Written Answers Nos. 180-199
180. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Defence if all his Department's buildings have recycling arrangements in place; if not, the steps that are being taken to ensure that the recycling of workplace waste is facilitated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49549/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that the Department of Defence, as part of its waste management contract, has recycling procedures in place in all its buildings for the disposal of waste material through recyclable methods. This includes:
The introduction of recycling stations throughout the building, consisting of:
- clean recyclable waste
- non-recyclable waste
- compostable and glass bins
To further promote recycling, generic waste bins have been removed from individual desks and offices;
Our waste/recycling companies then further separates our waste into Paper, Plastic, Tin and film at their facilities;
- All confidential waste is shredded and recycled
- Glass bins are collected and recycled regularly
- Electrical waste is disposed of through local recycling centres
181. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the reason that special schools are not sanctioned for the post of home school liaison officer. [48665/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe DEIS programme is the Department of Education’s policy response to the issue of educational disadvantage. The Home School Community Liaison (HSCL) Scheme is an integral element of the DEIS programme. It is a school-based intervention provided to DEIS schools to address the needs of pupils at most risk of educational disadvantage. The role of the HSCL Coordinator is to work primarily with the salient adults in the child’s life, in order to empower them, so that they can better support their children to attend school, participate in education and develop positive attitudes to life-long learning. Central to the HSCL initiative, is the identification of educational needs and the provision of a tailored and proportionate response to those needs, through a range of interventions, which are evidence-based, focused and structured.
HSCL supports are provided to all DEIS Urban and DEIS Post-Primary schools. In the 2022/23 school year there are 529 HSCL posts allocated to provide supports to approximately 207,000 students under the DEIS programme. A further 4 posts are allocated to support schools participating in the National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy (NTRIS) STAR pilot working with Traveller and Roma students.
Enabling children with special educational needs (SEN) to receive an education appropriate to their needs is a priority for this Government. It is also a key priority for me as Minister for Special Education & Inclusion, for my Department and for the National Council for Special Education (NCSE). This year, my Department will spend in excess of €2 Billion, or over 25% of the Department’s budget on providing additional teaching and care supports for children with special educational needs. As a result, the number of special education teachers, special needs assistants and special class and special school places are at unprecedented levels. Staffing ratios in special schools are significantly lower than in mainstream schools and are intended to ensure that the needs of students can be met effectively.
While the benefits of having good links between the home and school are acknowledged for all students, there are no current plans to extend DEIS programme measures to special schools.
182. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education if she will resolve an issue facing a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48694/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe school to which the Deputy refers was approved under my Department's Additional School Accommodation (ASA) Scheme for a range of additional accommodation including a Music room, Textiles room, Art room, Graphics room, 2 Multi Media rooms, a Science Lab, 2 Technical rooms, 3 SEN class bases and various preparation areas.
I am also pleased to inform the Deputy that this devolved delivery project also included modular accommodation and the school was recently approved for the rental of two SEN units pending the delivery of the rest of the brief.
183. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Education when a person (details supplied) will receive a school bus transport ticket; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48704/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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.
It is very important for families to note that the application deadline for 2022/23 was 29 April 2022, and that the deadline to confirm registration for tickets was 29 July 2022. Any application completed after this date is a ‘late application’ and therefore, many school transport services are already operating at full capacity. Late applications will only be assessed after all “on time” applications have been processed and there can be no guarantee of places for late applicants. “
Bus Éireann has advised that the child referred to by the Deputy is eligible for school transport under the terms of the scheme but was unsuccessful in obtaining a seat on board a school transport service for the 2022/23 school year as they did not complete the ticket registration process by the closing date of 29 July. The existing service in the area referred to by the Deputy is currently operating at capacity.
184. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Education the number of applications that have been received and approved, respectively per county for school bus transport in the 2022-2023 school year in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48717/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraSchool 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 coming 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.
