Written Answers Nos. 550-573
550. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a school (details supplied) has been included in the school building programme for the 2020-21 period; if so, if it will be allowed to proceed to tender stage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14851/20]
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). All statutory approvals have been secured.
This project is included in the Department’s Construction Programme which is being delivered under the National Development Plan.
The Design Team has recently submitted the Stage 2(b) Report to the Department for review.
Upon completion of this review, the Department will revert to the school regarding the further progression of this major building project.
551. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extra funding which will be provided to school bus operators due to the extra costs that will exist in providing school services from September 2020. [14884/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra624. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Education and Skills the funding put in place to compensate school transport providers for extra costs expected to be incurred on buses to meet public health requirements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15396/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 551 and 624 together.
School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education and Skills.
The purpose of my Department's School Transport Scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school.
In the 2019/20 school year over 120,000 children, including over 14,200 children with special educational needs, were transported in over 5,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres at a cost of over €219m in 2019.
With regard to the re-opening of schools for the 2020/21 academic year, my Department is currently engaging intensively with Bus Éireann, the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and the National Transport Authority on the logistical considerations that arise from public health advice in planning for the reopening of schools. The operation of school transport services in September 2020 will be informed by the outcome of this planning for re-opening schools.
552. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to improve sex education in secondary schools. [14894/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe new Programme for Government sets out that this Government will develop inclusive and age appropriate curricula for Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) and Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) across primary and post-primary schools, including an inclusive programme on LGBTI+ relationships.
This work will draw on development work being undertaken by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA), following publication of the council's report on RSE in primary and post-primary schools in December 2019. Key recommendations in that report included that (i) in the short term the NCCA would begin work on interim guidance to support the teaching of SPHE/RSE in schools and (ii) the NCCA would also begin work in 2020 on redeveloping the overall SPHE/RSE curriculum in schools, involving extensive public consultation.
553. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans for capital investment in secondary schools in the next three years. [14895/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder Project Ireland 2040, my Department continues to make progress to increase the infrastructural capacity in the schools sector, in order to meet demographic and other demands.
As the Deputy will be aware, since April 2018, the Government announced plans for the establishment of 45 new schools over the next four years (2019 to 2022), including 17 new post-primary schools . Enrolments in post-primary are projected to continue rising for the next 4 years out to 2024, as the peak cohort that has just left primary moves through post-primary, with post-primary expected to fall steadily thereafter. The requirement for new schools will be kept under on-going review and in particular will have regard for the increased rollout of housing provision.
The Capital Programme details the school projects, including secondary schools, that are being progressed under Project Ireland 2040. I wish to advise the Deputy that the current status of large-scale projects being delivered under Project Ireland 2040, may be viewed on my Department's website, www.education.ie and this information is updated regularly.
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. Details of schools listed on this Programme can be found on my Department's website www.education.ie and this information is also updated regularly.
554. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if all the recommendations of the Oireachtas Standing Committee of Public Accounts in each of the years 2016 to 2019 and to date in 2020 regarding the funding and administration of third level institutions have been implemented; and the status of each action as per the various reports, in tabular form. [14896/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested is not readily available in the format requested by the Deputy. However, the information is being collated by officials in my Department and will be made available to the Deputy very shortly.
555. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if her Department is still considering the temporary accommodation of a school at a site (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14930/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is still considering the temporary accommodation of a school at the site to which the Deputy refers and will revert to the patron body shortly.
556. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if her Department will be making its final decision on the temporary site for a school (details supplied); and when she will be informing the school of same. [14931/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is still considering all options relating to the temporary site for the school to which the Deputy refers and will revert to the patron body shortly.
557. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Education and Skills the contact made with a school (details supplied) to facilitate it with the appropriate information to allow it to provide the summer provision scheme to its students in 2020, either through teachers providing the service or parents funding tutors to provide the service within school grounds; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14942/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department published details of Summer Provision 2020 – Reconnecting with Education including a programme for children with complex special educational needs.
The programme is a significant expansion on the July Provision programme of previous years with the eligibility criteria widened to include approximately 9,000 additional primary aged children with complex needs.
