Written Answers Nos. 166-179
166. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education to review a case (details supplied); to provide advice for any funding that could help in this particular situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40843/23]
View answerThe School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year, over 149,000 children, including over 18,000 children with special educational needs, are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country.
There was an increase of 21% in tickets issued to eligible students and an increase of 38% in tickets issued on a concessionary basis in the 2022/23 school year compared to the 2021/22 school year.
In addition, school transport scheme services were provided for over 5,400 children who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine. The total cost of the scheme in 2022 was €338.9m.
Already over 133,000 tickets have issued for the 2023/2024 school year which is an increase of 7% when compared with the same time last year. This number of tickets has already exceeded the total number of tickets issued in the 2022/23 school year.
As part of the scheme, transport is provided to and from school only for children who reside remote from their nearest primary and post-primary school and children with special educational needs.
School transport is not provided to children for activities outside the terms of the scheme. Commercial contractors who provide transport for schools on a private hire or commercial basis but who are not contracted by Bus Éireann to operate on the Department’s School Transport Scheme do not fall under the remit of the Department of Education.
The school transport scheme during normal school opening and closing times.
The request referred to by the Deputy is outside of the remit of the School Transport Schemes.
167. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education if she will ensure that school bus tickets are awarded to a family (details supplied). [40845/23]
View answerThe School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2022/2023 school year, over 149,000 children, including over 18,000 children with special educational needs, were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country.
There was an increase of 21% in tickets issued to eligible students and an increase of 38% in tickets issued on a concessionary basis in the 2022/23 school year compared to the 2021/22 school year.
In addition, school transport scheme services were provided for over 5,400 children who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine.
The total cost of the scheme in 2022 was €338.9m.
Already over 132,000 tickets have issued for the 2023/2024 school year which is an increase of 12% when compared with the same time last year. This number of tickets has already exceeded the total number of tickets issued in the 2022/23 school year.
Bus Éireann has advised that a late application for school transport was submitted by this family in respect of the 2023/24 school year and the Bus Éireann Local Office is currently working though these applications.
Bus Éireann has also confirmed that the family is eligible for school transport and an update will be provided directly to the family in due course.
168. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education to review a case regarding a school secretary (details supplied); if she will outline whether this issue can be resolved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40847/23]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that, as an exceptional matter, and due to the fact that a genuine error was made by the school when completing the Secretaries Survey, arrangements will now be put in place for the school secretary involved to onboard to payroll in line with the provisions contained in Circular 0036/2022 - Revision of Salaries & Annual Leave Arrangements for School Secretaries employed in recognised primary & post primary schools.
I understand that staff working in the Secretaries Team within the NTS Payroll section of my Department have been in contact with the school in question seeking further information in order to facilitate the secretary's transition to payroll. When all the relevant information has been received it will need to be verified and further clarification may need to be sought.
I wish to assure you that every effort will be made to ensure that the transition to payroll happens as quickly as possible.
169. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Education when a school (details supplied) will be approved for major capital works; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40855/23]
View answerI can confirm to the Deputy, that my Department is in receipt of an application for capital funding, under my Department's Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme, from the school in question.
The purpose of my Department’s Additional School Accommodation (or ASA) scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream classroom accommodation and accommodation for pupils with special education needs is available to cater for pupils enrolled each year, where the need cannot be met by the school’s existing accommodation.
Officials from my Department are currently assessing the needs of the school and the wider school planning area. The school authorities will be contacted directly with a decision upon completion of the assessment process.
170. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education if a review of a case will take place (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40856/23]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, for school planning purposes, 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 the Department is aware of increasing pressures and demand for additional school places in the Cavan area, 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 through ongoing discussions with the relevant school authorities. In that context, similar to the process adopted in advance of the current academic year, the Department is engaging with patron bodies and school authorities, including those of schools in the Cavan area, to identify particular capacity requirements for the forthcoming years which may necessitate further action to that already in train.
Additionally, the Department will continue to work to advance the planned and current projects in the Cavan School Planning area and to ensure sufficient places for both mainstream provision and for pupils with special education requirements.
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/
171. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education if a review of a case will take place (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40858/23]
View answerThe Schools Completion Programme, SCP, is a central element of Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools (DEIS) programme, a key policy initiative of my Department to address educational disadvantage at school level. The programme is funded by my Department via Tusla Education Support Service, TESS, who have overall operational responsibility for the programme.
