Written Answers Nos. 101-120
101. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Education if she will outline her discussions with the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan delivery and Reform on the provision of additional capital to support the schools building programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14089/23]
View answerMy Department has a strong track record of delivery of school building projects and this was achieved again in 2022 notwithstanding the wider construction sector environment of high inflation, labour shortages and supply chain issues.
Under Project Ireland 2040, we are investing €4.4 billion over the period 2021 to 2025, to add capacity and develop and upgrade school facilities across the country for the almost one million students and over 100,000 staff that learn and work in our schools every day.
My Department is very appreciative of the strong support provided by Government for our education budget. As part of the supplementary budget, €300m additional capital funding was provided in 2022. This helped to alleviate capital funding pressures that arose in 2022 which was reflective of the strong delivery by my Department of school building projects – particularly to support mainstream provision and special education needs provision. My Department’s overall capital outturn for 2022 was €1.12 billion.
The strong level of delivery is a key driver of capital pressures in the Department. In addition to the normal pressures on the school building budget, there are also additional pressures in the context of requirement to accelerate delivery of accommodation for children with Special Education Needs and also in respect of capacity for continued inflow of Ukrainian and other IP students – particularly at post-primary level where accommodation pressures are more acute
My Department's Planning and Building Unit is currently assessing its work programme and priorities for the remainder of 2023 in the context of its available funding. My Department's published NDP allocation for 2023 is €860 million. Over 70% of the NDP allocation for 2023 is needed to cover expenditure on contractual commitments on existing projects at construction carried forward from 2022. High construction inflation remains a continuing feature of the construction sector for 2023. As part of its planning ahead for the remainder of 2023, my Department is at the advanced stages of engagement with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform in relation to capital funding pressures in order to continue to adequately support the operation of the school system with rollout of school building projects to construction in 2023.
Key priorities for my Department's work programme include continuing strong delivery to support the operation of the school system with particular regard to planning ahead for the 2023/24 school year and beyond and also with particular regard to supporting special needs provision. The current status of all projects are listed on a county by county basis at www.gov.ie. and is updated on a regular basis to reflect their progress through the various stages of capital appraisal, site acquisition, design, tender and construction.
102. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education if she is satisfied that there are sufficient preparations and resources allocated to ensure that all primary school children will be able to have free schoolbooks when the new school year starts in August and to address the concerns of stakeholders. [14309/23]
View answerSince June 2020, and over the past three Budgets, I have secured funding to support measures aimed at ensuring that all children and young people are actively supported to access education in its fullest forms. One of the most important policies in this regard has been the establishment of Ireland’s first national primary school book scheme, which will provide free schoolbooks, workbooks and copybooks, in primary schools and special schools. More than 558,000 pupils enrolled in approximately 3,230 primary schools, including over 130 special schools, will benefit from this measure.
The total investment, of over €50 million, significantly increases the funding for school books currently provided to all recognised primary schools in the country.
The implementation of the measure will build on the experience of the existing school book rental scheme, which is available in the majority of recognised primary schools, and on the free school books pilot provided to over 100 primary DEIS schools in recent years.
Detailed Guidance on the implementation of the scheme is published and has been made available to primary schools to ensure schools have sufficient time to implement the new scheme in advance of the start of the 2023/24 school year. The Guidance has been informed by the engagements with relevant stakeholders.
My Department engaged with all relevant stakeholders as to how the scheme will operate. These included: primary school management bodies, unions, the National Parents Council Primary, representatives of booksellers and schoolbook publishers, IBEC, Retail Ireland, the Small Firms Association, Barnardos and the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul. My Department also engaged with a number of schools, including some of the primary schools participating in the DEIS pilot free book scheme, to learn of their first-hand experience of operating a book rental scheme.
The grant under the new scheme will issue to each recognised primary school in April. In the case of primary schools managed by ETBs, the funding will issue directly to the relevant ETB.
In recognition of the work required in schools associated with implementing this scheme, my Department has put in place an administrative support grant. The administration support grant will be paid separately to the schoolbook grant and will issue to all primary schools and special schools.
