Written Answers Nos. 607-625
607. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Education if special arrangements will be made for students sitting the Leaving Certificate in 2023 and 2024 given the difficulties they faced in respect of their post-primary education in general due to the Covid-19 pandemic; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18189/23]
View answerOn 2 September 2022, I announced that adjustments will be made to the assessment arrangements for students due to sit State examinations in 2023, to take account of the disruption to their learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. The level of adjustment is the same as that announced in August 2021 but updated as relevant. These adjustments play to student strengths by leaving intact the familiar overall structure of the examinations, while incorporating additional choice for students in the examinations. In some cases, the adjustment measures provide more time for tuition by, for example, reducing preparatory work for practical examinations. This provided clarity, certainty and reassurance to students, their parents/guardians, teachers and schools at the start of the 2022/2023 school year.
The changes have been made with due regard for the principles of equity, fairness and integrity, in relation to student-to-student, subject-to-subject, and year-to-year comparisons.
In addition, as I have previously stated, there will be no “cliff edge” for this year’s students in relation to grades, and this is part of the planning ongoing for 2023 examinations.
In relation to 2024, the detailed planning will commence following the 2023 examinations.
608. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education if she is aware of the delay in providing ASD classes in two schools (details supplied); if she will intervene to ensure that the ASD classes will be provided in both schools for September 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18190/23]
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
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.
Regarding the first school referred to by the Deputy, the Planning and Building section of my Department have been engaging with the school and offered accommodation options to facilitate the establishment of two special classes. This is currently being considered by the school’s Board of Management and a response is awaited.
A new 16 classroom school for the second school referred to by the Deputy is currently under construction. This school will also accommodate 2 SEN classes. This project is expected to be completed by Q4 2023.
609. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education why second-level students (details supplied) are not provided with access to school transport services to access schools in Drogheda where the majority have enrolled in secondary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18192/23]
View answerThe School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year, over 147,900 children, including over 18,000 children with special educational needs, are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country.
In addition, school transport scheme services are being provided in the current school year for over 3,800 children who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine.
The total cost of the scheme in 2022 was €338.9m.
Children are eligible for transport at primary level where they reside not less than 3.2 kilometres from and are attending their nearest national school, and at post primary level where they reside not less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
Children who are eligible for school transport and who have completed the application process on time will be 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.
Temporary Alleviation Measures is a measure pending completion of the School Transport Scheme Review, which was initially introduced at post-primary level in 2019 and will be continued for the 2023/2024 school year. Under these measures, 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 by the 28th April and pay for a ticket by the 9th June 2023.
Bus Eireann have advised that pupils residing in the area referred to by the Deputy are not eligible for transport to Drogheda Post Primary Centre as they reside nearer to the Dunleer Post Primary Centre.
610. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education the reason a school canteen (details supplied) has not yet opened since Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18236/23]
View answerUnder the Education Act 1998, all recognised schools are managed by the school board of management on behalf of the schools’ patrons or trustees or the relevant Education and Training Board (known as the management authority). Since the Covid-19 pandemic, schools have been advised that there is no further need for public health restrictions.
Responsibility for canteens rests with the service provider which could be either the school or an external provider. The re-opening of a school canteen is therefore a matter for the individual school and/or service provider concerned.
611. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education the number of second level teachers qualified per subject per year in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18237/23]
View answerThe information as requested by the Deputy is not readily available, however the Teaching Council has provided the information in the table below, a breakdown of Route 2 post-primary teachers currently on the Teaching Council Register by subject.
Under the Teaching Council Acts 2001-2015 the Teaching Council is the body with statutory authority and responsibility for the regulation of the teaching profession in Ireland including the registration of teachers in the State. The Teaching Council registers teachers under the Teaching Council Act 2001-2015 and in line with the Teaching Council Registration Regulations, 2016.
As set out in the Schedule of the Regulations, the Council registers teachers under five routes of registration: Route 1 - Primary, Route 2 - Post-primary, Route 3 - Further Education, Route 4 - Other and Route 5 - Student Teacher. The minimum registration requirements for each route are set out in the Schedule of the regulations.
The Department does not have a role in the registration of individual teachers.
