Written Answers Nos. 273-292
273. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the progress to date in the delivery of the three-school project at Celbridge, County Kildare, with particular reference to replacement for a school (details supplied), long since outdated; the extent to which this project is proceeding in accordance with plans; if any revision is required to expedite progress for the schools in question; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45312/23]
View answerThe project to which the Deputy refers has been devolved to the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) for delivery as part of bundled school building programmes. This campus project will include the school referred to by the Deputy.
A letter was issued by the Department to the schools last year to advise that their respective school had been included in the programme. The NDFA has since been in contact with each school to introduce the team, communicate arrangements and discuss the project briefs.
The next step is for the NDFA to procure a design team for the project bundle to progress the project through the design stages. This appointment will be a key first step in the design and construction stages.
While at this early stage it is not possible to provide a timeline for completion of the project, the NDFA will be engaging directly with the school authority to keep it informed of progress.
274. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the extent to which demand for school places at primary and second level continue to be met at Kilcock, County Kildare, given the rapidly expanding population in the area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45313/23]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, In order to plan for school place needs, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and utilises a Geographical Information System to anticipate school place demand. Information from a range of sources, including Child Benefit data, school enrolment data and information on residential development activity is used for this purpose. Additionally, Project Ireland 2040 population and housing targets inform my Department's projections of school place requirements.
It is important to note that where enrolment pressures arise, it may not always be as a result of lack of accommodation but may be driven by the following factors:
• Duplication of applications– pupils have applied for a place to a number of schools in the area
• School of choice – pupils can’t get a place in their preferred school while there are places in other schools in the town/area
• Some towns/areas have single sex schools and while places are available in the school they are not available to all pupils
• External draw – pupils coming from outside the local area
Having considered the projected requirements in each school planning area, including the Kilcock School Planning Area, my Department then makes an assessment of the existing capacity and identifies any requirement for additional provision.
Where demographic data indicates that additional provision is required, the delivery of such additional provision is dependent on the particular circumstances of each case and may, be provided through:
• Utilising existing unused capacity within a school or schools,
• Extending the capacity of a school or schools,
• Provision of a new school or schools.
My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in the area. In relation to school admissions, it is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998.
Parents have the right to choose which school to apply to and where the school has places available the pupil should be admitted. However, in schools where there are more applicants than places available a selection process may be necessary. This selection process and the enrolment policy on which it is based must be non-discriminatory and must be applied fairly in respect of all applicants. However, this may result in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice.
My Department's projections of primary school place requirements in the Kilcock SPA indicate that enrolments at primary level will peak in 2027 followed by a projected reduction in enrolments thereafter. At a national level, primary enrolments are projected to decrease by circa 10,000 every year over the course of a decade. However, there will be local variations to this trend particularly in areas of very significant population growth. Projections of Post-Primary school place requirements indicate a similar trend with enrolments peaking in 2027, followed by a expected reduction thereafter.
There are currently a number of active projects at primary and post-primary level in the Kilcock School Planning Area which will increase local capacity, including the following:
• Scoil Uí Riada: Extension to provide 7 Mainstream classrooms and 3 SET room
• Enfield Post-Primary: New School Building to provide accommodation for an LTPE of 1,000 + 4 SEN Classes. Currently at Stage 3.
• Scoil Dara, Kilcock: Extension to provide accommodation for an LTPE of 1,000
My officials are leading ongoing discussions with the relevant school patrons and authorities to put the necessary solutions in place for the 2024/25 and future school years, including agreement with the Patron and school authorities of Scoil Choca Naofa to increase capacity to 24 classes over the coming years.
The requirement for additional school places in the Kilcock school planning area is kept under on-going review. Additionally, my Department will continue to liaise with the local Council in respect of its review of the Development Plan with a view to identifying any potential long-term school accommodation requirements.
275. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the extent to which provision of adequate school places continues in line with requirements at both primary and second level in Clane, County Kildare, given the increased demand arising from burgeoning population; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45314/23]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, In order to plan for school place needs, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and utilises a Geographical Information System to anticipate school place demand. Information from a range of sources, including Child Benefit data, school enrolment data and information on residential development activity is used for this purpose. Additionally, Project Ireland 2040 population and housing targets inform my Department's projections of school place requirements.
It is important to note that where enrolment pressures arise, it may not always be as a result of lack of accommodation but may be driven by the following factors:
• Duplication of applications – pupils have applied for a place to a number of schools in the area
• School of choice – pupils can’t get a place in their preferred school while there are places in other schools in the town/area
• Some towns/areas have single sex schools and while places are available in the school they are not available to all pupils
• External draw – pupils coming from outside the local area
Having considered the projected requirements in each school planning area, including the Prosperous_Clane School Planning Area, my Department then makes an assessment of the existing capacity and identifies any requirement for additional provision.
