Written Answers Nos. 623-647
623. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education and Skills when the cycle to work scheme will be available for applications from education staff (detail supplied) in view of many school staff wishing to avail of the scheme with the reopening of schools due to take place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20526/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am glad to inform the Deputy that the cycle to work scheme is available to school staff who are paid by my Department's School Payroll Division. The scheme was deferred for a number of weeks in May 2020 but has been reopened for applications since the 8th of June 2020.
I would encourage school staff who wish to avail of the scheme to submit their cycle to work applications at the earliest opportunity to allow sufficient time for their application to be processed in advance of the new school term. Details of the current scheme and application forms are available on my Department's web site at https://www.education.ie/en/Education-Staff/Services/Payroll-Financial/Cycle-to-Work/Cycle-to-Work-Scheme.html
624. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of psychologists employed to work at higher education institutes; the cost of each of these positions annually; and the location each position is based. [20561/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested is not readily available in the format requested by the Deputy.
My Department allocates recurrent funding to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for direct disbursement to HEA designated higher education institutions. The HEA allocates this funding as a block grant to the institutions. As autonomous bodies, the internal disbursement of this funding, including the funding of student services, is a matter for the individual institution.
Details of expenditure incurred in respect of counselling services in the third level sector are outlined below. Data in respect of subsequent academic years is not readily available at this time, however, it is expected that it would be broadly in line with previous years.
|
|
Universities & Colleges (incl MIC, NCAD & St. Angela's College) |
IoTs |
|
2013/14 |
€3,963,627 |
€2,038,106 |
|
2014/15 |
€3,853,638 |
€2,185,196 |
|
2015/16 |
€4,185,682 |
€2,299,286 |
As per information previously provided by the Psychological Counsellors in Higher Education Ireland in 2017 – c.13,400 students availed of counselling services for the 2015/16 academic year.
All Institutions are required to have in place appropriate student services, which includes counselling services and health promotion. As part of their services to students, each institution considers what is most appropriate in the particular context of their own institution and their student’s needs, while also considering best practice models such as peer-led support programmes and seeking to liaise with external services to the fullest extent possible.
In budget 2020 an additional annual allocation of €2m was provided to the higher education sector to assist institutions in supporting students with their mental health and wellbeing. This funding for 2020 and future years is in addition to existing spending by institutions and was made available to Higher Education Institutions as part of their grant allocations via the HEA.
On 22 July I announced a substantial package of supports for third level institutions and students to mitigate the impacts of Covid-19. This package includes an additional allocation of €3million for mental health and well-being to assist Higher Education Institutions in the provision of appropriate supports for learners. The distribution of the funds will be finalised over the coming days and weeks with key stakeholders. Further details will be made available as soon as this process has been completed.
625. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to ensure that all children in need of public transport to their schools will receive same; her plans to address the situation of children not being able to access public transport in circumstances (details supplied); if concessions will be made available to parents that have to avail of a private bus service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20839/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraSchool Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department.
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.
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.
A minimum number of 10 eligible children residing in a distinct locality, as determined by Bus Éireann, are required before consideration may be given to the establishment or retention of school transport services, provided this can be done within reasonable cost limits.
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 eligible for school transport but for whom no service is available may be offered the Remote Area Grant towards the cost of making private transport arrangements.
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.
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.
626. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide clear guidance and details of the additional school transport resources that will be put in place in counties Longford and Westmeath to ensure schoolchildren can avail of the service. [20851/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraSchool Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department.
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.
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.
Under the terms of the scheme, children are eligible for school transport if they satisfy the distance criteria and are attending their nearest school as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language. Distance eligibility is determined by Bus Éireann by measuring the shortest traversable route from the child’s home to the relevant school.
All children who are eligible for school transport and who complete the application and payment process on time are accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation.
Children who are not eligible for school transport may apply for transport on a concessionary basis only and may be facilitated where spare seats are available after eligible children have been accommodated. Where the number of ineligible children who complete the application and payment process on time exceeds the number of spare seats available Bus Éireann will allocate tickets for the spare seats using an agreed selection process.
Last autumn my Department announced a review of the School Transport Scheme with a view to ensuring funds are being spent in the most effective way to meet the objectives of the scheme. The review will build on the proposals in the Programme for Government as they relate to school transport.
With regard to re-opening schools for the 2020/21 school year, 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.
627. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the way in which students that have come to the end of training courses with State bodies such as SOLAS, ETBs and so on are to gain their final qualifications in view of the fact they have not sat final exams; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20894/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn response to the COVID 19 emergency, the Further Education and Training (FET) sector has demonstrated a swift and appropriate response. In their short-term contingency planning, providers have made provision for the current cohort of learners engaged in their programmes and who are nearing completion of their awards, with adjusted teaching strategies and alternative assessments supporting learners remotely.
However, due to the vocational and practical nature of some FET programmes, it has not been possible to create alternative assessments for all learners which could be undertaken remotely. Education and Training Boards (ETBs), having carried out risk assessments in consultation with relevant awarding bodies, have therefore confirmed the deferral of these until safe to do so in line with government advice and protocols.
Cases also still remain for programmes where alternative assessment approaches cannot be created without compromising the integrity of the award standard or where access to specialist equipment for the learner to complete assessments is necessary. ETB institutions have communicated with these learners on the individual approaches being undertaken to enable them progress.
628. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to provide employment contracts to school secretaries; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16294/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI recognise the very important work done by these staff, and the other support staff in the running of our schools.
In Budget 2020 the number of secretaries and caretakers in certain schools was increased, allowing schools with enrolments of 500-625 to fill secretary vacancies provided they have fewer than 1.5 secretaries; schools with enrolments of 626-699 to fill vacancies provided they have fewer than two secretary posts filled, and schools of 700 or more to fill caretaker vacancies provided they have fewer than two caretakers. These measures will take effect from September 2020.
In Spring 2019 the moratorium was relaxed for those C&C and ETB schools with enrolments of 700 and more which allows them to employ additional school secretaries up to a maximum of two per school. There are 91 schools in the C&C and ETB Sector who meet this criteria, based on the information currently available to this Department. This was an initial step and took immediate effect.
Schemes were initiated in 1978 and 1979 for the employment of clerical officers and caretakers in schools. The schemes were withdrawn completely in 2008. These schemes have been superseded by the capitation grant schemes. The current grant scheme was agreed in the context of the Programme for Economic and Social Progress, published in 1991.
The majority of primary and voluntary secondary schools now receive assistance to provide for secretarial, caretaking and cleaning services under these grant schemes. It is a matter for each individual school to decide how best to apply the grant funding to suit its particular needs. Where a school uses the grant funding for caretaking or secretarial purposes, any staff taken on to support those functions are employees of individual schools. Specific responsibility for terms of employment rests with the school.
On foot of a Chairman’s Note to the Lansdowne Road Agreement, my Department engaged with the Unions representing school secretaries and caretakers, including through an independent arbitration process in 2015. The Arbitrator recommended a cumulative pay increase of 10% between 2016 and 2019 for staff and that a minimum hourly pay rate of €13 be phased in over that period. This arbitration agreement covered the period up to 31 December 2019.
The arbitration agreement was designed to be of greatest benefit to lower-paid secretaries and caretakers. For example, a secretary or caretaker who was paid the then minimum wage of €8.65 per hour in 2015 prior to the arbitration has from 1 January 2019, been paid €13 per hour which is a 50% increase in that individual’s hourly pay.
The increases recommended by the Arbitrator are binding and must be applied by all schools who employ staff to whom the Arbitrator’s recommendation applies.
A survey of Secretaries and Caretakers undertaken in 2019 identified some schools that are non-compliant with the provisions of the 2015 Arbitration Agreement, and my Department has contacted these schools to remind them of their obligations under the agreement, as implemented through various circulars. The links below will bring you to the most recent circulars in respect of the pay increases under the 2015 Arbitration Agreement.
https://www.education.ie/en/Circulars-and-Forms/Active-Circulars/cl0076_2018.pdf
https://www.education.ie/en/Circulars-and-Forms/Active-Circulars/cl0077_2018.pdf
Officials from my Department attended a meeting of the Joint Committee on Education and Skills on the 9th of April 2019 to discuss the status of non-teaching staff.
In May last year officials from my Department had discussions with FÓRSA trade union representatives as part of a planned meeting. FÓRSA took the opportunity to formally table a pay claim.
This was tabled as a follow-on claim from the pay agreement for this cohort of staff which lasted until December 2019. The Department issued surveys on the 10th of July 2019 to establish the full current cost of the trade union’s claim. This is standard practice.
Officials from the Department met with FÓRSA representatives in September 2019. Management Bodies representing the employers of schools impacted by the action were also in attendance at the meeting. The purpose of the meeting was to further explore the details of the pay claim as presented by FÓRSA and the nature of the industrial action.
