Thursday, 29 Jun 2023

Written Answers Nos. 255-268

School Accommodation

Questions (255)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

255. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the extent to which she and her Department are engaged in discussions to improve, extend or replace existing accommodation in respect of primary and second level schools in Naas, County Kildare; the full extent of such discussions at present; if and when full and final indication as to future progress might be advised to all the schools in question; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31922/23]

Written answers

Minister for Education

In order to plan for school place needs, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and utilises a Geographical Information System to anticipate school place demand. Information from a range of sources, including Child Benefit data, school enrolment data and information on residential development activity is used for this purpose.  Additionally, Project Ireland 2040 population and housing targets inform my Department's projections of school place requirements. 

While my Department is aware of enrolment pressures and demand for additional school places in some areas, it is important to note that where enrolment pressures arise, it may not be as a result of lack of accommodation but may be driven by the following factors:

• Duplication of applications – pupils have applied for a place to a number of schools in the area

• School of choice – pupils can’t get a place in their preferred school while there are places in other schools in the town/area

• Some towns/areas have single sex schools and while places are available in the school they are not available to all pupils

• External draw – pupils coming from outside the local area

My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in the area.  In relation to school admissions, it is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998.

Parents have the right to choose which school to apply to and where the school has places available the pupil should be admitted.  However, in schools where there are more applicants than places available a selection process may be necessary.  This selection process and the enrolment policy on which it is based must be non-discriminatory and must be applied fairly in respect of all applicants. However, this may result in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice.

There are currently a number of active projects at primary and post primary level in the Naas School Planning Area which will increase local capacity, including the following:

• Mercy Convent, Naas  . New School Building: Brief for a 32 classroom school.  Currently at Stage 3

• St. Corban's NS, Naas. New School Building: Extension to provide 16 classroom school with 2 SNU.  Currently at Stage 2b

• St. Mary's Girls Post Primary, Naas. Extension & Refurbishment: Extension to increase capacity to LTPE 900.  Currently at Stage 2b

• Naas Community College. New School Building: 1,000 pupil school plus 2 SEN Base.  Currently at Stage 5

• St. Mary's College, Naas. Extension: 1x100m2 Science Lab and 1x58m2 Technical Graphics(DCG) Room.  Currently at Stage 5

• Holy Child NS. Extension: 2X Mainstream,2 Classroom SEN base & 1 x 19m2 SET.  Currently at Stage 1

• Scoil Mhuire. Extension: 2 SEN class base.  Currently at Stage 1

• Pipers Hill College. Refurbishment Only: Refurbishment.  Currently at Stage 1

• Ballymore Eustace NS. Refurbishment Only: Reconfiguration Works for toilets for interim SEN accommodation.  Currently at Stage 5

• Naas Community National School. Refurbishment Only: Reconfiguration of 16 MCR to revert for primary use as previously used by PP school .  Currently at Stage 1

My Department will continue to keep the school place requirements in Naas, as with other areas across the country, under review.  Continued engagement with school patrons and authorities will form part of this process.

Question No. 256 answered with Question No. 251.

Schools Building Projects

Questions (257)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

257. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the extent to which she expects to be in a position to provide the extra school places required at all primary and second level schools in Clane, County Kildare, in time for the new enrolment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31924/23]

Written answers

Minister for Education

In order to plan for school place needs, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and utilises a Geographical Information System to anticipate school place demand. Information from a range of sources, including Child Benefit data, school enrolment data and information on residential development activity is used for this purpose.  Additionally, Project Ireland 2040 population and housing targets inform my Department's projections of school place requirements. 

While my Department is aware of enrolment pressures and demand for additional school places in some areas, it is important to note that where enrolment pressures arise, it may not be as a result of lack of accommodation but may be driven by the following factors:

• Duplication of applications – pupils have applied for a place to a number of schools in the area

• School of choice – pupils can’t get a place in their preferred school while there are places in other schools in the town/area

• Some towns/areas have single sex schools and while places are available in the school they are not available to all pupils

• External draw – pupils coming from outside the local area

My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in the area.  In relation to school admissions, it is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998.

