Robert Troy
Ceist:327. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education if school bus tickets can be issued to pupils (details supplied). [56270/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraSchool Transport
Ceisteanna (327)
Freagraí scríofa
The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. In the last school year over 121,400 children, including over 15,500 children with special educational needs, 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 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.
Bus Éireann has advised that the pupil(s) referred to by the Deputy are eligible as they are attending their nearest school.
Bus Éireann has also advised that the family submitted late applications. However, Bus Éireann is currently assessing the existing school transport service to ascertain if it can accommodate the pupils and will be in direct contact with the family in this regard.
Schools Building Projects
Ceisteanna (328)
Joe McHugh
Ceist:328. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Education when the new facilities at a school (details supplied) will go to tender; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56271/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The project referred to by the deputy was originally approved to proceed to tender stage a number of months ago. Following this authorisation, further scope and cost changes were introduced, which required assessment and approval before tender stage could commence.
I am pleased to inform the deputy that this process has concluded in the Department and approval to proceed to tender stage has now re-issued to Donegal ETB as appropriate.
School Transport
Ceisteanna (329)
Matt Carthy
Ceist:329. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 116 of 19 October 2022, the number of applicants for the school transport scheme in County Monaghan in 2022 who have yet to receive a bus ticket; the way that plans can be put in place to facilitate these students if this figure is not available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56275/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. In the last school year over 121,400 children, including over 15,500 children with special educational needs, were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country at a cost of over €289m in 2021.
In July 2022, Government announced funding for the waiving of school transport scheme fees for the coming school year as part of a wider package of cost of living measures.
Ticket registration for the 2022/23 school year closed on 29 July by which time almost 130,000 applications/registrations were received for mainstream school transport. This figure includes 44,299 new applications as well as roll-overs from the previous school year.
All on time mainstream eligible pupils have been issued with tickets and all mainstream concessionary pupils who met the qualifying criteria of the scheme have been allocated tickets for the 2022/23 school year.
Bus Éireann has advised that as of November this year 4000 mainstream tickets have been issued in county Monaghan which includes tickets issued to eligible pupils and those travelling on a concessionary basis.
All children who are eligible for school transport and who have completed the application process on time are 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 have 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 the 29th April and registered for a ticket by the 29th July.
The information required cannot be provided in the manner requested by the Deputy as Bus Éireann continue to consider and evaluate where additional capacity may be available. Bus Éireann have been prioritising areas where there were “on time concessionary pupils” who had tickets previously.
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.
Schools Building Projects
Ceisteanna (330)
Eoin Ó Broin
Ceist:330. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 244 of 15 September 2022, when the next bundle of projects is due to progress; the timeframe for the conclusion of the tender process; and the projected commencement and completion dates for the project. [56276/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
It is intended that the project referred to by the Deputy will be included in the next bundle of projects to proceed to tender in Q4 2022 and will be tendered to my Department’s Design & Build Contractors Framework.
The tender process takes approximately 8-10 months. Once a Contractor has been appointed, it is anticipated that construction would commence shortly thereafter. The construction of a 1,000 pupil post primary school on a Design & Build programme would normally take some 70 weeks.
Physical Education
Ceisteanna (331)
Eoin Ó Broin
Ceist:331. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education the steps that will be taken to ensure that all children in attendance at a school (details supplied) will have access to the required number of PE days. [56277/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Teacher allocations to all second level schools are approved annually by my Department in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolment. The criteria for the allocation of posts are communicated to school managements annually and are available on the Department website. In accordance with these rules, each school management authority is required to organise its subject options within the limit of its approved teacher allocation.
The recruitment and appointment of teachers to fill teaching posts is a matter for the individual school authority, subject to procedures agreed under Section 24(3) of the Education Act 1998 (as amended by the Education (Amendment) Act 2012). The deployment of teaching staff in the school, the range of subjects offered and ultimately the quality of teaching and learning are in the first instance, a matter for the school management authorities.
The school referred to is an Education and Training Board (ETB) school. The Department provides a staffing allocation to each ETB Scheme. The distribution of the staffing allocation between its schools is a matter for the Chief Executive of the ETB.
