Written Answers Nos. 452-471
454. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Education when construction will commence of the new school building for a school (details supplied) in County Louth; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4654/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraA major building project for the school in question has been devolved for delivery to Louth County Council.
I am pleased to inform the deputy that the Department recently authorised Louth County Council to issue the Letter of Intent to the preferred tenderer. If all is in order with the Supplementary Tender Report that has follwed, a Letter of Acceptance will then issue.
This will facilitate commencement of construction work by the preferred tenderer in the near future. The supplementary tender report was submitted to the Department on 24th January and is currently under review. The Department will make contact with Louth County Council following completion of this review.
455. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Education the status of the new ASD unit for a school (details supplied); if her attention has been drawn to the fact that a stage 1a report was submitted in early 2022, that all clarifications requested have been sent and that the school have had no communication from her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4663/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am pleased to inform the Deputy that funding was approved under the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) Scheme to enable the school in question to build a 2 Classroom SEN Base.
In April 2022 the School Authority submitted a Stage 1/2a report which was reviewed by the Department's Professional & Technical Team and combined comments requesting additional information were issued to the School Authority to action. To date, not all requested information has been supplied and an updated request has been sent to the School Authority in this regard.
456. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Education the reason a secondary school (details supplied) is designated as disadvantaged but not one of the primary schools in the town is so designated; the reason for this inconsistency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4664/23]
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 across the primary and post-primary sector.
In March last year I was glad to be able to announce a major expansion of the DEIS programme. For the first time since 2017, the programme was significantly expanded to include an additional 322 schools. This means that the DEIS programme now supports over 240,000 students in over 1,200 schools addressing educational disadvantage.
Schools 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 and the model has been applied fairly and equally to all schools.
The DEIS identification process is based on the principle of concentrated disadvantage and the proportion of students from disadvantaged backgrounds within a school. The DEIS identification model aimed to identify those schools with the highest levels of concentrated disadvantage or the highest proportion of students from disadvantaged backgrounds within a school using the school's enrolment data and national census data as represented by the Pobal HP Deprivation index which is publicly available.
It is possible for two neighbouring schools to have a different profile in terms of proportion of students from disadvantaged backgrounds and the relative weighting of disadvantage apportioned in each. The designation of neighbouring schools to different DEIS bands does not mean that there is no educational disadvantage present in one school, but that the concentrated level of educational disadvantage of the two schools is different.
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
Schools that were not satisfied with the outcome following the application of the DEIS identification model to their school enrolment data were provided with the opportunity to have that outcome reviewed. The DEIS appeals process was applied fairly across all appellants. The window for appeals has now closed and the results are final.
It is also 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. My Department will continue to support schools to deliver high quality, inclusive teaching and learning to students and young learners. 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.
457. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education the up-to-date status of the provision of a secondary school (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4670/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe major construction project for the school referred to by the Deputy commenced on site in October 2020. Works are progressing satisfactorily on site and it is anticipated that the school will be ready for occupation in quarter 2 2023.
458. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education the up-to-date status of the provision of an extension to secondary school (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4671/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe project to which the Deputy refers has been devolved for delivery to the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA).
I am pleased to inform you that the project was recently approved by the Department to proceed to Stage 2b of the architectural planning process; the next step for the Design Team will be to obtain the statutory planning approvals.
While at this early stage it is not possible to provide details or a timeline for completion of the project, the NDFA will be engaging directly with the school authority to keep it informed of progress.
459. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education the up-to-date position with the provision of a secondary school (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4672/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy will be delivered under my Department's ADAPT Programme.
The ADAPT Programme uses a professional external Project Manager to co-ordinate and drive the Design Team to achieve the best possible timeframe for the project through the stages of Architectural Planning to Tender and Construction.
The Project Manager has recently visited the school to outline the process for design team appointment and the progression of the project through architectural planning and construction. Site surveys have been carried out at the site during January 2023.
The tender competition for the appointment of the Design Team (Consultant Architect, Civil Structural Engineer, Mechanical & Electrical Engineer, Quantity Surveyor and PSDP) are currently under way.
An Invitation to Tender issued to those potential Design Team Consultants issued in December 2022, and subject to no issues arising, the estimated timeframe for completion of the appointment process is end Quarter 1 2023.
The Project Manager will shortly be in contact to update the Principal and Patron of the school regarding the procurement process and these appointments.
