Written Answers Nos. 538-573
538. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Education the number of primary and post-primary schools, by name and locality in an area (details supplied), that have been approved for delivery and construction; the stage of the planning process each is currently at, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57202/23]
View answerSince 2020, my Department has invested in the region of €3.5 billion in our schools throughout the country, involving the completion of over 690 school building projects with construction currently underway at approximately 300 other projects. School building projects at construction involve an overall State investment of over €1.2 billion. We also have over 200 modular accommodation projects that are very well advanced for delivery or at construction stage.
This is a record level of investment in our schools and highlights the Government’s very strong track record of delivery in providing additional capacity and modern facilities for our school communities.
The key drivers of capital investment in the schools sector are as follows:
demographic change, including keeping pace with delivery of SEN and accommodation for Ukrainian pupils particularly at Post Primary level;
alignment with housing provision and national planning at school planning area level; and
climate action objectives including deep energy retrofit.
Key priorities for my Department are supporting the operation of the school system and adding necessary capacity to cater for special education needs provision, mainstream demographics and catering for students from Ukraine and other countries under the International Protection system.
The current status of all projects, including those in Dublin, are listed on a county by county basis at www.gov.ie/en/service/c5b56b-major-projects/ and is updated on a regular basis to reflect their progress through the various stages of capital appraisal, site acquisition, design, tender and construction.
539. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education if she will provide a schedule of the personal and-or person-specific datasets her Department holds that have been provided and-or shared with other Departments and-or Ministers and-or State bodies and-or agencies and-or local authorities in the past 20 years to date; if she will clarify if the transfer of data and-or records was in aggregated form or on an individual basis; and the reason the data and-or records were provided. [57207/23]
View answerMy Department does not hold a schedule of datasets shared with other bodies covering the past 20 years to date.
Where my Department shares personal data with another organisation, it does so on the basis of the lawful grounds set out in Article 6 (and Article 9 if applicable) of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018 i.e. with the consent of the data subject, for the performance of a contract, for compliance with a legal obligation, to protect the vital interests of the data subject, for the performance of a task carried out in the public interest or in the exercise of official authority vested in the Department or for the purposes of legitimate interests.
Currently, my Department shares data from the teacher payrolls, Primary Online Database, Post-Primary Online Database and other datasets with other organisations for purposes such as compliance with employee tax obligations, organisation of the State exams, to support children with special educational needs or those at risk of educational disadvantage, in connection with legal proceedings, reporting of child protection concerns, provision of school transport, audit purposes, referral for financial support under the Affordable Childcare Scheme to support parents to remain in education, and to facilitate student testing for international education studies such as PISA. The transfer of data may be in aggregated form or on an individual basis depending on the purpose.
The sharing of this data is notified to data subjects through the Department’s overall Data Protection Notice and Privacy Notice available here: Department of Education - Data Protection and through individual Privacy Notices associated with various data processing activities.
Where such sharing takes place, appropriate governance agreements are in place to identify the roles and respective responsibilities of each party, including data sharing agreements under the Data Sharing and Governance Act 2019 where required. When sharing personal data, my Department adheres to the principles set out in the GDPR including those of purpose limitation, data minimisation, and integrity and confidentiality.
540. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education for an update on a Teaching Council application (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57226/23]
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 Department has no role in the registration of individual teachers.
The Teaching Council have confirmed that registration was finalised, for the person that the Deputy is referring to in the query, on the 5th of January 2024. The Teaching Council processes applications in line with published timeframes, and as such, applicants are advised to liaise directly with the Council in relation to their application during the process should they have any queries.
541. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the extent to which she can expedite the provision of the three-schools project at Hazelhatch and Celbridge, County Kildare, known as Project Liffey; if she will ensure the ongoing progress of this long awaited vital project, given the demographic pressures in the area and the resultant urgent need to expedite the proposals in the shortest possible time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57231/23]
View answerThe school project to which the Deputy refers is devolved for delivery to the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) as part of a bundled school building programme. The shared education campus is in the bundle referred to as ‘Project Liffey’.
