Written Answers Nos. 774-792
774. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education if a new date for the planned leaving certificate exam 2020, which was scheduled to commence on 16 November 2020, has been agreed; if so, if she will provide details of same; if students who were planning on taking the exams have been contacted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33103/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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 the Deputy.
775. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education if she will provide details of the results of successful and unsuccessful appeals from the primary staffing appeals board 2020-21 school year in tabular form. [33104/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe criteria used for the allocation of teaching posts is published annually on the Department website. The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources (teachers) 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. For the current school year, it operates on a general average of 26 pupils to every 1 teacher (26:1) which is historically the lowest ever allocation ratio at primary level. In DEIS schools, the staffing schedule operates at a more preferential allocation ratio.
The staffing process includes an appeals mechanism for schools to submit a staffing appeal to the Primary Staffing Appeals Board under certain criteria as outlined in the staffing circular 18/2020.
This year the Department and the Primary Staffing Appeals Board are very cognisant of the impact of COVID-19 on schools and in that context has looked carefully at all decisions on the allocation of teaching posts where schools have reduced enrolments to ensure that all decisions are reasonable and all schools are treated fairly.
In relation to appeals dealt with by the Primary Appeals Board, 195 appeals were submitted by schools with 54% of these appeals successful, 32% of the appeals received were ineligible and 14% had their appeals refused.
Each school setting is different in terms of physical layout, available space, student numbers and staffing; schools themselves are best placed to decide on the necessary changes/reconfigurations to maintain physical distancing. The Department has been working closely with those schools who are experiencing particular difficulty in implementing and maintaining physical distancing arrangements in classrooms.
776. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education if the effects of Covid-19 were able to be considered as a factor for lower enrolment numbers that projected under appeals for the primary staffing appeals board 2020-21 school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33105/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe criteria used for the allocation of teaching posts is published annually on the Department website. The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources (teachers) 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. For the current school year, it operates on a general average of 26 pupils to every 1 teacher (26:1) which is historically the lowest ever allocation ratio at primary level. In DEIS schools, the staffing schedule operates at a more preferential allocation ratio.
This year the Department and the Primary Appeals Board are very cognisant of the impact of COVID-19 on schools and in that context has looked carefully at all decisions on the allocation of teaching posts where schools have reduced enrolments to ensure that all decisions are reasonable and all schools are treated fairly.
A blanket freeze on the normal arrangements for allocations for one cohort of schools could disadvantage all other schools of similar size, who may have lost teachers in recent years. It is an important feature of the staffing schedule that all schools are treated equally and fairly.
Each school setting is different in terms of physical layout, available space, student numbers and staffing; schools themselves are best placed to decide on the necessary changes/reconfigurations to maintain physical distancing. The Department has been working closely with those schools who are experiencing particular difficulty in implementing and maintaining physical distancing arrangements in classrooms.
777. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Education her plans to ensure that all eligible families that have paid for school transportation, including those that paid after the deadline of 4 August 2020, will be provided with places on school buses; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33106/20]
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 the 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 2020/21 school year where such services are in operation. The closing date for payment for the 2020/2021 school year was Tuesday 4th August 2020.
Children who apply for transport and who are not eligible under the terms of the scheme 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 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.
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. In addition, payments or submission of medical card details 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 to families.
778. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Education the number of students who paid school transport fees after the 4 August 2020 deadline; the number of same who have since been allocated a school bus place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33107/20]
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 2020/21 school year where such services are in operation. The closing date for payment for the 2020/2021 school year was Tuesday 4th August 2020.
Children who apply for transport and who are not eligible under the terms of the scheme 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.
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. In addition, payments or submission of medical card details 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.
The data requested by the Deputy is as follows:
|
Question |
Total Number |
|
The number of students that paid school transport fees after the 4 August 2020 deadline. |
10,641 |
|
The number of same that have since been allocated a school bus place. |
7,325 |
779. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Education the measures in place to protect school bus drivers during the Covid-19 pandemic; if the measures will apply to both Bus Éireann drivers and private contract operators; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33108/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraSchool Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. The purpose of the 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 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 on all school transport scheme services - both Bus Éireann services and private contractor operator services.
