Written Answers Nos. 1-23
5. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Education the forward planning her Department has achieved in respect of special class places for children with additional needs in secondary schools in County Clare to align with primary school special class places; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23856/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAt the outset, I want to assure parents that this government is determined to help families when seeking a special educational placement and alleviate the pressures that can arise.
I understand that this can be an anxious time for parents who are seeking enrolment for their children for September, and I want to assure them that work continues to provide the appropriate school place for their child’s needs.
Over 320 new special classes have been sanctioned by the NCSE nationwide for the 2024/25 school year. Of these 7 are in County Clare, 4 at primary level and 3 at post-primary level. This brings the number of special classes in Clare to 75.
The NCSE continue to sanction classes for the coming school year. As new classes are sanctioned, the NCSE will support families to make applications for places. The NCSE has advised my department that local special educational needs officers (SENOs) are engaging with parents and schools, with a view to ensuring all children with special educational needs in County Clare, and across the country, secure a school placement for this September.
I have asked the NCSE to ensure that these classes are established as a matter of urgency, and to keep all families who are seeking these class places updated on an ongoing basis to ensure that their children can access the provision to which they are entitled.
Parents seeking special class placements for their children are advised to contact the NCSE locally. Local SENOs are available to assist and advise the parents of children with special educational needs. Parents may contact SENOs directly using the contact details available on the NCSE's website.
My department engages intensely with the NCSE in relation to the forward planning of new special classes and additional special school places, work which is close to finalisation for the 2024/25 school year. This forward planning has resulted in over 3,000 special classes and the establishment of eleven new special schools in recent years and the expansion of many others.
Demand for new special classes at post-primary level is expected to increase significantly over the next few years. This is due to changing demographics and increasing prevalence rates for special educational needs. My department and the NCSE continue to engage proactively with post-primary stakeholders in relation to the provision of special classes.
In October 2022, my department wrote to all post-primary schools requesting that all schools begin planning to provide for special classes – up to four special classes in the case of larger post primary schools – to meet the needs of children progressing from primary level.
I can assure the deputy that my department and the NCSE are committed to ensuring that sufficient special education placements will be available for children for this school year and future years.
6. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Education her views on the lack of autism school places for children in the Dublin 15 and 7 areas, and in particular for a child (details supplied). [23888/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI understand that this is an anxious time for parents who are seeking a school place for their child for September and I would like to assure the Deputy that this government is determined to alleviate the pressures faced by parents when seeking a special educational placement.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has advised that the local special educational needs organiser is working closely with the family of the case he has raised regarding options for school placements and other special education supports for the coming academic year.
My department and the NCSE work closely in relation to the forward planning of new special classes and additional special school places, work which is close to finalisation for the 2024/25 school year.
This forward planning has resulted in over 3,000 special classes and the establishment of eleven new special schools in recent years and the expansion of many others. My department secured funding of €2.7 billion for special education expenditure in Budget 2024 which will provide essential supports to children with special educational needs and allow for the opening of up to 400 new special classes in mainstream schools and 300 additional special school places. So far more than 320 new special classes have been sanctioned by the NCSE nationwide for the 2024/25 school year. Of these, 36 are in Dublin of which 23 are at primary level and 13 at post-primary level, bringing the total number in the county to 570. Of the 36 classes sanctioned for next September, 4 are in the Dublin 7 and 15 areas.
The NCSE continue to sanction classes for the coming school year and is engaged in ongoing discussions with schools. As new classes are sanctioned, the NCSE will support families to make applications for places.
I have asked the NCSE to ensure classes are established as a matter of urgency and to keep all families seeking class places updated on an ongoing basis to ensure their children can access the provision to which they are entitled.
I referenced earlier that this government is committed to alleviating the pressures faced by parents seeking a special educational placement.
Significant additional resources and funding of €13 million have been allocated to the NCSE to allow for the expansion of its services, which will bolster the level of service and provide effective structures to relieve pressure on parents.
This funding has allowed for, among other things, a significant increase in the number of SENOs which will increase from 73 to 120 by next September. These SENOs will work closely with children, their families and schools on the ground in order to provide the necessary supports.
Additional administrative support staff, team managers and other professionals are also being employed to allow SENOs concentrate on working directly with schools and families.
10. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education if she will engage with schoolbook publishers to achieve necessary savings for the free schoolbooks scheme rather than reducing the rate paid per student to schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23801/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI believe it is crucially important that all children and young people are actively supported to access education in its fullest forms.
Since June 2020, and over the past four Budgets, I have secured funding to support measures aimed at achieving that goal. One of the most important policies in this regard has been the establishment of Ireland’s first free primary school book scheme in 2023, which has been fully funded to provide free schoolbooks, workbooks and copybooks to every single student enrolled primary schools and special schools. This has also been expanded to all Junior Cycle students in second-level schools.
More than 555,000 pupils enrolled in approximately 3,229 primary schools, including 138 special schools, will benefit from this measure in the 2024/25 school year.
I know that families can face struggles in preparing for the return to school. This free schoolbook scheme eliminates the cost to all families for schoolbooks at primary school and enrolled in Junior Cycle, including workbooks and copybooks.
In the past few weeks over €44.4 million issued to recognised primary and special schools around the country to continue implementation of the free schoolbooks scheme at primary level. Revised guidance for the 2024/25 school year was published on my Department’s website and has also issued to schools.
Under the scheme for the 2024/25 school year, schools have received €80 per pupil. This equates to a rate of €8,000 per 100 pupil primary school, building on the €9,600 which was paid to schools last year for the scheme. Special schools that have students enrolled in Junior Cycle programmes have received funding at the Junior Cycle rate of €309 per student, as set out under the new Junior Cycle Schoolbooks Scheme, in respect of these students.
Clearly, in the first year of the scheme being operated, there was a recognition that many schools would be purchasing a stock of books for the very first time, and for this reason, funding was front-loaded into the first year of the scheme. Of course, while some books may go missing or become unusable, schoolbooks remain the property of the school and many books are now available to schools for reuse in the 2024/25 school year and in future school years. The funding allocated to the scheme in the 2024/25 school year takes account of this. This is also in line with ensuring value for money for the taxpayer and avoiding significant waste of books etc. where possible.
As part of the on-going evaluation of the scheme, all schools will be asked to provide data on their expenditure in order to inform the guidance, implementation, costs and efficiency of the scheme for future years.
Primary schools and special schools will continue to have autonomy to choose books that meet their curricular requirements. The scheme will seek to ensure that value for money is achieved and that primary schools and special schools will be supported to implement the scheme in a way that has the best learning outcomes for pupils.
My Department engaged with all relevant stakeholders as to how the scheme will continue to operate. These included: primary school management bodies, unions, the National Parents Council Primary, representatives of booksellers and schoolbook publishers, IBEC, Retail Ireland, the Small Firms Association, Barnardo's and the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul. My Department also undertook an evaluation of Year 1 of the scheme and this included engaging directly with a small number of schools to learn of their first-hand experience of implementing the scheme in the 2023/24 school year.
As Minister for Education, I am deeply aware of the numerous costs faced by families upon the return of their children to school each September and I am confident that this scheme will significantly reduce the back-to-school financial burden for many families.
11. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education the funding and supports that are available to schools to assist with the repair or replacement of equipment in special classrooms, given the exorbitant prices for said equipment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23857/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraSupporting special education needs provision in schools is a priority for my department. This includes the provision of necessary furniture and equipment as part of school building projects and the replacement of existing furniture and equipment as deemed appropriate.
Schools are supported through school furniture frameworks to have sufficient appropriate furniture and equipment to meet the needs of the vast majority of children. However, as the furniture and equipment needs of some children with special education needs are highly sensitive and individualised, the applications for funding are dealt with on a case by case basis. For this small cohort of children, part of the application process requires the submission of an Occupational Therapist’s report which details the individual requirements of a child, and the associated furniture and equipment needs.
The range of grants to support the provision of furniture and equipment for the establishment of new special classes in existing schools includes:
· A grant of €6,500 to cover the start-up cost of furniture and general equipment within an ASD class; and
· A once off grant of €7,000 to cover the start-up cost of furniture and equipment for a multisensory room
My department invested a significant level of funding in furniture and equipment for existing schools in 2023. This investment included expenditure of €5 million on the provision of furniture and equipment for children with special education needs.
