Paul Murphy
Ceist:263. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education her views on the provision of public sector pensions to school secretaries and caretakers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45715/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraSchool Staff
Ceisteanna (263)
Freagraí scríofa
I know from my own experiences that school secretaries and caretakers are valued members of our school communities and my Department is fully aware of the vitally important role played by them in the running of our schools.
The Department previously fully implemented and funded the 2015 recommendations of an independent arbitrator for a cumulative pay increase of 10% between 2016 and 2019 and that a minimum hourly pay rate of €13 be phased in over that period.
Fórsa trade union has tabled a follow-on claim and officials from the Department and school management bodies have been engaging with Fórsa on the issues. On the 27th of October 2020, under the auspices of the WRC, an understanding was agreed on a pathway to progress the issues. Several key strands have been identified, and a phased approach is being taken to the development of proposals.
Following intensive discussions at the WRC on 13th September, there has been significant progress in this dispute. Subject to agreement on all elements of the claim, the Department has offered to move School Secretaries’ pay rates to a scale which is aligned with the Clerical Officer Grade III pay scale within education and training boards on a pro rata basis with an effective date of implementation for these new pay arrangements of 1st September 2021. Pay rates will be pro rata according to a secretary’s current working pattern. The assimilation of School Secretaries to the CO Grade III pay scale will require further dialogue between the parties and an intensive engagement will take place of over the next two/three weeks to allow this to be finalised.
My Department has also offered to improve the conditions for School Secretaries with regard to sick leave, annual leave and maternity provisions for this cohort of staff. This will take place via direct engagement with the unions in the coming weeks in addition to engagement on other elements of the claim and subject to all elements being agreed.
While there is agreement in principle to take the same approach to the consideration of appropriate pay and conditions of grant funded caretakers there remains a deficit of data on working terms and conditions of such staff. When the final package for secretaries has been agreed and an implementation plan in place for schools and DE, that intensive engagement will begin on regularising the pay and conditions of grant funded caretakers.
I welcome the deferral of the action scheduled for Wednesday 15th September to allow for intensive talks to resume aimed at resolving the claim and agreeing a final package and I encourage all parties to focus on finalising an agreement.
School Staff
Ceisteanna (264)
Bríd Smith
Ceist:264. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education the way rates of pay are set for job-sharing SNAs and teachers who substitute in their own schools; the reason there is disparity in the way that members of staff are paid and who is allowed claim expenses; her plans to address this disparity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45814/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The provisions related to the Job Sharing Scheme for Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) are outlined in my Department's Circular Letter 41/2014 titled ‘Job Sharing Scheme for Special Needs Assistants in Recognised Primary and Post-Primary Schools’ and for teachers is contained in Chapter 8 of my Department’s Circular Letter Circular 0054/2019 titled ‘Leave Schemes for Registered Teachers Employed in Recognised Primary and Post Primary Schools’. In accordance with these circulars, agreed with school management bodies and the relevant trade unions, teachers and SNAs were not permitted to engage in substitute teaching whilst job sharing.
In response to issues raised in relation to supply in schools and the need to minimise movement between schools during the Covid-19 pandemic the restrictions imposed in these circulars have been temporarily suspended for the 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 school years allowing teachers and SNAs to work in a substitute capacity on the days that they are not scheduled to work. This was communicated to the relevant school authorities in Information Notes TC 0016/2021 (Teachers) and 0012/2021 (SNAs), which were agreed with school management bodies and the relevant trade unions.
Paragraph 2 of these circulars sets out the pay arrangements. Job sharing SNAs employed in a substitute capacity will be paid the appropriate substitute daily rate of pay with such substitute work being pensionable and counting towards superannuation. Job sharing teachers employed in a substitute capacity will be paid the personal rate of pay (including personal allowances) with such substitute work also being pensionable and counting towards superannuation.
School Transport
Ceisteanna (265)
Robert Troy
Ceist:265. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education if a school transport route can be put in place from Mullingar to Columba College, Killucan (details supplied). [45819/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. In the 2020/2021 school year over 114,100 children, including over 14,700 children with special educational needs, were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country at a cost of over €224.7m in 2020.
