James O'Connor
Question:85. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Education for an update on a school building project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3656/25]
View answerSchools Building Projects
Questions (85)
Written answers
I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is in receipt of an application for additional school accommodation (ASA) from the school authority in question.
The purpose of the ASA scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream classroom and Special Education Needs (SEN) accommodation 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.
At primary level, this situation generally arises to cater for a school’s accommodation requirements where an additional teaching post has been sanctioned by Teacher Allocation Section, or a new SEN class has been sanctioned by the NCSE, and all available alternative accommodation within the school is already being used for classroom purposes.
The main focus of my department’s resources over the last decade and for the coming period is on provision of critical additional capacity to cater for increasing demographics. The department is required to manage the overall school building programme so that we target and prioritise areas that are under greatest pressure for additional school places. This reflects our fundamental objective of ensuring the availability of a school place for every child.
Officials from my Department have engaged with the school authority in relation to the school's application and I am pleased to advise the Deputy that an offer of accommodation was sent to the school recently for agreement. As soon as agreement to the brief of accommodation is received from the school the project will progress to the department's delivery section.
Schools Building Projects
Questions (86)
James O'Connor
Question:86. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Education for an update on a school building project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3657/25]
View answerWritten answers
I am pleased to advise the Deputy that approval under the Additional School Accommodation scheme issued to the school in question for the provision of 2 mainstream classrooms.
The project is being delivered under the Department’s Devolved SEN Reconfiguration and Modular Accommodation programme. The Department has a significant modular accommodation programme in place to assist schools in the provision of additional capacity, including in respect of facilitating the establishment of special classes. This programme involves the use of Project Management supports which is designed to enable the accommodation to be provided as quickly as possible and help ease the administrative workload for school authorities in relation to the management and delivery of projects.
The project is currently at design stage. Kerrigan Sheanon Newman Construction Consultants (KSN) have 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.
My Department is fully aware of the urgency in respect of this project and together with the School Authority and Project Manager will ensure that this much needed accommodation is progressed as expeditiously as possible.
School Accommodation
Questions (87)
Eoghan Kenny
Question:87. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education for an update on the successful application for additional accommodation at a school (details supplied); and if there are any outstanding issues which may be contributing to the delay in expediting the project. [3684/25]
View answerWritten answers
I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is in receipt of an application for additional school accommodation (ASA) from the school authority in question.
The purpose of the ASA scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream classroom and Special Education Needs (SEN) accommodation 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.
At primary level, this situation generally arises to cater for a school’s accommodation requirements where an additional teaching post has been sanctioned by Teacher Allocation Section, or a new SEN class has been sanctioned by the NCSE, and all available alternative accommodation within the school is already being used for classroom purposes.
The main focus of my department’s resources over the last decade and for the coming period is on provision of critical additional capacity to cater for increasing demographics. The department is required to manage the overall school building programme so that we target and prioritise areas that are under greatest pressure for additional school places. This reflects our fundamental objective of ensuring the availability of a school place for every child.
Officials from my Department have corresponded with the school authority in relation to the school's application as the school's site is restricted. My department will continue to engage with the authorities of the school in question with respect to its accommodation needs and having regard to the educational requirements of the area more broadly.
Artificial Intelligence
Questions (88)
Richard Boyd Barrett
Question:88. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education to provide a detailed breakdown of all funding allocated for the year ahead or spent in the past fiscal year by her Department on artificial intelligence systems or artificial intelligence research; what programs or Department operations, if any, are conducted using artificial intelligence tools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3704/25]
View answerWritten answers
There was nil spend in the last fiscal year on artificial intelligence systems or artificial intelligence research.
In the fiscal year ahead, there is €500,000 allocated for artificial intelligence systems and artificial intelligence research. The breakdown of this is as follows
(i) the implementation and operational use of optical character recognition (OCR) and processing of suitable invoices for payment into a bespoke system used by the Education Shared Business Services (ESBS) for €250,000.
