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Tuesday, 22 Mar 2022

Written Answers Nos. 545-569

Disadvantaged Status

Questions (545)

John McGuinness

Question:

545. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education if DEIS urban 1 status will be applied to a school (details supplied); and if a positive response will be expedited. [14800/22]

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Written answers

I announced on the 9th March, 2022 the expansion of the DEIS programme benefitting 347 schools. These schools were identified as having the highest levels of educational disadvantage.  In the 2022/23 academic year there will be 1,194 schools in the DEIS Programme - 960 Primary and 234 Post Primary. This will also mean a €32million increase in my Department's expenditure on DEIS programme from 2023. This is the largest ever single investment in the programme and will extend DEIS status to schools serving the highest proportions of pupils at risk of educational disadvantage.

This announcement follows an extensive body of work by the DEIS technical group to develop the refined DEIS identification model to identify the concentrated levels of disadvantage of schools. Schools were identified for inclusion in the programme through the refined DEIS identification model which is an objective, statistics based model which uses information from the Department of Education enrolment databases and the Pobal HP Deprivation index. The DEIS identification model now takes into consideration the significant educational disadvantage experienced by Traveller and Roma learners and by students residing in direct provision or emergency homeless accommodation. Schools were not required to apply for inclusion in the DEIS programme and the model has been applied fairly and equally to all schools.

Schools that have not been included in the DEIS programme at this time will have an opportunity to have that decision reviewed. My Department will provide further information in the coming days on this appeals process on my Department’s website.

School Accommodation

Questions (546)

Peter Burke

Question:

546. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Education if she will consider an application for additional accommodation by a school (details supplied); when a decision will be made on this application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14811/22]

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Written answers

I 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 in 2021. This application was subsequently refused following assessment.

The purpose of the ASA scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream classroom and Special Educational 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 NDP will see an increasing focus on the upgrade and refurbishment of the existing school stock. 

If the school authority believe that their requirements have changed since their last ASA application, it is open to them to make another application under the scheme, details of which are available at www.gov.ie . 

 

School Accommodation

Questions (547)

David Stanton

Question:

547. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Education the resources that her Department put in place in the 2021-2022 school year to facilitate extra secondary school places in east County Cork; the further resources she intends to put in place in the 2022-2023 school year given the demand for school places in the east County Cork area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14813/22]

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Written answers

As the Deputy may be aware for school planning purposes, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and utilises a Geographical Information System (GIS) to anticipate school place demand. Information from a range of sources, including Child Benefit data, school enrolment data and information on residential development activity is used for this purpose.

My Department is aware of increasing pressures and demand for additional school places in a number of school planning areas including in east Cork.

However, it is important to note that where enrolment pressures arise, it may not be as a result of lack of accommodation but may be driven by the following factors:

- Duplication of applications – pupils have applied for a place to a number of schools  in the area

- School of choice – pupils can’t get a place in their preferred school while there are places in other schools in the town/area

- Some towns/areas have single sex schools and while places are available in the school they are not available to all pupils

- External draw – pupils coming from outside the local area

My Department is working to establish the true extent of any capacity issues through ongoing discussions with the relevant school authorities. In that context, similar to the process adopted in advance of the current academic year, my Department is engaging with patron bodies, including patrons of schools in east Cork to identify particular capacity requirements for the forthcoming years which may necessitate further action to that already in train.

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. It is expected that the enrolment pressures in these, and other areas will reduce in the short-term as such planned additional capacity comes on stream and as demographic demand moves past its peak.

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 area 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 classrooms, including accommodation for pupils with special educational needs, if required, for schools where an additional enrolment need has been identified or where an additional teacher has been appointed. Details of schools listed on this programme (the Additional Accommodation Scheme) can also be found on my Department's website at www.gov.ie and this information is also updated regularly.

