Tuesday, 15 Jun 2021

School Transport

Questions (777, 815, 816)

Darren O'Rourke

Question:

777. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education the estimated cost of providing 1,000 additional places in the school transport system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31254/21]

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Darren O'Rourke

Question:

815. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education the estimated cost of abolishing school transport fees; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31840/21]

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Darren O'Rourke

Question:

816. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education the amount in fares collected in the school bus transport system in 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31841/21]

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Written answers

Minister for Education

I propose to take Questions Nos. 777, 815 and 816 together.

School 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.

The average cost of providing transport for a child to a primary or post-primary school is estimated at €1,000 per annum. Therefore the cost of providing 1,000 additional places to the School Transport Scheme would cost approximately €1,000,000.

In 2020, receipts from school transport charges amounted to approximately €12m (net of refunds issued during the 2019/20 school year). If school transport fees were to be abolished this would be the additional cost on the scheme.

State Examinations

Questions (778)

John Lahart

Question:

778. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education if she will consider reasonable accommodations for students who have an epileptic seizure immediately before or during a State exam allowing them to resit the exam within the same exam cycle or before such a time that the CAO offers issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31269/21]

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Written answers

Minister for Education

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.

School Staff

Questions (779)

Cathal Crowe

Question:

779. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education if a teacher transferring from one Gaelscoil to another Gaelscoil via the temporary reassignment scheme is entitled to continue to receive a teaching through Irish allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31275/21]

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Written answers

Minister for Education

In 2012, a public service-wide review of allowances was carried out by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. As a result of the review, qualification allowances were abolished with effect from 1st February 2012. The Department of Education and Skills Circular 0008/2013 outlines the effect of this decision on teachers.

In common with a number of job-role based allowances, sanction for payment to new beneficiaries of the Teaching through Irish allowance was withdrawn from 1st February 2012 under the terms of the Circular. Furthermore, in accordance with Appendix 4 of the Circular, if a teacher was eligible for receipt of the allowance prior to 1st February 2012 and subsequently left that job role on or after 1st February 2012 on a voluntary basis, their entitlement to the allowance ceases from the date of the move.

It should be noted, however, the teacher will regain the Teaching through Irish Allowance when they return to their original post in their original school as this is a temporary move via the Temporary Re-assignment Scheme.

Departmental Websites

Questions (780)

Holly Cairns

Question:

780. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education the way in which her Department and agencies under her remit are meeting the requirement to have a statement on the compliance of their websites and mobile applications with the regulations under the directive 2016/2102 (EU), as articulated in SI No. 358/2020 - European Union (Accessibility of Websites and Mobile Applications of Public Sector Bodies) Regulations 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31280/21]

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Written answers

Minister for Education

My department is committed to making the information on its website accessible to all, regardless of ability. To this end, the department’s website is designed to follow guidelines set out by the W3C (the World Wide Web Consortium). The department aims to comply with Level Double-A of the W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 1.0. In addition, a number of Triple-A checkpoints are incorporated to enhance the accessibility of the website. An accessibility statement is published on the website and is linked in the page footer on all web pages.

My department has not developed or deployed any mobile applications.

The information in respect of state bodies, within the scope of the deputy’s question, is not held by my department. Contact details for these bodies are set out in the attached document, should the deputy wish to contact the aegis bodies directly with her query.