Primary schools and special schools will continue to have autonomy to choose books that meet their curricular requirements. The scheme will seek to ensure that value for money is achieved and that primary schools and special schools will be supported to implement the scheme in a way that has the best learning outcomes for pupils.
103. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Education if her Department will guarantee a reduction of primary class sizes to the EU average of 20, considered as vital for the successful implementation of the framework by an organisation (details supplied) as well the restoration of promotional posts of responsibility; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14239/23]
View answerUnder the Programme for Government there is a commitment to seek to make further progress in reducing the pupil teacher ratios in primary schools.
In Budget 2023, I ensured major investment in our schools and I have succeeded in bringing the teacher allocation ratio to an average of 1 classroom teacher for every 23 pupils in all primary schools for the 2023/24 school year which is the lowest ever seen at primary level. This was my third successive Budget which saw an improvement in allocation of teachers to primary schools. Budget 2021 reduced the staffing schedule to an average of 1 classroom teacher for every 25 pupils, while Budget 2022 reduced it further to 1 classroom teacher for every 24 pupils. A three point reduction in the retention schedule, in place since 2021, assists schools that would otherwise be at risk of losing teaching posts.
The latest figures in relation to pupil teacher ratio shows an improved ratio of teachers to pupils from 15.7:1 to 13.7:1 at primary level when comparing the 2016/17 school year to the 2021/22 school year. This compares favourably with the OECD pupil teacher ratio which is 1:15. In the same period the staffing schedule improved from 27:1 to 25:1. Average class sizes improved from 24.6 to 22.8 in the same period. The budget measures will continue the positive trend of improving class sizes for this school year, and statistics on this will be published at the end of the school year.
The equivalent of approximately 1,300 middle management posts (Assistant Principal I and Assistant Principal II) have been restored at primary level since the lifting of the moratorium on these posts in 2017. Currently one in three teachers hold a promotional post within our schools.
The Department has committed to annually revising the allocation of Posts of Responsibility to take into account retirements during the school year which has ensured that the current level of Posts of Responsibility (PORs) are maintained in the school system. New POR threshold tables are produced each year to distribute these PORs equitably across all school. The Sectoral Bargaining process under Building Momentum for the primary sector has been used to increase posts of responsibility (POR) in primary and special schools by 1,450 posts.
104. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education the research she or her Department have undertaken into the impact on primary school children as young as nine or ten years of age of teaching them about what it means to be transgender [13572/23]
View answerThe current primary Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) curriculum dates from 1999. It does not make specific reference to transgender or LGBT identities. It does value diversity, it is founded on principles of inclusion and it promotes the use of inclusive and respectful language. Teaching of SPHE and Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) is an important aspect of the curriculum for all students. In that context, many sensitive issues may arise and the aim is to address them in a way that is inclusive and that is age and stage appropriate.
The Programme for Government commits to the development of inclusive and age appropriate curricula for RSE and SPHE across primary and post-primary schools, including an inclusive programme on LGBTI+ relationships. Work to implement this commitment is ongoing, building on a major review of RSE in schools, completed in 2019 by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA). Following the publication of the Primary Curriculum Framework, which will be the foundation for all curriculum specifications, on 9 March, the NCCA commenced work on the curricular area of Wellbeing in primary schools, which includes SPHE and RSE.
The development process for the new specification will include research and consultation.
105. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education the measures she is intending to bring in to address the high cost of housing which is impacting on the ability of schools to recruit and retain teachers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14162/23]
View answerMeasures to address the cost of housing are a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
The recruitment of teachers is a priority area of action for my Department given the importance of ensuring that every child's experience in school is positive and that they have available to them qualified, engaged, and supportive teachers to support them in their learning.
My Department is undertaking a comprehensive programme to support the supply of teachers. These include:
- Additional primary substitute teacher supply panel posts have been provided in locations where significant challenges in sourcing substitution continue. This brings the total to 610 posts on 151 panels covering more than 2,840 schools.
- As a temporary measure, post-primary teachers can provide additional hours of substitute cover in the subject they are qualified to teach. The number of additional hours that can be taught per term has been increased from 20 to 35 for the remainder of the 2022/23 school year.
- For 2022/23, higher education institutions have introduced flexibility in the delivery of initial teacher education programmes to allow student teachers to provide more substitute cover.
