Written Answers Nos. 621-640
621. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education if she will liaise with the NTA to better align public transport options and times between Straffan, County Kildare with Maynooth to facilitate primary and second-level students that receive their education in Maynooth. [37773/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2022/2023 school year, over 149,000 children, including over 18,000 children with special educational needs, were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country.
There was an increase of 21% in tickets issued to eligible students and an increase of 38% in tickets issued on a concessionary basis in the 2022/23 school year compared to the 2021/22 school year.
In addition, school transport scheme services were provided for over 5,400 children who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine.
The total cost of the scheme in 2022 was €338.9m.
Already over 132,000 tickets have issued for the 2023/2024 school year which is an increase of 12% when compared with the same time last year. This number of tickets has already exceeded the total number of tickets issued in the 2022/23 school year.
A review of the School Transport Scheme is nearing completion. The review is being conducted with a view to examining the current scheme, its broader effectiveness and sustainability, and to ensure that it serves students and their families adequately.
A broad array of stakeholders including the NTA were all consulted as part of this review.
The final report of the review will include recommendations on the future operation of the Department’s School Transport Scheme. Once approved by Government, it is planned that the review will be published.
622. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Education the progress of a school site in Celbridge which has been identified as a preferred new location for three schools (details supplied); the delays currently being experienced; the timeline for progression of the project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37780/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe construction of new school buildings for the schools referred to by the Deputy are included on my Department's school building programme. It is intended that the new schools will be located on a site being acquired at Donaghcumper, Celbridge as part of a campus development.
The campus development will be progressed by National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) that is supporting my Department by delivering an element of my Department’s school building programme, the Devolved Schools Building Programme 2, on its behalf.
My Department has an agreement in principle for the acquisition of a site to accommodate the three school campus at Donaghcumper, Celbridge. The acquisition process is at an advanced stage. My Department is currently engaging with representatives for the land owners to finalise the details of the Heads of Terms.
The site acquisition process is at a stage that the design of the school campus, in preparation for the lodging a planning application, can proceed. To that end, the NDFA are currently finalising arrangements for the required procurement process to appoint a design team. The NDFA have been in contact with the schools in regards to this information and will continue to update the schools as this project progresses.
My Department is committed to advancing the campus development as quickly as possible and will keep the schools advised of progress in this regard.
623. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Education when the OECD review of Ireland's Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools (DEIS) resource allocation policy will be completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37853/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department provides a wide range of supports to all schools, DEIS and non-DEIS, to support the inclusion of all students and address barriers to students achieving their potential. Supplementing these universal supports, the DEIS programme provides a targeted and equitable way to address concentrated educational disadvantage that promotes equity and has benefits for students.
My Department now spends approximately €180million annually providing additional supports to 1,200 schools in the DEIS programme. This includes an additional €32m allocated following my announcement to extend the programme to an additional 322 schools from September 2022. This now means that approximately 240,000 students or 1 in 4 of all students are now supported in the programme.
My Department is continuing to undertake work towards achieving its vision for an inclusive education system which supports all learners to achieve their potential. It also recognises that we need to target resources to those schools who need them most. That is why my Department has undertaken a programme of work to explore the allocation of resources to schools to address educational disadvantage. To support this work my Department have invited the OECD Strength Through Diversity: Education for Inclusive Societies Project to review the current policy approach for the allocation of resources to support students at risk of educational disadvantage in Ireland. This review will provide an independent expert opinion on the current resource allocation model for the DEIS programme and, drawing on international examples, inform a policy approach for an equitable distribution of supplementary resources to support students at risk of educational disadvantage attending all schools, both DEIS and non-DEIS.
The OECD review will be complimented by a programme of work by my Department which will look at reviewing individual resources and allocation approaches. This work will consider the allocation of resources within the DEIS programme. It will also seek to ensure that schools are supported to ensure every child has an equal opportunity to achieve their potential.
The OECD Strength Through Diversity team estimate that the review will be complete in Q2 of 2024.
624. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Education if school transport will be continued for a child (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37868/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2022/2023 school year, over 149,000 children, including over 18,000 children with special educational needs, were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country.
There has been an increase of 21% in tickets issued to eligible students and an increase of 38% in tickets issued on a concessionary basis in the 2022/23 school year compared to the 2021/22 school year.
In addition, school transport scheme services were provided for over 5,400 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 pupil referred to by the Deputy is attending their nearest Primary school and they reside 2.6 km from home to school.
