Written Answers Nos. 332-345
332. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Education if she will outline the actions taken with respect to the taking of the copper roof off a building (details supplied) which is a protected structure; how such an event occurred, given it has 24/7 security; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9467/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe property in question is not and has not been in the ownership of my Department. Its use as a school discontinued a number of years ago.
In this instance the maintenance of the building and site security matters are a matter for the current property owners. Any queries in respect of this privately owned property should be addressed to those owners.
333. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Education if she has considered allowing new teachers with practical experience in subjects relevant to that which they teach (details supplied), to start out on a higher pay scale based on their prior non-teaching experience; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9468/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe criteria for the award of incremental credit to recognised teachers was agreed under the auspices of the Teachers Conciliation Council (TCC). This Council is comprised of representatives of teachers, school management, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Department of Education. The Council is chaired by an official of the Workplace Relations Commission.
The criteria for the award of incremental credit is laid out in my Department's Circulars 10/2001 for Primary teachers, 29/2007 and 29/2010 for Post Primary teachers. For the purposes of prior relevant non-teaching service, the relevant Circular for Post Primary teachers is 29/2007.
This circular provides for the award of incremental credit for both prior teaching service and prior relevant non-teaching service. Relevant non-teaching service is defined as service other than teaching service. This criteria includes that the relevant non-teaching experience so gained must be demonstrated by the teacher, to the satisfaction of the school authority (including Education and Training Boards as appropriate) and of the Department, to be directly relevant to the requirements of the post to which the teacher has been appointed.
When applying for incremental credit a teacher must be in an Oireachtas funded post. If the teacher is working in an ETB school, their application should be directed towards the HR Unit of that ETB. Further information on Circular 29/2007 and the application form can be found on the Department’s website at the following link Circular 29/2007.
334. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education following the request by the Government to encourage teachers who qualified outside the State to take up teaching posts available in Ireland, if she will consider giving compensation to those who went through additional training (details supplied) by upskilling in order to take up these positions at great personal cost; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9492/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 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 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.
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.
There is no provision to reimburse teachers for the costs of initial teacher education programmes, such as the programme referred to by the Deputy.
335. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update on the building programme for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9516/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe project referred to by the Deputy is at Architectural Planning Stage3 – 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.
My Department is currently assessing overall requirements for 2023 and associated work programme and will update individual schools of same in due course.
336. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to a request from an organisation (details supplied) for reasonable accommodations during State examinations for a specific provision for pupils with epilepsy; if examination candidates who had an epileptic seizure immediately before or during a State exam will be given the opportunity to re-sit any impacted examinations within the same examination cycle and academic year; her views on whether students who had an epileptic seizure before or during a State exam will be at a disadvantage in comparison to other candidates in the same examination cycle; if she has discussed this matter with the State Examinations Commission; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9521/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the state examinations.
In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.
337. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Education the list of stakeholders consulted on the draft School Sector Climate Action Mandate; the criteria for the selection of the stakeholders; if environmental NGOs were among the stakeholders consulted; if the draft School Sector Climate Action Mandate has been published on her Department’s website; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9560/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Government’s Climate Action Plan 2021, the Public Sector Climate Action Mandate published in 2022 is driving the public sector climate action agenda and confirms the provision of a dedicated School Sector Climate Action Mandate that can best reflect the particular circumstances of schools.
The dedicated School Sector Climate Action Mandate is structured in line with Public Sector Climate Action Mandate while also recognising the variance between large public bodies and the school sector and the distinctive role schools are playing in the areas of Education for Sustainable Development and Climate Change.
This approach in relation to the school sector enables the development of a single standardised climate action mandate for all schools. This aggregated approach for the schools sector will help to minimise the administrative burden for individual schools while at the same time provide flexibility within it to cater for the specific circumstances of each school.
The Department's consultation process for the School Sector Climate Action Mandate focused on stakeholders across the schools sector only and was primarily focused on the most appropriate amendments to the already published Public Sector Climate Action Mandate to reflect the specific circumstances of the schools sector. The school sector stakeholders consulted involved representatives of Patrons, Boards of Management, School Principals, Teachers and Students.
