Seán Sherlock
Ceist:405. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Education the date that construction will start on a project (details supplied); and the estimated timelines identified for the project. [27761/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraSchools Building Projects
Ceisteanna (405)
Freagraí scríofa
The Letter of Intent (LOI) issued on 15th February 2022 to the preferred tenderer. This allows the preferred bidder to put in place the Bond, Insurances and confirmations of all legal arrangements required under the Contract.
Following receipt of all the necessary documentation, my Department will shortly be in a position to issue the Letter of Acceptance (LOA), which will allow the contractor to mobilise on site.
My Department will advise the Board of Management when the Letter of Acceptance issues. Once a Contractor has been appointed, the construction period for the three schools is 70 weeks. The completion of the Community College will be prioritised within that timeframe.
Special Educational Needs
Ceisteanna (406)
Cathal Crowe
Ceist:406. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education if there are plans afoot to develop an ASD unit at CBS National School in Ennis, County Clare. [27770/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I wish to confirm to the Deputy that major capital funding was approved for CBS National School in Ennis, County Clare to cater for a school comprised of a Principal and 24 mainstream teachers and a 2 Classroom Special Educational Unit. The project was completed in 2019.
The Deputy may be aware of the very significant school building programme that is currently underway. Overall, there are in excess of 1,300 school building projects at various stages of design, planning, and construction. The current status of approved projects and those projects already completed under the school building programme is listed on a county by county basis on my Department's website at www.gov.ie and is regularly updated.
Departmental Funding
Ceisteanna (407)
Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire
Ceist:407. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the amount of capitation allocated per pupil at primary level and secondary level. [27780/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The position is as advised in my response to the Deputy’s question number 26568 on 25th May last.
The two main grants paid by my Department to recognised schools are the Capitation grant to cater for day to day running costs such as heating, lighting, cleaning, insurance, general up-keep, etc. and the Ancillary Services grants to cater for the cost of employing ancillary services staff.
The following links are the most recent circulars published on my Department's website which outline the rates in relation to capitation related grants per pupil.
Primary Circulars
www.gov.ie/en/circulars/?q=&sort_by=published_date&organisation=department-of-education&year=&circular_id=0017%2F2021.
www.gov.ie/en/circulars/?q=&sort_by=published_date&organisation=department-of-education&year=&circular_id=0038%2F2020.
Post Primary Circulars
www.gov.ie/en/circulars/?q=&sort_by=published_date&organisation=department-of-education&year=&circular_id=0082%2F2020.
www.gov.ie/en/circulars/?q=&sort_by=published_date&organisation=department-of-education&year=&circular_id=0052%2F2020.
I understand the need for improved capitation funding and I am pleased that budget 2020 was able to provide for a further 2.5% increase in standard capitation funding for primary schools that applied from the start of the 2020/21 school year. This builds on the 5% increase in capitation announced in budget 2019.
All schools have received the benefit of the capitation increases awarded to date. It is my intention to seek funding for further capitation increases in future budgets.
School Transport
Ceisteanna (408)
Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire
Ceist:408. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the number of children that applied for the school transport scheme for the 2021/2022 school year and were deemed ineligible; and the estimated cost to provide school transport free of charge to those children. [27781/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education.
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 and who complete the application and payment process on time are accommodated on school transport where such services are in operation.
Bus Éireann have informed the Department in the 2021/22 school year the number of tickets issued amounted to 123,855. Of this figure 29,945 were concessionary (ineligible) mainstream pupils and 55 were SEN concessionary pupils.
In the same school year, they confirmed that 1,030 eligible pupils who paid late were unsuccessful in obtaining a ticket.
The average cost of providing transport for a child to a primary or post-primary school is estimated at €1,000 per annum. The average cost to provide transport for a child who requires Special Educational Needs transport is estimated at €9,000 per annum.
The estimated cost of providing 30,000 bus places free of charge for the 2022-2023 school year would be dependent on the breakdown of the numbers of children that require transport for the primary and post primary schemes and the Special Educational Needs transport scheme.
Schools Administration
Ceisteanna (409)
Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire
Ceist:409. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the estimated first year and full year saving of removing the monetary subsidy given to private schools. [27803/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Gross expenditure on the order of €121 million was incurred by my Department on salaries for teachers and special needs assistants (including employer’s PRSI) in fee-charging schools in the 2020/2021 school year. Capital supports (building-related and ICT grants) are also available to such schools totalling over €1.6 million in 2021. In addition, specific Covid-19 grant funding of €3 million was paid to these schools in the financial year 2021 for hand sanitiser, enhanced cleaning and supervision.
