Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:924. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education if she will liaise with Bus Éireann to extend a bus route (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43341/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraSchool Transport
Ceisteanna (924)
Question No. 923 answered with Question No. 875.
Freagraí scríofa
The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. In the last 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.
In July 2022, Government announced funding for the waiving of school transport scheme fees for the coming school year as part of a wider package of cost of living measures.
Ticket registration for the 2022/23 school year closed on 29 July by which time almost 130,000 applications/registrations were received for mainstream school transport. This figure includes 44,299 new applications as well as roll-overs from the previous school year.
Bus Éireann has confirmed that a revised pick up arrangement is being put in place to to extend this service so that the bus will not pick up pupils at the junction referred to by the Deputy.
Departmental Advertising
Ceisteanna (925)
Seán Sherlock
Ceist:925. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Education the amount that her Department has spent on advertising on social media in 2021 and to date in 2022; the amount spent per platform; and the campaigns per platform in tabular form. [43371/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Department engaged in social media advertising in respect of the 2021 Leaving Certificate Accredited Grades and Examinations process and also to highlight the public health advice for all of the school community for the period outlined. The total cost of this social media advertising was €38,165.04.
This content was promoted on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram.
The Department is also engaged in running the Teaching Transforms advertising campaign which encourages students to follow a career in teaching. The total cost for social media advertising for this campaign for the period outlined is €15,245.35.
Schools Building Projects
Ceisteanna (926)
Violet-Anne Wynne
Ceist:926. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Education the amount that her Department has spent to date on the major refurbishment works being carried out at a school (details supplied); and when these works will be completed. [43403/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the Deputy will be aware, the project to which she refers has been devolved for delivery to Limerick & Clare Education and Training Board (LCETB).
I am pleased to advise that the new extension has been occupied by students since February.
LCETB has confirmed that the project has reached substantial completion with some minor exterior works and landscaping being finalised.
The financial data on this project is commercially sensitive until such time as the Final Account is finalised and agreed by the ETB and the Department.
National Educational Psychological Service
Ceisteanna (927)
Violet-Anne Wynne
Ceist:927. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Education the estimated full-year cost of increasing the number of WTE educational psychologists within the National Educational Psychological Service to 250. [43404/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I can inform the Deputy that the number of NEPS psychologists employed currently stands at 225 whole-time equivalents across the NEPS regions. The average direct pay and non-pay cost of employing one main grade Educational Psychologist in the NEPS service is €76,000 per annum. Therefore, the estimated full-year cost of increasing the number of WTE educational psychologists within the National Educational Psychological Service to 250 is projected as an additional €1.9 million.
School Transport
Ceisteanna (928)
Pa Daly
Ceist:928. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Education if a school bus transport ticket will be approved for a student (details supplied). [43418/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. In the last 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.
In July 2022, Government announced funding for the waiving of school transport scheme fees for the coming school year as part of a wider package of cost of living measures.
Ticket registration for the 2022/23 school year closed on 29 July by which time almost 130,000 applications/registrations were received for mainstream school transport. This figure includes 44,299 new applications as well as roll-overs from the previous school year.
Children are eligible for transport at primary level where they reside not less than 3.2 kilometres from and are attending their nearest national school, and at post primary level where they reside not less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre as determined by the department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
Bus Éireann has advised that tickets were issued to the family referred to by the Deputy on 2nd September 2022.
Question No. 929 answered with Question No. 875.
Special Educational Needs
Ceisteanna (930)
James Lawless
Ceist:930. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Education the status of an application by a person (detail supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43467/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The purpose of the Home Tuition Grant Scheme is to provide funding towards the provision of a compensatory educational service for children who, for a number of specific reasons, are unable to attend school.
The aim of the Department is to meet the needs of families and to ensure every child is allocated a suitable school placement. The preferred approach is that children are educated in school settings where children may have access to fully qualified teachers, individualised education programmes, special needs assistants, school curriculum with the option, where possible and appropriate, of full or partial integration and interaction with student peers.
Accordingly, home tuition is provided as an interim measure only for children for whom a placement in a recognised school is not currently available and should not be regarded as an optional alternative to a school placement.
An application under the home tuition grant scheme for the child referred to by the Deputy was received by my Department on the 26th of August 2022 and a decision letter issued to the parent/guardian by email on the 01st of September 2022.
While the Home Tuition application form outlines that it may take the Department up to 15 working days to process home tuition applications, the Department is prioritising the processing of applications with a view to processing completed applications sooner than the 15 day deadline.
