Written Answers Nos. 517-534
517. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education when a person (details supplied) will be provided with a place in a special school or class suited to their specified educational needs; and what assistance can be provided to the person's parents in navigating the application process to special schools and mainstream schools with special classes. [16963/23]
View answerI would like to thank the Deputy for the question and would like to advise the following:
Enabling children with special educational needs (SEN) to receive an education appropriate to their needs is a priority for this Government.
It is also a key priority for me as Minister for Special Education & Inclusion, for my Department and for the National Council for Special Education (NCSE).
For 2023, the spend by my Department on special education will be substantially increased by over 10% on last year, meaning that for 2023 my department will spend over €2.6 billion providing supports to children and young people with special educational needs and their schools.
This level of educational funding and support is unprecedented and represents in excess of 27% of the Department’s total allocation for 2023.
This includes funding to support children with SEN in mainstream classes; funding for new special classes and new special school places; additional special educational teachers and special needs assistants.
The NCSE has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children with SEN nationwide.
In relation to the student referred to by the Deputy, the NCSE has advised that the student's family can make contact with their local Special Education Needs Organiser (SENO). A comprehensive list of SENO, Team Manager and Regional Manager contact details can be found on the NCSE website: ncse.ie/regional-services-contact-list
A SENO will be in a position to offer tailored guidance and advice on the most appropriate educational placement and will be able to provide the student’s family further information on suitable class vacancies.
My Department is engaging intensely with the NCSE in relation to the forward planning of new special classes and additional special school places for the next school year 2023/2024. This work involves a detailed review of statistical data in relation to forecasting demand for special class and special school places, consideration of improved data sharing arrangements, consideration of school accommodation capacity and a particular focus on the provision of special classes at post-primary level.
If the recent growth in the need for special classes continues, it is expected that a similar level of new special classes will be needed at primary level over the next three years as have been provided over the last three years. At post-primary level however, it is expected that we will need to double the number of new special classes being provided over the next three years as compared to the last three years.
As both Minister Foley and I announced just last week, 2 new special schools are being established for the 2023/2024 school year - one in Carrigtwohill, east Cork and one in the Dublin 7 area - with additional capacity being provided in 11 other special schools.
The new special school in Dublin will be under the patronage of City of Dublin ETB. It is intended that places in the new special schools will be prioritised for children who have no offer of a special school place for the 2023/24 school year. Details in relation to the location of the new special schools, the admission process and the number of places to be offered for 2023/24 in each new special school will be confirmed very shortly.
The NCSE will work closely with the families of the children and young people concerned to assist them in accessing the new places which will become available during the 2023/24 school year.
Planning for the establishment and opening of the new special schools will begin immediately. This will include a determination of the size of the school required so that the necessary staff recruitment, school policy development and related arrangements can be put in train. This will also include ongoing communication with the families concerned.
For the 2023/2024 school year the NCSE has also sanctioned 218 new special classes nationwide at primary and post-primary level. Of these new classes, 29 are in within the Dublin area. These new classes will bring the total number of special classes in Dublin to 494, 376 at primary and 118 at post-primary. Additional special classes will be sanctioned in the coming weeks. Additional special classes will be sanctioned in the coming weeks.
Information on the list of schools with special classes, the types and locations of these classes are available on the NCSE website at www.ncse.ie.
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.
518. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Education if a decision on an application by a school (details supplied) could be reviewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16965/23]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is in receipt of an application for additional school accommodation (ASA) from the school authority in question.
Officials from my Department have been engaging with the school authority regarding September 2023 requirements as a priority, with a view to providing the required accommodation for the 2023/24 school year. The Department is also liaising with the school authority regarding the schools' long term needs.
The purpose of the ASA scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream classroom and Special Education Needs (SEN) accommodation is available to cater for pupils enrolled each year, where the need cannot be met by the school’s existing accommodation.
At primary level, this situation generally arises to cater for a school’s accommodation requirements where an additional teaching post has been sanctioned by Teacher Allocation Section, or a new SEN class has been sanctioned by the NCSE, and all available alternative accommodation within the school is already being used for classroom purposes.
519. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education how the parents of a pupil (details supplied) can be evaluated and access a suitable supported place in a mainstream school as a transfer from his existing place in a special school. [16975/23]
View answerI would like to thank the Deputy for the question and would like to advise the following:
Enabling children with special educational needs (SEN) to receive an education appropriate to their needs is a priority for this Government.
