Written Answers Nos. 430-449
430. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education the reason that the application for planning permission for a school (details supplied) was submitted with no up-to-date green measures which is out of line with Government policy and has led to the application being refused by the planners and yet another delay in the delivery of this school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50125/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra431. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education the reason that the interim application for a temporary school (details supplied) is delayed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50126/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra432. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education the steps that she will take to address the endless delays and disappointments in relation to the provision of a school building for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50127/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 430 to 432, inclusive, together.
In reference to the school to which the Deputy refers, I wish to clarify that planning permission has not been refused; it has been granted for interim accommodation on the school’s proposed permanent site with 18 conditions, 12 of which are prior to commencement. My Department’s Design Team has responded to the local authority with regard to the prior to commencement conditions and we are awaiting their response to same. Currently it is not possible to provide a timeline as to when the interim building will be in place.
Agreement in principle for the acquisition of the permanent site was reached with the Executive of Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council in June 2021, subject to the approval of the Elected Members of the Council.
The approval by the Elected Members to dispose of these lands to the Minister for Education was granted at a Council Meeting on 11th April 2022.
This acquisition is subject to the successful granted of planning permission for the permanent school facility.
With regard to the permanent school building project, my Department will shortly be commencing the tender process for the appointment of the Project Manager for the delivery programme which includes this school referred to by the Deputy. Once the Project Manager is appointed they will commence the tender process for the appointment of the Design Team that will take the project forward through the stages of architectural planning to tender and construction. The school will be kept fully informed as these steps are progressed.
My Department will continue to address the interim accommodation requirements for the school and will continue to keep the Patron Body and school community updated as these projects progress.
433. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education if she will investigate the requirement for an additional three classrooms for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50142/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn reference to the school to which the Deputy refers, the school is currently located at Collins Ave East in 5 classrooms. This accommodation is sufficient to accommodate the school’s mainstream requirements for this current academic year 2022/23. My Department will continue to address the interim accommodation requirements for the school for 2023/24 and will continue to keep the Patron Body and school community updated as matters are progressed.
434. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education if she will provide a comprehensive account of the circumstances that have caused a school building project (details supplied) to be delayed and ultimately having to be retendered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50150/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra435. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education if she will provide a detailed revised timeline for the completion of the school building project at a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50152/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 434 and 435 together.
The school referred to by the Deputy is at Stage 3 (Tender Action and Award). It was initially at an advanced stage of the tender process, but the recommended bidder notified the Design Team that due to market conditions, they were not in a position to accept the contract.
At the same time, the Design Team were liaising with Donegal County Council in relation to an application for temporary accommodation. They were informed that due to changes to the Planning Acts in September 2021, it was no longer possible to apply for an extension to the planning permission for the main building project and a new application would have to be submitted.
My Department authorised the Design Team to proceed with a new tender process, including the shortlisting of contractors, to run parallel with the new planning application. The new prequalification notices have been published on e-tenders.
Subject to no issues arising, it is envisaged that works could commence on site in Quarter 2 of 2023 with a completion timeframe of approximately 27 months thereafter.
436. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update on an application for school transport for a number of pupils (details supplied) in County Sligo; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50153/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraSchool Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of my 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.
My Department and Bus Éireann will continue to provide School Transport Scheme services in line with the process that was in place for the 2021/2022 school year for children arriving to Ireland from Ukraine. Full information on the process is available on Gov.ie.
Children who for the first time require School Transport for the 2022/2023 school year will need to apply in line with this process. Due to the ongoing situation with accommodation, where there has been, and may continue to be, significant movement of families, all Ukrainian children who had availed of School Transport for the 2021/22 school year need to re-apply for transport for the 2022/23 school year in line with this process.
My Department has received applications for school transport from the pupils referred to by the Deputy and sanction was recently given to Bus Éireann to establish a service for these pupils. Bus Éireann are now in the process of tendering this service in line with procurement guidelines and once this process is complete, the service will commence.
While every effort will be made to ensure school transport services are up and running as they are required, given the ongoing movement and arrival of families, it may in some cases take some time to arrange services for families as information becomes available for those who require school transport.
437. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education the total number of ASD spaces available for post-primary students in the east Meath catchment area (details supplied); if urgent intervention will be provided to increase the ASD units in a school or other post-primary schools to cater for additional placements in this area of significant population growth; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50162/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI would like to thank the Deputy for the question and would like to advise the following:
Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for this Government.
For 2022, 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.
For 2023, this spend will be substantially increased by over 10%, meaning that for 2023 my Department will spend over €2.6 billion on special education.
This level of educational funding and support is unprecedented and represents in excess of 27% of the Department’s total allocation for 2023.
This includes additional teaching and care supports. It also includes funding for the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) for an additional 54 psychologists to provide services to special schools and special classes.
In 2022, funding for an additional 980 teachers and 1,165 special needs assistants was provided. For 2023, the number of teaching and SNA posts in our schools will increase with an additional 686 teachers and a further 1,194 special needs assistants in our schools next year.
For the first time ever we will have over 19,000 teachers working in the area of special education and over 20,000 Special needs assistants. Together we have almost 40,000 qualified and committed people in our schools who are focused wholly and exclusively on supporting children with special educational needs.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children nationwide.
In 2023, there will be a significant investment in the expansion of the National Council for Special Education, with a total full-year investment of €13 million, in over 160 additional staff. This investment is being undertaken so that the NSCE can respond effectively, compassionately and quickly to the increased need in our education system so that children and their families are fully supported and achieve the best possible education outcomes.
My Department and the NCSE continue to work very closely in planning for the delivery of new places required to meet forecasted demand.
I am satisfied that this approach is delivering. We have seen 392 new special classes open, bringing the total of special classes to 2,543 opened nationwide for the 2022/23 school-year. The 392 new special classes for 2022/23 is broken down by 260 at primary level and 132 at post primary level. The NCSE has advised my Department that there are sufficient special class places available at primary and post-primary for the start of this school year 2022/2023.
For 2023, a further 370 special classes will open, taking the total number of special classes to over 2,900 in 2023. My Department is engaging intensely with the NCSE in relation to the forward planning of new special classes for the next school year 2023/2024. This work involves a detailed review of statistical data in relation to forecasting demand for special class places, consideration of improved data sharing arrangements and a particular focus on the provision of special classes at post-primary level.
Information on the list of schools with special classes, the types and locations of these classes is published on the NCSE website and is available at www.ncse.ie.
NCSE is continuing to engage with schools regarding the establishment of additional special classes for the next school year 2023/2024. Every support will be made available to schools to progress the opening of special classes in the shortest possible timeframe.
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 you 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.
438. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education the progress that is being made in delivering ASD classes for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50175/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI would like to thank the Deputy for the question and would like to advise the following:
Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for this Government.
For 2022, 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.
For 2023, this spend will be substantially increased by over 10%, meaning that for 2023 my Department will spend over €2.6 billion on special education.
This level of educational funding and support is unprecedented and represents in excess of 27% of the Department’s total allocation for 2023.
This includes additional teaching and care supports. It also includes funding for the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) for an additional 54 psychologists to provide services to special schools and special classes.
In 2022, funding for an additional 980 teachers and 1,165 special needs assistants was provided. For 2023, the number of teaching and SNA posts in our schools will increase with an additional 686 teachers and a further 1,194 special needs assistants in our schools next year.
For the first time ever we will have over 19,000 teachers working in the area of special education and over 20,000 Special needs assistants. Together we have almost 40,000 qualified and committed people in our schools who are focused wholly and exclusively on supporting children with special educational needs.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children nationwide.
In 2023, there will be a significant investment in the expansion of the National Council for Special Education, with a total full-year investment of €13 million, in over 160 additional staff. This investment is being undertaken so that the NSCE can respond effectively, compassionately and quickly to the increased need in our education system so that children and their families are fully supported and achieve the best possible education outcomes.
My Department and the NCSE continue to work very closely in planning for the delivery of new places required to meet forecasted demand.
