Brendan Griffin
Question:81. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education if an appeal on behalf of a school (details supplied) in County Kerry will be allowed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23121/24]
View answerSchool Staff
Questions (81)
Written answers
The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September. The staffing arrangements for the 2024/25 school year are set out in Circular 0011/2024.
The staffing process contains an appeals mechanism for schools to submit a staffing appeal under certain criteria to an independent Primary Staffing Appeals Board. The school has submitted an appeal which will be considered at the June meeting and the school will be notified of the decision of the Board.
School Accommodation
Questions (82)
Pádraig O'Sullivan
Question:82. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education if she is aware of concerns regarding school accommodation in a school (details supplied) in County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23122/24]
View answerWritten answers
I can advise the Deputy that in the first instance, Individual school authorities are responsible for ensuring the safety and welfare of children and others in their care.
By way of background Fermoy was one of the areas surveyed in 2012/13 under the patronage divesting process where there was sufficient parental demand supporting changes in school patronage (the areas surveyed were areas where demographics were not growing and therefore it was unlikely that a new multidenominational school would be established for demographic reasons).
The policy on patronage divesting is to use existing educational infrastructure to facilitate provision of diversity in areas where there is no demographic imperative to establish new schools. The reason for this is that, of necessity, the focus of the schools capital programme is on the provision of additional school places at both primary and post-primary levels to ensure that every pupil can access a school place.
As part of the process of identifying a suitable accommodation solution which would facilitate the establishment of the school, the Department liaised with Cork Education and Training Board. In order to facilitate the establishment of the new school, the ETB agreed to the co-location of the Educate Together school at the former Technical School in Fermoy, together with some of the ETB’s Further Education and Training services.
Prior to the establishment of the new school in 2018 under the patronage divesting process, the Department and Educate Together as school patron agreed that given the accommodation available at the property and the need for the ETB to accommodate some Further Education and Training services from the property, the school would be established as a four-classroom school and that the school will maintain this configuration in the accommodation in the former Technical School unless an existing school building is freed up for use in the area. As part of this engagement, the Department outlined to the school patron the importance of enrolments being managed within the available accommodation in a sustainable way and that this would be communicated to the school Board of Management so that parents could be fully informed and in order to manage expectations.
Since 2020, my Department has invested in the region of €4.5 billion in our schools throughout the country, including the completion of over 800 school building projects with construction currently underway at approximately 300 other projects, which includes 31 new school buildings.
School building projects at construction involve an overall State investment of over €1.2 billion. We also have a large modular accommodation programme delivering urgently needed school places.
This is a record level of investment in our schools and highlights the Government’s very strong track record of delivery in providing additional capacity and modern facilities for our school communities.
In general, demographics have been falling at primary level and are due to continue to decrease.
Therefore the Department considers it prudent to maximise the use of existing spare accommodation capacity at primary level in the first instance, before considering any applications for further accommodation needs. This is in line with public spending requirements.
I can assure the Deputy that my Department will continue to engage with the school’s patron in respect of queries raised regarding the school’s accommodation.
School Staff
Questions (83)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:83. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update on a matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23130/24]
View answerWritten answers
The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September. The staffing arrangements for the 2024/25 school year are set out in Circular 0011/2024.
The staffing process contains an appeals mechanism for schools to submit a staffing appeal under certain criteria to an independent Primary Staffing Appeals Board. The school has submitted an appeal which will be considered at the June meeting and the school will be notified of the decision of the Board.
Special Educational Needs
Questions (84)
Róisín Shortall
Question:84. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education the location of each of the 400 new special classes sanctioned for September 2024 (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23131/24]
View answerWritten answers
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).
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.
Over 320 new special classes have been sanctioned by the NCSE nationwide for the 2024/25 school year. This means there are now over 3,000 special classes in our education system. While the vast majority of new classes have now been sanctioned by the NCSE for the coming school year, the NCSE will continue to sanction some additional classes for the coming school year if they are required. As these new classes are sanctioned, the NCSE will support families to make applications for places. Attached is a breakdown by county of these special classes sanctioned as of 21 May 2024.