The consultation process was completed at the end of 2022 and the mandate has now been finalised and is due to be published shortly on the Department's website. The mandate includes a requirement that it will be updated annually.
338. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Education when the review of her Department’s overall requirements for 2023 and associated work programme will be completed; and when work will recommence on a project (details supplied). [9562/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra360. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Education if she will address the concerns raised by a school (details supplied) regarding its permanent school accommodation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10010/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 338 and 360 together.
My Department has a strong track record of delivery of school building projects and this was achieved again in 2022 notwithstanding the wider construction sector environment of high inflation, labour shortages and supply chain issues.
There were circa. 180 school building projects delivered during 2022 and a further 273 school building projects continued in construction at the start of 2023 - most of which will be completed in 2023.
I am very appreciative of the strong support provided by Government for our education budget. As part of the supplementary budget, €300m additional capital funding was provided in 2022. This helped to alleviate capital funding pressures that arose in 2022 which was reflective of the strong delivery by the Department of school building projects – particularly to support mainstream provision and special education needs provision. My Department’s overall capital outturn for 2022 was €1.12 billion.
My Department's Planning and Building Unit is currently assessing its work programme and priorities for 2023 in the context of its available funding. My Department's published NDP allocation for 2023 is €0.86 billion. High construction inflation remains a continuing feature of the construction sector for 2023. As part of its planning ahead for 2023, my Department is engaging with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform in relation to capital funding pressures in order to continue to be able to adequately support the operation of the school system with roll-out of school building projects to construction in 2023.
Key priorities for my Department's work programme include continuing strong delivery to support the operation of the school system with particular regard to planning ahead for the 2023/24 school year and beyond and also with particular regard to supporting special needs provision. The school to which the Deputy refers is among the many school accommodation needs across the country being considered as part of this process.
The permanent school building project for the site referred to by the Deputy is a campus project to deliver a 1,000 pupil post primary school and accommodation, including four classrooms, for children with special educational needs and a 16 classroom primary school and accommodation, including two classrooms, for children with special educational needs.
The campus project is being delivered under my Department's Design and Build programme. The application for planning permission for the campus project was lodged with Dublin City Council on 31st May 2021. The initial grant of planning was received on 22nd July 2021 and was subsequently the subject of a third party appeal to An Bord Pleanála. The decision by An Bord Pleanála to grant planning permission for the campus development was received on 1st April 2022.
My Department will continue to liaise with the school and their patron body in relation to the school’s accommodation needs pending delivery of the permanent accommodation.
339. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Education if an old primary school building (details supplied) in County Clare is for sale; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9571/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm the school building referred to by the Deputy became vacant in 2022 following the amalgamation of Cree National School and Clohanbeg National School in September 2022.
When a school building becomes vacant as a result of closure or amalgamation, the future use of the building is in the first instance a matter for the Patron. When the Patron applies to the Minister for permission to either use the property for community purposes or to sell it, my Department makes an assessment as to whether the property is required for future educational use. If it is concluded that the property has no viable future educational use, my Department permits that it may be used for community or other purposes or may be sold. It is a matter for the Patron to decide if the property is to be disposed of.
340. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Education when the board of management of a school (details supplied) that was approved for works under the additional accommodation scheme in February 2021 will have a decision regarding a stage 1/2A submission for works, given the time elapse since approval was first received; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9613/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe school to which the Deputy refers was approved funding under the Additional Accommodation Scheme 2021 to enable it to build 2 x 80m² Mainstream Classrooms, including en-suite toilets, 2 15m² SET rooms, 1 SEN Base.
A Stage 1/2A submission was received in my Department which was forwarded to the Department's Professional & Technical (P&T) team. Subsequent queries were issued to the school body and the responses to these queries have been submitted to the Department. The P&T Team is currently reviewing this submission and will revert back to the school when this review is completed with a view to moving the project forward as expeditiously as possible.
341. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education the total staff and budget of the NCSE divided across each service delivered. [9639/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Council for Special Education (NCSE) was established as an independent statutory body by order of the Minister for Education and Science in December 2003. The council was set up to improve the delivery of education services to persons with special educational needs arising from disabilities with particular emphasis on children.
