Written Answers Nos. 138-150
138. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Education the number of children with special educational needs who are waiting for primary and secondary school places in each county, in tabular form; and the number of school places that will be made available in each county for children with special educational needs for the academic year 2023-2024. [11878/23]
View answerI would like to thank the Deputy for the question and would like to advise the following:
Enabling children with special educational needs (SEN) to receive an education appropriate to their needs is a priority for this Government.
It is also a key priority for me as Minister for Special Education & Inclusion, for my Department and for the National Council for Special Education (NCSE).
For 2023, the spend by my Department on special education will be substantially increased by over 10% on last year, meaning that for 2023 my Department will spend over €2.6 billion providing supports to children and young people with special educational needs and their schools.
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 funding to support children with SEN in mainstream classes; funding for new special classes and new special school places; additional special educational teachers and special needs assistants.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children with special educational needs nationwide.
Over the last two to three years, my Department and the NCSE have introduced a number of strategic initiatives to plan for and provide sufficient mainstream, special class and special school places.
These initiatives are bearing fruit with over 600 new special classes sanctioned at primary level, almost 300 new special classes sanctioned at post-primary level and five new special schools established over the last three years.
There are a total of 2,537 special classes opened nationwide. Of the 2,537 special classes, there are 1798 at primary level and 739 at post primary level.
This includes the 386 new special classes that have been sanctioned by the NCSE for 2022/2023. The 386 new special classes for 2022/23 is broken down by 256 at primary level and 130 at post primary level.
The Department is engaging intensely with the NCSE in relation to the forward planning of new special classes for the next school year 2023/2024. This work involves a detailed review of statistical data in relation to forecasting demand for special class places, consideration of improved data sharing arrangements, consideration of school accommodation capacity and a particular focus on the provision of special classes at post-primary level.
As demand for new special classes at post-primary level is expected to increase significantly over the next few years, due to increasing demographics and increasing prevalence rates, the Department and the NCSE have engaged with post-primary stakeholders in relation to the provision of special classes. The Department has also previously written to all post-primary schools in October 2022 to advise them of the need to begin planning to provide additional special classes. It is envisaged that all post-primary schools will be required to provide special classes over the next 3 to 5 years, with an approximate average of 4 special classes in each school.
If the recent growth in the need for special classes continues, it is expected that a similar level of new special classes will be needed at primary level over the next three years as have been provided over the last three years. At post-primary level however, it is expected that we will need to double the number of new special classes being provided over the next three years as compared to the last three years.
The NCSE is continuing to engage with schools regarding the establishment of additional special classes for the next school year 2023/2024. Every support will be made available to schools to progress the opening of special classes in the shortest possible timeframe. It is expected that the NCSE will confirm where new special classes at primary and post-primary level have been sanctioned for the coming school year over the next few weeks. This is in keeping with timelines in previous years.
It is of course open to any school to engage with the NCSE to establish a special class.
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
Parents seeking special class placements for their children are advised to contact the NCSE locally so that their needs can be taken into account for planning purposes. The local SENOs remain available to assist and advise parents of children with special educational needs. Parents may contact SENOs directly using the contact details available at: ncse.ie/regional-services-contact-list .
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 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.
139. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Education the number of notices she has served to schools for additional provision for children with special educational needs under section 37A of the Education Act 1998 in each of the years 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023. [11879/23]
View answerI would like to thank the Deputy for the question and would like to advise that my Department is committed, in conjunction with the National Council for Special Education (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.
Over the last two to three years, my Department and the NCSE have introduced a number of strategic initiatives to plan for and provide sufficient special class and special school places.
These initiatives are bearing fruit with over 600 new special classes sanctioned at primary level, almost 300 new special classes sanctioned at post-primary level and five new special schools established over the last three years.
There are a total of 2,537 special classes opened nationwide. Of the 2,537 special classes, there are 1798 at primary level and 739 at post primary level.
This includes the 386 new special classes that have been sanctioned by the NCSE for 2022/2023. The 386 new special classes for 2022/23 consists of 256 at primary level and 130 at post primary level.
