Naoise Ó Muirí
Question:98. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the pilot single application system for post-primary school admissions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10773/26]
Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions
School Admissions
Mar a dúirt Teachtaí eile, déanaim comhghairdeas leis an Aire as ucht a poist nua. Go n-eirí léi. Tá muid ag súil go mbeidh muid ag oibriú le chéile chun dul chun cinn a dhéanamh. I want to get an update from the Minister on the pilot single application system for post-primary school admissions.
The roll-out of the pilot single online application for schools represents a significant step towards improving the school admissions system. This system has for the first time provided families with a single online application process and introduced synchronised and streamlined timelines for schools to manage admissions and issue offers.
In recent years, demographic shifts and increasing demand for special class provision for students with special educational needs have placed growing pressure on school admissions processes across the country. Complexities in the admissions process can cause unnecessary stress for families and place a significant administrative burden on schools. In response to these challenges and a commitment in the programme for Government to reforming the admissions process, my Department is working towards a nationwide common application system. As a first step, the apply to school pilot scheme was launched in October of last year for the 2026-27 admissions cycle. The pilot was introduced for 15 post-primary schools in five school planning areas, namely Athenry, Celbridge, Clonakilty, Greystones and Tullamore.
While the apply to school pilot scheme received positive feedback, obtaining an 80% customer effort score, a key objective of the pilot project was to accumulate learnings for future developments. Detailed post-project evaluations with participating schools are currently under way and this input will be carefully considered and integrated into future iterations of the scheme. Key deliverable improvements to the system aimed at further enhancing user experiences are targeted for the next phase of the project. More complex issues, such as the expression of school preference, will be considered for future implementation following appropriate consultation with key stakeholders, and with a focus on an equitable and transparent solution.
I expect to have a further update on the next phase of this project later in quarter 1 of this year, which will include clarity on greater system functionality and a larger cohort of participating schools. I assure the Deputy that my departmental officials will continue to work in consultation with all stakeholders to develop an evidentially informed, equitable and trusted solution for the nationwide common application system.
It is good to hear that the pilot across the 15 schools is progressing well. It is also a good idea that we trial a system like this with schools and learn across a few different areas before we do it nationally. Families, and parents in particular, know how difficult it is to secure a school place for their children, especially those seeking special education places. This is going to be particularly relevant and important in that area. The Minister of State, Deputy Michael Moynihan, mentioned earlier the amount of work being done with the NCSE on placements across the education system.
I have a constituent who has a child looking for a special place in second level, who has applied to 16 different schools across Dublin - from Rush to Kilnamanagh. They were individual applications, some posted and others in various different shapes and sizes. One can imagine the frustration of those parents who have to do that.
A system like this would help because the NCSE would be able to see what is coming and what the needs are. It would be able to assist greatly in that process. Does the Minister see an opportunity for this to be implemented in the future, particularly for special schools?
The Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan, is doing great work on the special education side of the Department. That 1 October deadline is now moving. With regard to the data coming to the NCSE, it is getting notifications of requests and the need for special classes and special school places earlier. We absolutely acknowledge that the demand is increasing, and we are responding to that. The education budget for special education is now €3 billion. We will continue to work, both the Minister of State and I, with the NCSE, parents and schools to ensure that children get the places they require in a timely manner.
With regard to the common application process, we are getting feedback, including positive feedback that I have received from schools. There are issues but that is always the way with a pilot scheme. We need to be able to recognise the issues and try to unravel them and help schools. The 80% customer effort feedback was very positive.
Department officials are currently conducting more detailed post-product evaluation lessons and they will be integrated into the new phase. We are in a learning phase with the common application process. We want to take the stress away from parents so they do not have to be applying to numerous schools. We have to take a transparent and fair approach in this regard, working with school management bodies.
Duplicate school applications are an area where this could help because parents are naturally applying for multiple schools and schools think every application is a bona fide application. While it is, not every child will show up for every application in every school. That is where a system like this would be helpful. I look forward to hearing about the feedback later this year and the pilot being rolled out.
I might follow up directly with the Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan, separately in relation to that particular case because the constituent is frustrated. They are doing their best for their child in terms of the incoming school year. I will follow up with him in that regard.
I am open to feedback as well from parents and schools that are engaging with this common application process. The Department is engaging with them but feedback from Deputies is very much welcomed because we want to get this right in relation to any child seeking a place, be it for a mainstream class or special class. We want to work with them. I absolutely recognise the frustration of parents when trying to access a school place. The National Council for Special Education, NCSE, is working with me, the Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan, and the Department to make these spaces available as quickly as possible. We already have a number of tranches of special classes that were announced and we will continue to do that over the next few months. Having that earlier deadline of 1 October was helpful because we now have greater sight of the requests and demand for this upcoming school year.
