Written Answers Nos. 282-301
282. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will direct her Department to recognise teaching experience (details supplied) for the purposes of incremental credit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33289/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe criteria for the award of incremental credit are set out in the Department of Education and Youth’s Circulars 10/2001 for Primary teachers, and 29/2007 and 29/2010 for Post-Primary teachers. The criteria for the award of incremental credit to recognised teachers was agreed under the auspices of the Teachers Conciliation Council (TCC).
The teacher you refer to is employed in an Education and Training Board (ETB) school and therefore their application was assessed by that ETB.
The School Completion Programme (SCP) is a targeted programme of support for primary and post-primary students who are at risk of early school leaving. SCP provides various supports to improve students’ attendance, participation and retention in school.
Prior service given in a School Completion Programme is generally assessed under the relevant non-teaching category of circular 29/2007. The teacher you refer to has already received the maximum award of five years incremental credit for relevant non-teaching service as a Project Worker between 2010 and 2017 with Smile School Completion Programme.
The applications referred to relate to prior service between 2002 and 2010. These two applications were assessed by Limerick and Clare ETB. The Department of Education and Youth was not involved in the assessment of this teachers prior service between 2002 and 2010.
283. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will give detailed consideration to the issues outlined in document, recently produced by a national organisation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33303/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraOver recent budgets, additional resources have been made available to our schools, including through the delivery of thousands of extra teaching and Special Needs Assistant posts, increased capitation in schools, enhanced supports for school leadership, additional resources for special education, inclusion and wellbeing measures, reduced primary school class sizes, actions to assist teacher supply and free schoolbooks to help reduce the school costs for families.
My aim for Budget 2026 is to deliver on the priorities outlined in the Programme for Government and to continue to support the students, staff and families in the education sector.
In the lead up to the Budget, my Department receives a number of pre-budget submissions from a range of different stakeholders in the education sector and from organisations involved in other areas of public policy. All such submissions will be reviewed and they will inform the specific budgetary priorities that I will be seeking to achieve in Budget 2026. Therefore, as I am sure the Deputy appreciates, it would not be appropriate for me to outline any more specific plans at this preliminary stage of the Budgetary process.
284. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is aware of the lack of basic and appropriate facilities in a school (details supplied) to meet the needs of students with additional and profound needs; the steps she will take to address these ongoing concerns; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33304/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraA site visit was recently undertaken to the school in question to meet with school management to plan proposed improvement works to the school building during the summer holidays 2025. This is in addition to works already carried out during the school's Easter holidays.
The Department will continue to work directly with the school with a view to improving the school’s accommodation.
285. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Education and Youth if schools identified as having surplus SNA positions will retain these for the 2025/2026 school year; if they will be retained for future school years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33336/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis government is fully committed to supporting children with special educational needs to fulfil their potential and the Programme for Government makes a number of commitments to deliver on this objective.
There are two schools closing in June 2025 and the SNA posts will be removed at the end of this school year. No other SNA post will be removed from any other schools for the 2025/26 school year.
While the NCSE have identified at this time approximately 70 posts in schools where the care needs have reduced, it is not intended that these posts will be removed from a school’s overall allocation until the end of the 2025/26 academic year.
This will allow for the SNA/s involved to continue to support the school community for an additional year at which point the recently announced SNA re-deployment scheme will become fully operational and available to the affected SNAs.
The NCSE will, as done this year and in previous years, review all school allocations for the 2026/27 school year and will allocate or reallocate SNAs to schools based on the care needs of the students enrolled.
286. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 85 of 12 June 2025 regarding the more than 92% of children who have been allocated a place or are in the process of being allocated a place, the exact number of children this refers to, and for a breakdown of same, by county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33337/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraMinister McEntee and I continue to meet the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) and senior Department officials each week to track the progress being made in terms of new special class and special school places for the coming school year.
As you will know, the NCSE confirmed the sanctioning of 399 new special classes for the coming school year before Easter. This was several months ahead of last year and both Minister McEntee and have asked that this happens even earlier next year. My Department has recently issued a new Circular letter to all schools setting out an indicative timeline for the NCSE to sanction the majority of new special classes for the 2026/2027 school year by 31 December 2025.
Sanctioning the new special classes was a key milestone and reflects the core role of the NCSE and my Department to plan for sufficient capacity. The key requirement then is for schools to progress with any repurposing works, recruit staff and undertake an admissions process.
