Written Answers Nos. 299-313
299. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education if there is a policy preventing the establishment of ASD units within single-sex girls' schools and boys' schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34162/23]
View answerI would like to thank the Deputy for his question and would advise the following.
Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education 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 has been 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 funding to support children with special educational needs in mainstream classes; funding for new special classes and new special school places; additional special educational teachers, special needs assistants (SNAs) and funding for the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS).
In 2023, the number of teaching and SNA posts in our schools will increase with an additional 686 teachers and a further 1,194 SNAs in our schools.
For the first time ever there will be 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 NCSE has the responsibility for planning and coordinating school supports for children with special educational needs. The department does not have a role in making individual school determinations.
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 April, Minister Foley and l announced the establishment of two new special schools for the 2023/24 school year, with further capacity being expanded in 11 other special schools.
Along with the two new special schools, 380 new special classes – 250 at primary and 130 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, including single-sex 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.
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: www.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 2023/24.
I wish to confirm that there is no policy preventing the establishment of autism classes within single-sex schools and the NCSE have sanctioned a number of classes in single-sex schools over the last few years. In some locations however, from time to time, to meet the needs of as many students as possible in a new class, it may be preferable to open a new special class in a co-educational school.
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.
300. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education to facilitate the opening of an ASD unit in a school (details supplied) where there is a known demand for this September for an ASD unit and where there is appropriate accommodation available on the grounds of the school. [34163/23]
View answerEnabling children with special educational needs to receive an education 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 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 funding to support children with special educational needs in mainstream classes; funding for new special classes and new special school places; additional special educational teachers, 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 for the next school year 2023/24. This work involves a detailed review of statistical data in relation to forecasting demand for special class and special school places, consideration of improved data sharing arrangements, consideration of school accommodation capacity and a particular focus on the provision of special classes at post-primary level.
As a result of this forward planning, on the 12 of April, Minister Foley and I announced the establishment of 2 new special schools for the 2023/24 school year, with further capacity being expanded in 11 other special schools.
Along with the two new special schools, 384 new special classes – 251 at primary and 133 at post-primary level – have been sanctioned by the NCSE for opening in the 2023/24 school year.
Of these new classes, 15 are in Donegal, with 8 at primary level and 7 at post-primary level. These new classes will bring the total number of special classes in Donegal to 112.
My deparment and the NCSE are committed to ensuring that sufficient special education placements will be available for children for the coming school year 2023/24.
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. 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 on the NCSE's website: www.ncse.ie/regional-services-contact-list. SENO's are available to offer advice and assist in recommending the appropriate educational and support services for students.
Information on the list of schools with special classes, the types and locations of these classes is also published on the NCSE website: www.ncse.ie
In relation to the school referred to by the Deputy, as this question relates to a specific school, my department will ask the NCSE to provide a direct response.
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.
301. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Education when the implementation plan of the national action plan against bullying will be published; how much will be allocated to implement it; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34214/23]
View answerCineáltas: Action Plan on Bullying is Ireland’s whole-education approach to preventing and addressing bullying in schools. Cineáltas, published on 1 December 2022, is dedicated to the prevention and addressing of bullying, cyber bullying, racist bullying, gender identity bullying and sexual harassment in schools. It is centred on a child right’s based approach and provides a collective vision and clear roadmap for how the whole education community and society can work together to prevent and address bullying in our schools. Cineáltas builds on the achievements and ambition of the previous Action Plan on Bullying published in 2013, taking into account the work undertaken in recent years to ensure that our schools are safe and happy places for all our children and young people.
My Department launched the Implementation Plan for Cineáltas on 10 April 2023, which is available at gov.ie - Cineáltas: Action Plan on Bullying (www.gov.ie)
The Implementation Plan for Cineáltas commits to implementing each of the 61 actions contained in Cineáltas within a five-year period and sets out timeframes and information about how my Department is going to implement the actions.
One million euro has been provided in 2023 to progress a number of the actions contained in the plan.
An Implementation and Evaluation Group has been established to oversee implementation of the actions. Annual implementation and evaluation reports, informed by feedback from children and young people, parents, school staff, education partners, key stakeholders and relevant agencies, will be published.
