Aindrias Moynihan
Question:131. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Education the advancement being made in providing a new building for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57267/21]
View answerSchools Building Projects
Questions (131)
Written answers
The delivery of a new building for the school to which the Deputy refers, has been devolved to Cork Education and Training Board. This new school building will cater for a long-term projected enrolment of 1,000 pupils and includes a 4-Class SEN Base.
Following the Stage 1 meeting with the Department in September 2021, the project was sanctioned to proceed to Stage 2a. Currently the design team is progressing the Stage 2a in line with the approved Stage 1 and the subsequent comments and recommendations.
The Stage 2A (detailed design) process must be completed before a planning application for the project can be lodged.
The timeframe for the construction of the project will not be known until the design stages have been completed and planning permission has been secured.
School Staff
Questions (132)
Brendan Smith
Question:132. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education the status of negotiations in relation to the improvement of pay and conditions for school secretaries and caretakers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57281/21]
View answerWritten answers
School secretaries and caretakers are valued members of our school communities and my Department is fully aware of the vitally important role played by them in the running of our schools.
The majority of primary and voluntary secondary schools receive assistance to provide for secretarial, caretaking and cleaning services under grant schemes. Where a school employs a staff member to support those functions those staff are employees of individual schools and responsibility for terms of employment rests with the school.
The Department 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.
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 assimilation of School Secretaries to the CO Grade III pay scale will require further dialogue between the parties and further engagement is taking place at present to allow this to be finalised. My Department has also offered to improve the conditions for School Secretaries with regard to sick leave, annual leave and maternity provisions for this cohort of staff and engagement has begun on this element.
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.
I welcomed the deferral of the action scheduled for Wednesday 15th September and I encourage all parties to focus on finalising an agreement.
Special Educational Needs
Questions (133)
Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire
Question:133. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education her views on the difficulties new and developing schools are facing in accessing special educational supports. [57262/21]
View answerWritten answers
The Special Education Teaching allocation provides a single unified allocation for special educational support teaching needs to each school, based on each school’s educational profile.
Under the allocation model, schools have been provided with a total allocation for special education needs support based on their school profile.
The provision of a profiled allocation is designed to give a fair allocation for each school which recognises that all schools need an allocation for special needs support, but which provides a graduated allocation which takes into account the level of need in each school.
Schools are frontloaded with resources, based on each school’s profile. The allocations to schools include provision to support all pupils in the schools, including where a child receives a diagnosis after the allocation is received by a school, or where there are newly enrolling pupils to the school.
Both the Department and the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) are committed to ensuring that all schools are treated equally and fairly in the manner in which their school profiles have been calculated.
Accordingly, a number of review processes have been put in place to support schools.
A process is in place to address circumstances where the school profile significantly changed following the allocation process e.g. a developing school where the net enrolment numbers significantly increased.
The criteria for qualification for mainstream school developing school posts are set out in the Primary and Post Primary School Staffing Schedule for the 2021/22 school year.
Schools who qualify for projected enrolment posts will also qualify for additional SET allocations as follows:
- an additional 3 hours per week of SET teaching support will be provided for a school’s first developing post, and
- 5 hours per week for each post thereafter, for schools with 1 or more developing posts
It is also acknowledged that there are some circumstances, which may arise in schools, which fall outside the allocations for developing school status.
These relate to exceptional or emergency circumstances which could not have been anticipated e.g. where the school profile changes very significantly, or where other exceptional circumstances have arisen in a school and which may require a review of schools capacity to provide additional teaching support for all pupils who need it in the school, or of their utilisation of their allocations.
A process is available where schools can seek a review of their allocations by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), including the utilisation of their allocations, in circumstances where a school considers that very exceptional circumstances have arisen subsequent to the development of the profile.
