Wednesday, 20 Sep 2023

Written Answers Nos. 364-383

Departmental Reports

Questions (364)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

364. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education to provide a list of all studies, research and reports commissioned by her Department that were outsourced, in each year since the formation of this Government, in tabular form; the names of the companies to which each study, research and report was outsourced; the total cost for each; the number of reports finalised and presented to her that have yet to be released by her Department; the dates on which any such reports yet to be released were first provided to her; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40367/23]

Written answers

Minister for Education

The list of all studies, research and reports commissioned by my Department that were outsourced since the formation of this Government is set out in the table below.

Name of Study / Research / Reports undertaken or commissioned	Name of company	Costs	Ongoing or finalised	Date presented to Minister	Date released by Department
Site Assessment	Kroll	€21,832.50	Finalised	N/A	N/A
Site Valuation	Kroll	€9,480.00	Finalised	N/A	N/A
Site Assessment	Kroll	€31,671.27	Finalised	N/A	N/A
Site Valuation	Kroll	€4,920.00	Finalised	N/A	N/A
Site Valuation	Kroll	€922.50	Finalised	N/A	N/A
Site Assessment	Kroll	€23,062.50	Finalised	N/A	N/A
Site Valuation	Kroll	€4,920.00	Finalised	N/A	N/A
Site Valuation	Kroll	€3,997.50	Finalised	N/A	N/A
Site Valuation	Kroll	€4,920.00	Finalised	N/A	N/A
Site Survey	Lenmar	€1,137.75	Finalised	N/A	N/A
Site Valuation	Kroll	€3,075.00	Finalised	N/A	N/A
Site Valuation	Kroll	€2,460.00	Finalised	N/A	N/A
Literacy, Numeracy and Digital Literacy Strategy - Consultation Report	H2 Learning	€20,800 – pending payment	Ongoing	N/A	N/A
Towards a New Literacy, Numeracy and Digital Literacy Strategy: A Review of the Literature	Institute of Education, Dublin City University	€24,960 (x 2 instalments of 12,480 each)	Finalised	6th April 2023	3rd May 2023
ESD related CPD for teachers	Outsourced – Mags Liddy, UCD	€6,300	Finalised	6th June 2023	11th September 2023
Review of Safety Statements and Health and Safety Risk Assessments	SHEQ Network Ltd	€14,629.75	Ongoing	N/A	N/A
Evaluation of the Schools Excellent fund – Digital	H2 Learning	€234,354	Ongoing	N/A	N/A
Baseline Report: Towards a Successor Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027	DCU	€5,000	Finalised		April 2022
Report on the high level independent review of the Department of Education’s current child protection policies and processes	Ms Noelle Buick	£14,000 stg	Finalised		The report is due to be published shortly
Scoping Inquiry into Historical Sexual Abuse in Day and Boarding Schools Run by Religious Orders*	Not applicable**	Ongoing	Ongoing	Due date is November 7 2023	N/A
Cost Benefit Analysis for Review of the School Transport Scheme	Indecon	€49,775 (exc. VAT)	Ongoing	N/A	N/A
Provision of focus group research to assist in the review of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs (EPSEN) Act 2004	University College Dublin	€97,251	Ongoing	N/A	N/A
Provision of research assistant to prepare surveys, undertake survey analysis and provide a report in relation to the responses received as part of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004 (EPSEN) Review	Ann Swift Consulting	€21,300	Ongoing	N/A	N/A
Provision of a Legal Review Paper for the Purposes of The Education for Persons withSpecial Educational Needs Act (EPSEN) 2004 Review	Prof. Emer Ring	€11,691.30	Ongoing	N/A	N/A
Independent Evaluation of the City Connects Pilot Project	Mary Immaculate College	€24,607.23	Ongoing	N/A	N/A
Development of an evaluation framework for Teachers’ Professional Development	Conducted by Education Research Centre (ERC)	€389,386.16	Finalised in May 2023	11th May 2023	24th May 2023
Cost of extending the free primary schoolbook scheme to all post primary school students	Outsourced to PWC	€48,000 (ex VAT)	Ongoing	N/A	N/A
The independent evaluation of the NTRIS STAR Pilot Projects aimed at retaining Traveller and Roma children in education	Outsourced to Centre for Effective Services	€124,795	Ongoing	N/A	N/A

