Richard Bruton
Question:281. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education if she will adjust the current cleaning service grant at a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41060/24]
View answerSchool Funding
Questions (281)
Written answers
My Department is committed to providing funding to recognised primary and post-primary schools in the free education scheme by way of per capita grants. The two main grants are the Capitation grant to cater for day-to-day running costs such as heating, lighting, cleaning, insurance and general up-keep, and the Ancillary grant to cater for the cost of employing ancillary services staff. Schools have the flexibility to use capitation funding provided for general running costs and ancillary funding provided for caretaking and secretarial services as a common grant from which the Board of Management can allocate according to its own priorities, except for cases where a secretary is now paid from my Department’s payroll as per Circular 0036/2022.
The current standard rate of Capitation grant is €200 per pupil in primary schools. Primary schools with fewer than 60 pupils are paid the Capitation and the Ancillary grants on the basis of having 60 pupils.
As part of the capitation package in Budget 2025 I am pleased to have secured over €30 million as a permanent increase in capitation funding to assist schools now and longer term with increased day-to-day running costs. This represents an increase of circa 12% on current standard rates and enhanced rates. This increase is on top of the circa 9.2% increase from last year’s budget. This will bring the standard rate of Capitation grant to the level of €224 per pupil in primary schools from September 2025. Enhanced rates will also be paid in respect of pupils with special educational needs and Traveller pupils.
In addition to these grants, €45 million in cost of living supports will issue in 2024, to support all recognised primary and post-primary schools in the free education scheme. This additional funding announced in Budget 2025 is designed to assist schools with increased day-to-day running costs such as heating and electricity. This funding will be paid at a rate of €36 per pupil in primary schools and €55 per student in post-primary schools. Enhanced rates will also be paid in respect of pupils with special educational needs and Traveller pupils. Schools should also ensure that they are availing of the available OGP procurement frameworks and getting best value for money for all school expenditure.
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. Contact details for FSSU can be found on www.fssu.ie .
Special Educational Needs
Questions (282)
Neasa Hourigan
Question:282. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Education her plans to expand the number of places available in reading schools in the Dublin area for children with severe dyslexia, given these places are oversubscribed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41061/24]
View answerWritten answers
Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for this government. It is also a key priority for me as Minister for Special Education & Inclusion, for my department and for the National Council for Special Education (NCSE).
It is my department’s policy, in accordance with the principles of inclusive education, that students with additional learning needs are supported in mainstream classes along with their peers, with additional supports provided as necessary.
My department provides for a range of placement options and supports for schools, which have enrolled students with special educational needs in order to ensure that wherever a child is enrolled, they will have access to an appropriate education.
My department has invested considerably in ensuring that all recognised mainstream schools have been allocated additional special education teaching resources to support them in providing optimal learning experiences for children with special educational needs, including students with a specific learning need such as dyslexia.
Provision for students is governed by the continuum of support and a range of guidance documents, resources and training opportunities is available to schools to inform their approaches in meeting the needs of students with special educational needs. The most significant of these resources are the 14,700 special education teachers who are employed in schools to provide additional support for children with special educational needs, including dyslexia.
The allocation of special education teachers allows schools to provide additional teaching support for all students who require such support and for schools to deploy resources based on each student’s individual learning need.
The NCSE, through its network of local special educational needs organisers (SENOs), is responsible for processing applications from schools for special educational needs supports as required. The NCSE is aware of emerging need from year to year and where additional provision is required to support schools to meet the needs of children with special educational needs, it is planned and established to meet that need.
In addition, there are specialist educational supports provided by the National Educational Psychological Services (NEPS) and the NCSE to help schools provide an appropriate education for students with special educational needs.
Funding is also made available to schools for the purchase of specialised equipment such as computers and/or software to assist children with special educational needs, including children with a specific learning disability such as dyslexia. This is provided where relevant professionals recommend the equipment as being essential for the provision of education. Schools can apply to the NCSE, through their local SENO for such support.
