Catherine Connolly
Question:246. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education the estimated cost of reducing the pupil teacher ratio by one point at primary level. [23755/23]
View answerPupil-Teacher Ratio
Questions (246, 247)
Catherine Connolly
Question:247. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education the estimated cost of reducing the pupil-teacher ratio by one point at second level. [23756/23]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 246 and 247 together.
Under the Programme for Government there is a commitment to seek to make further progress in reducing the pupil teacher ratios in primary schools.
In Budget 2023, I ensured major investment in our schools and I have succeeded in bringing the teacher allocation ratio to an average of 1 classroom teacher for every 23 pupils in all primary schools for the 2023/24 school year which is the lowest ever seen at primary level. This was my third successive Budget which saw an improvement in allocation of teachers to primary schools. A three point reduction in the retention schedule, in place since 2021, assists schools that would otherwise be at risk of losing teaching posts.
A one point improvement in the staffing schedule at primary level would cost in the region of €20.5m per annum.
Teachers are currently allocated to post primary schools at a ratio of 19:1 in the free education system and 23:1 to schools in the fee charging sector. Each 1 point adjustment to the pupil teacher ratio at post primary level would cost approximately €60.4m per annum.
Question No. 247 answered with Question No. 246.
Special Educational Needs
Questions (248)
Catherine Connolly
Question:248. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education the projected demand for school places at primary and second level for pupils with special educational needs for the school year commencing September 2023; and the estimated cost of providing sufficient places at primary and second level to meet this projected demand. [23757/23]
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 (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). The vast majority of children with special educational needs are supported to attend mainstream classes with their peers. Where children with more complex needs require additional supports, special classes and special school places are provided.
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 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 and additional special school places. 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.
As a result of this forward planning, on the 12th of April, Minister Foley and I announced the establishment of 2 new special schools for the 2023/2024 school year, with further capacity being expanded in 11 other special schools.
Along with the two new special schools, 328 new special classes – 217 at primary and 111 at post-primary level – have been sanctioned by the NCSE for opening in the 2023/24 school year, with more to be confirmed in the coming weeks.
As demand for new special classes at post-primary level is expected to increase significantly over the next few years, due to increasing demographics and increasing prevalence rates, my Department and the NCSE have engaged with post-primary stakeholders in relation to the provision of special classes.
In October of last year, my Department wrote to all post-primary schools to advise them of the need to begin planning to provide additional special classes. It is envisaged that all post-primary schools will be required to provide special classes over the next 3 to 5 years, with an approximate average of 4 special classes in each school.
My Department and the NCSE are committed to ensuring that sufficient special education placements will be available for children for the coming school year 2023/2024.
Parents seeking special class placements for their children are advised to contact the NCSE locally so that their needs can be taken into account for planning purposes. The local special educational needs organisers (SENOs) remain available to assist and advise parents of children with special educational needs. Parents may contact SENOs directly using the contact details available at: ncse.ie/regional-servic es-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.
State Examinations
Questions (249)
Alan Dillon
Question:249. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Education if plans are in place to offer Leaving Certificate students the same choices in their exam papers as was offered to students in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23772/23]
View answerWritten answers
The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the state examinations.
In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.
Schools Building Projects
Questions (250)
Cathal Crowe
Question:250. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update on the building works at a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23782/23]
View answerWritten answers
I can confirm that the school referred to by the deputy has been approved for a project under my Department's Additional School Accommodation (ASA) Scheme 2022. The project will provide the following accommodation at the school: 2 x SET Rooms and 2 x SEN Base. This project has been devolved for delivery to the school authority and is currently at Stage 1.
I wish to advise the Deputy that the Stage 1 Design Report has been received in my Department and is currently under review. Following completion of this review my Department will revert directly to the school authority.
In relation to payment of Stage 1 Design Team Fees, a payment instruction issued on the 10th of May 2023 and the school should be in receipt of relevant funds shortly.