*The Scoping Inquiry was established by the Government

**Mary O’Toole SC was appointed by the Minister to lead the Scoping Inquiry.

School Funding

Questions (365)

Paul Donnelly

Question:

365. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Education the full-year cost if the school capitation grants for both primary and post primary schools were increased by 30%. [40407/23]

Written answers

Minister for Education

My Department provides funding to recognised Primary and Post-Primary schools in the free education scheme by way of per capita grants. The two main grants are the Capitation grant to cater for day to day running costs such as heating, lighting, cleaning, insurance, general up-keep etc. and the Ancillary to cater for the cost of employing ancillary services staff. These grants may be regarded as a common grant from which the Board of Management can allocate according to its own priorities.

Schools also receive a range of other grants including Book Grants, Programme grants etc.

I understand the need for improved capitation funding and I am pleased that my Department has been able to provide for increases in capitation funding for primary and post primary schools in recent years.

All schools have received the benefit of the capitation increases awarded to date. It is my intention to seek funding for further capitation increases in future budgets.

In addition, as part of the Cost of Living measures introduced in Budget 23, €90 million has been provided in once-off additional funding to support increased running costs for recognised primary and post-primary schools in the free education scheme, in particular in dealing with challenges they face in the light of rising energy costs. This additional grant was paid at the rate of €75 per pupil at Primary level. Enhanced rates were also paid in respect of pupils with Special Educational Needs.

The full year cost of an increase of 30% in school capitation at primary would be €30m and secondary level would be €32m.

School Transport

Questions (366)

Colm Burke

Question:

366. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education to provide clarification as to the reason that parents of children attending a primary school, which would be considered a feeder school for a secondary school (details supplied), are now being advised that their children are not entitled to school transport to the secondary school; the reason that this was not explained to the parents at the time they made their application for their child to attend the secondary school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40418/23]

Written answers

Minister for Education

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.

In addition, school transport scheme services were provided in the last school year for over 5,400 children who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine.

The total cost of the scheme in 2022 was €338.9m.

Already over 133,000 tickets have issued for the 2023/2024 school year which is an increase of 7% 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.

Children are eligible for transport at post primary level where they reside not less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre as determined by the department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.

Children who are eligible for school transport and who have completed the application process on time 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 an agreed selection process.

Under the terms of the scheme, the availability of concessionary transport varies from year to year based on the capacity on the buses running on all of the various routes and the number of eligible children accommodated on each route.

Bus Éireann have advised that there are four services currently operating to the school referred to by the Deputy. These services cater for 164 pupils inclusive of eligible, concessionary and concessionary TAM (Temporary Alleviation Measure) applicants. Eligibility is purely determined based on the distance a pupil resides to their nearest school as per the terms and conditions of the School Transport scheme and not based on local school arrangements.

School Textbooks

Questions (367)

Rose Conway-Walsh

Question:

367. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Education the first- and full-year cost of extending the free schoolbooks scheme to all pupils in public post-primary schools, assuming a grant rate of €192, €200 and €220 respectively, for each student in an eligible year. [40428/23]

Written answers

Minister for Education

Earlier this year, I announced a landmark new scheme which saw the government investing over €50 million in providing free schoolbooks, workbooks and copybooks for pupils.

More than 558,000 pupils enrolled in approximately 3,230 primary schools, including over 130 special schools, will benefit from the new scheme this year.

The Department currently provides a book grant to all recognised post-primary schools within the Free Education Scheme in order to provide assistance for books, including Book Rental Schemes. Schools participating in the Department’s DEIS Programme receive an enhanced rate of book grant. My Department provided funding of €10.2 million in 2022 to these schools

Book grant funding is provided to schools annually for a full academic year and is based on the most recent year’s validated enrolment figures.

