Written Answers Nos. 303-319
303. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to provide the number and detail of the public helplines operated by their Department; whether calls are recorded on each helpline; and if not, whether he would consider recording calls for transparency and training purposes. [29991/24]
View answerMy Department currently operates three public helplines.
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0818-808090 |
Workplace Relations Commission Information. This helpline also provides general information on Employment Permits. |
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01-8045200 |
Companies Registration Office questions and queries. |
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056-7720111 |
Intellectual Property Office of Ireland information. |
Calls are not currently recorded but the facility to do so is available. It is an operational matter for each Office to decide when it is appropriate to record calls.
304. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education to examine a pension entitlement (details supplied). [29834/24]
View answerDue to Data Protection legislation, it is not possible to provide details regarding an individual’s pension entitlements through this format. This personal information can be provided to an individual on direct request to the Department.
Therefore, I advise the Deputy to direct the individual concerned to contact ccfinancial@education.gov.ie with their queries. Once received, officials in my Department will examine their request and provide the detailed information as soon as possible.
305. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education if she is aware of a recent direction from the Archdiocese of Dublin that schools should spend public money from her Department’s schoolbook grant on religious texts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29037/24]
View answerIn 2024, over €47 million is allocated to continue implementation of the schoolbooks scheme at primary school level. On the 8th May I announced details of year 2 of the Primary Schoolbooks Scheme which provides, at a minimum, free schoolbooks, workbooks and copybooks to pupils in recognised primary and special schools. More than 555,000 pupils enrolled in approximately 3,230 primary schools, including over 130 special schools will continue to benefit from this scheme. Parents will not be asked to purchase, or to provide, schoolbooks, workbooks, and copybooks.
Revised guidance for the 2024/25 school year is published on my Department’s website at www.gov.ie/schoolbookschemes and has issued to schools.
The scope of the scheme means that primary and special schools will continue to have autonomy to choose schoolbooks and related classroom resources that meet curricular requirements. In the case of special classes in primary schools, they have autonomy to choose resources that meet the learning needs of the pupils.
306. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education when the citizens assembly on the future of education, which was promised in the Programme for Government, will be established; and when the terms of reference will be brought before the Houses of the Oireachtas. [29038/24]
View answerThe Citizens’ Assembly on the Future of Education is of high importance to me and the Department of Education as is including the voice of children in the process.
The Programme for Government commits to establishing a Citizens’ Assembly on the Future of Education ensuring that the voices of young people and those being educated are central. The establishment of the Citizens’ Assembly on the Future of Education and its Terms of Reference will be the subject of a Government decision and resolutions of the Dáil and Seanad at the appropriate time. Citizens’ Assemblies operate independently of the Government with secretariat support provided by the Department of the Taoiseach.
The commitment in the Programme for Government also states that the voices of young people and those being educated will be central to this Assembly. The impact that children and young people have on shaping their own learning experiences is a focus of the work of the Department of Education. The meaningful participation of children and young people in this process is extremely important, and has my support. The Citizens’ Assembly on the Future of Education has great potential to enhance the ongoing consultative work of my Department and aid future development and planning.
307. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education if teachers can speak freely and openly on the influence of religion and religious indoctrination in the education system, given the threat of section 37(1)(b) of the Employment Equality Act 1998 and the fact that religious institutions run 95% of primary schools. [29039/24]
View answerSchools and other educational institutions are required to comply with anti-discrimination and other employment legislation, such as the Employment Equality Act 1998.
Section 37 (1) of the Employment Equality Act, 1998, as amended, requires relevant employers in schools with a religious ethos to show that any favourable treatment of an employee or prospective employee is limited to the religion ground and action taken against a person is objectively justified by reference to that institution’s aim of protecting its religious ethos. This provision raises the threshold for discrimination so that schools are precluded from discrimination on any other equality grounds and that any action taken is reasonable and proportionate.
For historical reasons, most primary schools are State-aided parish schools, with the local Bishop as patron, although this pattern is changing. At present, 89% of primary schools have a Catholic ethos. Approximately 5% have a multidenominational ethos.
The remaining approximately 6% of primary schools have a religious ethos other than Catholic, mainly Church of Ireland. It is recognised, including by the Catholic patrons, that more diverse provision is required to cater for our changing society.
The Schools Reconfiguration for Diversity process, supporting transfers of schools to multidenominational patrons in response to the wishes of school communities, aims to facilitate more availability of multidenominational schools across the country.
The Programme for Government reflects the Government’s objective of continuing to expand the plurality of schools to reflect the full breadth of society. It sets out that “students of all religions and none should have access to education, regardless of their belief system”.