Parents have the right to choose which school to apply to and where the school has places available the pupil should be admitted.  However, in schools where there are more applicants than places available a selection process may be necessary.  This selection process and the enrolment policy on which it is based must be non-discriminatory and must be applied fairly in respect of all applicants. However, this may result in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice.

Clane is part of the Prosperous/Clane School Planning Area.  There are currently a number of active projects in the Prosperous/Clane SPA which will increase local capacity for the 2023 academic year and future years at primary and post primary level, including new school building projects at St Patricks BNS and St Farnan’s Post Primary School and other extension/refurbishment projects at Hewstons National School, Rathcoffey National School, Scoil Naomh Mhuire National School and Scoil Mhuire Community School.

My Department will continue to keep the school place requirements in Clane, as with other areas across the country, under review.

Question No. 258 answered with Question No. 252.

School Admissions

Questions (259)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

259. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education notwithstanding recent parliamentary question replies, the progress in recent weeks in helping to secure a school place suitable for the needs of the son of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31926/23]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education

I would like to thank the Deputy for the question and would like to advise the following:

Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education appropriate to their needs is a priority for this government. 

It is also a key priority for me as Minister for Special Education & Inclusion, for my department and for the National Council for Special Education (NCSE).  The vast majority of children with special educational needs are supported to attend mainstream classes with their peers. Where children with more complex needs require additional supports, special classes and special school places are provided.

For 2023, the spend by my department on special education will be substantially increased by over 10% on last year, meaning that for 2023 my department will spend over €2.6 billion providing supports to children and young people with special educational needs and their schools.

This level of educational funding and support is unprecedented and represents in excess of 27% of the department’s total allocation for 2023.

This includes funding to support children with special educational needs in mainstream classes; funding for new special classes and new special school places; additional special educational teachers and special needs assistants. 

The NCSE has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children with special educational needs nationwide.

Over the last two to three years, my department and the NCSE have introduced a number of strategic initiatives to plan for and provide sufficient special class and special school places.

These initiatives are bearing fruit with over 600 new special classes sanctioned at primary level, almost 300 new special classes sanctioned at post-primary level and five new special schools established over the last three years.

My department is engaging intensely with the NCSE in relation to the forward planning of new special classes and additional special school places.  This work involves a detailed review of statistical data in relation to forecasting demand for special class places, consideration of improved data sharing arrangements and a particular focus on the provision of special classes at post-primary level. 

As a result of this forward planning, on the 12th of April, Minister Foley and I announced the establishment of 2 new special schools for the 2023/24 school year, with further capacity being expanded in 11 other special schools.

Along with the two new special schools, 380 new special classes – 250 at primary and 130 at post-primary level – have been sanctioned by the NCSE for opening in the 2023/24 school year, with more to be confirmed in the coming weeks. 

Of these new classes, 11 are in Co. Kildare, with 6 at primary level and 5 at post-primary level. These new classes will bring the total number of special classes in Kildare to 115.

In relation to the student referred to by the Deputy, the NCSE has advised my department that the Special Education Needs Organiser (SENO), has been in contact with the family and has provided them with information on schools with special classes in the area.

The SENO remains available to provide support to the family and will continue to work with them to identify suitable placements that cater to the student’s needs.

The NCSE is committed to ensuring that sufficient special education placements will be available for children for the coming school year.

Parents seeking special class placements for their children are advised to contact the NCSE locally so that their needs can be taken into account for planning purposes. The local SENOs remain available to assist and advise parents of children with special educational needs. Parents may contact SENOs directly using the contact details available at: www.ncse.ie/regional-services-contact-list . 

Information on the list of schools with special classes, the types and locations of these classes is published on the NCSE website and is available at www.ncse.ie  

I want to reassure you also that my department will continue to support the NCSE and schools through the provision of the necessary funding and capital investment to ensure all children are successful in accessing an education.