It is important to note that all classroom teachers at primary level and subject teachers at post-primary level have responsibility for the progress of their students. Where necessary, additional support is provided by special education teachers. The majority of students with significant literacy difficulties currently receive additional teaching support from a special education teacher in a mainstream class. This is provided on the basis of the individual student’s learning need, identified in schools, as opposed to being based on a requirement for a child to have a diagnosis, or an assessment, of a particular disability. These supports are intended to provide students with the highest standard of education.
Departmental Strategies
Questions (283)
Neasa Hourigan
Question:283. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Education her plans to establish a national advisory group on school library provision; her plans to develop a national strategy on school library provision to ensure that there is a school library, school librarian and full access to the JCSP library project digital library service for all schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41067/24]
View answerWritten answers
'Ireland’s Literacy, Numeracy and Digital Literacy Strategy 2024-2033: Every Learner from Birth to Young Adulthood' and five-year implementation plan was published in May 2024 by the Department of Education and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. This strategy aims to promote the development of essential literacy, numeracy, and digital literacy skills. Consideration of the establishment of a national advisory group on school library provision will be taken in line with action 1.3.5 of the Strategy, ‘Explore the potential for an expanded programme of library support services to ELC settings, primary and post primary schools’.
I wish to advise the Deputy that the estimated costing in relation to the provision of libraries in schools would be substantial. For example the provision of a librarian in each school would have an estimated cost of €212,000,000 per annum. The provision would include many different factors in addition to librarians such as provision of the physical space, fixtures and fittings, IT facilities, librarian assistants, stock (physical and digital), national co-ordinator, professional development etc. In order to have accurate costings an evaluation would be required to include an assessment of the different school structures as each school type would require different works etc.
As the Deputy is aware, once off funding of €20 million was made available in May 2022 to enable all recognised primary and post-primary schools in the Free Education Scheme to improve their existing literacy resource banks. Support was provided so as to ensure that schools can make best use of the grant funding within their schools. In this regard the Department worked with the Public Library Service. It should be noted that the public library provides access to a wide range of resources, facilities and activities that aim to support schools in developing children's literacy, numeracy, creativity and communication skills. The development of existing partnerships between schools and libraries provides many benefits for both the schools and for public libraries. The Library Service published ‘The Library is the Place: National Public Library Strategy 2023-2027’ in July 2023. Under this strategy and the Department’s ‘Literacy, Numeracy and Digital Literacy Strategy 2024-2033’, the Department will further enhance the partnership with the Library Service to increase school usages of the resources that are available through the public libraries.
Webinars and the Public Library Resource Guide for Schools provides information for primary and post-primary schools to develop and expand reading and literacy collections within the school setting (www.librariesireland.ie/services/right-to-read/services-to-schools). The Public Library Supports for Schools are jointly agreed by the Department of Education and the Department of Rural and Community Development.
A teacher’s card is made available to every teacher in every school, which enables each teacher to borrow items for his/her class. As no doubt the Deputy is aware, library membership is completely free of charge for everyone in every library in the country. Further information on the services to schools can be found at www.librariesireland.ie/services/right-to-read/services-to-schools. Libraries Ireland also offer a Digital Library Service, and currently anyone with a library card can access the eBooks, Audio books and eLearning Resources.
The Department also issued a grant in 2023 to provide free schoolbooks for all children and young people enrolled in all recognised primary schools, including special schools. This grant has been extended, in 2024, to provide free schoolbooks for all Junior Cycle students in the Free Education Scheme. Where any surplus funding remains after all other schoolbooks and related classroom resources costs have been met, a school has the discretion to purchase library books, audio books and other material to increase the literacy (in English, Irish or other languages) and numeracy resources for their school.
I hope this information is of assistance to the Deputy.
School Staff
Questions (284)
Michael Creed
Question:284. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Education the reason why a teacher (details supplied) who notified her Department of a change in their banking arrangements has not been paid their salary for the past several weeks; and if she will take steps to rectify this. [41069/24]
View answerWritten answers
I can confirm to the Deputy that the bank account change requested by the teacher concerned has been updated on the payroll system and salary due will be paid into the new bank account as requested.
School Funding
Questions (285)
Matt Carthy
Question:285. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Education if she will ensure full funding for the emergency works application in respect of a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41095/24]
View answerWritten answers
The school to which the Deputy refers submitted an application for funding under the Emergency Works Scheme (EWS) for toilet facilities.
