Written Answers Nos. 371-387
371. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Education the number of primary school classrooms of 30 pupils or more in County Kerry in each of the past five years; the measures she is taking to reduce the number of very large classes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6183/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraPlease find attached requested data.
In previous budgets, reducing the pupil teacher ratios in primary schools was prioritised which has brought the teacher allocation ratio to an average of 1 classroom teacher for every 23 pupils in all primary schools, the lowest level ever seen at primary level. A three point reduction in the retention schedule assists schools that would otherwise be at risk of losing teaching posts. Teacher allocations for DEIS Urban Band 1 schools were also improved, which now stand at an average of 17:1, 21:1 and 19:1 for junior, senior and vertical schools respectively. The 2023/24 educational statistical report shows that the average pupil teacher ratio at primary level last year was 12.8:1, while the average class size was 22.5. These ratios, brought about by recent budget improvements, are the lowest averages across the last 20 years. The data provided is based on mainstream classes in mainstream primary schools and are collated from the relevant Class Size tables published on the department website and can be found at the link below;https://www.gov.ie/en/collection/class-size-information-at-individual-primary-school-level/
Please note that 2023-2024 is the most recent year we have final published class data for on the department website. Based on an analysis contained within this report, it should be noted that schools with a very large class have a higher proportion of smaller classes (that is, classes of between 20-24 pupils) and lower proportion of large classes (that is, classes with 25-29 pupils)."
372. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education if she is aware of a situation arising in an area (details supplied); the actions her Department is taking to ensure placements are available to the children affected; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6192/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs you are aware enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for government.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children with special educational needs. They advise that the local special educational needs organiser (SENO) is working closely with the families regarding options for school placements and other special education supports for the coming academic year.
Parents seeking special class placements for their children are advised to contact the NCSE locally for planning purposes. Local special educational needs organisers (SENOs) are available to assist and advise parents and can provide details on schools with available special educational places. Parents may contact SENO's directly using the contact details available on the NCSE website.
Of the 3,336 special classes nationwide, 602 are in County Dublin. 69 of these are new for the 2024/25 school year, 48 at primary level and 21 at post-primary level. Budget 2025 provides funding for another 400 special classes and 300 special school places nationwide.
The NCSE have completed over 1,000 school planning visits in recent months. These planning visits have been key to the NCSE in determining what new provision can be provided. The NCSE continue to assess what additional provision is required in local areas and what schools have capacity to accommodate required provision. As the NCSE progress the sanctioning of new special classes over the coming weeks they will advise parents in turn on the location of new special classes for the 2025/26 school year.
My department and the NCSE are committed to ensuring that sufficient special education placements remain available for children with special educational needs.
373. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Education if a rural school (details supplied) will be prioritised for the pathway to renovate scheme to upgrade and renovate the school building rather than relying on constant emergency works applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6198/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe school to which the Deputy refers has submitted one Emergency Works (EWS) application in the last number of years, which was received last month and is currently under review.
The Department of Education was successful in 2024 with an application for inclusion in the REPowerEU Energy Programme to develop and complete a Schools Energy Retrofit Pathfinder programme his EU programme has very strict programme delivery funding timelines which must be met to enable funding drawdown. All selected school projects must proceed to construction phase in summer 2025, thus has a range of variables must be taken into account including but not limited to, design team maintaining programme, a positive market response, availability of sufficient electrical supply for the new heat pump system, value for money and compliance with funding approval and availability.
This programme is focusing on deep retrofit with renewable heat pumps for all or a section of the selected school buildings to achieve a Building Energy Rating (BER) of at least B. The retrofit Pathfinder programme has targeted schools of a scale that will typically ensure compatibility to completing the works over a single school term/ summer holiday period.
The school to which the Deputy refers was provisionally included in this programme in 2024 and is currently at Stage 2 design. As advised to all schools at the outset of this programme, inclusion in the programme is contingent on each school being assessed at each stage and if suitable moving to the next stage. Findings, project and programme delivery and compatibility with the overall programme delivery timelines and funding envelope will determine project progression to the next stage. To date, the school in question has successfully progressed to the detailed design stage.
My Department will continue to engage with the school on the progress of both the EWS application and status of the REPowerEU programme.
374. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the fact that a school (details supplied) has been granted funding for a rubber surface play area but have since been directed that they must use a hard tarmacadam surface which would be less safe for the pupils, if she will permit the funding to be used for a soft surface as originally approved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6220/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy may be aware, the purpose of the Summer Works Scheme (SWS) is to enable individual school authorities to undertake small-scale building works on a devolved basis including external works such as play areas. However, all projects must be fully approved by my Department and be in compliance with the Department’s Technical Guidance Documents (TGD’s) before progressing to the construction phase of their project.
