Maurice Quinlivan
Ceist:403. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Education the timeline regarding the construction of a new build for a school (details supplied); and if funding is in place for the project. [23466/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraSchools Building Projects
Ceisteanna (403)
Freagraí scríofa
The project to which the Deputy refers has been devolved for delivery to Limerick & Clare Education and Training Board (LCETB).
I am pleased to confirm that Planning Permission was granted in late summer 2020 with a number of conditions. The next steps in progressing the project to tender stage are underway and the project will then proceed onward to construction in due course. I can assure the Deputy that I am fully committed to providing the funding necessary to complete the project in that context.
Schools Building Projects
Ceisteanna (404)
Matt Carthy
Ceist:404. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Education her plans to provide funding for remedial and long-term works to a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23482/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I can inform the Deputy that the school to which he refers has been approved funding for a project under my Department's Additional Accommodation Scheme. This project has been devolved for delivery to Cavan and Monaghan Education and Training Board (CMETB) in that context.
This project is currently at Stage 1 (preliminary design stage) of the design process. It is for CMETB to submit a Stage 1 report to my Department for review in that context. This report is awaited.
I can also inform the Deputy that additional funding was recently provided to carry out some fire safety works on the existing building. I understand from the ETB that these works have recently been completed.
School Transport
Ceisteanna (405)
Michael Ring
Ceist:405. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Education if school transport will be provided to pupils (details supplied) in County Mayo; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23506/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
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.
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 Department's Post-Primary School Transport Scheme children are eligible for school transport where they reside not less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest school/education centre as determined by my Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
All children who are eligible for school transport and who completed the application and payment process on time have been accommodated on school transport services for the 2020/21 school year where such services are in operation.
Children who are not eligible for school transport, but who completed the application process on time are considered for spare seats that may exist after eligible children have been facilitated; such seats are referred to as concessionary seats.
Bus Éireann, who operate school transport on behalf of my Department, has advised that the children referred to by the Deputy are not eligible for school transport under the terms of my Department's Post Primary School Transport Scheme as they do not meet the requisite distance criteria.
Concessionary transport may vary from year to year and cannot be guaranteed for the duration of a child’s post primary school education cycle. Where the number of applications for transport on a concessionary basis exceeds the number of seats available, Bus Éireann determines the allocation of the tickets.
Bus Éireann has advised that that there are seats available on the service for which these children have applied and that tickets will issue in due course.
School Transport
Ceisteanna (406)
Michael Ring
Ceist:406. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Education if school transport will be provided to a pupil (details supplied) in view of the fact the pupil is a medical card holder and is entitled to school transport and there is availability on the school bus to accommodate the individual; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23507/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of my Department. 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.
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.
The closing date for payment for the 2020/2021 school year was Tuesday 4th August 2020. All children who are eligible for school transport and who applied and paid by the deadline have been accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation.
The School Transport Scheme Family Portal was temporarily closed for applications and payments on the 20th August 2020. This temporary closure was necessary to complete the work required to issue tickets to families who at that time remained due to be allocated a ticket for school transport services for the 2020/2021 school year.
The School Transport Scheme Family Portal has now re-opened. However, parents/guardians making an application/payment at this time for the 2020/2021 school year are reminded that the closing date for payments for the 2020/21 school year was Tuesday 4th August 2020.
Bus Eireann has confirmed that payment for ticket for the child referred to by the Deputy was received on the 7th September 2020 for the 2020/2021 school year and such their payment is late.
Late applicants and/or families who pay late are not guaranteed a seat and will only be allocated a seat if capacity is available once seats are allocated to those families who applied and paid on time for transport services for the 2020/2021 school year.
Payments for Post-Primary seats completed or made after 4th August 2020 will be only considered when 50% capacity, required by new Covid19 public health guidelines, is achieved on each route. In the event of not securing a ticket where no capacity exists, or on cancellation, a full refund will be issued.
