Written Answers Nos. 236-255
236. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education if the emergency works required at a school (details supplied) as outlined and costed in the engineer's report, will be approved immediately, as it is a health and safety issue. [41058/23]
View answerThe school to which the Deputy refers applied for funding under my Department's Emergency Works Scheme for repair of its boundary wall. As the scope of the works were outside the terms of the emergency works scheme, the application was refused and the school was advised that Department of Education will fund repair works only to address any Health and Safety issues regarding the boundary wall.
237. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education the reason a child (details supplied) did not receive their school bus ticket for the 2023/24 academic year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41062/23]
View answerThe 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.
Bus Éireann has advised that the pupil referred to by the Deputy is eligible for school transport under the terms of the scheme but was unsuccessful in obtaining a seat on board a school transport service for the 2023/24 school year as they paid late and the service in question is currently operating at capacity.
238. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education the reason a child (details supplied) did not receive their school bus ticket for the 2023/2024 academic year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41063/23]
View answerThe 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 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.
Bus Éireann have advised that the pupil referred to by the Deputy is a concessionary applicant attending their fourth closest post primary school.
This pupil has been unsuccessful in receiving a concessionary seat and the service is operating at maximum capacity.
239. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education the reason a child (details supplied) did not receive their school bus ticket for the 2023/2024 academic year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41064/23]
View answerThe 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.
Children who are eligible for school transport and who have completed the application process on time will be accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation.
Children who are not eligible for school transport, but who completed the application process on time, will be considered for spare seats that may exist after eligible children have been facilitated; such seats are referred to as concessionary seats.
Because of the nature of concessionary transport for non-eligible children and the priority of providing places for eligible children, there may be an excess of demand over supply for concessionary places, in these cases Bus Éireann will allocate tickets for spare seats using a random selection process.
Bus Éireann have advised that the pupil referred to by the Deputy is not eligible for School Transport as they are attending their fourth closest Post Primary school.
This pupil has been unsuccessful in receiving concessionary seats in the random selection process and the service is operating at maximum capacity.
240. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education the reason a child (details supplied) did not receive their school bus ticket for the 2023/2024 academic year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41065/23]
View answerThe 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 133,000 tickets have issued for the 2023/2024 school year which is an increase of 12% when compared with the beginning of the 2022/2023 school 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 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.
Bus Éireann have advised that the pupil referred to by the Deputy is not eligible for school transport as they do not meet the distance criteria under the School Transport Post Primary Scheme.
This pupil have been unsuccessful in receiving concessionary seats in the agreed selection process and the service is operating at maximum capacity.
241. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education the reason a child (details supplied) did not receive their school bus ticket for the 2023/2024 academic year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41066/23]
View answerThe 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 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 primary level where they reside not less than 3.2 kilometres from and are attending their nearest national school, and at post primary level where they reside not less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre as determined by the department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
Children who are eligible for school transport and who have completed the application process on time 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.
Bus Éireann have advised that the pupil referred to by the Deputy is not eligible for school transport as they are attending their third closest Post Primary school.
This pupil have been unsuccessful in receiving concessionary seats in the agreed selection process and the service is operating at maximum capacity.
242. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education the reason a child (details supplied) did not receive their school bus ticket for the 2023/2024 academic year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41067/23]
View answerThe 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 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.
Bus Éireann have advised that the pupils referred to by the Deputy are concessionary applicant’s as they reside 4.3 km from home to school and therefore do not meet the distance criteria under the post primary school transport scheme.
These pupils have been unsuccessful in receiving a concessionary seat in the random selection process and the service is operating at maximum capacity.
243. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education the reason a child (details supplied) did not receive their school bus ticket for the 2023/2024 academic year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41068/23]
View answerThe 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.
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.
Bus Éireann have advised that the pupils referred to by the Deputy are concessionary applicant’s attending their second closest primary school.
These pupils have been unsuccessful in receiving concessionary seats and the service is operating at maximum capacity.
244. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education the reason a child (details supplied) did not receive their school bus ticket for the 2023/2024 academic year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41069/23]
View answerThe 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.
Bus Éireann has reported that unfortunately, for a small number of families assigned to school transport services, a number of difficulties have arisen in some localities with just under 2% of contracted services nationally affecting less then 2% of those pupils who have been issued with a ticket. These services were secured for the 2023/2024 school year however, Bus Éireann was informed at the last minute that due to driver/contractor unavailability, services could not commence as expected. These services are not cancelled, and the Bus Éireann School Transport team is working intensively to ensure that transport arrangements are put in place as soon as possible.
Bus Éireann have advised that of the two routes that have been affected in the area mentioned by the Deputy, one route recommenced on the 18th September 2023 and the other route is due to resume on 25th September 2023.
245. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update regarding an additional school accommodation application for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41079/23]
View answerI can confirm to the Deputy, that my Department is in receipt of an application for capital funding, under the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme from the school in question for special class accommodation.
The purpose of the Additional Schools Accommodation (ASA) scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream and special education classroom accommodation is available to cater for pupils enrolled each year and where the need cannot be met by the school’s existing accommodation.
I can assure the Deputy that my Department is working to ensure that there is appropriate school accommodation in place to meet the school place needs of all children. In the first instance, this is focused on ensuring that the use of existing school accommodation capacity is fully optimised. Where additional capacity is required this can be provided by means of modular accommodation where accelerated delivery is required, or by means of traditional construction projects.
I can confirm that the school in question has applied for funding for replacement of a prefab. The application is currently being assessed. Once the assessment has been completed a decision will issue directly to the School Authorities.
246. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Education to provide an update (details supplied) regarding an application for the provision of school transport; the time to assess this application and make a decision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41093/23]
View answerThe 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.
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 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.
Bus Éireann have advised that no applications for School Transport have been received from pupils attending the school referred to by the Deputy.
247. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education the status of a remote area grant for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41098/23]
View answerThe 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.
Bus Éireann has advised that this pupil is not eligible for transport as she is attending her 2nd nearest Primary school. However, there is a service available from where this pupil resides to her school of attendance and there is a seat available on that service.
Bus Éireann has also confirmed that the family has been contacted by Bus Éireann with a request for payment, to allow the tickets to issue.
248. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Education when a school (details supplied) will receive payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41109/23]
View answerI can confirm to the Deputy that my Department has processed the payment for the school to which he refers and that it should be reflected in the school's bank account in the coming days.
249. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Education to make provision for additional school bus places for secondary school students travelling from Collon to Ardee, County Louth, as the number of students requiring school bus places exceeds the required minimum number of ten eligible children residing in a distinct locality; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41138/23]
View answerThe 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 133,000 tickets have issued for the 2023/2024 school year which is an increase of 12% when compared with the start of the 2022/2023 school 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 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.
The availability of concessionary transport may vary from year to year and cannot be guaranteed for the duration of a child’s post primary school education cycle. Because of the nature of concessionary transport for non-eligible children and the priority of providing places for eligible children, there may be an excess of demand over supply for concessionary places, in these cases Bus Éireann will allocate tickets for spare seats using an agreed selection process.
Bus Éireann has advised that there are three services operating from Collon to Ardee. All services are currently operating to capacity. Of the applications received for the 2023/24 school year, those children who did not receive tickets are of concessionary status and were unsuccessful in securing a seat for the 2023/24 school year.
250. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 602 of 11 September 2023, (details supplied) if she will clarify if "individualised data is not available for primary pupils years prior to 2015"; and how do the patronage assessment reports from 2012, for example, have "detailed enrolment" data for individual schools by year (i.e. 6th class, etc.) for 2011-2012.". [41152/23]
View answerThe Primary Online Database (POD), which has been in place since 2015, is a live web based database which allows primary schools to manage and record enrolments in their schools. A school’s enrolment on the Census date, generally the end of September in a given academic year, is the basis for calculating the capitation grant due to the school. POD is also the means by which the Department tracks and generates enrolment statistics for the primary sector in Ireland.
When a pupil enrolls in a school as a new entrant, typically in Junior Infants, the school enters the pupil’s details on the POD system and a pupil record with a unique ID is created. This record is than validated, using the pupil’s PPSN number, against the Department of Social Protection’s database to ensure that as far as possible there are no duplicate records within the system. Currently 98% of POD records are validated.
Prior to the introduction of POD schools completed the National School Annual Census, this was an excel based census where schools returned relevant data regarding their enrolment and school. As part of this return schools provided the number of pupils per standard and per classroom, sample form attached, this data would then be available for Department reports and publications, such as the patronage assessment reports quoted.
Because personal pupil data and unique identifiers were not recorded prior to the introduction of POD it was not possible for the Department to track the movement of individual pupils between schools or from primary to post-primary. This is why it is not possible for us to produce data for years prior to 2016 for question no. 602.
251. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Education if the building unit within her Department will meet with a school (details supplied) which has an outstanding meeting request since September 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41153/23]
View answerI am aware of the school's request for a meeting, and I wish to advise the Deputy that officials in my Department are currently coordinating a date to meet with the school and will be in contact with the school shortly.
252. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Education for a progress update on the various school projects (both primary and secondary level) that are either in planning or construction stage in Dublin bay north; to provide a provisional timeline for when these projects are due to be completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41163/23]
View answerUnder Project Ireland 2040, we will be investing at least €5 billion over the period 2021 to 2025, to add capacity and develop and upgrade school facilities across the country for the almost one million students and over 100,000 staff that learn and work in our schools every day.
