Written Answers Nos. 188-205
188. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education her views on a matter (details supplied) concerning overtime for Bus Éireann drivers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5602/23]
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.
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.
In order to prevent and control measures to reduce the risk of the spread of COVID-19 in line with public health advice for schools, a COVID-19 daily cleaning allowance has been given to contractors as part of a wider COVID-19 Capitation Grant and School Transport Allowance.
Officials in my Department are currently engaging with colleagues in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in relation to the sanction for the continued funding of these grants for the remainder of the 2022/2023 school year.
189. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education if the State, which funds private schools, has any input or control over their enrolment policy; if the practices reported at a school (details supplied) constitute a breach of State guidelines or are in keeping with present rules and criteria; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5604/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn relation to school admissions, it is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998 and the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018. The Admissions act applies to all recognised school, fee charging or schools in the free scheme. The school referred to by the Deputy is not a private fee paying school, it is a recognised post primary school within the free education scheme.
Under the provisions of the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018, all schools are required to have admissions policies, which have been approved by the patron, following consultation with staff and parents of children who are attending the school. The school’s admissions policy is published on the schools website. It is a key requirement of the act that all school admission policies are fair and transparent.
Parents have the right to choose which school to apply to and where the school has places available for the relevant year, the pupil/student should be admitted. However, in schools where there are more applicants than places available, a selection process will be necessary. This selection process and the enrolment policy on which it is based must be non-discriminatory and must be applied fairly in respect of all applicants. However, this may result in some pupils/student not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice.
The act requires schools to clearly set out their selection criteria in their admission policies. Schools have discretion in relation to their admission criteria and how they are applied. The criteria to be applied by schools and the order of priority are a matter for the schools themselves.
Under Section 29 of the Education Act 1998, the parent of the student, or in the case of a student who has reached the age of 18 years, the student, may appeal a decision of a school to refuse admission.
191. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the number of vacant home economics teacher positions in secondary schools in 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, by county in tabular form. [5621/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra226. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Education the number of vacancies for home economics teachers in secondary schools; if she will extend the financial supports for those upskilling in mathematics, physics and Spanish to home economics teachers; the criteria used to extend supports to mathematics, physics and Spanish and not to other subjects with large vacancies such as home economics; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5912/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 191 and 226 together.
The recruitment and appointment of teachers to fill teaching posts is a matter for the individual school authorities, subject to procedures agreed under Section 24 of the Education Act 1998 (as amended by the Education (Amendment) Act 2012). My Department does not currently collate data on the number of vacant posts per subject in post primary schools, including on a county level basis.
The Steering Group on Teacher Supply was established in 2018 to facilitate multi-agency engagement and to lead on a coordinated programme of actions to support the supply of teachers. Arising from the work of this Group and its various substructures, the Teacher Supply Action Plan was published in November 2018.
The Action Plan called for the development of upskilling programmes in targeted subject areas for existing teachers, and following a request from my Department, the HEA issued a funding call to initial teacher education (ITE) providers for upskilling programmes in mathematics, physics and Spanish in late 2019. These were identified by the Steering Group as among the most challenging subjects in terms of teacher recruitment. Following the successful completion of the funding call, these programmes commenced in January 2021.
Upskilling programmes are provided over two years on a part-time basis. They are free of cost to participants. The first cohort of participants, approximately 170 teachers, completed the programmes in 2022 and more than 300 teachers are due to finish in 2023. My Department has agreed to extend funding in 2023 and to provide for additional capacity.
Funding for these programmes was put in place following a competitive call to all ITE providers for proposals. It is intended to commence an upskilling programme in Irish in 2023/24 and consideration will be given to extending programmes to other subjects. The allocation of funding for any future programmes will be dependent on a competitive tender process for potential providers.
The Teacher Fee Refund Scheme provides funding to teachers towards the cost of participation and examination fees on successful completion of professional development courses. Funding under the scheme is being prioritised for those taking courses in particular areas, including upskilling for post primary teachers leading to registration with the Teaching Council in an additional subject. The maximum refund under the scheme is €5,000 per year and the level of refund depends on the volume of eligible applications that are received. Department Circulars 0005/2023 and 0015/2021 relate to this Scheme.
192. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the survey published by an organisation (details supplied) in October 2022, which found that home economics is the second most difficult subject for which to find a teacher; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5622/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra227. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education if she will work with the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to add home economics to the programme to upskill registered post-primary teachers and join mathematics, physics, Spanish and Irish as a subject with a high difficulty in accessing teachers in view of the fact that home economics was reported in a TUI survey from 2022 to be the second most difficult subject for which to find a teacher; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5916/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 192 and 227 together.
My Department is aware of the survey referred to by the Deputies.
In 2018, my Department established a Steering Group on Teacher Supply to facilitate multi-agency engagement and to lead on a coordinated programme of actions to support the supply of teachers at post-primary level. Arising from the work of this Group and its various substructures, the Teacher Supply Action Plan was published in November 2018.
The Action Plan called for the development of upskilling programmes in targeted subject areas for existing teachers, and following a request from my Department, the Higher Education Authority (HEA) issued a funding call to initial teacher education (ITE) providers for upskilling programmes in mathematics, physics and Spanish in late 2019. These were identified by the Steering Group as among the most challenging subjects in terms of teacher recruitment. Following the successful completion of the funding call, these programmes commenced in January 2021.
Upskilling programmes are provided over two years on a part-time basis. They are free of cost to participants. The first cohort of participants, approximately 170 teachers, completed these programmes in 2022 and more than 300 teachers are due to graduate in 2023. My Department has agreed to extend funding in 2023 and to provide for additional capacity.
Funding for these programmes was put in place following a competitive call to all initial teacher education providers for proposals. It is intended to commence an upskilling programme in Irish in 2023/24 and consideration will be given to extending programmes to other subjects. The allocation of funding for any future programmes will be dependent on a competitive tender process for potential providers.
194. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education the status of a new school building for a school (details supplied); the current status regarding land acquisition for the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5629/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe site identification and assessment exercise for the school referred to by the Deputy is ongoing. Given the commercial sensitivities associated with land acquisitions generally I am not in a position to comment further at this time.
I wish to assure the Deputy that the provision of a permanent location for this school is a priority for my Department.
195. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education if she will indicate the initiatives which her Department have taken to attract career changers into areas in secondary education where there are shortages of suitably qualified teachers; and if she will provide details of the programmes involved. [5631/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe recruitment of teachers is a priority area of action for the Department given the importance of ensuring that every child's experience in school is positive and that they have available to them qualified, engaged, and supportive teachers to support them in their learning.
The Teaching Transforms website provides a comprehensive range of information for persons considering becoming teachers, including options for initial teacher education as well as information on the recruitment of teachers and on terms and conditions of employment.
The Teaching Transforms campaign is part of a comprehensive programme being undertaken by my Department to support the supply of post primary teachers. Other measures being implemented, include:
- a range of special, temporary arrangements introduced by HEIs to create greater capacity for student teachers to provided substitute cover,
- adjustment of the provision of continuing professional development (CPD) to reduce the need for substitution and to provide additional personnel to support schools,
- increasing the additional hours that post primary teachers can teach each term from 20 to 35 for the remainder of the 2022/23 school year,
- launching a communications campaign to encourage retired teachers to take up short-term substitute positions and to enable them to teach for up to 50 days in each of the calendar years 2021 to 2023 without, in most cases, a reduction in their pension,
- providing the allocated staffing resources for the 2023/34 school year to post-primary schools on 26 January and to primary schools on 31 January,
- introduction, by the Teaching Council of regulations to allow the registration of 3rd and 4th year undergraduate student teachers, which has lead to over 2,100 student teachers applying for registration,
- providing for fully funded upskilling programmes in mathematics, physics and Spanish. Beginning with 170 places in January 2021, I have agreed to increase places to over 300 in 2023, and a new Irish upskilling programme is planned for 2023/24,
- allowing job sharing teachers to be employed to work in a substitute capacity, during the period they are rostered off duty, in their own or in other schools on a temporary basis for the 2022/23 school year, and
- suspending, on a temporary basis, the limits on substitute work that apply to teachers on career break for the 2022/23 school year.
Despite the positive impact of these important actions, work remains to be done to address teacher supply challenges, particularly to ensure the availability of sufficient numbers of substitute teachers. My Department continues to work intensively with all stakeholders to develop and implement creative solutions to address the teacher supply challenges for schools.
196. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education the value of all grants given annually by her Department to each voluntary management body, both primary and secondary, currently managing schools, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5634/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra197. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education when the value of grants to voluntary management bodies were last increased, by body, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5635/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 196 and 197 together.