This project is progressing through the various stages in line with necessary governance and compliance. The project is currently at Stage 1 of the architectural design process. The procurement process to appoint the design team is ongoing in accordance with procedures set out in EU public procurement directives. The design team, once appointed, will take the project through the various stages of architectural planning and onwards through the statutory planning requirements and construction.
A Stage 2A Report (detailed design) process must also be completed before a planning application for the project can be lodged. Once this report 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.
At this point, it is too early in the architectural design process to be in a position to provide a definitive date for when this might happen. NDFA have and will continue to engage directly with the school authorities to keep them informed of progress.
542. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education if her Department will review correspondence (details supplied); when her Department will contact the principal of this school to offer assistance and advice on this matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57235/23]
View answerI can advise Deputy Ring that the Principal of Drom National School Drom, Templemore, Co. Tipperary was contacted by my office on the 28th December in relation to the schools unsuccessful application for the STEM grant and separately on the broadband connection within the school.
Follow-up correspondence was received from the principal which will be replied to in due course.
543. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education if she will prioritise the construction of a school (details supplied) within its bundle, in light of the severe pressures on school places in the Greystones area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57236/23]
View answerThe school referred to by the Deputy, is assigned to my Department’s Design and Build programme.
The Invitation to Tender for Greystones CC issued in April 2023, as part of a bundle of projects issued to the Department's Framework of Design & Build Contractors. Given the scale of works involving new purpose built accommodation for 10 schools, some of which are on campus sites, the tender process involves a very large amount of documentation and drawings and takes approximately 8-12 months. Tender returns have been received and are currently being evaluated.
This bundle comprises 10 school projects which are all flagship projects for their local school communities. Given the magnitude of this large scale investment, this tender evaluation process takes time for the Department's technical staff and project management team to adequately and appropriately analyse. The Department is very conscious of the urgency in getting these projects, including Greystones Community College, delivered as quickly as possible.
544. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education for an update on the construction of an extension (details supplied); to outline the process that will apply for its construction; to provide timelines for its construction; if she will expedite this process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57237/23]
View answerThe school referred to by the Deputy, has been approved a project under my Departments Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme. This includes for the provision of 1 general classroom, 1 music room, 1 textiles room, 1 art room, 1 graphics room, 1 multimedia room, 1 science lab, 1 science prep area, 2 technology and shared prep area, and a 3 classroom SEN base.
A Stage 1 report was received and reviewed by my Department officials however as the design submitted was not compliant with the agreed brief, a request for additional information was issued to the school authority in Q4 2023, to facilitate the completion of this stage review. The additional information requested was received in January 2024, and is currently under review.
Whilst this project is devolved to the school authority for delivery, the Department is engaged directly with the school to provide whatever practical assistance and advice is necessary to implement this important project for the wider school community.
545. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education for an update on the construction of an extension (details supplied); to outline the process that will apply for its construction; to provide timelines for its construction; if she will expedite this process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57238/23]
View answerThe project to which the Deputy refers, has been devolved to the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) for delivery as part of a programme of school building projects. This school is in the bundle referred to as ‘Project Boyne’.
The project is currently at Stage 2b (planning) of the architectural process. A planning application was lodged with Wicklow County Council and planning permission was granted in Quarter 4 2022. Further surveys aimed at informing the works requirements for this project were carried out in 2023 and reports are currently being finalised.
Once Stage 2b has been approved, the next stage is tendering for a contractor and then onwards to construction in due course. It is not possible at this stage to provide a completion date for the project in advance of the outcome of the required procurement process. The NDFA will continue to engage directly with the school authority to keep it informed of progress.
546. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education if she has examined the need for an additional secondary school in the Greystones, Kilcoole and Newtownmountkennedy area, in light of the significant population increase in recent years and the current over subscription for places; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57239/23]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, while there can be enrolment pressures and demand for additional school places in some areas, it is important to note sometimes this may not be as a result of lack of accommodation, but may be driven by the following factors:
Duplication of applications;
School of choice;
Single sex schools; and
External draw.
Notwithstanding the above, in some areas demographic pressures and other factors are driving a requirement for additional school places.
In line with my Department's demographic projections of post primary school place requirements there has been a continued growth in enrolments in Greystones and Kilcoole. In response to the projections of school place needs in Greystones, Kilcoole and Newtownmountkennedy, my Department is providing significant additional post primary capacity, including a new 1,000 pupil school building for Greystones Community College. Greystones Community College was established in 2020 as a regional solution for the Kilcoole and Greystones area. The project to deliver this new school building is at Stage 3, Tender Stage.
In addition to the above project, the Department has recently delivered a major building project to expand St. David’s Secondary School and is also progressing a building project for Temple Carrig School in Greystones under the National Development Plan. St. David’s Secondary School is a co-educational school and a major building project to deliver state of the art, modern school accommodation for 750 pupils was provided at this school.
Temple Carrig Secondary School Greystones is also a co-educational school and it was established in 2014. There is a project underway to provide accommodation at this school for 1,000 pupils, which is currently at Stage 1, preliminary design stage. A project for 4 Modular mainstream classrooms has also been approved. These classrooms are now on site and the project is nearing completion.
In addition, in the adjacent Kilcoole School Planning Area, Coláiste Craobh Abhann, for which there is a major project approved to expand the school to 1,000 pupils. This project is currently at Stage 2b and is being delivered by the National Development Finance Agency.
My Department is aware of pressures for school places for the 2024/25 school year in Greystones, Kilcoole and Newtownmountkennedy area.
A critical next step for the Department is to establish 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 Greystones, Kilcoole area, have been requested to share data on applications for admissions. This data has been received by my officials and is currently being analysed with a view to establishing the actual requirement for places. Preliminary assessments indicate that duplications of applications, and applications from outside the local area, are very much contributing to enrolment pressures in the town.
My Department is working to clarify the actual requirement for additional school places and to identify particular further capacity requirements for 2024 and forthcoming years. My Department will engage with schools and patrons to 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.
I can assure the Deputy that Department officials will continue to actively engage with schools and patrons to ensure that there is appropriate provision for all students in Greystones, Kilcoole and Newtownmountkennedy for the 2024/25 school year and into the future. Families can be assured that any necessary solution will be delivered so that all of the children in the Greystones and Kilcoole School Planning Areas will receive a first year place.
547. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Education for an update on salary and pensions for caretakers in school settings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57240/23]
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.
In 2022, a suite of measures designed to improve the working conditions of school secretaries was agreed and since then comprehensive work has been undertaken by the Department to move secretaries who have accepted this deal 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 undertaken.
548. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Education the number of schools, by county, that applied for the STEM grant; the number of applications received by the closing date and after the deadline; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57243/23]
View answerI can advise the Deputy that the number of applications received by the closing date of 5pm on the 30th of November 2023 was 2727 and those applications that were received after the deadline totalled 126.
The breakdown by county of primary and post primary schools that applied for the grants are as follows.
