Matt Carthy
Question:291. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Education her proposals to provide an ASD unit in secondary schools in the Ballyjamesduff, County Cavan area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16073/24]
View answerSpecial Educational Needs
Questions (291)
Written answers
The 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.
The NCSE and the Department continue to engage on a regular basis in relation to the provision of additional special education placements. This involves regular weekly meetings and ongoing meetings with NCSE regional teams.
The purpose of my department’s Additional Schools' 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 or at other schools in the area. This situation generally arises to cater for a school’s accommodation requirements where 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.
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.
The Ballyjamesduff school planning area consists of only one post primary school, St. Clare's College. This school has an ongoing project which is currently at stage 1 and includes provision for two Special education classrooms to be delivered.
Planning for special classes and special school places in County Cavan and nationwide is currently underway ahead of the 2024/25 school year. The locations of new classes for 2024/25 will be confirmed by the NCSE shortly. The NCSE continues to engage with schools in opening special classes where there is an identified need for special class provision.
Special Educational Needs
Questions (292)
Matt Carthy
Question:292. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Education the current number of children attending the ASD unit at a school (details supplied); the number that are expected to finish primary school in each of the next five years; the secondary schools these children will attend; the ASD capacity within each; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16074/24]
View answerWritten answers
Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for this government. It is also a key priority for my department and for the National Council for Special Education (NCSE).
The vast majority of children with special educational needs are supported to attend mainstream classes with their peers. Where children with more complex needs require additional supports, special classes and special school places are provided.
For 2024, €2.7 billion is being spent on special education, an increase of €113 million, and this is dedicated to providing supports for children with special educational needs. This will allow for, amongst other things, the opening of up to 400 new special classes in mainstream schools and 300 additional special school places.
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 these children.
The NCSE has the responsibility for planning and coordinating school supports for children with special educational needs.
Over the last number of years, my department and the NCSE have introduced a number of strategic initiatives to plan for and provide sufficient special class and special school places.
These initiatives are bearing fruit with almost 1,300 new special classes sanctioned and seven new special schools established over the last four years.
My department 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.
As a result of this forward planning, two new special schools have been established for this current school year in Cork and Dublin, with further capacity being expanded in 11 other special schools.
In addition, four new special schools will be established for the 2024/25 school year in counties Meath, Kildare, Wexford and Limerick. This will bring to 11 the number of new special schools established in recent years.
Along with the two new special schools opening this school year, 391 new special classes – 255 at primary and 136 at post-primary level – have been sanctioned by the NCSE.
Of these 5 are in Cavan, 4 at primary level and 1 at post-primary level. This brings to 52 the number of special classes in County Cavan, 40 at primary level and 12 at post-primary level. The vast majority of these classes are autism classes and have a teacher/student ratio of 1:6. Two such classes are in the school referred to by the Deputy. Decisions on admission to post-primary schools are a matter for the individual boards of management of each school.
Planning for special classes and special school places is currently underway ahead of the 2024/25 school year. The locations of the new classes will be confirmed by the NCSE shortly.
Parents seeking special class placements for their children are advised to contact the NCSE locally so that their needs can be taken into account for planning purposes. Local special educational needs organisers (SENOs) are available to assist and advise the parents of children with special educational needs. Parents may contact SENOs directly using the contact details available at: www.ncse.ie/regional-services-contact-list
The information held on the department's Geographical Information System (GIS), particularly in relation to student demographics, is a key component when forecasting the need for additional special class and special school places. My department and the NCSE have also undertaken analysis of the trends in special class and special school provision over recent years by county and local school planning area. In total there are 314 local school planning areas.
As demand for new special classes at post-primary level is expected to increase significantly over the next few years, due to increasing demographics and increasing prevalence rates, my department and the NCSE have engaged with post-primary stakeholders in relation to the provision of special classes.
My department wrote to all post-primary schools requesting that each school begin planning to provide for up to four special classes to meet the needs of children progressing from primary school.
The department and the NCSE continue to have engagement with post-primary school management bodies in relation to the provision of special classes.
My department and the NCSE are committed to ensuring that sufficient special education placements will be available for children for this school year and future years.
Schools Building Projects
Questions (293)
Louise O'Reilly
Question:293. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Education for an update on the building works at a school (details supplied); when the project will move past the tender stage; when the school and parents can expect for the project to be completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16105/24]
View answerWritten answers
The major project referred to by the Deputy is at Architectural Planning Stage 3 – Tender Action and Award.