If the parents of children in the fee-charging sector chose to send their children to the non-fee-charging sector, the State would have to fund those school places. In this respect, the figures quoted relate to the gross cost of fee-charging schools and not the net financial position. Since it is not possible to predict these patterns of behavior, it is not possible to calculate any full-year saving if the monetary subsidies from my Department to fee-charging schools were removed.
Schools Administration
Ceisteanna (410)
Neale Richmond
Ceist:410. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Education if she will outline the use of assistive technology in the Drumcondra primary tests scoring system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27860/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Drumcondra tests scoring system used by schools allows them to input pupils’ test results and to generate reports and record scores from the Drumcondra tests. This software is used only by teachers as a way of managing test data by the school and not by pupils during testing.
The Drumcondra Online Test System for pupil testing includes a zoom feature that students can use to magnify the size of any images on screen during testing. Colour-blindness was also considered during the development of the recent (2018) test materials so that students with colour-blindness are not disadvantaged by the colour/shading of images.
Schools Building Projects
Ceisteanna (411)
Violet-Anne Wynne
Ceist:411. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Education if she will provide details of the e-tendering process for quantity surveyors with regards to school construction projects; the quantity surveyors that were successful in the tendering process; the school projects for which their tenders were accepted in 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form. [27867/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The e-tender process for appointment of Quantity Surveyors as part of a Design Team for school construction projects is carried out in accordance with the Office of Government Procurement (OGP) public procurement guidelines.
A full suite of the appropriate tender forms are available on my Departments webpage, as part of the Government of Ireland website, at www.gov.ie/en/publication/035b6-appointment-of-consultants/.
In respect of the time period referred to by the Deputy, all QS appointments were made on Devolved Projects. Design Team appointments pertaining to projects in Devolved Projects Section are devolved to the relevant implementation body to carry out in accordance with public procurement guidelines.
My Department has recently appointed a Project Manager under the ADAPT programme. The first step to be undertaken by this Project Manager will be the tender competitions for the appointment of design teams ,including Quantity Surveyors, for 15 no. school building projects. Design Team appointment for a further 15 projects will be made over the coming twelve months.
School Transport
Ceisteanna (412)
David Stanton
Ceist:412. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Education her Department’s plans with respect to entitlement to school transport for students attending their second-nearest school for the coming school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27898/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year over 121,400 children, including over 15,500 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 €289m in 2021.
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.
As you are aware the Department commenced a review of the School Transport Scheme in February 2021. The Steering Group presented me with an initial interim report, following consideration of this report, temporary alleviation measures were approved which allowed for the provision of transport for post-primary students who were otherwise eligible for school transport but were attending their second nearest school and had applied and paid on time. In effect, these students remained to be considered as concessionary but transport was provided for students who met the criteria.
These measures are in place for the current school year pending the outcome of the review. Decisions in regard to measures for the 2022/23 school year will be made shortly.
Departmental Expenditure
Ceisteanna (413, 414)
Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire
Ceist:413. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the amount currently spent per annum on guidance counselling provision and the number of guidance counsellors that are hired with this figure. [27918/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraDonnchadh Ó Laoghaire
Ceist:414. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the estimated first year and full-year of increasing the guidance counselling provision in schools by 1%. [27919/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 413 and 414 together.
Teacher allocations to all second level schools are approved annually by my Department in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolment. The criteria for the allocation of posts (including Guidance Counselling) are communicated to school managements annually and are available on the Department website.
My Department has committed considerable resources towards the restoration of guidance counselling hours to post-primary schools, to the provision of CPD for guidance counsellors and to the provision of a national guidance counselling supervision service for post-primary guidance counsellors in recent times.
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.
As part of the COVID-19 operational supports to schools for the 2021/22 school year, approximately 120 posts were provided for guidance to support student wellbeing. Budget 2022 implemented this change as a permanent adjustment to the allocation of Guidance to schools. These posts bring guidance provision in schools back to the level last seen before the financial crisis in 2012.
For the 2022/23 school year there are 885 Guidance Counselling posts allocated to our second-level schools at an expenditure of almost €60 million per annum. The average cost of a post primary teacher is currently €67,600.
Question No. 414 answered with Question No. 413.
