Wednesday, 17 Jan 2024

Written Answers Nos. 603-615

School Staff

Ceisteanna (603)

Darren O'Rourke

Ceist:

603. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education the number of home school liaison support workers in County Meath in 2023; and the number in 2019, in tabular form. [1165/24]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education

The Home School Community Liaison (HSCL) scheme is one of the key supports provided by my Department as part of the overall DEIS programme.  Tusla Education Support Service manage the HSCL scheme on behalf of my Department. The scheme seeks to promote partnership between parents, teachers and community family support services, with a view to supporting improved attendance, participation and retention.

All DEIS urban primary schools and all DEIS post-primary schools are included in the HSCL scheme, which currently serves 687 DEIS schools, catering for approximately 207,000 children and young people.  The scheme is delivered by 528 full-time HSCL Coordinators, who are teachers in these schools and assigned to HSCL duties either in individual schools or in clusters of schools,

In addition to the above, a pilot project to support Traveller and Roma pupils, under the National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy, is in operation in 4 locations with 1 HSCL Coordinator assigned in each location. A further 10 HSCL Coordinators are employed under Dormant Accounts funding to support attendance, participation and retention among Traveller and Roma students, across 14 non-DEIS post-primary schools.

With regard to Co. Meath, in the 2019/2020 school year, there were 7 HSCL Coordinators assigned in the county. In the 2023/2024 school year there are 11 HSCL Coordinators assigned in the county.

This increase occurred in 2022,  when I announced the single largest expansion of the DEIS programme, benefiting 361 schools.

School Funding

Ceisteanna (604)

Fergus O'Dowd

Ceist:

604. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education if a response will issue to concerns raised on the application of the STEM grants nationwide (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1180/24]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education

I can advise the Deputy that my Department is responding to any concerns raised by individual schools.

Under the STEM Education Policy Statement 2017-2026 my Department continues to provide support for STEM including STEM related curricular reform, ongoing provision of STEM professional development by the Department of Education support services, development and publication of guidelines for STEM partnerships between schools and business/industry, partnership with Science Foundation Ireland to support education and public engagement projects in STEM through the SFI Discover Programme, development of the SFI ‘Curious Minds’ programme and ongoing support of informal STEM education projects such as Scifest, BTYSTE, Science Blast and iWish.

The STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) grant scheme was an action in the new STEM Education Implementation Plan published in 2023. The grant was to support schools in carrying out projects to stimulate an increased interest in STEM and included an application process as with other STEM initiatives in the past such as the STEM clusters project. As with previous grant schemes such as the STEM clusters, ESD grants and creative clusters schools are offered to apply and would be aware at the outset of the total funding available to the Department.

The Department continues to provide support in relation to the redevelopment of the Primary curriculum. In the STEM area the new Primary Mathematics Curriculum (PMC) was published in September of this year. A suite of high-quality professional development supports is being provided by the Department, together with Oide and the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) to support the engagement, collaboration and professional learning of school leaders and teachers to become familiar with, and implement, the PMC.  The support includes a comprehensive range of face-to-face and online supports to introduce, implement and embed the Primary Mathematics Curriculum over the course of an extensive three-phase continuous professional development (CPD) framework.  This follows on for the support proved for the Primary Language Curriculum. Support for the other areas which will be introduced to schools in the coming years will provided by the Department.

When the grant scheme was announced the Department indicated that it had funding of €1.5m available. There was a phenomenal demand from schools with around 3,000 applications received.  Every application received by the deadline of 5pm on the 30th November was read and processed, leaving 2,727 schools with an ask amounting of over €25m.

Given the very high number of valid applications and the budget available for the scheme, a decision was made by the Department to run a lottery, where a random number generator was used to pick out schools based on their line on the spreadsheet. The application for each school was then assessed on a case by case basis with the applications read again by the evaluation team, to ensure they met the requirements as set out in the grant call. Any school deemed not to have met the requirements was removed. The procedure was then repeated until all the budget available was allocated.

As the initial funding available at the time of call for applications was €1.5m, the Department worked to secure as much additional funding as possible, bringing the total available to €4.7m. Unfortunately, on this occasion, this additional funding fell  short of the ask of over €25m.  The Department is front loading the grant scheme in 2023/2024 school year and it is hoped that a further round of funding can be run this year. This means that eligible schools that were not successful this time may receive funding in the future. 

