Tuesday, 7 Nov 2023

Written Answers Nos. 471-490

School Admissions

Questions (471)

Denise Mitchell

Question:

471. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Education if she will guarantee a place for a child (details supplied) for the academic year beginning September 2025. [47610/23]

Written answers

Minister for Education

As the Deputy will be aware, for school planning purposes, 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.

While the Department is aware of increasing pressures and demand for additional school places in the Killester_Raheny_Clontarf School Planning Area, 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 – 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

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.

The Department is working to establish the true extent of any capacity issues through ongoing discussions with the relevant school authorities. In that context, similar to the process adopted in advance of the current academic year, the Department is engaging with patron bodies and school authorities,to identify particular capacity requirements for the forthcoming years which may necessitate further action to that already in train.

The Educational Welfare Services (EWS) of the Child and Family Agency (Tusla) is the statutory agency that can assist parents who are experiencing difficulty in securing a school place for their child. The local service is delivered through the national network of Educational Welfare Officers (EWO). Contact details are available at: www.tusla.ie/get-in-touch/education-and-welfare/

School Staff

Questions (472)

James Lawless

Question:

472. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Education to examine the issue of a shortage of teachers in a school (detail supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47623/23]

Written answers

Minister for Education

Ensuring 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 demonstrate my commitment to continued investment in our education system. In addition to numerous actions 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 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 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.

• 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 have been 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.

• Following the Department’s Action Plan on Teacher Supply, the Irish Primary Principals’ Network (IPPN) developed a portal for the recruitment of teachers to long-term teaching positions. The portal facilitates the matching of demand and supply and provides an efficient and user-friendly recruitment process for both schools and teachers, including teachers working abroad who wish to apply for posts here.

• The Teaching Transforms campaign continues to promote the teaching profession and encourage students to follow a career in teaching. The campaign uses digital, radio, and video media, and is supported by a dedicated webpage.  

Additionally in the area of Special Education,

• The Department recognises the importance of providing well-timed and appropriate support to pupils with identified learning needs.

• The Special Education Teaching allocation for mainstream schools provides a single unified allocation for special educational support teaching needs to each school, based on the educational needs profile of each school.

• Schools are frontloaded with ring-fenced SET resources for the purpose of supporting pupils with an identified and recorded special education learning need.  This allocation allows schools to provide additional teaching support for pupils who require such support in their schools based on each pupil’s individual learning needs.

• It is a matter for schools to deploy SET resources effectively to meet the needs identified in the Student Support Plans, which should be based on the continuum of support framework. Once the Department allocates SET hours to a school it is the responsibility of the school and the board management to utilise the allocation to meet the needs of those students with special educational needs. Special Education Teaching Hours should only be used for their intended purpose to support pupils with an identified and recorded special education learning need.

• Government has now funded close to 20,000 SEN teachers and 21,000 SNAs across the education system, demonstrating its commitment to supporting all children with SEN.

Teaching remains an attractive career choice. 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. 

Ministerial Staff

Questions (473)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

473. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education the number of statements of interests for the purposes of section 19 filed by her special advisers in 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023; and if she will provide a schedule of same. [47643/23]

Written answers

Minister for Education

Special advisers are responsible to the Standards in Public Office Commission (SIPO) in relation to filing of Section 19 Statements of Interests. Where a Statement of Interest is furnished, it is to be laid before the Oireachtas. There is no obligation on a special adviser to furnish a nil statement where no interests exist, however they may choose to do so.