Special Educational Needs
Questions (134)
Jennifer Carroll MacNeill
Question:134. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Education if the pilot programme for delivering therapeutic services to a group of preschools and schools has been a success; if the model will be rolled out to other areas in the near future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57201/21]
View answerWritten answers
The School Inclusion Model (SIM) is based on policy advice from the National Council for Special Education based on the principle of providing the right support at the right time delivered by a range of personnel with relevant qualifications and skill-sets. Its purpose is to help students achieve better outcomes. Independent evaluation is a central part of the project and the outcome will inform future policy on extending the SIM. The project includes a number of elements:
- Provision of in-school therapies (speech and language, occupational)
- Allocation of SNAs on a frontloaded basis
- Additional professional supports for the school including psychology, behavioural and professional development
- Training of SNAs
In February 2019, the Government approved the trialling of the Model for the 2019/20 school year. Initially designed as a one year pilot involving up to 75 participating schools in the CHO 7 region, it was interrupted by Covid-19 with the closure of schools and the diversion of HSE therapists from the project to Covid related work. It was then extended to the 2020/21 school year which has also been interrupted by Covid.
Progress has been made on aspects of the Model but much remains to be done in terms of in-school implementation and evaluation.
The Pilot has now recommenced in CHO7 and planning for an expansion to two other areas is underway at present.
My Department is consulting with relevant Departments including Taoiseach, Heath and Children and I expect a Memorandum will be brought to Government shortly.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Questions (135)
Richard Boyd Barrett
Question:135. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education if she will instruct her Department to arrange weekly mass-testing for Covid-19 across school settings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57329/21]
View answerWritten answers
The Department of Education has always been guided by public health advice in relation to appropriate Covid-19 infection prevention and control measures in place in schools. These measures protect students, their parents and school staff and are very effective.
The Department of Health and the HSE, working in collaboration with the Department of Education has announced a programme in which antigen tests will be made available to children in a primary school pod, where a child in the pod is a confirmed case of COVID-19. The tests will be sent to the children’s parents
Special Educational Needs
Questions (136)
Colm Burke
Question:136. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education the actions her Department is taking to increase the level of special educational needs and ASD class places in County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57171/21]
View answerWritten answers
Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for this Government.
It is also a key priority for me as Minister for Special Education & Inclusion.
Next year, my Department will spend in excess of €2 Billion, or over 25% of the Department’s budget on providing additional teaching and care supports for children with special educational needs.
This includes funding for a wide range of schemes and supports including special classes, special school places, SNAs and teachers.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children nationwide.
The NCSE are aware of an identified need for ASD classes at primary level and post primary levels in Cork.
Currently, Cork county, including Cork City, has a network of 335 school special classes, of which 308 are special classes for children with ASD. 227 at primary level including 21 Early Intervention classes. At post primary level there are currently 81 ASD classes in County Cork. 44 new ASD special classes were established for the 2021/2022 school year.
Through ongoing consultation with schools and parents at local level the NCSE is aware of students who will be seeking placement for the 22/23 academic year.
The NCSE through their network of SENOs are currently engaging with schools in Cork regarding the establishment of additional special classes for 2022/23 and beyond.
It is open to any school to engage with the NCSE to establish a special class.
My Department works in close collaboration with the NCSE to ensure that the necessary provision is put in place on a timely basis throughout the country.
Parents seeking special class placements for their children are advised to contact their local SENO so that their needs can be taken into account for planning purposes.
School Transport
Questions (137)
Michael Moynihan
Question:137. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Education the status of the review of the school transport system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57297/21]
View answerWritten answers
The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. In the 2020/2021 school year over 114,100 children, including over 14,700 children with special educational needs, were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country at a cost of over €224.7m in 2020.
All children who are eligible and who completed the application and payment process on time for the 2021/22 school year are accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation.
