Written Answers Nos. 75-92
75. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Education to provide the full list of available teaching positions in secondary level schools in Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24156/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraTeacher allocations to all schools are approved annually by my Department in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolment. The criteria for the allocation of posts are communicated to school managements annually and are available on the Department website.
The recruitment and appointment of teachers to fill teaching posts is a matter for the individual school authority, subject to procedures agreed under Section 24(3) of the Education Act 1998 (as amended by the Education (Amendment) Act 2012). The deployment of teaching staff in the school, the range of subjects offered are in the first instance a matter for the school management authorities.
Schools advertise vacant positions on websites as outlined in circular 62/2008. Post primary schools advertise vacant posts in the normal manner in order to employ teachers with the appropriate subject mix to provide for a range of subjects that can be offered to students. It is an important aspect of the annual timetabling process that schools work towards achieving this outcome where possible. Matching the subject mix on offer with the qualifications of individual teachers who typically have more than one subject, can be a challenging task for schools. It is important that schools as employers retain the flexibility to employ teachers with the capacity to teach varied subjects to maintain a wide range of subjects on offer to students.
76. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Education if there if there is a facility where qualified teachers can register with her Department to be contacted for recruitment purposes if a vacancy arises; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24157/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe recruitment and appointment of?teachers to fill teaching posts is a matter for individual school authorities, subject to procedures agreed under Section 24 of the Education Act 1998 (as amended by the Education (Amendment) Act 2012). In that regard, there are more than 3,700 individual employers (boards of management of primary schools and post-primary schools, as well as ETBs).
As school authorities are the employer of teachers, a central facility for teacher recruitment has not been provided. However, following on from the Department’s Action Plan on Teacher Supply, the Irish Primary Principals’ Network (IPPN) operates an online portal for the recruitment of teachers to long-term teaching positions. The portal facilitates the matching of demand and supply and provides an efficient and user-friendly recruitment process for both schools and teachers, including teachers working abroad who wish to apply for posts here.
Additionally, Turas Abhaile, which is an initiative of the post-primary school management bodies and the National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals (NAPD), assists teachers based abroad to return teach in Ireland since September 2019. Turas Abhaile matches teachers with specific vacancies and participating schools facilitate online interviews to suit the preferences of candidates.
In addition to the above measures, the Teaching Transforms campaign promotes the teaching profession and encourages students to follow a career in teaching. The campaign is supported by a dedicated webpage, which includes useful information for teachers seeking to return to work in Ireland or who have qualified outside the State (www.gov.ie/teachingtransforms).
Developing creative solutions to address the problems that schools face when it comes to sourcing teachers relies on the support of all stakeholders. My Department continues to engage closely with education stakeholders including schools and their management bodies to develop further, innovative measures to address teacher supply issues.
77. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the reason a request to sanction the summer programme for one week for eight classes was refused in the case of a person (details supplied); if this school’s case can be examined at the earliest opportunity, with a view to ensuring a consensus to run at least a week’s programme given the importance of the school to local children with additional needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24164/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraDetails of the 2024 Summer Programme were published on the 21st March 2024. The Department of Education also recently announced that funding of €40m has been secured again to ensure that a comprehensive summer programme will be available in 2024. This builds on the successful summer programmes of the last three years. The full funding of €40m is available and, as in previous years, all of the funding is utilised to meet the needs of our most vulnerable children.
All schools have an opportunity to run a programme over the summer months for those children who need it the most. These children can continue to be supported, nurtured and encouraged to engage in a fun and inclusive educational setting.
The main priority again in 2024 is that those children with the most complex special educational needs, especially in special schools, should have access to a school-based summer programme.
I can assure you that every effort is being made to facilitate special schools, and indeed all schools, in running a school-based summer programme. While ideally schools would run the summer programme for 4 weeks, there is a minimum period for running a programme of 2 weeks to reflect the level of organising involved and to support children taking part as much as possible. I would urge all schools, including the school concerned, to look at the supports available such as the staff portal and the student teacher placement in special schools to assist them in running a programme for this minimum period.