(ii) Several proof of concepts and limited pilots of AI systems, that may include Generative AI and Document Understanding, have been allocated a budget of €250,000.
A limited trial is underway by my Communications Department to assess the opportunity for productivity gains of AI services which includes the transcription of public audio recordings to text, grammar and spelling assistance, translation of public information, and editing text in plain English to make it more understandable. All text is reviewed and verified by a human
My Department has no AI systems in place that processes citizens information.
My Department recognises the potential offered by AI and is aware of the Interim Guidelines for Use of AI published. My Department will continue to assess the suitability of AI on a solution by solution basis.
The information in respect of state bodies, within the scope of the Deputy’s question, is not held by my Department. Contact details for these bodies are set out at the link should the Deputy’s wish to contact them directly with this query.
Schools Building Projects
Questions (89)
Martin Kenny
Question:89. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Education for an update on the application for capital investment for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3724/25]
View answerWritten answers
I can confirm to the Deputy, that my Department has approved capital funding, under the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme, for the school in question for a traditional building project consisting of 3 Mainstream general classrooms, 1 Music room,1 Science lab & prep area, 1 Graphics room,1 Home economics room, 1 Construction room & prep area, 1 Special education classroom & 1 Universal access toilet. This project has been devolved to the school authorities for delivery and is currently at stage 2b - Detailed design.
The purpose of the 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 or at other schools in the area.
I am pleased to confirm that 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.
In County Sligo alone, from 2020 to the end of December 2024, the department has invested €48.15m in school infrastructure and completed 18 school building projects. As at end of December 2024 a further 3 projects were in construction in Co Sligo and 2 at tender stage.
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.
Schools Building Projects
Questions (90)
Martin Kenny
Question:90. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Education for an update on the request for a new school for Carrick-on-Shannon (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3725/25]
View answerWritten answers
The department employs a detailed planning process to determine school provision needs. This process involves dividing the country into 314 school planning areas and utilizing a Geographical Information System (GIS). The GIS uses a variety of data sources, including Child Benefit records and school enrolment statistics, to pinpoint areas where there is a growing demand for school places. This analysis helps identify where additional school accommodations are necessary at both primary and post-primary levels.
In addition to this data, the department’s forecasts are also informed by current and planned residential developments, as well as population and housing targets set out in Project Ireland 2040. This comprehensive approach ensures that the department can effectively plan for future school place requirements across the country.
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.
In April 2024, the Department of Education 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 of Education’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
Officials in my department have met with the school patron and school authority for the school referred to by the deputy to discuss how the immediate accommodation needs for the school might be addressed.
I can confirm to the deputy that the department is in receipt of an application under the Additional School Accommodation scheme (ASA) from the school in question. The Department recently issued correspondence to the school authority with an offer of accommodation to meet the schools’ immediate needs and are awaiting a response from the school in this regard.
Schools Refurbishment
Questions (91)
Martin Kenny
Question:91. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Education if she will provide funding for the replacement of windows and doors in a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3726/25]
View answerWritten answers
The school to which the Deputy refers has submitted an application for funding under the Emergency Works Scheme (EWS) for the replacement of external windows and doors. The EWS operates on the basis of a minimal scope of works required to remedy an emergency situation, the scope of works sought by the school in question was in excess of this and the school was informed that a revised scope of works and associated cost breakdown would be required. A technical site visit was conducted in October 2024, following this the requested information has recently been received from the school and is being reviewed. Once this has been completed the school will be notified of a decision on this application.
School Accommodation
Questions (92)
Martin Kenny
Question:92. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Education if she will grant the application for immediate emergency, temporary accommodation to address the current overcrowded conditions in a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3753/25]
View answerWritten answers
I can confirm to the Deputy, that my Department has approved capital funding, under the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme, for the school in question for a traditional building project consisting of 3 Mainstream general classrooms, 1 Music room,1 Science lab & prep area, 1 Graphics room,1 Home economics room, 1 Construction room & prep area, 1 Special education classroom & 1 Universal access toilet. This project has been devolved to the school authorities for delivery and is currently at stage 2b - Detailed design.
