Written Answers Nos. 112-131
112. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Education if she will list the schools in County Mayo contained within the 58 schools building projects under review within the school building programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15514/23]
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 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.
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.
113. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Education if she will provide a list of all schools that have received approval for capital investment of more than €1 million in 2021, 2022 and as of 23 March 2023. [15543/23]
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 2023 in the context of its available funding. My Department's published NDP allocation for 2023 is €860 million. 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.
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.
Attached please find a list of 40 Schools that were approved for capital investment as Large Scale Capital Projects and a list of 513 schools that were granted approval under the Additional School Accommodation Projects scheme during the years 2021, 2022 and 2023 to date.
The purpose of my Department’s Large Scale Capital projects is to provide an extension to an existing school or to deliver a new school building. The majority of these projects are to cater for increasing demographics in a school planning area which cannot cater for increasing demands within the existing cohort of school buildings. These are all high value projects.
The purpose of my Department’s Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream classroom accommodation and accommodation for pupils with special education needs is available to cater for pupils enrolled each year, where the need cannot be met by the school’s existing accommodation. These projects can vary significantly in size, complexity and cost. It is not possible to confirm the final level of capital investment associated with these projects until they are complete.
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.
Capital investment of more than €1 million in 2021, 22 and March 23.
114. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Education if a full-time home-school and community liaison post could be provided to a DEIS school (details supplied) considering the expansion and diversity of the school enrolment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15552/23]
View answerThe Home School Community Liaison (HSCL) scheme seeks to promote partnership between parents, teachers and community family support services, with a view to supporting improved attendance, participation and retention. A HSCL Coordinator is a teacher from participating school/s who is released from teaching duties, for a maximum of five years, in order to work intensively with and support parents and guardians. The overarching goal of the HSCL Coordinator is to improve educational outcomes for children through their work with the key adults in the child’s life. HSCL is a school-based intervention provided to address the needs of students and their families in disadvantaged areas through acknowledging and developing the role of the parent as prime educator.
The HSCL scheme, together with the School Completion Programme and the statutory Educational Welfare Service, make up the three strands of Tusla Education Support Service (TESS). The three TESS strands work together collaboratively with schools, families and other relevant services to achieve the best educational outcomes for children and young people.
My Department works closely with TESS to ensure all schools are supported with the resources available.
Currently, all DEIS Urban Primary and DEIS Post Primary schools are included in the HSCL Scheme, which serves 693 schools. The scheme is delivered by 530 full-time HSCL Coordinators who are teachers in these schools and assigned to HSCL duties either in individual schools or clusters of schools, catering for approximately 207,000 pupils.
In addition to the above;
- a pilot project to support Traveller and Roma pupils, under the National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy is in operation in 4 locations with 1 HSCL coordinator assigned in each location. The pilot project supports approximately 50 schools.
- under 2022 Dormant Accounts Funding, secured to support attendance, participation and retention among Traveller and Roma students, my Department has allocated of 10 HSCL Coordinator posts in 14 non-DEIS post-primary schools.
Recognising the need to target resources to those schools who need them most, a phase of work is currently underway to explore the allocation of resources, including the HSCL coordinator support, to schools to tackle educational disadvantage. Part of this programme of work will involve consultation with all relevant stakeholders. It is not envisaged that the current HSCL coordinator allocation to schools will be altered in advance of the completion of that review.
115. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Education the timeline for the establishment of the new portal for parents in respect of the summer programme, where special schools are not running the programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15570/23]
View answerThe Department recently announced details of the 2023 Summer Programme on 9 February 2023. All schools will have an opportunity to run a programme for those children that need it the most.
The terms and conditions for the 2023 Summer Programme are being implemented following a comprehensive review and engagement with education partners and stakeholders since last summer, including the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Autism.
The Department has engaged with management bodies, schools and parents with a view to encouraging more schools to participate in the 2023 programme.
This year, the Department has introduced a new Special School Programme as a pilot initiative to ensure there is a real focus on supporting special schools. This programme has been designed and developed to ensure supports and funding are targeted to enhance the availability of a school-based programme for pupils in special schools.
Schools are given flexibility to engage staff that are not currently employed in their schools to support their summer programme. A portal is available for teachers and SNAs to register their interest in working on a school based programme in a special school. This portal is currently live on www.educationposts.ie. Student teachers and students in relevant disciplines such as therapy, social care and nursing and others, including early childcare workers and carers, will also be able to register their interest in working on this year’s Programme.
Another key support being introduced in 2023 is, where a child’s special school is not running a school based programme, a new portal will be available. This portal will allow parents to register their child’s details so that if a place is available in another location, their participation in a program may be organised. This portal is currently in final stages of development by the Irish Primary Principals Network (IPPN) and, when developed, will also be accessible on www.educationposts.ie.
116. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education when a permanent site will be found for a school (details supplied) given the school has been open and operating since September 2019; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15574/23]
View answerA Minister-owned site has been identified as an option for potential redevelopment to accommodate a second school. Representatives of the existing school have agreed to collaborate with the Department to carry out a master plan study to assess the potential of developing a second school on the Minister-owned site. The outcome of the master plan study will determine the next steps to be taken.
Once a permanent site has been confirmed, the project will progress to the architectural design & planning stages.
It is not possible to provide any further information at this time.
117. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Education what action she intends to take to address the anomaly whereby children can miss out on a school bus place as they are deemed to be travelling to schools that are not their nearest, despite their parents having no choice but to send them further afield due to lack of provision of school places locally; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15603/23]
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.
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.
Children who are eligible for school transport and who have completed the application process on time are accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation.
Children who are not eligible for school transport, but who completed the application process on time, will be considered for spare seats that may exist after eligible children have been facilitated; such seats are referred to as concessionary seats.
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 an agreed selection process. Where there is a transport service available, Bus Éireann liaise with families regarding ticketing.
In cases where the Department is satisfied that your nearest school is full, eligibility for school transport will be determined based on the distance you reside from your next nearest school having regard to ethos and language.
To establish that the nearest school is full parents must provide:-
- The detailed 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 the child's enrolment
This documentation can be sent to school transport section at the address below for consideration to school_transport@education.gov.ie
For families that wish to make an application for the 2023/24 School year, 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
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 for school transport services.
Families do not need to make a new application if they have already applied in previous year(s) as the 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.
118. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Education if her Department will publish the details of all the actions it is undertaking to ensure sufficient numbers of school buses and drivers on the school transport scheme for the coming academic year, so that children are not left behind as is the case in north Kildare (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15604/23]
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 an agreed selection process. Where there is a transport service available, Bus Éireann liaise with families regarding ticketing.
The School Transport Scheme is a demand led scheme, Bus Éireann organises for vehicles to be full to capacity with tickets based on eligible applications received and based on the seating capacity of the vehicle.
Bus Éireann have confirmed that all eligible pupils who applied and registered on time for the 2022/23 school year have been facilitated on transport where it is in operation. The families referred to by the Deputy who have applied for transport in this area are attending their third and fourth closest schools and are therefore, not eligible for transport. 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. Families have been requested to provide the details below which have not yet been received in School Transport Section.
- The steps taken to enroll 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
119. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 753 of 21 March 2023, if there is an official pupil-teacher ratio in place for reader classes for children with dyslexia; if individual schools have flexibility in respect of this pupil-teacher ratio; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15606/23]
View answerI would like to thank the Deputy for the question and would like to advise the following:
Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for this Government.
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 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.
This includes additional teaching and care supports. 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.
In 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), which is a separate statutory agency, is responsible through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), for processing applications from schools for the establishment of special classes in various geographical areas where a need has been identified. The NCSE welcomes expressions of interest from schools in opening special classes to meet the demand for special class provision. In deciding on the location of a special class, SENOs take into account both the present and the future potential need for special class provision in the area, they must be satisfied that the special class is sustainable and appropriately located. SENOs liaise with relevant professionals in their area to arrive at an informed decision.
It is Department policy, in accordance with the principles of inclusive education, that pupils with additional learning needs are supported in mainstream classes along with their peers, with additional supports provided as necessary.
My Department has invested considerably in ensuring that all recognised mainstream schools have been allocated additional special education teaching resources to cater for children with special educational needs, including pupils with a Specific Learning Disability (SLD). Guidelines for schools on the organisation, deployment and use of their special education teachers have been published on my Department’s website, at gov.ie - Guidelines for Primary Schools Supporting Pupils with Special Educational Needs in Mainstream Schools (www.gov.ie)
It is a matter for schools to monitor and utilise their allocation of additional teaching support to best support the needs of identified pupils, in accordance with my Department's guidance. In addition, there are specialist educational supports provided by the National Educational Psychological Services (NEPS) and the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) to help schools provide an appropriate education for pupils with special educational needs including reading difficulties.
My Department provides for a range of placement options and supports for schools, which have enrolled pupils with special educational needs, including pupils with a SLD, to ensure that wherever a child is enrolled, s/he will have access to an appropriate education. As such, pupils with SLD have the option of attending their local school with additional teaching supports or attending a special class attached to a mainstream school or a special school.