It is also a key priority for me as Minister for Special Education & Inclusion, for my Department and for the National Council for Special Education (NCSE).
For 2023, the spend by my Department on special education will be substantially increased by over 10% on last year, meaning that for 2023 my Department will spend over €2.6 billion providing supports to children and young people with special educational needs and their schools.
This level of educational funding and support is unprecedented and represents in excess of 27% of the Department’s total allocation for 2023.
This includes funding to support children with SEN in mainstream classes; funding for new special classes and new special school places; additional special educational teachers and special needs assistants.
The 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.
My Department is engaging intensely with the NCSE in relation to the forward planning of new special classes for the next school year 2023/2024. This work involves a detailed review of statistical data in relation to forecasting demand for special class places, consideration of improved data sharing arrangements and a particular focus on the provision of special classes at post-primary level.
Just last week, Minister Foley and l announced the establishment of two new special schools as part of a comprehensive update on enhanced education provision for students with special educational needs. These two new special schools will be established in Carrigtwohill, east Cork and Dublin 7 for the 2023/24 school year.
Along with the two new special schools, I also confirmed that 218 new special classes have been sanctioned by the NCSE for opening in the coming school year 2023/2024, with more to be confirmed in the coming weeks – 126 at primary and 92 at post-primary level. Also capacity will be expanded in 11 other special schools around the country.
Information on the list of schools with special classes, the types and locations of these classes is published on the NCSE website and is available at www.ncse.ie.
Parents seeking special class placements for their children are advised to contact the NCSE locally so that their needs can be taken into account for planning purposes. The local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) remain available to assist and advise parents of children with special educational needs. Parents may contact SENOs directly using the contact details available at: ncse.ie/regional-services-contact-list.
In relation to the pupil referred to by the Deputy, the NCSE has advised my Department that they have no record of any recent contact with the family. They recommend that they contact their SENO to discuss the situation and explore possible options.
The SENO will be in a position to offer information on the enrolment process, tailored guidance, and advise on the most appropriate educational placement.
Regarding the process of transferring a child from a special school to a mainstream school, the NCSE has published a comprehensive booklet, 'Changing Schools: Moving between special and mainstream settings'.
This guide outlines the decision-making process, enrolment procedures, planning with the selected school, and preparing students for the transition to a mainstream setting.
The NCSE booklet contains more detailed information and further guidance and is available on their website at ncse.ie/information-booklets-pamphlets-2.
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.
520. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on the building of the second phase of a school (details supplied) due to commence works in September 2023 and for completion by September 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17007/23]
View answerPhase 2 of the permanent school building project referred to by the Deputy is being delivered under my Department's Design and Build programme and is expected to proceed to tender imminently.
On 5 April 2023, my Department advised that agreement has been reached to facilitate the progression of the school building programme.
I want to assure you that our team are working extremely hard to ensure that schools are built as quickly as possible so that children and young people have access to a physical environment where they can receive a high standard of education and feel safe, valued and nurtured. My Department has a strong track record of delivery with over 180 projects delivered last year notwithstanding the high levels of construction inflation. There are circa. 300 school building projects currently at construction which includes 40 new school buildings and 260 projects at existing schools.
521. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education if she will explain why a school (details supplied) has received communication from her Department that funding allocated to the school in 2021 to obtain two SEN classrooms and prefabbed rental accommodation is being completely revoked; if the decision to revoke funding to this school will be reviewed given the circumstances outlined in the attached documents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17008/23]
View answerI can confirm to the Deputy that my Department is still awaiting the submission of the 'Form of Acceptance' from the school in question, regarding their ASA project for a 2 Classroom SEN Base. This form is the school's legal approval to enter into a contract for the provision of additional accommodation. Upon receipt of this documentation the project will progress to the next stage.
Whilst this project has been devolved to the school authority for delivery, the Department is engaged directly with the school to provide whatever practical assistance and advice is necessary to implement this important project for the wider school community.
With regard to the temporary accommodation application, this element is currently under review once this is completed my Department will correspond directly with the school authority.
522. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update regarding extensions to two national schools (details supplied) in County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17011/23]
View answerI can confirm to the Deputy that the school referred to has been approved for a project under my Department's Additional School Accommodation (ASA) Scheme.
The project will provide the following accommodation at the school: 1 x 80 m2 Mainstream classroom + ensuite toilets & 1 x 10.5 m2 WC for assisted users as outlined in the project brief. This project has been devolved for delivery to the school authority.