The SWS project for the school in question received pre-approval in 2022, but my Department only received more detailed tender documents in late 2023 which were then reviewed by my Department’s Professional and Technical Team. The technical review concluded that the current proposal for the provision of poured or tiled play surface was not in line with my Department's TGD’s. The school authority was informed of this and advised to revise the scope of works and tender documents accordingly, at which point the school can reengage with the SWS team.
375. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education to provide details of the empty buildings, by county, in her Department’s portfolio; the value of the property; the length of time they have lain empty; and the physical status of each building, in tabular form. [6227/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAny building in the ownership of the Minister for Education which is not currently in use has an associated school building project.
376. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education to provide details of undeveloped sites, by county, in her Department’s portfolio; the value of the property; the length of time they have lain undeveloped; and the reason for the lack of development, in tabular form. [6245/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information sought by the Deputy is included in the below table.
|
Property |
Location |
Comment |
Size/Cost |
|
Property |
Location |
Comment |
Size/Cost |
|
Land in Ballincollig |
County Cork |
Purchased to facilitate potential future project for nearby schools. |
0.045 hectares £50,000.00 Sale closed 2002 |
|
Thurles |
County Tipperary |
Purchased for Gaeilscoil Bhride, subsequent school project was developed on the existing school site. |
1.6 hectare site £58,407 Sale closed 2002 |
|
Aghina, Caum |
County Cork |
Purchased to replace Aghina National School, project did not proceed. Offered for the ‘Housing for All’ initiative but was deemed unsuitable. |
1.57 hectare site £80,000.00Sale closed 2001 |
|
Croghan |
County Roscommon |
Purchased to replace Rathcroghan National School.Offered for the ‘Housing for All’ initiative but was deemed unsuitable. |
0.6 hectare site €155,000 Sale closed 2007 |
|
Wicklow Town |
County Wicklow |
Site used as temporary location for Wicklow Educate Together Secondary School from 2019 until the summer of 2021. Currently under consideration for a school project.Offered for the ‘Housing for All’ and the 'Ukrainian Humanitarian Crisis' initiatives but was deemed unsuitable. |
0.6 hectare site £450,000 Sale closed 2002 |
|
Carna |
County Galway |
Offered for the ‘Housing for All’ and the Ukrainian Humanitarian Crisis initiatives but was deemed unsuitable. |
0.6 hectare field Acquired in 2007Value €175,000 |
377. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Education when the next meeting of EU education Ministers is scheduled to take place. [6285/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe next formal meeting of EU Education Ministers will occur as part of the Education, Youth, Culture and Sports Council on 12-13 May 2025. This meeting will come towards the end of Poland's Presidency of the Council of the EU and will take place in Brussels.
378. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Education to provide an update in relation to her Department’s efforts to remedy very serious health and safety issues identified at a school (details supplied). [6294/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm to the Deputy, that my department has received an application, under the Additional Schools Accommodation Scheme (ASA), from the school authority in question.
The purpose of the 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 at other schools in the area.
Since 2020, my department has invested over €5.7 billion in our schools throughout the country, involving the completion of over 1,150 school building projects and with construction currently underway at approximately 300 other projects, which includes 40 new school buildings some of which are being delivered in phases. These 300 projects currently at construction involve a total State investment of over €1.3bn.
The department previously announced that close to 90 projects, including 28 new school buildings, would be authorised to proceed from tender stage to construction over the course of 2024 and early 2025. In total, around €800 million will be invested in these projects under the department’s Large Scale Capital Programme and Additional Accommodation Scheme for essential classroom accommodation.
Between projects currently under construction and projects moving to construction in this latest phase, investments by the Department of Education are adding over 550,000 square metres of new and modernised capacity to our school estate.?
This is a record level of investment in school buildings. It will expand the number of school places, significantly increase provision for special education and upgrade and modernise our school infrastructure.? The impact of this will be felt in communities right around the country.
I can confirm to the Deputy, that my Department has received an application for emergency works from the school in question and my officials are liaising with the school in this regard. My department is aware of the accommodation needs of the school referred to by the Deputy and is currently reviewing the situation. Once a decision is reached on a proposed solution the school will be notified directly.
379. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Education if consideration has been given to the financial burden of applications to the emergency works scheme, as some schools are being charged up to €2000 per report, which are a criteria for application to the scheme, and that some schools in need of extensive works will have to submit several reports at once. [6295/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is important to note that the main purpose of the Emergency Works Scheme (EWS) is to provide for unforeseen emergencies that impact on school buildings. It does so by ensuring the availability of funding for urgent works to those schools that are in need of resources as a result of an emergency situation. Emergency Works Scheme operates on the basis of a minimal scope of works required to remedy an emergency situation, which is defined as a situation which poses an immediate risk to health, life, property or the environment, which is sudden, unforeseen and requires immediate action and, in the case of a school, if not corrected would prevent the school or part thereof from opening.
