Written Answers Nos. 30-49
30. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of businesses in each of the four Dublin local authority areas that have to date registered for the increased cost of business grant; when payments under the grant will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16943/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs you will be aware, as part of Budget 2024, the Government signed off on a package of €257 million for the Increased Cost of Business (ICOB) grant as a vital measure for small and medium businesses.
Local Authorities, funded through the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, are administering the grant to qualifying businesses on behalf of the Department.
Local Authorities have written to all rate paying businesses with details of how to register for the grant and it is a very simple process for businesses to verify their details through an online portal.
The grant has been open for registrations since 14 March. The closing date for registrations for the ICOB grant is 1 May 2024. I urge all eligible businesses to register for this grant as soon as they receive a letter from their Local Authority. The sooner a business registers the sooner their details will be verified and the grant will be paid out. Payments will be made to eligible businesses in the coming weeks.
In relation to the uptake of the scheme in the four Dublin Local Authorities referred to in the question, the latest figures as at Tuesday 16th April are as follows:
Dublin City Council has 3709 registrations which is 21% of businesses notified
Dun Laoghaire - Rathdown County Council has 1148 registrations which is 23% of businesses notified
Fingal County Council has 1662 registrations which is 26% of businesses notified
South Dublin County Council has 1438 registrations which is 26% of businesses notified.
31. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if new mediation measures are providing a significant step change for resolving insurance claims nationwide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16944/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe reform and enhancement of the Injuries Resolution Board, with the overarching aim to have more claims settled through the agency, has been a priority for me since taking office.
The Personal Injuries Resolution Board Act 2022 was enacted in December 2022 and commenced over three phases in 2023. The Act transforms the agency by enabling it to retain more cases, gives it a data gathering and reporting role, and significantly introduces a mediation service by the Board to help resolve personal injuries claims. The introduction of mediation I believe will result in more claims being settled through the Board in a faster timeframe and thus avoiding the need for lengthy and costly litigation.
Mediation is widely recognised as an effective way of resolving disputes quickly and in a cost-effective manner. This service will help parties to reach a mutually acceptable solution in personal injury claims and is a significant step change for resolving injury claims in our country. Mediation can address a broader range of issues than those currently considered in the Board’s assessment service, including liability, claim value, extent of injury, and contributory negligence among others. It also has the advantage of being quicker than assessment which will benefit those making the claim and the insured alike.
The service is being introduced on a phased basis, with mediation for employer liability claims introduced by the Board on 14 December 2023. I intend to commence mediation for public liability injury claims in May and for motor liability claims in September. The Board has put in place a panel of professionally trained mediators to provide this service.
The mediation service is in its infancy and under the legislation respondents have up to 90 days to respond to a notice of claim so it will take time to see trends. Initial engagement with stakeholders has been positive, and provisional figures indicate some 37% of claimants so far are opting for mediation which is a very strong and positive initial response.
In the 20 years since the Injuries Resolution Board was established and since then, over 150,000 claims have been assessed with a value of over €1.5 billion in accepted awards saving millions in litigation costs. In 2022 alone, the amount saved in avoided costs due to litigation claims was €40 million.
An extensive programme of stakeholder engagement and a communications campaign highlighting mediation is being rolled out by the Injuries Resolution Board throughout 2024. Stakeholder engagement with the fora of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, including the Enterprise Forum and the Retail Forum, has already taken place in Quarter 1 2024.
32. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the Government still intends to hold a referendum for Ireland to join the Unified Patent Court on 7 June 2024; whether an alternative date is being considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16967/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn Tuesday, Government agreed the deferral of the constitutional referendum on Ireland’s participation in the Unified Patent Court due to take place on the 7th of June 2024. The Government continues to believe that joining the UPC is essential, and that the referendum should be pursued.
The Bill was scheduled for the Seanad this week, but I was concerned with only 7 weeks to the polling date.
I believe this timeline is too constrained and Government needs more time to campaign. We also need to ensure we provide sufficient time for robust public discussion and engagement by stakeholders to help inform the debate.
In addition, there is emerging consensus that the June elections which the referendum was aligned alongside for practical reasons will likely give rise to diverse issues and campaigns which could crowd out a debate on the important but technical question posed by the referendum.
The issue of a constitutional amendment is so important, and Government is determined to get it right and give more opportunity for an informed debate.
