David Cullinane
Question:776. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Education if she will address a matter raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1660/23]
View answerTeaching Qualifications
Questions (776)
Written answers
The Teaching Council is the professional standards body for the teaching profession, which promotes and regulates professional standards in teaching. The Teaching Council registers teachers under the Teaching Council Act 2001-2015 and in line with the Teaching Council Registration Regulations, 2016. The Council registers teachers under five routes of registration namely, Route 1 - Primary, Route 2 - Post-primary, Route 3 - Further Education, Route 4 - Other and Route 5 - Student Teacher. The minimum registration requirements for each route are set out in the Schedule of the regulations.
All initial teacher education programmes in Ireland that lead to registration must have professional accreditation from the Teaching Council. The Teaching Council's (Registration) Regulations 2016 set out the routes under which teachers are eligible to apply for registration. A degree in Early Childhood Teaching and Learning, while valuable, is not an accredited course nor does it meet the registration requirements under Route 4 Other of the Teaching Council Registration Regulations 2016 (formerly Regulation 3 Montessori and Other Categories of the 2009 Regulations).
Registration under Route 3 (Further Education) of the 2016 Regulations is the route of registration available where an accredited qualification in the primary or post-primary sector is not held. Applicants who apply under this route must hold a degree qualification but are not initially required to hold a teacher education qualification (TEQ). A relevant TEQ is required under Route 3. However applicants who meet the degree qualification requirements and who have not completed an accredited TEQ are eligible for conditional registration for a period of three years in which time this requirement must be completed.
The St. Nicholas Montessori College degree in Montessori Education has long-standing recognition with the Department of Education (DE) and was subsequently amalgamated into the Council’s Registration Regulations under Route 4. With the making of the 2016 Regulations it has been known that this is being phased out with a clear timeframe for same, which outlines that the qualification is only acceptable for registration under Route 4 Other where the application is made on or before 31 December 2023.
There are a number of Graduate and Post-graduate Diplomas in the field of Special Education which are approved by the Department of Education and can be used to add this sector to a teacher’s registration where the teacher also holds an accredited Primary teacher education qualification . The Teaching Council works within Department policy and central to this policy is that all teachers teaching children with Special Educational Needs should be qualified Primary or Post-primary teachers in the first instance and may then apply for one of the Department of Education recognised qualifications in Special Educational Needs as outlined in the DE circular 0044/2019.
My Department is undertaking a comprehensive programme of work to support the supply of teachers to our schools. Officials engage closely with school management bodies and other education stakeholders to inform this work. My Department will continue to work closely and intensively with stakeholders to develop and implement creative solutions to address teacher supply challenges for schools.
School Accommodation
Questions (777)
Neale Richmond
Question:777. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Education if she has any plans for additional secondary schools in the Sandyford-Stepaside-Dublin 18 area, given the rising population and the lack of schools in the area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1681/23]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy will be aware, for school planning purposes, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and utilises a Geographical Information System to anticipate school place demand. Information from a range of sources, including Child Benefit data, school enrolment data and information on residential development activity is used for this purpose. Additionally, Project Ireland 2040 population and housing targets inform my Department's projections of school place requirements.
Major new residential developments in a school planning area have the potential to alter demand in that area. In that regard, as part of the demographic exercises, my Department engages with each local authority to obtain the up-to-date data on significant new residential development in each area. My Department then makes an assessment of the existing capacity within the particular area and its ability to meet increased demand.
Where data indicates that additional provision is required at primary or post primary level, the delivery of such additional provision is dependent on the particular circumstances of each case and may be provided through either one, or a combination of, the following:
- Utilising existing unused capacity within a school or schools,
- Extending the capacity of a school or schools,
- Provision of a new school or schools.
Following such previous analysis a new 1,000 pupil post primary school, Stepaside ETSS, was established to serve Ballinteer_Stepaside_DLR school planning area in 2016.
While the Department is aware of increasing pressures and demand for additional school places in the Dublin 18 area, it is important to note that where enrolment pressures arise, it may not be as a result of lack of accommodation but may be driven by the following factors:
- Duplication of applications – pupils have applied for a place to a number of schools in the area
- School of choice – pupils can’t get a place in their preferred school while there are places in other schools in the town/area
- Some towns/areas have single sex schools and while places are available in the school they are not available to all pupils
- External draw – pupils coming from outside the local area.
