Richard Bruton
Question:385. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education the status of the school building project for a school (details supplied); and the expected date of completion. [14761/23]
View answerSchools Building Projects
Questions (385)
Written answers
The project referred to by the Deputy is at tender stage. The project brief is for the construction of a 600 pupil, two storey, post primary school building including general classrooms, specialist classrooms, assembly hall and all ancillary accommodation.
This project is currently on hold to proceed due to capital funding pressures and the requirement to submit a new planning permission.
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 want 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. I am well 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. This is a key priority for me.
We will be providing an update to individual schools (including the school referred to by the Deputy) 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.
School Accommodation
Questions (386)
Neasa Hourigan
Question:386. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update on securing a permanent building for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14764/23]
View answerWritten answers
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 want 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. I am well 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. This is a key priority for me.
We will be providing an update to individual schools (including the school referred to by the Deputy) 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.
Departmental Policies
Questions (387)
Ged Nash
Question:387. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education her Department’s policy on the provision of paid maternity and paternity leave for teachers who become parents through surrogacy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14765/23]
View answerWritten answers
Leave entitlement for public servants are determined by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. Under Section 24 of the Education Act 1998, the Minister for Education, with the concurrence of the Minister for Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER), is authorised to determine the terms and conditions of employment for teachers employed in approved teaching posts funded by monies provided by the Oireachtas.
The recognition of surrogacy is a matter for Government as a whole, is not within the remit of the Department.
School Admissions
Questions (388)
Bernard Durkan
Question:388. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education if all efforts are being made to facilitate school places in the local secondary school of the son of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14781/23]
View answerWritten answers
I can assure the Deputy that the provision of school places to meet the needs of children and young people at primary and post primary level, including children and young people with special educational needs is an absolute priority for my Department.
In order to plan for school place needs, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and utilises a Geographical Information System to anticipate school place demand. Information from a range of sources, including Child Benefit data, school enrolment data and information on residential development activity is used for this purpose. Additionally, Project Ireland 2040 population and housing targets inform my Department's projections of school place requirements.
While my Department is aware of enrolment pressures and demand for additional school places in Prosperous_Clane School Planning Area, it is important to note that where enrolment pressures arise, it may not be as a result of lack of accommodation but may be driven by the following factors:
- Duplication of applications – pupils have applied for a place to a number of schools in the area
- School of choice – pupils can’t get a place in their preferred school while there are places in other schools in the town/area
- Some towns/areas have single sex schools and while places are available in the school they are not available to all pupils
- External draw – pupils coming from outside the local area
My 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.
Through close engagement with school patrons and authorities, my Department has established a requirement for additional school places at post primary level in the Prosperous_Clane SPA. With the support of my Department, a number of additional first year places have already been made available in recent weeks.
School Staff
Questions (389)
Verona Murphy
Question:389. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update on the current status of the implementation of the agreement on terms and conditions for school secretaries as agreed in March 2022; the status of back payments on pay increases; the discussions that have taken place in regard to school secretaries becoming employees of her Department rather than employees of individual schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14820/23]
View answerWritten answers
A very significant agreement was reached between my Department and Fórsa, the union representing school secretaries and caretakers. This deal, which was reached after extensive engagement between the Department and Fórsa, provides for significant improvements n the terms and conditions of school secretaries. Fórsa agreed to recommend the package of measures to its members and a ballot resulted in 95% agreement in favour of the deal.
Since then, in conjunction with Fórsa, work to implement this agreement has been ongoing in my Department. This work requires a complex process of assimilating information to capture accurate data in respect of each individual secretary.
Last year, my Department issued circular 36/2022 to schools and this circular outlines how the agreement is to be implemented. In the first phase of implementation of the agreement, schools had to, by the end of September 2022, calculate the initial assimilation rate of pay and annual leave entitlement due and offer it to each individual secretary working in their school. Entry into the new pay arrangements is voluntary for existing members of staff.
Following this initial process, a survey issued from the payroll division of my Department to all schools on the 7th November 2022, seeking details of the offers made by schools to their secretaries, and other information required to bring a secretary on to the payroll service. The survey closed in December and based on the returns received, nearly 2,850 secretaries have accepted the offer made by their schools in line with the methodology set out in Circular 36/2022.