The school authorities then submitted another application for the ASA scheme in February 2024, for modular accommodation for mainstream classrooms and toilets. The school wished to apply for this as an interim accommodation solution while progressing with the traditional build project.
As part of the assessment process for this application my Department’s Strategic Capacity Planning Division were consulted on the demographic projections for the Grange School Planning Area. Enrolments in the School Planning Area in question peaked in 2020 and were expected to decline further. It was found that the Grange School Planning area was not an area under pressure for school places.
The school authority was contacted in July 2024 and advised that the modular accommodation requested would be considered a permanent solution and would replace some of the accommodation offered within the existing traditional project. This was not deemed acceptable by the school authorities, who stated that the site is too restricted to take both modular and traditional build projects and so the application was refused.
The patron then submitted an appeal of this decision in August 2024. I can confirm to the Deputy that this appeal was considered by my officials and has now been completed. My officials have contacted the school authorities to advise that the refusal of the application for temporary accommodation has been upheld.
The purpose of the 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 or at other schools in the area.
I am pleased to confirm that 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.
Departmental Contracts
Questions (93)
Pearse Doherty
Question:93. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education the details of each time her Department, or public bodies under the aegis of her Department, enlisted the services of consultants in 2023 and 2024; the purpose, value, and duration of each contract in relation to public bodies under the aegis of her Department, including where consulting contracts are classified under ‘business-as-usual outsourcing’ for annual reporting; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3779/25]
View answerWritten answers
Information 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.
The information requested regarding aegis bodies is an operational matter for each of those agencies. My officials have requested the relevant bodies to reply directly to the Deputy with the information requested in respect of their organisation.
School Curriculum
Questions (94)
Darren O'Rourke
Question:94. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education if she intends to proceed with Senior Cycle reform as planned or, in light of significant concerns, if she will consult with teacher representatives and school communities and revise this plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3822/25]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy is aware, the process of developing a new Senior Cycle began in 2016 and there is now an ambitious programme of work for a redeveloped Senior Cycle of education has been progressing, including work relating to the Leaving Certificate Established (LCE), the Leaving Certificate Applied (LCA), Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme (LCVP), Senior Cycle Level 1 and 2 and Transition Year (TY) programmes.
Significant progress has already been achieved across the redevelopment programme including publication of a new Transition Year Programme Statement and toolkit, publication of nine new subject specifications, and extended access for all LCA students to LCE Mathematics and LCE Modern Foreign Languages.
Working towards realising the Redevelopment Programme's vision of Equity and Excellence for All, Senior Cycle Level 1 and Level 2 Learning Programmes certified by the State Examinations Commission have, for the first time, been made available for students with delayed development across a number of areas including learning, communication, language and adaptive skills.
The Deputy will be aware that the Programme for Government commits to continuing the programme of reform of Senior Cycle to ensure that students benefit from up-to-date curricula, more diverse skills development and assessments, and reduced stress levels.
I know we must prioritise supporting teachers and staff in our schools as we move through the implementation stages of the programme. Oide has already delivered professional learning directly relevant to Senior Cycle Redevlopment to well over 20,000 school leaders and teachers this school year. Those numbers are climbing steadily week on week and will continue in the years ahead as each tranche and element of the programme is implemented.
The subject and development work is also continuing within the NCCA and further engagement is planned and necessary in that regard. I expect to see draft specifications for Tranche 2 subjects and modules go to consultation this Spring. Consultation of the Background Papers for Tranche 3 is also live currently.
Sample examination papers in the Tranche 1 subjects will be published in April of this year by the State Examinations Commission which will provide further certainty to teachers and to schools as they prepare to introduce the new and revised subject specifications.
I know there has been ongoing discussion and engagement with education partners and let me assure you that this consultation will continue. My Department has put in place supports where they are needed and will continue to examine what additional supports might be needed. Consultation with all education partners, including teacher representatives and school communities, occurs on a regular basis to ensure the redevelopment of Senior Cycle is responsive and will meet the needs of our students.