I am satisfied that this approach is delivering. We have seen 392 new special classes open, bringing the total of special classes to 2,543 opened nationwide for the 2022/23 school-year. The 392 new special classes for 2022/23 is broken down by 260 at primary level and 132 at post primary level. 100 of these new classes are being provided in the Dublin region. The NCSE advise my Department that there are sufficient primary and post-primary special class places available at the start of this school year 2022/2023.
For 2023, a further 370 special classes will open, taking the total number of special classes to over 2,900 in 2023. My Department is engaging intensely with the NCSE in relation to the forward planning of new special classes for the next school year 2023/2024. This work involves a detailed review of statistical data in relation to forecasting demand for special class places, consideration of improved data sharing arrangements and a particular focus on the provision of special classes at post-primary level.
Information on the list of schools with special classes, the types and locations of these classes is published on the NCSE website and is available at www.ncse.ie.
NCSE is continuing to engage with schools regarding the establishment of additional special classes for the next school year 2023/2024. Every support will be made available to schools to progress the opening of special classes in the shortest possible timeframe.
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 you 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.
439. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Education the definitive date for the publishing of 2022 junior certificate results; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50186/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the state examinations.
In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.
440. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education when sanctioned school transport will be put in place for a pupil (details supplied) in Dublin 9; the reason for the delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50190/22]
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, the 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 the pupil referred to by the Deputy is eligible under the terms of the scheme and a sanction has been sent by School Transport Section of my Department to Bus Éireann for the establishment of a new service for the pupil to the school referred to by the Deputy.
Bus Éireann have tendered this service in line with procurement guidelines and are in the process of allocating a contractor to operate this service, once a contractor has been sourced, the service will commence. Bus Éireann will liaise with the family directly with regard to this matter at that stage.
Both the Department and Bus Éireann are very conscious of the challenges faced by parents awaiting transport for students with special educational needs. Families of children who are eligible for these services may therefore apply for the Special Transport Grant, which is a once off payment, paid retrospectively to families once the School Transport service is in place and is to assist with the cost of private transport arrangements the family had put in place until services are finalised. Families should contact School Transport Section at: school_transport@education.gov.ie for more information on how to apply for this grant.
441. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Education if she will intervene in the case of a threatened expulsion of an autistic student from a autism class in a primary school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50197/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn accordance with Section 23 of the Education (Welfare) Act 2000 the board of management of every recognised school is legally obliged to prepare a code of behaviour in respect of the students registered in their school. This code of behaviour is prepared in consultation with the principal, teaching staff and the parents of students registered in the school. The code is required to consider the needs of children with special educational needs.
Recognising that expulsion of a student is a serious decision it can only be made by the schools board of management. The board must, before expelling a student, notify the Educational Welfare Officer (EWO), in writing and outline the reasons for the proposed expulsion. The board of management cannot confirm the expulsion until the passing of 20 school days from the date the EWO receives such notice. This 20 day period allows the EWO to convene a meeting under Section 24 of the Education (Welfare) Act, 2000 of all the relevant educational partners involved with the case including behavioural analysts if appropriate, to see if an alternative option other than expulsion can be reached.
Under section 29 of the Education Act, 1998 an appeals process is available to a parent/guardian following expulsion of their child. An independent appeals committee is appointed to consider all such appeals. In circumstances where the appeals committee decision is to allow such appeals the school is directed to readmit the student.
Additional supports are also provided by my Department and other agencies to assist schools in managing pupil behaviours. The National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) provide both individual casework service for pupils and a support and development service for teachers and school staff.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) provide educational support services including allocation of resources for schools, provision of professional learning and in school support teams.
I have sought an update on the case referred to by the Deputy from the NCSE.
442. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Education the number of children who have applied for a school bus ticket in each primary and post-primary school in County Limerick in the current academic year; the number of pupils who have been awarded a ticket and the number of pupils who have been awarded a ticket but have not gotten a seat in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50200/22]
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 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.