I am aware of the time and effort that was put in by schools including St. Peter's NS, Dromiskin to the application process and the frustration felt by the schools however there was limited money available to my Department. The Department will be in contact with schools in relation to any future funding that becomes available.

School Funding

Ceisteanna (605, 608)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Ceist:

605. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education in view of the large number of applications from second level schools for STEM grants, if she plans to allocate further funding to STEM grants early in 2024 and grant funding to other applicant schools that made applications of a high standard that were not given any grant under round one of the grants announced on 20 December 2023, particularly having regard to the importance of STEM subjects in education from both an educational point of view and for the long term benefit of the economy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1182/24]

Éamon Ó Cuív

Ceist:

608. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education whether in view of the large number of applications from primary schools for STEM grants she intends allocating further money to this early in 2024 and granting funding to other applicant schools that made applications of a high standard that were not given any grant under round one of the grants announced on 20 December 2023, particularly having regard to the importance of STEM subjects in education from both an educational point of view and for the long-term benefit of the economy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1277/24]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education

I propose to take Questions Nos. 605 and 608 together.

I propose to take PQs 1182/24 and 1277/24 together.

I can advise the Deputy that the promotion of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) and digital learning within our education system is a key priority for the Department of Education, and is reflected in multiple strategy documents, such as the STEM Education Policy Statement, Digital Strategy for Schools, Action Plan for Education, Ireland’s National Skills Strategy, Arts in Education Charter, and the National Strategy: Literacy and Numeracy for Learning and Life.  STEM education at primary and post-primary schools focuses on developing a range of key skills that are essential for living and working in today’s world.

The Department of Education’s STEM Education Policy Statement 2017–2026 sets out the roadmap for STEM Education, with ambitious goals and actions that are required to achieve and improve the STEM education experience and outcomes for all learners, and to support learners to progress to STEM pathways in further or higher education and the world of work.

Under the Policy Statement my Department continues to provide support for STEM including

• STEM related curricular reform at both primary and post-primary level

• ongoing provision of STEM professional development by the Department of Education support services

• focus on increasing the uptake of STEM subjects and to enhance STEM learning for learners of all backgrounds, abilities and gender, with a particular focus on uptake by females

• development and publication of guidelines for STEM partnerships between schools and business/industry

• partnership with Science Foundation Ireland to support education and public engagement projects in STEM through the SFI Discover Programme

• development of the SFI ‘Curious Minds’ programme and

• ongoing support of informal STEM education projects such as Scifest, BTYSTE, Science Blast and iWish.

The STEM grant scheme was an action in the new STEM Education Implementation Plan published in 2023.  All schools are implementing the curriculum which includes STEM. The grant was to support schools in carrying out projects to stimulate an increased interest in STEM and included an application process as with other STEM initiatives in the past such as the STEM clusters project. As with previous grant schemes such as the STEM clusters, ESD grants and creative clusters, schools were invited to apply and were informed at the outset of the total funding available for this scheme.

As the initial funding available at the time of call for applications was €1.5m, the Department worked to secure as much additional funding as possible, bringing the total available to €4.7m. Unfortunately, on this occasion, this additional funding fell short of the ask of over €25m.  The Department is front loading the grant scheme in 2023/2024 school year and it is hoped that a further round of funding can be run this year. This means that eligible schools that were not successful this time may receive funding in the future. 

I am aware of the time and effort that was put in by schools the application process and the frustration felt by the schools however there was limited money available to my Department. The Department will be in contact with schools in relation to any future funding that becomes available.

School Transport

Ceisteanna (606)

Michael Healy-Rae

Ceist:

606. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education if school bus transport will be provided for a student (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1190/24]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education

The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year over 161,600 children, including over 135,000 pupils traveling on primary and post primary services, 19,800 pupils with special educational needs, and 6,800 pupils who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country.

The total cost of the scheme in 2023 was €382.02m.

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.

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.

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.

Temporary Alleviation Measures (TAMS) at post-primary level are continued for the current school year. Under these measures, transport is provided where there is a route in operation and where capacity exists for concessionary post-primary pupils who are eligible for transport to their nearest school and are attending their second nearest school and who applied and paid on time.

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.

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 a random selection process.

