Tuesday, 9 Apr 2024

Written Answers Nos. 421-440

Departmental Staff

Questions (421)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

Question:

421. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education how many planners are employed by her Department; and how many architects are employed by her Department. [13903/24]

Written answers

Minister for Education

There are 16 architects employed by the Planning and Building Unit (PBU) of my Department.

Given the nature of the Department’s work, the Department of Education does not directly employ planners, in the sense of planning professionals accredited by bodies such as the Irish Planning Institute. However, expertise in the Department’s PBU encompasses a range of functions relevant to planning for the school estate, such as demographic projections, strategic capacity planning, and development and implementation of GIS systems to support forward planning. Officials from the PBU also engage extensively with planners in local authorities in the context of planning for the school estate and specific school building projects.

School Enrolments

Questions (422)

David Stanton

Question:

422. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 122 of 13 February 2024, when she expects publication of the latest enrolment projection report for primary and post-primary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13938/24]

Written answers

Minister for Education

We have just published our latest projection report for primary and post-primary and it can be found on our website at the link below;

www.gov.ie/pdf/?file=https://assets.gov.ie/289143/3fe06be4-1842-40f7-8963-c771aa62bd5d.pdf#page=null

The ‘Projections of Enrolment’ report from the Department of Education’s statistics section covers the 2023-2042 period.

According to the report, the number of pupils in primary school is likely to decline from around 558,000 this year to around 533,000 in 2026 and to around 499,000 in 2030.

The projected number of post-primary pupils is expected to increase from around 417,000 this year to around 430,000 in 2026. The figure is then projected to decline to 418,000 pupils in 2030.

Peaks are therefore expected to be reached in the number of primary school enrolments this year and post-primary enrolments in 2026.

It is anticipated that there will be some 5,000 fewer children entering junior infants in 2026 than in 2022.

As Minister I am pleased to welcome the publication by my Department of this report on projections of full-time enrolment at primary and post-primary level from 2023 – 2042. This comprehensive resource will be a vital tool in helping to inform planning for the most effective and efficient provision of education to pupils and students in our primary and post-primary schools over the coming years.

A year-on-year increase in enrolment numbers is currently being experienced by our primary schools, as a result of increased inward migration. The Department in particular thanks school communities and stakeholders across Ireland for their engagement, collaboration and support in accommodation over 18,000 pupils who have arrived in Ireland from Ukraine. As a reflection of school-age population demographic trends, enrolments are projected to fall over the coming years.

While the national trend for primary school enrolments show a peak in 2018, this enrolment trend is not universal across all School Planning Areas or primary schools. The Department is cognisant of local pressures for additional school places that will arise in rapidly growing areas of the country.

The ‘Projections of Enrolment’ report covers the 2024-2042 period. It presents three different potential scenarios for pupil enrolment numbers, based on different levels of net migration (M) and the birth/fertility rate (F). The Department believes that the most likely outcome is the “M1F2” scenario, which is a high level of net migration and a steady birth rate from 2025 onwards.

The previous report “Projections of Enrolment report” was published in 2021. Given the ongoing uncertainty around the impact of the situation in Ukraine on future migration, this latest enrolment report is to be viewed as interim and will be updated again at the end of 2024.

The tables in the report showing the different enrolment scenarios, including the M1F2 scenario which the Department believes is the most likely, are available at the link below (https://assets.gov.ie/289142/cdd8e49e-5115-4647-8a16-41f1ae34f3d2.xlsx)

Schools Building Projects

Questions (423)

Pat Buckley

Question:

423. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Education if she will provide a progress report on a school (details supplied); if tenders have been awarded to begin the school builds; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13977/24]

Written answers

Minister for Education

I can confirm to the Deputy that the school in question was approved a project under my Department’s Additional Schools Accommodation (ASA) scheme to provide a special educational needs classroom.

The project was devolved to the school authority for delivery, and they have recently submitted the stage 3 report (tender report) for review. Once this report has been reviewed, Department officials will be in contact with the school authority on the next steps to progress this important project.

My Department has a strong track record of delivery of school building projects involving circa. 300 projects currently at construction including 34 new school buildings and over 800 projects completed since 2020 notwithstanding the wider construction sector environment of high inflation, labour shortages and supply chain issues. We continue to have a strong pipeline of projects for delivery under the school building programme. My Department has an overall pipeline of some 1300 projects across the school system. The current status of all projects is listed on a county by county basis at www.gov.ie. and this is updated on a regular basis to reflect project progress through the various stages of capital appraisal, site acquisition, design, tender and construction. Under Project Ireland 2040, we are investing over €5 billion during the period 2021 to 2025, to add capacity and develop and upgrade school facilities across the country for the almost one million students and over 100,000 staff that learn and work in our schools every day.

