Written Answers Nos. 307-321
307. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Education for an update on the Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027; when ICT funding will become available again for schools at primary and post-primary level; when ICT funding was last available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29314/23]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, the Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027 was published in April 2022 following an extensive consultation process. The Strategy sets out my Department’s policy approach to build on the progress made in embedding digital technology across the curriculum and in all aspects of teaching, learning and assessment. It aims to ensure that we have an education system that supports the development of competent, critically engaged and active learners.
While an implementation plan is being finalised and will be published shortly, the overarching objectives under the strategy are already in progress with various programmes, initiatives and pilots underway, as well as continuous professional support for schools leaders and teachers.
The strategy is underpinned by an investment of €200m to support schools over the period committed to under Ireland’s National Development Plan (NDP). The first tranche of €50m issued to all recognised primary and post-primary schools in late 2021.
Under the Digital Strategy for Schools 2015 to 2020 overall investment of €210m issued to all recognised primary and post-primary schools in annual grant funding. This funding was to support schools to invest in appropriate digital infrastructure to embed the use of digital technology in teaching, learning and assessment.
It is hoped to issue the next tranche of funding in the 2023-2024 school year. As with all such funding, the issuing of the grant is subject to the availability of Exchequer funding and the wider capital needs of the Department.
It is anticipated that the funding committed to under the NDP will be available to support the implementation of the Digital Strategy to Schools in future years.
As with funding under the previous strategy, the funding under the Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027 issues directly to schools as they are best placed to identify the requirements of their own student cohort and to meet those requirements in the most appropriate way in accordance with their digital learning plan.
308. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Education if the ICT grant for primary schools has been discontinued; if so, the rationale for doing so; if so, are there any plans to have it reinstated for the academic year beginning September 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29323/23]
View answerUnder the Digital Strategy for Schools 2015 to 2020 overall investment of €210m issued to all recognised primary and post-primary schools in annual grant funding. This funding was to support schools to invest in appropriate digital infrastructure to embed the use of digital technology in teaching, learning and assessment.
The new Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027 was published last year and is underpinned by an investment of €200m to support schools over the period committed to under Ireland’s National Development Plan (NDP). The first tranche of €50m issued to all recognised primary and post-primary schools in late 2021.
It is hoped to issue the next tranche of funding in the 2023-2024 school year and advance notice of the payment will be communicated to schools at that time. As with all such funding, the issuing of the grant is subject to the availability of Exchequer funding and the wider capital needs of the Department.
It is anticipated that the funding committed to under the NDP will be available to support the implementation of the Digital Strategy to Schools in future years.
As with funding under the previous strategy, the funding under the Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027 issues directly to schools as they are best placed to identify the requirements of their own student cohort and to meet those requirements in the most appropriate way in accordance with their digital learning plan.
309. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Education if she will remove the distance criteria in the school transport scheme ahead of the 2023/2024 school year. [29406/23]
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 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.
There has been an increase of 21% in tickets issued to eligible students and 38% in tickets issued on a concessionary basis in the current 2022/23 school year compared to the 2021/22 school year.
In addition, school transport scheme services are being provided in the current school year for over 5,400 children who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine.
The total cost of the scheme in 2022 was €338.9m.
The School Transport Scheme is an important service for families and children.
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 is underway. 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.
Significant consultation has been undertaken as part of this review. A public survey was administered for parents/guardians and students who use the service and those who do not use the service but who would like to. A broad array of stakeholders including schools, special education interest groups, industry representatives and other Government Departments were all consulted as part of this review.
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 Phase 1 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 2 of the review was completed late last year and phase 3 will be completed shortly. This final report will include recommendations on the future operation of the Department’s School Transport Scheme. Once approved by Government, it is planned that the review will be published.
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.
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.
310. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Education if all public post-primary schools have an entitlement in relation to the parental support towards the cost of schoolbooks for post-primary schools set out in circular letter 0046/2013 and in relation to the book rental scheme (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29413/23]
View answerMy Department provides a book grant to all recognised post primary schools within the Free Education Scheme in order to provide assistance for books including Book Rental Schemes.
Under this scheme, the Department provided funding of €10.2 million in 2022 to these schools.
Schools participating in my Department’s DEIS Programme receive an enhanced rate of book grant. The rates for the book grant are €24 per pupil in Non-DEIS schools and €39 per pupil in DEIS schools
School book rental schemes have an important role to play in reducing the cost of school books for parents and guardians. However, it is a matter for the Board of Management of each individual school to decide on its own policy in relation to the use of book grant funding in the school but they are expected to adopt a cost-conscious approach to the selection of books for use in their classes. The current arrangement relies on the local knowledge of the school in order to ensure a fair allocation of funds to those most in need.
311. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update on developments around needs-based accommodations and support in education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29415/23]
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 SNA posts in our schools will increase with an additional 686 teachers and a further 1,194 special needs assistants 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 Special needs assistants. 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.
