Tuesday, 9 Nov 2021

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (423)

Marian Harkin

Question:

423. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Education the guidance for teachers when CO2 monitors in classrooms are red particularly when it is raining and in circumstances in which there is no assembly hall in the primary school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54282/21]

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Written answers

Minister for Education

The Department’s ventilation guidance for schools is very clear and practical on the steps to be taken by all schools to manage ventilation levels.

CO2 levels provide a guide on air quality. Monitoring CO2 levels will help schools to identify poorly ventilated rooms.

Improving ventilation is the answer to addressing a poorly ventilated room.

The digital readings and multi-colour display on the CO2 monitors (green, yellow, orange and red) guide schools on the need to increase ventilation from once it goes above the green display of 800 CO2 parts per million. The monitors are portable and very easy to use.

The Expert Group noted that the Department has very good ventilation guidance for schools.

Managing ventilation is not an exact science. It affects all aspects of society – our homes, schools, colleges, workplaces, hospitality sector etc.

The following is the multi-colour display on the monitors:

Green: less than 800 CO2 parts per million

Yellow: between 800 and 1,150 CO2 parts per million

Orange: between 1,150 and 1,500 CO2 parts per million

Red: greater than 1,500 CO2 parts per million

Schools that identify inadequate ventilation in a room they should consult with their architect/ engineer and can utilise their minor works grant (for minor improvements) or apply for emergency works grant assistance to address ventilation enhancements on a permanent basis.

If an individual school has particular difficulties in managing ventilation my Department is available to guide and support it as required on the appropriate strategy to address same.

Schools Building Projects

Questions (424)

Seán Canney

Question:

424. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Education the status of plans to provide a single campus national school for Gort, County Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54295/21]

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Written answers

Minister for Education

The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is included in my Department’s Construction Programme which is being delivered under the National Development Plan. The brief for this project is to provide a new replacement school building to accommodate 12 classrooms and a 2 class SEN base.

The project is currently at Stage 2a – Developed Design, where the preferred option design is developed to a stage where the project is fully costed and can be prepared to lodge for statutory approvals.

A Stage 2a addendum report has recently been submitted to my Department and is under a review. On completion of that review, my Department will be in contact with the School and its Design Team with regard to the further progression of this project.

School Staff

Questions (425)

Neale Richmond

Question:

425. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Education the number of substitute teachers that are on each substitute teacher supply panel across the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54301/21]

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Written answers

Minister for Education

As part of the COVID-19 supports provided to schools in 2020, additional funding of €41.2 million was allocated to provide primary schools with substitute staff.

This funding allowed for the expansion of the Substitute Teacher Supply Panel 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.

My Department has engaged with the education stakeholders on the issues raised about the current difficulty in accessing substitutes for teacher absences.

Among other measures, a review of the supply panels has taken place and approximately 100 additional teachers are being added to existing/new areas where significant challenges have been demonstrated in sourcing substitution. Engagement is ongoing with the base schools to make arrangements for the recruitment of additional staff immediately.

The most recent data on the current Supply Panel clusters is follows:

