Richard Bruton
Ceist:99. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update on a project for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39257/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraSchool Accommodation
Ceisteanna (99)
Freagraí scríofa
Following an extensive site identification and assessment exercise, a number of potential site options have been shortlisted for further consideration. This includes more detailed technical and economic appraisals of these potential site options.
The Department is working towards securing the most suitable site for this school while ensuring value for money for the exchequer is achieved.
The site acquisition process is complex and subject to completion of successful negotiation and conveyancing processes. While it is not possible to give a definitive timeframe for the completion of the acquisition at this stage, department officials will endeavour to bring the process to a conclusion as soon as possible.
School Patronage
Ceisteanna (100)
Gary Gannon
Ceist:100. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education when her Department will launch the planned national survey for parents on school ethos as part of Government efforts to change more religious-run schools to multi-denominational patronage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39259/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
For historical reasons, most primary schools are State-aided parish schools, with the local Bishop as patron. It is recognised, including by the Catholic patrons, that more diverse provision is required to cater for our changing society.
The Department of Education’s ‘Schools Reconfiguration for diversity process’ supports the transfer of schools from denominational patrons to multi-denominational (non-religious) patrons (where children learn about all faith and belief systems during the school day) in response to the wishes of local school communities. This process has been developed to accelerate the delivery of multi-denominational schools. The Programme for Government includes a commitment of having 400 multi-denominational primary schools by 2030.
The Department plans to finalise and publish a framework for delivering on the Government commitment for increasing multi-denominational provision.
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. It is intended that school staff and Board of Management members will also have an opportunity to complete a survey.
The Government’s goal remains to establish a strong process, that has the support of patrons and local communities, and which will enable us to continue to increase the number of multi-denominational primary schools across the country.
School Funding
Ceisteanna (101)
Niamh Smyth
Ceist:101. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education to review correspondence from a school (details supplied); the funding options open to this school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39286/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The purpose of the Emergency Works Scheme (EWS) is to provide funding specifically for unforeseen emergencies, or to provide funding to facilitate inclusion and access for pupils with special needs. It does so by ensuring the availability of funding for urgent works to those schools that are in need of resources as a result of an emergency situation.
An emergency is deemed to be a situation which poses an immediate risk to health, life, property or the environment, which is sudden, unforeseen and requires immediate action, and in the case of a school, if not corrected would prevent the school or part thereof from opening.
The EWS operates on the basis of a minimal scope works to address the emergency situation. The EWS in intended to remedy an emergency situation and usually provides only an interim measure until a permanent solution can be delivered under the Summer Works Scheme (SWS) which deals with upgrade works to the school.
Regarding the matter outlined, the school in question would be required to provide a leak detection test to pin point the number of leaks and provide a costing to each fault. As previously noted the EWS operates on the basis of a minimal scope works to address the emergency situation.
Primary and post-primary schools that need emergency works must apply under this scheme by completing the online Emergency Works Application Form available through the Esinet System.
EWS applications can be found under the Devolved Projects tab.
Schools Building Projects
Ceisteanna (102)
Pádraig Mac Lochlainn
Ceist:102. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 186 of 24 September 2024, the reason there was no reference to the reluctant decision by the board of management of the school (details supplied) not to proceed with the building project under the additional school accommodation scheme for a range of reasons that were communicated to her and her senior officials in June 2024; and when an inspector from her Department will visit the school and the site it has acquired for a new school, as committed to in May 2024. [39288/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I can confirm to the Deputy, that approval was provided under my Department's Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme in 2022 for modular accommodation to provide one mainstream classroom and two special education tuition rooms. In early 2023, the brief for the school was reviewed and a further special education needs classroom was added to the scope. This accommodation has since been delivered.
Modular accommodation being provided to schools today is high quality, robust and durable. All new buildings, including modular buildings, are required to meet the Near Zero Energy Building, or NZEB, standard, which ensures high levels of energy efficiency, thermal performance and sustainability.
The school in question also accepted a traditional build project under the ASA scheme for two mainstream classrooms and two special education teaching rooms. The school authorities progressed this project to Stage 3, tender stage. However, the school has now made the decision not to proceed with this project.
I can confirm to the Deputy that the Department is in receipt of a letter dated the 28th February 2024 from the Board of Management of the school in question in relation to the acquisition of a greenfield site by the school. Furthermore, the school recently submitted a "First Level Education", or FLE, application for a new school building.
The Department is required to manage the overall school building programme so that we target and prioritise areas that are under greatest pressure for additional school places. This reflects the Department’s fundamental objective of ensuring the availability of a school place for every child.
