Seán Sherlock
Question:621. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Education the impact on tenders for school building capital projects the rise in construction costs will have. [42814/21]
View answerSchools Building Projects
Questions (621)
Written answers
My Department has a large-scale and ambitious roll-out of school building projects as part of Project Ireland 2040.
The current position on all these projects is set out on the Gov.ie website and is updated on a monthly basis to reflect progress on project rollout.
There are currently over 200 school building projects at construction with a continuous stream of other projects at or near the tendering stage.
My Department is aware of the challenging market conditions for tender processes that are currently underway.
My Department works within the parameters set by the Office of Government Procurement and principles of public procurement set out at both national and EU level.
Once contracts are awarded, any variations to the contract sum are addressed within the standard provisions of the Public Works Contracts.
School Transport
Questions (622)
Seán Sherlock
Question:622. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Education if the additional buses provided for school transport when at 50% capacity will be retained for 100% capacity. [42815/21]
View answerWritten answers
The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. In the 2020/2021 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 for the 2021/22 school year will be accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation. In addition all post-primary pupils who are otherwise eligible for school transport but are attending their second nearest school and have applied and paid on time will be accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation. This arrangement is in place for current school year pending completion of the full review of the School Transport Scheme.
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. Late applicants and/or families who pay late are not guaranteed a seat and will only be allocated a seat if capacity is available once seats are allocated to those families who applied and paid on time for transport services for the 2021/2022 school year.
Planning for school transport for the 2021/22 school year has proceeded on the basis that the public health measures in place as schools closed at the end of the last school year would remain as term began in this new school year. This includes the recommendations from Public Health that post-primary services would operate at 50% capacity and that masks would be worn. All other measures relating to hygiene, pre-assigned seating, cleaning and the wearing of masks by post-primary students are also in place. However, as the vaccination programme for children on post-primary services is rolled out and as the lifting of restrictions on public transport services proceeds, the capacity limit of 50% on post-primary school transport services will be subject to ongoing review and the Department will be considering the position in this regard over the coming weeks.
Should post-primary services resume operating at 100% capacity and where additional vehicles that were provided for social distancing purposes are removed, any spare capacity available will be offered on those services to concessionary pupils or late applicants where such capacity exists.
School Transport
Questions (623)
Seán Sherlock
Question:623. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Education if she will examine a matter (details supplied) regarding school transport. [42816/21]
View answerWritten answers
The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. In the 2020/2021 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.
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 the Department's Primary School Transport Scheme children are eligible for school transport where they reside not less than 3.2 kilometres from and are attending their nearest primary school as determined by my Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
All children who are eligible for school transport and who completed the application and payment process on 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 and who apply for school transport are considered for spare seats that may exist after eligible children have been facilitated; such seats are referred to as concessionary seats.
Bus Eireann has confirmed that the family, to whom the Deputy refers, resides 3.1kms from the school that they are attending therefore they are not eligible for school transport. School Transport Section has asked Bus Éireann to carry out a calibrated measurement on the route in question and will revert to the family when further information is available.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Questions (624)
Cian O'Callaghan
Question:624. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Education the steps she is taking to fast-track the delivery of the 32,000 CO2 monitors to schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42824/21]
View answerWritten answers
Deliveries of CO2 monitors to schools commenced in the third week of August and are expected to be completed by mid-September. In total, it involves over 35,000 CO2 monitors being distributed to, primary and post-primary schools.
Smaller sized schools will receive their full allocation in one delivery, with medium and larger sized schools receiving two deliveries. This approach maximises the number of schools that are provided with monitors as early as possible.
The target remains to have all monitors delivered by the middle of September.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Questions (625)
Seán Haughey
Question:625. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Education the details of the procurement of C02 monitors for our schools; when this process commenced; if there has been a delay in providing these monitors; when they will be delivered to our schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42836/21]
View answerWritten answers
Managing ventilation is just one of a suite of public health measures in place to keep our schools safe. Updated guidance for schools on Practical Steps for the Deployment of Good Ventilation Practices in Schools was provided at the end of May following the work of an expert group that carefully considered the role of ventilation in managing COVID-19.
A copy of the guidance is published at https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/ad236-guidance-on-ventilation-in-schools/
The over-arching approach in the guidance is for schools to have windows open as fully as possible when classrooms are not in use (e.g. during break-times or lunch-times and also at the end of each school day) and partially open when classrooms are in use.
The guidance outlines that Carbon Dioxide (CO2) monitors can play a part in providing a useful general indication that areas/rooms may not be adequately ventilated. They can enable occupants to become familiar with the impacts of activities, outdoor weather and window openings on levels of good ventilation.