|
Primary by county |
Number of primary schools |
Post-Primary by county |
Number of post-primary schools |
|
Carlow |
33 |
Carlow |
4 |
|
Cavan |
56 |
Cavan |
9 |
|
Clare |
89 |
Clare |
13 |
|
Cork |
259 |
Cork |
64 |
|
Donegal |
118 |
Donegal |
19 |
|
Dublin |
367 |
Dublin |
103 |
|
Galway |
186 |
Galway |
33 |
|
Kerry |
107 |
Kerry |
18 |
|
Kildare |
74 |
Kildare |
16 |
|
Kilkenny |
55 |
Kilkenny |
10 |
|
Laois |
47 |
Laois |
9 |
|
Leitrim |
28 |
Leitrim |
5 |
|
Limerick |
107 |
Limerick |
19 |
|
Longford |
31 |
Longford |
8 |
|
Louth |
55 |
Louth |
12 |
|
Mayo |
101 |
Mayo |
21 |
|
Meath |
86 |
Meath |
12 |
|
Monaghan |
38 |
Monaghan |
9 |
|
Offaly |
49 |
Offaly |
11 |
|
Roscommon |
65 |
Roscommon |
8 |
|
Sligo |
43 |
Sligo |
10 |
|
Tipperary |
108 |
Tipperary |
24 |
|
Waterford |
50 |
Waterford |
13 |
|
Westmeath |
67 |
Westmeath |
12 |
|
Wexford |
79 |
Wexford |
20 |
|
Wicklow |
60 |
Wicklow |
13 |
|
|
2358 |
|
495 |
Given the very high number of valid applications and the budget available for the scheme, a decision was made by the Department to run a lottery, where a random number generator was used to pick out schools based on their line on the spreadsheet. The application for each school was then assessed on a case by case basis with the applications read again by the evaluation team, to ensure they met the requirements as set out in the grant call. Any school deemed not to have met the requirements was removed. The procedure was then repeated until all the budget available was allocated.
As the initial funding available at the time of call for applications was €1.5m, the Department worked to secure as much additional funding as possible, bringing the total available to €4.7m. Unfortunately, on this occasion, this additional funding fell short of the ask of over €25m. The Department is front loading the grant scheme in 2023/2024 school year and it is hoped that a further round of funding can be run this year. This means that eligible schools that were not successful this time may receive funding in the future.
It should be noted that the Department also supports STEM through other areas such as teacher professional development and the development of resources, as well as through supporting initiatives such as SciFest, ESB Science Blast, the Discover programme with Science Foundation Ireland and BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition.
We acknowledge the time and work that was put in by schools into the applications. However, there was a limited budget allocated to this grant scheme.in relation to any future funding that becomes available, the schools will be contacted by the Department.
549. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Education the number of schools that were approved for the STEM grant, by county; to provide details of all the successful applicants in a location (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57244/23]
View answerI can advise the Deputy that the breakdown by county of primary and post-primary schools that applied for the STEM grants are as follows.
|
Primary schools awarded grants by County |
|
Post Primary schools awarded grants by County |
|
|
Carlow |
6 |
Cavan |
2 |
|
Cavan |
7 |
Clare |
1 |
|
Clare |
10 |
Cork |
15 |
|
Cork |
43 |
Donegal |
2 |
|
Donegal |
17 |
Dublin |
18 |
|
Dublin |
80 |
Galway |
6 |
|
Galway |
36 |
Kildare |
1 |
|
Kerry |
18 |
Kilkenny |
2 |
|
Kildare |
7 |
Laois |
1 |
|
Kilkenny |
12 |
Longford |
1 |
|
Laois |
10 |
Louth |
6 |
|
Leitrim |
1 |
Mayo |
7 |
|
Limerick |
26 |
Meath |
2 |
|
Longford |
6 |
Monaghan |
2 |
|
Louth |
12 |
Offaly |
4 |
|
Mayo |
21 |
Roscommon |
2 |
|
Meath |
15 |
Sligo |
1 |
|
Monaghan |
5 |
Tipperary |
4 |
|
Offaly |
15 |
Waterford |
4 |
|
Roscommon |
13 |
Wexford |
5 |
|
Sligo |
9 |
Wicklow |
3 |
|
Tipperary |
25 |
|
|
|
Waterford |
9 |
|
|
|
Westmeath |
16 |
|
|
|
Wexford |
16 |
|
|
|
Wicklow |
8 |
|
|
The successful schools in Mayo were detailed in the press release of the 20th December 2023.
www.gov.ie/en/press-release/806d0-minister-for-education-announces-trebling-of-budget-for-stem-grants-for-schools-to-47-million/.
