Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire
Question:432. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the status of a new school building for a school (details supplied). [45973/21]
View answerSchools Building Projects
Questions (432)
Written answers
The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of architectural planning, Stage 2(b) - Detailed Design.
In October 2020, in order to expedite the progression of this major building project the Department authorised DDLETB and its Design Team to commence a pre-qualification process to select a shortlist of contractors, in parallel with the Department’s review of the stage 2(b) submission for this project.
The Stage 2(b) report has been reviewed and my Department recently received Design Team confirmations from each member of the Design Team that they have carried out a final review of all of its tender documentation to ensure compliance with Department requirements.
Last week, my Department authorised the ETB and its design team to complete the pre-qualification process to shortlist building contractors and then proceed to Tender Stage.
School Funding
Questions (433)
Michael Creed
Question:433. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Education if her Department has received a proposal (details supplied); if her Department is in a position to provide funding for this proposed facility; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46026/21]
View answerWritten answers
I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has not received a proposal relating to the matter to which he refers. My Department is aware that there is engagement among stakeholders locally relating to a potential development.
Programme for Government
Questions (434)
Alan Farrell
Question:434. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Education the position regarding updating the national anti-bullying plan as committed to under the programme for Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46036/21]
View answerWritten answers
The Programme for Government reinforces our commitment to improve the learning experience and success of learners and specifically commits to updating the National Anti-Bullying Plan to include gender identity bullying. The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth committed in Better Outcomes Brighter Futures to “Develop a National Framework for Anti-Bullying, taking a community-wide approach to tackling bullying from childhood through to adulthood”.
As the Deputy is aware, I attended the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Education, Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science recently to provide an update on a number of issues including the measures that are being taken to prevent and tackle bullying in schools.
During my appearance at the Joint Committee, I announced that my Department will commence a review of my Department’s 2013 Action Plan on Bullying and the 2013 Anti-bullying Procedures for Primary and Post-primary Schools.
This review will take account of developments and relevant research since the action plan and procedures were published in 2013 and will specifically consider areas such as cyber bullying and gender identity bullying.
This work will involve significant consultation and collaboration across my Department, with other Government Departments and Bodies including the Ombudsman for Children, and will also involve consultation with a broad range of education stakeholders, including parents and students.
I also announced that during this school year, my Department’s Inspectorate is prioritising monitoring and gathering information about the implementation of anti-bullying measures in schools across all its inspection types.
As part of this work, the Inspectorate will also identify and report on examples of effective practice in relation to preventing and tacking bullying in schools. This will help provide evidence of the type of bullying that is occurring in our schools and examples of approaches that can be successful in dealing with it. An important part of the Inspectorate’s work will be a focus on the priority actions of schools in relation to promoting a positive school culture and climate.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Questions (435)
Alan Farrell
Question:435. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Education the status of the CO2 monitors supplied to schools; the measures being taken to address defective monitors; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46037/21]
View answerWritten answers
Good ventilation was identified as an important aspect of public health advice on managing Covid-19 risks and this led to the establishment of an Expert Group by the Department of Health. A sub-group of the main Expert Group focussed exclusively on the issue of improving and monitoring ventilation in schools.
This report formed the based for the most recent updating of the ventilation guidance for schools and included recommendations in relation to strengthening the message about the importance of good ventilation and the use of CO2 monitors.
The use of CO2 monitors can provide a useful general indication that areas/rooms within a building may not be adequately ventilated and can enable occupants to become familiar with the impact that activities, outdoor weather and window openings have on levels of good ventilation within a room. This information can be used to inform strategies for improving ventilation. The portable units can facilitate measurements in a wide range of locations in schools.
My Department procured portable monitors that are currently being distributed to schools – between 2 and 20 at primary school level and between 20 and 35 at post-primary school level depending on school size, at an estimated overall cost of €4 million. The monitors are portable, simple to use, and will give a digital reading.