Therefore, this pupil is a concessionary applicant as they do not meet the distance criteria under the Primary School Transport scheme. This pupil has been unsuccessful in obtaining a seat for the 2023/24 school year as demand exceeded supply for this route. The existing service is currently operating to capacity.
625. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Education if she will ensure that the victims of abuse in Protestant-ethos institutions are treated equally with victims of abuse in other schools in Ireland, including other religious schools, by changing the terms of reference of her Department’s scoping inquiry to ensure they are pluralist and reflective of a non-sectarian republic. [37924/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra635. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Education what action can be taken to address the failure of the Church of Ireland to thus far properly treat the victims of a cleric (details supplied). [37990/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra636. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Education if she is aware of confidentiality agreements, otherwise known as 'gagging clauses’, that have been imposed on Church of Ireland-schools, associated institutions, or the church itself, in relation to information regarding victims of abuse claimants in schools run by or associated with the Church of Ireland; if this runs contrary to the announced scoping inquiry by her Department into abuse in schools in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37991/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra637. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Education if she can confirm if the homes run by an order (details supplied), that also operated as schools, will be covered in the scoping inquiry by her Department. [37992/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra638. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Education if she can confirm if the child abuse in a school (details supplied) will be covered in her Department’s scoping inquiry of abuse in schools in Ireland. [37993/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 625 and 635 to 638, inclusive, together.
I am very conscious of the enormous trauma which has been endured by all survivors of abuse. The Scoping Inquiry, which is independently led, was established by the Government in response to revelations of historical sexual abuse in a number of day and boarding schools run by religious orders. Having regard to this, and a challenging timeframe for the Scoping Inquiry to complete its work, the priority focus of the Scoping Inquiry is on day and boarding schools run by religious orders. It is not the role of the Scoping Inquiry to make findings of fact in respect of individual schools or individual allegations of abuse.
The Scoping Inquiry’s remit is to inform the Government’s response to the revelations of historical sexual abuse in day and boarding schools run by religious orders. Nonetheless, the Deputy may wish to note that elements of the Scoping Inquiry will focus on the school sector as a whole, including an analysis of child protection systems within both the primary and post-primary sector. The Deputy may also wish to note that it is envisaged the recommended response could also form a template for Government responses in respect of other settings.
As the Deputy may be aware, the Report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse, also known as the Ryan Report, has extensively documented the abuse of children in industrial and reformatory schools and other residential settings, including the causes, nature, circumstances and extent of such abuse.
The Department of Education’s Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools provides guidance to schools in relation to their responsibilities under the Children First Act 2015 and the Children First National Guidance 2017. The procedures require that, in any situation where a member of school personnel receives an allegation or has a suspicion that a child may have been abused or neglected, is being abused or neglected, or is at risk of being abused or neglected, he or she shall without delay report the matter to a Designated Liaison Person. The Designated Liaison Person is responsible for ensuring that any reasonable grounds for concern are reported to Tusla.
626. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education the estimated cost in 2024 if an additional 200 SNAs were recruited. [37940/23]
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. 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 has been substantially increased by over 10% on last year, meaning that for 2023 my department will spend over €2.6 billion on special education.
This level of educational funding and support is unprecedented and represents in excess of 27% of the department’s total allocation for 2023.
This includes funding to support children with special educational needs in mainstream classes; funding for new special classes and new special school places; additional special educational teachers, special needs assistants (SNAs) and funding for the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS).
In 2023, the number of teaching and SNA posts in our schools will increase by 686 and 1,194 respectively.
For the first time ever there will be over 19,000 teachers working in the area of special education and over 20,000 SNAs. 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 NCSE has the responsibility for planning and coordinating school supports for children with special educational needs including the allocation of SNAs and reviews. The department does not have a role in making individual school determinations.
When a school has been allocated an SNA, the Board of Management as the employer, is responsible for filling the vacancy. The decision on whether to employ a full-time SNA to fill a full-time post, or to employ an equivalent number of part-time SNAs rests with the employer.
My department acts as paymaster to over 3,700 schools whose Boards of Management
are the direct employers of SNAs. SNAs employed within the Education and Training Board (ETB) sector are paid by the respective ETB.
The NCSE publish statistics on SNA allocations for each school year, by county, in tabular form on their website. These details can be found at: www.ncse.ie/set-hours-and-sna-allocations.
