Written Answers Nos. 259-277
259. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 474 of 7 November 2023, if she will provide details of the workings of the existing voluntary redeployment pilot scheme mentioned in the response; if there have been positive results from this scheme to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51024/23]
View answerThe recruitment and appointment of teachers to fill teaching posts is a matter for each individual school authority as the employer. The deployment of teaching staff in the school, the range of subjects offered and ultimately the quality of teaching and learning are in the first instance a matter for the school management authorities.
Post primary schools employ teachers with the appropriate subject mix to provide for a range of subjects that can be offered to students. It is an important aspect of the annual timetabling process that schools work towards achieving this outcome where possible. Matching the subject mix on offer with the qualifications of individual teachers who typically have more than one subject, can be a challenging task for schools. It is important that schools as employers retain the flexibility to employ teachers with the capacity to teach varied subjects to maintain a wide range of subjects on offer to students.
The core function of the redeployment arrangements is to facilitate the redeployment of surplus permanent teachers to other schools where vacancies exist. At Post-Primary level, following discussions between the relevant stakeholders a voluntary redeployment scheme has operated on a pilot basis in specific regions in recent years. Permanent teachers employed in these regions are given an opportunity to volunteer for a transfer to other areas of the country only if such a transfer would free up a vacancy that would facilitate the redeployment of a surplus permanent teacher in the region.
The key purpose of the pilot voluntary redeployment scheme is to assist the Department to achieve its objective of redeploying all surplus permanent teachers. To-date the pilot voluntary redeployment scheme has operated in 24 counties and statistics in relation to this scheme are attached.
The redeployment process is reviewed annually by my Department and Education Stakeholders, including Teacher Unions. The criteria for the allocation of teachers to schools including the redeployment arrangements for the 2024/25 school year will be available on the Department's website in late January/early February 2024.
Teachers who apply under the pilot voluntary scheme and are not facilitated with a transfer continue to have the option of applying for posts in their preferred location that are advertised in the normal manner.
260. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education her Department's position with regard to the proposal by an organisation (details supplied) regarding teacher redeployment; and when a formal response will issue. [51025/23]
View answerThe 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 shortly.
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.
261. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education the status of an application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51030/23]
View answerUnder the Teaching Council Acts 2001-2015 the Teaching Council is the body with the statutory authority and responsibility for the regulation of the teaching profession in Ireland including the registration of Teachers in the State.
The Teaching Council is the professional standards body for the teaching profession, which promotes and regulates professional standards in teaching. The Council registers teachers under the Teaching Council Act 2001-2015. There are five routes of registration with the Teaching Council which are namely Route 1: Primary, Route 2: Post-primary, Route 3: Further Education, Route 4: Other and Route 5: Student Teacher. The registration requirements for each route is set out in the Teaching Council [Registration] Regulations 2016
The Teaching Council has confirmed that the person referred to in the correspondence applied under the Teaching Council (Registration)(Amendment Regulation), 2023 (CAR) on the 27th September 202.
To provide a full and fair assessment, additional information was subsequently requested by the Council from the applicant, which has been provided. This is currently being considered and the Council will be in touch with the applicant in due course.
As published on the Teaching Council website processing times for applications from domestic qualified persons can be 6 to 8 weeks from receipt of all documentation, and for overseas qualified applicants up to 12 weeks.
262. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education the reason no provision is made to schools for the deaf for ISL interpretation outside of the standard capitation grant; her views on whether her Department is compliant with the spirit and with the provisions of the Irish Sign language Act 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51036/23]
View answerEnabling 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. 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.
This year's budget will also 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 Education and Training Board (ETB) sector as these schools are funded via non-pay budget grants from the department.
As part of the capitation package in Budget 2024, €21 million has been secured as a permanent increase in capitation funding to assist schools now and in the long 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 €81 million 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.
Schools also receive a range of other grants including book grants, programme grants etc. For the 2023/24 school year, a landmark new scheme was introduced 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 funding has been secured 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 significant increases in capitation funding for primary and post-primary schools in Budget 2024 has been secured. Including a permanent restoration of capitation funding as well as an increase for cost of living pressures.
Outside of capitation, my department provides a range of supports for students who are deaf or hard of hearing, within mainstream classes, the 24 special classes and through the 2 established schools for deaf children.
The department has in place an Irish Sign Language (ISL) Home Tuition Scheme which supports families of students who rely on ISL. 240 children and their families are supported under the scheme by approximately 72 tutors.
Under my department’s Assistive Technology Scheme, over 600 children last year benefitted from specialised equipment for the vision and hearing impaired.
In addition, there is existing provision in place, which provides a dedicated SNA with ISL competency to support students in mainstream settings to access the curriculum and engage in school activities.
