Written Answers Nos. 1014-1033
1014. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education the way she will address the longstanding shortage of school transport places across the State; if she has engaged in capacity planning; and her views on whether it will be possible that each child who wants a place on a bus to receive a place. [40485/21]
View answerThe School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. In the 2020/21 school year over 114,100 children, including over 14,700 children with special educational needs, were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country at a cost of over €224.7m in 2020.
All children who are eligible for school transport and who complete the application and payment process on time are accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation. Children who are not eligible for school transport may apply for transport on a concessionary basis only and are offered seats where capacity exists after all eligible children have been catered for.
My Department recently commenced a review of the School Transport Scheme. Following commencement of this review in February 2021 and a detailed analysis and report conducted by the Technical Working Group in the interim period, the Steering Group recently presented me with its initial interim report, a report on eligibility with an examination of issues for mainstream pupils relating to the nearest and next nearest school.
Following consideration of this report, I have approved the extension of temporary alleviation measures which allow for students who are otherwise eligible for school transport but are attending their second nearest school and have applied and paid on time. This will result in transport being provided for an estimated additional 1,800 post-primary pupils in the 2021/2022 school year, who otherwise would not be accommodated under the scheme. This arrangement will be in place for the coming school year pending completion of the full review of the School Transport Scheme.
Wider considerations relating to the objectives of the scheme and the criteria for eligibility will take place in the next phase of the review which is now underway. The Steering Group will continue to report to me on an interim basis as the review progresses, with a view to presenting a final report with recommendations on the future operation of the Department’s School Transport Scheme.
1015. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education if the consultation process in relation to the DEIS programme will be completed at an early date in view of the need to give further consideration to the applications from schools for inclusion in the DEIS programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40488/21]
View answerA key part of the DEIS Plan was the introduction of a new DEIS identification process based on an objective, statistics based model to determine which schools merit inclusion in the DEIS programme. An extensive body of work has been undertaken in terms of the refinement of this model, based on the latest school enrolment data and data available from Census 2016 under the HP Deprivation Index.
A detailed quality analysis of the data has been carried out by members of the DEIS Technical Group which contains representatives of the Department’s Statistics and Social Inclusion Units, the Inspectorate and the Educational Research Centre. My Department has commenced a consultation process with education partners on the technical aspects of this model, and work is now ongoing on final elements of the model.
As part of the process when there is a roll out of any changed or new model, my Department engages with the education partners to ensure that there is a clear understanding across the system and that the process is clear, open, transparent and easily understood.
It is envisaged that this will provide the basis for the development and application of a refined DEIS resource allocation model to ultimately match resources to identified need. All schools will be considered for inclusion under the refined DEIS model. Until this work is complete, it is not intended to extend the DEIS programme to any further schools.
1016. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Education the funding that has been allocated by her Department for projects and initiatives in County Tipperary over the past 12 months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40503/21]
View answerMy Department’s gross voted allocation for 2021 amounts to some €8.96 billion, and is being expended on first, second and early years’ education. The bulk of this funding is expended on paying the salaries of teachers and other school staff including those in the area of special needs education. It is also expended on paying pensions, the school transport scheme, the school building programme and on a range of relevant programmes.
As funding from my Department is not allocated or recorded on a county basis I am therefore not in a position to readily provide details on the amounts allocated to projects and initiatives in County Tipperary over the past 12 months. However, in relation to the School Building Programme my Department’s website shows the current position on all school projects in the Programme, as well as listing on a county basis the schools that have had large-scale projects completed from 2010 to date. The information is available at www.education.ie and is updated regularly.
1017. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education the number of ASD units in primary and secondary schools in County Wicklow by school in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40505/21]
View answer1018. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education the number of children that are on the waiting list for a place in an ASD unit for primary and secondary schools in County Wicklow; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40506/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1017 and 1018 together.
Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education appropriate to their needs is a priority for this Government. The Department of Education will spend approximately €2 Billion or just under 25% of its total educational budget in 2021 on making additional provision for children with special educational needs this year.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children nationwide. It has well established structures in place for engaging with schools and parents. NCSE seeks to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all children who have been identified as needing special education placements.
