Maurice Quinlivan
Question:137. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Education to meet with a group (details supplied); if unable to do, her views on the matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45668/24]
View answerMinisterial Appointments
Questions (137)
Written answers
I understand the Deputy is referring to the revised ExGratia scheme which operated from July 2021 to July 2023. The ExGratia scheme was developed to implement the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) judgment in O'Keeffe v Ireland, which concerned sexual abuse in day schools. The scheme, which was developed in consultation with the Office of the Attorney General, provided for ex gratia payments of €84,000 to be made to those who qualified to apply for the Scheme and who satisfied the criteria as set out in the Terms of Scheme, which are available at
www.gov.ie/pdf/?file=https://assets.gov.ie/162931/3846cbbc-d173-4095-8404-62440a020eea.pdf#page=null.
The Deputy will appreciate that I cannot comment on individual or specific cases.
Schools Refurbishment
Questions (138)
Colm Burke
Question:138. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education the current status of an application by a school (details supplied) for a refurbishment and reconfiguration project; when the project will commence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45678/24]
View answerWritten answers
I am pleased to advise the Deputy that approval has issued for the provision of 2 Engineering/Construction Studies Rooms,1 x DCG Room, 1 x Graphics Room & 3 x SEN (Including Central Activities Space) via reconfiguration, under the Additional School Accommodation scheme at the school in question.
This project is being delivered under the Department’s Devolved SEN Reconfiguration and Modular Accommodation programme. A Project Management company has been appointed, from the Department’s Framework to design and tender the project. This consultant will lead the project through the various stages of planning process and construction. The School Authority has overall responsibility for delivery of the project.
The project is currently at design stage. The detailed design pack has been recently reviewed by Department officials and approval of same has issued to the school authority it is now in order for the project to progress to the next stage.
Schools Refurbishment
Questions (139)
Colm Burke
Question:139. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education the reason a school (details supplied) was previously unsuccessful in the emergency works scheme for a full roof replacement, given that the roof membrane is now at the end of its life expectancy and a health and safety concern, that consideration would be given to granting them funding for this now; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45679/24]
View answerWritten answers
The school in question to which the Deputy refers submitted an application for funding under the Emergency Works Scheme (EWS) for roof works works. The EWS operates on the basis of a minimal scope of works and the school was advised to submit a revised scope of works with an accompanying itemised cost breakdown.
Once this is received the EWS team will review the revised application and will engage further with the school as appropriate. The EWS team is aware of the urgent nature of the works required and will keep the school informed throughout the process.
School Transport
Questions (140)
Réada Cronin
Question:140. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Education the action she will take to enable bus drivers over 70 years-of-age to continue working as school bus drivers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45693/24]
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 were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country. This includes 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.
The total cost of the scheme in 2023 was €382.02m.
Over 141,000 mainstream tickets have issued for the 2024/2025 school year, which is already 4% more than the total tickets issued for the full 2023/2024 school year.
The retirement age for school bus drivers has been set by Bus Éireann at 70 years of age, which also applies to all Bus Éireann road passenger services. The policy and criteria also apply to drivers nominated by private operators who operate services as part of the School Transport Scheme, who may continue to perform in the role provided they hold the requisite license and satisfy an annual medical examination until they retire at age 70.
The age limit on bus drivers was increased to 70 years a number of years ago. Bus Éireann has informed the Department there is no plan to increase the age limit further at this time. The Road Safety Authority under the remit of the Department of Transport committed to reviewing the upper age limit of drivers as it relates to larger vehicles/school buses.
School Transport
Questions (141)
Réada Cronin
Question:141. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Education if she will intervene to ensure that a student (details supplied) receives a ticket for the local school transport bus; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45694/24]
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.
Under the current terms of the School Transport Schemes, children are eligible for transport at primary level where they reside not less than 3.2 km from and are attending their nearest national school. 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.
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 Éireann has advised that the pupil referred to is eligible for transport, but a late application and payment was received. However, Bus Éireann further advises that this pupil has now been scheduled on a service and that this family will receive the ticket in the coming days.
School Accommodation
Questions (142)
Michael Ring
Question:142. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Education when a decision will be made on an additional accommodation application for a second ASD classroom for a school in County Limerick (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45697/24]
View answerWritten answers
I can confirm to the Deputy that my department is in receipt of an Additional School Accommodation (ASA) application from the school in question.
The school received approval in 2023 under my Departments Modular Accommodation Programme for the provision of 1x special education classroom and 1x mainstream classroom which are currently occupied on site.