Schools Building Projects
Brendan Smith
Question:99. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Youth when a much-needed building project will proceed to the next stage (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10770/26]
This is the first opportunity I have had in this Chamber to wish the Minister every success in her role. It is always a demanding and challenging one in a Department that impacts so many people. As the Minister knows, I have been in regular contact with her through representations and parliamentary questions on the need to advance as quickly as possible a number of building projects throughout Cavan and Monaghan. This particular parliamentary question refers to the proposed building project at Milltown National School, Cavan, that needs to be advanced to the next stage as soon as possible, particularly to cater for the needs of children with additional needs.
I am pleased to inform the Deputy that a project comprising two mainstream classrooms, two special education tuition rooms and one special education needs base has been devolved for delivery to the school authority. This project was approved in 2022 and my Department has been engaging with the school to support it through stage 1 of the architectural design process to advance a design solution that is consistent with the approved project brief and in line with the Department’s technical standards. My Department has recently issued advice to the school and is currently awaiting submission of a revised stage 1 report.
My Department has a strong track record of delivering the Government’s school building programme, with over €6 billion invested since 2020. In that period, my Department has provided €92.61 million in capital funding for Cavan schools. There are currently four school projects under construction across the county. A total of 24 schools have been upgraded either through provision of a new school building, a large-scale extension or provision of modular accommodation.
As the Deputy will be aware, I have recently published the national development plan’s sectoral investment plan for education and youth, which is worth €7.55 billion out to 2030. This sets out my Department’s approach to prioritise investment in school infrastructure. There is a strong focus in the plan on maximising existing capacity and prioritising project roll-out to meet the most urgent needs, particularly to support special education provision. The project at the school in question forms part of this overall pipeline of school building projects that will continue to be managed in line with the funding parameters within which I have to work through the national development plan.
I strongly welcome the major investment in school buildings since 2020, both in my constituency and nationally. In her response, the Minister stated that the Department is awaiting a submission of a revised stage 1 report from the school. I have been in contact with the Department in this regard, as has the school. This will mean that the school will be submitting plans to the Department for the third time. The Department has requested that the design team cuts down on the cost of the project. In order to reduce the cost of the revised project, the architect is proposing that the new extension be elevated by 1.2 m. This will reduce costs of the excavation, earth disposal, retaining walls and access ramps. The proposed new drawings have both steps and an enclosed lift on the main corridor.
In an effort to speed up the process, and before the school sends the drawings to be repriced by the quantity surveyor, the board of management of the school has asked both me and the Department for clarification as to whether the building unit in the Minister’s Department will accept the building with split levels when pupils with special educational needs will be accessing those corridors. I appreciate that detail is not in the Minister’s briefing notes but I ask her to quickly give me a note on this or for the Department to write directly to the board of management and principal stating whether the revised plans with split levels are acceptable to the Department’s specifications. The school does not want to waste money in doing this if the plans will be rejected.
As the Deputy will appreciate, I cannot comment on the technical details of any school across the country. I can advise and certainly assist. I am sure there is a line of communication, as there always is, for these building projects where the design team of the school engages directly with the Department of education. I will certainly follow up with the Department to get clarity around that and ensure it engages with the school directly around those particular concerns. As the Deputy can imagine, I cannot give any kind of confirmation or otherwise in relation to technical and design elements of particular schools. If a line of communication is needed between the Department and the school, I have no issue facilitating that.
I fully appreciate that the Minister is not to get involved in technical details but the board of management, the principal and I have sought clarification from the Department and it has not been forthcoming. The board of management, the principal, Mr. Keith Conefrey, the parents’ association and all the staff do not want to waste time getting a redesign, submitting it to the Department and then being turned down again. We are talking about ensuring the best value for money here. An answer via a note to myself or directly to the school from the Minister’s Department would benefit everybody. It would benefit the Department from an expenditure point of view and it would also help speed up what is very much needed.
The Minister referred to this accommodation being particularly focused on the needs of pupils with additional needs and ensuring there is proper accommodation in that regard. This school’s enrolment has grown from 51 pupils 15 years ago to 175 pupils today. There is a special emphasis in this school on providing for children with additional needs. This accommodation is needed. If this project could be progressed as soon as possible, it would be a good day’s work for that community.
I will certainly raise the matter with the Department and ensure it engages directly with the school.
Special Educational Needs
Louis O'Hara
Question:100. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Education and Youth the measures being taken to ensure that schools in County Galway have appropriate SET and SNA allocations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9696/26]
On behalf of my colleague, Deputy O’Hara, I wish to ask about the measures being taken to ensure that schools in County Galway have appropriate special education training, SET, and special needs assistant, SNA, allocations.