Specifically, in east Cork, there are a number of significant school building projects providing additional capacity at post primary level:

- Carrigtwohill Community College (76333G) is a co-educational post primary school with an enrolment  of 535 for the 2021/2022 school year. A project to provide a permanent  school building for 1,000 pupils is currently at Stage 3.  Interim accommodation has been approved for the 2022/23 school year consisting of 6 general classrooms, 1 home economics room, 1 Class SEN base and 2 social spaces pending delivery of new build.

- St Aloysius College, Carrigtwohill, (62140P) is an all girls post primary school with an enrolment of 792 for the 2021/2022 school year. A project to facilitate its expansion to cater for 1,000 pupils has been devolved to the school authority for delivery.

- Christian Brothers Secondary School Midleton (62360G) is an all-boys post primary school with an enrolment of 907 pupils for the 2021/22 school year. A project to facilitate its expansion to cater for 1,000 pupils has been devolved to the school authority for delivery.

- St Mary’s High School, Midleton (62380M) is an all girls’ post primary school with an enrolment of 758 pupils for the 2021/2022 school year. In respect of the 2022/23 academic year the Department is working closely with CEIST as patron of St. Mary’s High School, Midleton, who are delivering interim accommodation at this school to facilitate provision of the required school places.  The Department continues to engage with the school patron in respect of  a project for a new school building for St. Mary’s High school to cater for 1,000 pupils.

- Pobailscoil na Trionóide,  Youghal, (91513S) is a co-educational post primary school with an enrolment of 1005 pupils for the 2021/2022 school year. A project to facilitate its expansion to cater for 1,200 pupils has been devolved to the school authority for delivery.  Interim accommodation was approved for the 2021/22 school year to facilitate school expansion (6 classroom units)

- Coláiste Mhuire, Cobh   (62180E) is a co-educational school which had an enrolment of 702 pupils for the 2021/2022 school year. A devolved grant has been approved to the  school to facilitate its expansion.

Additionally, the Department is continuing to engage with all patrons of schools in the area to identify any additional required interim solutions to meet the need for post primary places in the East Cork area. My Department will continue to work to advance these and other projects in East Cork and to ensure sufficient mainstream and SEN school places at both primary and post primary level.

School Transport

Questions (548)

Duncan Smith

Question:

548. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education if she will examine the need for a school bus to cover an area (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14872/22]

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Written answers

School 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. 

The purpose of the Department's School Transport Scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school.

Children who are eligible for school transport and who have completed the application process and paid on time are accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation.

A minimum number of 10 eligible children residing in a distinct locality, as determined by Bus Éireann, are required before consideration may be given to the establishment or retention of school transport services, provided this can be done within reasonable cost limits.

All school transport services are reviewed over the summer months. Arising from this review, routes may be altered, extended or withdrawn depending on the number and location of eligible children who will be availing of school transport for the following school year.

Parents of a child wishing to avail of school transport services are required to apply on-line on Bus Éireann website at www.buseireann.ie

The closing date for receipt of applications for school transport for the 2022/23 school year is Friday, 29 April, 2022.  It is important that parents apply on time as a seat may not be guaranteed for late applications.

Children who are not eligible for school transport, are considered for spare seats that may exist after eligible children have been facilitated; such seats are referred to as concessionary seats.

Because of the nature of concessionary transport for non-eligible children and the priority of providing places for eligible children, there may be an excess of demand over supply for concessionary places, in these cases Bus Éireann will allocate tickets for spare seats using a random selection process. 

As you are 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, 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. 

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 review will consider issues such as climate action, supporting rural development and promoting where possible initiatives that encourage walking and cycling to school.

In June 2021, 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 temporary alleviation measures 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. 

Wider considerations relating to operation of the scheme are now taking place in the second phase of the review.  As part of this phase of the review, my Department has conducted an extensive stakeholder engagement process. My Department is analysing the views of relevant stakeholders, including parents, guardians, students 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. 

Further information relating to school transport is available on my  Department’s website at www.education.ie.

Question No. 549 answered with Question No. 528.