The purpose of the Emergency Works Scheme (EWS) is to provide funding specifically for unforeseen emergencies. It does so by ensuring the availability of funding for urgent works to those schools that are in need of resources as a result of an emergency situation. An emergency is deemed to be a situation which poses an immediate risk to health, life, property or the environment, which is sudden, unforeseen and requires immediate action, and in the case of a school, if not corrected would prevent the school or part thereof from opening.
The school's original application was refused as the application fell outside the scope of of the Emergency Works Scheme. However, the option remains open to the school to appeal this decision. Appeals will only be considered if they are submitted through the Esinet system and should contain additional relevant information that was not provided as part of the original application.
School Transport
Questions (286)
John Brady
Question:286. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education the status of an appeal for school transport for a family (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41108/24]
View answerWritten answers
The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 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 School Transport Appeals Board is an independent body who consider appeals in relation to decisions made by or on behalf of the Department of Education. On the 27 August 2024 the above referenced appeals in respect of school transport for the family referred to by the Deputy were lodged with the School Transport Appeals Board. The Board will liaise directly with the appellants when the appeals are due for consideration.
School Transport
Questions (287)
John Brady
Question:287. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on a school transport route (details supplied); when this route will recommence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41109/24]
View answerWritten answers
The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 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.
Bus Éireann has reported that unfortunately, for a small number of families who were issued a ticket for the 2024/2025 school year, difficulties have arisen in some localities with a small number of contracted services. These services were secured for the 2024/2025 school year and due to reported driver/contractor unavailability at short notice, services could not commence as expected. Route B9200 is one of the routes affected.
It has been reported that driver shortages are being experienced in many sectors of the economy and throughout the country. While the situation is dynamic with solutions being found, currently this represents approximately 0.5% of vehicles operating mainstream school transport services. Bus Éireann has contacted the affected families directly and will maintain communication with them.
An “Exceptional No Service Interim Grant” payable by the Department, which will be based on the number of days children attend school will be made available to the families. The grant is only available to the small number of families who have already received a school transport ticket from Bus Éireann and where difficulties have meant that transport is not be in place for the start of the school year.
Bus Éireann have contacted these families directly. Families do not need to make an application for the exceptional payment. Those who have been issued a ticket and do not have a service in place will be contacted by School Transport Section in the Department.
Work is continuing in order to resolve this matter and Bus Éireann are committed to providing transport to these students as quickly as is possible.
Under the terms of the School Transport Schemes, children are eligible for transport at primary level where they reside not less than 3.2kms from and are attending their nearest national school. At post primary level, they are eligible where they reside not less than 4.8kms 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.
Bus Éireann have a dedicated call centre in place at LoCall 0818 919 910. Operating hours are usually 09.00 – 17.00 Monday to Friday. Families can also submit queries by selecting the “School Transport” option on the contact form.
Special Educational Needs
Questions (288)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:288. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education if a decision that was made for a grant for assistive technology for a student (details supplied) will be reviewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41112/24]
View answerWritten answers
Under the Assistive Technology Scheme, as set out in my Department’s Circular 0010/2013, funding is provided to schools towards the cost of computers and specialist equipment, which are required for educational purposes.
All equipment provided under this scheme supports children with more complex disabilities who, in order to access the school curriculum, require essential specialist equipment.
An application for assistive technology was submitted in October 2023. Based on the professional information provided to the SENO and in line with criteria set out in Circular 10/2013, the SENO was not in a position to recommend an assistive technology grant for the school concerned on behalf of the student.
No appeal of the Assistive Technology application has been submitted in respect of this child. However, should the school wish to make a renewed application, the matter will be treated as a priority by both the NCSE and the Department of Education.
It is open to parents to contact SENOs directly to discuss their child’s special educational needs, using the contact details available at: ncse.ie/seno-contact-information.
School Transport
Questions (289)
Michael Ring
Question:289. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Education if a school transport run can resume from September 2025 at a location in County Mayo (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41130/24]
View answerWritten answers
The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 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.
