Written Answers Nos. 346-360
346. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 259 of 5 December 2023, the updated position with regard to an application for an extension for a primary school which has taken on a new urgency (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11537/24]
View answerThe purpose of my Department’s Additional School Accommodation (or ASA) scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream classroom accommodation and accommodation for pupils with special education needs is available to cater for pupils enrolled each year, where the need cannot be met by the school’s existing accommodation
At primary level, this situation generally arises to cater for a school’s accommodation requirements where an additional teaching post has been sanctioned by Teacher Allocation Section, or the requirement for a new class for pupils with special education needs has been identified by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), and all available alternative accommodation within the school is already being used for classroom purposes.
The Department engages 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 2024/25 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. In planning and providing for additional school accommodation, the Department must also have regard to construction inflation pressures and competing demands on suppliers of modular accommodation and project management services.
In general, demographics have been falling at primary level and are due to continue to decrease. Therefore, the Department considers it prudent to maximise the use of existing spare accommodation capacity at primary level in the first instance, before considering any applications for further accommodation needs. This is in line with public spending requirements. In relation to the provision of primary special classes, the shared preference of both the Department and the NCSE is to use and reconfigure existing school accommodation to provide special classes. Given the number of primary special classes available already and the falling demographics, it is also likely that most of the new additional special classes may be required in larger population centres in a local school planning area.
I can confirm to the Deputy, that my department has received an application for capital funding, under the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme, from the school in question.
I can confirm that my officials have been engaging with the school authorities in relation to progressing their application as a traditional build project. I am pleased to confirm that a brief letter of offer has issued to the school authorities in this regard and it is currently with their Board of Management for consideration.
347. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Education what actions she has planned to deal with calls from a number of primary school principals in Tallaght for enhanced supports for disadvantaged schools under DEIS plus classification; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11540/24]
View answerMy Department provides a wide range of supports to all schools, DEIS and non-DEIS, to support the inclusion of all students and address barriers to students achieving their potential. Supplementing these universal supports, the DEIS programme provides a targeted and equitable way to address concentrated educational disadvantage that promotes equity and has benefits for students.
My Department now spends over €180million annually providing additional supports to the region of 1,200 schools in the DEIS programme. This includes an additional €32m allocated following my announcement to extend the programme to an additional 322 schools from September 2022. This now means that approximately 240,000 students or 1 in 4 of all students are now supported in the programme.
Within the DEIS programme, the highest levels of resources are targeted at those primary schools with the highest levels of concentrated educational disadvantage. Schools in this category are accorded DEIS Urban Band 1 status. There are currently 306 primary schools in DEIS Urban Band 1, including 79 primary schools who were included in the band for the first time from September 2022 as part of the extension of the programme. Schools in this band receive a more beneficial staffing schedule, home school community liaison support as well as access to the school completion and school meals programmes. Schools in DEIS Urban Band 1 also receive a DEIS grant that reflects the schools’ high levels of educational disadvantage and priority access to the support of the National Educational Psychologists Service (NEPS).
My Department is continuing to undertake work towards achieving its vision for an inclusive education system that supports all learners to achieve their potential. It also recognises that we need to target resources to those schools who need them most. That is why my Department is undertaking a programme of work to explore the allocation of resources to schools to address educational disadvantage. To support this work my Department have invited the OECD Strength Through Diversity: Education for Inclusive Societies Project to review the current policy approach for the allocation of resources to support students at risk of educational disadvantage in Ireland. This review will provide an independent expert opinion on the current resource allocation model for the DEIS programme and, drawing on international examples, inform a policy approach for an equitable distribution of supplementary resources to support students at risk of educational disadvantage attending all schools, both DEIS and non-DEIS.
348. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Education if she will expedite an application for a school in County Clare (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11563/24]
View answerI can confirm that the school in question has applied under the Additional Schools' Accommodation (ASA) scheme for replacement of a prefab. Following an initial assessment a potential need for additional accommodation was identified.