School Staff

Questions (550)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

550. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education when wages will be paid to a teacher (details supplied) who was absent due to illness in County Galway despite the fact that they returned to work a month ago; the reason that such an unacceptable delay has occurred; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14895/22]

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Written answers

I wish to advise the Deputy that a member of staff from the Post Primary Payroll Division of my Department has been in contact with the school, and with the teacher concerned, regarding this matter. The teacher received a final Temporary Rehabilitation Remuneration payment on 10th March, 2022, following which she will return to normal pay, with effect from the next available pay date of 24th March, 2022. 

A payment in respect of Critical Illness Payment will also be made, once the school has submitted an application for this payment via the Online Claims System.

My Department makes every effort to process payments for school staff as soon as possible. However, as teachers are paid on a fortnightly basis, the extent of time that it can take to finalise a payment can often be dependent on the point of time within the payroll cycle that an application is received.  

Teaching Qualifications

Questions (551)

Cathal Crowe

Question:

551. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education if she will intervene in the case of a person (details supplied) who is seeking assistance with a postgraduate certificate in education issue. [14900/22]

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Written answers

Circular 0063/2021 which issued in December 2021 notified teachers of a revised closing date of the 30th April 2022 to apply for outstanding qualification allowances.

My Department has received an application from the teacher in question. Correspondence issued to Ms. Murphy on 14th March 2022 advising on the procedure to be followed in order to be eligible to be upgraded to an Honours Higher Diploma in Education allowance.

Applications received will be processed in due course, notification will issue to teachers when their application has been processed and where a teacher is eligible for a qualification allowance arrears will be paid retrospectively.    

Schools Building Projects

Questions (552)

Noel Grealish

Question:

552. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Education the details of plans for a major primary school project at Newtownsmith, County Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14901/22]

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Written answers

I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department does not have plans for a major primary school project at Newtownsmith, Galway. My Department proposes using the property to temporarily decant an existing primary school while a permanent school building is being constructed elsewhere for the school in question.

School Staff

Questions (553)

Michael Ring

Question:

553. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Education if increments for time spent teaching in a primary school and a VEC can be awarded towards the salary of a secondary school teacher (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14919/22]

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Written answers

I wish to advise the Deputy that the criteria for the awarding of incremental credit to registered teachers at second level schools, is set out in my Departments Circulars 0029/2007 and 0029/2010.

The criteria for the award of incremental credit to recognised teachers was agreed under the auspices of the Teachers Conciliation Council (TCC).  This Council is comprised of representatives of teachers, school management, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Department of Education.  The Council is chaired by an official of the Workplace Relations Commission.

Particular conditions apply to the awarding of increment credit for persons who may have been teaching, for a period of time in a different sector, including at primary school level, or in the Vocational Educational/ETB Sector. 

The Circulars also set out the criteria which apply to the awarding of incremental credit in relation to teachers who may have previously been on less than whole time contracts, such as fixed term contracts, or casual and non-casual teaching service, including substitution work.

I can advise the Deputy that a member of staff from the Post Primary Payroll Division of my Department has been in contact with the teacher concerned, in order to request further details in relation to the their previous teaching service. A full consideration of this matter will then take place in order to establish if this service meets the criteria for recognition of part service for credit.

Special Educational Needs

Questions (554)

Jennifer Whitmore

Question:

554. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education if a request from a school (details supplied) will be expedited; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14946/22]

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Written answers

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

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

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

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

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 https://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.

Where a school is dissatisfied with how their exceptional review has been processed or is dissatisfied with the outcome of their exceptional review they can appeal. Applications for Appeal may be submitted through the NCSE Schools Portal: https://ncse.ie/school-support.

With regards to the school as outlined in the details supplied, the NCSE have confirmed that on 28/01/2022 it received through its online portal an application from the school, for an SNA Exceptional Review. The application has been acknowledged by the NCSE. The application will be examined and the outcome of the review will issue to the school in due course.

My Department does not have a role in making individual school determinations.

School Enrolments

Questions (555)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

555. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Education if a school (details supplied) will be permitted to employ an additional teacher in order that the significant waiting list can be honoured. [14977/22]

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Written answers

The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30th September.

