Written Answers Nos. 437-457
437. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education if administrative status will be provided to primary school teaching principals with special classes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43949/21]
View answer438. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education the estimated costs of providing administrative status to primary school teaching principals with special classes; the number of schools involved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43951/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 437 and 438 together.
I am keenly aware of the huge contribution made by all Principals in our schools, including principals in schools with special classes.
The allocation of an Administrative Principal position to a school is based on the school’s enrolment. A reduced enrolment threshold applies to schools operating 2 Autism special classes so that an Administrative Principal is allocated on the basis of 112 pupils in ordinary schools, rather than the standard 175 pupil requirement. Lower thresholds apply to DEIS Urban Band 1 and 2 schools.
As part of the covid-19 supports provided under The Roadmap for the Full Return to School, specific funding was provided to support Principals who undertake teaching duties in primary schools. This funding provides each teaching principal with a minimum of one release day per week so that each school with a teaching principal has 37 Principal Release Days. Schools have been advised that, in the context of COVID-19, the additional allocation of Principal Release Days outlined in Circular 45/2020, "COVID-19 Operational Supports for the Full Return to School" will remain in place for the 2021/22 school year. The additional four release days allocated to schools with special classes, under Circular 19/2020, remains in place so that teaching principals of schools with a special class receive an allocation of 41 Principal Release Days.
Based on the most recent figures, it would cost in excess of €6.8 million to allocate an administrative principal to the 141 schools with special classes. The staffing process at primary level for the 2021/22 school year is ongoing and the final number will not be known until the Autumn when the staffing process has been completed.
439. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Education when a club (details supplied) will receive compensation agreed by her Department in April 2021. [43972/21]
View answerMy Department has held without prejudice discussions with the club referred to by the Deputy regarding a claim they have made against my Department in order to ascertain if the matter could be resolved. My Department on legal advice does not accept any liability in respect of the claim made by the club. Any without prejudice offer made by my Department in an effort to resolve the matter would entail a special payment that would have to be sanctioned by my colleague the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. Due to the without prejudice nature of these discussions my Department cannot comment further on the detail of this matter at this time.
440. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education if she will provide a list all new primary schools in County Louth and east County Meath with associated final costs of same for 2010 and to date in 2021, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43981/21]
View answer441. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education if she will provide a list all new post-primary schools in County Louth and east County Meath with associated final costs of same for 2010 and to date in 2021, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43987/21]
View answer442. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education if she will provide a list of additional accommodation works carried out on all primary and post-primary schools in County Louth and east County Meath with associated final costs of same for 2010 and to date in 2021, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43988/21]
View answer444. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education if she will provide a list of all live applications for new schools, additional accommodation and emergency accommodation in County Louth and east County Meath with the projected costings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43990/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 440, 441, 442 and 444 together.
The information requested by the Deputy is not readily available in the format requested. However, the information is being collated by officials in my Department andwill be made available to the Deputy very shortly.
443. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education if she will provide a list of emergency accommodation works carried out on all primary and post primary schools in County Louth and east County Meath with associated final costs of same for 2010 and to date in 2021, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43989/21]
View answerI would like to inform the Deputy that the Emergency Work Scheme commenced in 2011. The information provided in the table below relates to all approved Emergency Works projects prior to the tendering process from January 1st, 2021 to date. It is not possible to issue individual amounts for schools as this is commercially sensitive information, however grant funding for each County is provided.
