Written Answers Nos. 261-275
261. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education if all payments due under the contract for the erection of a new school (details supplied) will be brought up to date in view of the fact the most recent request for payment was submitted in January 2023 but has not been paid; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21044/23]
View answerThe Large scale capital project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at Architectural Planning Stage 4 - Construction. The request for an additional change under the contract is currently under review by my Department's Professional & Technical section, upon completion of this review my Department will be in further contact with the school and design team.
262. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education if she will urgently complete the stage 3 tender review currently with her Department (details supplied) and allow the school to progress the building programme as soon as possible; if she will acknowledge concerns about rising building costs affecting tenders meaning further delays for schools if tenders are not responded to quickly; if she will take into consideration that the disrepair of the prefabs in question is worsening daily including asbestos issues; when a decision will be forthcoming; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21058/23]
View answerThe Large Scale Capital project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of Architectural Planning Stage 3 – Tender Action and Award. A tender report is currently under review by my Department.
263. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education if the case of a person (details supplied) will be investigated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21073/23]
View answerOfficials in my Department are reviewing the records of the person concerned with a view to providing the relevant data to assist her in her application for a state contributory pension, which is payable by Department of Social Protection. It is expected a response will shortly issue directly to the person concerned.
264. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Education whether any allowances can be made for students currently in fifth year studying for the leaving certificate, given the interference with their education, particularly regarding languages during second and third year. [21074/23]
View answerOn 2 September 2022, I announced that adjustments would 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. 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 were 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, I have already stated that there would be no “cliff edge” for this year’s students in relation to grades. This is part of the planning ongoing for 2023 examinations, in regard to which my Department is working closely with the State Examinations Commission which is responsible for the operation, delivery and development of the State examinations.
In relation to 2024, the detailed planning will commence following the 2023 examinations.
265. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Education if she has introduced flexibility to the teacher allocation process to enable schools to deliver the full curriculum without lowering the standard of teaching, given the large number of Ukrainian children seeking refuge in the State who are entering the school system at different dates throughout the school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21075/23]
View answerStaffing arrangements for the 2023/24 school year are available in Circular 0006/2023.
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 arrangements include a provision whereby schools experiencing rapid increases in enrolment can apply for additional permanent mainstream posts, using projected enrolment. The staffing process also contains an appeals mechanism for schools to submit a staffing appeal under certain criteria, including a specific one aimed at small schools, to an independent Primary Staffing Appeals Board.
The Department provides specific English Language support to schools with pupils newly arrived into the country that have English as an additional language.
Schools may apply for further language support through the staffing appeals process. Having considered the circumstances outlined by the school and having regard to the high number of pupils requiring EAL support, additional support may be approved to meet the educational needs of such pupils. In considering the level of EAL support to be allocated, the Appeals Board will consider those pupils in the school with less than B1 (Level 3) proficiency that have received less than 3 years EAL support, irrespective of how long their parents have been in the country.
266. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Education the location of the new special school in Dublin 7. [21085/23]
View answer267. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Education when the special school in Dublin 7 will open; and when parents can enrol their children. [21086/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 266 and 267 together.
I would like to thank the Deputy for the question and would like to advise the following:
My department is committed to delivering an education system that is of the highest quality and where every child and young person feels valued and is actively supported and nurtured to reach their full potential. My department strives to ensure that every child has access to an educational experience that is appropriate to their needs and supports both their academic and personal development.
As part of Budget 2023, my department’s budget was substantially increased, by over 10%, meaning that for 2023 the 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.
Additional funding is also being provided to allow the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) recruit additional staff, including Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs). These additional resources should ensure that the NCSE can better support parents and schools in relation to the provision of special education needs places.
Our policy, which is set out in the Education of Persons with Special Educational Needs (EPSEN) Act 2004 is that children with special educational needs should be educated in mainstream placements with additional supports provided as appropriate.
Where children require more specialised educational settings, such as special classes or special schools, the department and the NCSE ensures that the necessary resources and supports for such placements are provided in line with the needs of the child.
We have made a lot of progress over the last three years in terms of providing special classes and special school places with over 600 new special classes sanctioned at primary level, almost 300 new special classes sanctioned at post-primary level and five new special schools established over the last three years.
