Written Answers Nos. 322-341
322. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Education the progress of a school site in Celbridge which has been identified as a preferred new location for three schools (details supplied); the delays currently being experienced; the resolution that presents to same; the timeline for progression of the project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42969/20]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, a new site will be required for a school campus development, in order to cater for the permanent needs of St. Patrick’s National School, Celbridge Community College and St. Raphael’s Special School. The Department is presently at a very advanced stage in the process of acquiring a suitable site, located at Donaghcumper.
I can confirm that agreement in principle has been reached with a landowner for the acquisition of the site and that ongoing work is progressing in respect of technical matters crucial to the delivery of the acquisition. These matters are being addressed at a technical & procedural level - as a priority. We are continuing to actively engage regularly with both Kildare Co. Co. and the Landowner, who is currently presenting a masterplan of the site as a whole.
The site acquisition process is complex and subject to completion of successful negotiation and conveyancing processes. Therefore, given the complexities involved it is not possible to give a definitive timeframe for the completion of the acquisition but my officials will endeavour to bring the process to a conclusion as soon as possible. It would be expected that once legal conveyancing commences, the project to deliver the new school accommodation can simultaneously progress to architectural planning stage.
Unfortunately, due to the very specific commercially sensitive nature of this site acquisition - I am unable to elaborate further but please rest assured that this project is considered a priority and is being given our full attention.
I can assure the Deputy that the project is a priority and is being given the appropriate attention by my Officials.
323. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Education if a child (details supplied) will be granted a place in the autism spectrum disorder class in a school. [42979/20]
View answerEnabling 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 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 to bring the required additional special education placements on stream. Accordingly, I have referred the question to the NCSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
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.
324. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Education the reason for the delay in the installation of prefabs in a school (details supplied) which were applied for in March 2020 and are having an effect on secondary school places in the wider Castleknock area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42980/20]
View answerRegarding the interim accommodation required by the school to which the Deputy refers for the current academic year the planning permission was granted with a number of pre-commemcement conditions and it was not possible for installation to commence until such time as the relevant local authority discharged all of these conditions. The conditions have now been discharged.
The Commencement Notice was issued on 25 November 2020 and a mandatory waiting period of two weeks meant that the earliest start on site date was the 9 December 2020. I can confirm that the contractor started on site on 9 December 2020.
325. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education the status of the proposed campus development at Donaghcumper, Celbridge, County Kildare which is due to accommodate three schools (details supplied); the stage the project is at; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42981/20]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, a new site will be required for a school campus development, in order to cater for the permanent needs of St. Patrick’s National School, Celbridge Community College and St. Raphael’s Special School. The Department is presently at a very advanced stage in the process of acquiring a suitable site, located at Donaghcumper.
I can confirm that agreement in principle has been reached with a landowner for the acquisition of the site and that ongoing work is progressing in respect of technical matters crucial to the delivery of the acquisition. These matters are being addressed at a technical & procedural level - as a priority. We are continuing to actively engage regularly with both Kildare Co. Co. and the Landowner, who is currently presenting a masterplan of the site as a whole.
The site acquisition process is complex and subject to completion of successful negotiation and conveyancing processes. Therefore, given the complexities involved it is not possible to give a definitive timeframe for the completion of the acquisition but my officials will endeavour to bring the process to a conclusion as soon as possible. It would be expected that once legal conveyancing commences, the project to deliver the new school accommodation can simultaneously progress to architectural planning stage.
Unfortunately, due to the very specific commercially sensitive nature of this site acquisition - I am unable to elaborate further but please rest assured that this project is considered a priority and is being given our full attention.
I can assure the Deputy that the project is a priority and is being given the appropriate attention by my Officials.
326. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education when the sale for the site from the National Asset Management Agency, NAMA, of the school campus at Donaghcumper, Celbridge, County Kildare will be completed; if there are obstacles to the purchase of the site; if so, the obstacles; the way in which they will be overcome; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42982/20]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, a new site will be required for a school campus development, in order to cater for the permanent needs of St. Patrick’s National School, Celbridge Community College and St. Raphael’s Special School. The Department is presently at a very advanced stage in the process of acquiring a suitable site, located at Donaghcumper.
I can confirm that agreement in principle has been reached with a landowner for the acquisition of the site and that ongoing work is progressing in respect of technical matters crucial to the delivery of the acquisition. These matters are being addressed at a technical & procedural level - as a priority. We are continuing to actively engage regularly with both Kildare Co. Co. and the Landowner, who is currently presenting a masterplan of the site as a whole.