There is momentum in the programme and we must harness that momentum for the good of our students and I believe we can be ambitious by working together. In line with the announcement of September 2023, it is planned that teaching of nine tranche 1 specifications will commence for incoming fifth years in September 2025.
Special Educational Needs
Questions (95)
Conor D. McGuinness
Question:95. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Education the number of special school spaces and special class spaces in the State, by county, in tabular form. [3829/25]
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.
For the 2024/25 school year there are 3,336 special classes in mainstream schools and 134 special schools in operation. The 134 special schools include 124 special schools supported by the NCSE, 7 hospital schools and 3 schools attached to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) units.
The 3,336 special classes, 2,339 at primary level and 997 at post-primary level, provide capacity for over 20,000 students. Provisional data for the 2024/25 school year indicates that there are almost 19,000 children and young people enrolled in special classes in mainstream schools, 13,353 in special classes in primary schools and 5,587 in post-primary schools. There are over 9,000 students enrolled in the 134 special schools in the current 2024/25 school year.
The NCSE’s ‘Guidelines for Setting Up and Organising Special Classes’ provides information on ratios for each special class type. These guidelines are available on the NCSE's website. A full list of special classes broken down by county is also available.
The list at the link below provides a breakdown of all special classes and special schools currently in operation for the 2024/25 school year by county.
Budget 2025 has provided for up to an additional 400 new special classes and 300 new special school places nationwide. The NCSE will be sanctioning these new classes for the 2025/26 school year in the coming weeks. In addition, five new special schools will be established for the next school year, two in County Dublin and one each in counties Cork, Monaghan and Tipperary.
My department and the NCSE are committed to delivering an education system that is of the highest quality and where every child and young person feels valued and is actively supported and nurtured to reach their full potential.
Special Educational Needs
Questions (96)
Conor D. McGuinness
Question:96. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Education the number of notifications received by the NCSE from parents and guardians by the 1 February 2025 deadline pursuant to her Department’s circular 0080/2024 by county, and by category of need, in tabular form. [3830/25]
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.
My department works closely with the NCSE on the forward planning of new special classes and additional special school places. Building on successive budgets, Budget 2025 secured funding for up to 400 new special classes in mainstream schools, and an additional 300 special school places for the 2025/26 school year. This will deliver 2,700 new special education places for children.
The NCSE recently recruited additional special educational needs officers (SENOs), advisors and team managers. 120 SENOs now operate nationwide, three of these are operating solely in County Waterford. 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. It is expected that the NCSE will sanction a number of new special classes for the 2025/26 school year in the coming weeks.
In October 2024, my department issued a circular letter (0080/2024) to all schools setting out a number of new measures to support the work of the NCSE in forward planning for special education provision. My Department consulted with special education advocacy groups, parent representative bodies and education stakeholders in drafting the new circular letter.
The circular letter also set out a new process whereby parents of a child with special educational needs would notify the NCSE, as early as possible, if a special class or special school place was being sought. In providing this key data to aid planning its also allows the NCSE to provide advice and information to parents on the supports available.
The notifications received are now being examined and validated by the NCSE. Local SENOs are making contact with parents and schools and seeking further information where required. As this is the first year of this new process being in place, the NCSE may also be aware of children needing a special education placement who may have not come through the new notification process.
The recent school closures and impact of Storm Eowyn on households may also mean there is a slight delay in notifications in some instances. Parents are free to continue to notify the NCSE of the need for special class or special school places for their child on an ongoing basis as well.
Once the NCSE has all the relevant reports and verified information on the number of children requiring a school place they will inform my department. A direct response will be provided to the Deputy on this issue in due course as well as soon as the information is available.
My department and the NCSE are committed to ensuring that sufficient special education placements will be available for children this September and beyond.
