Written Answers Nos. 361-380
361. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will address matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15646/25]
View answerThe Design & Crafts Council Ireland (DCCI) is an independent organisation that supports the development of design and craft in Ireland. My Department provides funding to the DCCI through Enterprise Ireland. The DCCI has advised that it has not commenced any legal action against any individual or group of makers.
362. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Education if, in relation to a school extension (details supplied), which has been approved, she will intervene in the case and allow the school to go ahead and build a two-storey extension, which is the most suitable option. [14977/25]
View answerThe school referred by the Deputy has been approved to enter the Department's pipeline for school building projects, to provide one mainstream classroom and one special education teaching (SET) room under the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) Scheme.
A Stage 1/2a report was submitted and reviewed from both a technical and cost perspective in accordance with the requirements of the public Infrastructure Guidelines. The Deputy will appreciate that all projects, including this one, undergo the necessary due diligence outlined in the public Infrastructure Guidelines. Furthermore, managing timing, scope, and cost is crucial to staying within budgetary limits for the overall programme.
The stage report submitted sought to expand the project which proposed a two-story building adding significant extra scope and costs to the initial brief. Following the initial review, comments were issued requesting the school to reconsider the layout as the department preferred a single-story option and recommending design improvements to the layout.
The school recently submitted an appeal on this matter, prompting a reassessment by my Department technical team. After review, it was confirmed that my departments initial recommendations remained. It is now the school’s responsibility along with their design team to proceed with the project in line with the original scope and recommendations.
363. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Education when a decision will be made on an application for assistive technology for a child (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14988/25]
View answerUnder the Assistive Technology Scheme, as set out in my Department’s Circular 0010/2013, funding is provided to schools towards the cost of computers and specialist equipment, which are required for educational purposes.
All equipment provided under this scheme supports children with more complex disabilities who, in order to access the school curriculum, require essential specialist equipment.
It must be clear that the existing I.T. equipment in the school is insufficient to meet the child's needs. Where necessary, schools may also purchase new or additional equipment or software for students from normal school resources or funds.
Officials from my department have reached out to the school concerned and they have confirmed that an Assistive Technology Application has not yet been submitted to the NCSE for consideration.
The Assistive Technology Scheme is provided by my Department to supplement the overall approach to providing funding to schools for digital technology and equipment to support children for education purposes. Assistive technology can be seen as a critical enabler for those with special educational needs to gain the maximum benefit from a modern technologically focused education system. Where children with more complex disabilities require essential specialist equipment to access the school curriculum, which they do not already have, or which cannot be provided for them through the schools' existing provisions, schools may make an application for such equipment to the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) under the terms of this scheme.
The NCSE, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), is responsible for processing applications from schools for special educational needs supports. SENOs also make recommendations to my Department where assistive technology/specialised equipment is required. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in making recommendations for support.
Schools make applications directly to the SENO, providing details of the student’s special educational needs or disability, including details of the approach taken by the school in making relevant interventions.
In order to qualify for equipment under the Assistive Technology Scheme, a student must have been diagnosed with a physical or communicative disability and must also have a recommendation in a professional assessment that the equipment is essential in order to allow the student to access the curriculum.
SENOs will review the application, and professional reports provided in support of same, to establish whether the criteria of the scheme have been met. They will then make a recommendation to my Department as to whether or not assistive technology is required; and based on this recommendation, my Department will decide on the level of grant, if any, to be provided.
364. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education for an update on a matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15004/25]
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. There is no change to the mainstream staffing of the school referred to by the Deputy for the 2025/26 school year.
The staffing arrangements include a provision whereby schools experiencing rapid increases in enrolment can apply for additional permanent mainstream posts, using projected enrolment. The staffing process also contains an appeals mechanism for schools to submit a staffing appeal under certain criteria to an independent Primary Staffing Appeals Board.
Information and application forms are available in Circular 0011/2025 on the Department website.
365. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education to examine the case for additional teaching staff at school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15006/25]
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 school referred to by the Deputy was due to have a mainstream teaching post suppressed for the 2025/26 school year due to falling enrolments.
The staffing process contains 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 submitted an appeal to the March meeting of the Appeals Board and the school was successful in its appeal. The school has been notified that it will retain its current mainstream staffing for the coming school year.
366. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education the status of an application for a modular unit for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15009/25]
View answerI can confirm to the Deputy that the Department received an application under the department's Additional School Accommodation (ASA) Scheme from the school in question for the provision of a modular classroom.