The second implementation phase will involve calculating back pay to September 2021, taking into account the pay increases from February 2022 and October 2022, and/or any other public service pay agreements as may be relevant at the time calculations are performed.
School secretaries who opt into the new arrangement including payment of salary by the Department’s payroll, they will remain employees of the Board of management of their school.
The plan is that Secretaries who have accepted the offer made to them by their schools will be paid on my Department’s payroll service from 1st September 2023 and this remains a priority for my Department this year.
School Accommodation
Questions (390)
Pádraig O'Sullivan
Question:390. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education if she will provide the up-to-date position with respect to a proposal made by a school (details supplied) in County Cork with regard to relocating. [14823/23]
View answerWritten answers
I wish to confirm that a proposal has been received from the school referred to by the Deputy. Officials in my Department are currently liaising with the Patron of the school and Cork ETB regarding this proposal.
School Admissions
Questions (391)
Bernard Durkan
Question:391. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education if a school place in a local special school for September 2023 can be found for a child (details supplied). [14844/23]
View answerWritten answers
I 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 currently 105 special classes in Co. Kildare. Of these, 79 special classes are at primary level and 26 are at post-primary level. Over the last three years, 20 new special classes at primary and 9 new special classes at post-primary have been provided.
There are currently 4 special schools in County Kildare with a provisional enrolment of 290 children in September.
A list of all special schools is available on the website of the NCSE www.ncse.ie
In relation to the pupil referred to by the Deputy, the NCSE has advised my Department that the SENO and team manager have recently been in contact with the parent regarding suitable special education placements for students with a profound intellectual disability. The parent has been provided with a list of schools suitable for the pupil’s disability profile.
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. Where additional special school places are required, this may be provided through the establishment of a new school or the expansion of existing schools.
The NCSE continues to work with parents and schools to determine the need for additional special school places in the Kildare area for September 2023. This work involves a detailed analysis of the particular needs of each child.
In addition, the NCSE also considers the number of places that may become vacant from students leaving special schools during the summer.
My Department is working closely with the NCSE to consider the need for additional special school places both nationally and at regional level. Where additional places may be needed, my Department will work closely with the NCSE and schools to consider any necessary arrangements that may need to be put in place to meet increasing needs.
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.
Question No. 392 answered with Question No. 354.
Special Educational Needs
Questions (393)
Holly Cairns
Question:393. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education if she will provide details on the use of calming rooms in schools for children with disabilities, including any policies, protocols, or circulars issued by the Department or the National Council for Special Education; the number of schools which have calming rooms; the guidelines on the furnishing of these rooms; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14859/23]
View answerWritten answers
I 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 to 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 special educational needs in mainstream classes; funding for new special classes and new special school places; additional special educational teachers and special needs assistants.
It also includes funding for the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) for an additional 54 psychologists to provide services to special schools and special classes.
For 2023, the number of teaching and SNA posts in our schools will increase with an additional 686 teachers and a further 1,194 special needs assistants in our schools next year.
For the first time ever we will have over 19,000 teachers working in the area of special education and over 20,000 Special needs assistants. Together we have almost 40,000 qualified and committed people in our schools who are focused wholly and exclusively on supporting children with special educational needs.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children with special educational needs nationwide.
It is important to recognise that the vast majority of our children with special educational needs or additional needs are supported to attend mainstream classes with their peers. Where children have more complex needs, special classes and mainstream schools and special schools are available. A professional report is required to access a special class or special school placement.
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.
The NCSE has developed a resource regarding Sensory Spaces, titled 'Sensory Spaces in Schools’. This resource aims to highlight the importance of teachers and school staff creating and using sensory spaces in schools to enhance and promote the health and wellbeing of the whole school with a focus on both the culture and the environment. This closely links with the aims of the Wellbeing Policy Statement Framework for Practice 2018-2023. This resource provides a strengths based, student centred approach to looking at the sensory environments within a school and establishing a culture where sensory spaces and sensory strategies are utilised throughout the school day. It offers guidelines for teachers and school staff to holistically support students by collaboratively creating and using sensory spaces with their students.
