Wednesday, 18 Jan 2023

School Staff

Questions (696)

Marian Harkin

Question:

696. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Education if she will consider a proposal on teacher redeployment by an organisation (details supplied). [63588/22]

View answer

Written answers

Teacher allocations to all schools are approved annually by my Department in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolment. The criteria for the allocation of posts are communicated to school managements annually and are available on the Department website.

The recruitment and appointment of teachers to fill teaching posts is a matter for the individual school authority as the employer. The deployment of teaching staff in the school, the range of subjects offered and ultimately the quality of teaching and learning are in the first instance a matter for the school management authorities.

The core function of the redeployment arrangements is to facilitate the redeployment of surplus permanent teachers to other schools where vacancies exist. Ensuring efficiency in the annual redeployment processes is significant in terms of managing the overall teacher numbers.

At Post-Primary level, following discussions between the relevant stakeholders a voluntary redeployment scheme has operated on a pilot basis in specific regions in recent years. Permanent teachers employed in these regions are given an opportunity to volunteer for a transfer to other areas of the country only if such a transfer would free up a vacancy that would facilitate the redeployment of a surplus permanent teacher in the region.

The key purpose of the pilot voluntary redeployment scheme is to assist the Department to achieve its objective of redeploying all surplus permanent teachers. To-date the pilot voluntary redeployment scheme has operated in 24 counties

The redeployment process is reviewed annually by my Department and Education Stakeholders, including Teacher Unions. The pilot voluntary redeployment scheme will operate in counties Longford, Westmeath, Laois and Offaly for 2023/24 school year. The criteria for the allocation of teachers to schools including the redeployment arrangements for the 2023/24 school year will shortly be available on the Department's website.

Teachers who apply under the pilot voluntary scheme and are not facilitated with a transfer continue to have the option of applying for posts in their preferred location that are advertised in the normal manner.

School Staff

Questions (697)

Colm Burke

Question:

697. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education if consideration will be given to recommendations of a motion (details supplied) whereby post-primary teachers who relocate or transfer to another school would maintain their permanent-CID status and would not lose benefits from their previous role, given the lack of a transfer system for post-primary teachers is a key factor in the current teacher retention crisis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63592/22]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Education

Teacher allocations to all schools are approved annually by my Department in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolment. The criteria for the allocation of posts are communicated to school managements annually and are available on the Department website.

The recruitment and appointment of teachers to fill teaching posts is a matter for the individual school authority as the employer. The deployment of teaching staff in the school, the range of subjects offered and ultimately the quality of teaching and learning are in the first instance a matter for the school management authorities.

The core function of the redeployment arrangements is to facilitate the redeployment of surplus permanent teachers to other schools where vacancies exist. Ensuring efficiency in the annual redeployment processes is significant in terms of managing the overall teacher numbers.

At Post-Primary level, following discussions between the relevant stakeholders a voluntary redeployment scheme has operated on a pilot basis in specific regions in recent years. Permanent teachers employed in these regions are given an opportunity to volunteer for a transfer to other areas of the country only if such a transfer would free up a vacancy that would facilitate the redeployment of a surplus permanent teacher in the region.

The key purpose of the pilot voluntary redeployment scheme is to assist the Department to achieve its objective of redeploying all surplus permanent teachers. To-date the pilot voluntary redeployment scheme has operated in 24 counties

The redeployment process is reviewed annually by my Department and Education Stakeholders, including Teacher Unions. The pilot voluntary redeployment scheme will operate in counties Longford, Westmeath, Laois and Offaly for 2023/24 school year. The criteria for the allocation of teachers to schools including the redeployment arrangements for the 2023/24 school year will shortly be available on the Department's website.

Teachers who apply under the pilot voluntary scheme and are not facilitated with a transfer continue to have the option of applying for posts in their preferred location that are advertised in the normal manner.

School Staff

Questions (698)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Question:

698. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education if she has considered establishing a national voluntary redeployment panel to allow teachers who wish to relocate between schools in different counties to keep their permanent and contract of indefinite duration status and allow easier transfer. [63596/22]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Education

Teacher allocations to all schools are approved annually by my Department in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolment. The criteria for the allocation of posts are communicated to school managements annually and are available on the Department website.

