Tuesday, 24 Oct 2023

Written Answers Nos. 273-287

School Transport

Questions (273)

Patrick Costello

Question:

273. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Education if she will identify the 12 post-primary schools mentioned by her Departmental staff at the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Further and Higher Education, Innovation and Science (details supplied); the ethos and gender intake of each school, using Tyrconnell Park as a starting point; the actual distance on foot and estimated journey time for each school; the actual route by public transport; the estimated journey time for same; and if each route requires crossing one or more arterial roads.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46272/23]

Written answers

Minister for Education

The Deputy will appreciate that using different locations on a map as a centre-point will give differing outcomes in terms of schools within a certain radius. Using Tyrconnell Park, there are 10 post primary schools within a 3km direct-line radius. All of these schools are within a 4km driving distance from that same point. They, with their ethos and gender intake, are listed in the table below. The application used by my Department does not produce public transport routes nor analysis of road type. However, a map of the area which shows post primary schools identified by Roll Number and colour-coded by ethos, is attached.

Information on public transport, including a useful Journey Planner, is available on the Transport for Ireland website, www.transportforireland.ie

Journey times are readily available online on widely-used mapping services. For the Deputy’s convenience they are included below, estimated for a 9am weekday arrival time.

School Details	Driving Distance	Walking Time	Cycling Time	Public Transport Time
60410I
C.B.S. James Street	2.8km	36 mins	10 mins	23 mins
Catholic
Mixed
60480G
Meanscoil Iognáid Rís	3km	30 mins	10 mins	18 mins
Catholic
Boys
60800V
Loreto College	2.8km	37 mins	12 mins	23 mins
Catholic
Girls
60841M
Rosary College	3.8km	47 mins	14 mins	41 mins
Catholic
Mixed
60851P
Assumption Secondary School	3km	37 mins	10 mins	27 mins
Catholic
Girls
60872A
Mercy Secondary School	1km	9 mins	4 mins	NA
Catholic
Girls
60991I
Our Lady Of Mercy Secondary School	1.8km	22 mins	6 mins	19 mins
Catholic
Mixed
68445V
St Setons Secondary School	3.7km	44 mins	11 mins	22 mins
Catholic
Mixed
70160R
Clogher Road Community College	3.8km	44 mins	13 mins	35 mins
Multi_Denominational
Mixed
70240P
Kylemore College	3.5km	41 mins	11 mins	21 mins
Multi Denominational
Mixed

Map PDF

Schools Building Projects

Questions (274)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

Question:

274. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Education the status of a school build (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46277/23]

Written answers

Minister for Education

The project which the Deputy refers to has been devolved for delivery to Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board (LCETB).

The brief for this project is the provision of a new 32 classroom primary school and a two class Special Education Needs base. Approval under the Department’s Additional School Accommodation for refurbishment works to provide two special education teaching rooms was also provided.

Following receipt of a detailed design and planning report from LCETB's design team, the Department reviewed and recommended enhancements to the project which related principally to the proposed decarbonisation strategy and project phasing requirements for the school.

These recommendations were responded to with updated information last month and the Department is finalising its response to this which it will share directly with LCETB shortly. The Department will continue to work closely with LCETB and its Design Team.

School Accommodation

Questions (275)

Robert Troy

Question:

275. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education when a school (details supplied) can expect progress on a permanent extension to the school. [46279/23]

Written answers

Minister for Education

The school to which the Deputy refers was approved a project under the Additional School Accommodation Scheme (ASA) for the provision of a two special education needs base and one mainstream classroom .

The project is devolved to the school authority for delivery and it appointed a design team. The Department received the design team's Stage 1 (design) Report in Quarter 1 of 2023 following which clarification was sought by the Department. This Department’s Professional and Technical officers are currently being reviewing the additional information and the outcome of this review will issue to the school authority shortly.

Grant Payments

Questions (276)

Pádraig O'Sullivan

Question:

276. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education when a grant schedule will be issued to school principals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46290/23]

Written answers

Minister for Education

The Grant Calendars for Primary, Voluntary Secondary, and Community & Comprehensive schools are published on my Department's website and can be accessed at the link below.

www.gov.ie/en/collection/33bf5-school-grant-calendars/

Schools Building Projects

Questions (277)

Cian O'Callaghan

Question:

277. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update on the progress being made on a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46294/23]

Written answers

Minister for Education

The large scale capital project at the school is for the provision of a new 600 pupil school and ancillary accommodation. The project is at Architectural Planning Stage 3 – Tender Action and Award.