In addition to this, schools received more than €4.2 million in 2023 through the Assistive Technology Scheme to support individual pupils who needed essential specialist equipment to access the school curriculum.
My department’s Emergency Works Scheme also provides funding to facilitate infrastructural improvements to ensure inclusion and access for pupils or staff members with additional needs.
The Minor Works Grant provided to primary and special schools is also relevant as it provides flexibility at local level to assist schools to undertake works, or to purchase equipment, that support the operation of the school. Around €29 million issues to primary and special schools under this grant for each school year.
In recent years, my department’s approach has been to pay the Minor Works Grant to schools in advance of the start of the following school year in order to facilitate a better lead in period for schools to plan their use of the funds. The grant for the 2024/2025 school year was paid this April.
Under the scheme, funding is made available to all primary schools on the basis of a €5,500 basic grant plus €18.50 per mainstream pupil and €74 per pupil with special education needs enrolled in the school on the 30th of September of the year prior to the issue of the grant.
Given that each school setting is different, individual schools are best placed to decide how best to use this funding to address their needs.
In addition, a number of measures are in place to support the furniture and equipment needs of schools generally, including grant levels of almost €10,000 per new mainstream class. A review of grant levels, including those related to ASD classes and sensory rooms referenced earlier is currently underway.
In addition to the furniture and equipment supports provided by my Department, there is also a suite of supports for children with special educational needs that are provided by other Departments for example, the Recycle Mobility Programme which is funded by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.
If the Deputy has a particular instance of where the provision of equipment has been an issue, I am happy to take the details separately and have officials in my department look into it.
13. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Education the number of additional school places that will be available for the school year starting August/September 2024, above 2023 levels, for children in the Fingal area at primary and secondary level, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23686/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can assure the Deputy that the provision of school places to meet the needs of children and young people at primary and post primary level, including children and young people with special educational needs is an absolute priority for the Department.
As the Deputy will be aware, for school planning purposes, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and utilises a Geographical Information System to anticipate school place demand. Information from a range of sources, including Child Benefit data, school enrolment data and information on residential development activity is used for this purpose. Additionally, Project Ireland 2040 population and housing targets inform my Department's projections of school place requirements.
Across Dublin Fingal, primary enrolments are past their peak, and both total enrolments and Junior Infant intakes are reducing. At post primary level, total post primary enrolments are expected to peak in the 2024/25 school year, but first year enrolments have already begun to decline. My Department will keep the demographic picture under review, particularly in light of residential development in the area.
In response to previously identified demographic pressures, my Department has provided significant primary and post primary capacity in the Dublin Fingal area, including by establishing new schools. Four new primary schools and three new post primary schools have been established in the Dublin Fingal area since 2018 and projects to provide new school buildings for these schools are either already complete, such as Swords Community College and Stapolin ETNS, or in train. In total, there are 29 large scale school building projects at various stages of planning and delivery across Dublin Fingal, including a new school building for St Joseph's Secondary School, Rush and for Hedgestown NS.
Multiple smaller projects providing additional accommodation are also at various stages of planning and delivery.
This recent and ongoing capital investment has had a significant impact in providing additional school places across Dublin Fingal. Across schools in the relevant School Planning Areas, there are over 300 more Junior Infants places available for 2024/25 than Junior Infants enrolled in 2023/24. At post primary level in Dublin Fingal, there are over 100 more First Year places available for 2024/25 than First Years enrolled in 2023/24.
Notwithstanding this scale of ongoing project delivery, and the general decline in demographic demand, the Department is aware of pressures for school places in some School Planning Areas in Dublin Fingal.
It is important to note that while there can be enrolment pressures and demand for additional school places in some areas, this may not be as a result of lack of accommodation, but may be driven by factors such as duplication of applications, school of choice or draw from outside the local area. In urban areas such as Fingal, there can be a high level of mobility between school planning areas.
The Department has been working with schools and patrons in the School Planning Areas of Malahide_Nevinstown and Portmarnock over recent months to review data on applications for admissions for September 2024, and is also collaboratively planning towards September 2025.
I can assure the Deputy that the Department will continue to work with schools and patrons to ensure that there are sufficient places available in those areas and across Fingal for the 2024/25 school year and future years.
14. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education the action she will take to ensure that there are sufficient school places for every child who needs one in September; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23915/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is an absolute priority of the Department to ensure that every child in the State has access to a school place that is appropriate to their needs and we are continually investing in existing and new schools to ensure that this is the case.
Testament to this is that nearly 400 new classes for children with special education were established for the 2023/24 school year and school building projects completed in 2023 delivered over 7,000 additional mainstream post primary school places.
Since 2020, my department has invested in the region of €4.8 billion in our schools throughout the country, involving the completion of over 800 school building projects and with construction currently underway at approximately 300 other projects, which includes 30 new school buildings. These 300 projects currently at construction involve a total State investment of over €1.2bn.
I also recently announced that close to 90 projects, including 28 new school buildings, would be authorised to proceed from tender stage to construction over the course of 2024 and early 2025. In total, around €800 million will be invested in these projects under the department’s Large Scale Capital Programme and Additional Accommodation Scheme for essential classroom accommodation.
This capital investment is underpinned by a robust school planning approach that uses a Geographical Information System to anticipate school place demand. Information from a range of sources, including Child Benefit Data, school enrolment data and information on residential development activity is utilised for this purpose. Additionally, Project Ireland 2040 population and housing targets inform my Department’s projections of school place requirements.
There are one million learners across 4,000 primary and post-primary schools around the country. Growth in overall post primary enrolments is projected to continue in many parts of the country. However, first year enrolments nationally are expected to have peaked in the current school year and will begin to decline.
Nevertheless, due to strong residential construction and planning activity, we can expect to see increasing demand in particular towns and areas. This is fully factored into my Department’s forward planning approach, which includes extensive engagement with local authorities.
In the area of special education, the National Council for Special Education has forecast continued significant growth in the requirements for special classes at post primary level. My Department is working towards the provision of an average of four special classes in every post primary school.
While there can be enrolment pressures in some areas, it is important to note that sometimes this may not be as a result of lack of accommodation but may be driven by factors such as duplications of applications, and applications from outside the local area.
Notwithstanding this, in some areas there can be an underlying requirement for additional school places. In that context, as part of planning for September 2024, data on applications for admission was shared with my Department by post-primary schools across areas of enrolment pressure.
The sharing of this data has been very effective in the identification of school place requirements. In the majority of areas, through the work of schools, patrons, management bodies and the department, there are sufficient school places available to meet the needs of children in the area. The Department is working with schools and patrons and additional places have already been made available in some areas. Further additional provision will be made where a need is identified.
While a small number of applicants may not yet have received an offer of a school place for 2024/25, I want to assure families that all children who require a school place will be provided with one.
15. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Education her plans to increase the provision of ASD places for mid-Cork secondary schools to meet the demand required; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23833/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI understand this is an anxious time for parents who are seeking a school place for September. I would like to assure parents that this government is determined and committed to alleviating the pressures faced by families seeking a special educational placement and we are working hard to make the process easier.
Over 320 new special classes have been sanctioned by the National Council for Special education (NCSE) for the 2024/25 school year. Of these, 57 are in Cork of which 37 are at primary level and 20 at post-primary level. Of the 57 sanctioned for the forthcoming school year, 6 are in the Deputy's constituency of North-West Cork. This brings the total number of special classes in the county to 553.
The vast majority of these are autism classes which have a teacher/student ratio of 1:6. The NCSE continue to sanction classes for the coming school year and as these new classes are sanctioned, the NCSE will support families to make applications for places.
My department and the NCSE are committed to ensuring that sufficient special education placements are available for children. There is ongoing forward planning of new special classes and additional special school places, which involves a detailed review of statistical data to forecast demand for special class places, analysis of available school accommodation and consideration of improved data sharing arrangements among stakeholders.
There is a particular focus on the provision of special classes at post-primary level where demand for new special classes is expected to increase significantly over the next few years, due to changing demographics and increasing prevalence rates of special educational needs. This strategic approach to forward planning has resulted in almost 3,000 special classes and the establishment of eleven new special schools in recent years and the expansion of many others.
Parents seeking a special class placement for their children are advised to contact the NCSE locally. Local special educational needs organisers (SENOs) are available to assist and advise the parents of children with special educational needs. Parents may contact SENOs directly using the contact details available on the NCSE website.
