Written Answers Nos. 271-290
271. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Education for an update on progress of the new ASD unit for a school (details supplied); and to expedite the completion works in light of the delays to competing this unit for the school. [36052/24]
View answerThis school was recently granted approval for the for the provision of the reconfiguration of an existing classroom to create one Special Education Needs Classroom under the Department's SEN Reconfiguration programme. 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 Term Maintenance Framework also assists in ensuring lead in periods for procurement of contractors are minimised to the greatest extent possible.
The school authority received their first tranche of funding and the design stage of this project is now complete. The tentative expected start on site date is 23rd September 2024 with a tentative estimated completion timeline of approximately 8-10 weeks. The assigned Project Manager will keep the School Authority updated regularly as the project progresses.
The NCSE will work closely with the school authority to progress with the admission of students and the recruitment and training of staff. The Department is supporting the reconfiguration of accommodation under a project management framework in a number of the schools in which the 408 new special classes for 2024/25 are being established.
While the preparatory work is completed for the establishment of the special classes at the bulk of these schools, there are a relatively small number of schools that have reconfiguration works on-going or due to commence shortly.
The NCSE and the Department have engaged with the school and interim contingency arrangements have been put in place.
In addition, it is expected that the school would work with the families and students to plan for their transition to the new special class. This work is also being supported by the NCSE.
272. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education if the delayed commencement of a critical special education project (details supplied) can be examined; if she will expedite its progression; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36065/24]
View answerI can confirm to the Deputy that my department is in receipt of an Additional Schools' Accommodation (ASA) application from the school in question.
The school were approved funding in 2013 to relocate from their accommodation to a vacant school premises locally. In the intervening period, enrolments increased and a new application was submitted by the school. In April 2022 a proposed brief for agreement was issued and agreed by the school. This approval will provide an additional four special education classrooms along with the associated ancillary accommodation. The project was devolved for delivery to the school authority.
In October 2023 the school submitted a request to expand the scope of their project. This request was refused and an appeal was subsequently submitted by the school.
The main focus of the Department’s capital funding over the last decade and for the coming period is on provision of critical additional capacity to cater for increasing demographics and children with special education needs.
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.
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 and 300 additional special school places.
The Department is required to manage the overall school building programme so that we target and prioritise areas that are under greatest pressure for additional school places. This reflects our fundamental objective of ensuring the availability of a school place for every child.
I can confirm to the deputy that the appeal from the school in question is currently being considered by my officials. Once a decision is made on the school's appeal the school authority will be notified of the decision directly.
273. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the number of children in Ardmore and the surrounding districts who are unable to secure public or subsidised school transport to their local in-county schools in Dungarvan. [36072/24]
View answerThe School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2023/24 school year over 163,800 children, including over 136,000 pupils travelling on primary and post primary services, 20,200 pupils with special educational needs, and 7,400 pupils who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine were 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.
Over 140,000 mainstream tickets have issued for the 2024/2025 school year, which is already 3% more than the total tickets issued for the full 2023/2024 school year.
Under the terms of the School Transport Schemes, children are eligible for transport at primary level where they reside not less than 3.2 kms from and are attending their nearest national school. At post primary level, they are eligible where they reside not less than 4.8 kms from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre. Distance is determined by the Department/Bus Éireann and rules have regard to ethos and language.
Children who are eligible for school transport and who complete the application process on time (apply on time and pay on time) are accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation and where there is capacity to do so.
Children who are not eligible but who apply for school transport are considered for spare seats that may exist after eligible children have been facilitated; such seats are referred to as concessionary seats.
Because of the nature of concessionary transport for non-eligible children and the priority of providing places for eligible children, there may be an excess of demand over supply for concessionary places. In these cases Bus Éireann will allocate tickets for spare seats using an agreed selection process.
Bus Eireann has advised that the children from the area referred to by the Deputy are not eligible for school transport to the school referred as they are not attending their closest post primary school/centre.
Bus Éireann further advise that all eligible and concessionary children who applied on time and paid on time have been accommodated on existing services.
274. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to an application by a school (details supplied) for an additional teacher; and whether she will grant this, given that the school is DEIS Band 1. [36087/24]
View answerThe key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September.
The staffing arrangements include a provision whereby schools experiencing rapid increases in enrolment can apply for additional permanent mainstream posts, using projected enrolment. An additional teaching post has been sanctioned to this school for the current school year under this process, subject to confirmation of enrolments on 30 September.
275. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Education her views on the Schools Photovoltaic Programme; when this programme will be rolled out to all schools nationwide; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36090/24]
View answerThe first phase of the Schools Photovoltaic (PV) Programme launched in November 2023 to over 1600 schools.