The procurement of the monitors was carried out through a Multi-Supplier Framework, LEE004F – Lab Consumables Framework -Lot 12, established by the Education Procurement Service to run from 2020 to 2024 following an open competitive procurement process. A mini competition for the supply of the CO2 monitors to schools under that Framework was undertaken in April 2021, with the order placed with the most economically advantageous supplier following the successful conclusion of that process.
Deliveries of CO2 monitors to schools commenced in the third week of August and are expected to be completed by mid-September. In total, it involves over 35,000 CO2 monitors being distributed to , primary and post-primary schools in the Free Scheme and schools approved on the basis of their application in the Fee Charging sector.
School Transport
Questions (626)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Question:626. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education the number of concessionary post primary cycle school bus ticket applications refused in 2021 on the basis of the reduced capacity allowed on school buses; if these applicants will be provided with school bus tickets when the capacity allowed on each bus increases; when she anticipates that full capacity will be allowed on school buses for post primary school children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42867/21]
View answerWritten answers
The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. In the 2020/2021 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 for the 2021/22 school year will be accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation. In addition, all post-primary pupils who are otherwise eligible for school transport but are attending their second nearest school and have applied and paid on time will be accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation. This arrangement is in place for current school year pending completion of the full review of the School Transport Scheme.
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.
Late applicants and/or families who pay late are not guaranteed a seat and will only be allocated a seat if capacity is available once seats are allocated to those families who applied and paid on time for transport services for the 2021/2022 school year.
Planning for school transport for the 2021/22 school year has proceeded on the basis that the public health measures in place as schools closed at the end of the last school year would remain as term began in this new school year. This includes the recommendations from Public Health that post-primary services would operate at 50% capacity and that masks would be worn. All other measures relating to hygiene, pre-assigned seating, cleaning and the wearing of masks by post-primary students are also in place. However, as the vaccination programme for children on post-primary services is rolled out and as the lifting of restrictions on public transport services proceeds, the capacity limit of 50% on post-primary school transport services will be subject to ongoing review and the Department will be considering the position in this regard over the coming weeks.
Bus Éireann has confirmed that to date 102,420 pupils, including 54,018 post primary eligible pupils and 14,143 post primary concessionary pupils have been issued tickets for the School Transport Scheme. This number is changing as tickets continue to be allocated to pupils.
Should post-primary services resume operating at 100% capacity and where additional vehicles that were provided for social distancing purposes are removed, any spare capacity available will be offered on those services to concessionary pupils or late applicants where such capacity exists.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Questions (627)
David Cullinane
Question:627. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Education if she will provide reassurance to parents of children who are returning back to school settings that adequate Covid-19 safety measures are provided including air monitors in classrooms and regulation of ventilation and air filtration; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42899/21]
View answerWritten answers
Managing ventilation is just one of a suite of public health measures in place to keep our schools safe. Updated guidance for schools on Practical Steps for the Deployment of Good Ventilation Practices in Schools was provided at the end of May following the work of an expert group that carefully considered the role of ventilation in managing COVID-19.
A link to the published guidance and the associated background information is available at:
- https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/ad236-guidance-on-ventilation-in-schools/
- https://www.gov.ie/ga/foilsiuchan/aerala-i-scoileanna/
The over-arching approach in the guidance is for schools to have windows open as fully as possible when classrooms are not in use (e.g. during break-times or lunch-times and also at the end of each school day) and partially open when classrooms are in use.
The guidance outlines that Carbon Dioxide (CO2) monitors can play a part in providing a useful general indication that areas/rooms may not be adequately ventilated. They can enable occupants to become familiar with the impacts of activities, outdoor weather and window openings on levels of good ventilation.
The Department procured a sufficient number of portable CO2 monitors, to ensure that CO2 monitors will be available for use in every classroom in the country, at an estimated overall cost of €4m.
Deliveries of CO2 monitors to schools commenced in the third week of August and are expected to be completed by mid-September. In total, it involves over 35,000 CO2 monitors being distributed to primary and post-primary schools.
As of the 7th of September 16,200 units have been delivered to schools across the country. The target remains to have all monitors delivered by the middle of September.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Questions (628)
Cian O'Callaghan
Question:628. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Education if she has issued guidance in relation to awards or benefits to students for full attendance in view of the Covid-19 pandemic; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42900/21]
View answerWritten answers
Under the provisions of the Education Act 1998, the Board of Management is responsible for the governance of a school. The Board has overall responsibility for school policies including responsibility for encouraging regular school attendance. My Department has provided guidance to schools in relation to the recording and reporting of COVID-19 related absences.