Last year, my Department received supplementary funding to help alleviate funding pressures which was reflective of my Department’s strong delivery of school building projects particularly to support mainstream provision accommodating Ukrainian students and special education needs provision. My Department also have a large modular accommodation programme delivering urgently needed school places. The Department has always operated a tightly prioritised approach to the school building programme, focused over recent years on the delivery of additional capacity where required, and this will continue to be the case. My Department is committed to ensuring appropriate accommodation is available for all pupils in the school referred to by the Deputy and will in the wider context outlined, ensure that this project - as for all projects on our school building programme - is subject to the due diligence required under the public Infrastructure Guidelines. It is a challenging construction environment across all sectors (Education, Housing, Transport etc.) and my Department is also required to manage the timing, scope and cost of individual projects to remain within budgetary parameters for the overall programme – this involves constant review throughout the project lifecycle.

Departmental Data

Questions (424)

Patrick Costello

Question:

424. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Education to provide a list of all second-level education institutions aided by her Department that are located on public land, and a separate list of all second-level institutions aided by her Department that are located on land not in public ownership. [13982/24]

Written answers

Minister for Education

The Department regularly updates its website with school listings. The links below provide a full list of all post primary schools with relevant details for each school.

www.gov.ie/en/service/find-a-school/

gov - Post-primary schools enrolment figures (www.gov.ie)

Please also see the attached list which provides information on current Minister and Education Training Board (ETB) schools on Minister and ETB owned sites. These schools are also listed on the weblinks above.

Minister and ETB owned schools

Departmental Data

Questions (425)

Patrick Costello

Question:

425. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 276 of 23 January 2024, to list in tabular form the 103 new post-primary schools and 90 newly-established multi-denominational schools referenced, providing school roll numbers for all schools identified. [13983/24]

The information is set out in the following table.