- The Teaching Council introduced regulations allowing for the registration of 3rd and 4th-year undergraduate student teachers under registration Route 5 (Student Teachers). More than 2,700 student teachers have registered under route 5 to date. This initiative supports the employment of student teachers to cover substitutable vacancies.
- A waiver of abatement for retired teachers returning to teach for up to 50 days in each of the three calendar years, 2021 to 2023 inclusive has been agreed upon with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
- For 2022/23, job-sharing teachers may be employed to work in a substitute capacity during the period they are rostered off, in their own or in other schools, and the limits on substitute work applying to teachers on career break have also been suspended.
- The Department provided details of the staffing arrangements for the 2023/24 school year to primary and post-primary schools before the end of January. This will facilitate schools to begin recruitment for the 2023/24 school year earlier than in 2022.
- Newly qualified teachers (NQTs) who qualify outside Ireland may now complete induction (Droichead) in Ireland under a new measure implemented by the Teaching Council. This measure seeks to enhance the supply of NQTs available to schools.
Measures targeted at supporting the long-term supply needs of the system have also been put in place.
- At primary level, I recently approved 610 additional places on initial teacher education programmes over the next two academic years (2023/24 and 2024/25).
- At post-primary level, my Department has increased the number of places on teacher upskilling programmes in mathematics, Spanish and physics. The programmes are delivered outside of class time and are offered at no cost to the teacher. Approximately 170 places were provided in the first intake across the three programmes with an increase in places to over 300 in 2023.
- A new programme for post-primary teachers to up-skill in Irish is planned for commencement in 2023/2024. My Department is also considering additional upskilling programmes in other priority subject areas.
- My Department introduced a scheme to allow post-primary schools to share teachers, the aim of which is to recruit teachers in high-demand subjects and give teachers a full-time teaching contract. It is expected that a pilot of the scheme will be introduced in a number of locations for the 2023/24 school year.
In addition to the above measures, the Teaching Transforms campaign continues to promote the teaching profession and encourage students to follow a career in teaching. The campaign uses digital, radio and video media, and is supported by a dedicated webpage, www.gov.ie/teachingtransforms. I am very pleased to note that CAO first preference choices for post-primary teaching have increased this year by 11%.
The Department meets on a regular basis with the school management bodies and the teacher unions on this very important issue and we will continue to work intensively with all stakeholders to develop and implement creative solutions to address the teacher supply challenges for schools.
106. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Education her views on the decision to include an 'opt-out' for parents of school children in the RSE curriculum; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12647/23]
View answerThere is no new decision to provide an opt out from Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE), nor is there an opt out which applies specifically to RSE.
However, in accordance with Section 30 of the Education Act, 1998, parents have a right to have their children opt out of classes which are contrary to the conscience of the parent if they so wish. It is expected that this right be upheld by schools on foot of a parental request.
The manner in which any school ensures that the right to opt out of classes is upheld is a matter for the school concerned. The school must determine the particular arrangements which are most appropriate in its individual circumstances having regard to local issues such as available space, supervision requirements and how the school concerned organises classes etc.
107. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education her plans to increase the number of school places in mainstream post-primary schools in Dublin south west for children with ASD and additional needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13890/23]
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.
The NCSE have sanctioned 208 new special classes in Co. Dublin over the last 3 years. Of these, 156 special classes are at primary level and 52 are at post-primary level.
In total there are 474 special classes in Co. Dublin. Of these, 367 special classes are at primary level and 107 are at post primary level.
My 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, my 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 has advised my Department that it continues to work with schools to ensure that there are sufficient places available in special classes to meet the needs of children. 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.
108. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update on the introduction of the free schoolbooks scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13924/23]
View answerSince June 2020, and over the past three Budgets, I have secured funding to support measures aimed at ensuring that all children and young people are actively supported to access education in its fullest forms. One of the most important policies in this regard has been the establishment of Ireland’s first national primary school book scheme, which will provide free schoolbooks, workbooks and copybooks, in primary schools and special schools. More than 558,000 pupils enrolled in approximately 3,230 primary schools, including over 130 special schools, will benefit from this measure.
