Written Answers Nos. 295-309
295. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education if matters raised in correspondence by a parent's association (details supplied) in respect of the Geiran report recommendations and the delay to a support provision will receive a response; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34012/21]
View answerMy Department is aware of the recently published report referred to as well as the recommendations contained therein. The matters raised in correspondence by the parent's association have also been brought to my Department's attention.
My officials met recently with the school principals of the 3 primary schools referred to in the report and are currently finalising an approach to address the issues highlighted in the report.
296. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education her views on whether all teachers and school staff will be fully vaccinated before the return to school in September 2021; and if she will engage with the Minister for Health to ensure that this is the case. [34013/21]
View answerThe current vaccination roll out schedule, which was recommended to government by the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC), and endorsed by the NPHET, is that the remainder of the population will be completed on an age basis from those aged 64 years and younger. The recommendations from the NIAC have been published on the RCPI website:
www.rcpi.ie/policy-and-advocacy/national-immunisation-advisory-committee/
The move to an age-based model supports the vaccination programme objectives by protecting those at highest risk of serious illness, hospitalisation and death first regardless of occupation. The move also facilitates the planning and execution of the programme across the entire country and improves transparency and fairness.
This decision has implications for many sectors including school staff and will ensure those working in schools are vaccinated with their age cohort. People who are medically vulnerable including school staff will continue to be vaccinated in line with their original grouping.
The guiding force behind it has always been to protect the most vulnerable in our society. Having considered the latest medical evidence, it is the view of NIAC that older people, regardless of occupation, are more susceptible to the virus. Government remains committed to ensuring that the rollout of the national vaccination programme as quickly and efficiently as possible.
The Department remains committed to regular engagement with the education partners and will continue to engage with unions and management bodies on all issues concerning Covid-19.
297. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the estimated number of additional secondary school teachers that are necessary to reduce the pupil-teacher ratio by one point. [34034/21]
View answerTeacher allocations to all schools are approved annually by my Department in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolment. The criteria for the allocation of posts are communicated to school managements annually and are available on the Department website.
Teachers are currently allocated to post primary schools at a ratio of 19:1 in the free education system and 23:1 to schools in the fee charging sector.
Each 1 point adjustment to the pupil teacher ratio at post primary level would require approximately 1150 teaching posts at an estimated cost of €56.5m per annum.
298. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education when she will introduce the spending measures included in the white paper related to ending direct provision; and the breakdown of this spending. [34040/21]
View answerThe White Paper sets out a new model which proposes a two-phase approach to accommodating applicants for international protection, Phase 1 when applicants are accommodated in a Reception and Integration Centre for the first four months and Phase 2 when offered accommodation within the community.
Children residing in Direct Provision accommodation centres currently access education in local mainstream schools on arrival, in the same manner as all other children. This will continue under the new system and supports will be provided to schools.
Officials from my Department will continue to engage with officials from the Department of Children Equality Disability Integration and Youth as the White Paper proposals develop into implementation plans.
299. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the estimated cost of hiring one additional guidance counsellor; and if the rate differs whether the counsellor is based in a primary or secondary setting. [34045/21]
View answerTeacher allocations to all schools are approved annually by my Department in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolment on the previous 30 September. The criteria for the allocation of posts at both primary and post-primary level are communicated to school managements annually and the relevant allocation circulars for each sector are available on the Department website.
All Post-Primary schools receive an allocation in respect of Guidance provision, calculated in accordance with the teacher allocation circular and by reference to the approved enrolment.
The cost of a teacher (new entrant) in the Post Primary sector is currently €49,129.
300. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education if employment terms and conditions for school bus escorts will be reviewed to allow for pay during school holidays; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34061/21]
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.
A circular (0024/2021) was recently published which outlined changes to the way that school bus escorts are paid their holiday pay. The hourly rates paid to bus escorts have heretofore included an element in respect of annual leave. This practice is known as “rolled-up holiday pay”. The effect of Circular 0024/2021 is to cease the practice of paying “rolled-up holiday pay” to such staff and to introduce a separate payment in respect of holiday pay. This change is being made with effect from the commencement of the 2021/2022 academic year, to bring the method of remunerating such staff into line with the European Union Working Time Directive, following a decision of the European Commission.
301. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Education if the school bus route for a school (details supplied) will be redirected to facilitate children in Borrisnafarney, Moneygall and Roscrea, County Tipperary, thus following its original bus route; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34065/21]
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 my Department’s School Transport Scheme, children are eligible for transport where they reside not less than 3.2kms at primary and 4.8kms at post-primary and are attending their nearest School/Education Centre as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
All children who are eligible for school transport and who complete the application and payment process on time will be accommodated on school transport services for the 2021/22 school year where such services are in operation.
Children who are not eligible for school transport may apply for transport on a concessionary basis only. Concessionary transport is subject to a number of terms and conditions including the availability of spare seats on an existing service. The availability of concessionary transport may vary from year to year and cannot be guaranteed for the duration of a child’s education cycle.
Bus Éireann is responsible for the planning and timetabling of school transport routes. Routes are planned and updated over the summer months on the basis of the locations of children who are eligible for school transport. Bus Éireann endeavours, within available resources, to ensure that each eligible child has a reasonable level of school transport service in the context of the Scheme nationally.
