Written Answers Nos. 313-329
313. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Education if she will instruct the State Examinations Commission to introduce access to extra time for dyslexic students in Junior Cycle and Leaving Certificate examinations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24760/23]
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.
314. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education if she will engage with an organisation (details supplied) which has sought extra time for dyslexic students sitting their Junior Certificate and Leaving Certificate exams; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24761/23]
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.
315. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education if she supports a call by an organisation (details supplied) on the State Examinations Commission to introduce extra time for dyslexic students in Junior Cycle and Leaving Certificate exams; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24764/23]
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.
316. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 253 of 27 April 2023, if she will confirm whether Bus Éireann has reviewed the school transport application in question to determine whether concessionary transport is available from the nearest pick-up point from their family home; if Bus Éireann has contacted the family directly in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24766/23]
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 €338.9m.
Under the terms of my Department's Post Primary School Transport Scheme children are eligible for school transport where they reside not less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest post primary school as determined by my Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
Bus Éireann has advised the pupils referred to by the Deputy are not eligible for school transport under the terms of the Post Primary Scheme as the pupils are attending their second nearest post primary school.
Pupils who are not eligible for school transport may apply for transport on a concessionary basis in accordance with the terms of the Scheme and subject to a number of terms and conditions including
• there is a suitable service, as determined by Bus Éireann, operating into their education centre;
• there is spare capacity on the service;
• routes will not be extended or altered, additional vehicles will not be introduced, nor will larger vehicles or extra trips using existing vehicles be provided to cater for children travelling on a concessionary basis; no additional State cost will be incurred;
Bus Eireann have advised that their local office will contact the family directly in regard to the 2023/2024 school year.
317. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Education for an update on the status of an application for a retrofit grant for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24782/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe application to which the Deputy refers has been processed by the Emergency Works team within my Department and payment has been approved and has issued in respect of this application.
318. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Education the status of a new build for a school (details supplied). [24783/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is being 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 is currently at an advanced stage of Architectural Planning – Stage 2(b) – Detailed Design, where the Design Team make the applications for all Statutory Approvals, and prepare the suite of tender documents.
All Statutory Approvals have been secured, and my department is currently reviewing the design team submission of the Stage 2(b) Report.
Upon completion of the review and subsequent approval, my Department will be in further contact with the school authority and design team.
319. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Education if she will support the call by an organisation (details supplied) to introduce extra time for dyslexic students in Junior Cycle and Leaving Certificate examinations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24789/23]
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.
320. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education to clarify the eligibility of students to access the school transport for post-primary students when their nearest school does not have a school transport route for their area of residence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24793/23]
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 5,200 children who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine.
The total cost of the scheme in 2022 was €338.9m.
The School Transport Scheme is an important service for families and children. 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.
Children are eligible for transport at post primary level where they reside not less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre as determined by the department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
Children who are not eligible for school transport, but who completed the application process on time, are considered for spare seats that may exist after eligible children have been facilitated; such seats are referred to as concessionary seats.
Due to 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.
Where there are already existing routes in place, temporary alleviation measures will be continued for the 2023/24 school year, pending completion of the School Transport Review. This means that transport will be provided for post-primary pupils who are eligible for transport to their nearest school and are attending their second nearest school. Families must have applied for school transport by the 28th April 2023 and complete the payment process by 9th June 2023.
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, provided this can be done within reasonable cost limits.
Families who wish to avail of school transport and have their eligibility status assessed should apply on-line in a timely manner to Bus Éireann on Bus Éireann’s website at www.buseireann.ie/schooltransport
The closing date for new applications in respect of the 2023/2024 school year was 28th April 2023 and the closing date for payment for all applicants is 9th June 2023. Once the payment closing date has passed, Bus Éireann will review applications and plan routes during the summer months for the upcoming school year. Arising from this review, routes may be altered, extended or withdrawn depending on the number and location of eligible children who will be availing of school transport for the following school year.
321. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education the steps she is taking to establish a Gaelcholáiste serving the Dublin 2, 4, 6 and 8 areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24794/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs part of the 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030, my Department has committed to creating opportunities for expanding Irish-medium education outside the Gaeltacht in the context of the announcements on the establishment of 47 new schools from 2019, which affords particular consideration to the establishment of Gaelscoileanna, Gaelcholáistí, and Aonaid Lán-Ghaeilge as part of the patronage process for new schools.
In order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a Geographical Information System, using data from a range of sources, including Child Benefit and school enrolment data, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise and where additional school accommodation is needed at primary and post-primary level.
Where data indicates that additional provision is required at primary or post-primary level, the delivery of such additional provision is dependent on the particular circumstances of each case and may be provided through either one, or a combination of, the following:
• Utilising existing unused capacity within a school or schools,
• Extending the capacity of a school or schools,
• Provision of a new school or schools.
A patronage process is run after it has been decided, based on demographic analysis, that a new school is required. The patronage process is open to all patron bodies and prospective patrons. Parental preferences, as well as other considerations such as the extent of diversity of provision in an area (including Irish-medium provision), are key to the decision-making process and to whether at post-primary level a school would take the form of an Irish-medium Gaelcholáiste or whether, if English-medium, the school would include an Irish-medium unit.
