Kathleen Funchion
Ceist:168. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills when the GMIT working group report will be signed off; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52795/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraInstitutes of Technology
Ceisteanna (168)
Freagraí scríofa
The report of the GMIT working group has now been submitted to my Department. I will consider the findings and recommendations in the report, in conjunction with officials in my Department.
Given the importance of this report to the future sustainability of the GMIT Castlebar campus, a full and comprehensive consideration of its findings and recommendations is necessary. For this reason, an exact date for its publication has not been set. However, the report will be published in the coming weeks.
Proposed Legislation
Ceisteanna (169)
Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:169. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills the timeframe for the Education (Admission To Schools) Bill 2016 to be brought before Dáil Éireann; the proposed wording of an amendment (details supplied); if special education needs organisers, SENOs, will be allowed to exercise this new authority immediately; the way in which limits on the SENOs will be legislated for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52805/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Deputy will be aware that I published the Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016 on 6 July 2016 and the Bill passed Committee Stage on 28 June 2017.
During the Committee Stage debate on the Bill I indicated that I would bring forward an amendment at Report Stage that would provide a power for the Minister to require a school to open a special class or classes where the NCSE recommends that a class is required.
My officials have been engaging with the Office of the Attorney General in relation to a number of amendments, including the above, proposed for Report Stage of the Bill and I am informed that this work is nearing conclusion. The Bill will progress to Report Stage once these amendments have been finalised.
School Enrolments
Ceisteanna (170)
John Lahart
Ceist:170. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the case of a secondary school (details supplied) in Dublin 24 that does not automatically accept students from the closest primary school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52808/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in the area.
It is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998.
Parents can choose which school to apply to and where the school has places available the pupil should be admitted. However, in schools where there are more applicants than places available a selection process may be necessary.
In this regard, a Board of Management may find it necessary to prioritise enrolment of children from particular areas or particular age groups or on the basis of some other criterion. For example, some schools give priority to applicants who have attended a particular primary school (known as a feeder school). The criteria to be applied by schools in such circumstances are a matter for the schools themselves.
This selection process and the enrolment policy on which it is based must be non-discriminatory and must be applied fairly in respect of all applicants. However, it may result in some pupils not obtaining a place in their school of first choice.
In relation to the school in question I can confirm that the construction of a new 1,000 pupil Post Primary School in Kingswood commenced on 28th August 2017 and that, subject to no issues arising, the school, which comes under the remit of the ETB, should take 24 months to complete. Temporary accommodation was provided on site to allow the school to open in September 2016.
All new schools established since 2011 to meet demographic demand are required to enrol children from within the designated school planning area which the school was established to serve. This does not preclude schools from enrolling pupils from outside of the designated school planning area, rather it reflects the need to accommodate in the first instance the demographic for which the school was established.
Special Educational Needs Service Provision
Ceisteanna (171)
Jack Chambers
Ceist:171. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a school (details supplied) will be allocated the necessary special needs assistant, SNA, resources; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52825/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE), which is an independent statutory agency, is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) for allocating a quantum of Special Needs Assistant (SNA) support for each school annually taking into account the assessed care needs of children qualifying for SNA support enrolled in the school. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support, as set out in Circular 0030/2014.
In considering applications for SNA supports for individual students, the SENOs take account of the student's needs and considers the resources available to the school to identify whether additionality is needed or whether the school might reasonably be expected to meet the needs of the students from its current level of resources. SNAs are not allocated to individual students but to schools as a school based resource.
Details of SNA allocations which have been made to schools for the 2017/18 school year have been published by the NCSE on their website at http://ncse.ie/statistics.
Where a school has received its allocation of SNA support for 2017/18, but wishes new enrolments or new assessments to be considered, which were not taken into account when the initial allocation was made, they may continue to make applications to the NCSE.
The NCSE Appeals Process may be invoked in the following instances:
- a parent or a school where it is considered that a child was not granted access to SNA support on the grounds that Department policy was not met in accordance with Circular 0030/2014.
- a school may also appeal a decision, where the school considers that the NCSE, in applying Department policy, has not allocated the appropriate level of SNA supports to the school to meet the special educational and/or care needs of the child(ren) concerned.
All schools have the contact details of their local SENO and parents may also contact their local SENO directly to discuss their child's special educational needs, using the contact details available at http://ncse.ie/seno-contact-list.
As the matter raised in this question refers to an individual child, I have forwarded the question to the NCSE for direct reply.