Where demographic data indicates that additional provision is required, the delivery of such additional provision is dependent on the particular circumstances of each case and may, be provided through:
• Utilising existing unused capacity within a school or schools,
• Extending the capacity of a school or schools,
• Provision of a new school or schools.
My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in the area. In relation to school admissions, it is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998.
Parents have the right to choose which school to apply to and where the school has places available the pupil should be admitted. However, in schools where there are more applicants than places available a selection process may be necessary. This selection process and the enrolment policy on which it is based must be non-discriminatory and must be applied fairly in respect of all applicants. However, this may result in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice.
My Department's projections of primary school place requirements in the Prosperous_Clane SPA indicate that enrolments at primary level peaked in 2022 followed by a projected reduction in enrolments thereafter. At a national level, primary enrolments are projected to decrease by circa 10,000 every year over the course of a decade. However, there will be local variations to this trend particularly in areas of very significant population growth. Projections of Post-Primary school place requirements indicate enrolments will peak in 2024, followed by an expected reduction thereafter.
There are currently a number of active projects at primary and post-primary level in the Prosperous_Clane School Planning Area which will increase local capacity, including the following:
• Hewetson NS: Extension to provide 6 Mainstream Classrooms + 1 SEN Class Currently at Stage 1
• St Patricks BNS, . New School Building to provide 24 classroom school with 2 SEN Classes. Currently on site.
• St Farnans PP: New school building to provide accommodation for an LTPE of 1,000 pupils + 4 SEN Classes. Currently at Stage 2b.
• Scoil Mhuire CS Clane: Extension to provide 5 Mainstream Classrooms, 2 Science Labs and 4 SEN Classes.
My officials are leading ongoing discussions with the relevant school patrons and authorities to put the necessary solutions in place for the 2024/25 and future school years. The requirement for additional school places in the Prosperous_Clane school planning area is kept under on-going review. Additionally, my Department will continue to liaise with the local Council in respect of its review of the Development Plan with a view to identifying any potential long-term school accommodation requirements.
276. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the extent to which provision of adequate school places continues in line with requirements at both primary and second level in Naas, County Kildare, given the increased demand arising from burgeoning population; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45315/23]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, In order to plan for school place needs, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and utilises a Geographical Information System to anticipate school place demand. Information from a range of sources, including Child Benefit data, school enrolment data and information on residential development activity is used for this purpose. Additionally, Project Ireland 2040 population and housing targets inform my Department's projections of school place requirements.
My Department's projections of primary school place requirements in the Naas SPA indicate that enrolments at primary level will continue to increase up to 2027 followed by a projected reduction in enrolments thereafter. At a national level, primary enrolments are projected to decrease by circa 10,000 every year over the course of a decade. However, there will be local variations to this trend particularly in areas of very significant population growth. Projections of Post-Primary school place requirements indicate enrolments are currently at their peak, and will begin to gradually reduce.
It is important to note that where enrolment pressures arise, it may not always be as a result of lack of accommodation but may be driven by the following factors:
• Duplication of applications – pupils have applied for a place to a number of schools in the area
• School of choice – pupils can’t get a place in their preferred school while there are places in other schools in the town/area
• Some towns/areas have single sex schools and while places are available in the school they are not available to all pupils
• External draw – pupils coming from outside the local area
Having considered the projected requirements in each school planning area, including the Naas School Planning Area, my Department then makes an assessment of the existing capacity and identifies any requirement for additional provision.
Where demographic data indicates that additional provision is required, the delivery of such additional provision is dependent on the particular circumstances of each case and may, be provided through:
• Utilising existing unused capacity within a school or schools,
• Extending the capacity of a school or schools,
• Provision of a new school or schools.
My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in the area. In relation to school admissions, it is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998.
Parents have the right to choose which school to apply to and where the school has places available the pupil should be admitted. However, in schools where there are more applicants than places available a selection process may be necessary. This selection process and the enrolment policy on which it is based must be non-discriminatory and must be applied fairly in respect of all applicants. However, this may result in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice.
There are currently a number of active projects at primary level in the Naas School Planning Area which will increase local capacity, including the following:
• Mercy Convent, Naas. New School Building: Brief for a 32 classroom school. Currently at Stage 3
• St. Corban's NS, Naas. New School Building: Extension to provide 16 classroom school with 2 SNU. Currently at Stage 2b
• Holy Child NS. Extension: 2X Mainstream,2 Classroom SEN base & 1 x 19m2 SET. Currently at Stage 1
At post primary level, a new 1,000 pupil school building for Naas Community College has been recently completed. A project to provide additional specialist rooms at St. Mary's College is also delivered. In addition, a project to further extend the accommodation at St. Mary's College is at Stage 2b, detailed design.
