Thursday, 9 Sep 2021

Flexible Work Practices

Questions (521)

Carol Nolan

Question:

521. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education the measures she is taking to promote or facilitate remote working for staff in her Department or bodies under the aegis of her Department; the costs this has generated in terms of the provision of laptops, desktop computers or contributions to Wi-Fi costs or phone-related expenses; the number of staff who have applied for permission to work from home on a permanent or hybrid-model basis (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41949/21]

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Written answers

Minister for Education

Staff of my department have been working in line with Government COVID-19 guidance, which had provided for home working to continue where possible. Following the Taoiseach's announcement on the 1st of September, my department is now in the process of planning for a phased return to the workplace.

A central policy framework for Blended Working in the Civil Service will be finalised in conjunction with employee representatives over the coming months. This framework will inform the development of organisation level blended working policies tailored to the specific requirements of each Department/Office, whilst ensuring a consistency of approach across key policy areas.

Information relating to remote working arrangements for the aegis bodies of my department and associated costs, along with costs generated within my department for the provision of laptops, mobile phones and data costs are set out in the attachments provided.

Department of Education

Device	Number of devices	Cost
Laptops	831	€589,188
Mobile Phones	424	€15.95 per month tariff per device

Additional data was purchased at a cost of €1,000. This data was shared between the Department of Education and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.

Costs associated with Working from Home

Department of Education Aegis Bodies	Cost of laptops and desktop computers - 2020 & to date in 2021	Costs of mobile phones, phone related expenses and Wi-Fi to support remote working - 2020 & to date in 2021	Number of Staff who have applied for permission to work from home on a permanent or hybrid basis
	€	€
An Chomhairle um Oideachais Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta	4,659	-	See Note 4
Caranua - The Residential Institutions Redress Statutory Fund (Note 1)	-	-
Commission to Inquiry into Child Abuse	13,122	-	See Note 4
Educational Research Centre	41,506	4,892	See Note 4
National Centre for Guidance in Education	5,707	8,525	See Note 4
National Council for Curriculum & Assessment	4,653	2,906	See Note 4
National Council for Special Education	130,000	14,720	See Note 4
Residential Institutions Redress Board	3,258	2,042	See Note 4
Residential Institutions Review Committee (Note 2)	-	-
State Examinations Commission (Note 3)	-	-	See Note 5
Teaching Council	66,714	15,911	See Note 4

Notes to table on Costs associated with Working from Home

Note 1 - Caranua - The Residential Institutions Redress Fund closed its executive office in March 2021. Caranua's staff commenced working from home on 16th March 2020. The Department understands that Caranua's pre-existing phone, case management and shared drive systems supported the move to remote working. A number of staff already had access to laptops to support attendance at outreach events. Caranua is currently in wind-down.

Note 2 - The Residential Institutions Review Committee has no employees.

Note 3 - State Examinations Commission (SEC) - Following the outbreak of COVID 19, which led to the cancellation of the Examinations in 2020 and the introduction of a system of Calculated Grades, the SEC was deemed an essential service. While some remote working was put in place initially there were no additional costs associated with remote working. SEC staff were seconded to the Department of Education to work on the Calculated Grades, these staff continued to work in the SEC, while other staff returned to work in head office in September 2020. SEC head office staff continued to work in the office, with the SEC operating the Leaving Certificate Examinations and the Accredited Grades in 2021.

Note 4 - Notes in regard to Remote working in Department of Education aegis bodies

In line with Government guidance staff of the Department's aegis bodies, with the exception of the State Examinations Commission, have been directed to work from home since March 2020. At the time of responding, Government advice was that staff should "continue to work from home where possible". Aegis bodies are in the process of engaging with staff to address the development of plans in relation to future working arrangements to address remote and hybrid working arrangements within the aegis bodies. As Caranua closed its executive office in March 2021, the issue of requests for hybrid or remote working does not arise.

Note 5 - The State Examinations Commission has advised that the nature of the work of the SEC does not lend itself to remote working, except in the case of certain specialised posts.

Special Educational Needs

Questions (522)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

522. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education if she will address a matter (details supplied) regarding a special needs assistant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41973/21]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education

The NCSE has responsibility for planning and coordinating school supports for children with special educational needs including the allocation of SNAs and reviews.

The Special Needs Assistant (SNA) scheme is designed to provide schools with additional adult support staff who can assist children with special educational needs who also have additional and significant care needs. Such support is provided in order to facilitate the attendance of those pupils at school and also to minimise disruption to class or teaching time for the pupils concerned, or for their peers, and with a view to developing their independent living skills.

SNAs are not allocated to individual children but to schools as a school based resource. The deployment of SNAs within schools is a matter for the individual Principal/Board of Management of the school. SNAs should be deployed by the school in a manner which best meets the care support requirements of the children enrolled in the school for whom SNA support has been allocated.

It is a matter for schools to allocate support as required, and on the basis of individual need, which allows schools flexibility in how the SNA support is utilised.

In light of the disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the introduction of the new Frontloaded Allocation Model for SNAs for students in mainstream classes in primary and post -primary schools is to be deferred for a further year to the beginning of the 2022/23 school year.