School Transport Section has sought additional information from the Deputy's office with regard to the families referred to in his request and are liaising wtih Bus Éireann in this regard. School Transport Section will revert to the Deputy directly when further information has been received from Bus Éireann.
302. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Oideachais cén plé a bhí aici le hoifigigh a Roinne agus leis an Aire Breisoideachais agus Ardoideachais, Taighde, Nuálaíochta agus Eolaíochta maidir leis an mbaol a bheadh ann don pholasaí oideachais Gaeltachta má chuirfear curaclaim Ghaeilge na hArdteistiméireachta T1 agus T2 ar fáil, mar atá molta, agus mura mbeadh marcanna bónais curtha ar fáil as ucht cúrsa T1 a dhéanamh, mar aitheantas ar an ualach breise a bheadh ar dhaltaí a thabharfadh faoi shonraíocht churaclaim T1 do Ghaeilge na hArdteistiméireachta; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [34074/21]
View answerLeagtar amach i mBeartas Oideachais na Gaeltachta go bhfuil raon beart le breithniú chun daltaí i scoileanna Gaeltachta agus i scoileanna trí mheán na Gaeilge a spreagadh chun dul i ngleic le sonraíocht curaclaim T1 don Ghaeilge sa tsraith shinsearach. Féadfaidh an méid a leanas a bheith san áireamh orthu sin
- sparánachtaí tríú leibhéal a dheonadh do dhaltaí a fheidhmíonn ag tairseach gráid sonraithe nó a sháraíonn sin
- 10% de na háiteanna a chur in áirithe i ngach clár OTM do dhaltaí a ghnóthaíonn tairseach gráid sonraithe, ar an gcoinníoll go gcomhlíonann siad na riachtanais iontrála eile freisin
- breithniú ar fheidhmíocht i sonraíocht curaclaim T1 don Ghaeilge le haghaidh iontrála ar chúrsaí tríú leibhéal a éilíonn inniúlacht níos airde sa Ghaeilge.
I gcomhthreo le forbairt na ndréacht-sonraíochtaí T1 agus T2 do Ghaeilge na hArdteistiméireachta, thionóil oifigigh i mo Roinn roinnt cruinnithe le Cumann Ollscoileanna Éireann (COÉ) agus leis an gCumann um Ardoideachas Teicneolaíoch (CAOT) sular bunaíodh an Roinn Breisoideachais agus Ardoideachais, Taighde, Nuálaíochta agus Eolaíochta (DFHERIS). Scrúdaíodh sna cruinnithe an raon clár tríú leibhéal le riachtanais iontrála sa Ghaeilge, glacadh le cláir OTM i measc iarrthóirí Gaeltachta agus bearta atá ar fáil cheana féin chun tacú le rochtain daltaí ar an mbreisoideachas agus ar an ardoideachas.
Is dréachtcháipéis atá sa tsonraíocht T1 reatha agus dá bhrí sin tá sí faoi réir athraithe bunaithe ar thoradh an phróisis chomhairliúcháin a leathnaíodh go dtí an 30 Samhain. Ba ghá, dá bhrí sin, díospóireachtaí a chur ar sos go dtí go mbeidh torthaí an chomhairliúcháin agus an doiciméad sonraíochta deiridh ar fáil chun bonn eolais a chur faoi bhreithniú ar bhearta oiriúnacha.
303. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Oideachais an bhfuil sé i gceist go mbeidh sonraíocht churaclaim T1 do Ghaeilge na hArdteistiméireachta ar fáil do dhaltaí a fhreastalaíonn ar scoileanna a fheidhmíonn trí Bhéarla; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [34075/21]
View answerTá an dréachtshonraíocht T1 do Ghaeilge na hArdteistiméireachta atá foilsithe faoi láthair ag an gComhairle Náisiúnta Curaclaim agus Measúnachta (CNCM) le haghaidh comhairliúcháin dírithe ar chainteoirí dúchais agus foghlaimeoirí i scoileanna Gaeltachta, agus ar scoláirí i scoileanna agus in aonaid a fheidhmíonn trí Ghaeilge.
Mar is amhlaidh i gcás na sraithe sóisearaí, agus gan a bheith ag iarraidh toradh an chomhairliúcháin a réamhghabháil, beidh sé de rogha ag scoileanna a fheidhmíonn trí Bhéarla an tsonraíocht T1 a sholáthar laistigh dá n-acmhainní freisin.
Tá síneadh curtha ag an CNCM leis an dáta deiridh don chomhairliúchán go dtí an 30 Samhain 2021.
304. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education if her Department has considered funding the bulk purchase of defibrillators for schools. [34104/21]
View answerUnder the provisions of the Education Act 1998, the Board of Management is the body charged with the direct governance of a school.
The decision to install a defibrillator is made at local school level and is a matter for the board of management of each individual school.
The wider question of the need for defibrillators to be made available in public places is primarily a public health matter and would therefore be a matter for the Department of Health.
305. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education the number of children with special educational needs who are in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34119/21]
View answer306. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education the number of special educational needs for schools in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34120/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 305 and 306 together.