It will provide eligible schools with 6 kWp of roof-mounted solar PV, which equates to approximately 16 solar panels.
The scheme will be funded from the Government’s Climate Action Fund, in line with the Government’s recognition that taking action on climate change is central to Ireland’s social and economic development.The scheme will assist schools in reducing their energy costs and their carbon footprint as part of the response to meeting the 2030 and 2050 Climate Action Plan targets for the schools sector.
The solar PV panels in schools will also be connected to the electricity grid, so that the schools can generate income by powering other homes and businesses with clean energy when schools are closed at weekends and during school holidays.
The Schools Photovoltaic (PV) programme is being rolled out on a phased basis. Schools in the following areas were invited to participate in the first phase: Co. Clare, Co. Donegal, Dublin City Council area, Co. Galway, Co. Kerry, Co. Kilkenny, Co. Leitrim, Co. Limerick, Co. Offaly, Co. Waterford and Co. Wicklow.
Counties in the first phase were selected to obtain a good geographical spread including a balance of rural, urban, island, Gaeltacht schools in all regions of the country, as well as targeting counties that have not benefitted from other recent Department of Education climate related initiatives.
It is intended that all remaining eligible schools across the country will have the opportunity to apply to the scheme by end 2024.
The phasing of the programme ensures a managed and steady flow of work for solar PV contractors. The data gathered during the first phase will also allow for any improvements in the design of the scheme to be implemented in the next phase.
Since the launch of the first phase of the Schools PV Programme late last year, funding approval has been provided to more than 1,100 schools and we are seeing the impacts today as PV panels are being installed on school roofs around the country.
This has been a really positive response in terms of applications for solar panels from schools. It offers an opportunity for schools to reduce their carbon emissions and to reduce their energy costs.
As well as the obvious financial and climate benefits, it is expected that the visibility of the solar panels on schools will also deliver the added benefit of encouraging discussion and uptake of the technology in the wider community.
276. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education the measures she will take to ensure that textbooks used in Irish schools do not negatively stereotype Irish people or Irish culture; the steps she will undertake to ensure this does not happen again; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36092/24]
View answerThe curriculum, as approved by the Minister, at both primary and post primary level, is considered to be for all learners regardless of race, religion, socioeconomic background, gender or orientation. It is the aim of my department that every child has access to equitable education and that each learner feels safe and happy in the school environment, at every stage.
The Curriculum specification and prescribed material for any subject are determined by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) www.ncca.ie. It should be noted that the material alluded to by the Deputy was not contained within the curriculum or other material published by the Department. It is the responsibility of each individual school to select the resources (other than prescribed material) that it will use to support its implementation of the curriculum. Any concerns regarding material published in textbooks should be raised with the publisher themselves.
Following a recommendation from the NCCA Report on the Review of RSE in 2019, a portal site was developed by the NCCA where teachers can access SPHE/RSE teaching and learning resources. These online toolkits are published by the NCCA at curriculumonline.ie to provide supports for teachers in preparing for and teaching SPHE/RSE, and have been carefully selected to support planning for quality teaching and learning in SPHE linked to the current curriculum.
277. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education his plans to provide additional secondary schools in a town (details supplied), with particular reference to the growth in population in the north Kildare area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36103/24]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that requirements for school places is kept under on-going 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 and uses a Geographical Information System, using 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 the engagement with local authorities and the construction sector. 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.
The 2023 demographic exercise indicates that 79% of the 314 school planning areas at primary level show static or decreasing enrolments for the period to 2027 compared with 2022. At post-primary level some 78% of school planning areas are anticipated to have increased enrolments for the period to 2030, with most expected to reach a peak within the next two or three years.
Kilcock is in the Kilcock school planning area. The projected peak year for enrolments at post primary level is 2027, with enrolments projected to decrease thereafter.
Where demographic data indicates that additional provision is required, the delivery of such additional provision is dependent on the particular circumstances of each case and may, be provided through:
Utilising existing unused capacity within a school or schools,
Extending the capacity of a school or schools,
Provision of a new school or schools.
If additional accommodation is required, the aim to try and facilitate this, as much as possible, by way of expansion of existing schools rather than establishing new schools. The expansion of existing schools is consistent with wider Government objectives under Project Ireland 2040 for an increased emphasis on compact growth. In respect of post primary schools, new post primary schools must have a student enrolment capacity of 600-1,000 students and must be co-educational. A lower threshold of 400 students may apply to Gaelcholáistí, having regard to the alternative of establishing an Irish-medium unit (Aonad) in an English-medium school.