The approximate annual cost at entry of an additional full-time SNA including provision for employer PRSI and substitution costs is €39,990. Therefore the estimated cost of 200 additional SNAs is almost €8 million per annum.
627. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education when the next EU Council of Education Ministers is scheduled to occur. [37941/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe next formal Education, Youth, Culture and Sport (EYCS) Council meeting is scheduled to take place on 23 November in Brussels.
There will also be an informal EYCS Council meeting under the Spanish Presidency of the EU, which will be held in Zaragoza on 18-19 September.
628. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Education the position regarding a new building for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37926/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe project to which the Deputy refers has been devolved for delivery to Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim Education and Training Board (MSLETB).
The brief includes the development of a 4 class primary school with 1 class special education needs base and involves the demolition of the existing school building and construction of a new school building and all associated site works. MSLETB have appointed a Design Team and are currently progressing through Stage 1 - preliminary design options.
While at this early stage, it is not possible to provide a timeline for completion of the project. MSLETB will be engaging directly with my Department and the school community to keep them informed of progress.
629. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Education to detail the number of secondary school bus concessionary ticket applications for the academic year 2023/2024 in County Wexford; the number of secondary school bus concessionary ticket applications in County Wexford for the 2022/2023 academic year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37945/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra630. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Education to detail the number of eligible secondary school bus ticket applications for the academic year 2023/2024 in County Wexford; the number of eligible secondary school bus ticket applications for the academic year 2022/2023 in County Wexford; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37946/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra631. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Education to detail the total number of secondary school bus places available to students in County Wexford for the 2023/24 academic year; the number of secondary school bus places available to students in County Wexford for the 2022/2023 academic year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37947/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra634. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Education to detail the locations of fully concessionary secondary school bus routes in County Wexford; the capacity on each of these concessionary services; the total number of applications for these services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37950/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 629 to 631, inclusive, and 634 together.
The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2022/2023 school year, over 149,000 children, including over 18,000 children with special educational needs, were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country.
There was an increase of 21% in tickets issued to eligible students and an increase of 38% in tickets issued on a concessionary basis in the 2022/23 school year compared to the 2021/22 school year.
In addition, school transport scheme services were provided for over 5,400 children who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine.
The total cost of the scheme in 2022 was €338.9m.
Already over 132,000 tickets have issued for the 2023/2024 school year which is an increase of 12% when compared with the same time last year. This number of tickets has already exceeded the total number of tickets issued in the 2022/23 school year.
In relation to the Deputy's request for detail the locations of fully concessionary secondary school bus routes in County Wexford; the capacity on each of these concessionary services and the total number of applications for these services, Bus Éireann has advised as follows:
There are currently 3 routes operating to Wexford Town Post Primary Centre which currently only cater for TAM (Temporary Alleviation Measure) and Mainstream concessionary pupils. The total capacity of the three routes is 126. There are 125 pupils issued with tickets on these routes, of the 125 pupils, 122 are TAM pupils and 3 are mainstream concessionary pupils.
There is currently 1 route operating to Gorey Town Post Primary Centre which currently only caters for TAM (Temporary Alleviation Measure) and Mainstream concessionary pupils. The route is a 16 seat vehicle with 13 TAM pupils and 1 Mainstream Concessionary pupil issued with tickets on board.
Please note some routes may operate additional trips to other schools and cater for mainstream eligible pupils.
In relation to the Deputy's request for the following data, please see the attached table:
• the number of secondary school bus concessionary ticket applications for the academic year 2023/2024 in County Wexford; the number of secondary school bus concessionary ticket applications in County Wexford for the 2022/2023 academic year;
• the number of eligible secondary school bus ticket applications for the academic year 2023/2024 in County Wexford; the number of eligible secondary school bus ticket applications for the academic year 2022/2023 in County Wexford;
• the total number of secondary school bus places available to students in County Wexford for the 2023/24 academic year; the number of secondary school bus places available to students in County Wexford for the 2022/2023 academic year;
|
Tickets Issued SCYR2223 at 11/09/22 |
Tickets Issued SCYR2324 at 08/09/23 |
% Increase SCYR2223 vs SCYR2324 |
||||||||
|
County |
Concessionary |
Eligible |
Total |
Concessionary |
TAM |
Eligible |
Total |
Concessionary |
Eligible |
Total |
|
Wexford |
2335 |
4483 |
6818 |
1212 |
1261 |
4616 |
7089 |
5.91% |
2.97% |
3.97% |
632. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Education to clarify the allocation process for concessionary secondary school bus tickets; if a concessionary ticket holder in previous academic years is given priority over new concessionary ticket applications on the same route; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37948/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2022/2023 school year, over 149,000 children, including over 18,000 children with special educational needs, were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country.