Bus Eireann have confirmed that there are both eligible and concessionary pupils availing of the current service, that is referred to by the Deputy, and that all eligible pupils are within guidelines to their closest pick-up point.
The service that is mentioned ceased operating in 2021 as the pupil residing at this pick-up point no longer required transport and Bus Eireann were then unable to turn at this location.
Bus Éireann is responsible for the planning and timetabling of school transport routes which are completed over the summer months and are based on applications received before the closing date for the upcoming school year. It is not possible to confirm, at this stage, what services/routes will be in operation for the 2025/2026 school year as the scheme is demand led based on the location of eligible pupils.
Under the terms of the School Transport Schemes, children at post primary level, they are eligible where they reside not less than 4.8 km 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.
A minimum number of 10 eligible children residing in a distinct locality, as determined by Bus Éireann, are required before consideration may be given to the establishment or retention of school transport services, provided this can be done within reasonable cost limits.
Where practicable, and subject to considerations of cost and logistics, routes are planned to avoid an eligible child having to travel more than 3.2 km to or from a pick-up/set down point or to have travel and waiting times in excess of 1.5 hours per day. Routes are planned on the basis of the locations of children who are eligible for school transport only.
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.
Departmental Staff
Questions (290)
Catherine Murphy
Question:290. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education the number of staff that worked in her Department’s communications and press office in each of the years 2019 to 2024; and the grade of each staff member. [41158/24]
View answerWritten answers
Staff in the Communications Unit carry out a range of duties across several aspects of communications including communications from the department to primary and post-primary schools; communications on new curriculum, professional development and resources; announcements and events; desktop publishing and design for department publications; video and online content for the department website, events, information campaigns. social media and digital channels; and press office/ media queries.
It should be noted that the role of the Communications Unit has been expanded to include stakeholder engagement since early 2024.
Please find a list attached of all staff that worked in her Department’s communications and press office in each of the years 2019 to 2024; and the grade of each staff member.
End 2019
|
Staffing numbers by Grade |
|
1 Principal Officer |
|
1 Higher Executive Officer |
|
1 Executive Officer |
|
1 Clerical Officer |
End 2020
|
Staffing numbers by Grade |
|
1 Principal Officer |
|
1 Higher Executive Officer |
|
2 Executive Officers |
|
2 Clerical Officers |
End 2021
|
Staffing numbers by Grade |
|
1 Principal Officer |
|
1 Assistant Principal Officer |
|
2 Higher Executive Officers |
|
2 Executive Officers |
|
2 Clerical Officers |
End 2022
|
Staffing numbers by Grade |
|
1 Principal Officer |
|
1 Assistant Principal Officer |
|
2 Higher Executive Officers |
|
3 Executive Officers |
|
2 Clerical Officers |
End 2023
|
Staffing numbers by Grade |
|
1 Principal Officer |
|
2 Assistant Principal Officers |
|
3 Higher Executive Officers |
|
1 Executive Officer |
|
1 Clerical Officer (higher) |
|
3 Clerical Officers |
August 2024
|
Staffing numbers by Grade |
|
1 Principal Officer |
|
4 Assistant Principal Officers (Unit expanded to include Stakeholder Engagement) |
|
2 Higher Executive Officers |
|
4 Executive Officers |
|
3 Clerical Officers |
Departmental Advertising
Questions (291)
Catherine Murphy
Question:291. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education the frequency and duration of the publicity, marketing or advertising campaigns conducted by her Department to date in 2024; the purpose of these campaigns; the cost of these campaigns; and the agencies that conducted these campaigns, in tabular form. [41176/24]
View answerWritten answers
Overview of communication campaigns in the Department of Education
The Department of Education plans and implements public information campaigns which target segments of the wider school community in Ireland, which comprises children and young people who attend primary, post-primary and special schools; their parents and guardians; school teachers, principals and other staff; young people (and older people) who may be considering teaching as a profession; relevant education organisations and bodies of the Irish State, and the Irish media, traditional and digital.
