Written Answers Nos. 373-394
373. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education if discussions are expected to bring forward the date that the leaving certificate results will be issued given that it is too late for students intending to study abroad when offers need to be validated no later than 31 August 2022 (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62424/21]
View answerThe State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations.
In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.
374. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Education if a matter raised in correspondence by a person (details supplied) regarding the issuing of leaving certificate results will be examined; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62433/21]
View answerThe State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations.
In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.
375. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Education if she will provide a timeframe for the provision of a permanent ASD unit in a school (details supplied); if there are plans for a purpose-built facility on the grounds of the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62434/21]
View answerThe school building project to which the Deputy refers has been approved funding under my Department's Additional Accommodation Scheme to enable the school to construct a purpose-built two-classroom SEN Base facility. Approval to progress this project to Tender Stage issued in June 2021. The project has been devolved for delivery to Dublin and Dún Laoghaire Education & Training Board (DDLETB) and the responsibility to progress the project currently rests with the ETB in that respect.
DDLETB is currently assessing additional costs associated with Fire Safety and Disability Access Certificates. The Department is awaiting information regarding these costs and will revert to DDLETB once the information has been assessed. Following this, the project will progress to the procurement of a contractor.
In addition to the above, in order to meet the school's interim accommodation needs, rental for one temporary classroom was approved and is due to be on-site by February 2022.
At this time, it is too early to give an estimated timeline for commencement or completion of the main project.
376. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education her views on concerns and policy issues raised with regard to the 2022 leaving certificate examinations (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62443/21]
View answerThe State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations.
In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.
377. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the assistance or resources available to a child (details supplied); if resources are available to assist the child in the junior certificate cycle with such a request; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62466/21]
View answerMy Department provides for a range of supports for schools which have enrolled pupils with special educational needs, including pupils with dyscalculia, in order to ensure that wherever a child is enrolled, s/he will have access to an appropriate education.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE), which is a separate statutory agency, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), is responsible for the provision of special educational needs supports to schools. The NCSE operates within the Department's criteria in allocating such support.
All primary and post primary schools have been allocated additional teaching resources to cater for children with special educational needs, including pupils with dyscalculia. In September 2017 the Department introduced a new model to support pupils with special educational needs in our schools and all schools received a revised allocations for the 2019/20 school year.
The new model differs significantly from the old Resource Allocation Model, in that Special Education Teacher allocation is now frontloaded into schools to support children with special educational needs. Rather than having to make individual application to the NCSE for additional supports schools can now respond to individual needs in a flexible way and pupils do not have to have a psychological assessment, or a diagnosis of a disability, in order to access Special Education Teaching. This means that those with highest level of need can access the highest level of support within the school in a timely manner.
It is a matter for schools to monitor and utilise their allocation of additional teaching support to best support the needs of identified pupils, in accordance with the Department's guidance. The teaching time afforded to each individual pupil is decided and managed by schools, taking into account each child's individual learning needs.
Guidelines for schools on the organisation, deployment and use of their special education teachers have been published on the Department’s website, at www.gov.ie/en/publication/56c43-supporting-pupils-and-students-with-special-educational-needs-guidelines-for-schools/
Schools are supported in this regard by the National Educational Psychological Services.
Funding is available to schools under the assistive technology scheme for the purchase of specialised equipment such as computers and/or software to assist children with special educational needs. In order to qualify for equipment under the scheme, a child must have been diagnosed with a physical or communicative disability and must also have a recommendation in a professional assessment that the equipment is essential in order to allow the child to access the curriculum. It must also be clear that the existing I.T. equipment in the school is insufficient to meet the child's needs. Equipment may only be provided where medical and/or other professional reports outline that the degree of communicative disability is such that this equipment is essential to allow the pupil to access education and set out how the equipment will provide for this. An assessment indicating that equipment would achieve improvement in performance is not sufficient since this could be true in the case of any child.
Schools apply to the NCSE, through their local Special Educational Needs Organiser (SENO) for such support. SENOs make recommendations to the Department where assistive technology is required, in accordance with the criteria set out in the Department's Circular 0010/2013. All schools have the names and contact details of their local SENO. Parents may also contact their local SENO directly to discuss their child’s special educational needs, using the contact details available at ncse.ie/seno-contact-information.
Resources provided to schools also include additional training for teachers who support children with special educational needs, through the Special Education Support Service (SESS).
The Special Education Support Service (SESS) is part of the NCSE’s Support Service, along with the National Behaviour Support Service (NBSS) and the Visiting Teacher Service for children who are deaf/hard of hearing and for children who are blind/visually impaired (VTSVHI).