The total investment, of over €50 million, significantly increases the funding for school books currently provided to all recognised primary schools in the country.
The implementation of the measure will build on the experience of the existing school book rental scheme, which is available in the majority of recognised primary schools, and on the free school books pilot provided to over 100 primary DEIS schools in recent years.
Detailed Guidance on the implementation of the scheme is published and has been made available to primary schools to ensure schools have sufficient time to implement the new scheme in advance of the start of the 2023/24 school year. The Guidance has been informed by the engagements with all relevant stakeholders.
The grant under the new scheme will issue to each recognised primary school in April. In the case of primary schools managed by ETBs, the funding will issue directly to the relevant ETB.
In recognition of the work required in schools associated with implementing this scheme, my Department has put in place an administrative support grant. The administration support grant will be paid separately to the schoolbook grant and will issue to all primary schools and special schools.
Primary schools and special schools will continue to have autonomy to choose books that meet their curricular requirements. The scheme will seek to ensure that value for money is achieved and that primary schools and special schools will be supported to implement the scheme in a way that has the best learning outcomes for pupils.
109. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Education her views on whether the provision and availability of facilities is a core issue in the implementation of a quality physical education programme for primary schools; and the immediate steps she will take to address this problem. [14090/23]
View answerI can confirm to the Deputy that investment and expenditure on General Purpose (GP) rooms and PE Halls is an element of the overall School Building Programme. The provision of GP rooms and PE Halls, at primary and post primary level respectively, and outdoor hard play areas, form part of the accommodation brief for all new school buildings. This is also the case where a major building or refurbishment project is being delivered for an existing school.
Almost 60% of the primary schools that made 2020 Annual Schools Returns have indicated to the Department that they have a GP Room. In total 70% of primary schools either have a GP room or access to a nearby facility for GP use and a further 3% of primary schools have projects in train which will deliver a new GP room. Practically all schools have outdoor play areas and many schools use adjacent local facilities, including community halls, public parks and swimming pools.
It is also important to note that the primary Physical Education curriculum permits schools flexibility in its implementation in a broad and balanced way, taking account of the varying indoor and outdoor facilities available.
The main focus of my Department’s resources over the last decade and for the coming period is on provision of additional capacity to cater for increasing demographics particularly at post-primary level, and for provision to meet the needs of children with special educational needs. My Department will continue to work to ensure that capital investment in our schools is targeted in the most efficient and effective way to support schools in meeting the education needs of their students and communities.
Details of large-scale projects being delivered under the school building programme may be viewed on my Department's website at, www.gov.ie and this information is updated regularly. In addition, a list of large-scale projects completed from 2010 to date may also be viewed on the website.
110. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Education if she will provide details of the number of referrals from schools for students missing days that are currently before education and welfare officers, by county; the dates these outstanding referrals were submitted by schools; the details of the current backlog; the measures being taken to deal with the backlog; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13878/23]
View answerThe Educational Welfare Service (EWS) which is part of Tusla Education Support Services (TESS) receives referrals from school principals, parents and other agencies where there is a concern in relation to a child’s school attendance.
The EWS has received referrals for 3,412 children in this academic year to the end of February 2023. Educational Welfare Officers (EWOs) nationally are currently working with 3,659 children and have worked with 5,430 individual children in that period, taking into account that involvement with some children can be across academic years. The service waiting list for the same period is 3,351 children.
The EWS databases do not currently make it possible to filter data to county level or to identify the length of time a referral has remained on a waiting list. System improvements are in development and this will be possible in due course.
In recent months, a number of new EWOs have been appointed to help deal with the demand on the service. A Duty EWO system is currently being piloted in each of the 5 EWS Regions where low level non-school attendance will be swiftly addressed.
EWO’s are also conducting attendance clinics in schools to meet with parents where school attendance concerns have been identified at an early stage to promote and support a rapid improvement in regular school attendance for identified students. These clinics are run by the local EWOs in partnership with School Principals and Home School Community Liaison teachers. Their role is to provide a rapid response and alert parents to the seriousness of the issue. They also sets targets around a return to more regular school attendance and will carryout a review after a period of time.
112. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Education if her Department has projected future needs for extra primary school places in the Midleton area in east Cork, given ongoing and planned local housing developments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14156/23]
View answerRequirements for additional school places is kept under on-going review in the context of available information on population, enrolments and residential development activity.
In order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a Geographical Information System, using data from a range of sources, including Child Benefit and school enrolment data, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise and where additional school accommodation is needed at primary and post-primary level.
Where demographic data indicates that additional provision is required, the delivery of such additional provision is dependent on the particular circumstances of each case and may, be provided through:
- Utilising existing unused capacity within a school or schools,
- Extending the capacity of a school or schools,
- Provision of a new school or schools.
There are 21 primary schools in the Midleton_Carrigtwohill school planning area. The most recent projections, at primary level, for the School Planning Area indicate decreasing enrolments since a peak in enrolments in 2021. My Department has already provided significant additional capacity in the Midleton area, with new 24 classroom primary schools completed for Midleton ETNS and Gaelscoil Mhainistir na Corann in recent years. Additionally a number of other primary school building projects are in train in the area, including new school buildings for Scoil Clíodhna CNS and Scoil Mhuire Naofa in Carrigtwohill, and extensions for Scoil Chlochair Mhuire in Carrigtwohill, Midleton CBS, and Ballintotas NS, Castlemartyr..
My Department will continue to liaise with the Local Authority in respect to all planned additional residential developments and take this into consideration when assessing the demand for school accommodation in the area.
113. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education if she will address the delay in the school building programme including providing a full list of the 58 schools affected; the projected cost increases due to the delay; and her views on whether the most economically advantageous course of action be to release the full funds as soon as possible. [14306/23]
View answerMy Department has a strong track record of delivery of school building projects and this was achieved again in 2022 notwithstanding the wider construction sector environment of high inflation, labour shortages and supply chain issues.
Under Project Ireland 2040, we are investing €4.4 billion over the period 2021 to 2025, to add capacity and develop and upgrade school facilities across the country for the almost one million students and over 100,000 staff that learn and work in our schools every day.
My Department is very appreciative of the strong support provided by Government for our education budget. As part of the supplementary budget, €300m additional capital funding was provided in 2022. This helped to alleviate capital funding pressures that arose in 2022 which was reflective of the strong delivery by my Department of school building projects – particularly to support mainstream provision and special education needs provision. My Department’s overall capital outturn for 2022 was €1.12 billion.
The strong level of delivery is a key driver of capital pressures in the Department. In addition to the normal pressures on the school building budget, there are also additional pressures in the context of requirement to accelerate delivery of accommodation for children with Special Education Needs and also in respect of capacity for continued inflow of Ukrainian and other IP students – particularly at post-primary level where accommodation pressures are more acute
My Department's Planning and Building Unit is currently assessing its work programme and priorities for the remainder of 2023 in the context of its available funding. My Department's published NDP allocation for 2023 is €860 million. Over 70% of the NDP allocation for 2023 is needed to cover expenditure on contractual commitments on existing projects at construction carried forward from 2022. High construction inflation remains a continuing feature of the construction sector for 2023. As part of its planning ahead for the remainder of 2023, my Department is at the advanced stages of engagement with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform in relation to capital funding pressures in order to continue to adequately support the operation of the school system with rollout of school building projects to construction in 2023.
My Department wants to reassure the Deputy and the relevant school communities that school building projects that are currently on hold due to capital funding pressures will be progressed and delivered – it is a question of timing. My Department is aware of the urgency in getting these projects delivered as quickly as possible. The outcome of our engagement with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform will provide better clarity on the timelines for the progression of these projects.
I think it is best for communications to be done at individual school level and that is the approach we have taken. The Department will be providing an update to individual schools when our engagement with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform concludes. In tandem with this, my Department’s Planning & Building Unit will also be updating Patron Bodies and School Management Bodies at that stage.
Key priorities for my Department's work programme include continuing strong delivery to support the operation of the school system with particular regard to planning ahead for the 2023/24 school year and beyond and also with particular regard to supporting special needs provision. The current status of all projects are listed on a county by county basis at www.gov.ie. and is updated on a regular basis to reflect their progress through the various stages of capital appraisal, site acquisition, design, tender and construction.
114. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the extent to which she can bring forward a review of the school transport system in order to identify and eliminate areas of friction resulting in dissatisfaction amongst parents and students with particular reference to County Kildare and the rest of the country; if the school transport section currently in charge of this service is the appropriate way to deal with the situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14101/23]
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.
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.
Significant consultation has been undertaken as part of this review. A public survey was administered for parents/guardians and students who use the service and those who do not use the service but who would like to. A broad array of stakeholders including schools, special education interest groups, industry representatives and other Government Departments were all consulted as part of this review.
Phase 1 of the review examined the impact of eligibility criteria on mainstream pupils who were eligible for transport to their nearest school but attending their next nearest school. The report was completed in June 2021.
Following consideration of this report, for the 2021/2022 school year, the provision of temporary alleviation measures was approved for transport for post-primary students who are otherwise eligible for school transport, but were attending their second nearest school and had applied and paid on time. These measures have been continued for the current and the 2023/24 school year, pending completion of the review.
These measures mean that transport is provided for post-primary pupils who are eligible for transport to their nearest school and are attending their second nearest school and, who apply on time for school transport and pay by the closing date.
Phase two of the review has progressed significantly and is being completed in tandem with phase three which is well underway.
While work on the review was impacted somewhat by the current conflict in Ukraine, and by the increased demand for the scheme in summer 2022 due to fees being waived, my officials are working to complete phase 3 of the review within the coming weeks with recommendations on the future operation of the Department’s School Transport Scheme. Once approved by Government it is planned that the review will be published.
115. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Education if she will introduce a housing allowance for teachers living in areas with high housing costs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13891/23]
View answerThe Government is committed to the delivery of quality public services and will continue to approach public service pay in a balanced way that is reasonable and fair to both public servants and to the taxpayer. However, the Government acknowledges that the housing issue and the current price pressures in society present particular challenges and are a source of concern for all public service workers, including staff in the education sector. Housing remains a priority matter for Government, led by my colleague the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. The Housing for All strategy delivers on the Programme for Government commitment to step up housing supply and put affordability at the heart of the housing system.
Pay and workplace reform measures for public servants have been governed by a framework of public service pay agreements for a number of years with the current agreement “Building Momentum” now extended until the end of 2023. The extension to Building Momentum provides for further increases to October 2023 (for a total of 8.5% to 9.5% over the entire agreement) for over 100,000 staff in the school sector as well as retired staff. In terms of teacher pay specifically, by next October, a teacher on point 1 of the scale would earn over €41,000, an increase of more than €10,000 per annum since 2012. A teacher on point 14 of the scale would earn at least €62,430 and those on the top point at least €77,000.
Any review of changes to pay, or other pay mechanisms such as an allowance, can occur only under central processes and any specific proposals would need to be considered in detail by my Department, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, and the relevant unions.
116. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Education if she is aware of the issue at a national school in Louth (details supplied); the steps being taken to resolve the issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13877/23]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that the school in question are currently renting a premises known as the Old School Hall from the parish in Tallanstown, Co Louth to accommodate a mainstream class pending completion of a build. The school have applied to the Department for additional funding to pay utility bills associated with the rental premises. Utility bills and other operational costs fall to be paid from the school's capitation grant. Capitation Grants are paid to all recognised Primary schools and Post-Primary Schools in the Free Education Scheme, on the basis of enrolments.
The school in question has received Cost of Living grant and their 1st moiety of capitation funding. Both these grants are for the daily running costs of schools, e.g. light, heat, etc.
The services of the Financial Support Services Unit (FSSU) are available to all Primary schools and this includes advice and assistance with financial matters including budgeting. They can be contact on 01-9104020 or email primary@fssu.ie.
My Department is continuing to liaise with the school authorities and school Patron in relation to the rental of premises from the parish.
117. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Education the dedicated time teachers will be given to engage with, understand, implement and embed the primary curriculum framework. [14236/23]
View answerThe Department of Education recognises that the introduction of the Primary Curriculum Framework will require time and support for teachers and school leaders to become familiar with the contents of the framework. The need to engage at whole-school level is required in order to develop all teachers’ and school leaders’ understanding of the framework. This will be supported by the provision of professional development opportunities, and supporting materials.