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.
Our policy, which is set out in the Education of Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004 (EPSEN) is that children with SEN should be educated in mainstream placements with additional supports provided as appropriate.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children nationwide.
In 2023, there will be a significant investment in the expansion of the National Council for Special Education, 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.
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.
My Department does not have a role in making individual school determinations and the schools should liaise with the NCSE directly in the event that additional supports are required. Parents may also contact their local SENO directly to discuss their child's special educational needs, using the contact details available on www.ncse.ie.
Additional supports for children with special educational needs are embedded in all primary and post primary schools. Schools allocate their Special Education Teaching and SNA supports based on need in the school setting, so that those with highest level of need can access the highest level of support within the school in a timely manner. This model means that pupils do not need a psychological assessment, or a diagnosis of a disability, in order to access additional support in school.
Where a parent has an assessment for their child which notes that they have a particular special educational need, or disability, they should still bring this to the attention of the school, as it may assist the school to decide how best to support the child. The school will take account of learning needs 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.
My Department encourages parents and school authorities to engage locally regarding pupils' education. Should a parent be dissatisfied with the manner in which supports have been provided to support their child's education they should raise this matter directly with their school Principal or the Board of Management of the school.
312. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Education for an update on the long-awaited Celbridge schools’ project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29418/23]
View answerThe project the Deputy refers to has been devolved to the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) for delivery as part of bundled school building programmes. The shared education campus at Celbridge is in the bundle referred to as ‘Project Liffey’.
A letter was issued by the Department to the schools to advise that their respective school had been included in the programme and the NDFA has since been in contact with each school to introduce the team, communicate arrangements and discuss the project briefs.
The NDFA are currently finalising the arrangements for the procurement process required to appoint a Design Team for the project bundle to progress the projects through the various architectural design stages. At this early stage, it is not possible to provide a timeline for completion of the project; the NDFA will be engaging directly with the school authorities to keep them informed of progress.
313. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education when a school place will be offered in a Kildare ASD unit for the son of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29420/23]
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). 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.
Of these new classes, 7 are in Co. Kildare, with 5 at primary level and 2 at post-primary level. These new classes will bring the total number of special classes in Kildare to 112.
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-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
The NCSE is committed to ensuring that sufficient special education placements will be available for children for the coming school year 2023/2024.
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.
As your query refers to an individual placement case, I will arrange to have it referred to the NCSE for their attention and direct reply.
314. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update regarding an additional school accommodation application for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29421/23]
View answerI can confirm to the Deputy that my Department is in receipt of an application for additional school accommodation from the school in question.
The purpose of my Department’s ASA scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream classroom accommodation and accommodation for pupils with special education needs is available to cater for pupils enrolled each year, where the need cannot be met by the school’s existing accommodation.
At primary level, this situation generally arises to cater for a school’s accommodation requirements where an additional teaching post has been sanctioned by Teacher Allocation Section, or the requirement for a new class for pupils with special education needs has been identified by the NCSE, and all available alternative accommodation within the school is already being used for classroom purposes
My Department's capital investment programme provides for devolved funding for additional classrooms for existing schools where an immediate enrolment need has been identified. All school capital projects that have been approved, by my Department, under the Additional School Accommodation Scheme (ASA), may be viewed on my Department’s website, www.gov.ie, which is updated regularly.
The application from the school in question is currently under consideration by my Department and once it has been assessed the school authority will be contacted directly with a decision.
315. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Education the estimated full-year cost of recruiting 35 additional WTE psychologists for the National Educational Psychological Service. [29424/23]
View answerThe average direct pay and non-pay cost of employing one main grade Educational Psychologist in the NEPS service is €76,000 per annum, therefore the cost of employing 35 wte psychologists is €2.6m.
316. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Education the number of places in each teacher training college for initial teacher training for primary school teachers for the past three years, including 2023. [29425/23]
View answerThere are 5 Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) providing primary Initial Teacher Education (ITE) in Ireland; four State-funded providers and one private provider.
Each of the State-funded providers have both concurrent (undergraduate) and consecutive (postgraduate) programmes:
• DCU Institute of Education.
• Marino Institute of Education.
• Maynooth University (Froebel Department of Primary and Early Childhood Education)
• Mary Immaculate College.
Each year, the number of students admitted to primary concurrent and consecutive programmes in State-funded HEIs is determined by my Department, having regard to teacher supply and demand issues, and available resources.
The approved intake for each, over the last number of years, has been as follows:
• 1,000 places per annum on the Bachelor of Education (B. Ed) programme
• 30 places per annum on the Bachelor of Education (B. Ed) through the medium of Irish programme
• 200 places per annum on the Primary Masters in Education (PME) programme
Hibernia College is a privately owned institution which provides a primary consecutive (postgraduate) ITE programme only. My Department has no involvement in setting the numbers for Hibernia.