The Summer Programme is reliant on schools and their staff choosing to participate on a voluntary basis. To this end, the Department has engaged with management bodies, schools and parents with a view to encouraging more schools to participate in the 2024 programme.
A key barrier to the participation of schools previously has been the availability of staff, particularly those experienced staff already working in the schools. In 2023, to maximise the number of schools participating in the Summer Programme, funding was targeted and teachers and SNAs working on the school-based scheme were paid a higher personal rate of pay. As a result, the Department has seen a much larger number of schools taking part, particularly in Special Schools, and we expect this to increase even further for 2024.
A new role of Student Teacher Placement in Special Schools has been introduced this year to encourage student teachers to participate in the summer programme. Paid placements can run from the 3rd week in May to the end of the Programme, greatly benefitting schools during this busy period. Special Schools can recruit up to two graduate teachers and final year PME student teachers, bolstering the capacity of schools to deliver the programme.
Schools have also been given the flexibility to engage staff that are not employed in their schools to support their summer programme. A staff portal is now available on www.educationposts.ie for teachers and SNAs to register their interest in working on a school-based programme in a Special School. Student teachers and students in relevant disciplines such as Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Social Care, Nursing and others, including Early Learning and Care Practitioners, will also be able to register their interest in working on this year’s Programme.
All the supports and incentives introduced, both in 2024 and in previous years, have been developed and designed to increase participation by allowing all schools to provide the Summer Programme. These measures are aimed at maximising the number of children who can participate in a school-based programme with a specific focus on ensuring children with the most complex needs receive the targeted support.
78. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Education the status of the provision of a new class for a school (details supplied). [24167/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department can confirm that the school referred by the Deputy was announced as a single stream school. This means the school has permission to enrol one junior infant class each year and to grow by one class group each year until it becomes an 8-classroom school. My Department has approved works to facilitate the extra class for 2024/25.
I can confirm that this school has recently been approved for a major project to provide for 8-classrooms plus 2-SEN classes for the future. The project will be delivered via the ADAPT Programme. ADAPT is an acronym for "Accelerated Delivery of Architectural Planning and Tendering". The ADAPT Programme uses a professional external Project Manager to co-ordinate and drive the Design Team to achieve the best possible timeframe during the stages of architectural planning.
The Department has completed the appointment of a Project Manager for this ADAPT programme and this project is part of a bundle of projects for delivery. The Department will be in further contact shortly with the patron with more detail in relation to the programme and the tender process to appoint Design Teams.
79. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 57 of 24 April 2024, if she will reply to an email submitted to her office (details supplied) regarding school transport in County Meath; and the actions taken to secure school transport for the students concerned commencing from September 2024. [24171/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year over 161,600 children, including over 135,000 pupils traveling on primary and post primary services, 19,800 pupils with special educational needs, and 6,800 pupils who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country.
The total cost of the scheme in 2023 was €382.02m.
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.
Children who are eligible for school transport and who complete the application process on time, that is apply on time and pay on time, are accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation. Children who are eligible for school transport but for whom no service is available may be offered the Remote Area Grant towards the cost of making private transport arrangements. The Remote Area Grant is also payable for eligible children who may have to travel 3.2kms or more to or from a designated pick up/set down point.
Any pupils/students who do not meet these criteria are deemed not eligible, or otherwise known as concessionary applicants, and are allocated a ticket based on the availability of a seat when all eligible children have been catered for.
Temporary Alleviation Measures (TAMS) at post-primary level, which have been in place since 2019, are being continued for the 2024/25 school year. Under these measures, transport is provided where there is a route in operation and where capacity exists for concessionary post-primary pupils who are eligible for transport to their nearest school and are attending their second nearest school and who applied and paid/entered child(ren's) medical card details on time.
The closing date for new applications was Friday 26 April 2024. Any new applications made after the closing date are considered late applications. A late application may mean that a ticket is not available. The closing date for payments or submission of medical card details is Friday 07 June 2024.