The Support Service provides advice and support to schools on the education and inclusion of students with special educational needs, providing in-school support for teachers and continuing professional development for teachers with additional training needs. The Support Service continues to update current CPD courses and design new CPD courses in response to the needs of teachers.
Schools can apply for CPD courses directly to the NCSE on their online application process at www.sess.ie/ncsesupport.
The Department encourages parents and school authorities to engage locally regarding pupils' education. Should a parent be dissatisfied with the manner in which supports have been provided to support their child's education they should raise this matter directly with their school Principal or the Board of Management of the school. Parents may also contact their local SENO directly to discuss their child's present or future educational needs, using the contact details available on www.ncse.ie.
378. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education the status of a post-primary school for Citywest, Dublin, in terms of timelines, stages and likely commencement date. [62468/21]
View answerThe permanent school building project for the school referred to by the Deputy has been assigned to my Department’s Design & Build delivery programme. This delivery programme uses a professional external Project Manager to progress the project through the relevant stages of architectural planning, tender and construction.
The final grant of planning permission for the project was received in March 2021. My Department’s Project Manager together with their Design Team are engaged in the preparation of tender documentation for the project. Once this stage is complete, the project will then proceed to tender stage.
The school opened in interim accommodation in the Citywest Campus in 2020, with additional interim accommodation provided to cater for the 2021/22 school year. My Department will continue to address the interim accommodation requirements for the school and will continue to keep the patron body updated as the project progresses.
379. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education the status of a post-primary school for Ballycullen and Firhouse, Dublin, in terms of timelines, stages and likely commencement date. [62469/21]
View answerThe permanent school building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is being delivered under my Department’s Design & Build programme.
A planning application for interim accommodation for the school on its permanent site was lodged on the 26th May 2021. A third party appeal of grant of planning permission was subsequently submitted to An Bord Pleanála and a decision of the Board is due in January.
When the decision is received the delivery of the interim accommodation on the permanent site will proceed. The school will relocate to this accommodation for the 2022/2023 school year.
It is intended that the planning application for the permanent accommodation will be progressed and lodged following receipt of the planning permission for the interim accommodation. Until such time as planning permission is secured for the permanent accommodation it is not possible to provide a timeline for its delivery.
The Department will continue to work with the school and its patron body in relation to the school’s interim accommodation requirements.
380. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education the likely recommencement date for works at a school (details supplied); the details of the present situation; the next phases of work and timelines for completion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62470/21]
View answerRemaining works for the school to which the Deputy refers need to be re-tendered. The Design Team is currently in the process of preparing a scope of works package, for these works, which upon completion will be submitted to my Department for review and approval.
Upon approval the project will then be authorisied to commence a pre-qualification process to select a short-list of contractors and subsequently proceed to tender. A tender stage normally takes between 4 and 6 months to complete.
381. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education the status of the project at a school (details supplied) in terms of timelines and stages and the likely conclusion and opening dates. [62471/21]
View answerThe Letter of Acceptance (LOA) issued to the preferred tenderer on the 29th July 2021 commencing the school building contract for the school referred to by the Deputy.
The construction programme is 60 weeks with the new 16 classroom school expected to be completed in July 2022 and all external site works including the removal of current temporary accommodation to be completed by end September 2022.
382. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the status of talks on securing fair pay and conditions for school secretaries. [62472/21]
View answerSchool secretaries are valued members of our school communities and my Department is fully aware of the vitally important role they play 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.
Discussions on these elements continue at present and should agreement on an overall package be reached then Fórsa would have to ballot their members and an implementation process would then begin if the ballot was passed.
I encourage all parties to focus on finalising an agreement.
383. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education the number of State boards under the remit of her Department or its agencies, in tabular form; the number of members of each board; the number of persons with a declared disability on each board; and the percentage of each board that is made up of persons with a declared disability. [62522/21]
View answerThe number of State boards under the remit of my Department and the number of members of each board is set out in the table below.
My Department does not collate information in relation to the number of persons on each board with a declared disability.
|
Aegis Bodies under the remit of the Department Education. |
Number of members on the Board of each State Body |
|
An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta (COGG) |
12 |
|
Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse (CICA) |
5 |
|
Educational Research Centre (ERC) |
5 |
|
National Centre for Guidance in Education (NCGE) |
14 |
|
National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) |
25 |
|
National Council for Special Education (NCSE) |
13 |
|
Residential Institutions Redress Board (RIRB) |
10 |
|
Residential Institutions Review Committee (RIRC) |
5 |
|
Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Board (RISF) - Caranua |
4 |
|
State Examinations Commission (SEC) |
5 |
|
The Teaching Council |
37 |
384. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education the status of the process of securing a new school building for a school (details supplied). [62558/21]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, the school in question is included in my Department's school building programme for the construction of a sixteen-classroom school building, including a two classroom Special Education Needs Base.