Base School Roll No	Base County	Base Town	Base School Name	Posts Allocated
13105L	Carlow	Bagenalstown	St Brigid's Monastery NS	2
18424G	Carlow	Carlow	Scoil Nais Iosef Naofa	4
08490N	Cavan	Cavan	St. Clares Primary School	3
14211P	Cavan	Kingscourt	Scoil na Lathrach 2 ( Muff NS)	2
17625L	Cavan	Virginia	Cnoc An Teampaill	3
16908S	Clare	Ennis	Sixmilebridge N.S.	4
19838P	Clare	Ennis	Gaelscoil Mhichil Ciosog	4
20041C	Clare	Kilrush	St. Senans, Convent of Mercy N.S.	2
17755B	Cork	Ballincollig	Scoil Naomh Mhuire C	5
17168J	Cork	Bandon	S N Inis Eoghanain	2
16087E	Cork	Bantry	Kealkill NS	1
20550A	Cork	Carrigaline	Holy Well National School	3
13450F	Cork	Cobh	Bunscoil Rinn An Chabhlaigh	3
13980L	Cork	Cork city Centre	S N B Togher Cork	5
19993E	Cork	Cork City North *	Gaelscoil An Ghoirt Alainn	5
12203G	Cork	Cork East	S N NAOMH ANTAINE	4
20553G	Cork	Cork East	Strawberry Hill NS	4
14784Q	Cork	Dunmanway	Dunmanway BNS	2
19256Q	Cork	Mallow	Scoil Ghobnatan	3
20107G	Cork	Midleton	Gaelscoil MHAINISTIR NA CORANN	3
02278I	Cork	Mill Street	Mill Street Convent National School	2
19404F	Cork	Mitchelstown	Sn Mhuire	3
20105C	Cork	Passage West	Star of the Sea Primary School	3
15627F	Donegal	Buncrana	St Muras N S	3
17260U	Donegal	Donegal	Scoil an Linbh Íosa	2
17503U	Donegal	Donegal	S N Adhamhnain	1
16821G	Donegal	Inishowen	Clochar Padraig Naofa	2
16672P	Donegal	Letterkenny	St Patricks N S	4
14910S	Donegal	Lifford	St Mary's National School (Castlefinn NS)	2
18151U	Donegal	Milford	Scoil Mhuire Milford	2
19303W	Dublin	Ballymun	Virgin Mary GNs	5
19335M	Dublin	Blackrock	Guardians Angels	4
19605P	Dublin	Dublin 15	Blakestown Way	5
20468P	Dublin	Tallaght	St Dominic's NS	5
19662E	Dublin 10	Ballyfermot	St Michaels Ns	6
20029M	Dublin 11	Finglas	St Brigids Infant NS	6
19406J	Dublin 13	Donaghmede	Holy Trinity Sen National School	6
19904C	Dublin 14	Dundrum	Holy Cross NS Dundrum	6
14939T	Dublin 14	Rathfarnham	Rathfarnham Parish N.S.	6
19769W	Dublin 15	Blanchardstown	Scoil Thomais Laurel Lodge	7
20383H	Dublin 15	Hansfield	Hansfield ETNS	4
19314E	Dublin 16	Ballinteer	Scoil Na Maighdine Mhuire Boy	6
19524P	Dublin 17	Darndale	Our Lady Immaculate Sen NS	5
19220S	Dublin 22	Clondalkin	Scoil Ide	6
19765O	Dublin 25	Tallaght	St Thomas Senior	6
19308J	Dublin 3	Clontarf	St. Brigids B.N.S.	6
11894I	Dublin 4	Sandymount	Scoil Mhuire	5
19919P	Dublin 5	Artane *	St. Davids N.S.	5
13612F	Dublin 6W	Terenure *	Presentation Primary School	6
20091R	Dublin 7	Phibsboro	St. Peters National School	6
20429F	Dublin 8	Dublin City Centre	St James's Primary School	6
20223I	Dublin Co	Lucan	Gaelscoil Eiscir Riada	5
20303G	Dublin Co	Lucan	Lucan East ETNS	6
19001G	Dublin North Co	Ballyboughal	Ballyboughal NS	5
16332O	Dublin North Co	Skerries	St Patricks N S	6
19535U	Dublin North Co	Swords	Brackenstown Senior N.S.	6
19320W	Dublin South Co	Dunlaoghaire	Our Lady of Good Councel	6
16071M	Galway	Athenry *	Scoil Chroi Naofa	3
17198S	Galway	Ballinasloe	Creagh NS	3
19973V	Galway	Clifden	Scoil Mhuire Clifden	1
19932H	Galway	Connemara	Scoil Mhic Dara	1
19795A	Galway	Galway City	Tirellan Heights N S	4
20108I	Galway	Galway West	St. John the Apostle, Knocknacarra NS	4
18572V	Galway	Glenamaddy	Glenamaddy NS	1