As part of its overall programme planning for 2024 school accommodation needs, the Department is now examining enrolment data from the current school year and data on accommodation capacity at schools. This is in order to reassess and identify critical accommodation requirements for the next school year, with a view to advancing these to formal approval stage.
In general, demographics have been falling at primary level and are due to continue to decrease. Therefore the Department considers it prudent to maximise the use of existing spare accommodation capacity at primary level in the first instance, before considering any applications for further accommodation needs. This includes ensuring that all school accommodation is being utilised as efficiently as possible, and that priority is given to the use of accommodation for classroom purposes, either to meet mainstream or special educational needs. This analysis is forming part of the Department’s current assessment process and is in line with public spending requirements.
The consideration of the accommodation requirements for the school in question forms part of the Planning and Building Unit’s overall assessment of its work programme and priorities in the context of available capital funding. It is not, therefore, possible to give an indication at this point in time of the timeframe for the provision of additional accommodation at the school. I can only seek to assure you that we will advance this matter as quickly as possible.
349. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Education if she can indicate a definite schedule for when a permanent build project (details supplied) will start construction; when it is scheduled for completion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11566/24]
View answerThe permanent building project referred to by the Deputy, will deliver a new 1,000 pupil post-primary school and accommodation, including 4 classrooms, for children with special educational needs. The project is being delivered under my Department’s Design and Build programme and is currently at tender stage.
The Invitation to Tender for the project issued in April 2023, as part of a bundle of projects for 10 schools issued to the Department's Framework of Design and 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 volume of documentation and drawings and takes circa 12 months. Tender returns have been received and the analysis and review is at an advanced stage.
Given the scale of this investment, this tender evaluation process by the Department's technical staff and project management team takes time to appropriately work through. The Department is very conscious of the importance in getting these projects, including the project referred to by the Deputy, delivered as quickly as possible.
Once a contractor has been appointed, it is anticipated that construction will commence shortly thereafter. The construction duration for the project is estimated at some 65 weeks.
My Department will continue to keep the school and its patron body updated as the project progresses and will continue to liaise with the school regarding interim accommodation requirements pending delivery of the permanent school accommodation.
350. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Education to indicate if the construction of a school (details supplied) will be completed and the school operational for the 2025 / 2026 school term; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11567/24]
View answerThe permanent building project referred to by the Deputy, will deliver a new 1,000 pupil post-primary school and accommodation, including 4 classrooms, for children with special educational needs. The project is being delivered under my Department’s Design and Build programme and is currently at tender stage.
The Invitation to Tender for the project issued in April 2023, as part of a bundle of projects for 10 schools issued to the Department's Framework of Design and 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 volume of documentation and drawings and takes circa 12 months. Tender returns have been received and the analysis and review is at an advanced stage.
Given the scale of this investment, this tender evaluation process by the Department's technical staff and project management team takes time to appropriately work through. The Department is very conscious of the importance in getting these projects, including the project referred to by the Deputy, delivered as quickly as possible.
Once a contractor has been appointed, it is anticipated that construction will commence shortly thereafter. The construction duration for the project is estimated at some 65 weeks.
My Department will continue to keep the school and its patron body updated as the project progresses and will continue to liaise with the school regarding interim accommodation requirements pending delivery of the permanent school accommodation.
351. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education if their Department has had the need to contact An Garda Síochána due to verbal, written (including electronically) or physical threats being addressed to staff or Ministers, at any level, working within their Department during the period 2020 to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11591/24]
View answerI can confirm to the Deputy that my department has had the need to contact An Garda Síochána in relation to the threats listed above, during the period of 2020 to date.
352. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Education if there is funding available for students to attend immersive modern foreign language courses similar to the funding available for post-primary school students to attend the Gaeltacht; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11620/24]
View answer353. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Education if there is funding available for post-primary schools to attend immersive modern foreign language courses; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11621/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 352 and 353 together.
