Written Answers Nos. 584-603
584. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education if the €18 million allocated to DEIS under budget 2022 includes funding to reduce the staffing schedule for DEIS urban band 1 schools by one point. [51058/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs part of continuing measures to sustain and strengthen primary schools and in accordance with a commitment in the Programme for Government to make further progress in reducing pupil teacher ratios, the staffing schedule in all primary schools will be improved by one point from September 2022. The effect of this change will be to allow primary schools operating the standard staffing schedule to reduce the general average from 25:1 to 24:1, a historically low level. This follows a similar one point reduction in Budget 2021.
The staffing schedules in place for DEIS schools will also benefit from the one point reduction. DEIS Urban Band 1 staffing schedule will move to 18:1 for Junior Schools, 20:1 for Vertical schools and 22:1 for Senior Schools. All DEIS Urban Band 2 schools and DEIS rural schools will move to a PTR of 24:1.
This benefit in the staffing schedule for DEIS schools is in addition to the Budget 2022 allocation of €18million for 2022 and €32million for 2023, to extend the DEIS programme to further schools with the highest levels of disadvantage.
585. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education if all primary schools, including all DEIS primary schools, will benefit from the one-point reduction in the pupil teacher ratio in Budget 2022. [51059/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder 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. The current allocation is on an average ratio of 1 classroom teacher for every 25 pupils. Budget 2022 has implemented a further 1 point reduction for the 2022/23 school year so that primary schools will be allocated teaching posts on an average basis of 1 classroom teacher for every 24 pupils in September 2022. Lower thresholds apply to DEIS Urban Band 1 schools which will also benefit from the improvement to the staffing schedule next year.
This Budget measure has brought the teacher allocation ratio in all primary schools to the lowest ever seen at primary level. This is the second successive Budget which has seen an improvement in allocation of teachers to primary schools.
587. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the number of voluntary secondary schools that will benefit from capitation funding increases in budget 2022; the current capitation level per student in these schools; and the capitation level per student in these schools once the measures in budget 2022 are implemented. [51061/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe funding arrangements for post primary schools reflect the sectoral division of the second-level system. Funding provided to schools in the ETB, Community & Comprehensive sectors is primarily based on budgets determined by my Department. Voluntary Secondary schools in the Free Education Scheme are funded by way of per capita grants.
At the core of these arrangements is reliance upon capitation as a key determinant of funding and enrolments are the main driver in the level of funding provided.
The capitation rates payable to Post-Primary schools in the Free Education scheme remain unchanged as the additional funding I secured in Budget 2022 is to rectify historical inconsistencies in the funding arrangements for Voluntary Secondary schools in the Free Education Scheme.
Some equalisation measures have already been introduced to address these inconsistencies. It is estimated that up to €21m has been provided in equalisation funding in the period up to 2009.
Furthermore, as agreed with the Joint Managerial Body (JMB), future improvements in equalisation funding is to be directed in the first instance at the elimination of the School Salary grant deduction from the capitation payable to Voluntary Secondary Schools. Therefore, Budget 2020 provided additional funding to cater for a 20% reduction in the School Salary Grant deduction from 1 September 2020. This brought the deduction down from €563 to €450.40 per whole-time equivalent teaching post.
I am delighted to have secured further funding in Budget 2022 to complete the elimination of this deduction. This means that all of the Voluntary Secondary Schools in the Free Education Scheme will see capitation funding increase resulting in an estimated additional €1.4 million being made available to these schools in 2022 and €5.6 million in 2023.
588. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the measures in budget 2022 with regards release days for school leaders. [51062/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am keenly aware of the huge contribution made by all Principals in our schools, including teaching principals.
The COVID-19 supports provided under The Roadmap for the Full Return to School in 2020, included specific funding to support Principals who undertake teaching duties in primary schools. This funding provided each teaching principal with a minimum of one release day per week. Schools have been advised that, in the context of COVID-19, the additional allocation of Principal Release Days will remain in place for the 2021/22 school year and each school with a teaching principal will have 37 Principal Release Days.
Budget 2022 has maintained these Principal Release Days going forward.
589. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the additional guidance teacher supports contained in budget 2022. [51063/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs part of COVID-19 operational supports in the 2020/21 school year, an additional allocation in respect of Guidance Provision was provided to all schools to support student wellbeing. This additional allocation, totaling 120 posts, has also been allocated to schools for the 2021/22 school year. These posts bring guidance provision in schools back to the level last seen before 2012.
Budget 2022 has maintained these Guidance posts going forward. The guidance allocation is provided separately and transparently on each school's staffing schedule. These posts have been ring-fenced so they can only be used for guidance activities and to meet the guidance needs of the school.
590. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education if she will provide additional detail on the ex-gratia scheme in budget 2022; when survivors can apply for this scheme; when it is expected that eligible survivors will receive this payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51064/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraA revised ex gratia scheme to implement the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) judgement relating to childhood sexual abuse in day schools is now open for applications. The Scheme, which was developed in consultation with the Office of the Attorney General, provides for ex gratia payments to be made to those who qualify to apply for the Scheme and who satisfy the criteria as set out in the Terms of Scheme.
The ex gratia scheme was originally established in 2015 and was put in place to provide those, who had instituted legal proceedings against the State in respect of day school sexual abuse and subsequently discontinued those proceedings following rulings in the domestic courts, with an opportunity to apply for an ex gratia payment. The Scheme was paused in 2019 following a report from retired High Court Judge Iarfhlaith O’Neill who, as Independent Assessor, reviewed a number of unsuccessful applications to the Scheme and was of the view that the criteria to qualify for a payment were too restrictive for this group of applicants. The revised scheme opened for applications on July 21st 2021. 27 payments have issued so far.
Ireland is committed to fulfilling its obligations in implementing the ECtHR ruling. This means that the revised scheme is designed first and foremost to provide a remedy to those who had issued and discontinued their proceedings against the State prior to the ECtHR ruling in O'Keeffe v Ireland and who did not receive a payment under the 2015 Scheme. However, the revised scheme goes beyond that group in that all others who issued legal proceedings against the State at a later date and up to 1 July 2021, whether they are still in being, were discontinued at any point, or who had settled with the State, may also apply for an award.
As well as broadening the scope of the Scheme, the type and nature of evidence that will be considered by the State Claims Agency in respect of individual applications (and as set out in the Terms of Scheme) broadens the means through which an applicant can demonstrate that they fall within the terms of the ECtHR judgment.
Budget 2022 provides for an allocation of €21m for the ex gratia scheme.
591. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education if secretaries, caretakers, bus escorts and cleaners are included in the 1% pay increase measures contained in budget 2022. [51065/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraBuilding Momentum – a new public service agreement, 2021-2022" was agreed between Government and Unions earlier this year. The agreement provides for:
- A general round increase in annualised basic salary for all public servants of 1% or €500, whichever is greater, on October 2021.
- The equivalent of a 1% increase in annualised basic salaries to be used as a Sectoral Bargaining Fund, in accordance with Chapter 2 of the Agreement, on 1 February 2022.
- A general round increase in annualised basic salaries for all public servants of 1% or €500, whichever is greater on, 1 October 2022.
These pay increases will apply to public servants, subject to compliance with sectoral action plans and industrial peace provisions of the agreement.
The increase does not apply beyond public servants and therefore grant funded school staff such as secretaries, caretakers, bus escorts and cleaner employed directly by schools are not comprehended by the agreement.
My Department has acted in recent years on the pay of grant funded staff. For example it has 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 for secretaries and caretakers.
You will be aware that Fórsa trade union has tabled a follow-on claim from that arbitration and officials from my Department and school management bodies have been engaging with Fórsa on the issues. 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 pay scale offered will include the 1% pay increase from 1 October 2021 and onwards.
My officials have engaged with Fórsa throughout this process and I look forward to continued progress under the Workplace Relations Commission.
592. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the details of the scheme announced in budget 2022 allowing schools to purchase books, audio books and other media; and if this can be used to offset the costs of academic schoolbooks for families. [51066/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraConsiderable progress has been made in promoting a high level of literacy since the 2011 Literacy and Numeracy Strategy and Interim Review 2017. There is a need to ensure that we build on this good work by once again investing in our in-school literacy resources.