On 30 September 2019 FÓRSA requested the Department to agree to use the services of the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) to resolve the dispute. As is normal practice the Department agreed to use the industrial relations machinery of the state in an effort to resolve this matter.
In order to address the various issues within the claim and to arrive at a mutually acceptable solution, the Department and Management Bodies are in discussions with FÓRSA under the auspices of the WRC. These talks are subject to the normal procedures including confidentiality. The talks began in the WRC in October.
Following industrial action, which commenced on 10 January 2020, both parties have agreed to return to talks at the WRC. FÓRSA agreed to the WRC request to suspend their ongoing work-to-rule to allow the talks to progress. This suspension was effective from 21 January 2020.
629. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of teachers and SNAs, respectively in employment funded by her Department by primary and secondary schools; the increase in funding she will allow to ensure that these numbers can be increased to ensure that class sizes can be reduced in order that schools can return in line with public health requirements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16792/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy will be aware that my Department published the report, “Reopening Our Schools, The Roadmap for the Full Return to School” and announce a funding package of more than €370 million for primary and post primary schools to supports its implementation.
€53m has been provided for additional teaching and guidance posts in post-primary schools. 1000 additional teachers will be allocated to post-primary schools to help reduce class sizes. A teacher allocation equivalent to a pupil teacher ratio reduction of 0.6 will be allocated to schools in the free scheme. This allocation will support the important work of teaching and learning and provide additional teachers needed to support teacher substitution, management of physical distancing requirements by reallocating class timetables in schools to smaller groups class sizes where necessary. These posts will also provide for management supports. In addition an allocation, equivalent to a pupil teacher ratio reduction of 0.1 will be provided in respect of Guidance provision to support student wellbeing. It is recognised that, notwithstanding these measures to post primary schools, challenges may remain to allow some post primary schools to fully and safely reopen. A teacher allocation, through an appeal process, will be available to support these schools.
As part of the package of supports, funding of €41.2 million has been allocated to provide enhanced substitution in primary schools and eliminate the need to mix classes when a teacher is absent. Supply panels are being established nationwide. These will be monitored in terms of the number of teachers and the location of each panel.
Primary schools are currently provided with class teachers on the basis of one teacher for every 26 pupils which is at its historically lowest level. My Department will work with schools on the options available to implement the public health advice in respect of physical distancing in schools. In terms of operating in this school year, schools will be required to look at maximising all available physical space particularly to accommodate larger classes. Examples of class layouts have been provided to support schools. The minor works grant has been provided to assist schools if they need to reconfigure classroom or undertake other work. Schools will also be required to look at how classes are organised in terms of size and this may require some reorganisation of class groupings. Where a school cannot implement social distancing, the use of additional resourcing including additional staff will be considered.
In the 2019/20 school year, there were 37,839 teaching posts at primary level and 30,623 at post-primary. The final allocation of teaching posts for the 2020/21 school year will not be known until the Autumn after confirmation of enrolments on 30th September and the conclusion of the staffing appeals process in October. Currently, 16,856 SNAs have been allocated across primary, post-primary and special schools for the 2020/21 school year.
630. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills the additional funding she plans to provide to ensure schools reopening in September 2020 have sufficient funding to arrange deep cleaning of premises and to hire additional staff to keep classes to a size that can comply with public health advice; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16889/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware my Department this week published the report "Reopening Our Schools, The Roadmap for the Full Return to School" which is available on the Department's website.
This Roadmap sets out how schools will reopen for all students from the end of August and what the operation of our schools will look like and be sustainable in a COVID-19 context. 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 education stakeholders including the school management bodies and staff representatives.
My Department is also providing funding of an additional €377 million to support the safe and sustainable reopening of schools under the Roadmap.
The supports are comprehensive across a range of areas, including funding for getting schools ready, for providing for additional supervision and substitution, and providing additional teachers to help with physical distancing and class sizes. Funding will also be provided for management supports and enhanced cleaning and hygiene measures. This additional funding being provided will enable schools to have daily cleaning arrangements
There will be funding provided for release days for teaching principals at primary level to meet the administrative burden arising from the changes and the impacts of Covid-19. This will mean that all teaching principals will have one release day per week. Additionally, there will be some release time for deputy principals in primary schools.