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Questions (260)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

260. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the degree to which the pupil-teacher ratio is being improved in all schools in County Kildare and throughout the country, at primary and second level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31927/23]

Written answers

Minister for Education

Under the Programme for Government there is a commitment to seek to make further progress in reducing the pupil teacher ratios in primary schools. 

In Budget 2023, I ensured major investment in our schools and I have succeeded in bringing the teacher allocation ratio to an average of 1 classroom teacher for every 23 pupils in all primary schools for the 2023/24 school year which is the lowest ever seen at primary level.  This was my third successive Budget which saw an improvement in allocation of teachers to primary schools. Budget 2021 reduced the staffing schedule to an average of 1 classroom teacher for every 25 pupils, while Budget 2022 reduced it further to 1 classroom teacher for every 24 pupils.  A three point reduction in the retention schedule, in place since 2021, assists schools that would otherwise be at risk of losing teaching posts. 

At post primary level, teachers are currently allocated at a ratio of 19:1 in the free education system and 23:1 to schools in the fee charging sector.  

The numbers employed in our schools have now reached their highest ever level. Budget 2023 provided for a budget of €9.6 billion for the Department of Education.  The Budget improvement to staffing allocations means that our primary schools will be staffed at the most favourable level ever seen in September 2023. There has been an increase of over 17,000 teachers employed in our schools over the 10 year period (2011/12-2022/23). Primary teacher numbers have increased from 31,928 to 41,781 or 31%. Post-Primary teacher numbers have increased from 25,808 to 32,981 or 28%.

The latest figures in relation to pupil teacher ratio shows an improved ratio of teachers to pupils from 15.7:1 to 13.7:1 at primary level and 13.4 to 12.2 at post-primary level when comparing the 2016/17 school year to the 2021/22 school year.   In the same period the primary staffing schedule improved from 27:1 to 25:1.  Average class sizes at primary improved from 24.6 to 22.8 in the same period.  The budget measures will continue the positive trend of improving class sizes for this school year, and statistics on this will be published at the end of the school year.

Schools Building Projects

Questions (261)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

261. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the extent to which progress has been made in respect of the provision of a new school building for a school (details supplied); the recent progress in this case, if any; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31928/23]

Written answers

Minister for Education

The project referred to by the Deputy is a priority for my Department and it is our intention to progress the accommodation brief for this school as quickly as possible. 

In the interim, my Department has been working with the school patron to ensure that there is sufficient accommodation in place to meet the interim needs of the school, pending the delivery of the main project. 

Key priorities for my Department's work programme include continuing strong delivery to support the operation of the school system with particular regard to planning ahead for the 2023/24 school year and beyond and also with particular regard to supporting special needs provision.

Schools Building Projects

Questions (262)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

262. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the up-to-date position in regard to the provision of a new school at Enfield, County Kildare; the progress on the project to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31929/23]

Written answers

Minister for Education

The permanent accommodation for the school referred to by the Deputy is being delivered under my Department’s Design and Build Programme. This delivery programme uses a professional external Project Management team to progress the project through the stages of architectural planning, tendering and construction.

The most recent bundle of projects including the school referred to by the Deputy went to tender on the 18/04/23.

My Department will continue to liaise with the school’s patron body in relation to the school’s interim accommodation needs. It is intended that the school will move to suitable interim accommodation on the permanent site for the 2023/2024 school year, pending delivery of the permanent accommodation for the new school.

School Admissions

Questions (263)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

263. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the extent to which efforts continue to be made to provide adequate school places at all levels to prevent stress arising from a lack of school places or a lack of school transport, and given the necessity of both parents to be in full-time employment; the extent of the efforts that continue to be made in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31930/23]

Written answers

Minister for Education

I 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 for my Department. 