|
County |
Schools |
Works Project/Grant Funding |
|
|
Louth |
18936K |
St Itas Special school |
Gas Works |
|
Louth |
63860I |
Sacred Heart Secondary School |
Mechanical Works |
|
Louth |
18382Q |
Scoil Bhride |
Mechanical Works |
|
Louth |
19246N |
S N An Tslanaitheora B |
Toilet Facilities |
|
Louth |
02745N |
Tallonstown NS |
External (School yard work) |
|
|
|
Overall Amount awarded prior to Tender |
€462,454.17 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Meath |
16646O |
St. Marys Primary School |
Other Structural Improvements(Door replacement) |
|
Meath |
20180Q |
Scoil Naomh Eoin |
Mechanical Works |
|
Meath |
17480L |
S N Baile Cheant |
Mechanical Works |
|
Meath |
12788O |
Flowerfield N S |
Mechanical Works (Boiler) |
|
Meath |
16774A |
Scoil Eoin Báiste |
Roof Works |
|
Meath |
19486K |
Scoil Nais Deaglain |
Mechanical Works (Heating) |
|
Meath |
64450R |
Scoil Mhuire |
Toilet Facilities |
|
Meath |
19725C |
Gaelscoil Eanna |
Roof works |
|
Meath |
16067V |
Scoil Nais Finin Naofa |
Roof Works |
|
Meath |
17520U |
SN Mhuire |
External Environmental Projects (ASD Unit fencing) |
|
|
|
Overall Amount awarded prior to Tender |
€157,780.56 |
445. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education the amount paid in late interest payments and penalty payments by her Department in each of the years 2017 to 2020 and to date in 2021 in respect of late payments being made to suppliers, service providers and contractors in tabular form; and the measures she has put in place and or is implementing to reduce late payment interest and penalty payments. [44000/21]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, under the Prompt Payment Act 1997, and later the SI 580 2012 European Communities (Late Payment in Commercial Transactions) Regulations 2012, my Department is required to pay Prompt Payment Interest on valid invoices that are not processed within 30 days. In this scenario the Department applies a daily 8% interest rate (which is the ECB rate of 0.00% plus the margin of 8%) followed by a compensating amount based on the value of the invoice, as follows: Invoice Amount not exceeding €1,000 - Compensation of €40; Invoice Amount exceeding €1,000 but not exceeding €10,000 - Compensation of €70; and Invoice Amount exceeding €10,000 - Compensation of €100.
My Department monitors these payments to ensure that they are paid as promptly as possible and to reduce the possibility of Prompt Payment Interest and associated compensation being applied.
At present my Department provides a financial shared service to the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (D/FHERIS). From January 2020 to March 2021 all published Prompt Payment returns for the Department of Education and D/FHERIS were reported under the Department of Education. This was due to the establishment of D/FHERIS during 2020 and the requirement for both Departments to use a common financial management system until the system was updated. Following the successful update to the financial management system, from April 2021 onwards the system is able to fully separate out the Prompt Payment returns between the two Departments.
All Prompt Payment amounts are published each quarter and can be found here – www.gov.ie/en/collection/396d1d-prompt-payment-returns/
The following is a summary by year of the costs included in the published reports since 2017.
- 2017: € 4,137
- 2018: € 5,014
- 2019: € 7,552
- 2020: € 7,270
- 2021 (Jan-Jun): €9,654
446. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Education the process to make submissions to the primary school curriculum and assessment board to support an innovate product that will enhance the primary school teaching methodology. [44021/21]
View answerThe current policy of the Department of Education is not to endorse or promote any particular programme, product or publication to support the teaching of subjects. There are limited exceptions where the department has procured textbooks or resources in order to fill a specific and urgent need, for example Leaving Certificate Japanese and Italian. Apart from a small number of prescribed texts at post-primary level, determined by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA), the decisions on which, textbooks, programmes and resources, if any, to use in primary and post-primary schools are taken at school level.
Curriculum specifications and prescribed syllabus material are determined by the NCCA and it is the responsibility of each individual school to select the resources, if any, that it will use to support its implementation of the curriculum.
Curriculum development work is carried out on behalf of the NCCA by Boards and development groups. Members of development groups are nominated as representatives of their nominating bodies which comprise the key stakeholders and partners in education. These groups consist of people with a wide range of relevant experience and expertise and memberships of such groups can be viewed here ncca.ie/en/about-ncca/boards-and-development-groups .
The knowledge and skills that students are expected to gain across all curriculum areas are published by the NCCA in subject specifications on www.curriculumonline.ie . The subject specifications do not set out the specific detail of how each topic should be addressed. Rather they set out the important learning in broad learning outcomes. Teachers use these learning outcomes to plan teaching and learning and have considerable flexibility in deciding how they will teach subject content so that it is appropriate to their context. Importantly, they can also exercise their professional judgment in deciding which resources or textbooks, if any, will best support them in the classroom.
In relation to developments underway at primary level, the NCCA published the Draft Primary Curriculum Framework for consultation in February 2020. Originally, it was intended that the consultation would be open for up to eight months to ensure widespread engagement with the proposals it contains. However, due to the pandemic and the circumstances in schools, the consultation was re-designed. The re-design has two phases:
Phase 1 involved engagement with national stakeholder organisations and bodies, and was open from February 2020 to January 2021 during which time meetings were conducted with over 50 organisations. 140 written submissions were also received.
