Cian O'Callaghan
Question:282. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps he is taking to support agreements (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30353/21]
View answerCovid-19 Pandemic
Questions (282)
Written answers
Ireland is playing its full part in the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including to ensure fair and equitable access to vaccines for all.
Last year, Irish funding to the World Health Organisation (WHO) was quadrupled, given its role as lead UN agency for health and co-host of the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator. Launched in April 2020, the ACT Accelerator, with COVAX as its core programme, is a ground-breaking global collaboration to accelerate development, production, and equitable access to COVID-19 tests, treatments, and vaccines.
Through the Irish Aid programme, the Government has also allocated approximately €100 million in 2021 to global public health, to help ensure that health systems in developing countries can respond effectively to the pandemic. In some cases, this is with the complementary support of the HSE Global Health Programme.
Irish Embassies in partner countries are also working alongside WHO, Gavi the Vaccine Alliance ,and others to support the vaccine rollout effort, which is challenging for many countries. Irish Aid support so far this year includes a direct contribution to the COVAX facility of €4 million, as well as a contribution to Gavi of €3 million. Accompanying the COVAX payment was an additional €1 million to the WHO to oversee the process of vaccine procurement and distribution. Further contributions to COVAX are under active consideration.
Ireland’s support to COVAX sits within the broader EU response. So far, the EU and Member States have committed €2.5 billion to COVAX. COVAX is beginning to show some real results; shipping over 81 million vaccines to 127 participant countries as of May 30th. With this donor funding, COVAX has secured options on a total of 3.86 billion doses of vaccines.
The Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment leads on Intellectual Property Rights and World Trade Organisation (WTO) matters, including on the current discussion on the Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement. They are working with the European Commission and other EU Member States on the EU response to the calls for a TRIPS waiver. They are also giving consideration to Ireland’s potential participation in technology-pooling mechanisms such as the Covid Technology Access Pool (C-TAP) initiative. My Department continues to liaise with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment on this and a number of related matters, on an ongoing basis.
Departmental Expenditure
Questions (283)
Paul McAuliffe
Question:283. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the amount spent on Expo 2020 Dubai; the breakdown of costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30382/21]
View answerWritten answers
Expo 2020, postponed due to Covid 19, is now scheduled to take place in Dubai from October 2021 to March 2022. Ireland’s participation in Expo was approved by Government decision in 2017, with the Department of Foreign Affairs nominated as lead Department.
192 countries are participating in what is expected to be one of the first large scale in-person events since the pandemic took hold. As we embark towards economic recovery, Expo will showcase Ireland to a global audience with significant potential to further develop trade, investment, education and tourism links.
Our efforts and engagement with Expo will reflect Government policy as set out in the Programme for Government, which speaks of an Ireland that is ‘ambitious, visible, and active in promoting the interests of our nation on the international stage.’ Our participation, a key deliverable of the Global Ireland initiative, is centred on the theme of Island of Inspiration. Through our programme, we will show how creativity drives human connection and community, on a global as well as a local scale. Significant focus will be on “Renewal” including economic recovery, health innovation and sustainability. Ireland’s programme will involve initiatives and events inside and outside our Pavilion, including strong participation within Expo’s Thematic Weeks.
There will be a significant multi-dimensional business strand to our programme, with focused trade missions taking place throughout EXPO.
The Irish Pavilion build is complete and in place. Designed by OPW architects, our Pavilion draws inspiration from both classical western and Islamic traditions.
This project remains within budget and a breakdown of expenditure to date is provided below, centred around the two main areas of the Pavilion and programming.
|
Budget Item |
Expenditure to date (2019 to 31/05/2021) |
|
Capital (including Pavilion) |
€7,791,146 |
|
Current (including Programme) |
€266,298 |
|
Totals |
€8,057,444 |
Passport Services
Questions (284)
Chris Andrews
Question:284. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when the passport express service will be operational again. [30399/21]
View answerWritten answers
The Passport Service scaled up to more normal operational levels on 4 May 2021, in line with the phased easing of restrictions set out in “COVID-19 Resilience and Recovery 2021 – The Plan Ahead”.
Passport Online will continue to be the priority channel given the efficiencies that are in-built into the system for both the applicant and the Passport Service. The processing of an online application is up to four times as fast as a paper application. In addition, the use of Passport Online can facilitate social distancing, given that a renewal application for an adult does not require the signature of a witness.
