Written Answers Nos. 456-470
456. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on the proposed extension for a school (details supplied); the stage the project is currently at; on which site the extension will be located; when it is likely that this project will commence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36305/23]
View answerThe project to which the Deputy refers has been devolved to the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) for delivery as part of a programme of school building projects. This school is in the bundle referred to as ‘Project Boyne’
The project, which is to be built on the site adjacent to the school, is currently at Stage 2b planning of the architectural process. A planning application was lodged with Wicklow County Council and planning permission was granted in Q4 2022. The next stage of the process will involve the procurement and construction of the school.
While at this early stage it is not possible to provide details or a timeline for completion of the project, the NDFA will be engaging directly with the school authority to keep it informed of progress.
457. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on a school building project (details supplied); the stage the project is currently at; when the project will move to planning and construction stage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36306/23]
View answerThe major building project referred to by the Deputy is currently at an advanced stage of architectural planning, Stage 2(b) - Detailed Design, which includes the applications for Planning Permission, Fire Cert and Disability Access Cert and the preparation of tender documents. All statutory approvals had been secured, however a new planning application is required as the current planning approval will expire in October 2023. A new planning application was lodged on 4 July 2023.
A prequalification process to select a shortlist of contractors is currently in progress and the Design Team will submit a Prequalification report when available.
The Stage 2(b) report is currently under review by my Department and upon completion of this review, the completion of the prequalification process and the design team securing final planning approval, my Department will be in contact with the school and its design team on the further progression of this project.
458. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on a school building project (details supplied); the stage the project is currently at; the estimated timeframe from construction to completion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36307/23]
View answerMy Department is currently developing the accommodation brief for the school referred to by the Deputy.
I wish to advise the Deputy that there are standard procedures to be followed in relation to the progression of a project which involve finalising the project brief, preliminary design, the appointment of a Design Team, detailed design, planning permission and then ultimately proceeding to tender and construction. Given the scale and nature of the project and the unknowns in relation to planning permission, it is not possible at this stage, to provide a definitive timeline for the overall campus project.
My Department will continue to engage directly with the school patron as part of this process.
459. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on a school building project (details supplied); the stage the project is currently at; when the project will move to planning and construction stage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36308/23]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, the site identification and assessment exercise for Wicklow Town Educate Together Secondary School is ongoing and as previously advised a potential property has been identified.
An architectural consultant has been appointed to commence an assessment of this potential property.
Given the commercial sensitivities associated with land acquisitions generally I am not in a position to comment further at this time.
However, I wish to assure the Deputy that the provision of a permanent location for this school is a priority for the Department.
460. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education if her Department plans to build a new secondary school in a location (details supplied) considering the increase in population in the local area and demand for secondary school places; what plans her Department has for a site which is zoned for educational use at this location; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36309/23]
View answerIn order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a Geographical Information System, using data from a range of sources, including Child Benefit and school enrolment data, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise and where additional school accommodation is needed at primary and post-primary level. For school planning purposes, Newtownmountkennedy is located in the Kilcoole school planning area.
Major new residential developments in a school planning area have the potential to alter demand in that area. In that regard, as part of the demographic exercises, my Department engages with each of the local authorities to obtain the up-to-date information on significant new residential development in each area. This is necessary to ensure that schools infrastructure planning is keeping pace with demographic changes.
Where demographic data indicates that additional provision is required, the delivery of such additional provision is dependent on the particular circumstances of each case and may, be provided through:
- Utilising existing unused capacity within a school or schools;
- Extending the capacity of a school or schools;
- Provision of a new school or schools.
A site acquisition process is only commenced where an identified requirement for a school building project exists.
As the Deputy will be aware, in April 2018, the Government announced plans to establish a new post-primary school for the Kilcoole and Greystones school planning area as a regional solution and the school, Greystones Community College, opened in Greystones for the 2020/2021 school year.
My Department is satisfied that with the establishment of Greystones Community College as a new regional school for the Greystones/Kilcoole area and with the completion of the building projects at St. David’s Secondary School, Greystones and Coláiste Craobh Abhann, Kilcoole that the resulting additional permanent accommodation will be sufficient to cater for future demand in the area in the short to medium term.
The requirement for additional school places is kept under on-going review and work on an updated exercise to assess needs for the coming years, including those which may arise in the Kilcoole school planning area, is at an advanced stage. Additionally, my Department will continue to liaise with Wicklow County Council in respect of its review of the County Development Plan with a view to identifying any potential long-term school accommodation requirements across the county.
461. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on the building project for a school (details supplied); what stage the project is at; when it is likely that the project will move forward to design and construction stage; the estimated timeframe for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36310/23]
View answerThe Department has reached agreement in principle, subject to contract, for the acquisition of a site at Fassaroe, Bray, Co. Wicklow as a permanent location for the school, to which the Deputy refers.
The conveyancing process is at an advanced stage. The school patron has been informed of the proposed location and will be appraised of any further developments as soon as it is possible to do so.
I wish to advise the Deputy that there are standard procedures to be followed in relation to the progression of a project which involve acquiring the site, preparation of the project brief, preliminary design, the appointment of a Design Team, detailed design, planning permission and then ultimately proceeding to tender and construction. Given the scale of the project and the unknowns in relation to planning permission, it is not possible at this stage, to provide an estimated timeline for the project.
462. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education if temporary transport can be arranged for a school (details supplied) to bring pupils to and from school to their PE and sports activities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36311/23]
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 an increase of 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 €338.9 million.
The purpose of my 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.
Children are eligible for school transport where they satisfy the distance criterion and are attending their nearest national school or post primary education centre, having regard to ethos and language.
In accordance with the terms of my Department's School Transport Scheme, school transport services operate during the standard school year and facilitate a child's attendance during normal school opening and closing times.