My Department’s Planning and Building Unit Technical Guidance provides information on space, planning and design for school authorities and Design Teams. Typically an area of 12 m² is provided for a quiet space associated with a special class. This space should be located within or directly off the Classroom Base and is intended as a safe quiet area that a pupil, under the supervision of a staff member, can access for a short period of time. The design of the space must allow staff to observe pupils unobtrusively from the classroom. On other occasions, pupils, who may feel under pressure or who need time to themselves in order to diffuse a potential behavioural outburst will be encouraged to withdraw to this space themselves, thus learning how to self-regulate and modify their behaviour. The Quiet Space is to be designed as a quiet/sensory zone or alcove within the classroom without enclosing walls and not as a separate room. This area can have different softer finishes to the Classroom that will allow pupils to relax and sit/lie on the floor. A ‘dark’ room, using dark blues, can be created as an alcove off the Classroom to provide a different environment or to provide a different sensory experience. This is a matter for discussion and decision between the school authority and the Design Team. A window is not essential in this space but should be included if located on an external wall.
School Staff
Questions (394)
Cathal Crowe
Question:394. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education when a UP80 form will issue to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14885/23]
View answerWritten answers
I can confirm to the Deputy that the form referred to was received in the Payroll Division of my Department. It has been completed and posted to the teacher's home address on 21st March 2023.
Home Schooling
Questions (395)
Peter Burke
Question:395. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Education if an application for a replacement tutor for a case (details supplied) will be considered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14898/23]
View answerWritten answers
My Departments Home Tuition Grant Schemes provide funding towards the provision of a compensatory educational service for children who, for a number of specific reasons, are unable to attend school. By its nature, it is intended to be a short term intervention.
The Home Tuition Grant Schemes are governed by annual circulars which sets out the purpose, eligibility criteria and details of the scheme. Circular 0046/2022 provides information in relation to the 2022/2023 Home Tuition Grant Scheme and can be accessed by clicking on the following link: www.gov.ie/en/circular/22b2a-home-tuition-grant-scheme-20222023-special-education-component/
The purpose of the Home Tuition Grant Scheme is to provide funding towards the provision of a compensatory educational service for:
(a) Early educational intervention for children with autism who meet the scheme’s eligibility criteria
(b) Students with special educational needs seeking an educational placement in a recognised school
(c) Students, enrolled in schools, with a significant medical condition, or school phobia and/or associated depression/anxiety, which has caused, and is likely to continue to cause, major disruption to their attendance at school.
If a nominated tutor is not available to carry out Home Tuition, it is the responsibility of the parent/legal guardian to source another tutor, should they so wish. Parents/legal guardians can change tutors or apply for an additional tutor using the Change of Tutor forms which are available through the following link: www.gov.ie/pdf/?file=https://assets.gov.ie/38349/420f547680264b43ac007b5d9786aa13.pdf#page=1 .
While this Department does not keep lists of tutors available to carry out home tuition, it may be helpful to contact local schools in the first instance, or alternatively, the Department is aware that many parents use education provider websites to advertise for tutors or indeed place advertisements in local newspapers or on shop/community notice boards. Additionally, to help parents source a home tutor for this scheme in their local area, the IPPN has created a Home Tuition Noticeboard for Parents to help them source a suitable candidates. This noticeboard is available on www.educationposts.ie.
School Transport
Questions (396)
Peter Burke
Question:396. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Education if an application for school transport for a case (details supplied) will be considered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14899/23]
View answerWritten answers
The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year, over 147,900 children, including over 18,000 children with special educational needs, are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country.
In addition, school transport scheme services are being provided in the current school year for over 3,800 children who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine.
The total cost of the scheme in 2022 was €338.9m.
As previously advised, in cases where the department is satisfied that a pupil's nearest school is full, eligibility for school transport will be determined based on the distance a pupil lives from the next nearest school in relation to ethos and language.
To establish that the nearest school is full families must provide 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 enrolment.
