Written Answers Nos. 1281-1300
1281. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Education and Youth if school transport will be provided to pupils (details supplied); whether capacity will be increased to accommodate them; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44074/25]
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 one of the pupils referred to is eligible for transport however a late payment was received, by which time the service was operating to capacity.
Bus Éireann has advised that the other pupils referred to are not eligible for school transport to the school of attendance as they are not attending their nearest school. These pupils were unsuccessful in obtaining a concessionary seat and the service is currently operating to capacity.
Bus Éireann has further advised that, in lines with the terms of the scheme, there are no plans to increase the capacity of the current service.
Under the terms of the Primary School Transport scheme, 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 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.
1282. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth if exceptions can be made for the school transport scheme in a case (details supplied) for parents who applied with a medical card given that their new temporary location was only updated on the Bus Éireann system following the closing date for applications; if it can be acknowledged that all applications as a result would be late applications through no fault of their own and allowances made for parents as a result; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44102/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education and Youth.
The school referred to by the Deputy is currently located in interim accommodation on a school campus site in Citywest, Dublin. Bus transport has been provided for the school to this location by the Planning and Building Unit. This is a private arrangement and is not within the remit of my Department's School Transport Scheme. The site in Citywest is outside the School Planning Area (SPA) and this is the reason transport was provided.
It is intended that the school will move to modular accommodation on an interim site in Newcastle for September 2025. My Department has advised the school and patron body that the private bus transport arrangement will not be provided to the Newcastle site. The reason for this is that the Newcastle site is within the SPA.
Bus Éireann has advised that the new location of Rathcoole ETNS has been updated on their system and they have completed the re-assessment of all new applications to this school for the 2025/26 school year.
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. 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.
The closing date for new applications for school transport services for the 2025/26 school year was Friday 25 April 2025. Any new applications made after the closing date are considered late applications and this may mean that a seat is not available.
The closing date for payment or entering medical card details was 06 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 will review applications/services over the coming summer months. 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. 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.
1283. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Brendan Smith den Aire Oideachais agus Óige an bhfuil aon mholtaí ann chun níos mó béime a chur ar mhúineadh na Gaeilge i mbunscoileanna; an bhfuil aon mholtaí ann chun na hábhair go léir a mhúineadh trí Ghaeilge suas go dtí rang a dó chun scileanna Gaeilge níos fearr a fhorbairt; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [44111/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraTá mo Roinn ag forbairt Plean Gnímh don Ghaeilge chun tacú le foghlaim agus múineadh na Gaeilge i mbunscoileanna agus in iar-bhunscoileanna a fheidhmíonn trí Bhéarla. Táthar ag súil go bhfoilseofar an Plean Gnímh san fhómhar, agus go mbeidh sé á fhorfheidhmiú laistigh de thréimhse dhá bhliain, 2025 go 2027.
Tacóidh sé le bunscoileanna agus iar-bhunscoileanna chun sonraíochtaí curaclaim reatha a chur i bhfeidhm, ar mhaithe le heispéiris níos fearr i leith fhoghlaim na Gaeilge a chur ar fáil,agus d’fhonn úsáid na Gaeilge a mhéadú i measc leanaí agus daoine óga.
Tá an Plean Gnímh atá á fhorbairt bunaithe ar thorthaí comhairliúcháin chuimsitheach ag leibhéal scoile agus náisiúnta, mar aon le taighde agus cuir chuige inmholta do chur chun cinn theangacha neamhfhorleathana i ndlínseachtaí eile.
Áireofar sa Phlean gníomhartha a dhíríonn ar mhúineadh ábhar nó cuid d’ábhair trí Ghaeilge a láidriú i scoileanna meán-Bhéarla. Dá réir, beidh an plean ag tógáil ar thionscadail rathúla atá ar bun cheana; ina measc, tionscadal FCÁT (Foghlaim Chomhtháite Ábhair agus Teanga) na Roinne Oideachais agus Óige. Tá an tionscadal ag cur le hacmhainn mhúinteoirí i scoileanna meán-Bhéarla gnéithe d’ábhair nó ábhair a mhúineadh trí Ghaeilge.