School Staff
Ceisteanna (415)
Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire
Ceist:415. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the estimated first year and full-year cost of hiring one additional guidance counsellor. [27920/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I wish to inform the Deputy that the additional cost of one Guidance Counsellor in the first year of appointment is approximately €16,800 assuming the post commenced at the start of the new school year in September. The full year cost is approximately €50,300.
School Enrolments
Ceisteanna (416)
Cathal Crowe
Ceist:416. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education if she has received an application for an extension to Lisdoonvarna national school (details supplied); if consideration will be given to the fact that the school’s enrolment has recently surged, some children with additional needs are educated in the school’s library and storage rooms and there is no staffroom; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27921/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I can confirm that my Department is in receipt of an application for capital funding, under the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme, from the school authority referred to by the Deputy. Officials from my Department have recently corresponded with the school Patron and on receipt of their response the application will be progressed and the decision will issue to the school authority directly.
The purpose of my Department’s ASA scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream classroom accommodation and accommodation for pupils with special education needs is available to cater for pupils enrolled each year, where the need cannot be met by the school’s existing accommodation.
At primary level, this situation generally arises to cater for a school’s accommodation requirements where an additional teaching post has been sanctioned by Teacher Allocation Section, or the requirement for a new class for pupils with special education needs has been identified by the NCSE, and all available alternative accommodation within the school is already being used for classroom purposes.
State Examinations
Ceisteanna (417)
Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire
Ceist:417. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education if she will report on her discussions regarding the introduction of mitigation measures for the Leaving Certificate examinations in 2023, for example to provide a greater choice on the written papers. [27922/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The decisions made, and which I announced in February, regarding the assessment arrangements and overall grade outcomes for Leaving Certificate 2022 reflect the disruption to their learning that has been experienced by this year’s Leaving Certificate students over the past two years, including periods of school closures whilst those students were in the Senior Cycle, as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Detailed planning for the 2023 examinations starts immediately following the 2022 examinations. At present no changes to the 2023 assessment arrangements for the State Examinations have been made, and this will be kept under review.
School Staff
Ceisteanna (418)
Louise O'Reilly
Ceist:418. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Education the supports that are in place for staff that cannot work due to suffering from long-Covid given that special leave with pay has been withdrawn. [27924/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As set out in the recently updated Department of Public Expenditure and Reform document, ‘Guidance and FAQs for Public Service Employers during COVID-19’, from 1 July 2022 Special Leave with Pay (SLWP) will change for all cases. SLWP will apply for the duration of the stated self-isolation period only (whatever duration is in place at the time of the absence, currently 7 calendar days). From 1 July 2022 any periods of COVID-19 related illness which extend beyond the stated self-isolation period will be treated as ordinary sick leave.
A circular will be published by the Department of Education to reflect the change to come into effect on 1st July 2022.
Under the terms of the Public Service Sick Leave Scheme, where an employee becomes incapacitated as a result of a critical illness and has supporting medical evidence they may, upon application, be granted Critical Illness Provisions (CIP). The granting of CIP is a decision made by the employer having considered the Occupational Health Service (OHS) medical advice. Further information on CIP is available in my Department’s Circular Letter 0054/2019 for teachers and Circular Letter 0060/2019 for SNAs.
The OHS is available to provide medical advice to an employer who has concerns about an employee’s medical fitness for work (including COVID-19).
The Employee Assistance Service, which is currently provided by Spectrum.Life is available as a supportive resource for employees. The freephone confidential helpline is 1800 411 057 and is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Special Educational Needs
Ceisteanna (419)
Dessie Ellis
Ceist:419. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Education the number of placements that are available for children diagnosed with autism for the catchment area of the SENO and for CHO9, respectively; the number of new placements that will be available for each catchment area for the new school term starting in September 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27931/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for this Government.
This year, my Department will spend in excess of €2 Billion, or over 25% of the Department’s budget on providing a wide range of schemes and supports for children with special educational needs.
This includes additional teaching and care supports.
As a result, the number of special education teachers, special needs assistants and special class and school places are at unprecedented levels.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children nationwide.
Over the last two years, my Department and the NCSE have worked closely on a more streamlined and joined up planning process which has ensured a targeted approach to meet demand for special needs placements ahead of each new school-year.
I am satisfied that this more joined up approach is delivering. Through this intensive intervention, we have seen over 300 special classes, providing over 1,800 new places, opened nationwide for the 2021/22 school-year.