Only one subject is needed to register therefore teachers may be qualified in other subjects not registered, and equally teachers may register more than one subject.
|
Subject |
Registered Teachers |
|
Accounting |
455 |
|
Accounting (Business Studies) |
2132 |
|
Agricultural Economics |
3 |
|
Agricultural Science |
1072 |
|
Ancient Greek |
8 |
|
Applied Mathematics |
552 |
|
Art (including Crafts) |
1837 |
|
Biology |
1451 |
|
Biology (Science) |
3432 |
|
Business |
1343 |
|
Business (Business Studies) |
3553 |
|
Business Studies (Junior Cycle) |
1123 |
|
Chemistry |
663 |
|
Chemistry (Science) |
1999 |
|
Classical Studies |
450 |
|
Computer Science |
49 |
|
Computer Studies (IT or ICT) |
611 |
|
Construction Studies (Technology & M.T.W.) |
1732 |
|
CSPE (Civic Social and Political Education) |
1120 |
|
DCG (Technical Graphics) |
1888 |
|
Economics |
458 |
|
Economics (Business Studies) |
3111 |
|
Engineering (Metalwork/Technology) |
934 |
|
English |
9670 |
|
French |
3301 |
|
Geography |
4905 |
|
Geography (Environmental & Social Studies) |
1688 |
|
German |
1442 |
|
History |
5815 |
|
History (Environmental & Social Studies) |
1814 |
|
Home Economics (Scientific and Social) |
1983 |
|
Irish |
5785 |
|
Italian |
249 |
|
Japanese |
13 |
|
Latin |
114 |
|
Mathematics |
6980 |
|
Music |
2068 |
|
Physical Education |
3245 |
|
Physics |
331 |
|
Physics & Chemistry |
37 |
|
Physics (Science) |
1072 |
|
Physics and Chemistry (Science) |
12 |
|
Politics & Society |
149 |
|
Religious Education |
4430 |
|
Russian |
27 |
|
Science (Junior Cycle) |
1443 |
|
Spanish |
1172 |
|
SPHE (Social Personal and Health Education) |
108 |
|
Technical Drawing |
815 |
|
Technology |
422 |
|
Total |
89066 |
612. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education the number of teachers on different types of leave that is, job share, maternity break, career break and so on in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18239/23]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that details of the number of teachers who are on career break, and who are jobsharers, is extracted at the end of June each year, and is published annually as part of my Departments statistics on teacher numbers.
The information for the years requested by the Deputy, from 2019 to 2022, is available on my Department's website at the link below.
www.gov.ie/en/publication/c97fbd-teacher-statistics/#number-of-teachers-by-gender-appointed-to-teaching-posts
Statistical data on maternity leave absences, or other types of leave absences, is not collated and published annually, and is therefore not readily available.
Details in relation to the criteria applicable to my Departments jobsharers scheme are available at gov.ie - Job Sharing Scheme for teachers and special needs assistants (SNAs) (www.gov.ie).
Details in relation to the career break scheme are available at gov.ie - Career Break Scheme for teachers and special needs assistants (SNAs) (www.gov.ie).
Details in relation to the criteria for the maternity leave scheme are available at gov.ie - Maternity leave for teachers and special needs assistants (SNAs) (www.gov.ie)
613. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Education if additional assistance can be provided to a rural DEIS primary school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18240/23]
View answer614. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Education the support that will be provided to a school (details supplied) whose enrolment has increased by 20%; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18241/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 613 and 614 together.
My Department provides specific English Language support to schools with pupils newly arrived into the country that have English as an additional language.
The school referred to by the Deputy has an allocation of 15 hours per week based on the number of new entrant pupils enrolled, as set out in the NE-EAL application form.
The 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.
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. Information on the appeals process and application forms are available in Circular 0006/2023.
My Department has considered the issue of schools wishing to increase the hours of school secretaries. Where the school has reasonable need for additional hours based on increases in pupil numbers or classes, or a similar reasonable business case, an increase will be accepted. The approach to allocations of secretarial support once staff are on the payroll system is also being considered.
615. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education if her Department will take the Explorium - National Sport and Science Centre into public ownership and re-open the educational facility, making it available to students free of charge; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18242/23]
View answerOne of my Department's main functions is the provision of infrastructure for primary and post primary schools.
This property is not in the ownership of my Department and is not a primary or post primary school. Any proposal with respect to the future use of the property should be addressed to the current owner in the first instance.
616. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Education if a build programme for a school (details supplied) is back on track; and the indicative timeframes for all works to be completed. [18290/23]
View answerOn 5th 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 permanent school building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is a campus project which is being delivered under my Department's Design and Build programme and is expected to proceed to tender imminently.
My Department will continue to liaise with the school and their Patron Body in relation to the interim accommodation needs pending delivery of their permanent accommodation.
617. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Education to list the primary schools in the Dublin 8, 10, 12 and 20 areas, their patronage, the number of pupils attended and the current capacity of each school, the plans for development, the number of teachers and the pupil-teacher ratio for each school. [18291/23]
View answerPlease find attached requested data with regard to enrolments and patronage. Please note data is for academic year 2021-2022 the last year we have final enrolment data for. We expect to publish final data for 2022-2023 in June 2023. Data was complied from primary and post-primary data in individual schools which can be found on our website at the link below;
www.gov.ie/en/collection/63363b-data-on-individual-schools/
The Department does not publish the pupil-teacher ratio on a school level basis. The Department publishes the average pupil teacher ratio for all schools, primary and post primary. The primary average pupil teacher ratio for academic year 2021-2022, the latest available data, was 13.7.