Lena chois sin, tá pacáiste acmhainní deartha ag an gComhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta (COGG) a chabhraíonn le múinteoirí teagasc na Gaeilge a chomhtháthú leis an Snáithe Lúthchleasaíochta sa rang Corpoideachais. Tá sé mar aidhm ag an tionscadal seo go bhfoghlaimeoidh daltaí an Ghaeilge ar bhealach taitneamhach, sultmhar agus nádúrtha. Tá acmhainní ar fáil do ranganna na naíonán faoi láthair, agus beidh acmhainní breise á bhforbairt do ranganna 1-6 de réir mar a dhéanann na daltaí a mbealach tríd an scoil.
Téann go leor fachtóirí i bhfeidhm ar an rath a bhíonn ar mhúineadh ábhar trí Ghaeilge lena n-áirítear meon, inniúlacht agus tiomantas mhúinteoirí, ceannaireacht scoile, tacaíocht tuismitheoirí agus cultúr agus éiteas na scoile. Ag an bpointe seo, níl pleananna ar leith ann go múinfear na hábhair ar fad trí Ghaeilge suas go rang a dó i scoileanna méan-Bhéarla. Aithnítear, áfach, go bhfuil rath ar an gcur chuige FCÁT agus féachfar ar conas an cur chuige a leathnú i scoileanna meán-Bhéarla i bhfianaise na taithí agus na foghlama a eascrann as na tionscadail reatha.
1284. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of children at primary and secondary level without a school place for September 2025 in Cork, in tabular form. [44150/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can assure the Deputy that the provision of school places to meet the needs of children and young people at primary and post primary level, including children and young people with special educational needs is an absolute priority of mine.
Since 2020, my department has invested over €6 billion in our schools throughout the country under the National Development Plan, involving the completion of over 1,400 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 which brings the total capital allocation for 2025 for my department to €1.6 billion.
Primary school enrolments at national level have been in decline for a number of years and this downward demographic trend is also now apparent at first year post primary level. There are, however continued pressures in some areas where there is high demand with continued population growth and housing development driving the need for additional school places.
In that context my Department has put in place a number of measures to support post-primary schools in managing and coordinating their admissions processes including enhancements to the IT systems for registering enrolments so that duplicate acceptances of admission offers are effectively known in real-time at school level, and continuing the data-sharing arrangements with schools in areas of enrolment pressure. The sharing of this data has been very effective in the identification and addressing of school place requirements. The Department’s priority is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, meet local school place requirements.
The annual enrolment process for new Junior Infants at primary and new First Years at post-primary is a very large-scale operation that is transacted at close to 4,000 schools across the country, involving some 140,000 pupils. My department works with schools, patrons, and management bodies to ensure that there are sufficient school places available to meet the needs of children. In order to assist with the enrolment of children without a school place, the Department shares information on available capacity with the Tusla's Education Welfare Service. The Educational Welfare Services of the Child and Family Agency, Tusla, is the statutory agency that can assist parents who are experiencing difficulty in securing a school place for their child. The local service is delivered through the national network of Educational Welfare Officers. Contact details are available on Tusla’s website.
The specific information requested by the Deputy is not available at this time. The availability of places is a matter for each individual school in the context of their Admissions legislation. While a very small number of applicants may not yet have received an offer of a school place for 2025/2026, families can be assured that all children who require a school place will be provided with one.
As the Deputy will be aware, I recently announced the launch of a pilot Single Application System for admission to first year at post-primary schools for the 2026/27 school year in five towns experiencing enrolment pressures. The towns are Athenry, Celbridge, Clonakilty, Greystones, and Tullamore. The pilot marks a significant step towards fulfilling the Programme for Government commitment to introduce a nationwide common application system and enable further improvements in the identification of pupils seeking school places.
1285. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of children directly in contact with the NCSE seeking assistance in sourcing a school place in September 2025. [44151/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is the national agency with responsibility for the provision of special education places. This year the NCSE has sanctioned 407 new special classes for the coming school year bringing to 3,742 the number of special classes in our schools.
There are new classes in every county in Ireland and with the number of special classes doubling in the last five years, this now means that there are more classes than ever ensuring greater numbers of children can access places in their local school. Furthermore the number of special class places in our schools will exceed demand.
Combined with 300 new special school places this brings to 2,700 the number of new school places for children with special educational needs.
This year, the approach taken was to maximise the use of existing accommodation in schools to ensure new special classes could open as quickly as possible for the 2025/26 school year. The NCSE also prioritised schools which did not have an existing special class. This has ensured that 80% of the new classes sanctioned are in schools with available accommodation.
Where schools require modular accommodation for new special classes, these projects are being fast-tracked by my department to deliver this accommodation as early as possible. In a small number of instances where a delay in new special class accommodation is expected such as where new modular classrooms are being provided, contingency arrangements are being made with the relevant schools with the support of the NCSE.
