Written Answers Nos. 466-485
466. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education if schools (details supplied) will be considered for future iterations of the Schools Energy Retrofit Pathfinder Programme; if this programme will be expanded; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51846/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs I have already advised the Deputy, the general principles and approach to school selection include schools meeting Energy Monitoring and Reporting requirements and demonstrating a strong and holistic commitment to energy management practices through participation in the Energy in Education Programme. The programme selection also seeks to enable various cross sections of school types and sizes, energy consumption profiles and different elements of construction type and heritage/ conservation requirements where specific learnings are being targeted. The pathfinder programme is thus delivered on broad assessment in line with the above considerations and not on an application basis.
The Climate Action Plan 2021 Annex of Actions published earlier this year commits the Department to confirm its decarbonisation pathway trajectory to meet 2030 and 2050 targets for the schools sector by the end of 2022. This Plan commits my Department to develop and resource a scalable model of energy efficiency retrofits in the school sector by Q4 2023. The pathfinder programme is paving the way for, and informing this larger schools national programme for the energy retrofit of schools built prior to 2008 as included in the National Development Plan and will play a key part of meeting delivery of the Climate Action Plan.
I will also be announcing in due course a Climate Action Summer Works Programme to progress climate action specific initiatives which will assist with rollout of smaller scale energy retrofit works in schools.
467. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education the status of a payment (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51905/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe school to which the Deputy refers recently submitted a request for the final drawdown of funding for the project approved under my Department's Additional School Accommodation (ASA) Scheme.
Department officials authorised this request on the 10th of October 2022. The funds should be in the school's account shortly.
468. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the fact that educational psychology is now the only professional psychology training programme not in receipt of funding (details supplied); if she will ensure that there is an extension of funding to include educational psychology; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51910/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra481. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education if there will be any funding brought forward for third year trainee counselling psychologists. [51685/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 468 and 481 together.
The National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) provides a much valued service to all recognised primary and post-primary schools. NEPS provides a broad service and encompasses a model that seeks to strengthen the overall capacity of the system to support the wellbeing, participation and inclusion of all children and young people in our schools, but particularly for those with special educational needs. Our psychologists work with teachers, parents and children/young people in schools to provide a range of services as follows:
- Psychologists support schools to identify and respond to need, through regular planning and review meetings.
- They provide support to schools in the event of a Critical Incident.
- They provide a school staff Support and Development Service, which supports school staff in their work. This might include, for example, training staff in the provision of trauma informed school approaches, or in the provision of evidence-based programmes to strengthen resilience and reduce anxiety. This broad service is provided to an estimated 25,000 school staff annually.
- Psychologists also provide an individual casework service for children and young people, and this is a much valued element of their work in schools. This is where the focus of the work is on individual students, and the psychologist meets school staff, parents and the student themselves, in order to identify and assess student strengths and needs and agree on an appropriate plan of intervention and review. In these cases, NEPS psychologists always provide a written report for parents and the school principal. In 2021, the NEPS casework service extended to over 8500 students. Additionally, under the Scheme for Commissioning Psychological Assessments (SCPA) process, private psychologists provided assessment to schools for over 900 students.
My Department has established a high-level working group, chaired by the Secretary General, to examine how NEPS can best continue to recruit adequate numbers of suitably qualified staff and continue to respond to the educational psychological needs of children in recognised primary and post-primary schools across the country.
The group has agreed on a number of actions that must be taken to address supply issues in the medium to long term. These include the development of a workforce plan for educational psychologists within the Department of Education and work has begun with other Government Departments to advance this.
A number of options were considered to address some immediate supply issues. Following analysis of these, it was decided that the Department would use some available NEPS funding to sponsor a cohort of third year students of the Educational Psychology Doctoral programme in University College Dublin (UCD) and Mary Immaculate College (MIC) University of Limerick, for the academic year 2022/23 by providing a contribution towards their fees and associated expenses. The workforce planning group referred to above will be asked to make some interim recommendations in Q2 of next year regarding any other short-term measures required in advance of their final report. It is envisaged that funding supports for students on the educational psychological doctorate programme will be considered as part of this process.