I thank the Deputy for providing me with the opportunity to respond. As he knows, this Government is fully committed to supporting children with special educational needs to achieve their full potential. The primary responsibility for the education of all pupils, including those with special educational needs, is the class teacher or subject teacher.
The special education teaching allocation provides schools with additional teaching hours to support the learning needs of students in mainstream classes based on their profile of need. The number of special education teachers, SETs, in Galway has increased from 1,003 to 1,187 since the 2020-21 school year. Special needs assistants, SNAs, play a central role in the successful inclusion of students with additional and significant care needs in schools by helping to ensure that these students can access an education to enable them to achieve their best outcomes and reach their full potential.
The number of SNAs allocated to schools in Galway since the 2020-21 school year has increased from 887 to 1,224. By the end of this year, there will be close to 21,000 SETs and almost 25,000 SNAs in our mainstream classes, special classes and special schools.
In the case of both SETs and SNAs, it is accepted that any model which distributes resources requires to be flexible to allow for circumstances where additional need may arise. In these circumstances, schools, including those in Galway, can request the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, to undertake a review of their allocation. Where the NCSE identifies the need for additional resources, they will be provided so that they are available to the school ahead of the relevant school year.
It should be noted that schools in County Galway have seen an overall increase of 18% in the number of SETs in the past five years and, as I outlined, a 27% increase in SNA allocation.
We all welcome the increase in the numbers of SETs and SNAs, but I must say that the Minister of State's response does not reflect the reality. There is a massive unmet need. There is need for greater allocation. Worse than that, we have seen a pattern in recent years, and particularly in the last couple of years, of resources being taken from schools and different application of the same criteria as they apply to significant care. Children who had the necessary support of SNAs are now seeing it withdrawn, or there is at least the threat of that happening. That is the lived reality. It is worse to go to review and even worse to go to appeal. I ask the Minister of State to listen to any teacher or school community. It is a very serious concern. What is the Minister of State going to do about it?
We must accept that we have put a huge amount of resources into special education, particularly for SNAs and SETs. In this year's budget, it was one of the sectors that got the greatest increase. We are deeply committed. Whether in mainstream, special classes or special schools, the strength of our special educational system is based upon SNAs. They do amazing work in school communities. They enable children to flourish and benefit from the education system. On the backs of SNAs and SETs, we have built special education, together with all the school communities across the country.
We have close to 25,000 SNAs within the education system this year. There has been an increase in the budget figure and the number of SETs. We are continuing to invest in the education system and particularly on the special education side.
Warm words will not cut it. The reality is that on a daily basis, children who need the support of an SNA do not have it. Also on a daily basis, schools are faced with the reality of a cut or the threat of a cut to their SNA allocation. The children absolutely need those SNAs. The Minister of State's words do not reflect what schools are dealing with and what we, as public representatives, are hearing.
When representatives of Fórsa and the Department were before the committee, an indication was given that there would be some reflection of the expanded role of SNAs in the new workforce development plan. I took that as a positive. Everything in the meantime has been completely negative. Will that be the case with the workforce development plan? When will we see it?
The issue in respect of SNAs is coming up in my constituency. When the review from the NCSE comes along, there is a downward turn in respect of the numbers of SNAs. That is despite the fact that when the new students arrive, schools must again increase the numbers of SNAs. Long-term staff are being let go and rehired by another school, or reappointed when the new students come. Everything is a little topsy-turvy.
One school in Kilkenny contacted me. It is very concerned because it is going to lose 1.5 SNAs. The way the school is operating will mean there will be one SNA to 140 students in the mainstream. It has a lot of need. The school is in the direction of Newtown and Dunleckney. The Bagenalstown principal was in contact with me. That situation needs to be reviewed. We cannot be taking away services when we know that need is on the increase. That review needs to be paused. We should not be cutting SNAs when the level of need is increasing.
Like other Deputies, I have seen the same situation in my constituency. Bweeng National School in County Cork is losing two SNAs. Those are vital posts.
The Minister of State made a statement about all the things the Government is doing. On the ground, these reviews are leading to cuts. A number of schools in Cork city and county are losing SNAs. The Minister of State referred to the progress that the Government is making. The reason we are getting extra SNAs and SETs is that for years there was a shortage. The Government is only playing catch-up. At the same time, the Minister of State telling us how great the Government is. The reason there has been an increase is that previous Governments did not hire enough SNAs. I am deeply concerned about the impact of the current situation.
One SNA who contacted me said she loves her school and the children. As a mother herself, she cannot understand why the decision is being made. One parent said to me that there is no inclusion without support. Parents feel let down.
I take the point. If I may be a little flippant, I might contest that Bweeng is in the Cork North-West constituency, rather than Cork North-Central. That is only a flippant point.