My Department has engaged intensely with the NCSE in relation to the forward planning for new special classes for the next school year 2023/2024. This work involves a detailed review of statistical data in relation to forecasting demand for special class places, consideration of improved data sharing arrangements, and a particular focus on the provision of special classes at post-primary level. As demand for new special classes at post-primary level is expected to increase significantly over the next few years, due to increasing demographics and increasing prevalence rates, my Department and the NCSE are engaging with post-primary stakeholders in relation to the provision of special classes. My Department has also recently written to all post-primary schools to advise them of the need to begin planning to provide additional special classes.
If the recent growth in the need for special classes continues, it is expected that a similar level of special classes will be needed at primary level over the next three years as have been provided over the last three years. At post-primary level however, it is expected that we will need to double the number of new special classes being provided over the next three years. In addition, it is estimated that an additional 300 special school places may be needed over each of the next 3 years.
At local level, the NCSE is continuing to engage with schools regarding the establishment of additional special classes for the next school year 2023/2024. Every support will be made available to schools to progress the opening of special classes in the shortest possible timeframe.
The Minister has powers under Section 37A of the Education Act to direct a school to provide additional places but this power is only used as a last resort and where all reasonable efforts have failed.
This legal power to compel schools to open new special classes is only used where the following criteria apply:
- there is established need for additional places in an area
- it is considered that the schools involved in the Section 37 process have capacity to open the additional classes and
- all reasonable efforts have been made to support these schools in making the required provision.
The legislation has been used twice to date; initially in the Dublin 15 area in 2019 and more recently in the South Dublin area in 2020 in respect of primary school provision only.
The published documents relating to the two occasions where the Section 37A process was used are available at the following links: gov.ie - Section 37A Notices 2019 - Dublin North (www.gov.ie) and g ov.ie - Section 37A Notices 2020 – Dublin South - Notices issued on 26 June 2020 (www.gov.ie).
It is important to note that where possible, children with special educational needs should be accommodated in mainstream education, but where the needs of the children are greater, special classes and indeed special schools are provided. Every effort must be made where special classes exist within a mainstream school to integrate the children and young people in this class with their peers in mainstream classes.
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 appropriate education.
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
140. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Education if a school placement can be addressed for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11896/23]
View answerMy Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in the area. In relation to school admissions, it is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998.
Parents have the right to 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.
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.
Nurney is located in the Kildare School Planning Area. While my Department is aware of increasing pressures and demand for additional school places 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
My Department is working to establish the true extent of any capacity issues across school planning areas through ongoing discussions with the relevant school patrons and authorities.
This close engagement will allow my Department to identify at an early stage particular capacity requirements for the forthcoming years which may necessitate further action to that already in train including, where required, the provision of modular accommodation solutions.
141. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Education when schools will receive guidelines and funding for the primary schoolbook scheme, as booksellers need to be closely involved in the ordering process and feel that the timeline is very tight, and are asking that invoices are paid by primary schools in a timely manner; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11898/23]
View answerThank you for your query to the Minister for Education, Norma Foley TD in relation to the free schoolbooks scheme for primary schools.
As you are aware additional funding has been allocated to provide free books to primary school pupils in primary schools from September 2023. The measure will eliminate the cost to families for all school books, including workbooks, in primary schools.
The Department commenced engagement with relevant stakeholders as to how the scheme will operate at the end of 2022. The Department will be engaging further in the coming weeks with the education partners and other stakeholders to roll out the measure in time for the 2023/24 school year. It is recognised that work on this scheme will need to commence in schools after the Easter break.
Detailed guidance on the measure is being developed as part of the engagement process with schools, management bodies and other stakeholders. The scheme will seek to ensure that value for money is achieved, and that schools will be supported to implement the scheme in a way that has the best learning outcomes for pupils.
It is important to note that schools will continue to have autonomy to choose books that meet curricular requirements.