In the interim, given the particular time pressures for students in third year of the programme, interviews will be held in the coming months to provide financial support to those students of Educational Psychology, currently on training placements in NEPS who are due to complete their doctoral training programme in 2023. Details will be made available in the coming weeks.
469. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education if she will ensure that a child (details supplied) will be provided with school transport; if she will review the circumstances of this case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51912/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraSchool Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year over 121,400 children, including over 15,500 children with special educational needs, 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 the “School Transport Scheme for children with Special Educational Needs” is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children with special educational needs arising from a diagnosed disability.
The National Council for Special Education through its network of Special Education Needs Organisers (SENOs) acts in an advisory role to my Department on the suitability of placements for children with special educational needs. Eligibility is determined following consultation with the National Council for Special Education through its network of SENO’s.
I am pleased to advise that the child referred to by the Deputy is eligible for school transport under the terms of my Department's School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs.
Bus Éireann has advised that there is no existing suitable service available to accommodate the child. In such circumstances, my Department will offer a Special Transport Grant (STG) towards the cost of private transport arrangements until a suitable service becomes available. A special transport grant has been offered to the family referred to by the Deputy.
Where a family is not in a position to avail of the special transport grant, they are advised to notify the School Transport Section of my Department in writing by completing the STG Return Form which is attached to the STG Letter. On receipt of the STG Return Form, School Transport Section will liaise with Bus Éireann toward the establishment of a service.
470. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Education further to the case of a student who was not awarded a concessionary school transport ticket in 2022 but had been awarded a concessionary school transport ticket in 2021, if they are entitled to a ticket in 2022, following her recent announcement as part of Budget 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51917/22]
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.
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. Already over 125,000 tickets for the 2022/2023 school year have been issued to applicants for the new 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.
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 the 29th of April and registered for a ticket by the 29th of July.
As you are aware additional funding has been approved following the budget for the scheme which will allow my 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.
471. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Education if she will ensure that a school bus ticket is issued to a child (details supplied); the reason that the size of the bus for the route in question was reduced in this academic term considering the additional demand; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51936/22]
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. The cost of the scheme in 2021 was €289m.
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.
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.
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.
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.
It is important 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 Eireann has advised that the pupil referred to by the Deputy did not request a ticket before the closing date of 29th July 2022. The existing service is currently operating to capacity and there are no seats available at present.
Bus Eireann has further advised that the vehicle capacity has not been reduced on this service. A 53-seat vehicle operated the route referred to by the Deputy in the last school year and will continue to operate the route this year.
472. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire den Aire Oideachais cad iad uimhreacha rolla agus ainmneacha na scoileanna sin a raibh scoláirí iontu a rinne scrúdú T1 Gaeilge an Teastais Shóisearaigh in 2022; agus an féidir leis an Aire líon na ndaltaí a rinne an scrúdú sin i ngach ceann de na scoileanna sin in 2022 a sholáthar. [51939/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraTá an fhreagracht reachtúil ar Choimisiún na Scrúduithe Stáit as cúrsaí oibríochta a bhaineann leis na scrúduithe stáit.
Mar gheall air seo, tá d'fhiosrú curtha ar aghaidh agam chuig Coimisiún na Scrúduithe Stáit le freagra díreach a chur chugat.
473. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education if there are any plans for parents of school-age children who have no access to public buses to offset the price of this service (details supplied); and if she will examine the options for these families and possibly discuss with Bus Éireann regarding the possibility of servicing the area. [51946/22]
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.
The normal eligibility criteria of the scheme still apply.
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 at post-primary level will be continued for the 2022/2023 school year pending completion of the review of the School Transport Scheme. This will mean that transport arrangements will continue to be provided for a number of post-primary students who are attending their second nearest school, who have applied and registered on time and who live more than 4.8km from their nearest school.
It would appear from the details supplied by the Deputy that the service in question is operating outside the Scheme over which my Department and Bus Éireann has no remit.
474. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Education her support in securing a meeting for a school (details supplied) with the planning and building unit of her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51948/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise that the school referred to by the Deputy will relocate to an existing building currently occupied on an interim basis by another school while awaiting the construction of a building project for that school.