Contact E-Mail Addresses for State Bodies under the Remit of the Department of Education as at 11 May 2021

Name of Body	Dedicated Email address for the Members of the Oireachtas	Designated Official Responsible for assisting Oireachtas Members
An Chomhairle um Oideachais Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta Note 1	oireachtas@cogg.ie	muireann@cogg.ie
Educational Research Centre	oireachtas.queries@erc.ie	jude.cosgrove@erc.ie
National Centre for Guidance in Education	oireachtas@ncge.ie	Jennifer.mckenzie@ncge.ie
National Council for Curriculum and Assessment Note 2	oireachtasqueries@ncca.ie	Aine.ArmstrongFarrell@ncca.ie
State Examinations Commission	Oireachtas@examinations.ie	Paddy.Quinn@examinations.ie
The Teaching Council	pqrep@teachingcouncil.ie	Tomás Ó Ruairc
National Council for Special Education	oireachtasqueries@ncse.ie	patrick.martin@ncse.ie and cindyjane.oconnell@ncse.ie
Residential Institutions Statutory Fund – Caranua Note3	Hugh_Geoghegan@education.gov.ie	Hugh_Geoghegan@education.gov.ie

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

Note 3 –The Executive Office of Caranua (Residential Institutions Statutory Fund) has completed its work, work is now underway to address the winding up of Caranua. In the interim queries in regard to Caranua are being addressed by the Department of Education, pending the passing of legislation to address the windup. Contact details for a Departmental official are provided above.

Departmental Websites

Questions (781)

Holly Cairns

Question:

781. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education the way in which her Department and agencies under her remit are meeting the requirement to subject to Regulation 6, public sector bodies shall, in accordance with Regulation 3, take necessary measures to make their websites and mobile applications more accessible by making them perceivable, operable, understandable and robust under the directive 2016/2102 (EU), as articulated in SI No. 358/2020 - European Union (Accessibility of Websites and Mobile Applications of Public Sector Bodies) Regulations 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31298/21]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Education

My department is committed to making the information on its website accessible to all, regardless of ability. To this end, the Department’s website is designed to follow guidelines set out by the W3C (the World Wide Web Consortium). The department aims to comply with Level Double-A of the W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 1.0. In addition, a number of Triple-A checkpoints are incorporated to enhance the accessibility of the website. An accessibility statement is published on the website and is linked in the page footer on all web pages.

My department has commenced captioning of videos and use of Irish Sign Language on appropriate video material. In the development of content for its new website, to be hosted on gov.ie, my department has taken a plain English approach as part of the overall Government initiative to make information more accessible to all citizens.

My department has not developed or deployed any mobile applications.

The information in respect of state bodies, within the scope of the Deputy’s question, is not held by my department. Contact details for these bodies are set out in the attached document, should the Deputy wish to contact the aegis bodies directly with her query.

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

Name of Body	Dedicated Email address for the Members of the Oireachtas	Designated Official Responsible for assisting Oireachtas Members
An Chomhairle um Oideachais Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta Note 1	oireachtas@cogg.ie	muireann@cogg.ie
Educational Research Centre	oireachtas.queries@erc.ie	jude.cosgrove@erc.ie
National Centre for Guidance in Education	oireachtas@ncge.ie	Jennifer.mckenzie@ncge.ie
National Council for Curriculum and Assessment Note 2	oireachtasqueries@ncca.ie	Aine.ArmstrongFarrell@ncca.ie
State Examinations Commission	Oireachtas@examinations.ie	Paddy.Quinn@examinations.ie
The Teaching Council	pqrep@teachingcouncil.ie	Tomás Ó Ruairc
National Council for Special Education	oireachtasqueries@ncse.ie	patrick.martin@ncse.ie and cindyjane.oconnell@ncse.ie
Residential Institutions Statutory Fund – Caranua Note3	Hugh_Geoghegan@education.gov.ie	Hugh_Geoghegan@education.gov.ie

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

Note 3 –The Executive Office of Caranua (Residential Institutions Statutory Fund) has completed its work, work is now underway to address the winding up of Caranua. In the interim queries in regard to Caranua are being addressed by the Department of Education, pending the passing of legislation to address the windup. Contact details for a Departmental official are provided above.

School Transport

Questions (782)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Question:

782. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education if a person (details supplied) can be provided with information on the outcome of their appeal for their child to be provided with school transport. [31322/21]

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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 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 for Children with Special Educational Needs is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children with special educational needs arising from a diagnosed disability.