Implementation of a number of actions has already progressed. These include the following:
My Department has recently established a Student Participation Unit, which will promote the participation of children and young people in the development of department policy, building on its existing work in this area
• An Expert Group has been established to advise my Department on how best the Student Participation Unit can progress its work. Professor Laura Lundy, Professor of Education Law and Children’s Rights at Queen’s University who developed the Lundy Model of children’s participation is chair of this Expert Group
• Work to update the anti-bullying procedures for schools is well underway with Continuous Professional Development and training being developed for all school staff, Board of Management members and parents
• €5 million is being invested to pilot a programme of counselling supports for primary school students. This will serve to support the very positive work which already takes place in the area of wellbeing in schools.
302. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Education the total enrolment figures at primary and secondary level in school planning zones of Dublin postal code zones 6, 8, 9, 10 and 12; the future projected figures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34216/23]
View answerThe information sought by the Deputy is currently being collated by officials within my Department and will be forwarded to the Deputy in due course.
303. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education if every effort can be made to ensure a secondary school place in Clane, County Kildare can be facilitated in the case of the son of a person (details supplied); if another stream will be added to facilitate the children on their waiting lists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34217/23]
View answerI can assure the Deputy that the provision of school places to meet the needs of children and young people at primary and post primary level, including children and young people with special educational needs is an absolute priority for my Department.
In order to plan for school place needs, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and utilises a Geographical Information System to anticipate school place demand. Information from a range of sources, including Child Benefit data, school enrolment data and information on residential development activity is used for this purpose. Additionally, Project Ireland 2040 population and housing targets inform my Department's projections of school place requirements.
While my Department is aware of enrolment pressures and demand for additional school places in some areas, it is important to note that where enrolment pressures arise, it may not be as a result of lack of accommodation but may be driven by the following factors:
• Duplication of applications – pupils have applied for a place to a number of schools in the area
• School of choice – pupils can’t get a place in their preferred school while there are places in other schools in the town/area
• Some towns/areas have single sex schools and while places are available in the school they are not available to all pupils
• External draw – pupils coming from outside the local area
My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in the area. In relation to school admissions, it is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998.
Parents have the right to choose which school to apply to and where the school has places available the pupil should be admitted. However, in schools where there are more applicants than places available a selection process may be necessary. This selection process and the enrolment policy on which it is based must be non-discriminatory and must be applied fairly in respect of all applicants. However, this may result in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice.
The Department is working to establish the true extent of any capacity issues across school planning areas through ongoing discussions with the relevant school patrons and authorities.
The Educational Welfare Services (EWS) of the Child and Family Agency (Tusla) is the statutory agency that can assist parents who are experiencing difficulty in securing a school place for their child. The local service is delivered through the national network of Educational Welfare Officers (EWO). Contact details are available at www.tusla.ie/get-in-touch/education-and-welfare/
304. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Education how much funding has been provided to schools in counties Cavan and Monaghan by her Department under the emergency works scheme and the additional accommodation scheme for the period of 1 January 2020 to 30 June 2023, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34237/23]
View answerThis information needs to be extracted from the financial management system within My Department and my officials will forward this information directly to the Deputy once this has been completed
305. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Education if she will consider the matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); if she will direct relevant officials within her Department, who was previously engaging with the sender, to re-establish contact in an effort to resolve the matters put forth; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34265/23]
View answerThe person in question has applied for payment of a doctorate degree allowance in respect of his PhD award in 2013.
This person's application has been assessed and reviewed by my Department officials and the person has been notified on a number of occasions that his application does not meet the criteria for eligibility to a doctorate degree allowance under the terms of Circulars 0008/2013 and 0063/2021. His application has been refused on the basis that the award date of his PhD qualification was after his date of retirement.
Following an appeal request by the person concerned, the application was subject to review by a more senior member of staff of my Department than the staff member who made the initial decision on the application. Following that review, the original decision in relation to the application was upheld.
Unfortunately, no further consideration can be given to this application.
306. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education if she has issued a memo or circular to boards of management, patrons and/or teachers in respect of a primary teaching resource developed by an organisation (details supplied); if she and/or her officials were consulted on the resource; the persons that signed off on it as a teaching resource; and if her attention or that of her officials has been drawn to a video hosted on Horse Racing Ireland’s website related to the resource. [34299/23]
View answerI wish to confirm that my Department was not consulted on the ‘Road to Racing Primary Programme’ which was developed by Horse Racing Ireland.
