Kathleen Funchion
Ceist:197. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of speech and language therapists employed; and the estimated cost of employing an additional 100. [29451/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraSpeech and Language Therapy Staff
Ceisteanna (197)
Freagraí scríofa
I wish to advise the Deputy that the provision of Therapy services, including Speech and Lanaguage Therapy services, is the responsibility of the Health Service Executive (HSE), under the Health Act 2004.
The Deputy will also be aware, however, that I recently announced that a demonstration project to provide in-school and pre-school therapy services will be introduced for the 2018/19 school year.
The project will be managed and co-ordinated by the National Council for Special Education.
The model has been developed by the Departments of Education, Children and Youth Affairs, Health, and the Health Service Executive, and is part of the Government’s overall aim to help every child to fulfil their full potential.
The purpose of the project is to test a model of tailored therapeutic supports that allows for early intervention in terms of providing speech and language and occupational therapy within ‘educational settings’. This innovative pilot will complement existing HSE funded provision of essential therapy services.
The project is taking place in Community Healthcare Organisation (CHO) 7 Region of South West Dublin, Kildare and West Wicklow.
75 schools, including a representative sample of primary, post primary, and special schools will take part in the project.
75 Pre-school settings associated with primary schools participating in the project are being included in order to provide for therapy interventions to be made at the earliest possible time and to create linkages between pre-school and primary school provision.
The project aims to develop a more cohesive, collaborative approach to delivering supports to children by allowing therapists and educational professionals to work together in schools.
It is intended that 19 speech and language therapists and 12 Occupational Therapists will be recruited by the HSE to work with the 150 schools and pre-schools. The therapists will then be assigned to the NCSE to deploy to schools for the course of the project.
My Department therefore does not currently employ speech and lanaguage therapists, which continue to be employed by the HSE.
Questions in relation to the total number of speech and language therapists which are currently employed, and the estimated cost of employing an additional 100 posts, should therefore be referred to the Department of Health and the Health Service Executive.
Further Education and Training Programmes
Ceisteanna (198)
Billy Kelleher
Ceist:198. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Education and Skills the steps he is taking in respect of the back-to-education initiative, BTEI, conversion deal and the implementation of same in County Cork (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29459/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
A conversion process for staff employed in ETBs to deliver programmes under the BTEI was agreed between the Department of Education and Skills and the Teachers Union of Ireland (TUI) in May 2016.
Under the process, BTEI staff affected will be given the option of converting to a Teacher (qualified or unqualified), an Adult Educator or to remain as is. Following an analysis by the employing ETB, each employee will receive a letter setting out the personal implications for them in terms of working hours, salary and pension implications under each option, so that they can make an informed decision on which option they wish to choose.
This process is underway within ETBs and each individual ETB will manage the process on behalf of staff that are in its employ. The Department has recently written to all ETBs, including Cork ETB, providing additional financial supports to each ETB to deal with a number of issues including the BTEI conversion process.
Special Educational Needs Service Provision
Ceisteanna (199)
Michael Lowry
Ceist:199. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the decision not to allocate SNA hours at a school (details supplied) will be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29463/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible 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 allocates SNA support to schools in accordance with the criteria set out in Department Circular 0030/2014, which is available on the Department's website at www.education.ie, in order that students who have care needs can access SNA support as and when it is needed.
In considering applications for SNA support for individual pupils, the NCSE take account of the pupils' needs and consider 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 pupils from its current level of resources.
SNAs are not allocated to individual children but to schools as a school based resource.
SNA allocations to all schools can change from year to year as children with care needs leave the school, as new children with care needs enrol in a school and as children develop more independent living skills and their care needs diminish over time.
My Department’s policy is to ensure that every child who is assessed as needing SNA support will receive access to such support. In line with this policy, I announced in May 2018 that 800 additional SNAs will be allocated for the beginning of the next school year, with a further 140 expected to be allocated by the end of the year.
By the end of this year, there will be a total of 15,000 Special Needs Assistants working in our schools, a 42% increase on 2011.
The NCSE Appeals Process may be invoked by 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.
Schools may also appeal a decision, where the school considers that the NCSE, in applying Department policy, has not allocated the appropriate level of SNA support to the school to meet the special educational and/or care needs of the children concerned.
Where a school has received its allocation of SNA support for 2018/19, but wishes new enrolments or 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 closing date for receipt of any appeals in regard to SNA allocations is Friday, 28th September 2018.
As this question relates to a particular child, I have referred the question to the NCSE for their direct reply.
Departmental Legal Costs
Ceisteanna (200)
Michael Moynihan
Ceist:200. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if all monetary compensation as a result of High Court orders against his Department have been paid to the persons involved; if not, when the payments will issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29465/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
There are no instances where monetary compensation as a result of High Court orders against the Department of Education and Skills have not been paid to the persons involved.
Special Educational Needs Service Provision
Ceisteanna (201)
Michael Lowry
Ceist:201. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the decision not to allocate special needs assistant hours at a school (details supplied) will be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29478/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible 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 allocates SNA support to schools in accordance with the criteria set out in Department Circular 0030/2014, which is available on the Department's website at www.education.ie, in order that students who have care needs can access SNA support as and when it is needed.
In considering applications for SNA supports for individual pupils, the NCSE take account of the pupils' needs and consider 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 pupils from its current level of resources.
SNAs are not allocated to individual children but to schools as a school based resource.
SNA allocations to all schools can change from year to year as children with care needs leave the school, as new children with care needs enrol in a school and as children develop more independent living skills and their care needs diminish over time.