Already over 125,000 tickets have issued for the 2022/2023 school year. At the start of the last school year, there were circa 103,600 children carried on mainstream school transport services so already in the region of 21,400 additional places have been created, which is over 20% of an increase. There has been an increase of over 18% to date in the number of tickets issued to eligible pupils and an increase of over 27% to date on 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 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 be 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 29 April and registered for a ticket by 29 July.
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.
The School Transport Scheme is a demand led scheme, as numbers are still being finalised for the 2022/23 school year, while it is not possible to provide specific information until all applications have been processed, so far, 5,529 tickets have issued to students in Limerick for the 2022/2023 school year, this is an increase of over 25% on the number of tickets issued in the 2021/2022 school year. This number may change as Bus Éireann continue to process a 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.
443. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 185 of 5 October 2022, the reason that a school (details supplied) cannot get a broadband connection given that it can be serviced with a full fibre connection with speeds up to 2Gbps, super-fast broadband from commercial operators; the measures that are being taken to alleviate the obstacles to have this school connected to broadband within the earliest timeframe; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50204/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the current primary broadband programme, my department continually reviews the availability of services and upgrades schools where the opportunity arises, in line with contractual and budgetary requirements. As the Deputy will be aware the schools broadband programme operates subject to procurement regulations through a publicly procured Framework of Providers of Broadband Services. The Framework of Providers of Broadband and Associated Services for Primary schools was recently renewed, and it is open to all providers to apply for that Framework. The programme operates on the basis of mini-competitions from that Framework, per procurement obligations, and the service being provided to the school is the best available through that Framework. I understand a previous attempt to connect this school to the fibre infrastructure unearthed civil works issues to the school that required intervention, and the service provider could not connect the school to the fibre network as a consequence.
As previously stated, 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 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 broadband service provided to the school will then be determined following completion of the tendering process. My officials will work with the successful service provider to ensure delivery of service is completed as soon as possible.
444. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education the number of teachers who are registered on the teacher supply panel; the number currently on the panel who have not been assigned to a school; the number of panellists by county; and the number of vacancies by county in primary and second-level schools. [50238/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs part of the COVID-19 supports provided to schools in 2020, additional funding of €41.2 million was allocated to provide primary schools with substitute staff.
This funding allowed for the expansion of the Substitute Teacher Supply Panel from a pilot scheme consisting of 6 base schools to 132 Substitute Teacher Supply Panels nationwide, with almost 380 newly appointed Supply Panel teachers employed, providing substitute cover to over 2,500 schools across the country. The posts are allocated to the base schools in the cluster and teachers are employed by those schools.
The scheme was further expanded in the 2021/22 school year and currently there are 151 Supply Panel clusters, with 610 posts allocated to the scheme, providing substitute cover in 2,843 schools. The recruitment and appointment of teachers to fill the Supply Panel teaching posts is a matter for the individual base schools.
The number of supply panel posts per county is attached.
|
County |
No. of Supply Panel Posts 2022/23 |
|
Carlow |
6 |
|
Cavan |
8 |
|
Clare |
12 |
|
Cork |
65 |
|
Donegal |
23 |
|
Dublin |
183 |
|
Galway |
32 |
|
Kerry |
9 |
|
Kildare |
33 |
|
Kilkenny |
4 |
|
Laois |
11 |
|
Leitrim |
7 |
|
Limerick |
31 |
|
Longford |
8 |
|
Louth |
29 |
|
Mayo |
16 |
|
Meath |
19 |
|
Monaghan |
7 |
|
Offaly |
11 |
|
Roscommon |
6 |
|
Sligo |
7 |
|
Tipperary |
23 |
|
Waterford |
9 |
|
Westmeath |
8 |
|
Wexford |
14 |
|
Wicklow |
29 |
|
Total |
610 |
445. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the extent to which she can continue to alleviate hardship caused by the lack of the availability of school transport in respect of various school-goers at primary and second level in County Kildare; if concessionary tickets may issue in the short term given the fact that parents are at work and unable to do school deliveries or pickups; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50291/22]
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.
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.
Children who are eligible for school transport and who have completed the application process on time will be accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation.
Children who are not eligible for school transport, but who completed the application process on time, will be considered for spare seats that may exist after eligible children have been facilitated; such seats are referred to as concessionary seats.