Staffing arrangements for the 2022/23 school year will be published shortly and schools will be able to establish their staffing for the coming school year.

The staffing arrangements also include a provision whereby schools experiencing rapid increases in enrolment can apply for additional permanent mainstream posts on developing grounds, using projected enrolment.  Details on the process and application form will be available in the staffing circular.

Broadband Infrastructure

Questions (556)

Holly Cairns

Question:

556. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education the steps she is taking to ensure a national school (details supplied) has access to broadband. [15047/22]

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Written answers

The policy of my Department is to offer the best quality connectivity to all schools in line with the technical solutions available in the market and within financial constraints. Currently investment of some €13m is allocated annually for the provision of internet connectivity to schools. Broadband capacity can vary across geographical locations and is dependent on local infrastructure which can impact on the service that can be provided in individual schools.

The primary broadband scheme operates off existing infrastructure on the whole and the providers on the Primary Broadband Framework access this infrastructure to deliver the service to the schools. The Department does not put in place such infrastructure.

In relation to the school referred to by the Deputy the school opted to not take up the offer of a connection through the Schools Broadband Programme previously and currently has a private connection. If the school is interested in re-joining the schools broadband programme, the school should record their request with the Schools Broadband Service Desk and the school will be included in the next available tender for broadband services to schools, at which point the level of connectivity that can be provided can be determined. The Schools Broadband Service Desk is the Department's dedicated service for schools in programme, which is managed by the Professional Development Service for Teachers - Technology in Education (PDST-TiE). They can be contacted by phoning 1800334466 or by emailing broadbandservicedesk@pdst.ie.

The school referred to is included in the National Broadband Plan Intervention Area, and my Department is working closely with the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications on the implementation of the National Broadband Plan Intervention area, including the School Connection Points under the Broadband Connection Points programme, all of which will see some 679 primary schools provided with high speed connectivity by 2023. Implementation of this programme is currently underway.

Special Educational Needs

Questions (557)

Holly Cairns

Question:

557. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education if she will ensure that a young person (details supplied) can access an ASD unit place in a secondary school in their locality. [15048/22]

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Written answers

Enabling 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 a wide range of schemes and supports for children with special educational needs. This includes additional teaching and care supports.  

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children with additional needs nationwide. The NCSE, through the local Special Educational Needs Organiser (SENO), is available to support both families and schools regarding a suitable placement.

I can assure the Deputy that my Department is working in close collaboration with the NCSE to ensure that the necessary provision is put in place on a timely basis throughout the country. 

As the query refers to an individual placement case, I will arrange to have it referred to the NCSE for their attention and direct reply.

Question No. 558 answered with Question No. 462.

School Enrolments

Questions (559)

Jennifer Whitmore

Question:

559. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education if her Department has issued guidance to schools in relation to the enrolment of Ukrainian refugees; if schools will need to apply their existing admissions policy in the event that space is allocated within existing classrooms; if any alterations to the admission notice numbers for the purposes of this emergency will continue to apply to a school indefinitely; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15073/22]

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Written answers

My department has issued guidance to schools on supporting students from Ukraine that enquire about enrolling. Where children of school-going age have arrived already and want to access the school system right away, schools that have capacity locally will welcome those children in the usual way.

Our schools are well-practiced in welcoming children of all nationalities and backgrounds and do this throughout the school year.

Schools admission policies are drafted in line with the provisions of the Admission to Schools Act. It is a key feature of the act that school admission policies treat all children equally and that schools must accept all applicants unless oversubscribed.

There is no requirement for schools to review these policies. Annual Admissions notices are drafted on a yearly basis prior to the commencement of the schools admission process for the following school year, there is no requirement for schools to amend these notices.

School Staff

Questions (560)

Jennifer Whitmore

Question:

560. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education if she is allocating additional funding to schools for the provision of teachers of English as an additional language or whether existing special education teachers will be required to provide this support; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15074/22]

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Written answers

The Department will be providing additional resources to support schools who have received pupils/students from Ukraine requiring language supports. This additional resource will be provided to schools based on the number of children requiring language (EAL) support.

