Written Answers Nos. 145-158
145. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding access for a school (details supplied) to the sports hall building programme for the provision of adequate physical education facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20370/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Development Plan (NDP), increased funding has been provided for the school sector capital investment programme. This funding allows for a continued focus on the provision of new permanent school places to keep pace with demographic demand and also provides for an additional focus on the refurbishment of existing school buildings to include the building and modernisation of PE facilities in schools.
The immediate priority of my Department is providing 20,000 new and replacement school places each year, to ensure that every child has a school place. The focus in the medium term will be on the provision of PE halls in post-primary schools.
146. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the amount of funding on average per annum spent of supporting STEM in areas (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20372/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe STEM Education Policy Statement was launched in November 2017, spending by the Department of Education and Skills on STEM initiatives and CPD in Primary and Post-Primary schools since then is as follows:
- The spending for STEM CPD by JCT and PDST was €4,986,574 for 2018 and €3,557,590 for 2017
- The spend to schools in grant funding for the STEM cluster projects was - €185,000 in 2018
- The spend on an awareness campaign was €78,965 in December 2018. The campaign was run in conjunction with Science Foundation Ireland.
- The Digital Strategy for Schools 2015-2020 included a commitment of €210m in funding to support schools to invest in their ICT infrastructure, to enable the embedding of digital technology in teaching, learning and assessment across all subjects including STEM. To date, some €105m in grants has been distributed to schools from that funding. (In early 2017 the first tranche of this funding, €30m, issued to schools and a further €30m issued in 2018. An additional €45m of this funding issued to schools in the first Quarter of 2019)
Spending by Science Foundation Ireland on STEM is a matter for my colleague, Ms. Heather Humphreys TD, Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation.
147. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the steps he is taking to ensure that prefabs will not be needed for a school (details supplied) and that the structural defects will be fixed before new school year in September 2019. [20397/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy will be aware that last October and November my Department carried out initial investigations into 42 schools where structural defects had been identified. 22 required precautionary measures to enable continued safe occupation.
Following on from the initial investigations, which were based on sample opening up works, my Department initiated a second phase of detailed investigations for the schools on the 18th of January last. This next phase of the programme is focusing initially on the 22 schools that have precautionary measures in place and also at the school to which the Deputy refers, which remains closed in part.
The purpose of these investigations is to determine the type and extent of structural issues in each individual school and, from the technical information gathered by the appointed structural engineers, to design permanent remediation solutions for delivery where these are needed.
In line with the update published by my Department in January, detailed structural investigations have now been completed in 21 of the 22 schools with precautionary measures in place and at the school in question. The investigations into the remaining school with precautionary measures in place will be completed by the middle of May.
The school referred to is different from the schools with precautionary measures in place in that the nature and extent of the issues there are such that the building under investigation was required to close. The school remains operational in another building on site.
Detailed investigations have concluded in the closed building and engineers are working to design solutions. When these are known, a programme of works to remediate the building will be put in place for implementation. This is an Education and Training Board (ETB) school. Pending the delivery of the remediation work, my Department will ensure, in continued consultation with the ETB, that any interim accommodation needs at the school are met. In this regard, 2 additional temporary classrooms, a woodwork room and prep area together with a disabled access toilet have been approved for September 2019.
148. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the timescale for the delivery of a school (details supplied) which had a promised commencement of 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20398/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe major building project for the school 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.
The Stage 2b report has been reviewed by my Department and comments have issued from my Department which the Design Team will include in its final review of the documents before the project can be transferred to tender and construction.
A tender process will shortly begin to appoint a replacement Consultant Architect for this project as the previous Design Team Architect has withdrawn. A replacement process usually takes 3 months. Following this, the Design Team will need to meet to brief the new Consultant Architect, a due diligence review of the Stage 2b documents will be carried out, and the Design Team will proceed to complete the Stage 2(b) submission.
Upon receipt and review of the due diligence report, my Department will revert to the school with regard to the further progression of this project at that time.
149. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills the steps parents can take to seek a secondary school exemption in Irish for their child in circumstances in which the school is not willing or able to grant an exemption; if the parents can make a direct application to his Department for an exemption for their child; if so, the process; and if he will review this decision. [20403/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraTo apply for an exemption from the study of Irish, a written application for the exemption should be made by the parent or guardian to the school principal on behalf of their child. The application should state the reasons why the exemption is being sought.
A child will only be considered for an exemption where his/her educational circumstances come within the provisions of the post primary circular (M10/94). As per the Circular a decision to grant an exemption will be conveyed to the parent or guardian by way of a written certificate, signed by the school principal.