Bus Éireann have checked the status of the 39 pupils on the list supplied by the Deputy and have advised that some applications/payments have not yet been received for a number of these pupils, as advised above, the payment closing date is 07 June 2024 and following this date, Bus Éireann will examine all school transport applications and services. Routes may be then altered, extended or withdrawn depending on the number and location of eligible children who will be availing of school transport for the following school year.
Bus Éireann has put in place a dedicated customer care call centre to assist families specifically with School Transport queries during the busy summer period. Families that have queries can contact the call centre on: LoCall 0818 919 910. Operating hours are 09.00 – 17.00 Monday to Friday.
Families can also contact Bus Éireann their website: www.buseireann.ie/schooltransport by submitting a query via: www.buseireann.ie/inner.php?id=769.
Updates on the application process can be found on www.gov.ie/schooltransport and on buseireann.ie/schooltransport.
80. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education if cleaning staff employed directly by schools should be paid for 7 June 2024, even if their school is being used as a polling station on that day. [24172/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs you may be aware, the majority of primary and post-primary schools receive assistance to provide for cleaning services under grant schemes. Where a school employs a staff member to support those functions those staff members are employees of the individual schools and as such responsibility for terms of employment and their rate of pay rests with the school or Board of Management.
In the cases where a school may be outsourcing necessary cleaning functions to a commercial cleaning company, the employer of those cleaners is the company itself and not the school and like above terms of employment would rest with the company and not the school or the department.
As such decisions regarding payment for cleaners in instances where a school may be closed to facilitate polling on 7 June 2024 is a matter for the school as the employer to determine.
81. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Education if her Department will work with the board of management of a school (details supplied) to establish an ASD unit, when their change of status to a co-educational school proceeds soon; and if she and her Department are aware that the school has a long history of innovation in special education, and with an administrative principal and specialist trained SEN staff (to masters level) already in place and two classrooms immediately available for use as ASD units, alongside their spacious grounds and large sports hall, they are in an ideal position to establish an ASD unit. [24183/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has the statutory responsibility to work with schools to open additional special classes. It is also important to remember that the vast majority of children with special educational needs are supported to attend mainstream classes with their peers through the provision of special education teachers and special needs assistants.
In relation to the school referred to by the Deputy, the NCSE actively encourages 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. When assessing the needs in the local area, the NCSE identify schools in the neighbouring vicinity with available special class vacancies and assess their capability with consideration to demographical and statistical data. Schools not sanctioned to open a special class for the 2024/25 school year will remain as an option for future years should the need arise.
So far more than 320 new special classes have been sanctioned by the NCSE nationwide for the 2024/25 school year. Of these, 10 are in Donegal of which 7 are at primary level and 3 at post-primary level. This brings the total number of special classes in the county to 125. The vast majority of these are autism classes which have a teacher/student ratio of 1:6.
The NCSE continue to sanction some additional 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 will ask the NCSE to continue to consider the need for special class places in the area and to engage with the school referred to by the Deputy should the need arise for additional places. I note also that the school are moving to become co-educational as well and that this may give rise to an increased need for special class places over time.
82. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education for clarification on a matter (details supplied); if changes will be implemented to improve services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24190/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) is part of the Department of Education. NEPS provides a comprehensive, school-based educational psychological service to all primary, post primary schools and special schools. Through the application of psychological theory and practice, NEPS psychologists support the wellbeing, and the academic, social and emotional development of all learners. NEPS has particular regard for children with special educational needs (SEN) and those at risk of educational disadvantage. In the event that the need for a more targeted counselling or a specialised intervention is identified by the NEPS psychologist, a referral is made to an outside agency for evaluation and ongoing support. The NEPS psychologist can identify the most appropriate referral pathway and supports schools with the onward referral to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Team (CAMHS), HSE Primary Care/Community Psychology teams, or an identified local community based specialist mental health service.