The family of the pupil to which the Deputy refers contacted School Transport Section in my Department to request School Transport to his school of attendance. Officials from my Department's School Transport Section contacted the three schools in the area in which the pupil resides.
Of the 3 schools the family applied to, only 1 school has advised that the family applied on time and there was no space for the pupil.
As there was capacity in the area to which the pupil resides for the 2022/23 school year, the pupil cannot be deemed as eligible for transport to his school of attendance.
Information and Communications Technology
Questions (397)
Eoin Ó Broin
Question:397. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 96 of 1 March 2023, what, if any, further funding is available to assist schools in meeting the cost of internal network connectivity where the cost cannot be covered by digital grants or by the school's Board of Management. [14914/23]
View answerWritten answers
I can confirm that the school referred to by the Deputy has received ring-fenced ICT grant funding through the Digital Strategy funding, and as part of the furniture and equipment grant funding assigned to new schools. The funding provided is based on enrolment in the school and the level of accommodation provided for this recently opened school (2020) which currently has an enrolment of 35 pupils. Schools can also use their minor works funding, and general capitation, to cover key ICT infrastructure.
Decisions regarding the use and deployment of digital technology including Wi-Fi etc. in schools is a matter for the Board of Management of each school. Schools are advised to consult with members of the school community including parents when planning for the introduction of digital technologies including devices with cost and other implications been fully considered by the Boards of Managements before a decision is made.
Direct funding is provided to schools as they are best placed to determine the preferred approach for planning and embedding the use of digital technology in their school in accordance with their own particular context and requirements. The grant funding allocation can be used to provide devices for use by students and teachers, ICT equipment, software and overall digital technology infrastructure development in the school. To assist schools in this matter, the Office of Government Procurement, have put in place frameworks that meet technical and procurement requirements for schools for the provision of such equipment, which include warranty supports of up to five years
The Digital Strategy for Schools 2027, which builds on the progress made under the previous Digital Strategy, will be underpinned by an investment of some €200m subject to the available exchequer funding, and was included in the National Development Plan 2021-2030. The first tranche of the successor Digital Strategy ICT grant funding issued to schools in December 2021. In addition, the Department as part of Ireland’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) under Next Generation EU funding facility, issued a once-off grant of €50 million in December 2021 to recognised primary and post-primary schools in the free education scheme in order to support those learners at risk of educational disadvantage through the digital divide.
Subject to the availability of exchequer funding and the wider capital funding needs of the Department, the remaining amount of some €150m will issue over the lifetime of the Digital Strategy for Schools 2027. This funding can be used by the school for the provision of internal network equipment and other ICT infrastructure.
Home Schooling
Questions (398)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:398. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education if home tuition will be offered in a situation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14918/23]
View answerWritten answers
My Departments Home Tuition Grant Schemes provide funding towards the provision of a compensatory educational service for children who, for a number of specific reasons, are unable to attend school. By its nature, it is intended to be a short term intervention.
The Home Tuition Grant Schemes are governed by annual circulars which sets out the purpose, eligibility criteria and details of the scheme. Circular 0046/2022 provides information in relation to the 2022/2023 Home Tuition Grant Scheme and can be accessed by clicking on the following link: www.gov.ie/en/circular/22b2a-home-tuition-grant-scheme-20222023-special-education-component/.
The purpose of the Home Tuition Grant Scheme is to provide funding towards the provision of a compensatory educational service for:
(a) Early educational intervention for children with autism who meet the scheme’s eligibility criteria
(b) Students with special educational needs seeking an educational placement in a recognised school
(c) Students, enrolled in schools, with a significant medical condition, or school phobia and/or associated depression/anxiety, which has caused, and is likely to continue to cause, major disruption to their attendance at school
In exceptional cases the Department will consider home tuition applications on behalf of students with diagnoses of school phobia and/or associated depression/anxiety which has caused, and is likely to continue to cause, major disruption to their attendance at school. This exception will only apply where a continued absence from school is required to facilitate appropriate medical or therapeutic intervention with a view to the reintegration of the student in their school.