Children who are not eligible for school transport under the terms of the scheme may apply to Bus Éireann for transport on a concessionary basis. Concessionary transport is subject to a number of conditions including the appropriate annual charge is paid. The Medical Card waiver is not applicable to children who are not eligible for school transport
My Department commenced a review of the School Transport Scheme in February 2021. The review is being conducted with a view to examining the current scheme, its broader effectiveness and sustainability, and to ensure that it serves students and their families adequately. The review encompasses the School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs and the Primary and Post-Primary School Transport Schemes in terms of how each element of the schemes currently operate, to include eligibility criteria, trends, costs and cost drivers, and overall effectiveness in meeting the objectives of the schemes.
In June 2021, as part of phase 1 of the review, the Steering Group presented me with an initial interim report on eligibility with an examination of issues for mainstream pupils relating to the nearest and next nearest school. Following consideration of this report, measures were approved which allowed for the provision of transport for post-primary students who are otherwise eligible for school transport but are attending their second nearest school and had applied and paid on time. This arrangement is in place for the current school year pending completion of the full review of the School Transport Scheme
Wider considerations relating to operation of the scheme are now taking place in the next phase of the review which is now underway. The Steering Group will continue to report to me on an interim basis as the review progresses, with a view to presenting a final report with recommendations on the future operation of the Department’s School Transport Scheme.
Schools Building Projects
Questions (138)
Aodhán Ó Ríordáin
Question:138. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education the emergency measures that can be taken to remedy the conditions of the prefab classrooms at a school (details supplied); the progress of the prequalification process of the tender for the new buildings; when the parents and children can realistically expect the construction can be completed; and the measures she can take to fast track the completion of this project. [57178/21]
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.
On the 21st September 2021, my Department authorised Dublin and Dun Laoghaire Education and Training Board (DDLETB) and its design team to complete the pre-qualification process to shortlist building contractors and then proceed to Tender Stage. This completion process is currently underway.
A tender stage normally takes between 6-8 months but the Department has been working with design teams to try and expedite this process. The construction period is anticipated to be approximately 22 months.
Dublin and Dun Laoghaire Education and Training Board (DDLETB) submitted an Emergency Works Scheme application to repair the roofs of two of the Prefabs in the school; this application has been approved by my Department. As this is a Devolved Project it is the responsibility of the DDLETB to progress the works, it is also open to DDLETB to apply for further emergency works for the school should that be necessary.
Question No. 139 answered with question No. 117.
Departmental Programmes
Questions (140)
Dara Calleary
Question:140. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Education the details of the planned allocation of the additional €18 million provision in Budget 2022 which will enable an expansion of the delivering equality of opportunity in schools' programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57298/21]
View answerWritten answers
Budget 2022 has provided for an allocation of €18million for 2022 and €32million for 2023 to extend the DEIS programme to further schools with the highest levels of disadvantage. This represents an increase of over 20% in funding for the DEIS programme and will enable an expansion in 2022 to additional schools.
This package follows an extensive body of work which has been under taken by the DEIS technical group in relation to the development of a model to identify the concentrated levels of disadvantage of schools. The refined model is an objective, statistics based process, based on school enrolment data and data available from Census 2016 under the HP Deprivation Index. It is important to note that there is no application process for inclusion in the DEIS programme and all schools will be considered for inclusion.
This work involved an initial process of consultation by my Department with the education partners on the technical aspects of the model. Over the coming weeks there will be further consultation with relevant stakeholders to outline the components of the model. The purpose is to ensure that, as far as possible, the refined DEIS identification model can provide an objective and independent means of identifying schools serving high concentrations of pupils at risk of educational disadvantage and also to ensure there is a full understanding of the refined model and its potential application.
School Transport
Questions (141)
Matt Shanahan
Question:141. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Education if she is satisfied that all school bus capacity including special education transport will return to 100%, in relation to the return to full school bus capacity; the position in relation to getting full capacity reinstated; the length of time this process will take; if all eligible children will be accommodated going forward; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57038/21]
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, were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country at a cost of over €224.7m in 2020.
