Written Answers Nos. 223-242
223. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the review of the junior cycle; his views on whether the junior cycle is a good preparation for the senior cycle; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3012/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) has recently issued a request for tender for a study on the implementation and impact of the introduction of the Framework for Junior Cycle.
This research study will start a broad evaluation of the implementation and impact of the developments involved, presenting a unique opportunity to engage with teachers, students and schools as they introduce the developments at Junior Cycle; it will enable the NCCA to document and learn in detail about the experience of Junior Cycle change and, in the process, gain insights into the implementation and impact of the introduction of a new curriculum framework at Junior Cycle.
Overall, the study will contribute to increased understanding of the experiences of teachers, students and schools involved in this development and how these experiences shape and are shaped by schools as communities, institutions, and by policy making in this area in the wider education system.
The Framework for Junior Cycle gives students the opportunity to develop a wide range of knowledge and skills – to equip them for further learning, for work, for responsible and active citizenship, and for healthy living. It gives students better learning opportunities, and rewards and recognises non-academic performance and achievements, with a central focus on the student’s quality of life, well-being and mental health. In particular, learners are enabled to use and analyse information in new and creative ways, to investigate issues, to explore, to think for themselves, to be creative in solving problems and to apply their learning to new challenges and situations.
I am satisfied that the Framework for Junior Cycle provides students with an excellent foundation for progression to Senior Cycle.
224. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to provide ASD units in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3013/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince 2011, the number of special classes in mainstream schools has increased almost threefold from 548 to 1,618 for the 2019/2020 school year; with 1,353 of these catering for children with autism.
167 new special classes have been established nationally for 2019/20 school year of which approximately 156 will be new autism special classes, comprising 6 Early Intervention, 100 primary, and 50 post-primary autism classes.
Provision in our 124 special schools has also increased from 6,848 placements in 2011 to 7,872 this year.
In Cork alone there are 195 special classes and 13 special schools providing specialist support to children with more complex special educational needs.
A list of special classes for September 2019 is available on the NCSE website at: https://ncse.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/NCSE-List-of-Special-Classes-for-September-2019.pdf.
Budget 2020 provided for an additional 265 special class teachers in 2020, which will allow for the opening of additional classes where required.
The NCSE has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children nationwide; has well established structures in place for engaging with schools and parents; and seeks to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all children who have been identified as needing special class placements.
It is open to any school to make an application to the NCSE for the establishment of a specialised provision and where sanctioned, a range of supports, including capital funding, is made available to the school. My Department works closely with the NCSE in this regard.
The NCSE is planning a further expansion of special class and school places nationally, including Cork, to meet identified need for next year. This process is ongoing.
Normally, special class and school places are established with the full cooperation of the schools in areas where they are required. However there are some parts of the country where the NCSE has faced challenges in getting schools and their patrons to voluntarily agree to provide special class or school places.
I know that this can cause much anguish for parents and families involved.
As Minister I have a power under Section 37A of the Education Act 1998 to direct a school to provide additional provision where all reasonable efforts have failed.
Last year, the NCSE indicated that parents in Dublin 15, South Dublin, Kildare and Cork were experiencing difficulty securing school places for their children.
The legislation has been used twice in Dublin to address shortages of special class and school places.
The legislation contains a procedure through which the NCSE can test the capacity of schools in an area to provide more special education places and through which ultimately a Ministerial direction can be made requiring a school to make additional special education places available. The Act prescribes a set of steps to follow which includes extensive consultation with schools and their patron bodies.
The initial step in the process is for the NCSE to inform the Minister that there is a shortage of places in a particular area.
The NCSE will only activate the legislation after it has taken all reasonable efforts to get schools and their Patrons to voluntarily agree to provide additional special class or school places.
I would prefer to see schools volunteer to provide more places rather than places being secured on the back of an order or a direction from me. It is the right thing for the children in a community.
The NCSE's Local Special Education Needs Organisers (SENOs) are available to assist and advise both schools and the parents of children with special educational needs in relation to special class provision.
225. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the steps he is taking to address the problem of the shortage of second level school places for the 2020-21 school year in Ballincollig, County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3014/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy that as school authorities finalise their enrolments each year, issues have arisen where primary school pupils are experiencing difficulties in a number of areas in securing a post-primary school place for the start of the new school year (September 2020).
Where capacity is an issue the key points to be considered are:
- Duplication of applications – pupils have applied for a place to a number of schools in the area
- School of choice – pupils cannot get a place in their preferred school while there are places in other schools in the town/area
- Some towns/areas have single sex schools and while places are available in the school they are not available to all pupils
- External draw – pupils coming from outside the local area.
