John Brady
Question:641. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education when additional temporary accommodation will be implemented for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38107/23]
View answerSchool Accommodation
Questions (641)
Written answers
I am pleased to advise the Deputy that approval under the Additional School Accommodation scheme has issued to the school in question for the provision of six classrooms. The project is being delivered under the Department’s Devolved SEN Reconfiguration and Modular Accommodation programme.
This programme provides project management supports to enable the accommodation to be provided as quickly as possible and helps to ease the administrative workload for individual schools in relation to the management and delivery of the project.
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.
The overall construction sector environment is challenging and the Department and the Project Management company are doing everything possible to ensure that modular accommodation is delivered as quickly as possible. My Department is fully aware of the urgency in respect of same and will be working with the School Authority on overall project delivery and timelines. The School Authority has overall responsibility for the delivery of this project.
School Transport
Questions (642)
Seán Sherlock
Question:642. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Education the number of school transport appeals registered by the date of this Parliamentary Question reply, by county, in tabular form. [38116/23]
View answerWritten answers
The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2022/2023 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 was an increase of 21% in tickets issued to eligible students and an increase of 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 were provided for over 5,400 children who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine.
The total cost of the scheme in 2022 was €338.9m.
Already over 132,000 tickets have issued for the 2023/2024 school year which is an increase of 12% when compared with the same time last year. This number of tickets has already exceeded the total number of tickets issued in the 2022/23 school year.
Decisions made by, or on behalf of, the Department of Education regarding the provision of school transport services and/or grant-aid under the terms of the School Transport Schemes may be appealed to the School Transport Appeals Board.
This Board is independent in the performance of it’s functions but acts in accordance with (a) it's Terms of Reference as determined by the Minister and (b) a set of Operating Procedures.
The table below outlines the number of appeals registered by the date of this Parliamentary Question, by county, and in tabular form.
|
COUNTY OF APPELLANT |
NUMBER RECEIVED |
|
Carlow |
7 |
|
Cavan |
30 |
|
Clare |
25 |
|
Cork |
180 |
|
Donegal |
8 |
|
Dublin |
26 |
|
Galway |
40 |
|
Kerry |
11 |
|
Kildare |
77 |
|
Kilkenny |
27 |
|
Laois |
19 |
|
Leitrim |
5 |
|
Limerick |
17 |
|
Longford |
8 |
|
Louth |
9 |
|
Mayo |
11 |
|
Meath |
52 |
|
Monaghan |
6 |
|
Offaly |
16 |
|
Roscommon |
14 |
|
Sligo |
8 |
|
Tipperary |
28 |
|
Waterford |
9 |
|
Westmeath |
27 |
|
Wexford |
31 |
|
Wicklow |
18 |
|
TOTAL |
709 |
Departmental Data
Questions (643)
Louise O'Reilly
Question:643. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Education the number of reported assaults on secondary school teachers during the 2022/2023 school year; whether these assaults were committed by students, parents/guardians, or others; to provide this information in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38120/23]
View answerWritten answers
In the 2022/2023 school year, there were 6 assaults on secondary school teachers reported to the Department.
All of the incidents reported to the Department involved students. There have been no reports made to the Department of assaults on secondary school teachers by anyone other than students.
Please see below the information requested by the Deputy in tabular format.
|
School Year |
2022/2023 |
|
Reported Assaults in Secondary Schools |
6 |
|
Assaults involving students |
6 |
|
Assaults involving parent/guardian |
0 |
|
Other |
0 |
|
Total |
6 |
Departmental Data
Questions (644)
Louise O'Reilly
Question:644. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Education the number of reported assaults on primary school teachers during the 2022/2023 school year; whether these assaults were committed by students, parents/guardians, or others; to provide this information in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38121/23]
View answerWritten answers
In the 2022/2023 school year, there were 119 assaults on primary school teachers reported to the Department.
All of the incidents reported to the Department involved students. There have been no reports made to the Department of assaults on primary school teachers by anyone other than students.
