Written Answers Nos. 320-339
320. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Education her views on the potential staff shortages created by requiring trainee teachers to withdraw from working as substitute teachers in order to take-up their placements. [12397/22]
View answerAt the outset, I want to acknowledge the key role played by student teachers in supporting our schools throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, particularly in providing substitution cover. This support was vitally important to ensure that our schools remained open for pupils.
In this regard, a framework for adapted School Placement arrangements was developed by the Department of Education and the Teaching Council, together with the relevant Initial Teacher Education (ITE) providers, in order to ensure that student teachers at primary level could continue to support schools during periods of planned school placement from the beginning of January up to the February mid-term break. During this period, student teachers continued to be located in their host school for school placement, but were also available to support other schools where required.
The Education Stakeholders, including the Department of Education, HEIs providing initial teacher education (ITE) and the Teaching Council, have continued to work together to maintain the integrity of the students’ ITE experiences and support students in satisfactorily completing their ITE programmes.
The adapted School Placement arrangements were an exceptional measure introduced as part of a suite of measures to support schools to minimise the risk associated with COVID-19 and in light of the prevalence of the Omicron variant, with the understanding that these would be unwound as soon as possible.
On 17th February 2022, NPHET reviewed the remaining public health measures including the infection prevention control measures and restrictions in school settings.
Having closely considered relevant epidemiological data and other matters as set out in their letter of 17 February 2022, the Government accepted the recommendations of the NPHET to remove remaining restrictions in schools.
The Department understands that student teachers will now return to experiencing the more typical School Placement arrangements, and associated assessments, which are a critical part of their ITE programmes.
While the adapted School Placement arrangements are no longer in place, student teachers will, if they wish, still be able to support schools by providing substitution cover when they have availability outside of their ITE programme requirements.
321. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Education when a form will be returned to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo. [12406/22]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that the Post Primary Payroll Division of my Department has completed a Department of Social Protection UP2CD claim form, and sent this form to the teacher concerned, on 1st March, 2022.
322. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Education the status of the review by her Department of the policy on reading classes and schools; and when these findings along with relevant recommendations will be published. [12426/22]
View answerEnabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for this Government.
This 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.
A continuum of education provision is in place covering the full range of need spanning placement in mainstream classes with supports through to more specialist placements either in a special class or a special school depending on the level of complexity of need.
Available supports include provision to meet care needs and to provide additional teaching support where this is required. In addition, there are specialist educational supports provided by the National Educational Psychological Services (NEPS) and the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) to help schools provide an appropriate education for pupils with special educational needs including reading difficulties.
NCSE is currently undertaking Policy Advice on Education Provision in Special Classes and Special Schools to examine whether placement in specialist settings brings about improved educational outcomes and experiences, relative to their ability, for students with special educational needs.
This Policy Advice is to be completed shortly and will then be considered by my Department.
As the Deputy is aware, I have also requested my Department to arrange for a review of the policy on reading classes and schools. This review will be undertaken by the Department's Inspectorate and is scheduled to commence after Easter. When completed, this report will also be considered in the context of overall policy on special education.
323. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education the number of staff currently employed by her Department; the current annual salary of the highest and second highest paid persons respectively, employed by her Department; and the various pay scales for persons working in her Department. [12472/22]
View answerThere are currently 1480.72 full time equivalent staff employed by my Department.
The current annual salaries of the highest and second highest paid persons employed by my Department are €205,199 and €172,888 respectively.
All staff in my Department are paid in line with the relevant DPER circulars setting out the Civil Service salary scales, the most recent of which, Circular 04/2022, can be found online at www.gov.ie/en/circular/ef515-application-of-1st-february-2022-pay-adjustments.
324. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education the status of a case (details supplied); the status of the talks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12494/22]
View answerSchool 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 these staff 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 with school management bodies have been engaging with Fórsa on a claim on terms and conditions for grant-funded school secretaries and caretakers. On the 27th of October 2020, under the auspices of the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC), an understanding was agreed on a pathway to progress the issues. Several key strands were identified, and a phased approach was being taken to the development of proposals. Throughout the negotiations it has been important to consider both the potential costs of any proposal for the exchequer and also the potential consequences of any agreement for the many other similarly funded roles throughout the public sector.
