Written Answers Nos. 339-362
339. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Education when a person (details supplied) who has applied for a bus ticket for transport to school will receive this ticket; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58807/22]
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 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.
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.
Temporary Alleviation Measures is a measure pending completion of the review of the School Transport Scheme that was initially introduced at post-primary level in 2019 and will be continued for the 2022/2023 school year. Under these measures, transport will provided for post-primary pupils who are eligible for transport to their nearest school and are attending their second nearest school and who applied by the 29th April and registered for a ticket by the 29th July.
Bus Eireann have advised that the family details supplied by the Deputy do not appear on their system and that they will require the names of the pupils concerned and their school of attendance in order to provide a full report on the matter. The Deputy can send the information to school_transport@education.gov.ie.
340. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Education when a person (details supplied) who has applied for a bus ticket for transport to school will receive this ticket; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58808/22]
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 have been 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.
Bus Éireann has advised that the child referred to by the Deputy is eligible for school transport under the terms of the scheme but was unsuccessful in obtaining a seat on board a school transport service for the 2022/23 school year as the family did not submit an application before the closing date of 29 April or complete the ticket registration process by the closing date of 29 July. All existing services in this area are currently operating at capacity.
341. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Education when a person (details supplied) who has applied for a bus ticket for transport to school will receive this ticket; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58809/22]
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 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.
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.
Temporary Alleviation Measures is a measure pending completion of the review of the School Transport Scheme that was initially introduced at post-primary level in 2019 and will be continued for the 2022/2023 school year. Under these measures, transport will provided for post-primary pupils who are eligible for transport to their nearest school and are attending their second nearest school and who applied by the 29th April and registered for a ticket by the 29th July.
Bus Eireann have advised that the family details supplied by the Deputy do not appear on their system and that they will require the names of the pupils concerned and their school of attendance in order to provide a full report on the matter. The Deputy can send the information to school_transport@education.gov.ie.
342. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Education when a person (details supplied) who has applied for a bus ticket for transport to school will receive this ticket; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58810/22]
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 have been 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.
Bus Éireann has advised that the family referred to by the Deputy are not eligible for school transport under the terms of the school transport scheme and were unsuccessful in obtaining a concessionary seat on board a school transport service for the 2022/23 school year as the existing service is operating to capacity.
As part of the budgetary process, some additional funding has been approved for the scheme which will allow officials in the Department of Education, in consultation with Bus Éireann, 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.
343. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Education when a person (details supplied) who has applied for a bus ticket for transport to school will receive this ticket; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58811/22]
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.
Bus Éireann has advised that the children referred to by the Deputy are eligible for school transport under the terms of the scheme but were unsuccessful in obtaining a seat on board a school transport service for the 2022/23 school year as they did not complete the ticket registration process by the closing date of 29 July. All existing services in this area are currently operating at capacity.
344. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 333 of 15 November 2022, if her attention has been drawn to requests to make deputy principals administrative in all special schools; if her Department will reconsider the requirement for more than 15 teachers to obtain an administrative deputy principal in order to facilitate the request; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58852/22]
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 €2.3 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.
While the additional funding being made available to provide more special education teachers, SNAs, NCSE supports and NEPs supports in our schools is significant, it is accepted that there are a range of additional challenges facing our special schools. These schools support children and young people with the most complex special educational needs.
In terms of additional teaching support, special schools receive significant funding and have been resourced to reflect their particular needs. My Department does however recognise that there are additional challenges which arise for special schools including the importance attached to establishing and fostering positive links between the home, school and other agencies.
My Department is actively engaging with the representative body for boards of management in special schools (NABMSE – National Association of Boards of Management in Special Education) to address some of these additional challenges. In recent weeks, NABMSE has facilitated a series of meetings nationwide between my Department and special schools. This engagement involves considering how additional school management posts, such as a Deputy Administrative Principal, are allocated to special schools to help alleviate the administrative burden on school leaders.
Consideration is also being given to addressing the significant additional funding challenges that arise for special schools.