The purpose of the 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 €5.8 billion in our schools throughout the country, involving the completion of over 1,300 school building projects.? Between projects currently under construction and projects moving to construction in the coming months, 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 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.??
In County Offaly alone, in the period 2020 – 2024, the department has invested €67.96 million on school building projects. There were 28 projects completed in Offaly in the period 2020 to 2024 and there are currently 5 projects in construction and 2 modular projects at an advanced stage of delivery.
I wish to advise the Deputy that schools' applications for additional accommodation are assessed on the basis of current enrolment data, demographic projections of additional school place requirements, and capacity across schools in the area. The application from the school in question is currently being reassessed in the context of the most recent enrolment data and an official will engage with the school to discuss the matter.
367. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education if a place on a school bus route will be provided for a child (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15045/25]
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.
Under the current terms of the School Transport Schemes, children are eligible for transport at primary level where they reside not less than 3.2 kilometres from and are attending their nearest national school, and at post primary level where they reside not less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre as determined by the department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
Eligible children who complete the application process and pay or enter their medical card details on time will get a seat on a school bus service, if a service is available.
Children who are not eligible for school transport but complete the application and pay or enter their medical card details on time will be considered for any spare seats available after eligible children have been accommodated. These spare seats are called concessionary seats.
There may be more demand than availability for concessionary seats. In such cases, Bus Éireann will use a selection process to allocate tickets for the spare seats.
Temporary alleviation measures (TAMs) will continue for the 2025/26 school year at post-primary level. This means that, if there are available services and enough capacity, transport will be provided for concessionary pupils who are eligible for transport to their nearest school but are attending their second nearest school or post-primary centre. This is only if they apply on time and pay or enter medical card details on time.
Bus Éireann has advised that the child referred to by the Deputy will be attending their third closest post primary school/centre and are therefore not eligible under the terms of the scheme. Bus Éireann further advise that an application and payment was received for the 2025/26 school year.
Bus Éireann is responsible for the planning and timetabling of school transport routes. Bus Éireann endeavours, within available resources, to ensure that each eligible child has a reasonable level of school transport service in the context of the Scheme nationally.
Following the closing date for payment or entering medical card details, the Bus Éireann family portal will close. This will give Bus Éireann time to assess all applications and plan for routes and services for the 2025/26 school year. Routes may be altered or extended depending on the number and location of eligible children who will be availing of school transport for the following school year.
Once routes have been finalised, Bus Éireann will assign tickets for each school transport service. Tickets will begin to issue in mid-July and will continue to issue throughout July and August. Families who are unsuccessful in obtaining a seat will be notified via email and a refund will issue.
368. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Education if her Department will expedite the payment of the schools services support fund grant to a school (details supplied) in light of the serious financial pressure it is currently facing. [15046/25]
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 and €55 per student in post-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.
Following the acceptance by Fórsa of the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) agreement in respect of salaries and various leave entitlements for grant-funded school secretaries, those secretaries who accepted the terms of this agreement were placed on a payroll operated by the Department of Education from September 2023. Therefore, ancillary-related grant funding has been revised to reflect the fact that schools are no longer paying these salaries directly.
Correspondence issued to all schools on 20 December 2023 providing details of the arrangements for the period September to December 2023. Further correspondence issued on 26 April 2024 setting out the arrangements for the period January to August 2024. Further correspondence issued on 13 November 2024 setting out the arrangements for the period September to December 2024.
Since the 2023/24 school year, schools have been paid the usual ancillary/SSSF grant amount, minus the amount that schools previously paid to grant-funded secretaries prior to their acceptance of the new terms and conditions. Schools should be in no way disadvantaged by this as the grant is reduced only by the amount that they previously paid to their secretaries.
Work is ongoing to identify a method of standardising the reduction to the ancillary-related grants for the longer term where school secretaries are being paid on the Department’s payroll. The current payments may vary when a permanent model for ancillary-related grant reductions has been finalised. Engagement will take place with school management bodies in order to discuss these arrangements to ensure that they are as reasonable and as fair as possible for all schools. Further details of these arrangements will be provided to schools as soon as they become available.
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.
369. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Education if the timeline for payment of the schools services support fund was changed in 2024, where the second instalment, usually paid in January, is now paid in April; if a circular outlining this change was sent to school principals; if the change is to be permanent; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15047/25]
View answerFollowing the acceptance by Fórsa of the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) agreement in respect of salaries and various leave entitlements for grant-funded school secretaries, those secretaries who accepted the terms of this agreement were placed on a payroll operated by the Department of Education from September 2023. Therefore, ancillary-related grant funding has been revised to reflect the fact that schools are no longer paying these salaries directly.