Most of the planning, implementation and evaluation of the department’s communications and public information campaigns is done in-house by our Communications Unit, whose members have a range of skills and experience. We do, however, outsource the media purchasing and some creative aspects of our two largest campaigns – School Transport and Teaching Transforms, to maximise their reach. This is to ensure that have the best possible chance to communicate their message to the target audiences involved. For example, our School Transport campaign is aimed at parents or guardians of school-age children who are eligible for bus tickets. We sometimes outsource some aspects of other information campaigns when we feel that the use of a media planning and purchasing organisation would help us to reach a wider audience than we could alone.
The department’s communications team manages all aspects of smaller communications campaigns entirely in-house. A recent example of this is our Leaving Certificate Helpline campaign which ran for two weeks over the period that the Leaving Cert. results were announced. Our team worked with other sections in the department in addition to meeting with representatives from the Irish Second-level Students’ Union among others to create messaging and film short video segments for use on social media channels, to communicate both the helpline number and messaging about how it could help parents and guardians, as well as students, who may have been anxious or confused after the results came out.
Other work managed by the communications team include communications from the department to primary and post-primary school; communications on new curriculum, professional development and resources; announcements and events; desktop publishing and design for department publications; video and online content for the department website, social media and digital channels; press office/ media queries; and stakeholder consultations and engagement.
Please see document attached for the list of campaigns in tabular form.
National Educational Psychological Service
Questions (292)
Matt Carthy
Question:292. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Education if an appointment will be made available for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41200/24]
View answerWritten answers
I would like to thank Deputy Carthy for his question regarding my Department’s National Educational Psychological Service.
The National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) works with schools using a problem-solving model to help schools identify need and interventions to support those needs. Under this model, NEPS encourages schools to use a continuum-based assessment and intervention process whereby each school takes responsibility for initial assessment, educational planning and remedial intervention for pupils with learning, emotional or behavioural difficulties. Teachers may consult their NEPS psychologist should they wish to for advice. If the school has concerns that a pupil is not making reasonable progress following evidence informed support and intervention, the school may prioritise the involvement of the NEPS psychologist to support the identification of need process.
The Continuum of Support is the framework developed by NEPS for schools to identify, plan and provide support for those students who experience difficulties with their learning. Students do not require a psychological assessment, or a diagnosis in order to access additional support at school.
NEPS understands dyslexia in the context the severity and persistence of an individual’s needs over time and their response to intervention. This approach aligns with the new Special Educational model in schools which focuses on the identification of need and the matching of specific interventions to that need. Specific interventions are therefore tailored, by the school, to the individual’s observed needs by the school, rather than being generic to a specific difficulty or disability.
NEPS have recently developed new guidance documents for primary and post-primary schools on Supporting Students with Literacy Difficulties/Dyslexia Using the Continuum of Support. These are designed to equip schools with knowledge of approaches and strategies required to support students who experience difficulties with literacy, using a response to intervention approach, in all school contexts: English medium schools; Gaeltacht schools; and Irish medium schools.
These resources contain information on evidence informed practice and are intended as a guide to support schools in meeting the needs of students with literacy difficulties, including dyslexia, and will be accessible to all schools through the gov.ie website.
Training is currently being provided by NEPS nationally for all schools, at primary and post-primary levels, facilitated by local Educational Centres, on evidence informed approaches and strategies to support students with literacy difficulties including dyslexia, using the Continuum of Support approach.
I have made enquiries in relation to the pupil referred to and I understand that the assigned psychologist is due to meet with the parent shortly to outline how the pupil can be supported.
Departmental Programmes
Questions (293, 310)
Sorca Clarke
Question:293. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the total additional cost, per year, of the City Connects pilot programme in Dublin's northeast inner-city in 2022, 2023 and 2024, in tabular form. [41210/24]
View answerSorca Clarke
Question:310. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the amount of annual funding allocated to the ten DEIS band 1 schools participating in the NEIC City Connects project in each of the years since the programme's launch (details supplied). [41399/24]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 293 and 310 together.
City Connects is an evidence-based system, originally developed by Boston College, delivered in partnership with schools and other services. City Connects organises student support and leverages existing school and community-based resources in order to improve students’ academic and social-emotional outcomes.
