Written Answers Nos. 847-870
847. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Education if her Department had asked schools in Midleton to open additional classes last May and June as a short-term option; the rationale for this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19693/22]
View answerAs 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 proactive in 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) including schools in East Cork can also be found on my Department's website at www.gov.ie and this information is also updated regularly.
Additionally, the Department is continuing to engage with all patrons of schools in the area referred to in order to identify any additional required interim solutions to meet the need for post primary places. 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.
848. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Education the status of the Teaching Council membership renewal application for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19703/22]
View answerUnder the Teaching Council Acts 2001-2015 the Teaching Council is the body with the statutory authority and responsibility for the regulation of the teaching profession in Ireland including the registration of teachers in the State. It acts in the interests of the public good while upholding and enhancing standards in the teaching profession.
The Teaching Council registers teachers in line with the requirements set out in the Teaching Council Act 2001-2015 and the Teaching Council (Registration) Regulations 2016. It is a requirement under Section 30 of the Act for teachers to be registered with the Teaching Council in order to receive payment from State funds.
Under Section 34 of the Teaching Council Acts 2001-2015, teachers are removed from the Register if they fail to apply for renewal of their registration. As provided in the legislation, where a teacher is removed from the Register, they must make a full application for registration should they wish to return to the Register.
The individual referred to by the Deputy was removed from the Register for non-renewal of registration. The Council has confirmed that numerous communications were issued by email, SMS and post regarding the required renewal registration over several months prior to removal from the register. A list of the methods of communication used are as follows:
Notice 1 - Renewal notice sent by email
Notice 2 ca 3 weeks after notice 1 - Renewal notice sent by SMS
Notice 3 ca 3 weeks after notice 2 - Renewal notice sent by SMS
Notice 4 (one week after notice 3) – Final reminder sent by tracked post
Notice 5 (a few days after notice 4) - Notice that renewal overdue sent by SMS
Removal notice issued some three months after notice 5.
I confirm that an application for re-registration to the Teaching Council has been received from the individual in question. As part of the registration process, applicants must also undergo vetting before registration can be finalised. That vetting has now concluded, and the application has now been processed with the individual now registered again with the Council.
849. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Education if a person (details supplied) will receive back pay for the time their application has been processing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19704/22]
View answerIndividuals employed as teachers in a full-time capacity in recognised schools must be registered with the Teaching Council under Section 30 of the Teaching Council Act 2001 to have payment from monies provided by the Oireachtas.
The onus is on all teachers to ensure that they have the necessary Teaching Council registration.
The individual teacher referred to by the Deputy was not registered with the Teaching Council for a period commencing 14th March 2022 to 6th April 2022 and accordingly cannot be paid out of Oireachtas funding during that period. Staff from the Teaching Council were on six occasions between 20th October 2021 and 14th March 2022 with the teacher concerned regarding the renewal of her registration. The teacher is now registered with the Teaching Council with effect from 7th April 2022 and accordingly will be paid from that date by the Payroll Division of my Department.
850. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education if there is funding available for local authorities for traffic wardens; and if her Department would engage if a local authority were to contact it with an urgent need for a traffic warden due to school safety issues. [19708/22]
View answerThe issue of road safety measures in the public road network outside of schools, such as road signage, traffic calming measures, car parking, pedestrian facilities and other safety measures are the responsibility of the relevant local authority.
The Board of Management should consider contacting the local authorities in relation to traffic management and road safety concerns in their locality.
851. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Education the communication that has taken place between her Departmental officials and the Teaching Council in order to recognise Ukrainian primary and secondary school teachers on a temporary basis who are willing to assist and teach Ukrainian children with limited English; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19721/22]
View answerI wish to thank the Deputy for his question. Under the Teaching Council Acts 2001-2015 the Teaching Council is the body with the statutory authority and responsibility for the regulation of the teaching profession in Ireland including the registration of teachers in the State. It acts in the interests of the public good while upholding and enhancing standards in the teaching profession.
In the context of the situation pertaining to those fleeing the war in the Ukraine who may wish to register to teach in Ireland, and in view of the requirement for teachers in recognised schools in Ireland to be registered in order to be paid from state funds, there has been extensive engagement with the Teaching Council to ascertain what measures can be implemented to support such applicants.