Correspondence issued to all schools on 20 December 2023 providing details of the arrangements for the period September to December 2023. Further correspondence issued on 26 April 2024 setting out the arrangements for the period January to August 2024. Further correspondence issued on 13 November 2024 setting out the arrangements for the period September to December 2024.
Since the 2023/24 school year, schools have been paid the usual ancillary/SSSF grant amount, minus the amount that schools previously paid to grant-funded secretaries prior to their acceptance of the new terms and conditions. Schools should be in no way disadvantaged by this as the grant is reduced only by the amount that they previously paid to their secretaries.
Work is ongoing to identify a method of standardising the reduction to the ancillary-related grants for the longer term where school secretaries are being paid on the Department’s payroll. The current payments may vary when a permanent model for ancillary-related grant reductions has been finalised. Engagement will take place with school management bodies in order to discuss these arrangements to ensure that they are as reasonable and as fair as possible for all schools. Further details of these arrangements will be provided to schools as soon as they become available.
My 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 and €55 per student in post-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.
370. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education whether a site (details provided) is under the ownership and control of the Department of Education; if the site is under the Department's jurisdiction, if a construction company has been assigned to develop a special school on the premises [15062/25]
View answerI wish to inform the Deputy that the property in question is not currently in the ownership of my Department.
With regards to the project, I can confirm that a Project Manager has been appointed to design and tender the reconfiguration project and to oversee all elements of construction.
371. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education if Bus Éireann will issue school bus tickets for the existing school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15072/25]
View answerThe School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education.
Under the terms of the School Transport Schemes, children are eligible for transport at primary level where they reside not less than 3.2 kilometres from and are attending their nearest national school, and at post primary level where they reside not less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre as determined by the department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
Eligible children who complete the application process and pay or enter their medical card details on time will get a seat on a school bus service, if a service is available.
Children who are not eligible for school transport but complete the application and pay or enter their medical card details on time will be considered for any spare seats available after eligible children have been accommodated. These spare seats are called concessionary seats.
There may be more demand than availability for concessionary seats. In such cases, Bus Éireann will use a selection process to allocate tickets for the spare seats.
Temporary alleviation measures will continue for the 2025/26 school year at post-primary level. This means that, if there are available services and enough capacity, transport will be provided for concessionary pupils who are eligible for transport to their nearest school but are attending their second nearest school or post-primary centre. This is only if they apply on time and pay or enter medical card details on time.
The Bus Éireann family portal is now open for new applications for school transport services for the 2025/26 school year. The closing date for new applications is Friday 25 April 2025. Any new applications made after the closing date are considered late applications. A late application may mean that a seat is not available.
The Bus Éireann family portal is now also accepting payments or medical card details until 6 June 2025. Payments or medical card details submitted after the deadline date will be deemed late. A late submission of payment or medical card details may mean that a seat is not available.
Bus Éireann is responsible for the planning and timetabling of school transport routes. Bus Éireann endeavours, within available resources, to ensure that each eligible child has a reasonable level of school transport service in the context of the Scheme nationally.
Following the closing date for payment or entering medical card details, the Bus Éireann family portal will close. This will give Bus Éireann time to assess all applications and plan for routes and services for the 2025/26 school year. Routes may be altered or extended depending on the number and location of eligible children who will be availing of school transport for the following school year.
In relation to applications for the current school year, as the portal is now open for new applications for the 2025/26 school year, application for the current school year cannot be processed on the system. However if a family wishes to enquire about the availability of school transport for the current school year, they should submit a query to officials in school transport section in the Department via the customer query form which can be found at gov.ie/schooltransport.
372. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 576 of 22 January 25, for a further update in relation to the new special school announced for Lucan; to confirm the location; the number of student places; the number of teachers required; the number of SNAs required; an update on hiring, if commenced; when applications for enrolment will open; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15081/25]
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.
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.
There are 40 special schools in County Dublin educating children and young people with the greatest of needs. Two of the five new special schools for the 2025/26 school year will open in Lucan and Belmayne also. Dedicated working groups have been established by my department to work through the details in relation to the establishment of the new special schools including their exact locations.
The schools are presently advertising for their principal posts. This role is critical to the special schools advancing their enrolment policies and procedures as agreed with the school patron, which in each case is the local Education and Training Board (ETB).