School Staff

Questions (474, 529, 531, 533, 538, 539, 560, 561, 565, 566)

Sorca Clarke

Question:

474. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education to provide an up-to-date response on her Department's engagement with representatives on the issue of post-primary redeployment of teachers. [47670/23]

Mairéad Farrell

Question:

529. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Education what progress has been made on the issue of 'fair post-primary redeployment for teachers'; the plans going forward to address this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48419/23]

Carol Nolan

Question:

531. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education what progress has been made by her Department with respect to the report that it has received proposing the introduction of a teacher relocation scheme from a working group established by a teachers' union; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48448/23]

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

533. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education what progress is being made on the issue of post-primary redeployment; her plans going forward to address same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48465/23]

Catherine Murphy

Question:

538. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update on her views of the work conducted by an organisation (details supplied) in respect of teacher transfers and standardised incremental credit; and if this committee and or her officials has provided her with interim and or final conclusions in respect of its work. [48524/23]

Sorca Clarke

Question:

539. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on the progress that has been made in the past six months with regard to the teacher relocation scheme at post-primary level; what engagements she and her Department have had with the teacher's unions; and what plans she and her Department have in place to address this issue and to guarantee its success going forward. [48542/23]

Robert Troy

Question:

560. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education when she will meet with the teacher unions to discuss the report proposing the introduction of a teacher relocation scheme from a working group established by one of the teacher unions. [48716/23]

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

561. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education what progress has been made on a report she received proposing the introduction of a teacher relocation scheme; what her plans are going forward in addressing this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48720/23]

Colm Burke

Question:

565. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education if her Department is engaging with stakeholders (details supplied) with regard to the establishment of a nationwide teacher transfer system for post primary teachers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48785/23]

Anne Rabbitte

Question:

566. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Education what progress has been made on a transfer/relocation scheme for secondary school teachers (details supplied); what are the plans going forward in addressing the issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48820/23]

Written answers

Minister for Education

I propose to take Questions Nos. 474, 529, 531, 533, 538, 539, 560, 561, 565 and 566 together.

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).

Earlier this year the Department received a report of a TUI working group. The report proposed the creation of a national relocation scheme whereby teachers would identify the locations that they would like to relocate to through a portal and then effectively “swap” with teachers in that location.

Department officials subsequently met with TUI representatives to discuss the matter and the proposal is being given consideration with a view to a formal response issuing.

It should be noted that an existing voluntary redeployment pilot operates that is distinct from the relocation scheme proposed by the TUI. The key purpose of the pilot voluntary redeployment scheme is to assist the Department to achieve its objective of redeploying all surplus permanent teachers.

The Department meets regularly with the teacher unions on many issues relating to teachers. The Department will continue to work intensively with all stakeholders to develop and implement creative solutions to address the needs of teachers and teacher supply challenges facing schools.

School Funding

Questions (475)

Bríd Smith

Question:

475. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education if she will clarify when schools can expect to receive the schedule of grant payments; if she is aware that some schools are struggling to cover regular outgoings currently and are awaiting grant payments to do so; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47679/23]

Written answers

Minister for Education

It gives me great pleasure to have secured €10.5 billion in total funding for Education in Budget 2024. This significant increase in funding ensures that the total budget is at the highest ever for our primary and post primary schools. The funding will ensure continued reduced costs for families; it will continue to tackle disadvantage and it will provide further supports to safeguard inclusive education for all school communities. 

This year’s Budget will provide targeted funding for school communities with an increase in capitation of over €81 million.

The current standard rate of Capitation grant is €183 per pupil at Primary level and at post primary the standard rate is €316 per student for voluntary secondary schools. The standard capitation rates are different for Community and Comprehensive schools as well as those in the ETB sector as these schools are funded via non-pay budget grants from the Department.

As part of the capitation package in Budget 2024 I am pleased to have secured €21 million as a permanent increase in capitation funding to assist schools now and longer term with increased day-to-day running costs. This will support a permanent restoration of funding for all primary and post-primary schools from September 2024.  This will bring the basic rate of capitation to €200 per student in primary schools and to €345 in voluntary secondary schools. Enhanced rates will also be paid in respect of pupils with Special Educational needs. This represents an increase of circa 9.2% of current standard and enhanced capitation rates.

The €81million secured for capitation also includes €60 million as part of the Cost of Living measures in Budget 2024. All recognised Primary and Post-Primary schools in the Free Education scheme will benefit from this additional capitation funding which will be paid at an average rate of €49 per pupil at Primary level and €75 at Post-Primary level. Enhanced rates will also be paid in respect of pupils with Special Educational needs. 