The site acquisition process is complex and subject to completion of successful negotiation and conveyancing processes. Therefore, given the complexities involved it is not possible to give a definitive timeframe for the completion of the acquisition but my officials will endeavour to bring the process to a conclusion as soon as possible. It would be expected that once legal conveyancing commences, the project to deliver the new school accommodation can simultaneously progress to architectural planning stage.
Unfortunately, due to the very specific commercially sensitive nature of this site acquisition - I am unable to elaborate further but please rest assured that this project is considered a priority and is being given our full attention.
I can assure the Deputy that the project is a priority and is being given the appropriate attention by my Officials.
327. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education the amount her Department has spent on temporary accommodation for a school (details supplied) since its foundation; the number of prefabs currently in use; the potential additional capacity which might be available in the short term; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42983/20]
View answerThe school referred to by the Deputy opened in 2007 and was located in interim accommodation initially for 6 months.
The school subsequently relocated to its current location in Department owned temporary accommodation comprising 16 temporary classrooms. These classrooms are located on the grounds of the local GAA club and rent is paid to the GAA for the use of its grounds. As the temporary classrooms are Department owned, no costs arise for the provision of the physical accommodation. The total cost associated with rental arrangements to date amounts to €705,255.
With regard to the provision of permanent accommodation for the school, my Department is presently at a very advanced stage in the process of acquiring a suitable site, located at Donaghcumper for the construction of a new school. When this has been acquired, the architectural planning process for the new school can be initiated.
328. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education the amount her Department has spent on a school (details supplied) since its inception on site development, site rental, rental of prefabs and all ancillary services; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that there is no further capacity on the site for expansion; if there is projected unmet need in Celbridge in 2021 and 2022 for same; if so, the way in which it is planned to provide for the unmet need; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42984/20]
View answerThe school referred to by the Deputy opened in 2015 in an existing school building. In September 2016, the school relocated to a council owned site in temporary accommodation purchased by the Department. The total cost of this accommodation including furniture and equipment/ICT amounted to €3,310,125.
In 2018, my Department approved grant for additional rented accommodation at a cost of €115,128 per annum. The associated installation costs of this accommodation was €235,220.
In addition, my Department approved the purchase of further temporary accommodation for the 2020 and 2021 school years. Part of this accommodation was installed for the start of the 2020/21 school year with the remainder due to be installed in the new year. The total cost of this accommodation amounts to €3,816,975. Since 2017, my Department is also providing funding of €50,000 per annum for the rental of the site where this accommodation is located, which is in the ownership of the local authority.
With regard to the provision of permanent accommodation for the school, my Department is presently at a very advanced stage in the process of acquiring a suitable site for the construction of a permanent building for this school. The site acquisition process is complex and subject to completion of successful negotiation and conveyancing processes. When acquired, the architectural planning process for the new school can be initiated.
My Department is aware of increasing pressures and demand for additional post-primary school places in a number of school planning areas including the school planning area in which this school is located.
Where capacity issues arise, it may not be as a result of lack of accommodation but may be driven by the following factors:
- Duplication of applications – pupils have applied for a place to a number of schools in the area
- School of choice – pupils can’t get a place in their preferred school while there are places in other schools in the town/area
- Some towns/areas have single sex schools and while places are available in the school there are not available to all pupils
- External draw – pupils coming from outside the local area
Until these issues are discussed with the relevant school authorities the true extent of any capacity issue will only become known.
Similar to the process adopted in advance of the current academic year, my Department is engaging with patron bodies, including those in County Kildare, to identify particular capacity requirements for the forthcoming year(s) which may necessitate action.
329. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education the way in which she plans to provide for the 40 children in a school (details supplied) in addition to the 15 who are waiting for classes; the way in which they are currently being provided for; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42985/20]
View answer330. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education the age of the prefabs at a school (details supplied); the lifespan of the prefabs; if her attention has been drawn to maintenance problems and the fact that some of the prefabs are not watertight; if she will arrange for an inspection of the school buildings and a subsequent report on the adequacy of these buildings for children being cared for and educated there; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42986/20]
View answer331. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education the amount her Department has spent on prefabs at a school (details supplied); the number that were purchased; when they were purchased; the number that are rented; the date from which they have been rented; the site availability there is for expansion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42987/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 329, 330 and 331 together.