School Roll Number	School Name	County	Patronage	Ethos
76273O	Gaelcholáiste Charraig Ui Leighin	Cork	Cork ETB	Multi Denominational
76194S	Naas Community College	Kildare	Kildare & Wicklow ETB	Multi Denominational
91614B	Celbridge Community School	Kildare	JP: Kildare Wicklow ETB / Educate Together	Multi Denominational
76313A	Coláiste Dún an Rí	Cavan	Cavan & Monaghan ETB	Multi Denominational
76293U	Kingswood Community College	Dublin	Dublin & Dún Laoghaire ETB	Multi Denominational
68241F	Stepaside Educate Together Secondary School	Dublin	Educate Together	Multi Denominational
76333G	Carrigtwohill Post Primary	Cork	Cork ETB	Catholic
68262N	Bremore Educate Together Secondary School	Dublin	Educate Together	Multi Denominational
68264R	Edmund Rice College	Cork	Edmund Rice Schools Trust	Catholic
68263P	Cork Educate Together Secondary School	Cork	Educate Together	Multi Denominational
68261L	North Wicklow Educate Together Secondary School	Wicklow	Educate Together	Multi Denominational
76394D	Clonturk College	Dublin	City of Dublin ETB	Multi Denominational
76476F	Mungret Community College	Limerick	Limerick & Clare ETB	Multi Denominational
68306H	Edmund Rice College	Dublin	Edmund Rice Schools Trust	Catholic
76454S	Griffeen Community College	Dublin	Dublin & Dún Laoghaire ETB	Multi Denominational
76474B	Dunamase College (Colaiste Dhun Masc)	Laois	Laois & Offaly ETB	Multi Denominational
76475D	Swords Community College	Dublin	Dublin & Dún Laoghaire ETB	Multi Denominational
68308L	Malahide & Portmarnock Secondary School	Dublin	Educate Together	Multi Denominational
68078U	Gaelcholáiste Phort Láirge	Waterford	An Foras Pátrúnachta	Catholic
68080H	Meanscoil Gharman	Wexford	An Foras Pátrúnachta	Inter Denominational
76106S	Gaelcholáiste na Mara	Wicklow	Kildare & Wicklow ETB	Multi Denominational
70641K	Coláiste Pobail Osraí	Kilkenny	Kilkenny & Carlow ETB	Inter Denominational
76107U	Gaelcholáiste Chineál Eoghain	Donegal	Donegal ETB	Multi Denominational
76097U	ADAMSTOWN COMMUNITY COLLEGE	Dublin	Dublin & Dún Laoghaire ETB	Multi Denominational
76129H	Ardgillan Community College	Dublin	Dublin & Dún Laoghaire ETB	Multi Denominational
76130P	Luttrellstown Community College	Dublin	Dublin & Dún Laoghaire ETB	Multi Denominational
76173K	Coláiste na Mí	Meath	Louth & Meath ETB	Multi Denominational
76213T	Lusk Community College	Dublin	Dublin & Dún Laoghaire ETB	Multi Denominational
76233C	Coláiste Bhaile Chláir	Galway	Galway & Roscommon ETB	Multi Denominational
76096S	Coláiste Mhuirlinne/Merlin College	Galway	Galway & Roscommon ETB	Multi Denominational
68101M	Hansfield ETSS	Dublin	Educate Together	Multi Denominational
68083N	Le Cheile Secondary School	Dublin	Le Chéile Schools Trust Company Limited by Guarantee	Catholic
76193Q	Maynooth Community College	Kildare	Kildare & Wicklow ETB	Multi Denominational
91573N	Ballymakenny College	Louth	JP: Louth & Meath ETB / Educate Together	Multi Denominational
76195U	Coláiste Chú Chulainn	Louth	Louth & Meath ETB	Multi Denominational
76196W	DE LACY COLLEGE	Meath	Louth & Meath ETB	Multi Denominational
68082L	Coláiste Ghlór na Mara	Dublin	An Foras Pátrúnachta	Multi Denominational
68161H	Gaelcholáiste an Phiarsaigh	Dublin	An Foras Pátrúnachta	Multi Denominational
68081J	Temple Carrig Secondary School	Wicklow	Archbishop of Dublin & Bishop of Glendalough COI	Church Of Ireland
76152C	Kishoge Community College	Dublin	Dublin & Dún Laoghaire ETB	Multi Denominational
76103M	Colaiste na hInse	Meath	Louth & Meath ETB	Multi Denominational
76104O	Donabate Community College	Dublin	Dublin & Dún Laoghaire ETB	Multi Denominational
76098W	Coláiste Pobail Setanta	Dublin	Dublin & Dún Laoghaire ETB	Multi Denominational
76127D	Creagh College	Wexford	Waterford & Wexford ETB	Multi Denominational
68307J	Firhouse Educate Together Secondary School	Dublin	Educate Together	Multi Denominational
68305F	Sandymount Park Educate Together Secondary School	Dublin	Educate Together	Multi Denominational
68346T	Belmayne Educate Together Secondary School	Dublin	Educate Together	Multi Denominational
68347V	Galway City & Oranmore Educate Together Secondary School	Galway	Educate Together	Multi Denominational
68348A	Laytown & Drogheda Educate Together Secondary School	Meath	Educate Together	Multi Denominational
68345R	Wicklow Educate Together Secondary School	Wicklow	Educate Together	Multi Denominational
76554W	Gaelcholáiste Mhaigh Nuad	Kildare	Kildare & Wicklow ETB	Multi Denominational
76596P	Greystones Community College	Wicklow	Kildare & Wicklow ETB	Multi Denominational
68366C	Goatstown Educate Together Secondary School	Dublin	Educate Together	Multi Denominational
76595N	Enfield Community College	Meath	Louth & Meath ETB	Multi Denominational
76594L	Coláiste pobail Fóla	Dublin	Dublin & Dún Laoghaire ETB	Multi Denominational
68365A	Harolds Cross Educate Together Secondary School	Dublin	Educate Together	Multi Denominational
68309N	Limerick City East Secondary School	Limerick	Educate Together	Multi Denominational
72400V	Comeragh College	Tipperary	Tipperary ETB	Multi Denominational
76574F	Eriu Community College	Dublin	Dublin & Dún Laoghaire ETB	Multi Denominational
68386I	Gorey Educate Together Secondary School	Wexford	Educate Together	Multi Denominational
68385G	Le Cheile Secondary School Ballincollig	Cork	Le Chéile Schools Trust Company Limited by Guarantee	Catholic
76614O	Coláiste Rioga	Meath	Louth & Meath ETB	Multi Denominational
68387K	Blackrock Educate Together Secondary School	Dublin	Educate Together	Multi Denominational

Schools Building Projects

Questions (426)

Robert Troy

Question:

426. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education when construction works will commence on schools (details supplied). [14004/24]

Written answers

Minister for Education

The projects to which the Deputy refers have been devolved to the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) for delivery as part of a programme of school building projects.The projects are currently at Stage 2b of the architectural process. The planning applications were lodged with Westmeath County Council and full grants of planning permission have been received for Castlepollard Community College and Moate Community College. An initial grant of planning has been received for St Joseph’s Secondary School and a final grant of planning is expected soon.

