Written Answers Nos. 531-550
532. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Education the options open to a person (details supplied) when such a situation arises; if her Department can assist the person; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48461/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe redeployment arrangements is the mechanism used to fill teaching posts. Each Main Redeployment Panel is created for surplus permanent/CID holding teachers in order to ensure that vacancies are offered in the first instance to these teachers. Schools that are allocated posts on the basis of projected enrolment are advised that these posts may only be filled on a provisional basis, pending confirmation of enrolment, and in case a teacher returns to the Main Panel for redeployment.
Teachers on the Supplementary Panel that take up such posts do so on a provisional basis. The teacher referred to by the Deputy was returned to the Supplementary Panel in October. The Supplementary Panel is used to fill permanent positions up to the first working day of November.
Teachers on the Supplementary Panel that do not take up a permanent position from the panel may reapply for the following year's panel. Information and application forms for the Supplementary Panel 2024/25 will be published on the Department website later this month.
The redeployment arrangements are reviewed and agreed annually by my Department and the Education Stakeholders, including Teacher Unions.
Once all surplus permanent/CID holding teachers are redeployed, schools are required to fill permanent vacancies from Supplementary Redeployment Panels comprised of eligible fixed-term (temporary/substitute) and part-time teachers. At that point, fixed-term vacancies may be advertised through open competition.
Once a redeployment panel has been exhausted in an area, schools with permanent vacancies in that area may proceed to open competition to fill these vacancies. It is open to any teacher to apply for these vacancies as they arise.
534. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education to outline when building works will commence at a school (details supplied); if she will investigate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48471/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Large scale capital project at the school referred to by the Deputy, to provide accommodation for a 1,000 Pupil School, is at an advanced stage of the Tender process. In July clarifications were received from the Design Team in relation to the Reserved Specialist Tender Report, however further information was subsequently requested. Planning and Building unit officials are currently engaging with the Design Team in relation to the remaining issues.
When this review is complete and subject to no further issues arising, the Department will be in further contact with the school authority.
535. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Education the ongoing liaison her Department has had with South Dublin County Council regarding the review of its Development Plan and the need to provide an additional second level school in the school planning area of Newcastle/Rathcoole located in Newcastle Village, County Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48482/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraNew schools are established by my Department on the basis of identified demographic demand in an area, and only after consideration of the capacity of existing schools to absorb the expected school place demand.
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.
Major new residential developments in a school planning area have the potential to alter demand in that area. In that regard, as part of the demographic exercises, my Department engages with each of the local authorities to obtain the up-to-date information on significant new residential development in each area. This is necessary to ensure that schools infrastructure planning is keeping pace with demographic changes.
Where demographic data indicates that additional provision is required, the delivery of such additional provision is dependent on the particular circumstances of each case and may, be provided through:
• Utilising existing unused capacity within a school or schools,
• Extending the capacity of a school or schools,
• Provision of a new school or schools.
Newcastle Village is located in the Newcastle_Rathcoole School Planning Area. The most recent projections for Newcastle_Rathcoole School Planning Area indicate an increase in requirements at post primary level up to 2033 followed by a projected reduction in enrolments thereafter.
There are 2 major projects in the SPA:
Roll Number 76594L - Coláiste Pobail Fóla for New School Building for 1,000 pupils plus 4 classroom SEN Base. This is at Stage 3. Coláiste Pobail Fóla was established in 2020 as a regional solution for the area and would be expected to cater for future demand in the area.
Roll Number 91301D – Holy Family Community School for New School Building for 1000 pupils plus 2 SEN. This is at Stage 3. The school is also at Stage 6 for Modular Accommodation for 3 general classrooms.
The requirement for additional school places is kept under on-going review. The Department will continue to engage with South Dublin County Council including attending quarterly meetings with their Planning Department, in respect of its review of the South Dublin County Development Plan with a view to identifying any potential long-term school accommodation requirements.
536. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update on a school capital project (details supplied) in Mayo; the measures her Department is taking in situations where the grant allocated does not cover the costs, as outlined in the tender report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48488/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am pleased to advise the Deputy, that the school referred to has been approved a project under my Department's Additional School Accommodation (ASA) Scheme for the provision of 1 mainstream classroom. This project has been devolved for delivery to the school authority.
A Stage 3 tender report was submitted by the school authority, however a signed Form of Acceptance was omitted. This was received in Q3 2023 and the tender report is now currently being reviewed by officials in my Department. This review includes a full assessment of project costs, and any issues outlined by the school in this report, will be taken into consideration.
Upon completion of the review an update will be issued to the school authority and my Department will continue to liaise with them in order to progress this project to successful completion.
537. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Education if schools with a religious ethos are not permitted to ask for certificates showing training in particular religious ideologies, such as the certificate in religious studies, when seeking to employ teachers; her views on whether this practice discriminates against people of different religious ideas and backgrounds to the school in which they are seeking employment; if she believes legislative change is required to end this practice; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48501/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe recruitment and appointment of teachers to fill teaching posts is a matter for the individual school authority. In accordance with Department Circulars 31/2011 and 44/2019, schools are required to ensure that individuals appointed to teach are registered teachers with qualifications appropriate to the sector and suitable to the post for which they are employed. In post primary schools teachers are required to be registered Route 2 with the Teaching Council and have qualifications in the subjects for the post they are appointed to in order to receive incremental salary. It should also be noted that schools and other educational institutions are required to comply with anti-discrimination and other employment legislation, such as the Employment Equality Act 1998. Section 37 (1) of the Employment Equality Act, 1998 allowed for the exclusion of discrimination on particular grounds in certain employments. The amended Section 37 now draws a distinction between religious institutions that are entirely privately funded and those which are funded by the taxpayer. The rationale is in the case of the second category, the Government has the right to protect employees who are paid from public monies from unfair treatment or discrimination in their work place. The amended Section 37 now requires relevant employers in schools with a religious ethos to show that any favourable treatment of an employee or prospective employee is limited to the religion ground and action taken against a person is objectively justified by reference to that institution’s aim of protecting its religious ethos. This provision raises the threshold for discrimination so that schools are precluded from discrimination on any other equality grounds and that any action taken is reasonable and proportionate.
540. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education for an update on a modular build project for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48543/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe school to which the Deputy refers was granted final approval under the Modular Accommodation Scheme for the provision of 2 x 80 m2 Mainstream Classrooms, 1 x 15m2 SET Room, 1 x 15m2 Office and 1 x 15m2 Staff Room.
The school authority has recently submitted an increase in funding request, this request is currently under review by my Department. A final decision will issue to the school authority as soon as this review is complete.
541. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Education when a mainstream class approved for a primary school (details supplied) in 2019 will proceed to construction stage, in light of the tender report submitted, considering that the grant approved does not cover the costs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48593/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am pleased to advise the Deputy, that the school referred to has been approved a project under my Department's Additional School Accommodation (ASA) Scheme for the provision of 1 mainstream classroom. This project has been devolved for delivery to the school authority.
A Stage 3 tender report was submitted by the school authority, however a signed Form of Acceptance was omitted. This was received in Q3 2023 and the tender report is now currently being reviewed by officials in my Department. This review includes a full assessment of project costs, and any issues outlined by the school in this report, will be taken into consideration.
Upon completion of the review an update will be issued to the school authority and my Department will continue to liaise with them in order to progress this project to successful completion.
542. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Education the status of the school bus transport application for a pupil (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48604/23]
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.
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.
Over 134,000 tickets have issued for the 2023/2024 school year which is an increase of 12% when compared with the start of the 2022/2023 school year. The number of tickets issued so far has already exceeded the total number of tickets issued in the 2022/23 school year. There has been an overall increase in both applications and tickets issued for the 2023/2024 school year in comparison to the 2022/2023 school year.
Under the current terms of the scheme, pupils at primary level are eligible where they live no less than 3.2 kilometres from and are attending their nearest primary school. At post primary level, students who live no less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre are deemed eligible. Any pupils/students who do not meet these criteria are deemed not eligible, or otherwise known as concessionary applicants, and are allocated a ticket based on the availability of a seat when all eligible children have been catered for.
Children who are not eligible for school transport may apply for transport on a concessionary basis only and will be facilitated where spare seats are available after eligible children have been accommodated. Where the number of ineligible children exceeds the number of spare seats available Bus Éireann will allocate tickets for the spare seats using an agreed selection process.
Bus Éireann has advised that the pupil referred to by the Deputy is not eligible for school transport as they are attending their second closest Primary school.
There is no service available from where this pupil resides.
543. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 236 of 17 October 2023, if she will provide an explanation for why the power and the lights appear to be on in this building 24/7; how much her Department has paid to run the empty building over the past year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48605/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraModular accommodation was installed in Summer 2021 at the site of the school referred to by the Deputy to accommodate interim accommodation for another post-primary school which has since relocated to its permanent site in the 2022/23 academic year.
The modular accommodation is now under the management of Dublin & Dún Laoghaire Education & Training Board (DDLETB), patron of the school referred to by the Deputy. DDLETB have confirmed that the accommodation is in use by the school. Any queries regarding the operation or management of the accommodation should be directed to DDLETB in the first instance.
544. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Education the reason the primary school application process submission dates vary from school to school in Limerick, with some schools having an application form submission date of 1 May and others 1 March; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48609/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn relation to school admissions, it is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998 and the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018. My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in that area.
