Written Answers Nos. 474-493
474. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education the status of the project for the transfer of a special school (details supplied); when funding will be made available; when the project will commence and be completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46315/24]
View answerThe Project referred to by the Deputy was approved to enter the department’s pipeline of school buildings to provide the refurbishment and extension to an existing building.
The Tender Report for the project was recently received by my department and is being reviewed by the departments professional and technical team from both a technical and cost perspective in accordance with the requirements of the Public Spending Code.
Once this review has been completed the Department will contact the school authorities with the outcome for the progression of this much needed project.
475. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education the up-to-date position in respect of a building project; when it is likely that a response will issue in relation to a revised stage 1 report which was submitted by the school (details supplied) to her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46326/24]
View answerThe school to which the Deputy refers was approved to enter the department’s pipeline for a project under my Department's Additional School Accommodation (ASA) Scheme. The project will provide a five classroom special education needs (SEN) base. The project was devolved for delivery to the school authority.
I can confirm that a Stage 1 revised report had been received by my department and evaluated by the Professional and Technical team from both a technical and cost perspective in accordance with the requirements of the Public Spending Code. The project was recently sanctioned to proceed to Stage 2A (detailed design).
It is now within the remit of the school authority to progress this project accordingly. A Stage 2A report must be completed and submitted to my Department for review before a planning application for the project can be lodged.
Once the Stage 2a process is completed my department will engage with the school authority to advise how best to progress this important project.
476. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education the current status of an additional accommodation project application by a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46328/24]
View answerThe school to which the Deputy refers was approved to enter the department’s pipeline for a project under my Department's Additional School Accommodation (ASA) Scheme. The project will provide four mainstream classrooms, eight SET rooms and a four classroom Special Education Needs (SEN) base. The project was devolved for delivery to the school authority.
Following the Stage 1 meeting with the Department in January 2023, the project was sanctioned to proceed to Stage 2a (developed design). A Stage 2a report was received in Q4 of 2023 which was reviewed by Departments officials from both a technical and cost perspective in accordance with the requirements of Public Spending Code. A subsequent meeting between Department officials and the design team took place in July 2024 to address issues which arose with the initial Stage 2a submission.
As a result of this meeting, a revised Stage 2a report had been requested by my Department. Officials in my department have been in contact with the school authority recently and were advised that the submission of the revised Stage 2a report is expected in January 2025.
Once the revised Stage 2a report submission is received and approved by my department, the next step for the Design Team will be to obtain the statutory planning approvals and move the project onward to tender and construction in due course.
My department will continue to engage with the school authority to provide practical advice and assistance on the project.
477. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Education the number of spaces available for incoming first year students in mainstream secondary schools within the school planning area of Galway city; and if the schools have sufficient capacity for all 6th class pupils currently enrolled in mainstream primary schools within the school planning area of Galway city. [46330/24]
View answerIt is an absolute priority of my Department to ensure that every child in the State has access to a school place and we are continually investing in existing and new schools to ensure that this is the case.
My Department has put in place a number of measures to support post-primary schools, including in the Galway City School Planning Area, in managing and effectively coordinating their admissions processes. These include:
• The Department has improved the central Post-Primary On-line Database IT system that schools use to register student enrolments. This is an important improvement and is available to assist schools to manage the enrolment process and provide real-time notification to schools where a new student has accepted a school place in more than one school. This will help identify duplicate enrolments at a very early stage.
• The Department has written to all parents and guardians of children in sixth class with advice and guidance regarding the admissions process for post-primary for the 2025/26 school year. This letter advised parents to apply to multiple schools in areas where there is high demand and requested parents to take steps to avoid holding multiple places.
• The successful data-sharing arrangements that were implemented for the 2024/25 admissions process in areas of enrolment pressure have been put in place again for the 2025/26 process, including for Galway City. It is expected that, as in previous years, the data sharing will provide confidence that there is sufficient school place availability in the majority of areas. My Department is liaising closely with schools to ensure that this data is provided as soon as possible, and once it is received the actual requirement for places can be established. However, if a shortfall of places is identified in an area, the Department will work with schools to put the necessary solutions in place.