Bus Éireann has advised that an application has not been received for the pupil referred to by the Deputy in this case. A School Transport Application for Mainstream School Transport can be made via the Bus Éireann website - www.buseireann.ie.

School Accommodation

Ceisteanna (607)

Joe Flaherty

Ceist:

607. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on the approved project for additional accommodation at a school (details supplied). [1237/24]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education

The school to which the Deputy refers, was approved a project under my Department’s Additional School Accommodation Scheme (ASA) scheme for the provision of 3 mainstream classrooms and 3 SET rooms.

A Stage 3 Tender Report was received in December 2023 and is being reviewed by officials in my Department. Once this review is complete, the school authority will be contacted and advised on the next steps to take in order to progress this important project to the next stage.

Question No. 608 answered with Question No. 605.

School Funding

Ceisteanna (609)

Richard Bruton

Ceist:

609. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education if there will be a further opportunity in 2024 for post-primary schools to apply for STEM grant funding from her Department, particularly schools that were not included in the list of successful applicants in December 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1301/24]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education

I can advise the Deputy that the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) grant scheme was an action in the new STEM Education Implementation Plan published in 2023. The grant was to support schools in carrying out projects to stimulate an increased interest in STEM and included an application process as with other STEM initiatives in the past such as the STEM clusters project.

 

When the grant scheme was announced the Department indicated that it had funding of €1.5m available. There was a phenomenal demand from schools with around 3,000 applications received.  Every application received by the deadline of 5pm on the 30th November was read and processed, leaving 2,727 schools with an ask amounting of over €25m.

 

Given the very high number of valid applications and the budget available for the scheme, a decision was made by the Department to run a lottery, where a random number generator was used to pick out schools based on their line on the spreadsheet. The application for each school was then assessed on a case by case basis with the applications read again by the evaluation team, to ensure they met the requirements as set out in the grant call. Any school deemed not to have met the requirements was removed. The procedure was then repeated until all the budget available was allocated.

 

As the initial funding available at the time of call for applications was €1.5m, the Department worked to secure as much additional funding as possible, bringing the total available to €4.7m. Unfortunately, on this occasion, this additional funding fell short of the ask of over €25m.  The Department is front loading the grant scheme in 2023/2024 school year and it is hoped that a further round of funding can be run this year. This means that eligible schools that were not successful this time may receive funding in the future. 

 

I am aware of the time and effort that was put in by schools to the application process and the frustration felt by the schools however there was limited money available to my Department. The Department will be in contact with schools In relation to any future funding that becomes available.

School Funding

Ceisteanna (610)

Sorca Clarke

Ceist:

610. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education if she has plans to read and accept further applications for STEM funding in 2024; and if an application by a school (details supplied) was considered. [1305/24]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education

I can advise the Deputy that the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) grant scheme was an action in the new STEM Education Implementation Plan published in 2023. The grant was to support schools in carrying out projects to stimulate an increased interest in STEM and included an application process as with other STEM initiatives in the past such as the STEM clusters project.

 

When the grant scheme was announced the Department indicated that it had funding of €1.5m available. There was a phenomenal demand from schools with around 3,000 applications received.  Every application received by the deadline of 5pm on the 30th November was read and processed, leaving 2,727 schools with an ask amounting of over €25m.

 

Given the very high number of valid applications and the budget available for the scheme, a decision was made by the Department to run a lottery, where a random number generator was used to pick out schools based on their line on the spreadsheet. The application for each school was then assessed on a case by case basis with the applications read again by the evaluation team, to ensure they met the requirements as set out in the grant call. Any school deemed not to have met the requirements was removed. The procedure was then repeated until all the budget available was allocated.

 

As the initial funding available at the time of call for applications was €1.5m, the Department worked to secure as much additional funding as possible, bringing the total available to €4.7m. Unfortunately, on this occasion, this additional funding fell short of the ask of over €25m.  The Department is front loading the grant scheme in 2023/2024 school year and it is hoped that a further round of funding can be run this year. This means that eligible schools that were not successful this time may receive funding in the future. 

 

I am aware of the time and effort that was put in by schools to the application process and the frustration felt by the schools however there was limited money available to my Department. The Department will be in contact with schools In relation to any future funding that becomes available.