Planning for school transport scheme services for the 2021/22 school year proceeded on the basis that the public health measures in place as schools closed at the end of the last school year would remain as the term began in this new school year. This included the operation of post-primary services at 50% capacity, in addition to hygiene measures and the wearing of masks on-board. The Department has kept this position under review as the vaccination programme for children on post-primary services was rolled out and as the lifting of restrictions on public transport services proceeded.
In line with the lifting of restrictions on public transport, and with effect from the return of schools following the October mid-term break, implementation commenced for post-primary school transport services to resume operating at 100% capacity. This process will take a period of time to re-organise and re-schedule services and communications will be issued to families regarding any revised arrangements.
With regard to post-primary special needs transport services, the Department will work with schools on a case by case basis where such services may be required to continue operating at 50% capacity.
Any pupil who has been issued a ticket for this school year will retain their ticket for the year. Where additional vehicles that were provided for social distancing purposes are removed and when all services resume operating at 100% capacity, any spare capacity available will be offered on those services to concessionary pupils or late applicants where such capacity exists.
All other measures relating to hygiene, pre-assigned seating, cleaning and the wearing of masks by post-primary students will remain in place subject to further review.
School Staff
Questions (142)
Pauline Tully
Question:142. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Education the reason education staff who were involved in delivering the summer provision are still waiting for their payments; when the payments will be made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57283/21]
View answerWritten answers
Earlier this year, my Department announced the provision of a significantly expanded summer education programme for pupils with complex special educational needs and those at greatest risk of educational disadvantage, as a COVID-19 pandemic response. I am pleased to say that this has resulted in the biggest ever uptake of the programme during the summer period with the overall number of schools participating rising by 72% and the number of students by 60% over 2020. This is in addition to the supplementary programme run earlier in the year which had over 14,000 applicants.
Our first priority for payment in 2021 was for the supplementary programme, for which claims were paid in August 2021. For the school based element all fully completed claim forms were paid on or before 7th October 2021, which was earlier than the previous year despite an 85% increase in the number of participants.
For the home based element of the programme there was a significant increase in the number and complexity of claims involved and while the majority were paid by the 28 October 2021, unfortunately there was a delay in some payments issuing. The remaining fully complete claims will be paid in the next payroll run on 25 November.
Claims are processed and paid when all outstanding queries are fully resolved. Where there are outstanding issues, claimants have been contacted directly with a view to resolving as quickly as possible.
Question No. 143 answered with question No. 118.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Questions (144)
Réada Cronin
Question:144. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Education when HEPA filters in each classroom will be installed given the growing international medical, building and environmental evidence and consensus that Covid-19 is airborne and HEPA filtration is an important and effective mitigation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57008/21]
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.
The over-arching approach in the guidance is for schools to have windows open as fully as possible when classrooms are not in use and partially open when classrooms are in use.
The guidance outlines that Carbon Dioxide (CO2 ) monitors can play a part in providing a useful general indication that areas/rooms may not be adequately ventilated. They can enable occupants to become familiar with the impacts of activities, outdoor weather and window openings on levels of good ventilation. The provision of portable CO2 monitors provides schools with the flexibility to focus their use to those rooms where most beneficial to inform strategies for optimising ventilation in the school.
In excess of 35,400 monitors were delivered to schools nationwide at a cost of circa €4 million.
A dedicated team has been established in the Department to support schools that may have concerns about ventilation. Officers are also available to contact schools where required, walking through the steps the schools should take to deploy good ventilation practices etc. Where it is not possible for a school to access the expertise of an engineer or architect, and where necessary, a technical assessment to assist the school can be facilitated through the Department.
Schools that identify inadequate ventilation in a room can utilise their minor work grant (for minor improvements) or apply for emergency works grant assistance to address ventilation enhancements on a permanent basis.
