Tuesday, 5 Dec 2023

School Staff

Questions (228)

Darren O'Rourke

Question:

228. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education the estimated full-year cost to recruit 250 additional SNAs. [53231/23]

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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.

When a school has been allocated an SNA, the board of management as the employer, is responsible for filling the vacancy. The decision on whether to employ a full-time SNA to fill a full-time post, or to employ an equivalent number of part-time SNAs rests with the employer.

My department acts as paymaster to over 3,700 schools whose board of management are the direct employers of SNAs. SNAs employed within the Education and Training Board (ETB) sector are paid by the respective ETB.

The NCSE publish statistics on SNA allocations for each school year, by county, in tabular form on their website. These details can be found at: www.ncse.ie/set-hours-and-sna-allocations.

The approximate annual cost at entry of an additional new entrant full-time SNA including provision for employer PRSI and substitution costs is €32,280. Therefore the estimated cost of 250 additional SNAs is in excess of €8 million per annum.

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.

School Staff

Questions (229)

Peter Burke

Question:

229. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Education the mechanism that is in place for a school to employ additional secretary hours, given the recent increase in pupil numbers of a school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53249/23]

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Written answers

Minister for Education

My Department is providing a payroll service for school secretaries with effect from 1st September 2023. The provision of a payroll service is part of a package agreed with Fórsa, the trade union representing school secretaries, following a series of engagements at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) and also includes revised terms and conditions for secretaries.

Part of the work to on-board school secretaries to my Department’s payroll, involves the development of a formal model for the allocation of secretary posts other than Department-sanctioned secretaries in Community and Comprehensive schools and those employed under the 1978/1979 scheme. Work on the development of the allocation model is ongoing and further information will issue in due course.

However, I am aware that requests have been received from schools seeking replacements for secretaries who have recently retired or resigned from their posts. Information note ESR 0002/2023 was sent to all Principals/Boards of Management earlier this year, outlining the arrangements which apply to the recruitment of new school secretaries pending the finalisation of an allocation model.

Section 2.3 of this note states that where a new secretary is being contracted to replace a former secretary the actual working hours /working weeks which a newly recruited secretary should be contracted to undertake should mirror the working arrangements for the former secretary up to a maximum of 37 hours. In the small number of cases where an additional secretary is being recruited due to an existing secretary reducing their hours then the aggregate hours of the two secretaries must be no more than the previous working hours of the existing secretary.

Requests have also been received from schools seeking additional secretarial resources or who wish to employ a secretary for the first time. These requests are being considered on a case-by-case basis, pending the publication of an allocation model, taking into account the current secretary allocation (if any) in the school and pupil enrolments. Schools seeking to hire additional school secretaries or increase their current allocation of hours should contact my Department at secretaryreturns@education.gov.ie.

Schools Building Projects

Questions (230)

Sorca Clarke

Question:

230. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education when a new secondary school in Rush will be given the go ahead to start building works. [53256/23]

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Written answers

Minister for Education

The project to which the Deputy refers, is part of a campus project and has been devolved for delivery under the patronage of CEIST. The brief for the project includes the delivery of a 1,000 pupil secondary school including 37 classrooms, a 4 class SEN base, specialist rooms, a library, PE hall and other ancillary accommodation.

The project is currently at Stage 2a of the architectural planning design process. At a recent meeting with the Department, a Stage 2a addendum report was requested from the delivery body to address the comments and recommendations expressed by the Departments Professional and Technical Team.

Once this is received, reviewed and approved, the project will then move to Stage 2b which allows for detailed design/planning, obtaining the necessary statutory permissions and the preparation of tender documents. The project will then move onward to Tender and construction in due course.

As the project is at an early stage in the delivery process, it is not possible at this time to give a date for its completion. However CEIST as the patron body, will continue to engage directly with the school authority to keep it fully informed of progress.

School Staff

Questions (231)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

231. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education if she will address the ongoing issue to source home economics teachers; if there are any plans to fund this course the same as maths and Spanish when there was a shortage of them; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53269/23]

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Written answers

Minister for Education

In 2018, my Department established a Steering Group on Teacher Supply to facilitate multi-agency engagement and to lead on a coordinated programme of actions to support the supply of teachers. Arising from the work of this Group and its various substructures, the Teacher Supply Action Plan was published in November 2018.