While the Department is aware of increasing pressures and demand for additional school places in Dublin 8, 10, 12 & 20 areas, 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
The Department is working to establish the true extent of any capacity issues through ongoing discussions with the relevant school authorities. In that context, similar to the process adopted in advance of the current academic year, the Department is engaging with patron bodies and school authorities to identify particular capacity requirements for the forthcoming years which may necessitate further action to that already in train.
The Department is progressing a number of building projects in the Dublin 8, 10, 12 & 20 areas under the National Development Plan. This includes provision for mainstream accommodation as well as for children with special educational needs. 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.
This also lists all school building projects completed under the Large Scale and Additional Accommodation Scheme, in county order, from 2010 to date:
618. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Education given that there is no educate together secondary school in Dublin 8, the reason pupils coming out of educate together primary schools are not included in the catchment area for the nearest school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18292/23]
View answerThe Education Act requires that I as the Minister for Education, as a function, plan and co-ordinate the provision of education in recognised schools and to do all such acts and things as may be necessary to further the objects of the Act. The Act also bestows on the Minister all such powers as are necessary or expedient for the purpose of performing functions.
The question of enrolment in individual schools, including the setting of catchment areas, is the responsibility of the Board of Management on behalf of the school Patron and my Department does not seek to intervene in decisions made by schools in such matters.
In order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data in a way that takes account of the significant local and regional variations in demographic trends and enrolment projections, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas.
In most areas, school planning areas were based on traditional school catchment areas where all primary schools were assigned to a post-primary feeder area (typically a population centre or town), containing one or more post-primary schools.
The school planning areas were developed for use with my Department’s Geographic Information System (GIS) in 2008 and with the introduction of Small Areas in Census 2011, these areas were amended to align with Census Small Areas. The current school planning areas take account not only of local groupings of schools, but also of natural boundaries, Census Small Areas and other local conditions.
The school planning areas provide a useful means of projecting demographic demand in a localised area or areas, thereby allowing my Department to determine oncoming growth at a relatively localised level to inform recommendations and decisions on where additional school places may be needed.
However, there can be a high degree of inward and outward mobility of children between school planning areas, particularly in urban areas, and parents are free to apply to enrol their children in any school, whether that is in the school planning area in which they reside or not.
As stated above it is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998. 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.
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.
Section 29 of the Education Act, 1998 provides for an appeal by a parent or guardian to the Secretary General of my Department, or in the case of an Educational Training Board (ETB) school to the ETB in the first instance, where a Board of Management of a school, or a person acting on behalf of the Board, refuses to enrol a student in a school.
Further information on the Section 29 appeals process is available on my Department's website www.education.ie. The Education Welfare Service (EWS) of the Child and Family Agency (Tusla) is the statutory agency which can assist parents who are experiencing difficulty in securing a school place for their child. The EWS can be contacted at 01-7718500.
619. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Education when a decision will be made on works to allow schools (details supplied) in Ballyfermot to be in a single campus, given the current disjointed school set-up; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18293/23]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, St Seton's Secondary School, Le Fanu Road, Ballyfermot, Dublin 10 is an amalgamation of three secondary schools with DEIS status, Caritas College, St John's College De La Salle and St Dominic's College. This new large co-educational school is designed to cater for up to 800 pupils.
My Department approved substantial capital funding under the Additional School Accommodation project for the construction of the required additional capacity at the Le Fanu Road site. This additional accommodation encompasses provision for 6 additional mainstream classrooms, science, home economics, textiles, art, music, DCG, technology rooms, and staff room in addition to 4 classrooms for children with special educational needs.
My officials continue to engage with the school’s patrons regarding the accommodation needs of the school, including in respect of the existing accommodation at the former St. John’s College building.
At the request of the patrons, my Department agreed to the amalgamation taking effect from September 2022. Following subsequent engagement and again at the request of the school patrons, my Department has agreed to extend the timeline for opening St Seton’s Secondary School to September 2023.
620. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education the funding that will be in place for the 2023/2024 academic year for bursaries for the education of trainee educational psychologists who have already commenced their training in the present academic year; if these bursaries are conditional on successful applicants working for NEPS for three years after qualification; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18331/23]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, a working group in the Department has been examining the matter of how the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) can continue to recruit adequate numbers of suitably qualified staff and continue to respond to the educational psychological needs of children in recognised primary and post-primary schools across the country.