Students from Cork North-Central are attending there because the school has two special classes. I am just letting the Minister of State know that.
I appreciate that. I understand. I am fully aware of the work that is going on in Bweeng. I do not want to single out any specific school. I take the point.
If I am realistic, I am heartened each time there is a debate on special education by the commitment across the House and Deputies' fundamental understanding of the challenges that are there in respect of special educational needs and special classes. We are putting in resources. There are almost 25,000 SNAs across the system. We are putting in further supports for educational needs.
I take the point that there is a considerable amount of need within the school communities. We are working extremely closely with them. Neither the Minister, Deputy Naughton, nor I is blind to the challenge we have and the growing need that is there. We are going to continue to expand. We expanded the figures in the most recent budget and will continue to do so. With the resources in the classrooms, we will allow children to grow and develop and to lead as full a life as possible. That is fundamentally what I believe.
I take the Deputies' points. Each school should engage with the process for reviews and appeals. There is a process there. However, I take the point about the seriousness of the engagement.
Special Educational Needs
Paul Lawless
Question:101. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth the projected timeline for the roll-out of the 1,717 additional SNAs and 860 additional SETs announced as part of budget 2026; the regional allocation model; and the measures in place to ensure timely recruitment. [11013/26]
The budget promised over 1,700 SNAs and 860 new SETs. I ask the Minister of State about recruitment and delivery so far, and the timelines involved for the roll-out of those SNAs and SETs.
I thank the Deputy.
The Government is fully committed to supporting special education needs to achieve their full potential and the programme for Government makes a number of commitments to deliver on this objective. The NCSE has responsibility for co-ordinating and advising on the education provision for children with special education needs. I assure the Deputy the 860 special education teachers and 1,700 special needs assistants will be allocated well in advance of the commencement of the 2026-2027 school year to mainstream classes, special classes and special schools. As in previous years, the special education teaching allocations for mainstream classes is intended to be published as part of the general staffing allocation in February. The NCSE manages the allocation of SNAs to the school and it is the responsibility of the council to ensure these resources are allocated to children with the greatest level of need. The number of SNAs available for allocation has continued to increase annually and this has resulted in a significant increase in the number of SNA posts in schools. Budget 2026 provides for a further 1,700 SNA posts, which will bring the total number to close to 25,000 by the end of 2026.
As in previous years, the NCSE will advise all schools of their SNA allocations in this year and these allocations will be made known to schools at an earlier stage than in previous years. The provision of early allocation to schools will ensure they will be in a position to plan for the 2026-2027 school year, including recruitment where necessary. In addition, given the large number of additional resources for specialised provision, it is important to point out 300 special classes have already been sanctioned for 2026. That is months ahead of where we were last year. This time last year we just looking at the numbers in the first and second week of February. We are a number of months ahead, we have those sanctioned and there will be recruitment in relation to those as well.
I thank the Minister of State. I asked this question because of the importance of schools and families being able to plan. However, in reality there are families who still do not know what school they can send their child to. They are right across Mayo. A special school in Mayo that does absolutely wonderful work is St. Anthony's School in Castlebar. The management team of Fiona Byrne, Anna Sweeney, Helena Brady as well as all the staff do amazing work but within the first hour of admissions opening for this calendar year the school was oversubscribed. Applicants exceeded the capacity of the school. That is leaving families and also the school in an incredibly difficult scenario. The Minister of State says this is going to happen in February and March but families are struggling and stressed today. St. Anthony's and many other schools across Mayo are trying to accommodate children but they do not know what resources they will have. This is a priority. There must be an expected timeframe for delivery.
I thank the Deputy. Last year 1 February was the deadline. That was extended by a week due to Storm Éowyn. We looked at trying to plan in February, March and April last year and saw the challenges families and people were meeting. A decision was made by the then Minister, Deputy McEntee, and me to bring the dates back to 1 October. One of the first discussions I had with the Minister, Deputy Naughton, upon her appointment was to look at the whole concept so we can bring better planning into the system and greater certainty for students and families. A number of years ago I was at a school gate meeting a family whose child was finishing sixth class on 26 June without knowing where the child was going to start post-primary education in September. Through the various challenges we have had on it, I constantly have that family in my mind, and we need to do far better. The Deputy makes the point that families and parents are stressed about this. We have moved this system back four or five months to bring certainty to them.
Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit. It is fundamental that families have certainty today. They need to know. We talk about forward planning and so on but in Mayo letters are coming from the Department and the NCSE and basically promising children a place in a special education school. Then the family goes to the school and is told it is oversubscribed. That is the type of planning I am talking about. The system is so disconnected. How do we have a scenario where the NCSE is delivering letters promising a special education place when there is no such place in Mayo for the child? That is the point I want to get across to the Minister of State. I must acknowledge the 2,500 teachers promised in the budget is very ambitious but I am asking the Minister of State for certainty and timelines for SNAs and special education teachers for St. Anthony's School and for many other schools across Mayo.