There are a total of 2,537 special classes opened nationwide. Of the 2,537 special classes, there are 1798 at primary level and 739 at post primary level. We want to continue this level of progress to ensure that there are sufficient places in special classes and special schools for children who need them.
Just recently on 12th April, 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. This will bring to 7, the number of new special schools established in the last 3 years, 4 of which are located in Dublin. Capacity is also being expanded 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. My department continues to work with the City of Dublin ETB and the NCSE in planning for the establishment of the new special school. 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.
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. 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.
The NCSE has advised my department that it continues to work with schools to ensure all students identified as requiring places in the special class meet the Department of Education’s criteria for enrolment in a special class.
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 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.
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
I want to reassure you also that my department will continue to support the NCSE and schools through the provision of the necessary funding and capital investment to ensure all children are successful in accessing an education.
268. Deputy Ciarán Cannon asked the Minister for Education if officials from her Department are using an application (details supplied) to conduct business; if her Department has had official meetings regarding the use of the application by officials; if her Department has assessed the risk of using the application by Department officials and the input of Government-related data into the application; if her Department is using or is considering using other forms of artificial intelligence; if her Department is considering banning the use of the application by Department officials; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21095/23]
View answerThe current position is that my Department and officials do not presently use ChatGPT or any other form of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to generate official text. No meetings or risk assessments have yet been held regarding its use and no such software is installed on my official's devices.
269. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Education if she will consider accepting all applications for the school transport scheme, given the difficulties experienced by some students (details supplied) who did not receive tickets; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21107/23]
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 Primary School Transport Scheme, children are eligible for transport where they reside not less than 3.2 kms from and are attending their nearest primary school as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
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.
Due to 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. Under the terms of the scheme, the availability of concessionary transport varies from year to year based on the capacity on the buses running on all of the various routes and the number of eligible children accommodated on each route.
Routes will not be extended or altered, additional vehicles will not be introduced, nor will larger vehicles or extra trips using existing vehicles be provided to cater for children travelling on a concessionary basis.
All pupils who were eligible for school transport, who attend the school referred to by the Deputy, received tickets for the 2022/2023 school year.
Bus Éireann will commence reviewing applications and routes for the 2023/2024 school year once the closing date of 9th June has passed.
270. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update on the planned building works at a school (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21122/23]
View answerThe school to which the Deputy refers was granted funding under my Department's Additional Accommodation Scheme to provide a two classroom Special Education Needs base & 3 Special Education Teaching rooms.
This project has been devolved for delivery to the school authority and is currently at the Design stage of the architectural planning process. Upon receipt of the stage 1/2a report, my Department's technical officials will review the proposed design and advise the school authority on the outcome of this review. It is now a matter for the Board of Management to advance this project in that context.
271. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education when the outcome of an application for additional learning support in a school (details supplied) in County Donegal will be notified; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21123/23]
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 special needs assistant (SNA) posts in our schools will increase with an additional 686 teachers and a further 1,194 SNAs 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 SNAs. Together we have almost 40,000 qualified and committed people in our schools who are focused wholly and exclusively on supporting children with special educational needs.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children nationwide. My department does not have a role in making individual school determinations therefore schools should liaise with the NCSE directly in the event that additional supports are required.
In 2023, there will be a significant investment in the expansion of the NCSE, with a total full-year investment of €13 million, in over 160 additional staff. This investment is being undertaken so that the NSCE can respond effectively, compassionately and quickly to the increased need in our education system so that children and their families are fully supported and achieve the best possible education outcomes.
The Special Education Teaching (SET) allocation provides a single unified allocation for special educational support teaching needs to each school, based on each school’s educational profile. This model has replaced the previous model of allocating resource teaching support and learning support to schools based on a diagnosis of disability.
The SET allocation, allows schools to provide additional teaching support for all pupils who require such support in their schools and for schools to deploy resources based on each pupil’s individual learning need(s).
The allocation gives greater flexibility to schools as to how they can deploy their resources, to take account of the actual learning needs pupils have, as opposed to being guided by a particular diagnosis of disability, and schools are guided as to how they should make such allocation decisions.