Overall, the additional capacity being provided in Naas is expected to meet the needs for primary and post primary school places. Nevertheless, the requirement for additional school places in the Naas school planning area is kept under on-going review. Additionally, my Department will continue to liaise with the local Council in respect of its review of the Development Plan with a view to identifying any potential further long-term school accommodation requirements.
277. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the extent to which she expects to be in a position to meet the special needs education requirements throughout north Kildare with particular reference to the growing population and the extra needs arising therefrom in terms of accommodation and special classes or special schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45316/23]
View answerI thank the Deputy for the question and 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. Further progress has been made in Budget 2024 where 26% of my department’s budget will be dedicated to providing supports for children with special educational needs, representing a 5% increase on Budget 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 and in 2024 a further 744 teachers, and 1,126 SNAs will be added to deliver up to 2,700 new places for children with special educational needs.
This will mean there will be close to 20,000 teachers and over 21,000 SNAs working in the area of special education. Together we will have over 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.
Over the last number of years, my department and the NCSE have introduced a number of strategic initiatives to plan for and provide sufficient special class and special school places.
These initiatives are bearing fruit with almost 1,300 new special classes sanctioned and seven new special schools established over the last four years.
My department engage intensely with the NCSE in relation to the forward planning of new special classes and additional special school places. This work involves a detailed review of statistical data in relation to forecasting demand for special class places, review of available school accommodation, consideration of improved data sharing arrangements and a particular focus on the provision of special classes at post-primary level.
As a result of this forward planning, earlier this year, Minister Foley and l announced the establishment of two special schools for the 2023/24 school year, with further capacity being expanded in 11 other special schools.
Along with the two new special schools, 389 new special classes – 252 at primary and 137 at post-primary level – have been sanctioned by the NCSE for opening in the 2023/24 school year.
Of these, 11 new special classes have been sanctioned in Kildare, 6 at primary level and 5 at post-primary level, bringing the total number of special classes in Co. Kildare to 115.
Information on the list of schools with special classes, the types and locations of these classes is published on the NCSE website and is available at: www.ncse.ie/special-classes
As demand for new special classes at post-primary level is expected to increase significantly over the next few years, due to increasing demographics and increasing prevalence rates, my department and the NCSE have engaged with post-primary stakeholders in relation to the provision of special classes.
In October of last year, my department wrote to all post-primary schools to advise them of the need to begin planning to provide additional special classes. It is envisaged that all post-primary schools will be required to provide special classes over the next 3 to 5 years, with an approximate average of 4 special classes in each school.
It is of course open to any school to engage with the NCSE to establish a special class.
My department and the NCSE are committed to ensuring that sufficient special education placements will be available for children for the 2024/25 school year. Forward planning for the school year 2024/2025 is already underway with my Department engaging with NCSE on an ongoing basis to plan for additional special classes and increased special school provision.
Parents seeking special class placements for their children are advised to contact the NCSE locally so that their needs can be taken into account for planning purposes. The local special educational needs organisers (SENOs) remain available to assist and advise parents of children with special educational needs. Parents may contact SENOs directly using the contact details available at: www.ncse.ie/regional-services-contact-list
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.
278. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the extent to which efforts are being made to provide a solution to the issue of school transport in a number of areas of Kildare north where the demand exists including concessionary to facilitate students attending schools (details supplied) in both directions between Clane and Maynooth and Straffan and Maynooth; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45317/23]
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 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 the Department's School Transport Scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school.
Children are eligible for 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 are accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation and where capacity exist.
In addition, Temporary Alleviation Measures at post-primary level are being continued for the current school year. Under these measures, which were initially introduced in 2019, transport is provided where routes are in place and where capacity exists for concessionary post-primary pupils who are eligible for transport to their nearest school and are attending their second nearest school and who applied and paid on time.
Children who are not eligible for school transport, but who completed the application process on time, are considered for spare seats that may exist after eligible children have been facilitated; such seats are referred to as concessionary seats.
The Department has received correspondence in relation to school transport in the North Kildare area from families who have not received tickets for the current school year (2023/2024) as they are not eligible for transport under the terms of the School Transport Scheme.
If families have applied to attend their nearest school in regards to ethos and language and have been advised by the school authorities that it is full, my Department will consider if students can be deemed eligible for transport to the next nearest school.
To establish that the nearest schools are full parents must provide:-
• The steps taken to enrol their child in the nearest and next nearest schools
• Evidence that an application for enrolment was made within the deadline dates specified by the schools and
• A letter from the School Authorities confirming that the schools were full at the time of enrolment.
These families can submit details to the School Transport Section in the Department of Education at school_transport@education.gov.ie. In cases where the families are attending their third or fourth nearest school, the above documentation will be required for each school in turn.
Bus Éireann has advised that the pupils referred to by the Deputy in the areas referred are not eligible for transport as they are attending their third or fourth nearest Post Primary Schools and services are full to capacity for the 2023/24 school year.
279. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the extent to which efforts are currently being made to incorporate the provision of afterschool services at every school in the context of the planning stages of the school building programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45319/23]
View answerThe Department prioritises its capital funding for the provision of school accommodation to meet school place requirements, including for children with special educational needs. It does not provide funding towards the provision of accommodation for childcare or other non-school related services. School authorities or third parties may occasionally fund the provision of such accommodation but the Department does not hold records in this respect.
The Department of Education policy is to encourage the use of school facilities, where possible, for community, training and education-related activities, including early learning and care, school-age childcare and after school activities.
To assist schools in considering applications for use of their facilities, a set of Guidelines on the use of School Buildings outside of School Hours is available on my Department’s website. My Department recently reviewed these Guidelines. The review involved consultation with the relevant stakeholders, including representatives of schools and other government departments which engage with the community and voluntary sectors. As part of the Review my Department conducted a survey. The survey was issued to patron bodies of a sample of selected primary and post-primary schools for distribution. The review included whether and how their school facilities are currently used by organisations other than the school, future plans for the use of school buildings and any current barriers encountered regarding the use of school buildings after hours. The responses to the survey were returned and analysed and have informed this review. Further engagement has taken place with the stakeholders and patron bodies on the Procedures/Guidelines and the information received from them will allow the Procedures/Guidelines to be finalised. When the review is completed, and in consultation with school authorities, the new Procedures will be published and all schools will be notified of the changes.
280. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the extent to which she continues to have dialogue with the various pre-school, primary and post-primary school authorities in Leixlip, County Kildare, with a view to ongoing update of current and possible future requirements given the experience throughout the country where shifts in the population may require the setting of new targets; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45320/23]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, for school planning purposes, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a Geographical Information System (or GIS) to anticipate school place demand. Information from a range of sources, including Child Benefit Data, school enrolment data and information on residential development activity is used for this purpose. Additionally, Project Ireland 2040 population and housing targets inform the Department’s projections of school place requirements.
Having considered the projected requirements in each school planning area, including Leixlip and other areas of North Kildare, my Department then makes an assessment of the existing capacity and identifies any requirement for additional provision.
While my Department is aware of increasing pressures and demand for additional school places in North Kildare including Leixlip, it is important to note that where enrolment pressures arise, it may not be as a result of lack of accommodation but may be driven by the following factors:
• Duplication of applications – where pupils have applied for a place to a number of schools in the area
• School of choice – where pupils can’t get a place in their preferred school while there are places in other schools in the town or area.
• Some towns or areas have single sex schools and while places are available in the school they are not available to all pupils
• External draw – that is, pupils coming from outside the local area
Through engagement with school authorities and patrons, having accounted for factors such as duplication of applications, my Department has established that there is a requirement for increased provision at schools in North Kildare.
My officials are leading ongoing discussions with the relevant school patrons and authorities to put the necessary solutions for the short-term and future school years. This includes the use of existing spare capacity, sanctioning of works to existing accommodation, and the accelerated provision of modular accommodation.
The close working between my officials and schools and patrons in North Kildare has already resulted in a significant number of additional places being made available and further places will be made available very shortly. It is expected that these will meet requirements, however my Department is continuing to monitor the situation.
Further to these immediate measures, as the Deputy may be aware, the Department is progressing a number of building projects in North Kildare under the National Development Plan. This includes projects at primary and post primary schools, and includes provision for mainstream accommodation as well as for children with special educational needs.
These projects include recently completed new school buildings in Maynooth and Naas. Additionally, a number of further new school buildings and extensions are at construction or planned, including in Prosperous, Kilcock, Maynooth, Celbridge, Leixlip, Naas and Clane. For Leixlip in particular there are major projects planned for the following schools:
• Leixlip ETNS - provision of a new 8-classroom school plus Special Education Needs accommodation - this is currently at project brief stage and the school was approved new modular accommodation for 2023/24
• Colaiste Chiarain Community School Leixlip - this is currently at project brief stage to expand the school to cater for 1,000 pupils plus Special Education Needs accommodation.
In addition to all these developments, the requirement, for extra school places is kept under on-going review. Additionally, the Department will continue to liaise with the Local Authority in respect of its review of Development Plans with a view to identifying any potential long-term school accommodation requirements.
I can assure the Deputy that the Department will continue to work with schools and patrons to ensure that there is appropriate provision for all students in North Kildare including Leixlip and across the county for the short-term and into the future. My Department has established that there is a requirement for additional provision in the area and will ensure that any required accommodation solution is put in place, as well as continuing to advance current ongoing projects.
281. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the extent to which she hopes to attract and retain teachers at primary and second level in all areas throughout the country; the regions currently showing greatest pressure in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45321/23]
View answerEnsuring that every child's experience in school is positive and that they have qualified, engaged teachers available to support them in their learning is a priority area of action for the Government.