Recognising the significance of language in shaping individual experiences, the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) has published a range of materials to support learners with English as an additional language (EAL) across the early childhood, primary and post-primary sectors. These materials aim to support teachers and early childhood practitioners to nurture the language development of EAL learners, and they can be found on NCCA's websites: NCCA.ie, curriculumonline.ie and Aistear Síolta Practice Guide. It is planned that further material will be added to supplement what is already available.

Schools Building Projects

Questions (561)

Gary Gannon

Question:

561. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 438 of 1 June 2021 459 of 22 February 2022, if she will facilitate a meeting between her Departmental officials with parents and guardians of a school (details supplied) [15086/22]

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Written answers

My Department have been working closely with both Galway City Council and Galway County Council to identify and acquire a Permanent Site for the Galway Educate Together Secondary School under the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding.

To date, following extensive site identification and assessment exercises, a number of permanent site options have been identified in both the East of the City and the County. Each of these site options were investigated by my Department in conjunction with officials from the Local Authorities. Unfortunately in the case of all options investigated so far, either the land could not be acquired from the landowner or the site was ultimately considered unfeasible to develop in the short term.

However, a couple of permanent site options have been identified that could be delivered in the medium term and officials in my Department are continuing to work closely with the respective Local Authorities to explore the deliverability of school facilities on these sites in the shortest possible timeframe.

Due to commercial sensitivities it is not possible to provide any further information at this stage. In light of these circumstances a meeting cannot be facilitated at this time but my officials undertake to keep the school and patron informed of any key developments. The acquisition of a site for the permanent school remains a priority for the Department.

Home Schooling

Questions (562)

Gary Gannon

Question:

562. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education the number of children who classified under category C of the home tuition grant scheme from 2018-2021 (details supplied); and the expenditure in this category in tabular form. [15087/22]

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Written answers

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

Over 1,400 families were supported by Home Tuition grant funding under the various Department Scheme in the 2020/21 school year with an allocation of approximately €17million.

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

It is a condition of grant funding that tutors engaged by Parents are registered with the Teaching Council of Ireland and vetted by the National Vetting Bureau.

The medical strand of the scheme provides a compensatory education service for students enrolled in schools with a significant medical condition which has caused, and is likely to continue to cause, major disruption to their attendance at school.

Eligibility for the scheme is assessed having regard to, although not limited to, the following criteria

-  The student’s attendance levels during the previous school year.

-  A relevant medical /relevant professional report - a separate report may be requested in some cases if required.

Under the medical strand of the scheme, grant aid is based on a range of between 2 and a maximum of 10 hours tuition per week with the allocation determined by attendance in the previous school year and the educational level of the child.

The Department will also fund home tuition for students with diagnoses of school phobia and/or associated depression/anxiety where a continued absence from school is required to facilitate appropriate medical or therapeutic intervention with a view to the reintegration of the student in their school. The numbers of children receiving a home tuition grant under these two separate strand of the scheme is set out below for the last three years.

 

2020/21

2019/20

2018/19

Mental Health

346

364

381

Medical

227

277

303

Public Sector Pensions

Questions (563)

Gary Gannon

Question:

563. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education if there are any options for persons who have survived serious illness including cancer to continue working for a limited number of hours per week and to continue to avail of their public service pensions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15090/22]

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Written answers

Under the terms of the Civil Service Pension schemes, in the event a Civil Servant, due to their particular qualifications or skills set, is re-engaged after retirement, pension abatement rules apply in order that the retired official’s remuneration does not exceed the remuneration the officer would have received had s/he remained in service.

A Civil Servant who has a serious illness should engage with the Human Resources Unit of their Department in order to explore the options that can be considered in order to facilitate their rehabilitation into the workplace after a period of sick leave.

