Written Answers Nos. 352-367
352. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Education if proper school services (details supplied) for adults and children will be provided on-site at a facility, given the lack of school-places and access to GPs, mental-health services and dental services locally; if his Department will publish the details of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15293/23]
View answerMy Department's priority is to ensure integration and inclusion for all pupils seeking international protection in addition to ensuring full utilisation of existing school capacity. On-site education facilities do not assist those aims.
Utilisation of each school’s existing capacity in the most flexible way possible will be key to supporting all children seeking international protection who are being enrolled in our schools.
There is some capacity in the area being referred to. Where capacity pressures need to be managed, contingency arrangements will be considered.
REALT teams have been established and are working closely with schools to support and co-ordinate a strategic approach to maximising utilisation of existing school capacity.
353. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Education if her Department will address the cyclical delay in making known special needs assistant allocations, such delay having a deleterious impact on the working life and planning capacity of highly-committed, talented and expert SNAs who give so much to the school system beyond their paid hours and given the critical impact SNAs have on the education and lives of children with special needs; if her Department will look at ways of making their roles and working lives more secure, especially as they age, having made a huge contribution through the years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14636/23]
View answerI would like to thank the deputy for raising these matters and would like to advise the following
Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for this Government
For 2023, the spend by the 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 on special education
This level of educational funding and support is unprecedented and represents in excess of 27% of the Department’s total allocation for 2023
The SNA allocations for the 2023/2024 school year are presently being development by my Department and it is intended this will be advised to schools as soon as possible in April, a month earlier than in 2022.
My Department has allocated 1,165 additional SNA’s to schools in the past year and in Budget 2023 an additional 1,194 SNA’s are being provided to support schools and will be allocated as follows: 735 to support students in new special classes, 124 to support students in new special school places and 335 to support students in mainstream classes
By the end of 2023, there will be over 20,000 SNAs working in our schools.
I want to assure the Deputy that my Department is very aware of the importance of the SNA role in our education system, supporting the inclusion of students with additional care needs in education. In this regard, in December 2022, my Department established a dedicated SNA Workforce Development Unit in order to ensure that sufficient time and attention is given to the examination of the SNA role in our school system.
My Department is continuing to work on a number of strategies to support the work of SNAs in our school, including on workforce development planning, SNA training and SNA contracts. This work is happening in consultation with the education partners, particularly Forsa who represent SNAs at school level.
354. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education her views on ASD early intervention classes, including if there are plans to phase out these classes in favour of the Access and Inclusion Model. [14638/23]
View answer355. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education the number of ASD early intervention classes that have been established for each of the years 2018 to 2022, inclusive; and the number of ASD early intervention classes that were closed/replaced for the same time period. [14639/23]
View answer356. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education the number of schools which have requested ASD early intervention classes each year for the period 2018 to 2022, inclusive; the number of these requests that were supported with the establishment of a class; the number that were not supported; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14640/23]
View answer392. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education if she will provide details on the number of ASD early intervention class which were transformed into autism/autistic spectrum disorders, and as a result the ASD early intervention class was discontinued annually during the years 2019 to 2022, inclusive, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14858/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 354, 355, 356 and 392 together.
I would like to thank the Deputy for the question and would like to advise the following:
Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for this Government.
For 2023, the spend by the 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 on special education.
This level of educational funding and support is unprecedented and represents in excess of 27% of the Department’s total allocation for 2023.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children with special educational needs nationwide. Responsibility for provision in the early years sector lies with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY).
The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme provides up to two years of pre-school within the eligible age range, without charge. The Access and Inclusion Model (AIM), introduced in 2016, enables the full inclusion and meaningful participation of children with disabilities/additional needs in the ECCE Programme. The goal of AIM is to create a more inclusive environment in pre-schools, so all children, regardless of ability, can benefit from quality early learning and care. A diagnosis of autism (or other disabilities/additional needs) is not required to access AIM supports. However, pre-school children with a diagnosis are generally supported in mainstream pre-schools with additional supports provided through AIM where required.