The Bachelor of Education (Irish Sign Language) is the first programme of its kind in the history of the State. This is an undergraduate pilot programme in Dublin City University (DCU) that enables deaf and hard of hearing people who use Irish Sign Language (ISL) to enter primary teaching. It is a four-year, full-time, honours degree specifically designed for deaf and hard of hearing students who communicate through ISL.
Considerable research led by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) is ongoing at present in the area of ISL and the curriculum to further support children whose primary language is ISL.
In November 2022 the commencement of the first phase of the implementation of an enhanced scheme of ISL provision was announced. This new scheme is in addition to the existing provision that is in place, in which the enhanced scheme includes the implementation of two new roles to the education system.
This first phase of the scheme allows for resources to be targeted towards supporting pupils and families where specific intensive support is required in order to access the curriculum and to allow for learning and improvement of the scheme going forward.
As part of the expansion of the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) that was announced in Budget 2023, 40 dedicated new staff are being allocated for this first phase of the ISL Scheme.
Under the scheme, two new posts are being created, an ISL – Specialist Classroom Support (SCS) referred to as ISL-SCS and an advisor deaf/hard of hearing (ISL) (referred to as ISL Advisor).
The role of the ISL-SCS is to consistently convey the spirit and content of the communication occurring in the classroom and enhance active engagement with learning and participation in school life by the student.
The focus of the new ISL Advisor will be to build capacity in ISL across the school community including teachers, SNAs, other school staff and students.
The NCSE has the responsibility for planning and coordinating school supports for children with special educational needs, currently, there are 29 Visiting Teachers (VTs) for students who are deaf/hard of hearing available within NCSE.
Visiting teachers for students who are deaf or hard of hearing are qualified teachers with particular skills and knowledge of the development and education of children with varying degrees of hearing loss. They offer longitudinal support to children, their families and schools from the time of referral through to the end of post-primary education.
Each VT is responsible for a particular region and is allocated a caseload of students. The VT supports children/young people, parents, guardians, teachers and other professionals involved with the child. The work of the VT involves liaising with others such as speech and language therapists, psychologists, early intervention teams, school staff, and with parents.
My department will continue to support the NCSE and schools through the provision of the necessary funding and capital investment to ensure all children are successful in accessing an education.
263. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education if her Department has any current contracts with any Israeli state agency, any Israeli-based company or any company based elsewhere in the world which is owned or part-owned by any Israeli state agency or by any Israeli-based company; and if so, the value of those contracts. [51041/23]
View answerMy Department does not collate ownership related information, at the level of detail requested in regard to contractors and contracts awarded. I can, therefore, confirm to the Deputy that the information in response to his question is not available at this time.
264. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education if her Department or any of its agencies are involved in any exercise, operation, training or research which includes involvement by any Israeli state agency, any Israeli-based company or any company based elsewhere in the world which is owned or part-owned by any Israeli state agency or by any Israeli-based company. [51059/23]
View answerMy Department does not collate ownership related information at the level of detail requested in regard to exercise, operation, training or research. I can, therefore, confirm to the Deputy that the information in response to his question is not available at this time.
We have requested all Department of Education aegis bodies to respond directly to the deputy.
265. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Education if she can secure, as a matter of extreme urgency, the soonest possible date for the commencement of accessibility works in a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51081/23]
View answerThe school to which the Deputy refers applied for funding under my Department's Emergency Works Scheme (EWS) to carry out Special needs facilities /Universal access works.
I wish to inform the Deputy that these works have been approved and the school has been notified.
266. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Education if her Department will fund the purchase of land to install an off-road set-down area at a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51100/23]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that my Department does not provide funding for upgrade of traffic management or access to school sites outside of any works required as part of a wider school building project.
Individual school authorities are responsible, in the first instance, for ensuring the safety and welfare of children and others in their care, including traffic management measures.
The issue of road safety measures outside the vested site areas of schools, such as road signage, traffic calming measures etc., is a matter that should be raised in the first instance with the relevant Local Authority. Local Authorities have the power to decide on road safety measures outside schools and should ensure that measures are in place to protect the safety of local school children.
267. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education if she can provide an update on the Traveller History and Culture in Education Bill 2018; and when the Bill is expected to complete the next stage in the legislative process. [51135/23]
View answerI am fully supportive of measures to improve educational outcomes for Travellers, which includes ensuring that the school setting is a more welcoming environment. Developing knowledge and understanding of Traveller culture and history in schools will help build a recognition of the important value of Traveller culture and history to this country and help to improve a sense of belonging for Traveller children in schools.