Classes sanctioned as of 21 May 24
My department engages intensely with the NCSE in relation to the forward planning of new special classes and additional special school places. This forward planning work is well underway ahead of the 2024/25 school year. This work involves a detailed review of statistical data in relation to forecasting demand for special class places, an analysis of available school accommodation, consideration of improved data sharing arrangements and a particular focus on the provision of special classes at post-primary level.
As a result of this forward planning, 1,700 new special classes have been sanctioned by the NCSE and seven new special schools have been established in recent years. In addition, four new special schools will be established for the 2024/25 school year in counties Meath, Kildare, Wexford and Limerick.
For 2024, €2.7 billion is being spent on special education, an increase of €113 million, and this is dedicated to providing supports for children with special educational needs. This will allow for, amongst other things, the opening of up to 400 new special classes in mainstream schools, 300 additional special school places and will increase the number of teaching and SNA posts to deliver up to 2,700 new places for children with special educational needs.
My department and the NCSE are committed to ensuring that sufficient special education placements will be available for children for this school year and future years.
Special Educational Needs
Questions (85)
Brendan Smith
Question:85. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education if she will ensure that teachers who are working in special education and ASD units will have access to suitable courses of particular relevance to their teaching area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23136/24]
View answerWritten answers
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).
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 National Council for Special Education (NCSE) Support Service manages, co-ordinates and develops a range of supports in response to identified teacher training needs.
This service provides a range of Teacher Professional Learning (TPL) designed in line with the Cosán Framework of the Teaching Council and consists of seminars, post seminar workshops, cluster supports, communities of practice and in school support visits. A range of these TPL modules are centred on the guidance provided though my department's 'Autism Good Practice Guidance for Schools' publication which is designed to help school leader's teachers, special needs assistants (SNAs) and other school staff respond to the needs of students with autism.
Teacher's have a clear pathway to further develop their professional learning through the NCSE seminars and teachers are further supported through funding provided by my department via the NCSE to complete a variety of training programmes. These programmes focused on special education range from whole staff training for schools to post graduate programmes for teachers at Master and PHD level.
The NCSE provide specific training annually to schools opening new special classes.
In addition, the NCSE advisors provide in-school supports to primary, post-primary and special schools tailored to meet the needs of individual schools with specialist training provided where required to teachers and SNAs through the Middletown Centre for Autism.
Detailed information on the comprehensive programme of TPL seminars, postgraduate opportunities and on a variety of other special educational needs training supports is available on the NCSE website.
My department and the NCSE are committed to delivering an education system that is of the highest quality and where every child and young person feels valued and is actively supported and nurtured to reach their full potential.
School Transport
Questions (86)
Marian Harkin
Question:86. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Education if consideration will be given to an application for a new school bus route in County Roscommon (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23146/24]
View answerWritten answers
The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year over 161,600 children, including over 135,000 pupils travelling on primary and post primary services, 19,800 pupils with special educational needs, and 6,800 pupils who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country.
The total cost of the scheme in 2023 was €382.02m.
Children are eligible for transport at primary level where they reside not less than 3.2 kilometres from and are attending their nearest national school, and at post primary level where they reside not less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
Children who are eligible for school transport and who have completed the application process on time will be accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation and where capacity exists.
Children who are not eligible for school transport may apply for transport on a concessionary basis only and will be facilitated where spare seats are available after eligible children have been accommodated.
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.
For school bus operating purposes a “distinct locality” is a cluster of eligible children who reside in the same general area, in the same general direction from the education centre attended, as determined by Bus Éireann taking account of the local road network.
The pupils residing in the area referred to by the Deputy would be deemed concessionary pupils to the school in question as it is not their nearest school.