Deputy Cummins has a supplementary question, as does Deputy Gould.
I thank the Cathaoirleach Gníomhach for letting me come in. I agree with Deputy Lawless and the Minister of State that the planning is most welcome because there is then an opportunity to foresee what is going to come down the tracks. However, I have raised several times that the 1 October cut-off point has been very detrimental to parents and I am still hearing they are not being given letters of eligibility and are being told the portal has closed. What is the solution to that? I am still concerned. I had a meeting yesterday with a number of parents, teachers and principals about special education and there is still huge confusion. The Minister and Minister of State are doing their best on the forward planning and I appreciate that but a bit of clarity would help. Families feel there is a drip feed of information on the plan being put in place for next year, so the speedier that is the better. I am especially worried about those who are going into post-primary who still have not heard where they are going. The transition is very important, particularly the one from primary to secondary school.
This goes back to the Minister of State's point about planning. We welcome extra resources, special classes and special schools. I spoke to a principal yesterday. St. Killian's School wants to build an additional school as it is full to capacity and there is a need for extra places. I know of a child in Cork and we are in February now but he has no school place. How can a child have no school place? I hear about all these announcements but what is happening on the ground is children being left behind. The Minister of State is talking about planning. The principals of the special schools must be included in decision-making, planning and engagement because they are the people who are on the ground and know what is happening. I have a final point in relation to Bweeng. You have children going to special schools and classes all over the county because there are not places where they are from. I take the point made earlier but I am a TD for Cork North-Central and I know of children going to Cork East, Cork North-West and Cork South-Central. They are travelling from Knocknaheeney to Carrigaline and to Macroom. That is what is happening on the ground.
I accept the point they are travelling across the county. Transport and trying to ensure the provision of special education is as close as possible to families is one of the things we have discussed. A lot of children with additional needs are travelling long distances to get to their school places and it is something we need to be very mindful of. Regarding 1 October, for anyone after that date we are issuing the letters of eligibility. Those letters have started over the past day or so and they will continue. We have worked very closely on it. I want to be clear on this because there is some commentary that 1 October is an arbitrary deadline but 1 October was brought in to ensure we would be in a position to have forward planning. On that planning, it is important we have sight of the information from other Departments like the Departments of children and Social Protection. We need good information to plan properly. There are a raft of issues around it but we need sight of where the challenges are. We are looking at ways and means of ensuring we have information earlier, not just when the parent notifies the NCSE but also if a child is on domiciliary care or AIMS.
I have no issue if the Deputies have individual cases. We will work with them to try to find solutions for them.
Education Schemes
Naoise Ó Muirí
Question:102. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the establishment of a new DEIS plus scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10774/26]
My question relates to a topic I have raised on previous occasions, namely, DEIS plus and getting it on the blocks for those schools and communities that need it the most. I would appreciate an update.
I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. Tackling educational disadvantage is a key priority for me as Minister. The DEIS programme is my Department's policy to support schools with high concentrations of students at risk of educational disadvantage. Though DEIS, my Department provides over €180 million in additional resources to almost 1,200 primary and post-primary schools, reaching approximately 260,000 students.
I am also aware that there are students at risk of educational disadvantage in all schools. My Department provides a range of universal supports, including free schoolbooks and access to the National Educational Psychological Service, NEPS, to all schools that support students at risk of educational disadvantage.
The success of the DEIS programme is clear. Schools in the programme have significantly narrowed the outcome gaps with non-DEIS schools. However, for a cohort of schools with the highest concentrations of students experiencing educational disadvantage, a significant gap in educational outcomes remains. Budget 2026 added an additional €16.5 million in 2026, rising to €48 million in 2027, to support the implementation of the new DEIS strategy, and the achievement of the programme for Government commitment to introduce a DEIS plus scheme to support those schools.
I recently met the DEIS plus design advisory group, which has helped to inform the development of the DEIS plus scheme. The group includes principals, home school community liaison officers and school completion programme co-ordinators who work directly with students experiencing high levels of educational disadvantage. I heard first-hand from this group about daily challenges faced by students, such as reliance on school meals - the hot school meals programme is important across the country and is another universal approach from the Government - and the impact of intergenerational trauma. I also heard about what works and how we can build on that through DEIS plus. The new DEIS strategy, including the new DEIS plus scheme, is currently being finalised, which is probably the Deputy's question, and will be published in the coming weeks.