The Department of Education support services will continue to provide their suite of professional development opportunities at primary level, now drawing connection with the framework content. Discrete professional development will also be provided for each of the forthcoming curriculum area specifications in the coming years. These will include face-to-face seminars, cluster meetings, online supports and the provision of web-based materials.
The Inspectorate will support school leaders and teachers through their supportive and advisory visits, and assist school communities in introducing the changes to teaching and learning promoted in the framework. The Inspectorate will work to support schools as they embrace the changes to pedagogy - changes that will enable children to thrive and flourish, and that will help them to realise their potential individually and also as members of communities and society.
118. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education if she will consider obliging schools to print in their admission policies or other documents the exact amount of time to be spent each week on religious instruction under the forthcoming revised primary school curriculum; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14341/23]
View answerIn 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 and the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018.
The Education (Admission to Schools) act requires that a school’s Admission Policy must contain certain mandatory features such as an admission statement and the annual admission notice. These requirements provide information to parents on the school’s admissions processes. The admission act does not require details on the curriculum to be outlined in school’s admissions policy.
119. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 128 of 2 February 2023, her plans to publish the Department’s review of the summer programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13644/23]
View answerMy Department announced the 2023 Summer Programme on the 9th February 2023 following a comprehensive review. This follows the previous announcement on 17th October 2022 that additional funding was secured in Budget 2023 to run the programme to match the investment in 2021 and 2022, bringing the total funding available to €40m. The earlier announcement allows schools several extra months to plan for the programme this year.
Once again, all schools will have an opportunity to run a programme for those children that need it the most. The main priority in 2023 is that those children with the most complex special educational needs, especially in special schools, should have access to a school-based summer programme.
The central theme for this year’s programme is, ‘Building Confidence and Connections’. The primary aim of this theme is to help our children and young people to realise their potential, to be resilient in dealing with the normal stresses of their lives, to take care of their physical wellbeing and to have a sense of purpose, connection and belonging to their school community.
The Department has listened carefully to feedback from stakeholders and is working to make the scheme as inclusive as possible and available to as many eligible students as possible, whilst retaining a focus on children and young people with the most complex special educational needs.
As part of this review, the Department has taken a proactive approach to ensure that we can build on the success of recent years. This year's programme has been developed following this review and engagement with education stakeholders, parents, and disability advocacy groups, including the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Autism.
The outcome of the review of the summer programme has resulted in the development of this year's schemes including the terms and conditions. This information is published in this year’s Overview documentation, which is available on www.gov.ie/summerprogramme.
120. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update on the schools building programme at schools (details supplied); if these projects have been stalled due to capital funding constraints; if so, the implications this will have on project costs and delivery; how and when she will address this delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13108/23]
View answerMy Department progressed 8 Design & Build (D&B) projects (Lots 1 & 2) to construction in 2021, with a further 10 projects (Lots 3, 4 & 5) progressed to construction in Summer 2022. A further 10 projects (Lot 6) are due to proceed to tender shortly.
All of these projects are tendered to my Department’s current D&B Contractors Framework. It will be 2024 before the next scheduled bundle of projects (Lot 7) can be tendered to that framework and into late 2024 before further projects could proceed to tender.
In order to have projects delivered at the earliest possible opportunity, my Department is of the view that the intervening period can be utilised to bring a number of projects with planning permission, including the project for the schools referred to by the Deputy, to the level of employer-led design with a Design Team assigned to do so under the supervision of my Department’s project manager. This will ensure that such projects do not have to await capacity on the current framework to proceed to tender but rather can be progressed and actioned over that timeframe to tender outside of the D&B framework.
It is envisaged that this will also serve to broaden the range and number of Contractors to which such projects can be tendered than would hitherto have been possible within the Design & Build Framework. This forms part of my Department’s ongoing strategic approach to seek to widen the pool of Contractors tendering for school building projects.
My Department’s Project Manager will be tasked with appointing Design Teams to these projects from my Department’s newly established Frameworks of Consultants with the expectation that these projects could then proceed to tender in early to mid-2024.