As part of the package of supports, additional teachers are being provided to support the reopening of primary schools in order to provide enhanced substitution and eliminate the need to mix classes when a teacher is absent. Supply panels are being established nationwide. These will be monitored in terms of the number of teachers and the location of each panel.
In terms of operating in this school year, schools will be required to look at maximising all available physical space particularly to accommodate larger classes. Examples of class layouts have been provided to support schools. The minor works grant has been provided to assist schools if they need to reconfigure classroom or undertake other work. Schools will also be required to look at how classes are organised in terms of size and this may require some reorganisation of class groupings.
A 1000 additional teachers will be allocated to post-primary schools to help reduce class sizes. A teacher allocation equivalent to a pupil teacher ratio reduction of 0.6 will be allocated to schools in the free scheme. This allocation will support the important work of teaching and learning and provide additional teachers needed to support teacher substitution, management of physical distancing requirements by reallocating class timetables in schools to smaller groups class sizes where necessary. These posts will also provide for management supports.
In addition an allocation, equivalent to a pupil teacher ratio reduction of 0.1 will be provided in respect of Guidance provision to support student wellbeing. It is recognised that, notwithstanding these measures to post primary schools, challenges may remain to allow some post primary schools to fully and safely reopen. A further teacher allocation will be available to support these schools.
There is also funding for enhanced supervision, which is a key control measure to support schools in minimising interaction of students from different classes, in line with public health advice.
631. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a school (details supplied) will be opened as an autism-specific school in view of the fact local families have been campaigning for same for a considerable time. [18802/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraEnabling children with special educational needs to receive an education appropriate to their needs is a priority for this Government. Currently, almost 20% of the total Education Vote or €1.9bn is invested in supporting children with special needs.
Notwithstanding the extent of this investment, there are some parts of the country, including South Dublin, where increases in population and other issues have led to concerns regarding a shortage of school places for next September.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children nationwide. NCSE is continuing its engagement with schools, patron bodies, parents and others across South Dublin to bring the required additional special class and special school placements on stream.
While progress has been achieved NCSE has identified the need for an additional 36 special school places in South Dublin for September.
Planning is actively underway to ensure that children without a placement for next year are provided with a suitable placement. The NCSE is leading the work in this regard. My Department will continue to support the NCSE and schools through the provision of the necessary funding and capital investment to ensure all children are successful in accessing an education.
A number of options are currently being explored to increase the number of suitable places to cater for the needs of children in this area. I can confirm that sites such as the school to which the Deputy refers are being examined in this regard.
632. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the three school campus in Buncrana, County Donegal; when it is envisaged that Donegal County Council will complete negotiations with the land owner; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19550/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware the acquisition of a suitable site to provide new school accommodation has proved to be extremely challenging to date.
Donegal County Council, acting on behalf of my Department under the Memorandum of Understanding for the acquisition of school sites are pursuing all potential options for the provision of the required school accommodation. A preferred site has been identified. My Department with the assistance of Donegal County Council have appointed an agent to undertake negotiations. Negotiations with the landowner are currently underway. Due to the sensitive nature of the negotiations process it is not possible to comment further at this time.
In conjunction with Donegal County Council my Department are undertaking all the necessary steps to advance the acquisition of this site. I wish to assure the Deputy that finding a solution at the earliest possible date to meet the requirements of the schools is a priority for the my Department.
633. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna an mbeidh cead ag scoil (sonraí tugtha)an líon muinteoirí ranga atá acu faoi láthair a choinneáil don scoil bhliain 2020/2021, cé go mbeidh siad duine gann den sprioc uimhir daltaí do líon na muinteoirí atá acu, de bharr an ghéarchéim Covid-19 agus chomh beag agus atá na seomraí ranga sa sean scoil seo; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [19551/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraIs eol dom an sceideal don soláthar foirne agus an gá atá le tosaíocht a thabhairt do leithdháiltí múinteoirí i mbunscoileanna i bhfianaise na róil fhíorthábhachtacha atá acu i bpobail ar fud na tíre. Táim ag féachaint ar an mbealach is fearr chun dul chun cinn breise a dhéanamh maidir le cóimheas múinteoirí bunscoile i gcomhthéacs fheidhmiú Chlár an Rialtais.
Is í an phríomhthoisc a chinneann leibhéal na n-acmhainní foirne a sholáthraítear ag leibhéal na scoile aonair ná an sceideal soláthair foirne don scoilbhliain ábhartha agus rolluithe daltaí ar an 30 Meán Fómhair roimhe sin.
