Niamh Smyth
Ceist:530. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will address the concerns of a person (details supplied) regarding their child; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27778/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraSpecial Educational Needs Service Provision
Ceisteanna (530)
Freagraí scríofa
This Government is committed to ensuring that all children with Special Educational Needs, including those with autism, can have access to an education appropriate to their needs, preferably in school settings through the primary and post primary school network.
Such placements facilitate access to individualised education programmes which may draw from a range of appropriate educational interventions, delivered by fully qualified professional teachers, with the support of Special Needs Assistants and the appropriate school curriculum.
My Department provides a range of supports for schools which have enrolled pupils with special educational needs in order to ensure that, wherever a child is enrolled, they will have access to an appropriate education.
The range of supports and services which are made available to schools include additional learning and resource teaching support, Special Needs Assistants support, funding for the purchase of specialised equipment, services of the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS), enhanced levels of capitation in Special schools and Special Classes and additional teacher training.
The Special Education Support Service (SESS), which provides continuing professional development (CPD) for teachers in how to assist pupils with special educational needs, including children with ASD, transferred to the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) on 20th March 2017. The SESS comes under the auspices of the NCSE’s Regional Support Service which was established to provide an integrated and coherent service to assist schools in supporting children with special education needs.
My Department considers it essential that in assessing the need for special class placements the individual needs of children should be properly assessed to determine the appropriateness of special class provision for them.
Students enrolling in ASD Special Classes must have a report from a relevant professional or team of professionals (for example, psychologist, speech and language therapist, psychiatrist) stating that:
- S/he has ASD
- S/he has significant learning needs that require the support of a special class setting and the reasons why this is the case.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE), through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), in consultation with the relevant education partners, is responsible for the establishment of special classes in various geographical areas where there is an identified need.
The NCSE continues to establish additional special classes to support children with Special Educational Needs including Autism as required. Since 2011, the NCSE has increased the number of such classes by over 100% from 548 in 2011 to 1153 across the country now, of which 889 are Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) special classes.
The NCSE, in looking to open special classes, must take into account the present and future potential need for such classes, taking particular account of the educational needs of the children concerned. The NCSE will also take account of location and sustainability in looking to establish special classes in certain areas.
My Department continues to work with the NCSE to ensure that there is appropriate planning in place to ensure that all children who require special class placements can access such placements in schools within their communities.
Parents/guardians who may need advice or are experiencing difficulties in locating a school placement should contact their local Special Educational Needs Organiser (SENO) who can assist in identifying an appropriate educational placement for their child. Contact details are available on www.ncse.ie.
Where there is no educational placement available, my Department will consider applications under the Home Tuition Grant Scheme, where a student can receive 20 hours home tuition per week as an interim measure until a placement becomes available.
The NCSE also provides information for Parents of Children with Special Educational Needs through its website (www.ncse.ie) and Pamphlet Series which inform parents and guardians of supports and services available for children and young people with ASD and their families, including special transport arrangements which may be made available.
Further support is provided to children and their families by the Middletown Centre for Autism in Co. Armagh. This centre is jointly funded by my Department and the Department of Education in Northern Ireland. The Centre provides a comprehensive nationwide training service for parents and educational professionals. Parents can view the range of courses which the Centre has available through the website www.middletownautism.com.
As the matter raised by the Deputy refers to a particular child, I have arranged for the Deputy's question to be forwarded to the National Council for Special Education for their attention and direct reply.
Schools Building Projects Status
Ceisteanna (531)
Robert Troy
Ceist:531. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of plans to extend a school (details supplied); and when the proposed works will commence. [27807/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Deputy will be aware that a building project for the school in question is included in my Department's 6 Year Construction Programme (2019/21).
My Department will be in contact with the school authority in the context of initiating the architectural planning process in due course.