Schools also receive an Ancillary Services Grant.  The standard rate is €173 per pupil in Primary schools and €224.50 per student in Post-Primary schools.

Primary schools with less than 60 pupils are paid the Capitation and the Ancillary grants on the basis of having 60 pupils.  At Post-Primary level, schools with less than 200 students receive ancillary related grants on the basis of having 200 students.

The amount of Capitation funding which issues to Primary and Post Primary schools is not maintained by my Department on a county basis.

Schools also receive a range of other grants including Book Grants, Programme grants etc. For the 2023/24 school year I introduced a landmark new scheme that signifies a new chapter in Irish primary education to provide free school books for all primary and special school pupils. The total free primary book grant amount paid to date in 2023 is €53.5m.

I am very pleased to say that I have secured funding to extend the free school books scheme to junior cycle students from the start of the next school year in September 2024.  The total funding available for this extension of the scheme is €67 million.

I understand the need for increased capitation funding and I am pleased that I have been able to provide for significant increases in capitation funding for primary and post-primary schools in Budget 2024 which includes also a permanent restoration of capitation funding as well as an increase for cost of living pressures.

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.

gov.ie - School Grant Calendars (www.gov.ie)

School Transport

Questions (476)

Michael Creed

Question:

476. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Education to clarify the situation regarding parental entitlement to school transport for their children for the current school year to either the nearest or next nearest school; her views on the discretion available to Bus Éireann in respect of the application of the regulations of the scheme in this regard; if, in the case of entitlement to transport to either the closest or second closest school, she will clarify the situation regarding a specific location (details supplied) in County Cork, where students are equal distance from two post primary schools; if she will clarify their entitlement in the current school year for school transport in that regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47680/23]

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 134,000 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 has already exceeded the total number of tickets issued in the 2022/23 school year.

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

Children who are eligible for school transport and who have completed the application process on time will be accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation.

Children who are not eligible for school transport, but who completed the application process on time, will be considered for spare seats that may exist after eligible children have been facilitated; such seats are referred to as concessionary seats.

Because of the nature of concessionary transport for non-eligible children and the priority of providing places for eligible children, there may be an excess of demand over supply for concessionary places, in these cases Bus Éireann will allocate tickets for spare seats using an agreed selection process.

Temporary Alleviation Measures at post-primary level are continued for the 2023/2024 school year, this means that transport arrangements will continue to be provided where a service is in operation and capacity exists for a number of concessionary post-primary students who are attending their second nearest school, who have applied and registered on time and who live more than 4.8km from their nearest school. Students availing of TAMS are deemed concessionary and therefore, will be allocated a seat only once all eligible students have been facilitated, and there is capacity available on the service.  

Bus Éireann has advised that the schools referred to by the Deputy are not equidistant from the town referred.

Families residing on the western side of the town would be eligible for the first school referred while families living on the eastern side of the town are eligible to the second school referred.

Schools Building Projects

Questions (477)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

477. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the progress to date in the provision of a new school building (details supplied), given that the current premises were only intended to be temporary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47694/23]

Written answers

Minister for Education

The 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 project is part of the bundle referred to as ‘Project Liffey’.

This campus project will include the school referred to by the Deputy.

A letter was issued by the Department to the schools to advise that their respective school had been included in the programme and the NDFA has since been in contact with each school to introduce the team, communicate arrangements and discuss the project briefs.

The NDFA are currently engaged in meetings to establish the tenders required to appoint a design team. The NDFA have been in contact with the schools in regards to this information and will continue to update the schools as this project progresses.

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.

School Accommodation

Questions (478)

Dessie Ellis

Question:

478. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Education whether it is the intention to continue with the refurbishment of a school (details supplied), with a view to modernising the school or if it is her Department's intention to build alongside the old school a new school to replace it; if she will clarify what her Department's plans for this school are; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47704/23]

Written answers

Minister for Education

The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy will be delivered under the Departments ADAPT Programme.