Deliveries of CO2 monitors to schools commenced in the third week of August. In total, it involves over 35,000 CO2 monitors being distributed to primary and post-primary schools. 25,000 CO2 monitors have been distributed to schools to date, meaning that CO2 monitors have been delivered to each school in the country.
A fault was detected with the LCD display unit in the CO2 monitor in the last batch of 10,000 CO2 monitors by the manufacturer.
The quality assurance process means that there are no similar concerns with any of the 25,000 CO2 monitors that have already been distributed to schools.
For schools which have received a monitor which is not working as expected, this is unrelated with the above issue. It is most likely in these very small number of cases that the monitor simply got damaged in transit. In the case where a monitor provide to a schools is not operating as expected, the school should contact Lennox Laboratories who will arrange for a replacement monitor to be provided.
96% of primary schools (including all special schools) have received their full allocation of CO2 monitors. 10 CO2 monitors have been provided to schools at post-primary level. The remaining balance of CO2 monitors is expected to be distributed in October.
In the interim, the Department has advised schools that if they wish, they can make arrangements directly for procuring the balance of their CO2 monitors directly themselves, rather than via the current arrangements.
The Department is providing schools with a technical specification for the monitors, and schools may share these specifications with suppliers for guidance. The cost incurred by a school in procuring the shortfall in CO2 monitors locally can be recouped from the Department.
School Accommodation
Questions (436)
Alan Farrell
Question:436. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Education the measures being taken to ensure the education system can meet demand in Swords, County Dublin with regard to its growing population; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46038/21]
View answerWritten answers
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 primary and post-primary level.
The most recent projections for the Swords school planning areas indicate stable enrolments at primary and moderate increases 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 Swords area, including expansions at Holywell ETNS, St. Colmcille’s and Holy Family NS. New school buildings are to be delivered for Rivervalley CNS and Broadmeadow CNS which were established in recent years. Furthermore, at post primary level, additional accommodation plans are being considered for St. Finian’s Community College and Loreto College, Swords. A project for Swords Community College is on site and nearing completion.
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 Swords, 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.
School Funding
Questions (437, 439)
Alan Farrell
Question:437. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Education if she will address the reported shortage of books in school libraries; the actions her Department is taking to ensure adequate supply; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46039/21]
View answer
Mick Barry
Question:439. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Education if she will take steps to ensure that funding is allocated to schools to ensure they can properly stock and update their school libraries; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46051/21]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 437 and 439 together.
An arrangement was made through An Chomhairle Leabharlanna in 1971, whereby the local authority librarians would provide services for schools. At that time my Department made a grant available for this purpose based on the number of pupils enrolled in primary schools in the local authority areas.
The amount of the grant payable to each local authority was based on the number of primary pupils in the relevant area and amounted to €4.52 per pupil. The full year estimated cost of reinstating the library grant is circa €2.5m
As Minister for Education and Skills I am very conscious of the importance of library services and the value of these in the context of the supports available to schools.
Schools Building Projects
Questions (438)
David Cullinane
Question:438. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Education if there has been an update in relation to the provision of an Educate Together school in Waterford; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46050/21]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy may be aware, 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, utilising data from a range of sources including information on planned and current residential development, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise.
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 local authority to obtain the up-to-date data on significant new residential development in each area. My Department then makes an assessment of the existing capacity within the particular area and its ability to meet increased demand.
Where data indicates that additional provision is required at primary or post primary level, the delivery of such additional provision is dependent on the particular circumstances of each case and may be provided through either one, or a combination of, the following:
- Utilising existing unused capacity within a school or schools,
- Extending the capacity of a school or schools,
- Provision of a new school or schools.
While there are currently no plans to establish an additional school in Waterford, the requirement for additional school places is kept under on-going review.
Where it has been decided, based on demographic analysis, that a new school is required, a patronage identification process takes place. The patronage process is open to all patron bodies, including Educate Together, and prospective patrons. An Online Patronage Process System (OPPS) has been in operation under my Department since 2018 and provides objective information to parents in the relevant school planning areas to assist them in making an informed choice about their preferred model of patronage and language of instruction for the new school. Parental preferences from parents of children who reside in the school planning areas concerned, together with the extent of diversity currently available in these areas, are key to decisions in relation to the outcome of the process.