Schools Building Projects
Ceisteanna (332)
Eoin Ó Broin
Ceist:332. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update in respect of a capital project for a school (details supplied); if she will outline the remaining stages; and the projected timelines for the commencement and completion of the project. [56278/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The project for the school referred to by the Deputy is currently at Stage 1 of the architectural planning process and a design team was appointed in May 2022. The project has been devolved to the school patron for delivery under a Service Level Agreement.
It is a matter for the school authority and its design team to progress the project through the various stages of the architectural planning process including school design, obtaining the necessary statutory consents and move the project onward to construction stage in due course. As the project is at the early design stage, it is not possible, at this time, to give an indicative timeline for completion of the project.
My Department has recently received correspondence from the school authority relating to the project and a response will issue when this has been considered.
Special Educational Needs
Ceisteanna (333)
Eoin Ó Broin
Ceist:333. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education if she will outline the general rules under which a special school is eligible to access administration support; and if there is any flexibility to these rules. [56279/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I would like to thank the Deputy for the question and wish to advise the following:
Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for this Government.
My Department provides funding to all recognised Primary and Post-Primary schools in the Free Education Scheme by way of per capita grants. The two main grants are the Capitation grant to cater for day to day running costs including heating, lighting and the Ancillary grant to cater for the cost of employing ancillary services, such as administration.
These grants may be regarded as a common grant from which the Board of Management has the flexibility to allocate according to its own priorities. Boards of Management of schools are responsible for the employment of grant funded ancillary staff and it is a matter for each school to determine the level of ancillary services required.
In mainstream Primary Schools the Ancillary Services Grant is based on enrolments on 30 September in the current school year. In order to assist with the extra costs associated with the running costs of classrooms with a small number of pupils operating specialist provision, Special schools are paid the Ancillary Services Grant based on the number of authorised fulltime teaching staff approved by the Department for the relevant school. The maximum grant is paid based on a ceiling of 16 teachers.
Further information in relation to the Ancillary Grant payable at Primary level, including the current grant rates, is available in Circular 0017/2021.
Educational Disadvantage
Ceisteanna (334)
Eoin Ó Broin
Ceist:334. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education the reason that special schools are excluded from the DEIS programme; and if this will be reviewed, given the disadvantage experienced by some students attending special schools. [56280/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
In March this year I was glad to be able to announce a major expansion of the DEIS – Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools programme. This means that, for the first time since 2017, the programme has been significantly expanded to an additional 322 schools. Those schools are now gaining access to targeted supports to address educational disadvantage. This will add an additional €32million to my Department’s expenditure on the DEIS programme from 2023, bringing the 2023 allocation to in the region of €180million.
Schools with the highest levels of concentrated educational disadvantage were identified for inclusion in the programme through the refined DEIS identification model, which is an objective, statistics-based model. Schools were not required to apply for inclusion in the DEIS programme. The model uses information from the school’s individual enrolment database and 2016 national census data as represented by the Pobal HP Deprivation index. It also took into consideration the significant educational disadvantage experienced by Traveller and Roma learners and by students residing in direct provision or emergency homeless accommodation. A detailed paper on the refined DEIS identification model is available on gov.ie.
Enabling children with special educational needs (SEN) to receive an education appropriate to their needs is a priority for this Government. Special schools receive significant funding and have been resourced to reflect their particular needs. For 2023, the special education budget will be substantially increased by over 10%, meaning that 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 of Education’s total allocation.
As a result, the number of special education teachers, special needs assistants and special class and special school places are at unprecedented levels. 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.
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. These lower ratios generally facilitate greater connection between the schools and families. My Department will continue to engage with special schools, including through representative bodies such as NABMSE, to identify further improvements needed to support their role.
It is important to note that the extension of the DEIS programme to new schools is just one phase of work in my vision for an inclusive education system which supports all learners to achieve their potential. While the DEIS programme supports those schools with the highest levels of concentrated educational disadvantage, I recognise that there are students at risk of educational disadvantage in all schools. Conscious of this and recognising the need to target resources to those schools that need them most, the next phase of work will explore the allocation of resources to schools to tackle educational disadvantage. Part of this programme of work will involve consultation with all relevant stakeholders.
