Written Answers Nos. 686-705
686. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to a teacher shortage (details supplied); the actions she will take to work with school management to address these concerns; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35692/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraEnsuring that every child's experience in school is positive and that they have qualified, engaged teachers available to support them in their learning is a priority area of action for the Government.
There are now more teachers than ever working in the Irish education system. In March 2024 there were 74,145.9 FTE (full time equivalent) equating to 78,646 teachers employed.
There are less than 1% resignations in the Primary sector every year and 1.6% in Post Primary. The number of teachers who retired over the past number of years has varied, with 932 in 2013 and 1,074 in 2023.
Measures introduced have led to
• an increase of 20% in Initial Teacher Education graduates (student teachers) between 2018 and 2023, and a 29% increase in the number registered with the Teaching Council since 2017,
• an increase of 13.3% in the number of teaching posts allocated to primary between 2017/18 and 2023/24.
Budget 2024 introduced several measures reflecting this Government’s commitment to ongoing investment in the education system to address teacher supply issues. Key initiatives include:
• a new bursary-type, fee refund scheme for teachers graduating with a PME (professional master of education) in 2024. This €2,000 payment will be made in 2025 to eligible primary and post-primary teachers. The purpose of this scheme is to encourage newly qualified teachers who have completed a PME in 2024 to take up teaching roles.
In addition to these recently introduced measures, as Minister I have developed further initiatives to address teacher supply challenges, including:
• at primary level, 610 additional places on initial teacher education programmes were approved.
• newly qualified teachers (NQTs) employed in primary schools can complete the Droichead process while employed on a Supply Panel or Principal Release Time Post.
• increasing the number of student teachers who can provide substitute cover; over 3,700 were registered to substitute in June 2024, up from 2,700 that were registered in the previous school year.
• increasing the pool of teachers available to undertake substitute work, through the continued suspension of the usual limits on career break and job-sharing schemes to the 2024/25 school year.
• encouraging retired teachers to work as substitute teachers; in the 2023/24 school year, over 1,700 retired teachers provided substitute cover, an increase of 12% on the previous year.
• the Teaching Transforms campaign continues to promote the teaching profession and encourage students to follow a career in teaching. Promotion campaigns have been developed to coincide with the CAO closing date and change of mind deadline in recent years.
Teaching is an attractive career choice:
• Over 3,700 newly qualified teachers registered with the Teaching Council in 2023 with over 122,000 now on the register.
• Analysis of CAO applications spanning from 2017 to 2024 indicates a sustained and robust demand for undergraduate teaching programmes. On average, 6% of first preference applications during the period from 2017 to 2024 were for either primary or post-primary teaching programmes.
• The new pay deal will mean that teachers’ starting salary will increase to €46,000 rising to a maximum of €85,000 per year which compares well internationally.
Ireland’s education system is performing strongly, something that is supported by recent international testing. That is a tribute to the professionalism and dedication of our teachers. We need to continue to support our schools and maintain the high standards that have helped get us to where we are.
The Department will continue to engage closely with education stakeholders to develop further innovative measures to address teacher supply issues.
687. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education if she will ensure that a student (details supplied) is assessed and a suitable school placement is found urgently. [35752/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraEnsuring that children with special educational needs has an appropriate education is a key priority for the Goverment.
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. Parents should make contact with the class teacher and or the school principal to discuss the needs of their child and the supports that the school can provide.
Enrolments to special classes or special schools are managed by individual schools and are governed by policies determined by my department. The criteria for enrolment into a special class/school is closely linked to its designation. In order to be considered eligible for a placement a report from a relevant professional or team of professionals must be provided. This requirement is critically in ensuring that the class/school is (and remains) available to support those students in which its purpose was intended.
Over 400 new special classes have been sanctioned by the NCSE for the 2024/25 school year, bringing the total number of special classes nationwide to 3,333. These classes can accommodate for over 20,000 students. There is also 124 special schools nationwide providing places for over 8,800 students.
Parents seeking special class placements for their children are advised to contact the NCSE locally for planning purposes. Local special educational needs organisers (SENOs) are available to assist and advise parents and can provide details on schools with available special educational places. Parents may contact SENOs directly using the contact details available on the NCSE website.