Question No. 439 answered with Question No. 437.
School Funding
Questions (440)
Mick Barry
Question:440. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Education the investment she will make to a school (details supplied) to ensure that it has the buildings and facilities that it requires; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46052/21]
View answerWritten answers
The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of architectural planning, Stage 2(b) - Detailed Design.
In October 2020, in order to expedite the progression of this major building project the Department authorised DDLETB and its Design Team to commence a pre-qualification process to select a shortlist of contractors, in parallel with the Department’s review of the stage 2(b) submission for this project.
The Stage 2(b) report has been reviewed and my Department recently received Design Team confirmations from each member of the Design Team that they have carried out a final review of all of its tender documentation to ensure compliance with Department requirements.
My Department last week authorised the ETB and its design team to complete the pre-qualification process to shortlist building contractors and then proceed to Tender Stage.
I would like to inform the Deputy that the DDLETB submitted and were approved funding under my Departments Emergency Works Scheme to repair two prefab roofs at the school in question.
My Department will continue to liaise with the DDLETB to establish any further funding when can be applied for under the Emergency Works Scheme.
School Transport
Questions (441)
Marc MacSharry
Question:441. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Education if her Department will sanction the transportation of a disabled child (details supplied) by the school bus service to a respite centre on a Friday evening when the child is due a respite weekend given that the centre is located close to one of the school bus stops; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46064/21]
View answerWritten answers
School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2020/21 school year over 114,100 children, including over 14,700 children with special educational needs, are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country at a cost of over €224.7m in 2020.
Under the terms of my Department’s School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs, children are eligible for school transport where they have special educational needs arising from a diagnosed disability and are attending the nearest recognised school/class that is resourced to meet their special educational needs. Eligibility is determined following consultation with the National Council for Special Education through its network of Special Education Needs Organisers.
Under the terms of the School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs, transport is provided from home to school, however the Department does consider request for transport to respite for an eligible child based on a number of conditions, including where there is an existing service in place, there is no change to the existing service (time or route), the arrangement is a consistent arrangement and where there is no inconvenience to any other child on the service (time or change of route).
Requests for transport to/from respite are considered on an individual basis and I can confirm that School Transport Section will revert to the family directly in this regard.
Education Policy
Questions (442)
Alan Dillon
Question:442. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Education the way she plans to increase public investment in the education sector given in the OECD report on Government investment in education, Ireland sits 36 out of 36. [46102/21]
View answerWritten answers
There are various expenditure measures presented in the OECD’s most recent Education at a Glance, and expenditure as a percentage of GDP is just one of them. Ireland has consistently argued that, given the well-known measurement issues with GDP due to globalisation effects, an alternative measure should be used. This is acknowledged in the methodological notes of the report which notes that in 2016 Ireland produced a modified estimate of the gross national income (GNI*) that was recommended by the Economic Statistics Review Group and which is designed to specifically exclude these effects. My Department's estimate indicates that education expenditure as a percentage of GNI was 5.4% in 2018, which would leave Ireland ranked twelfth out of 36 OECD countries using that indicator.
An alternative measure of government commitment to education spending can be seen in Ireland's measure of public expenditure on education as a percentage of total public expenditure, which in 2018 stood at 12.6%, well above the OECD average which stood at 10.7%. Ireland was ranked tenth for this indicator in the OECD report.
With regard to public investment in education it should be noted that in the Programme for Government – Our Shared Future, this Government is committed to building a world class education system.
Over recent budgets, additional resources have been made available to our schools, including through the delivery of thousands of extra teaching and Special Needs Assistant posts, increased capitation in schools, enhanced supports for school leadership and an improved staffing schedule in primary schools. This is in addition to the significant COVID-19 financial resources provided in 2020 and again in 2021 to allow schools to operate in accordance with the latest public health guidance.