State Examinations
Ceisteanna (335)
Paul Murphy
Ceist:335. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education if, in the process of standardisation of leaving certificate results year-on-year, there is any aspect of school profiling; if that standardisation takes place only on a national scale; and if there is any standardisation on a school-by-school basis (details supplied). [56292/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The 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.
Schools Building Projects
Ceisteanna (336)
Steven Matthews
Ceist:336. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education the reason that her Department has chosen to proceed with a new build for a school (details supplied) with a proposed capacity of 650 pupils, against the wishes of school management who requested a larger capacity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56291/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I wish to advise the Deputy that in order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a Geographical Information System, using data from a range of sources, including Child Benefit and school enrolment data, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise and where additional school accommodation is needed at primary and post-primary level.
The level of demand volume across school planning areas with an increasing net requirement range from small to medium increases that are likely to be accommodated by existing schools through to significant projected growth that may require additional provision. Where data indicates that additional provision is required at primary or post primary level, the delivery of such additional provision is dependent on the particular circumstances of each case and may be provided through either one, or a combination of, the following:
- Utilising existing unused capacity within a school or schools,
- Extending the capacity of a school or schools,
- Provision of a new school or schools.
Where capacity issues arise, it may not be as a result of lack of accommodation but may be driven by the following factors:
- Duplication of applications – pupils have applied for a place to a number of schools in the area
- School of choice – pupils can’t get a place in their preferred school while there are places in other schools in the town/area
- Some towns/areas have single sex schools and while places are available in the school they are not available to all pupils
- External draw – pupils coming from outside the local area
Similar to the process adopted in advance of the current academic year, my Department is engaging with patron bodies to identify particular capacity requirements for the forthcoming year(s) which may necessitate action including, where required, the provision of modular accommodation solutions.
Recent projections for the Blessington School Planning Area (SPA) indicate a slight increase in enrolment requirements at post primary level up to 2023, followed by a projected reduction in enrolments thereafter. My Department approved a building project for the school referred to by the Deputy that will deliver capacity for an estimated Long Term Projected Enrolment (LTPE) of 650 pupils. Pending delivery of the building project, my Department recently approved modular accommodation for the school consisting of Classrooms, Specialist Room, Classrooms for Special Education Needs and Toilets.
In response to a request from the patron of the school to increase the LTPE, my Department clarified the demographic position to the patron and stated that my Department is satisfied that the LTPE of 650 pupils should remain in respect of the major building project for the school. My Department has also indicated to the patron that it will consider permitting the retention of the modular accommodation should enrolment in the Blessington SPA increase beyond that identified in my Department’s recent projections. My Department will continue to keep the demographic position under review.
Teaching Council of Ireland
Ceisteanna (337)
Róisín Shortall
Ceist:337. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education if she will respond to matters raised in correspondence (details supplied) regarding the ability of elected members of the Teaching Council to attend its meetings; the steps she will take to ensure that elected members of the Teaching Council can attend meetings; if she will engage with the management of voluntary secondary schools on this matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56315/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I refer to the additional information as per the details supplied.
The Education Act establishes the Board of Management of a school with a statutory role to manage the schools and as an employer. As such the school has the authority to determine release time for its employees to participate in activities outside the school including Teaching Council duties.
While my Department sets out the composition of Boards of Management and Rules of Procedure it is not directly involved in the management of schools. My Department does not have the legal powers to instruct a school to follow a particular course of action in terms of day-to-day management of the school.
It is important to note that the Minister has no statutory function in this regard and therefore it is not appropriate for the Minister to intervene in this matter. My Department continues to support the Council in its work through the provision of substitution cover to allow schools to release the elected members of the Council for meetings.
The practice of releasing teachers to participate in Council work has worked very well since the establishment of the Teaching Council in 2006. The operation of the Teaching Council and the participation of teaching members of the Council is in part based on good will in the system and this has worked very effectively. There are no plans to amend legislation in this regard.