A tender report was received by Department Officials in 2023, in the course of the review it was noted that the planning permission was due to expire in early December 2023 and a new planning permission was required.
We are liaising with the Design team in relation to requirements for the New Planning Permission and the Design Team held a pre-planning meeting with Fingal County Council in March 2024.
We will be in contact with the School and the Design Team when there is further information in relation to the tender process.
Schools Building Projects
Questions (294)
Emer Higgins
Question:294. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Education for further clarification on the process involved in issuing a letter of intent; the average time required for issuing a letter of intent; the current delay in issuing the letter of intent for an extension building project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16108/24]
View answerWritten answers
The large-scale capital project referred to by the Deputy is included in my Department’s Construction Programme which will be delivered under the National Development Plan (NDP) as part of Project Ireland 2040 framework.
The project is at Architectural Planning Stage 3 – Tender Action and Award. The tender report is under review by my department, the next step in the process is the authorisation to issue the Letter of Intent. Once the Letter of Intent issues, there is a minimum 14-day standstill period before there can be further progression of the project. The period between Letter of Intent and Letter of Acceptance varies depending on the project and the extent of post-tender clarifications required.
I want to reassure the Deputy and the school community, that the school building project will be progressed and delivered.
All departments, including the Department of Education, have to control the timing and scope of capital projects to remain within agreed budgetary parameters.
Additional capital funding for investment in schools was confirmed on 26 March, as part of a wider review of National Development Plan (NDP) allocations. This will support the continued roll-out of the Department’s ambitious school building programme in communities across the country. There are many accommodation pressures to be managed across the programme, and the Department is currently assessing our work programme and priorities in the context of the updated allocations.
My Department will advise the School Authorities as soon as possible with regard to the progression of the major project to the next stage.
Schools Building Projects
Questions (295)
Paul McAuliffe
Question:295. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on a new school build (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16119/24]
View answerWritten answers
The permanent school building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is part of a shared educational campus project at Swords Road, Whitehall, Dublin 9.
This important project, when complete, will deliver two 1,000 pupil post-primary schools and accommodation, including six classrooms, for children with special educational needs and an eight classroom primary school and accommodation, including two classrooms for children with special educational needs.
The project will be delivered under my Department's ADAPT 4 Programme - Programme Innovate, which comprises some 30 schools to be delivered in two phases. This campus project has been identified to commence in Lot 1 of the first phase.
Programme Innovate is the fourth generation of the ADAPT – or Accelerated Delivery of Architectural Planning & Tendering - Programme. The programme vision is to create schools that support an inclusive and inspiring learning environment using sustainable design and construction approaches.
The ADAPT Programme uses a professional external Project Manager to achieve the best possible timeframe for the project through the stages of Architectural Planning to Tender and Construction. The Project Manager was appointed in Q3 2023 and is in the process of preparing documentation for the tender process for the appointment of multidisciplinary design team consultants.
At present, there are five stages of architectural planning involved in the delivery of major school projects. The period of time it takes to progress through each of the stages varies from project to project depending on its size and complexity. As with all school building projects, the timeframe for delivery of the project will be dependent on securing the grant of planning permission.
My Department will keep the schools and their patron bodies informed of the progression of this campus project.
School Staff
Questions (296)
Steven Matthews
Question:296. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to a decision (details supplied); the actions she will take to ensure that this issue is rectified; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16131/24]
View answerWritten answers
The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September.
The staffing process contains an appeals mechanism for schools to submit a staffing appeal under certain criteria to an independent Primary Staffing Appeals Board.
The appeal submitted by the school referred to by the Deputy has been deemed ineligible by the Appeals Board, as the grounds of the appeal did not meet the appeal criteria published in Circular 0011/2024. The Appeals Board operates independently of the Department and its decision is final.
Special Educational Needs
Questions (297)
Chris Andrews
Question:297. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Education if she will instruct a school (details supplied) to open an ASD unit, given it has the space to do so. [16141/24]
View answerWritten answers
Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for this government. It is also a key priority for my department and for the National Council for Special Education (NCSE).
The vast majority of children with special educational needs are supported to attend mainstream classes with their peers. Where children with more complex needs require additional supports, special classes and special school places are provided.
For 2024, €2.7 billion is being spent on special education, an increase of €113 million, and this is dedicated to providing supports for children with special educational needs. This will allow for, amongst other things, the opening of up to 400 new special classes in mainstream schools and 300 additional special school places.
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 these children.
