Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 July 2022
1084. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education the plans that are in place to provide increased resources to schools in an area (details supplied) to ensure access to education for children and young people who live in direct provision [40457/22]
View answerIn Ireland, all migrant children, including children of international protection applicants, migrant workers and unaccompanied minors, can access pre-school, first- and second-level education in a manner similar to Irish nationals, until they have reached the age of 18 years.
In Ireland, a school must admit all students applying where it is not oversubscribed and places are available. Schools must also include an admission statement in its admission policy stating that the school will not discriminate in its admission on any of nine specified grounds, including race and religion.
Tusla Education Support Services (TESS) works with the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) to ensure that children seeking international protection are enrolled in and attending school as soon as possible following their arrival.
As the Deputy will be aware, well over 40,000 people have arrived in Ireland from Ukraine since the beginning of this war. Figures show that by the end of June, almost 7,300 children from Ukraine had enrolled in schools across the State - over 5,000 in primary schools and over 2,000 in post-primary schools.
Meeting the educational needs of children and young people from Ukraine is a priority for me, as Minister, and for the Government, and we are determined to support the efforts of school communities across the country, who have shown huge commitment and generosity.
In March I announced the establishment of Regional Education and Language Teams (REALTs) to support the needs of Ukrainian children arriving in Ireland. These Education and Language Teams will be hosted by the 16 regional education and training boards (ETBs) and will be staffed by existing regionally-based education support personnel working closely together to ensure good coordination and alignment of supports for Ukrainian children. My Department will be liaising with the teams to ensure all necessary supports for the Ukrainian children are provided as quickly as possible.
With regard to the area referred to by the Deputy, I am advised that the local Regional Education and Language Team (REALT) co-ordinator visits and engages with the area regularly.
My Department carried out surveys at primary and post-primary level to identify potential capacity in schools and has incorporated this information, along with other information, in the Geographical Information System (GIS) system to enable quick identification of potential capacity near Ukrainian accommodation centres through the Community Analyst reporting system. This includes the area referred to by the Deputy, and I understand that there is sufficient capacity in surrounding schools in this area, given the numbers currently accommodated.
Each REALT team has access to this tool, reflecting their key role in assisting children in finding school places and in supporting schools in their area to meet the needs of these children as they emerge. The tool enables the REALT co-ordinator to work on ensuring that existing capacity in local schools can be leveraged to the greatest extent possible. In some cases, it may be necessary to access capacity in neighbouring schools within reasonable travel distance, supported as necessary through school transport arrangements. My Department, in consultation with Bus Éireann, has a process in place to facilitate the provision of School Transport Scheme Services for children arriving to Ireland from Ukraine. For families and children residing in accommodation centres (or similar), school principals may apply for transport for children attending their school who are residing in such accommodation.
During the summer school closures, REALT co-ordinators are managing a pre-enrolment process for Ukrainian students, which is helping the Department manage capacity and transport issues that may arise in September.