I can advise the Deputy that Languages Connect, Ireland’s Strategy for Foreign Languages in Education 2017 – 2026, aims to increase and diversify the teaching and learning of foreign languages.
Post Primary Languages Ireland (PPLI) are fully funded by the Department and charged with implementing a wide range of actions under Languages Connect. They provide free Saturday morning classes to Leaving Certificate students whose school do not have the student numbers to warrant timetabled classes in a range of curricular languages. The number of students enrolled in these classes in 2023/24 are as follows:
|
JAPANESE |
RUSSIAN |
CHINESE |
POLISH |
PORTUGUESE |
LITHUANIAN |
ROMANIAN |
|
113 |
84 |
101 |
161 |
40 |
27 |
120 |
PPLI provide funding for a range of initiatives including language summer camps, school exchanges, foreign language library books and language upskilling for teachers. Some funding is also provided to the Latvian community to provide online Latvian classes, and to schools to provide out-of-curriculum Romanian.
Funding for summer camps is provided to facilitators who can deliver a two-week programme in a lesser taught or heritage language. This is based on approval of an appropriate programme and budget, and a critical mass of student attendance. The two-week camps are for post-primary students attending a post-primary school in Ireland. They support and inspire students through a combination of fun, creativity, and learning. Since 2019 there have been 16 camps funded by PPLI across the country in Polish, Lithuanian, Romanian, Mandarin Chinese, Japanese and Italian. A call for funding for coordinators to run 2024 summer language camps is currently open until 10th April 2024: Language Summer Camps 2024 | Languages Connect languagesconnect.ie/language-summer-camps-2024/ These camps are fully funded and free for students but a €100 refundable deposit is required to ensure attendance.
Funding for School Exchanges provided through PPLI is an initiative which incentivises schools to increase the number of students participating in school exchanges that focus on having an immersive experience of language learning. Since 2018, PPLI have awarded funding of up to €5,000 p.a. to 39 schools over periods ranging from one to three years amounting to 99 new school exchanges in total. See languagesconnect.ie/exchanges/.
PPLI collaborate with EIL Intercultural Learning (EIL/ AFS), an Irish not-for-profit educational organisation, and provide funding support scholarships to send three senior cycle students abroad every year for 3 months, attending school and staying with a host family. PPLI also collaborate with Euro Languages College and provide funding support to send two senior cycle students on scholarship every summer for three weeks on a fully immersive residential summer camp in Ireland.
Erasmus+ funding is available for schools to apply for in the context of projects that encourage European exchange, cooperation and learning. Some schools have been able to access this funding for immersive language learning experiences abroad and more are being encouraged to do so. See www.leargas.ie/erasmus-plus/.
A wide range of other supports are provided to schools to support the teaching and learning of foreign languages and the diversification of foreign languages in school: ppli.ie/.
Some of the key achievements to date under Languages Connect include:
• The introduction of four new curricular languages for Leaving Certificate (Lithuanian, Mandarin Chinese, Portuguese and Polish)
• The inclusion of foreign languages in the Primary Curriculum Framework. Work is now underway on the development of the specification for introduction in primary schools from September 2025.
• The roll out of the Say Yes to Languages sampler module at primary level. This is an eight week module where primary schools can select the language depending on their demographic and resources. A grant of up to €1,600 is available for participating schools of which there are circa. 1,200 in 2023/24 (year 3).
• An annual #ThinkLanguages event for Transition Year students, promoting the benefits of foreign language learning and celebrating the languages and cultural diversity within the school community. Circa. 15,000 TY students participated in the 2023/24 week long event.
• An increase in the number of Foreign Language Assistants appointed to post primary schools from 110 in 2016/17 to 181 in 2023/24. This will increase to 220 under Languages Connect.
• The establishment of new teacher education and language upskilling programmes including one for Spanish in UCC.