Where the above measures have been undertaken, and poor ventilation continues to exist in a particular room/area, air cleaners may be considered as an additional measure in conjunction with other methods of ventilation that are available. There is no one solution that fits all scenarios, each application requires bespoke analysis and selection of the appropriate unit(s) matched to the specific room size and volume. If, following consultation with a supplier a school feels that its individual space may require specific technical specialist advice then the assistance of a Chartered Engineer or Registered Architect can be sought.
School Funding
Questions (145)
Joe Flaherty
Question:145. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Minister for Education her plans to increase capitation grants in order that each school has the resources they need to deliver for all their students; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57304/21]
View answerWritten answers
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 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 has been 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.
Schools Building Projects
Questions (146)
Catherine Connolly
Question:146. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education the details of the audits carried out by her Department in respect of existing school buildings in Galway city, both vacant and occupied, to ascertain the need for the construction of additional school buildings in the city to accommodate rising student numbers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57190/21]
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 (GIS), using data from a range of sources, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise. With this information, the Department carries out nationwide demographic exercises to determine where additional school accommodation is needed at primary and post-primary level. This information provides a degree of certainty in projecting demand in an area in future years.
Where an additional school place demand is identified, the need can be met by one or more of the following options:
- utilizing spare capacity in existing schools
- expansion of existing schools
- establishment of a new school
In that assessment of appropriate solutions, my Department considers a national inventory of school capacity which is completed by individual schools. When schools are providing their annual 30 September enrolment returns to the Department in respect of the Primary On-line Database (POD) for primary schools and Post-Primary On-line Database (PPOD) for post-primary schools, they are now also requested to provide information in respect of overall demand for school places and available capacity within their schools. The compilation and analysis of this information at local, regional and national level through the Department's GIS is an important additional feature of the school planning process.
As the Deputy will be aware, a new 1,000 pupil post primary school, Galway ETSS, was established in 2019 to serve the Galway City and Oranmore school planning areas as a regional solution. My Department is currently working to secure a site for the school's new permanent building.
My Department also has building projects at primary, post primary and special schools in Galway City, including:
- A new school building for St. Joseph's College
- A major extension at Coláiste Mhuire Máthair
- New school buildings for Scoil Caitriona Junior and Senior Schools
- A new school building for Cuan na Gaillimhe CNS
- A new school building for Rosedale Special School
My Department is aware of vacant former school properties in Galway City, and of properties which may become vacant as a result of school building projects. These properties are in the ownership of third-parties, but in all instances across the country, such properties are considered as part of my Department's assessment of potential solutions for school accommodation needs and my Department engages with the relevant property owners as appropriate.
This multi-faceted approach enhances my Department’s capacity to plan the provision of essential school places across all school planning areas including Galway city.
Question No. 147 answered with question No. 121.
Schools Building Projects
Questions (148)
Richard Boyd Barrett
Question:148. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education if she will report on the school building programme including the number of schools without permanent sites, without permanent buildings and also without even a temporary site; her plans to address these very serious shortfalls; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57331/21]
View answerWritten answers
I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has a significant existing pipeline of projects to be delivered over the coming years to meet capacity needs managed under the Large Scale Capital Programme and the Additional School Accommodation Scheme.
This involves in excess of 1,200 school building projects across the various stages of planning, design, tender and construction. The current status of these projects being delivered is listed on a county by county basis on the Department of Education's website at www.gov.ie and is updated on a monthly basis.
Under Project Ireland 2040, the education sector will receive a total of approximately €4.4 billion capital investment over the period 2021-2025. There will be a rolling 5 year funding envelope which will be updated annually for the period 2026 to 2030 within the Government’s overall NDP funding envelope of €136 billion in exchequer capital (€165 billion total capital including non-Exchequer ) that will facilitate building a modern and sustainable school infrastructure.
This significant investment allows us to move forward with certainty on our ambitious plans and deliver high quality building projects, with a real focus on sustainability, for school communities across Ireland.
