Written Answers Nos. 112-121
112. Deputy Edward Timmins asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update regarding an application for a sports hall made by a school in 2018 (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36542/25]
View answerI am pleased to advise the Deputy that the school in question currently has a project at stage 4 under my department's Additional Schools' Accommodation (ASA) scheme.
This project will provide the school with three new science laboratories, two prep areas and a new design and communications (DCG) room as well as two mainstream classrooms by way of refurbishment of existing accommodation.
The purpose of my department’s 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. A request for a PE Hall does not come within the remit of the ASA scheme.
Investment and expenditure on PE Halls is an element of the overall School Building Programme. The provision of GP rooms and PE Halls, at primary and post primary level respectively, and outdoor hard play areas, form part of the accommodation brief for all new school buildings. This is also the case where a major building or refurbishment project is being delivered for an existing school as part of the department’s large-scale building programme. Almost 95% of the post primary schools that made 2020 Annual Schools Returns have indicated to my department that they either have a PE Hall, access to a nearby PE Hall, or a project in train that will deliver a new PE Hall. Practically all schools have outdoor play areas, and many schools use adjacent local facilities, including community halls, public parks, playing fields and swimming pools.
A future strengthened focus on refurbishment of existing school stock will have different strands and will include a PE build and modernisation programme which will enable students in post-primary schools to have access to appropriate facilities to support PE provision, particularly also in the context of the roll-out of PE as a leaving-certificate subject. Enhanced and modernised PE facilities will also provide important amenities for local communities.
However, the main focus of my department’s capital funding over the last decade and for the coming period is on provision of critical additional capacity to cater for increasing demographics and children with special education needs.
My 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 my department’s fundamental objective of ensuring the availability of a school place for every child.
Since 2020, my department has invested over €6 billion in our schools throughout the country under the National Development Plan, involving the completion of over 1,375 school building projects. Government support for this investment, including by way of supplementary capital funding, has delivered real benefits for school communities. A recent Government decision has approved €210m supplementary capital funding for my department which brings the total capital allocation for 2025 for my department to €1.6bn.
As part of the NDP Review process, all departments, including my department, are currently engaging with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform with respect to NDP allocations for the period 2026-2030. It is expected that there will be clarity on these allocations over the course of the summer period, and this will allow my department to plan its capital investment programme for the 2026 to 2030 period in line with prioritised needs and reflecting, as appropriate, wider Government priorities. Maximising existing capacity in schools to meet needs is very important. The progression of prioritised individual projects to meet the most urgent needs in the 2026 to 2030 period that cannot be met through existing capacity across schools in the local area will be considered on a rolling basis from Autumn onwards after the NDP allocations are finalised.
113. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Education and Youth for a timeline for the introduction of a new national small schools project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36562/25]
View answerThe Programme for Government provides for a number of measures to support small schools, including introducing a new national small schools' project and trialling new administrative supports. The Government is very aware that small schools are an important part of the life of local communities.
The current small schools' action research project established in 2021 is due to conclude at the end of the next school year. The project has brought small schools together in local clusters, enabling them to collaborate, identify common challenges and trial innovative solutions.
It includes six clusters of small schools, two in Galway and one each in Donegal, Kerry, Wicklow and Waterford, consisting of between three and five schools per cluster. The feedback from schools has been extremely positive and this is reflected in the interim evaluation report recently published by my department.
The independent review identifies potential areas for closer collaboration and an analysis of the scalability of actions already undertaken. As the project progresses a further evaluation will take place.
Learnings from this evaluation of the current project will be invaluable and form a strong basis to inform the future policy direction in relation to all small schools, including how the Programme for Government Commitment can be delivered.
114. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will introduce special educational needs co-ordinators; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36563/25]
View answerEach school is provided with Special Education Teacher (SET) hours to support children who have been identified with an additional learning need via the continuum of support framework. There are over 14,700 SETs supporting mainstream classes in the 2024/25 school year, which is an increase of over 1,000 since the end of the 2021 school year. This is the highest number of SET teachers ever in our schools. For 2025/2026 this will increase again looking at the needs of our mainstream schools.
It is expected the principal will allow time, from within this allocation for the special education teacher(s) for information gathering and assessment, reviewing, monitoring and coordinating provision for children with special educational needs. This would include transition planning for the identified students. Children with special educational needs require targeted support with transitions, tailored to their needs identified in Student Support Plans.
However, as we acknowledge the growing number of children with special educational needs transitioning to post primary over the coming years, there will also be additional resources provided to every post primary school in 2025 to assist them in the effective planning and support of these children. Post primary schools require significant time for special needs coordination, planning, tracking, consultation, communication, and reporting and this time is likely to increase as more children with special educational needs transition from primary to post primary settings.
These resources to post primary schools will be in the form additional hours to schools with a full year cost of €4 million and the Department will work with our education partners as to how this will be best implemented for the next school year. This additional investment demonstrates the Department’s commitment to supporting schools and we will continue to seek to increase this support in future years.
My Department is committed to supporting effective transitions through all educational settings and there are a number of actions ongoing to support this. The Department of Education is currently finalising actions for inclusion in the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled persons in conjunction with other government departments. These will include specific actions aimed at addressing all of the key transition points for children and young people from early years education through to their transitions to post-school options.
In addition, the Department established a pilot transitions programme in 2022 as part of its response to the Comprehensive Employment Strategy (CES) for disabled people . This is a pilot programme to support the transition of young people with disabilities to improve access to, and opportunities for, post-school options. The pilot is subject to an external evaluation.
115. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if consideration has been given to the amount by which the capitation grant will increase per pupil within the lifetime of this Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36564/25]
View answerThe Government is committed to increasing funding to support schools, and the Programme for Government commits to increasing capitation funding to schools of all types to ensure that schools can meet the elevated day-to-day running costs.
The commitment in the Programme for Government builds on the progress which has been made in recent years, including an over €30 million permanent increase in capitation funding to assist schools now and longer term with increased day-to-day running costs through Budget 2025. This represents an increase of circa 12% on current standard rates and enhanced rates. This will result in the standard rates increasing from €200 to €224 for primary schools and increase from €345 to €386 per student in post-primary schools from September 2025. Over the last two Budgets there has been a circa 22% increase in the level of capitation grant rates paid to schools.
The 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.
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 Department of Education is aware that costs and funding can pose a 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 the 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.
116. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Education and Youth for a timeline within which the Government will reduce class sizes to 19 pupils, as stated in the programme for Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36565/25]
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 primary staffing arrangements for the 2025/26 school year are set out in Circular 0011/2025.
The staffing schedule operates in a clear and transparent manner and treats all similar types of schools equally, irrespective of location. It is an important feature of the staffing schedule that all schools are treated equally and fairly.
Under the Programme for Government there is a commitment to aim to reduce the general pupil teacher ratio at primary level to 19:1 over the term of government and introduce targeted measures in schools with very large classes.
This will build on the progress which has been made by the previous Government. The general average of pupils to teachers in the Primary Staffing Schedule improved from 26:1 five years ago to 23:1 for the current school year; the lowest ever ratio at primary level. Teacher allocations for DEIS Urban Band 1 schools have also been improved and now stand at an average of 17:1, 21:1 and 19:1 for junior, senior and vertical schools respectively. In addition, there has been a three-point reduction in the retention schedule, which has helped schools that would otherwise be at risk of losing teaching posts.
Average class sizes in primary schools have improved from 24.1 to 22.5 in that time, while the ratio of pupils to teachers has improved from 15:1 to 12.8:1, through the investment we are making in schools.
I am considering how best to make further progress, as part of the annual budgetary process, in reducing the primary pupil teacher ratio in the context of Programme for Government implementation.
117. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education and Youth why the NCSE has decided not to go ahead with creating an ASD class in a school (details supplied); to provide a timeline for when the school will be allowed to open the ASD class; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36592/25]
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 NCSE actively encourage expressions of interest from schools to open special classes, and I appreciate and commend the efforts taken by boards of management in expressing their interest. However, it is not always possible to open a special class in every school that expresses an interest.
When assessing the needs in the local area, the NCSE identify schools in the neighbouring vicinity with available special class vacancies or capacity and assess their capability with consideration to demographical and statistical data.
Schools not sanctioned this year, such as the school referred to by the Deputy, will remain as a potential option for future classes. Local SENOs remain available to assist and advise parents of children with special educational needs.
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.
118. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason counselling courses, particularly for teachers who are guidance counsellors, are not included under the teacher fee refund scheme on the ground of well-being, there being no logical reason they should not as they enable teachers to have the best possible skills to cater for their students' needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36620/25]
View answerThe purpose of the Teacher Fee Refund Scheme is to provide funding towards the cost of course participation and examination fees on successful completion of teacher professional learning courses. In order to prioritise teachers’ professional learning in areas clearly linked to learning, teaching and assessment, funding is allocated to relevant programmes in line with policy priorities in the following key areas:
- Upskilling for existing post primary teachers leading to registration with the Teaching Council in an additional subject, to support teacher supply at post-primary level.
- Inclusion and tackling disadvantage, discrimination and inequality.
- Promoting well-being (in line with the Wellbeing Policy and Framework for Practice 2019 - 2023).
- Digital technologies in teaching, learning and assessment (in line with the Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027).
- Improving students’ literacy and numeracy skills.
- Curricular initiatives identified by the Department of Education and Youth (must also be endorsed by the applicant teacher’s school management) .
If a candidate was refused the grant under this scheme they have the option to appeal this decision, as outlined in Circular 003/2025. This will give the appeals committee an opportunity to consider the individual circumstances in relation to their application.
Appeals on decisions must be received in email format in the tfrsappeals@education.gov.ie inbox within four working weeks from the date on which notification of the decision was issued.
The emailed appeal must include:
- A statement from the appellant detailing the grounds for appeal.
- A copy of the refusal correspondence received from Clare Education Support Centre.
- A copy of the online application form
119. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the steps Galway County Council should take to secure funding for a swimming pool in Loughrea, County Galway. [36259/25]
View answerIreland’s first National Swimming Strategy was published in August 2024 and it sets out a vision to provide everyone in our country with an opportunity to swim. The working group tasked with developing the Strategy consisted of representatives from my Department, Swim Ireland, Sport Ireland, Active Disability Ireland, Ireland Active and the local authorities. The resultant Strategy includes an Action Plan containing over 50 actions across five thematic strands, focusing on providing improved facilities, increasing access for people with disabilities, improving the culture of inclusion, better coaching supports, increasing safety awareness and providing a pathway that allows for the nurturing and development of potential high performers.
The public consultation that informed the development of the National Swimming Strategy suggested that existing swimming pool stock is insufficient and, as a result, a key focus of the Strategy is on providing improved facilities. There is a specific action in the strategy to complete an in-depth analysis of swimming pool provision within Ireland with particular reference to identifying gaps in provision. Swim Ireland, the National Governing Body for swimming, is currently undertaking an analysis of the type and nature of swimming pool ownership in the country and will publish a report in this regard in the coming period. This report will be central to the future development of swimming pool facilities.
In support of the Strategy, additional funding of €500,000 was provided to Swim Ireland in 2024 for the deployment of swimming activators to work within local authority areas, focusing on increasing participation amongst under-represented groups and improving coaching supports and facilities. This additional funding will also be provided in 2025 and 2026 – totalling €1.5 million over three years.
