Robert Troy
Question:554. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education to arrange for a school (details supplied) to be insulated. [46754/24]
View answerSchool Accommodation
Questions (554)
Written answers
As the Deputy may be aware my Department provides funding via the Summer Works Scheme (SWS) 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. The SWS operates on a multi-annual basis for a number of categories of works, which could include the provision of insulation and was last opened for applications in 2019.
It should be noted that the Deputy refers in his question to Killucan NS, however the roll number provided is for Columba College. At this moment in time we do not currently have any applications for Killucan NS or any open applications for Columba College Roll Number 71430C under the Fabric Defects category. However, the Deputy should note the SWS team is working with the school on a Roof works project which is ongoing.
My Department is leading an ambitious sustainability agenda and has progressed a wide array of measures to improve the overall sustainability of our school buildings. It is a priority for Government to deliver on Ireland’s ambitious climate agenda and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This includes targets around the decarbonisation of Ireland’s public buildings.
As part of it’s planning for 2025 and beyond, Department officials are considering and planning for the next phases of the summer works programme and the opportunities this may create to support the sustainability agenda. In this regard, it is envisaged at this stage that, a multi-annual SWS with a focus on climate action and energy conservation will be the focus for the next summer works scheme to be opened for applications. The arrangements and timing of that SWS is still under consideration and schools will be updated in due course.
School Enrolments
Questions (555, 556)
Danny Healy-Rae
Question:555. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education to give urgent attention to a serious issue with a shortage school places (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46774/24]
View answerDanny Healy-Rae
Question:556. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education to examine the case of a child (details supplied) urgently in need of a school place in a secondary school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46776/24]
View answerWritten answers
As you are aware enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for government. Thanks to considerable investment in special education in recent years 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 National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children with special educational needs. They have recently recruited additional special educational needs organisers (SENOs), advisors and team managers. 120 SENOs now operate nationwide, four of these are operating solely in County Kerry.
SENOs play an important role in ensuring there is adequate special educational provision within local areas and are currently visiting schools nationwide to conduct planning meetings. These visits are key in terms of forward planning for the 2025/26 school year.
The NCSE continue to assess what additional provision is required in local areas and what schools have capacity to accommodate required provision. They will advise on the location of new special classes for the 2025/26 school year in the coming months.
Almost 1,700 classes have been sanctioned by the NCSE in the last 5 years, 11 new special schools have been established and many more expanded. For this school year alone over 400 new special classes have been sanctioned bringing the total number of special classes nationwide to 3,336.
98 of these classes are in County Kerry, 7 are new for the 2024/25 school year, 5 at primary level and 2 at post-primary level. Budget 2025 provides funding for another 400 special classes and 300 special school places nationwide.
Parents seeking special class placements for their children are advised to contact the NCSE locally for planning purposes. Local SENOs are available to assist and advise parents and can provide details on schools with available special educational places. Parents may contact SENOs directly using the contact details available on the NCSE website.
Question No. 556 answered with Question No. 555.
School Transport
Questions (557)
John Brady
Question:557. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on the application for private school transportation for a child (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46781/24]
View answerWritten answers
The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year over 172,500 children, are transported daily in approximately 7,900 vehicles across 10,300 routes daily to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country. These daily trips cover over 100 million kilometres. This figure includes over 143,800 pupils travelling on primary and post primary services, 21,700 pupils with special educational needs, and 6,800 pupils who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine.
The scheme is made up of three separate schemes, the school transport scheme for primary, post primary and for children with special educational needs. Transport is also provided for children who have arrived in Ireland from Ukraine and those residing in IPAS/EROC centres.
The total expenditure on the scheme in 2024 was €512m.
The National Council for Special Education acts in an advisory role to the Department of Education on the suitability of placements for children with special educational needs. Under the terms of the School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs, the Department will consider the report of the Special Education Needs Organiser (SENO). School transport is provided to children with special educational needs who are attending the nearest school to their place of residence that is or can be resourced to meet their educational needs, as identified by the SENO.
Sanction has been sent by School Transport Section of my Department to Bus Éireann for the establishment of an individual service for pupil referred to by the Deputy. Sanction has also issued to the school for an escort to be appointed to meet the pupil’s needs on board the service.