Please see the information as requested by the Deputy in tabular format below.
|
School Year |
2022/2023 |
|
Reported Assaults in Primary Schools |
119 |
|
Assaults involving students |
119 |
|
Assaults involving parent/guardian |
0 |
|
Other |
0 |
|
Total |
119 |
Education Schemes
Questions (645)
Darren O'Rourke
Question:645. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on the 2023 budget commitment for the provision of up to 6kW photovoltaic panels on all schools; when the scheme will be open for applications; what the provisions of the scheme are; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38132/23]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy is aware, Budget 2023 provided for the provision of funding from the Climate Action Fund in relation to the provision of Photovoltaic Panels in schools up to 6KW output.
This is really positive news for our schools and will assist with their energy needs and costs along with supporting the decarbonisation of our school buildings.
My officials are working closely with colleagues in the Department of Environment, Climate and Communication in relation to the arrangements for this multi-annual scheme and details will be announced in the shortest timeframe possible.
As part of planning for the roll-out of this multi-annual scheme, the capacity surveys of the school system that are currently underway will also include obtaining up to date data on the number of schools that have solar panels currently. This is important preparatory work in planning for the roll-out of this multi-annual scheme. The provision of the solar panels will be fully funded for schools.
Schools Building Projects
Questions (646)
James Lawless
Question:646. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Education for an update on the provision of a new school building (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38135/23]
View answerWritten answers
My Department has been in ongoing contact with the patron for the school referred to by the Deputy with regard to the provision of a new school building.
The brief for the school is currently been finalised by my Department with a view to devolving the project to the patron for delivery very shortly and progressing the project into architectural planning.
School Transport
Questions (647)
Alan Dillon
Question:647. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Education when a pupil (details supplied) will be issued with a school bus ticket; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38153/23]
View answerWritten answers
The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2022/2023 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 was an increase of 21% in tickets issued to eligible students and an increase of 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 were provided for over 5,400 children who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine.
The total cost of the scheme in 2022 was €338.9m.
Already over 132,000 tickets have issued for the 2023/2024 school year which is an increase of 12% when compared with the same time last year. This number of tickets has already exceeded the total number of tickets issued in the 2022/23 school year.
Under the terms of the Post Primary School Transport Scheme, children are eligible for transport where they reside not less than 4.8 kms 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 are eligible for school transport if they satisfy the distance criteria and are attending their nearest post primary school/centre.
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 a random 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 have advised that the pupil, to whom the Deputy refers, is not eligible for school transport as they reside 2.7kms from home to school therefore do not meet the distance criteria of 4.8kms. The pupil was not successful in receiving a concessionary ticket for the 2023/24 school year.
School Transport
Questions (648)
Alan Dillon
Question:648. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Education when pupils (details supplied) will be issued with a school bus ticket; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38154/23]
View answerWritten answers
The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2022/2023 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 was an increase of 21% in tickets issued to eligible students and an increase of 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 were provided for over 5,400 children who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine.
The total cost of the scheme in 2022 was €338.9m.
Already over 132,000 tickets have issued for the 2023/2024 school year which is an increase of 12% when compared with the same time last year. This number of tickets has already exceeded the total number of tickets issued in the 2022/23 school year.
Under the terms of the Primary School Transport Scheme, children are eligible for transport where they reside not less than 3.2 kms 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 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 a random 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 have advised that the family, to whom the Deputy refers are not eligible for school transport as they are not attending their nearest primary school. They were successful in receiving concessionary tickets for the 2023/2024 school year.
School Transport
Questions (649)
Alan Dillon
Question:649. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Education when a pupil (details supplied) will be issued with a school bus ticket; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38155/23]
View answerWritten answers
The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2022/2023 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 was an increase of 21% in tickets issued to eligible students and an increase of 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 were provided for over 5,400 children who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine.
The total cost of the scheme in 2022 was €338.9m.