Special schools publish their admission notice which sets out the number of places available for each enrolment intake. It is a matter for each school to set their own selection criteria in the event that there are more applicants than places available. These details are set out clearly for parents in the published admission notice and admissions policy. My department understands that these new special schools will initially admit 30 students and the admissions process will commence in the coming weeks.
Special schools generally operate on the basis of one teacher and at least two special needs assistants (SNAs) per class grouping of six children. Further supports can be provided if required to meet the needs of the children enrolling in the school.
My department and the local ETBs will continue to review and assess the accommodation options available to allow the new special schools grow and expand over the next few years.
Parents and families looking to apply for admission to the new special school will be supported and guided by the NCSE at local level and kept updated on developments. The local ETB and NCSE have held information events with interested parents of children who may require a special school place.
I want to assure you that my department will continue to support the NCSE and schools through the provision of the necessary funding and capital investment to ensure all children are successful in accessing an education.
373. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education for an update regarding her Department's plans to expand and change the criteria needed for teacher qualification in order to address the teacher shortages; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15091/25]
View answerThis Government is fully committed to ensuring that every child has a positive school experience, with access to qualified and engaged teachers who are dedicated to supporting their learning.
As with other sectors, recruitment challenges exist in some schools. To address teacher supply issues, The Government has implemented several measures that have led to:
• an increase of 20% in Initial Teacher Education graduates (student teachers)?between 2018 and 2023, and a 30% increase in the number registered with the Teaching Council since 2017, and???????
• Between 2018 and 2024 there has been a significant increase of 5,621 (13.08%) primary and 6,006 (17.42%) post-primary allocated teaching posts.?
Measures introduced in recent budgets, included a STEM bursary, a PME fee refund scheme and an expansion of upskilling programmes, which are in addition to workforce planning for teachers and SNAs, reflect the commitment to ongoing investment in the education system?to address teacher supply.
It is a legal requirement for a teacher to be registered with the Teaching Council to receive a salary paid by the State. To register, a teacher must have a recognised teaching qualification.???
Under Section 38 of the Teaching Council Act, all initial teacher education (ITE) programmes must be accredited by the Teaching Council for registration purposes. The Council reviewed its policy on standards for programmes of initial teacher education and published updated standards in Céim Standards for Initial Teacher Education in October 2020.
All 54 ITE programmes across 14 HEI (higher education institution) providers have completed the accreditation process under the new standards through the Teaching Council.?
The Department of Education sets the minimum entry requirements for Irish, English and Mathematics for entry to primary Initial Teacher Education (ITE) Programmes. This was signalled in the National Strategy on Literacy and Numeracy for Learning and Life (2011) and is to ensure that primary teachers have the capacity to lead learning in these particular subjects which are considered as core curricular areas and particularly important in terms of supporting the development of literacy and numeracy amongst students in schools.
Having relatively high minimum entry requirements in core subject areas of Irish, English and Mathematics is one of the key policy levers that help ensure quality teaching and learning in primary school.
Teaching is an attractive career choice:
• With 3,700 newly qualified teachers registered with the Teaching Council in 2024 and over 126,000 now on the register.
• Analysis of CAO applications spanning from 2017 to 2024 indicates a sustained and robust demand for undergraduate teaching programmes. On average, 6% of first preference applications during the period from 2017 to 2024 were for either primary or post-primary teaching programmes.??First preference data from the CAO published recently showed increases in primary first preferences of 9% and in post-primary of 5%.
• The new pay deal will mean that teachers’ starting salary will increase to €46,000 rising to a maximum of €85,000 per year which compares well internationally.
My?Department?frequently consults and engages closely with stakeholders on issues such as teacher supply through industrial relations forums, sectoral meetings, and direct discussions with teacher unions.
I am considering further measures to strengthen the teaching workforce and ensure that schools have the support needed to provide an excellent education for every student.
374. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education the allocated funding for the school completion programme, with confirmation of whether each local management committee has indicated that the budget allocated is sufficient, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15092/25]
View answerThe School Completion Programme (SCP) is funded by my department via Tulsa Education Support Service (TESS) and is a central element of the DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools) programme, a key policy initiative of my department to address concentrated educational disadvantage at school level, in a targeted and equitable way, across the primary and post-primary sector.
TESS have operational responsibility for the SCP, with local projects operating under the management and direction of a Local Management Committee (LMC). The LMC is responsible for the oversight of the project delivery at local level, including the use of project resources, employment of staff, and accountability for public funds. TESS's role includes approval of the annual Retention Plan for each project, which outlines the priority actions for the year with key measurable outcomes that activates funding.