Passport Online can be accessed by first time applicants, both children and adults, in Ireland, Northern Ireland, Great Britain, Europe, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the USA. All Irish citizens, including children, can use the online system to renew their passports from anywhere in the world.
The Passport Service has a great deal of experience in dealing with peaks in demand, and we are confident, taking into account measures to ensure a safe workplace, that any Passport Online backlog can be cleared in six to eight weeks.
The Passport Service plans to resume processing of paper based applications such as Passport Express and Northern Ireland Passport Express as soon as possible. There are currently approximately 1,600 paper based applications in the system.
Departmental Properties
Questions (285)
Maurice Quinlivan
Question:285. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Defence the land and property within the remit of his Department that was sold between 1998 and 2015; the purchaser and site location of same in tabular from; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30345/21]
View answerWritten answers
The information sought by the Deputy is not available within the timeframe sought. My officials are collating the relevant information and I will arrange to have same forwarded to the Deputy as soon as it is available.
Departmental Properties
Questions (286)
Maurice Quinlivan
Question:286. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Defence the land and property within the remit of his Department that was purchased between 1998 and 2015; the seller and site location of same in tabular from; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30346/21]
View answerWritten answers
The information sought by the Deputy is not available within the timeframe sought. My officials are collating the relevant information and I will arrange to have same forwarded to the Deputy as soon as it is available.
School Staff
Questions (287)
Joe McHugh
Question:287. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Education the details of the circular for teachers in post-primary settings looking for unpaid leave one day per week in order to care for a son or daughter who is suffering from an illness; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30279/21]
View answerWritten answers
The Parental Leave Scheme for teachers is contained at Chapter 5 of my Department’s Circular Letter 0054/2019 titled ‘Leave Schemes for Registered Teachers Employed in Recognised Primary and Post Primary Schools’. Parental Leave is provided under the Parental Leave Act 1998 to allow a teacher a period of unpaid leave to care for his/her child. An eligible teacher is entitled up to a maximum of 26 weeks Parental Leave in respect of each child up to the age of 13 years or the age of 16 years in the case of a child with a disability and/or long-term illness. A teacher may avail of Parental Leave in blocks of at least one week up to a maximum of 26 weeks. In certain circumstances, a teacher may avail of Parental Leave in the form of individual days where a child has particular medical problems that require the attendance of a parent with the child at a hospital, clinic or therapeutic appointment on a regular basis.
Unpaid Leave as detailed at Chapter 11 of my Department’s Circular Letter 0054/2019 may be granted to a teacher in exceptional circumstances where the employer is satisfied that there is a compelling obligation involving absence from duty. The maximum amount of Unpaid Leave which may be taken by a teacher in one school year is 10 school days.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Questions (288)
Jennifer Carroll MacNeill
Question:288. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Education the measures put in place by her Department to protect pupils and staff against Covid-19 in primary and post-primary schools to ensure a reduction in the number of students being sent home to self-isolate as a result of becoming a close contact; if lateral flow testing is being considered by her to tackle this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30285/21]
View answerWritten answers
The Department of Education, in close consultation with experts in the HSE, has developed a range of approaches to facilitate the safe operation of schools during this time. The evidence to date from a public health perspective is that transmission rates of Covid-19 in schools are low. This is a result of the effectiveness of the public health infection prevention and control guidelines for schools and the successful implementation and adherence of all in the school community to the guidelines. Funding of almost €650 million has been put in place by the Government to support the implementation of these COVID-19 related measures, including funding for PPE, sanitation and additional cleaning.
The Department is part of the Testing Pathways Working Group, which is examining the use of antigen testing in educational facilities. The use of antigen testing in educational settings is under review by this group.
The current policy of the HSE is to continue to use the more accurate PCR tests for testing all index cases and close contacts within the school community and to continue to prioritise the mass swift queue PCR testing for schools which has proven highly effective to date.
School Curriculum
Questions (289)
Jennifer Carroll MacNeill
Question:289. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Education the status of the revised relationship and sexual education programme being developed by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment for primary and post-primary schools; if this new programme will be rolled out in September 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30287/21]
View answerWritten answers
The NCCA has established two development groups, one for primary and one for post-primary, to oversee the work in this area and support the development of guidance material for schools. Both the primary and post primary SPHE/RSE Development Groups have been meeting virtually on a monthly basis since the groups were convened in October 2020.