School Curriculum

Ceisteanna (611)

Sorca Clarke

Ceist:

611. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education if she plans to introduce the Brain Calm Programme to the curriculum in primary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1319/24]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education

Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) is a mandatory part of the primary curriculum, which provide vital opportunities for the development of children’s wellbeing in the physical, social, emotional and intellectual domains.  Initiatives such as the Incredible Years Programmes and the FRIENDS Programmes which complement the curriculum are also available to schools.  These programmes which have been welcomed by schools and their impact positively evaluated reduces anxiety and promotes coping and resilience in children and young people from 4-18 years can be delivered by class teachers, universally or to targeted smaller groups of pupils.

 The area of wellbeing and the promotion of positive mental health is a priority for the Department of Education. This includes promoting emotional wellbeing and resilience and positive coping skills, which support children and young people to manage the complexities of modern life. 

 The Department of Education’s approach to supporting wellbeing and mental health is set out in its Wellbeing Policy Statement and Framework for Practice which informs the Department’s extensive and ongoing work in the area of student wellbeing and mental health.

 Oide, the support service for teachers and school leaders, provides training to schools to ensure that the promotion of wellbeing will be at the core of the ethos of every school and support schools in implementing the Wellbeing Framework.

 Schools are encouraged to use a reflective, school self-evaluation approach to identify and prioritise the needs of its own school community in relation to the promotion of wellbeing and mental health, and to respond to meeting those needs. 

 The National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) of the Department provides a comprehensive, school-based psychological service to all primary and post primary schools through the application of psychological theory and practice to support the wellbeing, academic, social and emotional development of all learners. NEPS provides a casework service to schools through the assigned NEPS psychologist.   Individual casework service involves a high level of psychologist collaboration with teachers and parents, often also working directly with the child/young person. 

 NEPS also has responsibility for Wellbeing Policy Implementation and NEPS teams offer training and guidance for teachers in the provision of universal and targeted evidence-informed approaches and early intervention to promote children’s wellbeing, social, emotional and academic development.

 A dedicated wellbeing portal is also available, bringing together all the wellbeing supports and resources that have been developed by the Department and the Department’s support services, which is available under ‘Wellbeing for Education’ on gov.ie.

 As you will appreciate, there are an extensive number of agencies, voluntary groups and individuals offering a very wide range of interventions, presentations and programmes to schools in the area of child wellbeing. Schools can choose programmes and resources which meet the specific needs of their own context in terms of promoting wellbeing.  Advice is available for schools on including external facilitators in the promoting of wellbeing.

School Funding

Ceisteanna (612)

Robert Troy

Ceist:

612. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education if STEM grants are awarded on a lottery basis; and the reason schools are required to submit a comprehensive, time-consuming application, that is not even considered when the grants are being allocated. [1320/24]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education

I can advise the Deputy that the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) grant scheme was an action in the new STEM Education Implementation Plan published in 2023. The grant was to support schools in carrying out projects to stimulate an increased interest in STEM and included an application process as with other STEM initiatives in the past such as the STEM clusters project.

 

When the grant scheme was announced the Department indicated that it had funding of €1.5m available. There was a phenomenal demand from schools with around 3,000 applications received.  Every application received by the deadline of 5pm on the 30th November was read and processed, leaving 2,727 schools with an ask amounting of over €25m.

 

Given the very high number of valid applications and the budget available for the scheme, a decision was made by the Department to run a lottery, where a random number generator was used to pick out schools based on their line on the spreadsheet. The application for each school was then assessed on a case by case basis with the applications read again by the evaluation team, to ensure they met the requirements as set out in the grant call. Any school deemed not to have met the requirements was removed. The procedure was then repeated until all the budget available was allocated.

 

My Department is front loading the grant scheme in 2023/2024 school year and it is hoped that a further round of funding can be run this year. This means that eligible schools that were not successful this time may receive funding in the future. 

 

I am aware of the time and effort that was put in by schools the application process and the frustration felt by the schools however there was limited money available to my Department. The Department will be in contact with schools in relation to any future funding that becomes available.