This government has provided significant additional resources and funding of €13 million to the NCSE to allow for the expansion of its services, which will bolster the level of service and provide effective structures to relieve pressure on families on what can be a very difficult time.
This funding has allowed for, among other things, a significant increase in the number of SENOs which will increase from 73 to 120 by next September. These SENOs will work closely with children, their families and schools on the ground in order to provide the necessary supports.
Additional administrative support staff, team managers and other professionals are also being employed to allow SENOs concentrate on working directly with schools and families.
17. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the administrative workload that teaching principals have to deal with; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23838/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe role of schools within communities is crucial and I wish to acknowledge the huge contribution being made daily by all school leaders in the operation of our schools.
Since I first took office, I have continued to have regular meetings and engagements with the key partners at all levels in the sector, to get their unique and valued perspectives.
This allowed me to learn about the challenges as well as the opportunities that are faced by schools.
The numbers employed in our schools will reach the highest ever level in the current school year. Currently there are over 42,900 teaching posts allocated across the primary school system. This represents an increase of just over 5,000 teachers when compared with the 2019/20 year when I took up office.
In three of the recent budgets, I prioritised reducing the pupil teacher ratios in primary schools, by one point each year, which has brought the teacher allocation ratio to an average of 1 classroom teacher for every 23 pupils in all primary schools, the lowest level ever seen at primary level. In addition, the threshold whereby a teaching principal becomes administrative principal has been reduced from an enrolment of 176 pupils to 169 pupils.
In Budget 2022, I ensured that each teaching principal with a minimum of one release day per week became a permanent feature in all our schools. Schools with one special class received 4 additional release days, while schools with 2 special classes have admin. principal status.
As well as general teaching posts improvements, a new leadership framework introduced in 2017 allows for flexibility in identifying and prioritising the evolving leadership and management needs of schools. This shared leadership model supports school leaders in the overall management and operation of schools. It provides for the assignment and re-assignment of post holders to specific roles and responsibilities to meet a school’s evolving needs. Today, 1 in 3 primary school teachers hold management positions. In budget 2024, I provided for an additional 500 posts of responsibility (Assistant Principal II) for the 2024/25 school year.
My Department and I are currently turning our thoughts to Education 2050 and how we take the best elements of our schools and build on this to create a system for future generations. The small schools project is an example of school communities coming together to explore and trail new ideas for the future including how admin supports can assist teaching principals with their administrative duties. It is acknowledged by my department that implementing policies while teaching can be challenging.
The project has brought small schools together in local clusters, enabling them to collaborate and identify common challenges and trial innovative solutions. New ideas are being trialled to determine whether these might help to make the role of a teaching principal and small schools more sustainable The project has shown that small schools collaborating and working together offers promise for the future .
The schools participating across the six clusters in this project have developed good working relationships and have already provided valuable insights and ideas into supports that can be developed and replicated across small schools and I am delighted that the project is continuing for a further two years to allow further time for current ideas to be developed and some new ideas to emerge.
Effective school leadership, and governance, means effective schools. The existing models of leadership and governance of our schools, whilst very effective, also carry challenges for teachers, school principals, as well as boards of management, and the sector as a whole. Recognising these challenges, my department is now putting an increased focus on leadership and governance at school level and across the sector nationally. My officials, in conjunction and consultation with education partners will examine current policy and practice to see what elements are serving school communities well and what elements we can improve on.
18. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on her Department’s effort to meet the demand for school places in Dublin Fingal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23908/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can assure the Deputy that the provision of school places to meet the needs of children and young people at primary and post primary level, including children and young people with special educational needs is an absolute priority for the Department.
As the Deputy will be aware, for school planning purposes, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and utilises a Geographical Information System to anticipate school place demand. Information from a range of sources, including Child Benefit data, school enrolment data and information on residential development activity is used for this purpose. Additionally, Project Ireland 2040 population and housing targets inform my Department's projections of school place requirements.
Across Dublin Fingal, primary enrolments are past their peak, and both total enrolments and Junior Infant intakes are reducing. At post primary level, total post primary enrolments are expected to peak in the 2024/25 school year, but first year enrolments have already begun to decline. My Department will keep the demographic picture under review, particularly in light of residential development in the area.