The Council has put in place accommodations specifically to address those needs, and is providing information on its website about Tailored Registration Process for Qualified Ukrainian Teachers - Teaching Council. Ukrainian teachers who wish to apply for registration with the Teaching Council are advised to email ukrainianteachers@teachingcouncil.ie where they will be assisted with the process.
852. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Education if clarity will be provided regarding the role of guidance counselling in colleges of further education in the context of the establishment of a National Policy Group for Lifelong Guidance (details supplied). [19732/22]
View answerThe Department of Education has established a National Policy Group to develop a coherent long term strategic framework for lifelong guidance as recommended in the Indecon report on Career Guidance Tools and Information. The group comprises the relevant Departments i.e.; Department of Education; Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science; Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth; Department of Social Protection and Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, all of whom are identified in the report as having a specific remit in relation to guidance.
The role of the Guidance Counsellor in colleges of Further Education is a matter for the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.
853. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Education if flexibility with regard to the school transport scheme can be afforded regarding the nearest school rule in certain circumstances (details supplied) particularly for families living in remote or rural areas and in which other alternative transport is not available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19735/22]
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.
The purpose of my 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.
Under the terms of my Department's Post Primary School Transport Scheme children are eligible for school transport where they reside not less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest school as determined by my Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
In general children are eligible for school transport if they meet the distance criteria and are attending their nearest post primary school/post primary centre.
Children who are eligible for school transport and who complete the application process on time are accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation.
Children who apply for school transport but who are not eligible are considered for spare seats that may exist after eligible children have been facilitated; such seats are referred to as concessionary seats.
Bus Éireann has advised that the pupils referred to by the Deputy are attending a school that is not their nearest school and therefore do not meet the eligibility requirements. Bus Éireann further advised that the pupils were unsuccessful in obtaining concessionary tickets for the current school year as the existing school transport service to their school of attendance is currently operating to capacity.
854. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Education if flexibility with regard to the school transport scheme can be afforded regarding the nearest school rule in certain circumstances (details supplied) particularly for families living in remote or rural areas and in which other alternative transport is not available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19736/22]
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.
The purpose of my 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.
Under the terms of my Department's Post Primary School Transport Scheme children are eligible for school transport where they reside not less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest school as determined by my Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
In general children are eligible for school transport if they meet the distance criteria and are attending their nearest post primary school/post primary centre.
Children who are eligible for school transport and who complete the application process on time are accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation.
Children who apply for school transport but who are not eligible are considered for spare seats that may exist after eligible children have been facilitated; such seats are referred to as concessionary seats.
Concessionary seats may be offered subject to a number of conditions including if there is a suitable service, as determined by Bus Éireann, operating into their education centre, if there is spare capacity on the service, the appropriate annual charge is paid and the Medical Card waiver is not applicable.
Bus Éireann has advised that the pupil referred to by the Deputy is attending a school that is not their nearest school and therefore does not meet the eligibility requirements. Bus Éireann further advised there is an existing school transport service currently operating to the child's school of attendance and there are seats available, however, no payment for transport has been received to date for this pupil.
855. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the salaries and expenses paid to advisers, Ministers and-or Ministers of State in her Department in 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form. [19743/22]
View answerThe following link contains the information requested by the Deputy.
The salary scale for Special Adviser to a Minister is the same as the Civil Service Principal Officer pay scale and the pay scale for Special Adviser to a Minister of State is equivalent to the Assistant Principal Officer scale, under the terms of the Guidelines for Ministerial Appointments to the 33rd Dáil.
In the event that an appointee is a retired Civil Servant, pension abatement rules apply.
856. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education the breakdown of approved applications for capital funding for new school builds and extensions in respect of all education levels in each of the years 2022 to 2026, in tabular form in the areas of Lucan, Clondalkin, Rathcoole, Palmerstown, Newcastle, Saggart and Brittas. [19757/22]
View answerUnder 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 current status of approved projects is listed on a county by county basis on on my Department's website at www.gov.ie and is updated on a monthly basis to reflect their progress through the various stages.
This includes both large-scale projects and projects in receipt of devolved funding under the Additional Accommodation Scheme. The latter is 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.
857. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education if his Department will consider allowing alternative home drop-off arrangements in the case of a person (details supplied). [19797/22]
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.
The purpose of the Department's School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children with special educational needs arising from a diagnosed disability.
In general, children with special educational needs are eligible for school transport if they are attending the nearest school that is resourced to meet their special educational needs.