NEPS’ Support and Development work involves the provision of applied psychology services for teachers and school communities to build and maximise their capacity to respond to the needs of all students and those with particular needs.
The Department has been examining the matter of how NEPS can continue to recruit adequate numbers of suitably qualified psychologists and continue to respond to the educational psychological needs of children in recognised schools across the country in both primary and post-primary settings.
Since January of 2023, NEPS is supporting bursaries for students who are enrolled in the University College Dublin (UCD) Professional Doctorate in Educational Psychology and the Mary Immaculate College (MIC), Professional Doctorate in Educational and Child Psychology for Trainee Educational Psychologists. Those in receipt of a bursary commit to joining NEPS upon graduation. The Public Appointments Service (PAS) undertook a recruitment campaign for Educational Psychologists in late 2023. Interviews have taken place and appointments will commence shortly.
There are currently 225 whole-time equivalent NEPS educational psychologists employed across the 8 NEPS regions. All employees of NEPS are civil servants. Under the Civil Service Code of Standards and Behaviour, civil servants may not at any time engage in, or be connected with, any outside business or activity which would in any way conflict with the interests of their Departments. Whole-time civil servants whose duties are of a professional character including psychologists must not engage in private practice in their professions.
83. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education the reason her Department has cut the annual grant for primary schools from €96 a year per pupil to €80; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24196/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra84. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education if she plans to reverse the decision to cut the annual grant for primary schools from €96 a year per pupil to €80; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24197/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 83 and 84 together.
In Budget 2024 over €47 million was allocated to continue implementation of the schoolbooks scheme at primary level. On the 8th May I announced details of year 2 of the Primary Schoolbooks Scheme which provides at a minimum free schoolbooks, workbooks and copybooks to pupils in recognised primary and special schools. More than 563,000 pupils enrolled in approximately 3,230 primary schools, including over 130 special schools will continue to benefit from this scheme.
Revised guidance for the 2024/25 school year was published on my Department’s website at www.gov.ie/schoolbookschemes and has issued to schools.
As the scheme is now implemented in every recognised primary and special school it is expected that schools have used the funding provided in the 2023/24 school year to purchase stocks of schoolbooks and other classroom resources. Many of these items 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.
Schools have received €80 per pupil enrolled as of September 2023. It is open to schools to look at their requirements and plan their budget across each of the years collectively. They may choose to spend more than €80 per pupil in one class and in turn, spend less than that per pupil in another class. In other words, while schools receive the money at the same per capita rate for all pupils they can choose to spread that expenditure differently across the years depending on the requirements. Special schools that have students enrolled in Junior Cycle programmes have received funding at the Junior Cycle per capita rate set out under the new Junior Cycle Schoolbooks Scheme.
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.
85. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education if the primary payroll division of her Department can register the teaching work being undertaken by an individual (details supplied) on the MyAccount portal (operated by the Revenue Commissioners); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24208/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to inform the Deputy that a member of my payroll staff has been in contact with the individual referred to and also with the Revenue Commissioners to rectify the matter.
86. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education when her Department entered into any negotiations with a book provider to reduce the cost, rather than passing it over to the parent, considering the reduction in the schoolbook grant (details supplied). [24223/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Education I 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 student enrolled in primary and special schools. This has also been expanded to all Junior Cycle students in second-level schools in the Free Education Scheme.
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 schoolbooks 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.
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. Many of these 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.
Under the scheme for the 2024/25 school year, schools have received €80 per pupil. It is open to schools to look at their requirements and plan their budget across each of the years collectively. They may choose to spend more than €80 per pupil in one class and in turn, spend less than that per pupil in another class. In other words, while schools will receive the money at the same per capita rate for all pupils they can choose to spread that expenditure differently across the years depending on the requirements. Special schools that have students enrolled in Junior Cycle programmes will receive funding at the Junior Cycle per capita rate set out under the new Junior Cycle Schoolbooks Scheme.