In general, children with special educational needs are eligible for school transport if they are attending the nearest school that is resourced to meet their special educational needs. Eligibility is determined following consultation with the National Council for Special Education through its network of Special Education Needs Organisers (SENO).

The Special Educational Needs Officer for the area, has confirmed that the pupil the Deputy refers to is not eligible for transport under the terms of the scheme as they are not attending their closest school. The pupil attends a mainstream class in their school of attendance which is not the closest school that is resourced to meet the pupil's special educational needs.

Special Educational Needs

Questions (783)

Holly Cairns

Question:

783. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education if it will be ensured that a person with special needs (details supplied) is provided with an appropriate school place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31328/21]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education

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.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (784)

Neasa Hourigan

Question:

784. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Education her plans to make provision in the context of Covid-19 for online learning in exceptional cases of children living with vulnerable family members as recommended by the Ombudsman for Children (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31340/21]

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Written answers

Minister for Education

The Government has always been guided by public health advice in relation to what is safe in schools. The CMO has made it very clear in his advices to Government which are published on gov.ie, that schools are low risk environments, with very little evidence of transmission within schools, and that the majority of infections of children and adolescents occurs outside the school setting.

Schools have put significant infection prevention control measures in place to reduce the risk of coronavirus being transmitted to/within the school and funding of almost €650 million has been put in place by my Department to fund Covid-19 related measures, including funding for PPE, sanitation and additional cleaning etc.

The HSE Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) has issued specific advice about children attending school in the context of covid-19. This advice covers both children with underlying medical conditions and children living with family members with underlying conditions. For all children, care should continue to be taken to reduce transmission through the infection control measures promoted by HPSC.

The HPSC advice advises that children with immediate family members, including parents, in both the ‘high risk’ and ‘very high risk’ categories can return to school and it is important for the child’s overall well-being. This is consistent with public health advice internationally in relation to at-risk family members. The priority is that the household continues to follow all current advice on how to minimise the risk of coronavirus, through regular hand washing, etc.

Special Educational Needs

Questions (785)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

785. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education if home-based July provision will be made available to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31344/21]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education

The Government has approved the provision of significantly expanded summer education programmes for pupils with complex special educational needs and those at greatest risk of educational disadvantage, as a COVID-19 pandemic response measure, for summer 2021.

This is an incredibly important Government decision, which ensures that for first time all primary and post primary schools have the opportunity to provide summer programmes for students with complex needs and those at risk of educational disadvantage.

The total funding available to provide the programme is up to €40 million, a one hundred per cent increase on the allocation for summer provision in 2020.

The programmes for mainstream students in primary and post-primary schools are new programmes for 2021, building upon previous summer programmes for pupils with complex special educational needs and those in provided in DEIS schools last year.

The following categories of students are considered as students with complex needs for the 2021

summer programme:

- All students in special schools and special classes in primary and post primary schools.

- Students in mainstream classes in primary and post primary schools who are accessing the highest level of the continuum of support (Student Support Plus/for a few). This includes students with Autism, Down syndrome, sensory impairments, and other disabilities who were identified for the supplementary programme earlier this year. Children in the above categories entering primary school in September 2021 are also eligible for the programme.

My Department recognises that not all schools will be in a position to provide a school-based programme. A home-based summer programme will continue to be available for children with complex needs where their schools are not providing a school-based programme.

Under the home-based programme grant funding is made available so that parents/legal guardians can engage the services of a Teacher or an SNA to provide tuition or care support as appropriate in the child’s home.

Application forms for the home-based programme have been made available to all primary and post-primary schools. The child’s school must complete Part 1 of the form to confirm eligibility and that there is no school-based programme available for them. The parent is then free to engage the services of a teacher/SNA to provide tuition or care support for their child.