My Department is committed to continuing this engagement to address these issues facing special schools.
345. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 513 of 15 November 2022, if her Department intends to allow special schools to avail of DEIS supports. [58853/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department provides a wide range of supports to all schools, DEIS and non-DEIS, to support the inclusion of all students and address barriers to students achieving their potential. Supplementing these universal supports, the DEIS programme provides a targeted and equitable way to address concentrated educational disadvantage that promotes equity and has benefits for students.
The process to identify schools for inclusion in the DEIS programme was based on the principle of concentrated disadvantage. It aimed to identify those schools with the highest proportion of students from areas designated as disadvantaged. A detailed paper on the refined DEIS identification model is available on gov.ie at www.gov.ie/en/publication/a3c9e-extension-of-deis-to-further-schools/#how-schools-were-selected-for-inclusion-in-deis
It is the aim of this Government to ensure that all children with special educational needs have an appropriate school placement and that the necessary supports are provided to our schools to cater for their needs. 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.
There are no current plans to extend the DEIS programme to special schools. 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 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.
346. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education the reason that a school (details supplied) has had plans for special education classrooms rejected given that the school is unable to place a temporary room onsite until the plans are sanctioned; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58858/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm to the Deputy that the school referred to has been approved for a project under my Department's Additional School Accommodation (ASA) Scheme. The project will provide for the following accommodation at the school: 2x 15m2 SET room
I can advise the Deputy that a Stage 1/2a Report was submitted to my Department in September 2022. The stage report was reviewed by my officials and combined comments were issued to the school for appropriate attention. It is now a matter for the Board of Management to advance the project in that regard.
347. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the fact that a school (details supplied) is currently teaching SEN hours in a corridor under a stairwell which is proving very difficult for students who require movement breaks or are using specialist occupational therapy equipment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58859/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm to the Deputy that the school referred to has been approved for a project under my Department's Additional School Accommodation (ASA) Scheme. The project will provide for the following accommodation at the school: 2x 15m2 SET room
I can advise the Deputy that a Stage 1/2a Report was submitted to my Department in September 2022. The stage report was reviewed by my officials and combined comments were issued to the school for appropriate attention. It is now a matter for the Board of Management to advance the project in that regard.
348. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education if a school (details supplied) will be provided with a temporary SEN base until planning issues are resolved and approval is given for construction of special education classrooms; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58860/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm to the Deputy that the school referred to has been approved for a project under my Department's Additional School Accommodation (ASA) Scheme. The project will provide for the following accommodation at the school: 2x 15m2 SET room
I can advise the Deputy that a Stage 1/2a Report was submitted to my Department in September 2022. The stage report was reviewed by my officials and combined comments were issued to the school for appropriate attention. It is now a matter for the Board of Management to advance the project in that regard.
349. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education the current status of plans for special education classrooms in a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58861/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm to the Deputy that the school referred to has been approved for a project under my Department's Additional School Accommodation (ASA) Scheme. The project will provide for the following accommodation at the school: 2x 15m2 SET room
I can advise the Deputy that a Stage 1/2a Report was submitted to my Department in September 2022. The stage report was reviewed by my officials and combined comments were issued to the school for appropriate attention. It is now a matter for the Board of Management to advance the project in that regard.
350. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Education the status of progress of a new school (details supplied) for Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58874/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department is currently assessing options with a view to identifying the optimum solution for the long-term needs of the school referred to by the Deputy. This includes the consideration of the proposal to relocate to an alternative site/campus and also of other potential solutions, with a view to making the most appropriate provision possible for the school and for its current and future students. The Department will be in further contact with the school in due course, when its assessment process is further advanced. The school should be assured that the provision of appropriate accommodation for the school in question is a priority for the Department.
351. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education the status of an application by a family (details supplied) under the school transport scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58877/22]
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 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.
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.
Temporary Alleviation Measures is a measure pending completion of the review of the School Transport Scheme that was initially introduced at post-primary level in 2019 and will be continued for the 2022/2023 school year. Under these measures, transport is 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.
