Thursday, 25 Mar 2021

Written Answers Nos. 88-107

Protected Disclosures

Questions (88, 89)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

88. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Defence the number of protected disclosures received by his Department in each of the years 2017 to 2020 and to date in 2021; the number that were accepted as a protected disclosure; the number that were in part or fully examined by a third party or consultancy; the number of protected disclosures under investigation over this period; and the number that were finalised and the contents accepted and acted on. [16026/21]

Catherine Murphy

Question:

89. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Defence the number of protected disclosures received by his Department in each of the years 2017 to 2020 and to date in 2021 from officials within his Department; the number of officials who made protected disclosures over the period and who are now not working in his Department; and the number of protected disclosures received from retired officials of his Department over the period. [16044/21]

Written answers

Minister for Defence

I propose to take Questions Nos. 88 and 89 together.

The table below details the numbers of disclosures received by my Department between the 1st January 2017 and the 19th March 2021.

Year	Number of Disclosures
2017	11
2018	4
2019	4
2020	12
2021	2
Total	33

Of the total number received since 2017, five were deemed not to be protected disclosures for reasons such as not disclosing relevant wrong doings, seven of them remain active and 21 of them are deemed to be closed. Three of the protected disclosures were in part or fully examined by a third party or a consultancy. As three of the disclosers are anonymous, I cannot be certain as to disclosers’ employment status at the time of making the disclosure. All disclosures made to me are acted upon. This can occur in a variety of ways such as, reports may be sought from civil or military personnel, advice may be sought from the Office of the Attorney General, Disclosers may be directed to grievance procedures or to Officer holders such as the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces who can investigate complaints made by military personnel of penalisation for making a protected disclosure.

I am fully committed to compliance with the requirements of the Protected Disclosures Act, 2014 and to the protections contained in that Act.

Departmental Policy Functions

Questions (90)

Seán Sherlock

Question:

90. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Defence the engagement he has had on the policy of progressing disability services; and if he has contacted other Ministers regarding the policy. [16166/21]

Written answers

Minister for Defence

Progressing Disability Services (PDS) is a national programme to reorganise children’s disability services. It will change the way children and their families’ access and receive clinical disability services and aims to provide a fairer pathway to clinical supports.  This programme is led by the HSE in partnership with the non-statutory disability organisations, the Department of Health, the Department of Education and Skills and associated agencies. My Department does not interact with children’s disability services, and is not actively involved in the implementation of the PDS policy.

In compliance with Part 5 of the Disability Act 2005, my Department has undertaken, where practicable, to promote and support the employment of people with disabilities.  The Department continues to operate in a non-discriminatory environment in accordance with the Equality Acts and aims to ensure that the principles of employment equality are implemented in recruitment, promotion, training and work experience.  Recruitment to my Department is open to all applicants, and reasonable accommodation is afforded to those with a declared disability. 

I will continue to work with my Government colleagues on matters arising in the area of disability.

Defence Forces Reserve

Questions (91)

John Lahart

Question:

91. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Defence the strength of the Reserve Defence Force as of 1 March 2021 in respect of all three services and all ranks; the gender breakdown of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16256/21]

Written answers

Minister for Defence

The Reserve Defence Force (RDF) is comprised of the First Line Reserve (FLR), the Army Reserve (AR) and the Naval Service Reserve (NSR). 

