Written Answers Nos. 394-413
394. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education the further advice she has taken on the roll-out of phone pouches for schools since assuming office; the degree to which she has considered alternatives and the opportunity cost of this plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13943/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, €9 million has been allocated in Budget 2025 to support post-primary schools to implement a restriction on the use of mobile phones during the school day, through the purchase of pouches or other secure storage solutions.
This initiative is intended to support the wellbeing of school students and improve learning outcomes. It is part of a suite of wellbeing measures provided by my Department and government, including mental health supports in schools, and support for the work of Coimisiún na Meán with the introduction of the Online Safety Code and associated resources. At primary level, my predecessor Minister Foley launched the Keeping Childhood Smartphone Free initiative in 2023, to assist parents to adopt voluntary undertakings to not purchase mobile phones for their primary-age children. This initiative has been very well received, and was supported by information sessions on online safety for parents delivered on a regional basis through the education centre network, facilitated by Webwise.
Webwise is part of the Irish Internet Safety Awareness Centre supporting teachers, students and parents on online safety. They provide a wide range of training material and resources. The Irish Safer Internet Centre partners are Webwise, Hotline.ie, ISPCC Childline and National Parents Council.
Webwise promotes the autonomous, effective and safe use of the internet by young people through a sustained information and awareness strategy targeting school leaders, teachers, parents and children themselves, with consistent and relevant messages. It develops and disseminates resources that help teachers integrate digital citizenship and online safety into teaching and learning in their schools. Webwise is funded by the Department of Education and the EU Internet Safety Initiative.
The webwise.ie resource includes a dedicated School/Teachers Hub, a Parents Hub and a Youth Hub. These give practical information and advice on the safe, ethical and responsible use of the internet and address key issues such as cyberbullying, sexting, image sharing, respectful communication, social media, popular apps and more.
There is considerable ongoing discourse reflecting the concerns of parents and guardians around access by children and young people to mobile phones and social media platforms. I am hearing these concerns expressed by parents and educators, as well as mental health professionals and advocates. It should be noted is not mandatory for schools to purchase phone pouches, and my Department is developing guidelines to issue to support schools in developing their policies in this regard which will advise that schools should consult with their school community, parents, staff and children, to inform the policy.
For those post-primary schools who intend to implement their policy through the use of portable phone storage solutions, work is underway within the Department of Education to establish a procurement mechanism for schools to acquire an appropriate solution in accordance with procurement regulations, to be available before the end of the current school year.
This policy approach will be monitored, and in due course to allow for the development of and implementation of approaches in schools, will be reviewed. This will include consultation with relevant stakeholders, as well as children and young people.
395. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on the roll-out of phone pouches for schools; if the details of the scheme have been prepared; if tenders have been issued; if contracts have been signed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13944/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, €9 million has been allocated in Budget 2025 to support post-primary schools to implement a restriction on the use of mobile phones during the school day, through the purchase of pouches or other secure storage solutions.
This initiative is intended to support the wellbeing of school students and improve learning outcomes. It is part of a suite of wellbeing measures provided by my Department and government, including mental health supports in schools, and support for the work of Coimisiún na Meán with the introduction of the Online Safety Code and associated resources.
The level of funding provided is intended to front-load the investment in year one, as the storage solutions can be reused year to year. For subsequent years, funding will be allocated to cover replacement costs that may arise over time. It should be noted is not mandatory for schools to purchase phone pouches.
The Department will assist schools in implementing the restriction on the use of and access to student mobile phones during the school day through the provision of appropriate guidance. Guidance will also be provided where schools have an existing solution in place.
For those post-primary schools who intend to implement their policy through the use of portable phone storage solutions, work is underway within the Department of Education to establish a procurement mechanism for schools to acquire an appropriate solution in accordance with procurement regulations, to be available before the end of the current school year.
The Schools Procurement Unit (SPU), which is the Department support service for schools to support and assist schools on procurement matters generally, will be available to provide assistance in relation to the procurement procedures for the procurement mechanism.