In order to ascertain the extent of an emergency situation within a school, the cause of the issue and the appropriate solution that is required in order to address this issue, it is necessary that a report is prepared by a suitably qualified professional in order to allow the EWS team to allocate funding based on individual need and priority.
All aspects of the costs associated with the design and construction of the works approved under the EWS are provided by the EWS area but the initial report provided by the school is required in order to ensure resources can be allocated effectively and fairly.
380. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Education for an update on an application for a furniture equipment grant for a sensory room in a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6300/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe school in question has made an application for grant funding for a sensory room. To be considered eligible for this grant the school must have an existing special educational needs (SEN) classroom that has been sanctioned by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) or be in the process of opening one.
The designated sensory room must be separate from the SEN classroom or any other room with its own entry/exit door and accessible from the main corridor. It shouldn’t require any major refurbishment, part of classrooms, sensory spaces, and sensory pods do not qualify for the grant.
The furniture & equipment (F&E) team has assessed this application and has responded to the school to requesting a floor plan with the existing SEN classroom and the proposed sensory room marked on it. Once the requested information has been received the F&E team will finalise its assessment of the application and revert to the school in respect of this decision.
381. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education to report on any plans for upgrading autism services in a school (details supplied) to provide additional SNAs and a special unit for autism; whether any grant funding has been made available for such upgrading; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6311/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraEnabling children with special educational needs to receive a befitting 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).
My department's Planning and Building Unit are engaging directly with the school patron regarding the accommodation needs of the school referred to. My department is working to ensure that special classes can be accommodated at the school as a priority. The NCSE has advised my department that the local special educational needs organiser (SENO) has been in contact with a number of parents in the Skerries area and its surrounds and remains available to assist and provide advice to both the school and parents as required.
Of the 3,336 special classes nationwide 602 are in County Dublin, 69 are new for the 2024/25 school year, 48 at primary level and 21 at post-primary level. The vast majority of these are autism classes and have a teacher/student ratio of 1:6.
Budget 2025 provides funding for another 400 special classes and 300 special school places nationwide, and it is estimated that a similar level of provision will be needed each year for the next 3 years.
The NCSE continue to assess what additional provision is required in local areas and what schools have capacity to accommodate required provision. As the NCSE progress the sanctioning of new special classes over the coming weeks they will advise parents in turn on the location of new special classes for the 2025/26 school year.
Parents seeking special class placements for their children are advised to contact the NCSE locally for planning purposes. Local SENOs are available to assist and advise parents and can provide details on schools with available special educational places. Parents may contact SENOs directly using the contact details available on the NCSE website.
My department and the NCSE are committed to ensuring that sufficient special education placements remain available for children with special educational needs.
382. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Education if she will provide a timeline for the transfer of modular units from one school to another in Kildare (details supplied). [6314/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe project to which the Deputy refers is a Major Devolved project and has been devolved for delivery to Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board (KWETB).
It is currently at Stage 2b of the architectural process, which allows for detailed design/planning, obtaining the necessary statutory permissions and the preparation of tender documents.
The planning application was lodged in quarter 1 2024. A Request for Further Information (RFI) was subsequently received. The Design Team has submitted a response to the RFI and subject to any further issues arising during the planning process, the project will proceed to tender and construction in due course.
The Department is arranging additional interim accommodation to facilitate the school’s immediate requirements pending the delivery of the Major Devolved project. At this stage, it is not possible to provide a reliable date for the practical completion of the interim accommodation.
KWETB will be engaging directly with the school to keep it informed of progress.
383. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the difficulties for families availing of taxi services as part of the school transport scheme (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6328/25]
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 172,500 children, are transported daily in approximately 7,900 vehicles across 10,300 routes to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country. These daily trips cover over 100 million kilometres. this figure includes over 143,800 pupils travelling on primary and post primary services, 21,700 pupils with special educational needs, and 6,800 pupils who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine.
The scheme is made up of three separate schemes, the school transport scheme for primary, post primary and for children with special educational needs. Transport is also provided for children who have arrived in Ireland from Ukraine and those residing in IPAS/EROC centres.
The total expenditure on the scheme in 2024 was €512m.
The purpose of my Department's School Transport Scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school.
The National Council for Special Education acts in an advisory role to the Department of Education and Skills on the suitability of placements for children with special educational needs. Under the terms of the School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs, the Department will consider the report of the Special Education Needs Organiser (SENO). School transport is provided to children with special educational needs who are attending the nearest school to their place of residence that is or can be resourced to meet their educational needs, as identified by the SENO.
Bus Éireann is very conscious of the specialised nature of transport provision for pupils with special educational needs under the School Transport Scheme and all services are planned to meet the individual requirements of children travelling.