Feidhmíonn an sceideal don soláthar foirne ar bhealach atá soiléir agus trédhearcach agus caitear le scoileanna den chineál céanna ar an mbealach céanna beag beann ar a suíomh. Cuimsíonn an sceideal don soláthar foirne córas achomhairc trína bhféadfaidh scoileanna achomharc i leith soláthar foirne a chur faoi bhráid Bord Achomhairc neamhspleách faoi chritéir áirithe. Tá an Bord Achomhairc um Sholáthar Foirne ag an mBunleibhéal tar éis post múinteoireachta sa bhreis a leithdháileadh ar an scoil ar thagair an Teachta di ar bhonn sealadach, go dtí go mbeidh na rolluithe deimhnithe ar an 30 Meán Fómhair. Ní bheidh leithdháileadh deiridh na bpost múinteoireachta ar fáil go dtí an fómhar tar éis na rolluithe a bheith deimhnithe ar an 30 Meán Fómhair agus próiseas na n-achomharc i leith soláthar foirne a bheith curtha i gcrích i mí Dheireadh Fómhair.
I am very conscious of the staffing schedule and the need to prioritise teacher allocations in primary schools given their vital role in communities around the country. I am looking at how best to make further progress in reducing the primary teacher ratio in the context of the Programme for Government implementation.
The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September.
The staffing schedule operates in a clear and transparent manner and treats all similar types of schools equally irrespective of location. The staffing schedule includes an appeals mechanism for schools to submit a staffing appeal under certain criteria to an independent Appeals Board. The Primary Staffing Appeals Board has allocated an additional teaching post to the school referred to by the Deputy on a provisional basis, pending confirmation of enrolments on 30th September. The final allocation of teaching posts will not be known until the Autumn after confirmation of enrolments on 30th September and the conclusion of the staffing appeals process in October.
634. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to defer or reduce the school bus fares payable at this time of year in view of the Covid-19 pandemic and the uncertainty if students will be returning to school for a full week this coming term; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19553/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraSchool 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.
Earlier this week I announced a comprehensive plan detailing a package of measures and resources to be provided to facilitate schools in re-opening. I 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.
The option to make payment for transport for the 2020/2021 school year has been available since 16th June. Given the exceptional circumstances I have asked Bus Éireann to extend the closing date for payment to the 4th August 2020. Families wishing to avail of transport for the 2020/2021 year are advised to make payment by this date. Families also have the option of spreading the amount due over two payments payable in July and December.
635. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the way in which the temporary teacher reassignment system works in both primary and secondary schools; the terms and conditions for its use; if there have been changes to it in the past ten years; and if so, if she will provide details of same. [19555/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra636. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of temporary teacher reassignments in operation by county; the number of reassignments in operation by length of years; and the number of temporary teacher reassignment by county in tabular form. [19557/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra637. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the cases in which teachers stayed longer in their reassigned jobs than was allowed under the temporary teacher reassignment process in the past ten years; the reasons for this; and the reason they were treated differently to other teachers. [19559/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn February 2018 my Department introduced the “Temporary Re-Assignment Scheme For Primary Teachers”. This Scheme was agreed under the auspices of the Teachers Conciliation Council (TCC). The Council is comprised of representatives of teachers, school management, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, the Department of Education & Skills and is chaired by an official of the Workplace Relations Commission.
The purpose of the Temporary Re-Assignment Scheme is to facilitate an arrangement between two eligible teachers who, with the approval of their respective employers, wish to apply for temporary re-assignment to a different school for educational purposes.
The provisions of the Scheme are set out in Chapter 9 of Circular 0054/2019.
Paragraph 1.3 of the Circular states:
“A teacher may apply for temporary re-assignment to a different school for educational purposes which includes enabling teachers in primary schools to enhance their professional experience by teaching in different types of settings and enrich their personal knowledge which can then be shared with colleagues. For example, a teacher could seek a temporary re-assignment between:
- an urban school and a rural school or vice versa
- a large school with a single class per teacher and a smaller school with multi-grade classes
- a junior school, that is infants to second class and a senior school where they would teach third to sixth class
- a single gender school and a mixed gender school
- a mainstream school and a special school
- a DEIS school and a non-DEIS school
- a multi-medium school and a Gaelscoil/school in a Gaeltacht area or vice versa”
In accordance with the terms of the scheme, the minimum period for which a re-assignment may be facilitated is one school year and the maximum is three school years. In 2019/20 school year there was 54 re-assignment arrangements involving 108 teachers. County breakdown of assignments is not readily available.