Under the new parent notification process, the NCSE had received just under 3,300 verified notifications from parents of children and young people seeking a special class or special school place by mid-February 2025. The NCSE advise that through the provision of 2,700 new special education places (400 new special classes and 300 additional special school places), along with an estimated 1,200 places being available through the normal movement of students from primary to post-primary, finishing school and vacant places, there should be sufficient capacity to meet the level of need known to them.
The NCSE in line with their statutory responsibility continue to work with schools to ensure that the remaining places available are offered as quickly as possible. The NCSE also continue to support parents to access those placements. In April, my Department wrote to all schools opening new special classes asking them to progress with admissions as soon as is possible. The position in relation to children and young people taking up special education places is changing day to day.
The NCSE advise that for the majority of counties outside of Dublin all of the children known to them have been offered a place or have a clear pathway to accessing a school placement. In relation to Cork, the new special school being established has recently opened for admissions and the remaining children known to the NCSE seeking a special school place are being supported to apply for those places. The NCSE report that there are sufficient primary and post-primary special class places available in Cork.
NCSE advise that the confirmation of special education placements is slightly behind the rest of the country in Dublin. Some of the new special classes were sanctioned just before Easter. The NCSE are working to confirm enrolments with some schools and are working intensely with other schools to confirm the children and young people to be offered places. Significant progress is being made day to day and week to week. The NCSE have recourse to using Section 67 to direct schools to enrol children if required. There has been a record level of 98 new special classes sanctioned in Dublin for the coming school year. In relation to special schools in Dublin, the 2 new special schools being established in Belmayne and Lucan have opened for admissions and will provide 60 places for children.
In relation to some of the challenges that arise in terms of matching children and young people to available places, the NCSE advise that there continues to be some children being offered special education places that are unknown to them. Some families who NCSE may have expected to accept an offer of a placement may decide not to accept a placement. Some children and young people may have a dual recommendation for a special class or special school place. Parents may opt for a special class if it is closer to them, even if they have a recommendation for special school which is why the individual casework by NCSE with parents is essential and this level of detail is known only at local level by the NCSE.
In terms of data on a county by county basis, there are children who may cross county boundaries to access a special class or special school as well. As you will be aware, county boundaries not rigid in terms of schools catchment areas so that in many communities your local school may be in another county. This is also very true of boundaries in Dublin which are post codes and not meant to be a limiting factor for school places.
Over 80% of all new special classes being provided are in repurposed existing school accommodation. In some cases, where significant repurposing works or modular accommodation is being provided, schools may need to put in place contingency arrangements for some students. The NCSE will support schools and families on this.
For the 2026/2027 school year, both Minister McEntee and I are anxious that this work happens earlier to allow greater certainty for families and more time for schools to plan and prepare for establishing new special classes.
287. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Education and Youth to address a school transport issue as regards a dangerous school bus pick-up point in Kerry (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33338/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education and Youth.
Bus Éireann has advised that the pick up point in question has been assessed by the inspector and a new pick up point will be added at the Beaufort Bar which has been deemed to be a safer location for these pupils. This pick up point will commence in the 2025/26 school year.
The local Bus Éireann office will contact the relevant families with further details.
288. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 327 of 12 June 2025, the number of teachers required to reduce the teacher pupil ratio to 19:1 and 18:1 respectively. [33379/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraEach one point reduction in the staffing schedule at primary level for DEIS and non-DEIS schools requires over 400 additional teaching posts and so a four point reduction would require in the region of 1650 posts while a five point reduction would require in excess of 2000 posts.
289. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department has considered in detail proposals made by the 'Bridging the Gap' campaign group of families in Youghal to her Department for the coming school term, who are aiming to develop a new secondary level special school in the town, including interim proposals involving modular buildings. [33399/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs you are aware special classes are established under a particular designation of student need, e.g., Mild/Moderate/Severe to Profound Learning Disability or for particular conditions e.g. Autism or Deaf/Hard of Hearing. Enrolment into these classes is closely linked to its designation. This ensures that these classes continue to meet the needs of the students for which they were intended and for this reason, a diagnosis and/or professional report is required in order for students to be enrolled.
It is important to remember that this specialist provision is provided for children with the most complex of needs. The majority of children and young people with special educational needs are educated in mainstream classes with their peers. In working to develop a more inclusive education system, we want to support as many students as possible to attend their local mainstream schools. This means that children are not required to travel long distances to attend special schools or classes and can attend school in their local communities.