In September 2024 the school submitted a further ASA application. I can confirm to the Deputy that once the assessment process is complete the school Authority will be notified with a decision directly.
The NCSE has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children with special educational needs nationwide. Over the last two years, the department and the NCSE have worked closely on a more streamlined and joined up planning process which has ensured a targeted approach to meet demand for special education placements ahead of each new school year. The Department continues to work with the NCSE in relation to the short-term requirements for special class and special school places and also the more strategic and longer-term requirements.
It is my department’s priority to ensure that all children have an appropriate school placement and that the necessary supports are provided to our schools to cater for the needs of children with special educational needs.
In 2024, the department will spend over €2.7 billion on special education and further progress will be made in 2025 as an additional €159 million has been dedicated to providing supports for children with special educational needs. Over a quarter of the entire education budget has been dedicated to special education in recent years. The main supports this funding provides for are special classes, SNAs and special education teachers.
The NCSE has advised that there are 3,337 special classes in operation nationwide for this school year. These classes can provide for over 21,000 students. 409 of these are new for the current school year – 289 at primary and 120 at post-primary level.
Over the last number of years, the department and the NCSE have introduced a number of strategic initiatives to plan for and provide sufficient mainstream, special class and special school places.
These initiatives are bearing fruit with almost 1,700 new special classes sanctioned and eleven new special schools established over the last number of years. The department engages intensely with the NCSE in relation to the forward planning of new special classes and additional special school places to ensure every child has a place in an educational setting best fitting their educational need. This forward planning work is well underway ahead of the 2025/26 school year. This work involves a detailed review of statistical data in relation to forecasting demand for special class places, an analysis of available school accommodation, consideration of improved data sharing arrangements and a particular focus on the provision of special classes at post-primary.
Earlier this year, I announced plans for the roll-out of the next phase of investment in the school capital building programme. This additional funding of almost €800 million will support over 90 building projects in 2024 and 2025 including 138 additional rooms for children with special educational needs.
I want to assure you that the department will continue to support the NCSE and schools through the provision of the necessary funding and capital investment to ensure all children are successful in accessing an education appropriate to their needs.
Schools Administration
Questions (143)
Robert Troy
Question:143. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education the catchment area of a school (details supplied); and the school that residents of Ardmore Hills are in the catchment area of. [45710/24]
View answerWritten answers
Under the Education Act 1998, the question of enrolment policy in individual schools, including the setting of catchment areas, is the responsibility of the board of management on behalf of the school patron. The 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 Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018 requires schools to clearly set out their selection criteria in their admission policies. Schools have discretion in relation to their admission criteria and how they are applied. Living in a particular catchment area is one criteria that a school may apply. The criteria to be applied by schools and the order of priority are a matter for the schools themselves. My department does not intervene in the criteria set by a school.
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 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.
New schools established since 2011 to meet demographic demand are required, in the first instance, to prioritise pupil applications from within the designated school planning area(s) which the school was established to serve. This does not preclude schools from enrolling pupils from outside of the school planning area where they have sufficient places, rather it reflects the need to accommodate in the first instance the demographic for which the school was established.
The school planning areas provide a useful means of projecting demographic demand in a localised area or areas, thereby allowing the department to determine oncoming growth at a relatively localised level to inform recommendations and decisions on where additional school places may be needed.
However, there can be a high degree of inward and outward mobility of children between school planning areas, particularly in urban areas, and parents are free to apply to enrol their children in any school, whether that is in the school planning area in which they reside or not.
In the majority of cases the boards of management of schools do not use school planning area boundaries as part of their admissions policies, or catchment areas within those policies. However, the department wishes to be transparent on the approach taken to the analysis of demand for school places and has undertaken to make school planning area maps available. The publication of these boundaries provides this geographical information to the public on an open-source platform available at the link below.
https://education-statistics-doeirl.hub.arcgis.com/datasets/bbdf93d83276489dbdcc0be2ee77aec0_0/explore
Ardmore Hills is located in the Mullingar school planning area.
In most areas, school planning areas were based on traditional school catchment areas where all primary schools were assigned to a post-primary feeder area (typically a population centre or town), containing one or more post-primary schools. With the introduction of small areas in census 2011, these feeder areas were amended to align with census small areas. The current school planning areas take account not only of local groupings of schools, but also of natural boundaries, census small areas and other local conditions.