Schools Building Projects
Questions (778)
Emer Higgins
Question:778. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Education if he will provide an update on an application by a school (details supplied) for a permanent building to replace the existing prefabs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1762/23]
View answerWritten answers
I can confirm to the Deputy, that my Department recently received an application for capital funding, under the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme, from the school in question.
The purpose of the Additional Schools Accommodation (ASA) scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream and special education classroom accommodation is available to cater for pupils enrolled each year and where the need cannot be met by the school’s existing accommodation.
The application is currently under review and on completion of the assessment process the school authority will be contacted directly with a decision.
Departmental Properties
Questions (779)
Patrick Costello
Question:779. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Education the position regarding a school (details supplied); if her Department has plans to utilise this building within the lifetime of the Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1763/23]
View answerWritten answers
The property being referred to is not in the ownership of my Department and my Department has no plans to utilise the building. My understanding is that the property is owned by Dublin City Council who may be able assist with the enquiry.
School Admissions
Questions (780)
Peter Burke
Question:780. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Education the catchment area that Glenmore Woods, Mullingar, County Westmeath is in, in relation to the primary schools in Mullingar town and surrounding area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1777/23]
View answerWritten answers
I wish to advise the Deputy, that Glenmore Woods is located in the Mullingar School Planning Area which has a total of twenty-two primary schools. Nine of these schools are in the urban area of Mullingar town and the closest to Glenmore Woods is St. Colman's.
I wish to advise the Deputy, that in relation to school admissions, parents can choose which school to apply to and where the school has places available, the pupil should be admitted. However, in schools where there are more applicants than places available, a selection process may be necessary. This selection process and the enrolment policy on which it is based must be non-discriminatory and must be applied fairly in respect of all applicants. However, this may result in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice.
The Deputy will note however that the selection process procedures and enrolment policy are the responsibility of the individual school authorities.
School Transport
Questions (781)
Fergus O'Dowd
Question:781. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education if she will outline when the long-awaited review of the school transport scheme is due to be completed and the recommendations published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1784/23]
View answerWritten answers
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.
A review of the School Transport Scheme commenced in February 2021. The review is being conducted with a view to examining the current scheme, its broader effectiveness and sustainability, and to ensure that it serves students and their families adequately.
Phase 1 of the review, an examination of issues a report on eligibility with an examination of issues for mainstream pupils relating to the nearest and next nearest school was completed in June 2021.
Following commencement of the review the Steering Group presented me with an initial interim report in June 2021, with regard to eligibility and with an examination of issues for mainstream pupils relating to the nearest and next nearest school.
Following consideration of this report, for the 2021/2022 school year, the extension of temporary alleviation measures were approved for transport for post-primary students who are otherwise eligible for school transport but are attending their second nearest school and have applied and paid on time.
These measures will be continued for the current school year, pending completion of the review and means transport will be 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.
While work on the review was impacted somewhat by the challenges of the pandemic and the impact of the current conflict in Ukraine, it is anticipated that the final phases of the review will be completed shortly with recommendations on the future operation of the Department’s School Transport Scheme.
School Funding
Questions (782)
Cathal Crowe
Question:782. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update on an application for funding by a school (details supplied) for the completion of modular accommodation. [1793/23]
View answerWritten answers
I am pleased to inform the Deputy that an uplift in funding is approved, under the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) Scheme, for the school in question to include a reception area/lobby within the Modular Accommodation unit. A letter confirming same has issued to the school authority recently.
Departmental Correspondence
Questions (783)
Niall Collins
Question:783. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Education when consent, as requested by a person (details supplied), will issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1877/23]
View answerWritten answers
My Department contacted in writing the relevant solicitors on 30th May 2022 in relation to this matter. Further information was requested from them at that point in order for it to be progressed.
The requested information was not received. Telephone contact was made with the solicitors on 11/01/2023 to seek an update and they have agreed to look into the matter.
Any further enquiries can be made directly with the School Property Management section of my Department. The contact email is schoolproperty@education.gov.ie and the postal address, if needed, is School Property Management, Department of Education, Portlaoise Road, Tullamore, Co Offaly , R35 Y2N5.
Public Sector Pay
Questions (784)
Colm Burke
Question:784. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education the reason that part-time tutors working with the ETB were not included under the recent national pay agreement for public sector pay increases; if consideration will be given to including them; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1894/23]
View answerWritten answers
While the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science has policy responsibility for further education, the Department of Education currently retains regulatory responsibility for the ETB sector including public pay policy.