The project is to be delivered in 2 phases; Phase 1 will deliver interim accommodation for 450 pupils at the site for the start of the 2024 school year, and Phase 2 will deliver accommodation for a Long Term Projected Enrolment for 1000 pupils.
Upon appointment, the Design Team will proceed to Stage 1 of Architectural Planning – Preliminary Design, where they will assess the site and prepare their initial sketch schemes for the new school.
A preferred design option, including the scope and extent of works to be carried out for both phases will be established during this early stage, to be then further detailed and developed and fully cost-planned, before seeking statutory approvals, including planning permission.
The intention is that the school will move to site for Sept 2024. The newly appointed Design Team will be tasked with the provision of interim accommodation on the site for the start of the 2024 school year.
460. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education the up-to-date position with the provision of a primary school (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4673/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe major construction project for the school referred to by the Deputy commenced on site in October 2021. Works are progressing satisfactorily on site and it is anticipated that the school will be ready for occupation in quarter 1 2024.
461. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education to provide details on how a community can propose a school bus route where a large number of school children have been identified as in need for school transport.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4683/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year over 147,900 children, including over 18,000 children with special educational needs, are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country.
In addition, school transport scheme services are being provided in the current school year for over 3,800 children who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine.
The total cost of the scheme in 2022 was €332.2m.
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.
A minimum number of 10 eligible children residing in a distinct locality, as determined by Bus Éireann, are required before consideration may be given to the establishment or retention of school transport services.
Families who wish to avail of school transport and have their eligibility status assessed should apply on-line before the closing date to Bus Éireann on Bus Éireann’s website at www.buseireann.ie.
The closing date for school transport applications for the 2022/23 School Year was Friday, 29th April 2022
Families may still apply for school transport following this date, however, as applications are considered late many of the services are operating at full capacity and applicants will not be considered for a remote area grant.
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.
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 at post-primary level are being 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.
462. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Education the expected timeline for completion of the current renovation works at a school (details supplied). [4684/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe project referred to by the Deputy is at Architectural Planning Stage 3 - Tender Action and Award. A tender process can take between 8-12 months to complete, subject to no issues arising.
My Department has a large pipeline of projects for delivery under the school building programme, including the project referred to by the Deputy. The main elements of this pipeline currently involve in excess of 1,300 school building projects for delivery under my Department's Large Scale and Additional Accommodation Scheme. These projects are currently in progress across the various stages of planning, design, tender and construction, most of which are expected to be either under construction or completed in the period up to 2025.
During January, my Department will be assessing overall requirements for 2023 and associated work programme and will update individual schools of same in due course.
463. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Education if a school (details supplied) will open a second additional class for primary school entrants for 2023-2024 academic year given the physical additional capacity being used by another institution, recognising the lack of alternative local multi and non-denominational educational options in the area. [4685/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm to the Deputy, that my Department approved a change of status request for the school in question, to go to a 2 stream school from a 1 stream school. This approval is to take effect from when the school in question has full possession of the Greenhills building. The school in question are currently sharing accommodation with a special school, which is awaiting new accommodation to be delivered under my Department's Capital Programme.
In the interim, the school in question have been approved for additional temporary accommodation for their current cohort of teachers and pupils. For the 2022/23 school year they were provided 1 Mainstream classroom and 2 SET rooms and they have also been approved for a further Mainstream classroom. My officials have been in contact with the school authorities in relation to their accommodation needs and remain available to them.
464. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Education the total number of enrolments in primary and post-primary schools; the total number of whole-time equivalent teaching posts in each of the years 2018 to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4686/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs per our recently published preliminary enrolments figures for 2022-2023, there are 558,133 pupils enrolled in primary schools and 406,457 pupils in post-primary schools. The preliminary 2022-2023 enrolments will be replaced by the final enrolments in June 2023.
www.gov.ie/en/collection/63363b-data-on-individual-schools/
Please find attached requested data for the number of teaching posts for 2018-2020, 2020 being the last year we have final data for. This information can be found in our Education Indicators for Ireland report which was published in December 2021 and we expect to publish the latest the 2022 report in the near future.
|
Year |
Number of primary teaching posts allocated |
Number of post-primary teaching posts allocated |
Total |
|
2018 |
37,341 |
28,474 |
65,815 |
|
2019 |
37,839 |
29,093 |
66,932 |
|
2020 |
38,604 |
30,617 |
69,221 |
www.assets.gov.ie/212247/a97b6e7c-92bb-4039-938f-1eda1736fb99.pdf
465. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education the reason there is currently no SENO in an area (details supplied) at present; when it is likely that this post will be filled; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4718/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra467. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education the number of special educational needs organisers currently in place in Wicklow; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4720/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 465 and 467 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 2023, the spend by my Department on special education will be substantially increased by over 10% on last year, 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.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children nationwide.
