (details supplied) will be examined; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36844/20]
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 km 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 4.8 km 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.
Children who apply for transport and who are not eligible under the terms of the scheme are considered for spare seats that may exist after eligible children have been facilitated; such seats are referred to as concessionary seats.
Concessionary transport may vary from year to year and cannot be guaranteed for the duration of a child’s post primary school education cycle. Where the number of applications for transport on a concessionary basis exceeds the number of seats available, Bus Éireann determines the allocation of the tickets and refunds payments made on behalf of those concessionary applicants for whom no seats remain.
Bus Eireann has confirmed that the pupil to whom the Deputy refers is not attending their nearest post primary school and is therefore not eligible for school transport under the terms of the scheme. The pupil was not successful in obtaining a seat for the 2020/21 school year.
School Transport
Questions (531)
Niamh Smyth
Question:531. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education if school transport will be examined for a child (details supplied) who did not receive their bus ticket; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36845/20]
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 km 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 4.8 km 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.
School Transport
Questions (532)
Niamh Smyth
Question:532. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education if school transport will be examined for a child (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36847/20]
View answerWritten answers
School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. In the 2019/2020 school year over 120,000 children, including over 14,200 children with special educational needs, were transported in over 5,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million km at a cost of over €219m in 2019.
The purpose of the Department's School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children with special educational needs arising from a diagnosed disability. In general, children with special educational needs are eligible for school transport if they are attending the nearest school that is resourced to meet their special educational needs.
The child referred to by the Deputy is eligible for school transport under the terms of the School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs. Bus Éireann has advised that the pupil in question applied for school transport on 12 October, 2020 and commenced on school transport on 14 October, 2020. Bus Éireann has confirmed that the ticket for this pupil will be issued shortly.
School Transport
Questions (533)
Niamh Smyth
Question:533. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education if she will make inquiries regarding the cuts in transport at a facility (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36848/20]
View answerWritten answers
School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. In the 2019/2020 school year over 120,000 children, including over 14,200 children with special educational needs, were transported in over 5,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million km 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.
Children are eligible for transport where they have special educational needs arising from a diagnosed disability in accordance with the Department's criteria and are attending the nearest recognised mainstream school, special class/special school or a unit, that is or can be resourced, to meet their special educational needs.
Based on details supplied by the Deputy, this facility is outside of the terms of the School Transport Scheme as it is not a recognised school.
School Transport
Questions (534)
Niamh Smyth
Question:534. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education if complaints (details supplied) about school transport in north County Cork will be examined; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36849/20]
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 km at a cost of over €219m in 2019.
School Transport Scheme services for the 2020/2021 school year commenced operation on the 26th August 2020. All children who are eligible for transport and who completed the application and payment process on time have been accommodated on school transport services for the 2020/2021 school year 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 7th August and from NPHET on the 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 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.
Question No. 535 answered with Question No. 501.
Schools Building Projects
Questions (536)
Aodhán Ó Ríordáin
Question:536. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education the progress being made in providing an extension in one phase to a school (details supplied); the reason for the delay; the likely timeframe for the project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36857/20]
View answerWritten answers
The project to which the Deputy refers has been devolved for delivery to the local Education and Training Board (ETB).
My Department approved the project to proceed to Stage 2(a) of the architectural planning process which is the developed design stage. It is a matter for the ETB, as the client for the project, to ensure that this is completed as quickly as possible. Once the Stage 2(a) submission is approved by my Department, the next step for the ETB's Design Team will be to obtain the statutory planning approvals. When these are in place, the project can proceed to tender and construction. It is not possible at this stage to provide a timeline for the completion of the project.
Schools Building Projects
Questions (537, 554)
Aodhán Ó Ríordáin
Question:537. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education the progress being made in providing a new permanent building for a school (details supplied); the likely timeframe for the project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36858/20]
View answerAodhán Ó Ríordáin
Question:554. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education the progress being made in providing a new permanent building for an school (details supplied); the likely timeframe for the project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37143/20]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 537 and 554 together.
