Written Answers Nos. 393-412
393. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Education when temporary alleviation measures will be provided for children (details supplied) on a school bus route who are concessionary ticket holders; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48317/22]
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.
Bus Éireann has advised that the child referred to by the Deputy who is attending the primary school referred to by the Deputy is eligible under the terms of the scheme, a ticket request was received for this child on 06th September 2022 and a ticket was issued to the pupil on 08th September 2022 on board a school transport service for the 2022/23 school year.
Bus Éireann also advise that the child referred to by the Deputy who is attending the post primary school mentioned is not attending their nearest post primary school/centre and is therefore not eligible for school transport under the terms of the school transport scheme. Bus Éireann further advise that an application for transport was first received for this pupil on 24/04/2018 for the 2018/19 school year and their application carried forward to up to and including the 2021/22 school year. This Family closed this pupils application on 14/09/2021 and no new application for transport has been received for this child for the 2022/23 school year.
394. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education the details of plans to establish an ASD class in schools (details supplied) in Dublin 12; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48355/22]
View answerI 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.
For 2022, 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.
For 2023, this spend will be substantially increased by over 12%, meaning that for 2023 my Department will spend over €2.6 billion on special education.
This level of educational funding and support is unprecedented and represents in excess of 27% of the Department’s total allocation for 2023.
This includes additional teaching and care supports. It also includes funding for the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) for an additional 54 psychologists to provide services to special schools and special classes.
In 2022, funding for an additional 980 teachers and 1,165 special needs assistants was provided. For 2023, the number of teaching and SNA posts in our schools will increase with an additional 686 teachers and a further 1,194 special needs assistants in our schools next year.
For the first time ever we will have over 19,000 teachers working in the area of special education and over 20,000 Special needs assistants. Together we have almost 40,000 qualified and committed people in our schools who are focused wholly and exclusively on supporting children with special educational needs.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children nationwide.
In 2023, there will be a significant investment in the expansion of the National Council for Special Education, with a total full-year investment of €13 million, in over 160 additional staff. This investment is being undertaken so that the NSCE can respond effectively, compassionately and quickly to the increased need in our education system so that children and their families are fully supported and achieve the best possible education outcomes.
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 approach is delivering. We have seen 392 new special classes open, bringing the total of special classes to 2,543 opened nationwide for the 2022/23 school-year. The 392 new special classes for 2022/23 is broken down by 260 at primary level and 132 at post primary level.
For 2023, a further 370 special classes will open, taking the total number of special classes to over 2,900 in 2023.
Information on the list of schools with special classes, the types and locations of these classes is published on the NCSE website and is available at www.ncse.ie.
NCSE is continuing to engage with schools regarding the establishment of additional special classes for the next school year 2023/2023. 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.
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.
395. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education the capital expenditure that has been incurred for the building, equipment and furnishing of post-primary schools in areas (details supplied); the expenditure for the acquisition of sites; the expenditure that has been incurred for the transportation to school of students attending schools in temporary locations during such building; the number of new and additional post-primary school places created; and the number new post-primary schools completed, respectively by county in each of the years 2011 to 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48388/22]
View answerThe information requested is not readily available. It is currently being collated and will be supplied directly to the Deputy shortly.
397. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education if a student (details supplied) who is in their leaving certificate year will be accommodated with a school bus place, given it is their only form of transport to school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48413/22]
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.
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.
Bus Éireann has advised that the pupil referred to by the Deputy is eligible for transport as they are attending their nearest school. An application for transport was received for this pupil on 20/09/2022 for the 2022/23 school year. There is a seat available to accommodate this pupil on an existing mainstream school transport service and a ticket will be issued in the coming days.
398. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education if a student (details supplied) will be accommodated on a school bus in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48414/22]
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.
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.
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 referred to by the Deputy in this case is not eligible for transport as they are not attending their nearest primary school. There is currently no school transport service available from where this pupil resides.
399. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education if a student (details supplied) whose sibling has already been accommodated with a school bus place will be accommodated with same in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48415/22]
View answerSchool Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. 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.
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.
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.
School Transport 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.