It is of utmost importance that we provide access to the highest quality books and other reading material in our schools in order to assist in the continued development of the language and literacy skills of all our learners. I announced in the budget a once-off funding of €20 million to be provided by my Department in 2022. This funding will be made available to all primary and post primary schools for the purchase of books, audio books and other reading materials in order to increase the literacy resources available to children within each school.
This grant scheme is separate to the funding that is already provided by my Department in relation to the availability of academic books to children. My Department provides a book grant to all recognised primary and post primary schools in order to provide assistance for books, including Book Rental Schemes. Under the book rental scheme, my Department provided funding of €17.1 million in 2020 to all of these schools.
School book rental schemes have an important role to play in reducing the cost of school books for parents. In order to support the establishment of book rental schemes, my Department provided €15.7 million seed capital in 2014, 2015 and 2016 to primary schools. Some 96% of primary schools and 68% of post-primary schools currently operate a book rental scheme.
Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools (DEIS) is the Department’s main policy instrument to tackle educational disadvantage. This year my Department will spend over €150 million on supports for schools targeted at supporting the educational outcomes of those pupils most at risk of educational disadvantage. The DEIS Plan includes the allocation of additional resources, including enhanced book grants, to all DEIS schools, to improve learning outcomes.
593. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the number of schools in Cork city that have DEIS status broken down by DEIS band 1, 2 and so on and rural and by primary and post-primary level in tabular form. [51071/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraDEIS – Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools is the main policy initiative of my Department to address educational disadvantage at school level.
My Department will spend over €150 million on the DEIS Programme in 2021, which includes some €26.07 million for the School Completion Programme.
In the 2021/22 academic year there are 884 schools in the DEIS Programme serving over 186,000 pupils - 687 Primary and 197 Post Primary.
The number of primary and post-primary level schools in Cork City Local Authority area that presently have DEIS status are 40 which are broken down by DEIS Band in the table below:
|
DEIS Band |
Number of Schools |
|
Primary Urban Band 1 |
22 |
|
Primary Urban Band 2 |
5 |
|
Primary Rural |
0 |
|
Post-Primary |
13 |
The listings for both Primary and Post Primary schools can be found on the following link;
www.gov.ie/en/collection/63363b-data-on-individual-schools/
594. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the number of schools in County Cork that have DEIS status broken down by DEIS band 1, 2 and so on, rural and by primary and post-primary level in tabular form. [51072/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraDEIS – Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools is the main policy initiative of my Department to address educational disadvantage at school level.
My Department will spend over €150 million on the DEIS Programme in 2021, which includes some €26.07 million for the School Completion Programme.
In the 2021/22 academic year there are 884 schools in the DEIS Programme serving over 186,000 pupils - 687 Primary and 197 Post Primary.
The number of primary and post-primary level schools the County Cork Local Authority area that presently have DEIS status are 27 which are broken down by DEIS band in the table below:
|
DEIS Band |
Number of Schools |
|
DEIS Band 1 |
0 |
|
DEIS Band 2 |
4 |
|
DEIS Rural |
15 |
|
Post Primary |
8 |
The listings for both Primary and Post Primary schools can be found on the following link;
www.gov.ie/en/collection/63363b-data-on-individual-schools/
595. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education the estimated amount spent by her Department on the procurement, purchase and rent of new office space; and the amount spent on the procurement, purchase and rent of office equipment in each of the past ten years and to date in 2021. [51101/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe procurement, purchase, refurbishment, renting and leasing of Government offices is the responsibility of Property Management Services in the Office of Public Works, which acts as an agent for all Government Departments. The number, terms and cost of the leases is a matter for the OPW.
I can confirm to the Deputy that new office space in Blanchardstown was acquired for the Education Shared Business Services (“ESBS”), which is a section within my Department that hosts some of the shared service operations required within the education sector. The OPW procured the lease on behalf of the ESBS and would have incurred the associated procurement, rent and refurbishment costs on behalf of my Department.
My Department has directly procured office equipment in the nature of furniture and fittings for the new office space in Blanchardstown with the total amount of expenditure incurred in relation to this fit-out between 1 January 2019 and 11 October 2021 amounting to €345,773.
596. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education the number of offices currently being rented or in ownership of her Department which are currently not in use by the Department. [51118/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe procurement, purchase, refurbishment, renting and leasing of Government offices is the responsibility of Property Management Services in the Office of Public Works, which acts as the agent for Government departments and offices. The number, terms and cost of leases is a matter for the OPW. I can confirm to the Deputy that office buildings occupied by my Department are in use.
597. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 598 of 28 April 2021, the actions that have been taken post Caranua to ensure continued support of survivors of institutional abuse; if she will provide details of the ongoing supports that remain in place given the acknowledgement that survivors must be supported lifelong; if an interdepartmental group is underway; if so, the conclusions that have been reached to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51143/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs outlined in the earlier response, there are a number of published reports and ongoing consultation work highlighting the needs of survivors. For example, the report Consultations with Survivors of Institutional Abuse on Themes and Issues to be addressed by Survivor Led Consultation was published in August 2019 while the Facing the Future conference report was launched in October 2020. This work has identified and highlighted a number of supports including around the health needs of an aging population, social and advocacy supports and trauma-informed practices.
A Survivor-Led Consultation Group was established during 2020 to engage in a further phase of the consultation process. Meetings are facilitated by professionally qualified facilitators who are funded by my Department. I met with the Group in December 2020 to hear about the various issues which had been identified by the Group. Officials from my Department also met with the Group earlier this month to discuss their work.
These reports and proposals are currently being considered by an Inter-Departmental Group established by my Department and comprising of a number of Government Departments who are responsible for the provision of services and supports identified by the survivors. The work of the Inter- Departmental Group is ongoing and their conclusions will feed into my consideration of proposals to Government in this context.
As part of the State's response to individuals experiencing distress as a result of childhood sexual abuse, a free National Counselling Service is run by the HSE with priority given to adult survivors of institutional abuse. Full details are available on www.hse.ie/eng/services/list/4/mental-health-services/national-counselling-service .
598. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education the status of the submission of a planning application for a permanent build of a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51154/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe site for the school referred to by the Deputy is being acquired with full planning permission.
As part of the conditions of sale, the lodgement of planning permission is under the remit of the vendor. The Department has been working closely with the vendor to expedite a planning application for the new school.
As with all school building projects, pre-planning meetings are required with the Local Authority in advance of preparing a Planning Application. This is to ensure the highest probability of a successful planning application in the shortest time possible. A considerable amount of work is required following the pre-planning meeting to prepare a suitably detailed application. It is anticipated that the planning application for the school will be lodged by the vendor in Q4 2021.
599. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Education the way in which new schools will be identified for inclusion in the DEIS programme following the announcement in budget 2022 that €18 million is being provided for this programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51157/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraBudget 2022 has provided for an allocation of €18million for 2022 and €32million for 2023 to extend the DEIS programme to further schools with the highest levels of disadvantage. This represents an increase of over 20% in funding for the DEIS programme and will enable an expansion in 2022 of the programme to further schools.
This package follows an extensive body of work which has been under taken by the DEIS technical group in relation to the development of a model to identify the concentrated levels of disadvantage of schools. The refined model is an objective, statistics based process, based on school enrolment data and data available from Census 2016 under the HP Deprivation Index.
This work involved an initial process of consultation by my Department with the education partners on the technical aspects of the model. Over the coming weeks there will be further consultation with relevant stakeholders to outline the components of the model. The purpose is to ensure that, as far as possible, the refined DEIS identification model can provide an objective and independent means of identifying schools serving high concentrations of pupils at risk of educational disadvantage and also to ensure there is a full understanding of the refined model and its potential application.
600. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Education the reason a school (details supplied) with seven children with additional needs across five classrooms in a school of 165 children has only one part-time special needs assistant; the reason the school has not been visited to observe the children and their psychological reports to ensure their needs are met; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51200/21]
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.
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.
In light of the disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the introduction of the new Frontloaded Allocation Model for SNAs for students in mainstream classes in primary and post -primary schools is to be deferred for a further year to the beginning of the 2022/23 school year.
In order to minimise disruption for schools, in the current circumstances, and to provide for continuity of allocations the following arrangements for the allocation of Special Needs Assistants for mainstream classes for the 2021/22 school year:
- Existing mainstream class SNA allocations in schools on 30 April 2021 will be maintained and will automatically rollover into the 2021/22 school year.
- No school will therefore receive an allocation less than that which they had on 30 April 2021.