Already over 132,000 tickets have issued for the 2023/2024 school year which is an increase of 12% when compared with the same time last year. This number of tickets has already exceeded the total number of tickets issued in the 2022/23 school year.
Under the terms of the Primary School Transport Scheme, children are eligible for transport where they reside not less than 3.2 kms 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 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 a random 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 have advised that, the pupil to whom the Deputy refers, is not eligible for school transport as they are not attending their nearest primary school.
They were not successful in receiving a concessionary ticket for the 2023/2024 school year.
Departmental Policies
Questions (650)
Neasa Hourigan
Question:650. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Education if she will outline the initiatives under her Department to assist schools in supporting sustainable practices, including but not limited to the re-homing of materials such as furniture; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38181/23]
View answerWritten answers
I can advise the Deputy that Education for Sustainable Development is a key priority and a 2nd National Strategy – ESD to 2030 – was published in June 2022, co-sponsored by the Department and the Departments of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (D.FHEEIRS) and Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (D.CEDIY).
ESD to 2030 aims to ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development – in accordance with the UN Sustainable Development Goals target 4.7,. Under our first ESD Strategy, ESD themes and principles were integrated across the curriculum at all levels, across the assessment and inspection processes and into Initial Teacher Education (Céim) and Continuing Professional Development for teachers.
ESD to 2030 aims to build on those foundations and has five priority areas for progress: Policy Alignment; Transforming Learning Environments; Capacity Building of Educators; Empowering and Mobilising Youth and Accelerating Local Level Action.
ESD to 2030 supports implementation of the Climate Action Plan and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) National Implementation Plan. Ireland’s Voluntary National Review 2023 was presented to the UN at the High Level Political Forum in July and Chapter 7.1 of the VNR provides a high level overview of the Education sectors contribution to the achievement of the 17 SDGs.
Some of the ESD to 2030 initiatives undertaken over the last year to assist schools in supporting sustainable practices include:
• Under the Climate Action Plan, the Department published the School Sector Climate Action Mandate. A Sustainability toolkit has also been developed in collaboration with stakeholders and this will be published in September 2023. The toolkit includes a Self-Assessment Sustainability Audit, Sustainability Guidelines and a template Sustainability Policy Statement, all aimed at supporting schools on their sustainability journeys. Information on the guidelines on reducing, re-using, and re-cycling and materials giving them scope to consider rehoming of furniture.
• ESD to 2030 funding was provided to schools and to organisations supporting ESD in schools in September 2022. Further funding was provided to Organisations in May 2023 (€267,000) and a call for ESD to 2030 funding for schools will issue in September with a total fund available of €500,000.
• The development of a new Leaving Certificate subject “Climate Action and Sustainable Development” for introduction in schools from September 2024.
• The Department issues a quarterly ESD newsletter to schools with information, exemplars, resources, competitions and a range of ESD related articles from across the education sector.
• ESD is included as a criteria for teacher summer course provision and for the Teacher Refund of Fees scheme. A mapping of teacher CPD in ESD has been commissioned and it is hoped that a list of CPD opportunities will be available for publication later in 2023.
• A school sector pathfinder programme, implemented jointly with SEAI, is paving the way for, and informing, a much larger national decarbonisation school sector programme for schools built prior to 2008 as included in the National Development Plan. The pathfinder programme is targeting energy use and CO2 emission reduction by 51%, testing deep retrofit and low carbon heating solutions. The programme has retrofitted 50 schools across Ireland to date with work on an additional 14 schools currently at various stages of progress. . The Department also recently published a school sector technical climate action roadmap, which outlines a high level initial trajectory for the school sector delivery of its energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emission reduction targets. The roadmap is available here: gov.ie - School Sector Technical Climate Action Roadmap 2023 to 2030 (www.gov.ie)
• A comprehensive review of the School Transport scheme involves an in-depth analysis of scheme and its broader effectiveness and sustainability, and will build upon the commitments within the Programme for Government as they relate to school transport, including examining options to reduce car journeys and assessing how the School Transport Scheme can work in liaison with the Safe Routes to Schools Programme.