Capitation Grants
Ceisteanna (172)
Joan Burton
Ceist:172. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if schools will receive the next capitation grant in January 2018; and if not, when schools will receive the grants in view of the fact that capitation grants have been previously paid to schools in January. [52826/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the Deputy is aware my Department issues capitation related grants to schools in instalments throughout the school year. The next tranche of capitation related funding will issue to schools in January 2018. The following are links to the most recent circulars published on my Department's website in relation to capitation grants which includes details of the timing of payments:
https://www.education.ie/en/Circulars-and-Forms/Active-Circulars/cl0028_2016.pdf
https://www.education.ie/en/Circulars-and-Forms/Active-Circulars/cl0029_2016.pdf
Summer Works Scheme
Ceisteanna (173)
Bobby Aylward
Ceist:173. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the summer works scheme application submitted by a school (details supplied) to assist with the cost of window repairs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52842/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department is in receipt of a Category 7 application for window replacement under the Summer Works Scheme from the school to which he refers.
The current Summer Works Scheme (SWS) is being applied on a multi-annual basis. Nearly 50% of schools have applied for inclusion under the scheme which reflects a very high demand.
Almost €80 million has been approved to date under the SWS in respect of over 640 school projects in categories 1 - 6. Details of the successful school applicants are published on my Department's website www.education.ie.
The 2018 budgetary provision will allow the Department to meet the carry-over costs of summer works projects already approved. The assessment of applications in the remaining categories 7-10 is reliant on the availability of funding.
In the interim, the school may use its minor works grant to carry out the works in full or on a phased basis, as that grant permits, if the school considers the works to be a priority. Details of the minor works grant for 2017/18 were announced on 5th December last and can be found on my Department's website www.education.ie.
Schools Health and Safety
Ceisteanna (174)
Billy Kelleher
Ceist:174. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Education and Skills if first aid training will become compulsory for all physically capable teachers and special needs assistants, SNAs (details supplied) through Government funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52846/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Under the provisions of the Education Act 1998, the Board of Management is the body charged with the direct governance of a school.
The Board of Management of each school is responsible for the care and safety of all of the students in their school and care and safety should be at the centre of all policy and practices.
The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) advise that, by law, employers and those who control workplaces to any extent must identify hazards in the workplaces under their control and assess the risk presented by the hazards.
Employers must write down the risks and what to do about them. This is known as Risk Assessment. The aim of Risk Assessment is to reduce the risk of injury and illness associated with work. The Risk Assessment(s) will form part of the employer's Safety Statement.
The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007 set out the First-Aid requirements for workplaces as follows: "Employers have a duty to provide first-aid equipment at all places at work where working conditions require it. Depending on the size or specific hazard (or both) of the place of work, trained occupational first-aiders must also be provided. Apart from some exceptions, first-aid rooms must be provided where appropriate. Information must also be provided to employees as regards the first-aid facilities and arrangements in place."
It is important that the school management authority requests parents to ensure that the school is made aware of any medical condition suffered by any student attending. Where the school is aware of potential difficulties that may arise as a consequence of a medical condition suffered by one or more students, it may be possible for the management authorities, working in conjunction with parents, teachers and children to put preventative measures in place to lessen the possibility of any difficulties arising or to ensure that if a student suffers from an illness requiring, for example, the administration of medication, that appropriate treatment is available.
Where a child requires adult assistance to assist in the administration of medicine and where the extent of assistance required would overly disrupt normal teaching time, SNA support may be allocated for this purpose.
It is a matter for the Board of Management to ensure that SNAs are in a position to effectively meet the care needs of students for whom SNA support has been allocated in the school when appointing an SNA.
Where specific training is required, the Board of Management should liaise with the Health Service Executive (HSE) in order to ensure that the HSE provides guidance and training that enables the SNA to meet the care needs of the pupil in an appropriate manner. It is a matter for individual school authorities to make such arrangements locally.
It is my Department's experience that once the matter has been discussed in detail with the Board of Management and staff of a school, and once all parties are clear as to the procedures to be followed, arrangements can normally be made to assist the administration of first aid or medicine.
The NCSE are currently undertaking a Comprehensive Review of the SNA Scheme. In response to a progress report from the NCSE on the comprehensive assessment, the NCSE were requested to establish a working group, comprising relevant stakeholders, to assist in proposing a better model for providing care supports so as to provide better outcomes for students with special educational needs who have additional care needs.
This Working Group, which is chaired by Mr. Eamon Stack, Chairperson of the NCSE Council, has commenced its work and the work will run in tandem with the completion of the overall Comprehensive Review of the SNA Scheme. It is intended that the reports of the Working Group and of the Review will be completed in Spring 2018.