Bus Éireann are now required to carry out a tender for this service in line with procurement guidelines. Once a contractor has been sourced and the school has appointed an escort, the service will commence. Bus Éireann will liaise with the family directly with regard to this matter at that stage.
School Accommodation
Questions (558)
Ruth Coppinger
Question:558. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education whether she is considering the provision of a multi-gendered, multi-denomination second level option in the Dublin 15/Dublin 7 area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46886/24]
View answerWritten answers
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.
There are currently five co-educational, multi-denominational post-primary schools in the D15/D7 area.
Where demographic data indicates that additional provision is required, the delivery of such additional provision is dependent on the particular circumstances of each case and may, be provided through:
• Utilising existing unused capacity within a school or schools,
• Extending the capacity of a school or schools,
• Provision of a new school or schools.
If additional accommodation is required, the aim to try and facilitate this, as much as possible, by way of expansion of existing schools rather than establishing new schools. The expansion of existing schools is consistent with wider Government objectives under Project Ireland 2040 for an increased emphasis on compact growth. In respect of post primary schools, new post primary schools must have a student enrolment capacity of 600-1,000 students and must be co-educational. A lower threshold of 400 students may apply to gaelcholáistí, having regard to the alternative of establishing an Irish-medium unit (aonad) in an English-medium school.
Since 2011, new arrangements have been in place for the establishment of new schools involving the forecasting of demand for school places based on demographic exercises carried out by the department. New schools are only established in areas of demographic growth as the resources available for school infrastructure have to be prioritised to meet the needs of areas of significant population increase so as to ensure that every child has a school place.
These new arrangements also give an opportunity to patrons to apply for the patronage of new schools. The criteria used in deciding on the patronage of new schools place a particular emphasis on parental patronage and language preferences and an analysis of existing provision in the areas where the schools are being established. This approach is underpinned by a 2011 Government decision.
The patronage process is open to all patron bodies and prospective patrons. An Online Patronage Process System (OPPS) has been in operation under the Department since 2018 and provides objective information to parents in the relevant school planning areas to assist them in making an informed choice about their preferred model of patronage and language of instruction for the new school.
When the department announces that a new school(s) entity is required, a prospective patron can choose the school(s) it wishes to apply for and complete an application form in that regard for each school, for submission to the department. The department provides details on the OPPS of the school(s) and the list of applicant patrons which have applied for patronage of the school(s). Parents can then access the OPPS website, which allows them to access the appropriate survey for their area, to input the details of the eligible child(ren) and to select their preferred patron and language of instruction (with the exception of the Irish-medium primary gaelscoileanna which have been designated as Irish-medium prior to the opening of the OPPS - in the case of these schools, parents can select their preferred patron). Parental preferences, as well as other considerations such as the extent of diversity of provision in an area (including Irish-medium provision), are key to the decision-making process and to whether at post-primary level a school would take the form of a gaelcholáiste or whether, if English-medium, the school would include an Irish-medium unit or "aonad".
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.
Special Educational Needs
Questions (559)
Ruth Coppinger
Question:559. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education when the special education taskforce in Dublin 15 will report and make proposals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46887/24]
View answerWritten answers
Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for 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.
A new taskforce to support the forward planning of special education provision in the Dublin 15 area was established by Minister of State with special responsibility for Special Education and Inclusion, Hildegarde Naughton, and held its inaugural meeting on 23 October 2024. I has met on 4 occasions. The next meeting is scheduled for February 2025 and the taskforce will continue to meet over the course of this 2024/25 school year.
The membership of the taskforce includes an independent chairperson and representatives for parents, school principals, school patrons, the NCSE, the Department of Education, the Department of Children Equality Integration & Youth, the Health Service Executive (HSE) and the Early Years sector. The representative members of the taskforce reflects the broad stakeholder community for special education in the Dublin 15 area.
The voice of parents will be a key component of the taskforce, and representation includes three parents, a representative from the Autism School Dublin 15 (ASD15) group and a representative from the National Parents Council.
The taskforce is committed to communicating its findings to me, as minister with responsibility for Special Education and Inclusion, and my department's Special Education Section no later than quarter 2 2025.
In parallel to this work, my Department and the NCSE continue to work closely on the forward planning of special education places. The NCSE have conducted over 1,000 school planning visits and it is expected that the NCSE will shortly begin to sanction new special classes for the coming school year.