Recent policy advances, for example, the extension of DEIS status to 322 additional schools from September 2023, increased provision for students with special educational needs, and the positive changes in the staffing schedule which bring the pupil: teacher ratio in schools to a historic low, along with the enrolment of Ukrainian pupils have impacted on teacher demands and ongoing pressures relating to the availability of substitute teachers.
With these combined factors, it is anticipated that demand for primary teachers over the next number of years will exceed previous expectations.
Accordingly, following engagement with the 4 State-funded higher education institutions providing initial teacher education, I approved 610 additional places in March this year with 320 of these coming on stream in 2023, and the remaining 290 in 2024.
The new places are as follows:
• 90 additional places on the B.Ed. programme in 2023 and 2024, making a total of 1,090 each year.
• 30 additional places on the B.Ed. through the Medium of Irish in 2023, making a total of 60 in 2023.
• 200 additional places on the Professional Master of Education (Primary Teaching) (PME) programme in 2023 and 2024, making a total of 400 each year.
317. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal will receive payment for working as an SNA; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29438/23]
View answerThe SNA concerned was employed to cover a temporary post from 22/02/2023 to 27/02/2023 inclusive, pending the outcome of an interview for the post. A temporary appointment form was received on 21/3/2023, along with two other short-term temporary appointment forms.
It should be noted that, in the main, payment dates are dependent on when claims are made via the On Line Claims System (OLCS) and schools are regularly reminded to ensure that this is done in a timely fashion.
However, in this case, it appears that due to an administrative error, the appointment form was not properly processed when received in NTS Payroll. This resulted in payments not issuing for the dates mentioned above. I would like to assure you that this matter has been addressed and also to apologise for any inconvenience caused.
Payment for six days is due to issue to the SNA on 22/06/2023, along with payment for seven substitute days (for various days worked between 15/05/2023 and 25/05/2023) which were keyed via OLCS by another school that the SNA was employed in.
Payment for a day worked on 19/04/2023 issued to the SNA on 25/05/2023.
318. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Education if the ICT grant as part of the Digital Learning Plan will be paid to a school (details supplied) in 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29460/23]
View answerUnder the Digital Strategy for Schools 2015 to 2020 overall investment of €210m issued to all recognised primary and post-primary schools in annual grant funding. This funding was to support schools to invest in appropriate digital infrastructure to embed the use of digital technology in teaching, learning and assessment.
The new Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027 was published last year and is underpinned by an investment of €200m to support schools over the period committed to under Ireland’s National Development Plan (NDP). The first tranche of €50m issued to all recognised primary and post-primary schools in respect of the 2021 to 2022 school year. Funding of €50m secured as part of Ireland's National Recovery and Resilience Plan under the NextGenerationEU Recovery and Resilience Facility issued to all recognised schools in the free education scheme to support learners at risk of educational disadvantage through the digital divide, also issued in late 2021.
It is hoped to issue the next tranche of funding in the 2023-2024 school year. As with all such funding, the issuing of the grant is subject to the availability of Exchequer funding and the wider capital needs of the Department.
It is anticipated that the funding committed to under the NDP will be available to support the implementation of the Digital Strategy to Schools in future years.
As with funding under the previous strategy, the funding under the Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027 issues directly to schools as they are best placed to identify the requirements of their own learner cohort and to meet those requirements in the most appropriate way in accordance with their digital learning plan.
319. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education if she will outline the implementation of circular 25/2016 by each State body under the aegis of her Department; and if she will provide, in tabular form, by State agency, the compliance with each of the standards and timelines set out in responding to Oireachtas Members’ queries; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29471/23]
View answerThe information sought by the Deputy in regard to the bodies under the aegis of my Department is not routinely collated by my Department.
My officials have made contact with the bodies and will supply a response to the Deputy as soon as possible.
320. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Education if school transport will be provided in the case of each child from a household (details supplied) who have concessionary tickets; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29488/23]
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 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.
There has been an increase of 21% in tickets issued to eligible students and 38% increase in tickets issued on a concessionary basis in the current 2022/23 school year compared to the 2021/22 school year.
In addition, school transport scheme services are being provided in the current school year for over 5,400 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 school transport where they reside not less than 3.2kms 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 and payment 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.
Bus Éireann, who operate school transport on behalf of my Department, have confirmed, that the family to whom the Deputy refers, reside 1.7kms from home to school are therefore not eligible for school transport.
Bus Éireann will allocate tickets to concessionary pupils once eligible pupils have been accommodated on services for the 2023/24 school year.
321. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education when a person (details supplied) can expect to have their UP2CD forms to be returned to them by the primary payroll division of her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29489/23]
View answerI can advise the Deputy that the UP2CD forms submitted by the teacher concerned for October and Christmas 2022 as well as Easter 2023 have been completed and returned to the teacher.
The form for the current period from Easter to Summer 2023 can only be completed when the schools are closed which Is at the end of June 2023.