As the Deputy may be aware, the Traveller Culture and History in Education Bill 2018 is a Private Members Bill which proposed to amend the Education Act 1998 to provide for the inclusion of Traveller culture and history in the curriculum taught by recognised schools in the State. The Bill was introduced in the Seanad on 3 July 2018. Government proposed amendments to the Bill in the Seanad, and the amended Bill was passed in the Seanad on 16 October 2019. The Bill passed Second Stage in the Dáil on 1 July 2021. On 7 December last, Government approved the issuing of a money message in relation to this Bill to allow it to proceed to Committee stage, for which a date is to be set.
In parallel, work is ongoing by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) to support teaching and learning in relation to a knowledge and understanding of Traveller culture and history through the curriculum.
In 2019, the NCCA published an audit of Traveller culture and history in the curriculum. This provided the foundation for further work, following which Traveller Culture and History Research Report was published by the NCCA in February 2023. It aims to provide an overview of what is currently known and has been recorded regarding the different aspects of Traveller culture and history and is to be used to inform the review and updating/redevelopment of curriculum specifications and the development of new specifications as part of ongoing work across sectors. It will also provide a basis for the development of resources and materials for teachers/practitioners, and inform thinking around intercultural approaches to education more broadly. This report was developed in collaboration with an expert group comprising members of the Traveller community and Traveller representatives as part of the NCCA’s commitment to developing resources and materials for schools and early childhood settings.
It is also important to note that the NCCA has also commenced a review of the Intercultural Guidelines for primary and post-primary schools, in order to support the further integration of intercultural education in the curriculum, which will link in with relevant aspects of culture and history included in the research report.
268. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education the figure provided by her Department to maintain existing levels of service in 2024, under her respective remits ahead of Budget 2024; the figure granted by the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform in each case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51175/23]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, budget negotiations are confidential. However, as announced on Budget Day, I can confirm that I negotiated a substantial increase in funding for the education sector in 2024, in line with the parameters agreed by Government in the Medium Term Expenditure Strategy. This includes a significant increase in funding to ensure that the existing level of service (ELS) which is provided in schools and other settings across the country will continue to be provided.
Government agreed a total Government Expenditure Ceiling of €96.6 billion for Budget 2024. Of this expenditure, an additional €445 million was allocated for ELS to my Department. This allocation will mainly fund the costs arising from additional teacher and special needs assistant posts in our schools, provision of school transport services, including increased delivery costs, additional accommodation in schools, increases in the number of pensioners retired from the schools sector, curriculum reforms, provision of staffing resources across a range of state funded bodies working in the education sector and existing public sector pay deals. This ELS funding was agreed with the Department of Public Expenditure and NDP Delivery and Reform as part of the budgetary process. There is further engagement currently ongoing as part of the 2024 Revised Estimates (REV) stage of the annual Estimates process.
269. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán cén uair a íocfar deontas mhí Iúil agus mhí Lúnasa le duine i mo dháilcheantar (sonraí tugtha) faoi Scéim na bhFoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge; cén fáth a bhfuil moill leis an íocaíocht sin; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [50534/23]
View answerMaidir le ceist an Teachta, tá dhá íocaíocht dlite don duine luaite agus tá na híocaíochtaí seolta chuig Rannóg Airgeadais na Roinne. Tá na híocaíochtaí seo coinnithe siar, áfach, go dtí go mbeidh cáipéis áirithe curtha ar fáil don Roinn ag an iarratasóir. A luaithe is a bheidh an cháipéis seo curtha ar fáil, beidh ar chumas na Roinne na híocaíocht seo a dhéanamh. Tá an Roinn i dteagmáil leis an iarratasóir ar mhaithe le cúnamh a thabhairt an fhadhb a réiteach.
270. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if summer gaeltacht scholarships are available for 2024 for second level students who do not attend a DEIS school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50653/23]
View answerThe DEIS Gaeltachta scheme was established by my Department in 2019 and provides up to 400 scholarships annually to pupils of more than 200 DEIS post-primary schools across the country to attend a Gaeltacht Irish language course during the summer months. A fund of €400,000 is available for the scheme annually and it is administered on behalf of the Department by Galway Roscommon Education Training Board. It is my Department's intention to continue funding this scheme for 2024.
In addition to the DEIS Gaeltachta scheme, a further €500,000 has been made available in Budget 2024 to support additional social inclusion measures in the Irish Summer Colleges sector. This funding will allow a wider cohort of young people to attend a Gaeltacht summer college course. It is anticipated that this funding will benefit young people who currently do not qualify for the Department's DEIS Gaeltachta scheme and who wish to attend Gaeltacht Irish language courses. Details of the scheme will be announced early next year.
It should be noted that in addition to the aforementioned grant schemes which are funded by my Department, it is understood that a number of other public and private organisations administer Irish college scholarship schemes. As my Department does not have oversight of these schemes, I am not in a position to provide details of same.
271. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the status of inquiries into the deaths of two participants in a triathlon event (details supplied) in Youghal in August 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50680/23]
View answerThe untimely death of two individuals in the event to which the Deputy refers was a terrible tragedy
It should be noted that the event was organised by Ironman which is a private commercial organisation. Neither the Department nor Sport Ireland have any role in relation to the sanctioning of such events and are not therefore carrying out any inquiries into the two deaths.
The Coroner is an independent official who acts on behalf of the State in the public interest and is charged with legal responsibility for investigating sudden, unexplained and unnatural deaths in his or her district. The Coroner is provided with a number of powers in the reporting, investigation and inquest of deaths as provided for under the relevant legislation. It is important to allow the relevant authorities to conduct their investigations at this time in the interests of obtaining adequate answers as to how these tragic deaths occurred.
I have asked Sport Ireland to liaise with Triathlon Ireland in relation to these events and to provide any suitable support that may be required to the National Governing Body.
272. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if action will be taken regarding the submission by various men’s sheds groups seeking an exemption to paying the TV licence fee; if this can be considered in the context of the relatively low funds available to these groups and the role they play in the community; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50716/23]
View answerThe TV licence funds a broad range of public service content, enabling essential news and current affairs programming, as well as supporting the creation of a high quality content on culture, sport, entertainment, music and more. It supports content created and broadcast by many independent producers on a range of national and local broadcasters, not only RTÉ. As such it remains critically important that people continue to pay the TV Licence fee. It is not only required by law, it underpins availability of public service content which is of critical importance to our democracy and society.
The statutory obligation to possess a TV Licence is set out in Section 142 of the Broadcasting Act 2009. The Act also provides that the Minister may, by Order, provide for exemptions. However, at present no person, category of person, or group are exempt from this obligation. Under the Department of Social Protection Household Benefits scheme, qualifying applicants do receive a ‘free’ TV Licence, in respect of which the Exchequer makes a contribution to the overall revenue pool. This is not, however, an exemption from the legal requirement that possession of a television set requires a TV Licence.
As the Deputy will be aware, discussions are continuing with regard to the reform of the TV licence system, so that a more sustainable long-term funding model for public service media can be put in place. However, at this stage is not possible to comment on the detail of this, including what the basis for liability will be, or what exemptions, if any, may be provided for.
I fully support the work of the Irish Men's Sheds Association in providing supportive environments that bring people together and help them learn new skills. I also applaud the IMSA’s commitment to helping Women’s Sheds to build a similar organisation. The IMSA contributes enormously to local communities through recreational and civic activities, including in my own constituency through the excellent work of Balinteer, Glencullen, and Sandyford Men’s Shed.
Government is very supportive of the work of the IMSA. In June 2023 Minister Naughton announced funding of €250k to help provide for a National Shed Support and Information Line, and for the creation of County Network Forums for Sheds so that they could learn from each other and share knowledge.
273. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media how many staff members in her Department have received training in cyber security in the past three years; what types of cyber security training programmes have been conducted; if she will provide details of these programmes; and of the staff trained in cyber security, how many have obtained accredited cyber security qualifications. [50807/23]
View answer274. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the expenditure on cyber security consultants and companies within her Department in the past three years; if her Department engaged in cyber security audits with outside firms in the past three years; if so, the expenditure on same; the amount her Department spent on cyber security consultants and companies in the past three years; and for a breakdown of these expenditures by year and type of service provided. [50825/23]
View answer275. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if there are any ongoing contracts or commitments with cyber security firms; and if details can be provided [50843/23]
View answer276. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if her Department has a policy and plan in place to address a ransomware attack and restore her Department's IT systems. [50861/23]
View answerQuestions Nos. 273 to 276, inclusive, awaiting reply from Department.
I am advised that my Department implements a security-by-design and defence-in-depth approach to cyber security. In common with other Government Departments, it has in place comprehensive arrangements to support ICT security and receives regular advice on these matters from the relevant authorities including the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer and the National Cyber Security Centre. The Deputy will understand that it is not the practice, for operational and security reasons, to disclose the detail of these arrangements. I am further advised that staff working in the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media are provided with regular cyber security awareness communications and all staff are supported in completing the Introduction to Cyber Security Awareness training module run through the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform's OneLearning programme.
277. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the number of contracts her Department has had with a company (details supplied) in the years of 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023; the services this company has provided to her Department in the years in question; and the amount her Department has paid for such services in each of those years, in tabular form. [50925/23]
View answerI am advised that my Department has not entered into any contracts with the company in question in the years 2021, 2022 or to date in 2023.
However, I am advised that a one off payment of €125.77 was made to this company in May 2022 for catering services provided in relation to a Culture Ireland event.