City Connects seeks to meet the needs of children living with high levels of poverty and marginalisation. It is currently provided in ten DEIS Band 1 primary schools in the North East Inner City (NEIC) in Dublin.
The pilot is led by my Department and Tusla Education Support Service, in conjunction with the National Centre for City Connects Ireland (NCCCI), which is located in Mary Immaculate College, Limerick and Boston College.
I launched the NCCCI in May 2024 and it will play an integral role in supporting the delivery of City Connects in the 10 NEIC schools, in consultation with Boston College. The NCCCI will provide leadership in the areas of strategic planning, business management and operations.
Funding for City Connects is not allocated directly to the 10 individual NEIC DEIS Band 1 schools. The cost of providing City Connects in the NEIC encompasses the funding of six City Connects Coordinators, one Programme Manager, the usage and operation of MyConnects (an online student support information system designed to support the City Connects practice), and oversight and implementation expertise provided by the both the NCCCI, and Boston College.
While City Connects is now fully funded by my Department, it should be noted that in previous years the NEIC Programme Implementation Board, the Dormant Accounts Fund and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth contributed to the cost of funding City Connects in the NEIC.
The cost of funding City Connects in the 10 DEIS Band 1 primary schools in the NEIC for the years 2021 to 2023 and the estimated costs for 2024 are as follows;
2021 - €1.4 million2022 - €1.6 million2023 - €1.6 million2024 - €1.8 million - projected cost for 2024.
School Equipment
Questions (294)
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
Question:294. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Education when a service will resume for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41225/24]
View answerWritten answers
The Department is required to manage the overall school building programme so that it can target and prioritise areas that are under greatest pressure for additional school places. This reflects the Department’s fundamental objective of ensuring the availability of a school place for every child.
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 educational needs. The overall position with regard to potential modernisation and replacement of existing school infrastructure will be kept under review.
The Department of Education provides funding for furniture and equipment (F&E) for schools in various ways, depending on the appropriate delivery mechanism. The school to which the deputy refers relates to replacement of specialist equipment. The Department is currently reviewing this process and the delivery mechanism associated with such in order to provide a more streamlined process that facilitates digital applications. While this process in ongoing it is not possible to progress applications, however if a school has an emergency need for certain pieces of specialist equipment the school can contact the Department's furniture and equipment section in the interim.
State Examinations
Questions (295)
Patrick Costello
Question:295. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Education if she will allow for additional time for those sitting State exams who have dyslexia and dyscalculia. [41242/24]
View answerWritten answers
The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the state examinations.
In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.
School Admissions
Questions (296)
Francis Noel Duffy
Question:296. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Education if she is aware that admissions allocation for a school (details supplied) last year was 180 students for 2024/2025 and has now been reduced significantly to an allocation of only 72 places for the coming year 2025/2026; what her Department can do to increase capacity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41244/24]
View answerWritten answers
I can assure the Deputy that the provision of school places to meet the needs of children and young people at primary and post primary level, including children and young people with special educational needs is an absolute priority for the Department.
As the Deputy may be aware, for school planning purposes, the Department of Education divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a Geographical Information System (or GIS) to anticipate school place demand. Information from a range of sources, including Child Benefit Data, school enrolment data and information on residential development activity is used for this purpose. Additionally, Project Ireland 2040 population and housing targets inform the Department’s projections of school place requirements.
Having considered the projected requirements in each school planning area, the Department then makes an assessment of the existing capacity within that particular area and its ability to meet any increased demand. Additional provision is made as necessary, where the existing capacity is insufficient for future needs.
The Department is aware of enrolment pressures at post primary level in the Newcastle_Rathcoole School Planning Area, and of the indication by Coláiste Pobail Fola of a potential reduction in the number of first year places being made available for 2025/26. However, officials from my Department have re-confirmed to the school and Dublin Dun Laoghaire Education and Training Board, as patron, that there is accommodation capacity for an intake of 180 students for 2025/26. The admissions notice has been amended to reflect this.
I can assure the Deputy that Department officials will continue to actively engage with schools and patrons to ensure that there is appropriate provision for all students in Newcastle_Rathcoole School Planning Area for the 2025/26 school year and into the future.