The immediate focus of the work is on creating support materials for teachers for publication online as part of the Interim Guidance Toolkit. The toolkit's purpose is to support effective teaching and learning of SPHE/RSE linked to the current curriculum. This work is progressing well and sections of the toolkit (a portal repository of teaching and learning resources linked to the Primary SPHE Curriculum, the SPHE Junior Cycle Short Course and Senior Cycle SPHE Framework) have been published.
In tandem, preparation for the broader redeveloping and updating of the SPHE curriculum as recommended in the NCCA Report has begun, with an initial focus on Junior Cycle. The review of the current Junior Cycle SPHE course has been completed and will be considered by the NCCA Council this month. This review contains a brief which will inform the work of the subject development groups in formulating an updated Junior Cycle SPHE specification, which will begin in September. A draft of the updated specification will be available for public consultation in Q1 of 2022.
My Department continues to work closely with the NCCA to determine the approach to best give effect to the commitment in the Programme for Government.
Special Educational Needs
Questions (290)
Michael Creed
Question:290. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Education if her Department has data regarding the number of students from a location (details supplied) in County Cork who are presently travelling long distances to access special schools; the consideration her Department is giving to the establishment of a special school in this area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30288/21]
View answerWritten answers
Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education appropriate to their needs is a priority for this Government.
This year, just under 25% 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 NCSE, through its local network of SENOs (Special Educational Needs Organisers), is available to provide advice and support to parents on the possible placement options available to their child.
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.
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 these 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.
School Staff
Questions (291)
Richard Boyd Barrett
Question:291. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education if the appeal will be supported to retain an additional teacher at a school (details supplied); if she will take steps to rectify the situation prior to the next appeal date on 15 June 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30289/21]
View answerWritten answers
The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September.
For the 2021/22 school year, an improvement of one point in the appointment threshold in primary schools has been introduced and schools will be provided with class teachers on the basis of of 1 teacher for every 25 pupils which is a historical low ratio. In addition, a three point reduction in the retention scale has also been introduced for September 2021. These measures will help to ensure that less pupils are required to recruit or retain a teacher.
The staffing process contains an appeals mechanism for schools to submit a staffing appeal under certain criteria to an independent Primary Staffing Appeals Board. The school submitted a staffing appeal which was refused by the Appeals Board as the grounds of the appeal did not warrant a departure from the staffing schedule. The school has been notified of this decision. The Primary Staffing Appeals Board operates independently of the Department and its decision is final.
My Department has published a suite of helpful guidance for the safe and sustainable operation of schools including illustrative Primary Classroom Layouts to facilitate physical distancing requirements for primary schools. Each school should use their COVID-19 Response Plan for the safe operation through the prevention, early detection and control of COVID-19 in line with the public health advice. This guidance is focused on the practical steps school must take to minimise the risk of transmission of infection.
The configuration of classes and the deployment of classroom teachers are done at local school level. The Department's guidance to schools is that the number of pupils in any class is kept as low as possible taking all relevant contextual factors into account (e.g. classroom accommodation, fluctuating enrolment etc.).
The school referred to by the Deputy is projecting an enrolment of 150 pupils in September. On that basis, the average class size in the school would be 21:1.
Schools Building Projects
Questions (292)
Neasa Hourigan
Question:292. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Education the progress on a permanent school building for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30304/21]
View answerWritten answers
The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is currently at an advanced stage of architectural planning, Stage 2(b) – Detailed Design, which includes the applications for Planning Permission, Fire Cert and Disability Access Cert and the preparation of tender documents.
The Design Team is currently working on the completion of the Stage 2(b) report which upon completion will be submitted to the Department for review.
In order to expedite the progression of this project the Department, in January 2021, authorised the Design Team to commence the pre-qualification process to select a shortlist of contractors for this project in parallel with the completion of the Stage 2(b) report.
Upon receipt, review and approval of the Stage 2(b) report and completion of the pre-qualification process the project will progress to tender and construction stages. My Department and the design team will continue to keep the school fully informed regarding the further progression of this project.
State Examinations
Questions (293)
Ruairí Ó Murchú
Question:293. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Education the position of leaving certificate students who experience a medical emergency such as a seizure before or during an exam; if her Department has given consideration to allowing these students the opportunity to resit that exam within the same exam cycle or before such a time that CAO offers issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30314/21]
View answerWritten answers
The State Examinations Commission 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.