The Call for Tender (CfT) for the ‘Provision of Secure Mobile Phone Pouches for Students in Post-primary Schools’ published on the eTenders platform has now closed for submission of tenders. Tenders have been received and are in the process of being evaluated.
Funding will issue to schools to avail of the procurement mechanism established in due course, including the process for schools to avail of this funding.
Guidance will also be developed for schools to apply for funding in future years to replace the equipment when needed.
396. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Education the status of the proposal by a school (details supplied) to develop two ASD modular units within the existing play area of the school; if she will ensure that this development is expedited; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13945/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe school to which the Deputy refers was granted capital funding for the provision of two Special Educational Needs Classrooms (SEN), under the Department’s SEN Reconfiguration and Modular Accommodation programme.
The 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. Kerrigan Sheanon Newman (KSN) has been appointed, from the Department’s Framework, to design and tender the project at the school in question. This is a collaborative process between the Project Manager, School Authority and the Department.
This project is currently undergoing site surveys etc in order to ascertain the most viable location for the modular accommodation. Following completion of this report Detailed Design will be progressed and submitted to the Department for consideration.
My Department is fully aware of the urgency in respect of this accommodation and will be working closely with the Project Managers and School Authority to keep it updated on overall project delivery and timelines.
397. Deputy Keira Keogh asked the Minister for Education if a school (details supplied) in County Mayo is deemed the second-nearest school for a family in relation to the school transport scheme. [13990/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year, over 172,500 children, are transported daily in approximately 7,900 vehicles across 10,300 routes daily to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country. These daily trips cover over 100 million kilometres. This figure includes over 143,800 pupils travelling on primary and post primary services, 21,700 pupils with special educational needs, and 6,800 pupils who have arrived in Ireland from Ukraine.
The scheme is made up of three separate schemes, the school transport scheme for primary, post primary and for children with special educational needs. Transport is also provided for children who have arrived in Ireland from Ukraine and those residing in IPAS/EROC centres.
The total expenditure on the scheme in 2024 was €512m.
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 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.
Eligible children who complete the application process and pay or enter their medical card details on time will get a seat on a school bus service, if a service is available.
Children who are not eligible for school transport but complete the application and pay or enter their medical card details on time will be considered for any spare seats available after eligible children have been accommodated. These spare seats are called concessionary seats.
There may be more demand than availability for concessionary seats. In such cases, Bus Éireann will use a selection process to allocate tickets for the spare seats.
Temporary alleviation measures will continue for the 2025/26 school year at post-primary level. This means that, if there are available services and enough capacity, transport will be provided for concessionary pupils who are eligible for transport to their nearest school but are attending their second nearest school or post-primary centre. This is only if they apply on time and pay or enter medical card details on time.
The Bus Éireann family portal is now open for new applications for school transport services for the 2025/26 school year. The closing date for new applications is Friday 25 April 2025. Any new applications made after the closing date are considered late applications. A late application may mean that a seat is not available. The Bus Éireann family portal is now also accepting payments or medical card details until 6 June 2025. Payments or medical card details submitted after the deadline date will be deemed late. A late submission of payment or medical card details may mean that a seat is not available.
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.
Following the closing date for payment or entering medical card details, the Bus Éireann family portal will close. This will give Bus Éireann time to assess all applications and plan for routes and services for the 2025/26 school year. Routes may be altered or extended depending on the number and location of eligible children who will be availing of school transport for the following school year.
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.
Once routes have been finalised, Bus Éireann will assign tickets for each school transport service. Tickets will begin to issue in mid-July and will continue to issue throughout July and August. Families who are unsuccessful in obtaining a seat will be notified via email and a refund will issue.
The pupils referred to by the Deputy are concessionary as they are attending their third nearest post-primary centre. Bus Éireann will assess transport options for the pupils for the 2025/26 school year as outlined above.