On the 24th February, following a series of engagements at the WRC, a package to settle the claim was proposed which Fórsa have agreed to recommend to its members. A ballot will now be undertaken and we await the outcome. The main elements of the package offered include, in recognition of the invaluable work carried out by school secretaries, moving their pay rates to a scale which is aligned with the Clerical Officer Grade III pay scale on a pro rata basis according to a secretary’s current working pattern. This process will provide for pay increases (backdated to 1 September 2021) to school secretaries who choose to move to the new terms. It also provides for lower-paid but longer serving secretaries to be placed higher up the salary scale.
In addition to an incremental salary scale, Secretaries may also choose to receive additional increments if they decide that they no longer wish to apply to the Department of Social Protection for payment of benefits for periods when they are not working due to school holidays. The package of proposals on offer to school secretaries also include standardised terms and conditions in relation to annual leave, maternity benefit and sick pay.
This offer relates only to school secretaries at present. As set out in the framework agreement of 14 September 2021, 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. Should the proposal be agreed and an implementation plan put in place, intensive engagement will begin on regularising the pay and conditions of grant funded caretakers.
This agreement is further acknowledgment of the excellent and often unheralded work carried out on the ground by secretaries and caretakers in our schools. I welcome Fórsa’s decision to ballot their members on this agreed suite of measures for staff who are the beating heart of our school community. This important step forward is the result of great co-operation on the part of all concerned, and I would encourage school secretaries to vote in favour of it.
325. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education the status of an application by a school (details supplied); if the application will be examined under the additional accommodation scheme; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the project is linked to another major project already approved and is delaying works; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12528/22]
View answerI can confirm to the Deputy that my Department received an application for capital funding, under the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme from the school authority referred to by the Deputy.
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.
Officials in my Department have had recent engagement with the school authorities and confirmation of the approval of temporary accommodation has issued to the school. In respect of the application for permanent accommodation, the brief is currently being revised by my Department's Professional and Technical staff and formal confirmation of the approval will issue shortly to the school authority.
326. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Education the percentage of schools that offer computer science as a leaving certificate subject; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12540/22]
View answerIn the 2020-21 academic year, 13% of second-level schools offered computer science as a subject in the Leaving Certificate and Leaving Certificate Vocational programmes.
327. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Education the number of students who took computer science as a leaving certificate subject in 2019, 2020 and 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12541/22]
View answerThe attached table shows the number of pupils taking Computer Science as a subject as part of the Leaving Certificate and Leaving Certificate Vocational programmes for academic years 2019 & 2020, the last year we have available final enrolment figures.
We expect to publish final enrolments for 2021-22 in June of this year.
|
- |
Count Unique Enrolments - <=30th Sept |
Count Unique Enrolments - <=30th Sept |
|
Programme |
2019 |
2020 |
|
LEAVING CERTIFICATE |
1,218 |
1,899 |
|
LEAVING CERTIFICATE VOCATIONAL |
341 |
551 |
|
Grand Total |
1,559 |
2,450 |
Note: Above figures are for those pupils taking subject choices Computer Science or Computer Science LC Exam for the years in question.
328. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Education the number of submissions that were received on the public consultation on school transport by county in tabular form. [12579/22]
View answerSchool Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year over 121,400 children, including over 15,500 children with special educational needs, are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country at a cost of over €289m in 2021.
As the Deputy is aware, 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 and how it currently operates, its broader effectiveness and sustainability and that it adequately supports the provision of services to students and their families.
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. The review will also examine the potential for integration of different strands of the scheme and a more co-ordinated approach with other Government Departments that also use transport services.
The information required by the Deputy is not available in the format requested, however, I can advise that following my announcement of the commencement of the stakeholder consultation process on 20th January 2022. Letters issued to a number of stakeholders including school management bodies, parent representative organisations, special education interest groups, EU member states, and school principals. Parents/guardians and Post Primary students were invited to complete online surveys.
Work is continuing with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to progress the survey and focus groups for children in primary schools and children with special educational needs.
A series of bilateral meetings have been held with relevant Government Departments, agencies/bodies and organisations to discuss the review and to seek their views.
The following surveys and submissions have been received in my department to date and work is underway to assess and report on survey results and submissions received.
|
Stakeholder Groups |
Numbers received |
|
Surveys from Parents/Guardians |
8,200 |
|
Surveys from Post Primary Students |
2,400 |
|
Submissions from school management bodies, parent representative organisations, principals representative organisations |
6 |
|
Other Departments and Organisations |
4 |
|
School Principals |
73 |
|
Special Education Interest Groups and industry representatives |
4 |
|
Other (emails received from parents/guardians) |
37 |
|
Other (emails received from employees of schools) |
18 |
|
Public Representatives |
3 |
|
EU Member State Surveys |
12 |
329. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Education if an offer of acceptance has been received in her Department for a project (details supplied). [12580/22]
View answerThe Letter of Intent (LOI) issued on 15th February 2022 to the preferred tenderer. This allows the preferred bidder to put in place the Bond, Insurances and confirmations of all legal arrangements required under the Contract.