School Accommodation

Questions (564)

Gary Gannon

Question:

564. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education the amount of rent that has been agreed to be paid to the Catholic church for the use of a school (details supplied) in Nenagh, County Tipperary; and the length of time that this arrangement in place. [15092/22]

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Written answers

Ownership and control of school property is a complex issue, both constitutionally and in terms of property law and rights.  Typically, it can involve religious trusts, trustees, religious orders, the bishops both as landowners and school patrons and the State.

Where a school property is in the Minister’s ownership, a leasing arrangement will not arise.  

However, for historical reasons, most primary school property is in private ownership (often the Diocesan trust), with the local Bishop as patron.

Where the property owner is not the Minister for Education,  lease arrangements between the property owner and new patron will be required and this will be dealt with on a case by case basis.

It is envisaged that this will take into account factors such as that following a transfer of patronage the school premises will continue to be used as a school for the benefit of local children, the property will benefit from continued State investment in the upkeep, maintenance or improvement of the premises and that the property may have benefitted from State capital investment in the past.

The cost of maintaining buildings insurance on the property by the owner will also be factored in.

In relation to Nenagh, the leasing arrangement, including rent, is being worked through as part of the work on the practical arrangements to facilitate the transfer of patronage taking place in September 2022.

School Patronage

Questions (565)

Gary Gannon

Question:

565. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education if a similar arrangement has been in place for the other almost one dozen schools nationwide that were reconfigured from Catholic patronage to ETBs; if so, the amount that is being paid to the various dioceses; and if this is the plan for future reconfigurations. [15093/22]

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Written answers

Ownership and control of school property is a complex issue, both constitutionally and in terms of property law and rights.  Typically, it can involve religious trusts, trustees, religious orders, the bishops both as landowners and school patrons and the State.

Where a school property is in the Minister’s ownership, a leasing arrangement will not arise.

However, for historical reasons, most primary school property is in private ownership (often the Diocesan trust), with the local Bishop as patron.

Where the property owner is not the Minister for Education, lease arrangements between the property owner and new patron will be required and this will be dealt with on a case by case basis.

It is envisaged that this will take into account factors such as that following a transfer of patronage the school premises will continue to be used as a school for the benefit of local children, the property will benefit from continued State investment in the upkeep, maintenance or improvement of the premises and that the property may have benefitted from State capital investment in the past.

The cost of maintaining buildings insurance on the property by the owner will also be factored in.

In respect of the transfers of patronage which have already taken place, the rental amounts would have been agreed as part of discussions on the leasing arrangements.  This would have been agreed on an individual basis, prior to the arrangements in the pilot areas being put in place, and would have taken into account local circumstances.

School Patronage

Questions (566)

Gary Gannon

Question:

566. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education the reason that the State agreed to allow the bishop in the relevant dioceses to choose which body becomes the patron of a reconfigured school; and the position in relation to parental choice. [15094/22]

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Written answers

As the Deputy will be aware I recently announced that arrangements are being put in place in a number of towns and areas of cities that have no multi-denominational primary schools to identify potential schools and to engage with school authorities, school staff and the school communities with a view to agreeing on a transfer of patronage and change of ethos, where there is sufficient demand for this.

The Council for Education of the Irish Episcopal Conference (representing the Catholic patrons) and relevant Bishops have confirmed their willingness to engage and co-operate fully with the Department in seeking to facilitate a more diverse school patronage in these towns and cities. The pilot areas are:

 

Arklow

Athlone

Cork*

Dublin*

Dundalk

Galway*

Limerick*

Youghal

*parts of these cities

As part of this process, the facilitator in each area, along with the relevant patron/patron representative will review data on the schools in the area and will engage directly with the relevant school authorities to progress the initiative at a local level. The process will be shaped by the stage (if any) of consideration of reconfiguration in the area concerned and whether any schools have already been identified or have opted-in at this point.

The voice of the parent and school community is important in the context of a decision to change to a multi-denominational ethos. 

Government policy as set out in the Programme for Government is to:

- “Achieve the target of at least 400 multi-denominational primary schools by 2030, to improve parental choice”;

- “Expand and prioritise the transfer of viable schools to Community National Schools”;

- ”Work with communities to ensure the provision of clear, non-partisan information on the preparation for, and the consequences of, the divestment process and to respond to queries raised.”