It is good to hear that the strategy is coming. The beauty of DEIS plus is that it can take educational resources and really target them at students who need them the most. I have regular contact with schools in my area, including Our Lady Immaculate Senior National School in Darndale, St. Francis Senior National School in Priorswood and St. Joseph's Coolock, which are located in areas of serious deprivation and disadvantage. DEIS plus will, I hope, help them greatly and cannot come soon enough.
Those schools need to know they will be in the programme. Principals need to start planning for 2026-27. What will they get when the rubber hits the road? When will they get it? What else do they need to do to plan? What else do the principals and management teams in those schools need to do? I welcome that the plan will be published very soon. I hope it will include the level of detail those schools will need. I appreciate the ongoing support from the Department for the programme. I look forward to a further commitment of resources in the years ahead to support it.
Under the DEIS programme, 306 primary schools with the highest concentration of children at risk of educational disadvantage are included in DEIS urban band 1. These schools receive the highest level of staffing and funding available under the DEIS programme. The Department recently introduced two additional measures to support children in schools at very high levels of disadvantage. Strand 1 of the counselling and primary schools pilot was extended to 61 urban DEIS primary schools in Tallaght, Clondalkin, Ballymun, Finglas and Darndale. This pilot provides one-to-one counselling support for children most in need. Funding was also provided for the appointment of 15 community link workers to support Traveller and Roma children and those at risk of educational disadvantage. These roles will work with families, schools and communities to improve attendance, participation and achievement in education.
Regarding the DEIS plus programme, it will be targeted towards schools at the highest level of educational disadvantage. They will not need to apply to become a DEIS plus school.
I appreciate that. I welcome the fact that the plan should be signed off on very soon. What are the expectations of the Minister in terms of the Department notifying schools? As she said, they will likely be automatically included in the programme. What are the views of the Minister on how schools will be notified so that they can start planning for 2026-27? That educational year will come upon us very soon and schools will be closed will summer. Management will work on these priorities through the summer. What does the Minister see happening once the plan is published and agreed?
The schools will be notified. A design advisory group was established to inform the Department of the DEIS plus schemes. That group includes principals, home school liaison officers, school completion programme co-ordinators and professionals who work directly with these children. The Department has engaged with other Departments, agencies, education partners and stakeholders across the education sector to develop the scheme and make sure it is reaching those children and students who need the supports the most.
In 2024 and 2025, my Department carried out consultation workshops, focus groups and other engagements with key education stakeholders, including children and young people. That work has been ongoing and it is extremely important in informing development in this area.
Analysis of the HP deprivation index indicates that areas with high intergenerational disadvantage are primarily located in urban areas where poverty related challenges such as hunger, substance abuse, domestic abuse, parental incarceration, eviction and homelessness are most acute. These challenges are also reflected in schools in those areas where the outcomes for urban schools in the DEIS programme are lower than for DEIS schools in rural areas.
Education Policy
Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Question:103. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Oideachais agus Óige na ceantair pleanála scoile sa Stát nach bhfuil meánscoil lánGhaeilge iontu a ainmniú, agus cad iad na bearta i ngach cás acu atá déanta ag a Roinn chun an bearna sin a líonadh [10906/26]
Tá an cheist seo dírithe ar na ceantair pleanála scoile sa Stáit nach bhfuil meánscoil lánGhaeilge iontu agus iad sin a ainmniú, agus ar cad atá ar siúl chun an bearna sin a líonadh agus an t-éileamh atá ann do Ghaelscolaíocht ag an dara leibhéal a shásamh.
Mar a d’fhéadfadh an Teachta Dála a bheith ar an eolas faoi, tá 314 ceantar pleanála scoile ar fud na tíre agus tá 50 Gaelcholáiste ag feidhmiú faoi láthair. Seolfar liosta de na ceantair pleanála scoile nach bhfuil iarbhunscoil lánGhaeilge nó Gaelcholáiste iontu go díreach chuig an Teachta Dála mar a iarradh.
There is varying demand for Irish-medium post-primary provision across the country, which is evidenced by the majority of Gaelcholáiste having underutilised capacity, even in areas of demographic pressures. Aonaid are an important element of Irish-medium post-primary provision where demand levels are not sufficient to support a sustainable Gaelcholáiste. Many school planning areas are meeting local needs in this way.
D'fhoilsigh mo Roinn plean infheistíochta earnála le déanaí ina soláthraítear faisnéis ar threo an tsoláthair trí mheán na Gaeilge agus luaitear ann go ndearnadh infheistíocht chaipitil €466 milliún ó bhí 2020 ann. Tá infheistíocht bhreise beartaithe faoi choinne soláthar trí mheán na Gaeilge mar chuid d’fheidhmiú céimneach tionscadal faoin PFN in 2026 agus in 2027.
