Cathal Crowe
Question:177. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education the reason primary schools receive a lower rate of ICT grant per pupil than post-primary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22215/23]
View answerGrant Payments
Questions (177)
Written answers
The Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027 was published in April 2022 and builds on the achievements of the previous Digital Strategy for Schools 2015-2020. It aims to further support the school system so that all students across our schools have the opportunity to gain the knowledge and skills they need to navigate an ever-evolving digital world successfully. The strategy was developed following an extensive consultation process with all relevant stakeholders including students, parents/guardians, teachers and industry and sets out the various supports and resources available to schools in this important area.
The strategy is underpinned by an overall investment of €200m, €50m of which has already issued directly to schools in respect of the 2020 to 2021 school year.
The rates of per capita payment applied for primary and post-primary schools for the ICT Infrastructure grants reflects that a rate difference is also applied to the general capitation paid by the Department. Post-primary schools generally have a greater number of teaching spaces to equip and maintain, and have a broader curriculum and more specialised curricular areas to support. The pupil-teacher ratio in post-primary schools is lower, which means that they generally have a greater number of teachers to provide for. This is the approach typically taken by the Department in relation to similar grant schemes that apply to primary and post-primary. However it should be noted that the first tranche of grant funding under the Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027 saw a proportional increase in the funding applied to primary schools, thereby reducing the difference in rates between the two sectors that had applied to the funding issued under the Digital Strategy 2015 to 2020.
Grant Payments
Questions (178)
Holly Cairns
Question:178. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education if she will ensure that the home tuition grant is processed in a timely manner to provide funding for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22226/23]
View answerWritten answers
I am pleased to inform the Deputy that all outstanding payments to the school in question in respect of home tuition have now been processed.
The purpose of the Home Tuition Grant Scheme is to provide funding towards the provision of a compensatory educational service for children who, for a number of specific reasons, are unable to attend school. The terms of this scheme are set out in circular 46/2022 which is available on the Government of Ireland website at www.gov.ie/en/circular/22b2a-home-tuition-grant-scheme-20222023-special-education-component/
Payments to group providers of home tuition, such as the facility concerned, are made directly to the provider on a monthly basis in arrears in accordance with my Department’s policy in this regard. Claim forms are submitted to my Department at the end of the month in which tuition has been provided and every effort is made to process these claims as efficiently as possible to ensure payment is made as soon as possible after the claim form is received from the facility. However, delays may be experienced from time to time if forms are incomplete. I can assure the deputy that every effort is being made to keep any delays to a minimum.
School Transport
Questions (179)
Réada Cronin
Question:179. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Education if her Department can guarantee definitively the additional school bus that is so desperately needed in North Kildare vis-à-vis children trying to get to school in the Rathcoffey-Maynooth environs, such need being the source of many Parliamentary Questions and much correspondence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22230/23]
View answerWritten answers
The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year, over 149,000 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 5,000 children who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine.
The total cost of the scheme in 2022 was €338.9m.
The purpose of the Department's School Transport Scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school.
A review of the School Transport Scheme commenced in February 2021. The review is being conducted with a view to examining the current scheme, its broader effectiveness and sustainability, and to ensure that it serves students and their families adequately.
Phase 1 of the review examined the impact of eligibility criteria on mainstream pupils who were eligible for transport to their nearest school but attending their next nearest school. The report was completed in June 2021.
Following consideration of this report, for the 2021/2022 school year, the provision of temporary alleviation measures was approved for transport for post-primary students who are otherwise eligible for school transport, but were attending their second nearest school and had applied and paid on time. These measures have been continued for the current 2022/2023 school year, and will again continue in the 2023/2024 school year pending completion of the review.
For the 2023/2024 school year, these measures mean that transport will be provided for post-primary pupils who are eligible for transport to their nearest school and are attending their second nearest school and, who applied for school transport by the 28th April 2023 and pay for a ticket/enter medical card details by the 9th June 2023.
Phase two of the review has progressed significantly and is being completed in tandem with phase three which is well underway.
For the 2023/2024 school year, it remains that 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 are accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation.
In addition, as mentioned above, temporary alleviation measures have been continued for the 2023/2024 school year, pending completion of the review.
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.
The Department has received numerous correspondence in relation to school transport in the North Kildare area from families who have not received tickets for the current school year (2022/2023) as they are not eligible for transport under the terms of the School Transport Scheme.
If families have applied to attend their nearest school in regards to ethos and language and have been advised by the school authorities that it is full, my Department will consider if students can be deemed eligible for transport to the next nearest school.
To establish that the nearest school is full parents must provide:
• The steps taken to enrol their child in the nearest and next nearest schools
• Evidence that an application for enrolment was made within the deadline dates specified by the school and
• A letter from the School Authorities confirming that the school was full at the time of enrolment.