Ireland is committed to delivering leaving certificate examinations in all EU languages in accordance with Article 149 of the Treaty of Nice. A range of curricular languages are currently available at Leaving Certificate level including: French, German, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Japanese, and since September 2020 - Mandarin Chinese, Lithuanian, Polish and Portuguese in accordance with our Foreign Languages Strategy “Languages Connect”.
Students are also able to take an exam in a non-curricular EU language in accordance with the criteria set out on the State Examinations Commission website: Examination Information - State Examination Commission (examinations.ie). In the 2023 Leaving Certificate Exams, 704 students registered to sit a non-curricular language exam in 15 other non-curricular EU languages.
In recognition of the current situation regarding Ukrainian, students who have moved to Ireland due to the ongoing conflict in their home country, the State Examinations Commission will commence development work for Ukrainian as a non-curricular leaving certificate language subject in autumn 2022 for incoming 5th years in September 2023.
354. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Education the best course of action for a European language school owner to engage with the relevant parties in relation to funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11622/24]
View answerMy Department provides funding to recognised schools in the Free Education Scheme. The provision of advice on the funding of private schools is not a matter for my Department.
355. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education if the exemption allowing teachers who qualified abroad are allowed complete their induction in Ireland be extended in view of the pressure on teacher numbers. [11623/24]
View answerUnder the Teaching Council Acts 2001-2015 the Teaching Council is the body with the statutory authority and responsibility for the regulation of the teaching profession in Ireland including the registration of Teachers in the State.
The Teaching Council is the professional standards body for the teaching profession, which promotes and regulates professional standards in teaching. The Council registers teachers under the Teaching Council Act 2001-2015. There are five routes of registration with the Teaching Council which are namely Route 1: Primary, Route 2: Post-primary, Route 3: Further Education, Route 4: Other and Route 5: Student Teacher. The registration requirements for each route is set out in the Teaching Council (Registration) Regulations 2016.
The Teaching Council has a statutory remit and there is a provision in the legislation which allows them to make regulations for the purposes of registration.
Statutory Instrument No. 12 of 2023, the Teaching Council (Registration) (Amendment) Regulation, which was in place has now expired and therefore the facility is no longer open. In the context of the Council's legislative remit, this provision was put in place via a Statutory Instrument (SI), and as such, the SI defines the period during which the measure is operated.
A further Statutory Instrument would be required to establish the Teaching Council (Registration) (Amendment) Regulation for a longer period, which under the Teaching Council Act is a matter for the Council.
Since the 1st February 2024, applicants for registration who qualified out of state will be required to apply for registration under the standard application process for out of state qualified teachers. They will be required to provide evidence of being a fully qualified teacher, including evidence of having completed induction in the country of qualification.
Through engagement with the Council on this matter, I can advise that the Council is considering any further amendment to provide for this facility (that is, completion of induction in Ireland for overseas qualified teachers) in the context of its legislative framework, including relevant EU legislation.
356. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education to detail the best route forward for a school (details supplied) in terms of progressing their request for an identified ASD need within the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11626/24]
View answerThe National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has the responsibility for planning and coordinating school supports for children with special educational needs.
The Department engages 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 2024/25 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.
I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has no current record of receiving an application for additional accommodation from the school in question regarding provision of an ASD Unit.
The purpose of my Department’s Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream classroom accommodation and accommodation for pupils with special education needs is available to cater for pupils enrolled each year, where the need cannot be met by the school’s existing accommodation or at other schools in the area.
At primary level, this situation generally arises to cater for a school’s accommodation requirements where an additional teaching post has been sanctioned by Teacher Allocation Section, or the requirement for a new class for pupils with special education needs has been identified by the NCSE, and all available alternative accommodation within the school is already being used for classroom purposes. The capacity at other schools in the area is also considered as part of the assessment of any accommodation needs.
The Department is working closely with the NCSE in relation to forward planning for increased special education provision in the form of additional special classes and special school places. The Department continues to engage with NCSE in relation to special classes that have been sanctioned for September 2024 to confirm critical classes where accommodation is required while also considering the more strategic and longer-term requirements.
357. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Education the reason for the delay in the tender process and construction of a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11630/24]
View answer358. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Education for a timeline for the commencement and completion of works for a school (details supplied) which was granted planning permission by An Bord Pleanála in April 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11638/24]
View answer361. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Education if she will expedite the tender process for construction of permanent accommodation for a school (details supplied); if construction will be completed within the previously announced timeline; and if the permanent accommodation will be completed in advance of the start of the school year commencing 2024. [11666/24]
View answer362. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education if she will acknowledge the impact that operating out of temporary accommodation for a prolonged period of time has placed on the children/young people, families and teachers at a school (details supplied); if she will also acknowledge the demonstrated need and urgency for the commencement of a permanent ETSS in Dublin 6 and that planning permission was granted almost two years ago; if she will commit to the immediate construction of the building following the conclusion of the tender process this year and if she will take steps to ensure that there are no further project delays, while at all times keeping the school community updated of all progress and developments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11685/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 357, 358, 361 and 362 together.
The campus school building project referred to by the Deputies is assigned to my Department’s Design and Build programme which uses a professional external Project Manager to progress the project through the relevant stages of architectural planning, tender and construction.
This campus project will deliver a new 1,000 pupil post-primary school and accommodation, including four classrooms, for children with special educational needs and a 16 classroom primary school and accommodation, including two classrooms, for children with special educational needs.
The Invitation to Tender issued in April 2023, as part of a bundle of projects for 10 schools issued to the Department's Framework of Design and 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 volume of documentation and drawings. Tender returns have been received and the analysis and review is at an advanced stage.
The Department is very conscious of the importance in getting these projects, including the campus project referred to by the Deputy, delivered as quickly as possible. The due diligence by the Department is a critical part of the overall completion of the Stage 3 process and is critical to ensuring quality and value for money, and that projects are progressed within overall programme parameters.
Once a contractor has been appointed, it is anticipated that construction will commence shortly thereafter.
My Department has delivered interim accommodation on site up to and including the 2025/26 school year, in line with enrolments agreed with the patron body and will continue to liaise with the patron body in relation to interim accommodation needs pending delivery of the permanent accommodation for the school.
359. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the ongoing school bus application for (details supplied); if her Department can seek a resolution with Bus Éireann to ensure this student is accommodated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11650/24]
View answerThe School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year over 161,600 children, including over 135,000 pupils travelling on primary and post primary services, 19,800 pupils with special educational needs, and 6,800 pupils who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country.
The total cost of the scheme in 2023 was €382.02m.
There has been an overall increase in both applications and tickets issued for the 2023/2024 school year in comparison to the 2022/2023 school year.
Children are eligible for transport at primary level where they reside not less than 3.2 kilometres from and are attending their nearest national school, and at post primary level where they reside not less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
School Transport Section are engaging with Bus Éireann with regard to processing an application for school transport for the child referred to by the Deputy. Bus Éireann will liaise with the family directly with regards to issuing a ticket on board the route which services the school mentioned by the Deputy.
360. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Education the reason that funding sanctioned in June 2020, for four new classrooms for an ASD unit at a school (details supplied) has not yet delivered; when resources will be allocated for provision of autism classrooms at the schools; and if she will make a statement on the need for more provision for autistic and neurodiverse children in Dublin 2, 4, 6, 8 and Dublin 6W. [11664/24]
View answerThe project to which the Deputy refers is to provide a 4 classroom Special Education Needs base, general purpose room and ancillary under my Department‘s Additional School Accommodation (ASA) Scheme.The project was devolved for delivery to the school authority and it has appointed a design team to progress the project.I wish to advise the Deputy that the Stage 1 Design Report for the project was received by my Department and is being reviewed by the Technical Team at present.Once this review has been completed the Department will contact the school authorities with the outcome shortly for the progression of this much needed project. My Department will continue to engage with the school authority to provide practical advice and assistance on the project.