When Stage 2b has been finalised and approved, the next stage is tendering for a contractor and then onwards to construction in due course.

While at this early stage it is not possible to provide a timeline for completion of the projects, the NDFA will be engaging directly with the school authorities to keep them informed of progress.

Departmental Data

Questions (427)

Robert Troy

Question:

427. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education the annual capital budget for schools in each of the years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024; and her views that this allocation is keeping pace with housing allocation and to keep pace with population increase. [14005/24]

Written answers

Minister for Education

Since 2020, my Department has invested in the region of €4.5 billion in our schools throughout the country, involving the completion of over 800 school building projects with construction currently underway at approximately 300 other projects, which includes 31 new school buildings.?

These 300 projects currently at construction involve a total State investment of over €1.2bn.? There are also circa 90 projects currently at the tender stage including a further 28 new school buildings.? All these new school buildings are flagship projects in their area and transform the education infrastructure for those school communities.?

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 school's sector include:?

• demographic growth, particularly at post primary level?

• increased demand for special educational needs provision?

• alignment of school place provision with new housing development?

• climate action objectives including deep energy retrofit.??

Given the impact of housing development on school place requirements, the Department closely monitors residential construction activity and factors this into our forward planning approach. We engage closely with local authorities on development plans. Schools are essential to the development of sustainable communities. Our approach is to maximise the use of existing capacity in the school estate and, in tandem with this, to progress our pipeline of projects to deliver additional capacity where required.

The Department is very appreciative of the ongoing support provided by Government for our education budget, including supplementary funding provided over recent years to support our strong programme delivery. As part of the recent review of NDP allocations, agreement was secured on new medium term capital allocations to facilitate continued programme rollout. The Department’s capital allocations for 2025 and 2026 have been confirmed at €1.3 billion.

Below is the table showing NDP allocations and outturns (including supplementary funding) for the years 2020 to 2024.

-	2020 (€m)	2021 (€m)	2022 (€m)	2023 (€m)	2024 (€m)
NDP Allocation	745	740	792	860	940
Outturn (including approved supplementary funding)	925	989	1,121	1,264

School Transport

Questions (428)

Anne Rabbitte

Question:

428. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Education the status of a school transport query (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14033/24]

Written answers

Minister for Education

The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education.

In the current school year over 161,600 children, including over 135,000 pupils traveling 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.

The Department and Bus Éireann are very conscious of the specialised nature of transport provision for children with special educational needs. This is reflected in the standard of dedicated service provided and the fact that these services are generally planned and timetabled to operate on a door-to-door basis. In certain cases, the Department also provides funding to schools for the employment of escorts to accompany children whose care and safety needs require this level of support while they travel to and from school.

Given the concerns regarding welfare of children with special educational needs, it is not always practical to make these services available to children who are capable of travelling on standard mainstream school transport services as to do so might diminish the level of care and safety that the Department and Bus Éireann wish to provide for these vulnerable children.

Bus Éireann have advised that the family to whom the Deputy refers, have not availed of the school transport service assigned to them under the School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs for the 2023/2024 school year.

The service that could accommodate this family currently caters for other pupils with special educational needs, therefore it is not permissible to allow their sibling travel on the same service and the request to accommodate the sibling cannot be considered on this occasion.

Children who are attending mainstream schools may apply for school transport in accordance with the terms of the Department’s School Transport Schemes for Primary Schools.

Teaching Qualifications

Questions (429)

Marian Harkin

Question:

429. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Education if a non-EU/EEA citizen, qualified as a primary teacher (details supplied) can teach in Ireland without having Irish; if not, what mechanisms are open to this person to teach primary school children in Ireland; what training will need to be undertaken to teach in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14038/24]

Written answers

Minister for Education

The Teaching Council is the professional standards body for the teaching profession, which promotes and regulates professional standards in teaching. The Teaching Council registers teachers under the Teaching Council Act 2001-2015 and in line with the Teaching Council Registration Regulations, 2016. The Council registers teachers under five routes of registration namely, Route 1 - Primary, Route 2 - Post-primary, Route 3 - Further Education, Route 4 - Other and Route 5 - Student Teacher. The minimum registration requirements for each route are set out in the Schedule of the Regulations.

