Neale Richmond
Question:99. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Education when a school (details supplied) will move to its permanent site; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39962/20]
View answerSchools Building Projects
Questions (99)
Written answers
I wish to advise the Deputy that the school moved to its permanent site this September in suitable interim accommodation.
In relation to the current status of the permanent building project, a tender process is 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 building project will be included in a subsequent bundle of projects, to be tendered to the new framework when established, which is expected to be Quarter 2 of 2021.
Pending delivery of the permanent building project, my Department will continue to address the interim accommodation needs of the school on its permanent site.
Special Educational Needs
Questions (100)
Louise O'Reilly
Question:100. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Education if she will engage with school principals in Skerries, County Dublin, and the parents of children affected in relation to delivering additional ASD capacity at schools in the town for September 2021. [40004/20]
View answerWritten answers
Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education appropriate to their needs is a priority for this Government. Next year, over 20% of the total Education budget or €2bn will be invested in supporting children with special educational needs.
This investment will support the provision of over 1,200 additional special class places.
Notwithstanding the extent of this investment, there are some parts of the country, including the area referenced by the Deputy, where increases in population and other issues have led to concerns regarding a shortage of school places.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children nationwide. Through better planning at both national and local level, it is my objective that specialist education places should come on stream to meet emerging demand on a timely basis.
NCSE is actively working with primary and post primary schools in the Skerries area to establish special classes in the area. It is open to any school to make an application to the NCSE to open a special class. The active collaboration of school communities is vital to the effective inclusion of students with special educational needs.
The NCSE's local Special Education Needs Organisers (SENOs) are available to assist and advise both schools and the parents of children with special educational needs. Parents may contact SENOs directly using the contact details available at: https://ncse.ie/regional-services-contact-list
Education Policy
Questions (101)
Richard Bruton
Question:101. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education if she has considered the resources that may become available within primary education in the coming years due to the projection of declining pupil enrolment and the way in which they might best be deployed to improve education outcomes for pupils. [39714/20]
View answerWritten answers
Under the Programme for Government there is a commitment to seek to make further progress in reducing the pupil teacher ratios in primary schools.
Previous budgets of 2016 and 2018 improved the staffing schedule by one point on both occasions to its historically lowest level ever of 1 teacher to 26 pupils.
Budget 2021 will implement a further 1 point reduction for the 2021/22 school year so that primary schools will be allocated teaching posts on an average basis of 1 classroom teacher for every 25 pupils. In addition, there has been a three point reduction in the retention schedule. This measure will help ensure better teacher retention in primary schools and means fewer pupils are required to retain or recruit a teacher.
Projections of pupil enrolments are an important input into the planning of the education system in Ireland and provide vital information on the likely evolution of school attendance over the coming nineteen years. The results are used in the areas of teacher demand and supply modelling, and forward planning of school buildings.
The Department has developed a Teacher Demand Supply model to assess and plan for the expected changes in enrolments at both primary and post-primary level. The Department is working to improve the quality and range of available data to broaden the understanding of the impact of policy development on teacher demand and supply in the context of all relevant impact factors.
School Transport
Questions (102)
Martin Browne
Question:102. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Education her views on the way in which the education of a child with learning difficulties could be affected if that child’s single parent is no longer able to afford to pay for a private school bus service due to there being no public school buses in their area serving a school that is just 6 km away; her further views on the impact the lack of a suitable school bus services in areas of County Tipperary will have on families that cannot afford a private service; if she will consider providing a subvention for parents in this situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40141/20]
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 kilometres at a cost of over €219m in 2019.
The purpose of my Department's School Transport Scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school. Under the terms of the primary and post-primary scheme, children are eligible for school transport if they satisfy the distance criteria (3.2km at primary and 4.8km at post-primary) and are attending their nearest school/education centre as determined by my Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
With regard to children with Special Educational Needs, 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.
School transport services for the 2020/2021 school year commenced operation on the 26th August 2020. All children who are eligible and, where applicable, who applied and paid on time, have been accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation.
Children who are not eligible for school transport may apply for transport on a concessionary basis only. Concessionary transport is subject to a number of terms and conditions including the availability of spare seats on an existing service and payment of the annual charge. Where the number of applications for transport on a concessionary basis exceeds the number of seats available, Bus Éireann will determine the allocation of the tickets. Routes will not be extended or altered, additional vehicles will not be introduced, nor will larger vehicles or extra trips using existing vehicles be provided to cater for children travelling on a concessionary basis.