School Curriculum
Ceisteanna (532)
Thomas Byrne
Ceist:532. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the discussion his Department has had with Safefood on the introduction of its media awareness course mediawise in schools. [27812/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I recently attended the launch of mediawise - the new educational resource for primary schools developed by safefood. This is a very important topic for our children to learn about from an early age and that is why it is currently addressed in the Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE). Through this curriculum, media awareness is promoted and children are encouraged to examine and explore various forms of media. Schools may choose to complement their existing programmes with the mediawise resource.
Departmental Reviews
Ceisteanna (533)
Clare Daly
Ceist:533. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the date of the commencement of his Department's review into the operations and eligibility criteria for Caranua; the persons appointed to carry out that review; and the terms of reference for same. [27821/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Deputy will be aware and indeed made a submission when the draft terms of reference for the proposed eligibility review was published on the Department's website. The analysis of the submissions has been completed and will be published on the Department's website shortly, together with the terms of reference. The actual eligibility review will be conducted internally.
Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Board
Ceisteanna (534)
Clare Daly
Ceist:534. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if Caranua has completed its internal review as indicated in the board minutes of July 2016 into changes made to the application process; and when the findings of the review will be published. [27822/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Caranua is an independent statutory body established under the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act 2012. The review referred to by the Deputy and agreed at the Board meeting in July is, I understand, a review of the revised application process. I have asked Caranua to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.
School Funding
Ceisteanna (535)
Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:535. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills if additional funding will be provided for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27827/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I can confirm that the school to which the Deputy refers has sought additional funding for an approved project. This is being assessed and a decision will issue directly to the school authority shortly.
School Transport
Ceisteanna (536)
Brendan Griffin
Ceist:536. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27876/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Currently almost 116,000 children, including some 12,000 children with special educational needs, are being transported in over 4,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres annually.
Bus Éireann is responsible for the planning and timetabling of school transport routes and endeavours, within available resources, to ensure that each eligible child has a reasonable level of school transport service in the context of the Scheme nationally.
Routes are planned so that, as far as possible, no eligible child will have more than 2.4 kilometres to travel to a pick-up point. Children living off the main route of a service are generally expected to make their own way, or to be brought to convenient pick-up points along the main route. Home pick-ups were never envisaged as being part of the Primary School Transport Scheme as the cost involved on a national level would be prohibitive.
The terms of the School Transport Scheme are applied equitably on a national basis.
Departmental Properties
Ceisteanna (537)
Jackie Cahill
Ceist:537. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Education and Skills the steps he will take regarding the hold up in progress at a school (details supplied) in Cashel, County Tipperary, in the provision of car parking at the school complex due to the delay in the transfer of land from the Department of Health to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27893/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the Deputy is aware, officials in my Department are currently working to progress the acquisition of the property in question from the Health Service Executive. This process is currently at conveyancing stage.
I can assure the Deputy that all parties are working to advance matters as quickly as possible.
School Accommodation Provision
Ceisteanna (538)
Willie Penrose
Ceist:538. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will take steps to ensure that an application for vital and necessary accommodation by a school (details supplied) is immediately progressed in view of the fact that there are not adequate facilities available to accommodate learning support, resource support and to facilitate teaching of the physical education curriculum regardless of weather; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27926/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I wish to advise the Deputy that the school in question has submitted an application to my Department for capital funding for additional accommodation. The application will be considered and a decision will be conveyed to the school authority as soon as the assessment process has been completed.
Third Level Admissions Data
Ceisteanna (539)
Josepha Madigan
Ceist:539. Deputy Josepha Madigan asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to ensure access to institutions of education for students in view of media reports that University College Dublin will be reducing the number of places available for Irish students in reaction to funding issues. [27927/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Higher Education Authority (HEA) provides funding to Higher Education Institutions on the basis of the number of students enrolled.
The HEA does not place a ceiling on the number of students in higher education. There have been significant increases in student numbers over the last number of years with expected further increases projected in line with student demand.
In the context of Budget 2017, I gave a commitment to a three year package of increased higher education investment, and the inclusion within that of an allowance for increased demographics, and this will help to facilitate the continued provision by the sector in line with need.
