Written Answers Nos. 217-224
217. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Education if the capitation grant will be extended to special schools that do not have a sufficient number of recognised pupils enrolled to qualify for funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7088/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department is committed to providing funding to recognised primary and post-primary schools in the Free Education Scheme by way of per capita grants. The two main grants are the capitation grant to cater for day-to-day running costs such as heating, lighting, cleaning, insurance and general up-keep, and the ancillary grant to cater for the cost of employing ancillary services staff. Schools have the flexibility to use capitation funding provided for general running costs and ancillary funding provided for caretaking and secretarial services as a common grant from which the Board of Management can allocate according to its own priorities, except for the employment of relevant secretaries as per Circular 0036/2022.
The current standard rate of Capitation grant is €200 per pupil in primary schools. Primary schools with fewer than 60 pupils are paid the Capitation and the Ancillary grants on the basis of having 60 pupils.
As part of the capitation package in Budget 2025 the Department is pleased to have secured over €30 million as a permanent increase in capitation funding to assist schools now and longer term with increased day-to-day running costs. This represents an increase of circa 12% on current standard rates and enhanced rates. This increase is on top of the circa 9.2% increase from last year’s budget. This will bring the standard rate of capitation grant to the level of €224 per pupil in primary schools and €386 per student in post-primary schools from September 2025. Enhanced rates will also be paid in respect of pupils with special educational needs and Traveller pupils. Schools should also ensure that they are availing of the available OGP procurement frameworks and getting best value for money for all school expenditure.
In addition to these grants, €45 million in cost-of-living supports issued in November 2024 to support all recognised primary and post-primary schools in the Free Education Scheme. This additional funding announced in Budget 2025 is designed to assist schools with increased day-to-day running costs such as heating and electricity. This funding was paid at a rate of €36 per pupil in primary schools and €55 per student in post-primary schools. Enhanced rates were also paid in respect of pupils with special educational needs and Traveller pupils.
The Financial Support Services Unit (FSSU), funded by the Department, is an important source of advice and support to schools on financial matters, including budgeting and cashflow management. Contact details for FSSU can be found on www.fssu.ie.
218. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Education the status of the pilot scheme that provides additional speech and language therapy and occupational therapy supports, based on need, to children attending special schools; if the scheme will be extended to north Kildare in the future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7089/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe pilot for enhanced in-school therapy support to special schools is an integrated pilot programme which sees the delivery of enhanced in-school therapy supports provided by the HSE’s Children’s Disability Network Teams and will be supported by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE).
The focus of this pilot is to provide the effective delivery of enhanced in-school therapy supports to children in selected special schools, managed in a coherent and collaborative manner through the relevant stakeholders.
The enhanced in-school therapy supports pilot commenced in September 2024 in Cork and Dublin on a phased implementation basis for the six selected schools. An additional ten schools, in Cork, Dublin and Galway were announced as part of the pilot on 8th November 2024 with phased onboarding of schools to the pilot over the course of the 2024/2025 academic year.
The evaluation of the Special Schools Pilot for enhanced in-school therapy 2024/25 will be undertaken by the National Disability Authority, and this will inform the future development of policy in both education and health provision.
219. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Education the funding given to special schools in north Kildare in the years 2019 to 2023, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7090/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department’s voted estimate for capital and current expenditure for 2025 stands at €11.9 Billion. This represents an increase of over €3.2 Billion or 36% since 2020 and includes €7.6 billion for pay related expenditure. Budget 2025 provides an increase of €712 million in core current funding to my Department's Vote, as well as over €360 million in core capital funding. An additional €120 million is also being provided as part of Cost of Living supports and €140 million in Ukraine related supports. These additional funds build on significant increases in recent budgets and further enhance the investment in Ireland’s primary and post-primary education system. The significant increased investment is the largest Education budget in the history of the state and reflects the Government’s commitment to a quality inclusive school system and improved learning outcomes for every student.
