Michael Ring
Ceist:546. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Education when school transport will be provided to a pupil with additional needs (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34415/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraSchool Transport
Ceisteanna (546)
Freagraí scríofa
The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2023/24 school year over 163,800 children, including over 136,000 pupils travelling on primary and post primary services, 20,200 pupils with special educational needs, and 7,400 pupils who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine were 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.
Over 140,000 mainstream tickets have issued for the 2024/2025 school year, which is already 3% more than the total tickets issued for the full 2023/2024 school year.
The National Council for Special Education through its network of Special Education Needs Organisers (SENOs) acts in an advisory role to my Department on the suitability of placements for children with special educational needs.
Eligibility is determined following consultation with the National Council for Special Education through its network of Special Education Needs Organisers (SENO).
A service was sanctioned for the pupil in September 2023 but due to procurement issues no service was in place for the 2023/24 school year.
I am pleased to advise that the pupil has since commenced on a service with effect from 03 September 2024.
In such circumstances where there is no existing suitable service available to meet a child's needs, and while Bus Éireann are in the process of sourcing a dedicated service, the Department will offer a Special Transport Grant (STG) towards the cost of private transport arrangements. This grant is based on the number of days attended from the date of application until a suitable dedicated service becomes available. The family have been contacted with the details of the grant.
School Transport
Ceisteanna (547)
Niamh Smyth
Ceist:547. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education to review correspondence regarding a school transport case (details supplied); if an additional bus can be added in this case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34421/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2023/24 school year over 163,800 children, including over 136,000 pupils travelling on primary and post primary services, 20,200 pupils with special educational needs, and 7,400 pupils who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine were 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.
Over 140,000 mainstream tickets have issued for the 2024/2025 school year, which is already 3% more than the total tickets issued for the full 2023/2024 school year.
The purpose of my Department's School Transport Scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school.
Under the terms of the School Transport Schemes, children are eligible for transport at primary level where they reside not less than 3.2 kms from and are attending their nearest national school. At post primary level, they are eligible where they reside not less than 4.8 kms from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre. Distance is determined by the Department/Bus Éireann and rules have regard to ethos and language.
Children who are eligible for school transport and who complete the application process on time (apply on time and pay on time) are accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation and where there is capacity to do so.
Children who are not eligible but who apply for school transport are considered for spare seats that may exist after eligible children have been facilitated; such seats are referred to as concessionary seats.
Because of 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.
Bus Éireann has advised that fourteen pupils who do not meet the eligibility criteria under the terms of the scheme were not successful in obtaining concessionary tickets for the 2024/2025 school year on the service referred to by the Deputy. This service is currently operating to capacity.
School Transport
Ceisteanna (548)
Niamh Smyth
Ceist:548. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education if she can review a bus ticket case (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34422/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2023/24 school year over 163,800 children, including over 136,000 pupils travelling on primary and post primary services, 20,200 pupils with special educational needs, and 7,400 pupils who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine were 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.
Over 140,000 mainstream tickets have issued for the 2024/2025 school year, which is already 3% more than the total tickets issued for the full 2023/2024 school year.
The purpose of my Department's School Transport Scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school.
Under the terms of the School Transport Schemes, children are eligible for transport at primary level where they reside not less than 3.2 kms from and are attending their nearest national school. At post primary level, they are eligible where they reside not less than 4.8 kms from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre. Distance is determined by the Department/Bus Éireann and rules have regard to ethos and language.
Children who are eligible for school transport and who complete the application process on time (apply on time and pay on time) are accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation and where there is capacity to do so.
Children who are not eligible but who apply for school transport are considered for spare seats that may exist after eligible children have been facilitated; such seats are referred to as concessionary seats.
Because of 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.
Distance eligibility is determined by measuring the shortest traversable route from a child's home to the relevant school.
Bus Éireann has advised that the pupils referred to by the Deputy are attending their second nearest school and are therefore not eligible for school transport under the terms of the scheme.