Special Educational Needs
Questions (97, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108)
Conor D. McGuinness
Question:97. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the emerging situation in Dungarvan, County Waterford where the families of 22 children have received notice that they cannot avail of a special school place; if she will commit to finding an urgent solution to secure a school space suitable to their individual educational and care needs; if she will commit to working with all stakeholders to increase special school and special class capacity in County Waterford; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3831/25]
View answerConor D. McGuinness
Question:104. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Education what steps her Department will take to ensure a child (details supplied) who is on a waiting list for their local special school can access an appropriate special school space in September. [3919/25]
View answerConor D. McGuinness
Question:105. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Education what steps will be taken to ensure that a child (details supplied), who is on a waiting list for their local special school, can access an appropriate special school space this coming September. [3921/25]
View answerConor D. McGuinness
Question:106. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Education what steps will be taken to ensure that a child (details supplied), who is on a waiting list for their local special school, can access an appropriate special school space this coming September. [3922/25]
View answerConor D. McGuinness
Question:107. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Education what steps will be taken to ensure that a child (details supplied), who is on a waiting list for their local special school, can access an appropriate special school space this coming September. [3924/25]
View answerConor D. McGuinness
Question:108. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Education if she and an appropriate Minister of State will join me in urgently meeting a delegation of parents whose children have been placed on a waiting list for special school spaces in Dungarvan, County Waterford. [3925/25]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 97 and 104 to 108, inclusive, together.
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 over 3,330.
70 of these classes are in County Waterford, 12 are new for the 2024/25 school year, 7 at primary level and 5 at post-primary level. Budget 2025 provides funding for another 400 special classes and 300 special school places nationwide.
At a local level the NCSE are examining which special schools have capacity to expand and are targeting medium and larger primary schools with no special class or just one special class to open a new special class.
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 SENO's directly using the contact details available on the NCSE website.
The NCSE have recently recruited additional SENO's, advisors and team managers. 120 SENO's now operate nationwide, with three solely operating in County Waterford, SENO's 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 have advised my Department that the local special educational needs organiser (SENO) continues to work closely with the families referred to by the Deputy regarding options for school placements and other special education supports for the coming academic year. The NCSE have also recently visited the school referred to by the Deputy.
The NCSE continue to assess what additional provision is required in the local area and what schools have capacity to accommodate required provision. The NCSE expect to progress the sanctioning of new special classes over the coming weeks in the local area and will advise parents in turn on the location of new special classes for the 2025/26 school year.
My department and the NCSE are committed to ensuring that sufficient special education placements remain available for children with special educational needs. In relation to planning future special school capacity, my Department and the NCSE will continue to review the need for additional special school capacity in Co Waterford.
Schools Building Projects
Questions (98)
Conor D. McGuinness
Question:98. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Education if she will give very serious consideration to the development of a new build school premises for a school (details supplied) to accommodate the growing demand for mild, moderate and severe spaces in Waterford, and parts of East Cork and South Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3832/25]
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.
The NCSE have engaged with the special school referred to by the Deputy at local level will continue to support parents to secure placements for children in the area. Special education needs organisers (SENOs) are available to assist parents. The NCSE have recently recruited additional SENOs, advisors and team managers. 120 SENOs now operate nationwide, 3 of these are operating solely in County Waterford.
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. It is expected that the NCSE will sanction a number of new special classes for the 2025/26 school year in the coming weeks.
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 over 3,300.
70 of these classes are in County Waterford, 12 are new for the 2024/25 school year, 7 at primary level and 5 at post-primary level. Budget 2025 provides funding for another 400 special classes and 300 special school places nationwide.
A new special school is being established in Tipperary for the coming school year and a new special school opened in Carrigtwohill in East Cork in 2023. These new special schools will grow and expand over time. My Department and the NCSE will continue to review the need for additional special school capacity across County Waterford, East Cork and South Tipperary.
School Accommodation
Questions (99)
Conor D. McGuinness
Question:99. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Education if she is aware that due to an inability of her Department to provide certainty to the principal and board of management of a school (details supplied) regarding delivery of a modular unit, the school has been unable to proceed with plans to open a much-needed ASD class in time for September 2025, and instead have been forced to postpone until 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3833/25]
View answerWritten answers
I can confirm to the Deputy, that my Department is in receipt of an application for capital funding, under the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme, from the school in question for 1 x Mainstream classroom modular and the school authority has subsequently requested that this modular be changed to provide 1 x Special education needs classroom.