Choices regarding educational materials, textbooks, educational products as well as digital and online services to support the implementation of the curriculum in schools are made by individual schools and their boards of management. The current policy in the Department is not to endorse any products, publications or services from individual providers. In this regard, Horse Racing Ireland’s programme for primary schools is not endorsed by the Department of Education.
My Department’s attention has been brought to the video hosted on Horse Racing Ireland’s website. Under the relevant legislation, all schools are managed by the school board of management/ education and training board (ETB). The boards of management and school principals have a responsibility for the quality and effectiveness of education and the management of staff in a school. In the Department’s view it would not generally be appropriate for commercial content to be shot on school property. However, such decisions are a matter for the board of management/ETB concerned. All schools must comply with data protection requirements, including the requirements of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and must ensure that any data, including videos, is processed in compliance with data protection legislation.
Schools should have an “Acceptable Use Policy” in place to address all rights, privileges, responsibilities and sanctions associated with the use of the internet and digital technologies within the school, including online and offline usage. This policy applies to the staff as well as pupil/student body of the school, and should support the school's Data Protection Policy.
The Teaching Council of Ireland requires all registered teachers to comply with its Code of Professional Conduct for Teachers (2nd Edition, 2016) which under Part 2 Professional Integrity states that teachers should “… 2.5 avoid conflict between their professional work and private interests which could reasonably be deemed to impact negatively on pupils/students.” According to the Teaching Council, the purpose of the Code is threefold: 1. It serves as a guiding compass as teachers seek to steer an ethical and respectful course through their career in teaching and to uphold the honour and dignity of the teaching profession. 2. It may be used by the education community and the wider public to inform their understanding and expectations of the teaching profession in Ireland. 3. It has an important legal standing and is used by the Council as a reference point in exercising its investigative and disciplinary functions under Part 5 of the Teaching Council Acts, 2001 - 2015, dealing with fitness to teach.
307. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education which organisation will be responsible for operating the Leaving Certificate helpline this year; and the estimated cost of same. [34302/23]
View answerThe National Parents and Students Leaving Certificate Helpline is a free phone service provided to Leaving Certificate students and their parents and guardians following release of the Leaving Certificate results each year. The Helpline is professionally delivered by qualified guidance counsellors from the Institute of Guidance Counsellors, who will help reduce stress and anxiety of students, parents and guardians through provision of information and counselling.
The Helpline is supported by the National Parents Council, the Department of Education, the Irish Independent and the Irish Second Level Students Union. Funding in the amount of €20,000 is provided annually by the Department of Education. Additional private sponsorship may also be applied.
308. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Education what options are available for a person (details supplied) who has applied to schools for a place in an ASD class for their son; the options available to them if they are not accepted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34307/23]
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. 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 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 funding to support children with special educational needs in mainstream classes; funding for new special classes and new special school places; additional special educational teachers, 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 for the 2023/24 school year . This work involves a detailed review of statistical data in relation to forecasting demand for special class and special school places, consideration of improved data sharing arrangements, consideration of school accommodation capacity 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 2023/24 school year, with further capacity being expanded in 11 other special schools.
Along with the two new special schools, 384 new special classes – 251 at primary and 133 at post-primary level – have been sanctioned by the NCSE for opening in the 2023/24 school year.
Of these new classes, 78 are in Dublin, with 52 at primary level and 26 at post-primary level. These new classes will bring the total number of special classes in Dublin to 542.
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. 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 on the NCSE's website: www.ncse.ie/regional-services-contact-list. SENO's are available to offer advice and assist in recommending the appropriate educational and support services for students.
Information on the list of schools with special classes, the types and locations of these classes is also published on the NCSE website: www.ncse.ie
The NCSE is committed to ensuring that sufficient special education placements will be available for children for the coming school year 2023/24.
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.
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.
309. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Education when a letter will issue to a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34333/23]
View answerThe school to which the Deputy refers was recently granted initial approval for the provision of one mainstream classroom under my Department's Additional School Accommodation scheme. Urgently required school accommodation is being supported where possible by my Department's Reconfiguration and Modular Accommodation programme. The Department will be in touch with the school authority shortly regarding the most appropriate method of progressing this project.