NCSE is planning a further expansion of special education places nationally, to meet identified need. This process is ongoing.
It is open to any school to make an application to the NCSE for the establishment of a specialised provision and where sanctioned, a range of supports, including capital funding, is made available to the school.
Notwithstanding the extent of this investment, there are some parts of the country where increases in population and other issues have led to concerns regarding a shortage of school places.
Through better planning at both national and local level, it is my objective that specialist education places should come on stream to meet emerging demand on a timely basis. However, the active collaboration of school communities is essential in this regard.
I should clarify that the NCSE does not maintain waiting lists for schools. Boards of management of individual schools are responsible for such enrolment matters.
However, through ongoing consultation at local level, the NCSE is aware of those parents whose children will be seeking placement for the 2021/22 academic year, including mainstream placement with appropriate support, special class placement, Early Intervention and special school placement. The NCSE continues to work to identify any and all relevant suitable placements.
The NCSE's local Special Education Needs Organisers (SENOs) are available to assist and advise both schools and the parents of children with special educational needs. Parents may contact SENOs directly using the contact details available at: ncse.ie/regional-services-contact-list.
The specific information requested by the Deputy on special classes is also available directly on the NCSE's website at www.ncse.ie
1019. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education the status of the construction of an extension for a school (details supplied); the estimated timeframe for the completion of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40507/21]
View answerThe project to which the Deputy refers has been devolved for delivery to the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA).
I can confirm that a Design Team to deliver this project was appointed by the NDFA in April 2021. The Design Team is now preparing the Stage 1 report (preliminary design).
While at this early stage it is not possible to provide details or a timeline for completion of the project, the NDFA will be engaging directly with the school authority to keep it informed of progress.
1020. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education when works will be completed for an extension to a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40508/21]
View answerThe building project to which the Deputy refers is an extension and refurbishment project to cater for 750 pupils. Works commenced on site in October 2020 and subject to no issues arising, completion is expected in the final quarter of 2022.
1021. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education the status of a two-storey extension for a school (details supplied) to replace the existing prefabs; the stage the project is currently at; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40509/21]
View answerThe Major Building Project for the school referred to by the Deputy is currently at Stage 1 of Architectural Planning, which includes site assessment and location suitability, and initial sketch scheme.
Since the appointment of the Design Team in January 2020, my Department have held a number of interim Stage 1 meetings with the Design Team and Project Manager . An End of Stage 1 Stakeholders meeting took place on July 9th 2021, and officials from my Department have requested the Design Team to provide a Stage 1 Addendum Report to address the overall projected costs.
Upon receipt and review of the addendum , my Department will advise the Board of Management and its Design Team with regard to the further progression of this project.
1022. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education the status of providing permanent accommodation for a school (details supplied); the stage discussions are currently at; if her Department intend on proceeding with the site previously identified; the timeframe from construction to completion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40510/21]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has initiated a site identification and assessment exercise for a 1,000 pupil post primary school in the area in question and its environs. While a site acquisition process is underway and, given the commercial sensitivities associated with land acquisitions generally, I am not in a position to comment further at this time
A similar exercise was undertaken a number of years ago which proved unsuccessful and the current exercise will establish if the situation has changed in the intervening period.
Until such time as this process has been completed, it will not be possible to provide a timeline for the construction of a permanent building for the school.
In the meantime, refurbishment works are underway in the school's interim accommodation to provide further capacity for the school.
1023. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education if a site has been identified by the Department for a permanent location for a school (details supplied); the stage that this is currently at; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40511/21]
View answerOfficials from my Department have identified a number of potential site options in Wicklow Town for the permanent location for Wicklow Educate Together Secondary School and negotiations are ongoing with the landowners.
My Department is working towards acquiring the most suitable site for this school while ensuring value for money for the exchequer is achieved. Officials from Wicklow County Council are assisting my Department in this regard.
While a site acquisition process is underway and, given the commercial sensitivities associated with land acquisitions generally, I am not in a position to comment further at this time.
