Written Answers Nos. 1046-1065
1047. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education the number of days of in-school learning children and young persons have missed since March 2020, by age group; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19888/21]
View answerIn order to reduce activity and movement to curb the spread of the virus all schools remained closed to students from Monday 11 January following the Christmas break.
My Department developed a plan with the relevant education stakeholders for the phased return to in-school learning for all children, which started in March.
From the 1 March the first four classes at primary level – junior and senior infants, first and second class – and final year Leaving Certificate students returned to school. This phase also saw a return to full attendance for children in special schools. This is in addition to the reopening of special schools on 11 February on a 50% attendance basis and all special classes reopened fully from 22 February. In certain instances where mixed grade classes include some pupils from senior classes those children also returned to school.
On 15 March all primary level, fifth year post primary students returned to school, with the remaining post primary students from 1st to 4th year returning on 12 April.
The maximum period for which students were taught remotely was for post primary students from 1st to 4th year who moved to a period of remote learning on 11 January 2021 and returned for in-school learning on 12 April 2021. Excluding the week of the mid-term break in February 2021, that is approximately 49 school days/10 weeks. While this is the maximum number of days for which students were taught remotely, the majority of children will have returned to in school learning during March.
1048. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education if private businesses that provide physical education sporting services for local schools are considered educational under the new restrictions; if they can trade as of 12 April 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19891/21]
View answerMy Department has published guidance for teaching and learning for schools on their return to school. The guidance provides that the use of external coaches or tutors is at the discretion of the board of management who can approve these visitors once they are satisfied that they are Garda vetted, adhere to public health advice, trained by their governing bodies with regard to COVID-19 and fully implement the schools COVID-19 response plan.
1049. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education when she plans to implement the recommendations contained in a report commissioned by the Department of Justice (details supplied) to provide DEIS band 1 status and or equivalent resources and supports to schools on the north side of Drogheda, County Louth; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19904/21]
View answerI am aware of the recently published report, referred to by the Deputy, and the recommendations contained therein.
I am aware of the need to support these schools to address the issues which are highlighted in the report. In that regard, my Department is currently considering the recommendations of the report. Officials from my Department will engage directly with the schools identified in the recommendations of the report, to inform this process.
1050. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Education the rationale for the new revised section 29 appeals process (details supplied); the way in which this revision and demand fit the best interest of the child principle; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19909/21]
View answerUnder Section 29 of the Education Act 1998, an appeal may be made to the Department of Education in respect of a decision by a school Board of Management or a person acting on behalf of a Board of Management to permanently exclude a student from the school, to suspend a student from attendance at the school for a period or periods totalling not less than 20 school days in a school year or to refuse to admit a student to the school.
The Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018 provided for the replacement of section 29 of the Education Act 1998 with sections 29A to 29F. The purpose of this change is to make the appeals process fit for purpose and less cumbersome for parents and schools. The changes came into effect for all appeals received from 12th November 2020.
The above changes are part of the legislative changes to the school admissions process which aim to give parents greater confidence that school admissions process are fair and transparent and provides that schools are legally required to accept all applicants where they have places.
Under the new provisions, oral hearings are provided for appeals in respect of expulsion and suspension and where refusal to admit is for reasons other than oversubscription. A preliminary decision issues for all oral hearings and both parties to the appeal are provided with an opportunity to submit their observations on this preliminary decision before the final decision issues. The outcome of these appeals is to allow or disallow the appeal. For expulsion and suspension appeals that are allowed the committee directs that the expulsion or suspension be removed from the record of the student. For appeals where the refusal to admit was for reasons other than oversubscription, the outcome is to allow or disallow the appeal, where the committee allows such appeals the direction to the school is to admit the student. Prior to these appeals being lodged the appellant can first seek a review by the board of management in advance of making an appeal to this Department.
For appeals taken in respect of refusal to admit due to the school being oversubscribed, the appeals committee conduct a paper based consideration of all such appeals. Prior to these appeals being lodged the appellant must first seek a review by the schools board of management of their application for enrolment. This process allows the school to consider if any error occurred in the schools processing of the enrolment application. When the appeals committee has considered these paper based appeals the outcome is to allow or disallow the appeal. Where appeals under this category are allowed a direction is given to the school to admit the student or adjust the ranking of the student on the waiting list.