My officials have engaged with all relevant stakeholders, including the Irish Education Publishers Association (IEPA) and Bookselling Ireland, throughout the development and implementation of the schoolbooks schemes. My Department will continue to listen to the valuable input from all stakeholders, on their experiences from both the primary and Junior Cycle schoolbook schemes.
The main Irish educational publishers have agreed to apply a code of practice designed to help reduce the cost of schoolbooks for parents/guardians and schools. As part of this code, publishers have given commitments to maintain new editions of schoolbooks in print for a minimum of six years, to co-operate with individual schools in the development of schoolbook schemes and to have improved engagement with school communities, parents/guardians, teachers, and other stakeholders.
Apart from a small number of prescribed texts at post-primary, determined by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA), the decisions on which textbooks, programmes and products to use in primary and post-primary schools are taken at school level.
In terms of the content, the Department of Education does not have a role in approving, commissioning, sponsoring or endorsing any content in any educational product. The Curriculum specification and prescribed syllabus material are determined by the NCCA and it is the responsibility of each individual school to select the resources that it will use to support its implementation of the curriculum.
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. This review will ensure that the schemes will aim to ensure that value for money is achieved, and that schools will be supported to implement the scheme in a way that has the best learning outcomes for children and young people.
87. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Education when schools will receive their SNA allocation this year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24235/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraSpecial needs assistants (SNA) allocations for the 2024/2025 school year are presently being developed by my department and schools will be advised of their allocation very shortly and in line with previous years’ timelines.
For 2024, €2.7 billion is being spent on special education, an increase of €113 million. This is dedicated to providing supports for children with special educational needs and will allow for, amongst other things, the opening of up to 400 new special classes in mainstream schools, 300 additional special school places and will increase the number of teaching and SNA posts.
My department allocated 1,194 additional SNAs to schools this year and Budget 2024 provides for a further 1,216. These SNAs will be allocated as follows: 806 to support students in new special classes, 150 to support students in new special school places and 260 to support students in mainstream classes. This will bring the number of SNAs nationwide to over 21,000 and will mean we will have over 41,500 qualified and committed people in our schools who are focused wholly and exclusively on supporting children with special educational needs.
88. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education the status of an appeal (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24281/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September. The staffing arrangements for the 2024/25 school year are set out in Circular 0011/2024.
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 has submitted an appeal which will be considered at the June meeting of the Appeals Board.
89. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education if she will outline, when an error is made by a school processing RACE applications, which results in the student being denied RACE, what the procedure to rectify this error is if the school, on realising its error, is not allowed to submit correct material to the SEC after the final date for submission of the application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24331/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the state examinations.
In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.
90. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Education if school transport will be provided for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24332/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education.
In the current school year over 161,600 children, including over 135,000 pupils traveling on primary and post primary services, 19,800 pupils with special educational needs, and 6,800 pupils who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country.
The total cost of the scheme in 2023 was €382.02m.
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.
Children who are eligible for school transport and who have completed the application and payment process on time will be accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation.
Children who are not eligible for school transport, but who completed the application and payment process on time, will be considered for spare seats that may exist after eligible children have been facilitated; such seats are referred to as concessionary seats.
Due to the nature of concessionary transport for non-eligible children and the priority of providing places for eligible children, there may be an excess of demand over supply for concessionary places, in these cases Bus Éireann will allocate tickets for spare seats using an agreed selection process.
A minimum number of 10 eligible children residing in a distinct locality, as determined by Bus Éireann, are required before consideration may be given to the establishment or retention of school transport services, provided this can be done within reasonable cost limits.
Temporary Alleviation Measures (TAMS) at post-primary level will continue for the 2024/2025 school year. Under these measures, transport will be provided where there is a route in operation and where capacity exists for concessionary post-primary pupils who are eligible for transport to their nearest school and are attending their second nearest school and who applied and paid on time.
Families who wish to avail of school transport and have their eligibility status assessed should apply on-line in a timely manner to Bus Éireann on Bus Éireann’s website at www.buseireann.ie.