• ESD to 2030 has been accepted by UNESCO as a country initiative for implementing ESD, one of two countries in the Europe and North America region to have a country initiative accepted: ESD for 2030 country initiatives | UNESCO
• The Department is a member of the EU Working Group for Schools: Learning for Sustainability and hosted a meeting of the Working Group on the theme “Collaboration and Partnerships” in Kinsale Community School in May 2023, providing an opportunity for Ireland to demonstrate some of the ESD related work ongoing in schools and colleges in Ireland.
• An initial review of ESD to 2030 is currently underway and a report is expected to be published before the end of 2023.
• The ESD to 2030 webpage has all the details on the strategy and implementation plan, ESD to 2030 funding and copies of the ESD Newsletters: gov.ie - National Strategy on Education for Sustainable Development in Ireland (www.gov.ie).
Departmental Projects
Questions (651)
Kathleen Funchion
Question:651. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education if she plans to include the expertise of play therapists in her Department’s pilot project on mental health in primary schools (details supplied); if she will reconsider their inclusion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38182/23]
View answerWritten answers
The Department of Education is committed to supporting the emotional well-being of our children. In view of the fact there is no single recognised counselling qualification and no national regulatory body for counselling in Ireland at this point in time, the Department has liaised with three main accrediting bodies for counsellors in Ireland the Irish Association of Humanistic and Integrative Psychotherapists in Ireland (IAHIP); the Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (IACP)) and the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI) in relation to supporting the counselling pilot in primary schools.
This ensures that
• the high level of governance and quality that is required for this landmark project is achieved particularly in view of the highly sensitive nature of providing counselling for children.
• that the counsellors have appropriate training, skills and competencies to engage ethically, professionally and effectively with this age group.
• that the counsellors operate and adhere to the Code of Ethics of their relevant accrediting body .
Counsellors who will be placed on the panel for this pilot will also be required to have experience of working with children and will therefore be experienced in using a variety of approaches and modalities to meet the needs of children. We understand from the three organisations mentioned, that a number of their accredited therapist use art, play etc in their therapy with children.
In the absence of a single recognised counselling qualification and a national regulatory body for counselling in Ireland, we have looked to 3 large and long established accrediting bodies for counsellors to ensure that the counselling provided for this vulnerable population is of the highest professional standards and delivered by counsellors that have been through the rigorous accreditation process of these organisations. We have no doubt that in the coming months we will gather valuable insights and learnings which will inform future policy in this area.
Departmental Data
Questions (652)
Rose Conway-Walsh
Question:652. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Education the number of staff in her Department working on procurement services providing support to contracting authorities and their respective grades; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38195/23]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy will appreciate, my Department procures a wide range of goods and services and works with contracting authorities across the education sector in relation to their procurement requirements.
In this context, I would note that the Education Procurement Service has been established in order to provide support in relation to procurement to schools, ETBs and other bodies within the education sector.
In the Department itself, there are the equivalent of 15.4 FTE working directly on procurement as part of their responsibilities. The attached table gives the breakdown by grade of the officers involved.
|
Grade |
FTE |
|
PO |
0.8 |
|
APO |
8.25 |
|
HEO |
4.5 |
|
EO |
1.6 |
|
CO |
0.25 |
Departmental Data
Questions (653)
Rose Conway-Walsh
Question:653. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Education the number of times the education procurement service has been contacted by contracting authorities for guidance on the inclusion of social and environmental criteria in procurement contracts; if the education procurement service monitors the level of use of social and environmental criterion in procurement by contracting authorities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38196/23]
View answerWritten answers
The Education Procurement Service (EPS) has a policy of providing general guidance and advice on social and environmental criteria to all contracting authorities on initial engagement when they are sourcing goods/services on their behalf.
The EPS has not received any specific requests for guidance from contracting authorities on the inclusion of social and environmental criteria for self-procurement projects.