In the context of Budget 2022 we will continue to seek movement for Ireland's education system, aim to deliver on the commitments set out in the Programme for Government, to meet demographic and other pressures in the school sector and to support and sustain our schools, their staff and our students in the face of the ongoing significant challenges posed by COVID-19.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Questions (443)
Seán Crowe
Question:443. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Education the number of CO2 monitors that have been delivered to schools; the number of monitors required for the total commitment of a monitor in every classroom; and the current projected cost of the project. [46109/21]
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 on the Gov.ie website.
This report formed the based for the most recent updating of the ventilation guidance for schools and included recommendations in relation to strengthening the message about the importance of good ventilation and the use of CO2 monitors.
The use of CO2 monitors can provide a useful general indication that areas/rooms within a building may not be adequately ventilated and can enable occupants to become familiar with the impact that activities, outdoor weather and window openings have on levels of good ventilation within a room. This information can be used to inform strategies for improving ventilation and in that regard the Department of Education has funded the provision of a number of portable CO2 monitors for schools at an estimated overall cost of circa €4 million. The portable units can facilitate measurements in a wide range of locations in schools.
My Department procured portable monitors that are currently being distributed to schools – between 2 and 20 at primary school level and between 20 and 35 at post-primary school level depending on school size, at an estimated overall cost of €4 million. The monitors are portable, simple to use, and will give a digital reading.
Deliveries of CO2 monitors to schools commenced in the third week of August. In total, it involves over 35,000 CO2 monitors being distributed to primary and post-primary schools. 25,000 CO2 monitors have been distributed to schools to date, meaning that CO2 monitors have been delivered to each school in the country.
96% of primary schools (including all special schools) have received their full allocation of CO2 monitors. 10 CO2 monitors have been provided to schools at post-primary level. The remaining balance of CO2 monitors is expected to be distributed in October.
Departmental Schemes
Questions (444)
Willie O'Dea
Question:444. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Education if she will establish an ex gratia scheme to compensate the victims of institutional abuse for persons who did not take legal action against the State but who will be taking a judicial review of the matter in October 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46114/21]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy is aware, a revised ex gratia scheme to implement the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) judgement relating to childhood sexual abuse in day schools is now open for applications. The Scheme, which was developed in consultation with the Office of the Attorney General, provides for ex gratia payments to be made to those who qualify to apply for the Scheme and who satisfy the criteria as set out in the Terms of Scheme.
The ex gratia scheme was originally established in 2015 and was put in place to provide those, who had instituted legal proceedings against the State in respect of day school sexual abuse and subsequently discontinued those proceedings following rulings in the domestic courts, with an opportunity to apply for an ex gratia payment. The Scheme was paused in 2019 following a report from retired High Court Judge Iarfhlaith O’Neill who, as Independent Assessor, reviewed a number of unsuccessful applications to the Scheme and was of the view that the criteria to qualify for a payment were too restrictive for this group of applicants.
Ireland is committed to fulfilling its obligations in implementing the ECtHR ruling. This means that the revised scheme is designed first and foremost to provide a remedy to those who had issued and discontinued their proceedings against the State prior to the ECtHR ruling in O'Keeffe v Ireland and who did not receive a payment under the 2015 Scheme. However, the revised scheme goes beyond that group in that all others who issued civil proceedings against the State at a later date and up to 1 July 2021, whether they are still in being, were discontinued at any point, or who had settled with the State, may also apply for an award.
As well as broadening the scope of the Scheme, the type and nature of evidence that will be considered by the State Claims Agency in respect of individual applications (and as set out in the Terms of Scheme) broadens the means trough which an applicant can demonstrate that they fall within the terms of the ECtHR judgment. To date the Scheme Administrator has received 44 applications for an award, of which 36 have been approved so far.
I am not aware of any legal challenge in respect of the revised ex gratia scheme and therefore am not in a position to comment in this regard.
Full details of the Terms of Scheme are available on www.gov.ie/en/service/90a42-revised-ex-gratia-scheme. Contact details for my Department for those wishing to apply to the Scheme and who require clarification or further information are also provided.