These families can submit details to the School Transport Section in the Department of Education at school_transport@education.gov.ie. To date School Transport Section has not received the required documentation detailed above from any families in the area. In cases where the families are attending their third or fourth nearest school, the above documentation will be required for each school in turn. Families who require information in relation to the schools nearer to them can contact the School Transport Section at the above email address.
Early School Leavers
Questions (180)
Pádraig O'Sullivan
Question:180. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education her plans to solve the issues facing the school completion programme Newbridge, County Kildare (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22239/23]
View answerWritten answers
On 1 January 2021, responsibility for education welfare functions, including the administration of the home school community liaison scheme and the school completion programme, SCP, transferred from the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to my Department. The SCP forms part of the Tusla education support service, TESS. While the arrangements between Tusla and the SCP are not impacted by the change in ministerial responsibility, Tusla now reports to my Department in respect of the SCP, which is funded by my Department via Tusla.
The SCP was introduced in 2002 and the programme is now a central element of DEIS, a key policy initiative of my Department to address educational disadvantage at school level. Since my Department took over responsibility for the school completion programme in January 2021, the initial focus has been on the development of the legislative platform to support the transfer of functions from DCEDIY. This body of work has now been completed and the next body of work will consider all other aspects of the programme, including governance and structures for SCP and all matters involved therein.
There are currently 122 school completion projects with local management committees (LMC). At present, management of the school completion programme initiatives, including the employment of staff, occurs at local level.
Officials from my Department have been advised that TESS is currently engaging with LMC of Newbridge SCP and Kildare Wicklow ETB (KWETB) in relation to operational matters concerning this project. TESS continue to be available to provide any further support and guidance required at SCP@tusla.ie.
School Transport
Questions (181)
John Lahart
Question:181. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education the position in relation to school transport services for students attending a particular school (details supplied) from outside its catchment area because that school is the only school capable of accommodating the excess student population in the area; if all such students will be provided with transport; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22252/23]
View answerWritten answers
The 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. The purpose of the Department's School Transport Scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school. Under the terms of the Department’s School Transport Scheme, 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. Families who wish to avail of school transport and have their eligibility status assessed should apply on-line in a timely manner to Bus Éireann on Bus Éireann’s website at www.buseireann.ie/schooltransport
The closing date for new applications in respect of the 2023/2024 school year was 28th April 2023 and the closing date for payment for all applicants is 9th June 2023. Once the payment closing date has passed, Bus Éireann will review applications and plan routes during the summer months for the upcoming school year. Arising from this review, routes may be altered, extended or withdrawn depending on the number and location of eligible children who will be availing of school transport for the following school year. Children who are not eligible for school transport may apply for transport on a concessionary basis in accordance with the terms of the Post Primary School Transport Scheme and subject to the following conditions:
• an application is made by the deadline date
• there is an existing service in place
• there is spare capacity on the service;
• 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;
In cases where the Department is satisfied that a family's nearest and next nearest schools are full, eligibility for school transport will be determined based on the distance pupils reside from their next nearest school(s) having regard to ethos and language.
To establish that the nearest and next nearest schools are full, families must provide:-
• The detailed steps taken to enrol your child in the nearest and next nearest schools.
• Evidence that an application for enrolment was made within the deadline dates specified by the school(s) and
• A letter from the School Authorities confirming that the school was full at time of enrolment.
This documentation can be sent to school transport section at the address below for consideration to school_transport@education.gov.ie
School Transport
Questions (182)
Seán Sherlock
Question:182. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Education if she will consider an issue where over 20 schoolchildren are excluded from transport (details supplied). [22256/23]
View answerWritten answers
The 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 are now accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation for the 2022/2023 school year.
Children who are not eligible for school transport, but who completed the application process on time, will be considered for spare seats that may exist after eligible children have been facilitated; such seats are referred to as concessionary seats.
Because of the nature of concessionary transport for non-eligible children and the priority of providing places for eligible children, there may be an excess of demand over supply for concessionary places, in these cases Bus Éireann will allocate tickets for spare seats using an agreed selection process.
Bus Éireann has advised that the pupils referred to by the Deputy in this case are not eligible under the School Transport Scheme as they are not attending their closest school. Bus Éireann further advised that a new service cannot be established as there is currently an insufficient number of eligible applications from pupils residing in the distinct locality.
Families can apply for online at: buseireann.ie/schooltransport. The closing date for new applications in respect of the 2023/2024 school year was 28th April 2023 and the closing date for payment for all applicants is 9th June 2023. Once the payment closing date has passed, Bus Éireann will review applications and plan routes during the summer months for the upcoming school year.
School Transport
Questions (183)
Pearse Doherty
Question:183. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education the reason school transport was refused for a child (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22262/23]
View answerWritten answers
The 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 5,000 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 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest primary 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.
For school bus operating purposes a “distinct locality” is a cluster of eligible children who reside in the same general area, in the same general direction from the education centre attended, as determined by Bus Éireann taking cognisance of the local road network.
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.
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.