There was an increase of 21% in tickets issued to eligible students and an increase of 38% in tickets issued on a concessionary basis in the 2022/23 school year compared to the 2021/22 school year.
In addition, school transport scheme services were provided for over 5,400 children who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine.
The total cost of the scheme in 2022 was €338.9m.
Already over 132,000 tickets have issued for the 2023/2024 school year which is an increase of 12% when compared with the same time last year. This number of tickets has already exceeded the total number of tickets issued in the 2022/23 school year.
Children who are not eligible for school transport, under the terms of the scheme, may apply to Bus Éireann for transport on a concessionary basis subject to a number of conditions, including, if there is a suitable service, as determined by Bus Éireann, operating into their school of attendance, if 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.
Where capacity remains once all eligible applicants are catered for, the selection process for allocating tickets to concessionary applicants is as follows:
• Using the Family ID as a reference, first priority is given to all existing concessionary applicants (whether they had seats or not in the last school year) who have paid by the deadline date for payments plus siblings of these pupils provided they also have paid by the deadline date. Second priority is all new applicants who applied and paid by the deadline dates (i.e. those applying for transport for the first time). Finally, all other applicants (for example late applicants/payees).
633. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Education to clarify the allocation process of bus tickets for concessionary secondary school bus routes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37949/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2022/2023 school year, over 149,000 children, including over 18,000 children with special educational needs, were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country.
There was an increase of 21% in tickets issued to eligible students and an increase of 38% in tickets issued on a concessionary basis in the 2022/23 school year compared to the 2021/22 school year.
In addition, school transport scheme services were provided for over 5,400 children who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine.
The total cost of the scheme in 2022 was €338.9m.
Already over 132,000 tickets have issued for the 2023/2024 school year which is an increase of 12% when compared with the same time last year. This number of tickets has already exceeded the total number of tickets issued in the 2022/23 school year.
Children who are not eligible for school transport, under the terms of the scheme, may apply to Bus Éireann for transport on a concessionary basis subject to a number of conditions, including, if there is a suitable service, as determined by Bus Éireann, operating into their school of attendance, if 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.
639. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education when ICT/digital grants will be paid to schools. [38048/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Digital Strategy for Schools 2015 to 2020 overall investment of €210m issued to all recognised primary and post-primary schools in annual grant funding. This funding enabled schools to invest in appropriate digital infrastructure to enable the embedding of the use of digital technology in teaching, learning and assessment.
The new Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027 was published last year and is underpinned by an investment of €200m to support its implementation, committed to under Ireland’s National Development Plan (NDP). The first tranche of €50m issued to all recognised primary and post-primary schools in late 2021.
Funding of €50m secured as part of Ireland's National Recovery and Resilience Plan under the NextGenerationEU Recovery and Resilience Facility also issued to all recognised schools in the free education scheme to support learners at risk of educational disadvantage through the digital divide in late 2021.
My Department intends to pay the next tranche of ICT grant funding in the 2023 to 2024 school year.
The specific timing for issue of the ICT grant is subject to the availability of Exchequer funding and the wider capital needs of the Department including the building programme to ensure the supply of school accommodation.
As part of the forthcoming Review of the National Development Plan, my Department’s aim is to provide better clarity and certainty for schools on the timelines for payment of minor works and ICT grant funding.
640. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education to provide an update and timeline for a school building project (details supplied); to confirm what stage the project is at; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38106/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe project for the school to which the Deputy refers is devolved for delivery to Kildare & Wicklow Educational and Training Board (KWETB).
I am pleased to advise that in the second quarter of 2023, my Department approved a significant increase to the brief for this school which provides for a 1,000 pupil school including 6 special education needs classes.
KWETB and its design team are currently incorporating this increased schedule of accommodation into revised plans in order to progress the project through the next stage of the architectural design and construction process. The project executive, KWETB have responsibility for this progression including the submission of the planning application which is expected to happen shortly. At this stage it is not possible to provide an accurate timeline for completion of the project, KWETB will be engaging directly with the school community to keep it informed of progress.