The NCSE has advised my department that the vast majority of children seeking a special school or special class place have now been assigned a school place. They are working very closely with the remaining families to ensure that they are being kept updated as the remaining special class and special school places are being finalised by a small number of schools.
My department and the NCSE are committed to ensuring that sufficient special education placements will be available for children for this school year and future years.
1286. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the timeline for the opening of a new special school in Carraig na bFhearr. [44152/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra1287. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education and Youth to update on discussions with Uisce Éireann regarding the opening of a new special school in Carraig na bFhearr. [44153/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1286 and 1287 together.
Works to secure the site and remove redundant temporary accommodation is being undertaken at the site of the former school building in Carraig na bFhearr as part of the preparatory work associated with the proposed repurposing of the building. Engagement with Uisce Éireann is also continuing as part of this process. Every effort is being made to advance this project as quickly as possible in conjunction with the Project Management and Design Team assigned to the project.
The school will be temporarily located in available school accommodation in Fermoy pending the completion of repurposing works at Carraig na bFhearr and the school can open in September as planned.
1288. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of children who applied for a concessionary ticket for school transport in Cork; and the number who received such a ticket; in tabular form. [44154/25]
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 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.
As the closing dates for applications and payments for the 2025/2026 school year have now passed Bus Éireann are in the process of finalising routes. The issuing of tickets has commenced and this will continue over July and August. Families who are unsuccessful in obtaining a seat will be notified via email and a refund will issue. As this work is ongoing for the 2025/2026 school year, the information requested by the Deputy is currently not available.
1289. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Education and Youth the expected timeline for the delivery of a permanent building for a new secondary school serving the Dublin 9 area; and the current pupil capacity at the interim site. [44163/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe school building project referred to by the Deputy is included in the Department of Education and Youths’ Construction Programme.
The brief for the project is the delivery of a new 1,000 pupil post primary school and accommodation including 6 classrooms for children with special educational needs.
The project will be delivered under my Department's ADAPT 4 Programme – Programme Innovate. This programme will be led by Integrated Project Teams consisting of highly skilled and experienced design professionals, architects, engineers, project managers, quantity surveyors and various other consultants to deliver the projects.
AECOM as the Programme Manager are overseeing the procurement and appointment of these Integrated Project Teams. After appointment, the Integrated Project Team will begin the initial stage of architectural planning – Stage 1, where a site and current building assessment is carried out, and initial design sketch schemes are created.
The school is currently located in Whitehall on a site separate from the proposed permanent school campus location. For the 2024/25 academic year, 103 pupils were enrolled and at present there is no cap on enrolments.
It is not possible to provide a timeframe for the construction stages at present.
Further details on the Department of Education and Youth’s capital programme will be published in Autumn 2025.
1290. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Education and Youth the current status of the building project at a school (details supplied), including progress through the design or tender stages and projected completion date. [44164/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe school referred to by the Deputy was approved to enter the departments pipeline of school buildings for a project to provide a 1 art room and storage, 3 science lab and prep area, 1 home economics room and store, demolition of old art and science rooms and ancillary. The project was devolved to the school for delivery.
I can confirm that this project received my departments approval to proceed to Stage 2b (developed design) in May 2024, and my department now awaits a post planning report to include the necessary statutory permissions and the preparation of tender documents, from the school for review.
Once this Stage 2b report is received it will undergo an intensive review from both a technical and cost perspective in accordance with the requirements of the Public Spending Code. All projects, including this one, will undergo the necessary due diligence outlined in the Public Infrastructure Guidelines. Managing timing, scope, and cost is crucial to staying within budgetary limits for the overall program
In advance of securing the necessary statutory approvals, it is not possible to accurately predict when this school building project will go to construction nor when it will be completed.
My department will continue to engage with the school authority to provide practical advice and assistance on the project.
1291. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Education and Youth the timeline for delivery of a new building for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44165/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm to the Deputy, that my department is in receipt of an application for the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme, from the school in question.
Initial approval has been given to the school authorities for 2 Special education classrooms in modular accommodation and this offer has been accepted by the school.
The school is currently undergoing site surveys, which will determine if the school's preferred location is a viable option for the accommodation. When this has been confirmed a Project Manager will be appointed for the delivery of the modular accommodation.
I can confirm that my department's aim is to progress this project to delivery as soon as possible.
