Written Answers Nos. 122-142
122. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of the engagement with the Chinese Government in relation to the treatment of the Uighurs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32043/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland, along with our EU partners, has been active in raising our concerns regarding the treatment of Uighurs and other ethnic minorities in the region of Xinjiang. We remain deeply concerned regarding the reports of arbitrary detention, forced labour, forced sterilisations, and restrictions on freedom of religion and belief.
Most recently, on 6 October, Ireland was one of 39 countries to support a Joint Statement at the UN Third Committee which reiterates our grave concern regarding the situation in Xinjiang, and recalls the exceptional letter of concern issued by 50 UN Special Procedures mandate holders which called on China to respect human rights and allow, immediate, meaningful, and unfettered access to Xinjiang.
Ireland also raised this matter during our national statement at the UN Human Rights Council on 25 September, where we urged China to allow unrestricted access to the region for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Ireland has also previously supported a number of statements at the UN Human Rights Council, in June this year and July 2019, and at the UN Third Committee in October 2019. These statements, among other things, urged China to urgently implement the eight recommendations made by the Committee for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination related to Xinjiang, and to uphold its international obligations and respect human rights in Xinjiang. They also called on the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to provide regular information on the situation in the region, in order to safeguard the rights and freedoms that are guaranteed under international law.
In addition to this, the EU has raised this matter with Chinese authorities directly on a number of occasions. The deterioration of the human rights situation, including the treatment of minorities in Xinjiang, was raised by EU leaders with China on 14 September, and also during the EU-China Summit on 22 June. Ireland fully supports the EU position of raising this matter during our engagement with China.
The protections and promotion of human rights is a core pillar of Ireland's foreign policy, and Ireland will continue to monitor and assess the situation and, along with our EU partners, engage with Chinese authorities bilaterally and in multilateral fora to address our concerns.
123. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of the European Commission’s article seven actions against Poland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32044/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraUpholding European values as set out in the EU Treaties is at the core of the work of the EU. The rule of law is a fundamental principle for all EU Member States.
Under Article 7 of the Treaty on European Union, there have been a number of hearings at the General Affairs Council over the past three years involving Poland, the Commission, and other Member States. Ireland has actively participated, highlighting the importance we attach to respect for the rule of law.
Most recently, at the September General Affairs Council, the Commission provided an update regarding the Rule of Law situation in Poland and Hungary, under the Article 7 procedure. The German Presidency confirmed that the Council will remain seized of both matters and further hearings will be held in December of this year. To this end, we believe that the Article 7 process should continue.
In tandem, the Commission continues to use other instruments at its disposal to uphold the values of the Union. The Court of Justice of the European Union has issued a number of decisions in relation to Poland and we encourage the Polish authorities to continue to engage and address the concerns that have been raised.
The recent publication by the European Commission of the first Annual Report on the Rule of Law situation across the European Union, as well as the associated annual dialogue on the topic at the General Affairs Council, are important means to support and strengthen Rule of Law across all Member States and to create a shared understanding of Rule of Law as a fundamental principle of the European Union.
124. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of the European Commission’s article seven actions against Hungary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32045/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraUpholding European values as set out in the EU Treaties is at the core of the work of the EU. The rule of law is a fundamental principle for all EU Member States.
Our concerns about issues relating to the rule of law in Hungary are well known, particularly around: judicial independence; civil society space; media freedom; academic freedom; and fundamental rights.
Under Article 7 of the Treaty on European Union, there have been a number of hearings at the General Affairs Council over the past two years involving Hungary, the Commission, and other Member States. Ireland has actively participated, highlighting the importance we attach to respect for the rule of law.
Most recently, at the September General Affairs Council, the Commission provided an update regarding the Rule of Law situation in Hungary and Poland, under the Article 7 procedure. The German Presidency confirmed that the Council will remain seized of both matters and further hearings will be held in December of this year. To this end, we believe that the Article 7 process should continue.
