Written Answers Nos. 64-78
64. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the action that will be taken to ensure that Irish citizens are provided with all possible assistance by Irish embassies after citizens’ involvement in a car crash in a foreign country (details supplied). [46169/22]
View answerMy Department provides consular assistance to citizens across the world, in a wide variety of complex situations. In 2021, the Department managed over 1,200 new cases including instances of death, imprisonment, mental health and indeed car accidents. Consular assistance is provided in line with the Department’s Consular Assistance Charter, available at www.dfa.ie.
In instances of car crashes, the local Embassy or Consulate can advise citizens of local health supports, provide details of English-speaking local lawyers, contact the citizen’s family or friends, and remain a source of support in difficult circumstances.
In the specific case cited by the Deputy, the citizen required an Emergency Travel Certificate and was advised of the option of seeking in-person support at the offices of two separate Honorary Consuls in the country, or at the Embassy. The Embassy provided the citizen with the document required and provided advice on returning to Ireland.
65. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the policy of his Department on Irish citizens being involved in fake election monitoring missions; if such involvement will lead to a review of membership of the 2018 Irish election observation roster; and if it will act as a bar to membership of the next roster due to commence in early 2023. [46311/22]
View answerThe Department of Foreign Affairs administers and maintains a roster of suitably skilled volunteers, who are available to participate in international election observation missions organised by the European Union (EU) and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). These election observation missions play an important role in the promotion of democracy, human rights and the rule of law.
The current Roster has been in place since 1 January 2019 and is due to expire on 31 December 2023. All roster members have been vetted by the Garda National Vetting Bureau. The members must also comply with the Department's Election Observer Code of Conduct and, as relevant, the Code of Conduct for EU Election Observers and the Code of Conduct for OSCE Election Observers. The Department does not currently intend to review membership of the current Roster.
Recruitment and selection of members for the next Roster will be on the basis of an open and competitive application process, informed by selection criteria for election observers set out by the EU and the OSCE. Appropriate due diligence will be undertaken, including Garda vetting.
66. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to a matter (details supplied); and the measures being taken to ensure that schools are prepared for rising running costs this year. [46052/22]
View answerMy Department provides funding to all recognised schools in the Free Education Scheme by way of per capita grants. The two main grants are the Capitation grant to cater for day to day running costs including heating, lighting etc. and the Ancillary grant to cater for the cost of employing ancillary services staff. These grants may be regarded as a common grant from which the Board of Management can allocate according to its own priorities. I have committed to seeking funding for further increases in the capitation in future budgets.
My Department has also ensured that centrally negotiated rates are available to schools for electricity, gas and bulk heating fuels. These rates are available through existing frameworks sourced by the Office of Government Procurement (OGP) which run until 2024. These rates were negotiated prior to the current inflation and will remain available to the schools on the current framework. OGP has run competitions specifically for Schools at a national level and the Schools Procurement Unit and the Department has communicated with schools and school management bodies informing them of the options available to them through these national arrangements. It is planned to run future competitions to ensure that bulk rates continue to be available from 2024 onwards. Information on how to avail of these arrangements is available via the Schools Procurement Unit website, www.spu.ie.
Furthermore, my Department is at the forefront of design with respect to sustainable energy in school buildings and this performance has been recognised at both National and International level with sustainable energy awards for excellence in Design and Specification and is advancing a number of programmes to further develop this.
The Energy in Education website portal and advice programme (Joint programme between SEAI and Dept. of Education) also assists schools reduce their energy consumption and empowers participating schools and pupils to learn the benefits of sustainability www.energyineducation.ie. Typically savings of between 5 to 10% are identified through low and no cost measures, while some schools participating have identified potential savings of up to 15 % or more.
I am very conscious of the cost of living pressures facing families and schools. In advance of this year's Budget I will engage with my Cabinet colleagues to continue to deliver on my priorities to support the students, staff, and families within the education sector and to address these pressures.
67. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education to confirm receipt of a submission (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46064/22]
View answerOver recent budgets, additional resources have been made available to our schools, including through the delivery of thousands of extra teaching and Special Needs Assistant posts, increased capitation in schools, enhanced supports for school leadership and an improved staffing schedule in primary schools.
My aim for Budget 2023 is to continue to deliver on the priorities outlined in the Programme for Government and to continue to support the students, staff, and families in the education sector.
In the lead up to the Budget, my Department receives a number of pre-budget submissions from a number of stakeholders in the education sector and from organisations involved in other areas of public policy. I can confirm that I have received the pre-budget submission referred to by the Deputy and it has been brought to the attention of the relevant Officials. As in previous years, relevant submissions continue to be reviewed and they will inform the specific budgetary priorities that I will be seeking to achieve in Budget 2023. Therefore, as I am sure the Deputy appreciates, it would not be appropriate for me to outline any more specific plans at this stage of the Budgetary process.
68. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education to allocate a school transport ticket to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46072/22]
View answerThe School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. In the last school year over 121,400 children, including over 15,500 children with special educational needs, were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country at a cost of over €289m in 2021.
In July 2022, Government announced funding for the waiving of school transport scheme fees for the coming school year as part of a wider package of cost of living measures.
Ticket registration for the 2022/23 school year closed on 29 July by which time almost 130,000 applications/registrations were received for mainstream school transport. This figure includes 44,299 new applications as well as roll-overs from the previous school year.
The normal eligibility criteria of the scheme still apply and tickets continue to be allocated in line with this criteria. Pupils at primary level are eligible where they live no less than 3.2 kilometres from and are attending their nearest primary school. At post primary level, students who live no less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre are deemed eligible.
Any pupils/students who do not meet these criteria are deemed not eligible, or otherwise known as concessionary applicants, and are allocated a ticket based on the availability of a seat when all eligible children have been catered for.
In line with normal practice, all eligible children who completed the application and ticket registration process on time for the 2022/2023 school year will be accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation.
Bus Éireann have advised that the pupil referred to by the Deputy is not eligible for transport as they are not attending their closest school and as they are under the distance criteria they cannot be deemed eligible for temporary alleviation measures.
A ticket request was received for this pupil by the deadline of 29/07/2022, however they were unsuccessful in obtaining a concessionary seat for the 2022/23 school year.
The existing service is currently operating to capacity and there are no seats available at present.
69. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Education the reason that language support is not being provided to a school (details supplied) in County Mayo; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46088/22]
View answerEach primary school receives a Special Education Teaching allocation. The Special Education Teaching allocation provides a single unified allocation for special educational support teaching needs to each school, based on each school’s educational profile and also encompasses the Language Support (EAL) allocation that schools were allocated in previous years.
Further temporary Language Support is also provided, as necessary, to schools that have high concentrations of pupils that require language (EAL) support. At primary level, these allocations are made on the basis of appeals by schools to the Primary Staffing Appeals Board. Information is available in Circular 25/2022.
70. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education the estimated full-year cost of rolling out the in-school and early years therapy support demonstration pilot project in each school across Ireland. [46109/22]
View answerBudget 2019 allocated €4.75 million for the implementation of the recommendations of the Comprehensive Review of the Special Needs Assistant Scheme. The School Inclusion Model (SIM) is based on policy advice from the National Council for Special Education, based on the principle of providing the right support at the right time, delivered by a range of personnel with relevant qualifications and skill-sets. Its purpose is to help students achieve better outcomes. Independent evaluation is a central part of the project and the outcome will inform future policy on the potential to extend SIM to other schools.
The project includes a number of elements:
- Availability of therapists (speech and language, occupational) to schools to build teacher capacity
- Allocation of SNAs on a front-loaded basis
- Additional professional supports for the school including psychology, behavioural and professional development
- Training of SNAs
In February 2019, the Government approved the trialling of the Model for the 2019/20 school year. Initially designed as a one year pilot involving up to 75 participating schools in the CHO 7 region, it was interrupted by Covid-19 with the closure of schools and the diversion of HSE therapists from the project to Covid related work. It was then extended to the 2020/21 school year which was also interrupted by Covid. Progress has been made on aspects of the Model but much remains to be done in terms of in-school implementation and evaluation. The Pilot recommenced in November 2021 in CHO7.
There are a number of challenges and barriers to continuing the roll-out of SIM in CH07 and expanding SIM to other areas at this time. The single biggest challenge is the availability of therapists. While the Department’s initial intention was to expand SIM to other areas, pressures relating to workforce supply (therapists and psychologists) have resulted in SIM being limited to one CHO area. This will remain in 2023.
The Health Service Executive (HSE) are engaging with CORU (regulatory body over therapists) to determine how the current registration process can be expedited. The HSE are engaging with the Department of Health, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth ( DCEDIY) and Dept. of Higher Education to explore how the Higher Education Institutes can increase third level capacity, with a focus on an initiative to commence in September 2023.
71. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Education when she expects Junior Certificate results to be made available to students; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46122/22]
View answerThe State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the state examinations.
In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.
72. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to her Department requesting funding from a school (details supplied) to ensure an adequate hall space for its new school building; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46153/22]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, a major building project for the school in question is included in my Department's school building programme.