Appointments to State Boards
Ceisteanna (540)
Eamon Ryan
Ceist:540. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if any former Members have been appointed to State boards under his remit by the Public Appointments Service; if so, the names and positions of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28213/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Department officials have checked records relating to board appointments of former TDs since the Public Appointments Service (PAS) process for board appointments came on stream in 2011.
I am advised that one former TD, Mr Brian Fleming was appointed to the Board of the State Examinations Commission through the PAS process. Mr Fleming’s term of office as a Commissioner was from April 2012 to April 2015.
In regard to the State Bodies under the aegis of my Department one further former TD served between the period 2013 to 2017 Mr Austin Currie served on the Board of Caranua from 2013 to March 2017), however the PAS process was not utilised for this appointment.
Redundancy Payments
Ceisteanna (541)
Richard Boyd Barrett
Ceist:541. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Skills the way in which a redundancy calculation was decided for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27942/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The person in question was paid a redundancy lump sum based on her regular weekly earnings for the 12 months prior to the date of redundancy in respect of her employment for the period 4th October 2004 to 31st August 2015 in line with the provisions of the Redundancy Acts 1967 - 2016.
Prior to the post being made redundant the number of hours allocated to the post had decreased from 32 to 16 hours per week from 1st September 2014. A claim was submitted by the person for compensation for loss of hours in respect of the period 1st September 2006 to 31st August 2014 and that claim was paid on 20 November 2014.
Emergency Works Scheme Applications
Ceisteanna (542)
Seán Sherlock
Ceist:542. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an emergency application by a school (details supplied). [27944/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
My Department has no record of an Emergency Works Grant application from the school to which the Deputy refers. The school should contact the Devolved Projects Section of my Department's Planning and Building Unit in Tullamore to discuss this, or alternatively, it may submit a copy of its application to that Section for consideration.
Schools Property
Ceisteanna (543)
Michael McGrath
Ceist:543. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the sale of playing pitches used by a college (details supplied) in County Dublin, by the Christian Brothers; the actions his Department has taken on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27952/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
In early May, the Christian Brothers congregation wrote to me on the wider issue of the transfer of ownership of its playing fields to the Edmund Rice Schools Trust, ERST.
The correspondence also noted the proposal to dispose of part of the lands at the school to which the Deputy refers, a post-primary school under the patronage of ERST, and it states that contracts have already been signed with a builder. The congregation’s letter states that its intention is to use part of the proceeds of the disposal to meet its outstanding contribution of €8.8 million relating to the voluntary offer it made in 2009 in response to the findings of the Ryan report. The congregation also advised me that it will have provided the college with 6.5 acres, inclusive of the school and lands transferred in 2008 and the 3.5 acres of playing grounds now transferring. I am not privy to the deliberations or the debates within the congregation on why these particular lands were selected for disposal.
As I noted, the congregation has an outstanding redress contribution of €8.8 million. Completion of this contribution at an early date is vital because it will ensure that Caranua, the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund, will have available to it the full €110 million in cash contributions offered by the religious congregations. I appreciate that the Christian Brothers wish to follow through on their commitments, having already paid €21.2 million of their voluntary cash offer.
It would, however, also be very disappointing if educational needs were compromised in achieving this goal. I would hope that the congregation takes this fully into account during its deliberations.
There is a role for the school patron, ERST, to ensure that the current and potential future educational needs of the school, including the capacity of the school to meet future enrolment demands, are prioritised.
My Department has written to the congregation on the matter of the lands adjacent to the school to which the Deputy refers, seeking clarification on a number of points, including whether the land in question is now the subject of a legally-binding agreement with a builder. The congregation have advised that they will reply to my Department in the coming weeks.
Commemorative Events
Ceisteanna (544)
Paul Murphy
Ceist:544. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the introduction of the lumper schools project to schools to increase the knowledge and awareness of the Great Famine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27984/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
My Department is keen to support Famine commemoration where it is feasible and practicable to do so. My officials will seek further clarification regarding the project in question. This will include seeking copies of the literature being proposed for issue to schools, clarification regarding how the project would work during the period when schools are closed (i.e. holiday times), and ascertaining an understanding of how the project is being rolled out in Northern Ireland. When these details have been provided, they will be considered by my Department and a decision made.