There is no specific public sector grade of “Adult Education Tutor” and therefore there is no specific pay rate or incremental scale for such tutors employed by ETBs. However, it is understood that generally such tutors are paid a particular set hourly rate of pay based on the published unqualified teacher rate.
As this rate is increased under national pay agreements such increases ultimately pass on to tutors paid that rate. These rates are now €48.71 per hour for pre-2011 entrants and €43.84 per hour for “new entrants” recruited since January 2011. There are also published rates for tutors employed under the “Self-Financing Adult Education Programme” which are outside the national pay agreements and these rates are currently being reviewed. It is also understood that in a very small number of cases, ETBs pay a legacy rate agreed with unions locally.
There is currently a claim from unions that such tutors should be placed on an incremental pay scale aligned to an existing ETB pay scale which would regularise the situation with regards to pay. The Labour Court, while noting the position that existed in terms of requirements under FEMPI legislation and the Public Service Stability Agreement in relation to cost-increasing claims, recommended that the official side identify the scale of cost it was prepared or able to absorb and make an offer.
Officials from both Departments, as well as the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, have been considering this matter and discussions are ongoing.
School Transport
Questions (785)
Charles Flanagan
Question:785. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Education when she expects the school transport review to be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1899/23]
View answerWritten answers
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.
A review of the School Transport Scheme commenced in February 2021. The review is being conducted with a view to examining the current scheme, its broader effectiveness and sustainability, and to ensure that it serves students and their families adequately.
Phase 1 of the review, an examination of issues a report on eligibility with an examination of issues for mainstream pupils relating to the nearest and next nearest school was completed in June 2021.
Following commencement of the review the Steering Group presented me with an initial interim report in June 2021, with regard to eligibility and with an examination of issues for mainstream pupils relating to the nearest and next nearest school.
Following consideration of this report, for the 2021/2022 school year, the extension of temporary alleviation measures were approved for transport for post-primary students who are otherwise eligible for school transport but are attending their second nearest school and have applied and paid on time.
These measures will be continued for the current school year, pending completion of the review and means transport will be 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.
While work on the review was impacted somewhat by the challenges of the pandemic and the impact of the current conflict in Ukraine, it is anticipated that the final phases of the review will be completed shortly with recommendations on the future operation of the Department’s School Transport Scheme.
School Transport
Questions (786)
Ciarán Cannon
Question:786. Deputy Ciarán Cannon asked the Minister for Education if she intends to continue the school transport temporary alleviation measures for the 2023-2024 school year; and if families with a medical card attending their second nearest post-primary school will continue to receive free school transport under these measures. [1903/23]
View answerWritten answers
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.
A review of the School Transport Scheme commenced in February 2021. The review is being conducted with a view to examining the current scheme, its broader effectiveness and sustainability, and to ensure that it serves students and their families adequately.
Phase 1 of the review, an examination of issues a report on eligibility with an examination of issues for mainstream pupils relating to the nearest and next nearest school was completed in June 2021.
Following commencement of the review the Steering Group presented me with an initial interim report in June 2021, with regard to eligibility and with an examination of issues for mainstream pupils relating to the nearest and next nearest school.
Following consideration of this report, for the 2021/2022 school year, the extension of temporary alleviation measures were approved for transport for post-primary students who are otherwise eligible for school transport but are attending their second nearest school and have applied and paid on time.
These measures will be continued for the current school year, pending completion of the review and means transport will be 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.
While work on the review was impacted somewhat by the challenges of the pandemic and the impact of the current conflict in Ukraine, it is anticipated that the final phases of the review will be completed shortly with recommendations on the future operation of the Department’s School Transport Scheme.
State Examinations
Questions (787)
Denis Naughten
Question:787. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education her plans to review State examination accommodations for students with dyspraxia; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1922/23]
View answerWritten answers
The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations.
In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.
Schools Building Projects
Questions (788)
Eoin Ó Broin
Question:788. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education the status of an application by a school (details supplied) for a permanent school building; the reason for the delay in progressing the project given that the school has been situated in prefabricated buildings for over 29 years; if she will indicate a timeline for the commencement and completion of the project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1928/23]
View answerWritten answers
The large scale capital project for the school referred to by the Deputy is part of a joint campus project with two other schools. My Department authorised the Design Team to retender the project as the first tranche of tenders were deemed unviable. The Design Team applied for a new planning permission due to a change in the Planning Acts introduced by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage in Sept 2021 which removed the option to extend a planning permission. The application for a new planning permission is progressing in parallel with the new tender process.