In this regard, the building project for that school is advancing through the tender process. Subject to no issues arising, it is currently envisaged that works could commence in Quarter 4 with a completion timeframe of approximately 18 months.
475. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education if it is the intention to increase the grant payment for behavioural support to a school (details supplied) given that this post is not considered a public service post and has not increased in 17 years while school employees such as SNAs and teaching staff are due to receive a 6-7% pay increase in the coming 12 months. [51958/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra476. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education if it is the intention of her Department to fund the position of behavioural analyst for a school (details supplied) after June 2023 when the current contract is due to expire; and the amendments or considerations that have been given to ensure that the notification date of rolling contracts forward is made to the school at an earlier point in the year to allow for planning by the school. [51959/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 475 and 476 together.
I 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 Deputy may be aware that my Department previously funded 13 centres through an ABA pilot scheme for the period 1999-2011. All of these centres applied for and were granted recognition as Special Schools for children with Autism and now form part of the network of special schools. A transitional agreement was put in place between the Department and Patrons of these schools to manage this process.
As part of the transitional agreement my Department continues to provide grant funding to these schools to engage behaviour practitioners. This arrangement has been extended for the 2022/23 school year. There are no plans to increase this grant payment.
477. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Education if a child (details supplied) who has always travelled with their twin siblings on the bus to school can continue to travel with them; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51963/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraSchool Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year over 121,400 children, including over 15,500 children with special educational needs, 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 the School Transport Scheme for children with Special Educational Needs is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children with special educational needs arising from a diagnosed disability.
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.
Two of the siblings referred to by the Deputy are eligible under the terms of the above scheme and I am pleased to advise that they are being accommodated on a dedicated service for children with special educational needs, however, the third sibling is not eligible under the terms of the scheme.
The Department and Bus Éireann are very conscious of the specialised nature of transport provision for children with special educational needs. This is reflected in the standard of dedicated service provided and the fact that these services are generally planned and timetabled to operate on a door-to-door basis. In certain cases, the Department also provides funding to schools for the employment of escorts to accompany children whose care and safety needs require this level of support while they travel to and from school.
Given the concerns regarding welfare of children with special educational needs, it is not always practical to make these services available to children who are capable of travelling on standard mainstream school transport services. As to do so might diminish the level of care and safety that the Department and Bus Eireann wish to provide for these vulnerable children.
Children who are attending mainstream schools may apply for school transport in accordance with the terms of the Department’s School Transport Schemes for Primary Schools.
478. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to a school (details supplied) that is seeking details on the past-pupil status of a child’s brother or father and information on the parents’ occupations on the application form for enrolment; and if this is considered appropriate by her Department for State schools to discriminate in enrolment based on such details. [51966/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra479. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to a school (details supplied) that lists the siblings or parents of a child having been past pupils of the school as grounds for priority treatment, or positive discrimination, for that child being allowed to enrol at the school; and if such discrimination is considered appropriate by her Department. [51967/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 478 and 479 together.
In relation to school admissions, it is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998 and the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018.
Under the provisions of the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018, all schools are required to have admissions policies, which have been approved by the patron, following consultation with staff and parents of children who are attending the school. The school’s admissions policy is published on the schools website. It is a key requirement of the act that all school admission policies are fair and transparent.
Parents have the right to choose which school to apply to and where the school has places available for the relevant year, the pupil/student should be admitted. However, in schools where there are more applicants than places available, a selection process will be necessary. This selection process and the enrolment policy on which it is based must be non-discriminatory and must be applied fairly in respect of all applicants. However, this may result in some pupils/student not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice.
The act requires schools to clearly set out their selection criteria in their admission policies. Schools have discretion in relation to their admission criteria and how they are applied. The criteria to be applied by schools and the order of priority are a matter for the schools themselves.
A school may not provide priority based on a student's connection to the school by virtue of a member of his or her family attending or having previously attended the school, however an exception is made, where a parent or grandparent of the student concerned has previously attended the school, provided the maximum number of places for such children of past pupils does not exceed 25% of the available places in the school. Schools can also include a selection criteria for siblings of the student is attending or has attended the school.
