Written Answers Nos. 256-269
256. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Education the actions she has taken, or if she has plans to initiate a review of the practice of principals and teachers filling in the educational section of the assessment of need form, taking into account the views of stakeholders and ensuring that the practice complies with the spirit of the Disability Act 2005. [53738/23]
View answerIn developing and implementing the education element of the AON process, there has been extensive consultation with the education partners and with individual schools.
The Department is committed to monitoring the impact of the AON process on schools and are currently engaging with a number of schools to collate feedback on the process and forms used. This review will ensure that any additional guidance, support or resource that is required will be put in place at the earliest possible opportunity. The education stakeholders will be invited to participate in this review process.
In the interim, my Department and NCSE will work with the education stakeholders to ensure that schools are supported as outlined above to complete the AON process.
258. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education when a person (details supplied) will receive payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53761/23]
View answerDetails 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.
In relation to the applications referenced by the Deputy, I can confirm that these claims have been processed and payment will issue on 21st December 2023.
The Department wishes to sincerely thank teachers and SNAs who participated in the Summer Programmes this year.
259. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Education when the board of management of a primary school (details supplied) will have a decision on an application for a much-needed extension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53765/23]
View answerI can confirm to the Deputy, that my Department has recently received an application for capital funding, under the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme, from the school in question.The purpose of the ASA scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream and special education classroom accommodation is available to cater for pupils enrolled each year and where the need cannot be met by the school’s existing accommodation.The application is currently being assessed by my officials. Once the assessment process has been finalised, the school authority will be notified of the decision.
260. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education why there has been no new Summer Works Scheme since 2019; the number of Summer Works Schemes applications received in 2019 and since 2019 which are awaiting approval, broken down on a county-by-county basis, and under the primary and post-primary headings; if she will provide an update on the number of projects, broken down on a county-by-county basis, and under the primary and post-primary headings, that have been largely completed each year since 2019 out to 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53783/23]
View answerThe current Summer Work Scheme (SWS) 2020, is a multi-annual based scheme that was announced in 2019 and commenced in the summer of 2020.
Schools were invited to make applications under the scheme in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Circular Letter 0027/2019.
The purpose of the SWS is to devolve funding to individual recognised primary and post-primary school authorities, to undertake small-scale building works which can be carried out during the summer months or at other times that avoid disrupting the operation of the school. Primary and post-primary schools participating in the free education scheme, with permanent recognition from the Department and in non-rented accommodation, are also eligible to apply under the SWS.
The current categories of work eligible for funding, are prioritised on the following basis:
Priority/Category 1: Life Safety Systems (Fire Alarm, Fire Detection and Emergency Lighting)
Priority/Category 2: Roof Works
Priority/Category 3: Electrical Works (other than Life Safety Systems)
Priority/Category 4: Mechanical Works
Priority/Category 5: Science Labs (incl. Gas Works)
Priority/Category 6: Toilet facilities
Priority/Category 7: Windows Projects
Priority/Category 8: Curricular Requirements (excl. Science Labs)
Priority/Category 9: Fabric defects
Priority/Category 10: External environment projects
In 2019, there were over 1100 applications received for the SWS programme. From the batch of SWS applications made in 2019, there are a tranche of circa 151 projects that have not yet been approved. Please see below table for detailed information.
|
County |
No. of Primary Schools |
No. of Post Primary Schools |
Total |
|
Carlow |
1 |
2 |
3 |
|
Cavan |
3 |
1 |
4 |
|
Clare |
4 |
0 |
4 |
|
Cork |
10 |
0 |
10 |
|
Donegal |
17 |
4 |
21 |
|
Dublin |
13 |
7 |
20 |
|
Galway |
9 |
1 |
10 |
|
Kerry |
6 |
3 |
9 |
|
Kildare |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
Kilkenny |
5 |
0 |
5 |
|
Laois |
1 |
1 |
2 |
|
Leitrim |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
Limerick |
5 |
0 |
5 |
|
Longford |
2 |
0 |
2 |
|
Louth |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
Mayo |
5 |
2 |
7 |
|
Meath |
7 |
1 |
8 |
|
Monaghan |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
Offaly |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
Roscommon |
6 |
1 |
7 |
|
Sligo |
3 |
2 |
5 |
|
Tipperary |
6 |
3 |
9 |
|
Waterford |
1 |
1 |
2 |
|
Westmeath |
4 |
0 |
4 |
|
Wexford |
2 |
2 |
4 |
|
Wicklow |
5 |
0 |
5 |
|
Total |
116 |
35 |
151 |
The SWS projects are approved in order of priority from 1 through to 10. The 151 projects yet to be approved are from categories 8, 9 and 10.
From 2019 to date, my Department has spent more than €226m delivering summer work scheme projects.