Already over 124,000 tickets for the 2022/2023 school year have been issued to applicants for the new school year, which is an increase of over 20% on the numbers of tickets issued at this time last 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.
As Bus Éireann is continuing to work through a small number of remaining on time applications, it is not possible to provide the information in the manner requested by the Deputy.
Bus Éireann will continue to process applications and to issue tickets as soon as extra buses and drivers are sourced and become available to provide transport for the higher numbers qualifying for the service.
Following discussions with Minister McGrath and officials in DPER as part of the budgetary process some additional funding has been approved for the scheme which will allow officials in consultation with Bus Éireann to consider and evaluate where temporary additional capacity may be available.
The initial focus will be where families applied on time and who previously held concessionary tickets, to alleviate the impact of the increased demands on the scheme for those families. However, it is important to stress that this is subject to capacity considerations. Constraints in sourcing vehicles and drivers in certain areas of the country may also mean that it may take a number of weeks to explore solutions for additional capacity.
185. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education her Department's strategy to support digital skills and highspeed broadband in primary schools; if her Department's attention has been drawn to issues in relation to a school (details supplied) that are impacting the ability of the school to access highspeed broadband; the measures that are being taken to alleviate these obstacles; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48720/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe delivery of high quality internet connectivity for all schools is a key objective of my Department. It is accepted that good connectivity is essential to ensure that schools are facilitated to progress the embedding of digital technologies in teaching and learning and for the implementation of new and revised curriculum. My Department operates the Schools Broadband Programme at an annual cost of some €13m, with at least 98% of schools included in this scheme providing connectivity to these schools through a range of technologies at the best level of connectivity available based on local infrastructure.
My Department is now implementing a project to provide high speed broadband connectivity through the Schools Broadband Programme for primary schools outside of the National Broadband Plan Intervention Area, and where commercial provision is neither available nor planned. That project is supported by funding under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) and is managed by HEAnet on behalf of my Department. My Department is committed to providing all primary schools with high speed broadband in 2023 through the National Broadband Plan, commercial provision, and the NRRP project. The school referred to by the Deputy is currently on a 12mbs dedicated wireless service, however the school is included in the next tender for services under this high speed broadband programme which is due to issue shortly, with high speed connectivity to be provided early in 2023.
The National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) has been developed by the Government so that Ireland can access funding under the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility. Ireland is expected to receive €988 million in grants under the Facility. The Recovery and Resilience Facility is the largest component of NextGenerationEU, the European Union’s response to the global pandemic. The aim is to help repair the immediate economic and social damage brought about by the pandemic and to prepare for a post-Covid Europe that is greener, more digital, more resilient and fit to face the future.
The new Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027 was published on the 17th April and has at its core the aim of empowering schools to further embed digital technologies across their teaching, learning and assessment. It sets out how the development of digital skills are supported in schools and builds on the key achievements under the previous strategy. It aligns closely with the EU Digital Education Action Plan 2021-2027 and also takes into consideration the National Digital Strategy ‘Harnessing Digital: The Digital Ireland Framework as well as other relevant policies and strategies.
186. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Education the number of persons within her Department who are working remotely on a part-time or full-time basis in County Clare in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48731/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing the publication of the Blended Working Policy Framework for the Civil Service by my colleague the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, my Department has developed a draft blended working policy based on the overarching framework, tailored to its business requirements. Consultation on this policy is currently underway with staff representatives. Once agreed and rolled out, staff members will be eligible to make applications to work remotely for a number of days per week and register a remote working location. This will require the approval of line management, in line with the parameters set out in the Department’s blended working policy. In the interim, the majority of staff of my Department are currently attending the office for a minimum of two days per week and working remotely for the remaining days in the line with the phased return to physical attendance in the workplace following the easing of Government restrictions earlier this year.
187. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Education if she will address payroll issues in a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48799/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm to the Deputy that an Official from my Department has been in direct contact with the Principal of St. Attracta's Junior National School. The issue in relation to the submission of appointment forms for a number of teachers at the school has been resolved and the teachers concerned will be paid together with any arrears due at the next available pay date.
188. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education if she will ensure that a person (details supplied) will continue to be provided with transport and issued a bus ticket given that State-provided school transport is their only means of getting to school; if she will review the circumstances of this case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48819/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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.
It is very important for families to note that the application deadline for 2022/23 was 29 April 2022, and that the deadline to confirm registration for tickets was 29 July 2022. Any application completed after this date is a ‘late application’ and therefore, many school transport services are already operating at full capacity. Late applications will only be assessed after all “on time” applications have been processed and there can be no guarantee of places for late applicants. “
Bus Éireann has advised that the child referred to by the Deputy is eligible for school transport under the terms of the scheme but was unsuccessful in obtaining a seat on board a school transport service for the 2022/23 school year as they did not complete the ticket registration process by the closing date of 29 July. All existing services in this area are currently operating at capacity.
189. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education if she will ensure that a person (details supplied) will continue to be provided with transport and issued a bus ticket given that State-provided school transport is their only means of getting to school; if she will review the circumstances of this case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48820/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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 advised that the children referred to by the Deputy are eligible for school transport under the terms of the scheme and did not complete the ticket registration process by the closing date of 29 July. However, Bus Éireann has advised due to available capacity on the service both children have been issued a ticket on board a school transport service for the 2022/23 school year.
190. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education if she will give consideration to an appeal by a school (details supplied) for additional staff. [48843/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September.
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 is a historical low ratio, with lower thresholds applying to DEIS Urban Band 1 schools.
The staffing process contains an appeals mechanism for schools to submit a staffing appeal under certain criteria to an independent Primary Staffing Appeals Board. Details of the appeal process are available in Circular 25/2022.
My Department has received a staffing appeal from the school referred to by the Deputy for consideration at the October meeting of the Primary Staffing Appeals Board. The school will be notified of the outcome of the appeal later this month.
191. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education if an application by a student (details supplied) who is availing of special education transport will be processed without further delay. [48844/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraSchool 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.
The National Council for Special Education acts in an advisory role to the Department of Education on the suitability of placements for children with special educational needs. Under the terms of the School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs, my Department will consider the report of the Special Education Needs Organiser (SENO). School transport is provided to children with special educational needs who are attending the nearest school to their place of residence that is or can be resourced to meet their educational needs, as identified by the SENO.
I am pleased to advise that this pupil has been deemed eligible to the school they are attending. Bus Éireann have advised that they are in the process of arranging a transport service for the pupil in question and they will be in contact with the family directly to confirm when a service has been established.
192. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Education the number of additional seats on school buses that have been allocated in County Limerick from the last academic school year, 2021/2022 and this school year, 2022/2023 since the announcement that students availing of the school bus transport scheme would not be charged fees; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48875/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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.
Nationwide, in the region of 20,400 additional places have been created, which is a a 20% overall increase. There has been an increase of 18% to date in the number of tickets issued to eligible pupils and an increase of 27% to date on the number of tickets issued to concessionary pupils, compared to the start of the 2021/2022 school year.
Bus Éireann are continuing to process applications and to issue tickets as soon as extra buses and drivers are sourced and become available to provide transport for the higher numbers qualifying for the service. Therefore, final figures for the 2022/2023 school year are not available at present.
However, Bus Éireann have advised that so far, in the current school year an additional 852 tickets have been issued to families for transport on school buses in County Limerick compared to the last academic school year (2021/2022). A tabular statement is provided below:
|
No. of Mainstream tickets issued for schools located in Limerick |
Number of tickets issued |
|
No. of tickets issued in September 2021 for 2021/2022 school year |
4420 |
|
No. of tickets issued as of 26th September 2022 for 2022/2023 school year |
5272 |
193. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Education when a pupil (details supplied) will receive their school bus ticket. [48929/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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.