My Department continues to prioritise investment in special education, with over €2 Billion due to be spent on special education this year.
For the coming school year there will be over 13,600 Special Education Teachers allocated to mainstream schools, who will support class teachers to address the special educational needs and learning needs of pupils who attend mainstream schools.
This year we are also providing for two new special schools and 269 new special classes.
For the 2021/22 school year we will have a total of 2118 special classes, which is the largest number of special classes that we have ever had, and compares to 548 classes available in 2011.
18,000 Special Needs Assistants will also be available to support the care needs of pupils with special educational needs in our schools.
The Special Education Teachers which are allocated to mainstream schools support the mainstream class teacher by providing additional teaching support for pupils with special educational needs, or additional learning needs, in schools.
DES Circular 007/2019 for primary schools and 008/2019 for post primary schools set out the details of the model for allocating special education teachers to schools.
The Special Education Teaching allocation provides a single unified allocation for special educational support teaching needs to each school, based on each school’s educational profile.
The Special Education Teacher allocation, allows schools to provide additional teaching support for all pupils who require such support in their schools and for schools to deploy resources based on each pupil’s individual learning needs.
It gives greater flexibility to schools as to how they can deploy their resources, to take account of the actual learning needs pupils have, as opposed to being guided by a particular diagnosis of disability, and schools are guided as to how they should make such allocation decisions.
Children who need support can have that support provided immediately rather than having to wait for a diagnosis.
Children do not have to be labelled with a particular condition to qualify for extra teaching assistance.
The model gives greater freedom to schools to give extra teaching help to the pupils who most need it, regardless of their diagnosis.
As children who have additional learning needs can now be supported in school regardless of whether they have a diagnosis of a particular special educational need, or not, and the decisions as to which children receive additional support are made at local level.
It is therefore not possible to state definitively how many pupils are receiving additional support in mainstream schools on the grounds that they have some form of additional learning needs or special educational needs
The NCSE research paper ‘A Study on the Prevalence of Special Educational Needs’ (2011) noted that the Growing Up in Ireland analysis, which combined data on children from two sets of key informants (parents and teachers) to generate a new estimate of SEN prevalence as defined in EPSEN Act’s broader definition of SEN, which referred to ‘a restriction in the capacity of a person to participate in and benefit from education on account of an enduring physical, sensory, mental health or learning disability, or any other condition which results in a person learning differently from a person without that condition, pointed to an overall prevalence rate of up to 25 per cent.
As all mainstream schools receive allocations of special education teaching support, all schools are resourced to provide for the education of pupils with special educational needs.
For the 2021/22 school year there will also be a total of 2118 special classes in mainstream schools, providing additional specialised educational services for pupils with more complex special educational needs. This is the largest number of special classes that we have ever had, and compares to 548 classes available in 2011.
For the 2019/20 school year, 10,328 pupils attended special classes, which represents just over 1% of the total pupil population.
There are also 124 special schools which provide specialist educational services for pupils who have the most servere or complex levels of disabilities, or special educational needs.
For the 2019/20 school year, 8,224 pupils attended special schools, representing less than 1% of the total pupil population.
The remainder of pupils who have additional learning needs or special educational needs attend mainstream schools.
307. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education the number of children with special educational needs that are currently on reduces timetable in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34121/21]
View answerIt is the policy of my Department that all children, including children with special educational needs should attend school for the full school day.
Only in very limited circumstances, for example, where children are recovering from illness, and are required to be reintegrated to school, should reduced timetables be considered. In such circumstances, this should be part of a transition or reintegration intervention, based on the needs of individual students.
Where a reduced timetable is used, it should be applied proportionately, should have signed parental/guardian consent and should last only as long as is necessary to facilitate a return to school on a full-time basis.
The Department has consulted with education stakeholders to consider the timing of the introduction of guidelines on reduced timetables in the context of Covid 19 and the current operating environment for schools. There were concerns about issuing guidelines in the current Covid context where the safe and sustainable reopening of schools remains the overriding priority for all stakeholders.
It is my Department’s intention to issue Guidelines to schools on the use of reduced timetables for the next school year
It is intended that the guidelines will include measures by which schools will be required to report on the use of reduced timetables. Until such time as this reporting mechanism is in place, data is not available as to the number of pupils who are currently on reduced timetables.
308. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education the number of children with special educational needs who are currently on suspension in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34125/21]
View answer309. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education the number of children with special educational needs who are currently expelled from school in Ireland (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34127/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 308 and 309 together.
I wish to advise the Deputy that in accordance with the Education (Welfare) Act, 2000 schools are obliged to report on school attendance, and data on non-attendance in primary and post-primary schools at the aggregated level are collected by Tusla through the Annual Attendance Report (AAR) and, also at the student level through the Student Attendance Report (SAR).
This latest report published presents data for the academic year 2017/18 and is available on Tusla’s website at
www.tusla.ie/uploads/content/Analysis_of_School_Attendance_Data_in_Primary_and_Post-Primary_Schools_2017-2018.pdf
As the information requested is collected and recorded by Tusla, I have referred this question to that agency, for their attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