All special schools and primary schools with special classes are invited to provide the school based summer provision for their students. This programme will run for a minimum of two weeks and can extend up to four weeks where the schools, teachers and Special Needs Assistants are willing to participate.
Stepaside ETNS were one of the schools invited to take part in the School Summer Scheme, information on the scheme and how to register were included.
A reminder was sent to all eligible schools on the 3rd of July advising the deadline for registration was the 8th July 2020.
Home-based provision is available where a child’s local school is not providing a programme or does not have the capacity to accommodate a child in a planned programme this year.
In this situation my Department will provide grant funding towards the engagement by Parents of a registered teacher / SNA to provide home based support for 10 hours a week for 4 weeks.
Similar to the July Provision programme of previous years grouping arrangements are permitted subject to Terms and Conditions.
Any group interested in providing group home based support should contact the Department by email -
@ HomeBasedSummerProgram@education.gov.ie or phone (090) 648 4187 (10am to 5pm Monday to Friday).
Full information on summer provision and its various strands, including guidance information for parents, is available at Gov.ie/summerprovision
558. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Education and Skills if provision can be made for those who are eligible to attend a special class but do not wish to take part in the home-based summer provision programme such as in the case of a person (details supplied). [14943/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraSummer Provision is aimed at helping children with complex needs prepare for a return to education, particularly after the health restrictions that have been in place over recent months. As work continues on planning for the re-opening of schools, it is important that we take measures help the prevention of regression among these children in terms of their education and social interactions. Based on the information provided by the Deputy it appears that the child in question is eligible for summer provision.
The eligibility criteria for summer provision includes children in the following categories:
1. Pupils with a diagnosis of Autism
2. Pupils with severe and profound learning difficulties
3. Any child in a special school or a special class
4. Children transitioning into a special class from early years settings to primary school
5. Pupils in primary school mainstream classes who present with the following disabilities:
- children with Down syndrome
- children who are Deaf or most severe hard of hearing
- children who are blind or have a most severe visual impairment
- children who have a moderate general learning disability
- children with severe emotional behavioural difficulties
The Government has also approved the inclusion of children with Down Syndrome who are attending post primary school in the home-based strand of the Programme.
Children with the above disabilities entering primary school next September are also eligible for the programme.
559. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to ensure the July provision is extended to all children in the categories mentioned in summer provision 2020 entering primary and post-primary education and not exclude those who are due to enter primary education in 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14944/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraSummer Provision is aimed at helping children with complex needs prepare for a return to education, particularly after the health restrictions that have been in place over recent months. As work continues on planning for the re-opening of schools, it is important that we take measures help the prevention of regression among these children in terms of their education and social interactions.
The eligibility criteria for summer provision includes children in the following categories:
1. Pupils with a diagnosis of Autism
2. Pupils with severe and profound learning difficulties
3. Any child in a special school or a special class
4. Children transitioning into a special class from early years settings to primary school
5. Pupils in primary school mainstream classes who present with the following disabilities:
- children with Down syndrome
- children who are Deaf or most severe hard of hearing
- children who are blind or have a most severe visual impairment
- children who have a moderate general learning disability
- children with severe emotional behavioural difficulties
The Government has also approved the inclusion of children with Down Syndrome who are attending post primary school in the home-based strand of the Programme.
Children with the listed disabilities entering primary school next September are also eligible for the programme.
560. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of work on creating a new school (details supplied). [14950/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe patronage divesting process arises from the recommendations of the 2012 report of the Advisory Group to the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary Sector, following which the Department undertook surveys of parental preferences in 43 areas of stable population in 2012 and 2013 to establish the level of parental demand for a wider choice in the patronage of primary schools within these areas. Analysis of the parental preferences expressed in each area surveyed indicated that there was sufficient parental demand to support changes in school patronage, including in the area to which the Deputy refers.
For such areas, the patronage divesting process was intended to be based on using school buildings which had closed or where a school building may be freed up as a result of an amalgamation of two or more schools. In some areas, including in the case of the area referred to by the Deputy, in responding to demand for diversity where existing patrons were unable make school properties available, my Department also included an examination of properties held in public ownership.