Eligibility for the Special Educational Needs transport scheme is determined following consultation with the National Council for Special Education through its network of Special Education Needs Organisers (SENO).
School Transport Section provides school transport from home to school. The Department considers a request to an alternative address for an eligible child based on a number of conditions; where there is an existing service in place, there is no change to the existing service (time or route), the arrangement is a consistent arrangement (ie the same time and place each day), there is no inconvenience to any other child on the service (time or change of route), there is no health and safety issues and no additional cost to the State.
Bus Éireann has advised that it is not possible to cater for this pupil to an alternative drop off location on the existing route as to do so would require the bus contractor to operate a double trip on an existing service which would result in additional costs being incurred which is outside the terms of the School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs.
858. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Education the annual funding allocated to, and staffing levels in, the City of Dublin Education and Training Board psychological service per year from 2005 to date in 2022. [19804/22]
View answerCity of Dublin Education and Training Board has confirmed to my Department that the annual funding allocated to and staffing levels in its psychological service per year from 2005 to date in 2022 is as follows.
|
Year |
Annual funding allocated for psychologists' pay € |
Staffing levels (WTE) |
|
2005 |
703,110 |
10.70 |
|
2006 |
773,121 |
10.30 |
|
2007 |
873,473 |
12.00 |
|
2008 |
941,518 |
12.10 |
|
2009 |
903,014 |
9.30 |
|
2010 |
630,154 |
7.79 |
|
2011 |
725,068 |
7.60 |
|
2012 |
595,550 |
6.60 |
|
2013 |
535,921 |
6.60 |
|
2014 |
562,104 |
6.60 |
|
2015 |
575,114 |
6.60 |
|
2016 |
563,550 |
5.60 |
|
2017 |
598,915 |
6.40 |
|
2018 |
617,541 |
6.60 |
|
2019 |
651,347 |
6.60 |
|
2020 |
731,048 |
6.60 |
|
2021 |
678,921 |
6.60 |
|
2022 |
825,000 |
6.60 |
An additional €65,000 per annum is allocated by the ETB to running expenses and costs.
859. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Education if she will provide specific funding for an initiative to be rolled out in all counties across the State. [19806/22]
View answerThe Department of Education published the Wellbeing Policy Statement and Framework for Practice in 2018 and refreshed it in 2019. The Policy outlines a comprehensive and whole-school approach in schools to the promotion of wellbeing and positive mental health, focusing on the entire school community, as well as groups and individual young people with identified need. This spans the curriculum in schools, culture and environment, quality of teaching, learning and assessment, student support and pastoral care, guidance counselling and the provision of professional development for teachers. This approach provides children and young people with opportunities to:
- build core social and emotional skills and competencies
- experience supportive relationships within the school setting
- be part of a school environment and culture that feels both physically and psychologically safe, in which they feel a sense of belonging and connectedness, that their voice is heard, and they feel supported
Schools are encouraged to use a reflective, school self-evaluation approach to identify and prioritise the needs of its own school community in relation to the promotion of wellbeing and mental health, and to respond to meeting those needs. Embedded in the whole-school approach is the recognition that members of the school community may have different needs at different times and that a continuum of support in relation to wellbeing should be made available.
A broad range of supports, resources and professional learning opportunities are provided to support schools to promote and support wellbeing and resilience. The services support schools to provide strong universal support at the level of whole school and classroom, more targeted support for some children and young people who may be at risk, and more individualised support for those with greatest need.
At present, as an organization working in the field of mental health promotion, responsibility
for the funding of Jigsaw rests primarily with the Department of Health, but I am aware of the excellent work that Jigsaw carries out in the community to support the mental health of our young people.
860. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education if she will urgently review school transport contracts held by private contractors in view of the unprecedented rise in fuel costs; and if her attention has been drawn to the fact that a large number of contractors are considering leaving routes given that it is not cost effective for them to continue a service due to current costs. [19810/22]
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.
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.
Bus Éireann is obliged to tender all works, goods and services to be provided by external suppliers in line with national and EU procurement legislation and this includes services provided by contractors under the School Transport Scheme. Compliant tenders are evaluated against published award criteria. Successful tenderers are awarded a contract for up to five years.