I am pleased to advise the Deputy that planning permission was secured in July for the post-primary school in question and the project therefore moved on to tender document preparation stage which is progressing.
There is a tender process ongoing for the establishment of a new framework of contractors for delivery of a bundle of design and build projects which is expected to be completed in Quarter 1 of 2021. This school project will then be tendered to this new framework when established.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Questions (538)
Brendan Howlin
Question:538. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Education if she will allow swimming lessons to recommence under level three Covid-19 restrictions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36895/20]
View answerWritten answers
My Department has no remit for the reopening of swimming pools under the Government’s Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with COVID-19.
Keeping schools open safely for children and staff is a key priority at all levels of the plan and any decisions regarding the participation of schools in swimming lessons will be taken in line with the public health advice prevailing at that time.
Departmental Budgets
Questions (539)
Catherine Murphy
Question:539. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education the way in which her Department’s annual amount for contingent liability is set; the factors considered when setting contingent liability; if forecasting is undertaken regarding setting future amounts; the contingent liability figure for her Department for 2020; and if the contingent has been utilised to date in 2020. [36900/20]
View answerWritten answers
The 2019 Annual Appropriation Accounts disclose contingent liabilities as at 31 December 2019. Three categories of contingent liability were disclosed; €1 million in respect of the Residential Institutions Redress Scheme; €335,000 in respect of a pension liability relating to the pension liability for the Middletown Centre for Autism; and a contingent liability in respect of the schools remediation programme the value of which was not disclosed in the accounts due ongoing legal procedures.
The estimated liability in relation to the Residential Institutions Redress Scheme is based on the average award and legal cost paid per application paid by the Redress Board and the estimated number of remaining Redress Board applications to be processed. The estimated liability for the Middletown Centre for Autism is based on an actuarial assessment. €730,000 of the Redress Scheme contingency for 2020 has been utilised. There has been no application of the Middletown Centre for Autism contingent liability in 2020. The full value of the contingency utilised during 2020 will be determined as part the 2020 Appropriation Account process.
Schools Building Projects
Questions (540)
John Brady
Question:540. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education the status of the construction of an extension for a school (details supplied); the stage the plans are at; when the works will commence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36928/20]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy will be aware, a major project to provide an extension to the school in question is included in my Department's building programme to be delivered as part of the National Development Plan (NDP). The accommodation brief is currently being finalised and it is intended that the project, when completed, will provide capacity for 1,000 students.
My Department approved interim accommodation for the school and the installation of this accommodation has been devolved to the patron for delivery. My Department understands that planning permission for this accommodation has been applied for and assuming that this is granted by the local authority, it is anticipated that the accommodation will be in place for September 2021.
Schools Building Projects
Questions (541)
John Brady
Question:541. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education the status of the construction of an extension for a school (details supplied); the timeframe for same; the site on which the extension will be located; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36929/20]
View answerWritten answers
The project to which the Deputy refers has been devolved to the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) for delivery as part of a programme of school building projects.
The NDFA is currently undertaking the second phase of the process of appointment of multi-disciplinary technical advisors (design teams) for these projects. Thereafter, it will ensure that the project progresses to design stage, obtains the necessary statutory planning permission, and moves the project onward to tender and construction in due course.
Conveyancing for this site acquisition is at an advanced stage. Due to the commercially sensitive nature of site acquisitions generally, it is not possible to comment further at this stage.
As the project is at an early stage in the delivery process, it is not possible at this time to give a date for its completion.
Please be assured that the NDFA is engaging directly with the school authority to keep it informed of progress.
Schools Building Projects
Questions (542)
John Brady
Question:542. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education if a site has been identified for a permanent location for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36930/20]
View answerWritten answers
I can confirm that Officials from my Department have identified a number of potential site options in Wicklow Town for the permanent location for Wicklow Educate Together Secondary School and negotiations are ongoing with the landowners.
Officials are working towards acquiring the most suitable site for this school while ensuring value for money for the exchequer is achieved. Officials from Wicklow County Council are assisting my Department in this regard.
While a site acquisition process is underway and, given the commercial sensitivities associated with land acquisitions generally, I am not in a position to comment further at this time.