All schools have published an admissions notice outlining the timelines of their admissions process, this must be published a minimum of one week prior to their admissions process taking place. The admissions form are also published on the school’s website. Schools cannot start this process until 1 October at the earliest in the year preceding the school year applied for. Schools must convey decisions on admission in writing within the specified period as set out on their Admission Notice.
Schools have discretion in relation to the timing of their admission processes. My Department does not seek to intervene in the admission processes operated by schools.
545. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Education if her Department has received an application for additional accommodation for a school (details supplied) in County Mayo; if this application is being processed; the updated position with this application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48613/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm to the Deputy, that my Department has recently received an application for capital funding, under the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme from the school in question. The purpose of the Additional Schools Accommodation (ASA) scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream and special education classroom accommodation is available to cater for pupils enrolled each year and where the need cannot be met by the school’s existing accommodation. The application is currently being assessed by my officials. Once the assessment process has been finalised, the school authority will be notified of the decision.
546. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education if she will outline the paid leave entitlement of a school secretary (details supplied) given recent changes to terms and conditions. [48625/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn accordance with the provisions of Education Circular 0036/2022, school secretaries who have agreed to accept the full package of revised salary, terms and conditions have a standard entitlement to paid sick leave for up to 3 sick days in 2022 and 5 days in 2023. This is planned to increase to 7 days in 2024 and 10 days in 2025.
Where a school secretary who has agreed to accept the full package of revised salary, terms and conditions and, who has been employed by their school prior to the 1st September 2023, has a greater sick leave entitlement set out in their contract of employment with their school than those set out in the agreement, the sick leave entitlement set out in their contract of employment will continue to apply to that secretary.
547. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Education for a detailed breakdown of the total number of non-teaching staff currently being paid directly by her Department's payroll division, who are not assigned public service status; and the employment grade of each, that is, school secretary, caretaker, SNA, cleaners, and so on, by gender, in tabular form. [48629/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are two categories of school employees paid through my Department’s payroll who do not have public servant status; – school secretaries employed under the terms of Departmental Circular 0036/2022 - Revision of Salaries and Annual Leave Arrangements for School Secretaries employed in recognised primary and post primary schools, and Home Tutors.
The information sought by the Deputy in relation to each of these employment types is set out in the following table.
|
- |
Female |
Male |
Total: |
|
School Secretaries*: |
2595 |
12 |
2607 |
|
Home Tutors**: |
737 |
167 |
904 |
|
TOTAL: |
3511 |
*Numbers as of 26/10/23.
** Numbers given for any individual who worked as a Home Tutor between 1/1/23 and 2/11/23.
548. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Education for an update on the status of the additional accommodation scheme 2019 funding approved for a school (details supplied), particularly regarding the construction of a mainstream classroom; what measures her Department is taking to address the funding shortfall given the rising costs, as outlined in a recent Tender Report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48634/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am pleased to advise the Deputy, that the school referred to has been approved a project under my Department's Additional School Accommodation (ASA) Scheme for the provision of 1 mainstream classroom. This project has been devolved for delivery to the school authority.
A Stage 3 tender report was submitted by the school authority, however a signed Form of Acceptance was omitted. This was received in Q3 2023 and the tender report is now currently being reviewed by officials in my Department. This review includes a full assessment of project costs, and any issues outlined by the school in this report, will be taken into consideration.
Upon completion of the review an update will be issued to the school authority and my Department will continue to liaise with them in order to progress this project to successful completion.
549. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education for an update on the tender process for a school (details supplied); when a contractor will be appointed; the timeframe for completion of the project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48638/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe permanent building project for the school referred to by the Deputy will deliver a new 1,000 pupil post-primary school with accommodation, including 4 classrooms, for children with special educational needs. The project is being delivered under my Department’s Design & Build programme and is currently at tender stage.
The Invitation to Tender issued in April 2023, as part of a bundle of projects issued to my Department's Framework of Design & Build Contractors. The tender process currently takes approximately 8-12 months. Tender returns have been received and are currently being evaluated.
Once a Contractor has been appointed, it is anticipated that construction will commence shortly thereafter and it is projected that construction will take some 68 weeks.
My Department will continue to keep the school and its patron body updated as the project progresses.
550. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education for an update on the extension for a school (details supplied); when it is anticipated that planning permission will be sought; the timeframe for completion of the project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48639/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe school referred to by the Deputy has been approved for a project under the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) Scheme.
A Stage 1 report was received by my Department in Q1 2023, this was reviewed and a request for additional information was issued to the school authority. My Department are currently still awaiting this requested information.
As the project is at an early stage, it is not possible to provide a current timeframe for the application of planning permission or the completion of the project.
My Department will offer any assistance needed to the school to progress this project.