In tandem, the Commission continues to use other instruments at its disposal to uphold the values of the Union. The Court of Justice of the European Union has issued a recent decision in relation to Hungary and we encourage the Hungarian authorities to continue to engage and address the concerns that have been raised.
The recent publication by the European Commission of the first Annual Report on the Rule of Law situation across the European Union, as well as the associated annual dialogue on the topic at the General Affairs Council, are important means to support and strengthen Rule of Law across all Member States and to create a shared understanding of Rule of Law as a fundamental principle of the European Union.
125. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the way in which a person in the case of an Irish passport holder from Northern Ireland, living in Ireland who wishes for all their official documentation to feature the Irish version of their name as opposed to the English version and their birth certificate is British or Northern Irish, can apply for this change to the version of their name and have it featured going forward in applications for passports, driver licences and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32080/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAll passport applications are subject to the terms of the Passports Act, 2008 (“the Act”), which provides a legal basis for the various policies and practices which are applied by the Passport Service in the issue of passports.
Section 10 of the Act broadly provides that a passport will issue in the name of a citizen as it appears on his/her birth certificate or naturalisation certificate. Issuance of a passport in a name other than that which appears on a person’s birth or naturalisation certificate is permitted under the Act in certain situations, such as after marriage and so on, provided the relevant civil or legal documents are available to verify this change of name.
In cases where name change arises other than by marriage, civil partnership or adoption, the Act specifically requires evidence of the use of this new name over a two year period.
However, if a person requests issuance of a passport with a name change consisting of the use of the Irish version of his/her name, the Passport Service may adopt some flexibility in this policy and may facilitate the request if the applicant provides proof of a minimum period of six months usage of the Irish version of their name. In such cases, the Passport Service will include an observation on the passport recording the person’s birth certificate or previous name. This observation must remain on the passport until the condition of two years proof of usage can be satisfied. After the required two years and if the person wishes to do so, he/she may reapply (full fee will be required), submitting the required two years proof, and a new passport may issue without the observation.
This policy seeks to protect the integrity and security of the Irish passport and guard against passport or identity fraud, while at the same time facilitating those citizens who wish to use the Irish language more frequently in their daily lives.
126. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Defence his plans to award medals of honour to the seven surviving members of the siege of Jadotville; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a person (details supplied) who was the officer in charge at the time recommended the awarding of medals of honour to these men; his views on whether it is now time to get this miscarriage of justice overturned while these men are still alive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31869/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe siege of Jadotville was a prominent event that occurred during Ireland's peacekeeping mission in the Congo in September 1961. "A" Company, 35th Infantry Battalion took responsibility for the UN post at Jadotville on 3rd September 1961. On the 9th September, a large force of Katangese Gendarmerie surrounded them and early on the morning of the 13th September "A" Company came under attack. From the 13th to the 17th September they endured almost continuous attack. They were taken into captivity on the 17th September and remained in captivity until finally released on the 25th October 1961.
The issue of the award of medals to the men of “A” Company, 35th Infantry Battalion was addressed in 1962 and 1965. A properly constituted Medals Board considered the various cases presented. The board did not award any medals whose citations mention Jadotville. The Chief of Staff of the day considered the decision of the Board and was satisfied with the findings. Subsequently at that time, the question was raised again in a letter to a newly appointed Chief of Staff. He forwarded the letter to the original Medals Board and asked that they reconvene and review their decision. The Board indicated that the issues raised had received due consideration and that they were not prepared to alter their findings.
A review was conducted in 2004 by military officers for the purpose of a broader examination of the Jadotville case. This Board recommended that the events of Jadotville and the contribution of the 35th Battalion be given recognition. In this context, a number of measures have taken place to honour and to commemorate the events at Jadotville and the very significant contribution of “A” Company and of the 35th Battalion, as a whole, to the UN Peace Support Mission in the Congo.
Recognition of their contribution over the years include:
A. A presentation of scrolls to "A" Company in 2006.
B. Portraits of Lt Col McNamee (35th Battalion Commander) and Comdt Quinlan (Company Commander “A” Company) were commissioned in 2006.