The schools are as follows.
|
School Name |
County |
Amount awarded |
School type |
|
Gaelcholáiste Chomáin |
Mayo |
€3,300.00 |
Primary |
|
Newtownwhite Educate Together N.S. |
Mayo |
€10,000.00 |
Primary |
|
Craggagh N.S. |
Mayo |
€10,000.00 |
Primary |
|
Glencastle N.S. |
Mayo |
€10,000.00 |
Primary |
|
Mountpleasant N.S. |
Mayo |
€1,000.00 |
Primary |
|
Fahy N.S. |
Mayo |
€9,884.50 |
Primary |
|
Bangor Erris N.S. |
Mayo |
€10,000.00 |
Primary |
|
Barnatra N.S. |
Mayo |
€10,000.00 |
Primary |
|
Scoil Cholmcille |
Mayo |
€9,765.58 |
Primary |
|
S.N. Lainn Cille/Lankill N.S. |
Mayo |
€3,320.00 |
Primary |
|
Carrowholly N.S. |
Mayo |
€10,000.00 |
Primary |
|
Belmullet Senior N.S. |
Mayo |
€10,000.00 |
Primary |
|
St. Attracta's N.S. |
Mayo |
€10,000.00 |
Primary |
|
Killeen National School |
Mayo |
€10,000.00 |
Primary |
|
St. Dymphna's Special School |
Mayo |
€10,000.00 |
Primary |
|
Foxford Central N.S. |
Mayo |
€6,445.00 |
Primary |
|
Bohola N.S. |
Mayo |
€9,655.64 |
Primary |
|
Crossmolina N.S. |
Mayo |
€5,790.00 |
Primary |
|
Scoil íosa |
Mayo |
€10,000.00 |
Primary |
|
Wesport Educate Together N.S. |
Mayo |
€8,000.00 |
Primary |
|
Kilmurry N.S. |
Mayo |
€10,000.00 |
Primary |
|
Bunscoil Naomh Bríd agus Pádraig |
Mayo |
€6,134.00 |
Primary |
|
Sancta Maria College |
Mayo |
€9,000.00 |
Primary |
|
Balla Secondary School |
Mayo |
€9,329.00 |
Post Primary |
Given the very high number of valid applications and the budget available for the scheme, a decision was made by the Department to run a lottery, where a random number generator was used to pick out schools based on their line on the spreadsheet. The application for each school was then assessed on a case by case basis with the applications read again by the evaluation team, to ensure they met the requirements as set out in the grant call. Any school deemed not to have met the requirements was removed. The procedure was then repeated until all the budget available was allocated.
As the initial funding available at the time of call for applications was €1.5m, the Department worked to secure as much additional funding as possible, bringing the total available to €4.7m. Unfortunately, on this occasion, this additional funding fell short of the ask of over €25m. The Department is front loading the grant scheme in 2023/2024 school year and it is hoped that a further round of funding can be run this year. This means that eligible schools that were not successful this time may receive funding in the future.
We acknowledge the time and work that was put in by schools into the applications, however there was a limited budget allocated to this grant scheme.
It should be noted that the Department also supports STEM through teacher professional development and the development of resources, as well as through supporting initiatives such as SciFest, ESB Science Blast, the Discover programme with Science Foundation Ireland and BT Young Scientists.
In relation to any future funding that becomes available, the schools will be contacted by the Department.
550. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Education if, in line with Action 30 of the Autism Committee’s Final Report, she currently provides, or has plans to provide, funding and guidelines to all schools building new premises to ensure that they are built in line with the principles of universal design; and the estimated first and full-year cost, respectively, to implement this proposal. [57276/23]
View answer551. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Education if, in line with Action 31 of the Autism Committee’s Final Report, she will provide funding and guidelines to all schools to undertake an audit of their buildings with the aim of making them autism-friendly; and the estimated first and full-year cost, respectively, to implement this proposal. [57277/23]
View answer552. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Education if, in line with Action 32 of the Autism Committee’s Final Report, she will outline the plans she has to reduce class sizes to allow teachers the opportunity to better observe the development of pupils, and to reduce distraction and distress for autistic pupils in overcrowded classrooms; and the estimated first and full-year cost, respectively, of reducing the average class size by one, two and three pupils. [57278/23]
View answer553. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Education if, in line with Action 33 of the Autism Committee’s Final Report, she will engage with the National Council for Special Education to develop a long-term plan to synthesise mainstream and special educational provision in line with the UNCRPD. [57279/23]
View answer554. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Education if, in line with Action 34 of the Autism Committee’s Final Report, she plans to ensure that children in special classes, autism classes and special schools can participate in mainstream educational classes to end the practice of segregation based on neurotype. [57280/23]
View answer555. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Education if, in line with Action 35 of the Autism Committee’s Final Report, she has plans to update continuing professional development to ensure that education professionals, including teachers and SNAs, receive suitable autism training; and the estimated first and full-year cost, respectively, to implement this proposal. [57281/23]
View answer556. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Education if, in line with Action 36 of the Autism Committee’s Final Report, she will engage with the National Council for Special Education to establish the number of pupils on reduced school hours and implement measures to reduce the use of such measures. [57282/23]
View answer557. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Education if, in line with Action 37 of the Autism Committee’s Final Report, she will engage with the HSE and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to ensure that children in special schools can access clinical supports in schools until such time as children's disability network teams, CDNTs, are fully staffed and access to services can be reviewed; and the estimated first and full-year cost, respectively, to implement this proposal. [57283/23]
View answer558. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Education if, in line with Action 38 of the Autism Committee’s Final Report, she has plans to increase the pay offered to SNAs and teachers for participating in a school-based summer programme to incentivise participation; and the estimated first- and full-year cost, respectively, to implement this proposal. [57284/23]
View answer559. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Education if, in line with Action 39 of the Autism Committee’s Final Report, she will engage with children’s disability service providers to foster and encourage the participation of clinicians such as therapists and psychologists in the summer programme at an attractive rate of pay; and the estimated first and full-year cost, respectively, to implement this proposal. [57285/23]
View answer560. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Education if, in line with Action 40 of the Autism Committee’s Final Report, she will work with the Department of Health to amend the Disability Act 2005 in tandem with the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs (EPSEN) Act 2004 and include a right to services as well as a right to an assessment of need. [57286/23]
View answer561. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Education if, in line with Action 41 of the Autism Committee’s Final Report, she has plans to review established practices on transitioning to new schools throughout the education system, and provide more guidance and supports for schools in assisting pupils to transition between schools. [57287/23]
View answer562. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Education if, in line with Action 42 of the Autism Committee’s Final Report, she has plans to establish a national transitions service to assist autistic children and adults as they transition into primary education, between schools, secondary education, university, employment and all other areas of life; the estimated first and full-year cost of establishing such a service; and the estimated first and full-year cost, respectively, to implement this proposal. [57288/23]
View answer563. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Education if, in line with Action 43 of the Autism Committee’s Final Report, she has plans to establish a clear pathway to access alternative and augmentative communication, and assistive technology, and ensure that autistic children and adults can access and retain AAC devices and supports throughout their lives; and the estimated first and full-year cost, respectively, to implement this proposal. [57289/23]
View answer564. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Education if, in line with Action 44 of the Autism Committee’s Final Report, she has plans to increase the funding allocated to alternative and augmentative communication, and assistive technology, to ensure that there are sufficient devices available to those who need them as well as training for the families of AAC users; and the estimated first and full-year cost, respectively, to implement this proposal. [57290/23]