Based on the figures provided by the Deputy, the cost to provide a free schoolbook scheme to all students in public post primary schools is estimated as follows:

Number of pupils is based on validated enrolment figures for 2022/23 for students in public post primary schools (379,200) increased by the projected increase in post primary enrolments from 2022/23 to 2023/24 (7319) as published in my Department's projections of full time enrolments for 2021 to 2036.

€192 x 386,519 pupils = €74,211,648

€200 x 386,519 pupils = €77,303,800

€220 x 386,519 pupils = €85,034,180

The extension of the free schoolbook scheme to post primary schools will be considered in the context of available resources as part of budget negotiations.

School Transport

Questions (368)

Rose Conway-Walsh

Question:

368. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Education the number of students that avail of the school transport each year; and the number of students that avail of the SEN school transport scheme. [40429/23]

Written answers

Minister for Education

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.

There has been an overall increase in both applications and tickets issued for the 2023/2024 school year in comparison to the 2022/2023 school year.

To date Bus Éireann has issued over 133,000 tickets for mainstream school transport services. This represents an increase of over 7% in mainstream tickets issued compared to the start of the 2022/2023 school year.

With regard to transport services for children with Special Educational Needs (SEN), at present, close to 5,000 new applications have been received for SEN transport for the 2023/2024 school year, with some 1,400 of these having been received in July alone. This compares to some 3,670 new applications received at this time last year. Transport is being provided for over 3,000 new applicants for the 23/24 school year, with transport being provided overall for over 19,000 pupils in the current school year. As there is no defined closing date for SEN applications, applications continue to be received all year round.

Where a new service is sanctioned, this means a procurement / vetting process is required, while in many instances the school is also sanctioned to employ a transport escort and this necessarily takes time to put in place. By accepting applications year round, the Department can ensure that children with special educational needs receive the transport they require.

To ensure the efficient delivery of services for children on Special Educations Needs school transport, Bus Éireann assesses each application to identify the options available. Where children can be facilitated on an existing service, applications are processed immediately and arrangements put in place with families involved.

Where a new service has to be established there is a lead in period for this process that includes issues such as:

• route design and procurement including contract award.

• in many instances a School Bus Escort is required for the child’s safe transport to school and it can take time for the school to source a suitable person which can impact the start date.

School Transport

Questions (369)

Michael Ring

Question:

369. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Education if school transport can be provided to siblings (details supplied) attending a gaelscoil; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40462/23]

Written answers

Minister for Education

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.

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.

Children are eligible for transport at primary level where they reside not less than 3.2 kilometres from and are attending their nearest national school, and at post primary level where they reside not less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre as determined by the department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.

Children who are eligible for school transport and who have completed the application and payment process on time will be accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation for the 2023/2024 school year. The 2023/2024 closing date for applications and payments was 28th April 2023 and 9th June 2023 respectively.

Bus Éireann have advised that the family, to whom the Deputy refers, are eligible for school transport. However the family made a late payment on 31st August 2023 and the service that could accommodate the family is now operating to capacity with no seats available.

Special Educational Needs

Questions (370)

Colm Burke

Question:

370. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education the reason that only five hours have been allocated for home tuition to a child (details supplied) when that child, who was diagnosed with autism/ASD in August 2020, has educational challenges attending school; if consideration would be given to granting additional hours; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40466/23]

Written answers

Minister for Education

I would like to thank the Deputy for the question. The purpose of the Home Tuition Grant Scheme is to provide funding towards the provision of a compensatory educational service for children who, for a number of specific reasons, are unable to attend school as follows:

a) Early educational intervention for children with autism who meet the scheme’s eligibility criteria

b) Students with special educational needs seeking an educational placement in a recognised school

c) 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 my Department will consider home tuition applications on behalf of students with on behalf of students with a significant medical condition or a 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.