If contacted by contracting authorities, the EPS would advise: a) it’s their responsibility to devise their own social and environmental criteria appropriate to their procurement requirements and b) The Office of Government Procurement (OGP) an office of DPENDER or the EPA who have responsibility for providing guidance on social and environmental criteria can be contacted for advice.
The responsibility for monitoring the level of use of social and environmental criteria in procurements is the responsibility of each contracting authority. EPS ensures as a central procurement body that all its central arrangements include social and environmental criteria where appropriate.
Schools Building Projects
Questions (654)
John Lahart
Question:654. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education to provide a detailed update with regard to completion works at a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38202/23]
View answerWritten answers
The school to which the Deputy refers is at Architectural Planning Stage 3 - Tender Action and Award. The Design Team have been instructed to complete the prequalification process for short-listing contractors. When this process is complete, the project can proceed to tender.
Teaching Qualifications
Questions (655)
Michael Creed
Question:655. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Education if a person (details supplied) who is an employee of an ETB is entitled to incremental credit in respect of teaching experience in the United States; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38206/23]
View answerWritten answers
The criteria for the award of incremental credit are set out in my Department’s Circulars 10/2001 for Primary teachers, 29/2007 and 29/2010 for Post-Primary teachers.
Teaching service given in a non-EU setting should be demonstrated to my Department’s satisfaction to be equivalent to approved teaching service as provided for in paragraph 6) a) i) of circular 29/2007.
The teacher to which the Deputy refers is not currently based in an ETB school. This teacher submitted three applications for incremental credit to my Department in June 2022 in respect of non-EU teaching service. As this teacher was not a qualified teacher when this prior teaching service took place, this service was not deemed to be approved teaching service and was therefore refused.
School Admissions
Questions (656)
Bernard Durkan
Question:656. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education if all efforts are underway to ensure that the son of a person (details supplied) will have a secondary school place in September; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38208/23]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy will be aware, for school planning purposes, 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 the Department is aware of increasing pressures and demand for additional school places in the Prosperous_Clane area, 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 through ongoing discussions with the relevant school authorities. In that context, similar to the process adopted in advance of the current academic year, the Department is engaging with patron bodies and school authorities, including those of schools in the Prosperous_Clane areas, to identify particular capacity requirements for the forthcoming years which may necessitate further action to that already in train. Following discussions, an application for additional accommodation was received by St Farnan's and approved which allowed the school to increase their first year intake for September 2023.
Additionally, the Department will continue to work to advance the planned and current projects in the Prosperous_Clane School Planning area and to ensure sufficient places for both mainstream provision and for pupils with special education requirements both for the coming academic year and into the future. This includes the additional accommodation project approved for Scoil Mhuire, Clane.
School Admissions
Questions (657)
Bernard Durkan
Question:657. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education if all efforts are being made to accommodate a secondary school place for the son of (details supplied), who currently attends as ASD class in Celbridge, County Kildare, given they have been refused from local schools due to oversubscription, who is turning 14 in September 2023 and still has no place secured and needs to progress his education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38252/23]
View answerWritten answers
I would like to thank the Deputy for the question and would like to advise the following:
Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for this government. 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.
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 including the allocation of SNAs and reviews. The department does not have a role in making individual school determinations.
My department engage 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 12 April, Minister Foley and l announced the establishment of two 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, 388 new special classes – 252 at primary and 136 at post-primary level – have been sanctioned by the NCSE for opening in the 2023/24 school year.
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.
Enrolments to individual schools are a matter for each board of management.
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/special-classes.
The NCSE is committed to ensuring that sufficient special education placements will be available for children for the coming school year 2023/24.
My Department understands that the NCSE at local level are continuing to work to support the family referred to by the Deputy and secure a placement for this student. I will arrange to have it referred to the NCSE for their attention, and to provide an update by direct reply.
I want to assure 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.
National Council for Special Education
Questions (658)
Pádraig O'Sullivan
Question:658. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education if she will engage with the NCSE regarding supports for a child (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38261/23]
View answerWritten answers
I would like to thank the Deputy for the question. I note that are a number of elements to the question relating to special education placements, home tuition support and access to support from Middletown Centre for Autism. Taking each issue in turn, I 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 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 by 686 and 1,194 respectively.