Bus Éireann are processing applications and issuing tickets as soon as extra buses and drivers are sourced and become available to provide transport for the higher numbers qualifying for the service.
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.
In addition, pending completion of the outcome of the full review of the School Transport Scheme, Temporary Alleviation Measures (TAM) at post-primary level will be continued for the 2022/2023 school year. Under these measures, which were initially introduced in 2019, transport will provided for post-primary pupils who are eligible for transport to their nearest school and are attending their second nearest school and who applied by the 29th April and registered for a ticket by the 29th July.
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 an agreed selection process.
Bus Éireann has advised that the pupil the Deputy refers to resides 0.5 km from home to their nearest school. She resides 16.3 km from home to her 2nd closest school and school of attendance. She is not eligible under the TAM category as she does not reside 4.8 km or more from her nearest Post Primary Centre. The existing service is currently operating to capacity and there are no seats available at present.
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 as capacity on the service is full.
Following discussions with Minister McGrath and officials in DPER as part of the budgetary process some additional funding has been approved for the scheme which will allow officials in consultation with Bus Éireann to consider and evaluate where temporary additional capacity may be available.
The initial focus will be where families applied on time and who previously held concessionary tickets, to alleviate the impact of the increased demands on the scheme for those families. However, it is important to stress that this is subject to capacity considerations. Constraints in sourcing vehicles and drivers in certain areas of the country may also mean that it may take a number of weeks to explore solutions for additional capacity.
400. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education the reason bus tickets for three siblings (details supplied) who have previously been in receipt of a bus ticket since 2015 were refused this school term; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48416/22]
View answerSchool Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. 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.
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.
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.
School Transport 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.
Bus Éireann are processing applications and issuing tickets as soon as extra buses and drivers are sourced and become available to provide transport for the higher numbers qualifying for the service.
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.
In addition, pending completion of the outcome of the full review of the School Transport Scheme, Temporary Alleviation Measures at post-primary level will be continued for the 2022/2023 school year. Under these measures, which were initially introduced in 2019, transport will provided for post-primary pupils who are eligible for transport to their nearest school and are attending their second nearest school and who applied by the 29th April and registered for a ticket by the 29th July.
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 an agreed selection process.
Bus Éireann has advised that the pupils referred to by the Deputy are not eligible for transport as they are attending their second nearest primary school. The existing school transport service is currently operating to capacity and there are no seats available at present. These pupils were unsuccessful in obtaining concessionary seats for the 2022/23 school year.
401. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education the number of second level schools that are providing physical education as an examination subject; the number of students that have already taken physical education as an examination subject; the number of qualified physical education teachers that are currently employed in second level schools; the restrictions that apply to a school for the provision of the examination subject; the facilities that are required by a school in order to be accepted for the provision of the examination subject; the supports that are provided by her Department for a school that wishes to provide physical education as an examination subject; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48443/22]
View answerI am advised that 285 schools provided Leaving Certificate Physical Education (LCPE) as an examinable subject in the 2021/22 school year. Since the first examinations took place in 2020, over 7,500 students have completed the LCPE examination.
Based on available information, the number of people teaching physical education in post-primary schools in 2021/2022 was over 2,860. I can clarify that no restrictions apply to a school for the provision of LCPE and it should be noted that LCPE is available to any school that chooses to offer it. However, this is a decision for individual schools.
There is no stipulation from my Department with regard to the facilities required in order to be accepted for the provision of LCPE. A school that has minimal facilities can still offer the subject. However, this is a decision for individual schools to take.
In terms of supports for a school that wishes to provide LCPE as an examination subject, the Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST) currently offers eight Continuous Professional Development (CPD)/In-service days across a two year period for those teachers new to teaching LCPE. Substitution cover is provided for each of these eight events.
Teachers also have the option of attending additional evening Zoom support meetings (called 'Collaborative'), accessing relevant online PDST support materials through the PDST VLE (Virtual Learning Environment) in their own time, and / or requesting a School Support Visit from one of three LCPE PDST Advisors.
402. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education the reason a bus route was changed (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48497/22]
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, are 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.