In response to previously identified demographic pressures, my Department has provided significant primary and post primary capacity in the Dublin Fingal area, including by establishing new schools. Four new primary schools and three new post primary schools have been established in the Dublin Fingal area since 2018 and projects to provide new school buildings for these schools are either already complete, such as Swords Community College and Stapolin ETNS, or in train. In total, there are 29 large scale school building projects at various stages of planning and delivery across Dublin Fingal, including a new school building for St Joseph's Secondary School, Rush and for Hedgestown NS.
Multiple smaller projects providing additional accommodation are also at various stages of planning and delivery.
This recent and ongoing capital investment has had a significant impact in providing additional school places across Dublin Fingal. Across schools in the relevant School Planning Areas, there are over 300 more Junior Infants places available for 2024/25 than Junior Infants enrolled in 2023/24. At post primary level in Dublin Fingal, there are over 100 more First Year places available for 2024/25 than First Years enrolled in 2023/24.
Notwithstanding this scale of ongoing project delivery, and the general decline in demographic demand, the Department is aware of pressures for school places in some School Planning Areas in Dublin Fingal.
It is important to note that while there can be enrolment pressures and demand for additional school places in some areas, this may not be as a result of lack of accommodation, but may be driven by factors such as duplication of applications, school of choice or draw from outside the local area. In urban areas such as Fingal, there can be a high level of mobility between school planning areas.
The Department has been working with schools and patrons in the School Planning Areas of Malahide_Nevinstown and Portmarnock over recent months to review data on applications for admissions for September 2024, and is also collaboratively planning towards September 2025.
I can assure the Deputy that the Department will continue to work with schools and patrons to ensure that there are sufficient places available in those areas and across Fingal for the 2024/25 school year and future years.
19. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education the action she will take to ensure that there are sufficient secondary school places for every child who needs one in September; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23912/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is an absolute priority of the Department to ensure that every child in the State has access to a school place that is appropriate to their needs and we are continually investing in existing and new schools to ensure that this is the case.
Testament to this is that nearly 400 new classes for children with special education were established for the 2023/24 school year and school building projects completed in 2023 delivered over 7,000 additional mainstream post primary school places.
Since 2020, my department has invested in the region of €4.8 billion in our schools throughout the country, involving the completion of over 800 school building projects and with construction currently underway at approximately 300 other projects, which includes 30 new school buildings. These 300 projects currently at construction involve a total State investment of over €1.2bn.
I also recently announced that close to 90 projects, including 28 new school buildings, would be authorised to proceed from tender stage to construction over the course of 2024 and early 2025. In total, around €800 million will be invested in these projects under the department’s Large Scale Capital Programme and Additional Accommodation Scheme for essential classroom accommodation.
This capital investment is underpinned by a robust school planning approach that uses a Geographical Information System to anticipate school place demand. Information from a range of sources, including Child Benefit Data, school enrolment data and information on residential development activity is utilised for this purpose. Additionally, Project Ireland 2040 population and housing targets inform my Department’s projections of school place requirements.
There are one million learners across 4,000 primary and post-primary schools around the country. Growth in overall post primary enrolments is projected to continue in many parts of the country. However, first year enrolments nationally are expected to have peaked in the current school year and will begin to decline.
Nevertheless, due to strong residential construction and planning activity, we can expect to see increasing demand in particular towns and areas. This is fully factored into my Department’s forward planning approach, which includes extensive engagement with local authorities.
In the area of special education, the National Council for Special Education has forecast continued significant growth in the requirements for special classes at post primary level. My Department is working towards the provision of an average of four special classes in every post primary school.
While there can be enrolment pressures in some areas, it is important to note that sometimes this may not be as a result of lack of accommodation but may be driven by factors such as duplications of applications, and applications from outside the local area.
Notwithstanding this, in some areas there can be an underlying requirement for additional school places. In that context, as part of planning for September 2024, data on applications for admission was shared with my Department by post-primary schools across areas of enrolment pressure.
The sharing of this data has been very effective in the identification of school place requirements. In the majority of areas, through the work of schools, patrons, management bodies and the department, there are sufficient school places available to meet the needs of children in the area. The Department is working with schools and patrons and additional places have already been made available in some areas. Further additional provision will be made where a need is identified.