Over recent and current budgets, additional resources have been made available to our schools, including through the delivery of thousands of extra teaching and Special Needs Assistant posts, increased capitation in schools and investment in school transport services, enhanced supports for school leadership and management, additional supports for special schools, reduced class sizes in primary schools, significant expansion of the Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools (DEIS) scheme, enhanced capacity to meet the increased number of pupils enrolled in our schools and special educational needs pupils in special classes and special schools, increased funding for social inclusion programmes, measures to increase the supply of teachers available and free school books for primary and post primary students. Significant additional resources and supports were also provided in response to the Ukraine, Cost of Living and Covid-19 crises.
Enabling 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), with a special education budget allocation increase of 53% from €1.9 billion announced in 2019 to €2.9 billion in 2025. Budget 2025 provides for a record level of investment of €2.9 billion in special education which represents a 6% increase on 2024 and provides for an additional 768 special education teachers and 1,600 special needs assistants (SNAs) posts to support children across mainstream, special classes and special schools. This is the highest ever number of SNAs allocated and so in 2025 we will have over 23,000 in our education system. In total there will be over 44,000 dedicated staff to support children with special educational needs in our schools. 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.
The Department of Education and the NCSE work closely in relation to the forward planning of new special classes and additional special school places. A number of strategic initiatives have been introduced over recent years to plan for and provide sufficient special class and special school places. These initiatives are bearing fruit with almost 1,700 new special classes sanctioned and eleven new special schools established over the last five years. Many more special schools have been extended to provide additional capacity. Over 400 new special classes have been sanctioned nationwide by the NCSE for this school year. This brings to 3,336 the number of special classes in the country, 2,339 at primary level and 997 at post-primary level. 16 of these new special classes opened in Co. Kildare. This brings to 131 the total number of special classes in Co. Kildare for the 2024/25 school year. In addition, 4 new special schools have opened for this school year. One of these new special schools, Craddockstown School, is located in Naas, Co. Kildare and this brings the total number of special schools in Co. Kildare to 6 for the 2024/25 school year.
The financial recording of expenditure for my Department is not recorded on a part of full county basis. I am, therefore, not in a position to provide specific details on the amounts paid to Kildare North. I can, however, indicate that the measures cited above will have a positive impact on school communities in Kildare.
220. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Education to review the case of a child (details supplied) needing a primary school place; the measures being taken to address the shortage of special school places in the area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7095/25]
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 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 student’s family regarding options for school placements and other special education supports for the coming academic year.
Of the 3,336 special classes nationwide, 138 are in County Tipperary. 16 of these are new for the 2024/25 school year, 12 at primary level and 4 at post-primary level. Budget 2025 provides funding for another 400 special classes and 300 special school places nationwide.
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.
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.
221. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Education when a child (details supplied) will receive school transport; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7096/25]
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 daily 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.
Under the terms of the School Transport Schemes, children are eligible for transport at primary level where they reside not less than 3.2kms from and are attending their nearest national school. At post primary level, they are eligible where they reside not less than 4.8kms from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre. Distance is determined by the Department/Bus Éireann using rules having regard to ethos and language.
Bus Éireann advise that no application for transport has been received to date on behalf of this pupil. The school transport service that is currently operating is a 53-seater bus with 53 tickets issued. The bus is currently operating at full capacity.
Families wishing to avail of school transport services for the 2025/2026 school year can apply through Bus Éireann’s website at buseireann.ie/schooltransport. The family portal will be open for applications and payment/entering medical card details from the end of February 2025.
A minimum number of 10 eligible children residing in a distinct locality, as determined by Bus Éireann, are required before consideration may be given to the establishment or retention of school transport services, provided this can be done within reasonable cost limits.
Children who are eligible for school transport and who complete the application process on time (apply on time and pay on time) are accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation and where there is capacity to do so.
Children who are not eligible but who apply for school transport are 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.