Bus Éireann further advise that the family were not successful in obtaining concessionary tickets as the service is full to capacity.
School Curriculum
Ceisteanna (549)
Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:549. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education if consideration will be given to a proposal (details supplied) on education around gambling addiction; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34425/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Schools have a role to play in supporting their students to develop the key skills and knowledge to enable them to make informed choices when faced with a range of difficult issues, including drugs, alcohol and gambling. This is mainly done through the SPHE programme. SPHE forms part of the mandatory Wellbeing area of learning at Junior Cycle. Wellbeing in Junior Cycle is about young people feeling confident, happy, healthy and connected, and it is one of the principles that underpins Junior Cycle education.
As part of the redevelopment of SPHE/RSE curricula, in line with the Programme for Government, an updated Junior Cycle SPHE specification was published by the NCCA in May 2023 and was rolled out for first years in all schools from last September. It places a strong focus on the development of important life skills that young people need growing up in a fast changing and complex world. The learning outcomes of the Making Healthy Choices strand in the updated specification include that students should be able to "discuss societal, cultural and economic influences affecting young people when it comes to making healthy choices about smoking, alcohol and other addictive substances and behaviours, and how harmful influences can be overcome in real-life situations". In the specification’s Glossary of Key Terms, addictive behaviours are defined as including “gaming, gambling and social media addictions”.
Decisions on which programmes and initiatives, if any, schools participate in are taken at school level. The Department provides guidance to schools on the engagement of outside speakers and on the use of external resources to assist in delivering the curriculum. These guidelines are most recently outlined in updated circular 0042/2018 for primary schools and 0043/2018 for post primary schools. These circulars require that all materials proposed for use by external providers must be approved in advance by the principal and Board of Management, be age and stage appropriate for pupils and be in line with the ethos of the school, and the principles of the Social Personal and Health Education (SPHE) curriculum.
School Transport
Ceisteanna (550)
Niamh Smyth
Ceist:550. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education for an update on a case regarding school bus ticket allocations (details supplied); if an alternative bus can be provided in this case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34427/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2023/24 school year over 163,800 children, including over 136,000 pupils travelling on primary and post primary services, 20,200 pupils with special educational needs, and 7,400 pupils who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine were 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.
Over 140,000 mainstream tickets have issued for the 2024/2025 school year, which is already 3% more than the total tickets issued for the full 2023/2024 school year.
The purpose of my Department's School Transport Scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school.
Under the terms of the School Transport Schemes, children are eligible for transport at primary level where they reside not less than 3.2 kms from and are attending their nearest national school. At post primary level, they are eligible where they reside not less than 4.8 kms from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre. Distance is determined by the Department/Bus Éireann and rules have regard to ethos and language.
Children who are eligible for school transport and who complete the application process on time (apply on time and pay on time) are accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation and where there is capacity to do so.
Children who are not eligible but who apply for school transport are considered for spare seats that may exist after eligible children have been facilitated; such seats are referred to as concessionary seats.
Because of 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.
Bus Éireann has advised that the pupils referred to are all attending their third or fourth nearest schools and are therefore not eligible for school transport under the terms of the scheme.
Bus Éireann further advise that these pupils were not successful in obtaining concessionary tickets for the 2024/2025 school year and services in the area are operating to capacity.
Pupil-Teacher Ratio
Ceisteanna (551)
Pauline Tully
Ceist:551. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Education the staff included when calculating pupil-teacher ratios. [34447/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
PTR (Pupil Teacher Ratio) is the average number of pupils per teacher.
My Department uses the overall allocated number of teachers in the primary and post primary sectors, and the number of students registered on the Primary Online Database (POD) and the Post Primary Online Database (PPOD) to calculate the PTR across each sector. See: www.gov.ie/en/publication/055810-education-statistics/
National Educational Psychological Service
Ceisteanna (552)
Pauline Tully
Ceist:552. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Education the number of psychologists employed by NEPS in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and to date in 2024; the number of children to access a NEPS psychologist in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [34451/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
My Department’s National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) provides educational psychological support to all primary and post-primary and special schools.