The purpose of my Department’s Additional School Accommodation (or 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.
At primary level, this situation generally arises to cater for a school’s accommodation requirements where an additional teaching post has been sanctioned by Teacher Allocation Section, or the requirement for a new class for pupils with special education needs has been identified by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), and all available alternative accommodation within the school is already being used for classroom purposes. The capacity at other schools in the area is also considered as part of the assessment of any accommodation needs.
The Department’s Modular Accommodation Programme is an important mechanism for facilitating accelerated delivery of necessary additional capacity – including in relation to special classes. However, as part of maximising existing capacity and managing within budgetary parameters this is targeted at schools where there is no existing capacity in the general area to facilitate the establishment of urgently required special classes.
A key focus of the Department is the utilisation of existing accommodation at schools to provide facilities for special classes. This approach supports accelerated delivery of the accommodation and provision which is well integrated within the mainstream school accommodation. It is consistent with the Department’s commitment to supporting the educational needs of children who require specialist placements while at the same time meeting the requirements of the Government’s Infrastructure Guidelines.
In general, demographics have been falling at primary level and are due to continue to decrease. Therefore the Department considers it prudent to maximise the use of existing spare accommodation capacity at primary level in the first instance, before considering any applications for further accommodation needs. This is in line with public spending requirements. In relation to the provision of primary special classes, the shared preference of both the Department and the NCSE is to use and reconfigure existing school accommodation to provide special classes.
In planning for school place requirements and ensuring best use of limited resources, it is very important that capacity in existing schools and across a town or area is maximised to the greatest extent possible. This analysis is done as part of the Department’s assessment of applications for additional accommodation from individual schools.
The NCSE regional team have engaged with the school in question and have confirmed that a class is not required at the school for 2025/26.
Officials in my Department will be in contact with the school the school authority directly regarding the ASA application.
Scoileanna Lán-Ghaeilge
Questions (100)
Conor D. McGuinness
Question:100. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Conor D. McGuinness den Aire Oideachais cad iad na pleananna atá aici chun dul i ngleic leis an ngéarchéim atá ann maidir le múinteoirí le Gaeilge a earcú chun freastal ar earnáil an oideachais Gaeilge – idir bhunscoileanna agus mheánscoileanna; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [3834/25]
View answerWritten answers
Réimse gníomhaíochta tosaíochta don Rialtas is ea a chinntiú gur dearfach atá eispéireas gach linbh ar scoil agus go bhfuil múinteoirí cáilithe gafa ar fáil chun cabhrú leo ina gcuid foghlama.
Léirítear sna sonraí is déanaí go bhfuil breis agus 78,000 múinteoir cáilithe fostaithe in Éirinn. Amhail i gcás a lán earnálacha, tá dúshláin earcaíochta ann san earnáil oideachais, go háirithe i limistéir uirbeacha.
Chuir an Roinn roinnt beart chun feidhme chun aghaidh a thabhairt ar shaincheisteanna soláthair múinteoirí, agus is iad seo a leanas na torthaí atá ar na bearta sin:
• méadú 20% ar an líon céimithe Oideachais Tosaigh Múinteoirí (múinteoirí faoi oiliúint) idir na blianta 2018 agus 2023, agus méadú 30% ar an líon atá cláraithe leis an gComhairle Mhúinteoireachta ó bhí an bhliain 2017 ann, agus
• méadú 16.7% agus méadú 13.3% ar an líon post teagaisc atá leithdháilte ar an iar-bhunoideachas agus ar an mbunoideachas faoi seach idir na blianta 2017/18 agus 2023/24.
Chistigh an Roinn raon gníomhartha oideachais múinteoirí faoin bPolasaí don Oideachas Gaeltachta chun cur leis an líon múinteoirí atá ar fáil chun teagasc go héifeachtach trí mheán na Gaeilge.