1292. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department has finalised a site for a permanent building for a school (details supplied); and if so, to provide an indicative construction timeline. [44166/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy will be part of a shared educational campus which will provide 2 new 1,000 pupil post primary schools with 6 classrooms for children with special education needs, a new 8 classroom primary school with accommodation and 2 classrooms for children with special education needs and a new 20 classroom special school at the Swords Road campus in Whitehall.
The project will be delivered under my Department's ADAPT 4 Programme – Programme Innovate. This programme will be led by Integrated Project Teams consisting of highly skilled and experienced design professionals, architects, engineers, project managers, quantity surveyors and various other consultants to deliver the projects.
AECOM, as Programme Manager, are overseeing the procurement and appointment of these Integrated Project Teams. The procurement process to appoint the IPT is nearing conclusion. Once appointed, the Integrated Project Team will begin the initial stage of architectural planning – Stage 1, Preliminary Design, where a site and current building assessment is carried out, and initial design sketch schemes are created.
It is not possible to provide a timeframe for the construction stages at present.
1293. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will provide updates on school building projects (details supplied). [44171/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraSchools referred to by the Deputy were granted capital funding under the Department’s Devolved SEN Reconfiguration and Modular Accommodation programme, Additional School Accommodation Scheme and National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) for delivery as part of a programme of school building projects – (Dargle bundle) respectively.
The Devolved SEN 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 first school in question received a initial grant of planning recently, the project is currently in the appeals process period. Subject to a final grant of planning approval the project has a tentative start on site date in Q4.
The second school in question was approved funding under the traditional Additional School Accommodation Scheme ASA. This project has been devolved for delivery to the school authority and is currently at preliminary design stage. My department now awaits submission of a stage 1 report.
The third school in question also has a project under the traditional Additional School Accommodation Scheme ASA. The project is currently undergoing the creation of detailed design to present to the Department next week, upon approval of this an accurate construction start date will be determined.
The fourth school in question which is being delivered under the Department’s Devolved SEN Reconfiguration and Modular Accommodation programme had a planning permission application lodged last week. if there are no objections from the local authority a final grant would be expected in late October.
I am pleased to advise that the fifth school in question has a project that is substantially completed which will be ready for occupation for the new school year.
The sixth school in question has a project which is being delivered under the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) as part of a programme of school building projects – (Dargle bundle). The project is currently at Stage 2b (post planning process) of the architectural process which allows for detailed design and planning, obtaining the necessary statutory permissions and the preparation of tender documents. When this stage has been finalised and approved, the next stage is tendering for a contractor and then onwards to construction in due course.
The Department is fully aware of the urgency in respect of the projects in question and will be working closely with the Project Managers and School Authorities to keep it updated on overall project delivery and timelines.
1296. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of DEIS primary and post primary schools currently in the State, in tabular form. [44212/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe complete list of all DEIS schools in the state is available at the following link DEIS Delivering Equality of Opportunity In Schools
The number of DEIS primary and post-primary schools currently in the State is as follows:
|
DEIS Band |
No. of Schools 2024/25 |
|
DEIS Urban Band 1 |
306 |
|
DEIS Urban Band 2 |
149 |
|
DEIS Rural |
506 |
|
Total Primary |
961 |
|
Post Primary |
232 |
|
Total DEIS Schools |
1,193 |
1297. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the estimated cost of providing an additional school completion project to cover the remaining DEIS schools without one, in tabular form. [44213/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy department invests over €180 million annually to provide additional supports to almost 1,200 schools in the DEIS programme which supports approximately 260,000 students.
The School Completion Programme (SCP) is one of the keys supports under the DEIS programme and comprises of 121 projects nationwide, supporting just under 800 schools, arranged in clusters. Access to the SCP is available to all DEIS post-primary, DEIS Urban Band 1 and DEIS Urban Band 2 primary schools.
The DEIS programme is based on the premise that in order to have the maximum possible impact on providing opportunities for students most at risk of educational disadvantage, extra resources must be targeted as closely as possible at those students with the greatest level of need.
Schools included in the most recent expansion of the programme in 2022 were those with the highest levels of concentrated disadvantage as identified through the refined DEIS identification model. Urban primary schools having the very highest levels of disadvantage are classified as DEIS Urban Band 1.
Research published by the Educational Research Centre in 2013 The Achievements and Characteristics of Pupils Attending Rural Schools Participating in DEIS has shown that educational outcomes for pupils in DEIS rural schools are more positive than outcomes for pupils in DEIS urban schools. DEIS rural primary schools performed on a par with urban non DEIS schools in testing under the National Assessment of Mathematics and English Reading (NAMER).