Bus Éireann has confirmed that the pupil to which the Deputy refers is not eligible for transport as they are attending their third nearest primary school. In the 2021/22 school year, the service was passing by this pupil’s home and the pupil was collected on an incidental basis only.
In August, 2022, a concessionary ticket issued to the pupil for the 2022/23 School year. The service has been adjusted for the 2022/23 School year as there were eligible applicants that required pick up from the route. Bus Éireann has also confirmed that this pupil resides 0.4 km from their morning pickup point and 0.6 km from their afternoon drop off location which is in line with the terms of the school transport scheme. There will be no further adjustments to the route at this time.
403. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education if a school transport ticket will be allocated to a student (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48587/22]
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.
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.
Bus Éireann has advised that the pupil referred to by the Deputy in this case is eligible for transport as they are attending their nearest school.
An application for transport was first received for this pupil on 06/05/2021 for the 2021/22 school year and was carried forward to the 2022/23 school year. However, no ticket request was received for this pupil by the deadline of 29/07/2022.
The existing school transport service is currently operating to capacity and there are no seats available at present.
404. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 1012 of 14 June 2022, the reason no update on the plans for new school buildings and no indication of the need to reapply for planning permission was confirmed to this Deputy, as it has been in the recent response in Parliamentary Question No. 282 of 27 September 2022, despite the changes to the planning Acts being introduced in September 2021 and a period of nine months having elapsed with no action taken that has now led to at least a one-year delay in the project. [48590/22]
View answerAt the time of Parliamentary Question No 1012, the building project referred to by the Deputy was at an advanced stage of the tender process with a recommended bidder identified. That bidder subsequently assessed their tender in light of the increase in inflation and advised they could not commit.
At the time of answering Parliamentary Question No 1012, the Department had not been informed by the Design Team of the need to re-apply for Planning Permission. The Design Team informed the Department of this at a later date when they became aware of the requirement after they had liaised with Donegal County Council in relation to an application regarding temporary accommodation for the school.
405. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education if she will provide the details on the way the free books to primary schools scheme will be rolled out; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48611/22]
View answer406. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education if measures will be put in place under the free schoolbooks scheme for primary schools to protect small businesses across the country that are already supplying books to primary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48613/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 405 and 406 together.
Back-to-school costs have always been a burden for families and free books for primary children will be a huge step in helping families. From September 2023 new funding of €47 million will bring total investment in free school books for primary schools to over €50 million.
My Department will be engaging with the education partners on how best to roll out this funding to schools. In general, the decisions on which textbooks, programmes and resources, if any, to use in schools are taken at school level. Schools are already familiar with sourcing school books and other materials in the context of the existing school book rental schemes in place in almost all primary schools.
407. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Education when special classes will be approved for a school (details supplied); the timeline for delivery of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48654/22]
View answerI 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.
For 2022, 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.
For 2023, this spend will be substantially increased by over 12%, meaning that for 2023 my Department will spend over €2.6 billion on special education.
This level of educational funding and support is unprecedented and represents in excess of 27% of the Department’s total allocation for 2023.
This includes additional teaching and care supports. It also includes funding for the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) for an additional 54 psychologists to provide services to special schools and special classes.
In 2022, funding for an additional 980 teachers and 1,165 special needs assistants was provided. For 2023, the number of teaching and SNA posts in our schools will increase with an additional 686 teachers and a further 1,194 special needs assistants in our schools next year.
For the first time ever we will have over 19,000 teachers working in the area of special education and over 20,000 Special needs assistants. Together we have almost 40,000 qualified and committed people in our schools who are focused wholly and exclusively on supporting children with special educational needs.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children nationwide.
In 2023, there will be a significant investment in the expansion of the National Council for Special Education, with a total full-year investment of €13 million, in over 160 additional staff. This investment is being undertaken so that the NSCE can respond effectively, compassionately and quickly to the increased need in our education system so that children and their families are fully supported and achieve the best possible education outcomes.
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 approach is delivering. We have seen 392 new special classes open, bringing the total of special classes to 2,543 opened nationwide for the 2022/23 school-year. The 392 new special classes for 2022/23 is broken down by 260 at primary level and 132 at post primary level.