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.
Bus Éireann has advised that pupils residing in the Mullingar area and attending Columba College, Killucan are not eligible for transport as they are not attending their nearest school and are closer to Post Primary schools in Mullingar.
There is currently no service available from Mullingar to Columba College, Killucan.
In cases where the Department is satisfied that the nearest school is full, eligibility for school transport will be determined based on the distance that children reside from their next nearest school having regard to ethos and language. If a family has further information in regard to the closest school being full they should contact School Transport Section of my Department.
School Transport
Ceisteanna (266)
Peter Burke
Ceist:266. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Education when a bus ticket will be issued to a student (details supplied) who has no other means of travelling to school. [45820/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. In the 2020/2021 school year over 114,100 children, including over 14,700 children with special educational needs, were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country at a cost of over €224.7m in 2020.
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 as determined by my Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
Children who are eligible for school transport and who have completed the application and payment process on time will be accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation.
Bus Éireann has advised that the pupil referred to by the Deputy is eligible for school transport under the terms of my Department's Post Primary School Transport Scheme. However, the minimum payment required to secure a school transport ticket was not made by the closing date and as a result a ticket was not issued and a refund was processed for the pupil on 15th September 2021.
The service is currently operating at full capacity in line with social distancing requirements.
State Examinations
Ceisteanna (267)
Brendan Griffin
Ceist:267. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education the reason a student (details supplied) had their leaving certificate results downgraded so heavily causing them to miss out on their college course; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45830/21]
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.
School Accommodation
Ceisteanna (268)
Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:268. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education if she will address a matter regarding school works for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45853/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
There is currently no application for building works in my Department for the school named. My officials have made contact directly with the Deputy in this regard.
The Environmental Protection Agency is a separate entity to the Department of Education.
Pupil-Teacher Ratio
Ceisteanna (269)
Bernard Durkan
Ceist:269. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the extent to which she is determined to improve pupil-teacher ratios in all primary and second-level schools throughout the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45883/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Under the Programme for Government there is a commitment to seek to make further progress in reducing the pupil teacher ratios in primary schools.
Teacher allocations to all schools are approved annually by my Department in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolment on the previous 30 September. The criteria for the allocation of posts are communicated to school managements annually and are available on the Department website.
At primary level, the annual staffing schedule determines the allocation of teachers to schools. Budget 2021 implemented a further 1 point reduction for the 2021/22 school year so that primary schools will be allocated teaching posts on an average basis of 1 classroom teacher for every 25 pupils which has brought the teacher allocation ratio in all primary schools to the lowest ever seen at primary level. In addition, there has been a three point reduction in the retention schedule, which will assist schools that would otherwise be at risk of losing teaching posts. Lower thresholds apply to DEIS Urban Band 1 schools.
At post primary level, teachers are currently allocated at a ratio of 19:1 in the free education system and 23:1 to schools in the fee charging sector. Each 1 point adjustment to the pupil teacher ratio at post primary level would result in an additional 1150 teaching posts at an estimated cost of approx. €56.5m per annum.
Any further improvement will have to be considered in the context of the annual budgetary process.
Pupil-Teacher Ratio
Ceisteanna (270)
Bernard Durkan
Ceist:270. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the locations throughout Ireland most acutely affected by higher class sizes and disadvantageous pupil-teacher ratios at primary and second-level; her ongoing plans to address these issues; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45884/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Please find attached the 2020-21, the latest available data, pupil-teacher ratios for primary and post primary by county as well as the average class size by county for primary.
We are currently unable to calculate class size at post primary due to the difficulty of recording discrete class sizes where pupils have different subject choices and subject levels available to them.
Under the Programme for Government there is a commitment to seek to make further progress in reducing the pupil teacher ratios in primary schools.