School Staff
Ceisteanna (407)
Catherine Connolly
Ceist:407. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education her plans to establish a supply teacher panel for the north west of Connemara, County Galway; her further plans for teacher absences for the area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23530/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Roadmap for the Full Return to School provides for comprehensive supports across a range of areas to allow for the safe reopening of schools.
Among the supports provided is the extension of the Substitute Teacher Supply Panel. The scheme has been expanded from a pilot scheme consisting of 6 base schools to over 100 base schools, providing substitute cover to over 2,000 schools across the country.
In forming the Supply Panel clusters, my Department's GIS system identified the receiving schools based on distance from the base school. Teaching posts were allocated to each Supply Panel cluster based on the number of permanent teaching positions in the schools in the cluster and the distance to the base school.
A Supply Panel cluster has been established in Scoil Mhuire, Clifden which services schools in the area referred to by the Deputy.
State Examinations
Ceisteanna (408)
Noel Grealish
Ceist:408. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Education the reason the algorithm used to calculate students grades did not respect the teachers' assessments of students grades, particularly in private colleges in which students have a much closer relationship with teachers, thereby giving teachers a better understanding of the students abilities; the reason grind schools have had their grades reduced more than other schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23542/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The decision to adopt a model of Calculated Grades by my Department was a direct result of COVID-19, which prevented the state from running the conventional Leaving Certificate Examinations.
The design of the Calculated Grades model was informed by advice from a Technical Working Group comprising experts drawn from the State Examinations Commission, the Inspectorate of my Department, the Educational Research Centre and international external expertise.
Calculated Grades were generated using a combination of information provided by the school about a student’s expected performance in an examination and national data available in relation to the performance of students in examinations over a period of time.
The focus of the Calculated Grades process has at all times been on the student and not on the system and my recent decision, announced on 1 September, to remove the school-by-school historical data from the national standardisation process underpins this commitment, ensuring that the performance of this cohort of students is not constrained by how their school has historically performed at Leaving Certificate.
The system of Calculated Grades, had at all times, concern for this group of students who completed their second level education under the most unprecedented and difficult circumstances. Through the Calculated Grades process my Department has sought to ensure that the grades students received are fair and comparable representations of their levels of achievement. The standardisation process has ensured that the results issued are comparable across year groups and between schools.
A high value was placed on the estimates of performance coming from schools with a focus on aligning standards across schools, ensuring that the system was adjusted appropriately for any over or under-estimation coming through the school estimates. While the estimated marks have been subject to a process of adjustment to ensure fairness and comparability across schools, the national standardisation process operated on the premise that the school estimates should only be adjusted through the standardisation process where there was credible statistical evidence to justify changing them.
The standardisation model has been subject to a high degree of human oversight by the National Standardisation Group with a number of safeguards built in to ensure fair results for students.
Technical details of the Calculated Grades model and standardisation process were published on the date of issue of the results on 7 September and are available here: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/2ed9b-leaving-certificate-2020-calculated-grades-technical-reports/.
State Examinations
Ceisteanna (409)
Noel Grealish
Ceist:409. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Education if students who transferred to a different school after their junior certificate had their junior certificate grades assessed as part of their leaving certificate grades calculation in view of the fact that this cohort of students are being treated unfairly and differently to the rest of the students; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23543/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The decision to adopt a model of Calculated Grades by my Department was a direct result of COVID-19, which prevented the state from running the conventional Leaving Certificate Examinations.
The design of the Calculated Grades model was informed by advice from a Technical Working Group comprising experts drawn from the State Examinations Commission, the Inspectorate of the Department of Education and Skills, the Educational Research Centre and international external expertise.
Calculated Grades were generated using a combination of information provided by the school about a student’s expected performance in an examination and national data available in relation to the performance of students in examinations over a period of time.
The focus of the Calculated Grades process has at all times been on the student and not on the system and my recent decision, announced on 1 September, to remove the school-by-school historical data from the national standardisation process underpins this commitment, ensuring that the performance of this cohort of students is not constrained by how their school has historically performed at Leaving Certificate.