Parents of a child wishing to avail of school transport services are required to apply on-line on Bus Éireann website at www.buseireann.ie
In respect of the 2023/24 school year, the closing date for new applications was Friday 28 April 2023. Any new applications made after the closing date are considered late applications and families are not guaranteed a seat on any available service.
The Bus Éireann family portal will accept payments/medical card details until 9th June 2023. Payments made after the deadline date will be deemed late and a seat may not be available to families at that stage. Parents of eligible pupils must ensure applications are received and paid for on time to be considered.
Bus Éireann have confirmed that they have received an application for school transport for the 2023/2024 school year for the pupil concerned in March 2023. Bus Éireann reviews all School Transport services for the 2023/24 School Year. This review of services will be carried out after the payment deadline of 9th June 2023.
Any new services can only be established under the terms of the scheme set out by The Department of Education.
Departmental Correspondence
Questions (184)
David Cullinane
Question:184. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Education if she will clarify a matter raised in correspondence by a person (details supplied) in relation to an application for incremental credit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22263/23]
View answerWritten answers
The teacher to which the Deputy refers, applied for incremental credit initially under circular 29/2010 with regard to their prior service in a school in Waterford. It is a requirement of circular 29/2010 that a teacher is registered with the Teaching Council to qualify for incremental credit under this circular. In order to be registered as a post primary teacher with the Teaching Council, a person must be qualified as a post primary teacher.
At the time of this prior service, this teacher was not a qualified teacher and was not registered with the Teaching Council. Therefore, this person could not be awarded incremental credit under 29/2010 as they did not meet the eligibility criteria.
In November 2021, this teacher again applied for incremental credit under circular 29/2007 with regard to the same prior teaching service but applying this time under the relevant non-teaching (RNT) category provided for under the Circular.
In accordance with Section 6.C.i of circular 29/2007, incremental credit under the RNT category can be awarded in respect of period(s) of suitable experience gained in the course of non-teaching service. However, in accordance with Section 6.C.i(3) of the circular, the teacher must have been professionally qualified for that service at the time the service was given in order to qualify under the RNT category.
The teacher did not therefore satisfy the criteria set down in the circular for an award of incremental credit under the RNT category.
It should also be noted that if a teacher is refused incremental credit under teaching service, it is not an automatic entitlement that they can submit an application under RNT service as set out in our incremental credit circulars.
School Staff
Questions (185)
Pearse Doherty
Question:185. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education if a review of SNA allocation will take place for a school that will include the needs of a new entrant (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22264/23]
View answerWritten answers
I 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.
My department has allocated 1,165 additional special needs assistants (SNAs) to schools in the past year and in Budget 2023 an additional 686 teachers and 1,194 SNAs are being provided to support schools.
The additional SNAs will be allocated as follows: 735 to support students in new special classes, 124 to support students in new special school places and 335 to support students in mainstream classes.
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 planning and coordinating school supports for children with special educational needs including the allocation of SNAs.
SNAs play a central role in the successful inclusion of students with additional and significant care needs into mainstream education, special classes and special schools ensuring that these students can access education to enable them to achieve their best outcomes and reach their full potential.
SNAs are allocated to schools as a school based resource and are not allocated to individual children. The deployment of SNAs within schools is a matter for the individual principal/board of management of the school. SNAs should be deployed by the school in a manner which best meets the care support requirements of the children enrolled in the school for whom SNA support has been allocated.
It is a matter for schools to allocate support as required, and on the basis of individual need, which allows schools flexibility in how the SNA support is utilised.
My department does not have a role in making individual school determinations and the school should liaise with the NCSE directly in the event that additional supports are required.
Schools can seek a review of their SNA allocations through an exceptional review process, detailed information on the NCSE’s exceptional review process is published on the NCSE website: ncse.ie/application-for-sna-exceptional-review.
The NCSE endeavour to respond to all applications for exceptional review received as expediently as possible and in that regard, it will prioritise applications from schools with no current SNA allocation and developing schools.
The NCSE has developed an appeal mechanism for schools who are not satisfied with the outcome of the exceptional review. Local special educational needs organisers (SENOs) will provide information and clarification to schools on the outcome where requested.
As the question relates to the allocation of supports to a specific school, I will arrange to have your question forwarded to the NCSE for direct reply to you.
Schools Building Projects
Questions (186)
Ged Nash
Question:186. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education if she will provide details of her Department’s plans to build new primary and secondary schools to cater for the rapid expansion of the area which is the subject of the North Drogheda Environs Masterplan (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22285/23]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy may be aware, my Department is included among the prescribed bodies to whom local authorities send draft development plans, local area plans or proposed variations to development plans for comment and observations. This enables local authorities to reserve future school sites in areas designated for proposed housing development.
My Department is currently engaged with Louth County Council in relation to the forthcoming Local Area Plan for Drogheda, which will include a review of the Masterplan that the Deputy refers to. The new draft plan will then be assessed and my Department will provide its input and observations on that plan to the Council relating to any future school provision requirements for the Drogheda area, which includes the North Drogheda environs.