Written Answers Nos. 298-311
298. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Education what steps are being taken to increase the number of early start places in the county area of the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Childcare Committee; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42262/23]
View answerThe Early Start programme was established in 1994 and is a one-year intervention programme designed to meet the needs of children aged between 3 years and 5 years who are at risk of not reaching their potential within the school system. It involves an educational programme to enhance overall development, help prevent school failure and offset the effects of social disadvantage.
Since the inception of Early Start, the early childhood education and care landscape has changed significantly with the introduction of the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme in 2010, and its extension to a two-year programme in 2018. The ECCE programme is the national universal two-year pre-school programme available to all children within the eligible age range. The ECCE programme is under the remit of my colleague the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, and officials of my Department and its agencies co-operate closely with that Department, particularly in relation to Síolta and Aistear , the national quality and curriculum frameworks for early learning and care, and the initial professional education of Early Years Educators.
While the ECCE scheme is the national universal two-year pre-school programme available to all children, the Early Start programme continues to operate in primary schools in designated areas of urban disadvantage and has capacity for 1,620 children each year. Early Start units attached to primary schools are staffed by teachers and childcare workers. The programme opens each year for new child enrolments. There are currently no plans to expand existing units or to open new Early Start units.
299. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Education whether she is considering providing free schoolbooks for secondary school students, for the upcoming school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42279/23]
View answerEarlier this year I announced the establishment of Ireland’s first national primary school book scheme. More than 558,000 pupils enrolled in approximately 3,230 primary schools, including over 130 special schools, will benefit from this new measure this year.
Detailed guidance for primary schools on the scheme was published and issued to all recognised primary schools and special schools in March 2023.
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 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.
A full evaluation of the first year of implementation of the scheme will be undertaken in consultation with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, to inform the guidance, implementation, costs and efficiency of the scheme for future years.
My 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. Under this scheme, my Department provided funding of €10.2 million in 2022 to these schools.
The extension of the free school book scheme to students in recognised post-primary schools will be considered in the context of the available resources going forward as part of budget negotiations.
300. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education if she is aware of the Children's Books Ireland's Right to Be a Reader Campaign, urging the government to provide sustained funding for school libraries in Budget 2024; given that only 15% of the Irish population of any age are signed up as public library members, will the Minister support properly funded school primary and secondary school libraries, staffed by a qualified librarian; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42282/23]
View answerMy aim for Budget 2024 is to continue to deliver on the priorities outlined in the Programme for Government and to continue to support the students, staff, and families in the education sector. As a teacher I know well that a love of reading is one the greatest gifts we can give a child and of the value to our students of reading widely. Considerable progress has been made in promoting a high level of literacy in our schools since the 2011 Literacy and Numeracy Strategy and 2017 Interim Review. We will continue improving our literacy levels with a focus on literacy in our classrooms and encouraging our children and young people to read for pleasure outside of school.
In the lead up to the Budget, my Department receives a number of pre-budget submissions from a number of stakeholders in the education sector and from organisations involved in other areas of public policy. As in previous years, relevant submissions continue to be reviewed and they will inform the specific budgetary priorities that I will be seeking to achieve in Budget 2024.
301. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education when a child (details supplied) will be provided with SEN school transport, in view that it is now over 4 weeks since the school term commenced, and the child still has no transportation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42306/23]
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. The number of tickets issued so far 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.
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.
I am pleased to advise that the pupil referred to by the Deputy is eligible under the terms of the scheme and a sanction has been sent by School Transport Section of my Department to Bus Éireann for the establishment of a new service for pupils to the school referred to by the Deputy.
Bus Éireann have tendered this service in line with procurement guidelines and are in the process of allocating a contractor to operate this service, once a contractor has been sourced, the service will commence. Bus Éireann will liaise with the family directly.
Both the Department and Bus Éireann are very conscious of the challenges faced by parents awaiting transport for students with special educational needs. Families of children who are eligible for these services may therefore apply for the interim Special Transport Grant which is a once off payment, paid retrospectively to families once the School Transport service is in place and is to assist with the cost of private transport arrangements the family had put in place until services are finalised. The Family of the child referred have been contacted directly by School Transport Section of my Department, with an offer of the Special Transport Grant until the transport service commences.
302. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Education her plans to re-introduce additional payments for teachers who gain extra qualifications, such as a special education qualification or a doctorate degree; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42317/23]
View answerIn September 2012 my Department, following a Government Decision on the matter, implemented the outcome of the review of allowances and premium payments by the then Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. As a result many allowances, including the allowances referred to by the Deputy, were no longer payable to many new public service entrants including “new entrant” teachers. Circular 0008/2013 outlines the effect of this review on teachers.
