Alan Farrell
Question:261. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Education if her Department will sanction an additional teacher for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24631/24]
View answerSchool Staff
Questions (261)
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 process contains an appeals mechanism for schools to submit a staffing appeal under certain criteria to an independent Primary Staffing Appeals Board.
The appeal submitted by the school referred to by the Deputy has been deemed ineligible by the Appeals Board, as the grounds of the appeal did not meet the appeal criteria published in Circular 0011/2024. The Appeals Board operates independently of the Department and its decision is final.
Special Educational Needs
Questions (262)
Pa Daly
Question:262. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Education the additional supports that will be in place for a child (details supplied) who is beginning junior infants in September 2024 and has a full diagnosis of autism; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24632/24]
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 mainstream class teacher has primary responsibility for the progress and care of all children in their classrooms, including children with additional needs. In addition to this there are 14,600 SET posts to support children with additional needs across our schools.
All schools have an allocation of teaching support for pupils with special educational needs. The Special Education Teaching (SET) allocation allows schools to provide additional teaching support for all pupils who require such support in their schools and for schools to deploy resources based on each pupil’s individual learning needs.
The Special Needs Assistant (SNA) scheme is designed to provide schools with additional adult support staff who can assist children with special educational needs who also have additional and significant care needs. SNAs are not allocated to individual children but to schools as a school based resource.
It is a matter for schools to allocate support as required, and on the basis of individual need, which allows schools flexibility in how SET and SNA support is utilised.
The school can apply to the NCSE for a review of its SNA allocation if it is insufficient to meet the needs of its students. Detailed information on the NCSE Exceptional Review process is published on the NCSE website. https://ncse.ie/application-for-sna-exceptional-review.
The NCSE website confirms that the school in question has an allocation of SET and SNA support to meet the needs of pupils in the school.
Schools are frontloaded with SNA and SET resources for the purpose of supporting pupils with an identified and recorded special education learning need. These allocations allow schools to provide support for pupils who require such support in their schools based on each pupil’s individual learning needs.
Parents can discuss the level of SET and SNA support provided to their child with their school. Parents may also contact their local SENO directly to discuss their child's present or future educational needs using the contact details available on www.ncse.ie.
As the Deputy's query refers to an individual case, I will arrange to have it referred to the NCSE for their attention and direct reply.
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.
An additional 744 teachers and 1,216 SNAs will be added to deliver up to 2,700 new places for children with special educational needs. This will mean we will have over 41,500 qualified and committed people in our schools who are focused wholly and exclusively on supporting these children.
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.
Special Educational Needs
Questions (263)
Brendan Griffin
Question:263. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education if a child in County Kerry (details supplied) will be allocated a special needs assistant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24635/24]
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.
SNAs play a central role in the successful inclusion of students with additional and significant care needs in schools. They ensure that these students are able to access an education which enables them to achieve their best outcomes and reach their full potential.
The NCSE has responsibility for planning and coordinating school supports for children with special educational needs including the allocation of SNAs and reviews.
SNAs are allocated to schools as a school based resource and schools deploy SNAs in a manner which best meets the care support requirements of the children enrolled in the school for whom SNA support has been allocated.
Schools can apply to the NCSE for a review of this allocation if it is insufficient to meet the needs of its students. Detailed information on the NCSE exceptional review process is published on the NCSE's website.
All schools have the contact details of their local special educational needs organiser (SENO), and the SENO is available to offer assistance and advice to schools. Parents may also contact their local SENO directly to discuss their child's special educational needs, using the contact details available on www.ncse.ie.
As the Deputy's query refers to an individual case, I will arrange to have it referred to the NCSE for their attention and direct reply.
My Department will continue to support the NCSE and schools through the provision of the necessary funding and capital investment to ensure all children are successful in accessing an education.
Departmental Data
Questions (264)
Carol Nolan
Question:264. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education to provide details of any anti-racism or unconscious bias training and presentations made available to staff in her Department during the period 2021 to date; the content of such training and presentations; the provider of any such training and presentations and the costs incurred for each event; if attendance at such training and presentations is mandatory or voluntary for staff; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24666/24]
View answerWritten answers
While there has been no specific anti-racism or unconscious bias training or presentations arranged for staff generally in my department in that time, interview board members are fully briefed before sitting on an interview board for my department and are required to undertake interview training, including unconscious bias training, to highlight the impact that bias can have on decision making.