I am pleased to advise that the pupil referred to by the Deputy is eligible under the terms of the scheme as they are attending their nearest school.
An application for transport was first received for this pupil on 30/08/2022 for the 2022/23 school year. A ticket was issued to this pupil on 03/10/2022.
194. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Education the number of students there are enrolled in primary education and separately in post primary education as of 30 June 2022, in tabular form. [48939/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraPlease find attached requested information.
Final enrolments for the 2021-2022 academic year for both primary and post-primary can be found on the Departments website at the link below;
gov.ie - Data on Individual Schools (www.gov.ie)
|
Primary |
||
|
Academic Year (Enrolment) |
School Type Description |
Enrolment per Return |
|
2021 |
Mainstream Schools |
546,106 |
|
2021 |
Special Education |
8,682 |
|
Total |
554,788 |
|
|
Post-Primary |
||
|
Academic Year (Enrolment) |
School Type Description |
Enrolment per Return |
|
2021 |
Post-Primary |
391,698 |
|
Total |
391,698 |
195. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education if she will outline the additional funding that has been made available in Budget 2023 to provide free school transport from October 2022 to children who had concessionary tickets for bus transport in 2021 and who had applied in-time for inclusion in the 2022 scheme; when these children can expect to receive their tickets; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48940/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraSchool 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.
As you are aware, 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.
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.
There has been an increase in tickets allocated across all counties, with an increase of 18% in the number of tickets issued to eligible pupils compared to start of the 2021/2022 school year and an increase of 27% in the number of tickets issued to concessionary pupils compared to the start of the 2021/2022 school year.
The normal eligibility criteria of the scheme still apply.
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.
All children who are eligible and who completed the application and registration process on time will be accommodated in the 2022 school year. In addition, pending completion of the outcome of the full review of the School Transport Scheme, Temporary Alleviation Measures at post-primary level 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.
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 on when all eligible children have been catered for.
The School Transport Scheme is a demand led scheme and numbers are still being finalised for the 2022/23 school year as Bus Éireann continue to process the small number of remaining on time applications. Where additional services may need to be put in place for eligible children, any capacity on these services will be offered to concessionary applicants.
Following discussions with Minister McGrath and officials in DPER as part of the budgetary process some additional funding has been approved for the scheme which will allow officials in consultation with Bus Éireann to consider and evaluate where temporary additional capacity may be available.
The initial focus will be where families applied on time and who previously held concessionary tickets, to alleviate the impact of the increased demands on the scheme for those families. However, it is important to stress that this is subject to capacity considerations. Constraints in sourcing vehicles and drivers in certain areas of the country may also mean that it may take a number of weeks to explore solutions for additional capacity.
196. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update on a matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48944/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Payroll Division within my Department have been in contact with the individual concerned and I wish to confirm that the relevant bank details have been updated.
197. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education if she will ensure that a school (details supplied) which has an application for additional accommodation and new-build SEN classes currently with her Department’s technical team; if she will review the circumstances of this case and assist this school in progressing this project and have these unacceptable delays resolved immediately; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48984/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe school to which the Deputy refers to was approved funding under the Additional Accommodation Scheme to build a two classroom SEN base and associated reconfiguration works. This project is being devolved for delivered by the School Authority.I can confirm that my Department received a Stage 1/2A report from the school which was considered by my Department’s Technical and Professional staff. A response was recently issued to the school which requested a revised proposal in compliance with the level of accommodation for which the school received funding approval for.
198. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education the details of any contracts or services procured by her Department with top security, including any that are subcontracted to top security; the value of such contracts since 2015 to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48992/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is currently reviewing its records for the information requested by the Deputy. My officials will forward a reply to the Deputy’s office in due course.
199. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Education when the information supplied by a person (details supplied) will be processed;; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49054/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to inform the Deputy that an Official from my Department has been in direct contact with Ms. Curtin. The issue in relation to change of bank account details in has been resolved.