The NEPS service provides access for all schools to:
• Psychological support in the event of a Critical Incident
• A Casework Service for individual children where there is a need for intensive consultation and assessment via a NEPS psychologist or through the Scheme for the Commissioning of Psychological Assessments (SCPA).
• A school staff Support and Development Service, to build school capability to provide a comprehensive continuum of support in schools and
• Ongoing access to advice and support for schools.
NEPS psychologists provide a casework service for approximately 9000 children per annum.
The number of educational psychologists currently employed in NEPS stands at 228 whole time equivalents across six regions. This is the highest number employed in NEPS since it was established. Since the start of the 2023/24 school year, the NEPS service has expanded to all special schools, which is hugely important given the increased support needed for children in these settings.
The number of whole time equivalent psychologists employed in previous years are below:
2020 - 201
2021 - 221
2022 - 225
2023 - 225
In relation to the recruitment of educational psychologists, the Department has been exploring opportunities to increase the numbers of suitably qualified staff. This will strengthen the response to the educational psychological needs of children in recognised primary and post-primary schools across the country. Since January 2023, NEPS has supported bursaries for Trainee Educational Psychologists who are enrolled in the University College Dublin Professional Doctorate in Educational Psychology and Mary Immaculate College Limerick’s Professional Doctorate in Educational and Child Psychology. Those in receipt of a bursary commit to joining NEPS upon graduation. There are over 60 Trainee Educational Psychologists in receipt of a bursary who are expected to join NEPS upon graduation, with an additional 14 to be bursaried from September 2024, bringing the total to 74.
Additionally, the Public Appointments Service commenced a recruitment campaign for Educational Psychologists at the end of 2023 and successful candidates from that panel are currently taking up positions in NEPS.
Special Educational Needs
Ceisteanna (553, 554)
Pauline Tully
Ceist:553. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Education the funding that has been provided for the summer programme each year since its inception, in tabular form. [34452/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraPauline Tully
Ceist:554. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Education the number of children who have taken part in the summer programme since its inception, in tabular form. [34453/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 553 and 554 together.
Prior to 2020, the Department of Education operated two educational schemes during the summer period: the July Provision and the DEIS Literacy & Numeracy Summer camps.
July Provision was only available to children with an ASD diagnosis or children who had a severe and profound General Learning Disability and who attended special schools or special classes within mainstream primary schools. The scheme was known as the Special School and Special Class Programme. In 2019, approximately 13,000 children participated in these schemes.
In 2020, the Special School and Special Class Programme was extended to include more children with special educational needs. It became known as the Summer Programme. Where a school-based programme was not available for eligible children, the home-based programme was available to them. A DEIS Inclusion Programme in post primary was also introduced (now referred to as the Post Primary School Scheme) while the DEIS Literacy and Numeracy camps in primary continued.
Just under 23,000 children were supported under the new Summer Programme in 2020.
In 2021, the summer programme expanded, not only incorporate the three schemes from 2020, to include a new inclusion scheme for mainstream primary schools. Subsequently all schools were given an opportunity to run a school-based programme. Again the home-based programme was available for eligible children where the school-based programme was unavailable.
The number of children supported in the 2021 Summer Programme equated to almost 38,000.
The 2022 Summer Programme continued to build on the success of the 2021 programme and offered the same range of programmes, with the same eligibility criteria.
Like in previous years, the upward trend of children participating in the Summer Programme continued with more than 42,000 children being supported in 2022.
In 2023, a piloted Summer Programme for Special Schools was introduced. This replaced the Special School and Special Class Programme. The Special Class element was also integrated into one cohesive special educational needs scheme for mainstream primary schools, referred to as the Primary School Scheme.