The Department of Education is considering in consultation with other relevant departments and Bus Éireann the implications that increasing fuel costs may have on the provision of school transport services. The Department is also very aware of the potential impact of the current situation unfolding in Ukraine which is impacting fuel prices further.
Government has announced a reduction in excise on fuel will result in a decrease in the cost of fuel. The reduction of 20 cent per litre on petrol and 15 cent per litre on diesel will be in place until 31 August at an estimated cost of €320m. This is a national measure aimed at easing the financial burden on contractors and families at this time.
861. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education if she will allow bus operators to avail of the current hauliers support scheme given that many bus operators are struggling to maintain school bus contracts due to current fuel costs. [19811/22]
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.
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.
Bus Éireann is obliged to tender all works, goods and services to be provided by external suppliers in line with national and EU procurement legislation and this includes services provided by contractors under the School Transport Scheme. Compliant tenders are evaluated against published award criteria. Successful tenderers are awarded a contract for up to five years.
The Department of Education is considering in consultation with other relevant departments and Bus Éireann the implications that increasing fuel costs may have on the provision of school transport services. The Department is also very aware of the potential impact of the current situation unfolding in Ukraine which is impacting fuel prices further.
Government has announced a reduction in excise on fuel will result in a decrease in the cost of fuel. The reduction of 20 cent per litre on petrol and 15 cent per litre on diesel will be in place until 31 August at an estimated cost of €320m. This is a national measure aimed at easing the financial burden on contractors and families at this time.
862. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education if her Department expects retired teachers to actively seek employment given that is a requirement of jobseekers' benefit; if not, if there is an issue which may be addressed by (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19821/22]
View answerA coordinated pension is one where an occupational pension is coordinated with social welfare entitlements. Retired teachers with a coordinated pension are required to apply for their relevant social welfare benefits including illness benefit, jobseeker’s benefit, state pension etc.
The rules governing eligibility for supplementary pension require a member to be in receipt of an occupational pension under the relevant scheme and for reasons outside of his or her control, ineligible for a Social Welfare Benefit or for benefit at a reduced rate.
The Deputy may be aware that this approach to coordinated and supplementary pensions is not exclusive to pension schemes in my Department but also applies to other areas within the public service. It should also be noted that in general it is a matter for Department of Social Protection to determine the requirements in order to avail any social welfare entitlements.
863. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education if the list of serious medical conditions for eligibility for the alternate sitting of the leaving certificate examinations in 2022 has been finalised; when this will be communicated to students sitting their examinations in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19838/22]
View answer864. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education the number of applicants with epilepsy that applied to the State Examinations Commission for reasonable accommodations for the junior certificate examinations in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2021; the number granted reasonable accommodation; the number who appealed the decision; and the number successful in their appeal in tabular form. [19840/22]
View answer865. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education the number of applicants with epilepsy that applied to the State Examinations Commission for reasonable accommodations for the leaving certificate examinations in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2021; the number granted reasonable accommodation; the number who appealed the decision; and the number successful in their appeal in tabular form. [19841/22]
View answer866. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education the total number of applicants who applied to the State Examinations Commission for reasonable accommodations in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2021 broken down by the leaving and junior certificate examinations; the number granted reasonable accommodation; the number who appealed the decision; and the number successful in their appeal in tabular form. [19842/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 863 to 866, inclusive, together.
The 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.
867. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education further to parliamentary Question No. 602 of 22 March 2022, If appropriate non-negligence insurance was put in place by the Department relative to the construction of a school (details supplied) for the protection of the adjoining properties; if her Department will now deal with the serious subsidence issues along the boundary which the construction of a retaining wall and back-fill took place; if her Department will carry out an inspection of the property; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19855/22]
View answerOfficials from my Department have attempted to make contact with the Deputy's office to clarify certain details pertaining to this request. This engagement will continue, with a view to answering the query in the most appropriate and expeditious way possible.
868. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education if she will outline all of the secondment arrangements within her Department; the conditions related to such secondments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19865/22]
View answerMy Department has a number of long standing arrangements including with the Office of the Attorney General/Chief State Solicitors Office and the Central Statistics Office (CSO) to facilitate the secondment of legal professionals and statisticians to this Department to advise on legal matters and provide robust statistical information, respectively, to help inform policy within the Department. Staff are also seconded in from other organisations in the public service/civil service, as required, to meet specific business requirements.