The AIM programme provides seven levels of universal and targeted supports to children with special educational and additional needs. DCEDIY commissioned an evaluation of AIM at the end of its third year. This evaluation was carried out by a consortium led by the University of Derby from December 2020 to December 2021 (delayed due to COVID-19). Its purpose was to investigate the implementation and impact of AIM from the perspective of multiple stakeholders and to consider options for its potential expansion. The final draft version of the evaluation report is currently in preparation. It is expected that the publication of the report will be followed by a period of policy development on the potential for expansion of AIM which will be led by the DCEDIY.
NCSE sanctions the establishment of special classes, including Early Intervention (EI) classes where there is an identified need. There are currently 151 Early intervention classes nationwide. On occasion, EI classes are re-designated as school-age special classes to reflect the changing age-profile of students, the changing needs in an area and in order to ensure a continuation of support for students in the EI class who require a special class placement.
Information on the list of schools with special classes, the types (including Early Intervention) and locations of these classes is published on the NCSE website and is available at www.ncse.ie
Some of the information you have requested in relation to the number of schools who have applied to establish Early Intervention classes and the number of classes that may have been closed or replaced is not readily available to my Department. My Department will engage with the NCSE in relation to this information and any available follow up information will be provided directly to the Deputy.
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.
357. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Education if her Department can outline what the "agreed selection process" is for allocating the concessionary tickets when a school-bus route is oversubscribed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14646/23]
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.
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 for the 2022/2023 school year are now all 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, are considered for spare seats that may exist after eligible children have been facilitated; such seats are referred to as concessionary seats. Depending on the number of seats available, seats are allocated as follows:
- Existing concessionary applicants who have applied and paid by the deadline dates
- New concessionary applicants who have applied and paid by the deadline dates
Bus Éireann consider all on time applications and where possible, try to facilitate family members of existing applicants once they have applied and paid on time. Because of the nature of concessionary transport for non-eligible children and the priority of providing places for eligible children, there may be an excess of demand over supply for concessionary places.
Under the terms of the scheme, routes will not be extended or altered, additional vehicles will not be introduced, nor will larger vehicles or extra trips using existing vehicles be provided to cater for children travelling on a concessionary basis.
As the Deputy is aware the Bus Éireann family portal is now open for new applications only for school transport services for the 2023/24 school year. New applications are considered as:
- Pupils who will be attending junior infants in primary school or first year in post-primary school for the first time in 2023.
- Pupils that may move home address or will be attending a new school for the 2023/24 school year
Applications can be made by visiting www.buseireann.ie/schooltransport and the closing date for new applications is Friday 28 April 2023.
Any new applications made after the closing date are considered late applications and families may not receive a ticket.
Families do not need to make a new application if they have already applied in previous year(s) as the pupil's application will ‘rollover’ for the 2023/24 school year.
The Bus Éireann family portal will be open to accept payments/medical card details from the 3 April 2023 until 9 June 2023. Payment made after the deadline date will be deemed late and a seat may not be available to families at that stage.
Payments/medical card details must be submitted for:
- new applicants, and;
- Pupils who have previously applied/availed of school transport and require a seat on a service for the 23/24 school year.
Children (who are eligible for school transport) and who possess valid medical cards (GMS Scheme) are exempt from paying the annual charge however, their medical card details must be submitted to Bus Éireann. Bus Éireann will accept medical card details from 3 April 2023 until 9 June 2023. Medical card details received after 9 of June deadline are considered late.
Families are strongly urged to make sure that they pay/enter valid medical card details on or before the deadline of 9 of June 2023.
358. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Education what plans are in place to address capacity of vehicles and personnel on school-bus routes for the coming academic year, with special reference to North Kildare which has been so badly affected in lack of places, resulting in serious difficulties for families; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14647/23]
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 4,500 children who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine.
The total cost of the scheme in 2022 was €338.9m.
Under the terms of the Department's Post Primary School Transport Scheme children are eligible for transport 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 complete the application process on time will be accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation for the 2023/24 school year.