My department and the NCSE are committed to ensuring that sufficient special education placements are available for children for this school year and future years.
In relation to a diagnosis of needs, the Assessment of Need (AON) process is a Health Service Executive (HSE) process which is designed to identify children and young people who may have a disability, or who have a disability and may require further clinical supports from the HSE. All children/young people born on or after June 2002 are eligible to apply to the HSE for an Assessment of Need. An Assessment of Need as outlined in the Disability Act 2005 - www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2005/act/14/enacted/en/html - will identify a child's health needs and what services are required to meet that child's needs. A person must be born after 1st June 2002 to be assessed. An application for an Assessment of Need can be made to the HSE by a parent, legal guardian or personal advocate.
If an HSE assessment officer forms the opinion there may be a need for an education service to be provided, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has a statutory obligation to nominate ‘appropriate persons’ to assist the HSE in the AON process.
688. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education the steps being taken to address the shortfall in school transport places in Galway city and county; the specific steps being taken to ensure that pupils who are eligible for school transport will be provided with same; the total number of students without school transport; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35765/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra689. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education the steps being taken to address the shortfall in school transport places for children with special educational needs in Galway city and county; the specific steps being taken to ensure that pupils with special educational needs and who are eligible for school transport will be provided with same; the number of students with special educational needs without school transport; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35766/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 688 and 689 together.
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.
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, who apply 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.
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 on time.
Children who are not eligible for school transport may apply for transport on a concessionary basis only and will be facilitated where spare seats are available after eligible children have been accommodated.
Where the number of ineligible children exceeds the number of spare seats available Bus Éireann will allocate tickets for the spare seats using an agreed selection process.
The National Council for Special Education acts in an advisory role to the Department of Education on the suitability of placements for children with special educational needs. Under the terms of the School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs, the Department will consider the report of the Special Education Needs Organiser (SENO).
School transport is provided to children with special educational needs who are attending the nearest school to their place of residence that is or can be resourced to meet their educational needs, as identified by the SENO.
Bus Éireann is still in the process of issuing tickets for all schemes for the 2024/25 school year so it is not currently possible to provide the data as requested by the Deputy.
690. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education if she is aware that the SENO for Cork north Lee is not currently in post and that the post has not been filled temporarily. [35767/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing the allocation of an additional €13 million for the expansion of services within the NCSE, the NCSE has examined the various roles and responsibilities within the organisation. This has culminated in a workforce & organisational plan underpinning the recruitment extra staff and guiding the transformational change in the NCSE structure, to provide more direct and responsive focus within the community.
At local level, the NCSE is increasing the number of support teams available to parents and schools, throughout the country, from a 10 team structure to a 20 team structure. All SENO grades are now assigned on a county basis and will undertake caseloads associated with that county only, and on a reduced caseload basis. This will allow for an integrated community based service which is conducive to the development of key relationships between NCSE staff, parents and schools in the provision of services to students.
For direct engagement positions, there are now 113 Special Education Needs Organisers (SENOs) in place, which is more than ever before, with a further 7 commencing in September, and an additional 4 being recruited, bringing the total to 124. To support these staff, there will be more administrative staff to allow SENOs concentrate on working directly with schools and families.
In Cork, there are 18 SENO assigned to the city and county, 16 of these are in place, with 1 commencing in September and 1 under recruitment. The additional administrative support and revise caseload allocations in addition to the extra SENOs will provide comprehensive cover for the city and county. Contact details for all SENOs, together with the area of Cork which they cover, are available on the NCSE website.
691. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Education her views on students being asked to take public transport options that will leave them arriving at school before the buildings are opened (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35784/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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 140000 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.
As the Deputy is aware, for the 2024/2025 school year, a pilot project is being conducted along the existing public transport Route 343 on the Limerick-Shannon-Ennis corridor with a view to assessing the benefits of integrating school and public transport for post-primary students. The 343 corridor was chosen because it is an established public transport corridor operating from Limerick/Shannon to Ennis, it had already been earmarked by the National Transport Authority for improved bus services and there are a number of post-primary schools on the route.