The recruitment and appointment of teachers to fill teaching posts is a matter for the individual school authority as the employer. The deployment of teaching staff in the school, the range of subjects offered and ultimately the quality of teaching and learning are in the first instance a matter for the school management authorities.

The core function of the redeployment arrangements is to facilitate the redeployment of surplus permanent teachers to other schools where vacancies exist. Ensuring efficiency in the annual redeployment processes is significant in terms of managing the overall teacher numbers.

At Post-Primary level, following discussions between the relevant stakeholders a voluntary redeployment scheme has operated on a pilot basis in specific regions in recent years. Permanent teachers employed in these regions are given an opportunity to volunteer for a transfer to other areas of the country only if such a transfer would free up a vacancy that would facilitate the redeployment of a surplus permanent teacher in the region.

The key purpose of the pilot voluntary redeployment scheme is to assist the Department to achieve its objective of redeploying all surplus permanent teachers. To-date the pilot voluntary redeployment scheme has operated in 24 counties

The redeployment process is reviewed annually by my Department and Education Stakeholders, including Teacher Unions. The pilot voluntary redeployment scheme will operate in counties Longford, Westmeath, Laois and Offaly for 2023/24 school year. The criteria for the allocation of teachers to schools including the redeployment arrangements for the 2023/24 school year will shortly be available on the Department's website.

Teachers who apply under the pilot voluntary scheme and are not facilitated with a transfer continue to have the option of applying for posts in their preferred location that are advertised in the normal manner.

School Curriculum

Questions (699, 710)

Paul Murphy

Question:

699. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to reports that a school (details supplied) hosted a women’s safety week from 5-9 December 2022; if she will consider making this a nationally recognised week amongst all schools in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63609/22]

View answer

Francis Noel Duffy

Question:

710. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the fact that a school (details supplied) hosted a women's safety week to make young women feel more comfortable in the community; and if this is something that she will consider supporting in the future. [63698/22]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Education

I propose to take Questions Nos. 699 and 710 together.

The curriculum at primary and post-primary is for all learners, from all backgrounds, regardless of gender, socio-economic background, race or creed. It aims to foster inclusivity, equality and diversity. The education sector has a vital role to play in addressing gender-based violence, including through the updating and redevelopment of Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) and Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE). Currently, SPHE is a mandatory curriculum subject in all primary schools and in post-primary Junior Cycle. Relationships and Sexuality Education (or RSE) is required at all levels, from primary through to Senior Cycle.

Choices regarding whether to participate in externally designated events are made by individual schools and their boards of management.

As set out in the Programme for Government, this Government is committed to developing inclusive and age appropriate curricula for RSE and SPHE across primary and post-primary schools.

In giving effect to this commitment, my Department's first focus has been on the development of inclusive and age-appropriate curricula and it continues to work closely with the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) in that regard.

A draft revised Junior Cycle specification was published by the NCCA and a consultation process was run from 18 July 2022 to 18 October 2022. The consultation took feedback from teachers and students as well as other interested groups and individuals. The NCCA is finalising the Junior Cycle specification for presentation to the NCCA Council for approval early in the year. The aim is that it will be implemented in schools in September.

This curriculum is a significant overhaul of the existing specification and specifically addresses issues such as pornography, healthy, unhealthy and abusive relationships, LGBTQI+ issues and sexual health.

In relation to Senior Cycle, preparation to update the SPHE/RSE specification has commenced. In October, a background paper was published for consultation on the NCCA website. The NCCA intends that the Senior Cycle draft specification itself will be available for public consultation by next summer, with a view to being ready for implementation in schools in September 2024.

Following publication of the new Primary Curriculum Framework, expected in early 2023, the NCCA will establish a development group for the curricular area of Wellbeing in primary schools.

In tandem with this work, the NCCA has created support materials for teachers published online as part of an Interim Guidance Toolkit, to support effective teaching and learning of SPHE/RSE linked to the current curriculum and to provide guidance on how SPHE/RSE may be approached in a more holistic way. The NCCA online SPHE toolkits were expanded during 2022 to include age and stage appropriate guidance for teachers on how to address issues of consent, gender and sexual discrimination and violence, and related topics within the SPHE classroom.