Further information on the section 29 appeals process can be found at Appeal against Permanent Exclusion, Suspension or Refusal to Enrol - Department of Education and Skills
Tusla Education Support Services (TESS), the Educational Welfare Service of the Child and Family Agency, is the legal body which can assist parents who are experiencing difficulty or may require assistance in securing a school placement for their child. Contact details for TESS are available at the following link https://www.tusla.ie/tess/get-in-touch/ or by email at tessinfo@tusla.ie
1051. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education if she will reconsider the school transport arrangements for affected children from Rathcoffey, County Kildare to a campus (details supplied) given that the children affected live more than 4.8 kilometres from any secondary school and given that it is accepted practice that a national school is a feeder school for second level education in Maynooth; her plans to address this issue given the worry being caused to families involved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19911/21]
View answerSchool Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year over 114,100 children, including over 14,700 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.
Bus Éireann has advised that pupils who reside in Rathcoffey village and are attending Maynooth Post Primary Centre are generally not eligible for transport as they reside closer to Scoil Mhuire Community School, Clane, Co. Kildare.
However, pupils who reside in Rathcoffey village and are attending Gaelcholáiste Mhaigh Nuad, Maynooth, Co. Kildare (All Irish) and Maynooth Community College, Co. Kildare (Aonad) may be eligible for transport as they are attending their nearest All Irish school.
1052. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Education the status of a school development (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19929/21]
View answerThe building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is being delivered under my Department’s Design and Build Programme. My Department is currently in the final stages of the process of establishing a Framework of Design and Build Contractors to which Design and Build projects can be tendered. The tender process which involves the detailed tender for several schools is expected to be concluded shortly. My Department’s intention is to have the project referred to by the Deputy tendered as early as possible thereafter.
1053. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Education the timeline for a project (details supplied) to be transferred back to the Cork Education and Training Board; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19952/21]
View answerThe project to which the Deputy refers is devolved for delivery to the Cork Education and Training Board (CETB). Under this arrangement, it will be a matter for the CETB to appoint a Design Team for the design and construction phases of the project.
Following a request from the CETB for a review of the long term projected enrolments, my Department is revising the schedule of accommodation to provide capacity for 600 pupils. This process is currently in train and my Department will be in further contact with the CETB as soon as the revised accommodation brief has been finalised.
1054. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Education when work by her Department on the refinement of the new DEIS identification model will be complete; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19972/21]
View answerA 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 has 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.
1055. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Education when a decision will made on a section 29 appeal in a case (details supplied) given that the pupil is now in their final school term. [19989/21]
View answerThe Deputy may be aware that the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018 provided for the replacement of section 29 of the Education Act 1998 with sections 29A to 29F.
Under the new arrangements for appeals taken in respect of refusal to admit due to the school being oversubscribed, the appeals committee conduct a paper based examination of all such appeals. Prior to these appeals being lodged the appellant must first seek a review by the schools board of management of their application for enrolment, which allows the school to consider if any error occurred in the schools processing of the enrolment application. When the appeals committee has considered these paper based appeals the outcome is to allow or disallow the appeal. Where appeals under this category are allowed a direction is given to the school to admit the student or adjust the ranking of the student on the waiting list as appropriate.
As the Deputy can understand I can’t comment on a specific case however, I have asked my officials to contact the person who made the appeal to provide them with an update on the status of the appeal.
Tusla Education Support Services (TESS), the Educational Welfare Service of the Child and Family Agency, is the legal body which can assist parents who are experiencing difficulty or may require assistance in securing a school placement for their child. Contact details for TESS are available at the following link https://www.tusla.ie/tess/get-in-touch/ or by email at tessinfo@tusla.ie
1056. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Education the number of children currently on secondary school waiting lists in an area (details supplied); the number yet to secure a place; the way in which this compares with previous years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20000/21]
View answerI can confirm to the Deputy, that the question of enrolment in individual schools is the responsibility of the managerial authority of those schools. It is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of schools to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act 1998 and the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018.
I would also advise the Deputy that 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 the Dublin mid-west area, to identify particular capacity requirements for the forthcoming year(s) which may necessitate action.