The system of Calculated Grades, had at all times, concern for this group of students who completed their second level education under the most unprecedented and difficult circumstances. Through the Calculated Grades process my Department has sought to ensure that the grades students received are fair and comparable representations of their levels of achievement. The standardisation process has ensured that the results issued are comparable across year groups and between schools.
A high value was placed on the estimates of performance coming from schools with a focus on aligning standards across schools, ensuring that the system was adjusted appropriately for any over or under-estimation coming through the school estimates. While the estimated marks have been subject to a process of adjustment to ensure fairness and comparability across schools, the national standardisation process operated on the premise that the school estimates should only be adjusted through the standardisation process where there was credible statistical evidence to justify changing them.
Individual Junior Cycle results were not used to determine any individual’s Calculated Grades. Rather, the Calculated Grades process took account of the overall Junior Cycle performance of the Leaving Certificate class of 2020 in each school and used this data to help in predicting the likely range of Leaving Certificate performance of that group. The fact that the vast majority of 2020 Leaving Certificate students would have sat the Junior Cycle examinations provides a good means of predicting the pattern of performance of these students at an aggregate level. The process is not applied at an individual student level.
The standardisation model has been subject to a high degree of human oversight by the National Standardisation Group with a number of safeguards built in to ensure fair results for students.
Technical details of the Calculated Grades model and standardisation process were published on the date of issue of the results and are available here: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/2ed9b-leaving-certificate-2020-calculated-grades-technical-reports/.
Schools Site Acquisitions
Ceisteanna (410)
Catherine Murphy
Ceist:410. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the playing pitches associated with a school (details supplied) are up for sale; if so, the attempt being made to purchase the lands in question; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23549/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department has no record of receiving correspondence in relation to the matter to which she refers at the school in question.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Ceisteanna (411)
John Lahart
Ceist:411. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education the steps being taken in respect of children of highly vulnerable parents or grandparents who still have to attend school, potentially endangering their vulnerable parent or grandparent; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23570/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
My Department has published a suite of helpful guidance for the safe and sustainable reopening of schools, in line with public health advice, including guidance on the completion and implementation of a Covid-19 response plan by primary, special and post-primary schools. Each school is required to have a COVID-19 Response Plan in place. Covid-19 response plans are the means through which schools can best prevent the introduction and spread of Covid-19 in the school environment. Covid-19 response plans set out the practical steps schools must take to minimise the risk of introduction and transmission of Covid-19 in the school environment and provide for the safe operation of schools.
My Department is aware that some parents and children will have concerns about returning to school. My Department has developed and prepared a comprehensive response to supporting the wellbeing of school communities at this time. NEPS will work with schools to support them to meet the needs of their students on their return to school.
The HPSC has produced guidance in relation to the return to school for at risk groups. It outlines that children with immediate family members, including parents, in both the ‘high risk’ and ‘very high risk’ categories can return to school and it is important for the child’s overall well-being.
This is consistent with public health advice internationally in relation to at-risk family members. The guidance is available at the following link. www.hpsc.ie/a-z/respiratory/coronavirus/novelcoronavirus/guidance/educationguidance/HSE%20advice%20on%20return%20to%20school.pdf.
The priority is that the household continues to follow all current advice on how to minimise the risk of coronavirus, through regular hand washing, cough etiquette etc.
School Transport
Ceisteanna (412, 413, 414)
Violet-Anne Wynne
Ceist:412. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Education the number of applications for school bus transport refused by county for the 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2020-21 school terms, in tabular form. [23572/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraViolet-Anne Wynne
Ceist:413. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Education the number of applications for concessionary tickets on the school bus transport scheme refused by county for the 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2020-21 school terms in tabular form. [23573/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraViolet-Anne Wynne
Ceist:414. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Education the number of concessionary tickets granted tickets on the school bus transport scheme by county for the 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2020-21 school terms in tabular form. [23574/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 412 to 414, inclusive, together.
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.