Schools Building Projects
Questions (560)
Colm Burke
Question:560. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education the status of a building project by a school (details supplied) under the ADAPT 3 Programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46889/24]
View answerWritten answers
The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is being delivered under the Departments ADAPT Programme. The ADAPT Programme uses a professional external Project Manager to co-ordinate and drive the Design Team to achieve the best possible timeframe for the project through the stages of Architectural Planning to Tender and Construction.
The project is currently at Stage 1 of architectural planning – Preliminary Design, including site and current building assessment, location suitability and initial sketch scheme, with a preferred design option to be agreed by all stakeholders.
Upon receipt of the Stage 1 report from the Design Team, the Stage 1 Stakeholders meeting was held in April 2024, between representatives from the Board of Management, Project Manager, Design Team, and the Department.
Following that meeting, the Design Team were requested to submit a Stage 1 Addendum report to the Department, for further consideration. The report was received in June 2024, and is under review.
Upon completion of the review, Department Officials will advise regarding an agreed preferred design option to be progressed, so that the Design Team can commence Stage 2(a) of Architectural Planning – Developed Design, where that agreed preferred option can be developed to a stage where it can be prepared to lodge for statutory approvals and be fully cost planned.
Schools Building Projects
Questions (561)
Emer Currie
Question:561. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Education if she will reconsider the configuration of new two special classes and two classrooms at a school (details supplied) as modular buildings, and revert to the original proposals first discussed two years ago, which were endorsed by the school to include permanent accommodation attached to the main building with roof restoration, as there are design faults in the new plan and it contradicts the school ethos of an inclusive environment for all. [46892/24]
View answerWritten answers
I can confirm to the Deputy, that the school in question submitted an application for the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme in February 2023. Following assessment of the application and consideration of the situation in the school it was agreed that the project should proceed with the Department’s Project Manager Framework.
A brief issued to the school authority for 2x Modular special education classrooms, 2x Modular mainstream classrooms (1 additional and 1 prefab replacement) and the refurbishment of a damaged roof for the main school building. This brief was agreed to by the school authorities and a Project Manager was appointed on 17th October 2024. The Project Manager visited the school site and conducted a viability report. The viability report was then agreed by the Department and issued to the school on 15th November 2024.
The Board of Management of the school in question responded on 26th November 2024 and the main request was for the inclusion of a central corridor. A Departmental official issued a response to all of the school’s queries and it was stated that a central corridor cannot be provided in the modular buildings for the school, due to the design of the modular brief of accommodation being provided to the school.
Department officials have continued to engage with the school in question over the last number of months and to date there has been no request from the school to change the delivery mechanism that was agreed in October 2024.
Officials in the Department continue to be available to the school should they wish to discuss any further issues.
School Facilities
Questions (562)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:562. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education for an update on an application by a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46893/24]
View answerWritten answers
The school to which the Deputy refers submitted an application for funding under the Emergency Works Scheme (EWS) for universal access works. Works. This application is currently being reviewed by the technical team within the EWS and, once a technical recommendation has been received, the EWS team 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 Facilities
Questions (563)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:563. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education for an update on an application by a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46894/24]
View answerWritten answers
As you are aware enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for government. Thanks to considerable investment in special education in recent years 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 National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children with special educational needs. Almost 1,700 classes have been sanctioned by the NCSE in the last 5 years, 11 new special schools have been established and many more expanded. For this school year alone over 400 new special classes have been sanctioned bringing the total number of special classes nationwide to 3,336.
98 of these classes are in County Kerry, 7 are new for the 2024/25 school year, 5 at primary level and 2 at post-primary level. Budget 2025 provides funding for another 400 special classes and 300 special school places nationwide.
Parents seeking special class placements for their children are advised to contact the NCSE locally for planning purposes. Local special educational needs organisers (SENOs) are available to assist and advise parents and can provide details on schools with available special educational places. Parents may contact SENOs directly using the contact details available on the NCSE website.
The NCSE have recently recruited additional SENOs, advisors and team managers. 120 SENOs now operate nationwide, four of these are operating solely in County Kerry.