My Department is working to get greater clarity in this respect and will continue to liaise with school authorities and patrons. The nature of the admissions processes is quite complex as offers and acceptances continue to transact and there can often be significant overlap across areas and schools. In that context, while some applicants may not yet have received an offer of a school place for 2025/26, families can be assured that all children who require a school place will be provided with one.
The Educational Welfare Services of the Child and Family Agency, Tusla, is the statutory agency that can assist parents who are experiencing difficulty in securing a school place for their child. The local service is delivered through the national network of Educational Welfare Officers. Contact details are available on Tusla’s website.
The Department will continue to work to ensure every child across the country including in Galway city has a school place.
478. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education to outline, in light of the long-standing delays since 2003 in providing a permanent building for a school (details supplied), the steps her Department is taking to expedite the commencement of construction on the site for which full planning permission was granted in 2008. [46337/24]
View answer613. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education in light of the long-standing delays since 2003 in providing a permanent building for a school (details supplied), the steps her Department is taking to expedite the commencement of construction on the site, for which full planning permission was granted in 2008; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1372/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 478 and 613 together.
The Major Building Project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of architectural planning Stage 2b – Detailed Design, which includes the application for all statutory consents, including Planning Permission, Disability Access Certification and Fire Safety Certification and the preparation of the Tender documentation.
The project brief is to provide a New School Building for high-risk pupils as part of the Youth Encounter Project (YEP) scheme.
This project was originally to be delivered by the Dublin Docklands Development Authority, and the site and project were transferred to the Department of Education in 2013. The Design Team have been progressing the project through the stages of architectural planning - Initial site investigation and design scheme, Developed design and Detailed design stages.
In the interim, the Local Authority has deemed the site unsafe, and my Department has authorised an Enabling Works Contract prior to the main project, to make the site safe and to carry out essential site investigation surveys, to allow completion of the Stage 2(b) Submission.
The Enabling Works will require the interim relocation of an ESB power line, and an agreed proposal and location for that ESB line has only recently been confirmed. Initial works began in September 2024, and the Design Team and Project Manager are in communication with the ESB to complete the works as soon as possible. Enabling works to a neighbouring third party's property will also be required.
Once these works are completed, and the site safety works and site surveys completed and furnished to the Design Team, they can then complete the Stage 2(b) report and submit it to my Department for review. The Design Team have also secured an extension to planning permission to February 2026.
479. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education the status of a modular building application made by a primary school in County Clare (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46342/24]
View answerI 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 one mainstream classroom.
The project is being delivered under the Department’s Devolved SEN Reconfiguration and Modular Accommodation programme. This programme provides project management supports to enable the accommodation to be provided as quickly as possible and helps to ease the administrative workload for individual schools in relation to the management and delivery of the project. 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 School Authority recently submitted the signed necessary documentation to allow this project to progress to delivery stage, therefore, the project is now entering detailed design stage with the first tranche of funding for same expected to issue in the coming days. 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 Authority to keep it updated on overall project delivery and timelines.
480. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education if her Department will engage with a school (details supplied) regarding the need to progress phase 2 of the building programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46354/24]
View answerThe school to which the Deputy refers was approved to enter the department’s pipeline for a project under the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) Scheme. The project will provide 2 classroom Special Education Needs base, 12 Special Education Tuition rooms and reconfiguration of an existing staff room to provide a Home School Class Liaison room and new replacement staff room. The project was devolved to the school authority for delivery.
My department received a Stage 1 report in Q4 2023. Following an initial analysis, Department officials requested additional information in April 2024 from the school to address certain omissions from this report. Information was provided in September 2024 and reviewed from a technical perspective. My Department recommended this project to progress to Stage 2A (Developed Design) to include some minor comments and observations by my Department officials.
My Department was informed on 10 December 2024 that the school had made a decision to close a part of the school due to health and safety concerns. A technical visit was arranged to the school on 12 December 2024 to assess and advise on the immediate health and safety issues. It was recommended that the existing temporary accommodation be removed from site and my department would meet these costs. The design team is currently preparing the documentation to tender for these works to be submitted to my Department when completed. In the meantime, pest control services were engaged at the school and the situation is no under control.
481. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Education if the case of a teacher (details supplied) who has been refused an application for incremental credits will be examined; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46356/24]
View answerThe criteria for the award of incremental credit are set out in the Department of Education’s Circulars 10/2001 for primary teachers, and 29/2007 and 29/2010 for post-primary teachers. The criteria for the award of incremental credit to recognised teachers was agreed under the auspices of the Teachers Conciliation Council (TCC).
Regarding the application to which the Deputy refers, the department issued a response to this teacher in November and advised that to receive the qualified rate of pay, a post primary teacher must be registered with the Teaching Council and have qualifications appropriate to the post primary sector for which they are employed.
As per the Teaching Council Register, this teacher is registered under route 3 - further education sector since 10 September 2024. The department advised this teacher of the outcome for their Incremental credit application in a letter of the 14 November 2024. This teacher is currently employed in a department paid post primary post, which requires post primary route 2 registration with the Teaching Council.
All applicants are notified of the department’s decision through a letter, posted to the correspondence address given on the application form. The department does not deliver any incremental credit decisions to a teacher over the telephone. The decision to award or refuse incremental credit is based solely on the information provided on the application form.
The department’s decision outlined to this teacher on 14 November 2024 remains the same.
482. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education the start date of a school building project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46360/24]
View answerThe project to which the Deputy refers has been devolved for delivery to Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board (KWETB).
The Department approved a submission from the school authority to increase the original brief in the context of a significant increase in projected new enrolments in the area. This allowed for a project to cater for a 1,000 pupil school plus 6 special education needs classes.
A planning application was submitted to Wicklow County Council in Q4 2023, and full grant of planning permission was received in Q2 2024.
The design team are progressing the detail design drawings in preparation for the stage 2b submission. When Stage 2b has been finalised, received, reviewed and approved, the next stage is tendering for a contractor and then onwards to construction in due course. It is not possible to provide an accurate timeline for the project at this stage.
483. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education when refurbishment works will be completed at a school (details supplied). [46364/24]
View answerThe school 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.
The project commenced on site in October 2023 and has a current expected completion date of Q2 2026.
The NDFA are engaging directly with the school authority to keep it informed of progress.
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.
484. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the number of students that applied for a school transport ticket for the 2024-2025 school term in County Kerry, broken down into standard, concessionary and unsuccessful applications, in tabular form. [46365/24]
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 172,500 children, are transported daily in approximately 7,900 vehicles across 10,300 routes daily to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country. These daily trips cover over 100 million kilometres. This figure includes over 143,800 pupils travelling on primary and post primary services, 21,700 pupils with special educational needs, and 6,800 pupils who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine.
The scheme is made up of three separate schemes, the school transport scheme for primary, post primary and for children with special educational needs. Transport is also provided for children who have arrived in Ireland from Ukraine and those residing in IPAS/EROC centres.
The total expenditure on the scheme in 2024 was €512m.
The purpose of my Department's School Transport Scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school.
Under the terms of the School Transport Schemes, children are eligible for transport at primary level where they reside not less than 3.2 kms from and are attending their nearest national school. At post primary level, they are eligible where they reside not less than 4.8 kms from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre. Distance is determined by the Department/Bus Éireann and rules have regard to ethos and language.
Children who are eligible for school transport and who complete the application process on time (apply on time and pay on time) are accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation and where there is capacity to do so.
Children who are not eligible but who apply for school transport are considered for spare seats that may exist after eligible children have been facilitated; such seats are referred to as concessionary seats.
Because of the nature of concessionary transport for non-eligible children and the priority of providing places for eligible children, there may be an excess of demand over supply for concessionary places. In these cases Bus Éireann will allocate tickets for spare seats using an agreed selection process.
Temporary Alleviation Measures (TAMS) at post primary level are continued for the current school year. Under these measures, transport will be provided where there is a route in operation and where capacity exists for concessionary post primary pupils who are eligible for transport to their nearest school, are attending their second nearest school and who applied and paid on time.