Supporting documentation for the home-based programme, including a detailed Overview document for parents/teachers/SNAs has been published at: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/a0e87-summer-provision-home-based-programme/

School Transport

Questions (786)

Neasa Hourigan

Question:

786. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Education the number of places available under the school transport scheme in the academic year 2020-2021; and the share of capacity under the scheme operated by Bus Éireann. [31347/21]

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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 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 scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school. All children who are eligible and who complete the application and payment process are accommodated on school transport where such services are in operation. Children who apply for transport but who are not eligible are considered for spare seats that may exist after eligible children have been facilitated; such seats are referred to as concessionary seats.

In the current school year 114,167 pupils are travelling on school transport scheme services, of which 15,455 pupils (14%) are travelling on Bus Éireann vehicles and 98,467 pupils (86%) are travelling on vehicles operated by private contractors under contract to Bus Éireann for the provision of services.

School Transport

Questions (787)

Neasa Hourigan

Question:

787. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Education the funding allocated to the school transport scheme for hygiene measures in the academic year 2020-2021; the amount allocated to and drawn down by Bus Éireann; the amount allocated to and drawn down by private operators; her plans for excess funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31348/21]

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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 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 scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school.

My Department has engaged intensively with Bus Éireann in regard to the logistics for the safe operation of School Transport Scheme services for the 2020/2021 school year. Based on public health advice my Department provided for School Transport Scheme services for the 2020/2021 school year to fully operate, but with additional measures and hygiene requirements in place and with the rolling implementation of measures on post-primary services as required to provide physical distancing, using 50% of passenger capacity.

My Department reimburses Bus Éireann for a range of costs incurred in the operation and administration of the scheme on a cost recovery basis including costs relating to hygiene measures on all school transport services.

With regard to the cost to the school transport scheme for hygiene measures in the academic year 2020-2021, Bus Éireann has advised that the cost of these measures in 2020 was to €3.023m. This figure includes both Bus Éireann services and private contractors under contract to Bus Éireann on the School Transport Scheme. Details of the costs of these measures in 2021 will be available at the end of the current school year.

Special Educational Needs

Questions (788)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Question:

788. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the estimated cost of fully implementing the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004 in today’s terms in a similar timeframe adjusting for inflation and accounting for the €397 million figure over five years outlined within the NCSE 2006 implementation report (details supplied). [31418/21]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education

I wish to advise the Deputy that a number of sections of the Education for Persons with Special Needs (EPSEN) Act 2004 have been commenced. The commenced provisions include those establishing the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) and those providing for an inclusive approach to the education of children with special educational needs.

The following sections of the EPSEN Act were commenced in 2005.

Section 1 – Interpretation

Section 2 - providing for the inclusive education of children with Special Educational Needs

Section 14 – placing certain duties on schools

Sections 19 to 37 - placing the Council on a statutory footing.

Section 39 - placing certain duties on Health Boards

Sections 40 to 53 - amending the Education Act

Schedule 1 – providing for meetings and membership of the Council

Schedule 2 providing for the Chief Executive Officer of the Council. The remaining sections of the Act have yet to be commenced. The Sections of the EPSEN Act which have not been implemented are those which would have conferred a statutory entitlement to –

- an educational assessment for all children with special educational needs.

- consequent development of a statutory individual educational plan (IEP).

- the delivery of detailed educational services on foot of this plan.

- an independent appeals process.

The NCSE estimated, in its Plan for the Implementation of the EPSEN Act Report, which was published in 2006, that additional investment over a period of years of up to €235m per annum, across the education and health sectors, would be required to fully implement the EPSEN Act.

The view of my Department, at the time, was that the level of investment required could be significantly greater than that envisaged in the NCSE report. Legal advice also indicated that the EPSEN Act, as it is currently constituted, may not be implemented on a phased, or age cohort, basis.

