Written Answers Nos. 112-126
112. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education if she plans to extend the arrangements for the leaving certificate assessment 2021 to apply also for the students to sit the exam in 2022 given their study has also been disrupted. [35051/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is acutely aware of the disruption caused to students as a result of school closures resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. From 11 January 2021, all students, including students currently in fifth year and who are due to sit the Leaving Certificate examinations in 2022, engaged in a programme of remote learning with their schools. Students in fifth year were prioritised for a return to school following the return of sixth year students.
The public health restrictions which resulted in the closure of schools in March 2020 highlighted the absolute necessity for schools to be agile in providing for continuity of schooling in the future. As a contingency measure against the possibility of partial or full school closures, my Department provided a suite of guidance materials, agreed with the education partners, to enable schools to mediate the curriculum safely for all pupils/students in a COVID-19 context. These are available at www.gov.ie/backtoschool.
The nature of distance learning, which was necessitated during the unprecedented closure of schools last year and early this year, required educators to take on a range of approaches to support their pupils’ continuity of learning during that period. Assisted by Department-funded resources and supports, schools and teachers demonstrated great innovation in adapting to the unprecedented situation including the use of digital technologies and online learning platforms for teaching and learning.
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. Circular 0074/2020, ‘Communication/Teaching & Learning Platform’, was issued by the Department last year. In accordance with the circular, it became a requirement for all schools to have in place a communication/learning platform (while acknowledging that many schools have already put such platforms in place) that supports them to respond in the event of a partial or full school closure in the future, including the facilitation of some use of live or recorded video lessons where practicable.
The circular includes links to a range of materials and supports developed by the Digital Technologies team of the Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST), including information and resources for commonly used platforms for teaching, learning and assessment, short video tutorials exploring how digital platforms and tools can be used effectively for remote learning purposes and clarity regarding how chosen platforms can be effectively used for assessment and feedback purposes, links to each of which are shown.
Other documents published by my Department include Guidance for Practical Subjects in Post-Primary Schools and Centres for Education and Returning to school: Guidance on learning and school programmes for post primary school leaders and teachers. These documents provide guidance for teachers and schools that is specific to each practical subject area, so that students can be facilitated to actively engage with their learning. A number of adjustments were made to the assessment arrangements for the 2021 Leaving Certificate examinations to take account of the disruption to learning experienced by the students who are due to take these examinations.
However, I am conscious that students who are due to take their Leaving Certificate examinations in 2022 have experienced a degree of disruption to their learning.
Today, the Advisory Group on Planning for State Examinations received an update in relation to the 2022 Leaving Certificate and Junior Cycle examinations. I announced that the level of adjustment to the assessment arrangements for the 2022 Leaving Certificate Examination cohort would be broadly the same as that applied by the Assessment Arrangements for Leaving Certificate Examinations 2021, as set in December 2020. There arrangements were announced before the second period of school closures. Minor changes will be made to that document to reflect syllabus content specific the 2022 examinations. The revised document will be published later this month.
I also announced today that the State Examinations Commission (SEC) will run an alternative set of Leaving Certificate Examinations in 2022, shortly following the main set of examinations. The SEC will set out the eligibility conditions for these examinations, which will be limited to certain students who are unable to sit the main set of examinations due to close family bereavement, COVID-19 illness during those examinations, and certain other categories of serious illness, to be clearly and strictly delineated. The SEC will issue further details regarding these examinations, with all arrangements guided by prevailing public health advice. There will also be further engagement with stakeholders in this matter.
113. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Education the way a recently established fee paying primary school can apply for a roll number from her Department; the length of time the process takes once an application is made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35065/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, the Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a Geographical Information System, using data from a range of sources, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise. With this information, the Department carries out nationwide demographic exercises to determine where additional school accommodation is needed at primary and post-primary level.
Since 2011 all new schools that have been set up by the Department were established to meet demographic demand and the Department only provides roll numbers to these schools. There is currently no mechanism for the recognition of any school other than those being established by the Department in response to demographic requirements.
114. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the number of schools in County Longford that applied for extensions or additional classrooms in each of the years 2018 to 2020 and to date in 2021. [35143/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra115. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the number of schools in County Westmeath that applied for extensions or additional classrooms in each of the years 2018 to 2020 and to date in 2021. [35144/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra116. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the number of schools in County Longford that applied for extensions or additional classrooms in each of the years 2018 to 2020 and to date in 2021. [35126/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra117. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the number of schools in County Westmeath that applied for extensions or additional classrooms in each of the years 2018 to 2020 and to date in 2021. [35127/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra118. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the number of schools in County Longford whose applications for extensions or additional classrooms were approved in each of the years 2018 to 2020 and to date in 2021. [35128/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra119. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the start and completion date for works in the schools in County Longford that made successful applications for extensions or additional classrooms in each of the years 2018 to 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form. [35129/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra120. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the number of schools in County Longford whose applications for extensions or additional classrooms were refused in each of the years 2018 to 2020 and to date in 2021. [35130/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra121. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the number of schools in County Westmeath whose applications for extensions or additional classrooms were approved in each of the years 2018 to 2020 and to date in 2021. [35131/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra122. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the number of schools in County Westmeath whose applications for extensions or additional classrooms were refused in each of the years 2018 to 2020 and to date in 2021. [35132/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra123. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the start and completion date for works in the schools in County Westmeath that made successful applications for extensions or additional classrooms in each of the years 2018 to 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form. [35133/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra124. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the number of schools in County Longford that applied for new school buildings or relocation in each of the years 2018 to 2020 and to date in 2021. [35134/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra125. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the number of the schools in County Longford that applied for new school buildings or relocation that were approved in each of the years 2018 to 2020 and to date in 2021. [35135/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra126. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the number of schools in County Westmeath that applied for new school buildings or relocation in each of the years 2018 to 2020 and to date in 2021. [35136/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra127. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the number of the schools in County Westmeath that applied for new school buildings or relocation that were approved in each of the years 2018 to 2020 and to date in 2021. [35137/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 114 to 127, inclusive, together.
I wish to advise the Deputy that details on the current status of all school building projects, including those in Westmeath and Longford, may be viewed on the Department’s website at www.education.ie. Details of projects that have been completed are also published on the Department's website.
In general, projects approved under the Department's Additional Accommodation scheme are devolved to school authorities for delivery. Progress on projects is managed to a large extent at individual school level with professional support provided by the school's multi-disciplinary Design Teams.
All applications approved under the Department's Additional School Accommodation scheme are listed on the Department’s website and this information is updated regularly on a county by county basis.