In tandem with this, a cross Departmental Working Group has been established to develop proposals in relation to the need for nursing supports in schools for children with complex medical needs. This Cross Departmental Working Group has to date held a number of meetings.
In the meantime, until any changes are agreed, the responsibility for funding Nurses, irrespective of where they are located, is the responsibility of the HSE and they also remain responsible for the clinical and professional governance of the nursing profession in Ireland.
In relation to insurance, the position is that the nature and terms of an individual school’s insurance arrangements are a matter between the individual school and its insurers.
Summer Works Scheme
Ceisteanna (175)
Eamon Scanlon
Ceist:175. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Education and Skills when the summer works scheme will be re-opened for applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52847/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The current Summer Works Scheme (SWS) 2016 -2017 was applied on a multi-annual basis. The Deputy will be aware that nearly 50% of schools have applied for inclusion under the scheme which reflects a very high demand.
Almost €80 million has been approved to date under the Summer Works Scheme, in respect of over 640 school projects in categories 1 - 6. Details of the successful school applicants are published on my Department's website www.education.ie.
The 2018 budgetary provision will allow my Department to meet the carry over costs of summer works projects already approved. The assessment of applications in the remaining categories 7-10 as well as proceeding with any future summer works scheme is reliant on the availability of funding.
Question No. 176 answered with Question No. 156.
Residential Institutions Statutory Fund
Ceisteanna (177)
Catherine Connolly
Ceist:177. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the refusal by Caranua to provide funeral expenses for a person (details supplied) who was a survivor of a residential institution and following five days' testimony at the commission received a payment from the redress board in view of the fact that Caranua has amended its criteria to include funeral expenses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52969/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Caranua, the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Board, is an independent statutory body established pursuant to the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act 2012 to oversee the use of the cash contributions of up to €110 million, pledged by the religious congregations, to support the needs of survivors of institutional child abuse. The determination of the criteria by reference to which Caranua may make decisions in respect of applications to it is a statutory function of the organisation itself and I have no role in that process. Furthermore, I have no role in Caranua’s day to day operations including in relation to the processing of individual applications. I have been informed that Caranua have explained to the individual in question the reason why they are not prepared to provide funding for funeral services. As you know, this decision and any decision of Caranua may be appealed to an independent Appeals Officer appointed under section 21 of the 2012 Act and a person who is affected by a decision of an Appeals Officer may appeal to the High Court on a point of law.
Schools Building Projects Status
Ceisteanna (178)
Pearse Doherty
Ceist:178. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason for the delays in progressing a school building project (details supplied); when this project will proceed to construction phase; if his attention has been drawn to the unsuitable accommodation available on site at the school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52927/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The major building project referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of architectural planning, Stage 2b (Detailed Design), which includes the application for statutory approvals and the preparation of tender documents. All statutory approvals have been secured.
The Stage 2b submission has been reviewed by the Department and in August 2017 my Department issued comments on the stage 2b submission to the school and its Design Team. My Department requested confirmations from the Design Team that it carries out one final review of all of its tender documentation to ensure compliance with DoES requirements. The Design Team has been requested to submit written confirmation from each Design Team member including the PSDP that they have completed this review and are satisfied that the Tender Documents are complete, correct and in compliance with DoES and Building Control (Amendment) Regulations (BC(A)R) tender documentation requirements. A response is awaited.
Upon receipt of these confirmations, my Department will then revert to the school with regard to the further progression of the project.
Schools Building Projects
Ceisteanna (179)
Thomas Pringle
Ceist:179. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the design and planning stages of the school building project for a school (details supplied); if this school is being prioritised due to the continued deterioration of the prefabs which make up the school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52959/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The project at the school referred to by the Deputy will comprise of a new two-storey 8-classroom primary school at the existing site.
In June of this year a Design Team was appointed and the project commenced Stage 1 of the Architectural Planning Process. Stage 1 is the Preliminary Design Stage where the Design Team in conjunction with the school authorities will analyse all the constraints of the site, develop a preferred design option and ensure that the preferred option is the best option for the delivery of the brief.
Once the Stage 1 submission has been received and reviewed by my Department a meeting will be arranged with the school authorities and its Design Team to review and progress the design proposals.
The project will be progressed through the normal stages of architectural planning and it will be a matter for the school and its design team to expedite the progression of the design through those stages.