Pending the introduction of these updated curricula, at primary level the Stay Safe Programme is a mandatory part of the SPHE programme while at post primary level, two programmes are in place which come under the heading of Personal Safety. One of these programmes is for Junior Cycle which addresses personal safety in relationships and explores topics such as healthy and unhealthy relationships, consent and domestic gender-based and sexual violence. The other programme, which is for Senior Cycle, addresses topics such as domestic violence, sexual harassment, dating violence and rape. Both of these programmes were designed by the Professional Development Support Service (PDST) and are intended to be taught as part of the wider SPHE/RSE curriculum. Professional development support is available to teachers, directly linked to these resources.

The work underway in my Department is reflected in a number of key actions within Zero Tolerance, the third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (DSGBV), which was published in June. These actions reflect the vital role of the education sector in the development and implementation of this Strategy, through the updating of the SPHE/RSE curricula; the provision of training aimed at improving teacher confidence and competence in the areas of SPHE and RSE; and the promotion of environments free from gender-based violence within our schools, and ensuring that issues such as sexual harassment and identity bullying are considered as part of my Department’s Action Plan on Bullying and Anti-Bullying Procedures for Primary and Post Primary Schools. My Department’s actions within the Strategy reflect its role in realising the aim of eradicating domestic, sexual and gender-based violence from society.

Climate Change Policy

Questions (700, 701)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

Question:

700. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Education if she will provide details of the outputs from her Department’s actions in the Climate Action Plan Annexe of Actions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63623/22]

View answer

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

Question:

701. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Education the status of the School Sector Climate Action Mandate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63624/22]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Education

I propose to take Questions Nos. 700 and 701 together.

My Department has a strong record 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.

Schools designed and built in accordance with the Department’s schools technical guidance documents, have been achieving A3 Building Energy Ratings since 2009, with current schools typically achieving up to 20% higher energy performance and 25% better carbon performance than required by the current Building Regulations. In addition, 10% of primary energy is provided via photovoltaics and infrastructure provision for electric vehicle charging.

The Department of Education and the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications established a jointly funded pathfinder programme, which is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland and the Planning and Building Unit in my Department. Support is also provided from Limerick Clare ETB. The programme is being used to evaluate and demonstrate the approach to energy retrofit and carbon reduction in the schools’ sector. This government-funded energy retrofit pathfinder programme will target energy use and CO2 emission reduction by 51%, testing deep retrofit and low carbon heating solutions. The pathfinder is paving the way for, and informing, a much larger schools national programme for decarbonisation and retrofit and will play a key part in meeting delivery of the Climate Action Plan.

Ireland's Climate Action Plan provides a roadmap to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and tackle the climate crisis. It provides specific actions that Government Departments, Agencies and public bodies will take across sectors, together with a timeline for the completion of each action. My Department has a strong compliance record in relation to the Department’s actions in the Climate Action Plan Annex of Actions. Progress Reports on the Climate Action Plans are published each quarter on Gov.ie: www.gov.ie/en/publication/55fde-climate-action-important-publications/

A Public Sector Climate Action Mandate was published in 2022 to support public sector bodies leading by example on climate action with the aim to inspire the necessary climate action in wider society to reduce Ireland’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 51% by 2030. The Public Sector Climate Action Mandate excluded the school sector, which would have its own dedicated climate action mandate that would best reflect the particular circumstances in schools and also minimise the burden on schools where possible. This dedicated School Sector Mandate recognises the variance between large public bodies and the school sector and the distinctive role schools are playing in the areas of Education for Sustainable Development and Climate Change. The draft School Sector Climate Action Mandate for 2023 was issued in early December to Stakeholders and it is envisaged that it will be finalised and published in Q1 2023.

Question No. 701 answered with Question No. 700.

Special Educational Needs

Questions (702)

Anne Rabbitte

Question:

702. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Education the reason for the delay by the NCSE in responding to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63625/22]

View answer

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education

Ensuring that every child with special educational needs gets a suitable education is a priority for the Department of Education.

The Purpose of the Home Tuition Grant Scheme is to provide a compensatory educational service for children who, for a number of reasons, are unable to attend school. The scheme also provides a compensatory educational service for children with special educational needs seeking an educational placement for whom such a placement is not available. Provision is also made for early educational intervention for children aged from 2.5 years to 3 years with autism.

Home tuition is provided as an interim measure only for children for whom a placement in a recognised school is sought but not available and should not be regarded as an optional alternative to a school placement.