The recruitment and appointment of teachers to fill teaching posts is a matter for individual
school authorities, subject to procedures agreed under Section 24 of the Education Act 1998 (as amended by the Education (Amendment) Act 2012). In that regard there are more than 3,700 individual employers (boards of management of primary schools and post primary schools, as well as ETBs).
While schools in certain locations are experiencing challenges in both recruiting teachers and obtaining substitute teachers, the vast majority of sanctioned teacher positions are filled. The rate of resignation and retirement is very low by any standard, and is consistent with previous years.
Budget 2024 contains a range of measures that demonstrates my commitment to continued investment in our education system. In addition to numerous actions I have taken in recent years to address teacher supply, a number of specific, targeted measures will be introduced with the new funding provided.
These include a professional masters of education (PME) incentive scheme, funding for additional teacher upskilling programmes, and increasing the number of posts of responsibility.
• A professional masters of education (PME) incentive scheme will be introduced for newly qualified teachers graduating in May 2024. Those newly qualified teachers who graduate with a PME will, subject to some conditions, be eligible for an incentive payment of up to €2,000. This incentive payment will be paid to eligible primary and post primary teachers in 2025. It will recognise the costs that PME students incur when completing their initial teacher education, assist them with these costs and encourage suitable candidates to consider a career in teaching.
• Additionally, there will be an expansion in the number of upskilling programmes available. These programmes, which are free to teachers, increase the number of teachers who are qualified to teach in-demand subjects and reduce the level of out of field teaching. These new upskilling programmes in Irish, French, politics & society, and computer science will be in addition to existing upskilling programmes in maths, physics and Spanish.
• Also, an additional 1,000 posts of responsibility will be provided in the school system for the 2024/25 school year. This is in recognition that school leaders play a key role in improving educational outcomes by creating a positive school climate and environment as well as motivating and empowering educators and learners within their school communities.
These new measures are in addition to a range of targeted measures that I have introduced in recent times, including:
• At primary level, I approved 610 additional places on initial teacher education programmes for this and the next academic year (2023/24 and 2024/25).
• I recently met with the primary teacher initial education providers on continuing existing flexibilities that enable student teachers to support schools, either while on placement, or in a substitute capacity. In 2023, more than 2,700 student teachers registered with the Teaching Council and provided valuable support to schools as substitute teachers.
• Restrictions on job-sharing teachers from working as substitutes have been reduced. These teachers may be employed to work as substitutes during the period they are rostered off duty.
• Limits on substitute work applying to teachers on career break have also been suspended.
• Post-primary teachers can provide up to 35 additional hours of substitute cover per term in the subject they are qualified to teach.
The teacher allocation ratio in primary schools is now at the lowest ever seen at primary level. The average student-per-teacher ratio in primary schools reduced by 10% between 2017 and 2023.
Teaching remains an attractive career choice. CAO first preference choices for post-primary teaching increased this year by 14%, in addition to a 9% increase in 2022.
My Department continues to engage closely with school management bodies, teacher unions and other education stakeholders to develop further, innovative measures to address teacher supply issues.
282. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the extent to which primary school places at Johnstownbridge, County Kildare, continue to be assessed with a view to ensuring that accommodation is sufficient to meet population increases; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45322/23]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, In order to plan for school place needs, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and utilises a Geographical Information System to anticipate school place demand. Information from a range of sources, including Child Benefit data, school enrolment data and information on residential development activity is used for this purpose. Additionally, Project Ireland 2040 population and housing targets inform my Department's projections of school place requirements.
Johnstownbridge is part of the Longwood School Planning Area. My Department's projections of primary school place requirements in the Longwood SPA indicate that enrolments at primary level peaked in 2022 and will steadily decrease in the coming years. At a national level, primary enrolments are projected to decrease by circa 10,000 every year over the course of a decade.
It is important to note that where enrolment pressures arise, it may not always be as a result of lack of accommodation but may be driven by the following factors:
• Duplication of applications – pupils have applied for a place to a number of schools in the area
• School of choice – pupils can’t get a place in their preferred school while there are places in other schools in the town/area
• Some towns/areas have single sex schools and while places are available in the school they are not available to all pupils
• External draw – pupils coming from outside the local area
Having considered the projected requirements in each school planning area, including the Longwood School Planning Area, my Department then makes an assessment of the existing capacity and identifies any requirement for additional provision.
Where demographic data indicates that additional provision is required, the delivery of such additional provision is dependent on the particular circumstances of each case and may, be provided through:
• Utilising existing unused capacity within a school or schools,
• Extending the capacity of a school or schools,
• Provision of a new school or schools.
My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in the area. In relation to school admissions, it is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998.
Parents have the right to choose which school to apply to and where the school has places available the pupil should be admitted. However, in schools where there are more applicants than places available a selection process may be necessary. This selection process and the enrolment policy on which it is based must be non-discriminatory and must be applied fairly in respect of all applicants. However, this may result in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice.