Bus Éireann will examine all applications and services for school transport for the 2024/2025 school year following the payment closing date of 07 June. Arising from the analysis, routes may be altered, extended, or withdrawn depending on the number and location of eligible children who will be availing of school transport for the following school year.
School Funding
Questions (87)
Steven Matthews
Question:87. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to concerns related to the inflexibility of the free solar panel roll-out for schools scheme; if a higher than 6 kw generating yield system can be contracted for the same price; if a school is allowed that flexibility; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23153/24]
View answerWritten answers
The first phase of the Schools Photovoltaic (PV) Programme was launched to over 1600 schools in November 2024.
It will provide eligible schools with 6 kilowatts of roof-mounted solar PV, which equates to approximately 16 solar panels.
The scheme is funded from the government’s Climate Action Fund, in line with the government’s recognition that taking action on climate change is central to Ireland’s social and economic development.
The scheme will assist schools in reducing their energy costs and their carbon footprint as part of the response to meeting the 2030 and 2050 Climate Action Plan targets for the schools sector.
The solar PV panels in schools will also be connected to the electricity grid, so that the schools can generate income by powering other homes and businesses with clean energy when schools are closed at weekends and during school holidays.
As announced at the time of Budget 23, the scheme is based on funding up to 6 kWp (kilowatt peak) installations. This was specifically chosen and announced such that the grid connection process is covered under the ESB Networks ‘NC6 inform and fit’ notification process. Unlike the NC7 and NC8 mini and small-scale generator connection processes (which covers installations greater than 6 kWp), there are no additional costs for schools under the NC6 process and there are no grid restrictions limiting export.
Schools are able to choose an energy supply company offering the best value tariffs for both the import and export of electricity, with the opportunity to maximise their remuneration during the summer months and other times when the school is not occupied, under the Clean Export Guarantee (CEG) scheme. To comply with the above it is not possible for additional panels to be installed.
The typical amount a school can save will depend on a number of factors. However, by way of example, a school with a 6 kW Solar PV installation could expect to save in the region of €1,200-€1,600 per annum on their bill, when the credit they’ve earned for selling electricity to the grid is taken into account.
Monitoring software will also be provided to each school, to allow review and discussion of the energy generated each day for staff and students.
The Schools PV Programme is just one measure being implemented by the Department of Education to support schools on their decarbonisation journeys. A budget of approximately €160m has been invested retrofitting 54 schools across Ireland to date, with a further 24 schools currently ongoing, under the Schools Decarbonisation Pathfinder Programme since 2017.
School-led initiatives on climate and biodiversity are also very welcome and will contribute to the overall approach.
Special Educational Needs
Questions (88)
Alan Kelly
Question:88. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Education if a second ASD unit will be in place in a school (details supplied) for the 2024-2025 school year. [23212/24]
View answerWritten answers
The Project referred to by the Deputy was approved to enter the department’s pipeline of school buildings for a project to provide 3 Mainstream Classrooms, 1 Home School Liaison classroom, 2 SET Rooms and 2 classroom SEN including central activities base. Also included in brief is reconfiguration of GP room back to original purpose. The project was devolved for delivery to the school authority.
The next step will be for the school to procure a consultant. This consultant will lead the project through the various stages of architectural planning and onwards through the statutory planning process and construction.
At this early stage, it is not possible to predict when this school building project will go to construction, nor when it will be completed, as progress depends upon many contingent factors that can arise.
My department will continue to engage with the school authority to provide practical advice and assistance on the project.
Special Educational Needs
Questions (89)
Ruairí Ó Murchú
Question:89. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Education the reason an application for assistive technology was refused for a child (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23216/24]
View answerWritten answers
Under the Assistive Technology Scheme, as set out in my Department’s Circular 0010/2013, funding is provided to schools towards the cost of computers and specialist equipment, which are required for educational purposes.