Responsibility for the delivery of the Strategy’s Action Plan will be shared across Government Departments, State Agencies and other key stakeholders, including local authorities. In the coming period, Sport Ireland will establish an oversight group of key stakeholders to give leadership, policy direction, prioritisation and mobilisation of resources to support, monitor and measure the Strategy’s implementation.
Capital support for new swimming pools, and the refurbishment of existing pools, continues to be provided by my Department through the Large-Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund, which to date has allocated €28.9 million to 9 swimming pool projects. It is noted that no application was received for Loughrea swimming pool under LSSIF. I would encourage any prospective applicants to review the scheme guidelines and key priorities included as part of the 2024 round of LSSIF as part of their preparatory process for a future LSSIF round. These documents are readily accessible on my Department's website. It is important to note that while these resources can serve as a helpful reference, any new guidelines and conditions associated with a future round of the programme may differ from those previously published.
With regard to a future round of the LSSIF, I am committed to ensuring sustained investment in sports facilities to meet our ambitious goals for sports participation nationwide. The Programme for Government commits to maintaining sports funding to get more people participating in all levels of sport, particularly targeting cohorts in society where there are lower than average participation levels including people with disabilities and older people.
My current focus is on ensuring project delivery under the first two rounds of the LSSIF, 2018 and 2024, and this process will inform any decisions regarding the timing of a future round. I would expect however that the period of time to a future LSSIF round will be less than the period of time between the first and second rounds.
120. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport when the details of the next round of the sports capital grant fund will be announced; the amount of funding expected to be made available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36302/25]
View answerOver a quarter of a billion euro was allocated to 3,048 community sports clubs and facilities in 2024 from the 2023 round of the Community Sport Facilities Fund (CSFF), benefitting over forty sports, as well as multi-sport facilities, throughout the country. This represents the largest-ever investment in sports facilities in communities across Ireland.
In line with previous rounds of the programme, a review of the current funding round will be undertaken and that review will inform the timing of the next round of the CSFF. However, I would anticipate that the next round should be announced in 2026. The quantum of funding available will be informed by the review of the National Development Plan which is underway.
121. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if he will consider making an application for a future stage of the Tour de France to be held in Ireland, potentially in 2028 to mark the 30th anniversary of its only ever time to be held in this country; if he will prioritise the south east, in particular Carlow and Kilkenny, as part of the route selection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36303/25]
View answerOne of the first major international sporting events held in Ireland was the Grand Départ of the Tour de France in 1998 and I would of course welcome its return to this island at some point in the future. It would be a real showcase for the spectacular scenery that Ireland has to offer, including in the south east.
Major international sporting events can play a key role in increasing sporting participation, boosting domestic and international tourism and promoting Ireland as a destination for education and business opportunities. They present a wonderful opportunity to showcase the island of Ireland and our world-class tourism and sports offering to Europe and the world. The Government continues to support the hosting of major sports events in Ireland and to explore further hosting opportunities.
The 2024 government policy and strategy framework for the hosting of Major International Sporting Events is the first of its kind in Ireland and fulfils a commitment under the previous Programme for Government. The policy provides a framework in relation to how Government should support major international sporting events, the benefits it should seek to derive from such events, the supports it could offer and the kind of events it would prioritise. This framework and its further development will guide future bid activity and ensure Ireland remains competitive and strategic in pursuing these opportunities.
With regards to the Deputy's specific reference to the hosting of a stage of the Tour De France, back in 2023 my officials met with counterparts from Northern Ireland on several occasions to examine a north-south proposal to host a future iteration of the Grand Départ. However, notification was received from the Department for the Economy in Northern Ireland that, due to funding pressures, it had decided to cease its work on the proposed joint bid. Accordingly, given that the project was envisaged as a north-south all-island initiative, the Department did not proceed further with the proposal. Should the opportunity arise again to consider a bid to host the Grand Départ or any stage of the Tour de France, the experience gained through this process will be of use to any such future consideration.