The Government remains committed to participating in the UPC and sees many benefits to Ireland’s ratification of the UPC: for the competitiveness of the small business sector; for Ireland’s overall national competitiveness and reputation; and for supporting the Science and R&D agenda.
Irish inventors can still acquire a Unitary Patent for their invention, but there will be a separate cost to register a patent in Ireland. For now, they will have to travel abroad and incur costs to protect their Unitary Patent in the 17 participating countries if any legal case arises.
The Government will decide on an alternative date for the referendum in due course.
33. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on the progress of a new school building (details supplied); the reason for the delays in the delivery of this new building; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16772/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe major project referred to by the Deputy is at Architectural Planning Stage 3 – Tender Action and Award.
A tender report was received by Department Officials in 2023, in the course of the review it was noted that the planning permission was due to expire in early December 2023 and a new planning permission was required.
We are liaising with the Design team in relation to requirements for the New Planning Permission and the Design Team held a pre-planning meeting with Fingal County Council in March 2024.
We will be in contact with the School and the Design Team when there is further information in relation to the tender process.
34. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education if the case of a school (details supplied) will be reviewed in relation to the allocation of a permanent EAL post at the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16774/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Special Education Teaching allocation provides a single unified allocation for special educational support teaching needs to each school, based on each school’s educational profile and also encompasses the Language Support (EAL) allocation that schools were allocated in previous years. All schools are advised in the first instance to review whether the needs of newly enrolled pupils can be met from within existing allocations.
The Department also provides specific English Language support to schools with pupils newly arrived into the country that have English as an additional language.
Schools may apply for further language support through the staffing appeals process. Having considered the circumstances outlined by the school and having regard to the high number of pupils requiring EAL support, additional support may be approved to meet the educational needs of such pupils.
The school referred to by the Deputy submitted an application for EAL support for the 2024/25 school year and has been allocated 2 temporary EAL posts, pending confirmation of enrolments on 30th September. The Department's policy enables the flexible allocation of EAL supports to ensure that the resources follow children in the event of them changing schools.
35. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 443 of 20 March 2024, if correspondence will be reviewed (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16784/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI would like to thank the deputy for question raised.
Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for this government. The vast majority of children with special educational needs are supported to attend mainstream classes with their peers.
The Special Education Teaching (SET) allocation model for 2024/25 is based on information from all 4,000 schools in the country. The model distributes the total available number of SET posts in line with each school’s profile of need.
The model seeks to distribute teaching resources in the fairest possible manner, taking into account as much evidence as possible in respect of individual schools and evidence in respect of the best possible use of resources. Schools must adhere to the guidance on the use of SET hours and support all children with additional teaching needs using the continuum of support framework.
The revised model is providing an annual allocation of SET teaching hours, using the best possible available data sources and is ensuring that the right resource is available at the right time to meet the needs of children with special educational needs. Schools have autonomy to deploy those resources to meet the needs of their students. In this regard it is important to note that 67% of all schools saw their allocation increase or remain the same, whereas 33% saw a reduction in hours. Of those schools who saw a reduction in hours 90% was a result of falling enrolment.
The Department acknowledges that every school is different, and that schools can experience unique circumstances that may be difficult to reflect in any standardised method. This is always a challenge when making allocations in respect of 4,000 schools. It is for this reason that the Department, working with the NCSE has streamlined the review process for special education teaching hours and schools who have any concerns can engage with the NCSE on their allocation.
Reviews are being conducted by the NCSE, between March and May, to better enable schools to plan for the following September. An internal NCSE review panel will consider the application ensuring that the school have clearly evidenced that the overall level of special education teaching allocation in this school does not have capacity to meet this additional identified need.
Additional resources will be provided to schools in cases where the NCSE have identified that this is required.
This review process has now commenced with reviews being considered on a weekly basis with first priority given to schools who are developing or rapidly developing. A total of 218 applications have been received from schools.
A weekly process for consideration of submitted reviews is in place between the department and the NCSE so that schools can be advised at the earliest opportunity.
It is important to note that SET hours are only one component of support for children in mainstream but the most important support is the mainstream class teacher. The pupil teacher ratio at primary level is now 23:1 which means there are more mainstream teachers than ever before in our educational system.
In relation to the specific school mentioned in the question I can confirm that department officials have contacted the NCSE and the NCSE has confirmed that the school has made a review application through their portal. The NCSE have further advised that they will be in contact with the school to progress the schools request for review shortly.
36. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education if a person (details supplied) is on the correct rate of teacher's pension; if there is any other pension or benefit available to the person from the Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16785/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that officials from the Pension Unit of my Department are currently in contact with the person referred to in your correspondence in relation to her pensionable entitlement. Officials in Pension Unit expect to bring these matters to a satisfactory conclusion once the individual concerned completes the necessary forms.
37. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Education the reason a child (details supplied) is unable to access school transport when capacity is available; if this case will be considered further; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16791/24]
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 161,600 children, including over 135,000 pupils travelling 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.
Bus Éireann have advised that the pupil is eligible for transport under the terms of the Post-Primary Transport Scheme and once the family complete the payment process by the closing date of 07 June 2024 they will be offered transport in line with the terms of the mainstream scheme for the 2024/25 school year.
In relation to the current school year, the Bus Eireann has advised that while the family applied for school transport, this was completed after the closing date and the application was a late application.
There is a requirement to close the current year application process in order to facilitate new applications for the upcoming school year, so that Bus Éireann can plan and organise routes to capacity for the upcoming school year following the closing date of 07 June 2024.
38. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education if urgent reconsideration can be given to the school transport application in the case of a student (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16825/24]
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 161,600 children, including over 135,000 pupils travelling 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.
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 Eireann have advised that this pupil resides 4.6 km from home to the school they are attending in their nearest Post Primary Centre and as such are not eligible for transport as they do not meet the distance criteria. Their application was first received on 18/08/2022 and has rolled over since. A ticket was issued to this pupil for the 23/24 School Calendar year on 05/07/2023.
All school transport services are reviewed over the summer months. 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.
A review of the School Transport Scheme has been completed. This review was conducted with a view to examining the current scheme, its broader effectiveness, and sustainability and to ensure it services students and their families adequately.
The School Transport Scheme 2030 report has now been published, which marks the largest review of the School Transport Scheme since it was established in 1967. The Government is committed to working to achieve the report’s recommendation of expanding access to the scheme so that an additional 100,000 pupils can be carried by 2030. Throughout the review, the value of the School Transport Scheme to both families and in supporting wider Government policies has been very apparent. In summary, school transport not only plays an important part in supporting children's access to education, but it also aligns to wider Government objectives.
Overall the recommended changes to the future operation of the Scheme concern:
• expansion of the current eligibility criteria,
• addressing current operational challenges
• charges and grants and
• over time, moving towards better integration with public transport to ensure optimum value for money to the Exchequer
A phased implementation of the review’s recommendations will commence in September 2024. This will include a shared effort between my Department and the Department of Transport to pilot and introduce greater integration of the roll out of transport networks with school transport routes, with a view to expanding provision of transport and reducing the reliance over time on individual car trips for school journeys. It is intended subject to resources to commence implementing the revised eligibility criteria in the 2025/2026 school year.
39. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Education the status of a school building project (details supplied); if her Department can clarify the points raised by the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16836/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe school referred to by the Deputy has been approved for a project under my Department’s Additional School Accommodation (ASA) Scheme. This project includes the provision of 2 mainstream classrooms, 1 SET room and the refurbishment of 4 existing classrooms into 2 mainstream classrooms.
The responsibility for delivery of the project has been delegated to the school authority.
The school has progressed through various architectural stages, with their stage 1/2a report reviewed by department officials. The project has progressed to tender stage however a decantment was required to facilitate the build and in Q1, 2024, the department was informed that the school had acquired adjacent land prompting a request for a revised Stage 1/2a report submission.
Due to the high number of applications and the rigorous review process required for project advancement, a specific timeline for completion of this review cannot be provided at this time.
40. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education if she will address a matter (details supplied) in relation to boarding school facilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16839/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department has no remit relating to the boarding facilities of schools. This element of the school is privately owned and managed and is a matter for the school board of management.
The 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. The provision of school places to meet the needs of children and young people at primary and post primary level, is an absolute priority for the Department. The school is continuing to operate as a day school and it is open to applicants to apply for a place in accordance with the school’s admission policy.
