Christopher O'Sullivan
Question:132. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education the main policy initiatives undertaken by her Department since 27 June 2020; and her main priorities for 2021. [2081/21]
View answerThursday, 14 January 2021
Questions (132)
Written answers
The policy initiatives undertaken by my Department since the formation of this Government and into 2021 are aligned with the commitments within the Programme for Government – Our Shared Future (2020). Specifically the immediate priorities following my appointment related to the reopening of our schools, the provision of a summer programme for those students with special education needs or at risk of disadvantage and also to complete the Leaving Certificate 2020 calculated grades process. Budget 2021 also continues the programme of major reinvestment in our school system with my Department’s allocation being €8.9 billion in 2021, an increase of €410 million or some 5 five per cent on 2020.
Government supported the re-opening of schools through the Roadmap for the Full Return to School agreed by Cabinet at the end of July and the provision of a financial support package of €437 million. Almost one million students, 4,000 schools and 100,000 members of staff returned to school in accordance with their normal schedule.
Government has prioritised the continued operation of our schools in a safe and sustainable manner since their return, and Ireland’s public health authorities have repeatedly confirmed that our schools are safe environments with very low levels of transmission within schools.
In September, 60,000 students received calculated grades results.
In August, I announced a series of changes to assessment arrangements for both Junior Cycle and Leaving Certificate examinations for 2021, to take account of the disrupted learning experienced by students during the 2019/20 school year and to factor in for some further possible loss of learning time in the 2020/21 school year as a contingency measure. The adjustments put in place will play to students’ strengths by leaving intact the familiar overall structure of the examinations, while incorporating additional choice.
I am committed to ensuring that the 2021 state examinations as normally as possible, with appropriate contingency built in, in line with prevailing public health advice. An advisory group of key stakeholders, which advised on altered arrangements for the 2020 state examinations, was reconvened on 25 November to perform a similar role in respect of the 2021 examinations.
A significantly expanded Summer Programme 2020 was provided for children with the most complex disabilities. Over 14,000 children participated in the special education summer programmes for children with special educational needs. The programme included a number of strands and options from which parents could choose, involving either in-school, or home-based supports by teachers and special needs assistants (SNAs) to help to prevent regression among children with SEN. The programme aim supported the child to reintegrate / transition into their planned education setting for the next school year with their peers.
In Summer 2020, 215 DEIS primary schools ran literacy and numeracy summer camps in 2020, with over 7,000 pupils attending and 72 DEIS post-primary schools ran the week long summer programme in 2020 with over 2,200 students attending.
Looking forward to delivering on our commitments in 2021, the additional funding in Budget 2021 provides for a lower pupil-teacher ratios and class sizes reducing the primary staffing schedule by one point, to a historically low level of 25:1.
An additional 1,065 teachers will be hired benefiting our primary, post-primary and special schools and this includes assisting primary schools to retain existing teachers. Provision has also been made for 400 additional teachers for students with special educational needs both in mainstream schools and in special schools. There will also be a further significant increase of almost 1,000 additional special needs assistants. These investments will ensure more than 1,200 new places in special classes.
An additional €15 million will be invested in the school transport system to provide for growing numbers of school children and the requirements of children with special educational needs. Further supports are being provided as part of the DEIS programme to those schools catering for the highest concentrations of educational disadvantage.
This will be supported by additional funding of €2 million in 2021 and €5 million in a full year and will include a 1 point reduction to the Senior Schools Urban Band 1 staffing schedule.
The Government committed to commence a free schoolbooks scheme pilot in September 2020. €1 million has been provided for a new pilot which aims to provide free school books to more than 102 primary schools which are part of the DEIS Programme for the 20/21 school year. The pilot will run for the period of one year and its effectiveness and impact will be monitored and evaluated before any decision is made as regards its possible extension or continuation.
In total in 2020, €160 million has been provided to schools in Minor Works funding, including €30 million which has been brought forward from 2021. Due to the unprecedented Covid-19 situation, exceptional Minor Works Grant funding was also provided to Post Primary schools.
Budget 2021 provides an additional €2m in funding is being provided in 2021 to pay Gaeltacht placement grants for two cohorts of students, due to no placements occurring in 2020 as a result of Covid-19 with a further additional €1m is also being provided for the continued implementation of the Gaeltacht education policy.
I am committed to expanding and enhancing the in-school speech and language pilots to improve the delivery of therapies in schools. Budget 2021 has provided additional funding to expand the School Inclusion Model to two more CHO areas.
Budget 2021 investment includes a capital allocation for new and more energy-efficient school buildings with a €740 million budget for 2021 under Project Ireland 2040.
Additional funding of €3.5million has also been committed to continue investment in the Creative Ireland and Music Generation programmes. This will bring the overall funding in this area to over €9 million in 2021. In November last I announced €50 million in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Grants for primary and post-primary schools to support the embedding of the use of digital technologies in teaching and learning and to provide for the continuity of teaching and learning using digital technology.
I can assure the Deputy that work is progressing on the full range of commitments in the Programme for Government and further delivery or fulfilment of those commitments is a priority in 2021 and over the term of the Government. However, my current clear priority is to work with the education partners to have our schools reopen as soon as possible and to ensure continuity in the education of all students.