15,000 special education teachers have been provided to enable schools to achieve this. In practical terms this means schools get a substantial additional teaching allocation to support children with special education needs who are in mainstream classes.
Allocations of special education teaching (SET) posts for the next school year and allocations of special needs assistants (SNAs) have recently been provided to schools. The NCSE also publish SET and SNA allocations on their website.
Of the 400 new special classes places provided for in Budget 2025, the NCSE has advised that 399 of these classes have already been sanctioned for the 2025/26 school year. Of these 53 are in County Cork, 35 at primary and 18 at post primary level. This will add to the 563 special classes currently in operation in the county. There are also 16 special schools in Cork with approximately 1,060 students enrolled. One of the five new special schools for the 2025/26 school year will open in North Cork also. This school is currently accepting applications for admission.
My department wrote to all post-primary schools in 2022 asking them to begin to prepare to provide at least four special classes each on average. It is important that children progressing from primary special classes can access a post-primary special class place if required in their local area.
My Department and the NCSE will continue to review where additional special school capacity is required. This can be provided through the expansion of existing special schools or the establishment of new special schools.
My department and the NCSE continue to engage with schools and school management bodies in relation to the provision of future special classes and are committed to ensuring that sufficient special education placements will be available for children for this school year and future years.
290. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Education and Youth for a breakdown of new special school provision for the 2025-2026 school term, and for the expected locations nationally of this provision. [33400/25]
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.?
There continues to be an increasing need to provide additional special school places to support children with complex needs. To meet this need, eleven new special schools have been established in recent years and capacity has been expanded in a number of others. Five more special schools will be established for the 2025/26 school year in counties, Cork, Dublin (2), Monaghan and Tipperary.
In addition to the establishment of new special schools, existing special schools are also being expanded. This is particularly so for the special schools who have opened in recent years and continue to expand. For example, Rochestown Community Special School and East Cork Community Special School are expanding by 18 and 24 places respectively.
The new special schools established over recent years have focused on providing additional places in our largest urban areas – Dublin and Cork. The department and NCSE have already begun planning in relation to further expanding special school capacity for the 2026/27 school year.
The attached table outline all NCSE supported special schools in each county that will be in operation for the 2025/26 school year.
291. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department will ensure a school (details supplied) has funding for an extra teacher; if she is aware that two second classes are to be merged into one resulting in a class size of 34 students; the measures she is taking to reduce class sizes to ensure children get the appropriate attention they need; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33408/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September. The staffing schedule operates in a clear and transparent manner and treats all similar types of schools equally. At primary level, teachers are allocated to schools at an average of 1 classroom teacher for every 23 pupils, the lowest level ever seen at primary level. DEIS Urban Band 1 schools receive an average allocation of 17:1, 21:1 and 19:1 for junior, senior and vertical schools respectively.
The school referred to by the Deputy is to have a teaching post suppressed in September due to falling enrolments.
The primary school staffing arrangements for the 2025/26 school year are set out in Circular 0011/2025. These arrangements contain an appeals mechanism for schools to submit a staffing appeal under certain criteria to an independent Primary Staffing Appeals Board. Information and application forms are available in Circular 0011/2025. The Primary Staffing Appeals Board operates independently of the Department and its decision is final.
The configuration of classes and the deployment of classroom teachers are done at local school level. The Department's guidance to schools is that the number of pupils in any class is kept as low as possible taking all relevant contextual factors into account (e.g. classroom accommodation, fluctuating enrolment etc.).
292. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will provide an update regarding the proposal and request to provide an new primary school (details supplied) for Carrick-on-Shannon, County Leitrim; if her officials based in the building unit are aware that Leitrim County Council has identified a possible site for a new primary school within the recently passed Carrick Area Plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33429/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra293. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update on a school development (details supplied) in County Leitrim; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33438/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 292 and 293 together.
My Department recently approved funding for an additional 2 Mainstream Classrooms for the school referred to under the Department’s Additional Accommodation Scheme to cater for its interim accommodation needs pending the outcome of ongoing engagement with the school authority on its longer-term requirements.
Since 2020, my department has invested over €6 billion in our schools throughout the country under the National Development Plan (NDP), involving the completion of over 1,375 school building projects.? Government support for this investment, including by way of supplementary capital funding, has delivered real benefits for school communities. A recent Government decision has approved €210m supplementary capital funding for my department to support the provision of special education accommodation and meet school place needs. This brings the total capital allocation for 2025 for my department to €1.6bn.