Revised estimates of the amount of additional expenditure required to fully implement the remaining sections of the EPSEN Act have not recently been conducted. The estimated level of additional expenditure required, to implement the outstanding sections of the Act, would have to take into account annual demographic growth and service developments in the area of special educational needs, pricing adjustments and salary cost differentials on an ongoing basis. Estimates would also have to be made as to the number of pupils who may now currently qualify for the statutory service provisions envisaged by the EPSEN Act.

The Government is committed to helping every child, particularly those with special educational needs, to fulfil their potential.

In 2021 the Department of Education and Skills will invest approximately €2 Billion in the area of special educational needs support.

The Government has committed to consulting with stakeholders on how best to progress aspects of the EPSEN Act on a non-statutory basis.

A range of consultations with Education Partners and Stakeholders took place in relation to the development of a new model for allocating special education teachers over the course of 2017. The new model was introduced for all schools from September 2017.

Further consultations took place with education partners and stakeholders in the context of the undertaking of a comprehensive review of the SNA scheme and will continue in relation to the implementation of recommendations contained in this report.

Additional powers have also been provided to the National Council for Special Educational to designate a school place for a person with special educational needs, which is now provided for in the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018.

While awaiting the full implementation of the EPSEN Act, the NCSE has also published a number of policy advice papers which make recommendations aimed at developing a better or more effective alternative to the current resource allocation model, and which aims to move the system towards ultimate implementation of the EPSEN Act.

It should also be noted, however, that since EPSEN was enacted, the Department’s policy on supporting children with special educational needs has changed and evolved on foot of evidence based policy advice from the NCSE which takes account of international perspectives.

Significantly, the focus of special needs education provision has changed from a model that is diagnosis led to one which is driven by the needs of the child. This is a substantially different view to the one underlying the EPSEN Act. The levels of investment by Government in special education has increased to facilitate the underlying reforms required to implement and embed the needs based approach.

This Government will continue to prioritise investment in the area of special education support. Ongoing investment and reform will continue to see improvements made in this area.

I have also indicated that one of my priorities as Minister for Special Education and Inclusion is:

Updating our Laws: Reviewing and updating the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs (EPSEN) Act.

Any review of the Act will take into account the extent of additional investment which has been made in special educational services since 2004, with some €2 Billion per year now being spent of special educational supports.

It will also take into account the range of reforms which have taken place in recent years including the development of new allocation models which are not based primarily on a response to assessment as policy advice has indicated that requirement of diagnosis can create a risk of children being diagnosed as having a special educational need for resource allocation purposes, rather than for health reasons. Also, that as there is a spectrum of ability and disability within every special education disability category, account must be taken of need, as well as diagnosis.

State Examinations

Questions (789)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

789. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education if date for the issuing of the leaving certificate results (details supplied) will be reviewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31420/21]

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Written answers

Minister for Education

On 17 February, I confirmed that Leaving Certificate 2021 examinations would proceed, guided by public health advice, and that students will also have the alternative option of applying for grades accredited by the State Examinations Commission (SEC), to be known as SEC-Accredited Grades.

This decision was taken by government to ensure for every candidate in 2021, a method to assess their learning and attainment at the end of their post-primary education, and to progress to higher and further education, and the world of work.

Leaving Certificate results for 2021 are expected to issue directly to candidates through the Candidate Self Service Portal on Friday 3 September.

The written examinations began on 9 June and will run until 17 June in the case of Leaving Certificate Applied and 29 June in the case of Leaving Certificate (established).

Candidates have been provided with the choice of sitting the examinations, opting to receive Accredited Grades or both on a subject by subject basis. This dual process, believed to be unique in the world, was put in place following consultation with stakeholders in response to the disrupted learning experienced by the class of 2021 during the periods of school closures in 2020 and 2021.

In any subject where a candidate sits the examination and opts to receive an Accredited Grade, they will be credited with the better of the two results.

Putting in place both the examinations and a corresponding measure of SEC-Accredited Grades recognises the extraordinary circumstances of the pandemic and the loss of learning that has occurred for this group of students due to the interruption of in-person teaching and learning during the periods of school closures.