The closing date for school transport applications for the 2024/2025 School Year was Friday 26th April 2024 and the closing date for payment/entering medical card details is on or before Friday 7th June 2024.
Applications can be submitted following this date but it is considered a late application.
Bus Éireann, will contact all applicants regarding their eligibility for school transport.
91. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Education the projects planned to increase the number of school places at both primary and secondary level in an area (details supplied) where there is huge demand for increased places; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24374/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFor school planning purposes the 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 the Department's projections of school place requirements.
It is important to note that where enrolment pressures arise, it may not always be as a result of lack of accommodation but may be driven by the following factors:
• Duplication of applications – pupils have applied for a place to a number of schools in the area
• School of choice – pupils can’t get a place in their preferred school while there are places in other schools in the town/area
• Some towns/areas have single sex schools and while places are available in the school they are not available to all pupils
• External draw – pupils coming from outside the local area
Having considered the projected requirements in each school planning area, the Department then makes an assessment of the existing capacity within that particular area and its ability to meet any increased demand. Additional provision imaged as necessary, where the existing capacity is insufficient for future needs.
The 2023 demographic exercise indicates that 79% of the 314 school planning areas at primary level show static or decreasing enrolments for the period to 2027 compared with 2022. At post-primary level some 78% of school planning areas are anticipated to have increased enrolments for the period to 2030, with most expected to reach a peak within the next two or three years.
Where demographic data indicates that additional provision is required, the delivery of such additional provision is dependent on the particular circumstances of each case and may, be provided through:
• Utilising existing unused capacity within a school or schools,
• Extending the capacity of a school or schools,
• Provision of a new school or schools.
In response to such previously identified demographic pressures, my Department is providing significant primary and post primary capacity in the Killester_Raheny_Clontarf School Planning Area, including new school building project for Mount Temple Comprehensive School to cater for LTPE 1000 plus 2 SEN Base, which are currently at Stage 3.
In addition, there are extension projects at both primary and post primary schools which include, S N na Lanai Glasa extension to provide 4 mainstream classrooms and 2 SEN Base at Stage 2B,Scoil Neasain to provide 3 mainstream classroom:1x WC for assisted users & 2x Special education tuition rooms at Stage 1 and St. Paul’s College currently at Stage 2a and Holy Faith Secondary School, at Project Brief Stage, which will provide additional capacity. Multiple smaller projects providing additional accommodation are also at various stages of planning and delivery.
The Capital Programme details the school projects that are being progressed under Project Ireland 2040. The current status of large-scale projects being delivered under Project Ireland 2040, may be viewed on the Department's website at, www.gov.ie and this information is updated regularly. In addition, a list of large-scale projects completed from 2010 to date may also be viewed on the website.
The Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in the area. In relation to school admissions, it is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998.
Parents have the right to choose which school to apply to and where the school has places available the pupil should be admitted. However, in schools where there are more applicants than places available a selection process may be necessary. This selection process and the enrolment policy on which it is based must be non-discriminatory and must be applied fairly in respect of all applicants. However, this may result in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice.
The Department will continue to keep the school place requirements in the Killester_Raheny_Clontarf School Planning Area , as with other areas across the country, under review.
92. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education the status and expected starting time of works on the development of a new building for a school (details supplied); the reason for the delay with the project; if her Department has had talks with the builders or management at the school in relation to delays; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24375/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe major project for St Mologa's SNS has recently completed Stage 2(b) of the architectural design process. Stage 2(b) involves securing all statutory approvals, detailed design and the preparation of tender documentation.
The next stage, subject to relevant Stage 2(b) approvals, will be Stage 3, tender stage.
Projects are subject to relevant due diligence by the Department at each stage in the process, within the context of overall programme and budgetary parameters.
In late March, following a review of National Development Plan allocations, the Government approved medium term capital allocations for the Department of Education for the period to 2026. The Department’s Planning and Building Unit is now reviewing its programme plans in the context of those recently confirmed allocations.
Department officials will keep the school updated on progress and next steps.