School Funding
Questions (445, 455)
Dara Calleary
Question:445. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Education if her Department has considered restoring library grant funding for primary schools in the context of budget 2022; her views on whether such funding would be a very valuable investment in literacy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46120/21]
View answer
John Lahart
Question:455. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education her plans to restore the funding to the school library fund given that there are so many new schools with libraries with no funding to stock them; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46304/21]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 445 and 455 together.
An arrangement was made through An Chomhairle Leabharlanna in 1971, whereby the local authority librarians would provide services for schools. At that time my Department made a grant available for this purpose based on the number of pupils enrolled in primary schools in the local authority areas.
The amount of the grant payable to each local authority was based on the number of primary pupils in the relevant area and amounted to €4.52 per pupil. The full year estimated cost of reinstating the library grant is circa €2.5m
As Minister for Education, I am very conscious of the importance of library services and the value of these in the context of the supports available to schools.
Disadvantaged Status
Questions (446)
Cormac Devlin
Question:446. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Education if she will provide a list of all DEIS schools within the area of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46153/21]
View answerWritten answers
DEIS – Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools is the main policy initiative of my Department to address educational disadvantage at school level.
My Department will spend over €150 million on the DEIS Programme in 2021, which includes some €26.07 million for the School Completion Programme.
In the 2021/22 academic year there are 884 schools in the DEIS Programme serving over 186,000 pupils - 687 Primary and 197 Post Primary.
Based on Dún Laoghaire - Rathdown County Council area there are 17 primary and post primary DEIS schools which are listed below.
|
Roll No. |
School Name |
Local Authority |
Education Type |
|
05600C |
CLOCHAR SAN DOMINIC |
Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council |
Primary |
|
19438W |
SCOIL COLMCILLE SENIOR |
Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council |
Primary |
|
19497P |
SCOIL MHUIRE |
Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council |
Primary |
|
19641T |
SCOIL CHOLMCILLE JUNIOR NS |
Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council |
Primary |
|
19723V |
QUEEN OF ANGELS PRIMARY SCHOOL |
Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council |
Primary |
|
19840C |
HOLY FAMILY SCHOOL |
Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council |
Primary |
|
19922E |
OUR LADYS N S |
Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council |
Primary |
|
19938T |
ST JOSEPHS |
Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council |
Primary |
|
19939V |
SCOIL NAISIUNTA AN DEA AOIRE |
Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council |
Primary |
|
19960M |
ST JOHNS N S |
Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council |
Primary |
|
19979K |
ST KEVINS N S |
Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council |
Primary |
|
20218P |
St Columbanus National School |
Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council |
Primary |
|
60262T |
St Laurence College |
Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council |
Post Primary |
|
91305L |
Ballinteer Community School |
Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council |
Post Primary |
|
91310E |
Cabinteely Community School |
Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council |
Post Primary |
|
91330K |
Holy Child Community School |
Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council |
Post Primary |
|
91343T |
St. Tiernan's Community School |
Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council |
Post Primary |
A list of all DEIS schools, which can be filtered, can be found on the following link;
www.gov.ie/en/policy-information/4018ea-deis-delivering-equality-of-opportunity-in-schools/#deis-schools-2021-2022.
Pupil-Teacher Ratio
Questions (447)
Mattie McGrath
Question:447. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education the efforts she will take to reduce class sizes which remain largely above the EU average; her plans to increase the capitation grant funding for schools to pre-recession levels; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46183/21]
View answerWritten answers
Under the Programme for Government there is a commitment to make further progress in reducing the pupil teacher ratios in primary schools.
As part of the Budget 2021 measures, the Government have delivered 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. This Budget improvement has resulted in the lowest pupil teacher ratio ever at primary school.
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. This compares favourably with the OECD pupil teacher ratio which is 1:15. In the same period the staffing schedule improved from 28:1 to 25:1 for this 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 for this school year, and statistics on this will be published later in the year.
The staffing schedule which now stands at a new historical low will also help to ensure better teacher retention in primary schools while also ensuring that less pupils are required to retain or recruit a teacher.