20465J	Galway	Gort	Gort NS	3
15835M	Galway	Loughrea	St Brendans Boys	1
19276W	Galway	Tuam	St Colmans Mxd N S	3
00538V	Kerry	Dingle	Clochar Daingean	1
19512I	Kerry	Killarney	St. Olivers Ns	4
04062S	Kerry	Listowel	Presentation Primary N.S.	2
18247K	Kerry	Tralee	S N Mhuire Na Mbraithre	3
18288B	Kildare	Athy	Scoil Mhichil Naofa	3
20403K	Kildare	Kildare Town	Kildare Town ETNS	3
19407L	Kildare	Leixlip *	Scoil Bhride	4
00779U	Kildare	Maynooth	Presentation Convent	5
13328I	Kildare	Newbridge	St. Patricks	2
20023A	Kildare	Newbridge	Gaelscoil Chill Dara	3
08099P	Kildare	Sallins	ST LAURENCES NATIONAL SCHOOL	2
19523N	Kilkenny	Kilkenny City	School Of The Holy Spirit Special School	4
17827A	Laois	Portarlington	Scoil Phadraig	3
19747M	Laois	Portlaoise	Scoil Bhride Ns	4
20071L	Laois	Rathdowney	Scoil Bhride	2
20432R	Leitrim	Carrick On Shannon	Scoil Mhuire	3
15680J	Limerick	Ballysheedy	Roxboro National School	4
19800N	Limerick	Castletroy	Milford NS	4
20193C	Limerick	Kilmallock	Scoil Mocheallog	3
16715H	Limerick	Limerick	St John The Baptist Boys N S	5
12975N	Limerick	Newcastlewest	St Josephs Convent	3
20128O	Longford	Ballymahon	ST Matthews Mixed NS	2
20101R	Longford	Granard	The Sacred Heart Primary N.S.	2
18178R	Longford	Longford	St Josephs Convent	3
17059E	Louth	Drogheda	Scoil Na Mbraithre Sn	5
16760M	Louth	Dundalk	Dromiskin Mixed N S	4
20339E	Louth	Dundalk	RÉALT NA MARA SCHOOL	3
16208N	Louth	Termonfeckin	Scoil Náisíunta Naomh Feichín	4
15555G	Mayo	Ballina	Breafy N S	3
20089H	Mayo	Ballinrobe	St. Josephs N. S.	2
20142I	Mayo	Ballyhaunis	Scoil Iosa	2
18694M	Mayo	Castlebar	Convent Of Mercy N S	3
19867W	Meath	Dunshaughlin	SCOIL NA RITHE	4
19813W	Meath	Kildalkey	St. Dympna's National School	3
19671F	Meath	Navan	ST PAULS N S	4
20352T	Meath	Navan *	Ard Rí Community N.S.	4
16923O	Monaghan	Monaghan	Urbleshanny National School	2
20174V	Monaghan	Monaghan	Scoil Eanna	3
12370C	Offaly	Birr	St Brendan's Monastery	4
20267F	Offaly	Edenderry	Scoil Bhride Primary School	4
19713S	Offaly	Tullamore	Arden Boys Ns	4
13757I	Roscommon	Castlerea	Tarmon NS	2
20498B	Roscommon	Roscommon	St Coman’s Wood Primary School	3
18979F	Sligo	Sligo	S N Ursula	4
20019J	Sligo	Tubbercurry	Holly Family School	2
18716T	Tipperary	Cahir	Cahir BNS	3
16725K	Tipperary	Carrick On Suir	SN Mhuire Na Mbraithre	2
20355C	Tipperary	Fethard	Holy Trinity National School	3
16344V	Tipperary	Nenagh	St. Mary's Jnr B.N.S.	3
04067F	Tipperary	Newport	Newport Convent	2
19874T	Tipperary	Thurles	Presentation Primary School	3
01862M	Tipperary	Tipperary	Tipperary G.N.S.	3
19814B	Waterford	Dungarvan	Scoil Gharbáin	3
19629G	Waterford	Waterford	Holy Cross School	3
19947U	Waterford	Waterford City	Mount Sion Primary School	4
19948W	Westmeath	Athlone	Sc. Na Gceithre Maistri	3
20188J	Westmeath	Mullingar	Mullingar ETNS	4
08221J	Wexford	Enniscorthy	St Senans National Sch	4
19739N	Wexford	Wexford	Scoil Mhuire Coolcotts	4
20482J	Wexford	Wexford	Bunscoil Ris	3
20469R	Wicklow	Arklow	St. Johns Senior School	4
20110S	Wicklow	Blessington	St Mary's Senior N.S	4
17537O	Wicklow	Bray	Scoil Padraig Naofa	4
19748O	Wicklow	Shillelagh	Shillelagh	3
15676S	Wicklow	Wicklow Town	Padraig Naofa B N.S.	3
		21-22 Year	Total Allocated	471