School Funding

Ceisteanna (613, 614, 615, 616, 617)

Jackie Cahill

Ceist:

613. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Education the reason a competition was held for the funding of STEM grants to primary schools, given this is a core curricular area and a key priority for Government; the legislation this competition was run under; what oversight measures were in place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1321/24]

Jackie Cahill

Ceist:

614. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Education if she believes the lottery system for the provision of STEM grants to primary schools was the fairest way to divide available resources; the reason a lottery was held when the number of applications exceeded expectations; if the possibility of a lottery system was explained to schools prior to the application deadline; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1322/24]

Jackie Cahill

Ceist:

615. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Education what criteria, if any, applied to the initial reading of applications for STEM funding for primary schools; if none, the purpose of reading the applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1323/24]

Jackie Cahill

Ceist:

616. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Education how it is envisaged that a school which did not receive funding for STEM applications will engage in STEM activities to the same level as neighbouring schools that received funding under the lottery process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1324/24]

Jackie Cahill

Ceist:

617. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Education if it is the case that STEM grants made available to primary schools in 2024 will be lower than those awarded in December 2023; if so, how much lower; what funding is expected to be made available to the remaining unsuccessful schools, which number approximately 2,000; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1325/24]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education

I propose to take Questions Nos. 613, 614, 615, 616 and 617 together.

I can advise the Deputy that the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) grant scheme was an action in the new STEM Education Implementation Plan published in 2023. The grant was to support schools in carrying out projects to stimulate an increased interest in STEM and included an application process as with other STEM initiatives in the past such as the STEM clusters project.

Monies for the STEM grant scheme was from the Department of Education budget.  The schools which have received grants have been paid eighty-five percent of the funding in 2023 with the remaining fifteen percent to be paid following a reporting and evaluation process in 2024.

When the grant scheme was announced the Department indicated that it had funding of €1.5m available. There was a phenomenal demand from schools with around 3,000 applications received.  Every application received by the deadline of 5pm on the 30th November was read and processed, leaving 2,727 schools with an ask amounting of over €25m.

 

Given the very high number of valid applications and the budget available for the scheme, a decision was made by the Department to run a lottery, where a random number generator was used to pick out schools based on their line on the spreadsheet. The application for each school was then assessed on a case by case basis with the applications read again by the evaluation team, to ensure they met the requirements as set out in the grant call. Any school deemed not to have met the requirements was removed. The procedure was then repeated until all the budget available was allocated.

 

I can advise the Deputy that the promotion of STEM and digital learning within our education system is a key priority for the Department of Education, and is reflected in multiple strategy documents, such as the STEM Education Policy Statement, Digital Strategy for Schools, Action Plan for Education, Ireland’s National Skills Strategy, Arts in Education Charter, and the National Strategy: Literacy and Numeracy for Learning and Life.  

Under the STEM Education Policy Statement 2017-2026 my Department continues to provide support for STEM including STEM related curricular reform, ongoing provision of STEM professional development by the Department of Education support services, development and publication of guidelines for STEM partnerships between schools and business/industry, partnership with Science Foundation Ireland to support education and public engagement projects in STEM through the SFI Discover Programme, development of the SFI ‘Curious Minds’ programme and ongoing support of informal STEM education projects such as Scifest, BTYSTE, Science Blast and iWish.

The Department continues to provide support in relation to the redevelopment of the Primary curriculum. In the STEM area the new Primary Mathematics Curriculum (PMC) was published in September of this year. A suite of high-quality professional development supports is being provided by the Department, together with Oide and the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) to support the engagement, collaboration and professional learning of school leaders and teachers to become familiar with, and implement, the PMC.  The support includes a comprehensive range of face-to-face and online supports to introduce, implement and embed the Primary Mathematics Curriculum over the course of an extensive three-phase continuous professional development (CPD) framework.  This follows on from the support provided for the Primary Language Curriculum. Support for the other areas which will be introduced to schools in the coming years will provided by the Department.

As the initial funding available at the time of call for applications was €1.5m, the Department worked to secure as much additional funding as possible, bringing the total available to €4.7m. Unfortunately, on this occasion, this additional funding fell short of the ask of over €25m.  The Department is front loading the grant scheme in 2023/2024 school year and it is hoped that a further round of funding can be run this year. This means that eligible schools that were not successful this time may receive funding in the future. 

 

The amount of funding available will depend on the priorities and demands on the Department’s allocated budget. In relation to any future funding that becomes available, the Department will be in contact with schools.

Question No. 614 answered with Question No. 613.

Question No. 615 answered with Question No. 613.