The Programme for Government commitments in this area include:
• To achieve the target of at least 400 multidenominational primary schools by 2030, to improve parental choice;
• To expand and prioritise the transfer of viable schools to Community National Schools; and
• To work with communities to ensure the provision of clear, non-partisan information on the preparation for, and the consequences of, the divestment process and to respond to queries raised.
In recent years progress has been made towards increasing the numbers of multidenominational primary schools and there are 169 primary schools with a multidenominational or inter-denominational ethos.
My goal remains to continue the work in establishing a strong reconfiguration process, that has the support of patrons and local communities, and which will enable us to continue to increase the number of multidenominational primary schools across the country.
308. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education to provide the details on the total funding provided to each county administration for NCSE services, including the total number/s of population served in each of the relevant administrative areas, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29121/24]
View answerFunding of €37.1m is provided to the National Council for Special Education to enable it to provide additional support to students with special educational needs and their families. It remains a priority for my department to ensure that the NCSE agency is properly resourced to have a visible and effective presence in our schools and guiding and supporting our parents and children on their educational journey.
I have requested the NCSE to contact the deputy directly with the details on how they allocate the funding within each county to enable them to administer the service, including details of the population served in each area.
309. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on secondary school transport services from Kilmore in County Wexford to Wexford town, County Wexford; if additional services will be provided in September 2024 under the school transport scheme for concessionary students similar to concessionary services provided for in Callan, Kilkenny; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29151/24]
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 Post Primary School Transport Scheme supports the transport to and from school of children who reside not less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest post-primary education centre/school.
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.
Where the number of ineligible children exceeds the number of spare seats available Bus Éireann will allocate tickets for the spare seats using an agreed selection process.
Temporary alleviation measures were approved which allowed for the provision of transport for post-primary students who were otherwise eligible for school transport but were attending their second nearest school and had applied and paid on time. In effect, these students remain to be considered as concessionary, but transport is provided for students who met the criteria where there are existing services available.
In relation the Deputy's query regarding secondary school transport services from Kilmore, County Wexford to Wexford town, Bus Éireann are currently examining 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. The School Transport Scheme is a demand led scheme, this analysis can only be undertaken when all applications and payments have been received after the closing date. The review of routes, services and applications is taken by each Bus Éireann local office on a nationwide basis, depending on the number of applications and payments received by the closing date.
310. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education if her Department has ever used artificial intelligence, such as ChatGPT, in drafting Dáil speeches or responses to Parliamentary Questions. [29275/24]
View answerMy Department and its officials do not use ChatGPT, or any other form of AI, to generate official text for Dáil speeches or responses to Parliamentary Questions.
311. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education the number of laptops or mobile phones owned by her Department that have been lost or stolen in each of the past ten years. [29293/24]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) came into effect on 25 May 2018 and any personal data breaches, including lost or stolen laptops and mobile phones, since its introduction are dealt with under the regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018.
The Department is committed to the highest level of data protection for the personal data which it processes and takes its compliance with data protection obligations very seriously.
Departmental laptops are encrypted, and multifactor authentication has been deployed to protect user accounts from compromise. In addition to this the user’s password is reset as a security measure after a device loss incident.
Departmental phones are encrypted natively and are managed by a mobile device management system (MDM). The MDM system enables the device and the data therein to be controlled and secured. When a phone is reported lost or stolen a remote wipe command is issued to the phone to ensure that any sensitive data stored on the devices is securely erased in order to protect the data and prevent potential data breaches.
The table below outlines the number of lost or stolen mobile phones/laptops since May 2018.
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Year |
Lost/Stolen mobile phones or laptops |
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25/5/18 to 31/12/18 |
1 |
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2019 |
2 |
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2020 |
1 |
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2021 |
4 |
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2022 |
6 |
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2023 |
9 |
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1/1/24 - 9/7/24 |
1 |
312. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Education if she has reviewed, or requested a review, of SEC rules in relation to the use of readers in State examinations; if she is satisfied at the adequacy of supports for students with dyslexia who require questions to be read aloud and synonyms of words provided; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29321/24]
View answerThe State Examinations Commission (SEC) has responsibility for the operation, delivery and development of the State examinations. As part of its remit, the SEC provides Reasonable Accommodations at the Certificate Examinations (the RACE Scheme) to support students with a complex variety of special educational needs.
A central tenet of the RACE Scheme is to ensure equitable treatment for all candidates. The SEC advises that the range of accommodations provided under the scheme has been designed to ensure fairness for all when facilitating candidates in demonstrating their level of achievement.
In the context of Senior Cycle Redevelopment, the SEC has commenced work on a comprehensive system wide review of the RACE Scheme. The review will consider all relevant issues and take account of best practice internationally. I am advised there will be extensive consultation and engagement with as broad a range of stakeholders as possible including young people with special educational needs, their families, and representative organisations including the Dyslexia Association of Ireland.