Oideachas trí Ghaeilge
Ceisteanna (180)
Peadar Tóibín
Ceist:180. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Peadar Tóibín den Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna an bhfuil sé ar intinn ag a roinn beartas forbartha don Ghaeloideachas lasmuigh den Ghaeltacht a chruthú; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [52992/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Tá mo Roinn, trí thionscnaimh éagsúla, ag cur na Gaeilge chun cinn sa chóras oideachais agus ag tacú leis an gcóras Gaeloideachais. Tá an Roinn ag rannchuidiú le roinnt gníomhaíochtaí sa Straitéis 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge rud a léiríonn tiomantas na Roinne sa réimse seo. Tugadh isteach curaclam nua don Ghaeilge ar leibhéal na bunscoile agus na hiar-bhunscoile. Leagtar béim sa dá cheann acu seo ar an gcur chuige cumarsáideach maidir le cur chun cinn cumas agus inniúlachtaí na ndaltaí sa teanga thar réimse leathan ábaltachtaí ó fhoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge go cainteoirí dúchais. Anuas air sin, faoin bPolasaí ar Oideachas Gaeltachta 2017-2022 tá pacáiste saincheaptha tacaí curtha i dtoll a chéile ag mo Roinn chun tacaíocht a thabhairt do scoileanna Gaeltachta, lena n-áirítear bearta chun soláthar múinteoirí i scoileanna lán-Ghaeilge a fheabhsú.
Níl aon phlean ann chun beartas ar leithligh a leagan amach don ghaeloideachas. Tá mé cinnte, mar sin féin, go léiríonn na forbairtí a luadh thuas tiomantas leanúnach mo Roinne d’fhonn an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn ar fud an chórais oideachais agus i dtreo tacaíocht a thabhairt don Ghaeloideachas.
Beidh tionchar dearfach ag cur chun cinn na ngníomhaíochtaí atá sa Bheartas ar Oideachas Gaeltachta 2017-2022 maidir leis an soláthar ginearálta don Ghaeloideachas. Tá mo Roinn tar éis a bheith ag obair go dlúth leis an Oifig um Sholáthar Rialtais d’fhonn iarratas ar thairiscintí a fhorbairt ar dhearadh, forbairt agus seachadadh céim nua san oideachas trí mheán na Gaeilge, Baitsiléir in Oideachas (B.Ed.) don bhunmhúinteoireacht agus céim mháistreachta san Oideachas Gaeilge agus Gaeltachta (M.Ed.) d’fhonn scileanna nua a theagasc do mhúinteoirí agus príomhoidí atá ann cheana. Tá an t-iarratas ar thairiscintí le foilsiú go luath agus táthar ag súil le go dtosóidh an M.Ed. i mí Mheán Fómhair 2018, agus tá an B.Ed. le tosú ó mhí Mheán Fómhair 2019 i leith. Táthar ag súil le go bhfeabhsóidh céimithe ar na cúrsaí seo soláthar múinteoirí bunscoile agus iar-bhunscoile atá in ann ardcháilíocht oideachais trí mheán na Gaeilge a sheachadadh. Tá dhá phost breise múinteoireachta arna soláthar don chlár um Máistreacht Ghairmiúil san Oideachas in Ollscoil Náisiúnta na hÉireann, Gaillimh chun méadú a dhéanamh ar líon na múineoirí iar-bhunscoile atá in ann réimse ábhar a mhúineadh trí mheán na Gaeilge.
Summer Works Scheme Applications
Ceisteanna (181)
Mary Butler
Ceist:181. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a school (details supplied) will be considered for an application for the summer works scheme 2018 to 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52996/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is in receipt of a Category 10 application under the Summer Works Scheme (SWS) from the school to which she refers.
The current SWS is being applied on a multi-annual basis. I also wish to advise the Deputy that nearly 50% of schools have applied for inclusion under the scheme which reflects a very high demand. Details of successful school applicants in respect of Categories 1 to 6 are published on my Department's website www.education.ie. Almost €80 million has been approved to date under the SWS in respect of over 640 school projects in categories 1 - 6. The 2018 budgetary provision will allow my Department meet the costs of summer works projects already approved; the assessment of applications in the remaining Categories 7-10 is reliant on the availability of funding.
Schools Site Acquisitions
Ceisteanna (182)
Jan O'Sullivan
Ceist:182. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a site has been acquired for a new school (details supplied); the arrangements that have been made for temporary accommodation for the school, which is scheduled to open in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53002/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
A building project for the new post-primary school referred to by the Deputy is included in my Department’s current 6 year construction programme.