There are several options for students wishing to attend a post primary school that teaches subjects through the medium of Irish. There are 74 post primary schools that teach all or some subjects through the medium of Irish, as set out at: www.gov.ie/en/directory/category/495b8a-schools/?school_roll_number=&school_level=POST+PRIMARY&language_of_instructions=ALL+IRISH&language_of_instructions=ALL+PUPILS+TAUGHT+ALL+SUBJECTS+THROUGH+IRISH&language_of_instructions=IRISH+AND+ENGLISH&language_of_instructions=SOME+PUPILS+TAUGHT+ALL+SUBJECTS+THROUGH+IRISH&language_of_instructions=SOME+PUPILS+TAUGHT+SOME+SUBJECTS+THROUGH+IRISH
41. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Education if she has received an application for additional classroom accommodation from a school in County Cork (details supplied), and in light of significant planned increased enrolment and existing classroom inadequacies, if she will expedite approval in this case. [16874/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm to the Deputy that the Department is in receipt of an application, under the Additional Schools' Accommodation (ASA) scheme, from the school in question for additional mainstream and special education tuition accommodation.
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 or by other schools in the area.
The main focus of the Department’s resources over the last decade and for the coming period is on provision of critical additional capacity to cater for increasing demographics. In general, demographics have been falling at primary level and are due to continue to decrease. Therefore the Department considers it prudent to maximise the use of existing spare accommodation capacity at primary level in the first instance, before considering any applications for further accommodation needs. This is in line with public spending requirements.
The consideration of the accommodation requirements for the school in question forms part of the Planning and Building Unit’s overall assessment of its work programme and priorities in the context of available capital funding.
The provision of required school places, including for children with special educational needs, is a priority for the Department. Officials in my Department are working to ensure that there is sufficient provision to meet the school place needs in the school in question and the wider area for 2024/25 and future years.
I can confirm that the application for the school in question is being considered in this context and a decision will issue to the school authorities as soon as possible.
42. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on the redevelopment of a school (details supplied) for which the stage 2b file was submitted to her Department in August 2023; whether a date for construction is planned; the timeline for completion of the project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16890/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is currently at an advanced stage of Architectural Planning - Stage 2(b) - Detailed Design, where the design team secure all statutory approvals and prepare the suite of tender documents.
The Stage 2(b) Submission has been received in my Department and is currently under review. In order to assist with the review, the Design Team were requested to provide some clarifications and they have been received in my Department.
On completion of that review, comments will issue from my Department for the Design Teams attention.
The Design Team will then be requested to confirm to my Department in writing that their tender documents are in order and comply with all current Building and Procurement regulatory guidelines, and Department Technical Guidance documents, before the project is eligible to progress to the next stage of architectural planning.
The next stage, subject to relevant Stage 2(b) approvals, will be Stage 3, tender stage. Projects are subject to relevant due diligence by my Department at each stage in the process, within the context of overall programme and budgetary parameters.
In late March, following a review of National Development Plan allocations, the Government approved medium term capital allocations for the Department of Education for the period to 2026. The Department’s Planning and Building Unit is now reviewing its programme plans in the context of those recently confirmed allocations.
Department officials will keep the school authorities updated on progress and next steps.
43. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 499 of 20 March 2024, the date for when she expects the survey to commence; when the survey will be completed; and when action, if any, can be expected to be taken in response to the findings of the survey. [16901/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra44. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on any engagements her Department has had with a union (details supplied) regarding the issue of caretakers. [16902/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 43 and 44 together.
My Department is committed to ensuring that grant-funded school caretakers will be afforded the opportunity to avail of a similar agreement that was offered to grant-funded school secretaries under the February 2022 WRC agreement. A deficit of data on caretaker terms and conditions despite a number of surveys had meant this was not possible at the time.
There has been ongoing engagement between officials within my Department and the Fórsa union regarding the development and implementation of a caretaker deal. Matters discussed have contributed to a clearer understanding of the differences in existing terms and conditions of caretakers compared to secretaries and have been helpful in forming and developing a further survey which is to be issued to schools in the near future.
The survey is an internal exercise which will allow the Department to gather and examine up to date and robust data on caretaker's terms and conditions of work and verify working patterns of grant funded school caretakers. Once the survey has been issued and schools have returned their replies, the Department will then be in a position to progress this claim further.
45. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education to urgently review and action the very concerning case of revoked autism places for the coming school term (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16921/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraEnabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for this government. It is also a key priority 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 2024, €2.7 billion is being spent on special education, an increase of €113 million, and this is dedicated to providing supports for children with special educational needs. This will allow for, amongst other things, the opening of up to 400 new special classes in mainstream schools and 300 additional special school places.