Special Educational Needs
Questions (294)
Ruairí Ó Murchú
Question:294. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Education if the special education teaching allocation for a school (details supplied) is correct; the rationale for the allocation; if the school can make an appeal; if so, the process for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30315/21]
View answerWritten answers
A new model for allocating Special Education Teachers to mainstream schools was introduced from September 2017, based on the profiled needs of schools.
The allocations were updated for schools with effect from September 2019, with limited readjustments being applied for at that time.
The allocations have remained in place for the 2019/20 and 2020/21 school years, with some adjustments made over the course of the model for schools which achieved developing status, or successfully appealed on the grounds of exceptional circumstances arising in their schools. Allocations are also provided for new schools which open each year.
DES Circulars 007 and 008 2019, stated that the allocations being made for 2019 would initially remain in place for a minimum of two years, following which, revised profiled allocations would be considered for schools from September 2021.
The NCSE Policy advice ‘A Proposed new Model for Allocating Teaching Resources for Students with Special Educational Needs (2014)’ on which the SET allocation model is based, recommended that ‘the additional teaching supports be left in place initially for a two-year period. As the new model becomes embedded in the system, this may be extended to three years.’
In order to minimise disruption for schools, in the current circumstances, and to provide for continuity of allocations, the Minister for Education and the Minister for Special Education and Inclusion have agreed to maintain the existing Special Education Teacher Allocations for schools for the 2021/22 school year, with re profiled allocations now due to be made from September 2022.
Additional allocations will continue to be made for new schools, schools which achieve developing status, or for exceptional circumstances arising in schools, in the interim.
The criteria for qualification for mainstream school developing school posts are set out in the Primary and Post Primary School Staffing Schedule for the 2021/22 school year.
Schools who qualify for additional mainstream developing school posts in accordance with these criteria also qualify for additional Special Education Teaching Allocations to take account of this developing status.
There are now over 13,600 Special Education Teachers allocated to mainstream primary and post primary schools.
This represents an increase of 40% in the total number of special education teachers allocated to schools since 2011, at which time 9740 teachers were allocated.
Maintaining the existing allocations of Special Education Teachers for the 2021/22 school year means that schools will not have to engage in an extensive redeployment of posts, or re-clustering, this year.
It also means that schools will have greater levels of certainty as to the staff that they will have in place for September.
No school will see a cut, or reduction, to their special education teaching support next year.
Where schools have growing enrolments year on year, they will receive an increased allocation, pending the next re-profiling.
Even in circumstances where some schools were anticipating a greater level of increase year on year, if full re profiling had occurred next year, the increased allocations for developing status combined with the existing allocation of the school will show an increased overall teacher allocation for these schools in 2021/22.
The allocations for 2021/22 which are being maintained comprise the allocations which were made for schools from September 2019 plus any additionality achieved since plus any developing hours for the 2019/20 and 2020/21 school years.
The SET allocation for the school referred to by the Deputy, for the 2021/22 school school year, is 55.5 hours, which represents over two special education teaching posts, and I can confirm that this is correct.
It is also acknowledged that there are some circumstances, which may arise in schools, which fall outside the allocations for developing school status.
These relate to exceptional or emergency circumstances which could not have been anticipated e.g. where the school profile changes very significantly, or where other exceptional circumstances have arisen in a school and which may require a review of schools capacity to provide additional teaching support for all pupils who need it in the school, or of their utilisation of their allocations.
A process is available where schools can seek a review of their allocations by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), including the utilisation of their allocations, in circumstances where a school considers that very exceptional circumstances have arisen subsequent to the development of the profile.
If a school wishes to make an exceptional needs review, they may do so at the following link: ncse.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Primary-Schools-Review-Application-2020.doc.
Special Educational Needs
Questions (295)
Bernard Durkan
Question:295. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education when a person (details supplied) will be facilitated with a school place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30319/21]
View answerWritten answers
Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education appropriate to their needs is a priority for this Government.
This year, just under 25% 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.
In relation to the particular case raised by the Deputy, I understand that the relevant support services and agencies, including NEPS and the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) are aware of the case and are working towards ensuring that the student can be reintegrated into a school placement.
The Deputy will also be aware that the NCSE has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children nationwide. NCSE continues to be available to provide support to this family.