In order to plan for school place needs, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and utilises a Geographical Information System to anticipate school place demand. Information from a range of sources, including Child Benefit data, school enrolment data and information on residential development activity is used for this purpose.  Additionally, Project Ireland 2040 population and housing targets inform my Department's projections of school place requirements. 

While my Department is aware of enrolment pressures and demand for additional school places in some areas, it is important to note that where enrolment pressures arise, it may not be as a result of lack of accommodation but may be driven by the following factors:

• Duplication of applications – pupils have applied for a place to a number of schools in the area

• School of choice – pupils can’t get a place in their preferred school while there are places in other schools in the town/area

• Some towns/areas have single sex schools and while places are available in the school they are not available to all pupils

• External draw – pupils coming from outside the local area

My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in the area.  In relation to school admissions, it is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998.

Parents have the right to choose which school to apply to and where the school has places available the pupil should be admitted. However, in schools where there are more applicants than places available a selection process may be necessary. This selection process and the enrolment policy on which it is based must be non-discriminatory and must be applied fairly in respect of all applicants. However, this may result in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice.

The Department is working to establish the true extent of any capacity issues across school planning areas through ongoing discussions with the relevant school patrons and authorities. 

This close engagement will allow the Department to identify particular capacity requirements for the forthcoming years which may necessitate further action to that already in train including, where required, the provision of modular accommodation solutions.

The Educational Welfare Services (EWS) 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 (EWO). Contact details are available at www.tusla.ie/get-in-touch/education-and-welfare/

The School Transport Scheme is an important service for families and children. For the 2023/2024 school year, it remains that children are eligible for transport at primary level where they reside not less than 3.2 kilometres from and are attending their nearest national school, and at post primary level where they reside not less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.

Children who are eligible for school transport and who have completed the application process on time will be accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation. 

Children who are not eligible for school transport, but who completed the application process on time, are considered for spare seats that may exist after eligible children have been facilitated; such seats are referred to as concessionary seats.

In addition, pending completion of the review of the School Transport Scheme, Temporary Alleviation Measures at post-primary level will be continued for the 2023/2024 school year. Under these measures, transport will provided for post-primary pupils who are eligible for transport to their nearest school and are attending their second nearest school and who applied by the 28th of April and paid/entered medical card details by the 9th June 2023.

School Accommodation

Questions (264)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

264. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the ongoing efforts by her Department, if any, to provide integrated before- and after-school services given the necessity for both parents to remain in employment due to high mortgages; if it is anticipated that this issue is being provided for in a meaningful way via the school building programme to ensure appropriate accommodation for same on site within schools; the extent to which there is any ongoing collaboration with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31931/23]

Written answers

Minister for Education

Thank you for your inquiry.

As you may be aware, funding for pre-school services is a matter for the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. My colleague, the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has policy responsibility for school-age childcare.

In general, capital funding by the Department of Education is reserved for the provision of mainstream school accommodation for primary education upwards, as well as for children with special educational needs. 

It is, however, Department of Education policy to support the wider use of school facilities, for community usage, where possible. To this end, in 2017, The Department has published "Guidelines for the Use of School Buildings Outside of School Hours". These guidelines are currently being updated, following a recent consultative survey distributed to schools/patrons.

Schools Building Projects

Questions (265)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

265. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the current position in regard to the provision of a new school at a location (details supplied); the progress on the project to date; when it is expected that work will be completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31933/23]

Written answers

Minister for Education

The project to which the Deputy refers has been devolved for delivery to Kildare & Wicklow Education and Training Board (KWETB).

The Department has received the Stage 2a architectural report and it is currently under review. Once the Stage 2a submission is approved by my Department, the next step for the Design Team will be to obtain the statutory planning approvals. When these are in place, tender and construction stages will follow.

While at this early stage it is not possible to provide a timeline for completion of the project, KWETB will be engaging directly with the school to keep it informed of progress.