Bus Eireann have advised that the family details supplied by the Deputy do not appear on their system and that they will require the names of the pupils concerned and their school of attendance in order to provide a full report on the matter. The Deputy can provide the details to officials in the School Transport Section of my Department at: school_transport@education.gov.ie, where they will be happy to assist with the request.
352. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education if additional places will be offered to families that were unsuccessful in getting a place on the school transport scheme for a route (details supplied) and fulfil the eligibility criteria; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58878/22]
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 have been 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 a number of pupil(s) residing in the area referred to by the Deputy are eligible for school transport under the terms of the scheme but were unsuccessful in obtaining a seat on board a school transport service for the 2022/23 school year as they did not complete the ticket registration process by the closing date of 29 July. Bus Eireann have further advised that the existing services in this area are currently operating at capacity.
353. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education the status of a permanent school building for a secondary school (details supplied); the stage that the tender is at; the estimated timeframe for the new school building from construction to completion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58879/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe building project referred to by the Deputy is being delivered under my Department's Design and Build programme. This programme uses a professional external Project Manager to progress the project through the relevant stages of architectural planning, tender and construction.
The Grant of Planning decision was received in April 2022. It is intended that the project will be included in the next bundle of projects to proceed to tender before the end of this year and will be tendered to the Department’s Design & Build Contractors Framework.
The tender process normally takes approximately 8-10 months. Once a Contractor has been appointed, the construction of a new 1,000 pupil post primary school on the Design & Build programme takes approximately 70 weeks.
My Department will continue to liaise with the school and its patron body in relation to any interim accommodation requirements pending delivery of the permanent accommodation.
354. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education the status of an application for a special needs school transport grant (details supplied). [58912/22]
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 the 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 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 Special Education Needs Organisers (SENO).
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 an existing suitable service available to accommodate the child referred, although the family instead requested to avail of a Special Transport Grant (STG) towards the cost of private transport arrangements.
The request for a Special Transport Grant (STG) on behalf of the child referred to by the Deputy has been received by the School Transport Section of my Department for consideration and I am pleased to advise this request has been granted. School Transport Section have liaised directly with the family in this regard.
355. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education if she will provide the details for the reason that students (details supplied) are having to source and pay a psychologist to complete an assessment report in order to apply for the DARE scheme; and if there are plans to address the matter going forward; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58965/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has no input to the DARE scheme or its workings. The Deputy's question is more relevant for the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS).
356. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update on the work that is under way to improve pay for school caretakers; the stage that the process is at; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59047/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraSchool caretakers are valued members of our schools and I am fully aware of the vitally important role played by them in the running of our schools. The majority of primary and post-primary schools receive assistance to provide for caretaker services under grant schemes. Where a school employs a staff member to support those functions those staff are employees of individual schools and responsibility for terms of employment rests with the school.
Fórsa trade union had tabled a claim in 2019 seeking parity of these staff with ETB public service staff. Extensive engagement has taken place since then between the Department and school management bodies with Forsa to work towards a resolution with the support of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
On the 24th February this year, following a series of engagements at the WRC, a suite of measures designed to improve the working conditions of school secretaries was proposed, which Fórsa agreed to recommend to its members. A ballot was undertaken and the result was 95% agreement in favour of the deal. I was very pleased to hear of this overwhelmingly positive result on this long running issue, the resolution of which has been a priority for me since my appointment.
It is my intention to ensure that school caretakers will be afforded the opportunity to avail of this deal also but, as recognised in the WRC process there remains a deficit of data on the working terms and conditions of caretakers. Work is currently in progress to gather comprehensive data in respect of school secretaries and it will be necessary to undertake a separate, similar process in respect of caretakers: this will be progressed as soon as practicable.
357. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Minister for Education the status of the emergency works application by a school (details supplied) to carry out urgent roof repairs. [59048/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI would like to inform the Deputy that an application for funding for roof works under the Emergency Works Scheme has been received from the school in question and is currently under review by a member of the Department's technical team. Once a recommendation has been made by the technical team a decision will be made and the school will be notified of same.
358. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education the status of a school building application (details supplied); if she will provide details of any engagement that her Department has had with the school in relation to the application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59060/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department is currently assessing options with a view to identifying the optimum solution for the long-term needs of the school referred to by the Deputy. This includes the consideration of the proposal to relocate to an alternative site/campus and also of other potential solutions, with a view to making the most appropriate provision possible for the school and for its current and future students. The Department will be in further contact with the school in due course, when its assessment process is further advanced. The school should be assured that the provision of appropriate accommodation for the school in question is a priority for the Department.
359. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Education if she plans to review methods of assessment of special educational needs. [59097/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra360. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Education if she is satisfied that current additional needs assessments accurately identify children with special educational needs; and if she is satisfied that special educational needs of girls in particular are accurately identified. [59098/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 359 and 360 together.
I would like to thank the Deputy for the question and would like to advise the following:
Enabling children with special educational needs (SEN) to receive an education appropriate to their needs is a priority for this Government.
It is also a key priority for me as Minister for Special Education & Inclusion, for my Department and for the National Council for Special Education (NCSE).
For 2022, my Department will spend in excess of €2.3 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 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 funding to support children with special educational needs in mainstream classes, funding for new special classes and new special school places, and of course, additional special educational teachers and special needs assistants.
While the majority of children with special educational needs are supported to access mainstream classes, some children with more complex needs may require a special class or special school placement. A professional report recommending a special education placement is required to access a special class or special school placement. These reports are normally also required by schools as set out in their Admission Policies to ensure that special education places are allocated to students appropriately and resources are targeted to meet those children in most need.
Schools may prioritise the involvement of their NEPS psychologist to supporting the transition of a student with more significant needs as part of the NEPS individual casework service to that school. This work is undertaken in collaboration with the school, parents, student and other professionals and agencies to facilitate an effective transition process and is set out in a written report.
My Department is currently undertaking some initial work in relation to reviewing how children with special educational needs currently access special educational provision and how their placement is reviewed on an ongoing basis
This piece of work is at the very initial stages, and is part of a wider range of initiatives been undertaken by my Department and the NCSE in relation to the forward planning of special education provision.
Initially this work involves my Department, including the Inspectorate and NEPs, and the NCSE. It is envisaged that broader stakeholder engagement will be required on this important and sensitive issue for parents and children with SEN.
This group will examine the requirement for professional reports and how they can be accessed in an equitable manner.
Specifically in relation to post-primary, my Department and the NCSE are currently also considering how we can support schools to maximise the integration opportunities for students in special classes. It is essential that these students can access mainstream classes and subjects as much as is possible at post-primary level.
In 2023, there will be a significant investment in the expansion of the NCSE, 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.
Funding will also be provided for the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) for an additional 54 psychologists to provide services to special schools and special classes.
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 appropriate education.
361. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Education when a child (details supplied) will have a taxi service to a special school reinstated. [59119/22]
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.
The purpose of the 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 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 Special Education Needs Organisers (SENO).
Bus Éireann has advised the service the pupil referred to by the Deputy was scheduled on is an individual taxi service with an escort on board. They have also advised that the contractor can no longer operate this service.
The service is currently out for tender to seek another operator. 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 interim Special Transport Grant, to assist with the cost of private transport arrangements the family has made until services are finalised. Families should contact School Transport Section at: school_transport@education.gov.ie for more information on this grant.
362. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Education if she will list each provider by location in County Mayo in which children with special educational needs can access placements in Early Childhood Care and Education Programmes including the access and inclusion model; and the number of placements available in each setting in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59188/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI would like to thank the Deputy for the question and would like to advise the following:
The information requested is not held by the Department of Education. The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme is under the remit of the Department for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. Questions in relation to the ECCE programme should be directed to that Department.