School Facilities
Questions (296)
Michael Creed
Question:296. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Education the reason there has been no response to date from her Department to technical issues raised with her by a delegation in respect of a new school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30341/21]
View answerWritten answers
I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has written to the school authority in question relating to the matters raised by the school.
Teaching Council of Ireland
Questions (297)
Michael Ring
Question:297. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Education if she will extend the exemption put in place regarding the induction year (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30358/21]
View answerWritten answers
Under the Teaching Council Acts 2001-2015 the Teaching Council is the body with statutory authority and responsibility for the regulation of the teaching profession in Ireland including the registration of teachers in the State.
The Teaching Council registers teachers in line with the requirements set out in the Teaching Council Act 2001-2015 and the Teaching Council (Registration) Regulations 2016 to 2021.
In 2020, the Teaching Council amended its Registration Regulations for a limited timeframe due to the Covid 19 pandemic, to facilitate the registration of teachers who qualified overseas and enable them to complete their post-qualification induction in Ireland.
The Teaching Council (Registration) (Amendment) Regulations 2021 were signed in to law on May 30th, providing for the Council to extend the 2020 emergency measures related to the registration of teachers in order to manage the ongoing impact of the pandemic, to October 2021.
Teaching Qualifications
Questions (298)
Anne Rabbitte
Question:298. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Education the status of an application by a person (details supplied) to have their masters in work and organisational psychology qualification recognised by the National Centre for Guidance in Education; the reason for the delay in processing the application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30367/21]
View answerWritten answers
I can advise the Deputy that in order to be a recognised Guidance Counsellor in a post primary school, one must hold (a) a post-primary teaching qualification (PME) (b) a recognised qualification in school guidance counselling and (c) be fully recognised by the Teaching Council as a post-primary teacher.
Circular 0031/2011 on Teacher Recruitment, Registration and Qualifications and sets out to ensure, as far as possible, that people appointed to teach are registered teachers with qualifications appropriate to the sector and suitable to the post for which they are employed…”
In exceptional circumstances, where a school can demonstrate that it has tried on many occasions and was unsuccessful in recruiting a fully qualified guidance counsellor/ teacher, that school may be permitted to employ a guidance counsellor (who does not have a teaching qualification) but only on the unqualified teacher’s pay rate without increments. This may be permitted as a temporary, interim measure until either the guidance counsellor completes the PME or the school recruits someone who is fully qualified.
Details of the qualifications recognised by the Department of Education for the purpose of Guidance Counselling in post primary schools is available here: https://www.ncge.ie/becoming-guidance-counsellor
The Department’s Programme Recognition Framework (PRF) clearly outlines the criteria for recognised training and qualifications of guidance counsellors to work in the schools and Further Education and Training (FET) sector in Ireland. In accordance with this framework, The Department intends that there will be a formal process for the recognition of guidance qualifications other than those recognised through the PRF process, however the finalising of the details of this process was delayed due to the impact of the Covid pandemic.
I understand that the individual concerned has been in contact with the National Centre for Guidance in Education (NCGE), an agency of the Department, in relation to recognition of their qualification by the Department. Following qualification this summer with appropriate Teaching Council recognition which is a prerequisite for employment as a guidance counsellor in schools, the Department will consider all of the relevant information for the recognition of their qualification for the provision of guidance counselling in schools.
Special Educational Needs
Questions (299)
Cian O'Callaghan
Question:299. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Education the reason her Department declined an application for an extra reading class in a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30371/21]
View answerWritten answers
A new model for allocating special education teachers (SETs) to mainstream schools was introduced from September 2017, based on the profiled needs of schools. Over 13,600 SETs are currently provided to mainstream schools to support the learning needs of pupils who have additional needs in literacy, including those arising from specific learning difficulties.
It is the policy of my Department, in accordance with the principles of inclusive education, that pupils with such additional learning needs are supported in mainstream classes with additional provision made by a special education teacher.
In September 2018, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) was requested to develop Policy Advice on Education Provision in Special Classes and Special Schools to examine whether placement in specialist settings brings about improved educational outcomes and experiences, relative to their ability, for students with special educational needs.
This Policy Advice is expected to be completed in the coming weeks.
My Department is also arranging for a review of the policy on reading classes and schools. This review will inform future policy for supporting children with special educational needs and the place of this specialist provision in those supports.