A local service is delivered through the NCSE’s national network of Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) who interact with parents and schools and liaise with the HSE in providing resources to support children with special educational needs.
The NCSE deal with over 20,000 applications for support a year and deliver decisions to schools. In sanctioning resources for schools the council operate within Department of Education policy parameters. However, in doing so their SENOs talk to schools, parents , HSE providers and other professionals before making decisions to ensure that the decision made is the best fit for the individual pupil.
A key aim of the Council is to progressively improve the co-ordination between the education and health sectors in providing the supports for children with special educational needs. This is done through participation in the Education/Health Cross Sectoral Group which includes representation from the Department of Education, the Department of Health and Children and the HSE at national level and through interaction with the HSE and their service providers at local level.
The NCSE has a substantial research programme and have published a number of report which helps to inform best practice in the special education area and provide a basis for developing policy advice as appropriate.
The 2023 budget allocation for NCSE of €28.3m is made up of €18.2m pay and €10.1m non pay. This will provide for expansion of the service enabling an organisation of 426 staff members.
A further breakdown of the NCSE 2023 budget and employees by grade is attached.
342. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education the total number of early intervention classes in place and the children reached; and the number getting home tuition in the same category of need. [9640/23]
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 to receive an education is a priority for this Government.
For 2023, the spend by the 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 with special educational needs nationwide. Responsibility for provision in the early years sector lies with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY).
The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme provides up to two years of preschool within the eligible age range, without charge. The Access and Inclusion Model (AIM), introduced in 2016, enables the full inclusion and meaningful participation of children with disabilities/additional needs in the ECCE Programme. The goal of AIM is to create a more inclusive environment in preschools, so all children, regardless of ability, can benefit from quality early learning and care. A diagnosis of autism (or other disabilities/additional needs) is not required to access AIM supports. However, preschool children with a diagnosis are generally supported in mainstream preschools with additional supports provided through AIM where required.
The AIM programme provides seven levels of universal and targeted supports to children with special educational and additional needs. DCEDIY commissioned an evaluation of AIM at the end of its third year. This evaluation was carried out by a consortium led by the University of Derby from December 2020 to December 2021 (delayed due to COVID-19). Its purpose was to investigate the implementation and impact of AIM from the perspective of multiple stakeholders and to consider options for its potential expansion. The final draft version of the evaluation report is currently in preparation. It is expected that the publication of the report will be followed by a period of policy development on the potential for expansion of AIM which will be led by the DCEDIY.
NCSE sanctions the establishment of special classes, including ASD Early Intervention (EI) classes where there is an identified need. There are currently 151 Early intervention classes nationwide. On occasion, EI classes are re-designated as school-age special classes to reflect the changing age-profile of students, the changing needs in an area and in order to ensure a continuation of support for students in the EI class who require a special class placement. Information on the location of EI classes is available on the NCSE website.
The purpose of the Home Tuition Grant Scheme is to provide a compensatory educational service for children who, for a number of reasons, are unable to attend school. The scheme also provides a compensatory educational service for children with special educational needs seeking an educational placement for whom such a placement is not available.
The scheme also provides for early educational intervention for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), who meet the scheme’s criteria, aged from 2.5 - 5 years before they start in school. There are 70 children sanctioned for Home Tuition in the 2.5 to 3 years old category and 548 children sanctioned for home tuition in the 3 years + category for the current school year.
Where parents of children, who are eligible for home tuition under the terms of the scheme, and for whom home tuition has been approved, have sought alternative arrangements to be put in place for the tuition, my Department has responded by putting arrangements in place with private preschool providers which provide group tuition to children in a class type setting.
In recognition of the demand for group arrangements by parents of children, who are eligible for Home Tuition under the scheme, my Department now advises all such parents of the option to enter into a group arrangement with other parents of children for whom home tuition has been sanctioned. Currently 425 children of the 548 mentioned above are being catered for through these group arrangements. For the vast majority of the remaining children, they are attending Early years settings supported by the Early Childhood Care & Education Scheme (ECCE) and the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) and are being supplemented by the home tuition grant, until a placement is available in an Early Intervention Class.
343. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education if a school place can be found for the daughter of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9645/23]
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 providing supports to children and young people with special educational needs and their schools.