As stated above, the question of enrolment in individual schools, including the setting of catchment areas, is the responsibility of the board of management on behalf of the school patron and my department does not seek to intervene in decisions made by schools in such matters or have access to such maps. It is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998.
Section 29 of the Education Act, 1998 provides for an appeal by a parent or guardian to the Secretary General of my department, or in the case of an Educational Training Board (ETB) school to the ETB in the first instance, where a Board of Management of a school, or a person acting on behalf of the Board, refuses to enrol a student in a school.
Further information on the Section 29 appeals process is available on my department's website www.education.ie. The Education Welfare Service (EWS) of the Child and Family Agency (Tusla) is the statutory agency which can assist parents who are experiencing difficulty in securing a school place for their child. The EWS can be contacted at 01-77185.
Special Educational Needs
Questions (144)
Thomas Gould
Question:144. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education the number of Cork schools that had their SEN or SNA allocation reduced in 2024. [45727/24]
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 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.
The NCSE has the responsibility for planning and coordinating school supports for children with special educational needs and schools should liaise directly with the NCSE in the event that additional supports are required.
It is important to remember that the Special Education Teaching (SET) Allocation Model distributes the total number of SET posts in line with each school's profile of need. This ensures that supports are available where and when students require them e.g. if a child moves school or as students leave to progress to post-primary level.
Overall Cork schools received an increase of 376 SET hours per week for this school year. 161 schools received an additional 1,293 hours per week (8 hours per school on average). 157 schools saw a reduction of 917 hours (approximately 6 hours on average). This reduction in hours relates primarily to reduced enrolments in primary schools in the county. 101 schools saw no change in their allocation.
In relation to the SNA figures I have forwarded your query to the NCSE who will reply directly.
In 2024, the number of special education teaching and SNA posts in our schools will increase by 744 and 1,216 respectively. This will mean we will have over 41,500 qualified and committed people in our schools who are focused wholly and exclusively on supporting these children. This figure will be built on as Budget 2025 provides for a further 768 special education teachers and 1,600 SNAs posts meaning there will be close to 44,000 dedicated special education professionals in our education system.
It is open to all schools to apply for a review of their SET or SNA allocation if it feels its allocation is insufficient to meet the needs of its students. Local special education needs organisers (SENOs) are available to advise and assist schools with the review process and to offer advice and support as required.
Home Schooling
Questions (145)
Thomas Gould
Question:145. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education the number of children in Cork currently availing of the home tuition scheme due to a lack of a school place. [45728/24]
View answerWritten answers
The Home Tuition Grant Scheme is a short-term measure available to provide funding towards the provision of a compensatory educational service for children who, for a number of specific reasons, are unable to attend school. It is an interim measure only and is not intended to be an optional alternative to a school placement.
The Department of Education operates four categories of home tuition:
Home tuition for children with special educational needs and on medical grounds. gov - Home Tuition (www.gov.ie)
Maternity-related absences gov - Home Tuition (www.gov.ie)
No School Place (NSP) Home Tuition Scheme gov - Home Tuition (www.gov.ie)
Children in Care (CIC) Home Tuition Scheme gov - Home Tuition (www.gov.ie)
There are a variety of reasons why a child may be without a school place such as children moving school mid-year, family relocating, expulsion, children receiving a place further away than they can travel to. The Home Tuition Scheme is a short-term measure until a solution is put in place.
Currently in the 2024/2025 school year the number of children in receipt of Home Tuition in Cork is in the range 1-5.
The Educational Welfare Service is part of Tusla Education Support Service (TESS) and operates under the Education (Welfare) Act, 2000, a piece of legislation that emphasises the promotion of school attendance, participation, and retention. The Educational Welfare Service can assist a family when applying for home tuition if the child is without a school placement.
A referral for a child without a school place is prioritised by the Educational Welfare Service and an Educational Welfare Officer (EWO) is assigned immediately to support families who are in this situation.
Home tutors are engaged by the parents/guardian of the child who is to receive tuition and the tutor has no contractual relationship with the Department of Education.
Departmental Data
Questions (146)
Sorca Clarke
Question:146. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the funding provided for capital projects in Longford and Westmeath schools in each of the years 2019 to date, in tabular form. [45771/24]
View answerWritten answers
Since 2020, my department has invested over €5 billion in our schools throughout the country, involving the completion of over 950 school building projects and with construction currently underway at approximately 350 other projects, which includes 37 new school buildings. These 350 projects currently at construction involve a total State investment of over €1.5bn.