1024. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education if she will provide a timeframe from construction to completion of a new school building for a school (details supplied); if provision will be made for an ASD unit in the school as part of the project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40512/21]
View answerThe project to which the Deputy refers has been devolved for delivery to Kildare & Wicklow Education and Training Board (KWETB).
I am pleased to inform the Deputy that this project includes a 2 classroom SEN base (ASD Unit).
My Department has approved the project to proceed to Stage 2(a) of the architectural planning process which is the developed design stage. It is a matter for KWETB, as the client for the project, to ensure that this is completed as quickly as possible.
Once the Stage 2(a) submission is approved by my Department, the next step for the Design Team will be to obtain the statutory planning approvals. When these are in place, the project can proceed to tender and construction.
KWETB will be engaging directly with the school authority to keep it informed of progress.
1025. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education if she will provide a timeframe from construction to completion for an extension to a school (details supplied); the current capacity for students at the school; the expected capacity when the extension is completed; if provision will be made for an ASD unit in the project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40513/21]
View answerI wish to inform the Deputy that the project to which he refers has been devolved to the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) for delivery as part of a programme of school building projects.
I am pleased to confirm that this project will provide accommodation for a long term projected enrolment of 1,000 pupils with a 4 classroom SEN base (ASD unit) included.
The NDFA has started preparations for the appointment of a design team for the project. This appointment will be a key first step in the design and construction stages.
At this early stage, it is not possible to provide a timeline for completion of the project; the NDFA will be engaging directly with the school authority to keep it informed of progress.
1026. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education if consideration has been given to exploring the possibility of constructing a secondary school in Newtownmountkennedy, County Wicklow due to the current and increasing population in the local area and given the pressures with the lack of secondary school places in the locality; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40514/21]
View answerIn 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. For school planning purposes, Newtownmountkennedy is located in the Kilcoole school planning area.
Major new residential developments in a school planning area have the potential to alter demand in that area. In that regard, as part of the demographic exercises, my Department engages with each of the local authorities to obtain the up-to-date information on significant new residential development in each area. This is necessary to ensure that schools infrastructure planning is keeping pace with demographic changes.
Where demographic data indicates that additional provision is required, the delivery of such additional provision is dependent on the particular circumstances of each case and may, be provided through:
- Utilising existing unused capacity within a school or schools,
- Extending the capacity of a school or schools,
- Provision of a new school or schools.
A site acquisition process is only commenced where an identified requirement for a school building project exists.
As the Deputy will be aware, since April 2018, the Government announced plans for the establishment of 47 new schools over the 4 year period 2019 to 2022. This included a new post-primary school for the Kilcoole and Greystones school planning area as a regional solution and the school, Greystones Community College, opened in Greystones for the 2020/2021 school year.
My Department is satisfied that with the establishment of Greystones Community College as a new regional school for the Greystones/Kilcoole area and with the completion of the building projects at St. David’s Secondary School, Greystones and Coláiste Craobh Abhann, Kilcoole that the resulting additional permanent accommodation will be sufficient to cater for future demand in the area in the short to medium term.
The requirement for additional school places is kept under on-going review. Additionally, my Department will continue to liaise with Wicklow County Council in respect of its review of the County Development Plan with a view to identifying any potential long-term school accommodation requirements across the county.
1027. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education if consideration has been given to exploring the possibility of constructing a secondary school in the Kilmacanogue-Enniskerry area of County Wicklow due to the current and increasing population in the local area and given the pressures with the lack of secondary school places in Bray, County Wicklow; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40515/21]
View answerIn 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. Enniskerry is in the Bray school planning area.
Major new residential developments in a school planning area have the potential to alter demand in that area. In that regard, as part of the demographic exercises, my Department engages with each of the local authorities to obtain the up-to-date information on significant new residential development in each area. This is necessary to ensure that schools infrastructure planning is keeping pace with demographic changes.