Home tuition is not an alternative to a school placement and is provided in very limited and specific circumstances.

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 10 hours.

In the case referred to by the Deputy, the Home Tuition grant was awarded on medical grounds (i.e. that the child in question had a medical condition which specifically caused and continues to cause a major disruption to attendance at their enrolled school). On this basis, my Department has sanctioned the maximum number of hours per week (i.e. 5) which can be granted to a child at primary level.

School Funding

Questions (371)

Noel Grealish

Question:

371. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Education if she has plans to introduce grants for technology or ICT in primary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40544/23]

Written answers

Minister for Education

The Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027 was published last year and is underpinned by an investment of €200m to support its implementation, committed to under Ireland’s National Development Plan (NDP). The first tranche of €50m issued to all recognised primary and post-primary schools in late 2021.

The previous Digital Strategy for Schools 2015 to 2020 saw overall investment of €210m issued to all recognised primary and post-primary schools in annual grant funding. This funding enabled schools to invest in appropriate digital infrastructure to enable the embedding of the use of digital technology in teaching, learning and assessment.

Funding of €50m 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 issue 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.

Equality Issues

Questions (372)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

Question:

372. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education if she is aware of research (details supplied) on non-religious teachers; what plans, if any, she has to legislate to protect all teachers from religious discrimination, giving teachers the same protections under the Irish system as in Northern Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40553/23]

Written answers

Minister for Education

The Department is aware of the report referred to by the Deputy. The recruitment and appointment of teachers to fill teaching posts is a matter for the individual school authority. In accordance with Department Circulars 31/2011 and 44/2019, schools are required to ensure that individuals appointed to teach are registered teachers with qualifications appropriate to the sector and suitable to the post for which they are employed. In post primary schools teachers are required to be registered Route 2 with the Teaching Council and have qualifications in the subjects for the post they are appointed to in order to receive incremental salary. It should also be noted that schools and other educational institutions are required to comply with anti-discrimination and other employment legislation, such as the Employment Equality Act 1998.

Section 37 (1) of the Employment Equality Act, 1998 allowed for the exclusion of discrimination on particular grounds in certain employments. The amended Section 37 now draws a distinction between religious institutions that are entirely privately funded and those which are funded by the taxpayer. The rationale is in the case of the second category, the Government has the right to protect employees who are paid from public monies from unfair treatment or discrimination in their work place.

The amended Section 37 now requires relevant employers in schools with a religious ethos to show that any favourable treatment of an employee or prospective employee is limited to the religion ground and action taken against a person is objectively justified by reference to that institution’s aim of protecting its religious ethos. This provision raises the threshold for discrimination so that schools are precluded from discrimination on any other equality grounds and that any action taken is reasonable and proportionate.

Schools Building Projects

Questions (373)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

373. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education to indicate the progress to date in the completion of allocated additional classrooms and subsequent appointment of additional teachers in the case of a special school (details supplied), given that the recent start date for students has now been pushed to November, meaning they have been unable to start school in the interim period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40556/23]

Written answers

Minister for Education

As the Deputy is aware, my Department issued approval to the school authority in question for the provision of three special classrooms and ancillary accommodation.

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 overall construction sector environment is challenging and the Department and the Project Management company are doing everything possible to ensure that the project is delivered as quickly as possible. My Department is fully aware of the urgency in respect of this accommodation and will be working with the school to keep it updated on overall project delivery and timelines. While the project is expected to reach practical completion in the next two months, it is a matter for the school authority to recruit sufficient teachers to fill the teaching posts approved by my Department and this should not be impacted by the capital project. A senior technical official from my Department and the project manager visited the school recently in order to identify and advise the school on appropriate contingency arrangements to accommodate the additional enrolments pending the completion of the building project.

Schools Building Projects

Questions (374)

Paul McAuliffe

Question:

374. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on the new school build for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40566/23]

Written answers

Minister for Education

My Department is currently planning the delivery of a major campus project on the current site of the school referred to by the Deputy.