398. Deputy Keira Keogh asked the Minister for Education her position on the pay scale for special needs assistants who are offered full-time contracts and begin on point one of the scale but have years of experience as a part-time and/or substitute special needs assistants; if there are plans to review the pay scale to recognise the previous work experience that special needs assistants have; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13991/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe criteria required to have incremental credit awarded to qualified Special Needs Assistants (SNA) is set out in Circular 0139/2006 and was agreed with the unions representing the Special Needs Assistants, School Management Representatives, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, and the Department of Education.
Circular 139/2006 provides for the recognition of prior relevant experience where that prior service is demonstrated to be relevant to the SNA role and also where it meets the other criteria specified in this circular. Prior sub SNA service and prior SNA fixed terms contract service is not provided for under 139/2006. This relates to the fact that this service whilst publicly funded, it is temporary in nature and does not meet the requirement to be remunerated under either a whole time contract or a part time contract post 20 December 2001.
There are no plans to review the process of recognition of prior relevant experience with regard to those currently working as SNAs.
399. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Education the schools in Dublin 5, 13 and 17 that received funding from her Department for works under the minor works scheme in 2024; and the nature of works that were carried out, in tabular form. [14004/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince 2020, my department has invested over €5.8 billion in our schools throughout the country, involving the completion of over 1,300 school building projects. Between projects currently under construction and projects moving to construction in the coming months, investments by the Department of Education are adding over 600,000 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 Programme for Government recognises the importance of strong capital investment in the school building programme and supporting this with enhanced allocations through the NDP process.
My department also understands the importance of the Minor Works Grant to primary and special schools. Under Project Ireland 2040, a commitment was given that the Minor Works Grant would be paid in either December or January of the school year to all primary and special schools. In recent years my department’s approach has been to pay the Minor Works Grant to primary and special schools in advance of the start of the following school year to facilitate a better lead in period for schools to plan any maintenance or minor works during the summer period.
Primary and special schools need not apply for minor works grant aid. Under the scheme, funding is made available to all primary and special schools on the following basis:
€5,500 basic grant plus €18.50 per mainstream pupil and €74 per special needs pupil enrolled in the school on the 30th of September of the year prior to the issue of the grant. The €74 rate applies to a special needs pupil attending a special school or attending a special class attached to a mainstream school.
All Primary and Special schools in the Dublin 5, 13 and 17 received Minor Works Grant funding, which had a value of €0.58m. This funding issued to all schools in April 2024 for the 2024/2025 school year
Schools have the autonomy to use this funding for maintenance and small-scale improvements to school buildings and grounds. Given that each school setting is different, individual schools are best placed to decide how best to use this funding to address their particular needs. My department does not keep a record of the minor works undertaken by each school.
The works that can be undertaken under the Minor Works Grant Scheme include maintenance and small-scale improvements to school buildings and grounds, improvement or replacement of mechanical and electrical services, the purchase of standard furniture and educational equipment, the purchase of floor coverings and window blinds, the purchase of IT related equipment, ventilation improvements, and enhancements to outdoor learning environments.
400. Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan asked the Minister for Education the reason her Department has not sanctioned a school (details supplied) to go to tender for the necessary extension of six classrooms and associated works; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14035/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe school referred to by the Deputy was approved to enter the Department’s pipeline of school buildings for a project under the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) Scheme to provide a six classroom SEN base. The project was devolved to the school authority for delivery.
A Stage 2b architectural report has been received by my Department in December 2024. The project remains under careful review from a technical and cost perspective as we are committed to a thorough evaluation to ensure compliance with costs, procedural standards, and the project scope. It is not possible to estimate the duration of this review however my Department will endeavour to review as early as possible.
My department will continue to engage with the school authority to provide practical advice and assistance on this much needed project.
401. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education the percentage of social media video accessible, such as providing the information or activities posted on each of her Department’s social media accounts, or the social media accounts of public bodies and agencies that operate under its remit, including closed captioning and subtitling and Irish Sign Language translations, between 1 January 2024 and 31 December 2024, inclusive. [14048/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraSocial media platforms play a key role in how the Department of Education communicate with the public, allowing us to share timely and accurate information at both local and national levels. Many of our stakeholders rely on these platforms as a trusted source, helping us to share important information, counter misinformation and ensure transparency.