The NCSE has the responsibility for planning and coordinating school supports for children with special educational needs.
Over the last number of years, my department and the NCSE have introduced a number of strategic initiatives to plan for and provide sufficient special class and special school places.
These initiatives are bearing fruit with almost 1,300 new special classes sanctioned and seven new special schools established over the last four years.
My department 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.
As a result of this forward planning, two new special schools have been established for this current school year in Cork and Dublin, with further capacity being expanded in 11 other special schools.
In addition, four new special schools will be established for the 2024/25 school year in counties Meath, Kildare, Wexford and Limerick. This will bring to 11 the number of new special schools established in recent years.
Along with the two new special schools opening this school year, 391 new special classes – 255 at primary and 136 at post-primary level – have been sanctioned by the NCSE.
Of these 72 are in Dublin, 49 at primary level and 23 at post-primary level. This brings to 535 the number of special classes in County Dublin, 409 at primary level and 126 at post-primary level. The vast majority of these class are autism classes and have a teacher/student ratio of 1:6.
Planning for special classes and special school places is currently underway ahead of the 2024/25 school year. Local NCSE teams continue to engage with schools at local level to provide sufficient special class places to meet the needs of children with special educational needs. The locations of the new classes will be confirmed by the NCSE shortly.
Parents seeking special class placements for their children are advised to contact the NCSE locally so that their needs can be taken into account for planning purposes. Local special educational needs organisers (SENOs) remain available to assist and advise parents of children with special educational needs. Parents may contact SENOs directly using the contact details available on the NCSE's website at: www.ncse.ie/regional-services-contact-list
My department will continue to support the NCSE and schools through the provision of the necessary funding and capital investment to ensure all children are successful in accessing an education.
Schools Building Projects
Questions (298)
Aodhán Ó Ríordáin
Question:298. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education to report on the progress of a new permanent school building for schools (details supplied); and when the building will be open for students. [16170/24]
View answerWritten answers
The large scale capital project at the schools referred to by the deputy, to provide 2 New 10 classroom Schools, a clinic, activity rooms, assembly hall/general purpose room, playgrounds and sensory gardens, is at Architectural Planning Stage 4 - Construction.
The project commenced on site in May2023. Due to the presence of live ESB wires on the site, the Design team and the contractor have been liaising with ESB Networks to facilitate their removal from the middle of the site.
This work is nearing completion and the project has an expected completion date of Q3 2025.
Schools Building Projects
Questions (299)
Aodhán Ó Ríordáin
Question:299. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education if she will approve the next stage in the redevelopment of a school (details supplied) and if she will meet the parents' association to outline the project plan. [16190/24]
View answerWritten answers
I can assure the Deputy that the major building project for Scoil Chiaráin Special School is a significant priority for my Department.
While the original project brief was to deliver a new extension and refurbishment of the current school building, it was agreed, following a review by the Design Team to revise the project scope to deliver a new replacement school at the current site in Glasnevin.
The current building dates from the late 1970s. The new building will provide purpose-built accommodation for students with special educational needs, ranging in age from 4 to 18 years. This will comprise 20 mainstream classrooms, along with additional specialised rooms including Art, Home Economics, Woodwork, a Library, GP Room, Dining Space, Sensory Room, dedicated therapy rooms and all associated ancillary accommodation. The accommodation will take into consideration the specific needs of the students of Scoil Chiaráin.
The project is currently close to completion of Stage 2(b) of the architectural design process. Stage 2(b) involves detailed design and the preparation of tender documentation. The next stage, subject to relevant Stage 2(b) approvals, will be Stage 3, tender stage. Projects are subject to relevant due diligence by my Department at each stage in the process, within the context of overall programme and budgetary parameters.
In late March, following a review of National Development Plan allocations, the Government approved medium term capital allocations for the Department of Education for the period to 2026. The Department’s Planning and Building Unit is now reviewing its programme plans in the context of those recently confirmed allocations.
Special schools are a particular priority for my Department’s school building programme and I know the new building for Scoil Chiaráin will be transformative for the school community.
Department officials will keep the school authorities updated on progress and next steps.
Question No. 300 answered with Question No. 267.
School Textbooks
Questions (301)
Carol Nolan
Question:301. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education the amount of money saved by the decision not to extend the free schoolbooks scheme to fee-paying schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16210/24]
View answerWritten answers
As Minister for Education, I believe it is crucially important that children and young people are actively supported to access education in its fullest forms. This Government recognises that the cost of preparing children for school each September can be a cause of financial difficulty and worry for many Irish families.