My Department has a proven track record of delivery. During the period 2018 to 2022, nearly 900 school building projects were completed. This includes 16 Large Scale & (Additional School Accommodation) school building projects in the Dublin Bay North constituency area, of which 7 were completed in 2022, during a challenging construction sector environment of high inflation, labour shortages and supply chain issues.
The key drivers of capital investment in the schools sector are as follows:
•demographic change, including keeping pace with delivery of SEN and accommodation for Ukrainian pupils particularly at Post Primary
•alignment with housing provision and national planning at school planning area level,
•construction costs,
•climate action objectives including deep energy retrofit.
This year alone, in excess of 300 school building projects are currently under construction, including 40 new school buildings and 260 projects at existing schools.
Key priorities for my Department are supporting the operation of the school system and adding necessary capacity to cater for special education needs provision, mainstream demographics and catering for students from Ukraine and other countries under the International Protection system.
The current status of all school building projects from 2010 to date is listed on a county by county basis at www.gov.ie and is updated on a regular basis to reflect their progress through the various stages of capital appraisal, site acquisition, design, tender and construction.
253. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Education whether her Department has undertaken any analysis of the potential cost to State of prohibiting second-level schools from charging fees, and the likely need to provide additional exchequer funding to those schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41189/23]
View answerSection 64 of the Education (Admissions to schools) Act 2018, which was commenced in 2018 explicitly prohibits the charging of admission and enrolment fees for admission to or for continued enrolment in a school, with some exceptions such as boarding or fee charging schools.
When a pupil is enrolled in a school certain charges may be legitimately requested from a parent such as payment for lockers, text messages or photocopied material provided by the school where the charge is reasonable and simply reflects the true costs concerned. Charges may also be requested for meals and refreshments provided pupils are not obliged to purchase same and can bring their own refreshments to school (e.g. lunchbox); or for payments in respect of extra-curricular activities provided such activities are not obligatory and individual pupils can choose whether or not to participate
Voluntary contributions may be sought from parents, provided it is made clear to parents that there is no compulsion to pay. The manner in which such voluntary contributions are sought and collected is a matter for school management, however their collection should be such as not to create a situation where either parents or pupils could reasonably infer that the contributions take on a compulsory character.
My Department provides funding to all recognised 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 including heating, lighting etc. €90 million was provided in once off funding to support schools in last year’s budget for the purposes of managing the challenge of rising energy costs. This additional grant, which issued to schools recently, was paid at the rate of €75 per pupil at Primary level and €113 at Post-Primary level. Enhanced rates were also paid in respect of pupils with Special Educational needs. The Ancillary grant caters 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.
The Programme for Government provides for an increase in the capitation grant and increased capitation funding for schools has been provided in recent years. Capitation rates have increased by 7.5% with all schools benefitting. Further increases in capitation will be considered as part of the budgetary process.
254. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education if she will ask her Department to investigate the case of a post-primary teacher (details supplied) whose request for incremental credits was refused in view of the fact that incremental credits have been allowed to primary teachers for service within the same school; and if she will review the procedures concerned to give equality between primary and post-primary awards for incremental credits in view of the shortage of teachers. [41205/23]
View answerThe 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. The criteria for the award of incremental credit to recognised teachers was agreed under the auspices of the Teachers Conciliation Council (TCC).
These circulars provide for the award of incremental credit in respect of teaching service outside the EU where the schools satisfy the criteria set out in the circulars to have service at that school recognised for incremental credit. In particular at post primary level, criteria such as if the school receives state funding and the length of time the school has been in existence must be satisfied in order for service at that school to be recognised for incremental credit. Where schools do not satisfy the required criteria, then service at that school cannot be considered towards incremental credit.
The issue of standardising the awarding of incremental credit for teachers along with other incremental credit issues are currently the subject of an incremental credit committee which is a sub-committee of the Teachers Conciliation Council. The Department is currently reviewing the issues raised at the sub-committee.
255. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 505 of 13 June 2023, the outcome of the teacher's union claim at the TCC in relation to incremental credit, specifically relating to private post-primary teaching service outside the EU; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41223/23]
View answerFurther to PQ 27420/23, there is no change from the position as outlined previously.
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. The criteria for the award of incremental credit to recognised teachers was agreed under the auspices of the Teachers Conciliation Council (TCC).
The teachers unions have lodged a number of claims at the TCC in relation to incremental credit, and specifically a claim about private post primary teaching service outside the E.U. These claims are still under consideration. The Department will advise the TCC of the outcome on completion of this process.
