Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 November 2023
137. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Education her views on submissions that her Department has received to date from the teacher representative unions in the State about the challenge of accommodating children and students from Ukrainian refugee families; her plans to provide the necessary resources to schools and teachers for this purpose; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50311/23]
View answerThe teacher representative unions have been involved in the Ukraine Education Stakeholder meetings with my Department since the beginning of the response to the Ukraine Crisis. The purpose of these meetings is to update the group on the wider Education work programme on the response to the Ukraine crisis and allow for feedback and Q&A session with stakeholders. No submissions have been received to date from the teacher representative unions in the State about the challenge of accommodating children and students from Ukrainian refugee families.
The Regional Education and Language Teams (REALT), hosted by the 16 regional education and training boards (ETBs) were established by my Department to support the education needs of children from Ukraine arriving in Ireland.
Each REALT is led by a REALT co-ordinator employed by the local ETB and funded by the Department. The co-ordinator works closely with the Tusla Education Support Service (TESS), the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) and the National Council for Special Education (NCSE). Each of these organisations has a representative on every REALT. In addition, other agencies and stakeholders have nominated liaison persons to work with each REALT, including all school management bodies at primary and post-primary as well as the education centres around the country.
The Department of Education is providing a number of necessary resources to schools and teachers accommodating Ukrainian children and young people in their schools, including English as an Additional Language (EAL) and Special Education Needs resources. To aid in pupils’ integration into school life and to support those learning the English language, the Department of Education allocates EAL tutoring hours to both primary and post-primary schools. The number of EAL hours allocated is based on the number of New Entrant pupils enrolled and additional supports are given for higher enrolments.
A guidance note for schools was issued in respect of SET and SNA allocations for the ‘23/24 school year. The allocation of supports is based on graduated thresholds of Ukrainian enrolments, which align with the SET and SNA allocations on a national basis. The process is responsive to the needs and the allocation is adjusted on circa a 6 weeks basis for any changes in the Ukrainian enrolment numbers in our schools.
The Department has also set up a helpline for school principals, where principals can enquire about additional supports for their schools at Usupport@education.gov.ie and 057 9324461.?