1057. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Education the provisions that have been made for the provision of ASD secondary school education for children in County Cork given the oversubscription of a school (details supplied) and the lack of alternative options; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20061/21]
View answerEnabling children with special educational needs to receive an education appropriate to their needs is a priority for this Government.
This 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.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children nationwide.
The majority of special schools cater for students up to the age of 18. However, in the event that students are transitioning from a special school to a post-primary school, such enrolment applications are a matter for each individual board of management and the NCSE does not hold such records.
The NCSE, through its local network of SENOs (Special Educational Needs Organisers), is available to provide advice and support to parents of students that are due to transition to post-primary on the possible placement options available to their child, including mainstream placement with appropriate support, special class placement and special school placement. Post-primary placements are supported with additional resources where required.
The Deputy will be aware of the recent announcement whereby Minister Foley and I have secured a significant expansion of special school provision in Cork through the establishment of a new special school and increased capacity in an existing special school to meet the needs of children in the Cork area.
The new provision will see the establishment of a new special school in Carrigaline which will have the capacity to provide 48 school places. It will provide for the needs of children with autism and general learning disability up to eighteen years of age.
The provision will also provide for a change to the designation of St. Mary’s Special School, Rochestown to cater for children with a dual diagnosis of learning disability and autism with 12 new school places becoming available for September 2021.
Priority will now be given to those children who currently do not have an offer of a school place for next September.
The provision of 60 additional special school placements is to cater for the immediate requirements. I can assure the Deputy that my Department and the NCSE continue to work towards the development of additional placements in the Cork area to meet ongoing and future demand.
I can also confirm that the local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) remain available to support these families regarding a suitable placement.
1058. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education the estimated cost to move away from the Gaeltacht grant model to full State funding of mandatory Gaeltacht placement for all student teachers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20088/21]
View answer1071. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Education if she has considered making amendments to the student teacher Gaeltacht grant model which would result in full State funding of mandatory Gaeltacht placement for all student teachers; the engagement she has had in relation to same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20347/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1058 and 1071 together.
The current requirements for Gaeltacht Learning Periods (GLPs) for primary Initial Teacher Education (ITE) programmes takes the form of 2 x 2 week placements, which are outlined in the Teaching Council’s Céim: Standards for Initial Teacher Education.
Budget 2020 provided for the re-instatement of the grant to cover the full cost of the Gaeltacht Learning Periods (GLPs) for undergraduate and post-graduate students in State-funded primary ITE programmes, with effect from the 2020/2021 academic year. The grant was previously funded by my Department up to the 2012/2013 academic year, when it was ceased due to financial constraints. The rate of the re-introduced student grant for 2021 has been set at an average of €650. This will cover the cost of the undertaking the fortnightly online course in 2021. The re-introduced grant will be made available for undergraduate and post-graduate students in State-funded primary Initial Teacher Education (ITE) programmes. This is in line with normal practice for other grant payments per students qualifying requirements.
In relation to the cost of the online programme for students of the private college provider, the Department of Education responded to a proposal from that private provider confirming that both the Department and the Teaching Council had no issue with that private provider, working in collaboration with a Gaeltacht College(s) to provide an online programme based on the agreed syllabus for their own students and to negotiate and set the cost for undertaking that programme for their own students. The Department understands that the private College has now organised the provision of an online GLP programme for all of their students in collaboration with one Gaeltacht College.
In any given academic year, the estimated cost for the provision of the Gaeltacht Grant to students on state funded primary ITE programmes is estimated at circa €1.8m. The total estimated cost of providing this grant to all students enrolled on primary teacher training programmes (including students of the private college provider) at a rate of €650 per student would be in the region of €2.8m.
Unlike primary, attendance at a programme of study in a Gaeltacht college is not a compulsory requirement for post-primary student teachers.
1059. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Education when construction works on a school (details supplied) in Dublin 15 are expected to be completed; and the estimated cost of this project. [20092/21]
View answerThe project to which the Deputy refers commenced on site in July 2020 is progressing satisfactorily and subject to no issues arising is expected to be completed in Quarter 4 of 2022. The estimated cost of the project is circa €17.5m, which includes cost of the works, Fees, plus Furniture and Equipment grants.