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.
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 1,300 new special classes sanctioned over the last 4 years and seven new special schools established over recent years also.
My department has already begun engaging with the NCSE in relation to the forward planning of new special classes and additional special school places for the 2024/25 school year. 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 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.
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/special-classes.
The NCSE is committed to ensuring that sufficient special education placements will be available for children for the coming school year 2023/24.
The NCSE has advised that the local SENO is aware of the student concerned and has been in contact with the child’s parents. The SENO and the NCSE will continue to plan and prepare an appropriate special educational placement for the child concerned for the 2024/25 school year.
In relation to home tuition support, the department's Home Tuition Grant Scheme provides funding towards the provision of a compensatory educational service for children who, for a number of specific reasons, are unable to attend school. By its nature, it is intended to be a short term intervention.
The scheme is governed by annual circulars which set out the details, purpose and eligibility criteria. Circular 0024/2023 provides information in relation to the 2023/24 Home Tuition Grant Scheme and can be accessed by clicking on the following link: www.gov.ie/en/circular/67f37-home-tuition-grant-scheme-20232024-special-education-component/.
The purpose of the Home Tuition Grant Scheme is to provide funding towards the provision of a compensatory educational service for:
Early educational intervention for children with autism who meet the scheme’s eligibility criteria
Students with special educational needs seeking an educational placement in a recognised school
Students, enrolled in schools, with a significant medical condition, or school phobia and/or associated depression/anxiety, which has caused, and is likely to continue to cause, major disruption to their attendance at school
In exceptional cases the department will consider home tuition applications on behalf of students with diagnoses of school phobia and/or associated depression/anxiety which has caused, and is likely to continue to cause, major disruption to their attendance at school. This exception will only apply where a continued absence from school is required to facilitate appropriate medical or therapeutic intervention with a view to the reintegration of the student in their school.
In relation to applications in respect of students with diagnoses of a significant medical condition the principle that home tuition cannot be provided as an alternative to school applies.
Eligibility is assessed having regard to, although not limited to, the following criteria
• Conformation the student is currently enrolled in school.
• The student’s attendance levels during the previous school year.
• A relevant medical /relevant professional report -a separate report may be requested in some cases if required.
For students enrolled in schools with a significant medical condition grant aid based on a range of between 2 and 10 hours tuition may be approved with the allocation reflecting the level of attendance in the previous school year i.e. the 2022/23 school year, and whether the attendance was at primary or post-primary level. As a general guide, up to 5 hours may be granted to children at primary level while students at post-primary level may be granted between 2 and 7 hours, and students sitting their leaving certificate examinations may be granted between 2 and 10 hours.
Appeals in relation to decisions under the Home Tuition Grant Scheme may be submitted in writing to the below address, quoting the home tuition reference number, and outlining the reasons for the appeal along with additional documents or reports, as appropriate.
Home Tuition Unit, Special Education Section, Department of Education, Cornamaddy, Athlone, Co. Westmeath, N37 X659
Email Address: special_education@education.gov.ie
Regarding home tuition for children with autism receiving more hours, I understand that this may refer to 20 hours home tuition being provided to children with special educational needs who are aged 4 years where a school placement is not available as confirmed by the NCSE, through the local SENO.
As the child in this case is enrolled in a school and are not seeking a school placement they are not eligible for this strand of the scheme.
The Middletown Centre for Autism (MCA) project is a jointly funded initiative between the Department of Education in Northern Ireland and the Department of Education aimed at supporting the promotion of excellence in the development and harmonisation of education and allied services to children and young people with autism.