My Department will continue to keep the school place requirements in Johnstownbridge, as with other areas across the country, under review.
283. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on progress in the provision of extra school facilities at a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45323/23]
View answerThe project to which the Deputy refers, has been devolved for delivery to the Board of Management of the school.
The design team have recently submitted the Stage 1 report for review to the Department. Once reviewed by the Department, contact will be made with the school authority on the progression.
As the project is at an early stage in the delivery process, it is not possible at this time to give a date for its completion.
284. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the extent to which adequate school places remain available to parents and schoolchildren at Moyvalley, County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45324/23]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, In order to plan for school place needs, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and utilises a Geographical Information System to anticipate school place demand. Information from a range of sources, including Child Benefit data, school enrolment data and information on residential development activity is used for this purpose. Additionally, Project Ireland 2040 population and housing targets inform my Department's projections of school place requirements.
Moyvalley is part of the Longwood School Planning Area. My Department's projections of primary school place requirements in the Longwood SPA indicate that enrolments at primary level peaked in 2022 and will steadily decrease in the coming years. At a national level, primary enrolments are projected to decrease by circa 10,000 every year over the course of a decade.
It is important to note that where enrolment pressures arise, it may not always be as a result of lack of accommodation but may be driven by the following factors:
• Duplication of applications – pupils have applied for a place to a number of schools in the area
• School of choice – pupils can’t get a place in their preferred school while there are places in other schools in the town/area
• Some towns/areas have single sex schools and while places are available in the school they are not available to all pupils
• External draw – pupils coming from outside the local area
Having considered the projected requirements in each school planning area, including the Longwood School Planning Area, my Department then makes an assessment of the existing capacity and identifies any requirement for additional provision.
Where demographic data indicates that additional provision is required, the delivery of such additional provision is dependent on the particular circumstances of each case and may, be provided through:
• Utilising existing unused capacity within a school or schools,
• Extending the capacity of a school or schools,
• Provision of a new school or schools.
My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in the area. In relation to school admissions, it is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998.
Parents have the right to choose which school to apply to and where the school has places available the pupil should be admitted. However, in schools where there are more applicants than places available a selection process may be necessary. This selection process and the enrolment policy on which it is based must be non-discriminatory and must be applied fairly in respect of all applicants. However, this may result in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice.
Moyvalley is part of the Longwood School Planning Area. My Department's projections of primary school place requirements in the Longwood SPA indicate that enrolments at primary level peaked in 2022 and will steadily decrease in the coming years.
My Department will continue to keep the school place requirements in Moyvalley, as with other areas across the country, under review.
285. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the extent to which primary school places at Broadford, County Kildare, continue to be assessed with a view to ensuring that accommodation is sufficient to meet population increases; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45325/23]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, In order to plan for school place needs, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and utilises a Geographical Information System to anticipate school place demand. Information from a range of sources, including Child Benefit data, school enrolment data and information on residential development activity is used for this purpose. Additionally, Project Ireland 2040 population and housing targets inform my Department's projections of school place requirements.
Broadford is part of the Longwood School Planning Area. My Department's projections of primary school place requirements in the Longwood SPA indicate that enrolments at primary level peaked in 2022 and will steadily decrease in the coming years. At a national level, primary enrolments are projected to decrease by circa 10,000 every year over the course of a decade.
It is important to note that where enrolment pressures arise, it may not always be as a result of lack of accommodation but may be driven by the following factors:
• Duplication of applications – pupils have applied for a place to a number of schools in the area
• School of choice – pupils can’t get a place in their preferred school while there are places in other schools in the town/area
• Some towns/areas have single sex schools and while places are available in the school they are not available to all pupils
• External draw – pupils coming from outside the local area
Having considered the projected requirements in each school planning area, including the Longwood School Planning Area, my Department then makes an assessment of the existing capacity and identifies any requirement for additional provision.
Where demographic data indicates that additional provision is required, the delivery of such additional provision is dependent on the particular circumstances of each case and may, be provided through:
• Utilising existing unused capacity within a school or schools,
• Extending the capacity of a school or schools,
• Provision of a new school or schools.
My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in the area. In relation to school admissions, it is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998.
Parents have the right to choose which school to apply to and where the school has places available the pupil should be admitted. However, in schools where there are more applicants than places available a selection process may be necessary. This selection process and the enrolment policy on which it is based must be non-discriminatory and must be applied fairly in respect of all applicants. However, this may result in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice.
My Department will continue to keep the school place requirements in Broadford, as with other areas across the country, under review.
286. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the extent to which she continues to address the issue of school bullying; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45326/23]
View answerI launched Cineáltas: Action Plan on Bullying on 1st December 2022. Cineáltas is my Department’s whole-education approach to preventing and addressing bullying in schools.