Data in relation to the funding of the bodies referred to by the Deputy, in the 2022 calendar year, is currently being compiled by my officials. A response will issue to the Deputy shortly.
198. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education if she is aware of the shortage of second-level teachers, as shown by the inability of a school (details supplied) to fill a temporary language post; the strategies her Department has put in place to address the shortage of second-level teachers in general and in the language area in particular; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5649/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe recruitment and appointment of teachers to fill teaching posts is a matter for the individual school authority, subject to procedures agreed under Section 24 of the Education Act 1998 (as amended by the Education (Amendment) Act 2012). My Department is aware of the issue in the school referred to by the Deputy.
Ensuring a sufficient supply of qualified teachers is a priority area of action for the Department given the importance of ensuring that every child's experience in school is positive and that they have available to them qualified, engaged, and supportive teachers to support them in their learning.
To enhance the supply of teachers of Spanish my Department fully funds a 2-year part-time programme to upskill teachers to meet the Teaching Council's requirements in that subject. 35 teachers completed the programme in 2022 and more than 40 are expected to complete the programme this year. My Department has agreed to fund a further intake to the programme in September 2023. In addition, a new Irish upskilling programme is planned for 2023/24 and consideration will be given to programmes in other subjects.
My Department is undertaking a comprehensive programme to support the supply of teachers, including:
- a range of special, temporary arrangements introduced by HEIs to create greater capacity for student teachers to provided substitute cover,
- adjustment of the provision of continuing professional development (CPD) to reduce the need for substitution and to provide additional personnel to support schools,
- increasing the additional hours that post primary teachers can teach each term from 20 to 35 for the remainder of the 2022/23 school year,
- launching a communications campaign to encourage retired teachers to take up short-term substitute positions and to enable them to teach for up to 50 days in each of the calendar years 2021 to 2023 without, in most cases, a reduction in their pension,
- providing the allocated staffing resources for the 2023/34 school year to post-primary schools on 26 January and to primary schools on 31 January,
- introduction, by the Teaching Council of regulations to allow the registration of 3rd and 4th year undergraduate student teachers, which has lead to over 2,100 student teachers applying for registration,
- providing for fully funded upskilling programmes in mathematics, physics and Spanish. Beginning with 170 places in January 2021, I have agreed to increase places to over 300 in 2023, and a new Irish upskilling programme is planned for 2023/24,
- providing for the allocation of a significant number of additional posts to primary substitute teacher supply panels in areas where significant challenges in sourcing substitution continue. This brings the total to 610 posts on 151 panels covering more than 2,840 schools,
- allowing job sharing teachers to be employed to work in a substitute capacity, during the period they are rostered off duty, in their own or in other schools on a temporary basis for the 2022/23 school year, and
- suspending, on a temporary basis, the limits on substitute work that apply to teachers on career break for the 2022/23 school year.
These measures are underpinned by the Teaching Transforms campaign which promotes the teaching profession and encourages students to follow a career in teaching.
Despite the positive impact of these important actions, work remains to be done to address teacher supply challenges, particularly to ensure the availability of sufficient numbers of substitute teachers. My Department continues to work intensively with all stakeholders to develop and implement creative solutions to address the teacher supply challenges for schools.
199. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Education if steps will be taken to ensure there is a qualified Spanish teacher provided for all years in a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5692/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe recruitment and appointment of teachers to fill teaching posts is a matter for the individual school authority, subject to procedures agreed under Section 24 of the Education Act 1998 (as amended by the Education (Amendment) Act 2012). My Department is aware of the issue in the school referred to by the Deputy.
Ensuring a sufficient supply of qualified teachers is a priority area of action for the Department given the importance of ensuring that every child's experience in school is positive and that they have available to them qualified, engaged, and supportive teachers to support them in their learning.
To enhance the supply of teachers of Spanish my Department fully funds a 2-year part-time programme to upskill teachers to meet the Teaching Council's requirements in that subject. 35 teachers completed the programme in 2022 and more than 40 are expected to complete the programme this year. My Department has agreed to fund a further intake to the programme in September 2023.