Following receipt of all the necessary documentation, the Department will be in a position to issue the Letter of Acceptance (LOA), which will allow the contractor to mobilise on site.
It is expected that the LOA will issue very shortly after receipt of all the necessary documentation.
330. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Education if an offer of acceptance has been received in her Department for a project (details supplied). [12581/22]
View answerThe Letter of Intent (LOI) issued on 15th February 2022 to the preferred tenderer. This allows the preferred bidder to put in place the Bond, Insurances and confirmations of all legal arrangements required under the Contract.
Following receipt of all the necessary documentation, the Department will be in a position to issue the Letter of Acceptance (LOA), which will allow the contractor to mobilise on site.
It is expected that the LOA will issue very shortly after receipt of all the necessary documentation.
331. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Education the number of school building project tenders that have changed in costings due to cost of material changes; and the average percentage change of those projects. [12582/22]
View answerUnder the Capital Works Management Framework (CWMF) once a tenderer submits a tender it is not allowed to be adjusted for inflation. However in line with CWMF procurement rules and recent new guidance and changes to Public Work Contracts (PWC), issued by the OGP, the following scenarios are being implemented by the Department of Education:
1. Where tenders are submitted and the apparently most advantageous tender (typically the lowest) is identified and subsequently withdraws, the next lowest tender is asked if they will stand over their price and accept the contract. If this tenderer withdraws, this process is continued until a tenderer will stand over their price. A test of value for money is made if this process results in a uneconomical tender. This may result in the tender being collapsed and a new tender process initiated.
2. As of the 24th of November 2021 the Office of Government Procurement (OGP) issued new guidance constructionprocurement.gov.ie/wp-content/uploads/24-November-2021-Material-price-inflation-guidance-on-public-works-tenders.pdf where in the event that tenderers fail to stand over their tenders, tenderers are invited to resubmit their tenders to take account of material price increases that have arisen since the Designated Date of the original tender.
3. As of the 9th of January 2022 the OGP issued revised PWC, supporting tender documents and guidance constructionprocurement.gov.ie/category/news/ that incorporate provisions to deal with material price inflation:
As this is an ongoing issue the full extent will not be apparent until impacted projects are concluded and the terms of the Public Works Contracts, including the dispute resolution clauses (e.g. Conciliations), are fully settled.
332. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update on planned major renovation and rebuilding works to a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12611/22]
View answerThe major building project referred to by the Deputy is currently at advanced stage of Architectural Planning. The Board of Management and it's Design Team were authorised to commence Stage (2b) - Detailed Design on the 26th August 2021.
Stage 2(b) includes the applications for Planning Permission, Fire Safety Certification, Disability Access Certification and when these have been secured, the preparation of Tender Documents.
When the above steps have been completed, the Design Team will submit the Stage 2b Report and documentation for review by my Department, and subject to no issues arising from that review, my Department will then contact the Design Team and the School Authorities with regard to the further progression of the project.
333. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Education the status of the alternate sitting of the leaving certificate examinations in 2022; if the categories of serious illness have been finalised; if the stakeholder engagement process on this matter has begun; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12635/22]
View answerThe State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations.
In view of this I have forwarded your question to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.
334. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the number of schools that have appealed their SNA allocation by county in 2021 and 2022, in tabular form. [12641/22]
View answerThe provision of education for children with special needs is an ongoing priority for Government.
The numbers of special classes, special education teachers and Special Needs Assistants are at unprecedented levels.
The State currently spends in excess of 25% of its annual education and training budget (€9.2 Billion) on making additional provision for children with special educational needs.
This represents an increase of over 60% in total expenditure since 2011, at which point €1.247 Billion per annum was provided.
Budget 2021 provided an additional 990 Special Needs Assistants. This resulted in 18,004 SNAs having been allocated to schools by 31st December 2021.
Budget 2022 provides funding for an additional 1,165 SNAs (in 2022) to provide support to children with special educational needs, which will bring the total number of SNAs to 19,169 at the end of December 2022.
Provision for 19,169 SNAs as at 31st December 2022 will represent an increase of 81% since 2011 at which time 10,575 were provided.