I have asked the SEC to respond directly to the Deputy in regard to the detail of supports for students with dyslexia.
313. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on an application by a school (details supplied) for additional accommodation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29332/24]
View answerThe school referred to by the Deputy was approved to enter the Department’s pipeline of school buildings for a project to provide a single classroom SEN base. The project was devolved for delivery to the school authority. My Department has received a tender report from the school which is subjected to the required due diligence as specified in the Public Infrastructure Guidelines in common with all such capital projects. The outcome of this review has been communicated to the school authority directly. It is expected that the project will now progress to the appointment of a contractor and works on site shortly.
For transparency, the status of all projects is regularly updated and can be found on a county-by-county basis at www.gov.ie. This information reflects the progress of projects through various stages, including capital appraisal, site acquisition, design, tender, and construction. Under the Project Ireland 2040 initiative, we will be allocating more than €5 billion from 2021 to 2025 to enhance school facilities and increase capacity nationwide. This investment is focused on meeting the needs of nearly one million students including those students with special education needs and over 100,000 staff members who utilise our schools daily.
314. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education if she will examine the case for the establishment of a new secondary school in Sixmilebridge, County Clare, to serve Sixmilebridge and the south-east Clare catchment area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29333/24]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that requirements for school places are kept under ongoing review in the context of available information on population, enrolments and residential development activity.
In order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas. A Geographical Information System is used to analyse data from a range of sources, including CSO Census data, Child Benefit and school enrolment data, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise and where additional school accommodation is needed at primary and post-primary level.
Major new residential developments have the potential to alter the demand for school places at a local level. In that regard, as part of the demographic demand analysis, my Department monitors planning and construction activity in the residential sector. This involves the analysis of data sources from Local Authorities and the CSO, along with regular engagement with Local Authorities. In this way, up to date information on significant new residential developments is obtained and factored into the demographic analysis exercise. This is necessary to ensure that schools infrastructure planning is keeping pace with demographic changes at a local level, where there is a constantly evolving picture with planned new residential development.
Sixmilebridge is located within the Shannon School Planning Area (SPA). This SPA includes 14 primary schools and two Post Primary schools..
Progression data from primary school to post primary schools shows that on average 75% of the pupils from these primary schools attend the two post primary schools in the Shannon SPA, while 15% attend post primary school in Limerick, 5% in Ennis and 5% in Tulla.
There are a number of reasons why pupils attend post primary school outside their primary school SPA, including commuter patterns, family history, school of choice, etc.
The two post primary schools in Shannon are Shannon Comprehensive 81007U and St. Caimhin’s Community School 91447I. While St. Caimhin’s Community School is fully subscribed each year, Shannon Comprehensive has capacity to enrol more pupils.
The Department’s 2023 demographic projections exercise forecasts that there will be a slight increase in demand for post primary school places in the Shannon SPA until a peak in 2025. First year enrolments are currently projected to peak in 2024. Demographic projections are kept under review on an ongoing basis.
Based on the analysis undertaken, it is deemed that there is not a sufficient unmet demand in the Shannon SPA and wider area to establish a new post primary school.
Any future shortfall in capacity required to meet the demand for post primary schools can be catered for in the existing post primary schools.
Requirements for school places will be kept under ongoing review in this region and across the country.
315. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education the timeline for updating the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29341/24]
View answerI would like to thank the Deputy for the question and wish to advise you of the following:
The Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs (EPSEN) Act 2004 provides for the education of children aged under 18 years with special educational needs. The EPSEN Act 2004, is now in place for more than 20 years and there have been many significant changes and developments to policy relating to the education of children with special needs in that time.
A review of the EPSEN Act 2004 was initiated in December 2021 to modernise and reflect the experiences of students, staff and families. The review process includes extensive stakeholder engagement, including parents, educators, advocacy groups, and experts in special education.
Both commenced and uncommenced sections have been thoroughly considered to ensure a robust legislative foundation. The review process will culminate in a comprehensive report detailing all findings.
Online surveys, launched in November 2022, garnered over 28,000 responses, and qualitative analysis of open submissions has been used as the basis for the second stage of consultation, the focus group stage.
A variety of focus group methods have been employed, including mixed focus groups, mosaic-style engagement with children with special educational needs, and discussions with young adults who have experienced the special educational need model of education. The focus groups concluded in June 2024 and a report is being prepared for consideration.
The review involves an academic assessment and considers legal cases and international comparators. We received over 900 responses to an accessible online survey, designed to accommodate individuals who may face challenges with traditional survey methods.
Once the report is finalised, we will hold an open day in September to gather final feedback from all stakeholders. This review will serve as the foundation for updating the EPSEN Act, to ensure a solid legislative basis.
