Written Answers Nos. 115-129
115. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education when site work will commence on a new special school project (details supplied); the timeline for completion of the project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41673/24]
View answerThe joint major building project for the 2 schools referred to by the Deputy is currently at an advanced stage of architectural planning -Stage 2(b) – Detailed Design, where the design team secure all Statutory Applications and prepare the suite of tender documents.
All Statutory Approvals have been secured, and the Stage 2(b) Submission was received in the Department in Q3 2024, for review. Following a high level review, the Department's Professional and Technical Team have issued comments to the Design Team for their consideration, and the Design Team will make any necessary adjustments to the tender documents, and will advise my Department once the tender documents are amended.
In parallel, the Design team have also been authorised to begin the process of pre-qualification of contractors.
Upon completion of the pre-qualification process and final approval of the Stage 2(b) submission, the Department will inform the School Authorities and the Design Team of the progression of the major project to the next stage of Architectural Planning – Tender Award.
All Major Projects are subject to relevant due diligence by my Department at each stage in the process, within the context of overall programme and budgetary parameters.
116. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education to review a school bus ticket application for a person (details supplied); the reasons this applicant is still on a waiting list for a concessionary ticket for a bus ticket from an area to a school; when this child can expect to be issued with a school bus ticket; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41688/24]
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 the 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 advised that the pupil referred to by the Deputy is not eligible for school transport as they are attending their fifth closest post primary school/centre.
Bus Éireann further advise that the child referred was unsuccessful in obtaining a concessionary school transport ticket for the 2024/25 school year since they applied on 28th June 2024 which is considered a late application and seats assigned on the service were at capacity at that stage.
Children are eligible for transport at primary level where they reside not less than 3.2 kilometres from and are attending their nearest national school, and at post primary level where they reside not less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
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.
Children who are not eligible for school transport may apply for transport on a concessionary basis in accordance with the terms of the Post Primary School Transport Scheme and subject to a number of conditions:
The availability of concessionary transport may vary from year to year and cannot be guaranteed for the duration of a child’s post primary school education cycle. Where the number of applications for transport on a concessionary basis exceeds the number of seats available, Bus Éireann will determine the allocation of the tickets using an agreed selection process.
117. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Education if she will confirm that plans for a permanent school building in respect of a school (details supplied) are at the stage ‘architectural planning stage 3 – tender action and award’; if she is aware that the school authorities are of the opinion that this project is actually at stage 2A; if this school building project can proceed without further delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41689/24]
View answerThe large scale capital project at the school for the provision of a new 600 pupil school and ancillary accommodation is at Architectural Planning Stage 3 – Tender Action and Award.
A new grant of planning was received in December 2023, with a number of conditions attached. The Design Team are examining the implications of these conditions along with reviewing technical design information in relation to statutory and current technical design guidance.
The large scale capital project remains a priority for delivery and my department officials will be in contact with the school authority when the Design Team complete their review.
118. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education if funding will be provided for a project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41691/24]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, the Summer Works Scheme (SWS) is to enable individual school authorities to undertake small-scale building works on a devolved basis and, ideally, can be carried out during the summer months or at other times that avoid disrupting the operation of the school.
In order to qualify for funding under the SWS, a school making an application must meet certain criteria including in respect of the property considered as part of the school's permanent accommodation. Where it is deemed that such property does not form part of the schools permanent non-rented accommodation then funding may not be provided under the SWS, however the option is open to each school to apply, and each case is examined on its own merit.
The SWS operates on a multi-annual basis for categories of works such as external environment projects, which could include works such as drainage works.
119. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education when a person (details supplied) will receive an assessment from the National Educational Psychological Service. [41704/24]
View answerI refer to Deputy Ó Broin's question on the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS).
NEPS is the psychological service of the Department of Education and provides educational psychology support to all primary, post-primary, and special schools. NEPS is a schools-based service and each NEPS psychologist is assigned to a group of schools.