Prospective patrons may include existing multi-denominational providers such as the Education and Training Boards, An Foras Pátrúnachta and Educate Together.

School Accommodation

Questions (567)

Mattie McGrath

Question:

567. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education the steps that a school (details supplied) should take to apply for additional accommodation following its designation of DEIS status; if a previously approved additional accommodation application can be combined with a new application for additional accommodation in order to progress a complete project in one application rather than progressing two separate projects; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15097/22]

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Written answers

The purpose of the Additional Schools Accommodation (ASA) scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream and special education classroom accommodation is available to cater for pupils enrolled each year and where the need cannot be met by the school’s existing accommodation.

This situation can arise where an additional teaching post has been sanctioned by Teacher Allocation Section and all available alternative accommodation within the school is already being used for classroom purposes or where a major building project is in the pipeline and an immediate short term accommodation problem has arisen. As soon as the Board of Management becomes aware that additional school accommodation will be required, they should complete the ASA application form immediately.

I can confirm that my Department's officials have engaged with the school authority in this context and have received an application under the ASA scheme in the past few days. The application will be considered in light of any ongoing projects and an appropriate decision will issue directly to the school authority in due course.

Social Welfare Benefits

Questions (568)

Holly Cairns

Question:

568. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps she is taking to ensure accessibility in applying for the back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance, in particular for applicants having difficulties with computer literacy, language, broadband and ICT. [15049/22]

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Written answers

The back to school clothing and footwear allowance scheme provides a once-off payment to eligible families to assist with the costs of clothing and footwear when children start or return to school each autumn.  The scheme operates from June to September each year.

The scheme will be open in June 2022.  As in previous years, 80% of payments under this scheme will be paid without the need to make an application.  Auto-paid customers will be notified in writing of their entitlement in June and will receive their payments in the week ending 15 July.

Customers who do not receive a letter regarding their back to school clothing and footwear allowance by the end of June will need to make an application online on www.mywelfare.ie.  The online application will be open from the end of June.  Customers who are unable to make their applications online can contact our contact centre on 071 9193318 or 0818 11 11 13 or alternatively customers can email our dedicated email address, bscfa@welfare.ie where an officer will provide any assistance to the customer to apply online or will issue an application form directly to the customer.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Social Welfare Code

Questions (569)

Michael Collins

Question:

569. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will reconsider the time period for which the fuel allowance is granted; and if the allowance will be extended by a minimum of one month given the ongoing fuel crisis in Ireland. [15080/22]

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Written answers

The Fuel Allowance is an important measure that assists pensioners and other recipients of long term  social protection schemes to address income deficiency, especially during the winter.  The duration of the scheme is designed to coincide with the coldest periods of the year and it is for this reason the scheme runs from October to mid-April.  Any proposal to change this could only be considered while taking account of overall Government policy and in the overall budgetary context.

To help mitigate the effects of rising costs, the Government has recently announced additional expenditure measures to a total value of over half a billion euro which will make a positive impact on the incomes of all households in our country.

As part of these measures, I was pleased to announce an additional lump sum payment of €125 that was paid to all households in receipt of the Fuel Allowance payment. It is expected that this additional lump sum will cost an estimated €49 million.

This payment in addition to the Budget increase will mean low-income households will see an increase of 41% in this Fuel Allowance season compared to last season.

Other significant measures announced by the Government include the Electricity Costs Emergency Benefit Payment which will see approximately 2.1m households benefit by €200 each from the new scheme.

The combined worth of the Electricity Costs Emergency Benefit Payment and the additional fuel lump sum payment is €325 or the equivalent of just under 10 weeks' additional Fuel Allowance at current rates.  

Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, my Department also provides Exceptional Needs Payments which may be made to help meet an essential, once-off cost which customers are unable to meet out of their own resources, and this may include exceptional heating costs.  Decisions on such payments are made on a case-by-case basis.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

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