In common with a number of job-role based allowances, sanction for payment to new beneficiaries was withdrawn from 1st February 2012 under the terms of the Circular. Furthermore, if a teacher was eligible for receipt of the allowance prior to 1st February 2012 and subsequently left that job role on a voluntary basis, their entitlement to the allowance ceases from the date of the move and they cannot re-gain entitlement.
Over the course of recent collective agreements amendments have been agreed, including that new entrant teachers had the equivalent value of an Honours Primary Degree allowance integrated into their salary scale. More recently the equivalent value of the Professional Masters in Education (PME) Allowances has been integrated into the salary scale of new entrant post primary teachers.
Any further amendments to Teacher Terms and Conditions, including pay and allowances, can only be achieved through engagement and collective bargaining agreements between the Government and the public service unions or through the Teachers Conciliation Council (TCC) forum. The TCC deals with claims and proposals relating to the terms and conditions of employment, including pay and allowances, of teachers to which the Department, management representatives and unions are all party.
The restoration of allowances is currently a matter under discussion at TCC at present. As proceedings of the TCC are confidential, it would not be appropriate for me to make any further comment while it remains under consideration.
303. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education if she will make a representation to the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to have teaching added to the critical skills list; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42325/23]
View answerIreland’s employment permits system is managed by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment through the operation of the Critical Skills (CSOL) and Ineligible Occupations Lists (IOL) which track current skills shortages and surpluses in Ireland and the EEA.
Occupations on the CSOL include those in IT, Finance and Medical, which are highly skilled professional occupations experiencing labour or skill shortages and which are required for the proper functioning of the Irish economy. Occupations included on the IOL are those in respect of which evidence suggests there are Irish/EEA workers available and therefore an employment permit shall not be granted in Ireland.
While teaching is not currently on either list, it should be noted the number of newly qualified teachers registered annually with the Teaching Council has increased in recent years. More than 3,700 newly qualified teachers registered in 2022 and the number of registrants on the Teaching Council's register is now 119,000, an increase of 25% since 2017.
In order to maintain the relevance of these lists, and to ensure that the system is aligned with current labour market intelligence, there are periodic evidence-based reviews involving a public/stakeholder consultation. The lists are also informed by the views of the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN) and the Skills and the Labour Market Research Unit (SLMRU). Consideration is also taken of the views of the relevant policy departments and the Economic Migration Interdepartmental Group, chaired by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.
The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment continues to keep the employment permits system under review in light of changing labour market circumstances. Earlier this year Minister Richmond, Minister of State for Business, Employment and Retail, launched the opening of a new public consultation phase to review the lists with submissions invited up to the closing date of 18th August. Submissions received are currently being considered with recommendations for approval expected in November.
It is anticipated that a further evidence-based review of the critical skills list will be launched; the Department will consider submitting a response to any future stakeholder consultation.
304. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education if additional funding will be provided in Budget 2024 for the primary education system to ensure mental health supports and reduce class sizes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42326/23]
View answerOver recent years, additional resources have been made available to our schools, including through the delivery of thousands of extra teaching and Special Needs Assistant posts, increased capitation in schools, enhanced supports for school leadership and improved staffing schedule and free school books in primary schools.
My aim for Budget 2024 is to continue to deliver on the priorities outlined in the Programme for Government and to continue to support the students, staff and families in the education sector. In the lead up to the Budget, my Department receives a number of pre-budget submissions from a range of different stakeholders in the education sector and from organisations involved in other areas of public policy. As in previous years, relevant submissions continue to be reviewed and they will inform the specific budgetary priorities that I will be seeking to achieve in Budget 2024. As I am sure the Deputy appreciates, it would not be appropriate for me to outline any more specific plans at this stage of the Budgetary process.
305. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Education for an update in relation to the provision of school accommodation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42336/23]
View answerThe project to which the Deputy refers has been devolved for delivery to the School Authority under the Additional Accommodation Scheme for provision of an en-suite mainstream classroom.
I can confirm that my Department has received the design report from the school. This report is currently being reviewed by officials in my Department. Following the completion of this review, my Department's officials will engage with the school authority directly with recommendations and practical advice.
306. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Education for an update in relation to the provision of school accommodation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42337/23]
View answerThe project to which the Deputy refers is a campus project and has been devolved for delivery to Galway and Roscommon Education and Training Board (GRETB).