The ADAPT Programme uses a professional external Project Manager to co-ordinate and drive the Design Team to achieve the best possible timeframe for the project through the stages of Architectural Planning to Tender and Construction.

The Brief for this project is the development of a 16 Classroom Gaelscoil with an additional 2 Classrooms for pupils with Special Educational Needs at the current site.

The tender competition to appoint the Design Team for this major project (Consultant Architect, Civil Structural Engineer, Building Services Engineer, Quantity Surveyor and PSDP) has concluded.

A workshop meeting between the Project Manager, Design Team and Department officials was held recently. 

The Design Team are now commencing the initial stage of Architectural Planning, Stage 1 – Preliminary Design, where the Design Team will assess the site and prepare their initial sketch schemes.  A preferred design option, including the scope and extent of works to be carried out will be established during this early stage. 

On conclusion of this process my Department will keep the school authorities informed.

School Transport

Questions (479)

Anne Rabbitte

Question:

479. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Education the status of an application by a school (details supplied) for a school bus; the reason for the delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47706/23]

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 2022/23 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 are being provided in the current school year for over 5,400 children who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine.

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

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

A pupil with special educational needs is eligible for school transport if they are attending the nearest recognised mainstream school, special class/special school or a unit, that is or can be resourced, to meet the child's special educational needs under Department of Education criteria.

Eligibility is determined following consultation with the National Council for Special Education through its network of Special Education Needs Organisers (SENO).

There was a 30% increase in the number of special educational transport journeys from 2019 to the 2022/2023 school year, and already over 1,400 new applications have been received since July for the 2023/2024 school year.

New applications for the 2023/2024 school year will be catered for through a mix of new services (some being individual), children being accommodated on existing services where capacity exists, extensions of existing routes and grants to families. 

Bus Éireann have confirmed that this pupil is allocated to a route that it is regrettably, currently not operating due to a driver shortage. Once a driver has been sourced, the service will commence and the  family will be contacted directly. 

A Special Transport Interim Grant is available to families of children with special educational needs who, following the application process, are eligible under the terms of the school transport scheme and are awaiting a School Transport service to be put in place.

This grant is a once off payment. The interim grant is offered from the date of application to assist with the cost of private transport arrangements that families have to put place until a transport service is ready to commence. 

You do not need to make an application; the School Transport Section in the Department of Education will email you directly with further details of the grant.

Bus Éireann has put in place a dedicated customer care call centre to assist families specifically with School Transport queries during this period. Families that have queries can contact the call centre on: LoCall 0818 919 910.   Operating hours are usually 9.00am – 5.00pm Monday to Friday.  

Families can also submit queries via the ‘contact form’ which can be found on their website (buseireann.ie/schooltransport)

Departmental Advertising

Questions (480)

Robert Troy

Question:

480. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education to provide a breakdown of the advertising spend of her Department and agencies under the remit of her Department, by national media outlet and local newspaper outlet, for each of the years 2020 to 2022, in tabular form. [47728/23]

Written answers

Minister for Education

Please find breakdown of the advertising spend by the Department of Education for the years 2020 to 2022 attached, by national media outlet and local newspaper outlet.  

The Department does not hold the statistics for its public bodies and agencies.

Advertising Totals

School Transport

Questions (481)

Pádraig O'Sullivan

Question:

481. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update with respect to a student (details supplied) in County Cork who is receiving school transport under the scheme for children with special educational needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47746/23]

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.

Over 134,000 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. There has been an overall increase in both applications and tickets issued for the 2023/2024 school year in comparison to the 2022/2023 school year.  

Under the current terms of the scheme, pupils at primary level are eligible where they live no less than 3.2 kilometres from and are attending their nearest primary school.  At post primary level, students who live no less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre are deemed eligible. Any pupils/students who do not meet these criteria are deemed not eligible, or otherwise known as concessionary applicants, and are allocated a ticket based on the availability of a seat when all eligible children have been catered for.  