The act prohibits schools when deciding on an application from taking into account the occupation, financial status, academic, ability, skills or aptitude of a student’s parents. It is an important feature of the act that schools can only make a decision on an application for admission that is based on the schools admission policy. In relation to the request of a school referred to by the Deputy seeking the occupation of the parents, the Department will contact the school in relation to this matter.
480. 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. [51997/22]
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 child referred to by the Deputy is eligible under the terms of the scheme and was issued a ticket for a school transport service for the 2022/23 school year.
482. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education if the attention of her Department has been drawn to issues relating to the recruitment and retention of school principals; and if so, the actions that it is taking to address them. [52036/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department offers an Employee Assistance Service (EAS) for all school staff in recognised primary and post primary schools. This free service includes a wide range of supports including a confidential 24/7 helpline, short-term counselling, a wellbeing portal and webinars. It also provides advice and support to managers to help them deal with health and wellbeing issues in the workplace.
The recruitment and appointment of teachers to fill teaching posts including Principal posts is a matter for the individual school authority, subject to procedures agreed under Section 24 of the Education Act 1998 (as amended by the Education (Amendment) Act 2012).
My Department recruitment and appointment circulars set out the relevant qualifications for appointment to the post of Principal. Section 4 of Chapter 4 of Circular 0044/2019 sets out the eligibility criteria for appointment to the post of Principal:
"On application for the post of Principal/Deputy Principal the applicant must meet the eligibility criteria for the setting in which the vacancy arises.
Primary schools with less than 80 pupils
Fully registered under Route 1 (Primary) with the Teaching Council.
Primary schools with 80 pupils or more
Fully registered under Route 1 (Primary) with the Teaching Council and have 5 years recognised teaching service, two of which must be in a recognised primary school within the Republic of Ireland.
Special Schools
Fully registered under Route 1 (Primary) or Route 4 (Other) with the Teaching Council and have 5 years recognised teaching service, two of which must be in a recognised primary school within the Republic of Ireland.
Special School where children are enrolled up to the age of 18 years of age
Fully registered under Route 1 (Primary), Route 4 (Other) or Route 2 (Post Primary) with the Teaching Council and have 5 years recognised teaching service, two of which must be in a recognised primary school or post-primary school within the Republic of Ireland".
Circular letters 05/02, 06/02 & 07/02 set out the eligibility criteria for appointment to the post of Principal in a Post Primary setting: "Candidates for appointment to the post of Principal or Deputy Principal will be required to have a minimum of five years’ whole-time teaching service or its equivalent".
483. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education the number of principal vacancies in schools across the country. [52037/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy that at the end of the 2021/22 school year there were 3,395 persons in receipt of a Principals Allowance, in respect of 3,240 primary schools (including special schools and special settings).
There were 484 persons in receipt of a Principals Allowance in respect of 479 voluntary and community and comprehensive post primary schools (excluding ETB schools).
These figures include persons who may have retained a Principal allowance on a personal to holder basis, following a school amalgamation, or school closure.
As the appointments process for the 2022/23 school year is still ongoing, with some appointment forms still being received, it is not possible to advise as to the exact number of current principal vacancies in schools across the country.
Schools may continue to submit appointment forms for teaching posts, or for posts of responsibility, including Principal or Deputy Principal’s posts. Schools may also appoint persons to replace retirements which occur over the course of the school year.
I recognise the key role school leadership has in promoting a school environment which is welcoming, inclusive and accountable.
Accordingly, significant additional supports have been provided in recent years to support leadership in schools, providing for additional posts of responsibility which support to work of school Principals.
Budget 2017 allowed for the commencement of restoration of middle management posts as part of an agreed distributed leadership model and meant lifting the rigidity of the longstanding moratorium on these posts. The equivalent of approximately 1,300 middle management posts (Assistant Principal I and Assistant Principal II) were restored at both Primary and Post-Primary level. (2,600 in total)
The Department has committed to annually revising the allocation of Posts of Responsibility to take into account retirements during the school year which has ensured that the current level of Posts of Responsibility (POR’s) are maintained in the school system. New POR threshold tables are produced each year to distribute these POR’s equitably across all school.
