Written Answers Nos. 231-237
231. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the initiatives, if any, she intends to roll-out to ensure that the number of special needs teachers matches the number of students who need them. [18808/23]
View answerI would like to thank the Deputy for his question and would advise the following.
Special Education Teachers (SET) provide additional teaching support for students with special educational needs enrolled in mainstream classes in primary and post primary schools.
The Special Education Teaching allocation model provides a single unified allocation for special educational support teaching needs to each school, based on each school’s educational profile.
The SET allocation model has been in place since 2017. The allocation model, which was recommended by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), is designed to distribute the total available number of Special Education Teachers across primary and post primary schools based on the relative need of each school, as evidenced by a number of key indicators.
Special Education Teachers provide additional teaching support for students with special educational needs enrolled in mainstream classes in primary and post primary schools.
The SET model is a fairer and more transparent way of allocating teaching resources to schools.
The SET Model represented a significant shift in the way that students with SEN are supported in mainstream classes. Previously, students needing additional teaching support required a diagnosis in order to access support which caused delays in providing the support and also imposed a burden on both schools and parents. The change in policy was welcomed by both schools and parents. The Model is based on the principle that those students with the greatest need receive the most support.
The model encourages schools to support students with SEN in mainstream classes alongside their peers. In fact most students with SEN are enrolled these classes. This approach is also consistent with the EPSEN Act
When the SET model was introduced it was designed to be updated on a regular basis so as to distribute the total available resources across the school system based on profiled need. Because the level of student need may change in a school over time, some schools will gain under this distribution, with these gains balanced by equivalent reductions in schools where the model indicates reduced need. Re-profiling is the means of ensuring that new or increasing need in schools is met by transfer/redistribution of teaching resources from other schools whose need has reduced as shown by the model.
Schools are front-loaded with resources, based on each school’s profile. The allocations to schools include provision to support all pupils in the schools, including where a child receives a diagnosis after the allocation is received by a school, or where there are newly enrolling pupils to the school.
The model encourages schools to support students with SEN in mainstream classes alongside their peers. In fact most students with SEN are enrolled these classes.
The SET resources provided to schools is based on special education needs of the pupils enrolled in the school and the resources must be utilised to ensure that students with special education needs are supported so that they can achieve the best possible educational outcome.
In April 2022, the Department issued updated staffing allocations for the 2022/23 school year to include SET allocations. This ensured that schools were aware of their teaching resources and this allowed them to make the necessary arrangements to ensure that the teaching and learning needs for pupils with SEN can be properly supported.
The next scheduled updating of a schools profile is in 2024 for the allocation for the 2024/25 school year.
In the intervening period to the next scheduled re-profiling should a school believe that there has been a changed of a significant or unexpected extent in their school’s profile they may apply to the NCSE for a SET Exceptional Review.
A process is available where schools can seek a review of their SET allocation by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), including the utilisation of their allocations. Detailed information on the NCSE review process is published on the NCSE website ncse.ie/special-education-teachers
232. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Education when the contractor for a school building project (details supplied) can expect to receive outstanding payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18848/23]
View answerThe large scale capital project for the school referred to by the Deputy is currently at Stage 4 Construction. My Department is not aware of any outstanding payments due to the contractor.
My Department continue to engage with the relevant parties in relation to the Office of Government Procurement Inflation Supply Chain Co-operation Framework Agreement.
233. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the progress to date in relation to the triple school project incorporating replacement school for schools (details supplied); the extent to which all outstanding matters have been resolved in this regard; the number of issues outstanding; the timescale for the resolution of same; when it is expected the proposed new schools will be ready for occupation given the urgency of the situation driven by an increased population; the extent to which she and her Department continues to liaise with the relevant school authorities involved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18895/23]
View answerThe project to which the Deputy refers has been devolved to the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) for delivery as part of bundled school building programmes. The shared education campus at Donaghcumper, Celbridge is in the bundle referred to as ‘Project Liffey’. This campus project will include the three schools referred to by the deputy.
A letter was issued by the Department to the schools last year to advise that their respective school had been included in the programme. The NDFA has since been in contact with each school to introduce the team, communicate arrangements and discuss the project briefs.