In relation to the Deputy's request for the number of students that applied for a school transport ticket for the 2024-2025 school term in County Kerry, broken down into standard, concessionary and unsuccessful applications, Bus Éireann have supplied the detail requested in the attached table.
It is important to note that with regard to the number of applications submitted - some may not have been completed, or no payment or a late payment was made. In some cases customers may have looked for refunds and/or received grants where no services were available.
Bus Éireann has also provided data in the attached table regarding the number of successful and unsuccessful school transport applications in respect of the 2024/25 school year, in the area specified by the Deputy.
485. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education when refurbishment works at a school (details supplied) will move to construction phase of works; and the expected timeframe for these works to be completed. [46366/24]
View answerThe major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is currently at Stage 3, Tender Action & Award.
The brief for this project is to provide a new 13 classroom school plus accommodation for pupils with special educational needs and the demolition of the existing buildings at the current school site.
The Design Team had submitted the tender report to my Department in late 2024, and upon initial review, my Department have requested the Design Team to clarify certain elements of the tender with the contractor identified. This process is ongoing.
The large-scale capital project remains a priority for delivery and Department Officials will be in contact with the school authority when the Design Team submit the clarifications.
486. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education if she has considered aligning school bus escorts' holiday pay rights with those of teachers and special needs assistants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46380/24]
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 172,500 children, are transported daily in approximately 7,900 vehicles across 10,300 routes to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country. These daily trips cover over 100 million kilometres. This figure includes over 143,800 pupils travelling on primary and post primary services, 21,700 pupils with special educational needs, and 6,800 pupils who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine.
The scheme is made up of three separate schemes, the school transport scheme for primary, post primary and for children with special educational needs. Transport is also provided for children who have arrived in Ireland from Ukraine and those residing in IPAS/EROC centres.
The total expenditure on the scheme in 2024 was €512m.
There is a facility within the Special Educational Needs Transport Scheme for the appointment of a School Transport Escort where a child’s care and safety needs while on school transport are such as to require the support of a School Transport Escort.
The Department of Education provides grant funding for the employment of the School Transport Escort and sets the rate of pay. The Board of Management/ETB are responsible for the employment of the School Transport Escort.
It is recognised that School Bus Escorts play a vital role in supporting children with Special Educational Needs in their journey to and from school.
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. As a recommended action arising from the review, the Department committed to continuing the comprehensive analysis of matters as they relate to the escort's pay, and the information provided to schools as the employer of the escort.
The work underway by School Transport Section regarding the employment of School Bus Escorts has been completed and an information pack has issued to schools.
The commitment to review pay rates for Bus Escorts has also been completed in full for 2024. A circular issued to schools on Monday 04 November 2024 to advise that the increased rate of pay for escorts has been set at €15.20 per hour from 01 October 2024.
487. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education if she will ensure that all school secretaries and caretakers have access to the pension scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46422/24]
View answerMy Department is providing a payroll service for school secretaries with effect from 1st September 2023. The provision of a payroll service is part of a package agreed with Fórsa, the trade union representing school secretaries, following a series of engagements at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) and also includes revised terms and conditions for secretaries.
The Agreement however, outlined within Circular 0036/2020 which has provided for revised salary and annual leave entitlements, did not grant school secretaries with public servant status.
The school remains the employer of school secretaries and it is their obligation to provide access to a PRSA scheme for employees. For secretaries who are paid through the Department-administered payroll, a facility is now being offered to join a PRSA scheme administered by Cornmarket with contributions being deducted at source. Should secretaries wish to avail of this option, they can contact Cornmarket directly – the participation of individuals in any scheme is a matter between the individual and the service provider.
The Department is committed to ensuring that school caretakers will be afforded the opportunity to avail a similar package offered to school secretaries of revised salary and annual leave entitlements in the near future.
At present, work is ongoing to review the results of the compressive survey which will enable my officials to confirm their understanding of the current working patters as well as terms and conditions of work for school caretakers. In parallel with this, the Department are actively in communication with Fórsa on this important issue and regular bilateral meetings are occurring. Matters discussed have contributed to a clearer understanding of the differences in existing terms and conditions of caretakers to secretaries and have been helpful in forming and developing the survey.