NEPS provides access for all schools to:
• Psychological support in the event of a Critical Incident
• A casework service for individual students where there is a need for intensive consultation and assessment via a NEPS psychologist or through the Scheme for the Commissioning of Psychological Assessments (SCPA)
• A school staff Support and Development Service, to build school capability to provide a comprehensive continuum of support in schools
• Ongoing access to advice and support for schools
The focus of the NEPS service is on empowering teachers to intervene effectively with children and young people whose needs range from mild to severe, and transient to enduring. NEPS encourages schools to implement a Continuum of Support, with each school taking responsibility for providing universal and preventative approaches, as well as early assessment, educational planning and intervention where the need arises. Children do not require a psychological assessment or a diagnosis in order to access additional support at school.
Direct NEPS involvement is managed through the Casework Service for individual children and young people. If, following evidence-informed support and intervention, the school has concerns that a child is still experiencing significant difficulty, the school may request the direct involvement of the NEPS psychologist. Children can only be prioritised for direct NEPS involvement by the school principal, or by a staff member designated by the principal. A request for involvement is accepted from the school principal in consultation with the psychologist. When deciding who to prioritise for involvement with NEPS, school principals consider those students who present with the greatest level of need, in that particular school context. The focus of the NEPS Casework Service is to use a consultative, problem-solving approach to promote better understanding of the child or young person’s strengths and needs, to suggest interventions that may be helpful to include in the Student Support Plan, and to assist schools to implement, monitor and review those interventions. This work is done in partnership with school staff, parents and the child or young person themselves.
In relation to the student referred to, the parents or guardians should discuss any concerns with the school principal and/or teachers in their student's school to further explore how their child may be supported through the Continuum of Support process described above, and if appropriate, through the direct involvement of the NEPS Psychologist assigned to the school. NEPS has developed detailed and comprehensive guidance for parents and guardians of children and young people who are reluctant to attend school. This includes advice around feelings of stress or anxiety that children and young people may experience around school attendance.
120. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Education if her Department will purchase a property (details supplied), to allow for the future expansion of schools given it has already been zoned Z1, allowing for educational use; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41705/24]
View answerMy Department is currently engaging with the patron of the schools to which the Deputy refers in the context of the upcoming change of status of the post primary school. As part of that engagement, the short-, medium-, and long-term capacity requirements of the school are being considered.
My Department is committed to supporting the school in question through its change of status, including with appropriate capital investment. The ongoing engagement with the patron, and the recent visit to the school by my Department's technical personnel, will inform the nature and scope of this capital investment.
121. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education the number of legal cases taken against her Department in each of the past ten years and to date in 2024; the costs incurred by her Department in relation to such cases; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41713/24]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is being reviewed and collated by officials in my Department. A response will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as it is available.
122. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education the number of data breaches experienced by her Department in each of the past ten years and to date in 2024; if a breakdown will be provided on the nature of the breaches; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41730/24]
View answerPlease see below in tabular form the number of data breaches that occurred in my department in each of the past ten years and to date in 2024, and the numbers which were reported to the Data Protection Commission (the remainder were deemed to be of no risk due to their nature and therefore were not required to be reported to the DPC).
|
Year |
No. of Breaches |
No. of Breaches reported to DPC |
Cases still open |
|
2014 |
5 |
1 |
- |
|
2015 |
5 |
- |
- |
|
2016 |
8 |
1 |
- |
|
2017 |
8 |
1 |
- |
|
2018 |
27 |
5 |
- |
|
2019 |
23 |
16 |
- |
|
2020 |
45 |
34 |
- |
|
2021 |
49 |
34 |
- |
|
2022 |
46 |
37 |
- |
|
2023 |
51 |
33 |
- |
|
2024 to date (10/10/24) |
43 |
35 |
- |
By way of background to the above figures, it should be noted that the GDPR and Data Protection Act came into effect on 25th May 2018. The breaches from 2013 to 2017 and up to 25th May 2018, were processed under the Data Protection Acts 1988 and 2003, as well as the 1995 European Union Directive.
Over 90% of the data breaches that occurred in my department since 2018 are classified as unauthorised disclosure of personal data, while the balance involved the loss of personal data. Data breaches which occurred in my department were reported to the Data Protection Commission and/or the affected data subjects in line with the requirements of the legislation.
123. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education the total costs associated for her Department in relation to trips abroad taken by Ministers in her Department in each of the past five years and to date in 2024. [41748/24]
View answerOutlined in tabular format are the total costs associated with trips abroad taken by Ministers in my Department over the past five years to-date since my commencement as Minister for Education:
|
Year |
Total Travel Costs |
|
2019 |
N/A |
|
June 2020 – December 2020 |
No travel took place during this period due to Covid-19 travel restrictions |
|
2021 |
€466.40 |
|
2022 |
€14,584.40 |
|
2023 |
€13,326.65 |
|
2024 to date |
€9,292.60 |
124. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education the amount spent by her Department on public relations in each of the past ten years and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [41770/24]
View answer
|
2014 |
NIL |
|
2015 |
NIL |
|
2016 |
NIL |
|
2017 |
NIL |
|
2018 |
NIL |
|
2019 |
NIL |
|
2020 |
€22,100 (two contracts) |
|
2021 |
NIL |
|
2022 |
NIL |
|
2023 |
NIL |
|
2024 |
€3,936.00 |
125. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education the total amount of consultancy fees incurred by her Department in each of the past ten years and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [41785/24]
View answerInformation in relation to consultancy expenditure in my Department is compiled annually in respect of the previous year and published online at www.gov.ie/en/collection/department-of-education-and-skills-expenditure-on-consultancy/ The data in respect of 2024 will be published online in Q1 2025.
126. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education the amount spent by her Department on traditional and online advertising in each of the past ten years and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [41803/24]
View answerThe Department’s total spending on advertising (including design) for the period in question is outlined below.
|
Year |
Total advertising spend (including design and creative costs) |
|
2024 to date |
€563,630.12 |
|
2023 |
€800,434.04 |
|
2022 |
€364,842.68 |
|
2021 |
€541,369.05 |
|
2020 |
€626,401.73 |
|
2019 |
€317,357.60 |
|
2018 |
€387,296.00 |
|
2017 |
€199,599.77 |
|
2016 |
€398,194.29 |
|
2015 |
€142,655.71 |
|
2014 |
€139,607.29 |
The Department has engaged in a number of advertising campaigns including the Teaching Transforms campaign which has been ongoing since late 2018 to promote the teaching profession and encourage post-primary and third level students to apply for programmes of initial teacher education. The various phases of the campaign have used a range of channels, including digital (online video and social media), radio (traditional and digital) and print (national papers and college press).
The Department has engaged in public information campaigns in respect of school reopening, to ensure widespread awareness of public health advice in the context of COVID-19.
It has undertaken targeted advertising and awareness campaigns for students involved in both the 2020 Calculated Grades process and the 2021 Leaving Certificate and Accredited Grades process to ensure awareness of the changed procedures under these models, necessitated by the pandemic.
Other campaigns included school transport advertising in 2023 and 2024 to let parents and guardians of school-aged children (particularly in rural Ireland) know about the Bus Éireann portal, where they can check eligibility for free school transport and or register and pay for school bus tickets. The campaign is run in two bursts, one when the portal opens (for checking eligibility and registration) and a second to inform the audience of its closing date (so that payments can be made on time). It is a multiplatform campaign that comprises regional and national print media, radio, and digital/social.
127. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education further to a previous Parliamentary Question, whether or not the board of management of a school (details supplied) has ever approached her Department with a view to expanding the school capacity, in light of the over-subscription of the school over many years; if she is minded to explore such options with the school’s board of management; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41866/24]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, in order to plan for school place needs, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and utilises a Geographical Information System 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 my Department's projections of school place requirements.
It is important to note that where enrolment pressures arise, it may not always be as a result of lack of accommodation but may be driven by the following factors:
• Duplication of applications – pupils have applied for a place to a number of schools in the area
• School of choice – pupils can’t get a place in their preferred school while there are places in other schools in the town/area
• Some towns/areas have single sex schools and while places are available in the school they are not available to all pupils
• External draw – pupils coming from outside the local area
The school to which the Deputy refers is located in the Rathfarnham School Planning Area. Having considered the projected requirements in each school planning area, my Department then makes an assessment of the existing capacity and identifies any requirement for additional provision.
There are 8 post primary schools (including 3 fee-charging schools) in the Rathfarnham school planning area. It is expected that post-primary school place requirements in the Rathfarnham area are currently at their peak. There is good first-year school place capacity in the area, relative to the numbers of children due to leave primary school.
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.
There is a capital project currently at tender stage for Sancta Maria College which when complete will increase capacity to 750 pupils. There is no record of a recent application for additional accommodation from the school to which the Deputy refers.
