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Wednesday, 28 Apr 2021

Written Answers Nos. 606-622

Schools Building Projects

Questions (606)

Matt Carthy

Question:

606. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Education when funding will be allocated to a school (details supplied) in respect of its application for necessary additional accommodation works; the timeframe within which she expects these works to be completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22109/21]

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Written answers

I can confirm to the Deputy that this school was granted approval and funding to build two mainstream classrooms and an Assisted-User WC under the Additional Accommodation Scheme for 2020. The delivery of this project is devolved to the school authority.

My Department's officials recently reviewed the school's Stage 2B submission and I am pleased to confirm that this project has now been approved to proceed to tender stage; the school has been informed of this positive development.  It is too early at this stage in the process to give a timeline for delivery.

Schools Building Projects

Questions (607)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

Question:

607. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education when a design team will be appointed for the construction of a new school (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22112/21]

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Written answers

The Deputy will be aware that a building project for the school in question is included in my Department's school building programme.

The next step includes completing the accommodation brief for the project, which will be part of a campus development, with a view to progressing the project to the next stage of the planning process as quickly as possible.  

 My Department is in ongoing contact with the school authorities and Patron in this regard.

School Completion Programme

Questions (608)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Question:

608. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the level of funding allocated to the School Completion Programme in 2010, 2020 and to date in 2021. [22113/21]

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Written answers

The School Completion Programme (SCP) is a key support under Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools (DEIS).

In 2010, €31m was allocated to the School Completion Programme. Subsequently the programme transferred from the Department of Education.  

The SCP is one of three strands of Tusla Education Support Service (TESS), which previously came under the remit of the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. 

Most recently in 2020 and up to transfer of functions effective from January 2021, the programme was funded via Tusla by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. My Department has been informed by that Department that the budget allocation for 2020 for the SCP was €24.7m.

As provided for in Budget 2021 measures, I recently announced  an additional allocation to SCP from September 2021, bringing the total allocation in 2021 to over €26 million. The increased funding in 2021 will provide for the extension of SCP to an additional 28 schools and include an overall increase in current SCP funding.

Special Educational Needs Staff

Questions (609)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

609. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education when the new model of SNA provision will be released to schools (details supplied) by her Department; the reason for the delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22116/21]

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Written answers

The arrangements for the allocation of SNAs for mainstream classes for the 2021/22 school year are currently under review. An announcement on the matter will be made as soon as possible.

Special Educational Needs

Questions (610)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Question:

610. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the cost of running the school and home-based summer provision programme for children with special educational needs in 2020. [22118/21]

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Written answers

A significantly expanded Summer Programme was provided in 2020 for children with complex needs as a discrete response to Covid-19. 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 programmes aim was to support children to reintegrate / transition into their planned education setting for the 2020/21 school year with their peers.

Over 14,000 children participated in the 2020 special education summer programmes developed by the Department including 3,881 in the school based programme, 9,716 in the home based programme and 450 families in the HSE programme.

The school based programme cost €6.5m,  the home based programme cost 12.3m giving a total cost of €18.8m.

DEIS Scheme

Questions (611, 616, 617, 618)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Question:

611. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the cost of running the DEIS summer camp programme in 2020. [22119/21]

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Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Question:

616. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the number of pupils who participated in the DEIS summer camp programme in summer 2020. [22176/21]

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Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Question:

617. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the cost per pupil to participate in the DEIS summer camp programme in 2020. [22177/21]

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Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Question:

618. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education if meals were provided to pupils taking part in the DEIS summer camp programme in 2020. [22178/21]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 611 and 616 to 618, inclusive, together.

My Department has provided funding for several years, to a number of DEIS Band 1 primary schools to organise a week long Literacy and Numeracy Summer Camp Programme/Campaí Samhraidh.

In 2020 in response to the challenges faced by schools due to Covid 19 school closures, my Department extended the summer programme so that all DEIS primary and DEIS post-primary schools were offered the opportunity to run a new week long programme. This programme was developed focusing on encouraging those students deemed most in need to reconnect with school, supporting their physical, social and emotional wellbeing and providing them with the skills they need to engage in a meaningful way with learning in the future.

In total in 2020, 286 DEIS Primary & Post Primary Schools ran summer programmes in 2020 with over 9,300 students participating. The total cost was €1,577,420. The funding was determined on a school basis; hence it is not possible to provide a cost per pupil as the cost varied across schools, depending on the numbers of pupils and teachers participating in each case.

School Meals funding was provided by the Department of Social Protection to DEIS schools participating in summer provision in 2020.

Home School Community Liaison Scheme

Questions (612)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Question:

612. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the estimated cost of hiring one additional home school liaison officer. [22120/21]

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Written answers

The average salary cost for one Home School Community Liaison (HSCL) Coordinator position based on mid point of the salary scale is circa €55,500.

Special Educational Needs

Questions (613, 614)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Question:

613. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the number of SET hours allocated in each of the years 2018 to 2020 and to date in 2021. [22121/21]

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Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Question:

614. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the estimated cost of increasing the number of SET hours allocated by 5%, 10% and 20%, respectively. [22122/21]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 613 and 614 together.