State Examinations
Questions (251)
Richard O'Donoghue
Question:251. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education the date that the Leaving Certificate results will be issued (details supplied). [23822/23]
View answerWritten answers
Whilst the State Examinations Commission (SEC) is responsible for the operation, delivery and development of the State examinations, I am very much aware of the importance for students, parents and education stakeholders of ensuring that the results for Leaving Certificate 2023 are delivered in as timely a manner as possible.
While the SEC is not yet in a position to confirm the date for the Leaving Certificate 2023 results, my strong preference is to see results for Leaving Certificate 2023 issue within the month of August.
Last year was the first time since 2019 that written State examinations were undertaken by all students. The date for issue of results was influenced by a number of factors. These included a challenge in recruiting sufficient examiners, the welcome provision of a set of deferred examinations at Leaving Certificate for candidates who experienced illness or bereavement, and the implementation of a post-marking adjustment to give effect to the commitment that results in 2022 would be no lower in the aggregate than in the previous year.
All of these factors remain part of the planning for the 2023 examinations.
For 2023, in relation to the recruitment of examiners, the SEC has been undertaking a review of this issue with all of the post-primary stakeholders. The objective is to substantially increase the number of teachers involved. The SEC’s recruitment campaign for written examiners is ongoing and a new recruitment hub has been launched at secexaminer.ie. In recent years there have been increases in the rates paid to examiners and the SEC have again received additional funding for these rates for 2023.
A set of deferred Leaving Certificate examinations will be provided again this year for candidates who experience illness or bereavement. For this year, the SEC issued Circular S34/22 to schools on the 27th April setting out the criteria for accessing the deferred examinations. A key change for 2023 is that the criteria set out in the circular now include provision for a situation where a candidate experiences an extreme medical emergency after they have commenced the examination. This follows a review by the SEC of the operation of the deferred exams in 2022.
I have also previously confirmed that there would be no “cliff edge” for this year’s students in relation to grades. It is expected that this will require a post-marking adjustment, and this is also part of the planning ongoing for the 2023 examinations.
Every effort will be made to ensure that the results of the examinations are available in time to meet the needs of candidates and end users, notwithstanding the challenges and student-centred requirements that must be managed. Sufficient time must also be allowed for the range of checks and quality assurance procedures which are required in the resulting process. It is of vital importance for students, and indeed for other stakeholders, that the procedures are given sufficient time to execute to the highest standards.
Schools Building Projects
Questions (252)
Paul Kehoe
Question:252. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Education if her Department owns land at a location (details supplied) in Dublin 15 ; if the land could be used as the permanent site for a school along with the site that the school is currently using; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23906/23]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy is aware, in April 2018 it was announced that 42 new schools were to be established over the period of 2019 to 2022. This announcement included a new 800 pupil post-primary school to serve Blanchardstown_WestD15 & BlanchardstownVge_D15 School Planning Areas.
In line with the policy on the use of State assets, which is also consistent with the objective of the National Development Plan for compact development in urban areas, potentially suitable State-owned properties in the School Planning Areas were considered.
The Department’s technical team assessed the suitability of the site referred to by the Deputy in 2020. The assessment concluded the site was unsuitable, as the delivery of a new post primary school on the site imposed serious constraints on both the existing school, Hansfield ETSS, and the proposed new school.
The site identification and assessment exercise for the school referred to by the Deputy is ongoing. Potential site options have been identified, including Minister-owned property.
The Deputy will appreciate that negotiations in respect of site acquisitions are, by their nature, sensitive and for that reason I am not in a position to provide further information at this time
Schools Building Projects
Questions (253)
Duncan Smith
Question:253. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education if she will confirm whether plans, drawings, or both, have been drawn up for the provision of a primary school at lands in Corballis, Donabate; if so, if she will provide a copy of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23916/23]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy is aware, there is a designated school site within the lands referred to in Corballis, Donabate.
The design and the delivery of a school on the designated site, is dependent on road infrastructure and services to be delivered as part of the residential development, on the lands referred to by the Deputy.
The residential development was granted planning permission by An Bord Pleanála in November 2022. Unfortunately, judicial review proceedings have been lodged in respect of An Bord Pleanála’s decision.
My Department now await the outcome of the judicial review process, prior to advancing the plans for the provision of a primary school at lands in Corballis, Donabate.