In recent weeks, my Department has engaged with parental representatives, school principals and political representatives in the pilot area to discuss a number of issues that have been raised and we will continue to do so as the pilot implementation continues.
Under the pilot scheme, the new eligibility criteria recommended in the school transport review are being applied, which will increase the number of pupils who will qualify for school transport scheme in the area.
• the distance that children must live from their school of attendance has been reduced from 4.8km to 2km
• the "nearest school rule" has been removed, which broadens the range of schools that children can attend using the school transport scheme.
Another advantage is that children in the pilot project will be able to travel on public buses on Route 343 on the Limerick-Shannon-Ennis corridor outside of normal school times. This means that children participating in after-school activities, for example, will be able to get a bus home rather than relying on a parent to collect them. This will be possible because children will be issued with a Leap card which they will use to validate against a ticket reader when getting on the bus. The issued Leap card will be used by the child on the transport service that they are assigned to during normal school days and times. The Leap card can also be used on other public transport services outside of normal school times provided the Leap card is first topped up with travel credit.
I can reassure you that officials in the School Transport Section of my Department, along with Bus Éireann and the NTA, will assess this pilot closely over the coming weeks and all issues that have been raised by families are being assessed. I wish to assure you that the safety of children travelling to school on these services is a priority for the Department and Bus Éireann. We will continue to engage with the local community over the coming weeks as the pilot is rolled out.
692. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the failure of the roll out of the pilot school transport scheme in County Clare, the fact that parents are now avoiding the service and that it is disincentivising rural people from using the bus; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35785/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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 140000 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.
As the Deputy is aware, for the 2024/2025 school year, a pilot project is being conducted along the existing public transport Route 343 on the Limerick-Shannon-Ennis corridor with a view to assessing the benefits of integrating school and public transport for post-primary students. The 343 corridor was chosen because it is an established public transport corridor operating from Limerick/Shannon to Ennis, it had already been earmarked by the National Transport Authority for improved bus services and there are a number of post-primary schools on the route.
In recent weeks, my Department has engaged with parental representatives, school principals and political representatives in the pilot area to discuss a number of issues that have been raised and we will continue to do so as the pilot implementation continues.
Under the pilot scheme, the new eligibility criteria recommended in the school transport review are being applied, which will increase the number of pupils who will qualify for school transport scheme in the area.
• the distance that children must live from their school of attendance has been reduced from 4.8km to 2km
• the "nearest school rule" has been removed, which broadens the range of schools that children can attend using the school transport scheme.
Another advantage is that children in the pilot project will be able to travel on public buses on Route 343 on the Limerick-Shannon-Ennis corridor outside of normal school times. This means that children participating in after-school activities, for example, will be able to get a bus home rather than relying on a parent to collect them. This will be possible because children will be issued with a Leap card which they will use to validate against a ticket reader when getting on the bus. The issued Leap card will be used by the child on the transport service that they are assigned to during normal school days and times. The Leap card can also be used on other public transport services outside of normal school times provided the Leap card is first topped up with travel credit.
I can reassure you that officials in the School Transport Section of my Department, along with Bus Éireann and the NTA, will assess this pilot closely over the coming weeks and all issues that have been raised by families are being assessed. I wish to assure you that the safety of children travelling to school on these services is a priority for the Department and Bus Éireann. We will continue to engage with the local community over the coming weeks as the pilot is rolled out.
693. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Education the number of special needs assistants and vacancies for each county; how many vacances there are currently in County Clare, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35786/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra694. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Education the number of children that had an SNA at the start of the academic year in September 2023 and September 2024, by county, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35787/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 693 and 694 together.
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 (SNA). Allocations are provided to schools on the basis of the school's overall profile of need. As a result, the number of students supported by SNAs varies from school to school.
We have been steadily building on the number of SNAs in our education system. At the end of the 2022 school year there was just over 18,000 SNAs in schools. Budget 2023 provided for an additional 1,194 SNA posts and Budget 2024 for a further 1,216. By the end of June this year there were over 21,000 SNAs in schools, double the number there were in 2011.