From 2020 to date, my Department has completed 722 SWS projects in primary schools, and 201 SWS projects in post primary schools. The projects are detailed in the below table:
|
Year |
Primary |
Post Primary |
Total |
|
2020 |
210 |
57 |
267 |
|
2021 |
227 |
49 |
276 |
|
2022 |
184 |
47 |
231 |
|
Dec 2023 |
101 |
48 |
149 |
|
Total |
722 |
201 |
923 |
My Department has a strong track record of delivery of SWS projects and this was achieved in 2022 and again in 2023 notwithstanding the wider construction sector environment of high inflation, labour shortages and supply chain issues.
Over the past couple of years, energy retrofit works have been included as additional scopes of work for projects approved under the roof works, window projects and mechanical works categories.
The Department is leading an ambitious sustainability agenda and has progressed a wide array of measures to improve the overall sustainability of our school buildings. It is a priority for Government to deliver on Ireland’s ambitious climate agenda and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This includes targets around the decarbonisation of Ireland’s public buildings.
As part of it’s planning for 2024 and beyond, Department officials are considering the next phases of the summer works programme. It is envisaged at this stage that, a Multi-Annual SWS with an emphasis on climate action and energy conservation will be the focus for the next summer works scheme to be opened for applications. The timing of that SWS is still under consideration and schools will be updated in due course.
261. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Education how much her Department has spent on advertising on a website (details supplied) for each of the years 2019 to 2022 and to date 2023, in tabular form; and whether her Department will still run advertisements on the platform going forward due to issues. [53796/23]
View answerThe Department uses social media platforms as part of how it communicates with the public and will continue to keep all platforms under review with a view to ensuring it can share its messages with the public in the most effective manner.
Department of Education Spend 2019-2023 YTD (ex VAT)
|
Year |
X (formerly Twitter) |
|
2019 |
€ 2,543.80 |
|
2020 |
€ 7,063.00 |
|
2021 |
€ 1,752.00 |
|
2022 |
€ 4,230.53 |
|
2023 YTD |
€ 940.15 |
262. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Education if additional supports and funding will be provided to a school (details supplied) in an effort to allow the school to increase the student population, specifically next September’s first year intake. [53811/23]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has no current record of receiving an application for additional accommodation from the school in question.
The Department is aware of pressures for school places in the Malahide School Planning Area. 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 Malahide 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.
It is open to the school authority to make an application for additional accommodation through the 'Additional School Accommodation scheme (ASA)' which is available at www.education.ie.
My Department's capital investment programme provides for devolved funding for additional classrooms for existing schools where an immediate enrolment need has been identified. All school capital projects that have been approved, by my Department, under the Additional School Accommodation Scheme (ASA), may be viewed on my Department’s website, www.education.ie, which is updated regularly.
263. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Education when school caretakers will be afforded a new agreement for revised salary and annual leave entitlements similar to the agreement recently put in place for school secretaries; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53812/23]
View answerSchool caretakers are valued members of our school communities and the Department is fully aware of the vitally important role played by such individuals in the running of our schools.
As you have mentioned in 2022 a suite of measures designed to improve the working conditions of school secretaries was agreed and since then comprehensive work to move school secretaries who have accepted this deal has been undertaken by the Department to move secretaries over to the Department's payroll give effect to the terms of the agreement.
The Department is committed to ensuring that school caretakers will be afforded the opportunity to also avail of a similar agreement in the near future. At present there remains a deficit of data on the working patterns, as well as the current terms and conditions of work for caretakers, and a separate, similar process to reach appropriate agreement and to give effect to this will be required.
264. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Oideachais briseadh síos a thabhairt ar an líon daoine a raibh díolúine acu ó fhoghlaim na Gaeilge sna blianta acadúla 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20, 2020-21, 2021-22 agus 2022-23 de réir rang sa bhunscoil agus de réir bliain san iar-bhunscoil, i.e. an líon daoine a raibh díolúine acu i Rang a 1, Rang a 2, Rang a 3, Rang a 4, Rang a 5 agus Rang a 6 sa bhunscoil agus an líon daoine a raibh díolúine acu sa 1ú Bhliain, sa 2ú Bliain, sa 3ú Bliain, san Idirbhliain, sa 5ú Bliain agus sa 6ú Bliain san iar-bhunscoil; chomh maith leis na cúiseanna ar bronnadh na díolúintí sin de réir rang sa bhunscoil agus de réir bliain san iar-bhunscoil; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [53827/23]
View answerBa mhian liom a chur in iúl don Teachta go bhfuil an Roinn ag obair ar na sonraí a d’iarr sé a chur le chéile agus cuirfidh sí chuig an Teachta iad a luaithe is atá siad ar fáil.
265. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Oideachais míniú a thabhairt ar an líon ard daltaí, 669 ndalta, ar bronnadh díolúine orthu sa scoilbhliain 2022-23 bunaithe ar na critéir nua i gCiorclán 0054/2022 lena ndéantar soláthar den chéad uair do dhaltaí a bhfuil leibhéal ard riachtanas iolrach agus leanúnach acu atá ina bhac suntasach ar rannpháirtíocht an dalta ina shaol nó ina saol foghlama agus scoile, agus á chur san áireamh go bhfuil sé ráite sa chiorclán nár chóir díolúine a bhronnadh ach i gcúinsí an-eisceachtúil; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [53828/23]
View answerBa mhian liom a chur in iúl don Teachta go raibh cúinse nua curtha leis na himlitreacha athbhreithnithe ar ábhar díolúine ó staidéar na Gaeilge (Imlitir 0054/2022 bunscoile agus 0055/2022 iar-bhunscoil) a foilsíodh i Meán Fómhair 2022 lena gcur i bhfeidhm. Tá sé mar aidhm ag an gcúinse nua seo freastal ar riachtanais chohórt beag daltaí go bhfuil leibhéal ard riachtanas iolrach agus leanúnach acu atá ina bhac suntasach ar rannpháirtíocht agus rannpháirtíocht an dalta ina saol foghlama agus scoile. Is mar fhreagra ar riachtanais a d’aithin tuismitheoirí agus scoileanna a cuireadh an cúinse nua seo leis na cúinsí.
De réir sonraí thug scoileanna díolúine ó staidéar na Gaeilge do 669 dalta faoin gcritéar nua seo ag an mbunleibhéal in 2022/23. Is ionann sin agus 0.1% de chohórt na ndaltaí bunscoile.
Is iad na scoileanna a dhéanann an cinneadh cibé an bhfuil nó nach bhfuil leanbh i dteideal díolúine a fháil. Ós rud é gur cúinse nua é seo d'fhéadfadh go raibh líon mór na leanaí a raibh a leithéid de riachtanais acu.
Is é mo thuairim go bhfuil sé róluath, i gcéad bhliain chur i bhfeidhm na himlitreacha athbhreithnithe, aon treochtaí ar leith a chinneadh maidir le cur i bhfeidhm an chúinse áirithe seo. Leanfaidh an Roinn ag déanamh monatóireacht leanúnach ar na sonraí seo.
266. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Oideachais cén líon díolúintí ó staidéar na Gaeilge a ceadaíodh de réir gach iar-bhunscoile sna blianta acadúla 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20, 2020-21, 2021-22 agus 2022-23; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [53829/23]
View answerBa mhian liom a chur in iúl don Teachta go bhfuil an Roinn ag obair ar na sonraí a d’iarr sé a chur le chéile agus cuirfidh sí chuig an Teachta iad a luaithe is atá siad ar fáil.
267. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education if she will provide a schedule of all properties and lands in her estates portfolio in Wicklow; and if she will indicate the status of the building and lands in that it is in use, vacant and leased by a third party. [53831/23]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is set out in the table below:
|
Minister Owned Properties in Wicklow |
Location |
Status |
|
East Glendalough School |
Wicklow |
Site in use by school |
|
Blessington Educate Together School |
Blessington |
Site in use by school |
|
St Mary's Senior National School |
Blessington |
Site in use by school |
|
Powerscourt National School |
Enniskerry |
Site in use by school |
|
Gaelscoil Uí Cheadaigh |
Bray |
Site in use by school |
|
Temple Carrig Secondary School & Greystones Educate Together National School |
Greystones |
Site in use by school |
|
Wicklow Educate Together National School, |
Wicklow |
Site in use by school |
|
St Coens Primary School & Gaelscoil Chill Mhantain. |
Rathnew |
Site in use by school |
|
St. Killian's Community School |
Bray |
Site in use by school |
|
St Brigids National School |
Greystones |
Site in use by school |
|
Holy Faith Convent Building (beside St Brigids National School) |
Greystones |
Currently vacant |
|
Gaelscoil Na gCloch Liath |
Greystones |
Site in use by school |
|
Scoil Chualann |
Bray |
Site in use by school |
|
Site for Gaelscoil An Inbhir Mhoir & Gaelcholaiste Na Mara. |
Kilbride |
Site to be used for schools |
|
Gaelcholáiste an Raithin & St. Philomena's NS |
Bray |
Site in use by school |
|
Greystones Community National School. |
Greystones |
Site in use by school |
|
Site extension for Colaiste Chraobh Abhann |
Kilcoole |
Site to be used for school |
|
Site for Woodstock Educate Together National School |
NewtownMountKennedy |
Site to be used for school |
|
Site for Greystones Community College |
Greystones |
Site to be used for school |
|
Crinion Park |
Wicklow |
Currently vacant |
None of the properties/lands listed above are currently being leased to an external third party.