The project will deliver two new 1,000 pupil post - primary schools and 1 new primary school ( 8 classrooms) on this site.

My Department is currently developing the accommodation brief for this significant campus development and is engaging with the school patrons as part of this process.

The brief for the school is currently being finalised by my Department with a view to progressing the project into architectural planning. This process is now at a very advanced stage.

School Transport

Questions (375)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

375. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education if a request can be considered (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40571/23]

Written answers

Minister for Education

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.

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.

The National Council for Special Education acts in an advisory role to the Department of Education on the suitability of placements for children with special educational needs.

Under the terms of the School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs, the Department will consider the report of the Special Education Needs Organiser (SENO). School transport is provided to children with special educational needs who are attending the nearest school to their place of residence that is or can be resourced to meet their educational needs, as identified by the SENO.

Bus Éireann make every effort to facilitate requests for set down at addresses other than the child’s home address provided the alternate address is on the route of the existing service and the arrangements are the same throughout the school year.

However, in general, it is not possible to facilitate atypical school transport arrangements which involve additional mileage, inconvenience to other children on the service, additional cost to the State or where Bus Éireann have concerns regarding a child's safety.

Bus Éireann, has advised that the request to which the Deputy refers would have an additional cost to the state and therefore cannot be granted.

School Transport

Questions (376)

Maurice Quinlivan

Question:

376. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Education if she will provide details of the availability of a school transport options for the pupils residing in the Corbally area of Limerick attending a school (details supplied), who, despite residing outside of the distance limits from the school have been advised that there is no school bus transport option available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40583/23]

Written answers

Minister for Education

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.

Children are eligible for transport at primary level where they reside not less than 3.2 kilometres from and are attending their nearest national school, and at post primary level where they reside not less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre as determined by the department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.

A minimum number of 10 eligible children residing in a distinct locality, as determined by Bus Éireann, are required before consideration may be given to the establishment or retention of school transport services, provided this can be done within reasonable cost limits.

All school transport services are reviewed over the summer months. Arising from this review, routes may be altered, extended or withdrawn depending on the number and location of eligible children who will be availing of school transport for the following school year.

Children who are eligible for school transport and who have completed the application and payment 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.

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.

In relation to the query raised by the Deputy, given that the distance from home to school has been disputed by a number of families in the area the Department has requested Bus Éireann to review the distance involved for these families to assess their eligibility under the terms of the Post Primary School Transport Scheme. This assessment is underway and families will be contacted directly by Bus Éireann in regard to their individual applications.

School Transport

Questions (377)

Michael Ring

Question:

377. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Education if her Department will provide a one-off grant in respect of transport costs incurred for Ukrainian students (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40584/23]

Written answers

Minister for Education

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.

Commercial contractors who provide transport for schools on a private hire or commercial basis but who are not contracted by Bus Éireann to operate on the Department’s School Transport Scheme do not fall under the remit of the Department of Education.

In relation to issue referred to by the Deputy, the School Transport Section of my Department will liaise with the school directly on the matter.

School Staff

Questions (378)

Cian O'Callaghan

Question:

378. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to several schools that are unable to hire a substitute teacher in order to fill a fixed-term role temporarily, where that fixed-term role has been advertised but no hire has been found; if she will engage with schools on this issue given the staffing shortages that many are experiencing; if she will consider amending this rule; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40628/23]

Written answers

Minister for Education

Fixed term replacement teacher posts must be filled according to the current rules for teacher recruitment. These include that the recruited teacher shall be offered a fixed term contract.There is also a requirement that a person employed in a teaching position is registered with the Teaching Council in order to be paid by the public purse. This is provided for under legislation and therefore it is not possible for the State to pay a person whose Teaching Council Registration is pending.There is an exception to this rule which permits an unregistered person to be employed in a substitute capacity for up to 5 days in place of a teacher. Teachers who carry out substitute work and who are not on supply panels, or who do not hold a permanent/fixed term contract in their own right, can be used to fill vacant posts where a school cannot secure a teacher on a longer-term basis. However, the school must continue to advertise and seek to recruit a teacher on a longer-term contract for that post.