This major building project will be delivered under the Department's ADAPT (Accelerated Delivery of Architectural Planning and Tender) Programme, which uses the services of a professional external Project Manager to co-ordinate and drive the Design Team to achieve the best possible timeframe to progress this project through the stages of Architectural Planning.
The tender process to appoint a Project Manager has been completed. The Project Manager is currently arranging site visits and the procurement of site surveys for all projects on this ADAPT Programme, including the site for the school concerned. The tender competition for the appointment of design teams for the first tranche of school building projects on the ADAPT Programme will shortly be commenced by the Project Manager.
The project consists of the construction of a new permanent school building with accommodation for pupils with special educational needs. The ancillary accommodation being provided with the project includes a General Purpose (GP) Room. The size of this facility is the standard size that my Department provides for a school of this size. The school sought a larger GP Room and my Department explained that the GP Room being provided is the standard size provided. My Department also indicated to the school that it is open to the school community to consider funding a larger facility directly should it wish to do so and if so, that it could discuss this with the Design Team.
73. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Education the number of primary ASD places that will be available for September 2023 in the Clondalkin area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46161/22]
View answer74. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Education the number of post-primary ASD places that will be available for September 2023 in the Clondalkin area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46162/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 73 and 74 together.
I would like to thank the Deputy for the question and would like to advise the following:
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.
As a result, the number of special education teachers, special needs assistants and special class and school places are at unprecedented levels.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children nationwide.
Over the last two years, my Department and the NCSE have worked closely on a more streamlined and joined up planning process which has ensured a targeted approach to meet demand for special needs placements ahead of each new school-year. My Department and the NCSE continue to work very closely in planning for the delivery of new places required to meet forecasted demand.
I am satisfied that this more joined up approach is delivering. Through this intensive intervention, we have seen 383 new special classes open, bringing the total of special classes to 2,535 opened nationwide for the 2022/23 school-year. The 383 new special classes for 2022/23 is broken down by 253 at primary level and 130 at post primary level.
The list of special classes for the 2022/23 school year is available on the NCSE website at the link below.
06Jul22_Special-Classes-for-publication-2022_2023.pdf (ncse.ie)
My Department and NCSE are satisfied that sufficient numbers of special class places have been established, both in Dublin and nationwide, to meet the needs of children who had sought such placements through the NCSE. Work on delivering this additional capacity continued over the summer and schools are making the necessary arrangements to open the classes as quickly as possible. This includes recruitment of staff and work on admission policies.
Where the NCSE have sanctioned new special classes over more recent weeks, there are a number of schools who may need some additional time to complete their admission processes, recruit staff and work through any minor building and reconfiguration works. The NCSE are working directly with any schools in this situation to support them in opening these classes as quickly as possible.
Schools are also engaging directly with parents and are working to support children as they plan their transition into these new special classes. The NCSE is also providing training and other support as necessary to schools
I also acknowledge that notwithstanding the extent of this investment, there are some parts of the country where increases in population and other issues have led to concerns regarding a shortage of school places.
I can confirm that the NCSE is aware of an ongoing identified need for additional special education placements for primary and post-primary students with autism. Work has been underway with stakeholders for a number of years, including the area referenced by the Deputy, to meet the demand for such places.
NCSE has well established structures in place for engaging with schools and parents and seeks to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all children who have been identified as needing special education placements.
NCSE is continuing to engage with schools regarding the establishment of additional special classes for 2022/23 and beyond. Every support will be made available to schools to progress the opening of special classes in the shortest possible timeframe
It is of course open to any school to engage with the NCSE to establish a special class.
The Deputy will also be aware of additional special school provision with new special schools established in both Dublin and Cork.
My Department is committed, in conjunction with the NCSE, to continue to work with parents, schools, patrons and all stakeholders to ensure that there are sufficient appropriate places for students with additional needs and to support all students to achieve their potential.
I want to reassure you also that my Department will continue to support the NCSE and schools through the provision of the necessary funding and capital investment to ensure all children are successful in accessing an education.
75. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education if the age restriction of 66 years applied by Bus Éireann to school bus drivers operating under contract to the company will be removed to allow them to drive school buses up to the same retirement age applicable to direct employees of the company; if he will clarify the position with the company; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46168/22]
View answerThe School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. In the last school year over 121,400 children, including over 15,500 children with special educational needs, were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country at a cost of over €289m in 2021.
It is Bus Éireann company policy that normal retirement age for all Bus Éireann staff is currently 66 years. However Bus Éireann part-time School Bus Drivers and drivers nominated by private operators who operate service as part of the School Transport Scheme may continue to perform in the role provided they hold the requisite license and satisfy an annual medical examination until they retire at age 70. This policy and criteria is applied to all drivers who provide school transport services on behalf of Bus Éireann equally.