The Education Welfare Services of the Child and Family Agency (TUSLA) promotes school attendance and provides education welfare services to support and monitor children’s attendance, participation and retention in education.
The Education Welfare Service (EWS) published “Developing the Statement of Strategy for School Attendance: Guidelines for schools” which is aimed at promoting and supporting school attendance and includes provision for rewarding students with good school attendance records. This publication is available at https://www.tusla.ie/uploads/content/FINAL_SAS_strategy_eng_2jun.pdf.
Schools Building Projects
Questions (629)
Jennifer Carroll MacNeill
Question:629. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Education the status of the permanent site location for a school (details supplied); her plans for a temporary site for the 2022-2023 academic year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42901/21]
View answerWritten answers
Following an extensive site identification and assessment exercise, to identify a permanent site location for Gaelscoil Laighean, agreement in principle has been reached with the executive of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, to bring forward to the Elected Members of the Council the transfer of land at the old Mount Anville Depot, Mount Merrion to the Department for the development of a school to accommodate Gaelscoil Laighean.
This site is very well located to serve the Boosterstown_Blackrock School Planning Area, which Gaelscoil Laighean was established to serve, and includes the areas of Booterstown, Blackrock, Mount Merrion, Roebuck, Farranboley & Clonskeagh.
The land transfer is subject to agreement on site valuation, contract and the statutory approval of the Council. The site will transfer in line with DPER circular 11/2015 which is the protocol which applies for the transfer of State property between State bodies.
The process of exploring suitable alternative interim accommodation for the school to which the Deputy refers for the 2022/23 academic year will commence shortly. The school patron and school authority will be kept updated in this regard.
Schools Building Projects
Questions (630)
Jennifer Carroll MacNeill
Question:630. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Education the status of the building for a school (details supplied); the status of the request for additional information supplied by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42902/21]
View answerWritten answers
The building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is being delivered under my Department’s Design and Build Programme. This delivery programme uses a professional external Project Management team to progress the project through the stages of architectural planning, tendering and construction.
An application for Planning Permission in respect of the works was submitted to the relevant Local Authority in March 2021. A Request for Further Information (RFI) was received in May 2021.
My Department’s Design and Build Project Management team are actively working on this RFI and a response will be issued as soon as possible.
School Facilities
Questions (631)
Jennifer Carroll MacNeill
Question:631. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Education the support being provided to a school (details supplied) given the difficulties it is facing with enrolment due to the lack of certainty on the school building; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42904/21]
View answerWritten answers
Officials in the Department are currently in negotiations with a state body regarding the acquisition of a site in their ownership. This site is intended to be the permanent location for Sallynoggin ETNS. Due to commercial sensitivities relating to site acquisitions generally it is not possible to provide further details at this time. The patron body will be informed of the location for the school as soon as it is possible to do so.
The process of exploring suitable alternative interim accommodation for the school to which the Deputy refers for the 2022/23 academic year will commence shortly. The school patron and school authority will be kept updated in this regard.
Departmental Functions
Questions (632)
Jennifer Carroll MacNeill
Question:632. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Education the status of a representation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42905/21]
View answerWritten answers
The correspondence the Deputy refers to is being considered by officials in my Department and a response will be issued shortly.
Covid-19 Tests
Questions (633)
Jennifer Carroll MacNeill
Question:633. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Education if her Department plans to implement a system of lateral flow testing specifically for the protection of teachers from Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42908/21]
View answerWritten answers
The Department of Education is working with the HSE Testing Pathways Working Group which is examining the use of antigen testing in education settings. A number of pilot projects are underway in childcare and third level settings in recent weeks. The approach to antigen setting in education settings, including in schools will be informed by these pilots.
The Department of Education will continue to work with the group as it is considered important that any data collected from a 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 has an ongoing close working relationship with the Department of Health and the HSE throughout the period of the pandemic in the context of implementing important infection prevention control measures in schools to ensure that they can operate safely.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Questions (634)
Gary Gannon
Question:634. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education the number of CO2 monitors which have been delivered to schools; the number left to deliver; the deadline for delivery; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42912/21]
View answerWritten answers
Managing ventilation is just one of a suite of public health measures in place to keep our schools safe. Updated guidance for schools on Practical Steps for the Deployment of Good Ventilation Practices in Schools was provided at the end of May following the work of an expert group that carefully considered the role of ventilation in managing COVID-19.
A copy of the guidance is published at https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/ad236-guidance-on-ventilation-in-schools/.
The over-arching approach in the guidance is for schools to have windows open as fully as possible when classrooms are not in use (e.g. during break-times or lunch-times and also at the end of each school day) and partially open when classrooms are in use.