I am pleased to inform the Deputy, that the project is currently at Stage 2b of the architectural planning process and planning permission has been granted. My Department now awaits submission of the Stage 2b Report from the ETB. Once this report has been reviewed and approved by the Department, it will progress to tender stage and construction in due course.
GRETB will be engaging directly with the school authority to keep it informed of progress.
307. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Education for an update in relation to the provision of school accommodation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42338/23]
View answerThe schools referred to by the Deputy are part of a major building project to provide a new 24 classroom school building for Athenry Amalgamated NS which will be delivered under my Department's ADAPT Programme. ADAPT is an acronym for the "Accelerated Delivery of Architectural Planning and Tendering".
The ADAPT programme uses a professional external Project Manager to co-ordinate and drive the Design Team to achieve the best possible timeframe for the project through the stages of Architectural Planning to Tender and Construction.
The tender process to appoint a Design Team for the project will be commencing shortly.
My Department will keep the school authorities informed of the progression of these appointments as they proceed.
308. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Education for an update in relation to the provision of school accommodation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42339/23]
View answerI wish to confirm to the Deputy that a new school building for the school in question was completed in 2019. The new school provides capacity for a minimum of 1,000 pupils as well as accommodation for students with special education needs.
In the context of meeting the demographic demand for post primary provision in this school planning area, additional capacity is proposed for two other post primary schools. It is intended that the combined capacity of all three post primary schools will meet the future demographic demand for this school planning area. My Department therefore considers that further additional capacity at the school to which he refers is not warranted.
309. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Education how many school bus services in Galway county are currently not running due to lack of drivers or lack of buses; how many children are affected as a result of these challenges; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42340/23]
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. The number of tickets issued so far has already exceeded the total number of tickets issued in the 2022/23 school year.
Unfortunately in recent weeks, a number of difficulties have arisen in some localities with a small number of contracted services, including the services in the area referred to by the Deputy.
Bus Eireann are working intensively to ensure that transport arrangements are put in place as soon as possible.
Bus Éireann have advised that there are currently nine mainstream services and eight Special Educational Needs (SEN) services in the area referred that are currently not operating. There are two hundred and ninety mainstream pupils and thirty two SEN pupils affected.
Bus Eireann are working intensively to ensure that transport arrangements are put in place as soon as possible.
310. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education if she is aware of the shortage of SNA hours in a school (details supplied); if she will ensure that the extra hours the school has applied for are granted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42357/23]
View answerI would like to thank the Deputy for the question and would like to advise the following:
Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for this government. It is also a key priority for me as Minister for Special Education & Inclusion, for my department and for the National Council for Special Education (NCSE).
The vast majority of children with special educational needs are supported to attend mainstream classes with their peers. Where children with more complex needs require additional supports, special classes and special school places are provided.
For 2023, the spend by my department on special education 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.
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 allocated to schools as a school based resource and not to individual children. 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 have published the SNA allocations for the 2023/24 school year. For ease of reference these allocations are broken down by school type and are available on the NCSE's website at: www.ncse.ie/set-hours-and-sna-allocations
As the NCSE have the responsibility for allocating SNAs to schools I will arrange to have your query referred to the NCSE for their attention and direct reply.
My department and the NCSE are committed to delivering an education system that is of the highest quality and where every child and young person feels valued and is actively supported and nurtured to reach their full potential.
311. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education the number of data breaches experienced by her Department in each of the past ten years and to date in 2023. [42362/23]
View answerPlease see below in tabular form the number of data breaches that occurred in my Department in each of the past ten years and to date in 2023, and the numbers which were reported to the Data Protection Commission (the remainder were deemed to be of no risk due to their nature and therefore were not required to be reported to the DPC).
|
Year |
No. of Breaches |
No. of Breaches reported to DPC |
Cases still open |
|
2013 |
5 |
1 |
- |
|
2014 |
5 |
1 |
- |
|
2015 |
5 |
- |
- |
|
2016 |
8 |
1 |
- |
|
2017 |
8 |
1 |
- |
|
2018 |
27 |
5 |
- |
|
2019 |
23 |
16 |
- |
|
2020 |
45 |
34 |
- |
|
2021 |
49 |
34 |
- |
|
2022 |
46 |
37 |
- |
|
2023 to date |
41 |
26 |
1 |
By way of background to the above figures, it should be noted that the GDPR and Data Protection Act came into effect on 25 May 2018. The breaches from 2013 to 2017 and up to 25 May 2018, were processed under the Data Protection Acts 1988 and 2003, as well as the 1995 European Union Directive.