In 2023, the upward trajectory continued as more than 50,000 children went on to take part in the Summer Programme. In relation to 2024, while early indications show that more children have participated, the actual figure will not be known for some time until all payment claims have been processed.
Prior to 2021, the funding available for the summer programme amounted to €20 million. As a measure relating to the impact of Covid-19 on schools and families, funding for the expanded Summer Programme was increased from €20 million to €40 million in 2021. Since 2021, the Summer Programme continues to be underpinned by €40 million in funding and all of the funding has been utilised to meet the needs of our most vulnerable children.
The number of children who have taken part in the Summer Programme since 2019 is as follows:
|
No. of Students |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
|
Primary School Scheme |
- |
- |
6,103 |
8,372 |
17,695 |
|
Post Primary School Scheme |
- |
2,243 |
2,228 |
2,787 |
3,830 |
|
Special School Scheme |
- |
- |
- |
- |
2,437 |
|
Special Class & Special School |
3,405 |
3,892 |
5,587 |
5,758 |
- |
|
Home-based |
7,158 |
9,716 |
13,321 |
13,883 |
12,772 |
|
DEIS L&N Summer Camp |
2,500 |
7,000 |
10,738 |
11,211 |
14,498 |
|
Total |
13,063 |
22,851 |
37,977 |
42,011 |
51,232 |
A breakdown of the funding that has been provided for the Summer Programme each year since 2020 is below:
|
Year |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
|
Funding |
€20 million |
€40 million |
€40 million |
€40 million |
€40 million |
Question No. 554 answered with Question No. 553.
Educational Disadvantage
Ceisteanna (555)
Matt Carthy
Ceist:555. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Education if she will allocate DEIS status to a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34462/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
My department provides a wide range of supports to all schools, DEIS and non-DEIS, to support the inclusion of all students and address barriers to students achieving their potential. Supplementing the universal supports available to all schools, the Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools (DEIS) Programme is a key policy initiative of my department to address concentrated educational disadvantage at school level in a targeted and equitable way across the primary and post-primary sector.
Following the largest expansion of the DEIS programme to date in 2022, benefitting 361 schools, the programme now includes in the region of 1,200 schools and supports approximately 260,000 students. This expansion added an additional €32million to my department’s expenditure on the DEIS programme from 2023, bringing the overall allocation for the programme to over €180million.
The DEIS programme is targeted at schools with the highest levels of concentrated disadvantage. Schools that were included in the programme in 2022 were those with the highest levels of concentrated disadvantage as identified through the refined DEIS identification model. Schools were not required to apply for inclusion in the DEIS programme and the model was applied fairly and equally to all schools. A detailed paper on the refined DEIS identification model is available on gov.ie.
The extension of the DEIS programme to new schools is just one component of work in my vision for an inclusive education system which supports all learners to achieve their potential. While the DEIS programme supports those schools with the highest levels of concentrated educational disadvantage, I also recognise that there are students at risk of educational disadvantage in all schools. Since June 2020, and over the last four budgets, I have secured funding to provide measures to support children in this regard. These measures include reducing class sizes and the allocation of free schoolbooks to students up to Junior Cycle.
To support this work, I invited the OECD Strength Through Diversity: Education for Inclusive Societies project to review Ireland’s current policy approach for the allocation of resources to support students at risk of educational disadvantage. In July this year I welcomed the publication by the OECD Education for Inclusive Societies project of the ‘Review of Resourcing Schools to Address Educational Disadvantage in Ireland'.
The review finds that Ireland has an education system that consistently outperforms many other OECD countries but also exhibits relative socio-economic fairness, making it one of the stronger performers globally. It also recognises the positive impact of resources provided universally to all schools, as well as the additional resources provided to schools in the DEIS programme, in addressing educational disadvantage.