The board of management, as the employer, is responsible for filling the vacancy and the decision on whether to employ a full time SNA to fill a full-time post or to employ an equivalent number of part time SNAs rests with the employer. Therefore information on vacancies is therefore held at a local school level.
695. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Education the cost of transporting children to and from schools by way of taxi, by county, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35788/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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.
The scheme is operated using a mix of Bus Éireann owned vehicles and private contractor owned vehicles. In addition, a number of vehicle types are used, comprising of buses (large, medium and mini) and taxis. As part of the operation of the scheme, Bus Éireann manages the procurement tender process and contract management arrangements to include services provided by contractors under the School Transport Scheme. In the 2023/2024 school year in the region of 7,200 contractor owned vehicles operated on the scheme. This included some 2,300 taxis which are used on the scheme in the main to provide transport for children with special educational needs.
In planning a school placement for a child with special educational needs, a number of factors are considered, including the suitability of a proposed placement and the geographical distance from a child’s home. Every effort is made to minimise distance and time in getting to and from school. However, in many cases children attend school placements outside of their own locality and school transport is required in order for these children to attend school. The analysis conducted during the recently completed review of the scheme highlighted how highly valued the scheme is for parents of children with special educational needs and that without the transport that is provided many parents would experience difficulty in getting their child to school.
Bus Éireann has confirmed, as per the details in the following link, the spend, by county, for 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 for taxis operating on the School Transport Scheme.
696. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Education the number of refunds sought from parents availing of the school transport scheme, by county, in 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35789/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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.
Under the current terms of the School Transport Schemes children are eligible for transport at primary level where they reside not less than 3.2 kms from and are attending their nearest national school, and at post primary level where they reside not less than 4.8 kms 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, who apply 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.
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 on time.
Children who are not eligible for school transport may apply for transport on a concessionary basis only and will be facilitated where spare seats are available after eligible children have been accommodated.
Where the number of ineligible children exceeds the number of spare seats available Bus Éireann will allocate tickets for the spare seats using an agreed selection process.
The information requested by the Deputy is not readily available. However, officials from the School Transport Section of my Department will forward the information directly to the Deputy as soon as it is available.
697. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education to outline the course of action open to parents who are unable to secure a place for their child in a multi-denominational school, in respect of their wish that their child should not have to attend any denominational ‘faith formation’ class; if she will outline the arrangements required to be made by publicly funded schools in order to respect the belief system of such families; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35811/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy 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.
The Department’s ‘Schools Reconfiguration for diversity process’ supports the transfer of schools from denominational patrons to multi-denominational patrons in response to the wishes of local school communities. This process has been developed to accelerate the delivery of multi-denominational schools in line with the Programme for Government of having 400 multi-denominational primary schools by 2030. A significant amount of work has been done by the Department on the scope, logistics and practical arrangements for a survey of primary school communities. It is intended that the online, school-specific survey will ask parents and guardians of children currently in primary school and parents and guardians of children who have not yet started primary school their preferences on important aspects of school provision and choice, including demand for a multi-denominational ethos.
Under the Constitution, the provisions of article 44 recognise the rights of children to attend school without attending religious instruction at that school. Furthermore the provisions of Section 30(2) (e) of the Education Act 1998 provide that a school shall not require a student to attend instruction in any subject which is contrary to the conscience of the parent / guardian of the student or in the case of a student who has reached the age of 18 years, the student. It is expected that this right will be upheld by schools on foot of a parental request.
The manner in which any school ensures that the right to not attend religion instruction classes is upheld, is a matter for the school concerned. Each individual school must determine the particular arrangements which are most appropriate in its individual circumstances having regard to local issues such as available space, supervision requirements and how the school concerned organises classes etc.
The follow-up paper to the Report of the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary Sector which was published in 2014 outlines good practice and options for promoting diversity in all schools. The paper gives an overview of different types of arrangements that schools have put in place to facilitate parents who do not wish for their children to attend religious instruction classes.
The paper encourages school authorities to consider their policies and practices and to review whether they are taking the steps necessary to welcome all pupils and make them feel included. The Catholic Schools Partnership has also published guidelines for catholic schools in relation to the inclusion of all pupils and that this also contains suggestions on how such schools can manage requests to attend school without attending religious instruction.
698. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Education if the school transport being provided to a pupil (details supplied) could be reverted to the pick-up point used in the past; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35814/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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 the 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.
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 process on time will be accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation.
Children who are not eligible for school transport may apply for transport on a concessionary basis in accordance with the terms of the Post Primary School Transport Scheme and may be offered a ticket where capacity exists once all eligible children have been catered for.
The availability of concessionary transport may vary from year to year and cannot be guaranteed for the duration of a child’s post primary school education cycle. Where the number of applications for transport on a concessionary basis exceeds the number of seats available, Bus Éireann will determine the allocation of the tickets using an agreed selection process.
Bus Eireann have advised, that the child to whom the Deputy refers to, is not eligible for school transport, however they were successful in obtaining a concessionary seat. Since this child is travelling on a concessionary basis routes will not be extended or altered and children must make their way to a dedicated pick up point.
699. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Education if a school bus route could be restored to its previous route to accommodate a pupil (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35826/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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 at post primary level, 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.
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 or to have travel and waiting times in excess of 1.5 hours per day. 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.
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.
Bus Éireann have advised that the pupil, to whom the Deputy refers to, is eligible for school transport and resides 1.9kms from home to the route of an existing school transport service on which transport has been offered. The pick-up point mentioned by the Deputy has not been in operation since 2019.
The pupil is currently being offered transport within the guidelines of the School Transport Scheme.
700. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Education to outline, with reference to the school transport 2030 review, her Department’s plans to reduce the distance criteria for accession to the school transport scheme for primary school students; the progress made to date in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35867/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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.
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.
The School Transport Scheme 2030 report, which was published earlier this year, marks the largest review of the School Transport Scheme since it was established in 1967. The Government is committed to working to achieve the report’s recommendation of expanding access to the scheme so that an additional 100,000 pupils can be carried by 2030. Throughout the review, the value of the School Transport Scheme to both families and in supporting wider Government policies has been very apparent. In summary, school transport not only plays an important part in supporting children's access to education, but it also aligns to wider Government objectives.
Overall, the recommended changes to the future operation of the Scheme include expansion of the current eligibility criteria, addressing current operational challenges and moving towards better integration with public transport to ensure the best value for money to the Exchequer.
A phased implementation of the review’s recommendations will begin in September 2024. It is intended, subject to resources, to commence implementing the revised eligibility criteria in the 2025/2026 school year.
701. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education the provision being made to provide free schoolbooks at primary and secondary schools during the coming academic year; the arrangements and payments involved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35881/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 5th of March, I announced details of a new scheme which provides free schoolbooks to Junior Cycle students in post-primary schools in the Free Education Scheme. Special schools who have students enrolled in Junior Cycle programmes have also received this funding. More than 213,000 students enrolled in approximately 670 post-primary schools and over 65 special schools, will benefit from the new scheme in this new academic year.
The investment of €68 million in 2024 significantly increases the funding that was previously provided to post-primary schools for schoolbooks. It reinforces the Government’s commitment to expand the free schoolbooks scheme to schools nationwide, as resources allow.
The grant under the Junior Cycle scheme was paid to post-primary schools in the Free Education Scheme in March 2024. This was to ensure that schools had funding in place to make the necessary arrangements to implement the new scheme in advance of the start of this school year. For the 2024/25 school year schools have received a per capita rate of €309 per student enrolled based on September 2023 enrolment figures.
Additionally, Budget 2024 saw an investment of over €47 million to continue implementation of the free schoolbooks scheme at primary level. On the 8th May I announced details of year 2 of the Primary Schoolbooks Scheme which, for the second year, provides at a minimum, free schoolbooks, workbooks and copybooks to all pupils enrolled in recognised primary and special schools. More than 555,000 pupils enrolled in approximately 3,230 primary schools, including over 130 special schools will continue to benefit from this scheme in this school year.
The grant under the Primary Schoolbooks Scheme was paid to recognised primary and special schools in May 2024. For the 2024/25 school year schools have received a per capita rate of €80 per pupil enrolled based on September 2023 enrolment figures.