The age limit on school bus drivers was increased to 70 years a number of years ago. While Bus Éireann have informed the Department there is no plan to increase the age limit further at this time, the matter will continue to be kept under review.
76. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education her plans to support the proposal of the board of management of a school (details supplied) to use the already sanctioned ASD class for students with an ASD diagnosis already enrolled in the school and on their own waiting list; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46233/22]
View answerI want to thank the Deputy for the question and would like to advise the following:
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.
As a result, the number of special education teachers, special needs assistants and special class and school places are at unprecedented levels.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children nationwide.
Over the last two years, my Department and the NCSE have worked closely on a more streamlined and joined up planning process which has ensured a targeted approach to meet demand for special needs placements ahead of each new school-year. My Department and the NCSE continue to work very closely in planning for the delivery of new places required to meet forecasted demand.
I am satisfied that this more joined up approach is delivering. Through this intensive intervention, we have seen 383 new special classes open, bringing the total of special classes to 2,535 opened nationwide for the 2022/23 school-year. The 383 new special classes for 2022/23 is broken down by 253 at primary and 130 at post primary.
In relation to the school specifically referenced by the Deputy, I am advised that there is ongoing engagement with and support for the school by the NCSE. The school currently has one ASD special class. In order to access this special class, students must have a professional report confirming that they have a disability in line with the special class’s designation and that their educational needs require the support of a special class. The school’s board of management is responsible for the admission procedures within it’s school. Where there are available special class placements, the NCSE notifies relevant parents who may then contact and apply to the school for enrolment.
I am also advised that NCSE is currently engaged with the school regarding the establishment of further special class provision at the school.
On an ongoing basis, NCSE also works with schools to build teacher capacity to support schools to meet the needs of all of the children enrolled. Members of the NCSE Advisory team have provided on-site support to teachers in this school over the course of the 2021/22 school year. NCSE has also recently contacted the school to arrange further training at the school’s request, and continued support will be available from NCSE as required.
The local SENO engages regularly with the school and families locally and remains available to the school to provide further advice and support.
77. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to a request by a school (details supplied) for a financial contribution to accompany an application for admission; and if this is correct given the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018. [46234/22]
View answerUnder the provisions of the Education Act, 1998 the Board of Management is responsible for the day to day running of a school.
Apart from those recognised fee-charging second level schools, recognised primary and post primary schools are precluded from charging school fees. Section 64 of the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018, which was commenced in October 2018, explicitly prohibits the charging of fees or seeking payment or contributions for admission to or for continued enrolment in a school. No charge may be made, in respect of instruction in any subject of the school curriculum or for recreation or other activities where all pupils are expected to take part.
When a child is enrolled in a school certain charges may be legitimately requested such as:
- payment for school books, lockers, text messages or photocopied material provided by the school where the charge is reasonable and simply reflects the true costs concerned; or
- charges for meals and refreshments provided pupils are not obliged to purchase same and can bring their own refreshments to school (e.g. lunchbox); or
- payments in respect of extra-curricular activities provided such activities are not obligatory and individual pupils can choose whether or not to participate.
However, as outlined above such charges may not be used as a condition of admission to a school placement.
The Department has contacted the school referenced by the Deputy. They have accepted that these fees should not have been included as part of the admissions process. The school have advised the Department that this fee is no longer part of the admissions requirements, and that changes have been made to the school website to reflect the position that there is no enrolment fee requested.
78. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Education if school transport will be provided to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46307/22]
View answerThe School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. In the last school year over 121,400 children, including over 15,500 children with special educational needs, were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country at a cost of over €289m in 2021.
In July 2022, Government announced funding for the waiving of school transport scheme fees for the coming school year as part of a wider package of cost of living measures.
Children are eligible for transport at primary level where they reside not less than 3.2 kilometres from and are attending their nearest national school, and at post primary level where they reside not less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre as determined by the department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
Children who are eligible for school transport and who have completed the application process on time will be accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation.
In addition, temporary Alleviation Measures at post-primary level will be continued for the 2022/2023 school year pending completion of the review of the School Transport Scheme. This will mean that transport arrangements will continue to be provided for a number of post-primary students who are attending their second nearest school, who have applied and registered on time and who live more than 4.8km from their nearest school.
Children who are not eligible for school transport, but who completed the application process on time, will be 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.
Bus Éireann has advised that the pupil(s) referred to by the Deputy was unsuccessful in obtaining a ticket for the 2022/2023 school year as they made a ticket request after the deadline of 29/07/2022.
The existing school transport service is operating to capacity and there are no seats available at present.