The review also highlights continued improvements over the past decade in retention and attainment levels between children and young people in DEIS and non-DEIS schools. It notes that, even with these improvements, important differences in outcomes persist between DEIS and non-DEIS schools and for children and young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, and Travellers and Roma. This information and data has also informed the Traveller and Roma Education Strategy (TRES), published on 16 July (www.gov.ie/en/consultation/2545f-traveller-and-roma-education-strategy/).
The OECD review sets a number of recommendations for future policy, to bridge those gaps, improve equity and ensure every child and young person at risk of educational disadvantage is supported to achieve their potential in education. Over the coming months my department will work with other government departments and agencies, the education partners, and stakeholders across the education sector to develop tangible actions informed by the recommendations set out. These actions will aim to build on the success of the DEIS programme through the development of a dynamic resource allocation model that can respond to changing levels of need and ensure that all children and young people in both DEIS and non-DEIS schools are supported to achieve in education.
Special Educational Needs
Ceisteanna (556)
Matt Carthy
Ceist:556. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Education the number of WTE SNAs that will be allocated to a school (details supplied), in the coming academic year; if she will consider increasing the SNA allocation to this school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34463/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for this government. It is also a key priority for my department and for the National Council for Special Education (NCSE).
The vast majority of children with special educational needs are supported to attend mainstream classes with their peers. Where children with more complex needs require additional supports, special classes and special school places are provided.
Special needs assistants (SNAs) play a central role in the successful inclusion of students with additional and significant care needs into mainstream education, special classes and special schools ensuring that these students can access education to enable them to achieve their best outcomes and reach their full potential. There is now over double the number of SNAs in schools compared to 2011 and Budget 2024 provides for a further 1,216 posts. This will bring the total number of SNA posts nationwide to over 21,000.
The NCSE has published the SNA allocations for each school for the 2024/25 school year. Details of each school's allocation is available on the NCSE's website at www.ncse.ie/set-hours-and-sna-allocations.
Schools can apply to the NCSE for a review of its SNA allocation if they feel their allocation is insufficient to meet the needs of its students. Detailed information on the NCSE review process is also published on the NCSE website available at ncse.ie/application-for-sna-exceptional-review.
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.
Departmental Data
Ceisteanna (557)
Patrick Costello
Ceist:557. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 846 of 23 July 2024 and 424 of 9 April 2024, all second level education institutions aided by her Department located on public land and all second level institutions not included in her responses to those questions for which there is public land allocated for the location of those schools, including sites acquired before 9 April 2024 as well as sites acquired after 9 April 2024, in tabular form. [34465/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The information requested by the Deputy, which is additional to the information previously provided to the Deputy, is being collated.
When this is done my Department can reply directly to the Deputy.
Should the Deputy have an enquiry in relation to a specific project it may assist with the above task.
School Accommodation
Ceisteanna (558)
Mary Butler
Ceist:558. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Education the status of an additional accommodation scheme application lodged by a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34467/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I can confirm to the Deputy, that my Department is in receipt of an application for the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme, from the school in question.
The purpose of the ASA scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream classroom and accommodation for students with special educational 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.
The main focus of resources over the last decade and for the coming period is on provision of additional capacity to cater for increasing demographics. As a result, the current priority under the Additional Accommodation scheme is the provision of essential classroom accommodation to meet demographic demand or where an additional post is being appointed.
At primary level, this situation generally arises to cater for a school’s accommodation requirements where an additional teaching post has been sanctioned by Teacher Allocation Section, or the requirement for a new class for pupils with special education needs has been identified by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), and all available alternative accommodation within the school is already being used for classroom purposes.
The Department has a significant modular accommodation programme in place to assist schools in the provision of additional capacity, including in respect of facilitating the establishment of special classes.
This programme involves the use of Project Management supports which is designed to enable the accommodation to be provided as quickly as possible and help ease the administrative workload for school authorities in relation to the management and delivery of projects.
