Written Answers Nos. 281-300
281. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Education if her Department will provide immediate funding and investment for a school (details supplied) to ensure it can deliver the best possible learning environment for all students including the opening of new special classes, as has been requested by her Department;; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24832/24]
View answerI 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 May 2024 . This offer is for 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.
282. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to an ongoing case (details supplied); the actions she will take to ensure that this child is accommodated on a school bus in the coming school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24838/24]
View answerThe 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.
The purpose of my Department's School Transport Scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school.
The National Council for Special Education acts in an advisory role to the Department of Education on the suitability of placements for children with special educational needs. Under the terms of the School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs, the Department will consider the report of the Special Education Needs Organiser (SENO). School transport is provided to children with special educational needs who are attending the nearest school to their place of residence that is or can be resourced to meet their educational needs, as identified by the SENO.
Based on additional information supplied by Bus Éireann, I am pleased to advise that sanction has been given to accommodate the pupil referred on a dedicated school transport service to the child’s school of attendance.
A Special Transport Grant is a once off payment, paid retrospectively to families once the School Transport service is in place. This grant is offered to assist with the cost of private transport arrangements the family had put in place until services are finalised. The family of the child in question will be contacted directly in the coming days by School Transport Section of my Department, with an offer of the Special Transport Grant until the transport service commences.
283. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Education the current status of furniture and IT grants for a new ASD unit at a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24862/24]
View answerSince 2020, my department has invested in the region of €4.8 billion in our schools throughout the country, involving the completion of over 800 school building projects and with construction currently underway at approximately 300 other projects, which includes 30 new school buildings. These 300 projects currently at construction involve a total State investment of over €1.2bn.
I also recently announced that close to 90 projects, including 28 new school buildings, would be authorised to proceed from tender stage to construction over the course of 2024 and early 2025. In total, around €800 million will be invested in these projects under the department’s Large Scale Capital Programme and Additional Accommodation Scheme for essential classroom accommodation.
Between projects currently under construction and projects moving to construction in this latest phase, investments by the Department of Education are adding over 550,000 square metres of new and modernised capacity to our school estate.
This is a record level of investment in school buildings. It will expand the number of school places, significantly increase provision for special education and upgrade and modernise our school infrastructure. The impact of this will be felt in communities right around the country.
The key drivers of capital investment in the school’s sector include:
• demographic growth, particularly at post primary level
• increased demand for special educational needs provision
• alignment of school place provision with new housing development
• climate action objectives including deep energy retrofit.
During the period 2020 to 2024 (as at 30 April 2024), my department has invested €151.94 million in the schools in County Galway to provide additional mainstream and special education classrooms, at both primary and post primary level.
The application from this school has been approved and is currently with our Project Management Team, who will work directly with the school to plan the reconfiguration works required to deliver this new Special education classroom.
The delivery process will entail ensuring that the finished special classroom is fitted with all necessary furniture and IT equipment, so that the additional needs of these pupils, is met on day one of them entering their new classroom.
284. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Education the estimated full-year cost if the capitation grant increased to €205 per pupil at primary level. [24883/24]
View answerMy 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 and Traveller pupils. 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.
Based on the current standard rate of capitation grant, the estimated full year cost if the rate of Capitation grant increased to €205 per pupil is approximately €12 million at primary level.
285. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to reports from schools that this year's ancillary grant is insufficient to cover the cost of staff not on her Department’s payroll that is, cleaners; how the reduction in the ancillary grant has been calculated; if it took into consideration the move of school secretaries to her Department’s payroll; and the details of the process followed in the recalculation of this grant. [24895/24]
View answer286. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education if the cost-of-living grant awarded to schools can be used to cover shortfalls in the ancillary grant [24896/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 285 and 286 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 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.
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 part of Budget 2024, significant increases in capitation funding for primary and post-primary schools were confirmed which includes a permanent restoration of capitation funding as well as an increase for cost-of-living pressures. This year’s Budget will provide targeted funding for school communities with an increase in capitation of over €81 million.
The current standard rate of Capitation grant is €183 per pupil at Primary level and will be paid to schools in January & June 2024 for the 2023/24 academic year.
As part of the capitation package in Budget 2024, €21 million was secured 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 and to €345 in voluntary secondary 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.
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.
Where schools did not have a secretary that opted into the WRC agreement, no reduction was applied to their ancillary-related grant funding.
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. More information together with budgeting templates can be found on www.fssu.ie .
287. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education to provide a schedule of all upcoming grants for national schools; and if this schedule has been provided to schools. [24897/24]
View answerMy Department provides information to schools about upcoming grants. Officials are working on developing a replacement for the old schedule of grants/grants calendar, which was out-dated and, - consequently, - removed.
288. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education if there are multi-annual financial plans open to national schools; and if not, if she will consider implementing such a measure in order to allow schools to plan ahead financially [24898/24]
View answerMy 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, 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.
To assist with the preparation of the school budget for next year, the FSSU held a webinar: Financial Update & Preparing the School Budget for 2024/2025 for Primary Schools on Wednesday 24th of April 2024. This webinar was open to Principals, treasurers and any other school personnel involved in the budget preparation process. The FSSU also gave a brief financial update for primary schools.
To support boards of management, and particularly those new to boards since December 2023, the FSSU hosted a training webinar covering the financial duties of boards.
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, schools can 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 .
289. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education the details of all upcoming grants for schools (details supplied); and the details of previous grants awarded in each school year since 2020. [24899/24]
View answerMy Department provides 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.
Enhanced capitation is paid for Traveller pupils and for pupils with Special Educational Needs.
Schools also receive a range of other grants, including Digital/ICT grants, DEIS grants and administration support for the Free School Books Scheme.
Scheduled grants yet to issue for 2023/24 include primary school Capitation, 2nd Moiety. These will issue to all recognised primary schools in June. The total grant amounts issued to the schools detailed from the 2020 academic year to 2024 (YTD) was €6.875m. Cost of living and energy grants also issued during this period, as well as Covid-19 grants, for example for cleaning supports, hand sanitiser and PPE, and for employing an aide.
Details of the annual expenditure by my Department.
|
2020 |
€ 1,564,919.02 |
|
2021 |
€ 1,672,868.63 |
|
2022 |
€ 1,460,636.61 |
|
2023 |
€ 1,208,353.91 |
|
2024 (YTD) |
€ 968,330.91 |
290. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Education the reason a school (details supplied) which applied for additional accommodation for two SET rooms in 2019 and additional classroom accommodation in 2020 is still awaiting sanction from her Department to proceed with this construction project. [24920/24]
View answerThe school referred to by the Deputy was approved to enter the Department’s pipeline of school buildings for a project to provide 1 Mainstream Classroom and 2 SET rooms. The project was devolved to the school authority for delivery.
A Stage 3 (tender report) has been received by my department which is currently being reviewed. All projects, including this one, will undergo the necessary due diligence outlined in the Public Infrastructure Guidelines.
Upon completion of this review process my Department officials will communicate with the school authority regarding the next steps to advance this significant project.
291. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Education if she will facilitate employees of education and training boards who may be eligible to claim professional added years, to calculate their retirement pay in advance of actually making a formal application, in order to enable them make an informed decision as to whether or not to actually apply for retirement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24929/24]
View answerProfessional Added Years (PAY) schemes apply to certain members of public service pensions schemes which existed prior to the introduction of the Single Public Service Pension Scheme who are recruited by way of open competition to professional, technical or specialist permanent posts in the civil/public service.
PAY may only be awarded at retirement to individuals in circumstances where the eligibility conditions attached to the recruitment competition for the relevant professional, technical or specialist post, were such that they prevented the individual from obtaining maximum reckonable service (40 years’ service in a standard accrual pension scheme) by a specified retirement age (usually age 65).
While the pension entitlements of employees of Education and Training Boards (ETBs) are processed by the pension administrators in the relevant ETB, the approval of awards of PAY is a matter for my Department. This includes, as part of a shared services agreement with the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS), the assessment of applications for PAY from the further education sector in ETBs.
An award of PAY can be impacted by many factors such as previous pensionable service, work sharing patterns, ill health retirement or unpaid leave, and it is for these reasons that awards cannot be processed in advance of retirement.
The Deputy should note that PAY applications are accepted up to six months in advance of retirement. However, ETBs have been advised that they can indicate to an individual what their likely gross PAY award will be prior to receipt of a retirement application but a formal approval will not be given in advance.
292. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education to provide a breakdown of the funds disbursed through the school transport scheme in 2023 for transport of children with special needs, not including children in mainstream education, including the proportion spent on taxi services compared to bus services, in tabular form. [24933/24]
View answerThe 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 and the School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs (SEN) accounts for over 50% of this total cost on an annual basis.
Bus Éireann operate the scheme on behalf of the Department, of which circa 94% of the total school transport fleet is operated by private contractors under contract to Bus Éireann. Costs attributed to the SEN transport scheme include payments for transport, grants to families to support them with transport arrangements where required, and grants to schools to provide for the cost of the employment of School Bus Escorts.
