Tuesday, 28 Jul 2020

Written Answers Nos. 414-433

Defence Forces Personnel

Ceisteanna (414)

Sorca Clarke

Ceist:

414. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Defence the number of personnel that are due to retire in each of the years 2020 to 2022. [18691/20]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Defence

The military authorities have advised that the expected retirements by virtue of age in each of the years 2020 to 2022 are as follows:

Year	2020	2021	2022
Expected retirements	91	90	119

Defence Forces Data

Ceisteanna (415)

Sorca Clarke

Ceist:

415. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Defence the number of apprenticeship schemes available within the Defence Forces. [18692/20]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Defence

The attached table provides the details requested by the Deputy.

The military authorities have advised that these Defence Forces schemes for enlisted personnel are categorised into

1. Those that are strictly defined as Apprenticeships

2. Trainee technician schemes conducted in conjunction with SOLAS under the auspices of the National 'Generation Apprenticeship' Scheme

3. Other technician training schemes which are similar technical or trade type courses but which are not conducted through SOLAS.

Branch/Unit	Scheme	Category
Air Corps	Aircraft Mechanic (Cat B) Apprenticeship	Apprenticeship - For new entrants.
Army  Engineers	Plumbing	Trainee Technician Schemes conducted in conjunction with SOLAS under the auspices of the National 'Generation Apprenticeship' Scheme - for serving personnel
Carpentry & Joinery
Electrician
Air Conditioning and Refrigeration
Construction Plant Fitting
Bricklaying
Plastering
Army Transport	Heavy Vehicle Mechanic
Naval Service	Engine Room Artificer
Hull Artificer
Communication and Information Services (CIS)	CIS Technician	Other Technician Training Schemes (not conducted through SOLAS) - for serving personnel
Ordnance Corps	Armourer (Weapons Systems Mechanical Technician)
Armament Artificer  Instrument (Weapons Systems Electronic Technician)
Naval Service	Electrical Artificer
Radio/Radar Technician
Programmer Technician
Defence Force Printing Press	Print Media and Print Finishing

Defence Forces

Ceisteanna (416)

Gerald Nash

Ceist:

416. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Defence if his Department will provide financial support to a group (details supplied) to help establish a memorial in Dundalk, County Louth to a person who lost their life on active service with the United Nations on 24 February 1989; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19056/20]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Defence

I understand that the Dundalk Branch of Óglaigh Náisiúnta na hÉireann (Organisation of National Ex-Service Personnel (ONE)) has been in contact with my Department regarding this matter and that a reply is being prepared.

My Department does not directly fund specific projects undertaken by O.N.E. branches. However, as the Deputy will be aware, an annual grant of €100,000 is made to the O.N.E organisation to assist in the day to day running costs of the organisation. In addition, O.N.E. is now in a position to draw down an allocation from the Dormant Accounts Fund over the next three years to assist in its core activities.

Naval Service

Ceisteanna (417)

Darren O'Rourke

Ceist:

417. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Defence the status of the mid-life refit of the LÉ Roisin. [19082/20]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Defence

The service life of an Irish Naval Service ship is determined by the level of operational activity, but usually is around 30 years.  It is, however, normal practice in a ship’s life to carry out a mid-life refurbishment/extension programme so as to extend the useful life of a ship to thirty (or more) years. The P50 class of vessels in the Naval Service ship flotilla were built in Appledore Shipyard in the UK.  LÉ Róisín (P51) was commissioned in 1999 and falls into the category of ship requiring a mid life refit programme of works.

Due to its age profile, much of the auxiliary equipment onboard is coming to the end of its useful life or is becoming obsolete and requires to be replaced in a structured manner.  In this regard the Naval Service have, along with my Department,  commenced a planned programme of works to ensure that the vessel will maintain its operational capabilities and reliabilities.  Works commenced in 2019 on LÉ Róisín with Phase 1 which involved the dry-docking of the vessel.

Works have continued and are ongoing despite the onset of Covid 19 which has had an effect on the timely delivery of certain parts and services. Notwithstanding the impact of Covid 19 on the supply chain and the carrying out of certain works as originally scheduled, the civil military team managing the project have adapted to the situation and have made the necessary arrangements to ensure that the project progresses to completion. The expected timeframe for delivery and acceptance of the refitted vessel is now October of this year.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Ceisteanna (418)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Ceist:

418. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Defence the stock of PPE held in reserve by his Department in anticipation of a second wave of Covid-19 or another health emergency requiring all Defence Forces and Civil Defence personnel to be issued with same on a 24-7 basis. [19171/20]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Defence

My Department has worked closely with the Office of Government Procurement in relation to the acquisition of PPE and continues to do so.

