Marian Harkin
Question:634. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Education if an issue with regard to sick leave will be reviewed (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1707/25]
View answerWritten Answers Nos. 634-653
634. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Education if an issue with regard to sick leave will be reviewed (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1707/25]
View answerThe Public Service Sick Leave Scheme, which applies to teachers, is regulated by the Public Service Management (Sick Leave) Regulations 2014, SI 124 of 2014, as amended by the Public Service Management (Sick Leave) (Amendment) Regulations 2015, SI 384 of 2015 and the Public Service Management (Sick Leave) (Amendment) Regulations 2023, SI No. 407/2023. The Sick Leave Scheme for teachers is contained in my Department’s Circular Letter 13/2024.
Leave entitlements for public servants are determined by the Department of Public Expenditure, National Delivery and Reform (DPENDR). Under Section 24 of the Education Act 1998, the Minister for Education, with the concurrence of the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Delivery & Reform, is authorised to determine the terms and conditions of employment for teachers employed in approved teaching posts funded by monies provided by the Oireachtas.
A teacher who has applied for and been granted a career break, and is working in a substitute capacity, shall be regarded as working on a casual basis i.e. a non-contractual position. As there is no contract in place for casual substitute work between the employer and the substitute, there is no entitlement to access to the Public Service Sick Leave Scheme.
In this case, the permanent role of the employee takes precedence with regards to adhering to the terms and conditions of the Sick Leave Scheme, including application of the look-back extension rules.
635. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education if further resources will be provided to a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1708/25]
View answerUnder the Assistive Technology Scheme, as set out in my Department’s Circular 0010/2013, funding is provided to schools towards the cost of computers and specialist equipment, which are required for educational purposes.
All equipment provided under this scheme supports children with more complex disabilities who, in order to access the school curriculum, require essential specialist equipment. It must be clear that the existing I.T. equipment in the school is insufficient to meet the child's needs. Where necessary, schools may also purchase new or additional equipment or software for students from normal school resources or funds.
An application for assistive technology was submitted by the primary school on the 22nd of April 2024. Based on the professional information provided to the SENO and in line with criteria set out in Circular 10/2013, the SENO was not in a position to recommend an assistive technology grant for the school concerned on behalf of the student. This decision issued to the school on 31 May 2024.
The school has the option to appeal this decision. The appeals process is outlined on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/service/237c68-assistive-technology-grant/.
Separately, where an appeal has been unsuccessful, but new information becomes available, the school may submit a new application to the SENO for consideration.
Parents may also contact SENOs directly to discuss their child’s special educational needs, using the contact details available at: https://ncse.ie/seno-contact-information
To date no appeal has been submitted. However, officials from my Department have been in contact with the school concerned with the view to progressing this application.
636. Deputy Brian Brennan asked the Minister for Education whether a rural school (details supplied) would be eligible for a whole school building upgrade rather than relying on constant emergency works applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1730/25]
View answerThe purpose of the Emergency Works Scheme (EWS) is to provide funding specifically for unforeseen emergencies, or to provide funding to facilitate inclusion and access for pupils with special needs. It does so by ensuring the availability of funding for urgent works to those schools that are in need of resources as a result of an emergency situation.
The EWS operates on the basis of a minimal scope works to address the emergency situation. The EWS in intended to remedy an emergency situation and usually provides only an interim measure until a permanent solution can be delivered.
My Department and the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications have also developed a jointly funded school sector decarbonisation pathfinder programme. It is administered by the Planning and Building Unit in my Department and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland in partnership with devolved delivery support from Limerick and Clare Education Training Board, and Longford and Westmeath Education Training Board.
This Pathfinder programme is paving the way for, and informing, a much larger national decarbonisation school sector programme.
The pathfinder programme is a great example of collaboration ensuring the deployment of new design approaches and technologies are introduced to the school sector on an evidence-based approach. This programme continues to assist my Department to explore options and test various solutions for decarbonised energy efficiency solutions in our broad range of school building types.
It is facilitating research on a range of typical retrofit options for schools, which will be tried and tested. It is providing valuable development information for a solution driven delivery strategy which will be founded on a solid evidence base that has proven the robustness and scalability of renewable solutions within the school sector.
