Written Answers Nos. 214-226
214. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a new school building project (details supplied) which is due to commence in 2019; if this school is being prioritised due to the continued deterioration of the prefabs which make up the school structure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41891/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe building project referred to by the deputy is included in my Department’s Construction Programme which is being delivered under the National Development Plan.
The project is currently working through the architectural planning process at Stage 2a (Developed Design) where the preferred option design is developed to a stage where the project is fully cost planned and prepared to lodge for statutory approvals.
My Department recently received the Stage 2a submission from the Design Team, which is now under review. Following the Department’s review of the submission, a Stakeholders meeting will be arranged, to which the school will be invited, and if there are no issues outstanding after the Stage 2(a) meeting the project can be authorised to progress to Stage 2b (Detailed Design Stage). This stage includes the applications for Planning Permission, Fire Certificate, Disability Access Certificate and the preparation of Tender Documents.
215. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a school (details supplied) which has been waiting for a new school build since 2006; if the school will be prioritised based on the increasing enrolment rate by 73% since 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41892/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe project to deliver a new school building for the school to which the Deputy refers requires the acquisition of a suitable site. The relevant local authority has been assisting my Department in this regard under the Memorandum of Understanding for the acquisition of school sites. Unfortunately, the site acquisition process has proved extremely challenging to date. However, a number of identified site options are currently being pursued and officials in both my Department and local authority are working to secure a site for the school as quickly as possible.
Once this site has been acquired, my Department will look to progress the project into the architectural planning process.
216. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a permanent site will be purchased for a college (details supplied). [41895/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department requested the patron of the College to which the Deputy refers to identify suitable site options. In response to this request my Department has recently been provided with one site option which is of of significant scale and cost. This site option will have to be appraised in a wider context, including in the context of the strategy for the Further Education and Training sector generally.
217. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills if funding for a school (details supplied) will be prioritised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41914/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of architectural planning, Stage 2(b) - Detailed Design, which includes the application for statutory approvals and the preparation of tender documents.
A replacement Quantity Surveyor has recently been appointed to the project who is currently working with the Design Team members on the completion of the Stage 2(b) submission which will incorporate NZEB requirements.
Upon receipt and review of the Stage 2(b) submission the Department will be in contact with the school regarding the further progression of this project at that time.
218. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will respond to the campaign of an organisation (details supplied) for investment in primary education, which is calling for a reduction in class sizes to bring them in line with the European average of 20:1; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41929/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn the current school year, the numbers employed in our schools have reached the highest ever level. Over 1,300 additional posts in schools have been funded, including more than 370 teaching posts to cater for growth in student population and additional special classes. This builds on the Budget 2018 measure which provided a one point improvement in the staffing schedule in primary schools which brings the position to a general average of 26 pupils to every 1 teacher, the lowest ever allocation ratio at primary level.
The latest figures in relation to pupil teacher ratio show an improved ratio of teachers to students from 16:1 to 15.2:1 at primary level when comparing the 2015/16 school year to the 2018/19 school year. Average class sizes at primary level improved from 24.9 to 24.3 in the same period.
Budget 2020 has provided for a budget of more than €11 billion for the Department of Education and Skills in 2020. This is the highest ever allocation to the sector and an increase of nearly €2 billion since 2016.
The Budget 2020 measure of improved teacher staffing levels for schools with four teachers or less will see a more favourable pupil teacher ratio in small schools from September 2020. This improved schedule will apply in two, three and four teacher schools and ensure one less pupil is required to retain/recruit a teacher.
219. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason an application by a person (details supplied) for additional accommodation was not allocated in full; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41994/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe school's application for a second ASD classroom and a sensory room is currently being reassessed by my Department and a decision will be conveyed to the school authority as quickly as possible.
220. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the 1,000 special needs assistant positions announced in budget 2020 are additional to the 900 announced in 2019; the number of the 900 positions that have been filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42050/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraBudget 2019 provided for 950 additional SNA posts. To date over 900 of these posts have been allocated with the remainder expected to be allocated by the end of the year.
By the end of this year, there will be up to 15,950 SNAs working in our schools, an increase of over 51% since 2011.
Budget 2020 has provided for 1,064 additional SNAs posts which will bring the total number of SNA posts in schools to over 17,000 in 2020.
221. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a school place for a child (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42076/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the provisions of the Education Act 1998, the Board of Management is the body charged with the direct governance of a school.
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. Parents have the right to choose which school to apply to and where the school has places available the pupil should be admitted. In schools where there are more applicants than places available a selection process may be necessary. It is a matter for the Board of Management which selection criteria are included in their enrolment policy and in what priority these criteria are applied. The 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, this may result in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice.