C. In July of 2010 the 50th anniversary of the first deployment to the Congo was commemorated in a highly publicised and well attended event in Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel.
D. A nominal roll of “A” Company, printed in copper, was affixed to the monument in Costume Barracks and was unveiled as part of the 50th Anniversary of the Jadotville affair in September 2011.
E. On the occasion of the 55th anniversary of the Siege of Jadotville, a Unit Citation to honour the collective actions and bravery of the men of “A” Company was issued. This was the first time a Unit Citation was awarded within the Defence Forces.
Furthermore, on 13th June 2017, the Government decided, as an exceptional step, to award a medal known as “An Bonn Jadotville” or “The Jadotville Medal” to each member of “A” Company, 35th Infantry Battalion and to the family representatives of deceased members to give full and due recognition in honour of their courageous actions at the Siege of Jadotville. This medal presentation ceremony took place on 2nd December 2017 in Custume Barracks, Athlone. This location is considered the spiritual home of “A” Company and it is from here that “A” company assembled in advance of their fateful deployment to the Congo.
With regard to enquiries about any additional medals, the award of Distinguished Service Medals (DSM) and Military Medals for Gallantry (MMG) are provided for in Defence Forces Regulations (DFR) A9. This regulation also sets out the criteria for the award of such medals. It is important that in order to maintain the prestige of such medals and indeed all of those provided for in DFR A9, that the criteria outlined is strictly adhered to.
The introduction of any change to the regulations or to the criteria for the award of DSMs or MMGs is not a straightforward matter with many associated complexities. Robust consideration must be given to any potential unintended consequences arising such as maintaining the integrity of the award of medals system and implications for previous decisions of properly constituted medals boards. The availability of documentary evidence and official records also presents a challenge in this case. It has been previously indicated that any additional documentation, information or evidence to support the request to award such medals will be considered. At this juncture, no new information has come to light that would be cause for the matter to be re-examined.
Notwithstanding the above, the Chief of Staff is re-examining the issue of Jadotville and current issues.
127. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Defence the number of Defence Force members currently carrying out contact tracing duties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32059/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhilst the Defence Forces are not a primary response agency for non-security related emergencies, as defined in the Framework for Major Emergency Management, they provide the fullest possible assistance to the appropriate Lead Department in the event of a natural disaster or emergency situation in its Aid to Civil Authority (ATCA) role. In this regard, the full spectrum of Defence Forces personnel and equipment, commensurate with operational requirements, is made available for deployments, within current means and capabilities, as the need arises.
At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, a Joint Task Force was established to coordinate the Defence Forces contribution to the whole-of-Government COVID-19 response. It has the authority to draw together, in a joint manner, the contribution of all of the elements of the Defence Forces – Army, Air Corps, Naval Service, Reserve, etc. This was provided for in a Defence Forces Regulation signed by and under the authority of the Minister for Defence.
The Defence Forces Joint Task Force is based in McKee Barracks and its priority from the beginning has been to provide support to the HSE, while retaining, at all times, a contingent capacity to provide Aid to the Civil Power support. The Defence Forces has provided a wide range of supports to the HSE, as coordinated by the Joint Task Force including the deployment of personnel to support the HSE in the area of contact tracing.
Personnel from the Defence Forces School of Music are currently deployed to support the HSE with contact tracing. At the present time, typically 38 personnel are deployed from the Defence Forces School of Music on a daily basis to support contact tracing efforts.
Other supports that the Defence Forces have provided to the HSE include:
- operation of the COVID-19 testing centre at the Aviva stadium;
- transportation by the Air Corps of COVID-19 tests to Germany;
- collection of PPE from more than 260 cargo flights and the storage and distribution of this PPE to various HSE sites;
- support for HSE testing efforts including through the deployment of Naval Service vessels to Dublin, Cork and Galway;
- PPE training to workers at Cork and Waterford harbours by Naval service personnel;
- provision of tentage and marshalling support at various HSE testing sites around the country;
- transportation of patients for testing;
- assistance with the fit out of temporary facilities for the HSE (for example, the HSE facilities at City West and the University of Limerick);
- production and assembly of PPE using 3D printing facilities; and
- the use of lands at Ballymullen Barracks as a COVID-19 testing facility and contact tracing hub.