Each school selected undergoes a comprehensive assessment to ensure that the measures are suitable for that school and will deliver value to both the school and learnings for the national retrofit programme.
The works typically involves upgrades to the building fabric including wall and roof insulation, doors and windows, air tightness improvements, LED lighting and heating upgrades as well as renewable technologies.
The general principles and approach to school selection includes; schools who comply with their annual reporting obligations to the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) with respect to their annual energy usage under the Energy Monitoring and Reporting scheme and secondly schools that demonstrate a strong and holistic commitment to energy management practices through participation in the Energy in Education website portal and advice programme that is operated by the SEAI and my Department.
The programme selection also seeks to enable various cross sections of school types and sizes, energy consumption profiles and different elements of construction type and heritage/ conservation requirements where specific learnings are being targeted.
The pathfinder programme is generally delivered in line with the above considerations however and not on an application basis. Schools, such as the school to which the Deputy refers, who wish to be considered should ensure that they are meeting their Energy Monitoring and Reporting requirements and also participating in the Energy in Education Programme.
638. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Education if she will report on the capacity to cater for children with special needs in the education system in Kerry; the number of special needs classes in secondary schools; the proportion of secondary schools that have special needs classes; the number of SNAs currently in employment; the number of children with SENs this caters for; the proportion of primary schools that have special needs classes; the number of SNAs currently in employment; the number of children with SENs this caters for; if she is satisfied that the education needs of children with SENs are being met in a secondary education setting; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1746/25]
View answer639. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Education if she will report on the number of school places for children with special educational needs in County Kerry in each of the years 2020 to 2024, broken down by primary and secondary school places, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1747/25]
View answer653. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Education to provide a breakdown of the number of SNAs employed in Kerry in each of the years 2019 to date, in tabular form; the number of vacancies in Kerry in each of the years 2019 to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1893/25]
View answerAs you are aware enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for government. Thanks to considerable investment in special education in recent years 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.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children with special educational needs. They have recently recruited additional special educational needs organisers (SENOs), advisors and team managers.
Almost 1,700 classes have been sanctioned by the NCSE in the last 5 years, 11 new special schools have been established and many more expanded. For this school year alone over 400 new special classes have been sanctioned bringing the total number of special classes nationwide to 3,336. Budget 2025 provides funding for another 400 special classes and 300 special school places nationwide. The NCSE is currently visiting schools to help determine where new provision is required for the 2025/26 school year. Over 1,000 visits have been concluded nationwide and it is expected that the NCSE will sanction a number of new special classes in the coming weeks.
There are 3,082 primary schools and 722 post-primary schools nationwide, of which 132 primary and 26 post-primary schools are in County Kerry. For the 2024/25 school year there are 98 special classes in County Kerry, 7 of these were newly sanctioned for the 2024/25 school year, 5 at primary level and 2 at post-primary level.
The table below provides a breakdown of special classes in primary and post-primary schools in County Kerry from the 2019/20 school year to present The vast majority of these are autism classes and have a teacher/student ratio of 1:6.
School Type |
20219/20 |
2020/21 |
2021/22 |
2022/23 |
2023/24 |
2024/25 |
Primary Level |
36 |
39 |
50 |
55 |
60 |
65 |
Post Primary Level |
17 |
22 |
24 |
26 |
30 |
33 |
Total |
53 |
61 |
74 |
81 |
90 |
98 |
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.
In October 2022, 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. Last year, my department issued a circular to all schools setting out new measures to support the forward planning of special education provision. Included in this circular was a reminder of the need for post primary schools to continue planning for this level of provision.
Special needs assistants (SNAs) allocations are provided to schools on the basis of the school's overall profile of need. As a result, the number of students supported by SNAs varies from school to school.
When the NCSE allocates a SNA post, the board of management as the employer, is responsible for filling the vacancy. The decision on whether to employ a full time SNA to fill a full-time post or to employ an equivalent number of part time SNAs rests with the employer. Therefore data on the number of SNAs employed is held at a local level.
The NCSE publish their allocation of SNA posts annually on their website. For ease of reference these allocations are broken down by county and school type. This data is available on the NCSE website.