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 School Transport Scheme Primary children are eligible for transport where they reside not less than 3.2 kms from and are attending their nearest national school as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language. Post Primary children are eligible for transport where they reside not less than 4.8 kms from and are attending their nearest education centre as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
All children who are eligible for school transport and who completed the application and payment process on time have been accommodated on school transport services for the 2020/21 school year where such services are in operation.
Children who are not eligible for school transport, but who completed the application process on time, are considered for spare seats that may exist after eligible children have been facilitated; such seats are referred to as concessionary seats.
Concessionary transport may vary from year to year and cannot be guaranteed for the duration of a child’s post primary school education cycle. Where the number of applications for transport on a concessionary basis exceeds the number of seats available, Bus Éireann determines the allocation of the tickets and refunds payments made on behalf of those concessionary applicants for whom no seats remain.
The number of concessionary tickets granted to pupils on the school bus transport scheme by county for the school terms 2018/2019, 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 as requested by the Deputy are attached in Document 1.
The number of applications for concessionary tickets on the school bus transport scheme refused by county for the school terms 2018/2019, 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 and the total number of applications for school bus transport refused by county for the school terms 2018/2019, 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 as requested by the Deputy is not readily available and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as it is available.
The Number of Concessionary Tickets Issued in the 2018/19 school year.
|
County |
Post Primary - 2018/19 |
Primary -2018/19 |
|
Carlow |
333 |
324 |
|
Cavan |
362 |
623 |
|
Clare |
403 |
278 |
|
Cork |
1682 |
1608 |
|
Donegal |
859 |
1243 |
|
Dublin |
93 |
239 |
|
Galway |
1177 |
999 |
|
Kerry |
632 |
750 |
|
Kildare |
812 |
579 |
|
Kilkenny |
506 |
734 |
|
Laois |
206 |
117 |
|
Leitrim |
318 |
391 |
|
Limerick |
585 |
535 |
|
Longford |
389 |
336 |
|
Louth |
317 |
314 |
|
Mayo |
504 |
661 |
|
Meath |
732 |
749 |
|
Monaghan |
353 |
438 |
|
Offaly |
595 |
339 |
|
Roscommon |
152 |
339 |
|
Sligo |
279 |
366 |
|
Tipperary |
780 |
765 |
|
Waterford |
320 |
268 |
|
Westmeath |
406 |
376 |
|
Wexford |
1057 |
656 |
|
Wicklow |
511 |
342 |
|
Totals: |
14363 |
14369 |
The Number of Concessionary Tickets Issued in the 2019/20 school year.
|
County |
Post Primary - 2019/20 |
Primary -2019/20 |
|
Carlow |
363 |
330 |
|
Cavan |
410 |
650 |
|
Clare |
426 |
306 |
|
Cork |
1799 |
1746 |
|
Donegal |
868 |
1294 |
|
Dublin |
91 |
285 |
|
Galway |
1212 |
1073 |
|
Kerry |
667 |
786 |
|
Kildare |
840 |
612 |
|
Kilkenny |
522 |
789 |
|
Laois |
216 |
129 |
|
Leitrim |
327 |
405 |
|
Limerick |
611 |
572 |
|
Longford |
381 |
345 |
|
Louth |
368 |
339 |
|
Mayo |
543 |
729 |
|
Meath |
810 |
820 |
|
Monaghan |
393 |
441 |
|
Offaly |
632 |
342 |
|
Roscommon |
180 |
350 |
|
Sligo |
284 |
390 |
|
Tipperary |
801 |
790 |
|
Waterford |
363 |
310 |
|
Westmeath |
378 |
387 |
|
Wexford |
1110 |
706 |
|
Wicklow |
541 |
367 |
|
Totals: |
15136 |
15293 |
The Number of Concessionary Tickets Issued to date in the 2020/21 school year.
