Written Answers Nos. 226-245
226. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Education the number of children in Dublin 1, 3, 7,9, that are on a waiting list for a school place in special schools, for 2023, 2024 and 2025, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14743/25]
View answer227. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Education the number of school places available for enrolment in September in special schools in Dublin 1, 3, 7 ,9, for 2023, 2024 and 2025, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14744/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 226 and 227 together.
This government is fully committed to supporting children with special educational needs to fulfil their full potential and the Programme for Government makes a number of commitments to deliver on this objective. The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children with special educational needs.
In October 2024, my Department issued a circular letter setting out a range of new measures to support the forward planning of special education provision. Among these new measures was a request for parents to notify the NCSE directly where a child required a special class or special school place. This measures aims to ensure that the NCSE have greater clarity on the level of need for special class and special school places. The NCSE are working at local level to support children access appropriate places in both special classes and special schools.
Information on individual school waiting lists are held by each school. The NCSE can request access to this information if necessary to support forward planning and placements of children. This information is not held by my Department.Through the accelerated provision of additional special class and special school places over recent years, there are now just over 28,000 students enrolled in special classes and special schools. Budget 2025 provides for an additional 2,700 specialist places, made up of 400 new special class and 300 additional special school places. On top of this, there will be over 1,000 places available through the normal annual movement of students progressing from primary to post-primary and students graduating from post-primary or special schools. There also remains special class vacancies in some areas of the country.
Of the 400 new special classes places provided for in Budget 2025, the NCSE has advised that 336 of these classes have already been sanctioned for the 2025/26 school year. Of these 53 are in Dublin, 37 at primary and 16 at post primary level. This will add to the 602 special classes currently in operation in the county.
As you are aware 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. This will bring to 129 the number of NCSE supported special schools in the country. There are 40 special schools in Dublin with approximately 2,600 students enrolled. Two of the five new special schools for the 2025/26 school year will open in Lucan and Belmayne also. These schools will open for enrolment shortly. Dedicated working groups have been established by my department to work through the details in relation to the establishment of the new special schools.
In Dublin and indeed nationwide, the NCSE continue to engage intensely with schools and school patron bodies to confirm further classes and special school places. As the NCSE progress the sanctioning of provision they will inform parents.
Where new special classes have been sanctioned, I would urge schools to progress the admission of students as soon as possible to ensure that the NCSE can continue to evaluate demand in local areas, sanction classes as required and assist parents in securing a school place.
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 SENO's directly using the contact details available on the NCSE website.
My department and the NCSE are committed to ensuring that sufficient special education placements remain available for children with special educational needs.
228. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Education if there is a freeze on special needs assistants supports in schools; if so the steps she will take to end this freeze; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14745/25]
View answer229. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Education the reason for the freeze on special needs assistants supports in schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14746/25]
View answer230. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Education the reason a school (details supplied) were turned down special needs assistants (SNA) supports after engaging with a complex review for SNA support; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14747/25]
View answer231. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Education the reason a school (details supplied) were turned down special needs assistants (SNA) supports after engaging with a complex review for SNA support; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14748/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 228, 229, 230 and 231 together.
This government is fully committed to supporting children with special educational needs to fulfil their full potential and the Programme for Government makes a number of commitments to deliver on this objective. The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children with special educational needs.
As your questions relates to the allocation of special needs assistant (SNA) support to an individual school, I have forwarded the question to the NCSE for their direct response.
We have been steadily building on the number of SNAs in our education system. At the end of the 2024 school year there was over 22,000 SNAs in schools. Budget 2025 provides for an additional 1,600 SNA posts nationwide. This is the highest ever annual increase.
The NCSE continue to prioritise the full allocation of the additional 1,600 SNAs to schools, including to support up to 400 new special classes and 300 new special school places for this September to ensure that those children with the highest level of need get the highest level of support.