Commercial contractors who provide transport for schools on a private hire or commercial basis but who are not contracted by Bus Éireann to operate on the Department’s School Transport Scheme do not fall under the remit of the Department of Education.
School Accommodation
Questions (103)
Aodhán Ó Ríordáin
Question:103. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education if the cap on a second level school (details supplied) in Dublin 13 will be lifted. [40044/20]
View answerWritten answers
The school to which the Deputy refers is currently in interim accommodation on an interim site pending delivery of its intended interim accommodation on its permanent site in the Dublin 13 area. Work has commenced on this interim accommodation on the permanent site and it is currently anticipated that the interim accommodation will be ready for occupation by the school in early December.
In addition to the interim accommodation for the post-primary school that site which currently facilitates interim accommodation for a primary school will also accommodate the future construction of the permanent building for the post-primary school. In that regard, there are restrictions on the amount of temporary accommodation that can be placed on the permanent site. Therefore, the Department has informed the school and it’s Patron Body that it will not be possible for the school to increase its enrolment intake beyond the current intake level (which is up to 48 pupils at 1st year intake) for the 2021/2022 academic year.
School Accommodation
Questions (104)
James O'Connor
Question:104. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Education if the challenges faced by a school (details supplied) will be investigated; if the necessary assistance will be provided to the school for a school development; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40059/20]
View answerWritten answers
I can confirm that my Department is in receipt of an application and supporting documentation from the school referred to by the Deputy, for capital funding under the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) Scheme. The school is seeking a substantial amount of additional classrooms, both general and specialist.
The application is currently being assessed and the school authority will be informed of the outcome as quickly as possible.
Pupil-Teacher Ratio
Questions (105)
Thomas Gould
Question:105. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to a situation in which a school on the north side of Cork city lost a teacher in October 2020 and was forced to amalgamate two classes. [39724/20]
View answerWritten answers
The criteria used for the allocation of teachers to primary schools is published annually on the website of the Department of Education and Skills. The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September, 2019.
The staffing schedule operates in a clear and transparent manner and treats all similar types of school equally.
The staffing arrangements include an appeals mechanism for schools to appeal their staffing allocation under published criteria on the basis of projected enrolments for September 2020.. The school referred to by the Deputy was provisionally approved a teaching post on appeal as the school projected an increase in enrolments. The actual enrolment of the school on 30th September 2020 was less than the enrolment in September 2019 and the teaching post was suppressed at the end of October.
The school appealed the suppression of the post to the Primary Staffing Appeals Board which refused the appeal on the basis that the grounds of the appeal does not warrant the allocation of an additional post under the published staffing arrangements. The school operates at a ptr of 21:1.
The Appeals Board operates independently of the Department and its decision is final.
School Transport
Questions (106)
Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire
Question:106. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education her views on whether many private bus operators are operating at 50% capacity on their school services in line with the recommendations of her Department; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that this has come at a significant cost that has been passed on to parents; and if her Department will intervene to provide these private operators with additional funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39974/20]
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 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.
Health advice received from NPHET on the 18th August impacted on the operation of post-primary school transport services. This advice stated that for secondary school students on school transport, strict distancing should be ensured in line with that on public transport along with the wearing of face coverings.
Based on the public health advice 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 including the rolling implementation of measures on post-primary services as required to provide physical distancing which is using 50% of passenger capacity. 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.
Commercial contractors who provide transport for schools on a private hire or commercial basis but who are not contracted by Bus Éireann to operate on the Department’s School Transport Scheme do not fall under the remit of the Department of Education. However, the Department has reminded schools and other stakeholders that public health advice is best practice on these services also.
Special Educational Needs
Questions (107)
Bríd Smith
Question:107. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education if the situation in relation to the provision of an ASD-specific school in the Dublin 12 area will be clarified; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40016/20]
View answerWritten answers
Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education appropriate to their needs is a priority for this Government.
Next year, over 20% of the total Education budget or €2bn will be invested in supporting children with special educational needs. As a result, the numbers of special education teachers, SNAs and special class and school places are at unprecedented levels.
Since my appointment, I have met with a wide range of representative associations and advocates from the Special Education Sector. All of these groups have raised very important issues in relation to how they consider that improvements can be made to special education services.