|
County |
Post Primary - 2020/21 |
Primary - 2020/21 |
|
Carlow |
349 |
311 |
|
Cavan |
363 |
589 |
|
Clare |
378 |
284 |
|
Cork |
1636 |
1637 |
|
Donegal |
732 |
1122 |
|
Dublin |
85 |
252 |
|
Galway |
1081 |
954 |
|
Kerry |
590 |
706 |
|
Kildare |
743 |
520 |
|
Kilkenny |
501 |
736 |
|
Laois |
176 |
117 |
|
Leitrim |
255 |
361 |
|
Limerick |
513 |
476 |
|
Longford |
300 |
279 |
|
Louth |
327 |
279 |
|
Mayo |
401 |
596 |
|
Meath |
750 |
751 |
|
Monaghan |
302 |
393 |
|
Offaly |
533 |
309 |
|
Roscommon |
137 |
316 |
|
Sligo |
255 |
358 |
|
Tipperary |
727 |
728 |
|
Waterford |
328 |
282 |
|
Westmeath |
319 |
357 |
|
Wexford |
1000 |
614 |
|
Wicklow |
502 |
313 |
|
Totals: |
13283 |
13640 |
School Transport
Ceisteanna (415)
Violet-Anne Wynne
Ceist:415. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Education her plans to carry out a review of the school bus transport scheme in view of recent flaws identified in the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23575/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
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.
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. All children who are eligible for school transport and who completed the application and payment process on time have been accommodated on school transport services for the 2020/2021 school year.
In October 2019, my predecessor 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. Terms of reference and the scope of the review have been drafted and a Steering Group has been established.
Given the current evolving situation with Covid-19 and the continued restrictions the work of the Steering Group has been delayed. It is intended to convene the Steering Group shortly and to agree and supplement revised terms of reference to reflect the Programme for Government.
The Review will build on the proposals in the Programme for Government, which sets out the following objectives:
- Accelerate sustainable transport plans for schools. We will complete the review of the School Transport Scheme to seek better outcomes and reduce car journeys. The School Transport Scheme should work in liaison with the Safe Routes to Schools Programme
- We will conduct a comprehensive review of the School Transport Scheme, identifying recommendations for the scheme to provide better value and a better service for students, including those with special educational needs, and examining issues such as the nearest or next-nearest school.
Summer Works Scheme
Ceisteanna (416)
Denis Naughten
Ceist:416. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education the status of an application by a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23586/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
In late 2019, details of the schools that are eligible to receive funding for the 2020 Summer Works Scheme in respect of applications submitted for "Life Safety Systems projects" (Category 1) were announced.
Commensurate with the level of funding set aside for the scheme, applications are being assessed on a top down basis in accordance with the prioritisation criteria outlined in the circular accompanying the scheme. In this regard, applications submitted for other works/categories (including the project referred to by the Deputy) will be considered under future rounds of the Summer Works Scheme.
It is open to the school to apply for funding under my Department's Emergency Works Scheme if the works referred to by the Deputy, if not carried out, would result in the closure of the school or part thereof.
School Transport
Ceisteanna (417)
Alan Kelly
Ceist:417. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Education the communications she has had with Bus Éireann regarding school transport provision over the past two months; and if she is satisfied with the response from Bus Éireann to her concerns. [23594/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
School 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.
Based on the public health advice published in early July, my Department has been planning for School Transport Scheme services for the 2020/2021 school year to fully operate, but with additional measures and hygiene requirements in place. The Department has been engaging intensively with Bus Éireann in regard to the logistics for the safe operation of School Transport Scheme services for the 2020/2021 school year.
School transport services resumed operation on the 26th of August 2020. All children who are eligible for school transport and who completed the application and payment process on time have been accommodated on school transport services for the 2020/2021 school year.
Updated health advice was received from NPHET on the 18th August, which impacts on the operation of post-primary school transport services. This advice stated that for secondary school students on school transport, strict distancing should be ensured in line with that on public transport along with the wearing of face coverings.
My Department is engaging with Bus Éireann in respect of these plans, to implement measures so that any services that can operate from the start of the school year at 50% capacity will do so and over the coming period all other post-primary transport services will be re-organised and additional services will be provided as required to allow for physical distancing.
Bus Éireann is conducting a full assessment to see where re-organisation or re-scheduling of services is possible. In addition, Bus Éireann has recently invited applications from operators who wish to be considered for the provision of additional post-primary services that may be required.