I can confirm that a range of PPE is held on reserve by both the Defence Forces and Civil Defence, in the event that they are required to respond to Aid to the Civil Authority requests, including health emergency events in the future.  The stock in reserve includes face masks, disposable gloves, face shields, gowns, disposable overshoes, safety goggles/glasses and hand sanitizer.  

In the case of the Defence Forces, the PPE stocks are held in reserve for current Aid to the Civil Authority operations, to facilitate the Defence Forces operating and training in a safe manner, given the presence of COVID-19, to equip units and individuals personnel deploying on Peace Support Operations and to maintain a general reserve.

Civil Defence operates on a partnership basis between the Department of Defence and the Local Authorities. Since the outbreak of COVID-19 the stock of personal protective equipment (PPE) available for Civil Defence Units has increased.  A range of PPE has been provided to the 29 Civil Defence Units around the country to enable Civil Defence to respond to the health emergency.  The Department has also retained a stock of PPE in the central Civil Defence stores in Roscrea, in anticipation of future health related events or emergencies.   The stocks provided by my Department are in addition to the provision of PPE by the Local Authorities.

School Transport

Ceisteanna (419, 420)

Darren O'Rourke

Ceist:

419. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Skills the budget allocation for the school transport scheme in each of the years 2016 to 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18188/20]

Darren O'Rourke

Ceist:

420. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of children that availed of the school transport scheme in each of the years 2016 to 2019 and to date in 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18189/20]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department.

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 2019/2020 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.

Pupil Numbers 2016 to 2020

	16/17	17/18	18/19	19/20
Mainstream	104,425	104,274	104,398	106,357
SEN	11,650	12,500	13,410	14,221
Total	116,075	116,774	117,808	120,578

School Transport Costs 2016 to 2019

Year	2016	2017	2018	2019
Cost	€182.1m	€188.5m	€200.2m	€219.2m

School Admissions

Ceisteanna (421, 422, 423, 424, 425, 426)

John McGuinness

Ceist:

421. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number on the waiting list for a place at schools (details supplied); if her Department or local officials are engaged with the families and the schools to resolve the waiting lists; if a place will be provided to a person (details supplied) at one of the schools; the role of Tusla in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18277/20]

John McGuinness

Ceist:

422. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a school place will be provided for a person (details supplied); the number of students on waiting lists in Kilkenny city and county; if she will request a report from Tusla confirming its action in relation to each child on the waiting list and their efforts to secure school places for those still waiting; and the action her Department is taking to resolve the issue. [18278/20]

John McGuinness

Ceist:

423. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a school place will be provided for a person (details supplied) in view of the fact they have been refused by the two schools closest to their home; and if there are sufficient places in schools in Kilkenny city to meet the demand. [18279/20]

John McGuinness

Ceist:

424. 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 that might assist with the issues; her plans to assist those on the waiting list for school places; the contacts made with her Department on the issues raised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18280/20]

John McGuinness

Ceist:

425. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a school placement will be provided for a person (details supplied); and the reason her Department holds the view that existing schools can cope with the numbers in Kilkenny city in view of the evidence that there is a long waiting list for each secondary school. [18281/20]

John McGuinness

Ceist:

426. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a school place will be provided in schools (details supplied) for a child; the action taken by her Department to resolve the waiting lists in Kilkenny city for persons wishing to attend secondary school in the city; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18282/20]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

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:  [e-mail]  and for Colaiste Pobail Osrai, [e-mail].

Question No. 425 answered with Question No. 421.

Question No. 426 answered with Question No. 421.

School Transport

Ceisteanna (427)

Barry Cowen

Ceist:

427. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a person (details supplied) can expect a decision on their application for school transport. [18349/20]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education.

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 2019/2020 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.

Children who are eligible for school transport and who complete the application and payment process on time will be accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation.

Children who are not eligible for school transport, but who complete the application and payment process on time, will be considered for spare seats that may exist after eligible children have been facilitated; such seats are referred to as concessionary seats.

Bus Éireann has advised that the children referred to by the Deputy are not attending their nearest primary and post primary schools and are therefore not eligible for school transport under the terms of the scheme.

All school transport services are reviewed over the summer months. Arising from this, routes may be altered, extended or withdrawn depending on the number and location of eligible children who will be availing of school transport for the following school year.  

School Transport

Ceisteanna (428)

Christopher O'Sullivan

Ceist:

428. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the steps she is taking to ensure there are enough places for school children on school buses when education institutions reopen (details supplied). [18646/20]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education.

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 2019/2020 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.

Children who are eligible for school transport and who have completed the application and payment process on time will be accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation.

Children who are not eligible for school transport, but who complete the application ansd payment process on time, will be considered for spare seats that may exist after eligible children have been facilitated; such seats are referred to as concessionary seats.