This Reconfiguration and Modular Accommodation involves the use of Project Management supports which is designed to enable the accommodation to be provided as quickly as possible and help ease the administrative workload for school authorities in relation to the management and delivery of projects. The use of the Department’s Modular Accommodation Framework also assists in ensuring lead in periods for procurement of modular accommodation are minimised to the greatest extent possible. To date, this has worked very well in the education sector and has seen delivery of large scale, high quality modular accommodation to meet the needs of children, particularly those with special educational needs.
However, the wider context in relation to the overall modular market at present is challenging with modular accommodation suppliers being very busy across commercial, housing and other sectors. The Department is working closely with the Project Management teams and the modular accommodation suppliers to ensure additional capacity for the schools sector is delivered as quickly as possible.
The Department is working closely with school authorities which require contingency planning arrangements and putting any necessary supports in place.
310. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education if the possibility of a charity having a designated liaison in her Department (details supplied) has been considered. [34389/23]
View answerMy Department engages with a broad array of stakeholders including schools, special education interest groups, school management bodies, advocacy groups and other government departments on a multitude of issues.
It also works with the Disability Participation and Consultation Network (DPCN) and the Disability Stakeholder Group (DSG) which is under the remit of the Department of Children Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.
I would appreciate it if Dyxpraxia Ireland could send details of the issues which they have been experiencing, and a member of staff in the Department can follow this up. The best email address for such correspondence to be directed to is: special_education@education.gov.ie
311. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she or her Department have been involved in talks between the National College of Arts and Design and a company (details supplied) in relation to efforts to refurbish and reopen the Rupert Guinness Theatre on Watling Street in Dublin 8; if she will support these efforts; if she is aware of the online campaign by a person that has gained over 1,000 signatures in support of these efforts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33449/23]
View answerNeither I nor my Department have been involved in talks between the National College of Art and Design and the company referred to by the Deputy.
312. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her views on a matter concerning Údarás na Gaeltachta (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33509/23]
View answerThe proposed changes as to how the board of Údarás na Gaeltachta will be appointed from 2025 represent the implementation of the commitment in the Programme for Government to undertake a review on the matter. This review was completed in late 2022, following which Government approved the drafting of a Bill to give effect to a new approach as to the manner in which the board is constituted.
I am acutely aware of the need for the voices of Gaeltacht communities to be heard by An tÚdarás and, in light of this, it is proposed that the Bill will provide for the establishment of statutory Regional Committees to ensure regular engagement with those communities.
This provision is being made in order to implement the spirit of the recommendations of the review to add to the representation, democracy and transparency of the board in terms of meeting the needs and wishes of the public.
313. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media what supports could be provided to a museum (details supplied) to ensure it can continue to operate considering the bleak financial situation it faces; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33519/23]
View answerThe network of local and community museums is a very important element of the heritage and culture sector, interpreting many aspects of local history and providing access to the culture and traditions of life in Ireland. I am aware that the constraints on travel during the COVID pandemic and the more recent escalation of utility costs has brought unprecedented challenges to the continued operation of several of these local and community museums. Their necessary responses vary greatly and have included changes to seasonal opening, revised access hours, utility costs reduction measures and other initiatives. In this context, the challenging situation at Museum to which the Deputy refers has been brought to the attention of my Department but there are no schemes to respond to this sort of contingency situation through ongoing subvention. In the event of viable proposals for the sustainable future operation of the Museum in question, officials from my Department would be available to meet with the local authority or the Old Drogheda Society to review the situation. As the Deputy is aware, the resources available to the Department are limited and allocation is prioritised towards strengthening infrastructure and capacity in museums and bodies rather than subsidising their operations on a continuing basis. In the event of development proposals emerging for the Museum to which the Deputy refers, my Department operates a Regional Museum Exhibition Scheme which provides support for capital works that would enhance the exhibition/display facilities within the museum or promote access to the museum. The objective is to assist museums in presenting national or local culture through exhibition programmes for both locals and visitors alike. This Scheme operates on a matched funding basis (75:25), where 25% of the proposed costs must be provided by the applicant.Full details of the scheme including eligibility requirements are available on my Departments website www.gov.ie/en/service/676e1-regional-museum-exhibitions-scheme/. Funding available under this scheme is capped at €15,000. The scheme for 2023 is now closed.