The Action Plan called for the development of upskilling programmes in targeted subject areas for existing teachers, and following a request from my Department, the Higher Education Authority (HEA) issued a funding call to initial teacher education (ITE) providers for upskilling programmes in mathematics, physics and Spanish in late 2019. Following the successful completion of the funding call, these programmes commenced in January 2021.

The first cycle of participants, 146 teachers, completed these programmes in 2022 and more than 300 teachers are due to graduate in both 2023 and 2024.

Budget 2024 has provided for the expansion in the number of upskilling programmes available. Programmes in Irish, French, politics & society, and computer science will be provided. Upskilling programmes are provided over two years on a part-time basis. They are free of cost to participants.

My Department is undertaking a comprehensive programme to support the supply of teachers. For example, to meet longer-term teacher demand, higher education institutions have developed new 4 year initial teacher education programmes in a number of post-primary priority subject areas, including Home Economics.

There are a number of providers of home economics Initial Teacher Education (ITE) and Professional Diploma in Home Economics (PDHE) programmes.

St Angela’s College Sligo, a provider of a home economics ITE programme has reverted from five to four years from 2021. Additionally, St Angela’s College Sligo, has substantially increased its Home Economics student numbers (73 students graduated in 2018, 102 students have just graduated in November 2023 and 120 students will graduate in November 2024)). St Angela’s also deliver a Professional Diploma in Home Economics (PDHE) programme.

The Munster Technological University (MTU) has developed the Professional Diploma in Home Economics (PDHE) to upskill already registered post primary teachers to meet the Teaching Council’s requirements for registration as a teacher of home economics. The PDHE is a two year, part time level 9 programme requiring one full day’s attendance per week by participants as well as some on-line engagement (max 2 hours per week).

Other ITE providers for Home Economics include Mary Immaculate College Limerick (Thurles campus). University of Galway and University College Cork (starting in 2024) also offer postgraduate programmes in Home Economics.

The development and expansion of existing programmes in Home Economics will increase the number of teachers available. It is expected that there will be adequate numbers of Home Economic graduates from existing providers by the time a new upskilling programme with graduate teachers could be provided.

It should be noted that participants on the PDHE are eligible for funding under the Teacher Fee Refund Scheme, which provides funding towards the cost of participation and examination fees on successful completion of professional development courses. Funding under the scheme is being prioritised for those taking courses in particular areas, including upskilling for post primary teachers leading to registration with the Teaching Council in an additional subject. The maximum refund under the scheme is €5,000 per year and the level of refund depends on the volume of eligible applications that are received. Recently published Circulars 0005/2023 and 0015/2021 relate to this Scheme.

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.

School Admissions

Questions (232)

Anne Rabbitte

Question:

232. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Education the reason a person (details supplied) is not being facilitated to attend a school; the method of appeal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53284/23]

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Written answers

Minister for Education

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 aware of pressures at post primary level in the Athenry School Planning Area in part due to the reduction by some schools in the number of first year places being made available for 2024/25. A critical next step is to acquire clarity on the actual number of additional first year places required for 2024 in order for an appropriate solution to be put in place. In that context, schools in a number of areas of enrolment pressure, including Athenry, have been requested to share data on applications for admissions. The Department is liaising closely with schools to ensure that this data is provided as soon as possible, and once it is received the actual requirement for places can be established. The Department is already having discussions with the relevant school patrons and authorities regarding potential solutions but the understanding of the actual school place needs will give clarity as to the specific actions that are required.

This close engagement with schools and patrons will also allow the Department to identify particular further capacity requirements for the forthcoming years and put any required solutions in place - beyond those that are already in train - to ensure sufficient school places to meet the needs of students in the area.

Tusla Education Support Service (TESS) is the agency which can assist parents who are experiencing difficulty in securing a school place for their child. TESS can be contacted at 01-7718500/tessinfo@tusla.ie for assistance. More information on school attendance is available on their website on the following link: www.tusla.ie/tess/tess-ews/. The following link provides relevant phone numbers for the Education Welfare Officers assigned to various areas around the country: Tusla Education Support Service - TESSTusla - Child and Family Agency.

Renewable Energy Generation

Questions (233)

Ivana Bacik

Question:

233. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Education if her Department has communicated directly with schools in relation to newly announced plans on solar panels, of 23 November 2023; and if not, if such communications, with information about the plans, are planned. [53297/23]

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Written answers

Minister for Education

I was delighted to launch, together with the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, Ossian Smyth, the first phase of the Schools Photovoltaic Programme on 23rd November.