View answer565. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Education if, in line with Action 45 of the Autism Committee’s Final Report, she has plans to review her Department’s policy on the role and priorities of a centre (details supplied). [57291/23]
View answer566. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Education if, in line with Action 46 of the Autism Committee’s Final Report, she will liaise with the Department of Education in Northern Ireland to negotiate a mutual increase in funding to a centre (details supplied) to expand its services and apply its best practice model nationally; and the estimated first and full-year cost, respectively, to implement this proposal. [57292/23]
View answer567. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Education if, in line with Action 47 of the Autism Committee’s Final Report, she will adopt a rights-based approach to the summer programme to ensure that it is regarded as an essential service for autistic children and their families; and the estimated first- and full-year cost, respectively, of implementing this proposal. [57293/23]
View answer568. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Education if, in line with Action 48 of the Autism Committee’s Final Report, she will establish an agency or a dedicated section within her Department to manage the summer programme and ensure that it is made available in all schools, with the participation of trained external staff where internal staff are unavailable; and the estimated first and full-year cost, respectively, to implement this proposal. [57294/23]
View answer569. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Education if, in line with Action 49 of the Autism Committee’s Final Report, she will develop a clear policy to ensure that there is a requirement that interventions provided within the context of special education are evidence-based and rights-based. [57295/23]
View answer570. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Education if, in line with Action 50 of the Autism Committee’s Final Report, she will liaise with a centre (details supplied) to provide continuous professional development training for SNAs and encourage participation by regarding them as additional hours worked under the Croke Park agreement; and the estimated first and full-year cost, respectively, to implement this proposal. [57296/23]
View answer571. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Education if, in line with Action 51 of the Autism Committee’s Final Report, she will include a mandatory module on autism training as continuing professional development for teachers; and the estimated first and full-year cost, respectively, to implement this proposal. [57297/23]
View answer572. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Education if, in line with Action 52 of the Autism Committee’s Final Report, she will ensure that all schools that are in receipt of public funding, whether public or private, foster more inclusive practices around autism, including the opening of special classes. [57298/23]
View answer573. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Education if, in line with Action 53 of the Autism Committee’s Final Report, she will design a template or guidelines for schools clearly explaining the steps that should be taken if behavioural challenges emerge in an educational setting, and ensure that protocols around restraint and penalisation are stated unambiguously, with a view towards eliminating these practices. [57299/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 550 to 573, inclusive, together.
As discussed and agreed with the Deputy, my Department is providing a single combined reply to a number of separate questions on individual recommendations on the final report of the Oireachtas Committee on Autism.
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.
In 2023, my Department spent over €2.6 billion on special education and further progress will be made this year as an additional €113m will be dedicated to providing supports for children with special educational needs.
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 2024, the number of teaching and SNA posts in our schools will increase with an additional 744 teachers and 1,216 SNAs 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.
As the Deputy is aware the Joint Committee on Autism was established in 2022 to consider matters relating to the services and supports provided by the state for autistic people. In June 2023, the committee reported to both Houses of the Oireachtas with its final recommendations regarding matters relating to the services and supports provided by the state for autistic people including that of education.
In this report the committee provided 24 specific recommendations pertinent to my Department. My Department's current position on each recommendation is provided in the attached document in tabular form.
This government recognises that there are bespoke challenges facing our autistic community that need to be better addressed, for this reason, the development of a new national strategy on autism has commenced.
The Autism Innovation Strategy which is coordinated by the Department of Children Equality, Disability Integration and Youth is a cross-government initiative designed to complement and enhance existing policy frameworks. It will seek to provide for better mainstream understanding and accommodation of the needs of autistic people across the public system.
Development of the strategy is currently at an advanced stage with drafting of the strategy being finalised at present. This follows several months of engagements right across government to agree a suite of clear, simple actions that can address gaps in existing supports and services for autistic people within an 18 month timeframe.
This process has included careful consideration of the recommendations contained in the final report of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism and the findings of a public consultation held in 2022.
Once drafting of the strategy is complete, there will be a further public consultation prior to the formal adoption of the Autism Innovation Strategy. Preparations for this consultation are currently underway. It is intended that implementation of the strategy will begin in early 2024.
My Department is 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.