In addition, temporary alleviation measures have been continued for the 2023/2024 school year(s), pending completion of the review and this means that 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 apply and pay by the closing dates.
Children who are not eligible for school transport, but who complete the application process on time, are considered for spare seats that may exist after eligible children have been facilitated; such seats are referred to as concessionary seats.
A minimum number of 10 eligible children residing in a distinct locality, as determined by Bus Éireann, are required before consideration may be given to the establishment or retention of school transport services.
Because of the nature of concessionary transport for non-eligible children and the priority of providing places for eligible children, there may be an excess of demand over supply for concessionary places, in these cases Bus Éireann will allocate tickets for spare seats using a random selection process. Where there is a transport service available, Bus Éireann liaise with families regarding ticketing etc.
In cases where the Department is satisfied that a family's nearest school is full, eligibility for school transport will be determined based on the distance they reside from the next nearest school having regard to ethos and language. Bus Éireann have confirmed that families in this area are attending their third and fourth closest schools. They have been requested to provide the details below which have not yet been received in School Transport Section.
- The steps taken to enrol your child in the nearest and next nearest schools
- Evidence that an application for enrolment was made within the deadline dates specified by the school and
- A letter from the School Authorities confirming that the school was full at the time of enrollment for your child
This documentation can be sent to school transport section at the address below for consideration to school_transport@education.gov.ie
359. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education if her Department carried out any research on the impact and cost to independent book sellers of her plans to change the school book purchasing schemes under the new free school book scheme regarding the number of book shops that are likely to close and the number of jobs that will be lost; if she will consider a voucher scheme for the buying of schools in order that small independent book shops will not close; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14650/23]
View answer360. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education if it has been brought to her attention that the delayed purchasing system under the new free school book scheme impacts on publishers not having the finance to fund the next print edition of school books, resulting in a possible delay on school books being available in September for the 2023-2024 academic year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14651/23]
View answer362. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education if she is aware of the potential negative impacts faced by bookshops in small towns as a result of the currently formulated free schoolbooks scheme; the assurances that she can provide that local bookshops will not be cut out of the new system in favour of large companies; and if there will be parity of opportunity for these small bookshops. [14656/23]
View answer363. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education if she is willing to amend the guidelines pertaining to the free schoolbooks scheme in light of feedback from school leaders and other school book stakeholders; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14657/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 359, 360, 362 and 363 together.
Since 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. This scheme will ensure that parents and guardians will not be asked to buy or rent any school books, workbooks or copy books from the 2023/24 school year.
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 and special 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.
My Department has considered the voucher scheme referenced by the Deputy. However, it was not considered a viable option to deliver on the objectives of the scheme.
The grant under the free primary schoolbook 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.
Schools are expected to adopt a cost-conscious approach to the selection of books for use in their classes. 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. Schools are already familiar with purchasing books from local suppliers for their existing book rental schemes and adhering to public procurement requirements.
My Department will continue to consider the relevant public procurement supports that could help underpin this measure in future years. This will be informed by the evaluation of the first year of the scheme.
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.
A full evaluation of the first year of implementation of the scheme will be undertaken in consultation with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, in order to inform the guidance, implementation, costs and efficiency of the scheme for future years.
361. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Education if there are any plans to establish ASD Units in secondary schools in Newcastle, Rathcoole or Saggart, County Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14655/23]
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.
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.
In relation to the areas referred to by the Deputy, the NCSE has advised my Department that one new special class at post-primary level has already been approved for the 2023/2024 school year. Additionally, they are in negotiations with other schools to expand the provision of special classes where appropriate.
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.
364. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Education her views in relation to the proposal by the Fair Post Primary Redeployment for Teachers group that a national voluntary redeployment panel for teachers be established, whereby an online portal for teachers seeking voluntary redeployment could allow for a direct swap facility for those seeking to reverse their locations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14658/23]
View answerThe recruitment and appointment of teachers to fill teaching posts is a matter for each individual school authority as the employer. The deployment of teaching staff in the school, the range of subjects offered and ultimately the quality of teaching and learning are in the first instance a matter for the school management authorities.