Temporary Alleviation Measures (TAMS) at post primary level are continued for the current school year. Under these measures, transport will be 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, are attending their second nearest school and who applied and paid on time.
222. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 506 of 5 February 2025, if the ‘further analysis’ specified will be provided; if she will identify the date this further analysis commenced and was completed; if she will clarify that this further analysis was determinative of the Department’s satisfaction that existing demand can be accommodated in the school planning areas relevant to Dublin 2, 4 and 6; if she will identify by reference to the name of the planning area, which school planning area or areas covers Dublin 2, 4 and 6; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7107/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFurther analysis was conducted on the necessity for the establishment of the planned new post primary school in Dublin2_Dublin4. This analysis includes data on the population profile from Census 2022, and current enrolment data in existing schools. It concluded that while enrolments are on an upward trend there is capacity in existing schools including Sandymount Park ETSS, the new post primary established in 2018 to cater for 1000 pupils which has a current enrolment of 436. In addition, a new school entity, Harolds Cross ETSS was established in the Dublin6_Clonskeagh school planning area in 2020.
Interim demographic analysis conducted identified the projected peak year for enrolments in the Dublin2_Dublin4 school planning area is in 2024 and preliminary 2024/25 enrolments are in line with this. Enrolments are expected to remain stable in the coming years and the department is satisfied that demand can be accommodated in the existing schools.
School planning areas in Dublin 2, 4 and 6 encompass a number of areas including Dublin2_Dublin4, Dublin6_Clonskeagh, Dublin_6w, and also part of Booterstown_Blackrock.
The pace of delivery of additional residential development in the school planning areas, along with updated enrolment data and demographic data will be kept under review and this will inform the provision of school place capacity.
223. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education if he would examine the delays in implementing the new model of front-loading SNA support which was announced back in 2020; the reason it has not been implemented; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7119/25]
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.
Special needs assistants (SNAs) play a central role in the successful inclusion of students with additional and significant care needs into schools. They help ensure that these students can access an education to enable them to achieve their best outcomes and reach their full potential.
SNAs are allocated to schools as a school-based resource. Principals/board of managements deploy SNAs within schools to meet the care support requirements of the children enrolled whom SNA support has been allocated. This provides schools flexibility in how the SNA support is utilised.
A school can apply to the NCSE for a review of its SNA allocation if it is believed insufficient to support the care needs identified.
The Special Education Teaching (SET) Allocation Model introduced in 2017 was intended to form the basis of an SNA front loading model, however this has not been possible. The data which informs how learning needs can be met through the SET Allocation Model is not suitable to indicate the care needs of children in a school, using it would lead to SNA resources being incorrectly deployed.
In the last two years, the NCSE has been working with schools to address additional care needs that arise by means of the exceptional review process. This process involves detailed analysis of the care needs in individual schools and ensures that the correct resources are applied to children who need them. At present, this process is the best approach to assist schools in supporting vital care needs.
Work will continue until a successful model is ready to introduce. Further work is being undertaken as highlighted above in tandem with the review of SET, which will support our thinking as how best SNA resources can also be managed. It is important that any allocation process is based on care needs rather than educational ability. My department is fully committed to establishing an SNA model of allocation that is fully cognisant of matching SNA resources with the care needs of those children who require this support.
224. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education to lay out a timeline for the construction of a new school building at a school (details supplied). [7120/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of the Taoiseach’s Blended Working Policy provides a procedure for Departmental staff in eligible posts to apply for blended working arrangements. In the case of fulltime employees, the Policy provides for a minimum attendance of three days per week in the office; one of which should be a team anchor day. Business needs may require attendance in the office for more than three days per week and the Policy allows for that.
The Policy has been developed in line with the Blended Working Policy Framework for Civil Service Organisations and is subject to review on an ongoing basis to be responsive to the evolving business needs of the Department.
Formal reviews of the Policy will be aligned to the Blended Working Evaluation Model developed by the Department of Public Expenditure NDP Delivery and Reform.