In response to such previously identified demographic need, my Department is providing significant post primary capacity in the Kilcock School Planning Area, including:
Scoil Dara (Roll number 61691B) located in Kilcock town has numerous projects: Funding approved in 2018 under the Additional Schools Accommodation (ASA) scheme to cater for LTPE (long term projected enrolment) of 1000 and 2 special education classes. This project is devolved to the school for delivery and consists of 11x Mainstream classrooms ; 2x Science labs & Prep area:1x Art & craft room, 1x Textiles room, 1x Multimedia room and 2 offices which is at Stage 2a which involves the preliminary design, site surveys and cost estimates. Funding approved in 2021 for reconfiguration to create 1x Special education classroom which is at stage 4 which is the signing of the letter of acceptance to the successful contractor and commencement on site. Funding approved in 2023 for reconfiguration works to entrance to cater for increased enrolments which is at stage 5 is the final handover of the school building to the Patron/Board of Management. Funding approved also for 2 modular projects for prefab replacements which are currently on site.
A new school building project for Enfield Post Primary School (Roll number 76595N), located in the Kilcock school planning area, to cater for LTPE 1,000 PP + 4 Special Educational Needs which is at Stage 3 which is the instruction for the project to proceed to tender. The school also has a modular project for 4 general classrooms at stage 4 – start on site.
New schools are only established in areas of demographic growth as the resources available for school infrastructure have to be prioritised to meet the needs of areas of significant population increase so as to ensure that every child has a school place.
The Department will continue to liaise with Local Authorities in respect of their County Development Plan and any associated Local Area Plans with a view to identifying any potential long-term school accommodation requirements across school planning areas.
278. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Education when school transport will be approved for an international student in County Mayo (details supplied) in view of the fact that the host family applied as soon as was practically possible and they are now being advised that it could take six to eight weeks to process and this student is only here for twelve weeks on an international programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36113/24]
View answerThe School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2023/24 school year over 163,800 children, including over 136,000 pupils travelling on primary and post primary services, 20,200 pupils with special educational needs, and 7,400 pupils who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine were 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.
Over 140,000 mainstream tickets have issued for the 2024/2025 school year, which is already 3% more than the total tickets issued for the full 2023/2024 school year.
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.
Under the terms of the School Transport Schemes, children are eligible for transport at primary level where they reside not less than 3.2 kms from and are attending their nearest national school. At post primary level, they are eligible where they reside not less than 4.8 kms from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre. Distance is determined by the Department/Bus Éireann and rules have regard to ethos and language.
Parents of children wishing to avail of school transport services are required to apply on-line to Bus Éireann’s website at buseireann.ie/schooltransport
The closing date for new applications for the school year 2024/25 was 26th April 2024 and the closing date for payment was 7th June 2024.
Families may still apply for school transport following this date, but if the application or payment is late they may not secure a seat on a service and will not be considered for a remote area grant.
Children who are eligible for school transport and who complete the application process on time (apply on time and pay on time) are accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation and where there is capacity to do so.
Bus Eireann has advised that the pupil, to whom the Deputy refers, is eligible for school transport but had submitted a late application and payment for the 2024/25 school year. However I am pleased to advise that a ticket will issue to the pupil in the coming days.
279. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Education the current position regarding a method of education (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36114/24]
View answer280. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the existence of a number of schools in Ireland, including in Sligo, using a method of education (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36115/24]
View answer281. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Education if, given the State's commitment to cherish all children equally, the means by which she proposes to fund the teaching and infrastructure, both human and physical, to provide for those families who are availing of a method of education (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36116/24]
View answer282. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Education given the State's commitment to cherish all children equally, and the current anomalous situation where no financial support is provided to particular schools (details supplied), the means by which such schools should best engage with the apparatus of the State, including the Department of Education, to secure supports that will place them on an equal footing as those families being educated by through other methodologies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36117/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 279, 280, 281 and 282 together.
The primary schools referred to by the Deputy are private, fee-charging primary schools. Private, fee-charging primary schools are not recognised under the Education Act, and my Department has no role in relation to these schools.
283. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 155 of 27 June 2024, to provide an update on the plans for the adjacent Department-owned site referenced, and when this will be delivered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36118/24]
View answerI am pleased to inform the Deputy that my department has sought clarification from the school authority of the ongoing ASA project nearby that they have liaised with Malahide Portmarnock ETNS and the steps that has been taken in relation to the introduction of the traffic management system associated with both schools.
My department has also asked the school authority of the ongoing project to confirm that the department owned land adjacent to the school is being used for its intended purpose in alleviating parking and traffic management. We await confirmation from the school.