We have been steadily building on the number of SNAs in our mainstream education, special classes and special schools. At the end of the 2023 school year there was just over 21,000 SNAs in schools, double the number there were in 2011. Budget 2024 provided for 1,216 new SNA posts and Budget 2025 for a further 1,600.
640. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Education the full address and Eircode of each property that is directly occupied by her Department where that address is located in Dublin, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1760/25]
View answerThe information as requested by the Deputy is set out in the table below.
Address and Eircode |
Department of Education, 2nd floor, West Wing, The Herbert Building, The Park, Carrickmines, Dublin 18 D18K8Y4 |
Department of Education , c/o South Dublin County Council, Belgarde Square North, Tallaght, Dublin 24 D24 A3EX |
Department of Education, Floor 1, Block 3, Grove Court, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15 D15 HNT2 |
Department of Education, 4th Floor, Metropolitan Building, James Joyce Street, Dublin 1 D01 K0Y8 |
Department of Education, 4th, 5th and 6th Floors, Generali Building, Blanchardstown Retail Park, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15 D15 YT2H |
Department of Education, Marlborough Street, Dublin 1 D01 RC96 |
641. Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Education for a full update on the proposed new school building as part of the amalgamation of schools (details supplied); when a planning application will be lodged; and the approximate timeline for the completion of the overall project. [1791/25]
View answerSince 2020, my department has invested over €5.7 billion in our schools throughout the country, involving the completion of over 1,150 school building projects and with construction currently underway at approximately 300 other projects, which includes new school buildings some of which are being delivered in phases. These 300 projects currently at construction involve a total State investment of over €1.3bn.
Between projects currently under construction and projects moving to construction in this latest phase, investments by the Department of Education are adding over 550,000 square metres of new and modernised capacity to our school estate.
This is a record level of investment in school buildings. It will expand the number of school places, significantly increase provision for special education and upgrade and modernise our school infrastructure.? The impact of this will be felt in communities right around the country.
The permanent school building project referred to by the Deputy will provide a new 16 classroom primary school and accommodation, including 4 classrooms, for children with special educational needs.
It is intended that the project will be delivered under my Department's ADAPT Programme which uses a professional external Programme Manager to co-ordinate and drive the Integrated Project Team (IPT) to achieve the best possible timeframe for the project through the stages of Architectural Planning, to Tender and Construction.
The Programme Manager for the ADAPT 4 programme was appointed in Q3 2024 and has been progressing the tender documentation for the procurement of the multi-disciplinary design team consultants. A two stage procurement process for the IPT appointment is ongoing with Stage 1 complete and Stage 2 underway.
It is not possible to provide a timeframe for the progression of the project to tender and construction stages until such time as the necessary statutory approvals have been secured.
My Department will keep the school and patron body informed of the progression of the project.
642. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Education for an update on school secretary pensions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1796/25]
View answerThe Department of Education has been providing a payroll service for former grant funded school secretaries with effect from 1st September 2023. The provision of this 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) in 2022. The secretaries had previously been paid directly by their schools, as employer, using grant funding form the Department.
The agreement provided for secretaries, who signed up for the package, to be moved to a pay scale aligned with that of Grade III/CO and for some enhanced terms and conditions including improved leave entitlements and maternity provisions. This was implemented under Circular 36/2022.
The agreement however did not grant school secretaries with public servant status and therefore this cohort does not have access to the Single Public Service Pension Scheme.
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.
Any changes to the terms and conditions agreed for these secretaries under Circular 36/2022 can occur only under industrial relations processes and any such proposals would need to be considered in detail by this Department and the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform.
643. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on the provision of two classrooms at a school (details supplied). [1804/25]
View answerI can confirm to the Deputy that the Department has received an application from the school in question for the provision of 2x temporary classrooms. The school currently has a project for 4x Special education classrooms approved by the Department which is currently at design stage of the process.
Since 2020, my department has invested over €5.7 billion in our schools throughout the country, involving the completion of over 1,150 school building projects and with construction currently underway at approximately 300 other projects, which includes new school buildings some of which are being delivered in phases. These 300 projects currently at construction involve a total State investment of over €1.3bn.