My Department is undertaking a comprehensive programme to support the supply of teachers, including:
- a range of special, temporary arrangements introduced by HEIs to create greater capacity for student teachers to provided substitute cover,
- adjustment of the provision of continuing professional development (CPD) to reduce the need for substitution and to provide additional personnel to support schools,
- increasing the additional hours that post primary teachers can teach each term from 20 to 35 for the remainder of the 2022/23 school year,
- launching a communications campaign to encourage retired teachers to take up short-term substitute positions and to enable them to teach for up to 50 days in each of the calendar years 2021 to 2023 without, in most cases, a reduction in their pension,
- providing the allocated staffing resources for the 2023/34 school year to post-primary schools on 26 January and to primary schools on 31 January,
- introduction, by the Teaching Council of regulations to allow the registration of 3rd and 4th year undergraduate student teachers, which has lead to over 2,100 student teachers applying for registration,
- providing for fully funded upskilling programmes in mathematics, physics and Spanish. Beginning with 170 places in January 2021, I have agreed to increase places to over 300 in 2023, and a new Irish upskilling programme is planned for 2023/24,
- providing for the allocation of a significant number of additional posts to primary substitute teacher supply panels in areas where significant challenges in sourcing substitution continue. This brings the total to 610 posts on 151 panels covering more than 2,840 schools,
- allowing job sharing teachers to be employed to work in a substitute capacity, during the period they are rostered off duty, in their own or in other schools on a temporary basis for the 2022/23 school year, and
- suspending, on a temporary basis, the limits on substitute work that apply to teachers on career break for the 2022/23 school year.
These measures are underpinned by the Teaching Transforms campaign which promotes the teaching profession and encourages students to follow a career in teaching.
Despite the positive impact of these important actions, work remains to be done to address teacher supply challenges, particularly to ensure the availability of sufficient numbers of substitute teachers. My Department continues to work intensively with all stakeholders to develop and implement creative solutions to address the teacher supply challenges for schools.
200. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Education if she will report on the shortage of language teachers in secondary schools; the number of unfilled vacancies for foreign language teachers; the number of students unable to avail of a foreign language class as a result of unfilled vacancies; the measures she intends to take to fill these vacancies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5693/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe recruitment and appointment of teachers to fill teaching posts is a matter for the individual school authorities, subject to procedures agreed under Section 24 of the Education Act 1998 (as amended by the Education (Amendment) Act 2012). My Department does not currently collate data on the number of vacant posts in post primary schools on a subject level basis or on the numbers of students not able to avail of a foreign language class as a result of unfilled vacancies.
Ensuring a sufficient supply of qualified teachers is a priority area of action for the Department given the importance of ensuring that every child's experience in school is positive and that they have available to them qualified, engaged, and supportive teachers to support them in their learning.
To enhance the supply of teachers of Spanish my Department fully funds a 2-year part-time programme to upskill teachers to meet the Teaching Council's requirements in that subject. 35 teachers completed the programme in 2022 and more than 40 are expected to complete the programme this year. My Department has agreed to fund a further intake to the programme in September 2023. In addition, a new Irish upskilling programme is planned for 2023/24 and consideration will be given to programmes in other subjects.
My Department is undertaking a comprehensive programme to support the supply of teachers, including:
- a range of special, temporary arrangements introduced by HEIs to create greater capacity for student teachers to provided substitute cover,
- adjustment of the provision of continuing professional development (CPD) to reduce the need for substitution and to provide additional personnel to support schools,
- increasing the additional hours that post primary teachers can teach each term from 20 to 35 for the remainder of the 2022/23 school year,
- launching a communications campaign to encourage retired teachers to take up short-term substitute positions and to enable them to teach for up to 50 days in each of the calendar years 2021 to 2023 without, in most cases, a reduction in their pension,
- providing the allocated staffing resources for the 2023/34 school year to post-primary schools on 26 January and to primary schools on 31 January,
- introduction, by the Teaching Council of regulations to allow the registration of 3rd and 4th year undergraduate student teachers, which has lead to over 2,100 student teachers applying for registration,
- providing for fully funded upskilling programmes in mathematics, physics and Spanish. Beginning with 170 places in January 2021, I have agreed to increase places to over 300 in 2023, and a new Irish upskilling programme is planned for 2023/24,
- providing for the allocation of a significant number of additional posts to primary substitute teacher supply panels in areas where significant challenges in sourcing substitution continue. This brings the total to 610 posts on 151 panels covering more than 2,840 schools,
- allowing job sharing teachers to be employed to work in a substitute capacity, during the period they are rostered off duty, in their own or in other schools on a temporary basis for the 2022/23 school year, and
- suspending, on a temporary basis, the limits on substitute work that apply to teachers on career break for the 2022/23 school year.