The use of the Department’s Modular Accommodation Framework also assists in ensuring lead in periods for procurement of modular accommodation are minimised to the greatest extent possible. To date, this has worked very well in the education sector and has seen delivery of large scale, high quality modular accommodation to meet the needs of children, particularly those with special educational needs.
A Project Manager has been appointed to progress a proposed brief of accommodation for this school. Following completion of the viability report, and considering the complexities involved with the school site, the Department requested Project Managers to explore a number of options to meet the needs of the school. The report is now being considered.
I can only seek to assure you that we will advance this matter as quickly as possible and officials in my Department will be in touch with the school in the coming weeks.
School Transport
Ceisteanna (559)
Michael Ring
Ceist:559. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Education the position regarding school transport for a pupil (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34470/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2023/24 school year over 163,800 children, including over 136,000 pupils travelling on primary and post primary services, 20,200 pupils with special educational needs, and 7,400 pupils who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine were 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.
Over 140,000 mainstream tickets have issued for the 2024/2025 school year, which is already 3% more than the total tickets issued for the full 2023/2024 school year.
The purpose of my Department's School Transport Scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school.
Under the terms of the School Transport Schemes, children are eligible for transport at primary level where they reside not less than 3.2 kms from and are attending their nearest national school. At post primary level, they are eligible where they reside not less than 4.8 kms from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre. Distance is determined by the Department/Bus Éireann and rules have regard to ethos and language.
Parents of children wishing to avail of school transport services are required to apply on-line to Bus Éireann’s website at buseireann.ie/schooltransport
Children who are eligible for school transport and who complete the application process on time (apply on time and pay on time) are accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation and where there is capacity to do so.
Children who are not eligible but who apply for school transport are considered for spare seats that may exist after eligible children have been facilitated; such seats are referred to as concessionary seats.
Because of 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.
Bus Éireann is responsible for the planning and timetabling of school transport routes. Bus Éireann endeavours, within available resources, to ensure that each eligible child has a reasonable level of school transport service in the context of the Scheme nationally.
Where practicable, and subject to considerations of cost and logistics, routes are planned to avoid an eligible child having to travel more than 3.2 kms to or from a pick-up/set down point. Routes are planned on the basis of the locations of children who are eligible for school transport only.
Parents/guardians are responsible for ensuring that children are brought safely to and collected safely from Bus Éireann designated pick up and set down points. Home pick-up is not a feature of the School Transport Scheme.
Bus Eireann has advised that the pupil, to whom the Deputy refers, is not eligible for school transport as they are not attending their nearest school. They have also confirmed that the family reside 2.3km from home to the pick-up point. This pick-up point has been deemed safe by the service supervisor and contractor.
School Transport
Ceisteanna (560)
Michael Ring
Ceist:560. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Education if school transport can be provided to siblings (details supplied) in light of their circumstances; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34514/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2023/24 school year over 163,800 children, including over 136,000 pupils travelling on primary and post primary services, 20,200 pupils with special educational needs, and 7,400 pupils who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine were 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.
Over 140,000 mainstream tickets have issued for the 2024/2025 school year, which is already 3% more than the total tickets issued for the full 2023/2024 school year.
The purpose of my Department's School Transport Scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school.
Under the terms of the School Transport Schemes, children are eligible for transport at primary level where they reside not less than 3.2 kms from and are attending their nearest national school. At post primary level, they are eligible where they reside not less than 4.8 kms from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre. Distance is determined by the Department/Bus Éireann and rules have regard to ethos and language.
Children who are eligible for school transport and who complete the application process on time (apply on time and pay on time) are accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation and where there is capacity to do so.
Children who are not eligible but who apply for school transport are considered for spare seats that may exist after eligible children have been facilitated; such seats are referred to as concessionary seats.
Because of 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.
Bus Eireann have advised that the family, to whom the Deputy refers, are not eligible for school transport as they do not meet the distance requirement of 4.8kms. However, Bus Eireann have confirmed that concessionary tickets have issued for the 2024/25 school year to the family.