It should be noted the member referred to has been released by their school to facilitate their membership for a number of years. Furthermore, there has been no general issue with elected teacher members being released for Teaching Council business.
Ultimately, as employers, it is a matter for school authorities to consider and decide upon the release time of teaching staff.
Schools Building Projects
Ceisteanna (338)
Kathleen Funchion
Ceist:338. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education when the extension works will be commenced for a school (details supplied). [56328/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The project to which the Deputy refers has been approved funding under the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) Scheme to provide – 6x General Classrooms, 1x SET room, 1x Pastoral Office, 1x Graphics room, 1x Construction Studies room, 1x Engineering room, Prep Area and 2 x Project Store, Science lab/ Prep area, 2 Classroom SEN base.
The project has been devolved for delivery to CEIST (Catholic Education An Irish Schools' Trust)
I am pleased to inform the deputy that a Stage 1 Report has been reviewed in the Department and CEIST has been given authorisation to proceed to Stage 2a of architectural planning for detailed design as appropriate.
Education Policy
Ceisteanna (339)
Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire
Ceist:339. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the estimated cost of implementing "ESD to 2030: Second National Strategy on Education for Sustainable Development"; the amount that has been spent on this to date; and the estimated cost to fully implement this in each year and cumulatively. [56393/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I can advise the Deputy that the 2nd National Strategy on Education for Sustainable Development – ESD to 2030, was published in June 2022 and is available at: www.gov.ie/en/publication/02952d-national-strategy-on-education-for-sustainable-development-in-irelan/
ESD aims to ensure that by 2030 “all learners acquire knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including among others through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles, human rights, gender equality, promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship, and appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture’s contribution to sustainable development”. This is aligned to the Sustainable Development Goals Target 4.7. ESD is both an SDG target and a key enabler for all 17 SDGs.
Work under the first strategy 2014-2020 included integrating ESD principles and themes across the curriculum from Early Years to post primary education, into the inspection and assessment process, into Initial Teacher Education and Continuing Professional Development for Teachers, specific courses in Further Education and Training and research at Higher Education level. As such, the cost of implementing the first strategy was managed from the annual budgets provided to bodies under the aegis of the Department with minimal additional costs from the Department.
ESD to 2030 builds on the achievements under the first strategy and is based on 5 pillars from the UNESCO roadmap: namely:
- Policy Alignment
- Transforming Learning Environments
- Building Capacity
- Empowering and mobilising youth
- Community engagement
Implementation of ESD to 2030 is co-sponsored by the Department of Education, the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. The Plan contains actions spanning a number of Government Departments and funding of relevant actions will be a matter for those Departments to manage under the annual budgetary process. A Steering Group comprising relevant Government Departments and key funding agencies has been established to oversee implementation and to ensure cohesion in terms of policy and funding for ESD across government.
In 2022, the Department of Education has a specific budget of €300,000 for ESD. This funding has been used to fund a number of initiatives and projects including:-
- Work on the development and publication of ESD to 2030 including the convening of a stakeholder forum
- The Annual ESD forum
- Sponsoring the Dublin Gazette “Making Dublin Greener” competition for primary and post primary schools
- Funding for the Take 1 project
- ESD related research projects in collaboration with the Department of Foreign Affairs/ Irish Aid
- BTYSE ESD award sponsorship
- ESD Newsletter prizes for schools
- ESD call for funding for schools and organisations supporting ESD to 2030 in schools
In addition to the above, the Department of Education also funds:
- The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) to further integrate ESD across the curriculum and to develop the new Leaving Certificate subject – Climate action and Sustainable Development
- The school support services (Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST) and Junior Cycle for Teachers (JCT)) to provide CPD and resources for teachers to support ESD related teaching and learning
- The State Examinations Commission (SEC) to further integrate ESD into the assessment processes
Through the quarterly ESD Newsletter, the Department highlights further opportunities for ESD related funding from other sources such as local authorities, DFA/ Irish Aid, the EU, UNESCO and through competitions etc.,
ESD to 2030 also promotes and supports a range of ESD related programmes such as An Taisce’s Green Schools programme including the Safe Routes to Schools initiative, the SEAIs Schools Energy Programme and DFA/ Irish Aid’s Global Schools programme.