School Transport
Ceisteanna (931)
Michael McNamara
Ceist:931. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Education if she will address the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43472/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. In the last school year over 121,400 children, including over 15,500 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 €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.
Under the terms of my Department’s School Transport Scheme, children are eligible for transport where they reside not less than 3.2 kms at primary and 4.8 kms at post-primary and are attending their nearest School/Education Centre as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
Any pupils/students who do not meet these criteria are deemed not eligible, or otherwise known as concessionary applicants, and are allocated a ticket based on the availability of a seat when all eligible children have been catered for.
In line with normal practice, all eligible children who completed the application and ticket registration process on time for the 2022/2023 school year will be accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation.
In addition, pending completion of the outcome of the full review of the School Transport Scheme, Temporary Alleviation Measures at post-primary level will be continued for the 2022/2023 school year. Under these measures, which were initially introduced in 2019, transport will provided for post-primary pupils who are eligible for transport to their nearest school and are attending their second nearest school and who applied by the 29th April and registered for a ticket by the 29th July.
Because of the nature of concessionary transport for non-eligible children and the priority of providing places for eligible children, there may be an excess of demand over supply for concessionary places, in these cases Bus Éireann will allocate tickets for spare seats using an agreed selection process.
Bus Éireann has confirmed that the first pupil referred to by the Deputy is not eligible for school transport as the pupil does not meet the distance criteria under the terms of the scheme, this pupil was unsuccessful in obtaining a concessionary seat on board a school transport service for the 2022/23 school year. The service is currently at full capacity.
Bus Éireann has advised there is no record of a school transport application for the second pupil referred to by the Deputy.
School Transport
Ceisteanna (932)
Michael McNamara
Ceist:932. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Education if she will address the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43485/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. In the last school year over 121,400 children, including over 15,500 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 €289m in 2021.
In July 2022, Government announced funding for the waiving of school transport scheme fees for the coming school year as part of a wider package of cost of living measures.
Ticket registration for the 2022/23 school year closed on 29 July by which time almost 130,000 applications/registrations were received for mainstream school transport. This figure includes 44,299 new applications as well as roll-overs from the previous school year.
The normal eligibility criteria of the scheme still apply and tickets continue to be allocated in line with this criteria. Pupils at primary level are eligible where they live no less than 3.2 kilometres from and are attending their nearest primary school. At post primary level, students who live no less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre are deemed eligible.
Any pupils/students who do not meet these criteria are deemed not eligible, or otherwise known as concessionary applicants, and are allocated a ticket based on the availability of a seat when all eligible children have been catered for.
In line with normal practice, all eligible children who completed the application and ticket registration process on time for the 2022/2023 school year will be accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation.
In addition, pending completion of the outcome of the full review of the School Transport Scheme, Temporary Alleviation Measures at post-primary level will be continued for the 2022/2023 school year. Under these measures, which were initially introduced in 2019, transport will provided for post-primary pupils who are eligible for transport to their nearest school and are attending their second nearest school and who applied by the 29th April and registered for a ticket by the 29th July.
Because of the nature of concessionary transport for non-eligible children and the priority of providing places for eligible children, there may be an excess of demand over supply for concessionary places, in these cases Bus Éireann will allocate tickets for spare seats using an agreed selection process.
Bus Éireann has advised that the child referred to by the Deputy is not eligible for school transport under the terms of the school transport scheme and was unsuccessful in obtaining a seat on board a school transport service for the 2022/23 school year as the service is currently operating at full capacity.
School Transport
Ceisteanna (933)
Seán Sherlock
Ceist:933. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Education if the case of a child (details supplied) who has no bus ticket will be examined. [43488/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. In the last 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.
In July 2022, Government announced funding for the waiving of school transport scheme fees for the coming school year as part of a wider package of cost of living measures.
Ticket registration for the 2022/23 school year closed on 29 July by which time almost 130,000 applications/registrations were received for mainstream school transport. This figure includes 44,299 new applications as well as roll-overs from the previous school year.
The normal eligibility criteria of the scheme still apply and tickets continue to be allocated in line with this criteria. Pupils at primary level are eligible where they live no less than 3.2 kilometres from and are attending their nearest primary school. At post primary level, students who live no less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre are deemed eligible.
Any pupils/students who do not meet these criteria are deemed not eligible, or otherwise known as concessionary applicants, and are allocated a ticket based on the availability of a seat when all eligible children have been catered for.
In line with normal practice, all eligible children who completed the application and ticket registration process on time for the 2022/2023 school year will be accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation.