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 2024, the number of teaching and SNA posts in our schools will increase with an additional 744 teachers and 1,216 SNAs added to deliver up to 2,700 new places for children with special educational needs. This will mean we will have over 41,500 qualified and committed people in our schools who are focused wholly and exclusively on supporting these children.
The NCSE has the responsibility for planning and coordinating school supports for children with special educational needs.
Over the last number of 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 almost 1,300 new special classes sanctioned and seven new special schools established over the last four years.
My department engage intensely with the NCSE in relation to the forward planning of new special classes and additional special school places. This forward planning work is well underway ahead of the 2024/25 school year. This work involves a detailed review of statistical data in relation to forecasting demand for special class places, an analysis of available school accommodation, 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, two new special schools have been established for this current school year in Cork and Dublin, with further capacity being expanded in 11 other special schools.
In addition, four new special schools will be established for the 2024/25 school year in counties Meath, Kildare, Wexford and Limerick. This will bring to 11 the number of new special schools established in recent years.
Along with the two new special schools opening this school year, 391 new special classes – 255 at primary and 136 at post-primary level – have been sanctioned by the NCSE.
Of these 18 are in Louth, 12 at primary level and 6 at post-primary level. This brings to 88 the number of special classes in County Louth, 67 at primary level and 21 at post-primary level.
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/special-classes
Planning for special classes and special school places is currently underway ahead of the 2024/25 school year. The locations of new classes for 2024/25 will be confirmed by the NCSE shortly.
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.
My department wrote to all post-primary schools requesting that each school begin planning to provide for up to four special classes to meet the needs of children progressing from primary school. The department and the NCSE continue to have engagement with post-primary school management bodies in relation to the provision of special classes.
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 special educational needs organisers (SENOs) are available to assist and the advise parents of children with special educational needs. Parents may contact SENOs directly using the contact details available at: www.ncse.ie/regional-services-contact-list.
In relation to the school referred to by the Deputy, the school was granted approval for one special educational needs unit under my Departments Additional School Accommodation scheme. My department are currently reviewing the paperwork recently submitted by the school.
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.
46. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the measures and solutions that can be offered in the case of a child with additional needs who is receiving the home tuition grant but cannot source a tutor as tutors are not willing to travel the distance to the child living in rural Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16945/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department's Home Tuition Grant Schemes provide funding towards the provision of a compensatory educational service for children who, for a number of specific reasons, are unable to attend school. By its nature, it is intended to be a short term intervention.
The Home Tuition Grant Schemes are governed by annual circulars which sets out the purpose, eligibility criteria and details of the scheme. Circular 0024/2023 provides information in relation to the 2023/2024 Home Tuition Grant Scheme and can be accessed by clicking on the following link: www.gov.ie/en/circular/67f37-home-tuition-grant-scheme-20232024-special-education-component/
The purpose of the Home Tuition Grant Scheme is to provide funding towards the provision of a compensatory educational service for:
(a) Early educational intervention for children with autism who meet the scheme’s eligibility criteria
(b) Students with special educational needs seeking an educational placement in a recognised school
(c) Students, enrolled in schools, with a significant medical condition, or school phobia and/or associated depression/anxiety, which has caused, and is likely to continue to cause, major disruption to their attendance at school
Home tutors are engaged by the parents/guardian of the child who is to receive tuition and the tutor has no contractual relationship with the Department of Education. As tuition takes place outside the usual school structure it is important that home tutors are qualified to provide an educational programme relevant to the sector the child is in.
Accordingly, it is a condition of the scheme that parents/legal guardians recruit a tutor who is qualified in the sector in which tuition is being provided, and is registered with the Teaching Council for the duration of the approved tuition. Where all efforts have failed to secure the services of a teacher qualified to teach in the sector concerned, the Department may consider the engagement of a person who is registered with the Teaching Council and has a primary degree (minimum Level 7 on the National Framework of Qualifications) in a relevant area, e.g. Psychology.