The Military Authorities have advised that as of 28 February 2021, the effective strength of the Army Reserve (AR) and Naval Service Reserve (NSR) combined, is 1,574 and is set out in the table below:

	LT COL	COMDT	CAPT	LT	TOTAL OFFR	SM	BQMS	CS	CQMS	SGT	CPL	TOTAL NCO	PTE	TOTAL
AR	5	46	76	96	223	1	4	30	40	254	228	557	669	1449
NR	0	4	8	11	23	0	4	5	0	13	13	35	67	125

The breakdown of female Officers, NCOs and Privates in the Army Reserve and Naval Service Reserve,  is 213 in total as of 28 February 2021, and is as follows:-    

	LT COL	COMDT	CAPT	LT	TOTAL OFFR	SM	BQMS	CS	CQMS	SGT	CPL	TOTAL NCO	PTE	TOTAL
AR	0	3	10	18	31	0	0	0	2	21	43	66	95	192
NSR	0	0	0	2	2	0	0	0	0	1	3	4	15	21

The substantive strength of the First Line Reserve (FLR) as of 28 February 2021 is as follows:

	OFFR	NCO	PTE	TOTAL
Army	-	14	118	132
Air Corps	-	4	19	23
Naval Service	3	16	87	106
TOTAL	3	34	224	261

*The gender breakdown of the FLR is not available.

Overseas Missions

Questions (92)

John Lahart

Question:

92. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Defence the number of overseas missions in which the Defence Forces are currently involved; the number of personnel involved in each mission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16257/21]

Written answers

Minister for Defence

As of 2 March 2021, Ireland is contributing 568 personnel to 10 different missions throughout the world. The main overseas missions in which Defence Forces personnel are currently deployed are the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) with 346 personnel and the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in Syria with 132 personnel.  Ireland also contributes observers and staff to various United Nations and OSCE missions and personnel to staff appointments at UN, EU, NATO/PfP and OSCE headquarters.

Ireland has always been a strong supporter of the United Nations and UN Peacekeeping.  Our commitment and support for the primary role of the United Nations, in the maintenance of international peace and security, is expressed in Ireland's long-standing tradition of participating in UN peacekeeping operations.  This commitment is also expressed in our engagement in the EU's Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP).

Full details of all personnel currently serving in missions overseas are listed in the tabular statement below. 

MEMBERS OF THE PERMANENT DEFENCE FORCE SERVING OVERSEAS

AS OF 02 MARCH 2021

UN MISSIONS
UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) HQ UNIFIL 117th Infantry Battalion UNIFIL Sector West HQ	8 334 4
UNTSO (United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation) Israel & Syria	12
MINUSMA (United Nations mission in MALI)	14
MINURSO (United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara)	2
MONUSCO (United Nations Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic of the Congo)	3
UNDOF (COS Staff/FHQ Staff - Camp Faouar - Bravo side) UNDOF 62nd Infantry Group (Camp Faouar - Bravo side)	8 124
TOTAL	509
UN MANDATED MISSIONS
EUFOR (EU-led Operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina)	5
EUTM Mali (EU-led Training Mission)	19
KFOR (International Security Presence in Kosovo) HQ	13
Naval Service EU Mission (Op Irini HQ)	3
TOTAL NUMBER  OF PERSONNEL SERVING WITH UN MISSIONS	549
ORGANISATION FOR SECURITY AND CO-OPERATION IN EUROPE (OSCE)
Staff Officer, High Level Planning Group, Vienna	1
EU MILITARY STAFF
Brussels	6
MILITARY REPRESENTATIVES/ADVISERS/STAFF
Military Adviser, Permanent Mission to UN, New York	2
Military Adviser, Irish Delegation to OSCE, Vienna	1
Military Representative in PSC Delegation (Brussels)	4
Liaison Office of Ireland, NATO/PfP (Brussels)	3
EU OHQ Operation Althea, Mons, Belgium	1
Irish Liaison Officer to SHAPE & Military Co-Op Division, Mons, Belgium	1
TOTAL NUMBER OF DEFENCE FORCES PERSONNEL SERVING OVERSEAS	568

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (93)

John Lahart

Question:

93. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Defence if he will report on the involvement of the Permanent Defence Force in the Covid-19 vaccination programme; the number of personnel involved; the locations in which they have provided support; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16258/21]

Written answers

Minister for Defence

Whilst the Defence Forces are not a primary response agency for non-security related emergencies, as defined in the Framework for Major Emergency Management, they provide the fullest possible assistance to the appropriate Lead Department in the event of a natural disaster or emergency situation in its Aid to Civil Authority (ATCA) role.  In this regard, the full spectrum of Defence Forces personnel and equipment, commensurate with operational requirements, is made available for deployments, within current means and capabilities, as the need arises.