In 2024 the department created and shared videos on its social media platforms - LinkedIn, YouTube and X (formerly Twitter). The department uses subtitles instead of closed captions.
|
YouTube |
% of total videos |
|
Total English public videos in 2024 |
71% |
|
Total Irish videos in 2024 |
26% |
|
Total videos in 2024 with subtitles |
74% |
|
Total videos in 2024 with ISL |
0% |
|
Total videos in 2024 with closed caption |
0% |
|
X (formerly Twitter) |
% of total videos |
|
Total English public videos in 2024 |
88% |
|
Total Irish videos in 2024 |
12% |
|
Total videos in 2024 with subtitles |
88% |
|
Total videos in 2024 with closed caption |
0% |
|
Total videos in 2024 with ISL |
2% |
|
LinkedIn* |
% of total videos |
|
Total English public videos in 2024 |
82% |
|
Total Irish videos in 2024 |
18% |
|
Total videos in 2024 with subtitles |
85% |
|
Total videos in 2024 with closed caption |
0% |
|
Total videos in 2024 with ISL |
0% |
*LinkedIn in only allow a 12-month retrospective review of page posts. The above figures are from March to December 2024
The department also produced and distributed videos featuring students and parents speaking in Ukrainian and Arabic. These videos aimed to support other parents and students for whom these are their primary languages, offering valuable assistance to new students and their families as they navigated the Irish education system.
In 2024, the Department of Education published close to 400 press releases, with nearly half of them being published in Irish. All press releases are shared on the gov.ie website and on X.
The information in respect of aegis bodies, within the scope of the Deputy’s question, is not held by my department.
402. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education if she is aware of a situation raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14063/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis government is fully committed to supporting children with special educational needs to fulfil their full potential and the Programme for Government makes a number of commitments to deliver on this objective. The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children with special educational needs.
As you are aware special needs assistants (SNAs) play a central role in the successful inclusion of students with additional and significant care needs into schools. They help ensure that these students can access an education to enable them to achieve their best outcomes and reach their full potential.
SNAs are allocated to schools as a school-based resource. Principals/board of managements deploy SNAs within schools to meet the care support requirements of the children enrolled whom SNA support has been allocated. This provides schools flexibility in how the SNA support is utilised.
If a school feels like it has insufficient SNA support to meet the needs of its students an application can be submitted to the NCSE requesting a review of its allocation. Detailed information on the NCSE's SNA review process is published on the NCSE's website. Each case is individually assessed and is based on the student profile of each school.
The timeframe for concluding a review can vary depending on the school context or the nature of the information provided. Some review requests can be concluded as an office-based exercise, whilst others require a school to be visited in order to observe the current deployment of SNA support in the school setting.
Following the outcome of the review, the NCSE can make a local special educational needs officer (SENO) available to the school to discuss their current deployment of SNA supports in the school and to put these supports to the best advantage of the students. NCSE in-school support is also available to schools to offer further guidance and support.
We have been steadily building on the number of SNAs in our education system. At the end of the 2024 school year there was over 22,000 SNAs in schools. Budget 2025 provides for an additional 1,600 SNA posts nationwide. This is the highest ever annual increase.
The NCSE continue to prioritise the full allocation of the additional 1,600 SNAs to schools, including to support up to 400 new special classes and 300 new special school places for this September to ensure that those children with the highest level of need get the highest level of support.
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.
403. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education if she will ensure that further funding be made available with the utmost urgency to two schools (details supplied). [14064/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department is committed to providing funding to recognised primary and post-primary schools in the free education scheme by way of per capita grants. The two main grants are the Capitation grant to cater for day-to-day running costs such as heating, lighting, cleaning, insurance and general up-keep, and the Ancillary grant to cater for the cost of employing ancillary services staff. Schools have the flexibility to use capitation funding provided for general running costs and ancillary funding provided for caretaking and secretarial services as a common grant from which the Board of Management can allocate according to its own priorities, except for cases where a secretary is now paid from the Department’s payroll as per Circular 0036/2022.