As set out in Circular 0024/2023 it is the responsibility of the parent/legal guardian to source a tutor at the earliest possible opportunity to allow for applications for registration/vetting to be made by the tutor to the Teaching Council, if necessary. This Department does not keep lists of tutors available to carry out home tuition. However to help parents source a home tutor for this scheme in their local area, the Irish Primary Principals' Network (IPPN) has created a Home Tuition Noticeboard for Parents to help them source a suitable candidates. This noticeboard is available on www.educationposts.ie. It may also be helpful to contact local schools in the first instance, or alternatively, the Department is aware that many parents use education provider websites to advertise for tutors or indeed place advertisements in local newspapers or on shop/community notice boards.
Officials from my department are aware of the case the deputy is referring to. They have been in contact with the parent to provide any support they can with the aim to ensure the child concerned can access home tuition.
47. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Education the updated position on the construction of a school in County Mayo (details supplied); the stage it is at; when the school can expect further development on this project; when the school is expected to be completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16949/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe project to which the Deputy refers has been devolved for delivery to Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim Education and Training Board (MSLETB).
I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the project was recently approved by the Department to proceed to Stage 2a of the architectural planning process. The Design Team will now begin working on the developed design.
Once the Stage 2a submission is approved by my Department, the next step for the Design Team will be to obtain the statutory planning approvals. When these are in place, the project can proceed to tender and construction in due course.
While at this stage, it is not possible to provide a timeline for completion of the project. MSLETB will be engaging directly with the school authority to keep it informed of progress.
48. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Education why the appeals board felt that a school (details supplied) did not meet the criteria under Circular 0011/2024 to retain its 12th teacher, as an explanation would help the school in understanding this final decision. [16973/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September.
The staffing process contains an appeals mechanism for schools to submit a staffing appeal under certain criteria to an independent Primary Staffing Appeals Board.
The appeal submitted by the school referred to by the Deputy has been deemed ineligible by the Appeals Board, as the grounds of the appeal did not meet the appeal criteria published in Circular 0011/2024 which is available on the Department website. An official from the Teacher Allocation section of my Department has been in contact with the Principal of the school and has explained the appeals criteria as outlined in Circular 0011/2024. The Appeals Board operates independently of the Department and its decision is final.
49. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 316 of 5 March 2024, the reason no contact has been made with the parents of a child (details supplied) in respect of securing a place in a primary school ASD unit for 2024-25. [16974/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraEnabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for this government. It is also a key priority 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 2024, €2.7 billion is being spent on special education, an increase of €113 million, and this is dedicated to providing supports for children with special educational needs. This will allow for, amongst other things, the opening of up to 400 new special classes in mainstream schools and 300 additional special school places.
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 2024, the number of teaching and SNA posts in our schools will increase with an additional 744 teachers and 1,216 SNAs added to deliver up to 2,700 new places for children with special educational needs. This will mean we will have over 41,500 qualified and committed people in our schools who are focused wholly and exclusively on supporting these children.
The NCSE has the responsibility for planning and coordinating school supports for children with special educational needs.
Over the last number of 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 almost 1,300 new special classes sanctioned and seven new special schools established over the last four years.
My department engages intensely with the NCSE in relation to the forward planning of new special classes and additional special school places. This forward planning work is well underway ahead of the 2024/25 school year. This work involves a detailed review of statistical data in relation to forecasting demand for special class places, an analysis of available school accommodation, 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, two new special schools have been established for this current school year in Cork and Dublin, with further capacity being expanded in 11 other special schools.
In addition, four new special schools will be established for the 2024/25 school year in counties Meath, Kildare, Wexford and Limerick. This will bring to 11 the number of new special schools established in recent years.
Along with the two new special schools opening this school year, 391 new special classes – 255 at primary and 136 at post-primary level – have been sanctioned by the NCSE.
Of these 76 are in Cork, 52 at primary level and 24 at post-primary level. This brings to 496 the number of special classes in County Cork, 351 at primary level and 145 at post-primary level. The vast majority of these class are autism classes and have a teacher/student ratio of 1:6.
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/special-classes
Planning for special classes and special school places is currently underway ahead of the 2024/25 school year. The locations of the new classes will be confirmed by the NCSE shortly.
In relation to the student referred to by the Deputy, I can confirm that the student's details have been passed to the NCSE for their attention and direct reply.
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. Local special educational needs organisers (SENOs) are available to assist and advise the parents of children with special educational needs. Parents may contact SENOs directly using the contact details available at: www.ncse.ie/regional-services-contact-list
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.