The next step is for the NDFA to procure a Design Team for the project bundle to progress the projects through the design stages. An estimated timeline for the completion of the project will be available once the design stages have concluded.
234. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the extent to which she continues to liaise with the parents and management of various schools throughout north Kildare, with a view to ensuring the availability of school transport in the widest form possible, whether on a concessionary or regular basis with particular reference to children attending schools in Maynooth from Straffan, Clane, Prosperous and Rathcoffey, given the present circumstances; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18898/23]
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.
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, provided this can be done within reasonable cost limits.
Children who are eligible for school transport and who have completed the application process on time are now accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation.
In addition, temporary alleviation measures have been continued for the current 2022/23 school year, pending completion of the review and this means that transport has been provided for post-primary pupils who are eligible for transport to their nearest school and are attending their second nearest school and who applied by the 29th April 2022 and registered for a ticket by the 29th July 2022.
Children who are not eligible for school transport, but who completed the application process on time, are considered for spare seats that may exist after eligible children have been facilitated; such seats are referred to as concessionary seats.
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.
The Bus Éireann family portal is now open for new applications until the 28th April 2023, and to accept payments/medical card details until 9 June 2023. Applications or payment made after the deadline date will be deemed late and a seat may not be available to families at that stage.
As the Deputy is aware, in cases where the Department is satisfied that the nearest school is full, eligibility for school transport will be determined based on the distance that children reside from their next nearest school having regard to ethos and language.
To establish that the nearest school is full parents/guardians must provide certain documentary evidence including confirmation that an application for enrolment in the nearest school was made within the deadline dates specified by the school and confirmation from the school authorities that the school was full. To date, this information has not been received. Families can contact officials in the School Transport Section of my Department at: school_transport@education.gov.ie where they will be happy to assist with any queries.
235. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the extent to which ongoing discussions are taking place in relation to the location and development of a school (details supplied); the progress to date, the discussions currently taking place in this regard, when it is expected that the process will conclude to the satisfaction of the school authorities and her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18899/23]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has informed the patron of the school referred to that the accommodation brief for the building project in question is being prepared and that my Department will be in further contact with the patron when this process has been completed.
236. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media further to Parliamentary Question No. 389 of 21 March 2023, when she expects the National Swimming Strategy to be published; if she intends to open a capital grant process for the development of public swimming pools in towns such as Carrickmacross; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18633/23]
View answerWork on the first National Swimming Strategy continues apace, with the working group tasked with its development holding its seventh meeting on 18 April 2023. Whilst it is difficult to be precise about the exact timeframe for its completion, I hope to be in a position to publish the Strategy by the middle of 2023.
My Department continues to provide capital support for swimming pool projects. Funding was previously provided through the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme (LASPP) which allowed for the completion of 52 pools.
Capital support for new swimming pools is currently being provided through the Department’s Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF). Eight of 33 projects awarded funding totalling €86.4 million under the most recent round of the LSSIF, are swimming pool projects.
The Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (SCEP) has heretofore not provided funding for swimming related projects however an important aspect of the National Swimming Strategy is the consideration of all funding models to support the development of swimming throughout the country.
237. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the details of each time her Department, or public bodies under the aegis of her Department, enlisted the services of consultants in 2022; the purpose and value of each contract; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18741/23]
View answerI wish to inform the Deputy that details of expenditure sought in respect of my Department are specified in the table below. Operational costs incurred by bodies under my Department's aegis, such as consultancy services, are matter for the bodies concerned.
From time to time, my Department commissions experts to provide technical reports or advice on specific issues. While the providers of these services may describe themselves as consultants, their work is not classified as consultancy services and is not funded from my Department's Administrative Budget.
|
Year |
Consultancy Service Provider |
Purpose of Consultancy |
Total Value Invoiced (excl. VAT) |
|
2022 |
John McCarthy Consultancy Services |
Review of the delivery of the Tourism Marketing Fund by the tourism agencies, Tourism Ireland and Fáilte Ireland. |
€1,885 |