If a school is uncertain as to whether a pupil’s circumstances fall within the criteria of Circular 10/94 or whether a school’s decision to refuse an application is queried, it is open to either the school or the parent/guardian to seek advice from my Department as to the application of the exemption criteria to the specific circumstances of a child. Any request for advice should be made in writing and should include all relevant documentation including up to date relevant reports from medical specialists etc. The request for advice can be submitted to the Irish Exemptions Section, Department of Education and Skills, Cornamaddy, Athlone, Co. Westmeath, N37 X659. Following full consideration of all documentation submitted, my Department will issue its advice to the parents and the school.
I would also like to inform the Deputy that the Irish Exemptions process is currently under review and following public consultation, a new circular on Irish Exemptions should issue in the third quarter of 2019.
150. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to introduce a regulation or statutory instrument recognising the title of guidance counsellors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20420/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraCoru is the government body responsible for the regulation of health and social care professionals in Ireland. Regulation under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 is managed through the protection of professional titles rather than by restricting practice. The Department of Health has proposed the designation of the professions ‘Counsellor’ and ‘Psychotherapist’, each to have its own register. The use of protected titles is restricted to those granted registration. This has raised the question of the status of the title of Guidance Counsellor and continued right to use that title in education and training settings.
The role of Guidance Counsellor in the education and training sector is a separate and distinct role to that of counsellor or psychotherapist. Guidance in schools refers to a range of learning experiences provided in a developmental sequence, that assist students to develop self-management skills which will lead to effective choices and decisions about their lives. It encompasses the three separate, but interlinked, areas of personal and social development, educational guidance and career guidance”. In an adult guidance context i.e. the AEGS, guidance is defined as facilitating people “…to manage their own educational, training, occupational, personal, social, and life choices so that they reach their full potential and contribute to the development of a better society”. These definitions capture the importance of the Guidance Counsellor’s role in supporting personal and social, educational and career development. They also highlight the role of guidance in facilitating decision-making and life choices and promoting wellbeing.
Counselling in schools may include personal counselling, educational counselling, career counselling or combinations of these. Counselling occurs only within the guidance context to support the individual student or adult client in personal, social, educational and career development and where necessary at moments of personal crisis. Guidance Counsellors employed within the education and training sector are guided by the DES requirements to operate within their professional competence and boundaries and to make referrals to personal counselling and psychotherapy as and when appropriate.
I have no plans to introduce a regulation or statutory instrument recognising the title of Guidance Counsellor. Recognising the important role played by Guidance Counsellors in schools and other settings, my Department has made a submission to the Department of Health seeking a derogation of the title of Guidance Counsellor from regulation. This is the appropriate route to take towards protection of the title Guidance Counsellor for use in the education and training sector.
151. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will publish the 2009 report by a company (details supplied) on school transport services provided by Bus Éireann without redactions in view of the time that has passed since it was first published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20439/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraSchool transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of my Department. There are currently over 117,500 children, including over 13,000 children with special educational needs, transported in over 5,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres annually.
The report referred to by the Deputy reviewed the overhead costs and indirect costs attributable to the school transport scheme. In April 2014 my Department published this report on its website. Bus Éireann fully co-operated with the consultants who conducted the review in an open and transparent manner providing detailed financial information to assist in their review process. The consultants had extensive access to Bus Éireann financial information. For this reason the review was conducted under a confidentiality agreement between the consultants and Bus Éireann.
The review notes and acknowledges that Bus Éireann clearly applied the accounting arrangements for the scheme since 1975.
The report, which as mentioned at the outset was published in April 2014, was published with only limited exclusions of material that remain commercially sensitive. Therefore, it is not intended to publish the report without redactions.
152. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills the progress in building a new school building for a school (details supplied); and when the pre-qualification of contractors will be finalised and approved. [20442/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe major building project for the school referred to by the deputy is at an advanced stage of architectural planning, Stage 2b (Detailed Design). The Stage 2(b) submission has been reviewed by my Department and comments have issued to the school and its Design Team.
The Design Team is currently working on a submission to my Department outlining the steps required to achieve compliance with Part L of the Building Regulations 2017 (NZEB "Near Zero Energy Building"). This is a new requirement arising from the introduction of Part L (Conservation of Fuel and Energy) of the Building Regulations to ensure compliance with the EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD).
When the NZEB submission has been received, my Department at that point will consider authorising this project to commence the pre-qualification process to create a shortlist of contractors to which the project will be tendered.
Pre-qualification normally takes between 8 and 12 weeks to complete.
153. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding an appeal by a school (details supplied) in County Cork in respect of its staffing allocation for the 2019-20 school year under the developing area status heading; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20443/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30th September. However, the staffing arrangements for primary schools includes the provision whereby schools experiencing rapid increases in enrolment can apply for additional permanent mainstream posts on developing grounds, using projected enrolment for the following September, in this case September 2019.
My Department has received a developing post application from the school referred to by the Deputy. The application is currently being processed and the school will be notified in due course.
154. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a school placement in an ASD unit will be sourced for a person (details supplied). [20470/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Council for Special Education (NCSE), an independent agency of my Department, is responsible for planning, coordinating and advising on education provision for children with special educational needs. The Council ensures that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all children who have been identified as needing special class placements. The NCSE team of Special Education Needs Organisers (SENOs), who are locally based, is available to assist and advise parents whose children have special needs.
In circumstances, where the NCSE confirm that there is no school placement available for a child with Special Educational Needs, my Department's Home Tuition Grant Scheme will provide funding towards the provision of 20 hours tuition per week as an interim measure until a placement is available.
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, using the contact details available at http://ncse.ie/seno-contact-list.
The NCSE works in collaboration with the Educational Welfare Services (EWS) of the Child and Family Agency which is the statutory agency that can assist parents who are experiencing difficulty in securing a school place for their child or can offer assistance where a child is out of school. The local service is delivered through the national network of Educational Welfare Officers (EWO). Contact details are available at http://www.tusla.ie/get-in-touch/education-and-welfare/
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.
155. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding essential repair works required to a school (details supplied) in County Cork; the timeline of plans for a new school building; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20480/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is currently reviewing special needs provision in Cork and are meeting with Enable Ireland shortly in this regards. It is in this context that the accommodation needs of the school referred to by the Deputy will be considered. If the school in question has an immediate emergency it is open to the school authority to submit an application for funding under my Department's Emergency Work Scheme.
156. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an application by a school (details supplied) for an extension and-or new build; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20481/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy will be aware that a building project for the school to which he refers is included in my Department's school building programme to be delivered as part of the National Development Plan.
My Department recently contacted the school authority who advised that the legal elements associated with the site portfolio are expected to be resolved shortly. My Department awaits further update from the school authority in this regard.
In the meantime, my Department has initiated the process of devising the schedules of accommodation for purposes of the school's project brief.
157. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to appoint a clerk of works on all the projects on the current status of large-scale projects list being delivered under the school building programme; if some smaller schools or extensions will not have a clerk of works appointed or sanctioned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20503/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that a Clerk of Works is appointed on all large scale school building projects, including Major Devolved Projects.
In respect of Additional Accommodation Scheme projects, applications for the provision of funding for Clerks of Works are considered on a case-by-case basis. In that respect, there are projects under that scheme that do not have a Clerk of Works appointed or sanctioned. This policy is currently under review.
158. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Education and Skills if it will be ensured that children with autism in the north Dublin area receive an appropriate education; if the necessary special classes and special schools will be provided for these children; if the National Council for Special Education wrote to him in April 2019 to advise him that sufficient schools would not respond voluntarily to meet the demand; if he will invoke the provisions of the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018 to ensure that the necessary places are provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20530/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI want to assure the Deputy that concerns regarding a shortage of appropriate school places for next September are being taken very seriously. An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, has been engaging with local groups on this issue directly.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has formally advised me that there is insufficient special school and special class capacity in Dublin 15.
I wrote to the local parents committee on the 26th April and my Department, the NCSE and the Office of An Taoiseach were represented at a meeting with Parents to discuss this issue on the 29th April 2019.
My Department, the NCSE and school patrons are actively engaging to address this issue. As a result of these efforts, three special classes catering for 18 students are on track to open in September 2019.
In addition, the NCSE met with stakeholders, including education providers, in the Dublin 15 area on 30 April and further engagement with the objective of opening further special classes is ongoing.
If existing schools, including special schools, cannot provide the necessary number of places, then other arrangements will be made following any necessary consultation with parents and schools.
To this end, I can advise that options are currently being examined and scoped out, in relation to establishing additional special school places to cater for the needs of children in Dublin 15. My Department officials are engaging with patron bodies including Dublin and Dun Laoghaire Education and Training Board with regard to suitable space which may be made available immediately for the purpose of providing the required placements.
The NCSE will keep in regular contact with the parents of the children concerned to advise them of progress and identify placements as they become available.
I have discussed this matter in detail with An Taoiseach and my Department is actively engaged with the NCSE in taking steps to increase the number of suitable places to cater for the needs of children in Dublin 15.