As you are aware, on the 5th of March, I announced details of a new ground-breaking scheme which provides free schoolbooks to Junior Cycle students in post-primary schools in the Free Education Scheme.
Special schools who have students enrolled in Junior Cycle programmes will also receive this funding. More than 213,000 students enrolled in approximately 670 post-primary schools and over 65 special schools, will benefit from the new scheme.
The investment of €68 million in 2024 significantly increases the funding that is currently provided for schoolbooks and introduces a schoolbooks scheme to Junior Cycle years in all post-primary schools in the Free Education Scheme.
It reinforces the Government’s commitment to expand the free schoolbooks scheme to schools nationwide, as resources allow.
The funding provided under Budget 2024 is specifically to provide free school books to students in Junior Cycle years in post-primary schools in the Free Education Scheme. Private fee-charging post-primary schools are not in the Free Education Scheme.
Schools in the Free Education Scheme are paid a range of grants, payable on the basis of a school’s enrolment and may also apply for funding towards the cost of capital works.
What differentiates fee charging schools from all other post-primary schools is the capacity to raise funds through mandatory fees, while in receipt of exchequer funding.
The fees charged are mandatory in that initial admission to the fee charging school or ongoing participation is contingent on the payment of fees.
Fee-charging post-primary schools are not grant funded in relation to book schemes which are, therefore, a matter for the school’s board of management.
School Accommodation
Questions (302)
Niamh Smyth
Question:302. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education for an update on a grant for a school (details supplied); if the grant will be expedited without further delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16216/24]
View answerWritten answers
The school to which the Deputy refers applied for funding for new windows under the Emergency Works Scheme (EWS), and this was approved. Following tender approval the design of the window was submitted by the Board of Management, however this did not comply with the Department's technical guidance documents in relation to the provision of background ventilation. A revised design was submitted to my Department and this has now been approved.
Departmental Schemes
Questions (303)
Darren O'Rourke
Question:303. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education the number of applications for funding under the emergency works scheme being processed within her Department as of 5 April 2024. [16273/24]
View answerWritten answers
Officials in my Department's Emergency Works Scheme (EWS) team are collating this information at present and the information will issue to the Deputy via a separate communication once this has been finalised.
School Funding
Questions (304)
Denise Mitchell
Question:304. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Education if she will meet with a group (details supplied) to discuss decreases in funding and increasing running costs being experienced that are not covered by the annual capitation grant. [16296/24]
View answerWritten answers
My Department provides funding to recognised Primary schools by way of per capita grants which is based on school enrolment. The two main grants are the capitation grant to cater for day to day running costs such as heating, lighting, cleaning, insurance, general up-keep etc. and the ancillary grant to cater for the cost of employing ancillary services staff. Schools are permitted to regard the capitation and ancillary grants as a combined grant in line with circular 40/2009.
Schools may continue to utilise funding provided across the range of grants to ensure adequate cash flow at certain times. However, income and expenditure must continue to be recorded in school accounts and attributed to the individual grants as appropriate.
In addition to these grants, €20 million in funding was issued in October 2023, to support all recognised primary and post-primary schools in the free education scheme. This funding is the first tranche of an overall additional €60 million funding announced as part of Budget 2024 measures designed to assist schools with increased day-to-day running costs such as heating and electricity. A further €40 million in funding was delivered in early 2024.
My Department recognises the importance of the Minor Works Grant to primary schools. Under Project Ireland 2040, a commitment was given that the Minor Works Grant would be paid in either December or January of the school year to all primary schools, including special schools. In recent years my Department’s approach has been to pay the Minor Works Grant to primary schools in advance of the start of the following school year in order to facilitate a better lead in period for schools to plan any maintenance or minor works during the summer period.
Between 2018 and 2023 in the region of €310 million in Minor Works Grants and Enhanced Minor Works Grants has been allocated to schools. The Minor Works Grant for the current school year 2023/2024, was paid in April 2023, to all primary schools including special schools.
Schools have the autonomy to use this funding for maintenance and small-scale improvements to school buildings and grounds. Given that each school setting is different, individual schools are best placed to decide how best to use this funding to address their particular needs.
The works that can be undertaken under the Minor Works Grant Scheme include maintenance and small-scale improvements to school buildings and grounds, improvement or replacement of mechanical and electrical services, the purchase of standard furniture and educational equipment, the purchase of floor coverings and window blinds, the purchase of IT related equipment, ventilation improvements, and enhancements to outdoor learning environments.