These measures are underpinned by the Teaching Transforms campaign which promotes the teaching profession and encourages students to follow a career in teaching.
Despite the positive impact of these important actions, work remains to be done to address teacher supply challenges, particularly to ensure the availability of sufficient numbers of substitute teachers. My Department continues to work intensively with all stakeholders to develop and implement creative solutions to address the teacher supply challenges for schools.
201. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Education the measures being taken to improve the learning of foreign languages in secondary school given Eurostat figures, which show Ireland to have the second lowest level of foreign language learning in the EU and a decline since 2013 (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5694/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can advise the Deputy that Languages Connect, Ireland’s Strategy for Foreign Languages in Education was published in November 2017 and aims to increase and diversify the range of foreign languages taught and learned across the education system.
Since the launch of Languages Connect, the % of post primary schools offering at least two foreign languages has increased from 72.3% in 2017 to 76% in 2021 and the number of schools offering two or more foreign languages as part of Transition Year has increased from 55.5% in 2017 to 59.4% in 2021.
The number of students taking a leaving certificate examination in a foreign language has increased steadily from 39,534 (70.8%) in 2012 to 44,282 (73.6%) in 2022. At Junior Cycle level, the number of students taking a foreign language examination (French, German, Spanish and Italian) increased from 51,361 in 2012 to 56,225 in 2022. This is a decrease in overall percentage terms from 87.4% in 2012 to 83.8% in 2022.
Under the first implementation plan 2017 – 2022 much progress has been made.
- Four new Leaving Certificate curricula have been introduced: Lithuanian, Mandarin Chinese, Polish and Portuguese. These were examined for the first time in summer 2022 and 1,451 students were examined (191 Lithuanian, 291 Mandarin Chinese, 824 Polish and 145 Portuguese). This has increased the number of Leaving Certificate curricular languages available to 11.
- In the 2021/22 school year, almost 430 primary schools participated in a 6 week taster module “Say Yes to Languages”. This year almost 720 primary schools are participating over an 8 week period using 15 different languages selected by the school depending on their individual context. One of the aims of this project is to promote the uptake of foreign languages at post primary level.
- The NCCA have recently submitted the draft Primary Curriculum Framework to me and this includes the introduction of foreign languages from 3rd class at primary level.
- Post Primary Languages Ireland (PPLI) are fully funded by the Department and are charged with implementation of a significant number of actions under the Languages Connect Strategy and they have made great strides in promoting languages including for example the #Thinklanguages event for TY students which in 2022 was attended by 15,000 TY students and aims to encourage students to study a foreign language for Senior Cycle. PPLI are now planning the first Languages Summit in October this year.
- The Department, through PPLI, have funded foreign language teacher upskilling, school exchanges and school libraries and have developed a dedicated Languages Connect website: languagesconnect.ie
- Information on further study and career options related to languages has been built into the Careersportal website and information packs have been provided to all Guidance Counsellors.
- UCC has introduced a new upskilling programme for Spanish Teachers funded by the Department.
- PPLI in collaboration with Maynooth University are rolling out a Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) project i.e. learning a language through another subject.
- The number of Foreign Language Assistants available for schools has been increased from 110 to 180 under the strategy and will further increase to at least 220 by 2026.
Implementation of Languages Connect strategy is overseen by the Foreign Languages Advisory Committee (FLAG).
My Department has commenced a review of the Languages Connect Strategy and will be developing a second Implementation Plan for the period 2023 – 2026 in consultation with stakeholders.
203. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Education the ASD units in schools in County Monaghan, and the number of students attending each, in tabular form; if she will approve additional places at these units; if she intends to approve additional ASD units in other schools in the county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5709/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra204. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Education if she will consider the establishment of an ASD unit at a school (details supplied) in County Monaghan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5710/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 203 and 204 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.
This includes additional teaching and care supports. It also includes funding for the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) for an additional 54 psychologists to provide services to special schools and special classes.
In 2022, funding for an additional 980 teachers and 1,165 special needs assistants was provided. For 2023, the number of teaching and SNA posts in our schools will increase with an additional 686 teachers and a further 1,194 special needs assistants in our schools next year.
For the first time ever we will have over 19,000 teachers working in the area of special education and over 20,000 Special needs assistants. Together we have almost 40,000 qualified and committed people in our schools who are focused wholly and exclusively on supporting children with special educational needs.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children nationwide.