The department announced earlier this year that close to 90 projects, including 28 new school buildings, would be authorised to proceed from tender stage to construction over the course of 2024 and early 2025. In total, around €800 million will be invested in these projects under the department’s Large Scale Capital Programme and Additional Accommodation Scheme for essential classroom accommodation.
Between projects currently under construction and projects moving to construction in this latest phase, investments by the Department of Education are adding over 550,000 square metres of new and modernised capacity to our school estate.
This is a record level of investment in school buildings. It will expand the number of school places, significantly increase provision for special education and upgrade and modernise our school infrastructure.? The impact of this will be felt in communities, right around the country.
The key drivers of capital investment in the schools sector include:
• demographic growth, particularly at post primary level
• increased demand for special educational needs provision
• alignment of school place provision with new housing development
• climate action objectives including deep energy retrofit.
Since 2019, the capital invested in Co. Longford schools has been over €38m. The table below shows the breakdown by year.
|
|
2024 |
2023 |
2022 |
2021 |
2020 |
2019 |
|
Capital Spend on Co. Longford Schools |
€9.7m |
€6.1m |
€5.1m |
€6.3m |
€7.7m |
€3.1m |
From 2019 to date, 12 school building projects have been completed in Co. Longford.
Currently there are 4 school building projects (Large Scale/ASA/Modular) under construction in Co. Longford.
There are also 25 school building projects (Large Scale/ASA/Modular) in Co. Longford moving through the various stages of design, of which 1 are new school project.
Since 2019, the capital invested in Co. Westmeath schools has been over €135m. The table below shows the breakdown by year.
|
|
2024 |
2023 |
2022 |
2021 |
2020 |
2019 |
|
Capital Spend on Co. Westmeath Schools |
€52.0m |
€15.6m |
€19.8m |
€13.7m |
€12.6m |
€22.1m |
From 2019 to date, 31 school building projects have been completed in Co. Westmeath.
Currently there are 5 school building projects (Large Scale/ASA/Modular) under construction in Co. Westmeath, of which 1 are new school project.
There are also 32 school building projects (Large Scale/ASA/Modular) in Co. Westmeath moving through the various stages of design, of which 1 are new school project.
These projects are being delivered to ambitious timeframes, and the position on individual projects evolves all the time as they advance through various stages. The status of all projects is set out at (www.gov.ie) . This is updated on a regular basis to reflect project progress through the various stages of capital appraisal, site acquisition, design, tender and construction.
Departmental Data
Questions (147)
Sorca Clarke
Question:147. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the number of primary school teachers employed in Longford and Westmeath in each of the years 2019 to date, in tabular form. [45772/24]
View answerDepartmental Data
Questions (149)
Sorca Clarke
Question:149. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the number of secondary school teachers employed in Longford and Westmeath in each of the years 2019 to date, in tabular form. [45774/24]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 147 and 149 together.
The information for the years requested by the Deputy, from 2019 to 2022, is available on my Department's website at the link below.
www.gov.ie/en/publication/c97fbd-teacher-statistics/#number-of-teachers-by-gender-appointed-to-teaching-posts
Statistical data on the breakdown of the number of teachers employed within each particular County, is not collated and published annually, and is therefore not readily available.
Departmental Data
Questions (148, 150)
Sorca Clarke
Question:148. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the number of primary school students enrolled in Longford and Westmeath schools in each of the years 2019 to date, in tabular form. [45773/24]
View answerSorca Clarke
Question:150. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the number of secondary school students enrolled in Longford and Westmeath schools in each of the years 2019 to date, in tabular form. [45775/24]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 148 and 150 together.
Please find attached requested data for years 2019 to 2023, 2023 being the latest year we have final enrolment data.
Please note enrolment data is taken from the Primary and Post Primary Online Databases. All enrolments are as per the census date, the 30th of September, in each academic year.
Longford
|
Academic Year (Enrolment) |
Primary |
Post-primary |
Total |
|
2019 |
5,404 |
4,005 |
9,409 |
|
2020 |
5,335 |
4,052 |
9,387 |
|
2021 |
5,242 |
4,205 |
9,447 |
|
2022 |
5,270 |
4,418 |
9,688 |
|
2023 |
5,308 |
4,480 |
9,788 |
Westmeath
|
Academic Year (Enrolment) |
Primary |
Post-primary |
Total |
|
2019 |
11,431 |
8,393 |
19,824 |
|
2020 |
11,301 |
8,334 |
19,635 |
|
2021 |
11,204 |
8,567 |
19,771 |
|
2022 |
11,286 |
8,856 |
20,142 |
|
2023 |
11,183 |
9,075 |
20,258 |
|
Note : Data is for those pupils enrolled in mainstream and post-primary schools in Longford and Westmeath since 2019. Data is taken from the Primary and Post Primary Online Databases and includes pupils enrolled on the Census date, 30th of September, for each academic year. |
Question No. 149 answered with Question No. 147.