At the request of the department, and, as approved by the North South Ministerial Council, MCA commenced provision, on a limited basis in the Republic of Ireland of an intensive educational assessment and learning support service to children and young people on an outreach basis (MCA pilot). This is a second-tier service which complements existing provision for children and young people with autism. Therefore, where autistic children and young people experience significant difficulties, the first course of action is engagement with first tier services provided by the Department of Education, (including NEPS), the NCSE, the Health Service Executive (HSE) and HSE funded services.
The MCA pilot is a second-tier service and currently works with a minimum of 12 referrals per year. The nomination and referral process is initiated by parents and professionals at school level via the principal following a multidisciplinary school based review involving the NEPS, the local SENO and other relevant professionals. Nominations cannot be made directly to the MCA, the Department of Education or the NCSE.
Nominations for MCA referral are only considered for children and young people where such a review concludes despite comprehensive autism specific support and consistent engagement from school and home with first-tier services, the child or young person continues to present with significant and enduring behavioural and emotional concerns which impact their engagement and participation in education. MCA’s Learning Support & Assessment team builds on the work of first tier services and works alongside them to ensure their involvement in the process. They aim to create a strong base for building family and professional capacity to support the child when the referral concludes (normally after 10 months).
The centre provides a comprehensive nationwide training service for parents and educational professionals. Parents can view the range of courses which the centre has available through the website www.middletownautism.com. The centre’s professional training programme will provide 7,000 differentiated training opportunities for professionals in Ireland. This will include training required by the NCSE and training required to support the planned increase in new autism classes. The centre will also provide 7,000 training opportunities for parents in Ireland.
If a parent feels that a child is experiencing continuing difficulties they should request through their school a multidisciplinary school based review involving NEPS, the local SENO and other relevant professionals.
Employment Rights
Questions (659)
Paul Murphy
Question:659. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education in relation to primary and secondary school teachers who are not on fixed term or permanent contracts, if she is aware of the difficulty they face getting paid over the summer break; if she agrees that it is unacceptable that the teachers previously mentioned, who are due back to school next week have still not received their jobseeker’s having applied for on 29 June 2023, in order to ensure that this does not happen next year as her Department knows there will be an influx of paperwork; if her Department respond accordingly and either funnel resources that way or hire more people; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38285/23]
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The entitlement to and payment of jobseeker’s benefit to teachers over the school holiday periods is a matter for the Department of Social Protection. As part of the application process for the jobseekers benefit, payroll staff in my Department are asked by teachers to complete an application form on employment information.
New procedures have been implemented by the Payroll Division of my Department which has significantly reduced the time involved in completing the Department of Social Protection jobseeker benefit forms. In the vast majority of cases the forms are turned around within 7 to 10 working days. The forms are returned to the teacher concerned and it is a matter for the teacher to submit those forms to the Department of Social Protection for assessment on entitlement to job-seekers benefit.
Parental Leave
Questions (660)
Paul Murphy
Question:660. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education if parental leave is included in service history (details suppled); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38286/23]
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Under the terms of the Secondary, Community and Comprehensive Teachers Pension Scheme, at Section 7 (1) (ii) a person may retire under the 55/35 year rule under the following conditions:-
“55 years of age and has—
(I) not less than 35 years actual pensionable service,
(II) on or after 1 September 1996, not less than 34 years actual pensionable service where the member’s training before entry to teaching was of not less than 3 years’ duration but not more than 4 years’ duration, or
(III) On or after 1 September 1996, not less than 33 years actual pensionable service where the member’s training before entry to teaching was not less than 4 years’ duration.”
Circular 17/99, titled Parental Leave and Force Majeure Leave for Teachers in Second Level Schools, was active at the time the person to whom the Deputy refers to availed of Parental Leave. Circular 026/2013, titled Parental Leave Entitlements for Registered Teachers in Recognised Primary and Post Primary Schools replaced Circular 17/99.
The purpose of Parental Leave is to allow a teacher a period of unpaid leave to care for their child. A teacher on Parental Leave is deemed for all purposes to be in employment at that time with the exception of remuneration and superannuation.
I can confirm that Parental Leave is not included in the calculation of pensionable service for the purpose of the 55/35 year threshold.