Green-Schools is Ireland’s leading environmental management and education programme for schools. Promoting long-term, whole-school action for the environment Green-Schools is a student led programme with involvement from the wider community. The programme is operated and co-ordinated by the Environmental Education Unit of An Taisce (FEE member for Ireland).
Green-Schools is operated in partnership with Local Authorities and is supported by the Department of Housing, Planning, Community & Local Government; Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment; Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport; The Department of Arts, Heritage Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs; Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade; Irish Aid, National Transport Authority; National Parks and Wildlife Service, Irish Water and the Wrigley Company Limited.
Special Educational Needs Service Provision
Ceisteanna (545)
Brendan Griffin
Ceist:545. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a decision will issue regarding an appeal of a special education teaching allocation by a school (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27986/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I wish to advise the Deputy that DES Circular 0013/2017 for primary schools and 0014/2017 for post primary schools were published on 7th March 2017.
These Circulars set out the details of the new model for allocating special education teachers to schools.
The revised allocation process replaces the generalised allocation process at primary and post primary school level for learning support and high incidence special educational needs, and the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) allocation process which provided additional resource teaching supports to schools, to support pupils assessed as having Low Incidence disabilities.
The new Special Education Teaching allocation provides a single unified allocation for special educational support teaching needs to each school, based on each school’s educational profile.
Allocations based on the school profiles were issued to all schools on 7th March.
The aim of this new model is to deliver better outcomes for children with special educational needs. Substantial research, analysis, consultation with service users and stakeholders, and piloting have gone in to the development of this model and all of the evidence points to the fact that this new system will deliver better outcomes for children.
No school, including the school to which the Deputy has referred, will lose supports as a result of the implementation of the new model. In addition, no school will receive an allocation, for the support of pupils with complex needs, less than the allocation they received to support such pupils during the 2016/17 school year.
An additional 900 teaching posts have been provided to support the introduction of this new allocation model. The provision of an additional 900 teaching posts is a very significant investment in the provision of additional teaching support for pupils with special educational needs in our schools. This is additional to an increase of 41% in the number of resource teachers allocated to schools annually by the NCSE since 2011.
The additional funding will provide additional supports to over 1200 schools who are identified as needing additional supports as a result of the new model. Supports for children with special educational needs is a key priority for this Government. The new funding will ensure that all schools receive a sufficient allocation of special education needs resources to provide additional teaching support to all pupils, including pupils who have yet to enrol in their school, who require such support.
Schools who wished to submit an appeal were asked to do so by March 31st 2017.
Schools could appeal whether the data used to calculate their school profile was correct and complete and whether it was correctly applied in the calculation of their 2017/18 allocation.
The NCSE has advised that the school referred to by the Deputy has submitted an appeal. The NCSE will advise schools of the outcome of appeals before the end of June.
The model will also allow for some additional provision for exceptional circumstances or where a school’s enrolment levels increase very substantially prior to the next review of the model. The National Council for Special Education will support schools in managing their special education teaching allocations in the first instance. Only in very exceptional circumstances, where it can be demonstrated that the schools profile has changed very significantly since the allocation was made to the school, may an additional allocation of hours be made to the school.
Guidelines for schools on the organisation, deployment and use of their special education teachers to address the need of pupils with special educational needs have also now been published and are available on my Departments website.
The Guidelines will support schools to reflect on how they can review and manage their timetabling practices to ensure the timetable is sufficiently flexible to meet the needs of all pupils in their school who have special needs. The Guidelines encourage schools to ensure they deploy their resources appropriately to meet the needs of all of the children in their school who require additional teaching support, including pupils with emerging needs, or new entrants.
Emergency Works Scheme Applications
Ceisteanna (546)
Brendan Griffin
Ceist:546. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if an emergency works grant will be provided to a school (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27992/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I am pleased to inform the Deputy that my Department has approved a grant for the school to which he refers to carry out access for all works. The school has been notified accordingly.