Where parents of children, who are eligible for home tuition under the terms of the scheme, and for whom home tuition has been approved, have sought alternative arrangements to be put in place for the tuition, my Department has responded by putting arrangements in place with private pre-school providers which provide group tuition to children in a class type setting.

In recognition of the demand for group arrangements by parents of children, who are eligible for Home Tuition under the scheme, my Department now advises all such parents of the option to enter into a group arrangement with other parents of children for whom home tuition has been sanctioned. My Department has no contract with the pre-school providers. The contract is essentially between the parents and the relevant provider.

My Department does not provide capital funding to private pre-school providers. Consent of the parent/guardian of the eligible child must be provided to allow the child attend the facility and to allow the facility to receive the payments which are due to the parent under the Scheme. These arrangements allow parents to forego the home based provision in favour of provision in a classroom setting which is supported by a direct payment provision.

Parents wishing to enter into such an arrangement must notify my Department in advance for approval. Funding is provided to these pre-school providers on the basis they abide by the rules established by the Special Education Section of the Department of Education, as set out in Circular 0046/2022 found here: assets.gov.ie/228074/7b95d89e-cb2a-4f97-90c7-7ea663c9e41b.pdf

Ros na Réaltóg have applied and been granted permission to be one of these pre-school group providers on the basis they would abide by the terms and conditions of the Home Tuition Grant Scheme. Each pre-school provider is selected by the parents.

Per the terms and conditions for pre school providers, which were agreed to by Ros na Réaltóg, the Department will only provide funding for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder attending the facility, who are aged 3 years and over, where a school placement is not available and in respect of whom home tuition has been approved by the Department.

Children with Special Educational Needs may avail of home tuition where a school placement is not available as confirmed by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), through the local Special Education Needs Organiser (SENO). The availability of a school placement will be assessed by the NCSE having regard to, although not limited to, the relevant diagnosis and relevant professional report.

There are Early Intervention (pre-school) classes for children with special educational needs attached to recognised primary schools provided across the country in various locations. Transport support is available for children accessing these early intervention classes.

The NCSE have since confirmed to the Department that there are a sufficient number of early intervention class places available locally, based on those children and their families who have made themselves known to the NCSE and as such the Department were not in a position to grant home tuition for the children applying to attend Ros na Réaltóg.

The local special educational needs organiser (SENO) remains available to support families of children with special educational needs in the area seeking school placements.

In relation to the query from Ms. Róisín Geddes from Ros na Réaltóg Forest School to the NCSE, this has been forwarded to the NCSE for their attention and direct reply.

School Transport

Questions (703)

Mattie McGrath

Question:

703. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education when a student (details supplied) will be allocated a school bus ticket, given the Bus Éireann school transport section has failed to respond to queries from this Deputy. [63632/22]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Education

The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year over 147,900 children, including over 18,000 children with special educational needs, are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country.

In addition, school transport scheme services are being provided in the current school year for over 3,800 children who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine.

The total cost of the scheme in 2022 was €332.2m.

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 have been 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.

Bus Éireann has advised that while the child referred to by the Deputy is eligible for school transport under the terms of the scheme, they did not complete the ticket registration process by the closing date of 29 July. All existing services in this area are currently operating at capacity.

School Transport

Questions (704)

Mattie McGrath

Question:

704. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education when a student (details supplied) will be allocated a school bus ticket, given the Bus Éireann school transport section has failed to respond to queries from this Deputy. [63633/22]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Education

The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year over 147,900 children, including over 18,000 children with special educational needs, are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country.

In addition, school transport scheme services are being provided in the current school year for over 3,800 children who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine.

The total cost of the scheme in 2022 was €332.2m.

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.

Bus Éireann has advised that the children referred to by the Deputy are eligible for school transport under the terms of the scheme but were unsuccessful in obtaining seats on board school transport services for the 2022/23 school year as they did not complete the ticket registration process by the closing date of 29 July. All existing services in this area are currently operating at capacity.

Schools Administration

Questions (705)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

Question:

705. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education the number of schools in the education system that operate a shorter day for infants' classes than the rest of the classes. [63645/22]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Education

Under the provisions of the Education Act 1998, the Board of Management is the body charged with the direct governance of a school.