The programme for Government 2025, Securing Ireland's Future, includes a commitment to establish Gaelscoileanna and Gaelcholáiste where there is demand and support for parents choosing Irish-medium education for their children. In that context, last November my Department published a policy for Irish-medium education outside the Gaeltacht. The policy sets out the Department's vision that high-quality Irish-medium education will be available to all in inclusive and multicultural settings.
A task force on models of provision of Irish-medium education was established as a key action under the policy. The role of that task force is to provide a platform for collaboration between the Department and key stakeholders to develop a pathway to increase the provision of Irish-medium education.
That task force is expected to be completed within one year and will make recommendations to my Department on areas such as the criteria for Irish-medium education provision and how to support schools transitioning to Irish-medium education and mechanisms to facilitate expansion.
Tuigim cad atá á rá ag an Aire agus fáiltím roimh an tascfhórsa, ach amháin go bhfuil sé blianta ró-dhéanach do a lán dóibh siúd atá tar éis teacht tríd an córas Gaeloideachais ag an mbunleibhéal, agus nach raibh aon sholáthar dóibh dul chuig meánscoil trí mheán na Gaeilge. Is é sin an Stát ag loic ar na cearta oideachais agus teanga atá na daltaí sin ar fad. Ní mise atá á rá sin, ach an Coimisinéir Teanga. Dúirt an coimisinéir ag an gcoiste Gaeilge, Gaeltachta agus Pobal Labhartha na Gaeilge in 2024, "Ní léir go bhfuil freastal cóir á dhéanamh, áfach, ar an éileamh ar sholáthar na iarbhunscolaíochta lán-Ghaeilge." Ní leor an méid sin. Ar an liosta de na ceantair nach bhfuil an soláthar sin ar fáil iontu, cé go bhfuil an t-éileamh ann, tá leithéidí Caisleán an Bharraigh, Cill Dhéagláin, Coill na Silíní, Droichead na Bandan, Fionnbhrú, Sord agus Mullach Íde. Is iad sin na háiteanna ina bhfuil breis is 500 dalta ag iarraidh freastal ar Ghaelcholáiste. Is gá obair i bhfad Éireann níos tapúla a dhéanamh ná mar atá i gceist ó thaobh an tascfhórsa de.
We have a commitment in the programme for Government to establish Gaelscoileanna and Gaelcholáistí where there is demand to support parents to choose Irish-medium education for their children. My Department launched the new policy last November. A key action of that policy was the establishment of the task force. My Department has established three new Irish-medium post-primary schools since 2014 for demographic reasons - Coláiste Ghlór na Mara in Balbriggan, Gaelcholáiste an Phiarsaigh in Rathfarnham, and Gaelcholáiste Charraig Uí Leighin in Cork. The task force is going to make recommendations covering a number areas such as the models needed to provide Irish-medium education at primary and post-primary levels, the definitions of those various models, how inclusive the high quality of Irish-medium education that can be provided within each model along that continuum, what supports the schools may need to implement these models and how to effectively assess the demand for Irish-medium education.
Tá léarscáil ansin agus tabharfaidh mé don Aire níos déanaí é. Taispeánann na pointí buí ar an léarscáil na Gaelscoileanna. Tá éileamh ann don oideachas trí Ghaeilge. Níl, nach mór i lár na tíre ar fad, aon mheánscoil lánGhaeilge. Tá éileamh ann. B'fhéidir nach bhfuil sé chomh mór céanna leis an éileamh don Bhéarla, ach ní chiallaíonn sé sin gur chóir don Stát loic ar na cearta atá ag daltaí oideachas a bheith acu trí Ghaeilge. Tá ag teipeadh ar an Stát. Glacaim leis go bhfuil céimeanna chun tosaigh glactha ach, in ainneoin an méid a dúirt an tAire, níl go leor acu. Is gá díriú isteach air sin. Dúirt an tAire ag an tús go bhfuil 314 ceantar pleanála scoile ann. Tá 264 acu sin gan meánscoil trí Ghaeilge. Is léiriú é sin ar an fhadhb bhunúsach atá ann ó thaobh an Stát de. An bhfuil an Roinn chun díriú isteach ar na háiteanna ar luaigh mé ina bhfuil feachtais, tuismitheoirí agus éileamh atá cruthaithe cheana féin?