It is a requirement for teachers to hold the appropriate route of registration with the Teaching Council in order to be paid a salary by the State. Fully qualified teachers who have qualified outside of the Republic of Ireland are eligible to apply for registration with the Teaching Council.

As a statutory professional standards body, the Teaching Council is required by law to properly determine and to authenticate the relevant standards and qualifications of all applicants for registration. One of the ways the Council ensures and regulates standards is by ensuring that all teachers entering the profession in the Republic of Ireland have met the required standards. It operates in accordance with the EU Mutual Recognition of Professional Qualifications Directive (2005/36/EU as amended).

A person deemed to be a fully qualified teacher has completed a recognised teacher education qualification and any required programme of induction in the country in which they qualified and can provide an official letter from the relevant teacher registration body/teacher licencing body/Competent Authority or Ministry of Education confirming recognition as a fully qualified teacher in the State/ country.

Persons completing teacher education qualifications outside the State and seeking to register with the Teaching Council must have their qualifications assessed to determine that they are comparable to accredited qualifications in Ireland.

The Primary Curriculum established by this Department includes Irish as a core component and it is necessary to have a certain standard of Irish. Where an applicant for registration as a primary teacher has completed a programme of teacher education outside of Ireland, an Irish Language Requirement (ILR) condition normally applies to their registration. In order to address this condition, the teacher can either complete an Aptitude Test (SCG – An Scrúdú le hAghaidh Cáilíochta sa Ghaeilge) or an Adaptation Period (OCG – Oiriúnú le hAghaidh Cáilíochta sa Ghaeilge), which confirms the applicant's competence to teach the Irish language as well as a range of primary school curricular subjects through the medium of Irish. Both the SCG (Aptitude Test) and OCG (Adaptation Period) are administered by Marino Institute of Education. Conditional registration is granted to those in the process of completing this requirement.

Upon initial registration a teacher is usually granted a period of three years to complete this condition. Should a teacher not address this condition within this timeframe the teacher may apply for an extension of time, this is in line with S32 of the Teaching Council Acts. Extension requests are granted at the discretion of the Council and are usually granted for a period of one year.

I would encourage the person that the Deputy is referring to to liaise with the Teaching Council and to follow their advice in relation to this matter.

Departmental Policies

Questions (430)

Paul Kehoe

Question:

430. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Education when a person (details supplied) can expect a response to their application for incremental credit under Circular 0139/2006; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14041/24]

Written answers

Minister for Education

The criteria required to have incremental credit awarded to qualified Special Needs Assistants (SNA) is set out in Circular 0139/2006 and was agreed with the unions representing the Special Needs Assistants, School Management Representatives, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, and the Department of Education.

The Department of Education received an incremental credit application from the named SNA. This application is considered incomplete. The relevant unit of the Department is awaiting further verification from the applicant’s previous employer. When this clarification is received this application will be processed in full.

School Staff

Questions (431)

Jim O'Callaghan

Question:

431. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Education what steps her Department is taking to address the teacher shortage at a school (details supplied).; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14050/24]

Written answers

Minister for Education

Ensuring that every child's experience in school is positive and that they have qualified, engaged teachers available to support them in their learning is a priority area of action for the Government.

While schools in certain locations are experiencing challenges in both recruiting teachers and obtaining substitute teachers, the vast majority of sanctioned teacher positions are filled. The rate of resignation and retirement is very low by any standard and is consistent with previous years.

Budget 2024 contained a range of measures that demonstrate my commitment to continued investment in our education system.

• A professional masters’ of education incentive scheme will be introduced for newly qualified teachers graduating in 2024. Those newly qualified teachers who graduate with a PME will, subject to some conditions, be eligible for an incentive payment of up to €2,000 in 2025.

• Additionally, there will be an expansion in the number of upskilling programmes available. These programmes, which are free to teachers, increase the number of teachers who are qualified to teach in-demand subjects and reduce the level of out-of-field teaching. These new upskilling programmes in Irish, French, politics and society, and computer science will be in addition to existing upskilling programmes in maths, physics and Spanish. The contract for the Irish upskilling programme has been signed recently and the programme is expected to start later this year.

• An additional 1,000 posts of responsibility will be provided in the school system for the 2024/25 school year. This is in recognition that school leaders play a key role in improving educational outcomes by creating a positive school climate and environment as well as motivating and empowering educators and learners within their school communities.