The department is also committed to developing inclusivity, building diversity and ensuring equal respect and opportunity for every member of staff in the Department. All staff members are made aware of their responsibility to behave in a way that upholds a culture of dignity and respect under the “Dignity at Work – an Anti-Bullying, Harassment and Sexual Harassment Policy for the Civil Service”. The department arranges training on a range of equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) related topics, including disability awareness, to staff members, and encourages staff to avail of the suite of the training course provided by OneLearning , the Civil Service’s Learning and Development platform, who offer a number of EDI training courses including Equality and Human Rights: Understanding your Role and Equality and Human Rights in the Public Service.
Special Educational Needs
Questions (265, 266)
Seán Sherlock
Question:265. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Education the number of SENO vacancies currently in north Cork. [24688/24]
View answerSeán Sherlock
Question:266. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Education the number of SENOs in north Cork and their allocated caseload, by SENO. [24689/24]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 265 and 266 together.
It is a priority that the NCSE is properly resourced to have a visible and effective presence in our schools and to guide and support our parents and children on their educational journey. In Budget 2023, the government provided an additional €13 million for the expansion of services within the NCSE. This will mean an increase of up to 161 additional staff in the organisation, a workforce increase of 50%.
As a result of the additional funding allocated to the NCSE, it is intended to increase the number of SENOs to approximately 120, from the previously sanctioned 73, an additional 47. As the NCSE recruits additional SENOs, they are progressively altering the current team structure, from a regional to a county basis with an assigned number of SENOs for each county.
Recruitment is ongoing across a range of grades and there are now 88 SENOs and 17 team managers in place nationally, more than ever before in the NCSE, with a further 32 SENOs starting in the coming months.
The NCSE transition from a regional team-based structure to a county-based structure means an increase from 10 SENO teams to 20 SENO teams. These are multidisciplinary teams which also include, team managers, therapists, and specialist leads. Under this new structure Cork County will have 18 SENOs, with 9 in place, a further 8 commencing and an active recruitment competition currently underway for the final 1 SENO. SENOs operate on a team basis and services are maintained through cover provided from available staffing resources. Should any vacancy arise, a SENO point of contact is assigned to the area to assist schools, parents, and local services. The regional contact list of SENOs is available on the NCSE website to provide the details of SENOs covering their area.
The distribution of the 496 schools in Cork is allocated to the existing teams and caseloads are based on the number of schools and their special education needs requirements. The recruitment process allows for training, induction, back-filling, and the equitable distribution of cases on a county basis to new SENOs, without disrupting existing service to schools and children.
The new localised structure, which will see SENOs being assigned on a county basis, will be fully operational for the start of the new school year in September. In the meantime, it is a priority that new SENOs who are arriving to the NCSE will be getting out to meet their local schools as soon as possible to start working with school and families collaboratively so that children with special educational needs are supported. The NCSE will be communicating details of the new structure to schools and parents over the coming weeks.
Question No. 266 answered with Question No. 265.
Special Educational Needs
Questions (267)
Seán Sherlock
Question:267. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Education the number of autism units currently operating in north Cork; and the amount of places available in each unit, in tabular form. [24690/24]
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).
Over 360 new special classes have been sanctioned by the NCSE for the 2024/25 school year. Of these, 65 are in Cork, 41 are at primary level and 24 at post-primary, this brings the total number of special classes in the county to 561. The vast majority of these are autism classes and have a teacher/student ratio of 1:6.
The attached table provides a breakdown of autism classes in County Cork and includes new classes sanctioned for the 2024/25 school year.
The NCSE expect to confirm some additional classes over the coming weeks to ensure that a sufficient level of provision is available to meet the needs of children. The NCSE are confident that through the provision of these classes and some vacancies in existing classes that there are sufficient places to meet the needs of children known to them for September 2024.
I have asked the NCSE to ensure classes are established as a matter of urgency and to keep all families seeking class places updated on an ongoing basis to ensure their children can access the provision to which they are entitled.