Schools Building Projects
Ceisteanna (561)
Matt Carthy
Ceist:561. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 314 of 30 April 2024, the current status regarding the proposed permanent extension at a school (details supplied); if a review of the stage 2A addendum report has been completed; when this project will move to the next stage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34516/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I can confirm that the school referred to by the Deputy was approved under the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) Scheme to enter my Department’s pipeline of school buildings for 4 classroom SEN Base, 2 SET room, 1 music room, 1 science laboratory with Prep area, 2 technology rooms with 1 prep area, a General Purpose hall and conversion to provide a science lab, art room and textiles room. The school authority is being assisted by Cavan and Monaghan ETB (CMETB) in the delivery of this project.
A Stage 2A Addendum report was submitted to my Department and a review of this report has been completed by professional and technical officials.
Approval to Stage 2B (approval to planning) of the architectural design process issued to CMETB in June 2024. While the onus is now on CMETB to liaise with the Design Team in order to progress the project, my officials will continue to work closely with the school authority and its design team to provide practical advice and assistance on this very important project.
Special Educational Needs
Ceisteanna (562)
Niamh Smyth
Ceist:562. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to a case (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34522/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for this government. It is also a key priority for my department and for the National Council for Special Education (NCSE).
The NCSE has the responsibility for planning and coordinating school supports for children with special educational needs including the allocation of Special Needs Assistants (SNAs). As your query relates to supports for an individual student I have asked the NCSE to reply to your query directly.
SNAs play a central role in the successful inclusion of students with additional and significant care needs into mainstream education, special classes and special schools ensuring that these students can access education to enable them to achieve their best outcomes and reach their full potential.
SNAs are allocated to schools as a school based resource. The deployment of SNAs within schools is a matter for the individual principal/board of management of the school and they should be deployed in a manner which best meets the care support requirements of the children enrolled for whom SNA support has been allocated. This allows schools flexibility in how the SNA support is utilised.
Schools can apply to the NCSE for a review of its SNA allocation if it is insufficient to meet the needs of its students. Detailed information on the NCSE Exceptional Review process is published on the NCSE website.
School Transport
Ceisteanna (563)
Niamh Smyth
Ceist:563. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education to review a school transport issue (details supplied); if she recognises the negative impact this could potentially have on enrolment at this school; and to outline mechanisms which can assist the school in rectifying this issue. [34524/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2023/24 school year over 163,800 children, including over 136,000 pupils travelling on primary and post primary services, 20,200 pupils with special educational needs, and 7,400 pupils who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine were 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.
Over 140,000 mainstream tickets have issued for the 2024/2025 school year, which is already 3% more than the total tickets issued for the full 2023/2024 school year.
The purpose of my Department's School Transport Scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school.
Under the terms of the School Transport Schemes, children are eligible for transport at primary level where they reside not less than 3.2 kms from and are attending their nearest national school. At post primary level, they are eligible where they reside not less than 4.8 kms from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre. Distance is determined by the Department/Bus Éireann and rules have regard to ethos and language.
Children who are eligible for school transport and who complete the application process on time (apply on time and pay on time) are accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation and where there is capacity to do so.
Children who are not eligible but who apply for school transport are considered for spare seats that may exist after eligible children have been facilitated; such seats are referred to as concessionary seats.
Because of 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.
Temporary Alleviation Measures (TAMS) at post primary level are continued for the current 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, are attending their second nearest school and who applied and paid on time.
Bus Éireann has advised that there is a service operating from the area for children attending the school referred to by the Deputy. This is a 33 seater bus, with 31 eligible tickets and 2 concessionary tickets issued for the 2024/25 school year.
Bus Éireann has further advised that the pupils listed are considered concessionary either because they are not attending their nearest primary school or they reside less than 3.2km from their nearest primary school.