Currently one in three teachers hold a promotional post within our schools.
The Sectoral Bargaining process under Building Momentum for the primary sector has been used to increase posts of responsibility (POR) in primary and special schools by 1,450 posts. The distribution of these additional posts of responsibility are comprehended in Circular 0043/2022 - Allocation of Assistant Principal Posts 2022/2023.
Since the commencement of the restoration of these posts at Post-Primary, there has also been an increased allocation in respect to Deputy Principal posts with over 450 additional posts allocated to schools. In the 2021/22 school year, the enrolment threshold for the allocation of an additional deputy principal in DEIS post-primary schools was reduced from 700 to 600 pupils. These additional posts provide resources to focus on leadership and management in our schools.
This recognises the key role school leadership has in promoting a school environment which is welcoming, inclusive and accountable.
I am also aware that Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for school leaders is vital in developing the skills, knowledge and dispositions that are critical to effective leadership in schools.
The Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST) Leadership Team supports leaders at all levels within schools, while the Centre for School Leadership also provides Professional Executive Coaching to Principals in primary schools and to primary teachers who are part of the school leadership team.
The Junior Cycle for Teachers (JCT) supports also provides a comprehensive programme of CPD for school leaders and teachers.
Supports are provided for school leaders regularly throughout the school year and addresses the expressed needs of school leaders.
484. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education the number of school principals who have retired from their post between since 2018 to date in 2022; and in which school they formerly worked. [52038/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy is not readily available in my Department.
My officials have commenced compiling the data and will forward directly to the Deputy.
485. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education if she will provide details of all monies paid by each religious order under the residential institutions redress scheme and all monies still outstanding in each case in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52041/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra486. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education if she will provide details of all monies paid by each religious order under the Ryan Report and all monies still outstanding in each case in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52042/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 485 and 486 together.
The 18 religious congregations involved in the management of most of the residential institutions in which child abuse took place have made contributions towards the costs incurred by the State in responding to that abuse under two rounds: the legally binding 2002 Indemnity Agreement and the voluntary offers made in 2009 in the aftermath of the publication of the report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse (the “Ryan Report”). The amounts offered by congregations total €480.6 million.
Some €125 million of the €128 million provided for under the 2002 Indemnity Agreement has been contributed, with the transfer of two properties remaining to be fully completed. The cash and counselling contributions received under the Agreement, amounting to some €65 million, were made on a collective basis and accordingly it is not possible to identify the amounts paid by individual congregations.
The voluntary offers made in the aftermath of the publication of the Ryan Report in 2009 included cash, properties and contributions in kind, and were valued by the congregations at €352.6 million. To date, contributions amounting to approximately €120 million have been received. When account is taken of offers not accepted, changes in the valuation of the properties offered and the value of properties offered but not being reckoned as a contribution, the total value of the voluntary offers achievable may be lower than the amount offered.
Cash contributions of approximately €111.53m have been received from the congregations and are set out in the table below.
2009 Voluntary Offers Cash Contributions Received
|
Congregation |
Cash Contributions Received (€) |
|
Brothers of Charity |
1,500,000 |
|
Christian Brothers |
30,000,000 |
|
Daughters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul |
10,000,000 |
|
Daughters of the Heart of Mary |
1,500,000 |
|
De La Salle Brothers |
1,000,000 |
|
Dominican Order |
6,500,000 |
|
Oblates of Mary Immaculate |
20,000,000 |
|
Hospitaller Order of St John of God |
1,000,000 |
|
Presentation Brothers |
4,600,000 |
|
Presentation Sisters |
4,000,000 |
|
Sisters of Charity |
2,000,000 |
|
Sisters of Our Lady of Charity |
1,500,000 |
|
Sisters of St Clare |
1,000,000 |
|
Sisters of St. Louis |
1,000,000 |
|
Sisters of Mercy |
25,928,659 |
|
TOTAL |
111,528,659 |
One further cash contribution is outstanding under the 2009 offers and will arise from the disposal of a property by the Sisters of Mercy.