SENOs play an important role in ensuring there is adequate special educational provision within local areas and are currently visiting schools nationwide to conduct planning meetings. Over 1,000 school planning visits have occurred in recent months. These planning visits have been key to the NCSE in determining what new provision can be provided and it is expected that the NCSE will sanction a number of new special classes in the coming weeks.
The NCSE continue to assess what additional provision is required in local areas and what schools have capacity to accommodate required provision. The NCSE will progress the sanctioning of new special classes over the coming weeks and will advise parents in turn on the location of new special classes for the 2025/26 school year.
I wish to commend the school referred to by the Deputy for expressing an interest in opening a special class. While it may not be possible for the NCSE to sanction new special classes in every school that expresses an interest, the NCSE will continue to monitor the level of need in the area.
School Accommodation
Questions (564)
David Cullinane
Question:564. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Education the status of provision of additional accommodation for a school (details supplied) to open an ASD Class; the timeframe for delivery; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46898/24]
View answerWritten answers
I am pleased to advise the Deputy that approval has issued to the school in question for the provision of Modular Accommodation to provide Two Special Education Needs Classrooms. The project is being delivered under the Department’s Devolved SEN Reconfiguration and Modular Accommodation programme.
This programme provides project management supports to enable the accommodation to be provided as quickly as possible and helps to ease the administrative workload for individual schools in relation to the management and delivery of the project.
The use of the Department's Modular Accommodation Framework also assists in ensuring lead in periods for procurement of modular accommodation are minimised to the greatest extent possible.
A design team has been appointed and officials in my Department await submission of the necessary signed documentation, from the school authority, in order to progress. On receipt of this signed documentation the project will commence delivery stage.
Scoileanna Gaeilge agus Gaeltachta
Questions (565)
Paul Murphy
Question:565. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education if the Programme for Government will commit to legislation which enables future generations of children to attend a Gaelscoil or a Gaelcholáiste, if they so desire; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46907/24]
View answerWritten answers
Work is currently underway in my department to develop a new policy on Irish-medium education outside of the Gaeltacht. One of the key objectives of this policy, among other things, is to increase the proportion of children and young people accessing Irish-medium education. This includes exploring and progressing opportunities for the growth and establishment of Gaelscoileanna and Gaelcholáistí, in line with a range of factors, including demand, teacher supply and the need for children and young people to access a broad and balanced curriculum.
In order to inform the development of the policy, a comprehensive public consultation process was conducted to gather the views of stakeholders, including young people, parents and guardians, education professionals, education stakeholders and Irish-language organisations. Sealbhú, a research centre in DCU, carried out an analysis of the information gathered throughout the consultation. A review of national and international literature was also conducted by Sealbhú. This research focuses on teaching through the medium of minority languages in various jurisdictions internationally.
The policy, together with an action plan, is currently being developed by officials of my department. In developing the policy, my department is drawing on the various reports prepared by Sealbhú, and on information shared by stakeholders in bilateral meetings and at a consultation event held in September 2024. This information is being considered in light of the existing provision for Irish-medium education and the estimated demand in the education system, as well as the department’s budgetary and legislative context.
Child Abuse
Questions (566)
Thomas Gould
Question:566. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education if redress is available for people who suffered physical and mental abuse in school; if so, the conditions of this redress; and if not, when redress will be made available. [46911/24]
View answerWritten answers
The Department takes child protection very seriously and considers that the protection and welfare of children is a fundamental responsibility of all involved in the care and education of children. Since the introduction of a revised primary school curriculum in 1970 and the total prohibition of use of corporal punishment from 1 February 1982 child protection requirements and procedures in schools have been introduced and strengthened on a number of occasions.
The Children First Act 2015 and the Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children 2017, promote the protection of children from abuse and neglect. They set out what individuals and organisations need to do to keep children safe and how to deal with concerns about a child’s safety or welfare.
Following the publication of the Children First Guidance in 2017, new Child Protection procedures for Primary and Post Primary Schools, were published. The procedures are based on Children First and provide detailed direction to school management and staff on the identification of and response to child protection concerns. The procedures include reporting procedures, oversight measures and the introduction of child protection and safeguarding inspections.