In order to minimise disruption for schools, in the current circumstances, and to provide for continuity of allocations the following arrangements for the allocation of Special Needs Assistants for mainstream classes for the 2021/22 school year:

- Existing mainstream class SNA allocations in schools on 30 April 2021 will be maintained and will automatically rollover into the 2021/22 school year.

- No school will therefore receive an allocation less than that which they had on 30 April 2021.

- SNAs currently in mainstream settings can continue in post for the next school year in the normal way.

- Priority consideration will now be given by the NCSE to applications for increased support for the 2021/22 school year, in particular, applications from schools with no SNAs and developing schools will be prioritised. Determinations will be made before 30 June. Other applications will be processed in order of date received.

- As in previous years, where circumstances change during the course of the 2021/22 school year that materially increase the level of care need in a school to the extent that the school can clearly demonstrate that it cannot be met within the existing SNA allocation, the school may apply to the NCSE for a review. Detailed information on the NCSE exceptional review process is published on the NCSE website ncse.ie/for-schools.

The NCSE have published the SNA allocations on their website www.ncse.ie.

SNA allocations for special classes and special schools are not affected by this arrangement.

Circular 0029/2021 has been published and advises schools of the arrangements for the allocation of SNAs for the 2021/22 school year.

Provisions set out in Circular 0030/2020 has been extended for the 2021/22 school year.

Circulars 29/2021 and 30/2020 are available on the Department's website.

My Department does not have a role in making individual school determinations. Accordingly your correspondence has been forwarded to the NCSE for direct reply.

Departmental Policies

Questions (523, 647)

James O'Connor

Question:

523. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Education if she will consider the implementation of a programme (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41977/21]

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Mary Butler

Question:

647. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Education the position regarding a national policy for the care of children with food allergies some of which can pose a significant health risk to children in pre-schools, primary schools and secondary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43187/21]

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Written answers

Minister for Education

I propose to take Questions Nos. 523 and 647 together.

The Board of Management of each school is responsible for the care and safety of all pupils. It is important that the school management authority requests parents to ensure that the school is made aware of any medical condition suffered by any pupils attending. Where the school is aware of potential difficulties that may arise as a consequence of a medical condition suffered by one or more pupils, it may be possible for the management authorities, working in conjunction with parents, teachers and children to put preventative measures in place to lessen the possibility of any difficulties arising or to ensure that, if a pupil suffers from an illness requiring, for example, the administration of medication, that appropriate treatment is available.

The administration of medicines in primary schools is the subject of an agreement between the Irish National Teachers Organisation and the organisation representing school management at primary level. While this agreement specifies that no teacher can be required to administer medicine or drugs to pupils, it also sets out procedures that must be followed where a teacher or teachers agree to do so. The position is that either the parents of the child should make themselves available to administer medication as required, or where they wish the staff in the school to administer it, they should indemnify the school.

My Department cannot direct any member of the Board of Management or the teaching staff of the school to administer medical treatment to pupils, action and procedures which are normally carried out by medical professionals such as doctors and nurses.

Where a child requires adult assistance to assist in the administration of medicine and where the extent of assistance required would overly disrupt normal teaching time, SNA support may be allocated for this purpose.

It is a matter for the Board of Management to ensure that SNAs are in a position to effectively meet the care needs of pupils for whom SNA support has been allocated in the school, when appointing an SNA.

Where specific training is required, the Board of Management should liaise with the Health Service Executive (HSE) in order to ensure that the HSE provides guidance and training that enables the SNA to meet the care needs of the pupil in an appropriate manner. It is a matter for individual school authorities to make such arrangements locally.

School Enrolments

Questions (524)

Neasa Hourigan

Question:

524. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Education if an analysis has been conducted on the demand for post-primary school places in the Dublin 9 area; her plans to ensure a sufficient number of post-primary school places in the Dublin 9 area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41979/21]

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Written answers

Minister for Education

In order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a Geographical Information System, using data from a range of sources, including Child Benefit, school enrolment data and information on residential development activity, to identify where additional school accommodation is needed at post-primary level. Dublin 9 is partly within each of the Whitehall_SantryD9, Beaumont_CoolockD5 and Drumcondra_Marino_D1 school planning areas.

The most recent projections for all three school planning areas indicate increasing requirements at post primary level. My Department is currently working to examine the capacity of the schools in the area to meet this projected demand.

A number of capital projects have been recently completed or are currently planned or underway in the Dublin 9 area, including expansions at St. Aidan’s CBS, Dominican College, Clonturk College and Scoil Caitriona. Furthermore, a new post primary school was announced to be established to serve the Drumcondra_Marino_D1 school planning area. The additional capacity being provided by all of these projects is being considered in the context of the projected future requirements in the area.