The year of establishment, patronage model and language of instruction have yet to be determined for the new post-primary schools announced to serve the following school planning areas in the general South Dublin area: Dublin 2_Dublin 4 and Sallynoggin_Killiney_DLR/Cherrywood.
While it is expected that the existing Gaelcholáistí in the general South Dublin area have sufficient school places to accommodate demand in the short term, given the number of new gaelscoileanna which have opened in recent years or are planned to open in this area, my Department is keeping the position under active review as these schools grow and the number of sixth class pupils in gaelscoileanna increases. The opportunities for expansion of provision at existing gaelcholáistí such as Coláiste Eoin and Coláiste Íosagáin is also relevant and the Department is engaging with the school patron of Coláiste Eoin and Coláiste Iosagáin in this regard.
My Department is currently developing a new policy for Irish-medium education outside of Gaeltacht areas. The policy will be informed by a consultation process. Phase 1 of the consultation process, which involved an online questionnaire and a call for written submissions, ran from 27 October 2022 to 30 January 2023. The second phase, which includes focus groups, is currently underway. A review of national and international literature on minority language education provision has also been commissioned, along with research on Aonaid/Sruthanna in Irish-medium education. This research will also inform the policy development process.
Contact details
322. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Education if a school transport service could be provided on a route (details supplied) considering the number of students currently travelling the route to attend their second nearest secondary school or if these students could avail on school transport on the scheduled service at a reduced fare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24823/23]
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 €338.9m.
Children are eligible for transport at primary level where they reside not less than 3.2 kilometres from and are attending their nearest national school, and at post primary level where they reside not less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre as determined by the department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
Children who are eligible for school transport and who have completed the application process on time will be accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation.
Children who are not eligible for school transport, but who completed the application process on time, will be considered for spare seats that may exist after eligible children have been facilitated; such seats are referred to as concessionary seats.
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 will be continued for the 2023/2024 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.
The availability of concessionary transport may vary from year to year and is not available on public scheduled services.
Families who wish to discuss specific queries can contact officials in the School Transport Section of my Department at: school_transport@education.gov.ie where they will be happy to assist them.
323. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education if private schools such as a school (details supplied) can avail of Ireland’s first national primary school book scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24830/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI recently announced details of Ireland’s first national primary school book scheme, which will provide free schoolbooks, workbooks and copybooks, in recognised primary schools and special schools. More than 558,000 pupils enrolled in approximately 3,230 primary schools, including over 130 special schools, will benefit from this measure.
The total investment, of over €50 million, significantly increases the funding for school books currently provided to all recognised primary schools in the country. The implementation of the measure will build on the experience of the existing school book rental scheme which is available in the majority of recognised primary schools and on the free school books pilot provided to over 100 primary DEIS schools in recent years.
The funding provided under the scheme is specifically to provide free school books to recognised primary school pupils in the free education scheme, including special schools, from September 2023.
324. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update on the school place for a pupil (details supplied). [24839/23]
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). The vast majority of children with special educational needs are supported to attend mainstream classes with their peers. Where children with more complex needs require additional supports, special classes and special school places are provided.
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 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.
My Department is engaging intensely with the NCSE in relation to the forward planning of new special classes and additional special school places. 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 a result of this forward planning, on the 12th April, Minister Foley and l announced the establishment of two new special schools for the 2023/2024 school year, with further capacity being expanded in 11 other special schools.
Along with the two new special schools, 328 new special classes – 217 at primary and 111 at post-primary level – have been sanctioned by the NCSE for opening in the 2023/24 school year, with more to be confirmed in the coming weeks.
Of these new classes, 69 are in Dublin, with 48 at primary level and 21 at post-primary level. These new classes will bring the total number of special classes in Dublin to 534,
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.
In October of last year, my Department wrote to all post-primary schools 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.
In relation to the student referred to by the Deputy, the NCSE has advised my Department that it has been engaging intensively with various parties throughout recent months to secure a suitable educational environment for the student. The NCSE continue to explore all possible options and engage with various schools in the area to secure a placement for the student in September.
The NCSE have had ongoing engagement with the family as well and will continue to offer assistance to the family as needed until an appropriate placement is secured.
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 .
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
The NCSE is committed to ensuring that sufficient special education placements will be available for children for the coming school year 2023/2024.
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.
325. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update on Government plans to provide solar photovoltaic panels as part of the summer works scheme; how schools can apply or avail of this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24859/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, Budget 2023 included the announcement for the provision of fully funded solar photovoltaic (PV) panels with an output of 6kW for all schools. This funding will be made available from the Climate Action Fund at the discretion of the Minister for the Environment.
This significant solar PV programme, will assist schools with their energy needs and costs along with supporting the decarbonisation of our school buildings.
As part of the preparation for the roll out of the national programme, a key first step was to establish the level of existing PV installations across the overall school estate. I can advise, that the survey in respect of the number of solar PV panels that are installed in schools across the country is now complete. The survey indicates that approximately 10% of post-primary schools and 5% of primary schools already have solar PV panels installed.