The Tender report was received by my Department and is currently being examined. Subject to no issues arising, it is anticipated that construction will commence in the 2nd quarter of 2023 and the project is expected to take approximately 20 months to complete.
Educational Disadvantage
Questions (789)
Fergus O'Dowd
Question:789. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education if her Department assesses the number of medical card holders within a school as an accurate measurement of gathering vital information on pupils, as opposed to the Eircode, which can inaccurately represent families in regard to the data used to decide DEIS status; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1937/23]
View answerWritten answers
My Department provides a wide range of supports to all schools, DEIS and non-DEIS, to support the inclusion of all students and address barriers to students achieving their potential. Supplementing these universal supports, the DEIS programme provides a targeted and equitable way to address concentrated educational disadvantage that promotes equity across the primary and post-primary sector.
Schools have been identified for inclusion in the programme through the refined DEIS identification model which is an objective, statistics based model. This model uses information from the Department of Education enrolment databases and the Pobal HP Deprivation index. Schools were not required to apply for inclusion in the DEIS programme and the model has been applied fairly and equally to all schools.
The extension of the DEIS programme to additional schools followed intensive work by the DEIS technical group, which involved valuable input from stakeholders. The DEIS identification model aimed to identify those schools with the highest levels of concentrated disadvantage or the highest proportion of students from disadvantaged backgrounds within a school using the school's enrolment data and national census data as represented by the Pobal HP Deprivation index which is publicly available. The refined model built on the objectivity and fairness of the 2017 version, but also captured a greater breadth of disadvantage and accounted for severity of disadvantage through the application of a weighted process. It also took into consideration the significant educational disadvantage experienced by Traveller and Roma learners and of students residing in direct provision or emergency homeless accommodation.
The Pobal HP Deprivation index is used by number of State agencies for the identification of disadvantage, in order to target resources towards communities most in need. The Index is a method of measuring the relative affluence or disadvantage of a particular geographical area using data returned from the national census. Variables used in the compilation of the HP Index include those related to demographic growth, dependency ratios, education levels, single parent rate, overcrowding, social class, occupation and unemployment rates. This data is combined with student enrolment data supplied by schools on the school enrolment databases (POD and PPOD), anonymised and aggregated to small area, to provide information on the relative level of concentrated disadvantage present in the pupil cohort of individual schools.
A detailed paper on the refined DEIS identification model is available on gov.ie at www.gov.ie/en/publication/a3c9e-extension-of-deis-to-further-schools/#how-schools-were-selected-for-inclusion-in-deis.
It is important to note that the extension of the DEIS programme to new schools is just one phase of work in my vision for an inclusive education system which supports all learners to achieve their potential. The next phase of work will explore the allocation of resources to schools to tackle educational disadvantage. Part of this programme of work will involve consultation with all relevant stakeholders.
Education and Training Boards
Questions (790)
Colm Burke
Question:790. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education the hourly rates of pay for full-time and part-time tutors in the ETB for those who commenced tutoring prior to 2011 and since 2011; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1961/23]
View answerWritten answers
While the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science has policy responsibility for further education, the Department of Education currently retains regulatory responsibility for the ETB sector including public pay policy.
There is no specific public sector grade of “Adult Education Tutor” and therefore there is no specific pay rate or incremental scale for such tutors employed by ETBs. However, it is understood that generally such tutors are paid a particular set hourly rate of pay based on the published unqualified teacher rate.
As this rate is increased under national pay agreements such increases ultimately pass on to tutors paid that rate. These rates are now €48.71 per hour for pre-2011 entrants and €43.84 per hour for “new entrants” recruited since January 2011. There are also published rates for tutors employed under the “Self-Financing Adult Education Programme” which are outside the national pay agreements and these rates are currently being reviewed. It is also understood that in a very small number of cases, ETBs pay a legacy rate agreed with unions locally.
There is currently a claim from unions that such tutors should be placed on an incremental pay scale aligned to an existing ETB pay scale which would regularise the situation with regards to pay. The Labour Court, while noting the position that existed in terms of requirements under FEMPI legislation and the Public Service Stability Agreement in relation to cost-increasing claims, recommended that the official side identify the scale of cost it was prepared or able to absorb and make an offer.
Officials from both Departments, as well as the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, have been considering this matter and discussions are ongoing.
School Accommodation
Questions (791)
Alan Dillon
Question:791. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update on an application by a school (details supplied) under the additional accommodation scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1976/23]
View answerWritten answers
The school to which the deputy refers received approval under the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) Scheme for the provision of 1 x 80m2 General Classroom, 1 x 15m2 SET Room 2 x SEN Base, 1 x 10.5m2 User Assisted WC.