My Department does not manage the recruitment of or the day to day operational management of Special Education Needs Organisers (SENO's),
SENO's are employees of the NCSE and as such I am forwarding your query to the NCSE for their direct reply to you. Where there are vacancies in particular areas I think it is important that schools and parents are provided with an alternative contact point and support.
It has been a priority for me as Minister and my Department that the NCSE is properly resourced to have a visible and effective presence in our schools and with our parents and children guiding and supporting them on their educational journey.
My Department is making a significant investment in the expansion of the NCSE to ensure it 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.
The funding will see an increase of over 50% in staffing levels in the NCSE. This will provide for an additional 161 staff, including 40 new staff for an Irish sign language scheme which I announced in March and over 70 staff who will have direct engagement with children and schools.
This level of investment of close to an additional €13m in the NCSE will ensure that they are fit for purpose and able to deliver real and meaningful supports for children, families and schools who support children with special educational needs.
466. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education the number of NEPS child psychologists in Wicklow at present, broken down by each area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4719/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department’s National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) provides educational psychological support to all primary and post-primary schools.
The NEPS service provides access for all schools to:
- Psychological support in the event of a Critical Incident
- A Casework Service for individual children where there is a need for intensive consultation and assessment via a NEPS psychologist or through the Scheme for the Commissioning of Psychological Assessments (SCPA).
- A school staff Support and Development Service, to build school capability to provide a comprehensive continuum of support in schools and
- Ongoing access to advice and support for schools.
NEPS, in common with many other psychological services and best international practice, has adopted a consultative model of service. The focus is on empowering teachers to intervene effectively with pupils whose needs range from mild to severe and transient to enduring. Psychologists use a problem solving and solution oriented consultative approach to maximise positive outcomes for these pupils. NEPS encourages schools to use a continuum based assessment and intervention process whereby each school takes responsibility for initial assessment, educational planning and intervention for pupils with learning, emotional or behavioural difficulties. Teachers may consult their NEPS psychologist should they need to at this stage in the process. Where reasonable progress is not made, following a school's best efforts in consultation with NEPS, a psychologist will become involved with an individual child for intensive intervention or assessment. This system allows psychologists to give early attention to urgent cases and also to help many more children indirectly than could be seen individually.
In 2021 the NEPS casework service extended to over 8,500 students. Additionally, under the Scheme for Commissioning Psychological Assessments (SCPA) process, private psychologists provided assessment to schools for over 900 students. Furthermore, the NEPS Support and Development service reaches an estimated 25,000 teachers annually.
NEPS is structured upon 8 regional divisions, with 23 local offices each catering for schools in the immediate locale. The number of educational psychologists currently employed in NEPS stands at 225 whole-time equivalents across the eight NEPS regions, having grown from a base of 173 in 2014.
Wicklow is part of the Dublin Mid Leinster region - comprising Kildare, Wicklow and South Dublin –there are 35 whole-time equivalent psychologists assigned to schools across the region.
468. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education the current number of ASD places in both primary and secondary schools in Wicklow; if there are plans to increase capacity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4721/23]
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 (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 2023, the spend by my Department on special education will be substantially increased by over 10% on last year, 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 funding for new special classes, new special school places, additional special educational teachers and special needs assistants.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children with special educational needs nationwide.
Over the last two to three years, my Department and the NCSE have introduced a number of strategic initiatives to plan for and provide sufficient special class and special school places.
These initiatives are bearing fruit with over 600 new special classes sanctioned at primary level, almost 300 new special classes sanctioned at post-primary level and five new special schools established over the last three years.
The NCSE have sanctioned a total of 90 special classes in Co. Wicklow. Of these, 64 special classes are at Primary level and 26 are at Post Primary level. These classes normally support 6 students and therefore provide approximately 540 special class places.
My Department is engaging intensely with the NCSE in relation to the forward planning of new special classes for the next school year 2023/2024. This work involves a detailed review of statistical data in relation to forecasting demand for special class places, consideration of improved data sharing arrangements and a particular focus on the provision of special classes at post-primary level.
At local level, the NCSE is continuing to engage with schools regarding the establishment of additional special classes for the next school year 2023/2024. Every support will be made available to schools to progress the opening of special classes in the shortest possible timeframe.