Question No. 150 answered with Question No. 148.
Departmental Data
Questions (151)
Sorca Clarke
Question:151. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the funding provided through the ICT grant to Longford and Westmeath schools in each of the years 2019 to date, in tabular form. [45776/24]
View answerWritten answers
The Digital Strategy for Schools 2027, which builds on the progress made under the previous Digital Strategy (2015-2020), is 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. To date, €100m of that funding has issued to supports schools to implement the Digital Strategy. Overall from 2019.2020 school year inclusive, schools in Counties Longford and Westmeath have received €8,228,521m in ICT Grant funding.
This funding issues 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.
This funding issued directly to schools as they were best placed to determine the needs of their own students and have autonomy to do so, within the criteria applying to this funding. This can include establishing schemes to loan devices to students, and this also applies to Digital Strategy Grant funding.
The specific timing for issue of the ICT grant is subject to the availability of Exchequer funding and the wider capital needs of the Department including the building programme to ensure the supply of school accommodation.
The information sought by the Deputy in relation to the breakdown of ICT grant funding to schools in Counties Longford and Westmeath from 2019.2020 school year to current, is as follows:
|
School Year |
Number of Schools |
County Longford Schools |
Number of Schools |
County Westmeath Schools |
|
2019/2020 |
46 |
€559,906 |
87 |
€1,111,690 |
|
2020/2021 |
47 |
€555,910 |
86 |
€1,100,562 |
|
2021/2022 |
47 |
€532,395 |
90 |
€1,076,228 |
|
2021/2022 NRRP |
47 |
€605,266 |
90 |
€1,063,364 |
|
2023/2024 |
47 |
€542,465 |
90 |
€1,080,735 |
Departmental Data
Questions (152)
Sorca Clarke
Question:152. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the funding provided for NEPS services in Longford and Westmeath in each of the years 2019 to date, in tabular form. [45791/24]
View answerWritten answers
My Department’s National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) provides educational psychological support to all primary and post-primary, and special schools. This involves direct support in the event of a critical incident, access to national and regional support and development work to build school capacity to support students, access to a NEPS psychologist for responses to queries arising, and access to individual pupil casework where there is need via a NEPS psychologist or through the Scheme for the Commissioning of Psychological Assessments.
The budget allocation for NEPS in 2024 is €32.3m and this allocation covers both pay and non-pay costs. A further €5m has also been allocated for the Counselling in Primary Schools Pilot. This brings the overall budget for NEPS in 2024 to a level of €37.3m. This has risen from a figure of €20.8m in 2019.
NEPS psychologists work within a regional structure serving the needs of schools in their immediate vicinity. NEPS is made up of six regions – Longford and Westmeath are in NEPS Region 1 along with Offaly, Laois, South Dublin, and Kildare. NEPS is continuing to recruit educational psychologists.
Departmental Data
Questions (153)
Sorca Clarke
Question:153. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the number of applications received from schools in Longford and Westmeath under the major capital works scheme; and the number granted to date in 2024. [45794/24]
View answerWritten answers
I can confirm to the Deputy, that my Department received 6 applications from Longford and 3 applications from Westmeath for major capital funding, through the Additional School Accommodation(ASA) scheme.
I can also confirm that in 2024 my Department approved funding for 8 projects in Longford and 10 projects in Co Westmeath.
The purpose of the Additional Schools Accommodation (ASA) scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream and special education classroom accommodation is available to cater for pupils enrolled each year and where the need cannot be met by the school’s existing accommodation.
Since 2020 my Department has invested over €5 billion in our schools throughout the country, involving the completion of over 950 school building projects and with construction currently underway at approximately 350 other projects, which includes 37 new school buildings. These 350 projects currently at construction involve a total State investment of over €1.5bn.
The Department announced earlier this year that close to 90 projects, including 28 new school buildings, would be authorised to proceed from tender stage to construction over the course of 2024 and early 2025. In total, around €800 million will be invested in these projects under the department’s Large Scale Capital Programme and Additional Accommodation Scheme for essential classroom accommodation.