Temporary Alleviation Measures is a measure pending completion of the review of the School Transport Scheme, which was initially introduced at post-primary level in 2019 and will be continued for the 2022/2023 school year. Under these measures, transport will be 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 29 April and registered for a ticket by 29 July.
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.
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.
446. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the extent of the expected impact on the improvement of pupil-teacher ratios at primary and second level in County Kildare and throughout the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50292/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Programme for Government there is a commitment to seek to make further progress in reducing the pupil teacher ratios in primary schools.
In Budget 2023, I ensured major investment in our schools and I have succeeded in bringing the teacher allocation ratio to an average of 1 classroom teacher for every 23 pupils in all primary schools for the 2023/24 school year which is the lowest ever seen at primary level. This was my third successive Budget which saw an improvement in allocation of teachers to primary schools. Budget 2021 reduced the staffing schedule to an average of 1 classroom teacher for every 25 pupils, while Budget 2022 reduced it further to 1 classroom teacher for every 24 pupils. A three point reduction in the retention schedule, in place since 2021, assists schools that would otherwise be at risk of losing teaching posts. There is no change to the pupil teacher ratio at post-primary level. Teachers are allocated at a ratio of 19:1 in the Free Education System and 23:1 to schools in the fee-charging sector.
The latest figures in relation to pupil teacher ratio shows an improved ratio of teachers to pupils from 15.7:1 to 13.7:1 at primary level when comparing the 2016/17 school year to the 2021/22 school year. This compares favourably with the OECD pupil teacher ratio which is 1:15. In the same period the staffing schedule improved from 27:1 to 25:1. Average class sizes improved from 24.6 to 22.8 in the same period. The budget measures will continue the positive trend of improving class sizes for this school year, and statistics on this will be published at the end of the school year.
447. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the number of school building projects currently in-hand in County Kildare at primary or second level; the expected dates of completion for each project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50293/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder Project Ireland 2040, the education sector will receive a total of approximately €4.4 billion capital investment over the period 2021-2025. This significant investment allows us to move forward with certainty on our ambitious plans and deliver high quality building projects, with a real focus on sustainability, for school communities across Ireland. This investment will build on the good progress being made on adding capacity to cater for demographic changes and provision for children with special educational needs. This investment will also facilitate an increased focus on the modernisation of existing school stock and help transition the school system for an era of net zero carbon by 2050.
My Department has a large pipeline of projects for delivery under the school building programme. The main elements of this pipeline currently involve in excess of 1,300 school building projects for delivery under the Department’s Large Scale and Additional Accommodation Scheme. These projects are currently in progress across the various stages of planning, design, tender and construction. Most of which are expected to be either under construction or completed in the period up to 2025.
During the period 2018 to 2021 691 school building projects were completed under the Large Scale Capital Programme (LSCP) and the Additional School Accommodation Scheme (ASA). These projects delivered in excess of 64,000 school places.
There are approximately 1,300 school building projects currently in progress across the various stages of planning, design, tender and construction under the Large Scale and Additional School Accommodation Scheme, of which 48 school building projects are in County Kildare. Most of these projects are expected to be either under construction or completed in the period 2022 to 2025.
The current status of all projects are listed on a county by county basis at www.gov.ie. and is updated on a regular basis to reflect their progress through the various stages of capital appraisal, site acquisition, design, tender and construction.
This also lists all school building projects completed under the Large Scale and Additional Accommodation Scheme, in county order, from 2010 to date.
448. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the progress to date in relation to the three-school project at Hazelhatch, Celbridge, County Kildare, incorporating a replacement school (details supplied) which is now an urgent requirement and two other schools on a single site; if all the necessary road and realignment works have been completed by the local authority to facilitate this progress; when construction work will start in respect of each of the schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50294/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe project to which the Deputy refers has been devolved to the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) for delivery as part of a programme of school building projects.
A letter was issued by the Department to the schools earlier this year to advise that their respective school had been included in the programme. The NDFA has since been in contact with each school to introduce the team, communicate arrangements and discuss the project briefs.