My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in the area. In relation to school admissions, it is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998.
Parents have the right to choose which school to apply to and where the school has places available the pupil should be admitted. However, in schools where there are more applicants than places available a selection process may be necessary. This selection process and the enrolment policy on which it is based must be non-discriminatory and must be applied fairly in respect of all applicants. However, this may result in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice.
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.
128. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education if she will urgently examine the ancillary grant that her Department has removed entirely for a primary school in County Clare (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41885/24]
View answerMy Department is committed to providing funding to recognised primary and post-primary schools in the free education scheme by way of per capita grants. The two main grants are the Capitation grant to cater for day-to-day running costs such as heating, lighting, cleaning, insurance and general up-keep, and the Ancillary grant to cater for the cost of employing ancillary services staff. Schools have the flexibility to use capitation funding provided for general running costs and ancillary funding provided for caretaking and secretarial services as a common grant from which the Board of Management can allocate according to its own priorities, except for cases where a secretary is now paid from my Department’s payroll as per Circular 0036/2022.
The current standard rate of Capitation grant is €200 per pupil in primary schools and €345 per student in post-primary schools.
Primary schools with fewer than 60 pupils are paid the Capitation and the Ancillary grants on the basis of having 60 pupils. At post-primary level, schools with fewer than 200 students receive ancillary-related grants on the basis of having 200 students.
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 and €386 per student in post-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. Schools should also ensure that they are availing of the available OGP procurement frameworks and getting best value for money for all school expenditure.
As the Deputy may be aware, following the acceptance by Fórsa of the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) agreement in respect of salaries and various leave entitlements for grant-funded school secretaries, those secretaries who accepted the terms of this agreement were placed on a payroll operated by my Department from September 2023. Therefore, ancillary related grant funding has been revised to reflect the fact that schools are no longer paying these salaries directly.
The arrangements for Term 1 of the 2024/25 school year will be based on reducing grants by the value of the salary schools paid to grant-funded secretaries prior to their acceptance of the new terms and conditions. Schools provided my Department with these details and this information is now being used to reduce the ancillary-related grant funding. The 4 month ancillary-related grant funding due in term 1 will be paid as soon as possible in the first term of the 2024/25 school year.
Correspondence issued to all schools on 20th December 2023 providing details of these arrangements for the period September to December 2023. Further correspondence issued on 26th April 2024 setting out the position for the period January to August 2024.
In the 2023/24 school year, schools have been paid the usual ancillary/SSSF grant amount, minus the amount that schools previously paid to grant-funded secretaries prior to their acceptance of the new terms and conditions. Schools should be in no way disadvantaged by this as the grant is reduced only by the amount they previously paid to their secretaries.
Schools have been advised that the ancillary/SSSF grant funding is currently under review to identify a method of standardising the grant for the longer term where school secretaries have moved over to a Department-operated payroll.
Officials from my Department are currently reviewing this school’s ancillary grant and will contact the school directly in due course.
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 cash flow management. Contact details for FSSU can be found on www.fssu.ie.
129. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Education if she will consider extending the City Connects initiative to all DEIS band 1 primary schools in Limerick city; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41890/24]
View answerIn July 2016, the Government launched a major initiative for Dublin’s North East Inner City (NEIC) to oversee the long term, social and economic regeneration of the area. The Mulvey Report entitled “Dublin’s North East Inner City – Creating a Brighter Future” was published in February 2017 and made a number of recommendations. As part of this response, the City Connects pilot programme was launched within 10 DEIS Band 1 primary schools in the NEIC.
The NEIC City Connects Pilot Project commenced in 10 NEIC primary schools in October 2020. The pilot is led by my Department and Tusla Education Support Service (TESS), in conjunction with the National Centre for City Connects in Ireland (NCCCI) located in Mary Immaculate College, and Boston College. City Connects is a system originally developed by Boston College that organises student support and leverages existing school and community-based resources in order to improve students’ academic and social-emotional outcomes.
My Department is committed to supporting a quality and inclusive school system that provides an equal opportunity at success for all children, including those at risk of educational disadvantage. In line with the Programme for Government, the Government is continuing to examine how the model of intervention in the north-east inner city (NEIC) could be extended to other comparative areas experiencing disadvantage, such as Limerick.