Through better planning at both national and local level, it is my objective that specialist education places should come on stream to meet emerging demand on a timely basis. However, the active collaboration of school communities is essential in this regard.
The NCSE has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children nationwide. NCSE is planning a further expansion of special class and special school places nationally, to meet identified need. This process is ongoing.
Notwithstanding the extent of the investment in special education and the supports which have been put in place, I am also very conscious that there are some parts of the country, including South Dublin, where increases in population and other issues have led to concerns regarding a shortage of school places.
NCSE is continuing its engagement with schools, patron bodies, parents and others across South Dublin to bring the required additional special education placements on stream.
A potential location in terms of the provision of additional special school places for the Dublin 12 area has been identified and my Department has had engagement with the building owner in this regard.
Discussions are ongoing regarding the next steps in utilising this accommodation for special school places.
This work will continue until every child has access to a suitable education. In the meantime, Special Educational Needs Organisers are available to support both families and schools who need help or advice.
My Department will continue to support the NCSE and schools through the provision of the necessary funding and capital investment to ensure all children are successful in accessing an education and I want to reassure you that the delivery of the necessary additional provision is being progressed as an absolute priority.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Questions (108)
Bríd Smith
Question:108. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education if she will consider closing schools early for the Christmas period in view of Covid-19-related concerns; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40019/20]
View answerWritten answers
The scheduling of the school holiday periods during the academic years is agreed between the managerial authorities of schools, the teacher unions and my Department for the purposes of standardising breaks at Christmas, Easter and mid-term. This is important to ensure certainty for the school community about the dates of school holidays.
There are no plans to alter the school break at Christmas. It should also be borne in mind that it is the view of Public Health that the evidence available to date shows that schools are proving to be safe spaces for children and for staff.
Early Years Sector
Questions (109)
Richard Bruton
Question:109. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education if her Department has undertaken research into a centre (details supplied) as a response to tackling poor educational outcomes in areas of acute disadvantage; and if she has considered such an approach as appropriate in a small number of settings in Ireland. [39715/20]
View answerWritten answers
Early years and pre-school services come under the remit of my colleague the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. I understand from information available in the public domain that the centre referred to by the Deputy is a fully integrated early years provision with a multi-disciplinary team supporting children and families and based in the U.K, and its stated vision is to inspire, challenge and innovate to improve outcomes for the most vulnerable children and their families. It provides training courses, leadership and research opportunities and bespoke school to school support in all aspects of early years, primary and in some instances secondary work.
While primary responsibility for early years education in areas of disadvantage lies with my colleague the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, there are two schemes of pre-school education in areas of concentrated disadvantage which are within the remit of my Department.
The Early Start Programme is a one year pre-school intervention scheme established by my Department in 1994 in 40 primary schools in designated areas of urban disadvantage, to meet the needs of children who are at risk of not reaching their potential within the school system.
The project involves an educational programme to enhance overall development, help prevent school failure and offset the effects of social disadvantage. Parental involvement is one of the core elements of the programme in recognition of the parent/guardian as the prime educator of the child and to encourage the parent/guardian to become involved in his/her child's education.
In addition the Rutland Street Pre-School Project is a two-year pre-primary programme developed by my Department. Although not part of Early Start, it was used to pilot many of the approaches later incorporated in the Early Start project.
My Department provides total funding of some €6.64 million per annum for the Early Start Programme and the Rutland Street Project.
DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools) is my Department’s main policy initiative aimed at tackling educational disadvantage in primary and post primary schools.
In the 2020/21 school year there are 887 primary and post primary schools participating in the DEIS programme serving in the region of 185,000 students. My Department will invest in the region of €125 million this year on the DEIS programme.
Details of the all the supports available to DEIS Schools are published on my Department's website at:
https://www.education.ie/en/Schools-Colleges/Services/DEIS-Delivering-Equality-of-Opportunity-in-Schools-/DEIS-Supporting-Information/Supports-to-DEIS-Schools.html
The rationale for allocating resources and supports based on a school's level of concentrated disadvantage is based on the existence of a ‘multiplier effect’, whereby students attending a school with a high concentration of students from disadvantaged backgrounds have poorer academic outcomes, even taking account of individual social background. This approach is supported by national and international research.