Funding for all projects is reviewed throughout the year and where surpluses arise TESS redirects this funding to meet emerging needs as identified by the LMC’s.
My department took over responsibility for the SCP in January 2021 and since then the programme has seen an annual increase in funding, and the total allocation for the programme for 2025 is just under €36m.
In addition, my department has committed significant resources to addressing the recommendations in the 2015 and the 2025 ESRI Reports.
I am committed to ensuring a continued focus on tackling educational disadvantage and early school leaving, and that the needs of the children and young people participating in this programme are met.
Once the relevant funding figures for each project for 2023/24 are available from TESS, officials from my department will contact the deputy directly.
375. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education the plans to increase schools funding in the context of rising utility costs. [15093/25]
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 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.
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.
376. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education the way his Department intends to address the issue of fairness in 2025 Leaving Certificate grading adjustments; the way his Department will ensure students who deferred their college applications from 2024 having received results under a different grading standard, will not have an advantage over those sitting the Leaving Certificate in 2025; and if there will be specific measures or adjustments to ensure fairness in the CAO process. [15094/25]
View answerAn increase in the overall set of results was noted in Ireland and internationally following pandemic-related interventions in examinations. In Ireland, the implementation of Calculated Grades in 2020 and Accredited Grades alongside examinations in 2021 resulted in overall results on the aggregate, as measured on the composite, level adjusted scale, that were approximately 7 percentage points higher than those in 2019.
In order to ensure that students who had been impacted by the COVID pandemic would not be disadvantaged with regard to access to further and higher education, the then Minister, Norma Foley T.D., made a commitment that there would be no “cliff-edge” seen in terms of the overall set of Leaving Certificate results. In fulfilment of this commitment, the State Examinations Commission has applied a post-marking adjustment that has ensured that results in the aggregate remained the same on average since 2021.
As is widely recognised, it is appropriate to return over time to normal arrangements for Leaving Certificate outcomes and on 17 April 2024, the then Minister for Education announced that the return to normal Leaving Certificate outcomes would begin in 2025. This is being done in a gradual way in order to minimise the impact on students in so far as possible.
This year the State Examinations Commission will apply a post marking adjustment which will bring the overall Leaving Certificate results in the aggregate to a point broadly midway between the 2020 and 2021 level. While lower than the 2024 outcomes, results on the aggregate in 2025 are expected to be above 2019 levels by at least 5.5 percentage points on average. The level of future year adjustments to examinations and assessment after 2025 and the timeline for phasing out a post-marking adjustment will be informed by the 2025 experience.
Matters in relation to access to higher education are a matter for the Department of Further and Higher Educatio, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS). DFHERIS has advised that Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are autonomous and manage their own academic affairs, including admissions procedures. The Central Applications Office (CAO) is an independent body which processes applications for undergraduate courses on behalf of the HEIs. Decisions on admissions, including the points awarded in respect of different qualifications, are made by the HEIs who then instruct the CAO to make offers to successful candidates.
377. Deputy Catherine Ardagh asked the Minister for Education the total number of school places required for special schools in Dublin and Cork for September 2025, and the projected number of places that will be available, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15095/25]
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.
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.
There are 40 special schools in County Dublin and 16 in County Cork educating children and young people with the greatest of needs. Three of the five new special schools for the 2025/26 school year will open in Lucan and Belmayne in Dublin and the North City area of Cork also. These schools are presently advertising for their principal posts. This role is critical to the special schools advancing their enrolment policies and procedures as agreed with the school patron, which in each case is the local Education and Training Board (ETB). My department understand that each of the new special schools being established in Dublin and Cork will admit between 24 and 30 students. My department and the local ETBs will continue to review and assess the accommodation options available to allow the new special schools grow and expand over the next few years.
Capacity is also being increased at a number of other special schools across Cork and Dublin. The NCSE will keep parents informed of these additional places and admissions timelines.
The NCSE continue to engage intensely with schools and school patron bodies to confirm further provision. As the NCSE progress sanctioning they will inform parents.
My department and the NCSE are committed to ensuring that sufficient special education placements remain available for children with special educational needs.
378. Deputy Catherine Ardagh asked the Minister for Education the progress made to date to ensure the NCSE has sufficient therapists available to all special schools for September 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15096/25]
View answerThe development of the National Therapy Support Service is a standalone commitment in the programme for government and is a cross-department initiative. It will ensure that a coordinated approach will be employed to increase college places for health and social care professionals.