The Department will continue to work intensively with all stakeholders to develop and implement solutions to address the teacher recruitment challenges being experienced by some schools.

Teaching Qualifications

Questions (379)

Cian O'Callaghan

Question:

379. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Education if she will consider re-evaluating the length of the two-year Professional Masters in Education to account for teachers who have a Teaching Council number and who already have teaching experience; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40629/23]

Written answers

Minister for Education

Changes to the duration and content of all initial teacher education (ITE) programmes were made in response to recommendations in the National Strategy to Improve Literacy and Numeracy among children and Young People 2011-2020 and were incorporated into the Teaching Council’s Policy Paper on the Continuum of Teacher Education and Criteria and Guidelines for Programme Providers. The changes made to post graduate ITE programmes included the reconfiguration of their content and an increase in their duration to two years.

The lengthened and reconfigured programmes include substantial periods of school placement as central to student teacher development.

Accreditation of ITE programmes and the standards required to be registered as a teacher in Ireland are the responsibility of the Teaching Council. Revised standards for ITE were set out by the Teaching Council in Céim: Standards for Initial Teacher Education, published in 2020. These include a number of mandatory areas including seven core elements -

Inclusive Education

Global Citizenship Education

Professional Relationships and Working with Parents

Professional Identity and Agency

Creativity and Reflective Practice

Literacy and Numeracy

Digital Skills

Céim reaffirms that post-graduate ITE programmes shall be a minimum of two years’ duration.

These reforms are focused on improving the quality of teaching in our schools, which is central to the educational outcomes of our children. The changes made to the content and duration of the ITE programmes for primary and post primary teaching are in line with the aims of the National Literacy and Numeracy Strategy and aim to ensure that newly qualified teachers are better equipped for the needs of modern day classrooms.

It is acknowledged that there are challenges around the availability of teachers at present. Earlier this year, I announced the approval of 610 additional places on primary initial teacher education programmes over the next two years. This measure is in addition to a number of measures taken and underway which are intended to address current challenges in the area of teacher supply in primary and post-primary schools. I and my Department continue to work collaboratively with the education partners to ensure teacher supply.

Many programmes of initial teacher education remain oversubscribed and there are no plans to reduce the current duration of the postgraduate ITE programmes to one year.

Special Educational Needs

Questions (380)

Cian O'Callaghan

Question:

380. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Education if she will look at a case (details supplied) whereby a child with autism has been out of school since March this year and is unable to find a school place for the coming year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40632/23]

Written answers

Minister for Education

Section 29 of the Education Act, 1998 provides for an appeal through an independent appeals board by a parent or guardian, where a Board of Management of a school, or a person acting on behalf of the Board, refuses to enrol a student in a school. Further information on the Section 29 appeals process is available on the Department's website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/service/90de23-appeal-against-permanent-exclusion-suspension-or-refusal-to-enrol/.

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children with special educational needs nationwide.The NCSE’s Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) are available to assist and advise parents of children with special educational needs. Parents may contact SENOs directly here: ncse.ie/regional-services-contact-list . 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.

Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) play a central role in the successful inclusion of students with additional and significant care needs into mainstream education, special classes and special schools ensuring that these students can access education to enable them to achieve their best outcomes and reach their full potential.

SNAs are not allocated to individual children but to schools as a school based resource. The deployment of SNAs within schools is a matter for the individual Principal/Board of Management of the school. SNAs should be deployed by the school in a manner which best meets the care support requirements of the children enrolled in the school for whom SNA support has been allocated.

It is a matter for schools to allocate support as required, and on the basis of individual need, which allows schools flexibility in how the SNA support is utilised.

The NCSE has responsibility for planning and coordinating school supports for children with special educational needs including the allocation of SNAs and reviews.