The original grant of planning was due to expire in December 2022, but due to changes to the Planning Acts in September 2021, it was no longer possible to apply for an extension to the planning permission for the main building project and a new application was required. The new planning permission application was lodged on 9th March 2023.

Dublin City Council issued a request for further information (RFI) on 9th May 2023 pertaining to 3 items, the most complex being drainage proposals in relation to new requirements for nature based SUDS allowing for uplift in Climate Change Allowance (CCA) and assessment to meet Dublin City Development Plan including provision of a Flood Risk Assessment (FRA). The RFI was returned to Dublin City Council, the Planning Office has confirmed receipt and advised that a determination will be made in due course.

My Department officials will be in contact with the School authority on receipt of this determination from Dublin City Council.

School Staff

Questions (278)

Claire Kerrane

Question:

278. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Education if she will sanction the retention of a third teacher in a school (details supplied), given the unprecedented increase in enrolment numbers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46295/23]

Written answers

Minister for Education

The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September.

For the 2023/24 school year, the staffing schedule for primary schools has been improved by one point and schools will be provided with class teachers on the basis of 1 teacher for every 23 pupils which is a historical low ratio.

The staffing process contains an appeals mechanism for schools to submit a staffing appeal under certain criteria to an independent Primary Staffing Appeals Board. The Appeals Board operates independently of the Department and its decision is final.

The appeal submitted by the school referred to by the Deputy has been successful and the school has been notified that a third mainstream teacher may be employed for the remainder of the school year.

Schools Building Projects

Questions (279)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

279. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education how a person (details supplied) can take a matter further as advised by the Board of Education when their daughter who is legally blind was refused a place on the basis that she could not complete the visual part of the entry assessment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46324/23]

Written answers

Minister for Education

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 and the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018.

The Act provides for schools to explicitly state in the school's admission policy that it will not discriminate against an applicant for admission on the grounds of disability, special educational needs, sexual orientation, family status, membership of the traveller community, race, civil status, gender or religion while including provision for single sex schools and denominational schools to reflect, in their admission policy, the exemptions applicable to such schools under equality legislation.

All school admissions policies, must be approved by the patron, following consultation with staff and parents of children who are attending the school. The school’s admissions policy is published on the schools website. It is a key requirement of the act that all school admission policies are fair and transparent.

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 will be necessary. This selection process and the enrolment policy on which it is based must be non-discriminatory and must be applied fairly in respect of all applicants. However, this may result in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice.

The act requires those schools exclusively providing for special education needs to set out in their admission policies, the category or categories of special educational needs that the school provides for. The act also provides that schools are not required to admit a student where the student does not have the specified category of special educational needs that the school provides for.

Appeals on the grounds of discrimination are made to the WRC in accordance with the equal status act 2000.

My Department will also raise this issue with the NCSE and ask them to engage with the school on this matter.

Special Educational Needs

Questions (280)

Seán Sherlock

Question:

280. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Education when a school (details supplied) in County Laois will receive promised ASD units; when the temporary buildings will be put in place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46329/23]

Written answers

Minister for Education

The school to which the Deputy refers was granted approval for the provision of 2 x 80m2 Modular classrooms in September 2022 under my Department's Additional School Accommodation scheme. The project is devolved to the school authority for delivery.

Department officials have received additional information from the School Authority recently which is currently being considered in order to allow the project progress. A decision will issue to the School Authority shortly.

Information and Communications Technology

Questions (281)

Seán Sherlock

Question:

281. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Education if internet speeds will be increased for a school (details supplied). [46330/23]

Written answers

Minister for Education

The delivery of high quality internet connectivity for all schools is a key objective of my Department. It is accepted that good connectivity is essential to ensure that schools are facilitated to progress the embedding of digital technologies in teaching and learning and for the implementation of new and revised curriculum.

A outlined, the school referred to by the Deputy is currently on 30mbs through a dedicated wireless broadband connection. In the first instance, should the school be experiencing issues with this connection contact should be made by the school with the schools broadband service desk on 1800334466 to log a fault on the loss or degradation of the broadband service to the school, which will be investigated immediately by the service desk team.

The school referred to has been awarded through a tender process under the Schools Broadband Programme to a retail service provider of high speed broadband to connect the school to high speed broadband infrastructure recently provided under the National Broadband Plan. This provider will be in contact with the school in due course to arrange installation of the enhanced service.