School place requirements nationally, including in Dublin 9, will continue to be kept under on-going review and in particular will have regard to the impact of the increased rollout of housing provision as outlined in Project Ireland 2040.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (525)

James O'Connor

Question:

525. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Education if she will address a matter (details supplied) regarding Covid-protocols in schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41981/21]

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Written answers

Minister for Education

The Department has always been guided by Public Health as to the mitigation measures needed to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in our schools. The aim of all of the Covid-19 infection prevention and control measures that have been put in place for schools is to support schools to operate safely and prevent the introduction of Covid-19 and also the onward of transmission of Covid-19 among the school community. These measures protect pupils, their parents and school staff and are very effective when adhered to.

Current public health advice makes it a requirement for a face mask to be worn by teachers, staff in schools and students attending post-primary school.

The HPSC keeps infection prevention and control measures under review on an ongoing basis. The advice regarding face masks has not changed for the new school year.

The Department is also working with the HSE Testing Pathways Working Group which is examining the use of antigen testing in education settings. The approach to antigen testing in education settings, including in schools will be informed by the pilots currently underway in childcare and third level.

The Department will continue to work with the group as it is considered important that any data collected from the pilot of antigen testing within the wider education sector is available to inform decisions on the appropriateness of more widespread deployment of such tests within the schools sector and the potential to scale to the sector.

The Department will continue to engage regularly with public health officials in respect of the safe operation of schools during Covid-19.

Question No. 526 answered with Question No. 498.

Question No. 527 answered with Question No. 498.

Schools Building Projects

Questions (528)

Seán Fleming

Question:

528. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Education when the stage 1 submission for a school extension (details supplied) will be approved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42004/21]

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Written answers

Minister for Education

The School Authorities submitted a Stage 1 Report for approval to the Department in August 2020. This was reviewed by relevant officials and my Department reverted back to the school with recommendations in September 2020.

A further submission was then sent to my Department in May 2021 which did not address the issues raised in September 2020. A Stage 1 addendum report is now required. This report must respond to the queries raised and must include a 2-storey option for consideration and as previously recommended.

It is now a matter for the School Authority to liaise with its Design Team and resubmit this Addendum report.

School Staff

Questions (529)

Seán Fleming

Question:

529. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Education the situation regarding negotiations with school secretaries in terms of their employment conditions and their pension entitlements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42006/21]

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Written answers

Minister for Education

The Department is aware of the vitally important role played by school secretaries in the running of our schools.

In recognition of this role, special COVID-19 working arrangements were put in place and the Employee Assistance Service was extended to grant funded staff. The Department also previously fully implemented and funded the 2015 recommendations of an independent arbitrator for a cumulative pay increase of 10% between 2016 and 2019 and that a minimum hourly pay rate of €13 be phased in over that period.

Fórsa trade union has tabled a follow-on claim and officials from the Department and school management bodies have been engaging with Fórsa on the issues. A process of engagement has taken place at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) and an understanding has been agreed on a pathway to progress the issues with a phased approach being taken to the development of proposals.

The Department is actively seeking to engage with Fórsa in an effort to resolve the issue as part of an ongoing IR process under the auspices of the WRC. Industrial action would impact on the day-to-day operation of schools at a time when so much effort has gone into ensuring they could open and stay open during the pandemic. The Department would appeal to school secretaries and to Fórsa to defer this planned action to allow further early and intensive discussions to take place.

School Facilities

Questions (530)

Neale Richmond

Question:

530. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Education when the sites acquisition and property management unit of her Department will issue a decision in respect of an application for consent to allow a school (details supplied) apply for planning permission for the development of a new hockey pitch and changing facilities; if her attention has been drawn to the ongoing delays in processing this application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42009/21]

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Written answers

Minister for Education

My Department following a review of the application has issued a reply to the school in recent days regarding this matter.

Question No. 531 answered with Question No. 498.

Question No. 532 answered with Question No. 498.

School Facilities

Questions (533)

Seán Fleming

Question:

533. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Education the position regarding a request for additional facilities at a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42032/21]

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Written answers

Minister for Education

The school referred to by the Deputy was approved funding in March 2021 for the provision an 80m² mainstream classroom and a 15m² SET Room under my Department’s Additional Accommodation Scheme (ASA). Subsequently the school submitted another ASA application for the provision of 2 special classes and associated accommodation and this application is currently being assessed.

In relation to the school’s application for a GP Room, as the Deputy is aware, the main focus of resources over the last decade and for the coming period is on the provision of additional capacity to cater for increasing demographics. The second half of the NDP (from 2023 onwards) will see an increasing focus on the upgrade and refurbishment of the existing school stock. This will include a PE Hall/GP Room build and modernisation programme to ensure that students in all schools have appropriate facilities to support PE provision.

Special Educational Needs

Questions (534)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

534. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education if additional SNA hours will be provided in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42126/21]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education

The NCSE has responsibility for planning and coordinating school supports for children with special educational needs including the allocation of SNAs and reviews.

The Special Needs Assistant (SNA) scheme is designed to provide schools with additional adult support staff who can assist children with special educational needs who also have additional and significant care needs. Such support is provided in order to facilitate the attendance of those pupils at school and also to minimise disruption to class or teaching time for the pupils concerned, or for their peers, and with a view to developing their independent living skills.

A child's care needs will change and evolve over time so it is also important that the level of supports provided also change.