Departmental Bodies
Questions (297)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Question:297. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education the current and capital allocation to An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta in 2024 and 2025, in tabular form. [41257/24]
View answerWritten answers
The current allocation is as follows:
|
COGG Budget |
Pay |
Non-Pay |
Total |
|
2024 |
1,000,000* |
2,040,000 |
3,040,000 |
*Includes €297,000 for COGG's programme of work related to the Policy on Gaeltacht Education 2017 - 2022.
Funding for COGG in 2024 is €3,040,000. This allocation is composed of a pay element of €1,000,000 and €2,040,000 for non-pay elements. Included in the pay element is an allocation of €297,000 for COGG’s programme of work in relation to the Policy on Gaeltacht Education 2017-2022.
Discussions are currently ongoing within the Department in relation to expenditure for various projects in 2025 in light of the funding allocated to the Department in Budget 2025. The allocation for COGG for 2025 is therefore not yet available.
An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta (COGG) is a national body, under the aegis of the Department of Education and was established under Article 31 of the Education Act 1998. COGG’s role relates to both primary and post-primary education and the four main areas of work are:
(i) to plan and co-ordinate the provision of textbooks and aids to learning and teaching through Irish,
(ii) to advise the Minister on policies relating to the provision and promotion of education through the medium of Irish in recognised schools generally and in schools located in the Gaeltacht,
(iii) to provide support services to those schools through the medium of Irish,
(iv) to conduct research.
In addition to its statutory functions under the Education Act 1998, the role of COGG was expanded by the 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030 to include planning and co-ordinating the provision of textbooks and aids to the learning and teaching of Irish and to conduct research into and to advise the Minister for Education on strategies which have as their objective the enhancement of the effectiveness of the teaching of Irish in recognised English-medium schools and centres for education. COGG plays a key role in the implementation of the Strategy in the education sector working in collaboration with existing agencies.
In October 2016, the DoE published its Policy on Gaeltacht Education 2017-2022. COGG has an extended role in the implementation of actions under that policy which involves coordinating the delivery of particular supports and initiatives for Gaeltacht Education in collaboration with the Gaeltacht Education Unit (AOG) in the DoE, with national support services, the Inspectorate, and other agencies.
Over the term of this Government, my Department has increased funding for COGG from €1.3M in 2018 to €3.04M this year. Similarly, the staff assigned to COGG have been increased from 8 to 15 including a recently added post to work on communications and a national campaign to promote bilingualism and encourage the speaking of Irish among English-medium school stakeholders.
The Government recognises the importance of a strong education system in supporting access for all students to Irish language and culture and its significant role in the revitalisation and maintenance of Irish in Gaeltacht communities and beyond. My Department will continue to seek appropriate funding to support and enhance the work of COGG in future budgets.
Departmental Schemes
Questions (298)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Question:298. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education to outline the annual allocation to a scheme (details supplied) in 2024 and 2025. [41258/24]
View answerWritten answers
The Policy on Gaeltacht Education was published in 2016 with the aim of supporting and promoting the use of the Irish language in Gaeltacht communities by strengthening Irish-medium educational provision in Gaeltacht language-planning areas. The Gaeltacht School Recognition Scheme is the cornerstone of the Policy. It gives schools in Gaeltacht language planning areas the opportunity to seek recognition as Gaeltacht Schools
The allocation of funds for the Policy totalled in excess of €6.8 million for 2024. This included funding for supports for schools participating in the Gaeltacht School Recognition Scheme, the delivery of the e-Hub project, provision of supports by COGG to Gaeltacht schools, and teacher education measures funded under the Policy.
Discussions are currently ongoing within the Department in relation to expenditure for various projects in 2025 in light of the funding allocated to the Department in Budget 2025.
State Examinations
Questions (299)
Niall Collins
Question:299. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Education if she will address the concerns raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41276/24]
View answerWritten answers
The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the state examinations.
In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.
State Examinations
Questions (300)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:300. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education the steps that are being taken to implement extra time for exam testing for students with intellectual dyslexia and intellectual disabilities (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41280/24]
View answerWritten answers
The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the state examinations.
In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.