Special Educational Needs
Questions (268)
Duncan Smith
Question:268. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education her views on the need for additional space to safely accommodate ASD special classes at a school (details supplied); the resources that can be provided in order to open the ASD classes while addressing the schools issues with requiring additional learning support teachers, car parking spaces, a secure play area accessible from the classroom, adequate storage, a sensory area and an activities room with a daily living skills space connected; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24692/24]
View answerWritten answers
I can confirm to the Deputy, that my Department has received an application for capital funding, under the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme, from the school in question.
The purpose of my Department’s Additional School Accommodation (or ASA) scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream classroom accommodation and accommodation for pupils with special education needs is available to cater for pupils enrolled each year, where the need cannot be met by the school’s existing accommodation.
The consideration of the accommodation requirements for the school in question forms part of the Planning and Building Unit’s overall assessment of its work programme and priorities in the context of available capital funding.
I can assure the Deputy that the provision of required school places, including for children with special educational needs, is a priority for my Department and my officials are working to ensure that there is sufficient provision to meet the school place needs in the school in question and the wider School Planning Area for future years.
At primary level, this situation generally arises to cater for a school’s accommodation requirements where an additional teaching post has been sanctioned by Teacher Allocation Section, or the requirement for a new class for pupils with special education needs has been identified by the NCSE, and all available alternative accommodation within the school is already being used for classroom purposes.
I am pleased to confirm that an offer of accommodation has been made and issued to the school for acceptance on the 10th of May 2024. This offer is for the Reconfiguration of 1 x Mainstream classroom to provide 1 x Special Educational classroom. A response to the offer has not yet been received from the school. My officials remain available to work with the school authorities in relation to this matter.
In relation to the other points raised by the Deputy, requests for additional learning support teachers should be directed to the relevant Teacher Allocations section in Athlone to determine the school entitlements.
I can confirm to the Deputy, that funding of €7,000 is made available by my Department's Loose Furniture & Equipment (F&E) Section for the provision of the start-up of a sensory room within a school. In order to be eligible for the grant, the school must demonstrate it has a National Council for Special Education (NCSE) approved ASD class and that there is a suitable room to house the sensory room. The sensory room must be a separate room from that of the ASD class and must have its own separate entry/exit. Only one Sensory room grant is funded by my Department’s per school.
Special Educational Needs
Questions (269)
Bernard Durkan
Question:269. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education when a place in an ASD unit can be facilitated in the case of the son of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24694/24]
View answerWritten answers
I understand that this is an anxious time for parents who are seeking a school place for their child for September and I would like to assure the Deputy that this government is determined to alleviate the pressures faced by parents when seeking a special educational placement.
In relation to the child referred to by the Deputy, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has advised my department that they are currently enrolled on early years Home Tuition for the school year 2023/2024. The Special Education Needs Officer (SENO) has been in ongoing engagement with the family and is providing information in relation to accessing a primary special class for the 2024/2025 school year or 2025/2026 school year. The NCSE has also provided information in relation to Early Intervention classes which support pre-school children with autism.
My department and the NCSE work closely in relation to the forward planning of new special classes and additional special school places, work which is close to finalisation for the 2024/25 school year.
In relation to places for the coming 2024/2025 school year, the NCSE have sanctioned just over 350 new special classes.
I have asked the NCSE to ensure classes are established as a matter of urgency and to keep all families seeking class places updated on an ongoing basis to ensure their children can access the provision to which they are entitled.
I referenced earlier that this government is committed to alleviating the pressures faced by parents seeking a special educational placement.
Significant additional resources and funding of €13 million have been allocated to the NCSE to allow for the expansion of its services, which will bolster the level of service and provide effective structures to relieve pressure on parents.
This funding has allowed for, among other things, a significant increase in the number of SENOs which will increase from 73 to 120 by next September. These SENOs will work closely with children, their families and schools on the ground in order to provide the necessary supports.
Additional administrative support staff, team managers and other professionals are also being employed to allow SENOs concentrate on working directly with schools and families.
Legislative Measures
Questions (270)
Carol Nolan
Question:270. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education if her Department will be prioritising the progression of any specific pieces of legislation prior to the Dáil summer recess; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24698/24]
View answerWritten answers
My Department is currently progressing two items of legislation which are as follows:
Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill
This Bill has two main purposes - to enable the provision of a number of supports to survivors of abuse in residential institutions and to formally dissolve Caranua.