In addition, this Department facilitates secondments of officials to other organisations, many in the Education sector, as a result of their particular skillsets, to meet specific business needs and/or to facilitate career development opportunities.
Details in relation to staff on secondment to and from the Department are set out in the attached tabular statement.
The costs associated with the secondment of the 19 staff on secondment to my Department are met by my Department. There are 15 employees seconded out from my Department to other organisations. Of these, there is one employee of my Department, paid by the Department, who is seconded to Caranua (Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Board), an aegis body of the Department of Education. This officer is employed as a temporary resource to facilitate the orderly winding down of Caranua. The salary costs for the other 14 staff are covered by the receiving organisations.
Please note that for administrative purposes, Department officials on secondment to outside organisations may continue to be paid through the Department’s payroll arrangements with the National Shared Services Office (NSSO) but the salary costs are then recouped to the Department of Education.
In terms of the conditions attached to secondments, a seconded member of staff continues to be treated as a staff member of their parent organisation for the purposes of internal promotion competitions, pay and progression, incremental credit (subject to satisfactory performance), reckonable service, and will also continue to be a member of their parent organisation’s pension scheme and pay all contributions on the basis of this membership at their substantive grade.
The table below gives details of the numbers, grades and parent organisations of staff on secondment to the Department of Education.
|
Parent organisation |
Substantive grade/equivalent |
Number |
|
Office of the Attorney General |
Advisory Counsel |
2 |
|
Chief State Solicitors Office |
Senior Solicitor |
1 |
|
Central Statistics Office (CSO) |
Senior Statistician |
1 |
|
CSO |
Statistician |
4 |
|
Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) |
Principal Officer (PO |
1 |
|
QQI |
Grade VII (Higher Executive Officer (HEO) equiv. |
1 |
|
Office of the Revenue Commissioners |
HEO |
1 |
|
Department of Health |
HEO |
1 |
|
An Garda Síochána |
Clerical Officer (CO) |
1 |
|
Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER) |
Assistant Principal Officer (APO) |
1 |
|
DPER |
HEO |
1 |
|
State Examinations Commission (SEC) |
APO |
1 |
|
Department of Justice |
HEO |
1 |
|
Houses of the Oireachtas |
HEO |
1 |
|
Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection |
HEO |
1 |
The table below gives details of the numbers and grades of staff on secondment from the Department of Education to outside organisations and the names of those organisations.
|
Organisation |
Substantive grade/equivalent |
Number |
|
Association of Higher Civil and Public Servants |
APO |
1 |
|
An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta (COGG) |
HEO |
1 |
|
Royal Irish Academy |
PO |
1 |
|
COGG |
Executive Officer |
1 |
|
An Garda Síochána |
HEO |
1 |
|
Houses of the Oireachtas |
Administrative Officer |
1 |
|
Higher Education Authority |
Assistant Secretary General |
1 |
|
Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) |
HEO |
1 |
|
Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse |
APO |
1 |
|
DFA |
APO |
1 |
|
Caranua |
PO |
1 |
|
DFA – Ireland's Permanent Representation to the European Union |
Divisional Inspector |
1 |
|
DFA – Ireland's Permanent Representation to the European Union |
APO |
1 |
|
COGG |
Senior Inspector |
1 |
|
Maynooth University |
Former Secretary General* |
1 |
* The former Secretary General of the Department has completed his term of office as Secretary General and is now on secondment to Maynooth University for a term which will expire on his reaching his preserved pension age. This arrangement follows two Government decisions, one in 2011 and one in 2021 which dealt with this matter.
869. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education if there is funding available for schools from any source, departmental or otherwise, to run well-being programmes for pupils; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19883/22]
View answerWhile funding is not provided directly to schools for wellbeing programmes, the Department commits considerable resources to supporting the wellbeing of all students. My Department is fully committed to ensuring that wellbeing is at the core of the ethos of all schools in Ireland, and that this is done through the implementation of the Wellbeing Policy Statement. The approach proposed in the Wellbeing Policy Statement is a whole school and preventative approach which has multiple components that include providing children and young people with opportunities to:
- build core social and emotional skills and competencies
- experience supportive relationships within the school setting
- be part of a school environment and culture that feels both physically and psychologically safe, in which they feel a sense of belonging and connectedness, that their voice is heard, and they feel supported
Embedded in the whole-school approach is the recognition that members of the school community may have different needs at different times and that a continuum of support in relation to wellbeing should be made available.