Based on the current information provided by the Deputy it is not possible to provide a detailed response to the query. School Transport Section would happy to provide further information if the Deputy wishes to submit more details.
384. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Education if her Department has taken advice in respect of the use of artificial intelligence (AI) within her Department in 2024, 2024 and to date in 2025; if any section of her Department currently makes use of artificial intelligence; if she will outline the purposes it is utilised for and costs associated with same; if she has consulted with any consultancy firms in respect of the use of AI; if she will provide a schedule of consultants engaged and costs of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6334/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department continue to review and follow guidance issued by the National Cyber Security Centre, Office of the Government Chief Information Officer, and the Department of Public Expenditure NDP Delivery and Reform on the use of Artificial Intelligence. A limited trial is underway by my Communications Department to assess the opportunity for productivity gains of AI services which includes the transcription of public audio recordings to text, grammar and spelling assistance, translation of public information, and editing text in plain English. All text is reviewed and verified by a human. A proof of concept to examine if AI technologies could support Departmental staff in responding to customer queries was completed. The proof of concept focused on the potential for using AI technologies to analyse large volumes of publicly available information. An external service provider assisted with this at no cost to the Department. My Department will continue to assess the suitability of AI on a solution by solution basis.
385. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education for an update on a matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6416/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraEnabling children with special educational needs to receive a befitting 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.
My department works closely with the NCSE on the forward planning of new special classes and additional special school places. Building on successive budgets, Budget 2025 secured funding for up to 400 new special classes in mainstream schools. This will add to the 3,336 special classes nationwide and deliver 2,400 new places for children.
As demand for new special classes at post-primary level is expected to increase significantly over the next few years, due to increasing demographics and increasing prevalence rates, my department and the NCSE have engaged with post-primary stakeholders in relation to the provision of special classes.
In October 2022, 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. Last year my department issued a circular to all schools setting out new measures to support the forward planning of special education provision. Included in this circular was a reminder of the need for post primary schools to continue planning for this level of provision.
The NCSE continue to assess what additional provision is required in local areas and what schools have capacity to accommodate required provision. As the NCSE progress the sanctioning of new special classes over the coming weeks they will advise parents in turn on the location of new special classes for the 2025/26 school year.
Parents seeking special class placements for their children are advised to contact the NCSE locally for planning purposes. Local SENOs are available to assist and advise parents and can provide details on schools with available special educational places. Parents may contact SENOs directly using the contact details available on the NCSE website.
My department and the NCSE are committed to ensuring that sufficient special education placements remain available for children with special educational needs.
386. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education if she and her officials will urgently approve the building application made to her Department by a school in County Clare (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6422/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm to the Deputy that the department is in receipt of an application for funding for Major Capital Works from the school to which the Deputy refers. This application has been assessed under the Department's Additional School Accommodation (ASA) Scheme.
The purpose of the 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 available accommodation in other schools in the area.
Since 2020, the department has invested over €5.7 billion in our schools throughout the country, involving the completion of over 1,150 school building projects and with construction currently underway at approximately 300 other projects, which includes 40 new school buildings some of which are being delivered in phases. These 300 projects currently at construction involve a total State investment of over €1.3bn.
The department previously announced that close to 90 projects, including 28 new school buildings, would be authorised to proceed from tender stage to construction over the course of 2024 and early 2025. In total, around €800 million will be invested in these projects under the department’s Large Scale Capital Programme and Additional Accommodation Scheme for essential classroom accommodation.
Between projects currently under construction and projects moving to construction in this latest phase, investments by the Department of Education are adding over 550,000 square metres of new and modernised capacity to our school estate.?
This is a record level of investment in school buildings. It will expand the number of school places, significantly increase provision for special education and upgrade and modernise our school infrastructure.? The impact of this will be felt in communities right around the country.
In County Clare alone, in the period 2020 – 2024, the department has invested €117.74 million on projects in construction, projects in the pipeline and on completions. There were 22 projects completed in Clare in the period 2020 to 2024 and there are currently 6 projects in construction.
I am pleased to advise the Deputy that a brief of accommodation has now been approved for the school and the school have been advised of same. A brief for agreement by the school's Board of Management will issue to the school in the coming days.
387. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on planning for special class admissions in September 2025; the indicated new demand compared to September 2024; if she will ensure that no child will be left without a school place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6436/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs you are aware enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for government.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children with special educational needs.
Of the 3,336 special classes nationwide, 408 are new for the 2024/2025 school year. 289 at primary level and 119 at post-primary level. Budget 2025 provides funding for another 400 special classes and 300 special school places nationwide.
The issue of how teaching allocations are assigned to class groupings within a school is a matter for the school board of management and principal to consider and decide how best to allocate resources and organise class groupings within the school.
My department and the NCSE are committed to ensuring that sufficient special education placements remain available for children with special educational needs.