Based on the public health advice published in early July, and the updated advice received from the HPSC on 7th August and from NPHET on the 18th August, the 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 and with the rolling implementation of measures on post-primary services as required to provide physical distancing, using 50 per cent of passenger capacity. The implementation of 50% capacity has been put in place where possible over the last number of weeks and over the coming weeks, Bus Éireann will be implementing 50% capacity on a rolling basis as soon as it is possible to do so on all remaining routes. Government has agreed to provide the necessary funding to ensure that full implementation of the public health recommendation is achieved as quickly as possible on all post-primary services.
Bus Éireann and the Department of Education have put in place measures to support infection prevention and control on buses. The Department has also issued detailed information and guidance to parents and children on the operation of school transport services for the 2020/2021 school year. Measures include all post-primary students wearing masks, all bus drivers and bus escorts receiving PPE where necessary, as well as funding to support additional cleaning and hygiene measures, including the provision of sanitiser on all buses and seating plans with pre-assigned seating are in place on all routes, with children sitting next to their siblings or classmates where possible which reduces interaction on school transport services.
780. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 153 of 17 September 2020, if the briefing document provided to her on her appointment as Minister has been published on her Department's website; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33117/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe comprehensive briefing document to me on my appointment as Minister will be published on the Department's website shortly.
781. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education if the SNA allocation for a school (details supplied) can be further reviewed for the school year 2020-21 following an unsuccessful appeal. [33140/20]
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 have been notified of the arrangements for the allocation of SNA support in respect of students in mainstream classes for 2020/21. 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 SNA allocation does not meet additional care needs within the mainstream classes in the school. Applications for additionality arising from significant new or emerging additional care needs, which cannot be catered within existing allocations, will be dealt with by way of an exceptional review process.
The exceptional review process for mainstream allocations will be available to schools throughout the 2020/21 school year. Detailed information on the NCSE exceptional review process is published on the NCSE website www.ncse.ie.
A school can appeal the outcome of an exceptional review and details of how to do this are here: https://ncse.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/GuidanceSchoolAppealing-Exceptional-Review-outcome.docx
782. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Education the timescale for the provision of an ASD unit at a school (details supplied); the position regarding the appointment of a design team for the school extension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33144/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am pleased to inform the deputy that the extension project to which he refers includes a 2 classroom SEN base (ASD Unit).
This project has been devolved to the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) for delivery as part of a programme of school building projects. The NDFA has started preparations for the appointment of a design team for the project.
At this early stage, it is not possible to provide a timeline for completion of the project; the NDFA will be engaging directly with the school authority to keep it informed of progress.
783. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education if she will address the case of persons (details supplied) regarding school transport; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33178/20]
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. Under the terms of the Post Primary School Transport Scheme, children are eligible for school transport where they reside not less than 4.8kms from and are attending their nearest Post Primary 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 for the 2020/21 school year where such services are in operation. The closing date for payment for the 2020/2021 school year was Tuesday 4th August 2020.
Bus Eireann has confirmed, that the family to whom the Deputy refers, is eligible for School Transport. Medical card details for School Transport for the 2020/2021 school year were received on 7th September 2020 and as such were submitted 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. In addition, payments or submission of medical card details 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.
784. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Education if she will address a matter in respect of a newly qualified teacher (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33181/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Education Shared Business Services (ESBS) section of my Department is in the process of rolling out Payroll Shared Services for all 16 ETBs. This project has been operational since June 2019, and seven ETBs have now transitioned their Payroll functions to my Department namely; DDLETB – June 2019; Cavan-Monaghan ETB – November 2019; Laois-Offaly ETB – November 2019; Louth-Meath ETB – April 2020; Galway-Roscommon ETB – June 2020; Longford-Westmeath ETB – July 2020 and Tipperary ETB – October 2020.
My officials have checked the position in respect of the person detailed in the Parliamentary Question and I can confirm that this person has not yet commenced employment with Tipperary ETB.
786. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education the status of a new school building for a school (details supplied). [33219/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe building referred to by Deputy has not yet been handed over. My Department is taking appropriate steps to ensure that it is completely satisfied that the building is fit for handover prior to accepting it.
There is currently an engagement underway between my Department and the Contractor in this regard under the contract. Communications are ongoing and the issue is being actively addressed.
Until this process is complete, it will not be possible to provide definitive timelines for occupation of the building. However, as this process develops my Department officials will keep the ETB and the school managements informed of developments.
787. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Education if she will address matters regarding schools and positive tests for Covid-19 (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33239/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Health Protection Surveillance Centre and the HSE have published guidance for managing potential cases of COVID-19 in educational settings, which includes the testing strategy within an educational facility ‘Schools Pathway for COVID-19, the Public Health approach’
https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/a0bff-reopening-our-primary-and-special-schools/
It is important to note that the response to confirmed cases or outbreaks of COVID-19 in the community or in a school is the responsibility of, and will be led and managed by, Public Health HSE. All decisions as to appropriate actions following a confirmed case or outbreak will be made by their teams in the context of a full Public Health Risk Assessment procedure.
The Public Health response to schools in the coming term will be further enhanced by the HSE through the increased resourcing of existing School Teams in each HSE area.
These multi-disciplinary teams are being led by public health professionals and will be supplemented by inspectors assigned for this work to the HSE from my Department in addition to other staff reassigned from within the health services.
My Department Inspectors will bring their expertise and knowledge of the working of schools to support these teams to communicate with schools. Public Health team members will take calls and phone schools following identification of a positive Covid-19 case, and having been trained in Public Health protocols undertake the schools’ component of the initial risk assessment. They may inform schools of any further actions as required under the direction of Public Health. Assigned inspectors and other team members will also respond to queries from the HSElive Principals line and take schools’ queries that come directly to the Department of Public Health.
My Department has worked with the HSE Department of Public Health to also ensure that testing is prioritised for those close contacts within the school community of confirmed COVID-19 cases. My Department will continue to work closely with all of the education partners and the public health system so that schools can continue to be supported in this very challenging time.
788. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education if she will approve funding as a matter of urgency for the provision of universal access at a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33252/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI would like to inform the Deputy that the school in question requested funding for Universal Access Works under my Department's Emergency Works Scheme on the 27th of October. This application is currently being assessed and the school authority will be informed directly once a decision has been made.
789. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Education the number of contracts approved in her Department in 2019 and to date in 2020 without competitive tender; the details of each contract; the company awarded the contract; and the full value of the contract in tabular form. [33268/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department maintains a record of all contracts awarded over the threshold value of €25,000, without a competitive process, during each year of account. This information is compiled in line with the requirements set out in Circular 40/02 and is exclusive of VAT. The information provided in tabular form attached provides the details of the contract, the company contracted and the relevant contract value for 2019. A complete record is not available in respect of 2020 as the full report of the award of contracts on a non-competitive basis is compiled after the end of the accounting period.
790. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education the number of discussions her officials have had with Fingal County Council officials in 2019 and to date in 2020 on future educational needs in the Fosterstown area of Swords, County Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33291/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra791. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education the content of the discussions that her officials had with Fingal County Council officials in 2019 and to date in 2020 on future educational needs in the Fosterstown area of Swords, County Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33292/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra792. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education the position of her Department on educational needs in Swords, County Dublin, in the context of planned development; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33293/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 790 to 792, inclusive, together.
In order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a Geographical Information System, utilising data from a range of sources including information on planned and current residential development, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise. Swords is one of the school planning areas. Major new residential developments in a school planning area have the potential to alter demand in that area. In that regard, as part of the demographic exercises, my Department engages with each local authority to obtain the up-to-date data on significant new residential development in each area.
Where data indicates that additional provision is required at primary or post primary level, the delivery of such additional provision is dependent on the particular circumstances of each case and may be provided through either one, or a combination of, the following:
- Utilising existing unused capacity within a school or schools,
- Extending the capacity of a school or schools,
- Provision of a new school or schools.
Since 2018, 47 new schools to cater for demographic demand have been announced to be established over the period 2019-2022 and included in that number are two new primary schools in Swords: one for Swords South which opened in 2019 and one for Swords North, which opened in September 2020. In addition, at post-primary level, Swords Community College is a new 1,000 student post-primary school established in 2018 to meet the needs of the area.
In addition to ongoing demographic analyses, my Department continues to liaise with Fingal County Council in respect of potential longer-term requirements for educational provision across the county, through the review of the County Development Plan, preparation of Local Area Plans and other relevant statutory planning processes.
In regard specifically to Fosterstown, the Fingal Development Plan 2017-2023 designates the Fosterstown lands as an area for which a Masterplan had to be produced. The Fosterstown Masterplan lands were subject to specific objectives including:
– providing for New Metro North,
– Fosterstown Link road,
– a proposed school.
Fingal County Council advised my Department during 2018 that it intended to produce this Masterplan and sought to re-confirm educational requirements for the area. Following a number of engagements with Council Officials, my Department made a submission to the Council identifying a potential future need for a primary school in the area and the Masterplan acknowledges this potential need by identifying a school site.