The total number of vehicles transporting pupils to school on a daily basis is approx. 7,300 and circa 2,300 of these vehicles are taxis. It is important to note that these figures includes pupils on mainstream services, pupils on SEN services and pupils from Ukraine.
It is not possible to provide the information in the manner requested by the Deputy.
293. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Education the options available to a person (details supplied) who was partaking in the Carline Project until this year and who has no school place for the coming school year; if Youthreach is an option for them; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24952/24]
View answerThe young person referred to by the Deputy is not currently known to Tusla Education Support Service and is not an open case with the Educational Welfare Service (EWS) of TESS. The local Educational Welfare Officer (EWO) team is available to assist the family and the Senior EWO can be contacted at the details set out below. A young person with no school place is an immediate priority for the Educational Welfare Service team.
Contact details for EWO; Tel: 01-5252166, ewsregion2@tusla.ie
Matters in relation to the Youthreach Programme is for my colleague the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research and Science to answer.
294. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education if she will take immediate steps to address the work pay and conditions that school bus escorts are faced with (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24969/24]
View answerThe 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.There is a facility within the Special Educational Needs Transport Scheme for the appointment of a School Transport Escort, where a child’s care and safety needs while on school transport are such as to require the support of a School Transport Escort.The Department of Education provides grant funding for the employment of the School Transport Escort and sets the rate of pay.Under the Education Act 1998, the Principal/Board of Management is responsible for the operation of the school and is the employer of the School Transport Escort and therefore responsible for all employment matters relating to their School Transport Escort.It is recognised that School Bus Escorts play a vital role in supporting children with Special Educational Needs in their journey to and from school. The School Transport Section in the Department are currently carrying out a comprehensive review of matters as they relate to the escort and the information provided to schools. An information pack for schools is being developed and will be reviewed and updated regularly. As part of this comprehensive review the terms of employment and rate of pay for school bus escorts are also being examined, and the Department will continue to keep the rates under review.As the Deputy is aware a review of the School Transport Scheme has been completed. This review was conducted with a view to examining the current scheme, its broader effectiveness, and sustainability and to ensure it services students and their families adequately. As part of this review one of the actions outlined is that pay rates for School Bus Escorts is to be reviewed in full by the end of 2024.
295. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education if her Department plans to change assault leave legislation for teachers and special needs assistants who work with children with additional needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24978/24]
View answerThe Leave of Absence following Assault Scheme, which is contained in the Department’s Circular Letter 0061/2017 for teachers and 0062/2017 for SNAs, provides for special leave with pay (subject to specified limits) to a teacher or special needs assistant who is unable to perform their duties due to a physical injury following an assault that happened in the course of their duties and during approved school activities.
The leave available under the Scheme for Leave of Absence following Assault is 3 months (92 days) at full pay in a rolling 4-year period. In exceptional cases, such as where a significant period of hospitalisation is required or in situations of a second or subsequent incident of assault, the leave may be extended for a further period not exceeding 3 months (91 days) at full pay, subject to an overall limit of 6 months (183 days) at full pay in a rolling 4-year period. Any subsequent absence will be dealt with under the Sick Leave scheme. When calculating a teacher’s/SNA's entitlement, any Assault Leave/Leave of Absence following Assault granted in the previous four years from the current absence will be taken into account in determining access to leave under this scheme.
A Leave of Absence following Assault ends on:
The ceasing of the certification by a duly qualified medical practitioner of the physical injury; or
the maximum leave limits available under this scheme being exhausted;
or certification of fitness to return to duties.
A teacher or SNA who has exhausted the maximum period of paid leave under the Scheme for Leave of Absence following Assault and who is still medically unfit to resume duty may avail of Sick Leave under the Sick Leave scheme, subject to the normal rules of that scheme.
As part of the general management of the Department circulars, the Department will carry out a review of its existing circulars, such as the circular setting out the Leave of Absence following Assault Scheme. This process includes engaging with the relevant school Management Bodies and Unions to seek their comments and observations around the provisions set out in the circulars. The Department will consider the views provided by the Management Bodies and Unions and will seek to incorporate those views where possible. The Department may also engage with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform where required. Engagement between the Department and the school Management Bodies and the Unions has taken place with regards to the circular setting out the Leave of Absence following Assault Leave for both Teachers and SNAs. However at this time, the process has not yet concluded.
296. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Education the reason primary school teachers cannot transfer from one permanent post to another permanent post in the profession; what the rationale for same; if she will agree to examine the matter given the impact it has on teachers (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24989/24]
View answerThe recruitment and appointment of teachers to fill teaching posts is a matter for individual school authorities, subject to procedures agreed under Section 24 of the Education Act 1998 (as amended by the Education (Amendment) Act 2012). In that regard, there are more than 3,000 individual employers at primary level (boards of management of primary schools as well as ETBs).
The core function of the redeployment arrangements is to facilitate the redeployment of surplus permanent teachers to other schools where vacancies exist. Thereafter, schools are required under the panel arrangements to fill permanent vacancies from supplementary panels comprised of eligible fixed-term (temporary/substitute) and part-time teachers.
The teacher redeployment arrangements are reviewed annually by my Department involving the education stakeholders, including teacher unions and management bodies. As part of the review, the education stakeholders can raise issues or concerns with the Department in relation to the operation of the redeployment process generally. It is open to members of the school community to liaise with their representative bodies on any matters of concern they may have.
297. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education if her Department plans to change assault leave legislation for teachers and special needs assistants who work with children with additional needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24997/24]
View answerThe Leave of Absence following Assault Scheme, which is contained in the Department’s Circular Letter 0061/2017 for teachers and 0062/2017 for SNAs, provides for special leave with pay (subject to specified limits) to a teacher or special needs assistant who is unable to perform their duties due to a physical injury following an assault that happened in the course of their duties and during approved school activities.
The leave available under the Scheme for Leave of Absence following Assault is 3 months (92 days) at full pay in a rolling 4-year period. In exceptional cases, such as where a significant period of hospitalisation is required or in situations of a second or subsequent incident of assault, the leave may be extended for a further period not exceeding 3 months (91 days) at full pay, subject to an overall limit of 6 months (183 days) at full pay in a rolling 4-year period. Any subsequent absence will be dealt with under the Sick Leave scheme. When calculating a teacher’s/SNA's entitlement, any Assault Leave/Leave of Absence following Assault granted in the previous four years from the current absence will be taken into account in determining access to leave under this scheme.
A Leave of Absence following Assault ends on:
The ceasing of the certification by a duly qualified medical practitioner of the physical injury; or
the maximum leave limits available under this scheme being exhausted;
or certification of fitness to return to duties.
A teacher or SNA who has exhausted the maximum period of paid leave under the Scheme for Leave of Absence following Assault and who is still medically unfit to resume duty may avail of Sick Leave under the Sick Leave scheme, subject to the normal rules of that scheme.
As part of the general management of the Department circulars, the Department will carry out a review of its existing circulars, such as the circular setting out the Leave of Absence following Assault Scheme. This process includes engaging with the relevant school Management Bodies and Unions to seek their comments and observations around the provisions set out in the circulars. The Department will consider the views provided by the Management Bodies and Unions and will seek to incorporate those views where possible. The Department may also engage with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform where required. Engagement between the Department and the school Management Bodies and the Unions has taken place with regards to the circular setting out the Leave of Absence following Assault Leave for both Teachers and SNAs. However at this time, the process has not yet concluded.
298. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education if she will ensure that her Department increases funding for Transition Year programmes in schools across Ireland to ensure that there is enough capacity in all schools (details supplied). [25000/24]
View answerTransition Year is a valuable programme for students that offers opportunities for life skills, personal, social and academic development and experience of adult and working life. Transition Year has a unique and important value in the life of students.
I am a huge fan of Transition Year based on my own experience in teaching. I think we should never underestimate the importance of it.
As the Deputy will be aware, each school designs its own Transition Year programme, within set guidelines, to suit the needs and interests of its students. In developing a programme, schools are advised to take into consideration students’ needs, parents’ views, employers and the wider interests of the local community.
Currently, the Transition Year Programme is funded by the Transition Year Grant in addition to the standard capitation grant. The current effective rate for the Transition Year Grant is €95 per student. As of the 2024/2025 school year, the standard capitation grant will be restored to €345 per student for voluntary secondary schools. This funding is made available to (non-fee charging) schools based on the number of enrolled students. Transition Year is also supported through the payment of teachers’ salaries and the provision of capital funding to schools.
Since its introduction, the popularity and uptake of Transition Year has increased significantly to the point where it is now offered in almost every post-primary school. The number of students entering Transition Year has been continued to rise in recent years, with the latest figures showing that over 58,000 students (just over 80% of third year students) entered Transition Year in school year 2023/24. This has increased significantly from 74% and 48,000 in 2019.