I wish to advise the Deputy that this project is currently at Tender stage and a Tender Report has recently been submitted and is currently being reviewed by professional and technical officials in my Department.
An update will be issued by my Department to the school Board of Management shortly.
I can confirm to the Deputy that the second school referred to has been approved for a project under my Department's Additional School Accommodation (ASA) Scheme.
The project will provide the following accommodation at the school: 1x80 m2 Mainstream classroom plus en-suite toilets & 1x15 m2 SET room & 1x10.5 m2 WC for assisted users as outlined in the project brief.
This project has been devolved for delivery to the school authority. I am happy to advise the Deputy that Approval to Proceed to Tender was issued to the school in July 2022.
A Tender Report should now be prepared and submitted to my Department for review.
523. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update with respect to a student in County Cork who is receiving school transport under the scheme for children with special educational needs (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17012/23]
View answerThe School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of my Department. 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 €338.9 m.
Bus Éireann has advised they are currently in the process of sourcing another contractor for the route in question and will contact the family directly once a contractor is in place.
Where a service cannot operate, families of children who are eligible for school transport for children with special educational needs may apply for the Special Transport Grant (STG) which is a once off payment, paid retrospectively to families once the School Transport service is in place and is to assist with the cost of private transport arrangements the family have put in place until services is finalised.
School Transport section of my Department are currently liaising with the family referred with regard to the grant information.
524. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Education the reasons the free schoolbook scheme has not been extended to private national schools; if she will consider reviewing this decision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17074/23]
View answerI recently announced details of Ireland’s first national primary school book scheme, which will provide free schoolbooks, workbooks and copybooks, in recognised primary schools and special schools. More than 558,000 pupils enrolled in approximately 3,230 primary schools, including over 130 special schools, will benefit from this measure.
The total investment, of over €50 million, significantly increases the funding for school books currently provided to all recognised primary schools in the country. The implementation of the measure will build on the experience of the existing school book rental scheme which is available in the majority of recognised primary schools and on the free school books pilot provided to over 100 primary DEIS schools in recent years.
The funding provided under the scheme is specifically to provide free school books to recognised primary school pupils in the free education scheme, including special schools, from September 2023.
525. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Education the breakdown of schools by region or the number of schools that have received or introduced free period products or funding for similar initiatives; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17083/23]
View answerThe Programme for Government includes the commitment to ‘provide a range of free, adequate, safe, and suitable period products in all educational publicly-funded settings (including schools, colleges and HEIs), to ensure that no students are disadvantaged in their education by period poverty.’
The Government has also taken the decision in 2021 to support the Private Members’ Bill, the Free Provision of Period Products Bill, 2021 (Bill 4) which seeks to make period products freely available to all those who need them. It has also been agreed that the recommendations of the 2021 Discussion Paper on Period Poverty in Ireland will be taken into account in the development of the Bill.
To co-ordinate all of the work here an implementation group, led by the Department of Health has been established. My Department is represented on the group and is engaging with it to determine how best these commitments will be taken forward in the context of schools and to ensure no students are disadvantaged in their education by period poverty as committed in the Programme for Government.
While I am aware that a number of schools have introduced free period products or have commenced related initiatives, I do not have information on the breakdown of schools which have done so.
526. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education if she can clarify whether a school (details supplied) is among the schools affected by the stalled school building programme; if the approval letter from her Department for the proposed works at the school will be issued; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17135/23]
View answerOn 5 April 2023, my Department advised that agreement has been reached to facilitate the progression of the school building programme.
I want to assure you that our team are working extremely hard to ensure that schools are built as quickly as possible so that children and young people have access to a physical environment where they can receive a high standard of education and feel safe, valued and nurtured. My Department has a strong track record of delivery with over 180 projects delivered last year notwithstanding the high levels of construction inflation. There are circa. 300 school building projects currently at construction which includes 40 new school buildings and 260 projects at existing schools.
The school building project to which the Deputy refers is included in my Department's Large Scale Capital Programme, and is currently at Stage 3 - Tender Action and Award. A Stage 3 Tender Report identifying a recommended bidder is with my Department for review. My Department will be in further contact with the school upon review of this report.
527. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Education if a school (details supplied) will be approved DEIS status; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17137/23]
View answerMy Department provides a wide range of supports to all schools, DEIS and non-DEIS, to support the inclusion of all students and address barriers to students achieving their potential.