The guidance outlines that Carbon Dioxide (CO2) monitors can play a part in providing a useful general indication that areas/rooms may not be adequately ventilated. They can enable occupants to become familiar with the impacts of activities, outdoor weather and window openings on levels of good ventilation.
The Department procured a number of portable monitors that are being distributed to schools in August and September – between 2 and 20 at primary level and between 20 and 35 at post-primary level depending on school size at an estimated overall cost of €4 million. This will ensure that a CO2 monitor will be available for use in every classroom in Ireland. The monitors are portable, simple to use, and will give a digital reading. The provision of portable CO2 monitors provides schools with the flexibility to focus their use to those rooms where most beneficial to inform strategies for optimising ventilation in the school.
Deliveries of CO2 monitors to schools commenced in the third week of August and are expected to be completed by mid-September. In total, it involves over 35,000 CO2 monitors being distributed to , primary and post-primary schools in the Free Scheme and schools approved on the basis of their application in the Fee Charging sector.
Smaller sized schools will receive their full allocation in one delivery, with medium and larger sized schools receiving two deliveries. This approach maximises the number of schools that are provided with monitors as early as possible.
The target remains to have all monitors delivered by the middle of September.
Government Communications
Questions (635)
Gary Gannon
Question:635. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education if her Ministerial phones have been hacked or attempted to be hacked during the term of office. [42921/21]
View answerWritten answers
There are no records indicating that my Ministerial mobile phone nor the Ministerial mobile phone of my colleague Josepha Madigan TD was hacked.
Government Communications
Questions (636)
Gary Gannon
Question:636. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education if she has ever used her personal phones for Government business; and if so, if the personal phones have been hacked during her term of office. [42939/21]
View answerWritten answers
I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department has issued me with a mobile phone. However, I also have a personal phone which I also use on occasion. I am not aware of my personal phone having been hacked during my term of office.
Schools Building Projects
Questions (637)
Gary Gannon
Question:637. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education the status of progress on the building of a permanent school building for a school (details supplied); if a suitable site has been identified for the building; and the timeframe for completion of the build. [42957/21]
View answerWritten answers
I can confirm that a permanent site option for the school referred to by the Deputy has been identified. Due to the sensitive nature of site acquisitions in general, it is not possible to give further details at this time.
It is difficult to indicate a timeframe for any site acquisition as each process is unique and in some instances complex issues can arise which may cause delays.
Nevertheless, the Department is committed to delivering a permanent site for the school referred to and are treating this as a priority.
Freedom of Information
Questions (638)
Matt Carthy
Question:638. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Education the number of freedom of information requests responded to by her Department in each of the years 2016 to 2020 and to date in 2021; the number of responses that included documents related to text messages and other phone message communications such as messages sent through an application (details supplied) in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42961/21]
View answerWritten answers
My Department reports annually to both the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Office of the Information Commissioner on Freedom of Information activity. The Office of the Information Commissioner publish this data in its annual report and the annual reports up to 2020 are available on the OIC’s website.
The following table provides the total number of requests received and processed by my Department for the years 2016 through to 2021.
|
Year |
Total FOI |
|
2021 ytd |
366 |
|
2020 |
558 |
|
2019 |
505 |
|
2018 |
568 |
|
2017 |
548 |
|
2016 |
494 |
As to the number of responses that include documents related to phone message communications, the eFOI system does not allow for the bulk examination of the thousands of records released under the FOI Act.
My Department routinely publishes FOI Disclosure Logs containing summary information on non-personal FOI requests processed and these logs can be accessed via our website.
Commissions of Investigation
Questions (639)
David Cullinane
Question:639. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Education the cost of each commission of investigation under the remit of her Department over the preceding decade. [42990/21]
View answerWritten answers
There have been no commissions of investigation, established under the Commissions of Investigation Act 2004, under the remit of the Department of Education over the past decade.
The Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse was established in 1999 and was subsequently put on a statutory basis under the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse Act, 2000.
The overall cost of the Commission paid by the Department of Education since inception is €84 million.
The overall cost per year over the past decade is outlined in the table below:
|
Year |
Total € |
|
2011 |
2,172,803.13 |
|
2012 |
1,295,522.87 |
|
2013 |
2,815,834.08 |
|
2014 |
7,167,973.52 |
|
2015 |
1,290,119.43 |
|
2016 |
730,491.82 |
|
2017 |
880,322.41 |
|
2018 |
688,892.77 |
|
2019 |
1,433,025.04 |
|
2020 |
597,605.63 |
|
TOTAL |
19,072,590.70 |
School Staff
Questions (640)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:640. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education if the case of a school (details supplied) will be examined; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43016/21]
View answerWritten answers
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:
-vExisting 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 https://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 Departments 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.