The Bill was published on 22 April 2024 and Dáil Second Stage was completed on 1 May 2024. Dáil Committee Stage is scheduled to take place on 19 June 2024.
Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill
The purpose of this legislation is to make some necessary technical amendments to education legislation. Following the decision to restructure Departments in 2020, certain functions were transferred from the Department of Education to the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS).
This final phase of the Transfer of Functions (ToF) process aims to ensure that both the Minister for Education and Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science have appropriate statutory powers to carry out their respective functions and to deliver the schemes and programmes under their respective remit. As at April 2024 both DoE and DFHERIS have agreed to transfer relevant functions currently vested in the Minister for Education to the Minister for Education and Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science through primary legislation. The legislative amendments will be progressed through the Education (Miscellaneous Provisions). This Bill has been included in the Chief Whips Office Summer Programme for Priority Legislation for drafting.
Schools Building Projects
Questions (271)
Cathal Berry
Question:271. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Minister for Education when she expects the design of a new school (details supplied) to progress to planning permission and tendering stage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24723/24]
View answerWritten answers
The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is currently at an advanced stage of Architectural Planning - Stage 2(b) Detailed Design, where the design team secure all statutory approvals and prepare the suite of tender documents.
The project brief is to provide a new replacement school building and all associated site works to accommodate a Long Term Projected Enrolment of 1,300 pupils plus classrooms for students with special educational needs, at the current school site.
The Design Team are currently preparing the application for planning permission. Until all statutory approvals have been secured, it will not be possible to estimate a completion date for Stage 2(b).
The Design Team and Department officials will keep the school authorities updated on progress and next steps.
School Textbooks
Questions (272)
Niamh Smyth
Question:272. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education to review correspondence from Monaghan County Council (details supplied); and if she will address the issues highlighted and respond to same. [24728/24]
View answerWritten answers
On 5th of March, I announced details of a new ground-breaking scheme which provides free schoolbooks to Junior Cycle students in post-primary schools in the Free Education Scheme. Special schools who have students enrolled in Junior Cycle programmes will also receive this funding. More than 213,000 students enrolled in approximately 670 post-primary schools and over 65 special schools, will benefit from the new scheme.
The investment of €68 million in 2024 significantly increases the funding that is currently provided to post-primary schools for schoolbooks. It reinforces the Government’s commitment to expand the free schoolbooks scheme to schools nationwide, as resources allow.
My Department has published guidance for post-primary schools around the operation of the Junior Cycle schoolbooks scheme, in continued engagement with all stakeholders. This has included representatives for Bookselling Ireland and the Irish Education Publishers Association as well as post-primary education management bodies, unions, Society of Saint Vincent De Paul and Barnardos.
It is important to note that schools, like other organisations that receive public sector funding, have obligations that stem from both EU and national public procurement rules when sourcing goods and services. The guidance published in early March does not place any additional responsibilities upon schools that are not already in legislation.
In consultation with key procurement partners, my Department has developed Procurement Guidance for post-primary schools. This is in addition to supplementary support including templates to support schools provide information to bookshops when seeking a quotation. The procurement guidance and template documents are available on the School's Procurement Unit website at https://www.spu.ie/schoolbooks-scheme/
The Multi Supplier Framework Agreement for the supply of learner books & exam papers for the Education & Training Boards (ETBs) was established in November 2021 by the Education Procurement Service on instruction of the Education & Training Boards. This was following a competition process where all national and local bookshops were encouraged to participate and every effort was made to ensure full SME participation on a local level.
All suppliers who submitted a tender response were admitted to the Framework.
The Framework Agreement is divided into sixteen (16) lots mirroring the ETB geographical structure. A mixture of both national and SME book providers are admitted across all the 16 lots.
Schools and centres under each local ETB have been utilising this Framework since 2021 for their school book and exam paper requirements.
It is recognised that the procurement of goods and services using centrally available national arrangements is the most efficient and compliant process for contracting authorities, such as ETBs, to procure their requirements including books. This framework was established with consideration of both the interests of ETBs and local suppliers.
This national framework will operate for 4 years and will then be run in advance of this, where again all bookshops both local and national will have an opportunity to tender for the required goods.