Because of the nature of concessionary transport for non-eligible children and the priority of providing places for eligible children, there may be an excess of demand over supply for concessionary places, in these cases Bus Éireann will allocate tickets for spare seats using an agreed selection process.  

Bus Éireann has advised that the pupil referred to by the Deputy was availing of a Special Educational Needs Transport service, however the contractor for this service has now retired. A Mainstream school transport application has been received for this pupil, and a Mainstream ticket has issued to the pupil.  

If the family has any further queries they can contact Bus Éireann who has put in place a dedicated customer care call centre to assist families specifically with School Transport queries.

The dedicated School Transport Call Centre service (LoCall 0818 919 910) also offers a call back facility.

Operating hours are 09.00 – 17.00 Monday to Friday

Schools Building Projects

Questions (482)

Eoin Ó Broin

Question:

482. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education to outline how many new classes will be established following the completion of the large-scale project at a school (details supplied); if an indication is available as to when the project will be complete; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47753/23]

Written answers

Minister for Education

The permanent school building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is included in my Department’s Construction Programme.  

The project brief for the school includes 26 classrooms, which will provide capacity for 156 pupils when complete. The new school will also include specialist classrooms as well as extensive ancillary accommodation with multi-sensory facilities and a general purpose area. The external play areas will include soft play areas such as a Sensory Garden and Multi Games Area.  

The project will be delivered under my Department's ADAPT Programme which uses a professional external Project Manager to co-ordinate and drive the Design Team to achieve the best possible timeframe for the project through the stages of Architectural Planning, to Tender and Construction.  

My Department will keep the school and its patron body informed of the progression of this project.

Special Educational Needs

Questions (483)

Eoin Ó Broin

Question:

483. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education the number of new classes in special schools that are expected to be established at primary level for the 2024/2025 school year in the Dublin South area; and the number of places that will be available to students in those classes. [47763/23]

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. Together 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 and seven new special schools established over recent years.

My department engage intensely with the NCSE in relation to the forward planning of new special classes and additional special school places.  This forward planning work is well underway ahead of the 2024/2025 school year.  This work involves a detailed review of statistical data in relation to forecasting demand for special class places, an analysis 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 in Carrigtwohill, east Cork and Dublin 7 for the 2023/24 school year, with further capacity being expanded in 11 other special schools.

Along with the two new special schools, 385 new special classes – 252 at primary and 133 at post-primary level – have been sanctioned by the NCSE for opening in the 2023/24 school year.

Of these, 73 new special have been sanctioned in Dublin, 50 at primary level and 23 at post-primary level bringing the total number of special classes in Co. Dublin to 536 in total.

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

There continues to be an increasing need to provide additional special school places to support children with complex needs. To meet this need, 7 new special schools have been established in recent years and special school capacity expanded. The most recently established special schools are due to open in Dublin and Cork during this school year.

The new special schools established over recent years have focused on providing additional places in our largest urban areas – Dublin and Cork. My department and the NCSE have already begun planning in relation to further expanding special school capacity for the 2024/25 school year and beyond. It is estimated that a further 300 new special school places may be required each year for the coming years.

The NCSE is committed to ensuring that sufficient special education placements will be available for children for this school year and future years

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.

School Accommodation

Questions (484)

Niall Collins

Question:

484. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Education for an update on an application (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47772/23]

Written answers

Minister for Education

I can confirm that my Department is in receipt of an application for additional school accommodation from the school to which the Deputy refers.

The purpose of my Department’s ASA scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream classroom accommodation and accommodation for pupils with special education needs is available to cater for pupils enrolled each year, where the need cannot be met by the school’s existing accommodation.

The main focus of my Department’s resources over the last decade and for the coming period is on provision of critical additional capacity to cater for increasing demographics. However, my Department is working towards an increasing focus on the upgrade and refurbishment of the existing school stock, with particular focus on climate action goals.