All equipment provided under this scheme supports children with more complex disabilities who, in order to access the school curriculum, require essential specialist equipment.
Based on the professional information provided to the Special Educational Needs Organiser (SENO) and in line with criteria set out in Circular 10/2013, the SENO was unable to recommend an assistive technology grant for the school concerned on behalf of the student. Specifically, the information provided did not confirm a diagnosed disability or medical condition in line with my Department's policy circulars.
It is open to the school to appeal this decision. The appeals process is outlined on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/service/237c68-assistive-technology-grant/. Any such appeal will be dealt with as a priority by my Department. Separately, where an appeal has been unsuccessful, but new information becomes available, it is open to the school to submit a new application to the SENO for consideration.
Before applying for an Assistive Technology Grant, it must be clear that the existing I.T. equipment in the school is insufficient to meet the child's needs. Where necessary, schools may also purchase new or additional equipment or software for students from normal school resources or funds.
In order to qualify for equipment under the Assistive Technology Scheme, a student must have been diagnosed with a physical or communicative disability and must also have a recommendation in a professional assessment that the equipment is essential in order to allow the student to access the curriculum.
School Transport
Questions (90)
Holly Cairns
Question:90. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 263 of 5 March 2024, to provide an update and expected timeline for the review into the school transport scheme, particularly as it relates to school bus escorts. [23285/24]
View answerWritten answers
The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education.
In the current school year over 161,600 children, including over 135,000 pupils travelling on primary and post primary services, 19,800 pupils with special educational needs, and 6,800 pupils who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country.
The total cost of the scheme in 2023 was €382.02m.
A review of the School Transport Scheme has recently been completed and the School Transport Scheme 2030 report has now been published. It marks the largest review of the School Transport Scheme since it was established in 1967. This review was conducted with a view to examining the current scheme, its broader effectiveness and sustainability, and to ensure it serves students and their families adequately.
The Government is committed to working to achieve the report’s recommendation of expanding access to the scheme so that an additional 100,000 pupils can be carried by 2030.
A phased implementation of the review’s recommendations will begin in September 2024. This will include a shared effort between my Department and the Department of Transport to pilot and introduce greater integration of transport networks with school transport routes.
With regard to School Bus Escorts, it is planned that the main actions arising from the review are:
• The work underway by School Transport Section in regard to the employment of School Bus Escorts should be completed in order to issue an information pack to schools by the start of the 2024/2025 school year.
• Pay rates for School Bus Escorts are to be reviewed by the end of 2024.
State Bodies
Questions (91)
Darren O'Rourke
Question:91. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the breakdown of financial sponsorship provided by Fáilte Ireland to events and conferences in each of the years 2021, 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [23107/24]
View answerWritten answers
My role and that of my Department in relation to tourism lies primarily in the area of national tourism policy development and in securing resources to assist the tourism agencies, Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland, in implementing that policy.
The matter raised is an operational matter for Fáilte Ireland. Accordingly, I have referred this question to that agency for direct response to the Deputy. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 51.
Sports Funding
Questions (92)
Pádraig O'Sullivan
Question:92. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if any other funding streams are open to a sports club (details supplied) considering the sports capital grants are now closed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23123/24]
View answerWritten answers
On 9 May 2024, Minister Martin and I announced over €26 million in equipment grants under the latest round of the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (SCEP).
Further allocations, including those for capital works and capital works with an equipment component, will be announced later. I can confirm that the club in question has submitted an application for capital works and is among those remaining to be assessed.
Sports Funding
Questions (93)
Robert Troy
Question:93. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will approve an application for sports capital funding (details supplied). [23144/24]
View answerWritten answers
On 9 May 2024, Minister Martin and I announced over €26 million in equipment grants under the latest round of the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (SCEP).
Further allocations, including those for capital works and capital works with an equipment component, will be announced later. I can confirm that the application referred to by the Deputy, which includes equipment and capital works, is among those remaining to be assessed.