School Admissions

Questions (266)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

266. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the extent to which primary school places remain adequate to meet the needs in Prosperous, County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31934/23]

Written answers

Minister for Education

In order to plan for school place needs, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and utilises a Geographical Information System to anticipate school place demand. Information from a range of sources, including Child Benefit data, school enrolment data and information on residential development activity is used for this purpose.  Additionally, Project Ireland 2040 population and housing targets inform my Department's projections of school place requirements. 

While my Department is aware of enrolment pressures and demand for additional school places in some areas, it is important to note that where enrolment pressures arise, it may not be as a result of lack of accommodation but may be driven by the following factors:

• Duplication of applications – pupils have applied for a place to a number of schools in the area

• School of choice – pupils can’t get a place in their preferred school while there are places in other schools in the town/area

• Some towns/areas have single sex schools and while places are available in the school they are not available to all pupils

• External draw – pupils coming from outside the local area

My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in the area.  In relation to school admissions, it is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998.

Parents have the right to choose which school to apply to and where the school has places available the pupil should be admitted.  However, in schools where there are more applicants than places available a selection process may be necessary.  This selection process and the enrolment policy on which it is based must be non-discriminatory and must be applied fairly in respect of all applicants. However, this may result in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice.

Prosperous is part of the Prosperous/Clane School Planning Area.  

There are currently a number of active projects in the Prosperous/Clane SPA which will increase local capacity at primary level, including a new school building project at St Patricks BNS other extension projects at Hewstons National School, Scoil Naomh Mhuire National School and Rathcoffey National School.

My Department will continue to keep the school place requirements in Prosperous, as with other areas across the country, under review.

School Facilities

Questions (267)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

267. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on the progress in the provision of extra school facilities at a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31935/23]

Written answers

Minister for Education

The project to which the Deputy refers has been devolved for delivery to the Board of Management of the school.

I can confirm that a Design Team was appointed by the school authority in March 2022. The Design Team has the responsibility of preparing the Stage 1 report (preliminary design) for the project. This will be reviewed by my Department officials after submission who will also provide practical advice and assistance on the best option for progressing the project. The school's Design Team will manage the project through the various other architectural stages including obtaining the necessary statutory approvals and developing the project such that it can be approved to progress to tender and construction stages in due course.  

As the project is at an early stage in the delivery process, it is not possible at this time to give a date for its completion

School Admissions

Questions (268)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

268. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the extent to which primary and second level school places as well as adequate special needs classes continue to be made available in such numbers as to meet the demand; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31936/23]

Written answers

Minister for Education

I 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 for my Department. 

In order to plan for school place needs, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and utilises a Geographical Information System to anticipate school place demand. Information from a range of sources, including Child Benefit data, school enrolment data and information on residential development activity is used for this purpose.  Additionally, Project Ireland 2040 population and housing targets inform my Department's projections of school place requirements. 

While my Department is aware of enrolment pressures and demand for additional school places in some areas, it is important to note that where enrolment pressures arise, it may not be as a result of lack of accommodation but may be driven by the following factors:

• Duplication of applications – pupils have applied for a place to a number of schools in the area

• School of choice – pupils can’t get a place in their preferred school while there are places in other schools in the town/area

• Some towns/areas have single sex schools and while places are available in the school they are not available to all pupils

• External draw – pupils coming from outside the local area

My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in the area.  In relation to school admissions, it is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998.

Parents have the right to choose which school to apply to and where the school has places available the pupil should be admitted. However, in schools where there are more applicants than places available a selection process may be necessary. This selection process and the enrolment policy on which it is based must be non-discriminatory and must be applied fairly in respect of all applicants. However, this may result in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice.

The Department is working to establish the true extent of any capacity issues across school planning areas through ongoing discussions with the relevant school patrons and authorities. 

This close engagement will allow the Department to identify particular capacity requirements for the forthcoming years which may necessitate further action to that already in train including, where required, the provision of modular accommodation solutions.

The Educational Welfare Services (EWS) 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 (EWO). Contact details are available at www.tusla.ie/get-in-touch/education-and-welfare/