Engagement between the school authority and officials in my Department has been ongoing regarding the schools accommodation needs and delivery mechanisms available for this accommodation. Once finalised the school authority will be contacted directly with a decision.

School Accommodation

Questions (485)

Frankie Feighan

Question:

485. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update regarding an application by a school (details supplied) in County Sligo; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47777/23]

Written answers

Minister for Education

I can confirm to the Deputy, that my Department is in receipt of an application from the school in question for the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme and has been engaging with the school in this respect.

The Deputy will be aware that my Department has broadened its delivery streams and is utilising Modern Methods of Construction, including Modular Accommodation, as well as traditional construction delivery methods. Modular accommodation has particular advantages in terms of overall timelines and also climate impact in that they do not generally have a reliance on fossil fuels.

In overall terms, it is important to have a range of delivery mechanisms for delivering school accommodation to support the current very strong and ambitious roll out of school building projects. This is particular relevant given the overall challenging construction sector market. A number of factors are considered by my Department in determining the most appropriate construction method to meet a school’s accommodation requirements, including the timing and duration of that accommodation need, and other school-specific factors.

The Department continues to undertake forward planning in relation to meeting the accommodation needs of increasing demographics at post-primary, students from Ukraine and International Protection students. In addition, the Department also works very closely with the NCSE in relation to forward planning for increased special education provision in the form of additional special classes and special school places.

In planning and providing for additional school accommodation, the Department must also have regard to construction inflation pressures and competing demands on suppliers of modular accommodation and project management services.

In response to these challenges both in terms of demand for accommodation and costs, the Department must prioritise spending and seek to achieve value for money in line with the public spending code/NDP framework. In general, demographics have been falling at primary level and are due to continue to decrease.

Therefore the Department considers it prudent to maximise the use of existing spare accommodation capacity at primary level in the first instance, before considering any applications for further accommodation needs. In relation to the provision of primary special classes, the shared preference of both the Department and the NCSE is to use and reconfigure existing school accommodation to provide special classes

The main focus of resources over the last decade and for the coming period is on provision of additional capacity to cater for increasing demographics particularly at post-primary level and for special education needs provision. The Deputy will appreciate that the immediate priority of my Department is providing new and replacement school places each year, to ensure that every child has a school place.

Under Project Ireland 2040 the education sector will receive a total of approximately €4.4 billion capital investment over the period 2021-2025. There will be a rolling 5 year funding envelope which will be updated annually for the period 2026 to 2030 within the Government’s overall NDP funding envelope of €136 billion in exchequer capital (€165 billion total capital including non-Exchequer) that will facilitate building a modern and sustainable school infrastructure.

This significant investment allows us to move forward with certainty on our ambitious plans and deliver high quality building projects, with a real focus on sustainability, for school communities across Ireland. The strengthened focus on refurbishment of existing school stock will have different strands and will include a PE build and modernisation programme as well as the provision or modernisation of ancillary facilities such as GP rooms at primary level.

My Department is working towards the commencement of the modernisation programme. In this regard, funding of the GP hall for the school in question cannot be considered at this time.

Official Engagements

Questions (486)

Matt Carthy

Question:

486. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Education the engagements her Department, or any agency or body under her direction, has had with the Government of Israel, any state body of the Government of Israel, or any engagement within or with Israel, in 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47803/23]

Written answers

Minister for Education

I can confirm that no engagements with the Government of Israel or any State bodies thereof took place with my Department during the years 2021 or 2022.

Officials in my Department met with officials of the Israeli Ministry of Education and representatives of the Myers-JDC Brookdale Institute (Israel’s leading centre for applied social research) in March of 2023. The purpose of this meeting was to learn from and have an exchange with Department officials on key educational issues of interest. The information in respect of State bodies is not held by my Department. Contact details for these bodies are set out here should the Deputy wish to contact them directly with this query.