Officials from my Department have been working closely with Limerick City and County Council under the Memorandum of Understanding for the acquisition of school sites in order to identify and procure a suitable site for the school.
A number of potential site options have been identified and these are currently at an advanced stage of consideration.
While a site acquisition process is underway, given the commercial sensitivities associated with land acquisitions generally I am not in a position to comment further at this time. However, the patron of the school will be informed of the location as soon as it is possible to do so.
The task of sourcing temporary accommodation for the Secondary School to which the Deputy refers, which is due to open in September 2018, has been devolved to the Patron body (Educate Together). The Department and the Patron are fully committed to the opening of this school. Educate Together are working on identifying suitable temporary accommodation to facilitate the opening of the school for September 2018 and the Department will provide any assistance necessary to help Educate Together in this regard.
Minor Works Scheme
Ceisteanna (183)
Eamon Scanlon
Ceist:183. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to formalise and regularise the minor works grant; his further plans to introduce a defined timeframe for these payments in order to avoid stress on schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53011/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Demographic pressures, and the imperative of ensuring a school place for every child, are placing significant demands on the education capital budget.
As part of our longer term infrastructural planning, my Department will explore whether it will be possible to give greater certainty to primary schools in relation to the payment of the Minor Works Grant taking account of the Government's 10 Year Public Capital Investment Plan, which is currently under development.
Teacher Redeployment
Ceisteanna (184)
Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:184. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding the teaching registration of a person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53013/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The core function of the redeployment arrangements is to facilitate the redeployment of all surplus permanent/CID holding teachers to schools that have vacancies. Thereafter, schools are required under the panel arrangements to fill permanent vacancies from supplementary panels comprised of eligible fixed-term (temporary/substitute) and part-time teachers.
Circular 0068/2017 sets out the arrangements for panel access for fixed-term/temporary and part-time teachers to the Supplementary Redeployment Panel for the 2018/19 school year.
Applicants must meet all of the published criteria in order to gain access to the Supplementary Redeployment Panel.
The teacher referred to by the Deputy has submitted an application to be included on the Supplementary Redeployment Panel.
All applications received by the closing date of the 8th December for inclusion on the Supplementary Redeployment Panel are currently being assessed as part of the checking process.
Schools Facilities
Ceisteanna (185)
Kevin O'Keeffe
Ceist:185. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Education and Skills if an application submitted under the emergency works grant scheme by a school (details supplied) will be reconsidered in view of the urgent need of the school. [53023/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The school to which the Deputy refers applied for funding under my Department's Emergency Works Scheme to provide car parking facilities at the school.
As the scope of the works was outside the terms of the scheme, the application was refused. The mechanism for applying for funding for works of this nature is my Department’s Summer Works Scheme.
It is open to the school authority to apply for these works under a future Summer Works Scheme.
Schools Building Projects
Ceisteanna (186)
Fergus O'Dowd
Ceist:186. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a new primary school for children with disabilities who are attending a school (details supplied) in County Louth. [53025/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the Deputy is aware, a project to provide permanent accommodation for the school in question is included on my Department's Capital Programme.
Officials in my Department continue to liaise with officials in the relevant local authority in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding in relation to the acquisition of a suitable site to facilitate this building project. The location for the school has been agreed and all parties are currently working to finalise the terms of this proposed acquisition as soon as possible.
Once this is accomplished draft contracts will be requested and the acquisition will progress into the conveyancing stage. Subsequent to the completion of same, subject to no issues arising, the project to deliver a new school will progress into architectural planning.
Gaelscoil Issues
Ceisteanna (187)
Peadar Tóibín
Ceist:187. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason education and training boards, ETBs, are communicating with Gaelscoileanna and Gaeltacht schools in English only; the reason administration materials used by ETBs are in English only; his views on whether schools should be able to conduct their business with the ETBs in the language of the school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53028/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Deputy will be aware that Education and Training Boards are public bodies and are therefore obliged to have their own language schemes in place to implement their obligations under Official Languages Act 2003.
ETBs have responsibilities to support appropriately the all-Irish Schools and Colleges operating under their management. However, individual language schemes are a matter for each ETB and are not collated centrally.
My Department actively supports the Irish language and recently issued Circular 34/2017 to inform managerial authorities, principals and teachers of the initial steps being taken by my Department in the implementation of the Policy on Gaeltacht Education 2017-2021 for the school year 2017/18.
This circular also advised schools participating in the Gaeltacht School Recognition Scheme to prioritise the use of Irish in communicating with parents, the local community and other parties.