My Department expects to be in further contact with the school early in the new year regarding the progression of the project to the next stage.
385. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education the number of applications under the minor works scheme she received for schools in areas (details supplied). [62559/21]
View answerThe payment of a minor works grant totalling €45m for primary schools and special schools, as part of additional support in the context of Covid-19, and a once-off Covid-19 minor works funding for post-primary schools of €17m announced on the 13th of December 2021 is paid automatically to schools in the free scheme with no onus on schools to make an application.
In this context there have been no applications for the Minor Works Grant from schools in North Central Cork.
Applications from post-primary schools in the fee-charging sector will be considered on a case by case basis.
386. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the number of applications for new school buildings received; the number of applications successfully approved; and the number of new schools successfully built in 2018, 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form. [62670/21]
View answer393. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the number of schools that have a school hall by primary, secondary and special school in tabular form. [62702/21]
View answer395. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the number of DEIS schools that have a school hall by primary and secondary in tabular form. [62704/21]
View answer396. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the number of DEIS schools that do not have a school hall by primary and secondary in tabular form. [62705/21]
View answer397. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the number of schools that do not have a school hall by primary, secondary and special school in tabular form. [62706/21]
View answer400. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the number of applications received by her Department for the building of a school hall; and the number of applications which were successfully approved in each of the years 2018 to 2020 and to date in 2021, distinguished by primary, secondary and special school in tabular form. [62709/21]
View answer401. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the number of school hall builds which were completed in each of the years 2018 to 2020 and to date in 2021, distinguished by primary, secondary and special school. [62710/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 386, 393, 395 to 397, inclusive, 400 and 401 together.
My Department provides general purpose and PE halls with the construction of all new primary and post primary schools respectively. These facilities may also be provided where a major building or refurbishment project is being delivered for an existing school.
Investment and expenditure on PE halls is an element of the overall expenditure and investment in the School Building Programme. The provision of PE halls and outdoor hard play areas such as basketball courts, form part of the accommodation brief for all new school buildings or where a major building or refurbishment project is being delivered for an existing school.
Circa. 70% of primary schools have indicated to the Department as part of their 2020 Annual Schools Returns that they either have or have access to a nearby GP Room. Of the remainder, approximately 60 schools have major building projects in train that will deliver new GP Room accommodation.
At post primary level, almost 90% of schools have indicated that they either have or have access to a nearby PE Hall. Of the remainder, over 25 schools have major building projects in train that will deliver new PE Hall accommodation.
During the NDP period 2018-2020 there were 526 completed building projects under the Large-Scale Capital Programme and the Additional Accommodation Scheme, including 180 completed in 2020. Many of these projects would have included PE hall or GP room provision, though the detail requested by the Deputy is not readily available.
However, I can confirm that there are currently 377 schools (338 projects) listed on the Large Scale Capital Programme which would be expected to provide new PE halls at post-primary level (where none exist already) or GP halls at primary level (where none exist already).
Details of large-scale projects being delivered under the school building programme may be viewed on my Department's website at www.gov.ie and this information is updated regularly. In addition, a list of large-scale projects completed from 2010 to date may also be viewed on the website.
As the Deputy will be aware, the main focus of resources over the last decade and for the coming period is on provision of additional capacity to cater for increasing demographics particularly at post-primary level and for special education needs provision. The Deputy will appreciate that the immediate priority of my Department is providing new and replacement school places each year, to ensure that every child has a school place.
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 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) and 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 strengthened focus on refurbishment of existing school stock will have different strands which includes PE build and modernisation programme which will enable students in post-primary schools to have access to appropriate facilities to support PE provision, particularly also in the context of the roll-out of PE as a leaving certificate subject. Enhanced and modernised PE facilities will also provide important amenities for local communities. This planned investment in the existing school stock will also incorporate the provision of ancillary accommodation such as GP rooms at primary level. The specific accommodation needs of Special Schools will additionally form part of this modernisation programme.
387. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the number of new school builds in 2018, 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021; and the number of these builds which included a canteen and food preparation and cooking facilities. [62671/21]
View answer388. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the number of schools nationally that do not have a canteen. [62687/21]
View answer389. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the average cost of building a canteen for a school. [62689/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 387 to 389, inclusive, together.
My Department has in place detailed design guidelines for primary and post-primary schools. These guidelines, which are available on my Department's web-site, currently provide for a standard range of servery and eating facilities in the design of new and refurbished schools. In Primary schools, a servery of 8.0m² in area is provided. At Post Primary level a kitchenette, 25m² in area, is provided off the General Purpose/Dining Area. These facilities are not intended to be full commercial type kitchens where food is prepared or cooked.
As these facilities are provided as part of the overall accommodation for new schools and refurbished primary and post primary schools, costs are not readily available. However, the Department publishes a Basic Building Cost limit which sets a guide for construction costs: www.education.ie/en/Circulars-and-Forms/Active-Circulars/cl0027_2021.pdf.
My Department does not hold details of schools with kitchens and/or canteens, or those without such facilities.
During the NDP period 2018-2020, there were 526 completed building projects under the Large-Scale Capital Programme and the Additional Accommodation Scheme, including 180 completed in 2020. Many of these projects would have included PE hall or GP room provision, with the associated servery of 8.0m² in the case of primary schools and a kitchenette area of 25m² in the case of post primary schools, though the detail requested by the Deputy is not readily available.
There are currently 377 schools (338 projects) listed on the Large Scale Capital Programme which would be expected to provide new PE halls at post-primary level (where none exist already) or GP halls at primary level (where none exist already). The related servery and kitchenette areas would also be provided.
Details of large-scale projects being delivered under the school building programme may be viewed on my Department's website at www.gov.ie and this information is updated regularly. In addition, a list of large-scale projects completed from 2010 to date may also be viewed on the website.
390. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the number of DEIS schools that do not have a canteen. [62690/21]
View answer391. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the number of DEIS schools that do not have cooking facilities. [62691/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 390 and 391 together.
I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department does not hold details of schools with kitchens and/or canteens, or those without such facilities.
My Department has in place detailed design guidelines for primary and post-primary schools. These guidelines, which are available on my Department's web-site, currently provide for a standard range of servery and eating facilities in the design of new and refurbished schools. In Primary schools, a servery of 8.0m² in area is provided. At Post Primary level a kitchenette, 25m² in area, is provided off the General Purpose/Dining Area. These facilities are not intended to be full commercial type kitchens where food is prepared or cooked.
Under Project Ireland 2040, my Department continues to make progress to increase the infrastructural capacity in the schools sector, in order to meet demographic and other demands. The Capital Programme details the school projects that are being progressed under Project Ireland 2040. The current status of large-scale projects being delivered under Project Ireland 2040, including projects in the school planning areas in question, may be viewed on my Department's website at www.gov.ie and this information is updated regularly. In addition, a list of large-scale projects completed from 2010 to date may also be viewed on the website.
The Capital Programme also provides for devolved funding for additional school accommodation (ASA) where required. Details of schools listed on this programme can be found on my Department's website at www.gov.ie and this information is also updated regularly. The purpose of the ASA scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream classroom and Special Education Needs (SEN) accommodation is available to cater for pupils enrolled each year, where the need cannot be met by the school’s existing accommodation. The main focus of resources over the last decade and for the coming period is on provision of additional capacity to cater for increasing demographics. The second half of the National Development Plan will see an increasing focus on the upgrade and refurbishment of the existing school stock.
392. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the number of schools by primary, secondary and special school, in tabular form. [62701/21]
View answerPlease find below the requested information.
Please note the data below is for the 2020-21 academic year, the most recent year we have published data for. We intend to publish the preliminary enrolments and primary and post primary school lists for the 2021-22 academic year before the end of the year.
|
Number of Schools 2020-21 |
Total |
|
Mainstream Primary Schools |
3,107 |
|
Special Schools |
134 |
|
Post-Primary Schools |
730 |
394. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the number of DEIS schools, by primary and secondary, in tabular form. [62703/21]
View answerDEIS – Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools is the main policy initiative of the Department of Education to address educational disadvantage at school level.
In the 2021/22 academic year there are 884 schools in the DEIS Programme serving over 180,000 pupils - 687 Primary and 197 Post Primary.
|
Band |
Number of Schools |
|
Urban Band 1 |
227 |
|
Urban Band 2 |
104 |
|
Rural |
356 |
|
Total Primary |
687 |
|
Post Primary |
197 |
|
Total DEIS Schools |
884 |