Grant Payments
Questions (273)
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
Question:273. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Education when a grant (details supplied) will be announced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24734/24]
View answerWritten answers
Details of the 2024 Summer Programme were published on the 21 March 2024. The Department of Education also recently announced that funding of €40m has been secured again to ensure that a comprehensive summer programme will be available in 2024. This builds on the successful summer programmes of the last three years. The full funding of €40m is available and, as in previous years, all of the funding is utilised to meet the needs of our most vulnerable children.
All schools have an opportunity to run a programme over the summer months for those children who need it the most so that these children can continue to be supported, nurtured and encouraged to engage in a fun and inclusive educational setting.
The main priority again in 2024 is that those children with the most complex special educational needs, especially in special schools, should have access to a school-based summer programme. Where their school is not running a Summer Programme or a place on a school-based programme is unavailable, the Home-based programme is also available for pupils with complex special educational needs.
As in previous years, details of the Home-based Summer Programme are published much later than the School-based Summer Programme. In 2023, details of the Home-based programme were also issued in May 2023. This is to ensure that as many schools and as many children as possible have signed up for the school-based Summer Programme. The portal for the school-based summer programme closed on 17 May 2024.
Details of the Home-based programme, including full details on the eligibility criteria, were issued to schools directly on the 29 May 2024 and has been published on www.gov.ie/summerprogramme.
A Department helpline is available for schools and parents at 090 648 4292 to address any specific queries regarding year’s Summer Programme. Queries concerning the school-based scheme can be directed to: schoolsummerprogramme@education.gov.ie. Queries concerning the Home-based scheme can be directed to: homebasedsummerprogram@education.gov.ie.
Special Educational Needs
Questions (274)
Jim O'Callaghan
Question:274. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Education when a child (details supplied) will be granted a special school place. [24738/24]
View answerWritten answers
I understand that this is an anxious time for parents who are seeking a school place for their child for September and I would like to assure the Deputy that this government is determined to alleviate the pressures faced by parents when seeking a special educational placement.
Over 350 new special classes have been sanctioned by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) for the 2024/25 school year. Of these, 46 are in Dublin, 30 are at primary level and 16 at post-primary, bringing the total number of special classes in the county to 580. Capacity has also been expanded in a number of special schools. Some additional primary special classes will be confirmed by the NCSE very shortly.
The NCSE are confident that through the provision of these new classes and some vacancies in existing classes there is sufficient places to meet the needs of all children known to them for September 2024.
I have asked the NCSE to ensure these classes are established as a matter of urgency and to keep all families seeking class places updated on an ongoing basis to ensure their children can access the provision to which they are entitled. As your query refers to an individual placement, I will arrange to have it referred to the NCSE for their attention and direct reply.
Parents seeking special class placements for their children are advised to contact the NCSE locally. Local special educational needs organisers (SENOs) are available to assist and advise parents of children with special educational needs. Parents may contact SENOs directly using the contact details available on the NCSE’s website.
I referenced earlier that this government is committed to alleviating the pressures faced by parents seeking a special educational placement.
Significant additional resources and funding of €13 million have been allocated to the NCSE to allow for the expansion of its services, which will bolster the level of service and provide effective structures to relieve pressure on parents.
This funding has allowed for, among other things, a significant increase in the number of SENOs which will increase from 73 to 120 by next September. These SENOs will work closely with children, their families and schools on the ground in order to provide the necessary supports.
Additional administrative support staff, team managers and other professionals are also being employed to allow SENOs concentrate on working directly with schools and families.
Grant Payments
Questions (275)
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
Question:275. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Education the status of a payment (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24744/24]
View answerWritten answers
My 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 cases where a secretary is now paid from my Department’s payroll as per circular 36/2022.
The current standard rate of Capitation grant is €183 per pupil at Primary level and this year's grant is being paid, as usual, in 2 instalments - the first in January and the second in June, for the 2023/24 academic year. Enhanced rates of capitation are also paid in respect of pupils with Special Educational Needs and Traveller pupils.
Primary schools with less 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 2024 I am pleased to have secured €21 million as a permanent increase in capitation funding to assist schools now and longer term with increased day-to-day running costs. This will support a permanent restoration of funding for all primary and post-primary schools from September 2024. This will bring the basic rate of capitation grant to the pre-2011 level of €200 per student in primary schools. Enhanced rates will also be paid in respect of pupils with Special Educational Needs. This represents an increase of circa 9.2% of current standard and enhanced capitation rates.