In 2021 the Department engaged an independent reviewer to carry out a High-Level Independent Review of the Department of Education’s Current Child Protection Policies and Processes. The review examined the policies and processes that the Department has in place for the protection and safeguarding of children and young people. The aim of the review was to identify any existing or potential gaps, risks or areas for improvement and to make recommendations for improvements both short and long term. The procedures were updated in August 2023 and the Department is continuing to implement the recommendations contained in the report which includes the publication of updated Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools early in 2025.
The obligations and responsibilities which arise from the procedures have been taken very seriously by schools since their implementation and there is a very strong culture of child protection across the school sector.
Any concern or allegation of a child protection nature received directly by staff in the Department is dealt with in accordance with the Department’s Procedures for responding to Child Protection Concerns which come to the attention of staff employed by the Department of Education. The Department does not investigate the concerns which come to its attention and ensures that the details of any concern reported to the Department, including reports which relate to historical abuse, are immediately passed on to the relevant authorities, that is, Tusla-the Child and Family Agency, An Garda Síochána and/or the school authorities as appropriate.
The report of the Scoping Inquiry into Historical Sexual Abuse in Day and Boarding Schools Run by Religious Orders indicates that a serious problem of sexual abuse appears to have existed in some schools and Government agreed that it is in the wider public interest that this be examined in more detail, which will be the objective of the Commission of Investigation.
The Department is keenly aware of the importance of action on the issue of historical sexual abuse to survivors, as they have powerfully described in the report, and the need for the Commission of Investigation to proceed as quickly as possible. A high-level Interdepartmental Group has been established to advise on the Terms of Reference for the Commission. The Group expects to report to the Minister for Education on its deliberations in the coming weeks.
Appointments to State Boards
Questions (567)
Alan Kelly
Question:567. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Education if a list will be provided of all persons appointed to State or semi-State boards under her remit since 1 November 2024. [46924/24]
View answerWritten answers
I am advised that no persons have been appointed to State Boards under the Department of Education since 1 November 2024.
School Accommodation
Questions (568)
Paula Butterly
Question:568. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Education for an update on the Drogheda educate together secondary school project on the Mill Road in east Meath, which has been delayed for a considerable amount of time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1015/25]
View answerWritten answers
The project for the school referred to by the Deputy received notification of the decision to grant planning on the 15th of January 2025. If there is no appeal to An Bord Pleanála, the final grant of planning will issue within six weeks of the initial notification, following which the project can progress to the next stage of architectural planning, Stage 2(b) Detailed Design, which includes the preparation of tender documents.
My Department continues to liaise with the school and Patron Body to keep them updated on the progression of the permanent school.
School Accommodation
Questions (569)
Paula Butterly
Question:569. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Education the details of all open applications for additional and emergency accommodation application for any primary or secondary schools in County Louth, by the date applied, the type of application, the funding amount, the name of school and the stage of application, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1019/25]
View answerWritten answers
I can advise the Deputy that the purpose of my Department’s Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream classroom accommodation and accommodation for pupils with special education needs is available to cater for pupils enrolled each year, where the need cannot be met by the school’s existing accommodation or at other schools in the area.
Since 2020, my department has invested over €5.7 billion in our schools throughout the country, involving the completion of over 1,150 school building projects and with construction currently underway at approximately 300 other projects, which includes new school buildings some of which are being delivered in phases. These 300 projects currently at construction involve a total State investment of over €1.3bn.
The department previously announced 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.
I am pleased to advise the Deputy that the total spend for School Building Projects in Co Louth since 2020 is €91.9 million. There have been 26 projects completed in that time and there are currently 9 projects at construction stage. There are also 7 building projects at Design stage and 4 modular projects at an advanced stage of delivery.
I can confirm that there are currently eight open applications for County Louth, which are detailed in the table below. These projects are currently being assessed or a brief is being finalised to issue to the school. The funding amount for a project is not established until the application has been assessed and a brief agreed with the school therefore the accommodation requested has been provided in lieu.
Schools Building Projects
Questions (570)
Paul Nicholas Gogarty
Question:570. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Education when a school (details supplied) was first notified formally or informally of proposals to move to a premises off Thomas Omer Way; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1039/25]
View answerWritten answers
My Department and the NCSE work closely in relation to advance planning for new special school requirements. This work was primarily done in the latter half of 2024 in respect of the 5 new special schools that are due to be established for the 2025/26 school year. Updates in relation to this work are set out in press releases that were published by my Department in October and December 2024. As part of these works there is preparatory work done on identifying opportunities for repurposing existing accommodation which in the Department’s experience is the most efficient method for facilitating the opening of new special schools. In the case of the new special school being established in the Lucan area, this work also involved an assessment of the wider demographic requirements at primary level.