In addition to support the HSE, the Defence Forces have also provided a broad range of supports to other Departments and Agencies. Provision of this support was also coordinated by the Joint Task Force and examples include:
- Support has been provided to the National Ambulance Service through Defence Forces ambulance and crew supports along with tele-triage supports and Covid 19 testing supports.
- Support to the Office of Government Procurement through assistance with storage and distribution of PPE.
- Support to the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government through the use of lands at Sarsfields Barracks for the location of one of the National Temporary Body Storage Facilities. The Defence Forces were also on standby to provide support if required at the Dublin based National Temporary Body Storage Facility at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham.
128. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education if employment terms and conditions for school bus escorts will be reviewed to allow for entitlement to sick leave and school holidays; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31780/20]
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.
There is a facility within the Special Needs Transport Scheme for the appointment of a School Bus Escort where a child’s care and safety needs while on school transport are such to require the support of an escort. The appointment of the Bus Escort, where required, is sanctioned by the Department of Education. The school management authority employs the Bus Escort and the terms and conditions of employment are a matter for the school authority as the employer.
School Bus Escorts are entitled to annual leave in accordance with the Organisation of Working Time
Act 1997. In addition there are agreed sick leave arrangements in place for approved School Bus Escorts employed by Boards of Management.
129. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 155 of 9 September 2020, her previous response in regard to the loss of teachers this year following the retention assessment and further to the announcement in the budget that there will be a three point reduction in the retention schedule, if she will fast-track the process for the school in this current school year considering their unacceptable loss of teachers and with full regard to the pressures the current pandemic is placing on schools in this position; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31803/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra147. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 218 of 13 May 2020 and 155 of 9 September 2020 and the loss of teachers in 2020 following the retention assessment and further to the announcement in Budget 2021 that there will be a three point reduction in the retention schedule, if she will fast-track the process for a school (details supplied) in this current school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32077/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 129 and 147 together.
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 school referred to by the Deputy was unsuccessful in its appeal to the Primary Staffing Appeals Board. The Primary Staffing Appeals Board operates independently of the Department and its decision is final.
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. Budget 2021 builds on this progress by implementing a further 1 point reduction for the 2021/22 school year. The staffing schedule for the 2021/22 school year, which stands at an average of 1 teacher for every 25 pupils, will be published early next year.
130. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education if she will respond to a person (details supplied) in relation to DEIS 1 schools and budget announcements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31805/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder Budget 2021 I have announced a general reduction in the mainstream staffing schedule to 25:1. While there has been a reduction in mainstream class size in recent years, there has not been a corresponding reduction for those Urban Band 1 DEIS schools who are already allocated a preferential staffing schedule of 20:1 for schools catering for junior classes only and 24:1 for schools catering for senior classes only. Most DEIS Urban Band 1 schools operate vertical schools with a ratio of 22:1.
As an initial step in addressing this, I have focused on a reduction in the Senior DEIS Urban Band 1 primary schools and therefore there will be a one point reduction in their staffing schedule from 24:1 to 23:1. The reason for this is due to the fact that the differential has narrowed further following the announcement of an overall reduction in the mainstream staffing schedule to 25:1.
The total Budget allocation of additional funding of €2milion in 2021, with a full year allocation of €5million in 2022 provides for further supports to be allocated as part of the DEIS programme to those schools catering for the highest concentrations of educational disadvantage. My Department continues to support those schools most in need and I intend to engage with the relevant stakeholders as to how best to achieve this.
131. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education if there are plans in place to review the school bus transport scheme in view of the serious difficulties that arise with the scheme each year and in particular in the lead-up to the commencement in September of the academic year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31807/20]
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.
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 as they relate to school transport, including examining the options to reduce car journeys and assessing how the School Transport Scheme can work in liaison with the Safe Routes to Schools Programme; examining the options for providing a better value and a better service for students, including and examining issues such as the nearest or next-nearest school.
132. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Education the estimated cost in 2021 of increasing the book grant by €4 per pupil at primary level and by €7.50 per pupil at post-primary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31811/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department provides a book grant to all recognised primary and post primary schools within the Free Education Scheme in order to provide assistance for books including Book Rental Schemes.
Under this scheme, the Department provided funding of €16.9 million in 2019 to all of these schools.
It is a matter for the Board of Management of each individual school to decide on its own policy in relation to the use of this funding in the school but they are expected to adopt a cost-conscious approach to the selection of books for use in their classes. The current arrangement relies on the local knowledge of the school in order to ensure a fair allocation of funds to those most in need. The arrangements in relation to this scheme are set out in Circular 0046/2013 which is published on the Department's website at http://www.education.ie/en/Circulars-and-Forms/Active-Circulars/cl0046_2013.pdf
The table below sets out the estimated full-year cost of increasing the funding of the school books scheme by €4.00 per pupil at Primary level and €7.50 per pupil at Post Primary level.
|
- |
€ increase |
Cost of increase |
|
Primary |
€4.00 |
€2,2m |
|
Post Primary |
€7.50 |
€2,8m |
133. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to an application for summer works by a school (details supplied) in County Mayo; if the application will be expedited with a view to allocating funding to complete the project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31854/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI would like to inform the Deputy that the school in question was granted funding for External Works under my Department's multi-annual Summer Works Scheme in December 2019. The school has submitted a tender report and was approved funding for specified works; as this project is devolved to the school for delivery, it is the responsibility of the school to progress the matter.
134. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Education if she is satisfied that a school (details supplied) has sufficient special needs support in view of the enrolment of additional students with special needs at the school since the review took place in May 2020; if she will request an examination of the situation to be carried out as a matter of urgency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31857/20]
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. Accordingly, the question has been referred to the NCSE for direct reply.
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.
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-outome.docx
135. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education if a student (details supplied) in County Kerry will be made eligible for school transport; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31859/20]
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 my Department’s School Transport Scheme, children are eligible for transport where they reside not less than 3.2kms at primary and 4.8kms at post-primary and are attending their nearest School/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 in the 2020/2021 school year where such services are in operation.
Children who apply but who are not eligible for school transport are considered for spare seats that may exist after eligible children have been facilitated; such seats are referred to as concessionary seats.
Where the number of ineligible children exceeds the number of spare seats available Bus Éireann allocates tickets using an agreed selection process. Concessionary transport may therefore vary from year to year and cannot be guaranteed for the duration of a child’s primary or post primary school education cycle. The provision of a seat on a concessionary basis in a given year does not confer any continuing entitlement for that user in following years as concessionary places are entirely contingent on there being spare seats once eligible users are provided for.
Bus Éireann has confirmed that the pupil referred to by the Deputy is not eligible for transport under the terms of the scheme as they are not attending their nearest school. Bus Éireann has also confirmed that the pupil was successful in obtaining a ticket in the selection process for concessionary seats for the 2020/21 school year.
Changes to the school transport scheme were introduced in 2012, which derived from recommendations in the Value for Money Review of the School Transport Scheme, which encompassed
a number of elements such as the cessation of the catchment boundary area to determine eligibility at post primary level. Any sibling of this pupil who commenced post-primary school before this time would have been subject to the previous eligibility criteria, however this pupil's eligibility for transport is determined under the current criteria.
136. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the significant drop in fundraising support for schools as a result of Covid-19; the specific measures available in the Roadmap for the Return to Schools or Budget 2021 to address this funding shortage for schools that have been unable to fundraise; her plans to ensure no school is reliant on future fundraising activity for basic educational resources such as book rentals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31866/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department published the report "Reopening Our Schools, The Roadmap for the Full Return to School" in late July along with details of a significant financial package to support the implementation of the measures in the roadmap, following approval by the Government. The package of supports is expected to cost in excess of €437 million in the 2020/2021 school year.