As part of the NDP Review process, all departments, including my department, are currently engaging with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform with respect to NDP allocations for the period 2026-2030. It is expected that there will be clarity on these allocations over the course of the summer period, and this will allow my department to plan its capital investment programme for the 2026 to 2030 period in line with prioritised needs and reflecting, as appropriate, wider Government priorities. Maximising existing capacity in schools to meet needs is very important. The progression of prioritised individual projects to meet the most urgent needs in the 2026 to 2030 period that cannot be met through existing capacity across schools in the local area will be considered on a rolling basis from Autumn onwards after the NDP allocations are finalised.
294. Deputy Catherine Ardagh asked the Minister for Education and Youth to confirm when the special education needs litigation unit was established within her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33483/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra295. Deputy Catherine Ardagh asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of staff that work within the special education needs litigation unit of her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33484/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra296. Deputy Catherine Ardagh asked the Minister for Education and Youth the amount spent annually, since 2020, defending legal actions taken on behalf of special needs children and their families, including all costs associated with both internal and external legal fees; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33485/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 294, 295 and 296 together.
Legal cases which are taken against the State are managed under the guidance of the Office of the Attorney General (AGO) and Chief State’s Solicitor’s Office (CSSO). The approach adopted by my Department in relation to management of Special Education litigation alongside the development and roll-out of Special Education policy and resources have resulted in very few cases proceeding to full hearings in Court.
My Department does not initiate cases and does not take lightly any decision to defend cases. There is always an appreciation of the rights of the child to an appropriate education under the Constitution, the needs of the child and a desire to act in the child’s best interests.
Legal costs are generally charged to the CSSO's Office Vote, as sanctioned by the Attorney General.
My Department may be advised to compromise proceedings, in order to minimise the cost to the exchequer and safeguard the Department's policy and resource parameters (based on Counsel/AGO advices). This may include the payment of total Legal Costs (or a contribution to same) and/or an ex-gratia (Court Settlement) contribution sum to the applicant/plaintiff.
Legal Costs and Court Settlements (Ex- Gratia) -2020 to date
|
Year |
Total rounded |
|
2025 (to date) |
€65,000 |
|
2024 |
€660,000 |
|
2023 |
€339,000 |
|
2022 |
€770,000 |
|
2021 |
€181,000 |
|
2020 |
€176,000 |
In addition, my Department also deals with correspondence from Solicitors seeking to initiate legal proceedings against the Department within a defined period if alleged failings in education provision are not immediately addressed to the satisfaction of their client. It is essential that such correspondence is responded to as quickly and comprehensively as possible to avoid litigation proceedings being issued against my Department. This frequently requires co-ordination with relevant sections within the Department, schools and external agencies, as appropriate, on a case by case basis. The comprehensive response to this pre-litigation stage can assist in reducing the necessity for proceedings progressing to full hearings before the Courts.
I also wish to inform the Deputy that the litigation work specifically relating to special educational needs is part of the overall Special Education section in the Department and there have always been staff assigned to this work in my Department. This area of work is currently assigned under a specific Principal Officer area within this Section, which has responsibility for other policy areas such as home tuition, assistive technology, summer programmes, review of legislation and Governance. The number of staff from within that area assigned to litigation matters depends on the level of work at any particular time.
297. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will give detailed consideration to the issues raised by a national organisation (detailed supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33491/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Education and Youth is aware that costs and funding can pose a 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 will continue to seek and prioritise the funding required to meet the ongoing costs of running schools.
298. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will ensure that a proposal is progressed without further delay which will ensure the best school provision for an area (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33492/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince 2020, my department has invested over €6 billion in our schools throughout the country under the National Development Plan (NDP), involving the completion of over 1,375 school building projects.? Government support for this investment, including by way of supplementary capital funding, has delivered real benefits for school communities. A recent Government decision has approved €210m supplementary capital funding for my department to support the provision of special education accommodation and meet school place needs. This brings the total capital allocation for 2025 for my department to €1.6bn.
As part of the NDP Review process, all departments, including my department, are currently engaging with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform with respect to NDP allocations for the period 2026-2030. It is expected that there will be clarity on these allocations over the course of the summer period, and this will allow my department to plan its capital investment programme for the 2026 to 2030 period in line with prioritised needs and reflecting, as appropriate, wider Government priorities. Maximising existing capacity in schools to meet needs is very important. The progression of prioritised individual projects to meet the most urgent needs in the 2026 to 2030 period that cannot be met through existing capacity across schools in the local area will be considered on a rolling basis from Autumn onwards after the NDP allocations are finalised.