Schools Building Projects
Ceisteanna (418)
Aodhán Ó Ríordáin
Ceist:418. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education the position regarding the provision of a permanent building for a school (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23610/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The permanent school building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is being delivered under my Department's Design and Build programme. A pre-planning meeting was held with Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council earlier in the year and this is informing the design for the project. Lodgement of the Planning Application will be the next key milestone in the progression of the project. To this end, the final pre-planning meeting is due to be held with Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council on the 23rd September next. My Department's Project Manager for the Design and Build programme is working towards submission of the planning application as soon as possible. Until such time as planning permission has been secured, it will not be possible to provide a timeline for progression of the project to tender and construction stages.
Regarding the school’s interim accommodation, my Department has approved the provision of funding, under the Additional Accommodation Scheme, to provide for prefabricated accommodation for the school to meet its short to medium term accommodation needs at its current location. Some issues during the tendering process led to delays in the delivery of this project to the extent that it was not going to be completed in time to allow the school to open there for September.
The school authority worked closely with officials in my Department with a view to providing interim solutions to meet the needs of the school pending completion of this project. In that context, it was agreed that an existing ETB building would be refurbished with a view to facilitating its use for that purpose. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that this work was completed last week and the building is now in use by the school.
School Accommodation
Ceisteanna (419)
Michael Ring
Ceist:419. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Education the position regarding the relocation of a school (details supplied); if it is the only school being proposed for the site; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23613/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
A building project to provide a new school building for the school referred to by the Deputy is included in my Department’s building programme. My Department is exploring the potential to masterplan the site in question, which is in my ownership, to accommodate two primary schools and will be in contact with the patron as this process progresses.
State Examinations
Ceisteanna (420)
Jim O'Callaghan
Ceist:420. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Education the steps that must be taken by students who wish to sit the leaving certificate examination later in 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23618/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations.
In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.
Special Educational Needs Staff
Ceisteanna (421)
Paul Donnelly
Ceist:421. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Education if additional SNA positions will be provided to a school (details supplied). [23712/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
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.
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.
It is a matter for schools to allocate support as required, and on the basis of individual need, which allows schools flexibility in how the SNA support is utilised.
Schools were notified of the arrangements for the allocation of SNA support in respect of students in mainstream classes for the current school year. The arrangements include the following provisions:
- 2019/20 mainstream class SNA allocations were frozen, from the date of issue of Circular 0030/2020, and have automatically rolled over into the current 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 were allowed to continue in these posts for the current school year in the normal way.
- A diagnosis of a disability, or a psychological or other professional report, is 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.
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, are dealt with by way of the exceptional review process.
The exceptional review process for mainstream allocations is available to schools throughout the current 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 Transport
Ceisteanna (422)
Michael Ring
Ceist:422. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Education if school transport will be provided to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23728/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of my Department. 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.
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.
The closing date for payment for the 2020/2021 school year was Tuesday 4th August 2020. All children who are eligible for school transport and who applied and paid by the deadline have been accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation.
The School Transport Scheme Family Portal was temporarily closed for applications and payments on the 20th August 2020. This temporary closure was necessary to complete the work required to issue tickets to families who at that time remained due to be allocated a ticket for school transport services for the 2020/2021 school year.
The School Transport Scheme Family Portal has now re-opened. However, parents/guardians making an application/payment at this time for the 2020/2021 school year are reminded that the closing date for payments for the 2020/21 school year was Tuesday 4th August 2020.
Late applicants and/or families who pay late are not guaranteed a seat and will only be allocated a seat if capacity is available once seats are allocated to those families who applied and paid on time for transport services for the 2020/2021 school year.
Payments for Post-Primary seats completed or made after 4th August 2020 will be only considered when 50% capacity, required by new Covid19 public health guidelines, is achieved on each route. In the event of not securing a ticket where no capacity exists, or on cancellation, a full refund will be issued.
Bus Éireann has confirmed that no payment has been received to date for a ticket for the child referred to by the Deputy.