The main focus of the Department’s capital funding over the last decade and for the coming period is on provision of critical additional capacity to cater for increasing demographics and children with special education needs. The overall position with regard to potential modernisation and replacement of existing school infrastructure will be kept under review.
Since 2020, the department has invested over €5 billion in our schools throughout the country, involving the completion of over 950 school building projects and with construction currently underway at approximately 350 other projects, which includes 37 new school buildings. These 350 projects currently at construction involve a total State investment of over €1.5bn.
The Department announced earlier in the year that close to 90 projects, including 28 new school buildings, would be authorised to proceed from tender stage to construction over the course of 2024 and early 2025. In total, around €800 million will be invested in these projects under the department’s Large Scale Capital Programme and Additional Accommodation Scheme for essential classroom accommodation.
Between projects currently under construction and projects moving to construction in this latest phase, investments by the Department of Education are adding over 550,000 square metres of new and modernised capacity to our school estate.
This is a record level of investment in school buildings. It will expand the number of school places, significantly increase provision for special education and upgrade and modernise our school infrastructure. The impact of this will be felt in communities right around the country.
The Department’s approach is to maximise the usage of existing capacity in the school estate and, in tandem with this, to manage the progression of the existing pipeline of projects within available budgets and in line with the Government’s Infrastructure Guidelines.
There are no current plans for a school inspector to visit the school in question. However, my officials will be in further contact with the school in due course in relation to their FLE application
Teaching Council of Ireland
Ceisteanna (103)
Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:103. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education the status of an application by a person (details supplied) to the Teaching Council; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39300/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Teaching Council registers teachers under the Teaching Council Act 2001-2015 and in line with the Teaching Council Registration Regulations, 2016. As set out in the Schedule of the Regulations, the Council registers teachers under five routes of registration: Route 1 - Primary, Route 2 - Post-primary, Route 3 - Further Education, Route 4 - Other and Route 5 - Student Teacher. The minimum registration requirements for each route are set out in the Regulations. The Department has no role in the registration of individual teachers.
The Council assesses applications for registration to ensure that the qualifications meet the standard required of all applicants, to uphold the high standards our education system is known for. In assessing qualifications all requirements are applied equally and transparently to all and that is an important principle.
In accordance with EU Directive 2005/36/EC, the qualifications of teachers who qualified outside of the Republic of Ireland (RoI) are assessed to ensure they are of a comparable standard to those achieved by graduates of accredited programmes in Ireland.
A person deemed to be a fully qualified teacher has completed a recognised teacher education qualification and any required programme of induction/period of post-qualification employment in the country in which they qualified and can provide an official letter from the relevant teacher registration body/Competent Authority or Ministry of Education confirming recognition as a fully qualified teacher in the State/country.
The Teaching Council has confirmed that the person referred to by the Deputy in this query is required to submit such evidence, as is the case with all applicants who have qualified outside of Ireland.
The Teaching Council has informed me that have been communicating with the applicant in relation to the outstanding evidence and will contact the individual again to provide further support.
Departmental Correspondence
Ceisteanna (104)
Niall Collins
Ceist:104. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Education if she or her legal representatives will expedite a reply to correspondence (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39304/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the issues raised in this correspondence are the subject of legal proceedings, I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department cannot comment on this case.
Schools Building Projects
Ceisteanna (105)
Bernard Durkan
Ceist:105. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education for an update on the recent progress of a school building project (details supplied), given that planning permission issued in 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39308/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Since 2020, the Department of Education has invested around €5 billion in schools throughout the country. Around 950 school building projects have been completed and 350 other projects are under construction, which includes 37 new school buildings. These 350 project currently at construction involves a total state investment of over €1.5 billion.
The Department announced earlier in the year that close to 90 projects, including 28 new school buildings, would be authorised to proceed from tender stage to construction over the course of 2024 and early 2025. In total around €800 million will be invested in these projects under the department’s Large Scale Capital Programme and Additional Accommodation Scheme for essential classroom accommodation.
This is a record level of investment in school buildings. It will expand the number of school places, significantly increase provision for special education and upgrade and modernise our school infrastructure. The impact of this will be felt in communities right around the country.
The project referred to be the Deputy will deliver a new 8 classroom primary school and accommodation, including 2 classrooms for children with special educational needs.
The project currently has planning permission and is, along with a number of other projects, being brought to the level of employer-led design with a Design Team assigned to do so under the supervision of the Department’s project manager.