I wish to advise the Deputy that in May 2020, my Department gave initial approval to the school in question to acquire 3 temporary classrooms. This project has been devolved to the school for delivery and my Department understands that a decision on the planning permission application is due shortly. When secured and when the accommodation is tendered, the school will then submit a tender report, with recommendation, to my Department for approval. It is expected that this accommodation, when installed, will assist in addressing the school’s capacity needs.
With regard to the provision of permanent accommodation for the school, my Department is presently at a very advanced stage in the process of acquiring a suitable site for the construction of a permanent building for this school. The site acquisition process is complex and subject to completion of successful negotiation and conveyancing processes. When acquired, the architectural planning process for the new school can be initiated.
Under the July Stimulus Programme, my Department secured a €375m support package to enable the safe return for schools. This included additional funding of €75m which was allocated to cover an enhanced Minor Works Grant at primary level. The Minor Works grant allows schools to undertake improvement works in full or in part, as the grant allows, without prior application to my Department. A total of €33,954 was paid to the school in question under the Minor Works Grant in 2020. It is open to the school to utilise this funding for maintenance work to the school’s buildings.
With regard to prefab rental, in 2007, my Department approved rental of a temporary classroom at a cost of €14,102 per annum. Approval to rent an additional temporary classroom was granted in 2008 at an annual cost of €15,254. The total grant paid to date for these rental arrangements amount to €395,751.
In 2016, my Department approved the purchase of an additional temporary classroom at a cost of €92,007 and in 2017, a further grant of €107,434 was approved for the purchase of an additional classroom.
The site on which the school is located is owned by the school patron.
332. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Education if she will address the matter regarding ensuring access to the ex gratia scheme and the publication of the action plan regarding these issues which survivors have been seeking since the ECHR judgement on 28 January 2014; when the report will be published; when exactly the survivors will be able to access the remedy and relief programme with specific reference to future protection of Irish school-going children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42994/20]
View answerThe ex gratia scheme, was established on foot of the specific circumstances arising from the O’Keeffe case and in response to the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). It was established in 2015 to provide an effective remedy for a specific category of people, namely those persons who had commenced domestic litigation but who had discontinued those proceedings following the High Court and Supreme Court judgments in Ms O’Keeffe’s case and who were unable to re-commence their litigation in the domestic courts. The ex gratia scheme is currently being reviewed. The review has yet to be concluded.
As part of the implementation of the ECHR judgement, the State has to file action plans with the Council of Europe. The State has, to date, filed 12 action plans, the latest one on 8th December. All of the action plans are published on my Department's website.
It is a core obligation to children that there is a rigorous child protection programme in place. The most recent development is the introduction of Child Protection and Safeguarding Inspections (CPSIs) by my Department's inspectorate. These inspections focus on school compliance with key aspects of the Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post Primary Schools that were published in 2017. All inspections are published on my Department's website
333. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Education the reason the sibling-first policies have been removed from some primary schools and in particular a school (details supplied). [43026/20]
View answerIn 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 have been approved by the patron and are now published on the schools website. This selection process and the enrolment policy on which it is based must be non-discriminatory and must be applied fairly in respect of all applicants. Nonetheless, where a school is oversubscribed some pupils may not obtain a place in the school.
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. The criteria to be applied by schools and the order of priority are a matter for the schools themselves. My Department does not seek to intervene in the selection criterion that is applied by schools.
335. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Education when the autism spectrum disorder class which has been sanctioned for a school (details supplied) will commence. [43128/20]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is in receipt of an application, for Additional School Accommodation (ASA), from the school authority in question.
Officials from my Department have recently corresponded with the school Patron. Upon receipt of the information requested the application will be progressed and the decision will issue to the school authority directly.
336. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Education if she will consider the inclusion of a phone line message system on the payroll telephone number of her Department to inform callers of the other options, for example, e-mail contact details for obtaining information on payroll issues; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43255/20]
View answerThe majority of staff of the Payroll Division of my Department have been working remotely since March in accordance with Government guidelines. There are 130,000 payees paid on the payrolls operated by these staff on a fortnightly basis. The first priority during the Covid 19 pandemic has been to ensure that all staff paid on these payrolls continued to be paid on time. This posed major challenges during that period.
In the circumstances it was decided to operate the customer service for teachers and special need assistants by dedicated email service. The details of the service are outlined on my Department's website and were communicated to schools.