|
No, of arrangements |
o of years completed |
|
17 arrangements |
Year 1 |
|
37 arrangements |
Year 2 |
638. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she or her advisers have ever used private email for any form of Government business since her appointment as Minister; and if so, if she will publish each such email and corresponding documents immediately. [19563/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra646. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she, her Ministers of State and or advisers have ever used private email for any form of official Government use since the formation of the Government; and if so, if she will publish all such emails and corresponding documents immediately. [19635/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has an Information and Communications ICT Usage Policy which highlights for staff the need for email security. All staff members have to sign up to the policy and all new staff are provided with a copy of the policy as part of their induction material and are expected to comply with this policy.
My staff working in my Department and I have been assigned Departmental email accounts which are used for official business and have been recently installed on my mobile devices. On rare occasions, a personal email address may be used for operational reasons e.g. lack of access to ICT. From time to time, a third party may also email me about official business using an address other than my Departmental address. In line with my Department's ICT policy, if such correspondence is received, I or my staff copy the reply to Government officials thereby creating a record of the correspondence which can be accessed at a later date.
I can also advise that Minister Madigan does not use a personal email for official purposes.
639. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the details of meetings she has had since her appointment as Minister by date and in tabular form (details supplied). [19567/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra647. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the meetings she and her Ministers of State have had since the formation of the Government by date in tabular form (details supplied). [19652/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMinister Madigan and I have held a number of meetings with stakeholders since taking office. Please see attached table.
|
Minister |
Meeting With |
Date of Meeting |
|
Minister Norma Foley |
Stakeholders meeting re School re-openings |
01/07/2020 |
|
Minister Norma Foley |
Meeting with Heads of Agencies |
14/07/2020 |
|
Minister Norma Foley |
Stakeholders event |
21/072020 |
|
Minister Norma Foley |
Meeting with NABMSE |
21/07/2020 |
|
Minister Norma Foley |
Videoconference with Welsh Minister for Education |
21/07/2020 |
|
Minister Norma Foley |
Meeting with Opposition Spokespeople |
21/07/2020 |
|
Minister Norma Foley |
Meeting with NCSE |
22/07/2020 |
|
Minister Norma Foley |
Webex meeting with Dr. John Cuddihy |
22/07/2020 |
|
Minister Norma Foley |
Meeting with CPSMA |
23/07/2020 |
|
Minister Norma Foley |
Meeting with the Taoiseach |
24/07/2020 |
|
Minister Josepha Madigan |
Meeting with Down Syndrome Ireland |
07/07/2020 |
|
Minister Josepha Madigan |
Meeting with Involve Autism |
08/07/2020 |
|
Minister Josepha Madigan |
Meeting with As I Am |
09/07/2020 |
|
Minister Josepha Madigan |
Meeting with ASTI |
10/07/2020 |
|
Minister Josepha Madigan |
Meeting with INTO |
14/07/2020 |
|
Minister Josepha Madigan |
Meeting with Centre for Talented Youth Ireland |
14/07/2020 |
|
Minister Josepha Madigan |
Meeting with NCSE |
15/07/2020 |
|
Minister Josepha Madigan |
Meeting with NABMSE |
21/07/2020 |
|
Minister Josepha Madigan |
Meeting with Disability Federation Ireland |
22/07/2020 |
640. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to proceed immediately with a planning application for the preferred choice as outlined in the Donabate Local Area Plan as lands at the Spires East which happens to be publicly owned (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19595/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraRegarding the current planning application for temporary accommodation to which the Deputy refers my Department’s Project Management Team is currently preparing a response to the request for further information from Fingal County Council in respect of the planning application F20A/0157 which is for the interim accommodation for the school in question.
With regard to a permanent site to cater for the projected demographic growth the acquisition of a zoned school site at Corballis, Donabate is at an advanced stage of legal conveyancing. Officials from my Department are engaging with the landowner and officials in the relevant local authority regarding the potential development of the site.
I am unable to elaborate any further due to the commercial sensitivities of site acquisitions in general.
641. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills if alternative arrangements will be made by which there are no provisions for students due to sit exams and due to unforeseen circumstances are hospitalised as an emergency and in many cases have no alternative to leave hospital to sit exams; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19596/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations. My predecessor as Minister, Joe McHugh TD, last year asked the State Examinations Commission to review the supports provided to Leaving Certificate and Leaving Certificate Applied (LCA) students who suffer trauma or adversity around the time of the state examinations.