Arrangements are currently being made for the payment of €29 million in Minor Works grants to primary schools and special schools for the forthcoming 2024/25 school year.
I recently announced €50 million in grant funding for Information and Communications Technology (ICT), which will issue shortly to all recognised primary, special Schools and post-primary schools. This ICT funding is being provided to schools to help them continue to use digital technologies in their teaching, learning and assessment and which represents the second tranche of ICT funding under the Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027.
The Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027 was published last year and is underpinned by an investment of €200m to support its implementation, committed to under Ireland’s National Development Plan (NDP). The first tranche of €50m issued to all recognised primary and post-primary schools in late 2021.
Under the previous Digital Strategy for Schools 2015 to 2020, saw overall investment of €210m issued to all recognised primary and post-primary schools in annual grant funding. This funding enabled schools to invest in appropriate digital infrastructure to enable the embedding of the use of digital technology in teaching, learning and assessment.
Additionally, further Funding of €50m secured as part of Ireland's National Recovery and Resilience Plan under the NextGenerationEU Recovery and Resilience Facility also issued to all recognised schools in the free education scheme to support learners at risk of educational disadvantage through the digital divide in late 2021.
While it is not feasible to meet with individual schools, I am fully aware of the challenges currently facing schools.
The Financial Support Services Unit (FSSU), funded by my Department, is an important source of advice and support to schools on financial matters. To be of assistance, officials from my Department have contacted the FSSU, and requested that they contact the school directly to provide advice and support, as required. I understand that the FSSU have been in contact with the school and are meeting with them shortly to discuss their financial situation.
Schools Building Projects
Questions (305)
Denise Mitchell
Question:305. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Education to meet with a group (details supplied) to discuss the long-promised redevelopment of a school in order to meet current demand. [16297/24]
View answerWritten answers
I can assure the Deputy that the major building project for Scoil Chiaráin Special School is a significant priority for my Department.
While the original project brief was to deliver a new extension and refurbishment of the current school building, it was agreed, following a review by the Design Team to revise the project scope to deliver a new replacement school at the current site in Glasnevin.
The current building dates from the late 1970s. The new building will provide purpose-built accommodation for students with special educational needs, ranging in age from 4 to 18 years. This will comprise 20 mainstream classrooms, along with additional specialised rooms including Art, Home Economics, Woodwork, a Library, GP Room, Dining Space, Sensory Room, dedicated therapy rooms and all associated ancillary accommodation. The accommodation will take into consideration the specific needs of the students of Scoil Chiaráin.
The project is currently close to completion of Stage 2(b) of the architectural design process. Stage 2(b) involves detailed design and the preparation of tender documentation. The next stage, subject to relevant Stage 2(b) approvals, will be Stage 3, tender stage. Projects are subject to relevant due diligence by my Department at each stage in the process, within the context of overall programme and budgetary parameters.
In late March, following a review of National Development Plan allocations, the Government approved medium term capital allocations for the Department of Education for the period to 2026. The Department’s Planning and Building Unit is now reviewing its programme plans in the context of those recently confirmed allocations.
Special schools are a particular priority for my Department’s school building programme and I know the new building for Scoil Chiaráin will be transformative for the school community.
Department officials will keep the school authorities updated on progress and next steps.
Gaeltacht Policy
Questions (306)
Catherine Connolly
Question:306. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 513 of 20 March 2024, her plans to develop a new policy on Gaeltacht education, to follow on from the 2017 – 2022 policy that was extended to the end of the 2023/2024 school year; the status of the research and evaluation study currently being carried out by the educational research centre to evaluate the impact and effectiveness of the scheme; the terms of reference of the study; the timeline for the publication of the final report of the study; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16307/24]
View answerWritten answers
My Department launched the Policy on Gaeltacht Education as a strategic response to address the linguistic challenges facing Gaeltacht language-planning areas. Significant progress has been made across all aspects of the Policy since the commencement of its implementation.
The Gaeltacht School Recognition Scheme was launched in April 2017. 103 primary schools and 29 post-primary schools in the Gaeltacht are participating in the Scheme in the current School-year. A circular issued in February 2024 to schools participating in the Scheme advising them that supports under the Scheme will continue throughout the next phase of the Scheme. This is in recognition that continuity will be required in the supports provided to schools to support them on their journey towards achieving best practice.