At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, a Joint Task Force was established to coordinate the Defence Forces contribution to the whole-of-Government COVID-19 response. It has the authority to draw together, in a joint manner, the contribution of all of the elements of the Defence Forces – Army, Air Corps, Naval Service, Reserve, etc. This was provided for in a Defence Forces Regulation signed by and under the authority of the Minister for Defence.

The Defence Forces Joint Task Force is based in McKee Barracks and its priority from the beginning has been to provide support to the HSE, while retaining, at all times, a contingent capacity to provide Aid to the Civil Power support.

The wide range of supports that the Defence Forces have provided to the HSE, as coordinated by the Joint Task Force during the COVID-19 crisis include:

- operation of the COVID-19 testing centre at the Aviva stadium; 

- support for contact tracing efforts;

- transportation by the Air Corps of COVID-19 tests to Germany;

- collection of PPE from more than 260 cargo flights and the ongoing storage and distribution of this PPE to various HSE sites;

- support for HSE testing efforts including through deployment of Naval Service vessels to Dublin, Cork and Galway;

- PPE training to workers at Cork and Waterford harbours by Naval service personnel;

- provision of tentage and marshalling support at various HSE testing sites around the country;

- transportation of patients for testing;

- a range of non clinical and administrative supports in a number of residential care home facilities; 

- assistance with the fit out of temporary facilities for the HSE (for example, the HSE facilities at City West and the University of Limerick);

- production and assembly of PPE using 3D printing facilities; and

- the use of lands at Ballymullen Barracks as a COVID-19 testing facility and contact tracing hub.

In addition to supporting the HSE, the Defence Forces have also provided a broad range of supports to other Departments and Agencies.  Provision of this support was also coordinated by the Joint Task Force.  Examples include: 

- Support has been provided to the National Ambulance Service through Defence Forces ambulance and crew supports along with tele-triage supports.

- Support to the Office of Government Procurement through assistance with storage and distribution of PPE.

- Support to the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government through the use of lands at Sarsfields Barracks for the location of one of the National Temporary Body Storage Facilities. The Defence Forces were also on standby to provide support if required at the Dublin based National Temporary Body Storage Facility at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham.

With regard to the involvement of the Defence Forces in the Covid19 vaccination programme, the Defence Forces are represented on the High Level Task Force for Covid-19 Vaccination, providing logistical and operational planning advice for the  national vaccination programme.  

To date vaccinator support has been provided by the Defence Forces across a number of vaccination centres and  Long Term Residential Care settings.

Through the Joint Task Force, the Defence Forces has also supported the rollout of the vaccination programme through:

- Marshalling, administration, logistical and security supports at a number of vaccination sites

- Secure storage supports

- Transportation of vaccinators in adverse weather conditions

- Transportation of vaccines by air at the request of the National Ambulance Service.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (94)

Réada Cronin

Question:

94. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Education the number of children who were notified to Tusla for school absence caused by Covid-19 or tests for same in 2020; the number of children notified to Tusla by their schools for school absence in each of the years 2017 to 2019; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16123/21]

Written answers

Minister for Education

Schools are obliged to submit school returns to Tusla Education Support Service (TESS) twice annually, providing information related to all students who have missed 20 or more school days. When submitting these returns schools are asked to outline if such absences are explained or unexplained. Explained absences are generally for reasons such as illness or bereavement. When a student is absent from school due to illness and the parent(s)/guardian(s) provide the school with appropriate information/medical certificates to explain the absences, the school records these absences as explained absences due to illness.