The process of appointing the Design Team from the Department’s Frameworks of Consultants was completed in September 2023 and the project is currently close to completion of Stage 2(b) of the architectural design process. Stage 2(b) involves detailed design and the preparation of tender documentation.
The next stage, subject to relevant Stage 2(b) approvals, will be Stage 3 tender stage. It is anticipated that this project will go to tender in Q4 2024.
Projects are subject to relevant due diligence at each stage in the process, within the context of overall programme and budgetary parameters.
I wish to assure the Deputy that the project for the school referred to by the Deputy is a significant priority.
My Department will continue to keep the school and Patron body updated as the project progresses.
Sports Facilities
Ceisteanna (106)
David Stanton
Ceist:106. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Education further to Topical Issue debate No. 2 of 25 September 2024, if she has received a request from Cork Education and Training Board pertaining to lands in the ownership of her Department adjacent to the newly opened campus (details supplied) in east Cork; if she has responded or intends to respond to any such request; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39320/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
In relation to the school referred to by the Deputy, my Department has not received a request from Cork ETB in relation to the green area of the campus site.
School Accommodation
Ceisteanna (107)
Colm Burke
Ceist:107. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education the status of an application by a school (details supplied) for a reconfiguration project; when the project will commence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39339/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I am pleased to advise the Deputy that approval under the Department's Additional School Accommodation scheme issued to the school in question in May 2025 for reconfiguration of part of the main building to provide 1 x Technology Room/ Prep Area & toilets to facilitate co-education.
The project is being delivered under the Department’s Devolved SEN Reconfiguration and Modular Accommodation programme. The Department has a significant 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 project is currently at design stage. The detailed design pack has been reviewed by the Department and comments have now issued to the Project Manager for their consideration and progression. The tentative start on-site date is late October 2024 with a tentative completion date expected in Q1 2025. The Department is fully aware of the urgency associated with this project and will continue to work closely with the Project Managers and the School Authority to deliver this project as efficiently as possible.
School Enrolments
Ceisteanna (108)
Ruairí Ó Murchú
Ceist:108. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Education to detail any engagement with a national school in County Louth (details supplied) that is faced with falling student numbers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39341/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
My department is aware of reducing enrolments at the school to which the Deputy refers. The patron of the school has been in contact with my department in that respect.
The decision making authority for any change of status is the patron/trustees of the schools, subject to the approval of the Department. Any proposed change involves extensive negotiations at local level and must be well planned and managed in a manner that accommodates the interests of students, parents, teachers, local communities and contributes to an inclusive education system.
The Patron and relevant stakeholders are also advised to consider the implications that any proposal may have on items such as school accommodation, funding, staffing and school transport so that an informed decision can be made.
My Department officials continue to engage with the patron regarding this school.
School Transport
Ceisteanna (109)
Niall Collins
Ceist:109. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Education if she proposes to increase the hourly rate of €13.40 paid to bus escorts for special education schools; when this rate was last revised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39350/24]
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.
There is a facility within the Special Educational Needs Transport Scheme for the appointment of a School Transport Escort where a child’s care and safety needs while on school transport are such as to require the support of a School Transport Escort.The Department of Education provides grant funding for the employment of the School Transport Escort and sets the rate of pay. The Board of Management/ETB are responsible for the employment of the School Transport Escort.
It is recognised that School Bus Escorts play a vital role in supporting children with Special Educational Needs in their journey to and from school. The School Transport Section in the Department are currently carrying out a comprehensive review of matters as they relate to the escort and the information provided to schools. An information pack for schools is at the final stages of completion and will be reviewed and updated regularly.
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. As part of this review one of the actions outlined is that pay rates for School Bus Escorts is to be reviewed in full by the end of 2024.
Question No. 110 answered with Question No. 97.
School Transport
Ceisteanna (111)
Niamh Smyth
Ceist:111. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education the reason a student has not received a school bus seat (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39391/24]
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 will be provided where there is a route in operation and where capacity exists for concessionary post primary pupils who are eligible for transport to their nearest school, are attending their second nearest school and who applied and paid on time.
Bus Eireann has advised that the pupil referred to by the Deputy is not eligible for transport as they are attending their third nearest post-primary centre. Bus Éireann have also advised that an application for school transport was received on time for the 24/25 school year for them but no payment was received and the existing service is now operating to capacity.
State Examinations
Ceisteanna (112)
Eoin Ó Broin
Ceist:112. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education if consideration is being given to introducing extra time in State examinations for those with certain learning differences (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39405/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the state examinations.
In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.