A Research and Evaluation Study is currently being undertaken by the Educational Research Centre (ERC) in to evaluate the impact and effectiveness of the Scheme in order to inform future policy and practice in schools. The current phase of their research is in the form of questionnaires and interviews with school communities, which are being conducted with a sample of schools in the Scheme.
The ERC has also conducted research on student attainment and on the views of parents, students, teachers and principals of participating schools. A report on these research findings will be published by my Department before the end of 2024.
Teaching Council of Ireland
Questions (307)
Thomas Pringle
Question:307. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education the reason it is not possible to complete registration on the Teaching Council’s online portal through the medium of the Irish language; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16308/24]
View answerWritten answers
Under 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 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.
The Teaching Council has confirmed that the Irish language version of their online portal went live in July 2023 with the vast majority of the portal available through Irish.
The Teaching Council has informed me that since then, they have been, and continue to, proactively take steps to ensure that the online registration renewal process can be completed fully in Irish. As it stands, almost all parts of the online portal are available in Irish.
For reasons of functionality, a very small number of fields on the online renewal process are not available in Irish and currently display in English. However, the Teaching Council is actively working with its third-party supplier to rectify this as soon as possible.
It remains a high priority for the Teaching Council to fully implement the Irish language version of the My Registration portal and they have assured me that they are committed to having the online portal fully available in Irish as soon as possible.
In the interim, the Teaching Council can support the renewal of registration fully through Irish over the phone or by providing a paper-based option.
Special Educational Needs
Questions (308)
Johnny Guirke
Question:308. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Education if she can explain the serious cut to the special education teacher allocation hours in a school (details supplied), based on high standardised assessment results achieved by the school overall, despite increasing enrolment numbers and no reduction in students with additional education requirements, and risking the positive outcomes that the school has achieved in this area to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16317/24]
View answerWritten answers
I would like to thank the Deputy for question raised.
Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for this government. The vast majority of children with special educational needs are supported to attend mainstream classes with their peers.
The Special Education Teaching (SET) allocation model for 2024/25 is based on information from all 4,000 schools in the country. The model distributes the total available number of SET posts in line with each school’s profile of need.
The model seeks to distribute teaching resources in the fairest possible manner, taking into account as much evidence as possible in respect of individual schools and evidence in respect of the best possible use of resources. Schools must adhere to the guidance on the use of SET hours and support all children with additional teaching needs using the continuum of support framework.
The revised model is providing an annual allocation of SET teaching hours, using the best possible available data sources and is ensuring that the right resource is available at the right time to meet the needs of children with special educational needs. Schools have autonomy to deploy those resources to meet the needs of their students. In this regard it is important to note that 67% of all schools saw their allocation increase or remain the same, whereas 33% saw a reduction in hours. Of those schools who saw a reduction in hours 90% was a result of falling enrolment.
The Department acknowledges that every school is different, and that schools can experience unique circumstances that may be difficult to reflect in any standardised method. This is always a challenge when making allocations in respect of 4,000 schools. It is for this reason that the Department, working with the NCSE has streamlined the review process for special education teaching hours and schools who have any concerns can engage with the NCSE on their allocation.
Reviews are being conducted by the NCSE, between March and May, to better enable schools to plan for the following September. An internal NCSE review panel will consider the application ensuring that the school have clearly evidenced that the overall level of special education teaching allocation in this school does not have capacity to meet this additional identified need.
Additional resources will be provided to schools in cases where the NCSE have identified that this is required.
This review process has now commenced with reviews being considered on a weekly basis with first priority given to schools who are developing or rapidly developing. A total of 218 applications have been received from schools.
A weekly process for consideration of submitted reviews is in place between the department and the NCSE so that schools can be advised at the earliest opportunity.
The first tranche of 32 schools were contacted the week of the 8th April to advise of additional allocations following review. On the recommendation of the NCSE my department has allocated a total of 427.5 additional Special Education Teaching hours to this first tranche of schools. Depending on the profile of the school the additional allocation ranges from 2.5 hours to 27.5 hours per school. The average additional allocation for this first tranche of schools is 13.5 hours.
It is important to note that SET hours are only one component of support for children in mainstream but the most important support is the mainstream class teacher. The pupil teacher ratio at primary level is now 23:1 which means there are more mainstream teachers than ever before in our educational system.
In relation to the specific school mentioned in the question I can confirm that department officials have contacted the NCSE and the NCSE has confirmed that the school has made a review application through their portal. The NCSE have further advised that they will be in contact with the school to progress the schools request for review shortly.