1060. Deputy Ossian Smyth asked the Minister for Education if she will bring in an appeals process for those teachers seeking incremental credit for working in schools outside of Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20106/21]
View answerThe criteria for the award of incremental credit to recognised teachers was agreed under the auspices of the Teachers Conciliation Council (TCC). This Council is comprised of representatives of teachers, school management, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, the Department of Education and is chaired by an official of the Workplace Relations Commission.
The criteria for the award of incremental credit is laid out in my Department’s Circulars 10/2001 for Primary teachers, 29/2007 and 29/2010 for Post-Primary teachers.
These circulars provide for the award of incremental credit for service given within the EU. While the circulars provide for the award of incremental credit in respect of teaching service in private primary schools outside the EU no provision is made for the award of incremental credit in respect of teaching service given in private post primary schools outside of the European Union.
The circulars for Incremental Credit, as agreed at the TCC, make provision for a process to appeal a decision by the Department to refuse an application for incremental credit under the terms of the relevant circular in respect of Relevant Non-Teaching applications. No provision is made for an appeal for teaching service.
The teachers unions have lodged a number of claims at TCC in relation to incremental credit, including one in relation to recognising private teaching service, given by post-primary teachers, outside the EU. TCC agreed to establish a sub-Committee to consider the claims. The claims are still under consideration.
1061. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education if she will address a matter raised in correspondence by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20124/21]
View answerThe State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations. The Commission in this regard operates a scheme of Reasonable Accommodations in the Certificate Examinations.In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.
1062. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education if she will consider raising the compulsory retirement age of drivers who are in possession of a full PSV licence, a full driver licence and are certified as medically fit to drive who have been working for contractors on contracts with Bus Éireann but are currently required to retire at 70 years of age such as a person (details supplied). [20129/21]
View answerSchool Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year over 114,100 children, including over 14,700 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 scheme, children are eligible for school transport where they reside not less than 4.8 km at post-primary and 3.2 km at primary from and are attending their nearest school/post-primary centre as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
It is Bus Éireann policy that the normal retirement age for all staff is currently 66 years. Bus Éireann part-time school bus drivers and drivers nominated by private operators as school bus drivers may continue to perform this role, subject to completing an annual medical examination up to the retirement age of 70 years. This criteria is applied to all drivers who provide services as part of the school transport scheme that is operated by Bus Éireann, on behalf of the Department of Education. As this age limit has been examined previously and the retirement age extended to 70 years, there are no plans to extend this limit further at this point in time.
1063. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education if parents will be refunded school transport costs for the duration of school closures due to the health restrictions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20132/21]
View answerSchool Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year over 114,100 children, including over 14,700 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 the 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.
The decision taken by the Government not to re-open schools on the 6th January 2021, followed by the subsequent phased re-opening, was taken in the interest of protecting our pupils, their families, teachers and those members of the wider community and is one of the many measures taken to support efforts to contain the spread of Covid-19.
The matter of refunds on the cost of school transport tickets for the period of school closures in the 2020/2021 school year will be considered at the end of the current school year.
1064. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Education the progress of the review of the report on the ex-gratia scheme for survivors of sexual abuse in day schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20180/21]
View answer1065. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Education if the survivors of sexual abuse at a school (details supplied) will be included in the ex-gratia scheme for survivors of sexual abuse; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20181/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1064 and 1065 together.
As you are aware, the ex gratia scheme was established on foot of the specific circumstances arising from and in response to the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) relating to Louise O'Keeffe.
The Department undertook to review of the scheme in response to a determination by the Independent Assessor, Mr Justice Iarfhlaith O’Neill that one of the criteria for eligibility is incompatible with the ECtHR judgement.
The issues involved are highly sensitive and complex and require careful deliberation before proposals can be finalised and brought to Government. It is important to have a more complete awareness of the extent of the problem, the number of people who could potentially be involved, the legal implications of any course of action, and an accurate estimate of likely costs before a new or modified scheme is considered. The review of the ex-gratia scheme has yet to be concluded and no decisions are being made as to the eligibility or otherwise of individuals.
Officials from the Department of Education are closely engaged with officials from the Attorney General’s office to work through these complex matters.
Proposals will be brought to Government when this process has concluded.