The Department’s policy is to ensure that every child who is assessed as needing SNA support will receive access to such support. In line with this policy, the Minister announced last month that 800 additional SNAs will be allocated for the beginning of the next school year, with a further 140 expected to be allocated by the end of the year.
The NCSE Appeals Process may be invoked by 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.
Schools may also appeal a decision, where the school considers that the NCSE, in applying Department policy, has not allocated the appropriate level of SNA support to the school to meet the special educational and/or care needs of the children concerned.
Where a school has received its allocation of SNA support for 2018/19, but wishes new enrolments or 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 closing date for receipt of any appeals in regard to SNA allocations is Friday, 28th September 2018.
In respect of a decision by a board of management or a person acting on behalf of a board of management to refuse to enrol a student in the school, an appeal may be made to the Secretary General of the Department of Education & Skills.
A completed Section 29 Appeals Application Form and a letter confirming the decision of the board of management must be submitted to:
Section 29 Appeals Administration Unit,
Department of Education and Skills,
Friar's Mill Road,
Mullingar,
County Westmeath.
N91 H30Y
The letter must be signed by a board of management member and the title of signatory must clearly state board of management membership or secretary to the board. The appeal should be submitted within 42 calendar days from the date the decision of the board of management was notified to the appellant.
As this question relates to a particular child, I have referred the question to the NCSE for their direct reply.
Teacher Training Provision
Ceisteanna (202)
Michael Lowry
Ceist:202. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to ensure that all teachers and special needs assistants receive training on administrating EpiPen adrenaline auto-injectors in emergencies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29479/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
My Department promotes the quality of teaching and learning through the provision of quality teacher training programmes and continuing professional development and support for principals and teachers in a range of pedagogical, curricular and educational areas. This is done through initial teacher education programmes, education centres and support services for teachers at primary and post-primary level.
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. Schools are required to take all reasonable precautions to provide training for teachers to ensure the safety and welfare of their pupils.
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, appropriate treatment is available.
The administration of medicines in primary schools is the subject of an agreement between the Irish National Teachers Organisation and the organisation representing school management at primary level. While this agreement specifies that no teacher can be required to administer medicine or drugs to pupils, it also sets out procedures that must be followed where a teacher or teachers agree to do so. The position is that either the parents of the child should make themselves available to administer medication as required, or where they wish the staff in the school to administer it, they should indemnify the school.
My Department cannot direct any member of the Board of Management or the teaching staff of the school to administer medical treatment to pupils, action and procedures which are normally carried out by medical professionals such as doctors and nurses.
The organisation of training in the administration of medicines is a matter for the Board of Management and my Department has no plans for future training programmes in this area.
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 enable 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.
In September 2016, I requested the NCSE to lead a comprehensive review of the Special Needs Assistant Scheme to identify and recommend how, in the future, the additional care needs of students, over and above those needs that could be reasonably expected to be managed by teaching staff, should be met and to identify and recommend the most appropriate form of support options to provide better outcomes for students with Special Educational Needs who have additional care needs, having regard to the significant amount of State investment in this area.
The administration of medication and other such issues in schools was raised with the NCSE as part of the consultation process of this review.
The Comprehensive Review of the Special Needs Assistant Scheme was published by the NCSE on 30 May 2018 and my Department is developing proposals to implement the recommendations of the Review.
Minor Works Scheme Payments
Ceisteanna (203)
Billy Kelleher
Ceist:203. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the payment of the minor works grant each year will be considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29493/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Minor Works Grant was introduced in 1997 and since then has issued to primary schools each year with the exception of the 2012/2013 school year. The payment of the Minor Works Grant is not confined to any particular date and can be issued during any month of the school year. For the 2002/2003 school year, part of the grant was paid in May 2003, with the balance in October 2003.
It is intended that the Minor Works Grant in respect of the 2018/2019 school year will issue no later than January 2019.
My Department recognises the importance of the Minor Works Grant to primary schools. The National Development Plan 2018-2027 signals a gradual ramping up in capital expenditure in the schools sector over the coming years. In that context, and as part of our longer term infrastructural planning, my Department would intend to put the Minor Works Grant on an annual footing and to provide greater certainty to schools on the timing of payments.
Capitation Grants
Ceisteanna (204)
Pat Deering
Ceist:204. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Education and Skills if an increase to the primary school capitation grant will be considered further to correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29502/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I recognise the need to improve capitation funding for schools having regard to the reductions that were necessary over recent years.
Restoring capitation funding as resources permit is one of the actions included in the Action Plan for Education and I remain committed to achieving this. However, I must be prudent in the context of ongoing budgetary pressures and prioritise where it is not possible to do everything that I would like to do in the education sector in any one year. In that regard it is critical that any additional resources that are available in the education sector are utilised in such a way as to maximise teaching and learning outcomes.
The Deputy will be aware that Budget 2018 marked the second year of major reinvestment in the education sector, as we continue to implement the Action Plan for Education, which has the central aim to make the Irish Education and Training service the best in Europe within a decade. In 2018, the budget for the Department of Education increased by €554 million to over €10 billion. Through budget 2017 and Budget 2018, we are now investing €1 billion more in education.
Improvements have been made for the restoration of grant funding that is used by schools to fund the salaries of ancillary staff. The ancillary grant was increased by €6 in 2016, €5 in 2017 and €5 in 2018, in order to enable primary schools to implement the arbitration salary increase for grant funded school secretaries and caretakers and to also implement the restoration of salary for cleaners arising from the unwinding of FEMPI legislation.