Phase 2 will involve engagement with the general public, teachers, school leaders, parents and, importantly, children. This phase will open in late-October 2021 and remain open into early 2022.
The views of participants will be collected through open invitation focus groups, online questionnaires, written submissions and through working directly with school communities.
All information is shared widely through the NCCA’s social media channels and on their website within the ‘primary developments’ section - ncca.ie/en/primary/primary-developments/
447. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Education the measures and proposals her Department has taken or plans taking to regularise pay, conditions and pensions of secretaries and caretakers to ensure they are treated in the same way as other staff in schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44027/21]
View answerThe Department is aware of the vitally important role played by school secretaries and caretakers 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. On the 27th of October 2020, under the auspices of the WRC, an understanding was agreed on a pathway to progress the issues. Several key strands have been identified, and a phased approach is being taken to the development of proposals.
As part of this process, an offer on pay was outlined to Fórsa at an engagement at the WRC on 30th July but was rejected. Fórsa subsequently announced a day of industrial action on 15th September.
Following intensive discussions at the WRC on 13th September, there has been significant progress in this dispute. The Department welcomes the deferral of the action scheduled for Wednesday 15th September to allow for intensive talks to resume aimed at resolving the claim and agreeing a final package.
Subject to agreement on all elements of the claim, the Department has offered to move School Secretaries’ pay rates to a scale which is aligned with the Clerical Officer Grade III pay scale within education and training boards on a pro rata basis with an effective date of implementation for these new pay arrangements of 1st September 2021. Pay rates will be pro rata according to a secretary’s current working pattern.
The assimilation of School Secretaries to the CO Grade III pay scale will require further dialogue between the parties and an intensive engagement will take place of over the next two/three weeks to allow this to be finalised.
The Department has offered to improve the conditions for School Secretaries with regard to sick leave, annual leave and maternity provisions for this cohort of staff. This will take place via direct engagement with the unions in the coming weeks in addition to engagement on other elements of the claim and subject to all elements being agreed.
While there is agreement in principle to take the same approach to the consideration of appropriate pay and conditions of grant funded caretakers there remains a deficit of data on working terms and conditions of such staff. When the final package for secretaries has been agreed and an implementation plan in place for schools and DE, that intensive engagement will begin on regularising the pay and conditions of grant funded caretakers.
448. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Education when proposals will be developed to sanction public service status for secretaries and caretakers in schools who are seeking parity with clerical staff working in ETB schools. [44028/21]
View answerThe Department is aware of the vitally important role played by school secretaries and caretakers 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. On the 27th of October 2020, under the auspices of the WRC, an understanding was agreed on a pathway to progress the issues. Several key strands have been identified, and a phased approach is being taken to the development of proposals.
As part of this process, an offer on pay was outlined to Fórsa at an engagement at the WRC on 30th July but was rejected. Fórsa subsequently announced a day of industrial action on 15th September.
Following intensive discussions at the WRC on 13th September, there has been significant progress in this dispute. The Department welcomes the deferral of the action scheduled for Wednesday 15th September to allow for intensive talks to resume aimed at resolving the claim and agreeing a final package.
Subject to agreement on all elements of the claim, the Department has offered to move School Secretaries’ pay rates to a scale which is aligned with the Clerical Officer Grade III pay scale within education and training boards on a pro rata basis with an effective date of implementation for these new pay arrangements of 1st September 2021. Pay rates will be pro rata according to a secretary’s current working pattern.
The assimilation of School Secretaries to the CO Grade III pay scale will require further dialogue between the parties and an intensive engagement will take place of over the next two/three weeks to allow this to be finalised.
The Department has offered to improve the conditions for School Secretaries with regard to sick leave, annual leave and maternity provisions for this cohort of staff. This will take place via direct engagement with the unions in the coming weeks in addition to engagement on other elements of the claim and subject to all elements being agreed.
While there is agreement in principle to take the same approach to the consideration of appropriate pay and conditions of grant funded caretakers there remains a deficit of data on working terms and conditions of such staff. When the final package for secretaries has been agreed and an implementation plan in place for schools and DE, that intensive engagement will begin on regularising the pay and conditions of grant funded caretakers.
449. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Education when examiners will be paid for the written corrections of leaving certificate papers completed in summer 2021 considering that their work was completed some time ago; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44029/21]
View answerThe State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations.
In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.
450. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Education the plans in place for the leaving certificate 2022; if there will be accommodations to reflect the disruption experience by those in fifth year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44044/21]
View answerI am conscious that students who are due to take their Leaving Certificate examinations in 2022 have experienced a degree of disruption to their learning.
My Department co-chairs an Advisory Group on Planning for State Examinations in conjunction with the State Examinations Commission. The group was originally established to consider contingency arrangements for the 2020 Leaving Certificate and was reconstituted for the purposes of planning for the 2021 Leaving Certificate. The group includes representatives of students, parents, teachers, school leadership and management bodies, the State Examinations Commission (SEC), the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and the Department of Education, including the National Educational Psychological Service.
In meetings held in April and May, this group discussed the Leaving Certificate 2022 examinations.
On 30 June, the Advisory Group on Planning for State Examinations received an update in relation to the 2022 Leaving Certificate and Junior Cycle examinations.
Following this meeting, I announced that adjustments would be made to the 2022 examinations which are similar to those published in December 2020 in respect of Leaving Certificate 2021.
The adjustments are outlined in Assessment Arrangements for Junior and Leaving Certificate 2022, which is available on www.gov.ie/leavingcertificate.
These adjustments will leave intact the familiar overall structure of the examinations, while incorporating additional choice for students in the examinations.
The adjustments provide greater choice for candidates across a wide range of subjects.
A summary advice note setting out the key curriculum and assessment arrangements for Leaving Certificate Applied Year 1 and Year 2 students in the 2021/22 school year has also been published and is also available on www.gov.ie/leavingcertificate.
It is hoped that incoming sixth year students will be able to complete a full year of in-school tuition following their return to school for the 2021/22 school year, and will experience no further disruption to their learning as a result of Covid-19
It was also announced, on 30 June that the State Examinations Commission (SEC) will run an alternative set of Leaving Certificate Examinations in 2022, shortly following the main set of examinations. The SEC will set out the eligibility conditions for these examinations, which will be limited to certain students who are unable to sit the main set of examinations due to close family bereavement, COVID-19 illness during those examinations, and certain other categories of serious illness, to be clearly and strictly delineated. The SEC will issue further details regarding these examinations, with all arrangements guided by prevailing public health advice. There will also be further engagement with stakeholders in this matter.
451. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education her plans to reduce class sizes, support school leaders and increase school funding in the future given that these issues are of concern to teachers and principals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44057/21]
View answerUnder the Programme for Government there is a commitment to make further progress in reducing the pupil teacher ratios in primary schools and supporting small schools.
As part of the Budget 2021 measures, the Government have sought to deliver on this commitment by the announcement of a 1 point change to the primary staffing schedule and the introduction of a three point reduction in the number of pupils needed to retain a teacher. For the 2021/22 school year the staffing schedule is on the basis of 1 teacher for every 25 pupils.
The latest figures in relation to pupil teacher ratio shows an improved ratio of teachers to pupils from 16:1 to 14.5:1 at primary level when comparing the 2015/16 school year to the 2020/21 school year. Average class sizes improved from 24.9 to 23.3 in the same period. The most recent budget announcement will continue the positive trend of improving class sizes.
The staffing schedule which now stands at a new historical low will help ensure better teacher retention in primary schools while also ensuring that less pupils are required to retain or recruit a teacher.
As part of the COVID-19 supports provided under The Roadmap for the Full Return to School in 2020, specific funding was provided to support Principals who undertake teaching duties in primary schools. This funding provided each teaching principal with a minimum of one release day per week. Schools have been advised that, in the context of COVID-19, the additional allocation of Principal Release Days outlined in Circular 45/2020, "COVID-19 Operational Supports for the Full Return to School" will remain in place for the 2021/22 school year and each school with a teaching principal will have 37 Principal Release Days.
In total 1700 additional leadership posts have been invested in our primary schools since the lifting of the moratorium on posts of responsibility in 2017, which has led to 1 in 3 teachers now holding promoted positions. The Department has committed to annually revising the allocation of Posts of Responsibility to take into account retirements during the school year which ensures that the current level of Posts of Responsibility are maintained in the school system. The most recent update for the current school year is available on the Department's website (Circular 0025/2021). This recognises the key role school leadership has in promoting a school environment which is welcoming, inclusive and accountable.