Funding is also made available to schools for the purchase of specialised equipment such as computers and/or software to assist children with special educational needs, including children with SLDs, where relevant professionals recommend the equipment as being essential for the provision of education. Schools apply to the NCSE, through their local Special Educational Needs Organiser (SENO) for such support. SENOs make recommendations to my Department where assistive technology is required, in accordance with the criteria set out in my Department's Circular 0010/2013.
A continuum of education provision is in place covering the full range of need spanning placement in mainstream classes with supports through to more specialist placements either in a special class or a special school depending on the level of complexity of need.
It is important to note though, that the majority of students with significant literacy difficulties currently receive additional teaching support from a Special Education Teacher in a mainstream class. This is provided on the basis of the individual pupil’s learning needs, identified in schools, as opposed to being based on a requirement for a child to have a diagnosis, or an assessment, of a particular disability.
The Department also provides for special schools and special class placements where more intensive and supportive interventions are provided. Special classes attached to mainstream primary schools also support the needs of pupils with dyslexia. Such classes have a reduced pupil/teacher ratio of 9:1 and an increased level of capitation grant. The pupils who attend these classes have, following psychological assessment, been identified as having a specific learning disability.
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
As the Deputy may be aware, I have requested my Department to arrange for a review of the policy on reading classes and schools. The Department’s Inspectorate is currently working to finalise its report on the outcomes of a series of special educational needs inspections in schools with special classes for children with specific learning disabilities. It is envisaged that this report will be finalised in the coming weeks. When completed, this report will also be considered in the context of overall policy on special education.
120. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Education if she will consider reducing the number of sraith pictiúr on the leaving certificate Irish course in the spirit of lessening the pressure around the examinations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15607/23]
View answerThe State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the state examinations.
In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.
121. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education if she will consider expanding the distance limit to the nearest school for the school transport scheme to within 5 km (details supplied). [15613/23]
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.
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 and payment process on time will be accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation.
Children who are not eligible for school transport, but who complete the application and payment process on time, will be considered for spare seats that may exist after eligible children have been facilitated; such seats are referred to as concessionary seats.
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 an agreed selection process.
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 2022/2023 school year, and will again continue in the 2023/2024 school year pending completion of the review.
These measures mean 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 applied for school transport by the 28th April 2023 and pay for a ticket/enter medical card details by the 9 June 2023.
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.
122. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Education if her Department will ensure that the child-friendly booklet on the optional protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child will be made available in schools nationwide alongside awareness campaigns (details supplied). [15631/23]
View answerThe Department of Education has long supported the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), which was first adopted in 1989. The Department reports on how it is delivering against the commitments and recommendations that proceed from the Convention and the monitoring by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child. On 24-25 January 2023, Ireland had its 5th review by the Committee on the Rights of the Child, which is a body of 18 independent experts that monitors States’ implementation of the UNCRC. Ireland’s delegation was led by the Minister of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.
The booklet referenced by the Deputy was produced by the Office of the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence against Children and was first published in 2013. The booklet is one of many produced by the Office of the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence against Children, which describe various aspects of the issues contained in the UNCRC, and also about the work and protocols of the UN as an organisation. Apart from a small number of prescribed texts at post-primary, determined by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA), the decisions on which textbooks, programmes and products to use in primary and post-primary schools are taken at school level.
It should be noted that the next national policy framework for children and young people, currently being developed by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, will have a strong focus on awareness raising of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Material, including child friendly material, will be developed under the framework for use by Departments and agencies working with children and young people.
123. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 120 of 23 March 2023, if she will provide, in tabular form, the names of projects included in each lot under development, and planned for the future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15651/23]
View answerI will issue a response directly to the Deputy on this matter.
124. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Education for an update on the development of the proposed new school at Millerstown-Kilcock; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15672/23]
View answerIn 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. The most recent projections for the Kilcock School Planning Area at primary level indicate the projected peak year was 2021 with 2,554 pupils and enrolments are projected to decrease. At post primary level the projected peak year is 2025 with 1,348 pupils and enrolments are projected to decrease thereafter.
As part of its discussions with the local authority regarding future population growth within the Kilcock area, a site to serve a future primary school (if required) has been reserved within the current Meath County Development Plan. This site comes within the area of a proposed Strategic Housing development planned for the Kilcock environs as referred to by the Deputy and of which the Department is aware. My Department will continue to liaise with the local authority and the rate and pace of development will be monitored by my Department to determine if additional school provision will be required and if so, the timeframe involved.
125. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education what additional financial assistance has been provided to primary and post-primary schools to help them with their rising energy and utility bills; if she will confirm whether her Department will issue a scheme for schools that is comparable with the temporary business energy support scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15691/23]
View answerMy colleague Michael McGrath, the Minister for Finance, introduced the Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme (TBESS) to support businesses with increases in their energy costs. The TBESS was introduced as part of a suite of government measures to counteract increased energy costs. Included in these cost of living measures was €90 million in once-off additional funding which was provided by my Department to support increased running costs for recognised primary and post-primary schools in the free education scheme, in particular in dealing with challenges they face in the light of rising energy costs.
This additional grant was paid at the rate of €75 per pupil at Primary level and €113 at Post-Primary level. Enhanced rates were also paid in respect of pupils with Special Educational needs. Further details are available in Circular 0077/2022 available on my Department’s website and may be accessed at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/circular/467fa-once-off-cost-of-living-measure-to-support-increased-school-running-costs/
In the context of the current cost of living crisis I would expect this very significant additional funding made available to schools is sufficient to meet increased running costs.In addition to this 40% increase in grant funding in Budget 2023 to cover increased running costs, my Department has been supporting schools to access lower prices for some time.
Significant work has been carried out at Department level in order to support all schools in their procurement and use of energy supplies.
My Department has ensured in recent years that centrally negotiated rates were made available to schools for electricity and bulk heating fuels through frameworks sourced by the Office of Government Procurement (OGP). Central rates are fixed for gas and electricity for those availing of those arrangements at present.
A significant number of schools have engaged with this and are availing of highly competitive energy prices. It is planned to run future competitions to ensure that bulk rates continue to be available from 2024 onwards. Information on how to avail of these arrangements is available via the Schools Procurement Unit website, www.spu.ie
The Energy in Education website portal (www.energyineducation.ie), and associated advice programme (Joint programme between SEAI and Dept. of Education) also assists schools reduce their energy consumption, and empowers participating schools and pupils to learn the benefits of sustainability. Typically, savings of between 5 and 10% are identified through low and no cost measures, while some schools participating have identified potential savings of up to 15% or more.
Budget 2023 provided for the provision of funding from the Climate Action Fund in relation to the provision of photovoltaic panels in schools up to 6 kW output. This is really positive news for our schools and will assist with their energy needs and costs along with supporting the decarbonisation of our school buildings. My officials are working closely with colleagues in the Department of Environment, Climate and Communication in relation to the arrangements for this scheme.
As part of the preparation for the roll-out of the national programme, a key first step was to establish the level of existing PV installations in schools. The primary school capacity survey is nearly complete, and the post-primary is concluded, and indications are that nearly 10% of post-primary schools have solar PV panels, and 5% of primary schools. The rollout of the solar panel scheme is expected to commence later this year, and will be a fully funded multi-annual programme.
The scheme will include technology that will facilitate display on a digital information screen in the building general purpose area, the solar energy generation on each school from the panels. This will display in real time to the staff and pupils the renewable energy generation profile, this data can be used by students if required during classes and for their projects.
Furthermore my Department provides funding to all recognised schools in the Free Education Scheme by way of per capita grants. The two main grants are the Capitation grant to cater for day to day running costs including heating, lighting, etc. and the Ancillary grant to cater for the cost of employing ancillary services staff. These grants may be regarded as a common grant from which the Board of Management can draw according to its own priorities.
126. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Education the timeline for the provision of a permanent building for a school (details supplied). [15704/23]
View answerThe permanent accommodation for the school referred to by the Deputy is being delivered under my Department’s Design and Build Programme. This delivery programme uses a professional external Project Management team to progress the project through the stages of architectural planning, tendering and construction.
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 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.
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.
127. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Education when her Department will commence the tendering process for "lot 6" school works which includes a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15722/23]
View answerThe permanent school building project for the school referred to by the Deputy 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 Deputy 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.
128. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Education if an additional class teacher can be provided to a school (details supplied). [15723/23]
View answerThe key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September.
For the 2023/24 school year, the staffing schedule for primary schools has been improved by one point and schools will be provided with class teachers on the basis of 1 teacher for every 23 pupils which is a historical low ratio.
The staffing process contains an appeals mechanism for schools to submit a staffing appeal under certain criteria to an independent Primary Staffing Appeals Board. The Appeals Board operates independently of the Department and its decision is final.
The appeal submitted by the school referred to by the Deputy was deemed ineligible on the basis that the grounds of the appeal did not meet the eligibility criteria, as published in Circular 0006/2023. The school has been notified of this decision.
129. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Education when the new policy paper for Irish-medium secondary education will be available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15762/23]
View answerWork on the development of a new policy on Irish-medium education outside of the Gaeltacht is currently underway in my Department. This policy will build on the achievements of the Policy on Gaeltacht Education and will be an important next step towards achieving the Programme for Government commitment to develop a comprehensive policy on Irish in the education system. The policy will encompass Irish-medium early learning and care settings (for example, naíonraí), Irish-medium primary schools and Irish-medium post-primary schools.
A public consultation process commenced on 27 October 2022 to gather the views of stakeholders, including young people, parents, education professionals, education stakeholders and Irish-language organisations.
The first phase of the consultation process included an online questionnaire and a call for written submissions. This phase concluded on 30 January 2023. The responses to the questionnaire and the submissions received are currently being analysed.
The second phase of the consultation is currently underway. Focus groups are being conducted with children and young people to ensure their voices are included in the policy development process. Focus groups to explore important themes that are arising will take place shortly with parents, guardians, educators and other stakeholders.
A review of national and international literature to inform the development of the policy is being conducted by Sealbhú in DCU on behalf of my Department.
It is expected that the new policy will be published before the end of 2023, however, this will depend on the outcome of the consultation process and on the recommendations from the review of national and international research.
I look forward to working with our stakeholders in the development of this policy, and to progressing this important work of strengthening Irish-medium education provision.
130. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Education if her Department will consider the building of an Irish-medium secondary school in Dublin 8, given that there are several bunscoileanna in the area but no gaelcholáistí; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15763/23]
View answerAs part of the 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030, my Department has committed to creating opportunities for expanding Irish-medium education outside the Gaeltacht in the context of announcements on the establishment of 47 new schools from 2019. My Department has ensured that the process for deciding on the patronage of new schools affords particular consideration to the establishment of Gaelscoileanna, Gaelcholáistí, and Aonaid Lán-Ghaeilge.
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.
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.
A patronage process is run after it has been decided, based on demographic analysis, that a new school is required. The patronage process is open to all patron bodies and prospective patrons. Parental preferences, as well as other considerations such as the extent of diversity of provision in an area (including Irish-medium provision), are key to the decision-making process. Such analysis impacts on whether, at post-primary level, a school would take the form of an Irish-medium Gaelcholáiste, or whether, if English-medium, the school would include an Irish-medium unit.
While it is expected that the existing Gaelcholáistí in the general South Dublin area between them have sufficient school places to accommodate demand in the short term, given the number of new gaelscoileanna which have opened in recent years, or are planned to open in this area, my Department is keeping the position under active review as these schools grow and the number of sixth class pupils in gaelscoileanna increases. The opportunities for expansion of provision at existing gaelcholáistí such as Coláiste Eoin and Coláiste Íosagáin is also relevant and my Department has written to the school patrons of Coláiste Eoin and Coláiste Íosagáin in this context.
My Department is currently developing a new policy for Irish-medium education outside of Gaeltacht areas. The policy will be informed by a consultation process. Phase 1 of the consultation process, which involved an online questionnaire and a call for written submissions, ran from 27 October 2022 to 30 January 2023. The second phase, which includes focus groups, is currently underway. A review of national and international literature on minority language education provision has also been commissioned, along with research on Aonaid/Sruthanna in Irish-medium education. This research will also inform the policy development process.
131. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of victims of domestic violence referred to social protection access housing supports in 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023. [15636/23]
View answerThe accommodation needs of victims of domestic violence are met through a joined-up service delivery model provided by Tusla with the close involvement of the various housing authorities nationwide. Access to Rent Supplement can be provided on referral by Tusla or by prescribed Tusla-funded service providers. This provides victims of domestic violence with a fast track approval and screening process with a simplified means test to get immediate access to rent supplement so that they are not prevented from leaving their home because of financial concerns.The standard rent supplement means test does not apply to these applicants for an initial three month period. After three months, a further three month extension may be provided, subject to the usual rent supplement means assessment. After six months, if the tenant has a long-term housing need, they can apply to their local housing authority for social housing supports and, if eligible, will be able to access the Housing Assistance Payment, a social housing support provided by Local Authorities. Access to rent supplement is additional and complementary to the range of other supports already in place for victims of domestic violence.
In the period since August 2020, 281 victims of domestic violence have been supported with rent supplement under the protocol. There are 20 victims of domestic violence currently being supported under the Protocol, with a further 37 victims of domestic violence being supported on rent supplement subject to the standard rent supplement means assessment and eligibility criteria, following the initial period of support under the protocol.
Table 1 - The total number accessing rent supplement support under the domestic violence protocol from August 2020 to date in 2023 by year.
|
Year |
Total Number of Recipients |
|
2020 |
51 |
|
2021 |
127 |
|
2022 |
93 |
|
2023 |
10 |
|
Total |
281 |
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