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 SEN in mainstream classes; funding for new special classes and 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 mainstream, 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.
There are currently 105 special classes in Co. Kildare. Of these, 79 special classes are at primary level and 26 are at post-primary level. Over the last three years, 20 new special classes at primary and 9 new special classes at post-primary have been provided.
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.
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 have engaged with post-primary stakeholders in relation to the provision of special classes. The Department has also previously written to all post-primary schools in October 2022 to advise them of the need to begin planning to provide additional special classes. It is envisaged that all post-primary schools will be required to provide special classes over the next 3 to 5 years, with an approximate average of 4 special classes in each school.
If the recent growth in the need for special classes continues, it is expected that a similar level of new 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.
The NCSE has advised my Department that it continues to work with schools to ensure that there are sufficient places available in special classes to meet the needs of children. It is expected that the NCSE will confirm where new special classes at primary and post-primary level have been sanctioned for the coming school year over the next few weeks. This is in keeping with timelines in previous years.
It is of course open to any school to engage with the NCSE to establish a special class.
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.
Parents seeking special class placements for their children are advised to contact the NCSE locally so that their needs can be taken into account for planning purposes. The local SENOs remain available to assist and advise parents of children with special educational needs. Parents may contact SENOs directly using the contact details available at: ncse.ie/regional-services-contact-list.
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 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.
As your query refers to an individual placement case, I will arrange to have it referred to the NCSE for their attention and direct reply.
344. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education when an announcement will be made on the approval of funding for projects under the 2023 summer works scheme. [9666/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, the purpose of the Summer Works Scheme is to devolve funding to individual school authorities to undertake small-scale building works which, ideally, can be carried out during the summer months or at other times that avoid disrupting the operation of the school.
The Summer Works Scheme plays an important role in the maintenance and upgrade of the condition of our schools. It provides important opportunities for enhancing the facilities in a school such as upgrading science laboratories and enhancing the energy efficiency of schools through upgrade works to roofs, windows, heating systems etc.
I wish to advise that a funding investment of €65 million was provided in primary and post primary schools in 2022, to facilitate the delivery of 499 projects under the Summer Works Scheme.
In addition to this, it is really positive news for our schools that Budget 2023, through the Climate Action Fund, will enable the provision of Photovoltaic Panels in schools up to 6KW output. It is intended the provision of the solar panels will be fully funded for schools and the roll-out programme will operate on a multi-annual basis. PV panels will assist schools with their energy needs and costs along with supporting the decarbonisation of our school buildings.
My Department's Planning and Building Unit is currently assessing its work programme and priorities for 2023 in the context of its available funding. My Department's published NDP allocation for 2023 is €0.86 billion. High construction inflation remains a continuing feature of the construction sector for 2023. As part of its planning ahead for 2023, my Department is engaging with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform in relation to capital funding pressures in order to continue to be able to adequately support the operation of the school system with roll-out of school building projects to construction in 2023.
Key priorities for my Department's work programme include continuing strong delivery to support the operation of the school system with particular regard to planning ahead for the 2023/24 school year and beyond and also with particular regard to supporting special needs provision.
As part of this planning for 2023 and beyond, my Department's officials are working on the arrangements for the next phases of the summer works programme. It is envisaged at this stage that, a new Multi-Annual Summer Works Scheme with a focus on climate action and energy conservation will be opened for new applications later in 2023 for delivery of projects on a phased basis from 2024 onwards. Schools will be notified of the details of the Summer Works Scheme as soon as practicable.
345. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update on the free schoolbooks scheme, including details of how schools and suppliers can access the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9688/23]
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 over 100 DEIS primary schools, as resources permit. The free primary schoolbooks 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 currently buy books directly from school book suppliers 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.
My Department has been engaging with relevant stakeholders including teacher unions, management bodies and representatives of school book publishers and booksellers, in order to inform and plan for the roll out of the measure. This engagement had already commenced at the end of 2022 and is continuing over the coming weeks.
Guidance for primary schools on the free schoolbooks measure is being 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. The Guidance, together with the funding, will be provided to schools to support the purchase of the books and resources in time for the start of the 2023/24 school year. It is recognised that this work will have to commence in schools after the Easter break.