For 2023, a further 370 special classes will open, taking the total number of special classes to over 2,900 in 2023.
Information on the list of schools with special classes, the types and locations of these classes is published on the NCSE website and is available at www.ncse.ie
The NCSE have advised the following in relation to the above school:
The local SENO has engaged with the school regarding their interest in establishing a special class. While the NCSE is always grateful to schools who express a willingness to open a special class, the NCSE must be satisfied that the number of students seeking a special class placement cannot be catered for in already established special classes within an area before sanction can be given. Following a review of demand in the local area, as well as the availability of placements, the schools were informed in August 2022 that a special class was not required at this time.
The local SENO remains available to the school and to parents, to offer advice and assistance.
NCSE is continuing to engage with schools regarding the establishment of additional special classes for the next school year 2023/2023. 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.
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.
408. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Education if she will provide a breakdown of the number of children and young persons who have been found eligible for a special class but who have not received a place in a special class or school in Waterford, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48655/22]
View answerI 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.
For 2022, 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.
For 2023, this spend will be substantially increased by over 12%, meaning that for 2023 my Department will spend over €2.6 billion on special education.
This level of educational funding and support is unprecedented and represents in excess of 27% of the Department’s total allocation for 2023.
This includes additional teaching and care supports. It also includes funding for the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) for an additional 54 psychologists to provide services to special schools and special classes.
In 2022, funding for an additional 980 teachers and 1,165 special needs assistants was provided. For 2023, the number of teaching and SNA posts in our schools will increase with an additional 686 teachers and a further 1,194 special needs assistants in our schools next year.
For the first time ever we will have over 19,000 teachers working in the area of special education and over 20,000 Special needs assistants. Together we have almost 40,000 qualified and committed people in our schools who are focused wholly and exclusively on supporting children with special educational needs.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children nationwide.
In 2023, there will be a significant investment in the expansion of the National Council for Special Education, with a total full-year investment of €13 million, in over 160 additional staff. This investment is being undertaken so that the NSCE can respond effectively, compassionately and quickly to the increased need in our education system so that children and their families are fully supported and achieve the best possible education outcomes.
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 approach is delivering. We have seen 392 new special classes open, bringing the total of special classes to 2,543 opened nationwide for the 2022/23 school-year. The 392 new special classes for 2022/23 is broken down by 260 at primary level and 132 at post primary level.
For 2023, a further 370 special classes will open, taking the total number of special classes to over 2,900 in 2023.
As of 21st September 2022, there are 50 special classes in Waterford for the 2022/23 school year. The 50 special classes in Waterford is broken down by 33 at primary level and 17 at post primary level.
Information on the list of schools with special classes, the types and locations of these classes is published on the NCSE website and is available at www.ncse.ie.
NCSE is continuing to engage with schools regarding the establishment of additional special classes for the next school year 2023/2023. 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.
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.
409. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Education the number of special education classes in place in Waterford, both current and those due; the number of requests for increased capacity; the timeline for delivery of same; and the remaining level of unmet need, broken down by school in tabular form. [48656/22]
View answerI 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.
For 2022, 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.
For 2023, this spend will be substantially increased by over 12%, meaning that for 2023 my Department will spend over €2.6 billion on special education.
This level of educational funding and support is unprecedented and represents in excess of 27% of the Department’s total allocation for 2023.
This includes additional teaching and care supports. It also includes funding for the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) for an additional 54 psychologists to provide services to special schools and special classes.
In 2022, funding for an additional 980 teachers and 1,165 special needs assistants was provided. For 2023, the number of teaching and SNA posts in our schools will increase with an additional 686 teachers and a further 1,194 special needs assistants in our schools next year.
For the first time ever we will have over 19,000 teachers working in the area of special education and over 20,000 Special needs assistants. Together we have almost 40,000 qualified and committed people in our schools who are focused wholly and exclusively on supporting children with special educational needs.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children nationwide.
In 2023, there will be a significant investment in the expansion of the National Council for Special Education, with a total full-year investment of €13 million, in over 160 additional staff. This investment is being undertaken so that the NSCE can respond effectively, compassionately and quickly to the increased need in our education system so that children and their families are fully supported and achieve the best possible education outcomes.