To date, it has not been possible to secure a school property to facilitate a new school being established in the area. However, the Department is continuing its efforts in relation to identifying a suitable solution under the patronage divesting process.
In addition, the requirement for new schools to meet emerging demographic demand is kept under on-going review and in particular will have regard to the impact of the increased roll out of housing provision as outlined in Project Ireland 2040.
561. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the rebuild of a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14963/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy will be aware that the building project for the school in question is included in my Department’s Construction Programme to be delivered as part of the National Development Plan.
The Design Team have been appointed and are currently working on Stage 1 of Architectural Planning (Site Suitability, Site Report, and Initial Sketch). When the Design Team have completed this preparatory Stage, they will present the options to the Department and the school, for review and comment.
562. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will consider a revision to the honours degree allowance for primary school teachers in order that teachers who have qualified with pass degrees will also receive this allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14965/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra563. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will revise the honours degree allowance for primary school teachers in order that teachers who attained a pass level in their primary degrees will also qualify for a salary top-up; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14966/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 562 and 563 together.
My Department has implemented the outcome of the public service-wide review of allowances and premium payments which was completed in September 2012 by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. There are no plans at this time to further review eligibility criteria for qualification allowances.
564. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will review the response to Parliamentary Question No. 136 of 30 June 2020; if the very low level of funding required will be provided in view of the fact that the initiative will alleviate overcrowding and health and safety issues while the school awaits the construction of a new school and physical education hall; and if a positive response will be expedited. [15027/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraDue to the need to prioritise the available capital funding for essential classroom accommodation, I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is not in a position to provide the funding sought by the school in question for an outdoor sporting facility.
565. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Skills the rate of pay for qualified SNAs providing summer provision; the rate of pay for qualified teachers doing the same work; the method and timing of payments in both instances; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15028/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraTeachers and SNAs employed by their school to provide school based summer provision are paid a rate based on their normal salary.
Home-based provision is available where a child’s local school is not providing a programme or does not have the capacity to accommodate a child in a planned programme this year.
In this situation the Department will provide grant funding towards the engagement by Parents of a registered teacher / SNA to provide home based support for 10 hours a week for 4 weeks.
The role of Tutors and Special Needs Assistants engaged by Parents under the home based summer programme are separate and distinct and broadly reflect the role of teachers and SNAs in schools. See https://www.education.ie/en/Parents/Services/summerprovision/home-based-guidance-summer-programme.pdf.
The grant level/pay rates for Tutors and SNAs participating in the home based summer programme are based on the pay rates for substitute Teachers and SNAs and are set out in the information note and FAQ document available at: https://www.education.ie/en/Parents/Services/summerprovision/home-based-information-faqs-for-parents.pdf
The payment method and timing are the same as applied to the July Provision programme of previous years with payments issuing at the end of October.
566. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a school place will be provided for a person (details supplied); the contact details for the school liaison officers who may assist with the issues; her plans to assist all those on the waiting lists for school places; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15031/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra568. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of children on the waiting lists for schools (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; if her Department or local officials are engaged with the families and the schools to resolve the waiting lists; if a place at one of the schools will be provided for a child; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15033/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra602. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a school place will be provided for a child (details supplied); and if there are sufficient places in schools in Kilkenny city to meet the demand. [15303/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 566, 568 and 602 together.
I understand that the pupil referred to by the Deputy who applied for a school place at Coláiste Pobail Osrai was offered a place and that the offer was declined.
I wish to advise the Deputy that in relation to schools admission, parents can choose which school to apply to and where the school has places available, the pupil should be admitted. However, in schools where there are more applicants than places available, a selection process may be necessary. This 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. These details are held at individual school level. The Deputy will note however that the selection process procedures and enrolment policy are the responsibility of the individual school authorities.
Under section 15 (2) (d) of the Education Act 1998, each school is legally obliged to disclose its enrolment policy and to ensure that as regards that policy that principles of equality and the right of parents to send their children to a school of the parent’s choice are respected.