Notwithstanding the huge effort and collaboration by teachers, school leaders and of course students, in relation to the examinations and Accredited Grades process over the last number of months, the timeframes for finalisation of results are particularly challenging this year. This is in part due to the fact that the SEC has to manage both the examinations and Accredited Grades processes in parallel.

The results issue date this year, 3 September, must take account of both the examinations marking process and the Accredited Grades process operating in parallel and being brought together at the end to issue to candidates. To ensure the accuracy and the integrity of the results being provided to candidates, sufficient time must be allowed not only in the parallel operation of both of these complex processes but also in the integration of the results to ensure that candidates are provided with a set of examinations results that comprises, based on their individual options on a subject by subject basis, examination results, Accredited Grades or the better of the two.

A range of checking and robust quality assurance procedures apply to the resulting and grading processes for the examination results and Accredited Grades focussed on maintaining data integrity and on identifying and reconciling candidate information.

Given the robust quality assurance checks associated with the resulting process and in the integration of both the Accredited Grades and written examinations, It is of vital importance that the processes are given sufficient time to execute to the highest standards.

Candidates’ results will be transferred to the CAO at the earliest opportunity to facilitate the generation of offers to CAO applicants. The CAO have announced that Round 1 offers will be made on 7 September.

For those Leaving Certificate candidates who have applied to pursue their higher education in UK Universities, the UCAS deadline for acceptance of conditional offers is 8 September 2021.

In 2020, along with the UK, countries such as the Netherlands, Denmark, Poland and Hungary showed flexibility in working with the Department to accommodate Irish students, when results issued on 7 September 2020.

The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science has already been engaged with these countries, as has my own Department and both Departments will continue their work to ensure that the same flexibility will be extended to the 2021 Leaving Certificate candidates.

It is important that candidates who have applied for places in universities and colleges outside of Ireland should engage with the institutions to which they have applied as early as possible to notify them of the results date and to confirm their position.

Schools Building Projects

Questions (790)

Seán Canney

Question:

790. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Education when she will approve the tender for a school (details supplied) which was first initiated in 2007; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31431/21]

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Written answers

Minister for Education

The Deputy will be aware that the project to which he refers has been devolved for delivery to the Office of Public Works (OPW).

I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the project was recently approved to proceed to the Construction Stage.

The OPW is currently finalising the appointment of the contractor and once this has been completed the project will commence on site.

Schools Building Projects

Questions (791)

Seán Canney

Question:

791. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Education when the design team will be appointed for the development of a new school (details supplied) in County Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31432/21]

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Written answers

Minister for Education

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

The brief for the proposed project is currently been finalised by my Department with a view to progressing the project into the architectural planning process as soon as possible.

Special Educational Needs

Questions (792)

Rose Conway-Walsh

Question:

792. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Education the estimated cost of fully implementing the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004 cost in today's terms in a similar timeframe adjusting for inflation and accounting for the €397 million figure over five years outlined within the NCSE 2006 implementation report on page 20; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31441/21]

View answer

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education

I wish to advise the Deputy that a number of sections of the Education for Persons with Special Needs (EPSEN) Act 2004 have been commenced. The commenced provisions include those establishing the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) and those providing for an inclusive approach to the education of children with special educational needs.

The following sections of the EPSEN Act were commenced in 2005.

Section 1 – Interpretation

Section 2 - providing for the inclusive education of children with Special Educational Needs

Section 14 – placing certain duties on schools

Sections 19 to 37 - placing the Council on a statutory footing.

Section 39 - placing certain duties on Health Boards

Sections 40 to 53 - amending the Education Act

Schedule 1 – providing for meetings and membership of the Council

Schedule 2 providing for the Chief Executive Officer of the Council.

The remaining sections of the Act have yet to be commenced. The Sections of the EPSEN Act which have not been implemented are those which would have conferred a statutory entitlement to –