The Department previously announced that close to 90 projects, including 28 new school buildings, would be authorised to proceed from tender stage to construction over the course of 2024 and early 2025. In total, around €800 million will be invested in these projects under the department’s Large Scale Capital Programme and Additional Accommodation Scheme for essential classroom accommodation.
Between projects currently under construction and projects moving to construction in this latest phase, investments by the Department of Education are adding over 550,000 square metres of new and modernised capacity to our school estate.
This is a record level of investment in school buildings. It will expand the number of school places, significantly increase provision for special education and upgrade and modernise our school infrastructure. The impact of this will be felt in communities right around the country.
The NCSE has responsibility for co-ordinating and advising on the education provision for children with special educational needs nationwide. Over the last two years, the department and the NCSE have worked closely on a more streamlined and joined up planning process which has ensured a targeted approach to meet demand for special education placements ahead of each new school year. The Department continues to work with the NCSE in relation to the short-term requirements for special class and special school places and the more strategic and longer-term requirements. The Department is aware that the NCSE is currently engaging with the patron of the school in question in this regard.
I want to assure you that the 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 appropriate to their needs.
644. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Education for an update on the development of a new school in Renmore (details supplied). [1809/25]
View answerThe joint major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at an early stage of Architectural Planning – Stage 1 – Preliminary Design , including assessment of site and location suitability and initial sketch schemes. This project is being delivered as part of the Departments ADAPT Programme.
The ADAPT Programme uses a professional external Project Manager to co-ordinate and drive the Design Team to achieve the best possible timeframe for the project through the stages of Architectural Planning to Tender and Construction.
The project brief is for the delivery of 2 new replacement 24 classroom primary schools and classrooms for pupils with special educational needs, at the existing site in Renmore, the demolition of the existing buildings, and removal of the current temporary accommodation.
This urban site is very restricted, and the process to identify and carry out a due diligence review on sites identified as a potential decant location is currently underway. A viable decant location needs to be identified as part of the Stage 1 submission, in order to demonstrate to the Department that a preferred agreed design option for the replacement school buildings can be constructed, and within the Departments cost control guidelines.
On completion of the current due diligence review, the Department will be in contact with both School Authorities and the Design Team.
645. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Education for an update on the development of new schools in Athenry (details supplied). [1812/25]
View answerThe project referred to by the Deputy is a campus project and has been devolved for delivery to Galway and Roscommon Educational and Training board (GRETB).
I am pleased to advise that the project is currently at Stage 2b of the architectural process. The Stage 2b report has been received and is being reviewed in my department. As for all capital projects of this nature it is subject to the due diligence required under the Public Infrastructure Guidelines. Once approval of this report is sanctioned, the project will progress to tender stage and onwards to construction in due course.
It is not possible to provide a timeline for completion of the project at this juncture however GRETB will keep the schools informed of all progress in regard to this major project.
646. Deputy Edward Timmins asked the Minister for Education when construction of the new secondary school in Blessington, County Wicklow will commence. [1837/25]
View answerThe project to which the Deputy refers has been devolved for delivery to Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board (KWETB).
In Quarter 2 2023, 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 the 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.
While at this early stage, it is not possible to provide a timeline for the completion of the project. KWETB will continue to engage directly with the school authorities to keep them 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.
647. Deputy Edward Timmins asked the Minister for Education when she will sanction the next stage of the building project in a school (details supplied). [1838/25]
View answerThe project referred to by the Deputy has been devolved to the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) for delivery as part of a programme of school building projects.
The project is currently at Stage 2b, with a full grant of planning permission received for the school. The NDFA’s Design Team is working to conclude the pre-tender stage in conjunction with the Department. 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 the completion of the project. The NDFA will continue to engage directly with the school authorities to keep them 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.
648. Deputy Edward Timmins asked the Minister for Education if she plans to move the marking scheme for the Junior Certificate to grades at a 10% interval, similar to what currently applies for the Leaving Certificate. [1839/25]
View answerThe Junior Cycle Framework (2015) incorporates a modernised curriculum across all subjects and a balanced range of assessment modes that provides a learner experience appropriate to the needs of the 21st century. It provides students with learning opportunities that strike a better balance between learning knowledge and developing a wide range of skills and thinking abilities.