At primary level, the annual staffing schedule determines the allocation of teachers to schools. Budget 2021 implemented a further 1 point reduction for the 2021/22 school year so that primary schools are allocated teaching posts on an average basis of 1 classroom teacher for every 25 pupils which has brought the teacher allocation ratio in all primary schools to the lowest ever seen at primary level. In addition, there has been a three point reduction in the retention schedule, which will assist schools that would otherwise be at risk of losing teaching posts. Lower thresholds apply to DEIS Urban Band 1 schools. At post primary level, teachers are currently allocated at a ratio of 19:1 in the free education system and 23:1 to schools in the fee charging sector. Any further improvement will have to be considered in the context of the annual budgetary process.
Special Educational Needs
Ceisteanna (271, 273, 275, 278, 282)
Bernard Durkan
Ceist:271. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the extent to which adequate special needs classes continue to be made available in all primary and second-level schools throughout Ireland; the areas in which difficulties have arisen; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45885/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraBernard Durkan
Ceist:273. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education if she anticipates any particular measures to address areas in which a particular shortage of suitable special needs places has arisen in primary and second-level schools throughout Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45887/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraBernard Durkan
Ceist:275. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the extent to which the number of school places catering for children with autism continues to be made available at primary and second-level schools throughout Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45889/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraBernard Durkan
Ceist:278. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the degree to which special needs schools at primary or second-level continue to progress towards the provision of extra or new facilities at the various locations previously identified; the extent to which each project has been impacted by Covid-19, the proposals to address issues arising; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45892/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraBernard Durkan
Ceist:282. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the extent to which she continues to engage with the school authorities in special needs schools throughout County Kildare with a view to meeting accommodation or other requirements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45896/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 271, 273, 275, 278 and 282 together.
It is my belief that children with special educational needs should receive their education in placements which are appropriate to their needs alongside their peers wherever possible unless such an approach would be inconsistent with the best interests of the individual child or other children in the school.
This approach is consistent with the provisions of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs (EPSEN) Act 2004.
My Department's policy is therefore to provide for the inclusive education of children with special educational needs in mainstream schools. The majority of children with special needs attend mainstream education with additional supports.
Only where it has been assessed that the child is unable to be supported in mainstream education, are special class placements or special school placements recommended and provided for.
It is therefore not the case that special educational placements are required to support all children with special educational needs, nor is it intended that this should be the case
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children nationwide. It has well established structures in place for engaging with schools and parents. NCSE seeks to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all children who have been identified as needing special education placements.
The Deputy will be aware that the level of investment in special education, at almost €2 billion, is at an all-time high.
An additional 269 special classes are being opened this school-year. This will bring the total number of special classes nationally to 2,118. The new classes provide 1,600 additional places, spread right throughout the country.
Two new special schools are also opening this year, one in Dublin and one in Cork.
Despite this unprecedented increase, I am very aware of the need for further specialist education places in a small number of areas, mainly concentrated in Dublin.
I acknowledge that any delay in securing a suitable school placement can cause much anguish for parents and families involved.
Delays can happen for a variety of reasons including, for example, assessment reports for children coming available over the summer period while schools were closed. In other cases, parents may change their preference for a class placement and request that their child move from a mainstream class to a special class.
My Department and the NCSE have therefore put in place new planning structures and procedures to ensure sufficient places become available to meet local need. As new need emerges, there is a cohesive response available to ensure places become available in a timely and targeted way.
The willingness of school communities to open special classes is central to ensuring that every child can obtain a suitable placement. My Department and the NCSE can provide the necessary funding, teaching and SNA resources, professional supports and training so that the required special class places can be provided as soon as possible.
Information on the list of schools with special classes, the types and locations of these classes is published on the NCSE website and is available at www.ncse.ie
In respect of the Kildare area six new special classes opened in September 2021, four at primary and two at post primary level.
In the case of all new schools, it is general practice to include a Special Education Needs (SEN) Base in the accommodation brief for new school buildings, unless local circumstances indicate that it will not be required. Typically, a two classroom SEN Base is provided in new primary schools and a two or four classroom SEN Base is provided in new post primary schools.