Home Schooling

Questions (426)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

426. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education when home tuition will be provided to a leaving certificate student (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54370/21]

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Written answers

Minister for Education

My officials have advised me that an application for Home Tuition in respect of the student referred to by the Deputy has not yet been received.

The purpose of the Home Tuition Grant Scheme is to provide funding towards the provision of a compensatory educational service for children who, for a number of specific reasons, are unable to attend school.

Home tuition is not an alternative to a school placement and is provided in very limited and specific circumstances. By its nature, it is intended to be a short term intervention.

The scheme provides a compensatory educational service for:

1. Early educational intervention for children with autism who meet the scheme’s eligibility criteria

2. Students with special educational needs seeking an educational placement in a recognised school

3. Students, enrolled in schools, with a significant medical condition, or school phobia and/or associated depression/anxiety, which has caused, and is likely to continue to cause, major disruption to their attendance at school

4. Students who are temporarily without a school place, is without an offer of a school place and is actively seeking a school placement in a recognised school

5. Maternity related absences

The No School Place scheme is available where a child is temporarily without a school place and is actively seeking a school placement or may be taking an appeal under Section 29 of the Education Act 1998 following expulsion/refusal to admit a student. Those who qualify for this grant scheme can employ a tutor to provide 9 hours home tuition per week. Details of this scheme are contained in circular 0048/2021 which is available on my Departments website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/service/d15f58-home-tuition/

Application forms for this grant scheme are available from the local Educational Welfare Officer (EWO). Contact details for the EWO in your area can be obtained from Educational Welfare Service, Child and Family Agency, Floors 2-5, Brunel Building, Heuston South Quarter, Dublin 8, phone 01-7718633 or via there website at www.tusla.ie/get-in-touch/education-and-welfare/#EWO.

Parents who wish to make an application for Home Tuition under categories a), b) and c) above can contact Special Education Section via email at special_education@education.gov.ie.

Parents who wish to make an application for Home Tuition under category d) can make contact with their local Educational Welfare Officer (EWO) via the Tusla website at www.tusla.ie/get-in-touch/education-and-welfare/#EWO They may also wish to contact Parents and Learners Unit directly via email at hometuitionapprovals@education.gov.ie.

Schools Building Projects

Questions (427)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

427. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education the stage a project (details supplied) is at; the amount provided for in respect of this project; and the date on which it is anticipated the school will be completed. [54437/21]

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Written answers

Minister for Education

My Department has reached agreement in principle with the relevant landowner for the acquisition of the site referred to by the Deputy.

It is intended that this site will facilitate the construction of three schools as part of a campus development. In tandem with the site acquisition, my Department is finalising the accommodation briefs for the three schools. This will facilitate the commencement of the architectural planning process for the project and my Department will liaise with the school authorities at that stage. It is not possible at this point to anticipate a completion date for the project.

Special Educational Needs

Questions (428)

Holly Cairns

Question:

428. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education her plans to ensure that the national training programme for SNAs is a fully accredited programme on the Irish National Framework of Qualifications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54447/21]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education

Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) play a huge role in helping to ensure the inclusion of pupils with significant care needs in education and in school life. This was acknowledged in the Comprehensive Review of the Special Needs Assistant Scheme (SNAs) published by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) in 2018.

The Review made a number of recommendations regarding SNAs and the need for a more broadly based set of supports including therapeutic supports for pupils with complex needs. The Review also referenced the training needs of SNAs. The policy advice was considered by the Department and it was decided that priority should be given to the development of a training programme for SNAs who may not have had a recent opportunity to access a training programme tailored to their role.