Supplementing the universal supports available to all schools, the Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools (DEIS) Programme is a key policy initiative of my Department to address concentrated educational disadvantage at school level in a targeted and equitable way across the primary and post-primary sector.
In March last year, I announced the single largest expansion of the DEIS programme, benefiting 347 schools. The programme now includes over 1,200 schools and supports approximately 240,000 students. This means 1 in 4 of all students are now supported in the programme.
Schools were identified for inclusion in the programme through the refined DEIS identification model, which is an objective, statistics-based model. Schools were not required to apply for inclusion in the DEIS programme and the model has been applied fairly and equally to all schools.
The DEIS identification process is based on the principle of concentrated disadvantage and the proportion of students from disadvantaged backgrounds within a school. The DEIS identification model aimed to identify those schools with the highest levels of concentrated disadvantage or the highest proportion of students from disadvantaged backgrounds within a school using the school's enrolment data and national census data as represented by the Pobal HP Deprivation index which is publicly available.
A detailed paper on the refined DEIS identification model is available on gov.ie at
www.gov.ie/en/publication/a3c9e-extension-of-deis-to-further-schools/#how-schools-were-selected-for-inclusion-in-deis
It is possible for two neighbouring schools to have a different profile in terms of proportion of students from disadvantaged backgrounds and the relative weighting of disadvantage apportioned in each. The designation of neighbouring schools as DEIS or non-DEIS does not mean that there is no educational disadvantage present in a non-DEIS school, but that the concentrated level of educational disadvantage of the two schools is different. Gender of students, or the designation of a school as single or mixed is not a factor in the DEIS identification model.
In accordance with Circular 0019/22 schools that were not satisfied with the outcome following the application of the DEIS identification model to their school enrolment data were provided with the opportunity to have that outcome reviewed. The DEIS appeals process was applied fairly across all appellants; the window for appeals has now closed and the results are final. My Department will continue to support schools to deliver high quality, inclusive teaching and learning to students.
The extension of the DEIS programme to new schools is just one component of work in my vision for an inclusive education system which supports all learners to achieve their potential. While the DEIS programme supports those schools with the highest levels of concentrated educational disadvantage, I also recognise that there are students at risk of educational disadvantage in all schools. Since June 2020, and over the past three Budgets, I have secured funding to provide measures to support children in this regard. As part of Budget 2023, I announced over €50 million to provide free books to primary school pupils within the free education scheme from next September. The new free primary schoolbook scheme will eliminate the cost of schoolbooks, workbooks and copybooks for parents. I have also further improved the staffing schedule for all primary schools to 23:1, the lowest it has ever been.
Following the National Census 2022 held on 3 April last, it is envisaged that an updated HP Deprivation Index will be generated by Pobal and will be available in Q3 of 2023. My Department will engage with Pobal in relation to this process. The updated HP Deprivation Index, when available, will be considered by my Department to help inform future resource allocation to tackle educational disadvantage.
The next phase of work will consider all schools, within and outside the DEIS programme and explore the overall allocation of resources to schools to tackle educational disadvantage. Part of this programme of work will involve consultation with relevant stakeholders over the coming months.
528. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education the reasons for the delay in the progression of the permanent building for a school (details supplied), before and since inflationary issues have arisen. [17147/23]
View answerMy Department recently authorised the issue of the Letter of Acceptance to the recommended bidder for the school building project to which the Deputy refers.
Subject to no issues arising, it is envisaged that construction will commence in Quarter 2 with an estimated completion timeframe of 18 months.
529. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education the date on which a school (details supplied) will move from temporary accommodation. [17148/23]
View answerMy Department recently authorised the issue of the Letter of Acceptance to the recommended bidder for the School Building Project to which the Deputy refers.
Subject to no issues arising, it is envisaged that construction will commence in Quarter 2 with an estimated completion timeframe of 18 months.
530. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education the support measures in place for schools or neighbouring schools, impacted by the hold on 58 school building projects; if such extenuating circumstances impact re-allocation of teachers and/or prefabs; and which schools have been impacted in this way. [17149/23]
View answerI am pleased to inform the Deputy that on 5 April an agreement was secured to guarantee and support the rollout and continuation of my Department’s ambitious school building programme.
My Department has a proven track record of delivery, with over 180 projects completed last year within a challenging environment of high inflation, labour shortages and supply chain issues.
This year alone, over 300 school building projects are currently under construction, including 40 new school buildings and 260 projects at existing schools. There are also over 1,000 other school building projects being progressed through various stages of development. My Department also continues to support schools with the successful integration of over 15,000 Ukrainian students within our school system.