Cuireadh tús leis an gclár Oideachais Tosaigh Múinteoirí (bunleibhéal) trí mheán na Gaeilge sa bhliain 2019, ar clár Baitsiléara san Oideachas é. Soláthraítear cistiú do 30 áit nua gach bliain. Dámhadh conradh nua d’Institiúid Oideachais Marino sa bhliain 2023 chun an clár Baitsiléara san Oideachas a sholáthar do chúig chohórt eile. Tá beirt mhúinteoirí ar iasacht agus sparánachtaí ón gComhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta á gcur ar fáil chun tacú leis an Máistir Gairmiúil san Oideachas in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe ó bhí an bhliain 2017 ann freisin.
Tá bearta a tugadh isteach faoin mBuiséad le déanaí ina léiriú ar an tiomantas atá ann d’infheistíocht leanúnach a dhéanamh sa chóras oideachais chun aghaidh a thabhairt ar shaincheisteanna soláthair múinteoirí. Áirítear iad seo a leanas leis na príomhthionscnaimh ina leith sin:
• Áiríodh le Buiséad 2024 cláir uasoiliúna a leathnú, ar cláir iad atá ar fáil saor in aisce do mhúinteoirí agus a bhfuil mar aidhm leo méadú a dhéanamh ar an líon múinteoirí cáilithe in ábhair ardéilimh agus laghdú a dhéanamh ar a mhéid a theagascann múinteoirí ábhair lasmuigh dá n-ábhar féin. Comhlánófar cláir nua i nGaeilge, Fraincis, polaitíocht agus an tsochaí agus eolaíocht ríomhaireachta na cláir atá ann cheana i matamaitic, fisic agus Spáinnis. Soláthróidh Coláiste na Tríonóide, Baile Átha Cliath, an clár nua uasoiliúna Gaeilge do mhúinteoirí iar-bhunscoile.
• Faoi Bhuiséad 2025, leanadh le cistiú a sholáthar do chúrsaí uasoiliúna saor in aisce do mhúinteoirí in ábhair ardéilimh, Gaeilge ina measc.
• Faoi Bhuiséad 2024, tugadh isteach aisíocaíocht táillí de chineál sparánachta is fiú €2,000 do mhúinteoirí a bhain Máistir Gairmiúil san Oideachas amach sa bhliain 2024. Déanfar an íocaíocht sin sa bhliain 2025, agus tá sé mar aidhm léi múinteoirí nuacháilithe bunscoile agus iar-bhunscoile a spreagadh dul i mbun róil teagaisc. I mí Mheán Fómhair, d’eisigh mo Roinn ciorclán ina leagtar amach na critéir incháilitheachta.
I dteannta na mbeart sin a tugadh isteach le déanaí, d’fhorbair an Roinn tionscnaimh bhreise atá ceaptha chun aghaidh a thabhairt ar dhúshláin a bhaineann leis an soláthar múinteoirí. Áirítear iad seo a leanas leis na tionscnaimh sin:
• an bhuíon múinteoirí atá ar fáil chun obair ionaid a dhéanamh a mhéadú, trí leanúint leis na gnáth-theorainneacha ar scéimeanna sos gairme agus postroinnte a chur ar fionraí agus trí leanúint den scéim um uaireanta teagaisc a fhadú in iar-bhunscoileanna go dtí an scoilbhliain 2024/25.
• múinteoirí ar scor a spreagadh oibriú mar mhúinteoirí ionaid; sholáthair breis agus 1,700 múinteoir ar scor cumhdach ionaid sa scoilbhliain 2023/24, cothrom le méadú 12% ar an bhfigiúr don bhliain roimhe sin.
• leanúint leis an bhfeachtas “Déanann an Teagasc Athrú ó Bhonn” a reáchtáil, rud ina gcuirtear gairm an teagaisc chun cinn agus ina dtugtar spreagadh do dhaltaí gairm a shaothrú sa teagasc. Forbraíodh feachtais cur chun cinn chun go mbeadh siad ar siúl i gcomhthráth le dáta deiridh na Lár-Oifige Iontrála (CAO) agus leis an spriocdháta athrú intinne le blianta beaga anuas.