A public procurement competition was held for the development and delivery of a new national training programme for SNAs. A detailed specification of need and learning outcomes was developed and published for the competition. Formal accreditation to the National Qualifications Framework was not a requirement for the programme. Following evaluation of the tenders received, the contract was awarded to University College Dublin (UCD) School of Education, in conjunction with UCD School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Systems.

UCD has a strong reputation in the world of education and training. It brings with it a wealth of experience and research knowledge in the training and has very strong quality assurance arrangements for its programmes. Feedback from programme participants is a key feature of this quality assurance process.

This programme aims to enhance the knowledge, skills and expertise of SNAs whose work is central to the inclusion of students with additional care and complex needs in school life.

The programme consists of five modules, delivered online over a 10-month period. Flexibility is a key part of the approach to the delivery of the programme and participation is voluntary.

The programme is fully funded by the Department and delivered at no cost to the participating SNA.

Each participant who completes the programme successfully will receive a certificate from UCD School of Education which may be of assistance in pursuing further education.

€2.45m will be allocated to this programme over a 4 year period based on a full uptake of 3,500 SNAs. The first cohort of 500 SNAs enrolled in January and this phase was oversubscribed.

This is the first national training programme for SNAs employed in our schools and is tailored to their needs. The programme will be evaluated and the outcome will inform the approach to the training of SNAs in the future.

The Department recognises that a more strategic approach is required for the training of SNAs. This would deal with a number of matters including the identification of need and the provision of appropriate training programmes. The issue of programme accreditation will be considered further in this context.

School Staff

Questions (429)

Pauline Tully

Question:

429. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Education if the one release day per week for teaching principals will only extend to the end of the current school year as it appears to suggest in Circular 50/2021; if so, the reason; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54451/21]

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Written answers

Minister for Education

I am keenly aware of the huge contribution made by all Principals in our schools, including teaching principals.

The COVID-19 supports provided under The Roadmap for the Full Return to School in 2020, included specific funding 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 will remain in place for the 2021/22 school year and each school with a teaching principal will have 37 Principal Release Days.

Budget 2022 has maintained these Principal Release Days going forward.

School Staff

Questions (430)

Pauline Tully

Question:

430. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Education if the recent 25 cent an hour pay increase for secretaries, caretakers and cleaners was rescinded in a note by the Financial Services Support Unit; if so, the reason; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54452/21]

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Written answers

Minister for Education

Circulars were recently issued by my Department in relation to a pay increase for public servants under the national agreement “Building Momentum” which was agreed between the Government and ICTU. Building Momentum includes a 1% increase for public servants from 1 October 2021 and the circulars were issued to inform schools and other public bodies of the new pay rates. Unfortunately one circular was issued indicating that the increase applied to certain staff beyond public servants (including grant-funded staff such as school secretaries, caretakers and cleaners). This was an error as the increase does not apply beyond public servants and when this error came to the attention of the Department the relevant circular was withdrawn. The Department apologises for any confusion or upset caused by this unfortunate error.

My Department has acted in recent years on the pay of grant funded staff. For example it has 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 for secretaries and caretakers.

You may be aware that Fórsa trade union has tabled a follow-on claim from that arbitration and officials from my Department and school management bodies have been engaging with Fórsa on the issues. Following intensive discussions at the WRC on 13th September, there has been significant progress in this dispute. 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 pay scale offered will include the 1% pay increase from 1 October 2021 referred to.

My officials have engaged with Fórsa throughout this process and I look forward to continued progress under the Workplace Relations Commission.

Special Educational Needs

Questions (431)

Michael Collins

Question:

431. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Education the plans that are in place to appoint a sufficient number of special needs assistants in a school (details supplied) to ensure the safe and efficient running of the school; when an appeal will be granted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54471/21]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Special Educational Needs

Questions (432)

Michael Collins

Question:

432. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Education when the deficit in the number of special needs assistants in a school (details supplied) will be rectified to ensure that the high-risk children can remain safe within the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54472/21]