As set out above, future Department funding to support ESD to 2030 in schools will be subject to the annual budgetary process.
School Transport
Ceisteanna (340)
Colm Burke
Ceist:340. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education when a school transport service will commence for a pupil (details supplied) who started attending a special education class in September 2022 and who was awarded school transport under the school transport scheme for 2022-23; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56436/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year over 121,400 children, including over 15,500 children with special educational needs, 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 for school transport under the terms of the scheme. However, Bus Éireann has advised that there is no existing service available to accommodate the child referred.
Both the Department and Bus Éireann are very conscious of the challenges faced by parents awaiting transport for students with special educational needs. Where there is no existing school transport service available, School Transport Section offer a special transport grant (STG) to assist with the cost of private transport arrangements. Where a family are not in a position to avail of the grant option, they are asked to return the STG Return Form provided with the letter of sanction to the Department. The Department will then instruct Bus Éireann to commence sourcing a new service to accommodate the child.
Where a new service is required, Bus Éireann carry out a procurement tender process for this service in line with procurement guidelines and, once a contractor has been sourced, the service will commence. Bus Éireann will liaise with families directly with regard to this matter at that stage.
School Curriculum
Ceisteanna (341)
Aodhán Ó Ríordáin
Ceist:341. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education her views on whether the drinks industry-funded programmes should be delivered in schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56485/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
It is not appropriate that resources or materials produced or funded by the drinks industry, for education and awareness on alcohol, are in use in our schools. This is reflected in Departmental Circular 13/2016, Promotion of Healthy Lifestyles in Primary Schools, which states that schools should avoid using resources developed by the alcohol industry, and also in the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment's SPHE Guidelines for Teachers.
My Department is giving active consideration to how best to ensure that this position is reflected across our schools. In that regard it is continuing to liaise with the HSE, in the context of ongoing work with both the HSE and the Department of Health on the cross-Government Healthy Ireland programme, the national framework for action to improve the health and wellbeing of people in Ireland.
Schools Amalgamation
Ceisteanna (342, 344)
Pádraig O'Sullivan
Ceist:342. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education if she will furnish the details of the independent report regarding the amalgamation process between schools (details supplied) in Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56489/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraPádraig O'Sullivan
Ceist:344. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education her interaction or her Department's interaction with both schools (details supplied) regarding the amalgamation process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56491/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 342 and 344 together.
I wish to advise the deputy that he decision making authority for any amalgamation or change of status is the patron of the schools, subject to the approval of my Department. The Department has received correspondence from the patrons of both schools regarding their proposed amalgamation and a change of status of the new amalgamated school to co-educational. Local consultation regarding potential amalgamations is encouraged by the Department but it is the responsibility of the patrons to undertake any consultation that they deem appropriate and to make the final decision as to whether to amalgamate.
Information provided to the Department by the patrons indicated that there was a thorough local consultation process undertaken between March 2021 and February 2022 with the school communities of Catholic post primary schools in North Cork City. I am aware that there have recently been concerns raised by some members of the school communities. The Department understands that further discussions have since taken place between the two school patrons. The Trustees of St Vincent’s School have now written to the Department to confirm that they are withdrawing from the proposed amalgamation process with North Presentation Secondary School.
Schools Amalgamation
Ceisteanna (343)
Pádraig O'Sullivan
Ceist:343. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education if she will outline the formal process for the amalgamation of secondary schools; her role in this process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56490/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The decision making authority for any amalgamation or change of status is the patron/trustees of the schools, subject to the approval of the Department.
Any proposed change involves extensive negotiations at local level and must be well planned and managed in a manner that accommodates the interests of students, parents, teachers, local communities and contributes to an inclusive education system. It is also important that appropriate consultation is undertaken in advance.
The Patron and relevant stakeholders are also advised to consider the implications that any amalgamation proposal may have on items such as school accommodation, funding, staffing and school transport so that an informed decision can be made.
Question No. 344 answered with Question No. 342.