My department has also reached out to the school authorities regarding the ongoing nearby ASA project to organise an in-house meeting with the design team. The goal is to review the progress of this much needed project and assess the potential use of the adjacent land.
My department will continue to engage with the school authority to provide practical advice and assistance on the project.
284. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on planning permission for a school (details supplied) for a permanent location; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36121/24]
View answerThe school building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is being delivered under my Department's Design and Build Programme which uses a professional external Project Manager to progress the project through the relevant stages of architectural planning, tender and construction. The project will deliver a new 16 classroom primary school and accommodation, including four classrooms, for children with special educational needs.
The Planning Permission application was submitted to Fingal County Council on 17th June 2024.
A Request for Further Information (RFI) was recently issued by the local authority, and a response is being prepared by my Department’s Project Manager.
It is not possible to provide a time-frame for the progression of the project to tender and construction stages until such time as the necessary statutory approvals have been secured.
My Department will continue to keep the school and its patron body updated as the project progresses.
285. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Education if her Department has a policy, or has issued guidance to staff on the use of artificial intelligence, large language model, natural language processing, generative or otherwise, or products based thereon in the course of their duties; if this has been communicated to staff; if she will publish same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36137/24]
View answerMy Department and its officials do not presently use AI services in the course of their duties, as such no policy is in place currently. My Department will continue to monitor developments in relation to AI, in particular with regard to potential applications that may be identified by other Government Departments.
286. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Education if her Department, or any agency under her auspices, has ever used any artificial intelligence software in the preparation of response to parliamentary questions, or in responses to any correspondence from outside the organisation; the details of same if applicable; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36156/24]
View answerMy Department and its officials do not presently use AI to generate official text. My Department will continue to monitor developments in relation to AI, in particular with regard to potential applications that may be identified by other Government Departments.
287. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Education where ultimate responsibility lies for the drafting, preparation, settling and publication of a social, personal and health education curriculum handbook for schools featuring a classroom exercise depicting Irish families (details supplied); and the unit in her Department that had the final say in reaching agreement on and signing off on such controversial content. [36187/24]
View answerThe curriculum, as approved by me as Minister for Education, at both primary and post primary level, is considered to be for all learners regardless of race, religion, socioeconomic background, gender or orientation. It is the aim of my Department that every child has access to equitable education and that each learner feels safe and happy in the school environment, at every stage.
The Curriculum specification and prescribed material for any subject are determined by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) www.ncca.ie. It should be noted that the material referenced by the Deputy was not contained within the curriculum or other material published by the Department. It is the responsibility of each individual school to select the resources (other than prescribed material) that it will use to support its implementation of the curriculum. Any concerns regarding material published in textbooks should be raised with the publisher themselves. I understand that the publisher in this case has withdrawn the text in question.
Following a recommendation from the NCCA Report on the Review of RSE in 2019, a portal site was developed by the NCCA where teachers can access SPHE/RSE teaching and learning resources. These online toolkits are published by the NCCA at curriculumonline.ie to provide supports for teachers in preparing for and teaching SPHE/RSE, and have been carefully selected to support planning for quality teaching and learning in SPHE linked to the current curriculum.
288. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Education for clarification on a matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36206/24]
View answerDecisions regarding the use and deployment of digital technology in schools is a matter for the Board of Management of each school. Schools are advised to consult with members of the school community including parents when planning for the introduction of digital technologies including devices with cost and other implications being fully considered by the Boards of Managements before a decision is made.
Schools, in conjunction with parents, are responsible for decisions on the use of digital technology, including tablet devices, laptops, and learning platforms, and how best to manage their integration into classroom practice reflective of their own context and requirements.
Oide-Technology in Education (formally PDST-TIE) offers advice and supports to schools on digital learning. Advice sheets are available on digital technology in education, including on the adoption of laptops and tablets in schools.
The Digital Strategy for Schools 2027, which builds on the progress made under the previous Digital Strategy, will be underpinned by an investment of some €200m included in the National Development Plan 2021-2030 providing continuity of funding following the €210m that issued to schools to support the previous strategy. Two tranches of funding have issued to schools now from the NDP commitement.This funding issued directly to schools as schools are best placed to identify the requirements of their own student cohort and to meet those requirements in the most appropriate way. This can include the purchase of ICT devices such as tablets, hybrid devices, or laptops.