The Commission operates the scheme of Reasonable Accommodations at the Certificate Examinations, known as the RACE scheme, to accommodate candidates who suffer bereavement, illness or other trauma, either immediately before or during the examinations.
In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.
642. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the progress of the construction of a proposed new school (details supplied). [19597/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware the building project for the school in question is included on my Department's capital programme.
I can confirm that a site has been acquired and a brief of the new school building school has been completed. My Department will now progress this project into the architectural planning as quickly as possible and will keep the school authority informed.
643. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she had a handover briefing from her predecessor; if so, when the meeting took place; and the persons that were in attendance. [19616/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs is normal practice, on my appointment as Minister for Education I was provided with a detailed briefing document in relation to all aspects of the Department. In addition, I had a series of briefing meetings with all of my senior officials in relation to their individual areas of responsibility. While I have been in contact with my colleague the former Minister for Education and Skills a formal handover meeting was not required.
644. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason SNAs are not being employed in east County Cork. [19617/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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.
The Special Needs Assistant (SNA) scheme is designed to provide schools with additional adult support staff who can assist children with special educational needs who also have additional and significant care needs. Such support is provided in order to facilitate the attendance of those pupils at school and also to minimise disruption to class or teaching time for the pupils concerned, or for their peers, and with a view to developing their independent living skills.
SNAs are not allocated to individual children but to schools as a school based resource. The deployment of SNAs within schools is a matter for the individual Principal/Board of Management of the school. SNAs should be deployed by the school in a manner which best meets the care support requirements of the children enrolled in the school for whom SNA support has been allocated.
645. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Education and Skills when definitive Covid-19 guidelines will be put in place for the return of pupils to school. [19618/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra738. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills the supports that will be put in place to enable primary and second-level schools to reopen at the end of August 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20935/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn Monday, the 27th July, my Department published the report to Government “Reopening Our Schools, The Roadmap for the Full Return to School”.
This Roadmap set outs how schools will reopen for all students from the end of August and what the operation of our schools will look like and be sustainable in a COVID-19 context. 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 education stakeholders including the school management bodies and staff representatives.
My Department is also providing capital and current funding of an additional €377 million to support the safe and sustainable reopening of schools under the Roadmap.
This funding includes €52 million for schools to put in place enhanced cleaning and hygiene measures to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission in schools. Enhanced grants are being made available for cleaning to schools with special classes and special schools.
Funding of approx. €84.7 million so that schools can employ replacement teaching staff, SNA and administrative staff. There will be additional funding of €41.2 million, for substitution in primary schools. This will provide more certainty on the availability of substitutes for primary schools and cover substitutions that are not covered by existing schemes. The Supply Panel Scheme will be expanded nationwide and I am allocating 200 posts to provide substitute cover through these panels. The purpose of supply panels is to support schools to manage the sick leave and other absences by having a supply of teachers to meet substitution needs when required. Schools will continue to be able to access substitute teachers through the normal process, particularly if they are not connected to a supply panel.
Other funding measures for primary schools include release days for teaching principals which equates to one release day per week and release time for deputy principals in primary schools with an admin principal.
There is also funding of €40m for enhanced supervision for post primary schools to minimise the interaction of students from different classes, in line with public health advice. An additional 1,080 teaching posts at post-primary level at a cost of €53 million will be provided to support the important work of teaching and learning and provide additional teachers needed to support teacher substitution, management of physical distancing requirements by reallocating class timetables in schools to smaller groups class sizes where necessary.
Funding of €4.2 million will also be made available to enable schools to employ an aide to assist with implementing logistical changes. €3.8m is being made available to ensure that schools have lead worker representatives, whose role is to support the school to limit the risk of COVID-19 infections.
I also recognise that the full implementation of the COVID-19 Response Plans for Schools, and the Public Health Advice, may require some reconfiguration works within schools. To support this work, a once off enhanced minor works grant will paid to all primary schools by mid-August. There is a one off €75 million capital allocation to support schools to prepare their buildings and classrooms for reopening including an uplift for schools with SEN pupils.
In providing funding to schools in this way, schools will have the necessary flexibility to implement necessary physical measures in their school quickly in compliance with the Public Health Advice and the Roadmap.