The project has been devolved to the school authority to progress accordingly. The Department is aware that the Design Team appointment process took place in Q4 2022.
Furthermore, in order to meet the accommodation needs of the school, a modular purchase project has taken place, providing for 1 x 100m² Modular classroom SEN Base under the Department's Additional Schools Accommodation Scheme 2021. This project is now completed and final payment was made in November 2022.
Educational Disadvantage
Questions (792)
David Stanton
Question:792. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Education her Department’s plans, if any, to extend DEIS status to a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1977/23]
View answerWritten answers
My Department provides a wide range of supports to all schools, DEIS and non-DEIS, to support the inclusion of all students and address barriers to students achieving their potential. Supplementing these universal supports, the DEIS programme provides a targeted and equitable way to address concentrated educational disadvantage that promotes equity across the primary and post-primary sector.
Last March, I was glad to be able to announce a major expansion of the DEIS programme. For the first time since 2017, the programme has been significantly expanded to include an additional 322 schools. This means that the DEIS programme now supports over 240,000 in over 1,200 schools addressing educational disadvantage. The recent expansion will add an additional €32million to my Department’s expenditure on the DEIS programme from 2023, bringing the overall Department of Education allocation on the programme to €180million.
Schools that were identified for inclusion in the programme were those with the highest levels of concentrated disadvantage as identified through the refined DEIS identification model, which is an objective, statistics-based model. Schools were not required to apply for inclusion in the DEIS programme and the model has been applied fairly and equally to all schools. A detailed paper on the refined DEIS identification model is available on gov.ie at www.gov.ie/en/publication/a3c9e-extension-of-deis-to-further-schools/#how-schools-were-selected-for-inclusion-in-deis.
I do however recognise that there are children at risk of educational disadvantage in all schools. Therefore, it is important to note that the recent extension of the DEIS programme to new schools is just one phase of work in my vision for an inclusive education system which supports all learners to achieve their potential. Work is underway to explore the allocation of supports to schools, including those that are not in the DEIS programme, to assist students at risk of educational disadvantage to achieve their potential in education. This work will involve engagement with relevant stakeholders over the coming months.
School Admissions
Questions (793)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Question:793. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education if she is satisfied that there are a sufficient number of post-primary school places available in the west of Galway city to meet demand; the process that will be followed if some pupils are left with no offer of a place in a school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1979/23]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy will be aware, for school planning purposes, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and utilises a Geographical Information System to anticipate school place demand. Information from a range of sources, including Child Benefit data, school enrolment data and information on residential development activity is used for this purpose. Additionally, Project Ireland 2040 population and housing targets inform my Department's projections of school place requirements.
While the Department is aware of increasing pressures and demand for additional school places in the Galway area, it is important to note that where enrolment pressures arise, it may not be as a result of lack of accommodation but may be driven by the following factors:
- Duplication of applications – pupils have applied for a place to a number of schools in the area
- School of choice – pupils can’t get a place in their preferred school while there are places in other schools in the town/area
-Some towns/areas have single sex schools and while places are available in the school they are not available to all pupils
- External draw – pupils coming from outside the local area
The Department is working to establish the true extent of any capacity issues through ongoing discussions with the relevant school authorities. In that context, similar to the process adopted in advance of the current academic year, the Department is engaging with patron bodies and school authorities, including those of schools in the Galway area, to identify particular capacity requirements for the forthcoming years which may necessitate further action to that already in train.
Additionally, the Department will continue to work to advance the planned and current projects in Galway and to ensure sufficient places for both mainstream provision and for pupils with special education requirements both for the coming academic year and into the future.
School Transport
Questions (794)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:794. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education if an issue in relation to school transport (details supplied) will be examined and addressed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1980/23]
View answerWritten answers
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.
School Transport Section considers situations such the case outlined by the Deputy on a case by case basis and will liaise with Bus Éireann in this matter.
School Transport
Questions (795)
Matt Carthy
Question:795. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Education if she will ensure a child (details supplied) will be allocated a seat on their local school bus as a matter of urgency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1981/23]
View answerWritten answers
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.
Bus Éireann has advised that the child referred to is eligible under the terms of the school transport scheme. However no ticket request has been received for this pupil for the 2022/23 school year. The existing school transport service is currently operating to capacity and there are no seats available at present.