My Department is engaging with the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications on the implementation of the NBP to prioritise school connectivity, with the majority of schools in the NBP to be provided with high speed broadband infrastructure by the end of 2023.

The Department operates the Schools Broadband Programme at an annual cost of some €13m, providing connectivity to schools through a range of technologies at the best level of connectivity available based on local infrastructure. The Department is obliged to adhere to procurement regulations and must engage with the selected providers on the DOE framework of providers of broadband services through a tender process to award services. This is the basis on which all state-funding is utilised to ensure transparency and equal treatment for all schools and providers, and adherence to regulatory requirements.

School Staff

Questions (282)

Alan Dillon

Question:

282. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update on a matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46345/23]

Written answers

Minister for Education

I wish to inform the Deputy that Scoil Muire gan Smál informed officials from my Department that the School Secretary did not wish to accept the Department’s revised terms and conditions and as such the School Secretary remains paid directly by the school.

An official from my Department has been in contact with the Principal and will work with the school Principal to resolve the issue.

School Staff

Questions (283)

Mattie McGrath

Question:

283. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education the status of an appeal under the Primary Staffing Appeals Board for the 2023-2024 school year; if she will consider this appeal given the exceptional accommodation difficulties being faced by the school and the disruption that will be caused if the school loses a teacher (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46346/23]

Written answers

Minister for Education

The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September.

For the 2023/24 school year, the staffing schedule for primary schools has been improved by one point and schools will be provided with class teachers on the basis of 1 teacher for every 23 pupils which is a historical low ratio.

The staffing process contains an appeals mechanism for schools to submit a staffing appeal under certain criteria to an independent Primary Staffing Appeals Board.

The appeal submitted by the school referred to by the Deputy was considered by the Board and it was determined that the grounds of the appeal did not warrant a departure from the staffing schedule. The Appeals Board operates independently of the Department and its decision is final.

Special Educational Needs

Questions (284)

Pa Daly

Question:

284. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Education to review the case of a school (details supplied) and to put in place the required resources for an ASD class to proceed, in order that parents can avoid having to move their children to other schools. [46401/23]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education

I would like to thank the Deputy for the question and would like to advise the following:

Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for this government. It is also a key priority for me as Minister for Special Education & Inclusion, for my department and for the National Council for Special Education (NCSE).

The vast majority of children with special educational needs are supported to attend mainstream classes with their peers. Where children with more complex needs require additional supports, special classes and special school places are provided.

For 2023, the spend by my department on special education has been substantially increased by over 10% on last year, meaning that for 2023 my department will spend over €2.6 billion on special education. 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 1,216 SNAs will be added to deliver up to 2,700 new places for children with special educational needs. This will mean we will have over 41,500 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 by the NCSE over the last 4 years and seven new special schools established.

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, an analysis of available 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, 388 new special classes – 253 at primary and 135 at post-primary level – have been sanctioned by the NCSE for opening in the 2023/24 school year.

Of these, 7 new special classes have been sanctioned in Kerry, 4 at primary level and 3 at post-primary level, bringing the total number of special classes in Co. Kerry to 89.

Information on the list of schools with special classes, the types and locations of these classes is also published on the NCSE website: www.ncse.ie/special-classes

Looking forward my department and the NCSE have begun preparatory work in relation to planning for the provision of further new special class and special school places for the 2024/25 school year and beyond.

My department and the NCSE identify the need for special educational provision with consideration to demographical and statistical data and in regard to an areas existing school provision and future capability.

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

As your question refers to a specific school, I will arrange to have it 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.

School Accommodation

Questions (285)

Alan Farrell

Question:

285. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on the progress of the planned additional classrooms for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46431/23]

Written answers

Minister for Education

I am pleased to advise that approval under the Additional School Accommodation scheme issued to the school in question for the provision of 1 x SEN modular class under my Department's Devolved SEN Reconfiguration and Modular Accommodation programme. This Modular Accommodation involves the use of Project Management supports which is designed to enable the accommodation to be provided as quickly as possible and help ease the administrative workload for school authorities in relation to the management and delivery of projects.

The use of the Department’s Modular Accommodation Framework also assists in ensuring lead in periods for procurement of modular accommodation are minimised to the greatest extent possible. To date, this has worked very well in the education sector and has seen delivery of large scale, high quality modular accommodation to meet the needs of children, particularly those with special educational needs.