474 Rural DEIS schools do not currently have access to the SCP, however the DEIS programme and associated allocation model does provide additional resources to primary schools classified as DEIS rural schools, albeit at a lower level.
SCP projects generally comprise of one SCP coordinator and a number of project workers and sessional workers, based on the number of schools in the cluster it serves, and on the identified needs of the children and young people supported by the project.
The average cost of an SCP coordinator is approx. €62,586 per annum and the average cost of a SCP Project Worker is approx. €48,022 per annum.
Other costs associated with a project include costs relating to the geographical spread of the schools in the cluster, the cost of sessional workers, training costs and other operational costs associated with the various interventions managed through the project.
As Minister, I am determined to close the performance gap between DEIS and non-DEIS schools and introduce more innovative solutions to tackle disadvantage in all schools. A new DEIS Plan will be published before the end of 2025.
Any future expansion of the SCP, and overall allocation of resources to schools to tackle educational disadvantage, will be considered within the context of the DEIS plan and the availability of resources.
1298. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the estimated cost of providing an additional guidance counsellor in a DEIS post primary school. [44214/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra1299. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the estimated cost of providing an additional guidance counsellor in a post primary school. [44215/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1298 and 1299 together.
My Department has committed considerable resources towards the restoration of guidance counselling hours to post-primary schools, to the provision of CPD for guidance counsellors and to the provision of a national guidance counselling supervision service for post-primary guidance counsellors in recent times.
The guidance allocation is provided separately and transparently on each school's staffing schedule. These posts have been ring-fenced so they can only be used for guidance activities and to meet the guidance needs of the school. There are currently 950 whole time equivalent teaching posts (WTEs) allocated in the current school year in respect of Guidance provision in our second-level schools.
The estimated full-year cost of a post-primary teacher (guidance counsellor) on average is €78,490 per annum. This includes provision for related substitution costs and employer PRSI.
1300. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the estimated cost of providing an additional home school completion officer to a DEIS school. [44216/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraOfficials from my department have clarified with the deputy that he is seeking the cost of providing a Home School Community Liaison (HSCL) coordinator and a School Completion Programme (SCP) worker to a DEIS school. Tusla Education Support Service manage the SCP programme and the HSCL scheme on behalf of my department. Access to the SCP programme and the HSCL scheme is provided to all DEIS urban primary and all DEIS post-primary schools.
The SCP is one of the keys supports under my department’s DEIS programme. SCP comprises 121 projects, supporting just under 800 schools, arranged in clusters. SCP projects generally comprise of one SCP coordinator and a number of project workers and seasonal workers, based on the number of schools in the cluster and on the identified needs of the children and young people supported by the project.
The average cost to a SCP project for a coordinator is approximately €62,586 per annum and the average cost of a SCP Project Worker is approximately €48,022 per annum.
The HSCL scheme is another key support provided by my department as part of the overall DEIS programme. The HSCL scheme seeks to promote partnership between parents, teachers and community family support services, with a view to supporting improved attendance, participation and retention. It currently serves 687 DEIS schools, catering for approximately 207,000 children and young people. A HSCL Coordinator is released from teaching duties, for a maximum of five years to work intensively with, and to support, parents and guardians.
The HSCL scheme is delivered by 528 full-time HSCL coordinators, who are teachers in these schools and assigned to HSCL duties either in individual schools or in clusters of schools.
A further 10 HSCL Coordinators posts are allocated to support attendance, participation and retention among Traveller and Roma students, across 14 non-DEIS post-primary schools. In addition, four HSCL coordinator posts established under a pilot project to support Traveller and Roma students (STAR) under the National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy have been extended up to the end of the 2026/27 school year. The four HSCL coordinators will work alongside the 10 HSCLs and there will be a specific focus on the most at risk Traveller and Roma students within the STAR regions, and those schools without current HSCL support under the DEIS programme.
Over €36 million is spent annually on the pay costs of HSCL coordinators in urban primary and post-primary DEIS schools. The average teacher’s salary costs for primary and post-primary teachers are outlined in the following table.
|
Primary Teacher |
Post Primary Teacher |
|
€76,350 per annum |
€78,490 per annum |
Figures are inclusive of Employer PRSI and substitution costs and are based on expenditure and teacher numbers to the end of 2024.