- SNAs currently in mainstream settings can continue in post for the next school year in the normal way.
- Priority consideration will now be given by the NCSE to applications for increased support for the 2021/22 school year, in particular, applications from schools with no SNAs and developing schools will be prioritised. Determinations will be made before 30 June. Other applications will be processed in order of date received.
- As in previous years, where circumstances change during the course of the 2021/22 school year that materially increase the level of care need in a school to the extent that the school can clearly demonstrate that it cannot be met within the existing SNA allocation, the school may apply to the NCSE for a review. Detailed information on the NCSE exceptional review process is published on the NCSE website: www.ncse.ie/for-schools
The NCSE have published the SNA allocations on their website www.ncse.ie.
SNA allocations for special classes and special schools are not affected by this arrangement.
Circular 0029/2021 has been published and advises schools of the arrangements for the allocation of SNAs for the 2021/22 school year.
Provisions set out in Circular 0030/2020 has been extended for the 2021/22 school year.
Circulars 29/2021 and 30/2020 are available on the Gov.ie website: www.gov.ie/en/circulars/?organisation=department-of-education
My Department does not have a role in making individual school determinations. Accordingly your question has been forwarded to the NCSE for direct reply.
601. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education if she has conducted a recent evaluation of the need for a new second-level school in a catchment area (details supplied); the projected demand for places; the projected level of available places; the availability of schools of diverse patronage; the pattern of pupils entering or leaving the catchment for second-level education; and if she will consider placing a new second-level school for this catchment area on the school building programme. [51201/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are seven post primary schools in the school planning area in question, six of these schools have a Catholic ethos and one has a Church of Ireland ethos.
Two of the schools have ongoing projects.
RN60290B St Paul’s College had an Additional Accommodation Application approved in July 2020 for 2 Construction Rooms,1 Home Economics Room, 1 Music Room, 2 Art Rooms, I Technology Prep Room, 3 Store Rooms, 2 classroom SEN Base. The school has an Long-Term Projected Enrolment (LTPE) of 700, The 2020 enrolment was 630 pupils.
RN81002K Mountemple Comprehensive - This school has a Large Scale Major Project that on completion will cater for an LTPE of 1,000 pupils, the project is currently at Stage 2B. The 2020 enrolment was 892 pupils.
There is a significant degree of movement into and out of this school planning area of students from 6th class entering 1st year of secondary school. Of the first year pupils entering post-primary schools in the school planning area in 2020, over 32% of the pupils came from primary schools located outside the school planning area, while some 40% of 6th class students of primary schools within the school planning area started 1st year in schools outside the school planning area. Such patterns of transfer are not uncommon in urban areas.
As outlined to the Deputy previously, new schools are established by my Department on the basis of identified demographic demand in an area, and only after consideration of the capacity of existing schools to absorb the expected school place demand.
My Department's most recent projections do not indicate significant increases in school place requirements at post-primary level in the Killester_Raheny_Clontarf school planning area. Nevertheless, my Department will continue to work to ensure that there is sufficient capacity in the area to meet school place demand and will keep the requirements in Killester_Raheny_Clontarf, as with all other school planning areas, under review.
602. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Education if a person (details supplied) who is now currently employed by her Department as an SNA is only entitled to scale 1 on her Department's pay scale; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51219/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe criteria for the award of Incremental Credit for previous experience for Special Needs Assistants is outlined in Circular 0139/2006, and was agreed in the first instance, by the Teacher Conciliation Council (TCC). This Council is comprised of representatives of the teacher unions, school management bodies, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, and the Department of Education chaired by an official of the Workplace Relations Commission.
Please find link to this circular above and note that the application form "Incremental Credit Claim Form" is attached to the circular at Appendix 1. In the case of a SNA employed in a Primary, Secondary, Community or Comprehensive School completed forms should be returned as follows:
Incremental Credit,
Teacher/SNA Terms and Conditions,
Department of Education,
Cornamaddy,
Athlone,
Co. Westmeath.
In the case of a SNA employed in a Vocational School or Community College, completed forms should be returned to the CEO of the Vocational Educational Committee by which the SNA is employed.
603. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Education the reason a student (details supplied) had their estimated grade downgraded so substantially from the accredited mark; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51242/21]
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 you.