It is planned that funds will be provided directly to schools to purchase school books and related classroom resources. Schools buy books directly from school book suppliers at present as part of the implementation of school book rental schemes. Ninety-six percent of primary schools already participate in book rental schemes.
142. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education when a planning application for a permanent building for a school (details supplied) will be submitted; if her Department has revised the timescale for completion of this project as a result of increased construction costs; the total current estimated costs for the provision of permanent school buildings for the school; if the new school building will be delivered in 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11907/23]
View answerThe project for school mentioned by the Deputy is in early architectural planning which involves site surveys, school design stages and the preparation of statutory applications.
It is anticipated that the planning application for the permanent school referred to by the Deputy will be lodged in Q2 2023.
My Department must then await a decision on planning from the local authority. A notification to grant planning can be received after 8 weeks, although there is an opening for the Local Authority to request further information (RFI). There is always also the possibility of an appeal to An Bord Pleanála (ABP).
As with any school building project progressing to tender, this can only occur once planning has been secured. Tender processes are currently taking approximately 8 to 10 months. Once a Contractor is appointed, the construction of a 1,000 pupil post primary school takes some 82 weeks. Details of the current estimated cost for construction of the school would be commercially sensitive prior to a tender exercise and award of a contract.
143. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education the total cost to date for the provision of temporary accommodation for a school (details supplied) since the establishment of the school on its current site; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11908/23]
View answerThe total costs spent to date for the provision of temporary accommodation for the school to which the deputy refers is circa €11.7 million incl Vat.
These costs include all temporary accommodation costs including the purchase of modular accommodation, site works, delivery, installation and school fit out costs for the school since it opened at its current site.
144. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Education if she agrees it to be unacceptable for a submission to the Schools Transport Appeals Board to take 17 months to be considered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11953/23]
View answerThe 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 €338.9m.
Decisions made by, or on behalf of, the Department of Education regarding the provision of school transport services and/or grant-aid under the terms of the School Transport Schemes may be appealed to the School Transport Appeals Board.
The School Transport Appeals Board is independent in the performance of its functions and the Board liaises directly with appellants when their appeal is due for consideration. The role of the Board is to ensure that the terms of the School Transport Scheme are applied correctly.
As part of the appeals process, it is normal practice for the Appeals Board to seek from time to time information from other organisations such as Bus Éireann and the NCSE in order for them to have full information in relation to any such appeal and in order to give the appeal full consideration. School Transport Section as its role as Secretariat to the Board seek supporting information from these organisations.
Based on the unprecedented number of appeals received in August and September 2022, more reports have been requested than is normal. However the School Transport Appeals Board have been meeting more frequently than normal in recent months in an effort to consider all appeals that have been received.
My officials have contacted the Deputy to request further information on the specific case in question, once this information has been received they will respond to the Deputy directly.
145. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education if a school place will be offered in the correct establishment for a child (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11989/23]
View answerI would like to thank the Deputy for the question and would like to advise the following:
Enabling children with special educational needs (SEN) to receive an education appropriate to their needs is a priority for this Government.
It is also a key priority for me as Minister for Special Education & Inclusion, for my Department and for the National Council for Special Education (NCSE).
For 2023, the spend by my Department on special education will be substantially increased by over 10% on last year, meaning that for 2023 my Department will spend over €2.6 billion providing supports to children and young people with special educational needs and their schools.
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 funding to support children with SEN in mainstream classes; funding for new special classes and new special school places; additional special educational teachers and special needs assistants.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children with special educational needs nationwide.
Over the last three years, my Department and the NCSE have introduced a number of strategic initiatives to plan for and provide sufficient mainstream, special class and special school places.
These initiatives are bearing fruit with over 600 new special classes sanctioned at primary level, almost 300 new special classes sanctioned at post-primary level and five new special schools established over the last three years.
The are 81 special classes in Co. Kerry. Of these, 55 are at primary level and 26 are at post-primary level.
Over the last three years, the NCSE have sanctioned 29 new special classes in Co. Kerry. Of these, 20 special classes are at primary level and 9 are at post-primary level.