Official Engagements

Questions (487)

Matt Carthy

Question:

487. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Education the engagements her Department, or any agency or body under her direction, has had with the Palestinian Authority, any organ of the Palestinian Authority, or any engagement within, or with organisations in, the occupied Palestinian territory, in the years 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47821/23]

Written answers

Minister for Education

I can confirm for the Deputy that officials of my Department met with officials from the Palestinian Ministry of Education in November 2022 to discuss educational areas of interest. Officials from the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) joined this discussion.

No engagements took place with the Palestinian Authority, any organ of the Palestinian Authority, or any engagement within, or with organisations in, the Occupied Palestinian Territory, in the years 2021 or 2023.

The information in respect of State bodies is not held by my Department. Contact details for these bodies are set out here should the Deputy wish to contact them directly with this query.

Special Educational Needs

Questions (488)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

488. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education her proposals to provide for full summer special provision in 2024 for children with severe and profound intellectual and or physical disabilities in view of their need for routine and their care needs; the discussions she has had with the minister for State with responsibility for disability in relation to this matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47839/23]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education

The details of the 2024 Summer Programme are expected to be announced as soon as possible in the coming months. For 2024, the total funding available to run the Summer Programme will be €40m which matches the budget for the last 3 years.

Preparations for the 2024 Summer Programme have already commenced. This involves engagement with education partners, parents, schools, advocacy groups and other stakeholders. On foot of this engagement, the terms and conditions for the 2024 Summer Programme will be designed so as to encourage even more schools and staff to participate. We will also be engaging with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth in identifying other groups who are interested in running an educational programme so as to ensure the widest possible participation.

The main priority again in 2024 is expected to be that those children with the most complex special educational needs, especially in special schools, should have access to a school-based summer programme. It is also expected that the 2024 school based programme will be open to pupils enrolled in special schools, special classes, pupils who have complex special educational needs in mainstream classes and those who are most at risk of educational disadvantage.

The aims of Summer Programme are to support children to maintain their connection with education, to build their confidence and to increase their motivation through peer engagement and socialisation, to promote wellbeing and, for those who are at key transition stages, to help to ensure that they continue their education journey in the following September either in school or in further/higher education or training.

It is intended that the range of programmes on offer will continue building on the success of the expanded programmes that ran previously and will incorporate feedback from education stakeholders as to how to better support the programme for all involved in summer 2023.

This is an important programme for children with special educational needs and for children at most risk of disadvantage and you can be assured that the Department will look to build on the success of 2023 to increase the number of children in our special schools taking part.

Once launched, full details of the 2024 Summer Programme will be issued directly to schools and made available for parents/legal guardians and teachers/SNAs to view or download on www.gov.ie/summerprogramme.

I want to reassure the Deputy that my Department will continue to work with all stakeholders to support families in accessing these programmes and with schools to ensure that they have the resources and supports necessary to successfully run them.

Schools Building Projects

Questions (489)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

489. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education the reason for the high turnover threshold of €1.5 million in order to qualify to tender for the tender entitled "Term Maintenance, Refurbishment and Upgrade construction Works to Educational Facilities in various regional and urban location (divided into lots and sub lots) within a National Framework", thus disqualifying a large number of small, highly competent small building firms from tendering and reducing the competition on the market, and thus raising prices; whether she intends revising these limits; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47843/23]

Written answers

Minister for Education

The level of turnover stipulated in the Term Maintenance, Refurbishment and Upgrade Construction Works Framework Suitability Questionnaire has been calculated using the Construction Works Management Framework (CWMF) Guidance Document GN 2.3.1.3 ‘Guidance Note Suitability Criteria for Works Contractors: Minimum Standards’ using the multiplier range of the annualized turnover of the capital value of the contract for Building projects, taking in to account the estimated value of the call-off contracts, the short duration for completion of the works contracts and taking into consideration the complexity level of works taking place in an existing school live environment.

It is further noted, that the suitability questionnaire for the tender (section 3.3a Evidence of Turnover) permits the applicant to be a consortia or joint venture where at least one of the entities being relied upon must have a minimum individual average turnover of €750,000, in addition to the aggregate for the Applicant as a whole of €1,500,000, thus allowing smaller building firms to come together to jointly apply for inclusion in the Framework.