The Junior Cycle involves a dual approach to assessment that supports student learning through regular classroom-based assessment conducted by teachers and through a State examination at the end of the three-year cycle. This dual approach reduces the focus on one terminal examination and increases the prominence given to classroom-based assessment and formative assessment. This change of emphasis enables teachers to provide really meaningful feedback that helps students to understand how their learning can be improved.
The implementation of the Framework for Junior Cycle continues to be reviewed, in partnership with school leaders, teachers and other education partners.
As part of the process of review, the University of Limerick has been commissioned by the NCCA to conduct a longitudinal research study - Evaluating the implementation and impact of the introduction of the Framework for Junior Cycle in Irish post-primary schools.
This research began in late 2020 with interim reports published between October 2022 and December 2024.
The final report aims to reflect on the study in its entirety, drawing on relevant data and insights across the four years of the study.
It is anticipated that the final report will be published this year. This major study will inform any further developments at Junior Cycle.
649. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Education to provide a schedule of all foreign travel undertaken by her and her accompanying officials in 2023 and 2024, including flight, hotel, transfers and other miscellaneous costs. [1857/25]
View answerI attach the Schedule of Foreign Travel costs for Ministerial and accompanying officials and advisors in 2023 and 2024.
Year |
Dates (GMT) |
Schedule |
Total Travel Costs (Flights, Hotel, Transfers and other Miscellaneous costs) |
2023 |
10-16th March |
Dublin -Philadelphia and New York |
€8,191.27 |
2023 |
28-29 September |
Dublin to Strasbourg (Dublin to Paris Charles De Gaulle Airport and Euro Airport Basel to Dublin) |
€6,556.62 |
2023 |
11th November |
Dublin - Messines, Belgium |
€486.66 |
2023 |
16-17 November |
Dublin - London |
€5,232.60 |
2024 |
12-17th March |
Dublin - Edinburgh, Cardiff, Manchester and London |
€8,374.35 |
650. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education the status of an additional accommodation project for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1875/25]
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 five mainstream classrooms, one SET room and a two classroom Special Education Needs (SEN) base.
The project was devolved to the school authority for delivery.
The project remains under careful review from a technical and cost perspective as we are committed to a thorough evaluation to ensure compliance with costs, procedural standards, and the project scope. It is not possible to estimate the duration of this review however my Department will endeavour to review as early as possible.
Once Stage 1 report review is concluded my department will be in touch with the school authority on how best to progress this important project.
651. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Education to provide a breakdown of the number of primary school teachers employed in Kerry in each of the years 2019 to date, in tabular form; the number of vacancies in Kerry in each of the years 2019 to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1891/25]
View answer652. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Education to provide a breakdown of the number of secondary school teachers employed in Kerry in each of the years 2019 to date, in tabular form; the number of vacancies in Kerry in each of the years 2019 to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1892/25]
View answerSee attached number of primary and post primary teaching posts in Kerry over the time period requested.
The recruitment and appointment of teachers to fill teaching posts is a matter for individual school authorities, subject to procedures agreed under Section 24 of the Education Act 1998 (as amended by the Education (Amendment) Act 2012). In that regard there are more than 3,700 individual employers (boards of management of primary schools and post primary schools, as well as ETBs). Once the Department allocates hours to a school it is the responsibility of the school and the board of management to utilise the allocation.
The Department does not collect data on recruitment by individual employers, therefore we do not have figures on vacant posts.
Total allocation of posts to mainstream Primary schools in Co. Kerry |
|||||
School Year 2019/20 |
School Year 2020/21 |
School Year 2021/22 |
School Year 2022/23 |
School Year 2023/24 |
School Year 2024/25 |
1067 |
1089 |
1101 |
1140 |
1201 |
1207 |
Total allocation of Post Primary Teaching posts in Co. Kerry |
|||||
School Year 2019/20 |
School Year 2020/21 |
School Year 2021/22 |
School Year 2022/23 |
School Year 2023/24 |
School Year 2024/25 |
1028.9 |
959.63 |
956.72 |
982.67 |
1020.67 |
1035 |