It is important to note that there are several reasons that students may not take Transition Year, even where they wish to do so. While well over 90% of schools offer Transition Year, a minority of students may be unable to take Transition Year because it is not offered in their school.
Furthermore, in some schools where Transition Year is offered it may not be possible to accommodate all students who wish to do Transition Year.
As part of the broader redevelopment of Senior Cycle, I announced my commitment that Transition Year would be made universally available so that in the future, every student in every school who wishes to participate in the programme will have the opportunity to do so. I recognise that additional resources to schools will be needed to facilitate this, and I am working with my officials and my colleagues in Government to ensure that appropriate resources are available.
I am committed to ensuring that Transition Year provision can be expanded where needed and to support schools in that. To this end, my officials are currently working to identify barriers to participation and understand their causes in order to give effect to my vision of universal access. Specifically I have asked my officials to engage directly with schools in this body of work.
In addition, a revised Transition Year Programme Statement, which will support schools to enable this expanded access and enhancement of their Transition Year programmes, is currently being finalised. The revised Programme Statement will help to ensure the delivery of a valuable Transition Year experience for students across all schools participating in the programme.
The introduction of the revised Programme Statement will be accompanied by the provision of professional support from Oide to teachers and schools in terms of continuous professional development.
I have also committed to providing additional funding to support Transition Year on top of the restoration of the capitation funding already committed to, and further details on this funding will be confirmed in due course.
299. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education the building projects under consideration for a school (details supplied); and when they might be in a position to proceed to construction. [25027/24]
View answerI can confirm to the Deputy, that the school in question was granted initial approval for modular accommodation project under my Department's Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme.
The Department has a significant modular accommodation programme in place to assist schools in the provision of additional capacity, including in respect of facilitating the establishment of special classes.
This programme involves the use of Project Management supports which is designed to enable the accommodation to be provided as quickly as possible and help ease the administrative workload for school authorities in relation to the management and delivery of projects.
The use of the Department’s Modular Accommodation Framework also assists in ensuring lead in periods for procurement of modular accommodation are minimised to the greatest extent possible.
I can confirm that the school in question was assigned a Project Manager under this programme and the project has progressed to viability report stage. The Viability Report has been received from the Project Managers and has been reviewed by the department's Technical team.
The consideration of the accommodation requirements for this school forms part of the Planning and Building Unit’s overall assessment of its work programme and priorities in the context of available capital funding. It is not, therefore, possible to give an indication at this point in time of the timeframe for the provision of additional accommodation at the school.
I can only seek to assure you that we will advance this matter as quickly as possible.
Department officials also continue to engage with the school and its patron with respect to its long-term accommodation needs, in the context of particular technical constraints with the school site.
300. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Education if she will undertake a review of the number of SNA posts allocated to a school (details supplied) following the reduction in the number of SNA posts last September; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25031/24]
View answerEnabling 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 NCSE has the responsibility for planning and coordinating school supports for children with special educational needs including the allocation of special needs assistants (SNAs).
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.
It is a matter for schools to allocate support as required, and on the basis of individual need, which allows schools flexibility in how the SNA support is utilised.
In relation to the school referred to by the Deputy, the NCSE have confirmed that a Special Education Exception Review (SER) was carried out in October 2023.
Following the review, it was deemed at the time that the SNA allocation should be reduced to 4, 3 in mainstream classes and one in the special class as the care needs of children enrolled in the school had changed.
SNAs are employed to meet the ongoing significant and enduring care needs of children enrolled in the school. The NCSE state that the level of care needs within the school had reduced due to children with significant needs progressing to second level and the schools SNA allocation was adjusted to reflect this as per circular 0018/2023.
It is also important to consider that primary school enrolments are falling across the country and it is anticipated that primary enrolments will reduce by approximately 100,000 students over the next decade.
Following the outcome of the review, the NCSE can make the local SENO available to the school to discuss their current deployment of SNA supports in the school and to put these supports to the best advantage of the students. NCSE in-school support is also available to schools to offer further guidance and support.
Circular 0049/2024 has been published on the Departments website and is available at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/circular/2d295-special-needs-assistant-allocation-202425/
This Circular outlines arrangements for the allocation of SNA support in mainstream classes for the 2024/25 school year.
Schools 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. ncse.ie/application-for-sna-exceptional-review .
My department does not have a role in making individual school determinations and the school should liaise with the NCSE directly in the event that additional supports are required.
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.