The Substitute Teacher Supply Panel was expanded last year, from a pilot scheme consisting of 6 base schools to 132 Substitute Teacher Supply Panels nationwide, with almost 380 newly appointed Supply Panel teachers employed, providing substitute cover to over 2,500 schools across the country. Primary schools have been informed that the Supply Panel Scheme will continue for the 2021/22 school year.
I understand the need for improved capitation funding and I am pleased that Budget 2020 has been able to provide for a further 2.5% increase in standard capitation funding for primary schools that applied from the start of the 2020/21 school year. This builds on the 5% increase in capitation announced in Budget 2019.
The combined increases given in 2019 and 2020 mean that circa 40% restoration will be achieved.
All schools have received the benefit of the capitation increases awarded to date. It is my intention to seek funding for further capitation increases in future budgets.
452. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education if she will reply to correspondence (details supplied) regarding schools in the south County Dublin area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44071/21]
View answerMy Department has recently received the correspondence referred to by the Deputy. The matters raised will require input across a number sections within the Planning and Building Unit within my Department. The necessary information is currently being collated and a response with issue in due course.
453. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education if additional information is being considered for an SNA appeal for a school (details supplied) in County Donegal; when a decision will be made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44075/21]
View answerThe 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 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.
454. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education if she will address a matter (details supplied) regarding the teaching of a school subject; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44092/21]
View answerLanguages Connect, Ireland’s Strategy for Foreign Languages in Education 2017 – 2026 aims to increase and diversify the range of languages taught and learned in our schools and Higher Education Institutions.
As part of the Strategy, four new Foreign Language curricula were developed by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) for Leaving Certificate following a public consultation process; Lithuanian, Polish, Portuguese and Mandarin Chinese.
These four new curricula are available for schools since September 2020 with a first Leaving Certificate examination in summer 2022.
We currently have over 1,000 students studying Mandarin Chinese at Junior Cycle, TY and Leaving Certificate levels.
Concerns were raised during the public consultation process about the supply of Mandarin Chinese teachers. To address these concerns, the Department asked the Chinese Ministry of Education if they could supply teachers if required, this was agreed to and included in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two Departments.
To date, we have been able to source Mandarin Chinese teachers domestically to fulfil the demands of our schools so we have not had to rely on the provision in the MoU.
In order to ensure that the teaching of Mandarin Chinese is sustainable into the future, the Department is considering future teacher training requirements.
455. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education the average length of time that school principals are waiting for direct contact from the HSE following a confirmed case of Covid-19 in the school since schools reopened for the 2021-2022 school year. [44192/21]
View answerThe HSE has a well-established protocol in place to support schools where there is a confirmed case of Covid-19 connected with a school. HSE Schools Teams are in place, supported by over 100 Department of Education staff to support schools to deal with cases of Covid-19. There were some delays in making contact with schools in the first days after reopening but the backlog of cases have been cleared and the HSE school teams are working hard to respond to all the cases in a timely manner. The HSE has also reorganised the administration component of the work to ensure the teams can focus on the clinical aspects of the work.
The Department will continue to work with the HSE public health to support schools dealing with Covid-19.
Questions in relation to the operation of HSE support should be directed to the Department of Health.
456. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education her plans to provide further post-primary schools in addition to increased provision within existing schools for the Dublin 9 area given the acute increase in population; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44195/21]
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, school enrolment data and information on residential development activity, to identify where additional school accommodation is needed at primary and 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.
457. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education the steps she is taking to reduce the costs of returning to school for parents; if she will consider issuing guidelines to schools in relation to school uniforms in order that parents are not obliged to purchase expensive branded uniforms and instead can purchase generic lower cost uniforms onto which a school crest can be ironed on; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44196/21]
View answerUnder the Education Act 1998, all recognised schools are managed by the school board of management on behalf of the schools’ patrons or trustees or the relevant Education and Training Board (known as the management authority).
Individual school authorities are responsible for the drawing up of a school policy in relation to the wearing of uniforms. My Department issued Circular 32/2017 which sets out Principles of cost-effective practice to be adopted by schools to reduce the cost of school uniforms and other costs. These include the provision to parents of a list of all required items and indicate the likely costs of these required items at best value stores.
It also sets out that schools should consult with parents on their views and suggestions on cost reduction initiatives in relation to school uniforms.