Email queries can be sent to the individual payroll and are responded to within three to four days except where there are complex issues to be resolved. If a query requires a phone call to resolve it, staff will ring the teacher or special need assistant concerned. An eform facility is available on the Payroll Division’s webpage which facilitates sending queries to payroll staff https://www.education.ie/en/Education-Staff/Services/Payroll-Financial/Contact.html
The provision of the best possible customer service is regularly monitored. The messages on the phones are currently being updated and include e mail contact details. This is being tested at the moment and should be in place this week.
337. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Education the efforts made to ensure that issues pertaining to site acquisition to facilitate the new building for a school (details supplied) are resolved; the expected date for completion of the project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43269/20]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is committed to providing a permanent accommodation solution for the school referred to.
In this regard, a suitable site in Castleblayney to accommodate the permanent school building has been identified. The acquisition of this site has progressed well in recent weeks and is at a very advanced stage of conveyancing.
Once this acquisition process is complete, the project for the provision of a new permanent building will be progressed into the architectural planning process without delay.
338. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Education the basis on which private operators are selected for the provision of school transport; the calculation of rates offered based on the €135 million allocation from her Department; the methodology applying to the overall selection criteria; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43275/20]
View answerSchool Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2019/20 school year over 120,000 children, including over 14,200 children with special educational needs, were transported in over 5,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres at a cost of over €219m in 2019.
The purpose of my Department's School Transport Scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school
Bus Éireann is obliged to tender all works, goods and services to be provided by external suppliers in line with national and EU procurement legislation and this includes services provided by contractors under the School Transport Scheme. With regard to the additional post-primary services required as a result of the updated health advice received from NPHET on the 18th August, which was that post-primary services are required to operate using 50 per cent of passenger capacity, Bus Éireann invited applications in late August from operators who wished to be considered for the provision of the required additional post-primary services. Following evaluation of the applications received a panel has been formed from which services can be drawn down as required.
Government has agreed to provide the necessary funding to ensure that full implementation of the public health recommendation is achieved as quickly as possible on all post-primary services. Based on the analysis conducted by Bus Éireann , which were based on a full academic year , the estimated costs ranged between an estimated €87m to €135m taking into account a range of rates and a range of potential solutions from re-organising or upgrading existing services to the requirement to go to the market to source all additional vehicles required.
339. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the status of plans for the replacement of primary school facilities at a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43281/20]
View answerA building project to provide a new school building for the school to which the Deputy refers is included in the Department’s school building programme and a site is required for this purpose.
My Department is presently at a very advanced stage in the process of acquiring a suitable site. When this has been acquired, my Department will look to finalise the accommodation brief for the school with a view to advancing the project into the architectural planning process. In the meantime, my Department approved 3 temporary classrooms to the school. This project has been devolved to the school for delivery and I understand that a decision on the planning permission application is due shortly.
340. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education when a person (details supplied) will receive their payment under the school transport grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43366/20]
View answerSchool Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. In the current school year over 120,000 children, including over 14,200 children with special educational needs, are transported in over 5,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres at a cost of over €219m in 2019.
The purpose of the SEN Transport Scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children with special educational needs. Under the terms of the scheme children are eligible for transport where they have special educational needs arising from a diagnosed disability and are attending the nearest recognised mainstream school, special class/special school or unit, that is or can be resourced, to meet their special educational needs.
All eligible children are exempt from school transport charges and a Special Transport Grant towards the cost of private transport arrangements may be provided in certain circumstances.
The child referred to by the Deputy is eligible for school transport. Given that there is no suitable service in the area to accommodate the pupil's needs, the parents are availing of the Special Transport Grant. Payment was recently processed for the period of September - October 2020 and funds should be in the parent's bank account shortly.
341. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education if she will expedite the additional accommodation application by a school (details supplied) that has been with her Department since 2016 waiting for approval given the oversubscription of post-primary schools in Drogheda, County Louth. [43439/20]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, the project to which he refers has been devolved for delivery to the school authority under the Additional Accommodation Scheme 2019 to enable the school in question to refurbish existing accommodation to provide for 4 general classrooms. 1 Construction Studies room, 1 Technology Studies room with shared prep area, 1 WC for assisted users, 1 SET Room and standard toilets, and to include the removal of 3 prefabs.
In November 2019 the school submitted a Stage 1 (preliminary design) report to my Department for review. The school's design contained items not approved by the Department, and a revised design was requested. The school submitted this revised design in February 2020, but a review of this report highlighted several deficiencies. The school submitted a further revised design in August 2020. Department officials have written to the school outlining non-compliance in this latest design, and a response is awaited by the Department.