The decision to repurpose the Lucan East ETNS school to facilitate the establishment of the new special school to provide much needed special school provision in the Lucan area was confirmed by the Minister in the press release issued on 10th December and this position was notified to the patron and school at that time.
Lucan East ETNS will move from their current location to the new school building that is nearing completion in Kishogue over Easter 2025, with students returning to the new school following the Easter midterm break.
The new school for Lucan East ETNS is well located to continue to serve its existing catchment area, which has a reducing demand over the medium term, while also starting to meet the increasing demand from the new residential area in Clonburris. The relocation of Lucan East ETNS does not affect the Department's plans for further school development in the Clonburris area and the Department will continue to monitor demand brought about by demographic need when addressing school capacity.
The school in Kishogue is a new state of the art 16 classroom primary school with 2 Special Education Needs (SEN) classrooms, external hard and soft play areas, new SEN soft play equipment, a secure junior play area, two ballcourts, and 118 bicycle rack units that meets all the Department’s modern technical guidance documents and decarbonisation requirements.
My Department will be working closely with the patron and school authority on the practical arrangements for the relocation.
Schools Building Projects
Questions (571)
Paul Nicholas Gogarty
Question:571. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Education further to correspondence, the reason a current school site is no longer suitable for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1040/25]
View answerWritten answers
As part of its forward planning, my Department has identified the need for a new special school to be established in the Lucan area for the 2025/26 school year. This will be a very important local facility for families and children in the Lucan area who require a school place in a special school.
My Department considers that this need can be best met through the Lucan East ETNS school moving to the new school building that is nearing completion in Kishogue and for the existing school building at Lucan East to be re-purposed to facilitate the establishment of the new special school.
The new school building in Kishogue is due to be completed by Easter 2025. This will enable my Department to re-purpose the existing building in advance of the opening of the new special school for the 2025/26 school year.
In the case of the new special school being established in the Lucan area, an assessment of the wider demographic requirements at primary level was carried out. The decision to relocate Lucan East ETNS was made in the wider context of the demographic need for school places in the area. The demographic profile of the Lucan area has changed since Lucan East ETNS was established, and the demand for school places in the current location is decreasing.
The area surrounding the new school has a younger demographic profile, and a higher associated demand for primary school places in the short to medium term.
The Clonburris area is planned to deliver over 10,000 new homes that will accommodate 23,000 people. Development has started on these homes and the demand for primary school places is starting to materialise.
The new school for Lucan East ETNS is well located to continue to serve its existing catchment area, which has a reducing demand over the medium term, while also starting to meet the increasing demand from the new residential area in Clonburris. The new location is also better positioned to facilitate expansion opportunities in to the future.
The relocation of Lucan East ETNS does not affect the Department's plans for further school development in the Clonburris area and the Department will continue to monitor demand brought about by demographic need when addressing school capacity.
Lucan East ETNS will move from their current location to the new school building that is nearing completion in Kishogue over Easter 2025, with students returning to the new school following the Easter midterm break.
My Department will be working closely with the patron and school authority on the practical arrangements for the relocation.
Schools Building Projects
Questions (572)
Paul Nicholas Gogarty
Question:572. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Education if she will consider deferring the proposed move of a school (details supplied) to the site off Thomas Omer Way until 2027; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1041/25]
View answerWritten answers
As part of my Department’s forward planning, it has identified the need for a new special school to be established in the Lucan area for the 2025/26 school year. This will be a very important local facility for families and children in the Lucan area who require a school place in a special school.
My Department considers that this need can be best met through the Lucan East ETNS school moving to the new school building that is nearing completion in Kishogue and for the existing school building at Lucan East to be re-purposed to facilitate the establishment of the new special school.
The new school building in Kishogue is due to be completed by Easter 2025. This will enable my Department to re-purpose the existing building in advance of the opening of the new special school for the 2025/26 school year.