There are three special schools in Kerry, including the school identified by the Deputy. The school's admission policy states that all decisions on applications for admission to the school will be based on the school’s Admission Policy, the school’s Annual Admission Notice, and the the information provided by the applicant in the school’s official application form received during the period specified in our Annual Admission Notice for receiving applications. The school's Admissions Notice for the school year 2023/24 states that the school ceased accepting applications for admission for the 2023/24 school year on 11th November 2022 and that the school will consider and issue decisions on late applications in accordance with the school’s admission policy.
Parents seeking special school and special class placements for their children are advised to contact the NCSE locally so that their needs can be taken into account for planning purposes. The local SENOs remain available to assist and advise parents of children with special educational needs. Parents may contact SENOs directly using the contact details available at: ncse.ie/regional-services-contact-list .
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 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.
As your query refers to an individual placement case, I will arrange to have it referred to the NCSE for their attention and direct reply.
146. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on an application for carer's benefit in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11638/23]
View answerCarer's Benefit (CARB) is a payment made to insured people who leave the workforce or reduce their working hours to care for a child or an adult in need of full-time care and attention.
To qualify, the carer must satisfy PRSI conditions; employment conditions; show that they are providing full-time care and attention; and must show that the care recipient requires full-time care and attention.
An application for CARB was received from the person concerned on the 05 December 2022.
The application was disallowed on 13 January 2023 as the evidence provided stated that, although the person concerned was providing a certain level of care to the care recipient, the time involved was not considered to be full time as per Carer's Benefit legislation.
A review of this decision was requested on 24 January 2023 and, based on the further information received, the level of care provided was deemed to be full time. However, as the weekly hours of employment of the person concerned exceeded the maximum 18.5 hours per week, the application remained disallowed.
A second review of this decision was requested on 17 February 2023. The person concerned stated that they had reduced their hours of employment to 18 hours per week from 6 February 2023. On 22 February 2023, the Deciding Officer issued a form to the person concerned for completion by the employer in order to confirm the amended dates of the person's carer's leave.
Once the completed form is received, the application will be reviewed without delay and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
147. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made in relation to an application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11646/23]
View answerThe Fuel Allowance is a contribution towards the energy costs of a household. The payment of €33 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €924 each year) is paid from late September to April.
The Fuel Allowance for the person concerned was awarded from 17 February 2023. They were notified in writing on 4 March 2023.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
148. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) has had their free travel pass withdrawn. [11655/23]
View answerThe person concerned had an entitlement to a Free Travel Pass which was linked to their Disability Allowance payment. The entitlement of the person concerned to Disability Allowance ceased in February 2018 and they had commenced employment.
Under my Department's Make Work Pay initiative, the person concerned was entitled to retain their entitlement to Free Travel for a period of 5 years after taking up employment. This 5 year period has now ended and the person's Free Travel has accordingly been stopped.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
149. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection if consideration has been given to providing flexibility regarding the rules requiring eligible participants to be in receipt of a social welfare payment in relation to the community employment, rural social scheme and Tús schemes, given the difficulties in securing participant numbers and the importance of these schemes for local communities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11678/23]
View answerThe Department of Social Protections operates a number of employment support schemes for long term unemployed persons which also assist communities across the country in the provision of vital services.
Community Employment (CE) and Tús are employment activation measures designed to provide eligible long-term unemployed people and other disadvantaged persons with an opportunity to engage in useful work within their communities on a temporary, fixed term basis. The Rural Social Scheme (RSS) is an income support initiative that provides part-time employment opportunities in community and voluntary organisations for farmers or fishermen who are in receipt of certain social welfare payments and who are underemployed in their primary occupation.
Employment support programmes such as CE and Tús, were designed to assist those furthest from the labour market, and it is important that they continue to be available for those who would benefit most from these programmes.
I fully understand that these schemes, in addition to providing valuable occupational experience and training as a stepping-stone to employment for people who are unemployed, schemes such as CE and Tús also provide important and, in many cases essential, services to their local communities.