Where these issues exist, Department officials from the Planning and Building Unit engage with all relevant parties to resolve them.
This process is currently ongoing with a view to ensuring that every pupil has a school place for September 2020, in the area in question.
226. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to ensure the extension and refurbishment of a school (details supplied) proceeds to the tender and build stage without further delay by granting the school rapid build status; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3026/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, the project to which he refers has been devolved to Dublin and Dún Laoghaire Education and Training Board (DDLETB) for delivery.
My Department is fully aware of the need to urgently progress this project. However, it is of utmost importance that the final outcome for this project will be the correct one for both the entire school community. In that regard, I would like to inform the Deputy that DDLETB has recently completed a review of the project which put forward an alternative option for progressing it and a report in respect of same has been provided. This report is currently under active consideration by officials in my Department.
Finally, I would like to advise the Deputy that, as the delivery method for the project has already been determined, it is not possible to consider an alternative.
227. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the provision of a new school building project for a school (details supplied); if the acquisition of a new site for the school has been completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3027/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware the building project for the school in question is included on my Department's capital programme.
The acquisition of a site for this school is at an advanced stage in the conveyancing process and my officials are working to bring it to conclusion at the earliest possible date. Due to the commercially sensitive nature of site acquisitions, it is not possible to comment further at this time.
228. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the refurbishment and provision of an extension for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3028/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is included in my Department’s Construction Programme which is being delivered under the National Development Plan.
This project is one of the school building projects on my Department’s ADAPT 2 (Accelerated Delivery of Architectural Planning & Tendering) Programme. My Department has completed the process of appointing a Project Manager for the ADAPT 2 Programme, which currently contains 18 school building projects.
The appointment of a Design Team (Architect, Quantity Surveyor, Civil & Structural Engineer, Mechanical & Electrical Engineer and Project Supervisor for the Design Process) for the school in question has been completed.
The Department held a briefing session along with the Project Manager, the School and Design Team on January 15th 2020. The Design Team is currently working on Stage 1 of Architectural Planning which includes Site Report, Site Suitability and producing Initial Sketch Schemes.
229. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the start date for prefab replacement for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3029/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is included in my Department’s Construction Programme which is being delivered under the National Development Plan.
This project is one of the school building projects on my Department’s ADAPT 2 (Accelerated Delivery of Architectural Planning & Tendering) Programme. My Department has completed the process of appointing a Project Manager for the ADAPT 2 Programme, which currently contains 18 school building projects.
The appointment of a Design Team (Architect, Quantity Surveyor, Civil & Structural Engineer, Mechanical & Electrical Engineer and Project Supervisor for the Design Process) for the school in question has been completed.
The Department held a briefing session along with the Project Manager, the School and Design Team on January 15th 2020. The Design Team is currently working on Stage 1 of Architectural Planning which includes Site Report, Site Suitability and producing Initial Sketch Schemes.
230. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the progress of the delivery of a new school building for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3030/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe building project for the school referred to by the deputy is included in My Department’s Construction Programme which is being delivered under the National Development Plan.
This project is one of the school building projects on my Department’s ADAPT 2 (Accelerated Delivery of Architectural Planning & Tendering) Programme. My Department has completed the process of appointing a Project Manager for the ADAPT 2 Programme. A Request for Tender to appoint a Design Team – (Architect, Quantity Surveyor, Civil & Structural Engineer, Mechanical & Electrical Engineer and Project Supervisor for the Design Process) is live on www.etenders.gov.ie, with a closing date for tender return of 6th March 2020 at 5pm.
Once appointed the Design Team will commence work on Stage 1 of Architectural Planning – Site Suitability, Site Repot & Initial Sketch Scheme.
231. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding progress on a permanent school building project for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3031/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is included in the Department’s Construction Programme which is being delivered under the National Development Plan.
The project is currently 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. Statutory approvals in relation to the permanent new school build have been secured.
Following the appointment of a replacement consultant architect, the Design Team has reviewed the previous Stage 2(b) documentation and is currently upgrading the design to ensure that the new school building is a Near Zero Energy Building (NZEB) in compliance with the 2017 amendment to Part L of the Building Regulations.
The Design Team is also finalising the detail in relation to the provision of temporary accommodation and playground facilities during the construction of the new school building. Statutory approvals in relation to these are currently being prepared by the Design Team.
Upon receipt and review of the Stage 2(b) submission, my Department will revert to the Board of Management regarding the further progression of the project at that time.
232. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the provision of a new secondary school for the Swords area of County Dublin, as announced in November 2015; if locations for the proposed school have been identified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3032/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am pleased to advise the Deputy that planning permission has been secured for a Post-Primary school (Swords Community College RN 76475D) on a site in North Swords (Mooretown)
A building contractor has been appointed and construction commenced in April 2019 with an anticipated date for completion of Quarter 2 2020.
233. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the provision of new secondary schools for the Malahide and Portmarnock areas of County Dublin as announced in November 2015; if locations for the proposed schools have been identified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3033/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am pleased to advise the Deputy that planning permission has been secured for a Post-Primary school (Malahide Portmarnock Educate Together Secondary School) at a site in Drinan Swords.
The new post primary school is being delivered under my Department's Design & Build programme and forms part of a bundle of projects for which the procurement process (and the associated tendering to short-listed contractors) has commenced and will be ongoing during Q1 2020.
It is anticipated that construction of this school building project will commence in Q2 2020.
234. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the provision of a permanent site for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3034/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, the building project for the school in question is included in my Department's capital programme.
Officials in my Department are progressing the acquisition of a suitable site where the school will be permanently accommodated.
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.
235. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding progress on a new school building project for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3035/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra236. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the provision of a new site for a school (details supplied) as announced in November 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3036/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 235 and 236 together.
The Deputy will be aware that a building project for the schools in question is included on the Department's Capital Programme to be delivered as part of the National Development Plan (NDP).
A new site is required to facilitate this development and my Department has recently reached an agreement in principle with the landowners for the acquisition of a site. The site will be masterplanned to accommodate both schools.
In tandem with the site acquisition, my Department is finalising the accommodation briefs for the schools and will be in contact with the relevant school authorities when this process has been completed.
237. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to ensure the works to provide a new school building for a school (details supplied) in addition to the associated refurbishment works commence as a matter of urgent priority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3037/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is included in My Department’s Construction Programme which is being delivered under the National Development Plan.
This project is one of the school building projects on my Department’s ADAPT 2 Programme. My Department completed the process of procuring a Project Manager for the ADAPT 2 Programme, which contains 18 school building projects, in July 2019.
The appointment of a Design Team – (Architect, Quantity Surveyor, Civil & Structural Engineer, Mechanical & Electrical Engineer and Project Supervisor for the Design Process) for the school in question was finalised in November 2019. The appointed Design Team has commenced work on Stage 1 (Site Suitability, Site Report, Initial Sketch Scheme) of Architectural planning. A number of surveys have been approved by the Department and are currently being carried out at the school site.
238. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a new school building for a school (details supplied); the stage the project is at; when construction will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3038/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is included in the Department’s Construction Programme which is being delivered under the National Development Plan.
The project is currently 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. All statutory approvals have been secured.
Following the appointment of a replacement consultant architect, the Design Team has reviewed the previous Stage 2(b) documentation and upgraded the design to ensure that the new school building is a Near Zero Energy Building (NZEB) in compliance with the 2017 amendment to Part L of the current Building Regulations.
A revised Stage 2(b) report was submitted to the Department for review in November 2019. Upon commencement of the review the Department needed to request further documentation from the Design Team in order that the report could be fully reviewed. The Design Team is currently working on this outstanding documentation.
Upon receipt of the outstanding documentation and completion of the review of the revised Stage 2(b) report my Department will be in contact with the school regarding the further progression of this project.
239. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the primary schools in Kinsealy, Malahide and Portmarnock, County Dublin, that have ASD units; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3039/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra240. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to establish additional ASD units in the primary schools in Kinsealy, Malahide and Portmarnock, County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3040/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 239 and 240 together.
Since 2011, the number of special classes in mainstream schools has increased almost threefold, from 548 to 1,618 for the 2019/2020 school year; with 1,353 of these catering for children with autism.
167 new special classes have been established nationally for 2019/20 school year of which approximately 156 will be new autism special classes, comprising 6 Early Intervention, 100 primary, and 50 post-primary autism classes.
A list of special classes for September 2019 is available on the NCSE website at: https://ncse.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/NCSE-List-of-Special-Classes-for-September-2019.pdf.
Budget 2020 provided for an additional 265 special class teachers in 2020, which will allow for the opening of additional classes where required.
The NCSE has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children nationwide; has well established structures in place for engaging with schools and parents; and seeks to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all children who have been identified as needing special class placements.
It is open to any school to make an application to the NCSE for the establishment of a specialised provision and where sanctioned, a range of supports, including capital funding, is made available to the school. My Department works closely with the NCSE in this regard.
The NCSE is planning a further expansion of special class and school places nationally to meet identified need for next year. This process is ongoing.
242. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of new accommodation for August 2020 for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3068/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is currently making arrangements for additional interim accommodation to be in place for September 2020 for the school referred to by the Deputy.