Section 29 of the Education Act, 1998 provides for an appeal by a parent or guardian to the Secretary General of my Department, or in the case of an Educational Training Board (ETB) school to the ETB in the first instance, where a Board of Management of a school, or a person acting on behalf of the Board, refuses to enrol a student in a school. Further information on the Section 29 appeals process is available on my Department's website at the following link:
https://www.education.ie/en/Parents/Services/Appeal-against-Permanent-Exclusion-Suspension-or-Refusal-to-Enrol/
However, if the parents in question are in a position that they cannot secure any place for their child they may wish to call the Education Welfare Service of the Child and Family Agency (Tusla) which is the statutory agency which can assist parents who are experiencing difficulty in securing a school place for their child. The EWS can be contacted at 01-7718500.
222. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an extension for a school (details supplied) in County Kildare. [42077/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe project referred to by the Deputy has been devolved for delivery to the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA).
I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the process for the appointment of a programme manager and design team for the project is well underway.
While at this early stage it is not possible to provide a timeline for completion of the project, the NDFA will be engaging directly with the school authority to keep it informed of progress.
223. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans for the proposed extension of a school (details supplied); the status of the project; the timeline for completion of the works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42078/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis building project is included in my Department’s Construction Programme which is being delivered under the National Development Plan.
The project is currently at Stage 2B of the Architectural Planning process – Detailed Design Stage which includes securing statutory approvals and the preparation of tender documents. The pre-qualification of contractors process to compile a shortlist of suitable contractors is complete and tender documentation is being finalised.
Stage 2(b) Detailed Design is arguably the most complex and detailed of all the stages in Architectural Planning. In addition to securing the necessary statutory approvals it also includes the preparation of complex and detailed tender documents. In completing Stage 2(b), Design Teams are now required to upgrade design details to ensure that new school buildings are Near Zero Energy Buildings (NZEB) in compliance with the 2017 amendment to Part L of the current Building Regulations.
The next step for this project is Stage 3 – tender stage which normally takes 7-8 months to complete. My Department will be in contact shortly with the school and Design Team regarding the progression of this project.
224. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education and Skills if there is a scheme under the remit of his Department in which schools catering for students with special needs can receive funding for playground furniture and equipment, including from dormant accounts money and national lottery money; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42094/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to inform the Deputy that there is no scheme under the remit of my Department where schools catering for students with special needs can receive funding for playground furniture and equipment, including from dormant accounts money and National Lottery money.
However, grant aid is made available to schools under my Department’s Loose Furniture & Equipment Scheme to fund the purchase of special items of furniture for special needs pupils. This scheme applies to all children who are diagnosed as having special needs. Items funded include classroom seating, desks and changing/toileting items for both primary and post primary schools.
225. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to reduce class sizes in view of the fact that primary school classes here are the largest in the eurozone, five above the EU average of 20; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42106/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn the current school year, the numbers employed in our schools have reached the highest ever level. Over 1,300 additional posts in schools have been funded, including more than 370 teaching posts to cater for growth in student population and additional special classes. This builds on the Budget 2018 measure which provided a one point improvement in the staffing schedule in primary schools which brings the position to a general average of 26 pupils to every 1 teacher, the lowest ever allocation ratio at primary level.
The latest figures in relation to pupil teacher ratio show an improved ratio of teachers to students from 16:1 to 15.2:1 at primary level when comparing the 2015/16 school year to the 2018/19 school year. Average class sizes at primary level improved from 24.9 to 24.3 in the same period.
Budget 2020 has provided for a budget of more than €11 billion for the Department of Education and Skills in 2020. This is the highest ever allocation to the sector and an increase of nearly €2 billion since 2016.
The Budget 2020 measure of improved teacher staffing levels for schools with four teachers or less will see a more favourable pupil teacher ratio in small schools from September 2020. This improved schedule will apply in two, three and four teacher schools and ensure one less pupil is required to retain/recruit a teacher.
226. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a proposed amalgamation of schools (details supplied) in County Cork; the status of the provision of a new school building; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42120/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy will be aware that a building project for the schools to which he refers is included in my Department's School Building Programme to be delivered as part of the National Development Plan (NDP).
The decision making authority for any amalgamation is the Patron/Trustees of the schools, and this is subject to the approval of my Department.
Any proposed amalgamation involves negotiations at local level and must be well planned and managed in a manner that accommodates the interests of students, parents, teachers, local communities and contributes to an inclusive education system.
My Department has sought update from the Patron of the schools in question relating to the proposed amalgamation. When this is received, the matter can be considered further.