TESS is aware that since March 2020 students may have been absent from school due to Covid-19, either where the student is self-isolating or where the student may have contracted Covid-19. In such cases once the school is informed these absences are recorded as explained absences.

In relation to data for prior years the following is the data available:

In the 2016/2017 school year 11.8% of primary school students were absent for 20 or more school days and 14.7% of post-primary students were absent for 20 or more days.

In the 2017/2018 school year 12.1% of primary school students were absent for 20 or more school days and 14.6% of post-primary students were absent for 20 or more days.

Data from the 2018/2019 school year is currently being collated and the Annual Attendance Report for this academic year will be available in May 2021.

Further data is accessible in the Annual Attendance Reports that are available at https://www.tusla.ie/services/educational-welfare-services/publications/research-and-statistics/.

School Enrolments

Questions (95)

Réada Cronin

Question:

95. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Education the reason a special education school (details supplied) can cite to a parent its enrolment-age criterion as being from four to seven years of age in its revised application policy given it caters for children from four up to 18 years of age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15992/21]

Written answers

Minister for Education

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.

Under the provisions of the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018, all schools are required to have drafted new admissions policies, which have been approved by the patron, following consultation with staff and parents of children who are attending the school. The newly revised school’s admissions policy is published on the schools website. It is a key requirement of the act that all school admission policies are fair and transparent.

Parents have the right to choose which school to apply to and where the school has places available for the relevant year, the pupil/student should be admitted. This is a requirement for the intake group, any group other than the intake group and for applications after the commencement of the school year. There cannot be a stipulation that a child be a particular age, all applicants should be admitted where there are places available.

However, in schools where there are more applicants than places available, a selection process will be necessary. 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. However, this may result in some pupils/student not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice.

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. Schools can use age as a selection criterion should they wish to do so. It is an important feature of the act that schools can only make a decision on an application for admission that is based on the schools admission policy.

Departmental Communications

Questions (96)

Eoin Ó Broin

Question:

96. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education the dedicated email addresses for Members of the Houses of the Oireachtas to contact her Department and bodies under its aegis as outlined in circular 25/2016. [16001/21]

Written answers

Minister for Education

The details sought by the Deputy, in regard to dedicated email addresses for both my Department and in regard to the bodies under the aegis of my Department, are contained in the table below.

Contact E-Mail Addresses for the Department of Education and Aegis Bodies under the Remit of the Department

Name of Department	Dedicated Email address for the Members of the Oireacthas
Department of Education	[e-mail]
Name of aegis Body under remit of Department	Dedicated Email address for the Members of the Oireacthas	Designated Official Responsible for assisting Oireachtas Members
An Chomhairle um Oideachais Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta (Note 1)	[e-mail]	[e-mail]
Educational Research Centre	[e-mail]	[e-mail]
National Centre for Guidance in Education	[e-mail]	[e-mail]
National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (Note 2)	[e-mail]	[e-mail]
State Examinations Commission	[e-mail]	[e-mail]
The Teaching Council	[e-mail]	Tomás Ó Ruairc
National Council for Special Education	[e-mail]	[e-mail] and [e-mail]
Residential Institutions Statutory Fund - Caranua	[e-mail]	[e-mail].

Note 1 – The designated officer responsible within An Chomhairle um Oideachais Gaeltachta is Muireann Ní Mhóráin.

Note 2 - The spelling of the NCCA e-mail address to which Oireachtas queries may be addressed has been verified with the NCCA as being accurate.

School Staff

Questions (97, 109)

Martin Browne

Question:

97. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to schools that are experiencing difficulties in teaching effectively given the number of staff who are absent due to Covid-19 concerns; if her further attention has been drawn to insufficient numbers of qualified substitute teachers to fill in the gaps; if her attention has been drawn to the way fourth year teaching students who are supporting classes are restricted in the assistance they can provide by the five-day teaching rule; the contingency measures she has devised to deal with these issues; if she will endeavour to deal with the matter in order that principals can staff their classrooms after the Easter break; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16021/21]

Gary Gannon

Question:

109. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education if her attention been drawn to shortages on primary school supply panels; if she will consider supplementing the supply panel with final year teaching students; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16227/21]

Written answers

Minister for Education

I propose to take Questions Nos. 97 and 109 together.