While a small number of applicants may not yet have received an offer of a school place for 2024/25, I want to assure families that all children who require a school place will be provided with one.
20. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education if she accepts recommendations by NCSE regarding school places; if so, if she will ensure the school building unit implement such recommendations in a timely manner; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23802/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI understand that this is an anxious time for parents who are seeking enrolment for their child for September and I would like to assure the Deputy that this government is determined to alleviate the pressures faced by parents when seeking a special educational placement.
My department works closely with the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) in relation to the forward planning of new special classes and additional special school places.
This work involves a detailed review of statistical data to forecast demand for special class places, analysis of available school accommodation, consideration of improved data sharing arrangements among stakeholders and a particular focus on the provision of special classes at post primary level.
The NCSE also work closely with parents of children with special educational needs to ensure that the needs of their children are known and fully understood.
Over 320 new special classes have been sanctioned by the NCSE nationwide for the 2024/25 school year and this number will increase over the coming weeks. Of the 320 so far sanctioned 7 are in Co. Westmeath – 5 at primary level and 2 at post primary level. This will bring to 66 the number of special classes in the county.
I can also advise that my department's Planning and Building Unit continue to liaise with some schools regarding their individual accommodation requirements.
When establishing a special class, where additional accommodation is indicated as being required, an analysis of both student demand and available accommodation in an area is required. The Department and NCSE aim to provide the most immediate and child centred solution for the establishment of new special classes, and it is considered prudent to utilise existing spare classroom capacity prior to establishing a special class that may require additional accommodation e.g., modular accommodation.
This approach enables special classes to be established more quickly and means that the educational needs of children who require a specialist placement can be met more easily.
Since 2020, the government has invested in the region of €4.5 billion capital funding in our schools throughout the country.
School building projects at construction involve an overall State investment of over €1.2 billion. We also have a large modular accommodation programme delivering urgently needed school places.
This is a record level of investment in our schools and highlights the government’s very strong track record of delivery in providing additional capacity and modern facilities for our school communities.
Just last month, my colleague Minister Foley announced 90 new school building projects, including new builds for two special schools. As part of the new mainstream school projects announced, 138 special classes are being provided.
21. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education the investment which has been made from excellence funds to promote creative collaboration among clusters of schools; and if she has plans to expand investment of this sort. [23892/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraBuilding on investment already made in previous years, the Department of Education continues to provide substantial investment in order to expand and promote creative collaboration among clusters of schools.
Under the umbrella of the Schools Excellence Fund, the Creative Clusters Programme was piloted as an action in the first Creative Youth Plan 2017-2022 and supported clusters of three to five schools to work together on building capacity in creativity with the support of a specialist facilitator. Each Creative Cluster receive funding of €3,000 per school in each cluster over a two-year period to implement their project.
The Creative Clusters programme is open to primary and post-primary schools, including special schools, as well as YouthReach centres.
Creative Clusters support includes release time for schools to meet and develop their project, as well as helping bring their creative plans and ideas to fruition over the course of two years.
The resources provided help the schools to build a project of learning and activities tailor-made for their community with their students.
Creative Clusters helps schools to further enhance creativity in their classrooms and supports students of all ages to develop creative and critical thinking skills, learning to adapt and collaborate as well as to enjoy and explore artistic and creative expression, whether through traditional arts, STEM or other creative avenues.
Following a positive independent evaluation of the pilot programme in 2022, Creative Clusters continues to be an important programme in promoting and providing creative collaboration amongst clusters of schools. As a specific action as part of the new Creative Youth Plan 2023-2027, launched in March 2023, the planned ongoing expansion of the Creative Clusters Programme will continue to ensure that those hardest to reach children and schools will be provided with collaborative opportunities to engage in creativity in all its different forms.
While established under the umbrella of the Schools Excellence Fund, funding for Creative Clusters is being provided from my department's allocation. Over €2.1 million has been invested to date in Creative Clusters giving 591 schools in 168 clusters the opportunity to work together to develop creative projects and collaborate on new ideas based on their local experience and unique perspective.
In addition, in February of this year, I invited schools and YouthReach centres across Ireland to apply to take part in Creative Clusters for the two years commencing September 2024. Up to €575,000 has been made available this year for Creative Clusters and this will enable up to 210 schools to come together across 42 clusters.