Additionally, when the NCSE sanction a special class in a school, the school can apply to the Department for capital funding to re-configure existing spaces within the school building to accommodate the class and/or to construct additional accommodation. Similarly, where special schools wish to expand provision, the school can apply to the Department for capital funding to accommodate additional placements.
The main focus of the Department’s capital resources over the last decade and for the coming period, under the National Development Plan, is on provision of additional capacity to cater for increasing demographics, including provision for Special Education Needs.
Within County Kildare 17 projects were completed in the period 2018-2020; 13 of those were primary schools including one special school. There were four post-primary school building projects. As part of these projects, 9 SEN classrooms were provided at primary level and 36 SEN pupil places at post-primary level.
There are a further 12 projects currently on site in the county. Of these seven are primary schools and five are post-primary schools. In terms of SEN provision, these will provide for seven SEN classrooms (primary level) and 48 SEN pupil places (post-primary level).
Additionally, there are 38 projects at planning stage. The estimated SEN provision to be delivered by these projects is 77 SEN classrooms at primary level and 136 SEN pupil places at post-primary level.
The current status of all building projects, including in County Kildare, is available on my Department website www.education.ie and this information will continue to be updated on a regular basis.
I can reassure the Deputy that the local Special Education Needs Organisers (SENOs) continue to be available to assist and advise both schools and the parents of children with special educational needs.
Parents may contact SENOs directly using the contact details available at: ncse.ie/regional-services-contact-list.
School Transport
Ceisteanna (272)
Bernard Durkan
Ceist:272. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the degree to which school transport issues continue to arise throughout Ireland; the extent to which she continues to move to resolve such issues; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45886/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2020/21 year over 114,100 children, including over 14,700 children with special educational needs, are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country at a cost of over €224.7m in 2020.
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 for the 2021/22 school year will be accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation. In addition, all post-primary pupils who are otherwise eligible for school transport but are attending their second nearest school and have applied and paid on time will be accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation. This arrangement is in place for current school year pending completion of the full review of the School Transport Scheme.
Children who are not eligible for school transport may apply for transport on a concessionary basis only and are offered seats where capacity exists after all eligible children have been catered for. 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 2021/2022 school year.
Bus Éireann has confirmed that to date 102,420 pupils, including 54,018 post primary eligible pupils and 14,143 post primary concessionary pupils have been issued tickets for the School Transport Scheme. This number is changing as tickets continue to be allocated to pupils.
As you may be aware, my Department commenced a review of the School Transport Scheme in Februrary 2021. The review is being conducted with a view to examining the current scheme, its broader effectiveness and sustainability, and to ensure that it serves students and their families adequately.
Following commencement of this review the Steering Group recently presented me with an initial interim report on eligibility with an examination of issues for mainstream pupils relating to the nearest and next nearest school. Following consideration of this report, I approved the extension of temporary alleviation measures for transport for post-primary students who are otherwise eligible for school transport but are attending their second nearest school and have applied and paid on time.
Wider considerations relating to operation of the scheme will take place in the next phase of the review which is now underway. The Steering Group will continue to report to me on an interim basis as the review progresses, with a view to presenting a final report with recommendations on the future operation of the Department’s School Transport Scheme.
Question No. 273 answered with Question No. 271.
Schools Building Projects
Ceisteanna (274)
Bernard Durkan
Ceist:274. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the extent to which various school building projects throughout the country have been able to progress throughout the Covid-19 downturn; the locations of any particular difficulties in this regard; the proposed or ongoing action to address such issues; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45888/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
My Department has a large-scale and ambitious roll-out of school building projects under the National Development Plan and as part of Project Ireland 2040. The continuation of construction work on school building projects during lockdown period in early 2021 was an important enabler to facilitating the delivery of our school building programme.