In 2023, there will be a significant investment in the expansion of the National Council for Special Education, with a total full-year investment of €13 million, in over 160 additional staff. This investment is being undertaken so that the NSCE can respond effectively, compassionately and quickly to the increased need in our education system so that children and their families are fully supported and achieve the best possible education outcomes.
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.
My Department has engaged intensely with the NCSE in relation to the forward planning for 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. As demand for new special classes at post-primary level is expected to increase significantly over the next few years, due to increasing demographics and increasing prevalence rates, my Department and the NCSE are engaging with post-primary stakeholders in relation to the provision of special classes. My Department has also previously written to all post-primary schools to advise them of the need to begin planning to provide additional special classes.
If the recent growth in the need for special classes continues, it is expected that a similar level of special classes will be needed at primary level over the next three years as have been provided over the last three years. At post-primary level however, it is expected that we will need to double the number of new special classes being provided over the next three years as compared to the last three years. In addition, it is estimated that an additional 300 special school places may be needed over each of the next 3 years.
Information on the list of schools with special classes, the types and locations of these classes is published on the NCSE website and is available at www.ncse.ie
NCSE is continuing to engage with schools regarding the establishment of additional special classes for the next school year 2023/2024. Every support will be made available to schools to progress the opening of special classes in the shortest possible timeframe. At present, the NCSE have sanctioned 39 special classes in County Monaghan, 26 at primary and 13 at post-primary. 7 of these primary classes and 6 post-primary classes have been sanctioned over the last 3 years. The majority of these classes cater for 6 children.
It is of course open to any school to engage with the NCSE to establish a special class.
My Department is committed, in conjunction with the NCSE, to continue to work with parents, schools, patrons and all stakeholders to ensure that there are sufficient appropriate places for students with additional needs and to support all students to achieve their potential.
I want to reassure you also that my Department will continue to support the NCSE and schools through the provision of the necessary funding and capital investment to ensure all children are successful in accessing an education.
The NCSE has advised my Department that the school referred to by the Deputy have expressed an interest in opening an ASD class to the SENO on 12 January 2023.
The school’s expression of interest was acknowledged by the SENO, and the school were informed that their application would be kept in mind when considering future class planning based on identified need in the area.
The NCSE works closely with schools in County Monaghan and liaises regularly with Planning and Building Unit within the Department of Education in a process of establishing new classes for this school year and beyond. The NCSE is continually working with schools in County Monaghan in order to sanction special classes where there is a recognised need.
205. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the case of qualified post-primary teachers seeking to upskill and teach home economics at both junior and leaving certificate levels; if a similar support programme to an existing scheme (details supplied) has been considered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5711/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is aware of the matter referred to by the Deputy.
In 2018, my Department established a Steering Group on Teacher Supply to facilitate multi-agency engagement and to lead on a coordinated programme of actions to support the supply of teachers. Arising from the work of this Group and its various substructures, the Teacher Supply Action Plan was published in November 2018.
The Action Plan called for the development of upskilling programmes in targeted subject areas for existing teachers and, following a request from my Department, the HEA issued a funding call to providers of initial teacher education for upskilling programmes in mathematics, physics and Spanish in late 2019. These were identified by the Steering Group as among the most challenging subjects in terms of teacher recruitment. Following the successful completion of the funding call, these programmes commenced in January 2021.
Upskilling programmes are provided over two years on a part-time basis. They are free of cost to participants. The first cohort of participants, approximately 170 teachers, completed these programmes in 2022 and more than 300 teachers are due to graduate in 2023. My Department has agreed to extend funding in 2023 and to provide for additional capacity.
Funding for these programmes was put in place following a competitive call to all initial teacher education providers for proposals. It is intended to commence an upskilling programme in Irish in 2023/24 and consideration will be given to programmes in other subjects. The allocation of funding for any future programmes will be dependent on a competitive process for potential providers.
Separate to the direct funding to these upskilling programmes, the Teacher Fee Refund Scheme provides funding to teachers towards the cost of participation and examination fees on successful completion of professional development courses. Funding under the scheme is being prioritised for those taking courses in particular areas, including upskilling for post primary teachers leading to registration with the Teaching Council in an additional subject. The maximum refund under the scheme is €5,000 per year and the level of refund depends on the volume of eligible applications that are received. Department Circulars 0005/2023 and 0015/2021 relate to this Scheme.