It will allow up to 4,000 schools nationwide to get solar PV panels to reduce their energy bills and their carbon emissions. This ties in with the strong ethos of environmental awareness and climate sustainability among our students and the wonderful work they do in this area, most notably with the Green Flag initiative

It will provide eligible schools with 6 kWp of roof-mounted solar PV, which equates to approximately 16 solar panels.

The scheme will be funded from the Government’s Climate Action Fund, in line with the Government’s recognition that taking action on climate change is central to Ireland’s social and economic development.

The scheme will assist schools in reducing their energy costs and their carbon footprint as part of the response to meeting the 2030 and 2050 Climate Action Plan targets for the schools sector.

The solar PV panels in schools will also be connected to the electricity grid, so that the schools can generate income by powering other homes and businesses with clean energy when schools are closed at weekends and during school holidays.

Monitoring software will also be provided to each school, to allow review and discussion of the energy generated each day for staff and students.

As well as the obvious financial and climate benefits, it is expected that the visibility of the solar panels on schools will also deliver the added benefit of encouraging discussion and uptake of the technology in the wider community.

School authorities will be provided with funding from the Department of Education to have the PV panels installed by a registered contractor, with guidance from the Department.

The new scheme is designed to be as streamlined as possible for schools using an online system to facilitate communications with schools. In this regard the Department of Education has set up School Hub, a new online platform which is part of the Department’s geographic information system (GIS).

The online platform will provide a simple, clear and efficient application and approvals process for schools applying for the Schools Photovoltaic Programme.

The Schools’ Photovoltaic programme will be rolled out on a phased basis, commencing with a call for applications to over 1,600 schools from 11 designated areas across the country.

Schools in the following areas are invited to participate in the first phase: Co. Clare, Co. Donegal, Dublin City Council area, Co. Galway, Co. Kerry, Co. Kilkenny, Co. Leitrim, Co. Limerick, Co. Offaly, Co. Waterford and Co. Wicklow

The first phase will open for applications on 30th November 2023. All schools in the first phase will receive an email from the Department and invited to apply from that date.

The intention is to include a further eight counties in phase two in Q2 2024 and the remaining eight counties in Q4 2024. It is intended that all eligible schools across the country will have the opportunity to apply to the scheme by end 2024.

The Department of Education has prepared a comprehensive suite of guidance documents for the programme which can be found now at www.gov.ie/en/publication/562dd-schools-photovoltaic-programme/.

Counties in the first phase were selected to obtain a good geographical spread including a balance of rural, urban, island, Gaeltacht schools in all regions of the country, as well as targeting counties that have not benefitted from other recent Department of Education climate related initiatives.

School Staff

Questions (234)

Willie O'Dea

Question:

234. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Education the reason for the delay in the payments for teachers and SNAs who provided the July Provision Programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53334/23]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education

Details of this year’s Summer Programme were announced by the Department on 9 February 2023. Again, all schools were given an opportunity to run a programme for those children that need it the most.

The main priority in 2023 has been that those children with the most complex special educational needs, especially in special schools, should have access to a school-based summer programme.

The aim of the Department is to meet the needs of families and to ensure every eligible child is provided with a summer programme. The preferred approach is that the Summer Programme is provided for children in school settings where children may have access to fully qualified teachers, adapted fun based activity programmes, special needs assistants and interaction with student peers. The school-based programmes provide a more holistic experience for students and help retain the important connection with school and peers. However, the Department does recognise that not all schools would have been in a position to provide a school-based programme. In such instances, a home-based Programme is available for students with complex special educational needs where the school-based programme is unavailable.

It is important that the home-based element of the Summer Programme provides support for the education and/or care needs of students with complex special educational needs during the summer break period.

I can confirm that all teachers and SNAs, who participated in the school-based programme and for whom claims have been submitted, have been paid.

To facilitate processing of payments for the 2023 home-based Summer Programme, it was recommended that claims for payment should be submitted as soon as possible after the programme of tuition/care support had concluded and no later than the deadline date of 8th September 2023. Payments for correctly completed claims then commenced issuing on 28th September 2023. A total of 10,700 claims were received by the 8th September deadline and of these, 95% were paid by 23rd November 2023. The remaining fully completed claims will be paid in the coming weeks. This in line with 2022 Summer Programme schedule.