While the provision of clinical therapy supports to children is the responsibility of the HSE, it is this government’s ambition, and as outlined in the Programme for Government, to extend therapy supports within the education system, over time.
To this end and in line with the commitment mentioned above, my Department is working with the Department of Health, the Department of Children, Disability and Equality and the HSE to develop and strengthen more coherent structures to enable children and young people to access therapeutic supports.
Work in regard to this important service has already been rolled out in some special schools, through enhanced in-school therapy supports pilot. This integrated pilot programme will see the delivery of enhanced in-school therapy supports provided by the HSE’s Children’s Disability Network Teams and will be supported by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE). The pilot commenced in September 2024, in six schools in the Cork and Dublin. An additional ten schools were announced as part of the pilot on 8th November 2024.
The focus of this pilot is to provide the effective delivery of enhanced in-school therapy supports to children in selected special schools, managed in a coherent and collaborative manner through the relevant stakeholders. This pilot will seek to provide an integrated model of service ensuring that all stakeholders, including special schools staff, children and families have access to high quality integrated therapeutic supports in alignment with supports provided through health and social care services.
The outcomes of this pilot will inform and assist in the development of a National Therapy Service.
In addition, The Educational Therapy Support Service (ETSS) was established in June 2024. The expansion of therapy services within the NCSE is expected to build on the achievements and impacts of this element of the School Inclusion Model (SIM) pilot programme, which provided support to 75 schools as part of the pilot.
The ETSS provides 2 strands of support. Strand I involves Regional Therapy Support and includes Teacher Professional Learning (TPL) seminars with in-school support. It is planned that these supports will be available nationally for the 2025/2026 school year. The second strand, Strand II provides Sustained In-School Therapy for a period of 24 months, in line with the School Inclusion Model (SIM).
The NCSE intends to deliver Strand II of the ETSS initially, in its Eastern and Western regions. Dublin is the base for the Eastern region and 22 schools in this region are currently availing of this service. Limerick has been identified as the most suitable hub for the Western region. This includes Kerry, Clare, Limerick, Galway, Mayo and Roscommon. It is planned that the Stand II will be available in the Western Region for the 2025/2026 school year.
Regional Therapy Support and Sustained In-School Therapy will be available to all schools in these regions, including special schools, following an application process through the NCSE.
Further recruitment within the NCSE to achieve the full complement of 39 therapists, which is currently ongoing, will assist the NCSE in the delivery and expansion of the services provided above.
The introduction of the Educational Therapy Support Service in schools is a major step forward towards the development of a National Therapy Support Service for schools.
The Department of Education 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.
379. Deputy Catherine Ardagh asked the Minister for Education the progress made in the development of a central applications system for parents seeking special class or school places for 2026, as was committed to in the Programme for Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15097/25]
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.
As you are aware a new taskforce to support the forward planning of special education provision in the Dublin 15 area has been established. The Dublin 15 area has experienced significant increases in population growth in recent years, with high levels of migration into the area and includes areas with social disadvantage.
The area covers 5 local school planning areas (LSPAs) in which there are 47 schools - 32 mainstream primary schools, 13 post primary schools and 2 special schools. There are 11 different patrons of the 47 schools in these 5 LSPAs. Therefore, it is an ideal area to trial and pilot best approaches towards better forward planning and information sharing regarding special education provision.
Instrumentally, the taskforce will consider the development of a common application system for admission to primary special classes. Thirteen primary schools in the local area are being supported by the NCSE in trialling a common application system. The voice of parents will be a key component throughout all elements of the taskforce. Parent representation on the taskforce includes representatives from the Autism School Dublin 15 (ASD15) group, the National Parents Council and parents from the local area.
The taskforce is committed to communicating its findings to both Minister McEntee and I no later than quarter two this year. Once it has done so we can examine its viability and try to progress the development of a common application system for a larger cohort.
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.
380. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Education when school transport will be made available to two students (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15098/25]
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 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 pupils referred to by the Deputy are eligible under the terms of the scheme and a sanction has been sent by School Transport Section of my Department to Bus Éireann for the establishment of a new service to cater for them.
Bus Éireann have tendered this service in line with procurement guidelines, once a contractor has been sourced, the service will commence. Bus Éireann will liaise with the family directly with regard to this matter at that stage.
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 (STG). 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 School Transport Section, and have been offered this grant.
If the family has any further queries regarding the STG, they can contact officials in School Transport Section of the Department, who will be happy to assist. Contact details are available at: gov.ie - School transport