In relation to applications in respect of students with diagnoses of school phobia and/or associated depression/anxiety, the principle that home tuition cannot be provided as an alternative to school applies.
Eligibility in exceptional cases is assessed having regard to, although not limited to, the following criteria:
- The student’s attendance levels during the previous school year.
- Psychologist’s/psychiatrist’s report which should
i. Clearly confirm a diagnosis of school phobia and/or associated depression/anxiety.
ii. Provide details of medical or therapeutic intervention plans in place with a view to reintegrate the student back into his/her school.
- Details of engagement with the relevant support agencies (e.g. School, National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS), Education Welfare Officer (EWO), Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), TUSLA (Child and Family Agency), HSE, NCSE).
The Department of Education also has an important role to play in supporting the wellbeing and mental health of our young people. The Department’s Wellbeing Policy and Framework for practice has given recognition to the importance of promoting wellbeing in education. It outlines a comprehensive, whole-school approach to the promotion of wellbeing and positive mental health. It focuses on the whole school community, as well as groups and individual young people with identified needs.
My Department's National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) provides a comprehensive psychological service to all primary and post primary schools. NEPS is a school-based service which means that all its psychologists work in schools with children, young people, teachers and parents, and are involved with school-related work, every day. The NEPS psychologist provides a range of services that may include supporting the wellbeing and inclusion of an individual pupil, through assessment and intervention. NEPS supports approximately 8000 individual children annually through this type of work. NEPS work also supports teachers in their work through providing professional learning opportunities, such as about trauma informed approaches, supporting autistic children, or delivering the Friends for Life programmes to help reduce anxiety. NEPS supports an estimated 25,000 teachers annually in this way.
The Department – through NEPS, Student Support Teams, Guidance Counsellors and other services - will also continue to signpost schools and students to the HSE/HSE-funded e-mental health services. The Department has built strong links with the Department of Health and both Departments are exploring ways to improve supports for young people, including around increased awareness, promoting help-seeking behaviour and sign-posting to the wide range of available services. We will continue to collectively explore ways of improving supports for children and young people.
My Departments Home Tuition Grant Scheme and can be accessed by clicking on the following link: www.gov.ie/en/circular/22b2a-home-tuition-grant-scheme-20222023-special-education-component/.
Education Policy
Questions (399)
Paul Kehoe
Question:399. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Education when the roll out of the PE hall build and modernisation programme outlined in Project Ireland 2040 is to commence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14936/23]
View answerWritten answers
I wish to confirm to the Deputy that investment and expenditure on PE Halls is an element of the overall School Building Programme. Almost 95% of the post primary schools that made 2020 Annual Schools Returns have indicated to the Department that they either have a PE Hall, access to a nearby PE Hall, or a project in train that will deliver a new PE Hall which can be used as a sports facility.
As the Deputy will be aware, investment and expenditure on PE Halls is an element of the overall expenditure and investment in the School Building Programme. The provision of General Purpose (GP) rooms and PE Halls, at primary and post primary level respectively, form part of a suite of ancillary facilities as well as outdoor hard play areas, provided as part of new school buildings or where a major building or refurbishment project is being delivered for an existing school.
The main focus of 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. The Deputy will appreciate that the immediate priority of my Department is continued 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.
Under Project Ireland 2040 the education sector will receive a total of approximately €4.4 billion capital investment over the period 2021-2025. There will be a rolling 5 year funding envelope which will be updated annually for the period 2026 to 2030 within the Government’s overall NDP funding envelope of €136 billion in exchequer capital (€165 billion total capital including non-Exchequer) that will facilitate building a modern and sustainable school infrastructure.
This significant investment allows us to move forward with certainty on our ambitious plans and deliver high quality building projects, with a real focus on sustainability, for school communities across Ireland. The strengthened focus on refurbishment of existing school stock will have different strands and will include a PE build and modernisation programme which will enable students in post-primary schools to have access to appropriate facilities to support PE provision, particularly also in the context of the roll-out of PE as a leaving-certificate subject. Enhanced and modernised PE facilities will also provide important amenities for local communities.
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 local 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.