At any stage if a school feels like it has insufficient SNA support to meet the needs of its students an application can be submitted to the NCSE requesting a review of its allocation. Detailed information on the NCSE's SNA review process is published on the NCSE's website. Each case is individually assessed and is based on the student profile of each school.
Following the outcome of the review, the NCSE can make a local special educational needs officer (SENO) available to the school to discuss their current deployment of SNA supports in the school and to put these supports to the best advantage of the students. NCSE in-school support is also available to schools to offer further guidance and support.
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.
232. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education to review the case of a school in County Kerry (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14757/25]
View answerThe key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September. The staffing schedule operates in a clear and transparent manner and treats all similar types of schools equally.
The primary school staffing arrangements for the 2025/26 school year are set out in Circular 0011/2025. These arrangements contain an appeals mechanism for schools to submit a staffing appeal under certain criteria to an independent Primary Staffing Appeals Board.
The school referred to by the Deputy has submitted a staffing appeal which will be considered by the Primary Staffing Appeals Board and the school will be notified of the outcome of the appeal shortly.
The Primary Staffing Appeals Board operates independently of the Department and its decision is final.
233. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education if she will investigate a case (details supplied) where the practice of determining teaching staff numbers based on the enrolment figures from the year before is resulting in this school facing huge class sizes in the autumn of this year, putting undue pressure on staff and pupils alike; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14780/25]
View answer234. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education if she accepts the case made by the principal of a school (details supplied); when will her Department will make a determination on the matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14781/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 233 and 234 together.
The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September. The staffing schedule operates in a clear and transparent manner and treats all similar types of schools equally.
The primary school staffing arrangements for the 2025/26 school year are set out in Circular 0011/2025. These arrangements contain an appeals mechanism for schools to submit a staffing appeal under certain criteria to an independent Primary Staffing Appeals Board.
The school referred to by the Deputy has submitted a staffing appeal which will be considered by the Primary Staffing Appeals Board and the school will be notified of the outcome of the appeal shortly.
The Primary Staffing Appeals Board operates independently of the Department and its decision is final.
235. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Education to outline, in light of a widely-reported funding crisis at a school (details supplied), the number of primary schools which have contacted her Department this school year about serious funding challenges; the number of such schools which are designated as 'DEIS' schools; if her Department has an emergency fund to assist schools in financial crisis; and to further outline, in the absence of such a fund, how the longer-term viability of schools in financial crisis can be addressed. [14784/25]
View answerMy Department is committed to providing funding to recognised primary and post-primary schools in the Free Education Scheme by way of per capita grants. The two main grants are the Capitation grant to cater for day-to-day running costs such as heating, lighting, cleaning, insurance and general up-keep, and the Ancillary grant to cater for the cost of employing ancillary services staff. Schools have the flexibility to use capitation funding provided for general running costs and ancillary funding provided for caretaking and secretarial services as a common grant from which the Board of Management can allocate according to its own priorities, except for the employment of relevant secretaries as per Circular 0036/2022.
The current standard rate of Capitation grant is €200 per pupil in primary schools and €345 per student in post-primary schools.
Primary schools with fewer than 60 pupils are paid the Capitation and the Ancillary grants on the basis of having 60 pupils. At post-primary level, schools with fewer than 200 students receive ancillary-related grants on the basis of having 200 students.
As part of the capitation package in Budget 2025 I am pleased to have secured over €30 million as a permanent increase in capitation funding to assist schools now and longer term with increased day-to-day running costs. This represents an increase of circa 12% on current standard rates and enhanced rates. This increase is on top of the circa 9.2% increase from last year’s budget. This will bring the standard rate of Capitation grant to the level of €224 per pupil in primary schools and €386 per student in post-primary schools from September 2025. Enhanced rates will also be paid in respect of pupils with special educational needs and Traveller pupils.