The current standard rate of Capitation grant is €200 per pupil in primary schools. Primary schools with fewer than 60 pupils are paid the Capitation and the Ancillary grants on the basis of having 60 pupils.
As part of the capitation package in Budget 2025 the Department is pleased to have secured over €30 million as a permanent increase in capitation funding to assist schools now and longer term with increased day-to-day running costs. This represents an increase of circa 12% on current standard rates and enhanced rates. This increase is on top of the circa 9.2% increase from last year’s budget. This will bring the standard rate of Capitation grant to the level of €224 per pupil in primary schools from September 2025. Enhanced rates will also be paid in respect of pupils with special educational needs and Traveller pupils.
In addition to these grants, €45 million in cost-of-living supports issued in November 2024, to support all recognised primary and post-primary schools in the Free Education Scheme. This additional funding announced in Budget 2025 is designed to assist schools with increased day-to-day running costs such as heating and electricity. This funding was paid at a rate of €36 per pupil in primary schools. Enhanced rates were also paid in respect of pupils with special educational needs and Traveller pupils. Schools should also ensure that they are availing of the available OGP procurement frameworks and getting best value for money for all school expenditure.
The Department of Education is aware that costs and funding can pose a very real problem for schools, and is constantly working to address this matter, and to enhance the financial and other supports available to schools.
While not wishing to pre-empt the outcomes of any future Budget negotiations or fiscal parameters agreed by Government, the Department of Education will continue to seek and prioritise the funding required to meet the ongoing costs of running schools.
The Financial Support Services Unit (FSSU), funded by the Department, is an important source of advice and support to schools on financial matters, including budgeting and cashflow management. Contact details for the FSSU can be found on www.fssu.ie.
404. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education if she is aware of an issue presenting for a primary school and an early learning and childcare facility (details supplied); if her Department has engaged with the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14067/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis government is fully committed to supporting children with special educational needs to fulfil their full potential and the Programme for Government makes a number of commitments to deliver on this objective. The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children with special educational needs.
Through the accelerated provision of additional special class and special school places over recent years, there are now just over 28,000 students enrolled in special classes and special schools. Budget 2025 provides for an additional 2,700 specialist places, made up of 400 new special class and 300 additional special school places. On top of this, there will be over 1,000 places available through the normal annual movement of students progressing from primary to post-primary and students graduating from post-primary or special schools. There also remains special class vacancies in some areas of the country.
Of the 400 new special classes places provided for in Budget 2025, the NCSE has advised that 336 of these classes have already been sanctioned for the 2025/26 school year. Of these 53 are in Dublin, 37 at primary and 16 at post primary level.
This will add to the 602 special classes currently in operation in the county. There are also 40 special schools in Dublin with approximately 2,600 students enrolled. Two of the five new special schools for the 2025/26 school year will open in Lucan and Belmayne also. These schools will open for enrolment shortly
My department and the NCSE continue to engage intensely with schools and school patron bodies in Lucan and the greater Dublin area to confirm further classes. The NCSE advise my Department that they are engaging with a number of schools across Dublin to confirm further additional special classes, but that they are no longer engaging with the school referred to by the Deputy in relation to providing a new special class for the coming school year. It could be an option for future years and the NCSE will keep the matter under ongoing review.
Where new special classes have been sanctioned, I would urge schools to progress the admission of students as soon as possible to ensure that the NCSE can continue to evaluate demand in local areas, sanction classes as required and assist parents in securing a school place.
My department and the NCSE are committed to ensuring that sufficient special education placements remain available for children with special educational needs.
405. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Education if there are any plans in place to set up a regional scheme to assist parents who wish to give their children the opportunity to complete transition year, but whose school either does not provide the year or holds lotteries that exclude students; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14076/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra407. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Education the reason schools, that have autonomy on enrolment but nonetheless must complete the designated curriculum, are given leeway in terms of running a transition year programme or limiting numbers and subjecting students and parents to lotteries; whether there are plans to make transition year a mandatory component of the senior cycle; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14078/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra408. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Education what legal mechanisms exist for parents whose children have been refused a transition year place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14079/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 405, 407 and 408 together.
Transition Year is a valuable programme for students that offers opportunities for life skills, personal, social and academic development and experience of adult and working life. As Minister for Education I am committed to expanding access to Transition Year as part of the ongoing redevelopment of Senior Cycle, so that in the future every student who wishes to participate in Transition Year will have the opportunity to do so. Since its introduction, the popularity and uptake of Transition Year has increased significantly to the point and is now offered in almost every post-primary school. The number of students participating in Transition Year has also grown in recent years, with the latest figures showing that over 60,000 students are currently in Transition Year, equivalent to just over 80% of the number of third year students in the previous school year. All schools design their own Transition Year programmes within set guidelines to suit the needs and interests of their students. A new Transition Year Programme Statement was published last September and provides a framework for schools to develop their programmes. The new Programme Statement continues to offer schools a significant level of autonomy while placing more structure on the design of Transition Year programmes. The Programme Statement was developed following public consultation in which the level of autonomy for schools was welcomed while also providing parameters and guidance within which schools will work to develop the TY Programme. With regard to parents whose children have been unable to access a Transition Year place in a given school, it would not be appropriate for me or my Department to provide legal advice. More generally, under the Education Act 1998, the Board of Management of a school is the body charged with the direct governance of a school and is accountable to the Patron of the school. The School Principal manages the school on a day-to-day basis. Timetabling for the academic year is arranged by the school and unfortunately this may not always be able to accommodate every student’s subject or programme choice. In cases where restrictions apply, schools should have clear procedures regarding admission to the programme which indicate how places are allocated to students if there is over or under subscription for a particular subject or programme. Where a student has been unable to access a Transition Year place, it is open to them and/or their parents to discuss any concerns with the Principal and/or guidance counsellor. A school may also have a formal complaints process in which case this should be followed in pursuing any complaint. In the event that a parent is of the view that a school's board of management has failed to investigate or adequately investigated her complaint, it is open to them to raise the matter directly with the Chairperson of the Board of Management by correspondence. As part of the Senior Cycle Redevelopment programme, I am committed to expanding access to Transition Year and to supporting schools in giving every student the option of participating in Transition Year in the future. My officials are currently working to identify barriers to participation and understand their causes and this work will inform my approach to making Transition Year accessible to all.
406. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Education on the assumption that a child who wished to complete a place in transition year, but was denied the opportunity due to not being picked in a school lottery, to clarify that her Department will accept any application to repeat fifth year on that basis, so that students can take their Leaving Certificate exams at an appropriate age relative to their peers who got the opportunity to complete transition year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14077/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra409. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Education what advice parents should be given if their children do not get offered a desired place on a transition year programme; whether leeway would be given by education welfare officers to parents who arrange work experience and educational trips for their children in terms of missing official school days; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14080/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra410. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Education if she will facilitate parents who have suitable arrangements in place collectively or individually and who wish to give their children a transition tear experience in the absence of a place being available in the school, by means of a home tuition grant being made available to these children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14081/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 406, 409 and 410 together.
The circumstances under which a student may repeat a year at Post Primary level are set out in Department of Education Circular M02/95. A copy of this circular is available at: circulars.gov.ie/pdf/circular/education/1995/M02.pdf
Under this Circular, school management have delegated authority, within defined limits, to permit students to repeat a year at Post Primary level. Application should be made by the parents/guardians concerned directly to the school authorities, citing the reasons for the application to repeat the year. The school authorities may then consider the case in conjunction with the criteria set out in the Circular M02/95 and reply directly to the parents/guardians.
Opting not to take Transition Year (where it is available) or not being allocated a place in Transition Year cannot be a guarantee that a pupil may repeat fifth year as the pupil must still satisfy the criteria to repeat set out in the afore-mentioned Circular.