Provision of transport for extra-curricular activities does not come under the remit of the scheme and is a matter for the school at a local level.
463. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on securing the boundary of a school (details supplied); if security fencing will be implemented and if so, the timeframe for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36312/23]
View answerOfficials from my Department have been in contact with the owner of the site adjacent to the school referred to by the Deputy. The landowner has agreed to install fencing to secure the site boundary. My Department will follow-up with this landowner to establish a timeline for erection of the fence.
464. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education concerning a school transport renewal application for a person (details supplied), the reasons behind the rejection and refusal of this application for the school bus service to a school for the school year 2023/2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36315/23]
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 an increase of 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 €338.9 million.
Children are eligible for transport at primary level where they reside not less than 3.2 km from and are attending their nearest national school, and at post primary level where they reside not less than 4.8 km 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 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 a random selection process.
Bus Éireann have advised that the pupil referred to by the Deputy is attending his third nearest Post Primary school and is therefore not eligible under the terms of the scheme.
Bus Éireann has further advised that the local service is full to capacity and therefore no concessionary seat is available to the pupil referred for the 2023/24 school year.
465. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education the reasons behind the rejection and refusal of an application for the school bus service for a student (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36316/23]
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 an increase of 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 €338.9 million.
Children are eligible for transport at primary level where they reside not less than 3.2 km from and are attending their nearest national school, and at post primary level where they reside not less than 4.8 km 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 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 a random selection process.
Bus Éireann has advised that the pupil referred to by the Deputy is not attending his nearest school and is therefore not eligible under the terms of the scheme.
However, I am pleased to advise there is capacity on the route referred to by the Deputy and Bus Éireann will be issuing a ticket to the pupil referred.
466. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Education the full-year cost for a post-primary school teacher post. [36327/23]
View answerI wish to advise the post primary school sector are paid in accordance with the salary scale for Post Primary teachers.
The average annual cost to the Department for a Post Primary teacher is €73,270. This figure includes provision for Employers PRSI and substitution costs.
467. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Education if she will ensure that siblings (details supplied) will be provided with school transport, which is now their only means of getting to school; if she will review the circumstances of this case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36335/23]
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 an increase of 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 €338.9 million.
Under the terms of my Department's Post Primary School Transport Scheme children are eligible for school transport where they reside not less than 4.8 km from and are attending their nearest school as determined by my Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
Children who are not eligible for school transport, but who complete 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.
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 children referred to by the Deputy are not eligible for school transport as they do not meet the distance criteria as set out in the post primary school transport scheme and are not attending their nearest school/post primary centre.
Bus Éireann also advise that all seats have been assigned to the existing school transport service, which is now full to capacity and there are currently no seats available for the 2023/24 school year.
468. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education how parents can contact the school transport section in Bus Éireann (details supplied). [36339/23]
View answerThe School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2022/23 school year, over 149,000 children, including over 18,000 children with special educational needs, were 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 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 €338.9 million.
Bus Éireann has put in place a dedicated customer care call centre and a ‘contact form’ on buseireann.ie/schooltransport to assist families specifically with School Transport queries during the busy summer period. Families that have queries can contact the call centre on: LoCall 0818 919 910. Operating hours are 09.00 – 17.00 Monday to Friday.
Bus Éireann advertised the details of the call centre and webform contact through their website and social media platforms. Details were also published on the Department’s website, information issued to all schools and education partners and in line with normal practice, was communicated to Oireachtas Members. Bus Éireann also have a dedicated email address for public representatives to contact them with any queries: representatives@buseireann.ie.
Bus Éireann have confirmed they have not received any reports of difficulties in contacting them from parents or public representatives. Officials in School Transport Section of my Department have contacted the Deputy directly to request further information, they can be contacted at school_transport@education.gov.ie where they will be happy to assist.
If families have queries relating to transport for children with special educational needs they can contact School Transport Section, Department of Education at: Email: school_transport@education.gov.ie Phone: 057 9325469 or 057 9325466.
469. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Education if she is aware that 14 pupils in a school (details supplied) have been refused concessionary bus tickets despite the fact that the bus has increased in size from last year; if she will take steps to assist the parents of these pupils, many of whom will be significantly inconvenienced by this decision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36361/23]
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 an increase of 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 €338.9 million.
Under the terms of my Department's Post Primary School Transport Scheme children are eligible for school transport where they reside not less than 4.8 km from and are attending their nearest school as determined by my Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
Children who are not eligible for school transport, but who complete 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.
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 seats have been assigned to the school transport service on the route referred to by the Deputy for the 2023/2024 school year, they have also confirmed there was an excess of demand over supply for concessionary places on the route and some concessionary applicants will not receive tickets as the vehicle is at full capacity.
470. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Education whether the ICT grant will be issued to schools this year; if so, the date on which it will be issued; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36399/23]
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 enable the embedding of 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 €200 million to support schools over the period committed to under Ireland’s National Development Plan (NDP). The first tranche of €50 million issued to all recognised primary and post-primary schools in late 2021.
Funding of €50 million secured as part of Ireland's National Recovery and Resilience Plan under the NextGenerationEU Recovery and Resilience Facility also issued to all recognised schools in the free education scheme to support learners at risk of educational disadvantage through the digital divide in late 2021.
My Department intends to pay the next tranche of ICT grant funding in the 2023 to 2024 school year.
The specific timing for issue of the ICT grant is subject to the availability of Exchequer funding and the wider capital needs of the Department including the building programme to ensure the supply of school accommodation.
As part of the forthcoming Review of the National Development Plan, my Department’s aim is to provide better clarity and certainty for schools on the timelines for payment of minor works and ICT grant funding.