These new measures are in addition to a range of targeted measures that I have introduced in recent times, including:

• Post-primary teachers can provide up to 35 additional hours of substitute cover per term in the subject they are qualified to teach.

• Ensuring initial teacher education providers created existing flexibilities that enable student teachers to support schools, either while on placement, or in a substitute capacity. In 2022/23, more than 2,700 3rd and 4th-year undergraduate student teachers registered under Route 5 with the Teaching Council and provided valuable support to schools as substitute teachers. In February this year there were 3,500 registered under Route 5 on the Teaching Council register.

• Encouraging retired teachers to provide substitute cover. A communications campaign ran in early 2023 resulting in an increase in the number of teaching days provided by retired teachers of 49%, an increase of over 17,000 days between the 2021/22 school year, and the 2022/23 school year. A new communications campaign begun in January this year to encourage retired teachers to return to teaching.

• The 50 day pension abatement waiver, for retirees returning to work, has been extended for a further two years to the end of 2025.

• Restrictions on job-sharing teachers and those on a career break from working as substitutes have been reduced.

• The Teaching Transforms campaign continues to promote the teaching profession encouraging students to follow a career in teaching. The campaign uses digital, radio and video media, and is supported by a dedicated webpage, www.gov.ie/teachingtransforms.

Teaching remains an attractive career choice;

• CAO first preference choices for post-primary teaching increased last year by 14%, in addition to a 9% increase in 2022.

• Currently starting pay for post-primary teachers is over €42,000. The new pay deal, with all three teacher unions having recently voted in favour of, will mean that teachers’ starting salary will increase to €46,000 rising to a maximum of €85,000 per year which compares well internationally

• Over 3,700 newly qualified teachers have registered with the Teaching Council in 2023, with over 122,000 now on the Teaching Council register.

My Department continues to engage closely with education stakeholders to develop further, innovative measures to address teacher supply issues.

Schools Amalgamation

Questions (432)

Denis Naughten

Question:

432. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education the engagement to date with schools (details supplied) regarding amalgamation and the provision of a co-educational offering; if she will review the options for 2nd level facilities in the catchment, in the interest of pupils, their subject choices, and the maximisation in the use of educational facilities funded by the local community and the Exchequer; if consideration has been given to options for coordination in advance of approving any request from individual schools boards of management; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14057/24]

Written answers

Minister for Education

I wish to advise the Deputy, that the decision-making authority for any amalgamation is the patron/trustees of the schools concerned and it is open to any patron to submit proposals to the Department for consideration.

Any proposed change involves extensive consultation at local level and must be well planned and managed in a manner that accommodates the interests of students, parents, teachers, local communities and contributes to an inclusive education system.

The Patron and relevant stakeholders are also advised to consider the implications that any amalgamation proposal may have on factors such as school accommodation, funding, staffing and school transport so that an informed decision can be made.

My Department has not received applications for amalgamation from either school referenced above. However, my Department has received an application from the patron/trustees of Scoil Muire gan Smal requesting approval of change of status from all girls to co-educational. This request for change of status is currently under review. When a decision is made it will be notified to the school directly.

As the Deputy may be aware, in order to plan for school place needs, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and utilises a Geographical Information System to anticipate school place demand. Information from a range of sources, including Child Benefit data, school enrolment data and information on residential development activity is used for this purpose. Additionally, Project Ireland 2040 population and housing targets inform my Department's projections of school place requirements.

There are currently a number of active projects at post primary level for the schools outlined above, including an extension and refurbishment project for Scoil Muire gan Smal which is currently at Stage 4 and an extension project for Roscommon CBS which is at Stage 1.

The Capital Programme details the school projects that are being progressed under Project Ireland 2040. The current status of large-scale projects being delivered under Project Ireland 2040, may be viewed on my Department's website at www.gov.ie and this information is updated regularly. In addition, a list of large-scale projects completed from 2010 to date may also be viewed on the website.

School Accommodation

Questions (433)

Claire Kerrane

Question:

433. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Education to advise when a decision on funding for temporary accommodation for a school (details supplied) will be given works are to commence on a new extension involving some demolition works and six months are required for site preparation, and the funding request for temporary accommodation was made in November 2023 and the school are concerned as time goes on; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14070/24]

Written answers

Minister for Education

The school referred to by the Deputy has been approved a project for the provision of seven general mainstream classrooms and a 2 special education needs base under my Department's Additional School Accommodation scheme.