By way of information the number of properties owned by my Department is very small. A large majority of schools are patron-owned with only approximately 9% of schools in Ministerial ownership nationwide.
268. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Education if she will look at a case (details supplied) whereby a child who is starting primary school in September may have to travel from the Raheny area to Balbriggan to get a place in an autism class; what is the provision of autism classes in the vicinity of this child’s home; whether there are plans to provide additional autism classes in nearby schools; what she believes to be an appropriate distance for primary school children to travel for appropriate education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53893/23]
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 and in 2024 a further 744 teachers, and 1,216 SNAs will be added to deliver up to 2,700 new places for children with special educational needs. This will mean we will have over 41,500 qualified and committed people in our schools who are focused wholly and exclusively on supporting children with special educational needs.
The NCSE has the responsibility for planning and coordinating school supports for children with special educational needs.
Over the last number of years, my department and the NCSE have introduced a number of strategic initiatives to plan for and provide sufficient special class and special school places.
These initiatives are bearing fruit with almost 1,300 new special classes sanctioned and seven new special schools established over the last four 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 for the 2023/24 school year, with further capacity being expanded in 11 other special schools.
Along with the two new special schools, 384 new special classes – 251 at primary and 133 at post-primary level – have been sanctioned by the NCSE for opening in the 2023/24 school year.
Of these new classes, 71 are in Dublin with 48 at primary level and 23 at post-primary level. These new classes bring the total number of special classes in Co. Dublin to 534, 408 at primary and 126 at post-primary. The vast majority of these classes are autism classes, of which 21 are primary special classes in the Dublin 5 area.
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.
My department and the NCSE are committed to ensuring that sufficient special education placements will be available for children for the coming school 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.
While the NCSE and my Department will continue to work with schools to provide even more special class places and special school places to ensure that children and young people do not need to travel significant distances to access an appropriate education placement, it is important that where available places in local special classes exist, that these places are filled in the first instance before any decision is made to open additional special classes.
School transport supports are also available for children with special educational needs to ensure that they can access special class and special school placements.
As your query refers to an individual placement case, I will arrange to have it referred to the NCSE for their attention and direct reply.
My department and the NCSE are committed to delivering an education system that is of the highest quality and where every child and young person feels valued and is actively supported and nurtured to reach their full potential.
269. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education how many schools currently utilise temporary prefab accommodation for classrooms; how much was spent on leasing or rental of such buildings in 2022; how much is budgeted for them for 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53894/23]
View answerTemporary prefab accommodation in schools may be rented or purchased and funded by the Department or by the school authority itself, with or without Department sanction. For that reason it is not possible to provide the Deputy with a complete picture in respect of all temporary prefab accommodation at schools as requested.
As the Deputy will appreciate, within the context of a rapidly increasing school population combined with arriving Ukrainian children, my Department's priority is to ensure that every child has access to a physical school place. In this regard, it is sometimes necessary to make use of temporary accommodation in order to meet the accommodation needs of schools.
The timing and duration of the accommodation need is also considered in determining the optimum accommodation solution – a short-term accommodation requirement does not require a long-term accommodation solution. For example, a school may require a temporary building in circumstances where a major school construction project is planned. Such temporary accommodation is removed when the major project concerned is completed. The length of time it is necessary to make use of temporary rented accommodation will vary from project to project.
My Department is taking an integrated approach with the Prefab Replacement Programme through the replacement of prefabricated units as part of large-scale and devolved projects and as part of new projects approved under the Additional School Accommodation scheme.
There are over 1,300 school building projects within the current pipeline across the various stages of planning, design, tender and construction. The progression and completion of these projects is and will make further inroads on the replacement of rented sites and buildings with knock-on savings on the rental budget. The current status of projects being delivered is listed in tabular format, on a county by county basis, on the Department’s website at www.gov.ie and is updated regularly.
Many schools based in rented buildings and on rented sites are already part of the pipeline of projects under the school building programme and their longer-term accommodation will be addressed as part of these projects. Maximising the opportunities to achieve value for money involves matching, as best as possible, the accommodation requirement with the appropriate accommodation solution. This is relevant for all accommodation projects progressed by the Department.
The changing landscape in relation to enrolments including that of arriving Ukrainian children means that accommodation requirements can vary locally and regionally and between short, medium and long-term and this is a relevant factor considered by the Department in determining the type of accommodation solution to be put in place.
Currently there are 455 schools renting prefab accommodation, 323 primary schools and 132 post primary schools. A total of €28m was spent on renting prefabs in 2022. It is expected that there will be similar expenditure in 2023.