The next step is for the NDFA to procure a Design Team for the project bundle to progress the projects through the design stages. An estimated timeline for the completion of the project will be available once the design stages have concluded.
449. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the extent to which procedures are in place to prevent school bullying; the number of reported incidents in all schools throughout the country in recent times; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50295/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Action Plan on Bullying, which was published in January 2013, sets out my Department's approach to tackling bullying and promoting an anti-bullying culture in schools. The Action Plan contains 12 actions that focus on the provision of support for schools, teacher training, research and awareness raising and aims to ensure that all forms of bullying are addressed. A number of these actions have been implemented in full while others, which by their nature involve continuous action, are the subject of ongoing implementation.
As part of the implementation of the Action Plan, anti-bullying procedures for all primary and post primary schools, which include a specific reference to cyberbullying, were published at the beginning of the 2013/14 school year. The procedures are designed to give direction and guidance to school authorities and school personnel in preventing and tackling school-based bullying behaviour amongst its pupils and in dealing with any negative impact within school of bullying behaviour that occurs elsewhere. They include specific requirements in relation to the use of prevention and education strategies and the consistent investigation, follow up and recording of bullying behaviour.
The procedures recognise that a positive school culture and climate is key and set out a very practical way on what schools must do to both prevent bullying and to deal with bullying when it occurs.In accordance with the Anti-Bullying Procedures, where a parent is not satisfied that a school has dealt with a bullying case in accordance with the procedures the parents must be referred, as appropriate to the school's complaints procedures.All Boards of Management are required to adopt and implement an anti-bullying policy that fully complies with the requirements of these procedures. A template policy is provided in the procedures to help facilitate schools in this regard.
The Board of Management must ensure that the school has clear procedures for the formal noting and reporting of bullying behaviour, and these must be documented in the schools’ anti-bullying policy.The procedures for schools include important oversight arrangements that involve the school principal reporting regularly to the Board of Management and a requirement for the Board to undertake an annual review of the school's anti-bullying policy and its implementation. Confirmation that the annual review has been completed must be provided to the Parents' Association and published on the school website.
As the Deputy may be aware, I established a Steering Committee to review the 2013 Action Plan on Bullying in February of this year. This Steering Committee is chaired externally by Dr. Noel Purdy of Stranmillis University College in Antrim. This review involves significant consultation and collaboration across my Department, with other Government Departments and Bodies including the Ombudsman for Children, and also involves consultation with a broad range of education stakeholders, including parents and students, school management bodies and teacher and school staff unions.
The review is taking account of the significant developments and relevant research since the action plan was published in 2013. It is specifically considering cyber bullying, identity based bullying and sexual harassment, among other areas.
The review is also giving detailed consideration to the recommendations contained in the Oireachtas Joint Committee Report on School Bullying and the Impact on Mental Health which was published in August 2021.
The Steering Committee consists of senior officials from the Department of Education, including the Inspectorate and the National Educational Psychological Service, representatives of the National Parents’ Council Primary, National Parents’ Council Post-Primary, Irish Second Level Students’ Union (ISSU), the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, the National Anti-bullying Research Centre in DCU and other external experts and representatives of advocacy organisations which include BelongTo, Webwise, Parentline National Traveller Women’s Forum, Women’s Aid and the Independent Living Movement Ireland and two anti-racism advocates. The Steering Committee has held ten meetings to date.
A number of consultation strands have been conducted over the past few months including focus groups with children and young people, focus groups with school staff and members of the school community and a public consultation process. This extensive consultation process will ensure that my Department captures as many voices as possible to inform the development of an inclusive and comprehensive Action Plan on Bullying.
A Working Group has been established to review and update the Anti-bullying procedures for Primary and Post Primary Schools in parallel with this work. The working group is comprised of representatives from each of the relevant management bodies and teacher and school staff unions, along with representatives from the National Parents’ Council Primary, National Parents’ Council Post-Primary, Irish Second Level Students’ Union (ISSU) and the National Anti-bullying Research Centre in DCU.