The NCSE have sanctioned a total of 2,544 special classes nationwide, with 1,802 at primary and 742 at post-primary. As the demand for new special classes at post-primary level is expected to increase significantly over the next few years, my Department and the NCSE are engaging with post-primary stakeholders in relation to the provision of special classes. My Department has also written to all post-primary schools to advise them of the need to begin planning to provide additional special classes.
My Department and the NCSE met with the main post-primary school management bodies last week to share a list of schools who could potentially open new special classes in September 2023. The NCSE will now engage directly with those schools to sanction special classes.
It is of course open to any school to engage with the NCSE to establish a special class.
My Department is committed, in conjunction with the NCSE, to continue to work with parents, schools, patrons and all stakeholders to ensure that there are sufficient appropriate places for students with additional needs and to support all students to achieve their potential.
It is important to note that where possible, children with special educational needs should be accommodated in mainstream education, but where the needs of the children are greater, special classes and indeed special schools are provided. Every effort should be made where special classes exist within a mainstream school to integrate the children and young people in this class with their peers in mainstream 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.
Information on the list of schools with special classes, the types and locations of these classes is published on the NCSE website and is available at www.ncse.ie .
469. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to concerns regarding the lack of accommodation for practical subjects and other facilities in a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4723/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe school referred to by the Deputy is currently in interim accommodation at the location referred to since September 2021.
This building was refurbished to provide accommodation comprising at present 11 classrooms, Home Economics room, Art room, Science Lab and Prep Area, Technology Room, Construction Studies room and Prep Area, Admin, PE hall and SEN accommodation.
To meet additional enrolment needs for September 2023, my Department are making provision to further refurbish other vacant rooms in the building to provide an additional Science Lab and a further 3 classrooms as requested by the school.
My Department are in ongoing contact with the school’s patron body in relation to the school’s accommodation requirements and will continue to update them as the project progresses.
In relation to the permanent school the site identification and assessment exercise is ongoing.
My Department is working towards acquiring the most suitable site for this school while ensuring value for money for the exchequer is achieved.
The Deputy will appreciate that negotiations in respect of site acquisitions are, by their nature, sensitive and for that reason I am not in a position to provide further information at this time.
470. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education if the free schoolbooks scheme for primary school children will commence in September 2023. [4726/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs part of Budget 2023, I announced over €50 million to provide free books to primary school pupils within the free education scheme from September 2023. This measure will eliminate the cost to these families for all school books at primary school, including workbooks. It delivers on the Programme for Government commitment to extend the free school book pilot, currently in 102 DEIS primary schools, as resources permit. The free primary school books scheme will benefit up to 540,000 pupils in approximately 3,240 recognised primary schools, including over 130 special schools.
The implementation of the measure will build on the existing school book rental scheme which is available in some 96% of recognised primary schools and on the free school books pilot provided to over one hundred primary DEIS schools in recent years. Schools buy books directly from school book suppliers at present as part of the implementation of the school book rental scheme. It is currently planned on the basis that funds will be provided directly to schools to purchase school books and related classroom resources.
Initial stakeholder engagements were held in December last. Last week, my Department commenced the process of further engagement with the relevant stakeholders to roll out the measure in time for the 2023/24 school year.
Guidance for primary schools on the free schoolbooks measure will be developed. The scheme will seek to ensure that value for money is achieved, and that schools will be supported to implement the scheme in a way that has the best learning outcomes for pupils. Schools will continue to have autonomy to choose books that meet curricular requirements. My Department will consider the information from the 102 schools involved in the free school book pilot when developing the guidance.
471. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education if the Covid cleaning grant for schools will be continued for term 2; and when the payment schedule will issue. [4727/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraMore than €317 million of additional Covid-19 Capitation grant funding was made available to recognised primary and post primary schools to provide for the implementation of infection prevention and control measures to reduce the risk of the spread of COVID -19 for the 2020/21 and 2021/22 school years. A further €45 million has been provided to cater for ongoing enhanced cleaning, PPE and hand hygiene for Term 1 of the 2022/23 school year. This represents a total of €362.7 million to date.
As the Deputy is aware, the continued payment of Covid-19 capitation grants is determined by the prevailing public health advice at the time.
Staff in my Department are currently engaging with colleagues in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in relation to the Covid-19 Capitation grants for Term 2 of the 2022/2023 school year. Further details will be provided as soon as soon as possible.