In the normal course, there are ongoing discussions with the public service unions on matters relating to pay agreements as well as general terms and conditions of employment. Any changes to the terms and conditions agreed under 0036/2022 can occur only under those processes and any such proposals would need to be considered in detail by the Department, the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform and the relevant unions.
488. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Education the amount of funding that has been provided in Budget 2025 towards the provision of a special school in County Monaghan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46425/24]
View answer489. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Education further to the announcement that a special school in County Monaghan will be located in Castleblayney, the exact location proposed for the school; the date of opening; the number of children that will be facilitated in the school upon opening; the number of staff and each staff role that will be provided at the school upon opening; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46426/24]
View answer490. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Education further to the announced approval of a special school in County Monaghan, the criteria that will be applied for successful applicants; if she can assure that the school be accept applications relating to all children with profound special needs including those with autism and those without autism; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46427/24]
View answer491. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Education the process which determined that Monaghan would be allocated a special school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46428/24]
View answer492. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Education further to the announcement that a special school in County Monaghan will be located in Castleblayney, if the school will be housed in permanent buildings upon opening; if not, if it will be based in temporary units; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46429/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 488, 489, 490, 491 and 492 together.
My department works closely with the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) on the forward planning of new special classes and additional special school places. Building on successive budgets, Budget 2025 secured funding for up to 400 new special classes in mainstream schools, and an additional 300 special school places for the 2025/26 school year. This will deliver 2,700 new places for children.
Part of the forward planning process as to where new classes, schools or expansion is required looks at how far students are travelling to access an education appropriate to their needs. This is an important factor which has been incorporated into the decision-making process. Consideration is also given to the information NCSE hold at local level on the number of children seeking a special school place in a region.
Almost 1,700 new special classes have been opened over the last 5 years and 11 new special schools have been established in recent years. For this school year alone, over 400 new special classes have been sanctioned with classes provided in every county. Four new special schools also opened in counties Meath, Kildare, Wexford and Limerick.
As you are aware five new special schools will be established for the next school year, two in County Dublin and one each in counties Cork, Monaghan and Tipperary. This will bring to 129 the number of NCSE supported special schools in the county.
The new special school in Monaghan will be located in Castleblaney and will operate under the patronage of Cavan and Monaghan Education and Training Board (CMETB). Dedicated working groups have been established by my department to work through the details in relation to the establishment of the new special schools, including the new special school in County Monaghan.
It is envisaged that existing buildings will be repurposed, in the first instance, to facilitate the opening of the new special schools for the 2025/26 school year. This will allow the schools to open as quickly as possible.
The exact initial capacity of each special school, including the new school in Monaghan will be considered further and confirmed shortly. Special schools generally operate on the basis of 1 teacher and at least 2 SNAs per class grouping of 6 children. Further supports can be provided if required to meet the needs of the children enrolling in the school.
Parents and families looking to apply for admission to the new special school will be supported and guided by the NCSE at local level and kept updated on developments. The NCSE are holding information events with interested parents of children who may require a special school place.
493. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education if the estimated cost of the award of incremental credit to teachers returning to Ireland with this service each year at €1.3 million, incudes salary adjustment for teachers who have already returned from teaching abroad. [46430/24]
View answerThe criteria for the award of incremental credit are set out in the Department of Education’s Circulars 10/2001 for primary teachers, and 29/2007 and 29/2010 for post-primary teachers. The criteria for the award of incremental credit to recognised teachers was agreed under the auspices of the Teachers Conciliation Council (TCC).
As indicated previously to the Deputy in the department’s parliamentary question (42889/24), through the Teachers Conciliation Council, the teacher unions have lodged a claim concerning the recognition of private post primary teaching service outside the EU towards the award of incremental credit and this claim is currently being considered by the department.
The cost to which the Deputy refers, is the estimated cost of the award of incremental credit to teachers returning to Ireland with this service each year. €1.3m does not include a salary adjustment for those who have already returned from teaching abroad.
The department examined this request as part of the 2025 budgetary process. However, it was not possible to secure funding to progress this request through the 2025 budgetary process.
The department is continuing to examine ways in which the matter may be progressed in the future.