Circular 11/95 “Time in School” paragraph 3 states that a typical school day for Junior classes is 4 hours and 40 minutes and Senior classes 5 hours and 40 minutes with appropriate recreation i.e. 30 minutes.

Children in infant classes may have a school day that is one hour shorter than the length of the normal school day. This is a concession in the interests of young children who may find it difficult to sustain the work of the full day. The decision to apply this concession rests with the Board of Management. The Department does not maintain records as to the number of schools that apply this concession.

School Staff

Questions (706)

Cian O'Callaghan

Question:

706. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update on the introduction of a national voluntary redeployment panel for post-primary teachers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63647/22]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Education

Teacher allocations to all schools are approved annually by my Department in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolment. The criteria for the allocation of posts are communicated to school managements annually and are available on the Department website.

The recruitment and appointment of teachers to fill teaching posts is a matter for the individual school authority as the employer. The deployment of teaching staff in the school, the range of subjects offered and ultimately the quality of teaching and learning are in the first instance a matter for the school management authorities.

The core function of the redeployment arrangements is to facilitate the redeployment of surplus permanent teachers to other schools where vacancies exist. Ensuring efficiency in the annual redeployment processes is significant in terms of managing the overall teacher numbers.

At Post-Primary level, following discussions between the relevant stakeholders a voluntary redeployment scheme has operated on a pilot basis in specific regions in recent years. Permanent teachers employed in these regions are given an opportunity to volunteer for a transfer to other areas of the country only if such a transfer would free up a vacancy that would facilitate the redeployment of a surplus permanent teacher in the region.

The key purpose of the pilot voluntary redeployment scheme is to assist the Department to achieve its objective of redeploying all surplus permanent teachers. To-date the pilot voluntary redeployment scheme has operated in 24 counties

The redeployment process is reviewed annually by my Department and Education Stakeholders, including Teacher Unions. The pilot voluntary redeployment scheme will operate in counties Longford, Westmeath, Laois and Offaly for 2023/24 school year. The criteria for the allocation of teachers to schools including the redeployment arrangements for the 2023/24 school year will shortly be available on the Department's website.

Teachers who apply under the pilot voluntary scheme and are not facilitated with a transfer continue to have the option of applying for posts in their preferred location that are advertised in the normal manner.

School Staff

Questions (707)

Joe O'Brien

Question:

707. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Education if she will consider proposals from teaching unions to establish a national voluntary redeployment panel for teachers under which those teachers who wish to relocate would keep their permanent status, including the development of an online portal to facilitate direct swaps for voluntary teacher redeployment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63650/22]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Education

Teacher allocations to all schools are approved annually by my Department in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolment. The criteria for the allocation of posts are communicated to school managements annually and are available on the Department website.

The recruitment and appointment of teachers to fill teaching posts is a matter for the individual school authority as the employer. The deployment of teaching staff in the school, the range of subjects offered and ultimately the quality of teaching and learning are in the first instance a matter for the school management authorities.

The core function of the redeployment arrangements is to facilitate the redeployment of surplus permanent teachers to other schools where vacancies exist. Ensuring efficiency in the annual redeployment processes is significant in terms of managing the overall teacher numbers.

At Post-Primary level, following discussions between the relevant stakeholders a voluntary redeployment scheme has operated on a pilot basis in specific regions in recent years. Permanent teachers employed in these regions are given an opportunity to volunteer for a transfer to other areas of the country only if such a transfer would free up a vacancy that would facilitate the redeployment of a surplus permanent teacher in the region.

The key purpose of the pilot voluntary redeployment scheme is to assist the Department to achieve its objective of redeploying all surplus permanent teachers. To-date the pilot voluntary redeployment scheme has operated in 24 counties

The redeployment process is reviewed annually by my Department and Education Stakeholders, including Teacher Unions. The pilot voluntary redeployment scheme will operate in counties Longford, Westmeath, Laois and Offaly for 2023/24 school year. The criteria for the allocation of teachers to schools including the redeployment arrangements for the 2023/24 school year will shortly be available on the Department's website.

Teachers who apply under the pilot voluntary scheme and are not facilitated with a transfer continue to have the option of applying for posts in their preferred location that are advertised in the normal manner.

Special Educational Needs

Questions (708)

Michael Ring

Question:

708. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Education when funding will be provided for a facility (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63678/22]