The specific information requested by the Deputy relating to sites is not readily available in the format requested. However, the information available is being collated by my Department and will be made available to the Deputy shortly.
Departmental Programmes
Questions (149)
Brendan Smith
Question:149. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education when she plans to announce details of the extended DEIS programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57220/21]
View answerWritten answers
Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools (DEIS) is the main policy instrument of my Department to tackle educational disadvantage.
Budget 2022 has provided for an allocation of €18million for 2022 and €32million for 2023 to extend the DEIS programme to further schools with the highest levels of disadvantage. This represents an increase of over 20% in funding for the DEIS programme and will enable an expansion in 2022 of the programme to further schools.
This package follows an extensive body of work which has been under taken by the DEIS technical group in relation to the development of a model to identify the concentrated levels of disadvantage of schools. The refined model is an objective, statistics based process, based on school enrolment data and data available from Census 2016 under the HP Deprivation Index.
This work involved an initial process of consultation by my Department with the education partners on the technical aspects of the model. Over the coming weeks, there will be further consultation with relevant stakeholders to outline the components of the model. The purpose is to ensure that, as far as possible, the refined DEIS identification model can provide an objective and independent means of identifying schools serving high concentrations of pupils at risk of educational disadvantage and also to ensure there is a full understanding of the refined model and its potential application.
School Transport
Questions (150)
Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire
Question:150. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education if school transport is running at 100% capacity; and the status of efforts to increase places for children on school buses across the State. [57263/21]
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, were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country at a cost of over €224.7m in 2020.
All children who are eligible and who completed the application and payment process on time for the 2021/22 school year are accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation.
Planning for school transport scheme services for the 2021/22 school year proceeded on the basis that the public health measures in place as schools closed at the end of the last school year would remain as the term began in this new school year. This included the operation of post-primary services at 50% capacity, in addition to hygiene measures and the wearing of masks on-board. The Department has kept this position under review as the vaccination programme for children on post-primary services was rolled out and as the lifting of restrictions on public transport services proceeded.
In line with the lifting of restrictions on public transport, and with effect from the return of schools following the October mid-term break, implementation commenced for post-primary school transport services to resume operating at 100% capacity. This process will take a period of time to re-organise and re-schedule services and communications will be issued to families regarding any revised arrangements.
With regard to post-primary special needs transport services, the Department will work with schools on a case by case basis where such services may be required to continue operating at 50% capacity.
Any pupil who has been issued a ticket for this school year will retain their ticket for the year. Where additional vehicles that were provided for social distancing purposes are removed and when all services resume operating at 100% capacity, any spare capacity available will be offered on those services to concessionary pupils or late applicants where such capacity exists.
All other measures relating to hygiene, pre-assigned seating, cleaning and the wearing of masks by post-primary students will remain in place subject to further review.
Departmental Data
Questions (151)
Pádraig O'Sullivan
Question:151. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education the number and breakdown of schools that had access to the summer education programme by county in 2020 and 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57009/21]
View answerWritten answers
Earlier this year, my Department announced the provision of a significantly expanded summer education programme for pupils with complex special educational needs and those at greatest risk of educational disadvantage, as a COVID-19 pandemic response. For the first time all primary and post primary schools had access in providing the summer programmes for students with complex needs and/or those at risk of educational disadvantage.
I am pleased to say that this has resulted in the biggest ever uptake of the programme during the summer period with the overall number of schools participating rising by 72% and the number of students by 60% over 2020. This is in addition to the supplementary programme run earlier in the year which had over 14,000 applicants.
The total funding available to provide the programme was increase to €40 million, a one hundred per cent increase on the allocation for summer provision in 2020.
Details of available statistics that show the number of summer programmes that were run in schools in each county for the years 2020 and 2021 are attached.
[<a ref="https://data.oireachtas.ie/ie/oireachtas/debates/questions/supportingDocumentation/2021-11-23_pq151-23-11_en.xlsx" >Paid Late</a>]