Budget 2020 provided for a further 2.5% increase in standard capitation funding for primary and post 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. It is my intention to seek funding for further capitation increases in future budgets.
The COVID-19 capitation grant will also continue to be the mechanism through which further additional funding will be provided to cater for school costs related to hand hygiene measures, PPE requirements and enhanced cleaning supports.
Departmental Expenditure
Questions (448)
Carol Nolan
Question:448. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 394 of 15 September 2021, if tenders for the courses and training provided were issued; if so, the persons who responded; the criteria by which the course provider was ultimately chosen; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46199/21]
View answerWritten answers
The course provider in question was offering programmes which bring emerging and senior leaders together from a variety of sectors in an experiential format and, as such, was meeting training needs identified for staff in my Department. The scale of the expenditure involved meant that it was not necessary to carry out a procurement involving advertisement on etenders for this work.
OneLearning, the body responsible for developing training programmes for the Civil Service, has recently developed and commenced the rollout of a range of leadership training programmes which will be utilised by my Department for future leadership development training.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Questions (449)
Cathal Crowe
Question:449. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education if she will revisit the guidance relating to close contacts of individuals with confirmed cases of Covid-19 in order to minimise disruptions to schooling; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46235/21]
View answerWritten answers
Covid-19 Response Plans have issued directly to schools for the new school year. These plans are based on the Government’s Work Safely Protocol which reflects the most up to date public health advice for the workplace. They set out the range of measures required to prevent the spread of Covid-19 and provide clear and helpful guidance for the safe operation of school through prevention, early detection and control of Covid-19. These plans are living documents and are updated as public health guidance is updated. The infection prevention and control measures in place in schools have worked very effectively to prevent and control Covid-19 in schools and remain in place for this school year.
Policy related to Covid-19 tracing services is a matter for the Department of Health.
In line with recommendations from the National Public Health Emergency Team, which were accepted by the Minister for Health, from Monday 27 September, automatic contact tracing of asymptomatic close contacts in children aged over 3 months and less than 13 years, in schools will no longer take place. Children who are deemed to be close contacts outside of a household setting will not be routinely required to restrict their movements and be tested.
Cases and outbreaks in Special Educational Needs settings, and respite care should have a public health risk assessment (PHRA) which may still require children to be identified as close contacts in these settings, be referred for testing and have their movements restricted. Generally, the advice for those children who are close contacts in these settings will be to have one test (if possible) and if they are advised to restrict movements, it will be for 5 days.
The Department will continue to work with the HSE public health to support schools dealing with Covid-19.
Schools Refurbishment
Questions (450)
Thomas Pringle
Question:450. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education if there are plans in place for the development of a school (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46237/21]
View answerWritten answers
The Deputy will be aware that a building project to provide a new school building for the school in question is included in my Department's school building programme and a site is required for this purpose.
Donegal County Council are undertaking a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) on behalf of the Minister for Education of a site for the proposed Buncrana School Campus. This CPO was confirmed by An Bord Pleanála without modification on 6th July 2021. As part of the requirements of the CPO process, a Notice of Confirmation of An Bord Pleanála’s decision was published by the Council in the local papers, dated 23rd August 2021. Under the CPO process, an eight-week period is provided from the date of publication of this notice within which a judicial review of the decision of the ABP may be lodged. The provision of the Buncrana School Campus is a priority for my Department. It is the intention of my Department to proceed with this acquisition as soon as permissible and in full compliance with the legal requirements and notice periods as necessitated by the CPO process.
In tandem with the site acquisition, my Department is initiating the preparation of the project brief and is liaising with the school patron in this regard.
Schools Building Projects
Questions (451)
Johnny Guirke
Question:451. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Education the progress to date including planned commencement date and the estimated schedule to complete the construction of a school building (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46249/21]
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.
The decision to grant planning permission by the Local Authority, which was received in July, was subject to 18 conditions.
The Project Manager with their Design Team have commenced the preparation of tender documentation for the project. Once this stage is complete the project will then proceed to tender stage.