Where demographic data indicates that additional provision is required, the delivery of such additional provision is dependent on the particular circumstances of each case and may, be provided through:
- Utilising existing unused capacity within a school or schools,
- Extending the capacity of a school or schools,
- Provision of a new school or schools.
Following such analysis, a new post primary school to serve the Bray, Kilternan and Ballybrack_Shankill school planning areas (North Wicklow ETSS) was established in 2016. A major capital project for North Wicklow ETSS to cater for a long term projected enrolment of 1,000 pupils is being addressed through my Department’s Capital Programme.
A building project / extension is planned for Loreto Bray to cater for a long term projected enrolment of 1,000 pupils also through my Department’s Capital Programme.
The requirement for additional school places is kept under on-going review. Additionally, my Department will continue to liaise with Wicklow County Council in respect of its review of the County Development Plan with a view to identifying any potential long-term school accommodation requirements across the county.
1028. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education if there are plans to build an extension for a school (details supplied) to increase capacity; the current student capacity at the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40516/21]
View answerI can confirm to the Deputy that the school referred to has been approved for a project under my Department's Additional Accommodation Scheme 2021. This project was approved in April 2021 and has been devolved for delivery to the school authority.
The project will provide for the following accommodation at the school: 1 x General classroom, 1 x Music room, 1 x Textiles room, 1 x Art room, 1 x Graphics room, 1 x Multimedia room, 1 x Science lab, 1 x Science prep area, 2 x Technology rooms with a shared prep area and a 3 Classroom SEN base.
I can also advise the Deputy that temporary accommodation has also been approved as part of this project to cater for the school’s needs in September 2021.
1029. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Education the number of special needs assistants that were employed in County Meath in each of the years 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40531/21]
View answer1030. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Education the number of special needs assistants that were employed in County Westmeath in each of the years 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form. [40532/21]
View answer1031. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Education the number of special needs assistants that were employed nationwide in each of the years 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40533/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1029, 1030 and 1031 together.
The provision of education for children with special needs is an ongoing priority for Government.
The numbers of special classes, special education teachers and Special Needs Assistants are at unprecedented levels.
My Department will spend approximately €2 Billion, or over 20% of its total educational budget on making additional provision for children with special educational needs in 2021.
This represents an increase of over 50% in total expenditure since 2011, at which point €1.247 Billion per annum was provided.
Following Budget 2021, it is expected that a total of 18,000 Special Needs Assistant (SNA) posts will have been allocated to primary, post primary and special schools by the end of this year..
This will represent an increase of increase of 70% in the number of SNAs provided since 2011 at which point 10,575 SNAs were available.
The NCSE has responsibility for planning and coordinating school supports for children with special educational needs including the allocation of SNAs and reviews.
The NCSE publish statistics on SNA allocations to primary, post primary and special schools in tabular form, by county, for each school year, this information is available on their website, www.ncse.ie.
1032. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Education if there will be additional special needs assistants hired for the start date in September 2021 for schools in County Meath; if so, the number; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40534/21]
View answer1033. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Education if there will be additional special needs assistants hired for the start date in September 2021 for schools in County Westmeath; if so, the number; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40535/21]
View answer1034. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Education the number of additional special needs assistants to be recruited nationally for start in September 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40536/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1032, 1033 and 1034 together.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible for the planning and cordination of education provision for children with special educational needs including the allocation of SNA posts.
Budget 2021 provided for an additional 990 additional Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) posts for allocation to schools, bringing the total numbers to 18,000 by the end of December 2021. This allocation of SNAs is to meet the care needs of pupils in 2021 and will enable the establishment of new special classes, creation of new places in special schools, support children in mainstream classes and the transition to the new allocation model for the 2021/22 school year.
The Budget 2021 increase to 18,000 SNAs posts represents an increase of increase of 70% in the number of SNAs provided since 2011 at which point 10,575 SNAs were available.
The NCSE has published statistical information regarding SNA allocations for all schools which can be accessed on the NCSE website at www.ncse.ie or by using the following link www.ncse.ie/statistics.
The employment and recruitment of SNAs is a matter for each school and the Department is not directly involved.