My Department has published guidance in respect of the COVID -19 operational supports for Primary and Post Primary schools to fully and safely reopen in a sustainable way while minimising risk associated with COVID-19. This is available at www.gov.ie/backtoschool/.

The operational supports include funding of approx. €84.7 million so that schools can employ replacement teachers, SNAs and administrative staff. There is additional funding of €41.2 million, for substitution in primary schools. This funding provides more certainty on the availability of substitutes for primary schools and cover substitutions that are not covered by existing schemes.

The Supply Panel Scheme for primary schools has being expanded nationwide and over 300 posts have been allocated to provide substitute cover through these panels. The purpose of supply panels is to support schools to manage the sick leave and other absences, including Absence due to Covid-19, by having a supply of teachers to meet substitution needs when required. Schools will also continue to be able to access substitute teachers through the normal process, particularly if they are not connected to a supply panel. The arrangements for schools accessing substitution are set out in Circular 0045/2020.

My Department has also put in place a number of measures to support the supply of teachers, including the Teaching Council contacting approximately 6,000 registered teachers who were not teaching, to encourage their participation to support the return to school; new induction arrangements for teachers who had qualified outside of the state; flexible arrangements for post graduate student teachers on placement in post-primary schools to take up paid substitution hours over and above their placement requirements; lifting the restrictions on the number of days that teachers on career break or job sharing may be employed as substitute teachers. All of these measures have increased the availability of teachers for substitution.

My Department recognises that notwithstanding the range of measures put in place, some schools may experience challenges in accessing a substitute in the short term. My Department is working closely with our partners to work through these challenges when they arise in a particular school, and will continue to keep the current substitution arrangements under review.

Protected Disclosures

Questions (98)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

98. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education the number of protected disclosures received by her Department in each of the years 2017 to 2020 and to date in 2021; the number that were accepted as a protected disclosure; the number that were in part or fully examined by a third party or consultancy; the number of protected disclosures under investigation over this period; and the number that were finalised and the contents accepted and acted on. [16027/21]

Written answers

Minister for Education

The attached table gives a breakdown by year of the number of applications made to me and my predecessors as Minister under Section 8 of the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 from workers in the education sector. 

There have been a total of 38 applications for Protected Disclosures made between 2017 and 2020 and to date in 2021.

15 applications were deemed to come under the ambit of the Protected Disclosures Act 2014.  2 applications have been fully examined by a third party. 10 applications have been finalised and 5 are ongoing.

Year	Applications Received	Protected Disclosures Accepted	Protected Disclosures finalised and contents accepted and acted on	Protected Disclosures finalised and no follow up required	Protected Disclosures Ongoing	Number finalised that were in part examined by a third party or consultancy	Number finalised that were fully examined by a third party or consultancy
2017	13	6	2	4	0	0	2
2018	12	4	0	3	1	0	0
2019	6	1	1	0	0	0	0
2020	5	2	0	0	2	0	0
2021	2	2	0	0	2	0	0
Total	38	15	3	7	5	0	2

Protected Disclosures

Questions (99)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

99. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education the number of protected disclosures received by her Department in each of the years 2017 to 2020 and to date in 2021 from officials within her Department; the number of officials who made protected disclosures over the period and who are now not working in her Department; and the number of protected disclosures received from retired officials of her Department over the period. [16045/21]

Written answers

Minister for Education

In accordance with Section 22 of the Protected Disclosure Act 2014, my Department publishes annual information on protected disclosures received.  Information on protected disclosures received during 2017, 2018 and 2019 is available at www.education.ie/en/Publications/Corporate-Reports/Annual-Report/.  