School Curriculum
Ceisteanna (547)
Marc MacSharry
Ceist:547. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to address the lack of availability of the leaving certificate applied programme in post-primary schools in County Leitrim on the grounds of the discriminatory exclusion of suitable educational options for children living in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27996/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Leaving Certificate Applied (LCA) programme is one of a number of options made available by my Department for Senior Cycle students which schools can choose from, based on the education needs and interests of their student.
It is the responsibility and choice of each individual school to decide to put in place the LCA programme, based on the educational needs and interests of their students. It is also for schools to decide on the admittance of a student to the programme, in their school. Schools are encouraged to provide maximum access to these options and to have clear procedures in place regarding how the available places are allocated to students.
Schools that choose to organise the LCA programme are entitled to an additional fixed allocation of 0.5 of a teaching post, over the standard allocation. There is no minimum number of LCA pupils required for schools to secure the additional teaching allocation from my Department.
The number of students taking LCA varies across counties. The Department's information indicates that a school in Leitrim is providing the LCA for final year students this school year 2016/2017 (i.e. exam sits in 2017).
My Department is committed to supporting this programme, which is appropriate for members of the student cohort whose needs, aptitudes and learning styles are not fully catered for by the other two Leaving Certificate programmes (Leaving Cert Established and Leaving Cert Vocational Programme). That is why I have asked the NCCA to consider the LCA, as part of its review of Senior Cycle which commenced in 2017. This review will help to ensure curriculum development continues to respond to the changing needs of learners, society and the economy.
School Curriculum
Ceisteanna (548)
Marc MacSharry
Ceist:548. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Education and Skills the steps he will take to prevent individual schools from opting not to have the leaving certificate applied programme available to students as an option in view of the fact that it promotes elitism, discrimination and attaches a stigma to this programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27997/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Leaving Certificate Applied (LCA) programme is one of a number of options made available by my Department for Senior Cycle students which schools can choose from, based on the education needs and interests of their student.
It is the responsibility and choice of each individual school to decide to put in place the LCA programme, based on the educational needs and interests of their students. It is also for schools to decide on the admittance of a student to the programme, in their school. Schools are encouraged to provide maximum access to these options and to have clear procedures in place regarding how the available places are allocated to students.
Schools that choose to organise the LCA programme are entitled to an additional fixed allocation of 0.5 of a teaching post, over the standard allocation. There is no minimum number of LCA pupils required for schools to secure the additional teaching allocation from my Department.
My Department is committed to supporting this programme, which is appropriate for members of the student cohort whose needs, aptitudes and learning styles are not fully catered for by the other two Leaving Certificate programmes (Leaving Cert Established and Leaving Cert Vocational Programme). That is why I have asked the NCCA to consider the LCA, as part of its review of Senior Cycle which commenced in 2017. This review will help to ensure curriculum development continues to respond to the changing needs of learners, society and the economy.
Irish Language
Ceisteanna (549)
Peadar Tóibín
Ceist:549. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education and Skills the additional costs for an English medium school to transition to an Irish medium school. [28004/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I assume that the Deputy is referring to the transition of English-medium schools to Irish-medium schools in the context of the Gaeltacht School Recognition Scheme. Under the Gaeltacht School Recognition Scheme, which is a key component of my Department’s Policy on Gaeltacht Education 2017-2022, schools located in Gaeltacht language-planning areas can apply to seek recognition as Gaeltacht schools. To achieve Gaeltacht school recognition, schools will be required to operate entirely through the medium of Irish, apart from the teaching of English (and other language curricula in post-primary schools), in accordance with language-based criteria set out in the Policy. Schools that are participating in the Scheme will be granted additional resources and supports.
It is not possible to state the costs involved for individual schools in fulfilling the criteria for recognition as a Gaeltacht school due to varying school contexts. However, the Government has made available €1m to support a range of actions under the Policy on Gaeltacht Education in 2017 and this figure is anticipated to grow in coming years as the full range of actions in the Policy are implemented.