All school transport services are reviewed over the summer months. Arising from this, routes may be altered, extended or withdrawn depending on the number and location of eligible children who will be availing of school transport for the following school year.

School Transport

Ceisteanna (429, 535)

Verona Murphy

Ceist:

429. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans for the school transport system to ensure social distancing on school buses; if additional buses will be made available to the scheme; if each applying student will be guaranteed a bus seat; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18919/20]

Verona Murphy

Ceist:

535. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a definitive plan on the reopening of schools will be made available to students and parents to allow for planning of childcare supports and school transport plans, in particular with school transport providers presently looking for payment for the school year 2020-2021 and supported home schooling when needed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18921/20]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education.  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.

I have announced a comprehensive plan detailing a package of measures and resources to be provided to facilitate schools in re-opening.  I have also published a detailed roadmap for the full return to school. This roadmap set outs how schools will reopen for all students from the end of August.  It has been developed in line with public health advice issued by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC), the Roadmap for Society and Business and follows comprehensive and intensive engagement with all relevant stakeholders including Bus Éireann, the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and the National Transport Authority on the logistical considerations that arise in planning for the operation of school transport services for the reopening of our schools. 

School Transport Scheme services operated by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department will fully operate as normal, in line with public health advice, when schools re-open for the 2020/2021 school year with the appropriate hygiene and other measures in place.   

Observing hygiene requirements will be a key priority and we will issue clear communications to all parents and students using school transport services to set out the requirements for those travelling on services.

In addition, Bus Éireann, in consultation with my Department, will provide information and guidance for their own employees and to contractors contracted to operate on the School Transport Scheme on the operation of services within the parameters of the public health advice and the return to work safely protocols

School Transport

Ceisteanna (430)

Verona Murphy

Ceist:

430. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students that availed of the school transport system 2019-2020 in County Wexford; the number of students that made applications; the number of students that were unsuccessful in their application in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18920/20]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education.

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 2019/2020 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.

Children who are eligible for school transport and who complete the application and payment process on time will be accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation.

Children who are not eligible for school transport, but who complete the application and payment process on time, will be considered for spare seats that may exist after eligible children have been facilitated; such seats are referred to as concessionary seats.

Bus Éireann has advised that the number of students that availed of school transport services for the 2019/2020 school year in County Wexford; the number of students that made applications; the number of students that were unsuccessful is as follows;

Mainstream	No of Applications	Tickets Issued	Not Paid	Eligible - No Seats    (All Applied/Paid Late)	Concessionary - No Seats
Eligible	3948	3914	11	23
Concessionary	1829	1800	7		22 (only 8 Applied & Paid on Time)
Total	5777	5714	18	23	22 (only 8 Applied & Paid on Time)

 418 pupils also availed of school transport for children with special educational needs transport during that year.

Special Educational Needs Staff

Ceisteanna (431)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

431. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if special consideration will be given to allocating one additional special needs teacher to a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18112/20]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills

The NCSE has responsibility for planning and coordinating school supports for children with special educational needs including the allocation of SNAs and reviews. My Department does not have a role in making individual school determinations.

Schools have been notified of the arrangements for the allocation of SNA support in respect of students in mainstream classes for 2020/21.  The arrangements include the following provisions: 

- 2019/20 mainstream class SNA allocations will be frozen, from the date of issue of Circular 0030/2020, and will automatically rollover into the 2020/21 school year. This means that no school will receive an allocation less than that which they have on the date of issue of this Circular and existing SNAs currently in standard SNA posts can continue in these posts for the next school year in the normal way.  

- Schools may apply to the NCSE for additionality where they can demonstrate that the current allocation does not meet additional care needs within the mainstream classes in the school. Applications for additionality arising from significant new or emerging additional care needs, which cannot be catered within existing allocations, will be dealt with by way of an exceptional review process. 

- A diagnosis of a disability, or a psychological or other professional report, will not be necessary for this process. 

- The role of the SNA to support the care needs of students in mainstream classes, as set out in Circular 0030/2014, remains unchanged.   

It is expected that schools will review and reprioritise the deployment of SNAs within mainstream settings and allocate resources to ensure those with the greatest level of need receive the greatest level of support. Providing access to SNA support continues to be based on primary care needs as outlined in DES Circular 0030/2014.

The exceptional review process for mainstream allocations will be available to schools throughout the 2020/21 school year.

Detailed information on the NCSE exceptional review process is published on the NCSE website www.ncse.ie.