Cineáltas is dedicated to the prevention and addressing of bullying, cyber bullying, racist bullying, gender identity bullying and sexual harassment, among other areas, in schools.
It is centred on a child right’s based approach and provides a collective vision and clear roadmap for how the whole education community and society can work together to prevent and address bullying in our schools.
Cineáltas incorporates each of the nine components of UNESCO’s Whole Education Approach to prevent and address bullying. It is rooted in four key principles: prevention, support, oversight and community.
My Department launched the Implementation Plan for Cineáltas on 10 April 2023, which is available at gov.ie - Cineáltas: Action Plan on Bullying (www.gov.ie)
The Implementation Plan for Cineáltas commits to implementing each of the 61 actions contained in Cineáltas within a five-year period and sets out timeframes and information about how my Department is going to implement the actions.
One million euro has been provided in 2023 to progress a number of the actions contained in the plan.
An Implementation and Evaluation Group has been established to oversee implementation of the actions. Annual implementation and evaluation reports, informed by feedback from children and young people, parents, school staff, education partners, key stakeholders and relevant agencies, will be published.
Implementation of a number of actions has already progressed. These include the following:
• My Department has established a Student Participation Unit, which will promote the participation of children and young people in the development of department policy, building on its existing work in this area
• An Expert Group has been established to advise my Department on how best the Student Participation Unit can progress its work. Professor Laura Lundy, Professor of Education Law and Children’s Rights at Queen’s University who developed the Lundy Model of children’s participation is chair of this Expert Group
• Work to update the anti-bullying procedures for schools is well underway with Continuous Professional Development and training being developed for all school staff, Board of Management members and parents
• €5 million is being invested to pilot a programme of counselling supports for primary school students. This will serve to support the very positive work which already takes place in the area of wellbeing in schools.
287. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 311 of 3 October 2023, if she will provide detail on the nature of the data breaches suffered by her Department; the severity of the breaches; if all individuals whose information was compromised were notified of the breach; if the Data Protection Commission was notified of all data breaches; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45332/23]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) came into effect on 25 May 2018 and any personal data breaches since its introduction are dealt with under the Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018.
Article 4 of the GDPR defines a data breach as “‘a breach of security leading to the accidental or unlawful destruction, loss, alteration, unauthorised disclosure of, or access to, personal data transmitted, stored or otherwise processed”.
The majority of data breaches that occurred in my Department since 2018 are classified as unauthorised disclosure of personal data, while the balance involved the loss of personal data. Of the breaches that occurred in my Department since May 2018, 11% are classified as medium risk, 65% as low risk, and 24% as no risk.
Data breaches which occurred in my Department were reported to the Data Protection Commission and/or the affected data subjects in line with the requirements of the legislation.
288. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Education the number of recipients of home tuition grants due to mental health issues for 2022-23; the average number of weekly hours they received; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45352/23]
View answerMy Department's Home Tuition Grant Schemes provide funding towards the provision of a compensatory educational service for children who, for a number of specific reasons, are unable to attend school. By its nature, it is intended to be a short term intervention.
The Home Tuition Grant Schemes are governed by annual circulars which sets out the purpose, eligibility criteria and details of the scheme. Circular 0024/2023 provides information in relation to the 2023/2024 Home Tuition Grant Scheme and can be accessed by clicking on the following link: gov.ie - Home Tuition Grant Scheme 2023/2024 Special Education Component (www.gov.ie)
The purpose of the Home Tuition Grant Scheme is to provide funding towards the provision of a compensatory educational service for:
(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 the Department will consider home tuition applications on behalf of students with diagnoses of school phobia and/or associated depression/anxiety which has caused, and is likely to continue to cause, major disruption to their attendance at school. This exception will only apply where a continued absence from school is required to facilitate appropriate medical or therapeutic intervention with a view to the reintegration of the student in their school.
In relation to applications in respect of students with diagnoses of school phobia and/or associated depression/anxiety, the principle that home tuition cannot be provided as an alternative to school applies.
Eligibility in exceptional cases is assessed having regard to, although not limited to, the following criteria:
• The student’s attendance levels during the previous school year.
• Psychologist’s/psychiatrist’s report which should
i. Clearly confirm a diagnosis of school phobia and/or associated depression/anxiety.
ii. Provide details of medical or therapeutic intervention plans in place with a view to reintegrate the student back into his/her school.
• Details of engagement with the relevant support agencies (e.g. School, National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS), Education Welfare Officer (EWO), Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), TUSLA (Child and Family Agency), HSE, NCSE).
For students with diagnoses of school phobia and/or associated depression/anxiety, generally, grant aid based on a range of between 2 and 10 hours tuition may be approved with the allocation reflecting the level of attendance in the previous school year (i.e. 2022/23 school year), and whether the attendance was at primary or post primary level. As a general guide, up to 5 hours may be granted to children at primary level while students at post primary level may be granted between 2 and 7 hours, and students sitting their Leaving Certificate Examinations may be granted between 2 and 10 hours.