To date, my Department has received no protected disclosures from officials currently serving in, previously serving in, or now retired from, the Department.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (100)

Cian O'Callaghan

Question:

100. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Education if her Department will conduct a review of ventilation in schools; if more carbon dioxide sensors will be installed in schools to better tackle the possible spread of Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16097/21]

Written answers

Minister for Education

Schools have put in place significant mitigation measures to reduce the risk of coronavirus within the school environment.  Minor works funding of €160m has been put in place to support these measures. 

Practical steps for the deployment of good ventilation practices was provided to the school system in the context of re-opening for September 2020. This guidance was reviewed and updated on 30 November.

In summary, the overall approach for schools should be to have windows open as fully as possible when classrooms are not in use (e.g. during break-times or lunch-times (assuming not in use) and also at the end of each school day) and partially open when classrooms are in use. It is worth noting that windows do not need to be open as wide in windy/colder weather in order to achieve the same level of airflow into the classroom. This will assist in managing comfort levels in classrooms.  Managing comfort levels will be easier for schools now than during the winter period.

In updating the guidance in November, the Department’s Planning and Building Unit reviewed the HPSC guidance that consideration be given to installing an indoor air quality monitor in classrooms.  The updated guidance sets out that in the main windows are likely to be required to be open at a frequency and level in the classroom irrespective of whether the opening of windows is prompted through the indoor air quality monitor (re-active approach) or through the pro-active approach outlined in the Department’s guidance and that therefore it is not considered necessary to install such monitors in classrooms.  However, the updated guidance indicates that it is a matter for individual schools to consider whether they wish to use some of their minor works grant funding for this purpose or alternatively schools may wish to use some of their minor works grant funding for provision of permanent background ventilation, where required, as referenced in the guidance.

This guidance is one of a number of prevention and control measures in place to ensure schools are very safe.

An expert group on ventilation has recently been formed to advise the national public health emergency team (NPHET) across a range of settings. The work of this group will help guide whether any further update on the Department’s guidance is required.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (101, 102)

Réada Cronin

Question:

101. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Education if schools have been advised to operate on the basis of compassion and common sense in the notification of absences to Tusla due to absences from school caused by Covid-19 or other illness requiring multiple tests for Covid-19 in order to rule it out and keep the community safe; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16121/21]

Réada Cronin

Question:

102. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Education the guidance or standards that have been issued to schools on the way they are to notify parents that their children's school absences have been notified to Tusla, particularly in the context of Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16122/21]

Written answers

Minister for Education

I propose to take Questions Nos. 101 and 102 together.

My Department has provided guidance to schools in relation to the recording and reporting of COVID-10 related absences. COVID-19 related absences arising from pupils/students who have been requested to self-isolate by a medical professional or for pupils/students who feel unwell with symptoms consistent with COVID-19 must be recorded in accordance with the school’s normal procedures for the notification and recording of absences. However these COVID-19 related absences should be noted by the school as explained absences.

In relation to explained absences and in line with the procedures for referrals from schools to the Educational Welfare Service, schools are advised to use their discretion in determining whether a pupil/student’s attendance warrants a referral. A pupil/student’s absence may be satisfactorily explained by certified illness, bereavement or other valid reasons such as those related to COVID-19.

In the event of a referral to Tusla Education Support Services (TESS), TESS will take into account the requirement for pupils/students who feel unwell with symptoms consistent with COVID-19 or who have been informed to self-isolate and not to attend school. Tess staff have engage with families to provide to provide advice and assistance for pupils/students as they return to school recognising the challenging context for many children and young people.

Departmental Policy Functions

Questions (103)

Seán Sherlock

Question:

103. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Education the engagement she has had on the policy of progressing disability services; and if she has contacted other Ministers regarding the policy. [16167/21]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education (Deputy Josepha Madigan)

I wish to advise the Deputy that Progressing Disability Services for Children and Young People Programme (PDS), is a programme under the remit of the HSE and the Department of Health, for the provision of Health services and supports for children, in order to:

- Provide a clear pathway and fairer access to services for all children with a disability. 