Because of the nature of concessionary transport for non-eligible children and the priority of providing places for eligible children, there may be an excess of demand over supply for concessionary places, in these cases Bus Éireann will allocate tickets for spare seats using an agreed selection process.
Bus Éireann has advised that the child referred to by the Deputy is not eligible for school transport under the terms of the school transport scheme and was unsuccessful in obtaining a seat on board a school transport service for the 2022/23 school year.
The transport the application refers to is at capacity at present and there are no remaining seats on board.
School Staff
Ceisteanna (934)
Steven Matthews
Ceist:934. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the need for a new Irish language teacher in a school (details supplied); if her Department will engage with the school to ensure that this is urgently resolved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43493/22]
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.
The recruitment and appointment of teachers to fill teaching posts is a matter for the individual school authority. The deployment of teaching staff in the school, the range of subjects offered and ultimately the quality of teaching and learning are in the first instance a matter for the school management authorities.
The school to which the deputy refers is an Education and Training Board (ETB) school. The Department provides a staffing allocation to each ETB and the distribution of this staffing allocation between its schools is a matter for the Chief Executive of the ETB scheme in question.
Local Authorities
Ceisteanna (935)
Fergus O'Dowd
Ceist:935. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education the details on the total amounts of monies awarded to Louth County Council by her Department in each of the years 2016 to 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; if she will seek details on the total monies drawn down and spent by Louth County Council over the same years in tabular form, and if not spent, the total monies that were returned to her Department respectively over the same years in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43516/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The table below sets out the total amounts of monies recorded on my Department's Financial Management System as having been paid to Louth County Council in each of the years from 2016 to 2021 and to date in 2022. It should be noted that the payments made to the Council in that period were to meet costs incurred by my Department that arose in the normal course of business and included fees relating to construction projects. I can confirm that no monies were returned to my Department respectively over the period in question.
|
2016 |
€815,000.00 |
|
2017 |
€8,453,251.95 |
|
2018 |
€8,517,209.44 |
|
2019 |
€399,685.40 |
|
2020 |
€179,508.91 |
|
2021 |
€1,195,363.74 |
|
2022 |
€0 |
|
Total |
€19,560,019.44 |
School Textbooks
Ceisteanna (936)
Steven Matthews
Ceist:936. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education the position regarding any initiative that seeks to reduce the number of school books required by school students; if she will reduce the number of new editions published each year to allow for second-hand sales; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43531/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As Minister for Education, I am acutely aware of the costs faced by families upon the return of their children to school. I am conscious that buying textbooks is a significant cost for parents and for this reason my Department provides a book grant to all recognised primary and post primary schools within the Free Education Scheme in order to provide assistance for books including Book Rental Schemes. Under this scheme, my Department provided funding of €18.2 million in 2022 to all of these schools. Schools participating in my Department’s DEIS Programme receive an enhanced rate of book grant
Schools are expected to adopt a cost-conscious approach to the selection of books for use in their classes. Apart from a small number of prescribed texts at post-primary level, determined by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA), the decisions on which textbooks, programmes and resources, if any, to use in primary and post-primary schools are taken at school level.
It is a matter for the Board of Management of each individual school to decide on its own policy in relation to the use of book grant funding in the school. The current arrangement relies on the local knowledge of the school in order to ensure a fair allocation of funds to those students most in need.
Additional funding of €1million was provided under Budget 2020 to provide free books in DEIS primary schools on a pilot basis. This funding was allocated to 102 DEIS primary schools for a pilot programme. The pilot provides for free school books for students in the schools involve in order to support these schools in eliminating the cost of school books for parents. This pilot programme is being continued for the 2022/2023 school year and will be subject to evaluation.
Members of the Irish Educational Publishers’ Association (IEPA) subscribe to a Code of Practice which includes an agreement that publishers will not revise any texts within at least four years - unless there is a change in the curriculum, the state examination or methods of assessment, or if there is a recognised teacher-led demand to do so.
The Education (Student and Parent Charter) Bill is currently before Dáil Éireann. When enacted, it will improve how schools engage with students and their parents by requiring each school to consult with students and their parents on individual school plans, policies and activities, including school costs. This will help ensure that the various views of students and parents will be heard and responded to by schools.
