Written Answers Nos. 237-244
237. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which he expects to be in a position to continue to ensure the availability of adequate special needs teaching places in all primary and secondary schools in County Kildare and throughout the country in the short to medium term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29692/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraDES Circulars 0013/2017 for primary schools and 0014/2017 for post primary schools set out details of the new model for allocating special education teachers to schools.
The revised allocation process replaces the previous generalised allocation processes combined with 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.
It ensures that all school receive an allocation for special education teaching resources based on the schools profile.
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.
The additional funding provided additional supports to over 1300 schools who identified as needing additional supports as a result of the new model, while ensuring that no school received a reduced allocation.
The Government is committed to helping every child, particularly those with special educational needs, to fulfil their potential.
In 2018, my Department will invest over €1.78 billion in this area - 1/5 of my Department's budget and up 42% since 2011, at which point €1.24 billion was invested. This increased investment has allowed the Government to increase the number of:
- SNAs by 42%, from 10,575 in 2011 to 15,000 by the end of 2018.
- Special classes by 138% to over 1,300 at present, compared to 548 special classes in 2011.
- Special education teachers by 38% from 9,630 in 2011 to over 13,300 at present in 2018.
This level of commitment and provision, particularly in relation to the provision of additional special education teachers, will ensure that adequate special needs teaching resources can continue to be provided for all primary and secondary schools, including those in County Kildare, at present and in future.
238. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which he expects to be in a position to continue to ensure the availability of an adequate number of # SNAs in all primary and secondary schools in County Kildare and throughout the country in the short to medium term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29693/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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.
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 SNA allocation for County Kildare increased form 584.63 posts to 629.37 posts for the 2018/19 school year.
239. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which he expects to progress the school building improvement and summer scheme programmes in respect of all schools in County Kildare at primary and second level with particular reference to those schools that have made submissions in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29694/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department's Capital Programme (2016-2021) continues to address the challenges posed by the significant bulge in pupil enrolments going through our schools. This has seen a significant expansion in the rate of provision of new school places. The Capital Programme details the school projects that are being progressed through the architectural planning process, including those schools in County Kildare. The Capital Programme also provides for devolved funding for additional classrooms, if required, for schools where an immediate enrolment need has been identified or where an additional teacher has been appointed.
I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has set out on its website at www.education.ie - Building Works, the current status of building projects and this is updated regularly.
I also wish to advise the Deputy of my announcement in April regarding the establishment of 42 new schools over the next four years (2019 to 2022). This announcement follows nationwide demographic exercises carried out by the Department into the future need for primary and post-primary schools across the country, including County Kildare and the 4-year horizon will enable increased lead-in times for planning and delivery of the necessary infrastructure.
In addition to the new schools announced, there will be a need for further school accommodation in other areas in the future. Based on the current analysis, this need can be addressed through either planned capacity increases in existing schools or additional accommodation or extensions to existing schools.
The Summer Works Scheme (SWS) is a multi-annual Scheme. Over 1,650 schools, nearly 50% of schools, applied for inclusion under the current round of the scheme which reflects a very high demand.
To date, almost €80 million has been approved under the current round of the Scheme, in respect of 635 school projects, 464 primary and 171 post-primary schools, for Gas, electrical upgrades, mechanical, sanitation and roof improvement works. Details of the successful school applicants, are published on the Department's website www.education.ie.
In relation to the SWS 2018, over €25 million will be spent on summer works projects in 2018. This expenditure will enable the remaining approved improvement works for 178 schools nationwide to be completed. These works will be carried out by the schools themselves on a devolved basis mainly over the summer months, so the disruption to students, teachers and other school staff will be kept to a minimum.
Furthermore, the Department intends to engage with the relevant education partners in relation to giving schools a better lead-in period for planning and delivering projects under the summer works scheme from 2019 onwards. While the SWS is hugely successful in enabling small scale refurbishment works to be done on a devolved basis, the Department considers that the operation of the scheme could be improved by providing a better lead-in period for schools rather than in Quarter 2 as in previous years. This will also help ensure that works done under the SWS fit better with any wider refurbishment/energy retrofit plans that may be done at schools under the increased funding provided in the National Development Plan. The engagement with education partners will commence shortly and will assist in developing a better timeline for the planning and delivery of summer works projects for 2019 onwards.
240. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which the requirements of a school (details supplied) regarding the resurfacing of a playground surface have been facilitated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29695/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm to the Deputy that the school in question applied for funding under the Summer Works Scheme, under Category 10 - External Environment Works to upgrade the school's play area.
The Summer Works Scheme (SWS) is a multi-annual Scheme. Over 1,650 schools, nearly 50% of schools, applied for inclusion under the current round of the scheme which reflects a very high demand.
Over 700 applications in Categories 7-10, at a cost of just over €52 million have not been reached to date. However, almost €80 million has been approved under the current round of the Scheme categories 1-6, in respect of 635 school projects, 464 primary and 171 post-primary schools, for gas, electrical upgrades, mechanical, sanitation and roof improvement works. Details of the successful school applicants, are published on the Department's website www.education.ie.
Furthermore, the Department intends to engage with the relevant education partners in relation to giving schools a better lead-in period for planning and delivering projects under the SWS from 2019 onwards. While the SWS is hugely successful in enabling small scale refurbishment works to be done on a devolved basis, the Department considers that the operation of the scheme could be improved by providing a better lead-in period for schools rather than in Quarter 2 as in previous years. This will also help ensure that works done under the SWS fit better with any wider refurbishment/energy retrofit plans that may be done at schools under the increased funding provided in the National Development Plan. The engagement with education partners will commence shortly and will assist in developing a better timeline for the planning and delivery of summer works projects for 2019 onwards.
In the meantime, the school concerned may use its minor works grant, which all primary schools received last December, to carry out the works in full or on a phased basis as that grant permits if the school considers them to be a priority.
241. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a school (details supplied); the additional progress that has been made since the matter was last raised with his Department; the timeline for the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29698/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe major building project referred to by the Deputy is currently at Stage 1 of the Architectural Planning Process which is the Preliminary Design Stage where the Design Team in conjunction with the school authority 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.
The Design Team has recently submitted a report which is being examined by my Department's Professional and Technical staff. A meeting date will be scheduled as soon as possible at which the Design Team will present its design proposals to the Department and the school will also attend.
On satisfactory completion of Stage 1 the project can be approved to progress through the remaining stages of architectural planning which includes detailed design, the planning application and other statutory approvals and the preparation of tender documents. This project was announced on the Minister's 6 year programme to go to construction 2019 - 2021.
242. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a school building project (details supplied) in County Donegal; when the project will proceed to construction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29699/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is currently at an advanced stage of architectural planning Stage 2b (Detailed Design), which includes the application for statutory approvals and the preparation of tender documents.
The school and its design team was authorised to commence the prequalification process to select a shortlist of contractors for tender stage on 18th June 2018. Pre-qualification normally takes between 8 and 12 weeks to complete.
When pre-qualification is complete the project will then be progressed to tender stage. A tender stage normally takes between 7 and 8 months to complete. In that context, this school building project has been profiled to commence construction in Quarter 2 2019.
A letter issued from the Department to the school and its Design Team on 14th March 2018 outlining the projected timeframe for progression of this project to tender and construction stage and the steps involved.
243. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a school building project (details supplied) in County Donegal; when the project is likely to proceed to construction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29701/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe major building project referred to by the Deputy is currently at Stage 1 of the Architectural Planning Process.
Stage 1 is the Preliminary Design Stage where the Design Team in conjunction with the school authority 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. The school's design team will present their design proposals to the school and the Department for approval.
The project will then progress through the remaining stages of architectural planning which includes detailed design, the planning application and other statutory approvals and the preparation of tender documents. This project is included in the 6 year construction programme and is scheduled therein to go to construction 2019 - 2021. When the design stages are completed and planning permission and the other statutory approvals have been secured my Department will be able to provide the school with a more definitive timeframe for the tender and construction stages of the project.
244. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of apprenticeship programme curriculum areas that commenced for the first time in 2016 and 2017; the reviews of these programmes that have been carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29702/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy is set out in a tabular statement.
The new apprenticeship programmes will be subject to the requirements for review stipulated in the validation process.
Consortia led apprenticeship new operational programmes
|
- |
Cumulative operational programmes |
|
2016 |
2 |
|
2017 |
9 |
|
2018 (to date) |
11 |