The manner in which special education teachers/special education teaching hours are allocated to mainstream schools is set out in my Departments Circulars 0013/2019 and 0014/2019. The number of special education teachers (SETs) which have been allocated to schools has risen very significantly in recent years. The total number of SETs allocated has increased by almost 40% since 2011, from 9,740 in 2011, to over 13,624 at present. The total number of special education teachers allocated since 2018 is -

Year Special Education Teachers

2018 13,435

2019 13,529

2020 13,620

2021* 13,624

Figures are at end year

*As at April 2021.

The bulk of additional allocation in any given year occurs from September onwards, for new schools or rapidly developing schools, when new enrolments are confirmed. The estimated cost of increasing the total current number of Special Education Teachers to be allocated to schools by 5% would be €40.8 Million per annum, by 10% would be €81.7 million per annum, and by 20%, would be €163.5 Million per annum, for a full year cost.

Departmental Contracts

Questions (615)

Seán Sherlock

Question:

615. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Education the cost of each contract entered into by her Department and the agencies under her remit to deal with Covid-19 management and reaction; and the name of the contractor in each case. [22135/21]

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Written answers

The information requested by the Deputy is not all readily available and is being collated by my officials.  It will be fowarded directly to the Deputy as soon as it is available.

Questions No. 616 to 618, inclusive, answered with Question No. 611.

Schools Building Projects

Questions (619)

Denise Mitchell

Question:

619. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Education her plans for new secondary schools to be built for the north Dublin city area; the number of new places that will be made available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22185/21]

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Written answers

In order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a Geographical Information System, using data from a range of sources, including Child Benefit and school enrolment data, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise and where additional school accommodation is needed at primary and post-primary level.

The most recent analysis undertaken by my Department projects that over 60% of the 314 school planning areas at primary level have stable or decreasing projected enrolments for the period to 2024, whereas some 90% of the school planning areas at post-primary level are anticipated to have increased enrolments for the period to 2027.

The level of demand volume across school planning areas with an increasing net requirement ranges from small to medium increases that are likely to be accommodated by existing schools through to significant projected growth that may require additional provision. 

Where data indicates that additional provision is required at primary or post primary level, the delivery of such additional provision is dependent on the particular circumstances of each case and may be provided through either one, or a combination of, the following:

- Utilising existing unused capacity within a school or schools,

- Extending the capacity of a school or schools,

- Provision of a new school or schools. 

As the Deputy will be aware, since April 2018, the Government has announced plans for the establishment of 47 new schools over the 4 year period 2019 to 2022. This included two new post primary schools to be established to serve the Donaghmede_Howth_D13 school planning area.  The first of these, Belmayne ETSS, opened in 2019.  A new post primary was also announced for the Drumcondra_Marino_Dublin1 school planning area.

The most recent projections for a number of the school planning areas in the North Dublin city area indicate increased requirements at primary and post primary levels.  My Department is currently working to examine the capacity of the schools in the area to meet this projected demand and to ensure that the timing of establishment of new schools aligns with need.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (620)

Steven Matthews

Question:

620. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education the position regarding the use of outside facilities (details supplied) by schools under current Covid-19 restrictions; and if guidance has been offered to schools in this regard. [22186/21]

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Written answers

As the Deputy is aware, my Department provided a total of €160m Minor Works Grant funding to Primary and Post-Primary Schools during 2020. (€90m at Primary level and €70m at Post Primary level)

School management authorities have flexibility in terms of how this Minor Works Grant funding is best utilised in meeting the needs of their school operating in a Covid environment, which may include the use of external sports facilities.

School Staff

Questions (621)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Question:

621. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the current expenditure on guidance counsellors in secondary schools; and the cost of employing a full-time guidance counsellor for each second-level school and two guidance counsellors for schools over 500 pupils. [22190/21]

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Written answers

My Department has committed considerable resources towards the restoration of guidance counselling hours to post-primary schools, to the provision of CPD for guidance counsellors and to the provision of a national guidance counselling supervision service for post-primary guidance counsellors in recent times.

The guidance allocation is provided separately and transparently on each school's staffing schedule.  These posts have been ring-fenced so they can only be used for guidance activities and to meet the guidance needs of the school.

As part of the COVID-19 operational supports to schools for the 2021/22 school year, approximately 120 posts have been provided for guidance to support student wellbeing. These posts bring guidance provision in schools back to the level last seen before the financial crisis in 2012.

Current expenditure on guidance counsellors posts in second level schools stands at €55.2 million. 

There are 371 post primary schools with an enrolment in excess of 500 pupils.  The average cost of a post primary teacher is currently €67,600.

Schools Data

Questions (622)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Question:

622. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the number of children in sixth year of secondary school and in sixth class of primary school, respectively in the 2020-2021 academic year. [22191/21]

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Written answers

Please find the requested figures for 2020-21 6th Class and 6th Year enrolments below.

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