In addition to these grants, €45 million in cost-of-living supports issued in November 2024, to support all recognised primary and post-primary schools in the Free Education Scheme. This additional funding announced in Budget 2025 is designed to assist schools with increased day-to-day running costs such as heating and electricity. This funding was paid at a rate of €36 per pupil in primary schools. Enhanced rates were also paid in respect of pupils with special educational needs and Traveller pupils. Schools should also ensure that they are availing of the available OGP procurement frameworks and getting best value for money for all school expenditure.
The Financial Support Services Unit (FSSU), funded by my Department, is an important source of advice and support to schools on financial matters, including budgeting and cashflow management. Contact details for FSSU can be found on www.fssu.ie.
Breakdown of schools referred to the FSSU
|
Academic Year: |
Breakdown Schools: |
|
2024 / 2025 |
32 Primary includes 11 DEIS & 4 Special Schools2 Post Primary includes 1 DEIS |
There is no emergency fund to assist schools in financial crisis.
The Department of Education is aware that costs and funding can pose a very real problem for schools, and is constantly working to address this matter, and to enhance the financial and other supports available to schools.
While not wishing to pre-empt the outcomes of any future Budget negotiations or fiscal parameters agreed by Government, the Department of Education will continue to seek and prioritise the funding required to meet the ongoing costs of running schools.
236. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Education the steps being taken to invest in more technology classes for secondary schools to meet demand, given the increasing interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics at third level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14786/25]
View answerMy Department supports the introduction of new subjects in existing schools by providing funding for specialist furniture and equipment through the furniture and equipment (F&E) section. If a school wishes to apply for furniture and equipment for the introduction of a new subject they must meeting the following criteria:
- The school has not previously applied for and received requested funding to date relating to the introduction of the new subject in question.
- That the subject is being introduced in the current academic year or upcoming academic year.
- The room in which the new subject is to be taught does not require any major refurbishment or electrical upgrade. The room is ready to furnish and bring in equipment.
If the school is satisfied that they fulfil all of the above criteria then an application can be submitted to my Department by emailing furnitureequipment@education.gov.ie.
237. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Education how SNAs who work in Donegal can register for the Donegal Education Centre AGM (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14787/25]
View answerEducation Support Centres are each responsible for conducting their AGM, including in relation to eligibility, registration or admission of members. Neither I, nor my Department, are involved in these operational arrangements.
238. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Education how retired teachers who previously worked as teachers in Donegal can register for the Donegal Education Centre AGM (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14788/25]
View answerEducation Support Centres are each responsible for conducting their AGM, including in relation to eligibility, registration or admission of members. Neither I, nor my Department, are involved in these operational arrangements.
240. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Education the funding provided for capital projects for schools in counties Carlow and Kilkenny from 2021 to date in 2025, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14826/25]
View answerSince 2020, my department has invested over €5.8 billion in our schools throughout the country, involving the completion of over 1,300 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 €1.5 billion.
In April 2024 the department 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 is being 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 600,000 square metres of new and modernised capacity to our school estate.
This is a record level of investment in school buildings. It will expand the number of school places, significantly increase provision for special education and upgrade and modernise our school infrastructure.?The impact of this will be felt in communities right around the country.
The key drivers of capital investment in the schools sector include:
• demographic growth, particularly at post primary level
• increased demand for special educational needs provision
• alignment of school place provision with new housing development
• climate action objectives including deep energy retrofit.
The Programme for Government recognises the importance of strong capital investment in the school building programme and supporting this with enhanced allocations through the NDP process.
Since 2021, the total capital invested in Co. Carlow and Co. Kilkenny schools is as follows:
|
TOTAL CAPITAL SPEND |
2025 (to date) |
2024 |
2023 |
2022 |
2021 |
Total |
|
Carlow |
€2.72m |
€12.78m |
€9.22m |
€3.97m |
€7.03m |
€35.72m |
|
Kilkenny |
€10.40m |
€91.54m |
€18.13m |
€8.78m |
€12.32m |
€141.17m |
From 2021 to date, 19 school building projects have been completed in Co. Carlow and 38 school building projects have been completed in Co. Kilkenny. These projects were delivered under the Large Scale and Additional Accommodation schemes and also the Modular programme.