As the Deputy is aware, a review of the School Transport Scheme has been completed. This review was conducted with a view to examining the current scheme, its broader effectiveness, and sustainability and to ensure it services students and their families adequately.
A phased implementation of the review’s recommendations will commence in September 2024. This will include a shared effort between my Department and the Department of Transport to pilot and introduce greater integration of the roll out of transport networks with school transport routes, with a view to expanding provision of transport and reducing the reliance over time on individual car trips for school journeys. It is intended subject to resources to commence implementing the revised eligibility criteria, including the reduced distance criteria in the 2025/2026 school year.
School Transport
Ceisteanna (564)
Niamh Smyth
Ceist:564. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education if she will highlight a case with Bus Éireann (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34532/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2023/24 school year over 163,800 children, including over 136,000 pupils travelling on primary and post primary services, 20,200 pupils with special educational needs, and 7,400 pupils who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine were 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.
Over 140,000 mainstream tickets have issued for the 2024/2025 school year, which is already 3% more than the total tickets issued for the full 2023/2024 school year.
The purpose of my Department's School Transport Scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school.
Under the terms of the School Transport Schemes, children are eligible for transport at primary level where they reside not less than 3.2 kms from and are attending their nearest national school. At post primary level, they are eligible where they reside not less than 4.8 kms from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre. Distance is determined by the Department/Bus Éireann and rules have regard to ethos and language.
Parents of children wishing to avail of school transport services are required to apply on-line to Bus Éireann’s website at buseireann.ie/schooltransport.
The closing date for new applications for the school year 2024/25 was 26 April 2024 and the closing date for payment was 07 June 2024.
Families may still apply for school transport following this date, but if the application or payment is late they may not secure a seat on a service and will not be considered for a remote area grant.
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.
Children who are eligible for school transport and who complete the application process on time (apply on time and pay on time) are accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation and where there is capacity to do so.
Children who are not eligible but who apply for school transport are considered for spare seats that may exist after eligible children have been facilitated; such seats are referred to as concessionary seats.
Because of 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.
Bus Éireann have advised that 19 applications were received for pupils residing in the area attending the school referred to by the Deputy. Of this number 4 pupils are eligible, 13 pupils are concessionary and 2 pupils are attending their 2nd closest post primary school.
Bus Éireann have further advised that the pupils are residing approximately 8.0km from home to their closest pick up point depending on where they live and that the pick up point has been deemed safe by the service supervisor and contractor.
At present the establishment of a new service or an extension of an existing service is not warranted as the majority of pupils in this area and those who have not been accommodated on transport are considered concessionary.
School Transport
Ceisteanna (565)
Niamh Smyth
Ceist:565. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education to review a school transport case (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34558/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2023/24 school year over 163,800 children, including over 136,000 pupils travelling on primary and post primary services, 20,200 pupils with special educational needs, and 7,400 pupils who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine were 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.
Over 140,000 mainstream tickets have issued for the 2024/2025 school year, which is already 3% more than the total tickets issued for the full 2023/2024 school year.
The purpose of my Department's School Transport Scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school.
Under the terms of the School Transport Schemes, children are eligible for transport at primary level where they reside not less than 3.2 kms from and are attending their nearest national school. At post primary level, they are eligible where they reside not less than 4.8 kms from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre. Distance is determined by the Department/Bus Éireann and rules have regard to ethos and language.
Children who are eligible for school transport and who complete the application process on time (apply on time and pay on time) are accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation and where there is capacity to do so.
Children who are not eligible but who apply for school transport are considered for spare seats that may exist after eligible children have been facilitated; such seats are referred to as concessionary seats.
Because of 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.
Bus Éireann have advised that, the pupils to whom the Deputy refers, are not eligible for school transport as they do not meet the distance criteria of 3.2 kms. The family reside 2.0 kms from home to the school of attendance.
Bus Éireann further advise that these pupils were not successful in obtaining concessionary tickets for the 2024/2025 school year as the service is operating to capacity.