Since the wellbeing policy was published, work has taken place to realise the vision set out in the Department’s Wellbeing Policy by the Department’s support services and agencies. Following an action research project involving thirty schools, the Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST) has developed Continuing Professional Development (CPD) to support schools as they engage in a wellbeing promotion process. This national rollout of CPD commenced in March 2022 and is available to all schools.
This CPD will be supplemented with a parallel resource for schools developed by the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS), offering a series of webinars on the promotion of wellbeing and resilience in schools, including on trauma-informed approaches. The approaches outlined in the webinars are based on research findings, on the experience of experts in their fields and on the experience of practising psychologists working in schools. The workshops will be available to build the capability of school staff in both primary and post-primary settings, including for school leaders, teachers and SNAs.
NEPS provides educational psychological support to all primary and post-primary schools. This involves direct support in the event of a critical incident, access to national and regional support and development work to build school capacity to support students, access to a NEPS psychologist for responses to queries arising, and access to individual pupil casework where there is need via a NEPS psychologist.
The NEPS Support and Development service, reaching an estimated 25,000 teachers annually, is an applied psychological service for school staff to help build their capability to respond to the wellbeing, academic, social and emotional needs of all students, and particularly those who are experiencing barriers to their wellbeing, learning, inclusion and participation. Professional learning activities to support children/young people with social/emotional/mental health difficulties and to promote positive wellbeing in school include the FRIENDS programmes. These are evidence-based anxiety prevention and resilience building programmes, which foster self-concept and a sense of school belonging using Cognitive Behavioural Therapeutically-informed approaches. Friends programmes help students to develop resilience by teaching them effective strategies to cope with, problem solve and manage all kinds of emotional distress, including worry, stress, change and anxiety. The Incredible Years Teacher Classroom Management programme is an evidence-based programme that equips teachers to manage their classrooms effectively to prevent and reduce behavioural problems while promoting children’s wellbeing and emotional and social competence.
A dedicated wellbeing portal has been developed and is now available, bringing together all the wellbeing supports and resources that have been developed by the Department and the Department’s support service together and these are available on the gov.ie website.
Active School Flag (ASF) is a Department of Education and Skills initiative supported by Healthy Ireland, and part of the National Physical Activity Plan.
My Department funds the Active School Flag (ASF) and this initiative is also supported by Healthy Ireland. The ASF initiative provides schools with a framework to guide, support and incentivise them to work towards achieving a physically educated and physically active school community.
870. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Education the position regarding a teacher (details supplied) who has not been paid for the past four weeks given that her registration with the Teaching Council lapsed and that the process of registering again has been prolonged; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19899/22]
View answerUnder the Teaching Council Acts 2001-2015 the Teaching Council is the body with the statutory authority and responsibility for the regulation of the teaching profession in Ireland including the registration of teachers in the State. It acts in the interests of the public good while upholding and enhancing standards in the teaching profession.
The Teaching Council registers teachers in line with the requirements set out in the Teaching Council Act 2001-2015 and the Teaching Council (Registration) Regulations 2016. It is a requirement under Section 30 of the Act for teachers to be registered with the Teaching Council in order to receive payment from State funds.
Under Section 34 of the Teaching Council Acts 2001-2015, teachers are removed from the Register if they fail to apply for renewal of their registration. As provided in the legislation, where a teacher is removed from the Register, they must make a full application for registration should they wish to return to the Register.
The individual referred to by the Deputy was removed from the Register for non-renewal of registration. The Council has confirmed that numerous communications were issued by email, SMS and post regarding the required renewal registration over several months prior to removal from the register. A list of the methods of communication used are as follows:
Notice 1 - Renewal notice sent by email
Notice 2 ca 3 weeks after notice 1 - Renewal notice sent by SMS
Notice 3 ca 3 weeks after notice 2 - Renewal notice sent by SMS
Notice 4 (one week after notice 3) – Final reminder sent by tracked post
Notice 5 (a few days after notice 4) - Notice that renewal overdue sent by SMS
Removal notice issued some three months after notice 5.
I confirm that an application for re-registration to the Teaching Council has been received from the individual in question. As part of the registration process, applicants must also undergo vetting before registration can be finalised. That vetting has now concluded, and the application has now been processed with the individual now registered again with the Council.