Minister Heather Humphreys and I have announced a number of reforms and enhancements to CE since December 2021, including a provision to allow CE & RSS participants who reach 60 years of age to remain until they reach state pension age, updating the baseline year for CE which opens the scheme to a cohort of people who had previously exceeded their time on CE, introducing flexibilities to the CE candidate referral process to allow direct recruitment to fill 30% of places subject to conditions to ensure that places do not go unfilled when there are candidates available from the Live Register and the removal of the six year cap for RSS participants.
More recently, the CE general eligibility of 12 months on the live register has been reduced to 9 months for those fleeing the war in Ukraine.
I believe that with the introduction of these changes, an increase in participation on CE, Tús and RSS will be achieved. The reforms to the schemes assist sponsoring organisations to promote these schemes locally and to identify the wider range of eligibility candidates for CE, Tús and RSS in their locality.
I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
150. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Social Protection if consideration has been given to reducing the current minimum duration of six months required pertaining to a contract of employment offered under the wage subsidy scheme administered by her Department, which makes financial support available to employers who employ people with disabilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11683/23]
View answer151. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Social Protection if consideration has been given to reducing the current minimum required threshold of 21 hours per week under the wage subsidy scheme that makes financial support available to employers who employ people with disabilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11684/23]
View answer153. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons with disabilities currently employed under the wage subsidy scheme and whose employers are receiving financial support; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11687/23]
View answer154. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of the wage subsidy scheme operated by her Department in 2020, 2021 and in 2022, respectively; the current hourly rate paid under the scheme; when this rate was last increased and by how much; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11692/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 150, 151, 153 and 154 together.
The Wage Subsidy Scheme is an employment support to private sector employers, the objective of which is to encourage employers to employ people with disabilities and thereby increase the numbers of people with disabilities obtaining and sustaining employment in the open labour market.
To claim a wage subsidy, the private sector employer must offer employment to a person with a disability for at least 21 hours per week. An employer can offer more than 39 hours each week, but they can only claim a subsidy for up to 39 hours. The contract of employment must be for a minimum of 6 months and the employee should be subject to and have the same conditions of employment as any of the employer's other employees.
The Wage Subsidy Scheme is not designed as a subsidy for part-time work or work placements. The rationale in relation to the Wage Subsidy Scheme having a requirement for the provision of a contract of at least 6 months and an offer of employment of at least 21 hours per week, is to increase the likelihood of people with disabilities obtaining substantial and sustainable employment.
A reduction in the hours worked or minimum contract conditions for the Wage Subsidy Scheme would not be consistent with the overall objectives of the scheme. In addition, the proposal as outlined by the Deputy, would effectively mean that any private sector employer could potentially be eligible for the subsidy on the basis of offering minimal hours of employment for short periods of time. Such a proposal would make the scheme unworkable and not sustainable in the long-term.
As part of Budget 2022 the rate of the Wage Subsidy Scheme paid to employers, increased from €5.30 to €6.30 per hour. This gives a total annual subsidy available of €12,776 based on a 39-hour week.
The Wage Subsidy Scheme is a demand-led scheme and there are currently 1,518 private sector employers availing of the subsidy in respect of 2,417 participant employees. Estimated expenditure in 2023 is €24million. Expenditure for other years requested is set out in tabular form below.
|
Year |
€ |
|
2020 |
€18.2 million |
|
2021 |
€15.9 million |
|
2022 |
€20.4 million |
Note - the 2022 figure is subject to the final appropriation accounts to be finalised in September 2023.
The Programme for Government commits to fine-tuning and expanding targeted employment schemes, such as the Wage Subsidy Scheme, to help more people with disabilities stay in the workforce. As part of my Department’s commitment under the Comprehensive Employment Strategy to review the Wage Subsidy Scheme, we aim to undertake a public consultation later this year. This consultation will invite people with disabilities, employers and the general public to share their views on the Scheme.
I trust that this clarifies the issue for the Deputy.