Post primary schools employ teachers with the appropriate subject mix to provide for a range of subjects that can be offered to students. It is an important aspect of the annual timetabling process that schools work towards achieving this outcome where possible. Matching the subject mix on offer with the qualifications of individual teachers who typically have more than one subject, can be a challenging task for schools. It is important that schools as employers retain the flexibility to employ teachers with the capacity to teach varied subjects to maintain a wide range of subjects on offer to students.
The core function of the redeployment arrangements is to facilitate the redeployment of surplus permanent teachers to other schools where vacancies exist. Ensuring efficiency in the annual redeployment processes is significant in terms of managing the overall teacher numbers.
At Post-Primary level, following discussions between the relevant stakeholders, a voluntary redeployment scheme has operated on a pilot basis in specific regions in recent years. Permanent teachers employed in these regions are given an opportunity to volunteer for a transfer to other areas of the country only if such a transfer would free up a vacancy that would facilitate the redeployment of a surplus permanent teacher in the region.
The key purpose of the pilot voluntary redeployment scheme is to assist the Department to achieve its objective of redeploying all surplus permanent teachers. To date the pilot voluntary redeployment scheme has operated in 24 counties.
The teacher redeployment arrangements are reviewed annually by my Department involving the education stakeholders, including teacher unions and management bodies. As part of the review, the Education Stakeholders can raise issues or concerns with the Department in relation to the operation of the redeployment process generally. It is open to members of the school community to liaise with their representative bodies on any matters of concern they may have.
The review in respect of the 2023/24 redeployment process took place last December. The pilot voluntary redeployment scheme will operate in counties Laois, Offaly, Longford and Westmeath for the 2023/24 school year. The criteria for the allocation of teachers to schools including the redeployment arrangements for the 2023/24 school year is available on the Department's website.
Teachers who apply under the pilot voluntary scheme and are not facilitated with a transfer continue to have the option of applying for posts in their preferred location that are advertised in the normal manner.
365. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education if she will clarify why the procurement process for a contractor for a school (details supplied) has been halted; if she will acknowledge the need for an ETSS in this area to accommodate the significant number of children who want to continue their education in an ETSS; if she will reconsider the stoppage on the procurement process and allow this necessary secondary school be progressed as soon as possible; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14659/23]
View answer400. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Education the reason the procurement process has been halted for a contractor for a school (details supplied). [14939/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 365 and 400 together.
The permanent school building project for the site referred to by the Deputies is a campus project to deliver a 1,000 pupil post-primary school and accommodation, including four classrooms, for children with special educational needs and a 16 classroom primary school and accommodation, including two classrooms, for children with special educational needs. The campus project is being delivered under my Department's Design and Build programme.
My Department's Planning and Building Unit is currently assessing its work programme and priorities for 2023 in the context of its available funding. My Department's published NDP allocation for 2023 is €860 million. 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.
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 engaging 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. I am conscious of the numerous pressures facing the Department and their need to manage these.
I want to reassure the Deputies 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.
We 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.
My Department will continue to liaise with the school's patron body in relation to the school's interim accommodation needs pending delivery of the permanent accommodation for the school.
366. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education the position regarding a new school building for (details supplied); how updates are being communicated to school management; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14662/23]
View answerI can confirm a suitable site has been identified and the Department has reached an agreement in principle, subject to contract, for the acquisition of a site at Fassaroe, Bray, Co. Wicklow as a permanent location for North Wicklow Educate Together Secondary School.
The school patron has been informed of the proposed location and will be appraised of any further developments as soon as it is possible to do so.
367. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update on funding and approval for two modular ASD classrooms for a school (details supplied; and if she will clarify that funding is available. [14663/23]
View answerI can confirm to the Deputy that my Department issued approval, in 2022, for the purchase of modular accommodation comprising of 2 x 80m2 classrooms for Special Educational Needs (SEN), under the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) Scheme.
My Department will release funding allocated for this project on receipt of the necessary documentation, from the School Authority, which is outlined in the Final Approval letter that was issued on the 29th September 2022.