The Department of Education has also allocated an administration support grant to schools for the 2024/25 school year, based on the size of the school to assist with the additional work required in order to implement the scheme. The post-primary administration support grant for 2024/2025 was paid to schools in May 2024 while the primary administration support grant for 2024/2025 issued in June.
This brings the total investment in schoolbooks in this academic year to over €115 million.
702. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Education the number of ASD places funded for the academic years 2020 to 2024, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35909/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraEnabling 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.
Over 400 new special classes have been sanctioned by the NCSE for the 2024/25 school year bringing the total number of special classes nationwide to 3,333, 2,337 at primary level and 996 at post-primary. The vast majority of these are autism classes which have a teacher/student ratio of 1:6.
The table below shows the number of autism classes from 2020 to 2024.
|
Class Type |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
|
Autism Early Intervention |
135 |
133 |
151 |
157 |
157 |
|
Autism Class Primary |
1,000 |
1,217 |
1,463 |
1,698 |
1,987 |
|
Autism Class Post-Primary |
435 |
524 |
653 |
780 |
901 |
|
Total |
1,570 |
1,874 |
2,267 |
2,635 |
3,045 |
703. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Education if her Department will engage with a school (details supplied) over the bus operator refusing to collect certain children despite signing a contract for the same, however there appears to be no penalties that can be applied; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35916/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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 acts in an advisory role to the Department of Education on the suitability of placements for children with special educational needs. Under the terms of the School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs, the Department will consider the report of the Special Education Needs Organiser (SENO). School transport is provided to children with special educational needs who are attending the nearest school to their place of residence that is or can be resourced to meet their educational needs, as identified by the SENO.
Bus Éireann has reported that unfortunately, for a small number of families assigned to Special Educational Needs transport services, difficulties have arisen in some localities with a small number of contracted services.
Bus Éireann School Transport team is working intensively to ensure that transport arrangements are put in place as soon as possible. Bus Éireann is engaging with families where transport was sanctioned and where there may be delays in securing a new service. A Special Transport Interim Grant has been offered to families of children with special educational needs who, following the application process, are eligible under the terms of the school transport scheme and were awaiting a School Transport service to be put in place.
This grant is a once off payment. The interim grant is offered from the date of application to assist with the cost of private transport arrangements the family had put in place until a transport service is ready to commence. Further information on the Special Transport Interim Grant can be found at: gov.ie/schooltransport.
Work is continuing in order to resolve this matter and Bus Éireann are committed to providing transport as quickly as is possible.
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 usually 09.00 – 17.00 Monday to Friday.
Families can also contact Bus Éireann by submitting a query via the following link: www.buseireann.ie/inner.php?id=523
Bus Eireann have advised that there is one service not operating to this school at present due to a procurement issue but Bus Éireann continue to work to resolve the matter as soon as possible.
704. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Education if she will request that her officials reassess and increase the grant awarded to a school (details supplied) as building costs have increased and the school requires additional funding in order to complete this long-awaited building project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35920/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe school referred to by the Deputy was approved to enter the Department’s pipeline of school buildings for a project to provide 2 Mainstream Classrooms and 2 Resource Rooms. The project has been devolved for delivery to the school authority and they have appointed a design team to progress the project through the various stages of architectural design, planning, procurement and construction.
This project was approved by my Department to go to tender in 2022. This approval was conditional on the works being tendered within 6 months. However, my Department has not received a tender report for this project to date. My Department has already approved a warranted increase in Design Team fees on this project and this has been communicated to the school authority directly. Any further increase can only be considered in the context of an extended scope of works. Officials in my Department have been and will continue to be in regular communication with the school in order to assist the school and its design team to progress this important project.
705. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Education the progress of a school building project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35922/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe school to which the Deputy refers was approved to enter the departments pipeline of school building projects under the Department’s Additional School Accommodation (ASA) Scheme for reconfiguration works to existing accommodation to provide SEN accommodation and 2 SET rooms. The project was devolved for delivery to the school authority.
The department is aware that the school has appointed a contractor to carry out these works.
I am pleased to advise that in recent weeks approval to progress this project to Stage 4 (construction stage) has been issued to the school authority. It is now within the remit of the school authority to progress this project accordingly.