The school will take account of learning needs of children as evidenced by performance in schools but also supported where relevant by information provided regarding the nature of a condition that a pupil may have.
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
As the question relates to the allocation of supports for a specific school, I will arrange to have your question forwarded to the NCSE for direct reply to you.
272. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 265 of 25 April 2023, if a board of management can contact those teachers who have been refused continuation of a career break, to ascertain their intention to return to school or resign prior to the date that they are to resume duties; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21129/23]
View answerAs stated in Parliamentary Question No. 265 of 25th April 2023, the school Board of Management, appointed by the Patron of each recognised school, is responsible for the management of a school and its staff. Teachers, in accordance with the Education Act, are employed by the school management authority of each individual school. The Department of Education is not the employer of teachers.
Under the Career Break Scheme, a teacher on a Career Break who wishes to resign from their teaching post is required to notify their employer in writing, in accordance with the teacher’s terms of employment.
As their employer, the Board of Management has responsibility for establishing the position with a teacher with regard to their intention to return to school following a Career Break absence or their intention to resign from their teaching post.
273. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Education if she will engage with the Minister for Transport to deliver public transport links between Westport and Louisburgh in order to support the student travelling from Westport to attend a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21142/23]
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 process and proceed to make a payment on time will be accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation for the 2023/24 school year.
The closing date for school transport applications for the 2023/24 school year was Friday, 28th April 2023. The closing date for payments for the 2023/24 school year is 9th June 2023.
Families can still apply for school transport following this date, but if applications are late, a place on a service cannot be guaranteed. Applications are made on the Bus Éireann website at www.buseireann.ie.
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 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.
Due to 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 are already existing routes in place, temporary alleviation measures will be continued for the 2023/24 school year, pending completion of the School Transport Review. 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 applied by the 28th April 2023 and who complete the payment process by 9th June 2023.
Bus Éireann have advised that the family, referred to by the Deputy, have not submitted an application for School Transport to date.
274. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education her plans to establish a stream of beginner, novice and advanced swimming lessons as part of primary education. [21165/23]
View answerThe current Physical Education (PE) curriculum at primary level, developed in 1999, is for children from junior infants to sixth class. The curriculum contributes to children’s overall development by helping them to lead full, active and healthy lives. It provides a balanced range of activities for children through the six strands, of which Aquatics is one. The aquatics programme is concerned with gaining competence and confidence near, in, under and on water. The term ‘aquatics’ is used to include not only the teaching of swimming strokes but the provision of opportunities for enjoyment of water play and other aspects of aquatics. The concern for water safety permeates all aquatic activities. However, the PE curriculum has been developed on the understanding that facilities available to schools vary. Consequently, it offers a level of flexibility that allows each individual school to design a programme that can be delivered using the resources and supports available to it.
The Primary Curriculum Framework, was launched on 9th March. It sets out the vision; principles; key competencies; structure; approaches to learning, teaching, and assessment; and suggested time allocations of the new Primary School Curriculum. The framework is for all primary and special schools and introduces and expands aspects of learning and also holds increased emphasis on existing areas such as Physical Education and Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) (Wellbeing.
As developments progress, curriculum specifications will be developed for the five curriculum areas and their associated subjects with toolkits provided to support learning, teaching, and assessment One of these areas is wellbeing which includes Physical Education. To support the development of the specification the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) will undertake research and consultation with a view to the new specifications being ready for the 2025/2026 school year.
The Physical Education curricula at both primary and second level have been developed on the understanding that facilities available to schools vary. Consequently, they offer a level of flexibility that allows each individual school to design a programme that can be delivered using the resources and supports available to it.
275. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education if she will list all reviews of Acts which have been carried out by her Department in line with the provisions of the Act in question from 2000 to date; if a summary will be provided of any substantive amendments of the Act in question that occurred on foot of each review and the amending legislation, if any, in each case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21180/23]
View answerThere have been no reviews of Acts carried out by my Department in line with the provisions of that Act from 2000 to date. The Deputy may wish to note that the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004 is currently being reviewed. The review is due to be complete this year.