School Enrolments
Ceisteanna (113)
Violet-Anne Wynne
Ceist:113. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Education the average class size of primary schools, by county and local authority area, in the 2023-2024 school year, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39437/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Please find attached requested data.
Please note the data is sourced from the mainstream class size tables for academic year 2023/24 and can be found at the link below;
www.gov.ie/en/collection/class-size-information-at-individual-primary-school-level/
School Accommodation
Ceisteanna (114)
Pádraig O'Sullivan
Ceist:114. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education if grants are available to schools for the replacement of old carpets; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39460/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The purpose of the Emergency Works Scheme (EWS) is to provide funding specifically for unforeseen emergencies, or to provide funding to facilitate inclusion and access for pupils with special needs. It does so by ensuring the availability of funding for urgent works to those schools that are in need of resources as a result of an emergency situation.
An emergency is deemed to be a situation which poses an immediate risk to health, life, property or the environment, which is sudden, unforeseen and requires immediate action, and in the case of a school, if not corrected would prevent the school or part thereof from opening.
The EWS operates on the basis of a minimal scope works to address the emergency situation. The EWS in intended to remedy an emergency situation and usually provides only an interim measure until a permanent solution can be delivered under the Summer Works Scheme (SWS) which deals with upgrade works to the school.
The replacement of old carpets would not appear to be a matter which would be deemed an emergency and therefore would not attract EWS funding.
Swimming Pools
Ceisteanna (115, 117)
Michael Fitzmaurice
Ceist:115. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if the Government has any intention of providing a public swimming pool in Loughrea, Galway (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39265/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMichael Fitzmaurice
Ceist:117. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if the Government has any intention of providing a public swimming pool in Loughrea, Galway (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39264/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 115 and 117 together.
My Department operates two capital funding programmes for sport, namely the Community Sport Facilities Fund (formerly the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme, SCEP) and the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF).
Earlier this year, Minister Martin and I announced funding of up to €120 million under the new 2024 round of the LSSIF, which closed for applications on 1 July 2024. New swimming pool projects and the refurbishment of existing swimming pools were eligible to apply for grant funding under LSSIF 2024 subject to published guidelines and conditions of the scheme.
It should be noted that no application was received by the Department under LSSIF 2024 for a swimming pool in Loughrea.
While the very high level of demand for this second round of the LSSIF strongly suggests that a future round will be required, any decisions on the timing of such a round will depend on the funding available and the pace of drawdown from rounds 1 and 2.
Sports Funding
Ceisteanna (116)
Paul Kehoe
Ceist:116. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the reasons an organisation (details supplied) was awarded significantly less than it applied for under the sports capital scheme; the mechanisms available to them to appeal this decision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39223/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
On 25 September, Minister Martin and I announced €230 million in grants for sports clubs and facilities under phase 2 of the Community Sport Facilities Fund (formerly the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme).
Over a quarter of a billion euro has been allocated to community sports clubs and facilities in 2024, taking account of the earlier equipment-only allocation of €26 million, with a total investment of €256 million. This will facilitate the largest-ever investment in sports facilities in communities across Ireland.
The majority of invalid applications failed on the grounds that the applicant failed to provide the correct documentation when applying or when given a second chance to do so. Unsuccessful applicants will be sent an email in the coming week with details of why their application was deemed invalid or why the majority of their grant sought was rejected. Those applicants will also be given the opportunity to appeal the decision if they believe that the Department has made an error in its assessment.
Department officials will be available to assist applicants with any clarifications required if they wish to proceed with an appeal.
Question No. 117 answered with Question No. 115.
Sports Funding
Ceisteanna (118)
Michael Lowry
Ceist:118. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the reasons a grant application from a club (details supplied) was refused; when this GAA club will be able to submit an appeal; the specific clarification that is required for this appeal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39299/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
On 25 September Minister Martin and I announced €230 million in grants for sports clubs and facilities under phase 2 of the Community Sport Facilities Fund (formerly the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme).
Over a quarter of a billion euro has been allocated to community sports clubs and facilities in 2024, taking account of the earlier equipment-only allocation of €26 million, with a total investment of €256 million. This will facilitate the largest-ever investment in sports facilities in communities across Ireland.
The majority of invalid applications failed on the grounds that the applicant failed to provide the correct documentation at application or when given a second chance to do so. Unsuccessful applicants will be sent an email in the coming week with details of why their application was deemed invalid or why the majority of their grant sought was rejected. Those applicants will also be given the opportunity to appeal the decision if they believe that the Department has made an error in its assessment.
Department officials will be available to assist applicants with any clarifications required if they wish to proceed with an appeal.