The Department of Education introduced, as part of an immediate short-term measure, a bursary to support Trainee Educational Psychologists currently in their third year (or third year equivalent) of professional training in University College Dublin (UCD) and Mary Immaculate College (MIC), who expect to graduate in 2023.
The working group referred to above has also been asked to make some interim recommendations in Q2 of this year regarding any other short-term measures required in advance of their final report. Funding supports for students on the educational psychological doctorate programme will be considered as part of this process.
621. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Education if the Education Training Board has completed its 2018 report on pluralism and patronage in schools; when that report is set to be released; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18334/23]
View answerThe Schools Reconfiguration for Diversity process, supporting transfers of schools to multi-denominational patrons in response to the wishes of local families, has been developed in order to accelerate the delivery of multi-denominational schools across the country. This Reconfiguration process involves the transfer of existing live schools as opposed to the amalgamation and/or closure model of the patronage divesting process.
The initial identification phase of the process involved each of the 16 Education and Training Boards identifying an initial pilot area within their functional area where they considered there may be unmet oncoming demand for more diversity within the local educational provision and arranging for surveys of parents of pre-school children in these areas. It was intended to publish the reports when they were submitted to the Department in 2018/2019. However, publication of the reports have been deferred pending conclusion of the Department’s engagement with representatives of the Council for Education of the Irish Episcopal Conference (IEC). My Department has been engaging with representatives of the Council for Education of the IEC with a view to developing an agreed approach to the next Phase of the process. The identification phase work provides useful learning and is informing the development of the process.
In this context, in March 2022, I announced that arrangements were being put in place for a structured engagement process with school communities in a number of pilot areas in order to provide more multi-denominational options where there is demand for this. The pilot areas are parts of the cities of Cork, Dublin, Galway and Limerick and also the Arklow, Athlone, Dundalk and Youghal areas.
The aim of this pilot, which engaged with 63 schools across the 8 pilot areas, is to provide information, engage with and seek feedback from the school community.
My Department is examining learnings from the pilot and will work with relevant stakeholders to apply this learning to future phases of work. My goal is to establish a strong process, that has the support of patrons and local communities, and which will enable us to continue to increase the number of multi-denominational primary schools across the country.
622. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update on an additional school accommodation scheme application from a school (details supplied); if additional accommodation will be provided to this school in view of the circumstances outlined; if she will clarify that funding is available for such projects; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18340/23]
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.
623. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update on a second-level school place for a child (details supplied). [18350/23]
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 recommended that the family make contact with their local Special Educational Needs Officer (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 provide further information on suitable class vacancies to the student's parents.
In addition to offering advice on the most appropriate school setting, the SENO will also be able to assist in implementing a continuum of support for the student's needs, and provide additional information on the options available.
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 further capacity being expanded in 11 other special schools.
These new special schools will provide for the enrolment of children and young people with autism and complex learning needs up to 18 years of age. It is envisioned that both special schools will operate under the patronage of the local education and training Boards; Cork ETB and City of Dublin ETB.
It is intended that places 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.
The NCSE have also sanctioned 218 new special classes nationwide at primary and post-primary level for the coming school year 2023/2024. Of these new classes, 29 are in Co. Dublin, with 15 at primary level and 14 at post-primary level. These new classes will bring the total number of special classes in Co. Dublin to 494, 376 at primary and 118 at post-primary. 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.
624. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Education the status of building works applications, additional accommodation scheme and a summer works scheme 2020, in respect of a school (details supplied); when she expects to approve the projects for the next phase; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16077/23]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, the school in question was approved funding under the Additional School Accommodation Scheme (ASA) for the provision of two 80m2 Mainstream classrooms and 1 Special Education Needs Base. The school was also approved funding under the Summer Works Scheme (SWS) 2022 for an external works project.
The school authority have submitted their Stage 1 ASA report, and this is currently with the Department's professional and technical team for review. The SWS project is currently at pre-planning stage.
Whilst these projects are to be delivered on a devolved basis, my Department is engaged directly with the school to ensure that both projects are delivered in the most effective and efficient manner possible.
625. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update on the progress of development works including an ASA scheme and a SWS 2020 scheme at a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16329/23]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, the school in question was approved funding under the Additional School Accommodation Scheme (ASA) for the provision of two 80m2 Mainstream classrooms and 1 Special Education Needs Base. The school was also approved funding under the Summer Works Scheme (SWS) 2022 for an external works project.
The school authority have submitted their Stage 1 ASA report, and this is currently with the Department's professional and technical team for review. The SWS project is currently at pre-planning stage.
Whilst these projects are to be delivered on a devolved basis, my Department is engaged directly with the school to ensure that both projects are delivered in the most effective and efficient manner possible.