In addition to these grants, €20 million in funding was issued in October 2023, to support all recognised primary and post-primary schools in the free education scheme. This funding is the first tranche of an overall additional €60 million funding announced as part of Budget 2024 measures designed to assist schools with increased day-to-day running costs such as heating and electricity. A further €40 million in funding was delivered in early 2024.
As the Deputy may be aware, following the acceptance by Fórsa of the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) agreement in respect of salaries and various leave entitlements for grant-funded school secretaries, those secretaries who accepted the terms of this agreement were placed on a payroll operated by my Department from September 2023. Therefore, ancillary related grant funding has been revised to reflect the fact that schools are no longer paying these salaries directly.
The arrangements for the 2023/24 school year are based on reducing grants by the value of the salary schools paid to grant-funded secretaries prior to their acceptance of the new terms and conditions. Schools provided my Department with these details and this information is now being used to reduce the ancillary related grant funding.
Correspondence issued to all schools on 20th December 2023 providing details of these arrangements for the period September to December 2023. Further correspondence issued on 26th April 2024 setting out the position for the period January to August 2024.
Schools have been advised that work is ongoing to identify a method of standardising the reduction to the Ancillary and SSSF Grants for the longer term, where school secretaries are being paid via a payroll operated by my Department. Engagement will take place with school management bodies in order to discuss these arrangements to ensure that they are as reasonable and as fair as possible for all schools and further details of these arrangements will be provided to schools as soon as they become available.
The Financial Support Services Unit (FSSU), funded by my Department, is an important source of advice and support to schools on financial matters, including budgeting and cashflow management. If the services of the FSSU would be of assistance to schools referred to by the Deputy, please email sdfinfo@education.gov.ie and officials from my Department will contact the FSSU on behalf of the school. Alternatively, budgeting templates and more information can be found on www.fssu.ie.
Grant Payments
Questions (276)
Carol Nolan
Question:276. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education if the capitation grant for primary schools is being reduced; if so, the reasons for this, given the increased challenges this will create for schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24752/24]
View answerWritten answers
My 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 cases where a secretary is now paid from my Department's payroll as per circular 36/2022.
The current standard rate of Capitation grant is €183 per pupil at Primary level and this year's grant is being paid, as usual, in 2 instalments, the first in January and the second in June, for the 2023/24 academic year. Enhanced rates of capitation are also paid in respect of pupils with Special Educational Needs, and Traveller pupils.
Primary schools with less than 60 pupils are paid the Capitation and the Ancillary grants based on having 60 pupils.
As part of the capitation package in Budget 2024 I am pleased to have secured €21 million as a permanent increase in capitation funding to assist schools now and longer term with increased day-to-day running costs. This will support a permanent restoration of funding for all primary and post-primary schools from September 2024. This will bring the basic rate of capitation grant to the pre-2011 level of €200 per student in primary schools. Enhanced rates will also be paid in respect of pupils with Special Educational Needs. This represents an increase of circa 9.2% of current standard and enhanced capitation rates.
In addition to these grants, €20 million in funding was issued in October 2023, to support all recognised primary and post-primary schools in the free education scheme. This funding is the first tranche of an overall additional €60 million funding announced as part of Budget 2024 measures designed to assist schools with increased day-to-day running costs such as heating and electricity. A further €40 million in funding was delivered in early 2024.
Grant Payments
Questions (277, 278)
Carol Nolan
Question:277. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education the overall annual capitation grant funding provided by her Department for the period 2019 to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24753/24]
View answerCarol Nolan
Question:278. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education the overall annual ancillary grant funding provided by her Department for the period 2019 to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24754/24]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 277 and 278 together.
My 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 upkeep 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 cases where a secretary is now paid from my Department’s payroll as per circular 36/2022.
The current standard rate of Capitation grant is €183 per pupil at Primary level and this year's grant is being paid, as usual, in 2 instalments - the first in January and the second in June, for the 2023/24 academic year. Enhanced rates of capitation are also paid in respect of pupils with Special Educational Needs and Traveller pupils.