In the 2022/23 school year, 418 students were sanctioned Home Tuition under the mental health strand of the scheme, with the average of 6.5 hours being sanctioned per student.
289. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to ensure that all available supports are provided to ensure that Ireland and, in particular, the north east is advertised appropriately as an ideal location for the development of a major film studio (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44636/23]
View answerThe Audiovisual Action Plan sets out the Government's high-level, strategic priorities to develop a vibrant media production and audiovisual sector bringing new economic opportunities across Ireland. Building relationships with major international players and investors is a critical component of that endeavour.
Screen Ireland is the national development agency for Irish filmmaking and the Irish film, television and animation industry, investing in talent, creativity and enterprise. Screen Ireland has an Industry Building Programme Manager based in Los Angeles at present to promote all of Ireland, Irish companies and Irish talent to the US based film and television industry.
It is important to note that under EU state aid regulations, film studios are considered to be private commercial enterprises and are not encompassed under the General Block Exemption for Culture. As such, film studios are precluded from receiving state funding from my Department or its agencies.
The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment provides a range of tailored supports for enterprise of all sizes in Ireland and offers advice to commercial organisations.
290. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media whether she agrees that the National Famine Commemoration Day should be treated equally to St. Patrick’s Day and the National Day of Commemoration and broadcast live on RTÉ Television. [44682/23]
View answerThe National Famine Commemoration is a unique opportunity for the State and communities across the country to honour the memory of those who were lost to death and emigration due to the Great Famine.
This year's National Famine Commemoration took place on Sunday 21 May 2023 in Milford, Co. Donegal. The event was broadcast live on RTÉ News Now and the RTÉ Player, as has been the case in previous years.
The live broadcast of the National Famine Commemoration both nationally and internationally gives those who cannot attend, in particular the widespread Irish diaspora, an opportunity to remember and reflect on the impact that the Famine had in Ireland and to honour the loss, death, and suffering borne by the Irish people during the darkest time of our history.
291. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she is aware of buyout contracts that disadvantage Irish creatives in the audio-visual industry (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44731/23]
View answerThere are myriad different ways of compensating creatives in respect of their creative output. Creatives themselves, depending on individual needs and preferences at different times of their lives, may prefer to opt for a buyout contract or the retention of all or part of their intellectual property, but should in general have the right to do what they want with their intellectual property. In this context, creatives operate under a range of work-related agreements. I understand that much of the present discussion around buyout contracts is focused on the acting profession in the audiovisual industry, which is represented by Irish Equity/SIPTU. In the first instance, SIPTU may negotiate and agree contracts, arrangements and rates for stage and screen actors in Ireland. In addition to its Irish Equity Division, SIPTU also represents many of the Screen workers guilds and, in this context a shooting crew agreement is in place that operates in the sector.
Matters relating to intellectual property rights as well as copyright issues in general, falls under the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment.
In the meantime, Screen Ireland, the State Body with responsibility for the development of the Irish audiovisual industry, has retained an independent facilitator to meet with key stakeholders to understand and discuss issues that have arisen as a result of and since the transposition into Irish law of the EU Copyright Directive. Stakeholder meetings have been held over recent months and the next phase of the process will involve further engagement with relevant stakeholders.
292. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media for an update on any engagements with the EU Commission in relation to the short-term holiday let register agreed by Cabinet in December 2022; if there are any updates on its implementation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44861/23]
View answerOn 21 December 2022 the proposed Short Term Tourism Letting (STTL) Bill was submitted to the EU Commission pursuant to the Technical Regulations Information System (TRIS) EU Directive 2015/1535 that requires EU Member States to notify the Commission of any draft technical regulations concerning products and information society services before they are adopted in national law. Such a notification triggers a standstill period of 3 months during which the proposed Bill cannot be enacted. On 22 March 2023, the Department received a communication from the EU Commission which extended the standstill period until 22 December 2023.
The EU Commission extended the standstill period as it considers that the STTL Bill concerns a matter covered in part by the Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on data collection and sharing relating to short-term accommodation rental services and amending Regulation (EU) 2018/1724 of 7 November 2022. This Proposal is currently in negotiation by the Union co-legislators and officials from my Department and Fáilte Ireland are participating in an implementation group comprised of the Commission and other interested EU Member States.
As part of the ongoing engagement with the Commission, officials from my Department, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and from Fáilte Ireland held a constructive meeting with representatives of the Commission in Brussels on Friday 23 June.
Further engagement with the Commission on the Registration of Short-Term Tourist Letting Bill, as well as the Commission's proposal for a Regulation on data collection and sharing relating to short-term accommodation rental services, will inform the timeline for the legislation and the establishment of the register.