The NCSE has responsibility for planning and coordinating school supports for children with special educational needs including the allocation of SNAs and reviews. The Department does not have a role in making individual school determinations.
The NCSE publishes statistics on SNA allocations to primary, post primary and special schools in tabular form, by county and by school, for each school year, this information is available on its website, www.ncse.ie.
Where circumstances change during the course of the 2021/22 school year that materially increase the level of care need in a school to the extent that the school can clearly demonstrate that it cannot be met within the existing SNA allocation, the school may apply to the NCSE for a review. Detailed information on the NCSE exceptional review process is published on the NCSE website ncse.ie/for-schools.
The NCSE manages the exceptional review process and handles each case individually. Some review requests can be concluded as an office based exercise, whilst others require a school to be visited in order to observe the current deployment of SNA support in the school setting.
The timeframe for concluding a review can vary depending on the school context or the nature of the information provided. The Department does not have a role in making individual school determinations.
As this question relates to the statistics on the number of schools that have appealed their SNA allocation, I have referred the question to the NCSE for its direct reply.
335. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the number of schools that have appealed their special education teaching allocation by county in 2021 and 2022, in tabular form. [12642/22]
View answerThe appeals process for the Special Education Teaching allocations is dealt with by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), therefore I have referred your query to the NCSE for direct reply.
336. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education if advice will be provided on a matter regarding school transport for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12644/22]
View answerThe School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. In the current school year over 121,400 children, including over 15,500 children with special educational needs, are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country at a cost of over €289m in 2021.
Under the terms of the School Transport Schemes children are eligible for transport at primary level where they reside not less than 3.2 kilometres from and are attending their nearest national school as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
A minimum number of 10 eligible children residing in a distinct locality, as determined by Bus Éireann, is required before consideration may be given to the establishment or retention of school transport services, provided this can be done within reasonable cost limits.
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.
Following commencement of this 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, I approved the extension of temporary alleviation measures in the current school year for transport for post-primary students who are otherwise eligible for school transport but are attending their second nearest school and have applied and paid on time.
Wider considerations relating to operation of the scheme are now taking place in the next phase of the review which is currently underway. As part of this phase of the review, my Department has conducted an extensive stakeholder engagement process. My Department are listening to the views of relevant stakeholders, including parents/guardians, students, school principals, special education interest groups and other Government Departments, so that they may be considered as part of the assessment and in informing policy on the future operation of the scheme.
The Steering Group will continue to report to me on an interim basis as the review progresses.
337. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education the status of the new school building for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12647/22]
View answerThe major building project for the school referred to by the deputy has been devolved for delivery to Cavan and Monaghan Education and Training Board (CMETB).
I am pleased to inform you that the project was approved by the Department to proceed to Stage 2a of the architectural planning process in December 2021.
While at this early stage it is not possible to provide a timeline for completion of the project, CMETB will be engaging directly with the school authority to keep it informed of progress.
338. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education the status of an application by a school (details supplied); if same will be reviewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12654/22]
View answerI can confirm that my Department is in receipt of an application for major capital funding under the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme in respect of the school referred to by the Deputy.
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.
While my Department has already approved funding for the provision of permanent additional accommodation at the school in question in 2020 under the ASA scheme, this did not include provision for a PE hall. The School Authority has subsequently re-applied for capital funding for a PE Hall. 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 NDP will see an increasing focus on the upgrade and refurbishment of the existing school stock. This will include a PE Hall build and modernisation programme to ensure that students in all post-primary schools have access to appropriate facilities to support PE provision.
A decision on the school's most recent application under the ASA scheme will issue directly to the school authority in this context.
339. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Education when the steering group will be issuing its next interim report on the review of school transport; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12679/22]
View answerSchool Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year over 121,400 children, including over 15,500 children with special educational needs, are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country at a cost of over €289m in 2021.
As the Deputy is aware, 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 and how it currently operates, its broader effectiveness and sustainability and that it adequately supports the provision of services to students and their families.
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. The review will also examine the potential for integration of different strands of the scheme and a more co-ordinated approach with other Government Departments that also use transport services.
Following commencement of this 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, I approved the extension of temporary alleviation measures in the current school year for transport for post-primary students who are otherwise eligible for school transport but are attending their second nearest school and have applied and paid on time.
Wider considerations relating to operation of the scheme are now taking place in the next phase of the review which is currently underway. The Steering Group will continue to report to me on an interim basis as the review progresses.