The Department's website provides a list, by county, of all projects being progressed under the large scale and additional accommodation scheme. This is available here: gov - Building works for the construction, extension and refurbishment of schools (www.gov.ie) .
The information requested by the Deputy is in the attachment provided.
School Transport
Questions (154)
Matt Carthy
Question:154. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Education her proposals to ensure that every child that needs a seat on school transport is provided one; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45814/24]
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.
As the Deputy is aware, a review of the School Transport Scheme has been completed. This review was conducted with a view to examining the current scheme, its broader effectiveness, and sustainability and to ensure it services students and their families adequately.
The School Transport Scheme 2030 report, which was published earlier this year, marks the largest review of the School Transport Scheme since it was established in 1967. The Government is committed to working to achieve the report’s recommendation of expanding access to the scheme so that an additional 100,000 pupils can be carried by 2030. Throughout the review, the value of the School Transport Scheme to both families and in supporting wider Government policies has been very apparent. In summary, school transport not only plays an important part in supporting children's access to education, but it also aligns to wider Government objectives.
Overall, the recommended changes to the future operation of the Scheme include expansion of the current eligibility criteria, addressing current operational challenges and moving towards better integration with public transport to ensure the best value for money to the Exchequer.
A phased implementation of the review’s recommendations began at the start of this school year. As indicated at the time of the launch of the review, the implementation includes a shared effort between the Department of Education and the Department of Transport, supported by the National Transport Authority (NTA) and Bus Éireann, to pilot and introduce greater integration of existing public transport networks with post-primary school transport routes.
It is intended, subject to resources, to commence implementing the revised eligibility criteria in the 2025/2026 school year.
School Transport
Questions (155)
Matt Carthy
Question:155. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Education the number of students in County Monaghan wishing to avail of a seat on school transport but who have been unable to do so to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45815/24]
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.
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.
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 School Transport Schemes and subject to a number of conditions.
Bus Éireann has advised that there are currently 4,266 pupils availing of school transport in County Monaghan, in comparison to 4,141 pupils in the 2023/24 school year. Bus Éireann further advised that 47 concessionary pupils were not successful in obtaining a ticket in the 2024/25 school year.
Schools Building Projects
Questions (156)
Pa Daly
Question:156. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Education the funding provided for capital projects in Kerry schools in each of the years 2019 to date, in tabular form. [45828/24]
View answerWritten answers
Since 2020, my department has invested over €5 billion in our schools throughout the country, involving the completion of over 950 school building projects and with construction currently underway at approximately 350 other projects, which includes 37 new school buildings. These 350 projects currently at construction involve a total State investment of over €1.5bn.
The department announced earlier this year that close to 90 projects, including 28 new school buildings, would be authorised to proceed from tender stage to construction over the course of 2024 and early 2025. In total, around €800 million will be invested in these projects under the department’s Large Scale Capital Programme and Additional Accommodation Scheme for essential classroom accommodation.
Between projects currently under construction and projects moving to construction in this latest phase, investments by the Department of Education are adding over 550,000 square metres of new and modernised capacity to our school estate.
This is a record level of investment in school buildings. It will expand the number of school places, significantly increase provision for special education and upgrade and modernise our school infrastructure. The impact of this will be felt in communities, right around the country.
The key drivers of capital investment in the schools sector include:
• demographic growth, particularly at post primary level
• increased demand for special educational needs provision
• alignment of school place provision with new housing development
• climate action objectives including deep energy retrofit.
Since 2019, the capital invested in Co. Kerry schools has been over €130m. The table below shows the breakdown by year.
|
|
2024 |
2023 |
2022 |
2021 |
2020 |
2019 |
|
Capital Spend on Co. Kerry Schools |
€32.6m |
€15.0m |
€19.0m |
€30.0m |
€20.2m |
€13.6m |
From 2019 to date, 46 school building projects have been completed in Co. Kerry.
Currently there are 12 school building projects (Large Scale/ASA/Modular) under construction in Co. Kerry.
There are also 69 school building projects (Large Scale/ASA/Modular) in Co. Kerry moving through the various stages of design, of which 3 are new school project.
These projects are being delivered to ambitious timeframes, and the position on individual projects evolves all the time as they advance through various stages. The status of all projects is set out at (www.gov.ie) . This is updated on a regular basis to reflect project progress through the various stages of capital appraisal, site acquisition, design, tender and construction.