- Make the best use of available resources for the benefit of all children and their families

- Ensure effective teams are working in partnership with families and with education staff to support children with a disability to reach their full potential.

Questions in relation to the implementation of the Progressing Disability Services for Children and Young People Programme should therefore be addressed to the Minister for Health and the Minister of State at the Department of Children, Disability, Equality and Integration with responsibility for Disability.

This transfer of therapy supports out of schools into the community has caused some concern among schools and families, particularly at a time when speech and language and occupation therapists have been redeployed by the HSE to priority Covid-19 work.  I will engage with those Ministers, as necessary, to ensure that any concerns regarding transitions which are occurring under the PDS programme, which effect families or special schools, are raised.

School Transport

Questions (104)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

104. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education the status of a school bus ticket for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16191/21]

Written answers

Minister for Education

School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year over 113,100 children, including over 14,500 children with special educational needs, are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country at a cost of over €224.7m in 2020.

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 Department's Post-Primary School Transport Scheme children are eligible for school transport where they reside not less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest school/education centre as determined by my Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.

I am pleased to advise that Bus Eireann has confirmed that the child to whom the Deputy refers is eligible for school transport to the school referrred to. Accordingly the family will be contacted by Bus Éireann in relation to this matter.

DEIS Scheme

Questions (105)

Brendan Smith

Question:

105. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education when it is planned to include additional schools in the DEIS programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16204/21]

Written answers

Minister for Education

A detailed analysis of school enrolment data and the latest data available from Census 2016, using the HP Deprivation Index, has been carried out by members of the DEIS Technical Group. This group contains representatives of the Department’s Statistics and Social Inclusion Units, the Inspectorate and the Educational Research Centre. My Department commenced a consultation process with education stakeholder representatives on the technical aspects and implementation of the model, and work is ongoing on final elements of the model. It is envisaged that this will then provide the basis for development of a DEIS resource allocation system to match resources to identified need. Until this work is complete, it is not intended to extend the DEIS programme to any further schools.

Schools Building Projects

Questions (106)

Brendan Smith

Question:

106. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education when approval will issue in respect of essential projects at a school (details supplied); if these applications can be finalised without further delay given that they have been under consideration for a considerable length of time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16205/21]

Written answers

Minister for Education

I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has no current record of receiving an application for additional accommodation from the school in question.  It is open to the school authority to make an application for additional accommodation through the 'Additional School Accommodation scheme (ASA)' which is available at www.education.ie.

In regards to point number two, the school in question applied for funding under SWS 2016/17 for external works (Category 10).

The school authority may be aware that in December 2020 I announced details of the schools that will receive funding in summer 2021 in respect of applications submitted for Roof Projects and Toilet Facilities projects.

Commensurate with the level of funding set aside for the Scheme, applications are being assessed on a top down basis in accordance with the prioritisation criteria outlined in the Circular accompanying the Scheme. In that regard, applications submitted for other works will be considered under future rounds of the Summer Works Scheme.  The school in question will be considered in this regard.

If the school authority considers that any of the works fall under the scope of the Emergency Works Scheme they may apply via the Esinet Portal. The circular governing this scheme is available on Esinet under the Devolved Projects tab or on my Departments website at www.education.ie/en/Circulars-and-Forms/Active-Circulars/.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (107)

Paul Kehoe

Question:

107. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Education the decision-making process in respect of students and examiners not wearing masks during leaving certificate oral examinations; her views on the short notice for these guidelines; if she will overturn this decision in order that vulnerable teachers or those with vulnerable family members do not have to withdraw from the process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16208/21]

Written answers

Minister for Education

The State Examinations Commission (SEC) has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations. 

In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.