The Department wishes to sincerely thank teachers and SNAs who participated in the Summer Programmes this year.

School Transport

Questions (235)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

235. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education further to past Parliamentary Questions of 26 November 2013, 3 December 2019 and 17 December 2019, if she will outline her plans to conduct a review in her Department to establish if information sought on Bus Éireann’s surplus and or profits in respect of the school transport scheme was withheld as determined by the auditors and credited to the profit and loss accounts of Bus Éireann. [53337/23]

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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.

The 1975 Summary of Accounting Arrangements form the basis of the payment to Bus Éireann for the operation of the School Transport Scheme. In this regard, the Department reimburses Bus Éireann for a range of costs incurred in the operation and administration of the scheme. Re-imbursement to Bus Éireann is on a cost recovery basis.

The Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) carried out an examination of the provision of school transport and completed its report in August 2017 – the C&AG Special Report 98. The C&AG report referenced a surplus in the Transport Management Charge element of the costs. This amount was held by way of an uncommitted reserve by Bus Éireann to be used solely for the purposes of the School Transport Scheme. The balance on the uncommitted reserve of €6.7m was repaid fully to the Department in December 2018.

My Department works with Bus Éireann to analyse costs to the scheme on an on-going basis while each year the company produces an audited statement of account. This ensures that the financial information provided by Bus Éireann is in accordance with the relevant summary of accounting arrangements.

Bus Éireann provide the Department with an annual projected cost of school transport services together with a provisional spread of payments. These figures are incorporated into the Department’s annual profile of expenditure and are monitored on a monthly basis both in terms of the Department’s monthly profile of expenditure and Bus Éireann information based on actual costs versus projected costs. Expenditure headings and profiles are discussed at monthly meetings held between the Department and Bus Éireann. Where changes in projected expenditure occur, a new year-end forecast is submitted by Bus Éireann and reflected in a revised spread of payments.

Actual expenditure is finalised in the Bus Éireann annual statement of account which is independently audited by the Bus Éireann auditors in accordance with the 1975 Summary of Accounting Arrangements. Balances, where they occur, are accounted for in the following year’s projected cost.

School Funding

Questions (236)

Seán Haughey

Question:

236. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Education if she will permit schools to retain unspent Covid grants in order to put these funds towards the ongoing upkeep and maintenance of these schools; the position in respect of a particular school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53343/23]

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Written answers

Minister for Education

My Department is committed to providing funding to recognised primary and post-primary schools in the free education scheme by way of per capita grants. The two main grants are the Capitation grant to cater for day to day running costs such as heating, lighting, cleaning, insurance, general up-keep etc. and the Ancillary grant to cater for the cost of employing ancillary services staff. Schools have the flexibility to use capitation funding provided for general running costs and ancillary funding provided for caretaking and secretarial services as a common grant from which the Board of Management can allocate according to its own priorities.

In addition to these grants, €20 million in funding was issued during the mid-term break, to support all recognised primary and post-primary schools in the Free Education Scheme. This funding is the first tranche of an overall additional €60 million funding announced as part of Budget 2024 measures designed to assist schools with increased day-to-day running costs such as heating and electricity. A further €40 million in funding will be delivered in 2024.

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.

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 will be paid to schools in January & June 2024 for the 2023/24 academic year.

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 grant to the pre-2011 level of €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.

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.

More than €400.7 million of additional Covid-19 Capitation grant funding has been made available to recognised primary and post primary schools to provide for the implementation of infection prevention and control measures to reduce the risk of the spread of Covid-19 to date.

Schools have been reminded that the Covid-19 Capitation payment is a temporary measure and is kept under review. The continued payment of Covid-19 capitation grants will be determined by the prevailing public health advice at the time.

Schools are not permitted to spend or retain monies allocated from the Covid grant for any upkeep or maintenance in the school.

The services of the Financial Support Serviced Unit (FSSU) are available to all Primary schools and this includes advice and assistance with financial matters including budgeting. You may contact them at 01 910 4020 or email primary@fssu.ie if you feel this would be of benefit to your school.

School Funding

Questions (237)

Sorca Clarke

Question:

237. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education in light of significant increases in energy, insurance, cleaning and waste-disposal costs, as well as in the cost of teaching materials and buses, if she will consider allowing a DEIS band 1 school (details supplied) to keep the remains of their Covid grant to go towards the ongoing upkeep and maintenance of the school. [53350/23]