I also acknowledge that notwithstanding the extent of this investment, there are some parts of the country where increases in population and other issues have led to concerns regarding a shortage of school places.
I can confirm that the NCSE is aware of an identified need for additional special classes for students with autism in the area referenced by the Deputy. Work has been underway with stakeholders for a number of years in this area to meet the demand for places.
NCSE has well established structures in place for engaging with schools and parents and seeks to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all children who have been identified as needing special class placements.
NCSE is continuing to engage with schools regarding the establishment of additional special classes for 2022/23 and beyond. There are specific plans in place to open additional special classes and every support will be made available to progress their opening in the shortest possible timeframe with a particular focus on September next.
It is of course open to any school to engage with the NCSE to establish a special class.
My Department is committed, in conjunction with the NCSE, to continue to work with parents, schools, patrons and all stakeholders to ensure that there are sufficient appropriate places for students with additional needs and to support all students to achieve their potential.
I want to reassure the Deputy also that my Department will continue to support the NCSE and schools through the provision of the necessary funding and capital investment to ensure all children are successful in accessing an education.
The list of special schools is available on the NCSE website at the following link:
ncse.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/NCSE-Special-School-Allocations-21-22-website-03-12-2021.pdf.
and for special classes at: ncse.ie/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Final-2021_2022-Sp-Class-list-25_03_22.pdf.
Education Costs
Ceisteanna (420)
Catherine Connolly
Ceist:420. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education the estimated full year cost of increasing the capitation grant at primary and secondary level by 5%; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27945/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
My Department provides funding to recognised Primary and Post-Primary schools in the free education scheme by way of per capita grants. The two main grants are the Capitation grant to cater for day to day running costs such as heating, lighting, cleaning, insurance, general up-keep etc. and the Ancillary/School Services Support Fund (SSSF) to cater for the cost of employing ancillary services staff. Schools also receive a range of other grants including Book Grants, Programme grants etc.
I understand the need for improved capitation funding and I am pleased that budget 2020 was able to provide for a further 2.5% increase in standard capitation funding for primary schools that applied from the start of the 2020/21 school year. This builds on the 5% increase in capitation announced in budget 2019.
All schools have received the benefit of the capitation increases awarded to date. It is my intention to seek funding for further capitation increases in future budgets.
Annual funding would need to be increased by circa €10.2m to increase the capitation grant by 5%. This would cost €5.1m at primary and €5.1m at post-primary.
Pupil-Teacher Ratio
Ceisteanna (421)
Catherine Connolly
Ceist:421. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education the estimated cost of reducing the pupil teacher ratio by one point at primary level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27946/22]
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.
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.
The staffing schedule has been improved under both Budgets in the past two years. For the 2022/23 school year, the staffing schedule for primary schools has been improved by one point and schools will be provided with class teachers on the basis of 1 teacher for every 24 pupils which means that our primary schools will be staffed at the most favourable level ever seen in September.
1,750 additional posts in schools are being provided in the 2022/23 school year, including 1,330 teaching posts to cater for a reduction in pupil teacher ratio and additional teachers in special education. This builds on a similar one point reduction in Budget 2021, which supported the creation of 1065 posts. Budget 22 also provided lower staffing retention levels for all primary schools.
The latest figures in relation to pupil teacher ratio shows an improved ratio of teachers to pupils from 16:1 to 14.5:1 at primary level when comparing the 2015/16 school year to the 2020/21 school year. This compares favourably with the OECD pupil teacher ratio which is 1:15. In the same period the staffing schedule improved from 28:1 to 25:1 for this school year.
A one point improvement in the staffing schedule at primary level would cost in the region of €15.5 million per annum.
Pupil-Teacher Ratio
Ceisteanna (422)
Catherine Connolly
Ceist:422. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education the estimated cost of reducing the pupil teacher ratio by one point at second level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27947/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Teacher allocations to all schools are approved annually by my Department in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolment. The criteria for the allocation of posts are communicated to school managements annually and are available on the Department website.
Teachers are currently allocated to post primary schools 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 require approximately 1150 teaching posts at an estimated cost of €57.8m per annum. The average cost of a new entrant post primary teacher is currently €50,327.
Schools Administration
Ceisteanna (423)
Cathal Crowe
Ceist:423. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education if she has received an application from a school (details supplied) to have a person appointed as a trustee; and if she will progress this appointment. [27957/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
This matter is currently being reviewed by officials in my Department. On completion of this review my officals will be in contact with the deputy's office.