The school can apply to the NCSE for a review of its SNA allocation if it is insufficient to meet the needs of its students.

Detailed information on the NCSE Exceptional Review process is published on the NCSE website. ncse.ie/application-for-sna-exceptional-review .

All schools have the contact details of their local SENO, and the SENO is available to offer assistance and advice to the school. Parents may also contact their local SENO directly to discuss their child's special educational needs, using the contact details available on www.ncse.ie .

The NCSE have published the SNA allocations for the 2023/24 school year and they are available at ncse.ie/set-hours-and-sna-allocations

The Department does not have a role in making individual school determinations and the school should liaise with the NCSE directly in the event that additional supports are required.

School Transport

Questions (381)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

381. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education to review a school transport matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40700/23]

Written answers

Minister for Education

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.

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.

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.

While over 90% of services are contracted locally, Bus Éireann apply stringent assessments of each individual driver on school routes. This includes vetting and background checks.

It is Bus Éireann company policy that normal retirement age for all Bus Éireann staff is currently 66 years. However, Bus Éireann part-time school bus drivers and drivers nominated by private operators who operate service as part of the School Transport Scheme may continue to perform in the role provided they hold the requisite license and satisfy an annual medical examination until they retire at age 70. This policy and criteria is applied to all drivers who provide school transport services on behalf of Bus Éireann equally.

The age limit on school bus drivers was increased to 70 years a number of years ago. While Bus Éireann have informed the Department there is no plan to increase the age limit further at this time, the matter will continue to be kept under review.

School Textbooks

Questions (382)

Richard Bruton

Question:

382. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education the number of primary school children who received the benefit of free schoolbooks on their return to school this year; and the estimated savings to each child included in the scheme. [40727/23]

Written answers

Minister for Education

Earlier this year, I announced a landmark new scheme seeing the government investing over €53 million in providing free schoolbooks, workbooks and copybooks for pupils. The investment in this scheme significantly increases the funding for school books provided to date to all recognised primary schools in the country.

The primary school book grant funding for the 2023/24 academic year, totalling over €53.7 million was paid directly to all recognised primary and special schools in April, to allow schools implement the scheme in time for the start of the 2023/24 school year.

The basis of the grant funding provided is that it eliminates the overall cost of schoolbooks, workbooks and copybooks for parents. Parents must not be asked to purchase schoolbooks, workbooks or copybooks or to make a contribution to the school towards the cost of these items. Once the cost of these items are covered schools can use any surplus funding to provide related classroom resources such as pens, pencils, erasers. Schools will differ in what the funding can provide based on their individual needs.

Under this scheme, €96 per pupil was paid in line with recognised pupil enrolment on 30 September 2022. Some 559,501 pupils and their families in 3,231 primary and special schools have benefited from the free primary schoolbook scheme in the current school year.

Sports Funding

Questions (383)

Seán Sherlock

Question:

383. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will establish a definitive date for the announcement of the upcoming sports capital funds, which will allow clubs to plan their developments. [39506/23]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media

The Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (SCEP) is the primary vehicle for Government support for the development of sports and recreation facilities and the purchase of non-personal sports equipment throughout the country. Over 13,000 projects have benefited from sports capital funding since 1998, bringing the total allocations in that time to over €1.15 billion. The Programme for Government commits to continuing the SCEP and to prioritising investment in disadvantaged areas.

The 2023 round of the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (2023) closed for applications on Friday 8th September. A preliminary examination of the submitted applications is now underway but it is clear that the Programme has again generated a very large number of applications.

Work is now underway on drafting the "Scoring Assessment and Assessment Manual" for the 2023 round and I hope to have this finalised in the coming weeks. Once this is published, the detailed assessment work can commence.

In view of the volume of applications received, however, it will take several months to have the assessment process complete. In this regard, it is planned to assess the "Equipment-only" applications first with a view to announcing these grants in the coming months. Work will then commence on the assessment of the capital applications with the allocations likely to be announced later in 2024.