In respect of the roll out of the solar PV programme, I can advise that my Department officials are working closely with colleagues in the Department of Environment, Climate and Communication in relation to the arrangements for this scheme. In parallel, the Department is developing the strategic management requirements for provision of a multi annual solar PV delivery programme for primary and post primary schools. The solar panel programme for schools is detailed in the published Climate Action Plan 2023, to be developed with roll out of the multi-annual delivery programme commencing in late 2023.
326. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Education when she expects school transport to be provided to a child (details supplied) in County Leitrim, as recommended by the local SENO; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24940/23]
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 €338.9m.
The National Council for Special Education acts in an advisory role to the Department of Education on the suitability of placements for children with special educational needs. Under the terms of the School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs, the Department will consider the report of the Special Education Needs Organiser (SENO). School transport is provided to children with special educational needs who are attending the nearest school to their place of residence that is or can be resourced to meet their educational needs, as identified by the SENO.
An application for school transport under the terms of the above scheme was received for the pupil referred to by the Deputy on 5th May 2023. I am pleased to advise that this pupil has been deemed eligible to the school they are attending and a request has been sent to Bus Eireann to provide a report on this matter. Bus Éireann and School Transport Section of my Department will liaise with the family directly with regard to this matter.
327. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Education if she will resolve a school transport issue (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24943/23]
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 149,000 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. There has been an increase of 21% tickets issued to eligible students and 38% tickets issued on a concessionary basis in the current 2022/23 school year compared to the 2021/22 school year.
In addition, school transport scheme services are being provided in the current school year for over 5,200 children who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine.
The total cost of the scheme in 2022 was €338.9m.
Children are eligible for transport at primary level where they reside not less than 3.2 kilometres from and are attending their nearest national school, and at post primary level where they reside not less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre as determined by the department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
Children who are eligible for school transport and who have completed the application process on time will be accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation.
Children who are not eligible for school transport, but who completed the application process on time, will be considered for spare seats that may exist after eligible children have been facilitated; such seats are referred to as concessionary seats.
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.
Bus Éireann has advised that the service referred to by the Deputy in this case, is a 12 seater service which was sanctioned for Ukrainian pupils and commenced service in December 2022. Bus Éireann have confirmed they currently have received no mainstream applications for this school for the 22/23 school year. Families are requested to apply and pay/enter medical card details before the closing date on their Bus Éireann family portal account in order to be considered for transport. The closing date for new applications for the 2023/2024 school year was the 28th April 2023.
New applications are considered as:
• Pupils who will be attending junior infants in primary school or first year in post-primary school for the first time in 2023.
• Pupils that may move home address or will be attending a new school in the 2023/24 school year
Applications can be made by visiting www.buseireann.ie/schooltransport
Any new applications made after the closing date are considered late applications and families are not guaranteed a seat. A late application may mean that a ticket is not available.
328. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Education the timeframe for the appointment of the design team for the additional classrooms for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24971/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm to the Deputy, that my Department is in receipt of an application for the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme from the school in question.
The application is currently under consideration and a decision will issue to the school authorities as soon as possible in this regard.
329. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Education if she will take into account the wishes of career guidance and counsellor teachers in Cork city and not move their counselling supervision meetings to a Tuesday due to the impact this will have, including on availability to teach other subjects, and costs to her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24986/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Professional Support (Guidance Counselling Supervision) Programme provides all guidance counsellors employed in Department of Education funded post primary schools with five two-hour sessions of counselling supervision support in each academic year by a professionally qualified Supervisor. This provides a forum for Guidance Counsellors to meet their peers and discuss the issues they are facing.
This Scheme is funded by the Department of Education, administered by Monaghan Education Support Centre and overseen by the National Steering Committee for Guidance Counselling Supervision (Steering Committee). Supervision sessions are organised by the IGC Branch organiser in each region.
The Steering Committee recently decided to standardise the day for supervision to Tuesday afternoon for all regions from September 2024 on. This was communicated to the IGC in February 2023. The reason for this decision, as outlined in the letter sent to the IGC, was concern about the impact on students of having no access to guidance counselling available either side of the weekend. This may lead to a situation where a student presenting with an issue of concern on a Friday will be required to wait until Monday at the earliest to receive appropriate support from a qualified guidance counsellor.
This point has been reinforced by the responses to a survey of post primary principals in the regions where supervision is not currently scheduled on a Tuesday.
This survey was conducted by the NAPD (as they are represented on the supervision steering committee) and had a response rate of 52% (57 respondents out of 110):
• 77% of respondents indicated that it is essential for students to have access to a guidance counsellor for the full day on Monday and Friday
• 75% of respondents also indicated that they would have no issue with facilitating the release of their Guidance Counsellor on a Tuesday for supervision five times a year.
The Steering Committee are aware of the issues these changes may cause in relation to timetabling in schools, sourcing of supervisors and availability of premises. In order to ease the move to a Tuesday afternoon they have allowed an 18 month lead in time for these changes to be implemented.