In addition, the Department as part of Ireland’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) under Next Generation EU funding facility, issued a once-off grant of €50 million in December 2021 to recognised primary and post-primary schools in the free education scheme in order to support those learners at risk of educational disadvantage through the digital divide,
To further assist schools, my Department has established a number of Single Provider publicly procured Frameworks for the purchase of laptops and desktop PCs, in addition to centrally provided frameworks in conjunction with the Office of Government Procurement ( OGP) to enable schools to easily access such infrastructure with transparent costing. Schools can also access procurement mechanisms for Apple devices established by HEAnet Ireland's National Education and Research Network. The Schools Procurement Unit (SPU) established by my Department is the central support resource for providing guidance to all primary and post-primary schools (except ETB schools) on any procurement-related issue. The SPU delivers free advice and practical support to schools to help them achieve improvements in their procurement processes, practices and outcomes.
I note that the company referred, has contacted the Schools Procurement Unit (SPU) directly on this and you are advised to continue to engage with them, as they are best placed to assist with this matter.
289. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Education if she will sanction an extended school transport service (details supplied) in County Leitrim; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36246/24]
View answerThe School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2023/24 school year over 163,800 children, including over 136,000 pupils travelling on primary and post primary services, 20,200 pupils with special educational needs, and 7,400 pupils who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine were 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.
Over 140,000 mainstream tickets have issued for the 2024/2025 school year, which is already 3% more than the total tickets issued for the full 2023/2024 school year.
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.
Under the terms of the School Transport Schemes, children are eligible for transport at primary level where they reside not less than 3.2 kms from and are attending their nearest national school. At post primary level, they are eligible where they reside not less than 4.8 kms from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre. Distance is determined by the Department/Bus Éireann and rules have regard to ethos and language.
Children who are eligible for school transport and who complete the application process on time (apply on time and pay on time) are accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation and where there is capacity to do so.
Children who are not eligible but who apply for school transport are considered for spare seats that may exist after eligible children have been facilitated; such seats are referred to as concessionary seats.
Because of the nature of concessionary transport for non-eligible children and the priority of providing places for eligible children, there may be an excess of demand over supply for concessionary places. In these cases Bus Éireann will allocate tickets for spare seats using an agreed selection process.
Temporary Alleviation Measures (TAMS) at post primary level are continued for the current school year. Under these measures, transport will be provided where there is a route in operation and where capacity exists for concessionary post primary pupils who are eligible for transport to their nearest school, are attending their second nearest school and who applied and paid on time.
Bus Éireann is responsible for the planning and timetabling of school transport routes. Bus Éireann endeavours, within available resources, to ensure that each eligible child has a reasonable level of school transport service in the context of the Scheme nationally.
Where practicable, and subject to considerations of cost and logistics, routes are planned to avoid an eligible child having to travel more than 2.4 kms to or from a pick-up/set down point. Routes are planned on the basis of the locations of children who are eligible for school transport only.
Parents/guardians are responsible for ensuring that children are brought safely to and collected safely from Bus Éireann designated pick up and set down points.
Bus Éireann has advised that both pupils to whom the Deputy refers are not eligible for school transport as they do not meet the distance criteria and are mainstream concessionary to their school's of attendance.
The first named pupil is attending their third closest school which is 17.1 km from home. Their closest school is 10.3 km from their home.
The second named pupil is also attending their third closest school which is 14.6 km from their home. Their closest school is 7.8 km from their home.
Both of these pupils travel on the same service together.
Bus Éireann advised they have assessed the pick up point which has been deemed safe. This pick up point cannot be moved for the pupils as it would inconvenience eligible pupils on board the service each day.
290. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Education the role played by her Department and the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) with regard to the textbooks used for social, personal and health education at junior cycle; if they approved a book (details supplied) which included a section entitled ‘all different, all equal’ for this year, and its depiction of the traditional Irish family; if a named company had total discretion concerning the content of this book, without reference to her Department and the NCCA; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36247/24]
View answerThe curriculum, as approved by the Minister, at both primary and post primary level, is considered to be for all learners regardless of race, religion, socioeconomic background, gender or orientation. It is the aim of my department that every child has access to equitable education and that each learner feels safe and happy in the school environment, at every stage.
The Curriculum specification and prescribed material for any subject are determined by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) www.ncca.ie. It should be noted that the material referenced by the Deputy was not contained within the curriculum or other material published by the Department. It is the responsibility of each individual school to select the resources (other than prescribed material) that it will use to support its implementation of the curriculum. Any concerns regarding material published in textbooks should be raised with the publisher themselves. I understand that the publisher in this case has withdrawn the text in question.
Following a recommendation from the NCCA Report on the Review of RSE in 2019, a portal site was developed by the NCCA where teachers can access SPHE/RSE teaching and learning resources. These online toolkits are published by the NCCA at curriculumonline.ie to provide supports for teachers in preparing for and teaching SPHE/RSE, and have been carefully selected to support planning for quality teaching and learning in SPHE linked to the current curriculum.