In the case of the new special school being established in the Lucan area, an assessment of the wider demographic requirements at primary level was carried out. The decision to relocate Lucan East ETNS was made in the wider context of the demographic need for school places in the area. The demographic profile of the Lucan area has changed since Lucan East ETNS was established, and the demand for school places in the current location is decreasing. Due to the changes in the demographic profile, the residential area where Lucan East ETNS is currently located (between the R120 & R136 roads) has a high level of primary school provision relative to the population of primary school children in the area. Therefore, pupils are travelling into this area to attend primary school. The latest primary school enrolment data informs us that over 50% of the current enrolment come from outside this area and more than a third are travelling from East of the R136 "Grange Castle Road".
The area surrounding the new school has a younger demographic profile, and a higher associated demand for primary school places in the short to medium term.
The Clonburris area is planned to deliver over 10,000 new homes that will accommodate 23,000 people. Development has started on these homes and the demand for primary school places is starting to materialise. Relocating Lucan East ETNS will help address this imbalance by providing school accommodation closer to where the demand is located in a sustainable manner.
The new school for Lucan East ETNS is well located to continue to serve its existing catchment area, which has a reducing demand over the medium term, while also starting to meet the increasing demand from the new residential area in Clonburris.
The relocation of Lucan East ETNS does not affect the Department's plans for further school development in the Clonburris area and the Department will continue to monitor demand brought about by demographic need when addressing school capacity.
The new school is on a larger, better shaped site than the existing Lucan East site and has better capacity for future expansion which will be important going forward. This site will benefit from an adjacent park/green space and greenway linking to the future residential development.
The design for the school site factors in a controlled pedestrian crossing, footpaths, pedestrian walkways, and cycle tracks to support and facilitate active travel arrangements. In relation to vehicular access, all vehicles will access the site via a new junction arrangement on the Thomas Omer Way which will involve a dedicated right hand turn lane. The site also contains a turning circle. There are also set down areas allocated within the site which are suited for car and bus set down.
The issue raised in relation to a traffic warden comes within the remit of South Dublin County Council (SDCC). However, my Department will support any application made by the school to SDCC for a traffic warden at the new location and have contacted SDCC outlining the Department’s support for such an application. SDCC have advised the Department that an assessment of the location of the new school will be carried out in early 2025 with a view to establishing if there is need for, and if there is a suitable location for an assisted crossing.
Lucan East ETNS will move from their current location to the new school building that is nearing completion in Kishogue over Easter 2025, with students returning to the new school following the Easter midterm break.
My Department will be working closely with the patron and school authority on the practical arrangements for the relocation.
School Transport
Questions (573)
Louis O'Hara
Question:573. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Education when a school transport service (details supplied) will be provided; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1042/25]
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The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year over 172,500 children, are transported daily in approximately 7,900 vehicles across 10,300 routes daily to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country. These daily trips cover over 100 million kilometres. This figure includes over 143,800 pupils travelling on primary and post primary services, 21,700 pupils with special educational needs, and 6,800 pupils who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine.
The scheme is made up of three separate schemes, the school transport scheme for primary, post primary and for children with special educational needs. Transport is also provided for children who have arrived in Ireland from Ukraine and those residing in IPAS/EROC centres.
The total expenditure on the scheme in 2024 was €512m.
The National Council for Special Education acts in an advisory role to the Department of Education on the suitability of placements for children with special educational needs.
Under the terms of the School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs, the Department will consider the report of the Special Education Needs Organiser (SENO). School transport is provided to children with special educational needs who are attending the nearest school to their place of residence that is or can be resourced to meet their educational needs, as identified by the SENO.
The pupil referred to by the Deputy is eligible under the terms of the scheme and approval has been given by the School Transport Section of my Department to Bus Éireann to establish a new service.
Bus Éireann have re-tendered this service in line with procurement guidelines and sourced a new contractor to operate this service. The school is currently in the process of sourcing an escort for the service. Once the escort is available, the service can re-commence.
Both the Department and Bus Éireann are very conscious of the challenges faced by parents awaiting transport for students with special educational needs. Families of children who are eligible for these services may therefore apply for the interim Special Transport Grant. This is paid retrospectively to families once the School Transport service is in place. It is intended to assist with the cost of private transport arrangements that the family had to put in place during that time. The family have been contacted directly by officials in School Transport Section in relation to this grant.