Regarding students missing official school days, education welfare officers deal with the children attending school between the mandatory school age of 6 year to 16 years. Where a child is under the age of 16, and in line with the procedures for referrals from schools to the Educational Welfare Service, schools are advised to use their discretion in determining whether a student’s attendance warrants a referral. A student’s absence may be satisfactorily explained by certified illness, bereavement or other valid reasons.
My department does not provide a Home Tuition grant for children who are not offered a place in their school's Transition Year program.
411. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education to address the lack of supports for single working parents of children with autism (details supplied) during school holidays, as they rely on term-time-only afterschool services, and need further assistance when schools and afterschool are closed for holidays; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14107/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraDetails of the 2025 Summer Programme were recently announced on Thursday, 13th February 2025. More than €60m in funding, secured in Budget 2025, is being made available for this year's Summer Programme allowing it to continue to run in line with how it has been implemented over the past three years. All of this funding will be utilised to meet the needs of our most vulnerable children.
All schools will have an opportunity to run a programme over the summer months for children with complex special educational needs and those at risk of educational disadvantage. These children can continue to be supported, nurtured and encouraged to engage in a fun and inclusive educational setting.
The main priority in 2025 continues to be that those children with the most complex special educational needs, especially in special schools, should have access to a school-based summer programme. Depending on the individual school and on their staffing resources, the school-based Summer Programme can run for 2 to 5 weeks.
This year, the Department of Social Protection and the Department of Education will partner together in a pilot project designed to combat holiday hunger. Schools who are eligible to avail of the School Meal Programme during school term will now be able to make meals available during their Summer Programme. This will help to alleviate the costs for schools associated with running a Summer Programme and for parents. It will also be in addition to the other supports and measures already in place.
Full details of the school-based Summer Programme have been issued to schools and are available on www.gov.ie/summerprogramme. It is open to schools to register their interest in running a school-based summer programme via an online registration portal. The closing date for registration by schools has been set for the 11th of April 2025.
Where a school-based programme is not being run or a place is unavailable, the Home-based Programme will be available for those children with complex special education needs. Under this provision, parents can engage a tutor or a Special Needs Assistant to provide 10 hours of tuition/care support each week for 4 weeks. Further details of the home-based programme will be released in May 2025.
To see if their child can avail of the Summer Programme, parents can contact their child's school.
412. Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Education if she will make provision for school secretaries to access pensions as Government employees. [14124/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Education has been providing a payroll service for former grant funded school secretaries with effect from 1st September 2023. The provision of this payroll service is part of a package agreed with Fórsa, the trade union representing school secretaries, following a series of engagements at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) in 2022. The agreement provided for secretaries, who signed up for the package, to be moved to a pay scale aligned with that of Grade III/CO and for some enhanced terms and conditions including improved leave entitlements and maternity provisions. This was implemented under Circular 36/2022. The agreement however did not grant public servant status to school secretaries and therefore this cohort does not have access to the Single Public Service Pension Scheme.
The school remains the employer of school secretaries and it is their obligation to provide access to a PRSA scheme for employees. For secretaries who are paid through the Department-administered payroll, a facility is now being offered to join a PRSA scheme administered by Cornmarket with contributions being deducted at source. Should secretaries wish to avail of this option, they can contact Cornmarket directly – the participation of individuals in any scheme is a matter between the individual and the service provider.
Any changes to the terms and conditions agreed for these secretaries under Circular 36/2022 can occur only under industrial relations processes and any such proposals would need to be considered in detail by this Department and the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform.
413. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education the number of enrolment applications in a school (details supplied) in each of the past five years, compared to the number of students enrolled in each of the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14126/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department has not requested admissions data for the named school so this data is unavailable at this time.
Enrolment data for this school from 2019 to 2023, 2023 being the latest year we have final enrolment data, are set out at the link below. We expect to publish final enrolments data for academic year 2024-2025 in June 2025 at: www.gov.ie/en/collection/post-primary-schools/