The project has been devolved to the school authority for delivery and they have appointed a design team to progress the project through the various architectural stages. The Department is currently awaiting the submission of the stage 2b architectural report from the school authority. Upon receipt, the Department will review the report from both a technical and cost perspective including the school's requirements for temporary accommodation to facilitate the progression of the project. The Department will engage directly with school authority in this regard in order to provide practical assistance and advice on the submission of the stage 2b report.

Schools Building Projects

Questions (434)

Claire Kerrane

Question:

434. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Education if she will expedite a stage 2a application for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14071/24]

Written answers

Minister for Education

The school referred to by the Deputy has been approved a project for the provision of seven general mainstream classrooms and a 2 special education needs base under my Department's Additional School Accommodation scheme.

The project has been devolved to the school authority for delivery and they have appointed a design team to progress the project through the various architectural stages. The Department is currently awaiting the submission of the stage 2b architectural report from the school authority. Upon receipt, the Department will review the report from both a technical and cost perspective including the school's requirements for temporary accommodation to facilitate the progression of the project. The Department will engage directly with school authority in this regard in order to provide practical assistance and advice on the submission of the stage 2b report.

Schools Refurbishment

Questions (435)

Claire Kerrane

Question:

435. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Education to advise when emergency works will be funded for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14072/24]

Written answers

Minister for Education

The school to which the Deputy refers has that granted approval for the works in question under the Emergency Works Scheme (EWS). However, the tender costs exceeded those which were approved, after a review of these costs the EWS team requested a revised cost breakdown from the schools consultant, to which no response has been received to date. The EWS is aware of the urgency of this situation and will engage with school once a response is received.

School Transport

Questions (436)

Aindrias Moynihan

Question:

436. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Education the areas in Cork north west that are being considered under the pilot schemes under the new school transport scheme to be rolled out in September 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14079/24]

Written answers

Minister for Education

The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 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.

A review of the School Transport Scheme has been completed. This review was conducted with a view to examining the current scheme, its broader effectiveness, and sustainability and to ensure it services students and their families adequately.

The School Transport Scheme 2030 report has now been published, which marks the largest review of the School Transport Scheme since it was established in 1967. The Government is committed to working to achieve the report’s recommendation of expanding access to the scheme so that an additional 100,000 pupils can be carried by 2030. Throughout the review, the value of the School Transport Scheme to both families and in supporting wider Government policies has been very apparent. In summary, school transport not only plays an important part in supporting children's access to education, but it also aligns to wider Government objectives.

Overall the recommended changes to the future operation of the Scheme concern:

• expansion of the current eligibility criteria

• addressing current operational challenges

• charges and grants and

• over time, moving towards better integration with public transport to ensure optimum value for money to the Exchequer

A phased implementation of the review’s recommendations will commence in September 2024. This will include a shared effort between my Department and the Department of Transport to pilot and introduce greater integration of the roll out of transport networks with school transport routes, with a view to expanding provision of transport and reducing the reliance over time on individual car trips for school journeys. Details of the areas to be piloted will be available shortly. It is intended, subject to resources, to commence implementing the revised eligibility criteria in the 2025/2026 school year.

Bus Services

Questions (437)

Jackie Cahill

Question:

437. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 424 of 11 October 2022, if Bus Éireann will reconsider an alternative stop for students at a destination (details supplied) now that the students using this pick-up/drop-off point are now attending secondary school and are no longer on concessionary tickets; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14086/24]

Written answers

Minister for Education

The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 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.

Bus Éireann is responsible for the planning and timetabling of school transport routes on behalf of the Department. Safety of children travelling on the school transport services is of paramount importance to the Department and to Bus Éireann. Bus Éireann endeavours, within available resources, to ensure that each eligible child has a reasonable level of school transport service in the context of the Scheme nationally.

Routes are planned so that, as far as possible, no eligible child will have more than 3.2 kilometres to travel to a pick-up point. Children are generally expected to make their own way, or to be brought to convenient pick-up points along the main route.

Bus Éireann have reviewed the existing pickup point and has deemed this pickup point as safe.

There is an onus of responsibility on parents/guardians to arrange to bring their children to and from the pickup point of a school bus service, taking whatever safety precautions they consider sufficient in doing so, and accompanying the children to ensure their safety and allay any concern, if necessary.