A school can appeal the outcome of an exceptional review and details of how to do this are here https://ncse.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/GuidanceSchoolAppealing-Exceptional-Review-outcome.docx

School Admissions

Ceisteanna (432)

John Lahart

Ceist:

432. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a person (details supplied) is being denied an additional year at school in view of the extraordinary and unprecedented 2019/2020 school year despite that fact that the request has the backing of the principal and the board of management; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17984/20]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills

Special schools funded by my Department are classified as primary national schools and are intended, in accordance with the provisions of Rule 64(1) of the Rules for National Schools, to cater for children and young persons with special educational needs from the age of 4 years until the end of the school year in which they reach their 18th year.

Special schools may however seek approval from my Department for an exemption from Rule 64(1) in respect of students over the age of 18 who are pursuing courses leading to accreditation on the National Qualifications Framework (e.g. Junior Certificate/LCA/FETAC 3).

A request for an exemption from Rule 64(1) can only be made by a school where:

1. The student is pursuing a course leading to accreditation on the National Qualifications Framework (e.g. Junior Certificate/Leaving Certificate Applied/FETAC 3) 

2. The student requires one additional year in order to complete their course

3. Retaining the student in the school for one school year will not prevent a younger pupil being enrolled there

4. Plans are in place to transition the student to a post-school setting at the end of the additional school year

Special schools are invited each year to make applications for exemptions from Rule 64(1) in respect of pupils who meet the above criteria. Where the criteria are met, my Department will approve the exemptions.

The school to which the Deputy refers has engaged in this process with my Department. I can also confirm that an application for exemptions, as referenced above, was made by the school. However, as the criteria were not met, it was not possible to approve the application. The school has been notified of this decision.   

Some people with a disability, over the age of 18, and who have complex needs, may require specialised support throughout their lives.  Ongoing care and support services within the community, in a post school setting, are provided by voluntary or statutory organisations. Responsibility for such care and support rests with the HSE. 

Special school staff typically have extensive engagement with parents, HSE multi-disciplinary teams and the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) which involves planning for the student’s future, including options for further education, training, employment or other placement options subject to the student’s abilities, including the transition to adult services when they reach the age of 18 years. 

It is important to note that students with complex special educational needs who transfer to adult service settings can continue to participate in educational programmes through further adult educational programmes or, in adult settings, which are allocated resources towards educational provision.

I understand that transition between school and post school settings can be a difficult time for students with special educational needs and their families and more so this year due to the COVID-19 crisis. I am also aware though that transition planning for these students will have been well advanced by their schools prior to the school closures.

Since schools closed last March, supports have been provided to schools and teachers engaged in distance learning. In addition to the general guidance, additional support material has also been provided specifically on how schools should provide for the continuity of education for children with special educational needs.

Autism Support Services

Ceisteanna (433)

Chris Andrews

Ceist:

433. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to set up ASD classes within the next 6 to 12 months in an area (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17994/20]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills

Ensuring that every child has a suitable school placement is a key objective of my Department.  Significant resources are allocated each year to ensure that appropriate supports are available for children with special educational needs.

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.

Budget 2020 provided for an additional 265 special class teachers in 2020, which will allow for the opening of additional classes where required.

The National Council for Special Education 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. 

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.

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.

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. 

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.  The legislation contains a procedure through which the capacity of schools in an area can be tested and through which ultimately a Ministerial direction can be made requiring a school to make additional special education provision available.

The legislation was used for the first time in 2019, in respect of the Dublin 15 area. Significant progress has been made in that area on foot of action taken under Section 37.  A new Special School was established and six schools have agreed to open special classes thereby meeting the need for additional places in the area. The experience of Dublin 15 shows that real and practical challenges can be addressed by working together to provide additional special class and special school places.

The legislation was activated for a second time on 29 October 2019 following a report by the NCSE which identified children in South Dublin needing special education school places. Since then, the NCSE in consultation with the relevant education stakeholders, has been testing the capacity amongst schools in the South Dublin area. 

On 21 April 2020 my Department received a report from the NCSE, pursuant to Section 37A(2) of the Education Act 1998 (as inserted by section 8 of the Education (Admissions to Schools) Act 2018) in respect of South Dublin, as the NCSE Council remains of the opinion that there is an insufficient number of special class and special school places within the South Dublin area for September 2020.

The report identifies the schools who it is considered have potential to provide additional places. These schools were identified following an extensive engagement with schools and their patron bodies and parents in the area.

Having considered the report, the Minister accepted the opinion of the NCSE and statutory notices were served on 39 schools in the area on 26 June last. All schools have been afforded the opportunity to make representations in respect of the notices served. Both the notices served together with the representations received to date from the school authorities and their Patrons have been published on my Department’s website.

I understand that some progress has already been made and the NCSE is working with a number of schools to establish classes for this coming school year.

My Department, in conjunction with the NCSE, will continue to work through the next steps in this process.