The range of supports being made available to schools includes additional financial supports to provide for additional staffing, management supports, enhanced cleaning, hand hygiene and personal protective equipment costs under the Covid-19 response plans. The Government also approved a package of minor works grants as part of the July Stimulus to support schools to prepare their buildings and classrooms for reopening.
My Department provides funding to support the day to day running costs of schools through capitation and ancillary funding and this funding is continuing to be made available in line with normal arrangements.
Furthermore, I am pleased to have been able to provide for a further 2.5% increase in standard capitation funding for primary and post-primary schools that applied from the start of the 2020/21 school year. This builds on last year’s 5% increase in capitation announced in budget 2019. The combined increases given in 2019 and 2020 mean that circa 40% restoration will be achieved. All schools have received the benefit of the capitation increases awarded to date and it is my intention to seek funding for further capitation increases in future budgets.
My Department provides a book grant to all recognised primary and post primary schools within the Free Education Scheme in order to provide assistance for books including Book Rental Schemes.
Under this scheme, my Department provided funding of €16.9 million in 2019 to all of these schools.
It is a matter for the Board of Management of each individual school to decide on its own policy in relation to the use of this funding in the school but they are expected to adopt a cost-conscious approach to the selection of books for use in their classes. The current arrangement relies on the local knowledge of the school in order to ensure a fair allocation of funds to those most in need.
137. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Education the preparations she has put in place to allow students to continue to access education via online portals should schools be forced to close for a time due to Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31901/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt remains the Government’s and my Department’s key objective for schools to remain open and to continue to operate as normally as possible. However, I recognise that despite the best efforts of all stakeholders, there will be situations where individual pupils or groups of pupils, teachers, or possibly entire school communities, are requested by Public Health HSE to self-isolate or restrict their movements because of a case or cases of Covid-19.
There is an absolute necessity for schools to be prepared for these situations, for them to continue to support their pupils and to provide for continuity of learning. This is particularly important in the context of pupils with special educational needs, pupils at risk of educational disadvantage and pupils at risk of early school leaving.
Schools are aware of the need to be agile in providing for continuity of schooling in the future. Contingency planning is required to support continuity of pupils/students’ learning and the use of digital technology where possible will be used to facilitate this. It is important that planning and the adoption of approaches are based on a whole-school approach. Given the fluidity of requirements to meet the various potential scenarios that living with Covid-19 entails, it is important that schools review and adapt their plans over the coming weeks and months as the situation evolves and as the experience of schools in providing for continuity of learning increases.
Extensive guidance and supports have been and continue to be made available by my Department and its support services to support schools to plan for the transition to online and remote learning and this guidance is all available at
https://www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/a128d-back-to-school/?referrer=http://www.gov.ie/backtoschool/.
The guidance includes links to a range of materials and supports developed by the Digital Technologies team of the Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST) such as learning platforms and online tools which can be used to support remote learning. Those resources continue to be available to schools.
In addition, my Department has issued ICT grant funding to schools to address ICT needs including digital devices, communication/learning platforms, software and other ICT solutions to support the provision of remote learning. Additional grant aid will issue during the current school year.
My Department’s Inspectorate is supporting school communities to provide effectively for the learning and progression of all learners during the first term of the 2020/21 school year.
The situation we find ourselves in is evolving all the time. My Department, in working with the whole of Government, will keep the situation under review and update any advices to schools as required. It is with the work of all our stakeholders together that we will continue to provide the best education for all our pupils/students.
138. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Education when the Emergency Works Scheme appeal submitted by a school (details supplied) will be decided and an answer sent to the management of the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31937/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI would like to inform the Deputy that a decision on the appeal against the refusal of emergency works funding has been made and forwarded to the management of the school in question.
139. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education if she will give consideration to concerns raised by a union (details supplied) and school principals regarding the need to extend the planned class size reductions in order that DEIS band one senior schools, DEIS band one junior and vertical schools are included in the measure; if she will meet with the union to discuss same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31940/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder Budget 2021 I have announced a general reduction in the mainstream staffing schedule to 25:1. While there has been a reduction in mainstream class size in recent years, there has not been a corresponding reduction for those Urban Band 1 DEIS schools who are already allocated a preferential staffing schedule of 20:1 for schools catering for junior classes only and 24:1 for schools catering for senior classes only. Most DEIS Urban Band 1 schools operate vertical schools with a ratio of 22:1.
As an initial step in addressing this, I have focused on a reduction in the Senior DEIS Urban Band 1 primary schools and therefore there will be a one point reduction in their staffing schedule from 24:1 to 23:1. The reason for this is due to the fact that the differential has narrowed further following the announcement of an overall reduction in the mainstream staffing schedule to 25:1.
The total Budget allocation of additional funding of €2milion in 2021, with a full year allocation of €5million in 2022 provides for further supports to be allocated as part of the DEIS programme to those schools catering for the highest concentrations of educational disadvantage. My Department continues to support those schools most in need and I intend to engage with the relevant stakeholders, including the union referenced, as to how best to achieve this.
140. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an analysis of the make-up of the student population whose teacher marks were adjusted as part of the standardisation process, showing in particular, the distribution of the cases adjusted by gender, distinguishing up-marks from down-marks, adjustments to different grade levels and other data to support the claim that the method was blind between school types. [32007/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe decision to adopt a model of Calculated Grades by my Department was a result of COVID-19, which prevented the State from running the conventional Leaving Certificate Examinations. The purpose of this process was to allow as many students as possible to progress to employment, further education and training, or higher education.
Schools provided an estimated percentage mark and a rank order for each student’s subjects. The process of national standardisation was applied to the school information in order to ensure comparability between the standards applied by individual schools and the national standard. Schools approached this task in a very professional manner, in line with detailed guidelines about the process, but inevitably some schools were overly harsh in their estimations while others were overly generous. In order to be fair to the class of 2020, the teacher judgements made at the level of the school had to be adjusted so that a common national standard was applied.
These adjustments resulted in the school estimates staying the same or being revised upwards or downwards. The 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 degree to which mark changes occurred related to the degree of over or underestimation in the school estimates for each subject and each level. This means that some students experienced mark changes from the school estimates but no changes to the grades based on the school estimates; while others will have experienced marks changes from the teacher estimates leading to grade changes in one or more of their subjects.
Following standardisation, the estimated percentage mark was converted to a calculated mark and subsequently, a calculated grade which was provided to students on 7 September. It is at this point that students were awarded a grade.
The statistical model used was blind to demographic characteristics either at the level of the student or the school. The standardisation process means that the same standard has been applied uniformly across all schools.
While the datasets used to generate Calculated Grades do include certain demographic information, this demographic information was not used as part of the process of generating the calculated grades through the standardisation process.
Following the issue of the outcomes of the appeals of Calculated Grades, my Department is arranging to update the national statistics for the 2020 Leaving Certificate (Calculated Grades) results issued on the 7 September with the revisions to these grades which resulted from the coding error which led to revised grades being issued to some students on the 3 October and with the outcomes of the appeals process. When the revised data set is published, a full gender breakdown of the national data will be provided at that time.
141. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education the reason for the delay in the progression of a school build for a school (details supplied) other than Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32063/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra142. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education if she will provide a timeline for completion of a school project for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32064/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 141 and 142 together.
The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy progressed to an advanced stage of architectural planning, Stage 2(b) – Detailed Design, in September 2019.
Stage 2(b) is arguably the most complex and detailed of all the stages in Architectural Planning. In addition to securing the necessary statutory approval, it also includes the preparation of complex and detailed tender documents.
All Statutory approvals have been secured and the Design Team is currently working on the completion of the Stage 2(b) report for submission to my Department.
My Department understands from the Design Team Leader that it is expected that the Stage 2(b) report for this project will be submitted to the Department for review in November 2020.
As soon as the Stage 2(b) Report has been completed, submitted, reviewed and approved the Department will revert to school with regard to the further progression of the project.