Schools Refurbishment
Ceisteanna (937)
Paul Murphy
Ceist:937. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education the number of schools that applied for funding for ventilation or filtration systems in the context of Covid-19 under the minor works grant announced on 13 December 2021; the number that received that funding; and the amount of money that was awarded for these purposes. [43533/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Minor Works Grant for Primary Schools of €45m and the Exceptional Minor Works Grant funding for Post Primary Schools of €17m in December 2021 was made available to support the operation of schools generally and particularly within a Covid-19 environment, with a specific focus on providing additional support to schools for the implementation of the ventilation guidance published by the Department.
The payment of these grants gave schools the opportunity to undertake any minor works including ventilation improvements at local school level. Schools did not need to apply to the Department for approval to carry out works or to purchase items to improve ventilation.
The grant was paid directly into the school bank account, or the relevant ETB where applicable.
Applications from post-primary schools in the fee-charging sector were considered on a case by case basis.
Where the costs of ventilation works, exceed the funding provided through the Minor Works Grant, schools can submit an application for additional funding under the Emergency Works Scheme.
To date 20 schools have been approved for additional funding under the Emergency Works Scheme to assist with ventilation at a cost of circa €1.27 million.
Question No. 938 answered with Question No. 875.
Question No. 939 answered with Question No. 868.
School Transport
Ceisteanna (940)
Seán Sherlock
Ceist:940. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Education the engagement she received from other Ministers on the matter of school transport; and if she will detail those representations. [43552/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the last school year over 121,400 children, including over 15,500 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 €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.
In July 2022, Government announced funding for the waiving of school transport scheme fees for the 2022/2023 school year as part of a wider package of cost of living measures.
School Transport ticket registration for the 2022/23 school year closed on 29 July by which time almost 130,000 applications/registrations were received for mainstream school transport. This figure includes 44,299 new applications as well as roll-overs from the previous school year.
In the normal course of Dáil business I engage with other Ministers on a regular basis on a wide range of issues. I also receive representations from Ministerial colleagues in relation to a wide range of issues, including school transport matters.
With regard to the waiving of school transport fees for the 2022/2023 school year, on 26th July 2022 I submitted a memo to Cabinet asking Government to agree to the following:
- In light of the increasing cost of living and with a view to easing the financial burden on families, that as part of a set of initiatives to assist families with Back to School costs, students availing of the school transport scheme will not be charged fees for the academic year 2022/23. This is a temporary measure for the current year only.
- Pending completion of the outcome of the full review of the School Transport Scheme, that Temporary Alleviation Measures at post-primary level be continued for the 2022/2023 school year.
On 27th July 2022 a Government Decision issued, agreeing to these proposals.
Special Educational Needs
Ceisteanna (941)
John McGuinness
Ceist:941. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education if the appropriate supports required by a child (details supplied) will be provided immediately in accordance with the application made on their behalf; the supports, if any, that have already been approved for them; if funding has also been allocated; and if she will expedite a positive response. [43580/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The education of children with special educational needs is a key priority for this Government.
This funding provides for a range of teaching and other supports for students with special needs including Hearing Impairment.
The Department, either directly or through the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), provides for a range of supports in schools to enable them to educate children with Hearing Impairment including additional teaching support, specialist equipment and access to Special Needs Assistant (SNA) support, depending on the child's level of assessed needs.
The Department of Education's policy is that children with special educational needs should attend a mainstream class where possible and with additional supports where required
The Department provides for a range of placement options for students who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing, where s/he will have access to an education appropriate to their level of need
Many Deaf or Hard of Hearing students attend mainstream classes at primary and post-primary level whilst other children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing and have more complex needs may attend special classes, which have lower student teacher ratios.
Special class students have opportunities, where appropriate, to integrate and interact with mainstream peers.
In line with advice from supporting professionals, other children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing may avail of a placement in one of the two schools for the Deaf. These schools have reduced class sizes and provide specialist supports in line with the children’s needs.
There are extensive education supports in place to support children who are Deaf/Hard of Hearing. These include
- the provision of funding to provide ISL tuition for children and their families
- additional teaching and care supports in school in line with need
- assistive technology to enable students access and engage the school curriculum
- supports provided by the National Council for Special Education which include the Visiting Teachers for students who are Deaf / Hard of Hearing (VTDHH) who work with students and their families and their schools
- professional development for teachers
The NCSE can also give approval to a school to appoint a communication worker who is required to have an appropriate level of proficiency in ISL. This person will support students whose main language is ISL to assess the curriculum and participate in school life.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) Support Service includes Visiting Teachers, who are qualified teachers with particular skills and knowledge of the development and education of children with varying degrees of hearing loss and/or visual impairment. They offer longitudinal support to children, their families and schools from the time of referral through to the end of post-primary education
Each visiting teacher (VT) is responsible for a particular region and is allocated a caseload of students. The VT supports children/young people, parents, guardians, teachers and other professionals involved with the child
The visiting teachers offer guidance in matters pertaining to the child’s education and overall development and in helping the children to derive maximum benefit from the educational opportunities available
Earlier this year Minister Foley and Minister Madigan announced details of an enhanced scheme for the provision of Irish Sign Language (ISL) in-school support for students who are deaf and whose primary means of communication is ISL.