Under Section 29 of the Education Act, 1998 where a board of management make a decision to refuse enrolment, a parent/guardian can appeal that decision to the Secretary General of my Department. Where the appeal involves an Education and Training Board (ETB) school, the appeal must be made to the local ETB in the first instance. Further information on the Section 29 Appeals process is available on my Department's website at www.education.ie/en/Parents/Services/Appeal-against-Permanent-Exclusion-Suspension-or-Refusal-to-Enrol/.
In addition, the Educational Welfare Service (EWS) of the Child and Family Agency (Tusla) is the legal body which can assist parents who are experiencing difficulty in securing a school placement for their child. The EWS can be contacted at 01-7718815.
I also wish to advise the Deputy that Kilkenny Carlow Education Training Board has confirmed that places for first year applicants are available in Coláiste Pobail Osrai and Kilkenny City Vocational School (KCVS). It is open to the parents /guardians of the children concerned to make direct contact with the schools should they wish to submit an enrolment application to these schools. The schools may be contacted through the following email addresses: Cathy.Mcsorley@KCVS.ie and for Coláiste Pobail Osrai, priomhoide@osrai.ie.
567. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a complaint made to her Department by a person (details supplied) has been investigated; if the claim that they were due eight months' pay has been upheld; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15032/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has been in contact with the Deputy seeking clarification on the issue raised. On receipt of this clarification my Department will contact the Deputy again.
569. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will review an ongoing issue regarding a school (details supplied); and the duration of the lease agreed on the temporary site. [15034/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has secured the agreement of the owners of the temporary site to accommodate the school referred to by the Deputy. The legal arrangements associated with the lease are currently being finalised by the Chief State Solicitor’s Office and the owner's legal representative and is expected to be completed shortly.
My Department’s Planning and Building Unit is working closely with school authorities and Patrons, including the patron of the school in question, to ensure that contingency arrangements are in place, where necessary, if a school building project is not completed in time for the start of a new school year as a result of delays caused by Covid-19.
My Department is continuing to prioritise this matter and will be liaising with the school's Patron in this regard.
570. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Education and Skills the delegated functions assigned to the Minister of State with responsibility for special education and inclusion; and the date those delegated functions come into effect. [15044/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, Ministers of State are appointed by the Government, on nomination of the Taoiseach.
In accordance with the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 1977, the Government may delegate, by way of an Order, to a Minister of State any of the powers and duties of the relevant Minister of the Government under any particular Act or any particular statutory power or duty.
Ms Josepha Madigan TD has been appointed Minister of State in my Department with special responsibility for Special Education and Inclusion.
The relevant delegation order required on foot of this appointment is currently being prepared.
571. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Education and Skills the delegated functions assigned to the Minister of State with responsibility for skills and further education; and the date those delegated functions come into effect. [15056/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, arrangements for the establishment of my Department are currently being progressed, including in respect of the transfer of statutory and administrative functions, and delegation of responsibilities will be considered in that overall context in due course.
572. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason there is such a delay with payments for the July provision (details supplied); if there is an option available to be paid earlier; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15087/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department published details of Summer Provision 2020 – Reconnecting with Education including a programme for children with complex special educational needs.
The programme is a significant expansion on the July Provision programme of previous years with the eligibility criteria widened to include approximately 9,000 additional primary aged children with complex needs.
The common pay date for the Summer Provision programme (formerly the July Provision Programme) was introduced in 2009 as part of my Department's continued effort to improve service to parents of children with special educational needs. This year’s payment will issue on 29 October 2020 for those engaged in the programme at Primary level and for those at Post-Primary level payment will be made on 5 November 2020.
The benefit of the common pay date is that those engaged in the delivery of the programme know the exact date on which they will receive payment from my Department and they will receive payment on the same date irrespective of whether they are included in a school-based or home-based programme.
573. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will sanction an additional ASD build for a school (details supplied). [15091/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am pleased to advise the Deputy that my Department has recently sanctioned additional capital funding, to the school referred to, for the provision of an additional special class. This funding will allow the school to deliver a 2-class Special Educational Needs Base. The school authority has been informed of this decision.