During the NDP period 2018-2020, there were 526 completed building projects under the Large Scale Capital Programme (LSCP) and the Additional School Accommodation Scheme (ASA). These projects delivered in excess of 48,000 school places, including permanent accommodation for 229 special classes; and additional capacity for 67 classrooms in 14 special schools throughout the country. There are also currently some 250 school building projects on site many of which will be completed in 2022.
My Department is aware of the challenges of Covid and the challenging market conditions currently underway and is working proactively to ensure that all school building contracts are awarded as expeditiously as possible, while working within the parameters set by the Office of Government Procurement and principles of public procurement set out at both national and EU level.
My Department works closely with design teams on school projects to permit reasonable additional time for tenderers to submit tenders, allowing them ample time to price appropriately given the current market.
Where the tender closing date has already passed, and the lowest tenderer advises the Department that they can no longer stand over their tender and are withdrawing from the tender process, the design team are authorised to proceed to processing the next lowest tender until such point as a tenderer agrees to stand over their tender thus ensuring the progression of all projects in the pipeline.
Once contracts are awarded, any variations to the contract sum must be addressed within the standard provisions of the Public Works Contracts.
Question No. 275 answered with Question No. 271.
Schools Building Projects
Ceisteanna (276, 277)
Bernard Durkan
Ceist:276. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the extent to which she has agreed to provide new second-level schools at precise locations throughout north County Kildare; the extent to which such works are in hand or ongoing; the schedule for the projects concerned; the extent to which any such projects in terms of construction or planning have been impacted by Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45890/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraBernard Durkan
Ceist:277. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the extent to which she has agreed to provide new primary schools at precise locations throughout north County Kildare; the extent to which such works are in hand or ongoing; the schedule for the projects concerned; the extent to which any such projects in terms of construction or planning have been impacted by Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45891/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 276 and 277 together.
My Department continuously monitors demographic growth in order to ensure that sufficient school places are available and the requirement to provide new schools is generally driven by demographic pressures arising from development.
Two new primary schools were established in the North Kildare area in 2019, one under the patronage of Educate Together opened in Leixlip and a gaelscoil, under the patronage of An Foras Pátrúnachta opened in Maynooth. A further primary school has been announced for Naas and the establishment date will take account of the demographic position and roll-out of planned additional housing. A post-primary school, Gaelcholáiste Mhaigh Nuad, was established in 2020 and a further post primary school was established in Enfield in 2020 which will also cater for demand from North Kildare.
In North Kildare, there are a number of different areas which are likely to experience growth. These include Maynooth, Leixlip, Kilcock and Celbridge. My Department is engaging with planning (local) authorities with a view to ensuring that suitable school sites are zoned in the individual settlements should they be necessary to meet projected needs. The main focus of my Department’s capital resources over the last decade and for the coming period, under the NDP, is on provision of additional capacity to cater for increasing demographics, including provision for Special Education Needs.
Under Project Ireland 2040, during the NDP period 2018-2020, there were 526 completed building projects under the Large Scale Capital Programme (LSCP) and the Additional School Accommodation Scheme (ASA). These projects delivered in excess of 48,000 school places, including permanent accommodation for 229 special classes; and additional capacity for 67 classrooms in 14 special schools throughout the country.
Of the 526 school building projects completed in 2018-2020, 16 of these projects delivered were in County Kildare; 13 of those were primary schools including one special school. There were 3 post-primary school building projects.
A further 13 projects are currently on site, eight at primary level and five at post primary. 34 projects are at various stages of planning and design.
The current status of these projects being delivered is listed on a county by county basis on www.gov.ie and is updated on a monthly basis to reflect their progress through the various stages.
From 2018 to date, there has been €179m in capital funding (including Minor Works Grants) issued from my Department in respect of school capital grants and school building projects in Co. Kildare. €38m during 2021 to date and a further €141m across 2018, 2019 and 2020.
My Department is aware of the challenges of Covid and the challenging market conditions currently underway and is working proactively to ensure that all school building contracts are awarded as expeditiously as possible, while working within the parameters set by the Office of Government Procurement and principles of public procurement set out at both national and EU level.
Question No. 277 answered with Question No. 276.