Currently there are 7 school building projects under construction in Co. Carlow and 9 school building projects under construction in Co. Kilkenny, of which 1 is a new school building project.
There are 17 school building projects in Co. Carlow moving through the various stages of design, of which 1 is a new school building project.
There are also 21 school building projects in Co. Kilkenny moving through the various stages of design, of which 2 are new school building projects.
These projects are being delivered to ambitious timeframes, and the position on individual projects evolves all the time as they advance through various stages. The status of all projects is set out at(www.gov.ie). This is updated on a regular basis to reflect project progress through the various stages of capital appraisal, site acquisition, design, tender and construction.
241. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Education the number of special classes each primary and post-primary school has in Carlow and Kilkenny; if they have requested a new special class or classes; the number children that have applied for special classes in each school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14827/25]
View answerThis government is fully committed to supporting children with special educational needs to fulfil their full potential and the Programme for Government makes a number of commitments to deliver on this objective. 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, in line with their statutory function, approach schools in relation to opening new special classes directly and the level of information and detail requested is held by them in order to perform this function. I will therefore share your request with the NCSE for a direct reply.
Of the 400 new special classes places provided for in Budget 2025, the NCSE has advised that 336 of these classes have already been sanctioned for the 2025/26 school year. Of these 7 are in Carlow, 6 at primary and 1 at post primary level, and 9 in Kilkenny, 7 at primary level and 2 at post-primary level.
This will add to the 59 special classes already sanctioned in Carlow, 40 in primary and 19 at post-primary level, and 62 in Kilkenny, 40 at primary and 22 at post-primary level.
The NCSE continue to engage intensely with schools and school patron bodies to confirm further classes. As the NCSE progress the sanctioning of the remaining special classes they will inform parents.
Where new special classes have been sanctioned, I would urge schools to progress the admission of students as soon as possible to ensure that the NCSE can continue to evaluate demand in local areas, sanction classes as required and assist parents in securing a school place.
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 SENO's directly using the contact details available on the NCSE website.
My department and the NCSE are committed to ensuring that sufficient special education placements remain available for children with special educational needs.
242. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Education for an update on plans to reform the school transport system, particularly the eligibility criteria regarding nearest school; the likely timeframe for the implementation of changes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14831/25]
View answerThe 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 in 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 purpose of my Department's School Transport Scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school.
Under the terms of the School Transport Schemes, children are eligible for transport at primary level where they reside not less than 3.2 kms from and are attending their nearest national school. At post primary level, they are eligible where they reside not less than 4.8 kms from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre. Distance is determined by the Department/Bus Éireann and rules have regard to ethos and language.
The School Transport 2030 report, which was published in early 2024 marks the largest review of the School Transport Scheme since it was established in 1967. The Government is committed to working to achieve the report’s recommendation of expanding access to the scheme so that an additional 100,000 pupils can be carried by 2030. The recommended changes to the future operation of the schemes include expansion of the current eligibility criteria, addressing current operational challenges and moving towards better integration with public transport to ensure the best value for money to the Exchequer. A phased implementation of the review’s recommendations began at the start of the 2024/2025 school year.
As indicated at the time of the launch of the review, a number of pilots were being considered by my Department in conjunction with the Department of Transport and Bus Éireann. As also indicated at the time of the launch of the review, it was intended that following closure of the application process for the 2024/2025 school year consideration would be given to further potential pilots.
A total of 14 pilot projects are underway this school year. These pilots are currently being evaluated and they will provide valuable insights into the impact of increased demand on the scheme, the potential for integrating public transport with school transport services, and opportunities to promote more sustainable modes of transport. The findings from the evaluation will guide the planning and implementation needed for a national rollout of a revised School Transport Scheme.
Further information on plans for the 2025/2026 school year will be available shortly.