Aontaím go hiomlán leis an méid atá ráite ag mo chomhghleacaí, an Teachta Ó Snodaigh, i dtaobh na háiteanna nach bhfuil meánscoileanna lánGhaeilge iontu. Tá an-chuid de na meánscoileanna lánGhaeilge atá againn faoi bhrú i dtaobh foirgnimh agus spáis. Tá éileamh níos mó ann ná mar gur féidir leo freastal air de dheasca an easpa infheistíochta i bhfoirgnimh, suíomhanna agus a leithéid. Táim ag smaoineamh ar Ghaelcholáiste Phort Láirge i gcathair Phort Láirge, a bhfuil ag feidhmiú as prefabs le blianta anuas agus nach bhfuil baile dá chuid féin aige. Freastalaíonn an Ghaelcholáiste seo ar éileamh ó roinnt mhaith bunscoileanna lánGhaeilge sa cheantar - i dTrá Mhór, i gcathair Phort Láirge agus sa cheantar mághuaird. Ta géarghá anois le hinfheistíocht ní hamháin sna cheantair nach bhfuil meánscoil lánGhaeilge iontu ach freisin sna meánscoileanna lánGhaeilge atá ar an bhfód cheana féin.
Ba mhaith liom déileáil le fadhb atá ann maidir le Gaelcholáiste Dhún Dealgan. Tá sé mar scoil satailíte de chuid Choláiste Ghlór na Mara i mBaile Brigín. Tá fadhb sa scoil maidir leis an gcóras iompair. Nílimid sásta leis an bhfreagra atá faighte againn ón Roinn. Níl córas iompair á chur ar fáil fá choinne na scoile. Ba cheart go mbeidh sé sin déanta. Chomh maith leis sin, tá fadhb ann maidir le scrúduithe. Tá uimhir scrúdaithe de dhíth ón scoil fá choinne na scrúduithe móra Stáit. It is fairly straightforward. There is a particular issue with the Gaelcholáiste. It is trying to grow its numbers. It is a project to try to grow a Gaelcholáiste at secondary level in Dundalk through Irish and it really needs facilitation in relation to transport. The answer at the minute from the Department is not good enough. An exam number is needed so people do not have to travel to Balbriggan to do the State exams.
There are currently 50 Gaelcholáistí across the country and almost all of them are undersubscribed for enrolments. This Government is committed to establishing and supporting-----
On a point of order, the Minister cannot put wrong facts on the record. Coláistí Eoin and Iosagáin are bursting at the seams. They are not undersubscribed in any sense. The Department has accepted that.
The Minister to respond. Can the Deputy sit down, please?
My Department and the Government are absolutely committed to expanding the number of Gaelcholáistí and Gaelscoileanna across the country. As the Deputy knows, there was a recent primary school survey which included questions to establish parental interest in Irish-medium provision and while it was a survey for primary schools, it provides very useful information and a guide to inform post-primary provision. There will be further clarity on the outcomes of that survey later this year. We have committed in the programme for Government to establishing Gaelscoileanna and Gaelcholáistí where there is demand. The task force in undergoing work in relation to this. I will keep Members updated. I am absolutely in support of the need to expand this and where schools need to be upgraded as part of our NDP, the Department will engage directly with those schools, particularly with the energy and condition surveys that are happening throughout this year.
Special Educational Needs
Joanna Byrne
Question:104. Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Youth the way in which children with additional needs in Drogheda without a school place will be accommodated for the upcoming school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11023/26]
On behalf of Deputy Byrne, I ask about the way in which children with additional needs in Drogheda without a school place will be accommodated for the upcoming school year. On behalf of Deputy Byrne, I raise the specific case of Alfie, an eight-year-old boy from Drogheda. His mum, Lorraine, expressly asked that his case be raised. He is one of a number of children in mainstream school with a recommendation for a special school or class place but who do not have a letter of eligibility from the NCSE. What advice can the Minister give for young Alfie?
My understanding is the issue is 1 October. That is my information on that specific case. We are aware of it and will follow up and report back to both the Deputy and his colleague.
In regard to Drogheda and County Louth, in particular, the Government is committed to continuing acceleration of provision of additional special classes and special school places across the country. The National Council for Special Education is the statutory body responsible for that and the Department and the NCSE are working very closely with both myself and the senior Minister in the Department, Deputy Naughton, to ensure we have certainty for families and students into the 2026-2027 school year.
To date, the Department and NCSE have sanctioned 301 special school classes. That is a number of months earlier than it was last year. Five of these new special classes are being provided in County Louth. This brings to 120 the total number of special classes available across County Louth.
Additionally, there are four special schools in County Louth supporting 421 children. The sanctioning of these new special classes is a number of months ahead of last year and should provide greater certainty for parents. It also provides schools with more time to establish new classes. I expect schools will open new classes to move forward now with admissions processes. The NCSE will keep us informed weekly of developments in relation to the special classes and the provision of education.
We will respond directly to the Deputy and his colleague on the issue raised. As we are talking about Gaelcholáistí, I think visitors from Gaelcholáiste Chiarraí are about to join us in the Public Gallery. It would be remiss of me if I did not mention it. I have a vested interest. My good lady wife is working in the school.
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Written Answers are published on the Oireachtas website.