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 approach is delivering. We have seen 392 new special classes open, bringing the total of special classes to 2,543 opened nationwide for the 2022/23 school-year. The 392 new special classes for 2022/23 is broken down by 260 at primary level and 132 at post primary level.
For 2023, a further 370 special classes will open, taking the total number of special classes to over 2,900 in 2023.
As of 21st September 2022, there are 50 special classes in Waterford for the 2022/23 school year. The 50 special classes in Waterford is broken down by 33 at primary level and 17 at post primary level.
Information on the list of schools with special classes, the types and locations of these classes is published on the NCSE website and is available at www.ncse.ie
NCSE is continuing to engage with schools regarding the establishment of additional special classes for the next school year 2023/2023. 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.
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.
410. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has considered the reintroduction of a diet allowance on supplementary welfare in view of the potential hardship this can cause to those on low incomes. [47869/22]
View answer422. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the high cost of alternative foods for those with allergies, especially those with dairy allergies; if she will ensure there is financial assistance provided to those who have allergies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48008/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 410 and 422 together.
Diet supplement, administered under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, is payable to qualifying persons, in receipt of the supplement prior to February 2014, who have been prescribed a special diet because of a specified medical condition. There are currently approximately 1,320 people in receipt of diet supplement.
A review of the costs of healthy eating and specialised diets by the Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute was commissioned by my Department during 2013. The research showed that the average costs across all the retail outlets of the diets supplemented under the scheme could be met from within one-third of the minimum personal rate of social welfare payment, i.e. the Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) rate, which was then paid at €186 per week (and is currently paid at €206 per week). The diet supplement scheme was discontinued for new applicants from 1 February 2014 based on this evidence.
Recipients continue to receive the diet supplement at their existing rate of payment for as long as they continue to have an entitlement to the scheme or until their circumstances change. This measure ensured that nobody was immediately worse off by the closure of the scheme.
The Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) scheme is the safety net within the overall social welfare system in that it provides assistance to eligible people in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs and those of their dependents. Supports provided under the scheme can consist of a basic weekly payment, a weekly or monthly supplement in respect of certain expenses, as well as single Additional Needs Payments (ANPs).
Under the SWA scheme, a supplement can be awarded to assist with ongoing or recurring costs that cannot be met from the client’s own resources and are deemed to be necessary. In addition, officers can make a single ANP to help meet essential, once-off expenditure, which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. Decisions on ANPs and SWA supplements are made at the discretion of the officers administering the scheme taking into account the requirements of the legislation and all the relevant circumstances of the case.
Any person who considers that they may have an entitlement to financial support should contact their local Community Welfare Service for assistance.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
411. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on a matter (details supplied) in relation to the disability allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47870/22]
View answerDisability Allowance (DA) is a weekly allowance paid to people with a specified disability who are aged 16 or over and under the age of 66. This disability must be expected to last for at least one year and the allowance is subject to a medical assessment, means test and Habitual Residency conditions.
I can confirm that my department has not received an application for disability allowance (DA) from the person concerned. I have asked my officials to send an application form to her.
The weekly rate of DA payment depends on the amount of weekly means assessed. The legislative provisions regarding DA state that means will be assessed from all income which the claimant or claimant’s spouse may reasonably expect to receive during the year following the date of their claim.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the deputy.
412. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the current number of persons in receipt of disablement benefit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47878/22]
View answerDisablement Benefit is paid if a person loses certain physical or mental abilities as a result of their work, or while they were travelling to or from work. The number of recipients of Disablement Benefit by quarter from Q1 2020 to Q2 2022 are shown in the attached tabular statement.
|
Quarter |
Recipients |
|
Q1 2020 |
14,531 |
|
Q2 2020 |
14,478 |
|
Q3 2020 |
14,435 |
|
Q4 2020 |
14,407 |
|
Q1 2021 |
14,388 |
|
Q2 2021 |
14,357 |
|
Q3 2021 |
14,302 |
|
Q4 2021 |
14,262 |
|
Q1 2022 |
14,217 |
|
Q2 2022 |
14,167 |