Scoláireachtaí Gaeltachta

Questions (490)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

490. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Oideachais cén fáth nach n-íoctar deontas le hábhair múinteoirí iar-bhunscoile, atá ag déanamh cláir oideachais tosaigh do mhúinteoirí, chun freastal ar chúrsaí Gaeilge sa Ghaeltacht, cé go bhfuil sé ar cheann de na roghanna atá ag ábhair mhúinteoirí chun a eispéireas tumoideachasúil sa Ghaeilge a chomhlíonadh don Chomhairle Mhúinteoireachta; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [47845/23]

Written answers

Minister for Education

Tá na riachtanais reatha maidir le Tréimhsí Foghlama Gaeltachta do chláir Oideachas Tosaigh Múinteoirí (OTM) ag an mbunleibhéal i bhfoirm socrúcháin 2 x 2 sheachtain mar chuid den chlár OTM. Tá an riachtanas seo leagtha amach i Céim: Caighdeáin d’Oideachas Tosaigh Múinteoirí na Comhairle Múinteoireachta. Leanfaidh na cláir Na Siollabas Oifigiúla do na Tréimhsí Foghlama sa Ghaeltacht do Mhic Léinn Oideachais. Mar atá tugtha faoi deara agat, i mBuiséad 2020 rinneadh soláthar do thabhairt ar ais an deontais chun costas iomlán na dTréimhsí Foghlama Gaeltachta (TFGanna) a chlúdach d’fhochéimithe agus d’iarchéimithe i gcláir OTM bunscoile atá maoinithe ag an Stát, le héifeacht ón mbliain acadúil 2020/2021. Bhí an deontas á mhaoiniú roimhe seo ag mo Roinn go dtí an bhliain acadúil 2012/2013, nuair a cuireadh deireadh leis de bharr srianta airgeadais.

Mar atá leagtha amach sna Riachtanais Ábhair Churaclaim Iar-Bhunscoile, ní mór do mhúinteoirí iar-bhunscoile faoi oiliúint (nuair is cuí) sula gcríochnaíonn siad a gcuid staidéir ar oideachas múinteoirí fianaise inchruthaithe a sholáthar ar thaithí tumoideachais de cheithre sheachtain ar a laghad sa teanga churaclaim ar a bhfuil staidéar á dhéanamh acu. Is féidir é seo a rochtain i dhá bhloc, agus caithfidh dhá sheachtain ar a laghad a bheith i ngach bloc. I gcás na Gaeilge, caithfidh ar a laghad ceann amháin de na bloic seo a bheith i suíomh Gaeltachta agus an rogha a bheith ar fáil bloc amháin a bheith i suíomh lán-Ghaeilge.

Ní mór ceann díobh seo a leanas a bheith mar eispéireas/eispéiris tumoideachais don Ghaeilge:

• freastal ar chúrsa Gaeilge

• feidhmiú mar bhall foirne i suíomh oideachasúil sa Ghaeltacht

• tionscadal taighde gníomhaíochta a dhéanamh atá ábhartha dá staidéar múinteoireachta

• páirt a ghlacadh i Socrúchán Scoile.

Ní hionann iad seo agus an riachtanas do mhúinteoirí bunscoile faoi oiliúint, a bhfuil sé éigeantach dóibh freastal ar chlár staidéir i gcoláiste Gaeltachta, mar chuid dá gcláir OTM.

Maidir le múinteoirí iar-bhunscoile faoi oiliúint, níl i gceist leis an riachtanas freastal ar chlár staidéir i gcoláiste Gaeltachta ach ceann amháin de na ceithre rogha atá ar fáil chun an fhianaise ar thaithí tumoideachais sa Ghaeilge a shásamh.

Dá réir sin, ní chuirtear an deontas TFG ar fáil do mhic léinn ar chláir OTM iar-bhunscoile.