Primary schools with less 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 2024 I am pleased to have secured €21 million as a permanent increase in capitation funding to assist schools now and longer term with increased day-to-day running costs. This will support a permanent restoration of funding for all primary and post-primary schools from September 2024. This will bring the basic rate of capitation grant to the pre-2011 level of €200 per student in primary schools. Enhanced rates will also be paid in respect of pupils with Special Educational Needs. This represents an increase of circa 9.2% of current standard and enhanced capitation rates.
In addition to these grants, €20 million in funding was issued in October 2023, to support all recognised primary and post-primary schools in the free education scheme. This funding is the first tranche of an overall additional €60 million funding announced as part of Budget 2024 measures designed to assist schools with increased day-to-day running costs such as heating and electricity. A further €40 million in funding was delivered in early 2024.
Details of annual expenditure by my Department on ancillary and capitation related grants for Primary and Post-Primary schools in the years 2019 to 2021 are provided in the table below.
|
- |
Primary Expenditure |
|
|
Year |
Annual Total for Capitation |
Annual Total for Ancillary |
|
2019 |
€111,511,104 |
€96,227,700 |
|
2020 |
€116,645,545 |
€97,442,300 |
|
2021 |
€118,105,614 |
€98,378,537 |
|
2022 |
€118,165,827 |
€98,449,174 |
|
2023 |
€119,737,353 |
€83,716,217 |
|
- |
Post-Primary Expenditure |
|
|
Year |
Annual Total for Capitation |
Annual Total for Ancillary/SSSF Grants |
|
2019 |
€91,696,410 |
€69,449,231 |
|
2020 |
€98,124,855 |
€68,527,986 |
|
2021 |
€101,979,090 |
€70,231,065 |
|
2022 |
€106,789,227 |
€72,190,695 |
|
2023 |
€114,904,371 |
€70,450,852 |
Question No. 278 answered with Question No. 277.
Schools Building Projects
Questions (279)
Niall Collins
Question:279. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Education the status of a land transfer (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24761/24]
View answerWritten answers
Thank you for your correspondence and the details provided concerning the status of a land transfer.
I can confirm that relevant officials from my Department have examined the request and a decision on same is expected very shortly.
School Enrolments
Questions (280)
John McGuinness
Question:280. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education if a school place will be provided for a child (details supplied); and if the matter will be expedited. [24789/24]
View answerWritten answers
I understand that this is an anxious time for parents who are seeking a school place for their child for September and I would like to assure the Deputy that this government is determined to alleviate the pressures faced by parents when seeking a special educational placement.
In relation to the child referred to by the Deputy, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has advised my department that the local special educational needs organiser (SENO) is working closely with both the existing school and the family regarding supports for the child. The NCSE are also providing advice in relation to the documentation required in order to access a special school placement. The NCSE at local level will continue to support the family over the coming period.
My department and the NCSE work closely in relation to the forward planning of new special classes and additional special school places, work which is close to finalisation for the 2024/25 school year.
In relation to places for the coming 2024/2025 school year, the NCSE have sanctioned just over 350 new special classes. Of these, 7 are in Carlow of which 6 are at primary level and 1 at post-primary level. This brings the total number of special classes in the county to 59.
The NCSE expect to confirm some additional classes shortly to ensure that a sufficient level of provision is available to meet the needs of children known to the NCSE. The NCSE are now confident that through the provision of these classes and some vacancies in existing classes there are sufficient places to meet the needs of children known to them for September 2024.
I have asked the NCSE to ensure that any further new classes are established as a matter of urgency and to keep all families seeking class places updated on an ongoing basis to ensure their children can access the provision to which they are entitled.
I referenced earlier that this government is committed to alleviating the pressures faced by parents seeking a special educational placement.
Significant additional resources and funding of €13 million have been allocated to the NCSE to allow for the expansion of its services, which will bolster the level of service and provide effective structures to relieve pressure on parents.
This funding has allowed for, among other things, a significant increase in the number of SENOs which will increase from 73 to 120 by next September. These SENOs will work closely with children, their families and schools on the ground in order to provide the necessary supports.
Additional administrative support staff, team managers and other professionals are also being employed to allow SENOs concentrate on working directly with schools and families.