Disadvantaged Status

Questions (438)

Jackie Cahill

Question:

438. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Education what financial supports are available to DEIS schools to run breakfast clubs and after school clubs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14088/24]

Written answers

Minister for Education

My Department provides a number of policies and programmes that are supportive of clubs for students at risk of educational disadvantage.

The Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools (DEIS) Programme is a key policy initiative of the Department to address concentrated educational disadvantage at school level in a targeted and equitable way.

The DEIS grant is used by schools to attain the targets set in the school's three year improvement plan across the DEIS themes. It is a matter for the Board of Management of each school to allocate DEIS grant funding so that it targets those students deemed most in need. This may include allocating a proportion of the DEIS grant funding towards the cost of setting up and running clubs. Many schools in the DEIS scheme use their DEIS grant to assist in the operation of clubs after school, and other afterschool activities aimed at groups of children deemed to be at most risk of educational disadvantage.

The School Completion Programme (SCP) is a key support under the DEIS programme. Tusla Education Support Service (TESS) is responsible for the operational management and delivery of SCP. SCP Local Management Committees plan a suite of service provision to ensure that all of the available SCP resource is maximised to support children and young people in relation to school attendance, participation and retention across all schools in the SCP cluster. These interventions and supports may include afterschool clubs, which are allowable under the SCP funding.

Homework clubs are among the initiatives currently underway as part of the Supporting Traveller and Roma (STAR) in education pilot project. STAR was established in 2019 under the National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy with the aims of improving attendance, participation and retention in specific Traveller and Roma communities regionally. There are four pilot areas: Galway, Wexford, Dublin and Cork. Additional resources provided include an additional Educational Welfare Officer (EWO), an additional Home School Community Liaison coordinator (HSCL) and two Traveller/Roma community education workers from the local communities employed by local Traveller/Roma support groups. Based on identified local needs, STAR teams run a wide range of initiatives.

I recognise the need to target resources to those schools that need them most. To this end, my Department is undertaking a programme of work to explore the allocation of resources to all schools to address educational disadvantage. The OECD Strength Through Diversity: Education for Inclusive Societies project has been invited to review the current approach, to provide an independent expert opinion on the current resource allocation model for the DEIS programme, and to inform a policy approach for an equitable distribution of supplementary resources to support students at risk of educational disadvantage attending all schools.

More generally, my Department encourages schools to facilitate the opening of after-school facilities, wherever possible, for activities such as afterschool clubs. Decisions on the use of school facilities lies with the relevant school authority in consultation with the property owner. Under the provisions of the Education Act, 1998 the Board of Management is the body charged with the direct governance of a school on behalf of the patron.

Schools Refurbishment

Questions (439)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

Question:

439. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Education the status of a school application for works funding (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14099/24]

Written answers

Minister for Education

The 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.

It is currently at Stage 2b of the architectural design process. A planning application was lodged with Carlow County Council and planning permission was granted in Quarter 3 2023. The pre-qualification process is currently underway and once complete, and following Departmental approval, the NDFA will continue the tender process for appointing a contractor in due course.

While at this stage it is not possible to provide an accurate timeline for completion of this project, the NDFA will be engaging directly with the school authorities to keep them informed of progress.

Schools Refurbishment

Questions (440)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

Question:

440. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Education the status of a school application for works funding (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14100/24]

Written answers

Minister for Education

I am pleased to advise the Deputy that approval under the Additional School Accommodation scheme has issued to the school in question for the provision of two Special Education Needs classes and reconfiguration works for two displaced general classrooms.

The project is being delivered under the Department’s Devolved SEN Reconfiguration and Modular Accommodation programme. The Department has a significant modular accommodation programme in place to assist schools in the provision of additional capacity, including in respect of facilitating the establishment of special classes. This programme involves the use of Project Management supports which is designed to enable the accommodation to be provided as quickly as possible and help ease the administrative workload for school authorities in relation to the management and delivery of projects.

The use of the Department's Modular Accommodation Framework also assists in ensuring lead in periods for procurement of modular accommodation are minimised to the greatest extent possible. The overall construction sector environment is challenging and the Department and the Project Management company are doing everything possible to ensure that modular accommodation is delivered as quickly as possible. My Department is fully aware of the urgency in respect of same and will be working with the school to keep it updated on overall project delivery and timelines.

Kerrigan Sheanan Newman Construction Consultants (KSN) has been appointed, from the Department’s Framework, to design and tender the project. This consultant is leading the project through the various stages of planning process and construction.

The School Authority has devolved responsibility for delivery of the project and my Department are currently awaiting the Form of Acceptance from the school authority.