This significant review is intended to be concluded in 2024, culminating in a comprehensive report that will encompass an analysis of stakeholder and public engagement, feedback from focus groups and open policy day, academic review paper, NCSE policy advice, evidence-based research and conclusions and recommendations.
316. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education if she will address the need for new autism classes to be opened in a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29365/24]
View answerI can confirm to the Deputy, that my Department is in receipt of an application from the school in question for the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme.
The purpose of the ASA scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream and special education classroom accommodation is available to cater for pupils enrolled each year and where the need cannot be met by the school’s existing accommodation or by available accommodation at other schools in the area.
The school in question has accepted an offer under the ASA scheme and this project is now with my Department's Project Manager (PM) Framework. Following a visit to the school by the PMs, the results of a Viability Report were provided to the school for agreement and the school authorities raised concerns relating to the design.
I can confirm that my officials have been in touch with the school directly to discuss this matter and the parameters of the ASA scheme for reconfiguration projects. A revised design is being prepared by the PMs on foot of this discussion and this will be shared with the school authorities for agreement in due course.
My officials are available to work with the school authorities in relation to any issues they have throughout this process.
317. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Education the grants that are available to schools for external painting and for repair and refurbishment of indoor furniture; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29375/24]
View answerSince 2020, the Department of Education has invested in the region of €4.9 billion to add capacity and develop and upgrade school facilities across the country for the almost one million students and over 100,000 staff that learn and work in our schools every day. The Minor Works Grant is one important element of a record level of capital investment in school infrastructure.
My department recognises the importance of the Minor Works Grant to primary schools. This funding provides good flexibility at local level to assist schools to manage and undertake works that support the operation of the school. Under Project Ireland 2040, a commitment has been given that the Minor Works Grant will be paid in either December or January of the school year to all primary schools, including special schools.
In recent years my department’s approach has been to pay the Minor Works Grant to primary schools in advance of the start of the following school year in order to facilitate a better lead in period for schools to plan any maintenance or minor works during the summer period.
Minor Works Grant for the current school year 2023/2024 was paid in April 2023 with Minor Works Grant for the school year 2024/2025 paid in April 2024.
Since 2020 in the region of €280 million in Minor Works Grants and Enhanced Minor Works Grants has been allocated to schools. This includes the additional support in the context of Covid-19 of the payment of an Enhanced Minor Works grant totalling €45m for primary schools and special schools, plus a once-off Covid-19 minor works funding of €17m for post-primary schools. The Enhanced Minor Works grant allowed schools that identified inadequate ventilation in a room utilise their minor work grant or apply for emergency works grant assistance to address ventilation enhancements where the Minor Works Grant did not cover the full cost of the works required.
Under the Minor Works Grant scheme, funding is made available to all primary schools on the basis of a €5,500 basic grant plus €18.50 per mainstream pupil and €74 per special needs pupil enrolled in the school on the 30th of September of the year prior to the issue of the grant.
All schools have the autonomy to use this funding for maintenance and small-scale improvements to school buildings and grounds. Given that each school setting is different, individual schools are best placed to decide how best to use this funding to address their needs.
The works that can be undertaken under the minor works scheme include maintenance and small-scale improvements to school buildings and grounds including external painting, improvement or replacement of mechanical and electrical services, the purchase or repair of standard furniture and physical education equipment, the purchase of IT related equipment, ventilation improvements, and enhancements to outdoor learning environments.
Additionally schools can apply for Emergency Works Scheme and Summer Works Scheme as appropriate and are assessed on a case-by-case basis. In 2023 in the region of €105m was invested, through these schemes, in over 700 small scale repair/improvement projects throughout the country. My Department also provides funding to primary schools for the replacement of loose furniture and equipment. Guidance on this process is available on www.gov.ie and specific queries can be raised with the Furniture & Equipment section within my Department by emailing furnitureequipment@education.gov.ie.
318. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education the status of the provision of new SEN accommodation for a school (details supplied); the indicative timeline for when works are likely to commence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29383/24]
View answerI would like to thank the Deputy for his enquiry in relation to this particular school.
The school referred to by the Deputy is part of the Pilot Schools Public Private Partnership (PPP) Bundle and the SEN extension for the school is being delivered by the PPP Company. Planning consent for this extension has been secured and the scope of the project has been finalised.
The PPP Company are now commencing their tender process and are intending that the award of contract and the commencement of construction will take place in Q4 2024.
319. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education when the next EU Council of Education Ministers is scheduled to occur. [29394/24]
View answerEducation Ministers meet as part of the Education, Youth, Culture and Sport (EYCS) Council. The Council will next meet in its Education formation on 25th November.