Is rogha tharraingteach ghairme é an teagasc:
• Chláraigh breis agus 3,700 múinteoir nuacháilithe leis an gComhairle Mhúinteoireachta sa bhliain 2024, agus níos mó ná 126,000 múinteoir ar an gclár anois.
• Tugtar le fios in anailís ar iarratais CAO a rinneadh ón mbliain 2017 go dtí an bhliain 2024 gur ann d’éileamh marthanach láidir ar chláir theagaisc fochéime. Ar an meán, ba le cláir theagaisc bunscoile nó le cláir theagaisc iar-bhunscoile a bhain 6% de na hiarratais chéadrogha uile a rinneadh ón mbliain 2017 go dtí an bhliain 2024.
• Mar thoradh ar an mbeart nua pá, méadófar tuarastal tosaigh múinteoirí go €46,000, agus é ag méadú go €85,000 ar a mhéad in aghaidh na bliana. Is tuarastal maith é sin, i gcomparáid le figiúirí idirnáisiúnta.
Is minic a théann an Roinn i gcomhairle le geallsealbhóirí ar shaincheisteanna amhail an soláthar múinteoirí trí fhóraim chaidrimh thionsclaíoch, trí chruinnithe earnála agus trí dhíospóireachtaí díreacha le ceardchumainn múinteoirí. Cuireadh tús le déanaí le tionscadal atá ceaptha chun díriú ar phleanáil straitéiseach fórsa saothair do mhúinteoirí in Éirinn freisin, ar tionscadal é a bhfuil UNESCO agus an Ard-Stiúrthóireacht maidir le Tacaíocht um Athchóiriú Struchtúrach ag tacú leis.
Special Educational Needs
Questions (101)
Michael Murphy
Question:101. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Education to examine the case of an autistic child (details supplied) urgently in need of a school place in a primary school. [3849/25]
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 over 3,330.
138 of these classes are in County Tipperary, 16 are new for the 2024/25 school year, 12 at primary level and 4 at post-primary level. Budget 2025 provides funding for another 400 special classes and 300 special school places nationwide.
The NCSE has advised that the local special educational needs organiser is working closely with the student’s family regarding options for school placements and other special education supports for the coming academic year.
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 SENO's directly using the contact details available on the NCSE website.
The NCSE have recently recruited additional SENO's, advisors and team managers. 120 SENO's now operate nationwide, with three solely operating in County Tipperary, SENO's 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.
My department and the NCSE are committed to ensuring that sufficient special education placements remain available for children with special educational needs.
Schools Building Projects
Questions (102)
Naoise Ó Muirí
Question:102. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Education to provide a progress update on a school building project (details supplied); to itemise the activities undertaken in 2024, and to outline the capital funding allocated to it. [3910/25]
View answerWritten answers
The large scale capital project 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 and 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 as soon as the Design Team complete their review.
My Department remains engaged throughout with the Patron Dublin and Dún Laoghaire Education & Training Board (DDLETB).
School Accommodation
Questions (103)
James O'Connor
Question:103. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Education the position regarding an application for additional school accommodation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3916/25]
View answerWritten answers
I can confirm to the Deputy, that my Department is in receipt of an application for capital funding for mainstream accommodation under the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme, from the school in question.
The purpose of the ASA scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream classroom and Special Education Needs (SEN) accommodation is available to cater for pupils enrolled each year, where the need cannot be met by the school’s existing accommodation.
At primary level, this situation generally arises to cater for a school’s accommodation requirements where an additional teaching post has been sanctioned by Teacher Allocation Section, or a new SEN class has been sanctioned by the NCSE, and all available alternative accommodation within the school is already being used for classroom purposes.
The application from the school in question is currently being considered by my officials. Once the assessment process has been finalised the school authority will be notified of the decision directly.
Question No. 104 answered with Question No. 97.