The agreement reached on 5 April will facilitate the continued rollout of urgently required school building projects in both mainstream and special education settings, including the 58 projects that were temporarily paused due to capital funding pressures.
My Department is very appreciative of the strong support provided by Government for the education budget.
Officials from my Department have updated each of the 58 schools in relation to the formal arrangements and next steps in respect of the delivery of their individual projects.
The current status of all projects are listed on a county by county basis at 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.
531. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education the reason a decision has been taken to suppress a ninth teaching post for a school (details supplied), given that it is a developing school and projected enrolment numbers exceed both the required 215 and 231 pupils required to be eligible for an additional post. [17150/23]
View answerI can confirm to the Deputy, that my Department is in receipt of an application for the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme from the school in question.
My Department's Planning and Building Unit is currently assessing its work programme and priorities for 2023 in the context of its available funding. Key priorities for the 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 educational needs provision.
The school in question is being considered as part of this assessment and a decision will issue to the school authorities as soon as possible in this regard. My officials have been in touch with the school in relation to this matter.
I can also confirm that the Planning and Building Unit will be in further contact with the Teacher Allocations division regarding the accommodation available to the school in question.
532. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education the rationale for reversing the decision to allow a school (details supplied) permission to put in place a second block of prefabs for the 2023-2024 term. [17151/23]
View answerI can confirm to the Deputy, that my Department is in receipt of an application for the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme from the school in question.
My Department's Planning and Building Unit is currently assessing its work programme and priorities for 2023 in the context of its available funding. Key priorities for the 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 school in question is being considered as part of this assessment and a decision will issue to the school authorities as soon as possible in this regard. My officials have been in touch with the school in relation to this matter.
533. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Education if teaching experience could be treated similarly to industry experience for the calculation of incremental credits (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17165/23]
View answerThe criteria for the award of incremental credit to recognised teachers was agreed under the auspices of the Teachers Conciliation Council (TCC). This Council is comprised of representatives of teachers, school management, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Department of Education. The Council is chaired by an official of the Workplace Relations Commission.
The criteria for the award of incremental credit is laid out in my Department's Circulars 10/2001 for Primary teachers, 29/2007 and 29/2010 for Post Primary teachers. For the purposes of prior relevant non-teaching service, the relevant Circular for Post Primary teachers is 29/2007.
This circular provides for the award of incremental credit for both prior teaching service and prior relevant non-teaching service. Relevant non-teaching service is defined as service other than teaching service. This criteria includes that the relevant non-teaching experience so gained must be demonstrated by the teacher, to the satisfaction of the school authority (including Education and Training Boards as appropriate) and of the Department, to be directly relevant to the requirements of the post to which the teacher has been appointed. Under the terms of the circular relevant non-teaching service cannot be substituted for teaching service.
534. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education the details regarding resources for educational welfare officers allocated to County Wicklow; if all posts are currently filled; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17205/23]
View answerIn line with the arrangements set out as part of the current Government formation, since January 2021 Tusla Education Support Services (TESS) is under my remit.
TESS has three strands namely the statutory Educational Welfare Service (EWS) and the two school support services the Home School Community Liaison Scheme (HSCL) and the School Completion Programme (SCP). 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.
The EWS operates under the Education (Welfare) Act, 2000, a piece of legislation that emphasises the promotion of school attendance, participation and retention. This is a statutory service and its primary role is to ensure that every child either attends school regularly or otherwise receives a certain minimum education; to ensure and secure every child’s entitlement to education. Educational Welfare Officers (EWOs) work with families and children in a child-centred way to overcome barriers to their school attendance, participation and retention. EWOs work closely with schools, educational support services and other agencies to support school attendance and resolve attendance problems for the benefit of children and families.
There are currently four EWO posts allocated to Co Wicklow - North Wicklow (1) South Wicklow/North Wexford (1) and West Wicklow (2). One of the serving EWOs allocated to Co Wicklow is currently on statutory leave.
TESS completed a recruitment campaign for EWOs in August 2022 and a panel is established. As EWO posts become vacant, including the temporary EWO vacancy in Co Wicklow, they have been offered to this panel of candidates. While every effort is made to fill vacant EWO posts as soon as possible, no expression of interest was received from the panel of candidates for the current temporary EWO post in Co Wicklow.
All urgent referrals to the EWS for Co Wicklow are being covered by the EWO team in the county.