Kerrigan Sheanan Newman Construction Consultants (KSN) has been appointed, from the Department’s Framework, to design and tender the project. This consultant is leading the project through the various stages of planning process and construction. The Department is working closely with the Project Management teams and the modular accommodation suppliers to ensure additional capacity for the schools sector is delivered as quickly as possible.

I have been advised that the building in question is substantially complete and the Project Management Company are collating the relevant paperwork required at present in order to meet all statutory requirements.

The School Authority has devolved responsibility for delivery of this project.

School Transport

Questions (286)

Michael Lowry

Question:

286. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 226 of 17 October 2023, if she can make enquiries with Bus Éireann and ask them to confirm whether their online system ever experienced any issues related to the capturing of eircodes during the 2023-2024 ticket application process; if such an issue with eircodes was indeed present; if Bus Éireann will provide the Minister with the date(s) when this issue was identified and when it was subsequently resolved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46442/23]

Written answers

Minister for Education

The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2022/2023 school year, over 149,000 children, including over 18,000 children with special educational needs, were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country.

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

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

Already over 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.

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 and have made the payment on time will be accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation, and capacity exists.

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.

The closing date for school transport applications for the 2023/24 school year was Friday, 28th April 2023 and the closing date for payment was Friday 9th June 2023.

Bus Éireann has advised that their online system did not experience any issues relating to the capturing of eircode’s during the 2023/24 school year ticket application process.

Schools Building Projects

Questions (287)

Richard Bruton

Question:

287. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education if consideration is being given to an Irish-medium secondary school to serve the Swords area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46458/23]

Written answers

Minister for Education

In order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a Geographical Information System, using data from a range of sources, including Child Benefit and school enrolment data, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise.

Major new residential developments in a school planning area have the potential to alter demand in that area. In that regard, as part of the demographic exercises, the Department engages with each of the local authorities to obtain the up-to-date information on significant new residential development in each area. This is necessary to ensure that schools infrastructure planning is keeping pace with demographic changes.

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.

A patronage process is run after it has been decided, based on demographic analysis, that a new school is required. The New Schools Establishment Group (NSEG) is an external independent advisory group which was set up in 2011 to advise me on the patronage of new schools. The patronage process is open to all patron bodies and prospective patrons.

An Online Patronage Process System (OPPS) provides objective information to parents in the relevant school planning areas to assist them in making an informed choice about their preferred model of patronage and language of instruction for the new school.

A prospective patron can choose the school(s) it wishes to apply for and complete an application form in that regard for each school, for submission to the Department. The Department provides details on the OPPS of the school(s) and the list of applicant patrons which have applied for patronage of the school(s).

Parents access the OPPS website, which allows them to access the appropriate survey for their area, to input the details of the eligible child(ren) and to select their preferred patron and language of instruction (where applicable). Parental preferences, as well as other considerations such as the extent of diversity of provision in an area (including Irish-medium provision), are key to the decision-making process. Such analysis impacts on whether, at post-primary level, a school would take the form of an Irish-medium Gaelcholáiste, or whether, if English-medium, the school would include an Irish-medium unit.

The new policy on Irish-medium education outside of the Gaeltacht, which is currently being developed by the Department, has as one of its key objectives to explore how opportunities for the establishment of Gaelscoileanna and Gaelcholáistí can be increased as part of the patronage process.

A public consultation commenced in October 2022 to inform the development of this new policy. This comprised an online questionnaire, a call for written submissions, and a series of focus groups. The information collected in the consultation process is being analysed by the Sealbhú research institute in DCU. Bilateral meetings were also held between an tAonad um Oideachas Gaeltachta and key stakeholders.

A number of pieces of research will also inform the development of the policy:

• A review of national and international research on minority language education (Sealbhú, DCU)

• Research on Irish-medium Aonaid and Sruthanna (Units and Streams) in English-medium schools (a team of researchers from UCC, Mary Immaculate and Munster Technological University)

• A report on current provision for Irish-medium education outside of the Gaeltacht (Department of Education).Two composite reports on inspection findings on the quality of educational provision in Gaelscoileanna and Gaelcholáistí (Department of Education).

The Department will continue to liaise with Local Authorities in respect of their County Development Plan and any associated Local Area Plans with a view to identifying any potential long-term school accommodation requirements across school planning areas.