My Department will engage the school authorities in this context.
299. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of people working full-time and part-time in her Department and bodies under the aegis of the Department in roles that are fully on-site, hybrid, or fully remote from 2022 to date, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33499/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe table below shows the number of staff in my Department, the Full Time Equivalent and the number of staff who are on a part-time work pattern. Part time work patterns vary from 30% to 95% of full time.
|
Year |
Headcount |
FTE |
Count of part time staff |
|
2022 |
1662 |
1612.80 |
161 |
|
2023 |
1888 |
1841.62 |
151 |
|
2024 |
2044 |
1997.91 |
147 |
|
2025 |
2093 |
2048.66 |
150 |
The Department of Education’s Blended Working Policy was introduced at the end of 2023 and allows staff members to make applications to work remotely for up to 3 days per week. Fully remote work patterns are not permitted.
The Department continues to accept applications from staff members to formalise their blended working arrangements and work is ongoing to promote this.
Approximately 38% of staff members have formal blended working arrangements and this number is increasing.
The information in respect of aegis bodies, within the scope of the Deputy’s question, is not held by my Department. Contact details for these bodies are set out in the attached document should the Deputy wish to contact them directly with this query.
Contact E-Mail Addresses for State Bodies under the Remit of the Department of Education as at 16 May 2024
|
Name of Body |
Dedicated Email address for the Members of the Oireachtas |
Designated Official Responsible for assisting Oireachtas Members |
|
An Chomhairle um Oideachais Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta |
oireachtas@cogg.ie |
jacquelinenifhearghusa@cogg.ie |
|
Educational Research Centre |
oireachtas.queries@erc.ie |
John.Regan@erc.ie |
|
National Council for Curriculum and Assessment |
oireachtasqueries@ncca.ie |
Aine.ArmstrongFarrell@ncca.ie |
|
State Examinations Commission |
Oireachtas@examinations.ie |
john.mcdermott@examinations.ie |
|
The Teaching Council |
Oireachtas@teachingcouncil.ie |
rflynn@teachingcouncil.ie |
|
National Council for Special Education |
oireachtasqueries@ncse.ie |
patrick.martin@ncse.ie and cindyjane.oconnell@ncse.ie |
|
Residential Institutions Statutory Fund – Caranua |
Michael.Fitzpatrick@caranua.ie |
Michael.Fitzpatrick@caranua.ie |
300. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the level of funding provided by his Department to the St. Patrick’s Day Festival each year since 2019, in tabular form. [33320/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra301. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the level of funding provided by his Department to regional St. Patrick’s Day Festivals each year since 2019, by festival, in tabular form (details supplied). [33321/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 300 and 301 together.
In 2020 – 2022 to assist with programming during the COVID era and to sustain the creative sector, the Department provided significant financial support to the St Patrick's Festival company in respect of online content directed to both the national and international audiences including the diaspora. However, from 2023, when COVID restrictions ended, this special support funding decreased in keeping with an agreed vision for the festival company to have increased autonomy and to operate sustainably on support from Tourism agencies, local authority funding and commercial sponsorship.
Over several years, the Department has provided both special financial support in response to adversity and thematic support in respect of certain cultural elements of the St Patrick’s ~ International Week of Irish Culture. The allocations awarded since 2019 are as follows;
|
- |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
|
Culture Funding |
30,000 |
30,000 |
1,000,000 |
1,000,000 |
600,000 |
800,000 |
550,000 |
It should be noted that most of this provision arose in the period June 2020 to January 2025 when the culture and tourism functions were both administered in the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media. While the cultural content of the Festival week has received support from the Culture funding in the Department, the funding of the parade in Dublin as a spectacle and popular attraction is more aligned for support from Tourism funds.
Additionally, it should be appreciated that the development of the week around St Patrick's Day as an ‘International Week of Irish Culture’ was not to be achieved through increased funding but rather the re-application of the arrangements originally developed for Culture Night. This model permits the notification by event organisers of disparate initiatives, both commercial and community based, to the Festival promoters with a view to inclusion in the publicised programme of events and activities that can be accessed by the public in the period.
Question No. 301 answered with Question No. 300.