The new scheme will involve two key strands of support:
- Programme of intensive in-school support for individual students to enable them access teaching and learning and participate in school life
- Programme of training and support to build capacity among the school community including teachers, special needs assistants, other school staff and pupils on communication using Irish Sign Language
The new scheme is targeted at children and young people attending primary, special and post-primary school who meet the following criteria:
- were born without an auditory nerve or due to infection, disease, trauma, failed technology intervention (for example cochlear implants), their auditory nerve has ceased to function completely and whose primary means of communication is using Irish Sign Language
Under the scheme, a package of dedicated specialist ISL supports will be allocated to relevant schools so these students have a more inclusive school experience.
The operational details of the new scheme are currently being finalised and these details will be announced in the coming weeks.
The school has been advised by the NCSE of the approval to recruit an additional SNA with ISL skills in this case.
The NCSE has advised that they are in ongoing contact with school and the family in relation to the matter.
School Facilities
Ceisteanna (942, 1048)
Aodhán Ó Ríordáin
Ceist:942. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education the estimated cost of ensuring that each primary and secondary school has a school library, a school librarian, and access to the school digital library service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43591/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra
Patricia Ryan
Ceist:1048. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Education the progress being made to ensure that all primary and post primary schools have a school library, school librarian and full access to the school digital library service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44323/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 942 and 1048 together.
My aim for Budget 2023 is to continue to deliver on the priorities outlined in the Programme for Government and to continue to support the students, staff, and families in the education sector.
In the lead up to the Budget, my Department receives a number of pre-budget submissions from a number stakeholders in the education sector and from organisations involved in other areas of public policy. As in previous years, relevant submissions continue to be reviewed and they will inform the specific budgetary priorities that I will be seeking to achieve in Budget 2023.
The estimated costing in relation to the provision of libraries in approximately 3,300 primary and 730 post-primary schools would be substantial. For example the provision of a librarian in each school would have an estimated cost of €212,000,000 per annum. The provision would include many different factors in addition to librarians such as provision of the physical space, fixtures and fittings, IT facilities, librarian assistants, stock (physical and digital), national co-ordinator, professional development etc.. In order to have accurate costings an evaluation would be required to include an assessment of the different school structures as each school type would require different works etc.
Under the Programme for Government my Department was tasked with the development of a successor Literacy, Numeracy and Digital Literacy Strategy. The strategy will be informed by robust research to include consideration of national and international practice, by extensive stakeholder engagement and public consultation. It is intended that the new strategy would be published in 2023 and will run for ten years. This strategy will set the vision for the coming 10 years with recommendations/ actions to improve literacy and numeracy levels from early years to post-primary level.
Disadvantaged Status
Ceisteanna (943, 1028, 1032)
Aodhán Ó Ríordáin
Ceist:943. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education the estimated cost of ensuring that each DEIS secondary school is funded for the provision of a junior certificate schools programme library; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43592/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraPatricia Ryan
Ceist:1028. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Education if she will expand the number of junior certificate school programme libraries in secondary schools from the existing 30 as per the 2005 DEIS plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44162/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra
Catherine Connolly
Ceist:1032. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education the analysis that her Department has carried out in advance of Budget 2023 into expanding the number of Junior Certificate school programme libraries in secondary schools from the existing 30 as per the 2005 DEIS plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44175/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 943, 1028 and 1032 together.
My aim for Budget 2023 is to continue to deliver on the priorities outlined in the Programme for Government and to continue to support the students, staff, and families in the education sector.
In the lead up to the Budget, my Department receives a number of pre-budget submissions from a number stakeholders in the education sector and from organisations involved in other areas of public policy. As in previous years, relevant submissions continue to be reviewed and they will inform the specific budgetary priorities that I will be seeking to achieve in Budget 2023.
A review of the Junior Certificate Schools Programme (JCSP) is underway. Schools that currently offer the JCSP have been advised that they may continue to do so. While the review is ongoing, no new applications are currently being accepted from schools for entry to the JCSP.