At present, management of the SCP initiatives, including the employment of staff, is managed at local level by a local Management Committee (LMC).
Officials from TESS have advised that a new LMC has recently been established by Castleblayney & Clones SCP. TESS are currently engaging with the newly formed LMC and with Cavan Monaghan Education and Training Board (CMETB) in relation to operational matters concerning this project, including staffing matters. TESS continue to be available to provide any further support and guidance required at SCP@tusla.ie.
Officials from my Department will continue to engage pro-actively with all stakeholders to ensure the continuance of SCP supports to this vulnerable group of children and young people.
Since I took over responsibility for SCP in January 2021, the initial focus for my Department was on the development of the legislative platform to support the transfer of functions from the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.
This body of work has now been completed and my Department is now considering all other aspects of the programme, including governance and structures for SCP and all matters involved therein.
172. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Education if she can advise the procedure for a student who is unable to locate a secondary school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40860/23]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, for school planning purposes, 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 the Department is aware of increasing 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 through ongoing discussions with the relevant school authorities. In that context, similar to the process adopted in advance of the current academic year, the Department is engaging with patron bodies and school authorities,to identify particular capacity requirements for the forthcoming years which may necessitate further action to that already in train.
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/
173. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Education the first- and full-year cost of extending the free schoolbooks to pupils entering the Junior Certificate cycle in public post-primary schools; and the first- and full-year cost of extending the free schoolbooks to pupils entering the Leaving Certificate cycle in public post-primary schools, assuming a grant rate of €192, €200 and €220 respectively, for each student in an eligible year. [40862/23]
View answerEarlier this year, I announced a landmark new scheme which saw the government investing over €50 million in providing free schoolbooks, workbooks and copybooks for pupils.
More than 558,000 pupils enrolled in approximately 3,230 primary schools, including over 130 special schools, will benefit from the new scheme this year.
The Department currently provides a book grant to all recognised post-primary schools within the Free Education Scheme in order to provide assistance for books, including Book Rental Schemes. Schools participating in the Department’s DEIS Programme receive an enhanced rate of book grant. My Department provided funding of €10.2 million in 2022 to these schools
Book grant funding is provided to schools annually for a full academic year and is based on the most recent year’s validated enrolment figures.
Based on the figures provided by the Deputy, the cost to provide a free schoolbook scheme to students entering the Junior Certificate cycle and the Leaving Certificate cycle in public post primary schools is estimated as follows:
Junior Certificate Cycle
Number of pupils is based on validated enrolment figures for 2022/23 for students in public post primary schools Junior Certificate cycle (69,894) increased by the projected increase in post primary enrolments from 2022/23 to 2023/24 as published in my Department's projections of full time enrolments for 2021 to 2036. As these projections are overall/total projections a percentage increase is applied in proportion to the overall increase in projected enrolments. That is total validated enrolments for post primary students in public schools in 2022/23 is 379,200. Projected enrolments for 2023/24 increases by 7319 which is a 1.9% increase. 1.9% increase on 69,894 equates to 71,222.
€192 x 71,222 pupils = €13,674,624
€200 x 71,222 pupils = €14,244,400
€220 x 71,222 pupils = €15,688,840
Senior Certificate Cycle
Number of pupils is based on validated enrolment figures for 2022/23 for students in public post primary schools Senior Certificate cycle (61,876) increased by the projected increase in post primary enrolments from 2022/23 to 2023/24 as published in my Department's projections of full time enrolments for 2021 to 2036. As these projections are overall/total projections a percentage increase is applied in proportion to the overall increase in projected enrolments. That is total validated enrolments for post primary students in public schools in 2022/23 is 379,200. Projected enrolments for 2023/24 increases by 7319 which is a 1.9% increase. 1.9% increase on 61,876 equates to 63,052.
€192 x 63,052 pupils = €12,105,984
€200 x 63,052 pupils = €12,610,400
€220 x 63,052 pupils = €13,871,440
The extension of the free schoolbook scheme to post primary schools will be considered in the context of available resources as part of budget negotiations.
174. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Education if she will detail, for primary schools and second level schools, the instances where roll numbers have been inflated for each of the past ten years, in tabular form; the action taken by her Department in such instances; the actions taken arising from such fraudulent claims; if any board of management or school principal has ever been prosecuted or disciplined for such submissions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40890/23]
View answerIn circumstances where an alleged financial, enrolment irregularity or fraud is identified or suspected in a school it must be reported promptly to the Department. The Department’s standard policy is to ensure that an investigation is undertaken and that the matter is referred to An Garda Síochána where appropriate. Where a case is reported to An Garda Síochána it is a matter for An Garda Síochána to evaluate and progress as appropriate. In a very small number of circumstances enrolment overstatements have occurred due to genuine error.
Under the provisions of the Education Act, 1998, the Board of Management manages the school on behalf of the patron. Any follow up action of a disciplinary nature is the responsibility of the Board of Management as the employer.
Department circulars make it clear that deliberate overstatement of enrolment figures will be reported to An Garda Síochána as a matter of policy. There are 13 schools that have inflated pupil enrolment figures in the last 10 years. Some of these are ‘live cases’ where either the Department or the Guards have not concluded their investigations.
|
School level |
Outcome of Investigation |
|
Primary school 1 |
Principal prosecuted |
|
Primary School 2 |
Reported to Guards – Investigation Ongoing |
|
Primary School 3 |
Principal prosecuted |
|
Primary School 4 |
Reported to Guards – No prosecution |
|
Primary School 5 |
Reported to Guards – No prosecution |
|
Primary School 6 |
Reported to Guards – No prosecution |
|
Primary School 7 |
Not reported to guards – Department investigation, no further action |
|
Primary School 8 |
Principal Prosecuted |
|
Primary School 9 |
Principal Prosecuted |
|
Primary School 10 |
Reported to Guards – No prosecution |
|
Primary School 11 |
Investigation Ongoing |
|
Primary School 12 |
Reported to Guards – Investigation Ongoing |
|
Post Primary School 1 |
Not reported to guards – Department investigation, no further action |
175. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education if she will introduce a policy in schools and colleges which will make sure that cash can be used by students for the purchase of goods and services within the school or college (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40903/23]
View answerUnder the provisions of the Education Act, 1998 the board of management is the body charged with the direct governance of a school including the charging of fees for any additional supplies provided by the school.
In response to the National Payments Plan, the Department took steps from 2014 onwards to address the issue of payments in schools. In late 2017 a central arrangement for payments solutions for schools was made available which allows schools to accept payments in a range of formats, including cash payments. The central arrangements for payments solutions was refreshed in September 2022. The solutions available for schools to use under these arrangements will continue to facilitate cash payments for those schools that choose to avail of these arrangements.
176. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Education if her Department plans to introduce a system whereby all girls schools have a uniform choice between skirts or trousers; whether she is aware of the barriers that students face in schools where their only option is to wear a skirt, specifically related to the encouragement of physical activity (details supplied), and in the interests of equality; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40869/23]
View answerUnder the Education Act 1998, all recognised schools are managed by the school board of management on behalf of the schools’ patrons or trustees or the relevant Education and Training Board (known as the management authority).
Individual school authorities are responsible for the drawing up of a school policy in relation to the wearing of uniforms. Decisions on changes to school uniform polices are a matter for the school’s at local level. Schools are advised to consult with parents and students when drafting a policy on uniforms.
The Education (Student and Parent Charter) Bill has been passed by the Seanad and is currently awaiting a date for Committee stage in the Dáil.
The overall aim of the Bill is to improve the level of engagement in the school community by inviting feedback, comment and observation from the school community and by further developing a listening culture in schools.
One of the key concepts of the Bill is the need for a school to consult with students and their parents on individual school plans, policies and activities. This approach will help ensure that the various views of students and parents on issues and policies will be heard and responded to by schools.
177. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if any chief executive of a State/semi-State body or other public body under the aegis of her Department received any benefit from taxable benefits being paid on their behalf by the body/organisation for each of the years 2019 to date; if so, the amount and details, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40768/23]
View answerI am advised that the CEOs of public bodies under the aegis of my Department are not in receipt of any benefits from taxable benefits being paid on their behalf by the body/organisation concerned.
178. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if her attention has been drawn to a campaign to secure a home (details supplied) for cultural use; if her Department has been contacted with a view to the State or agencies of the State purchasing the home; if she will consider supporting the objective of purchasing the home and putting the property to appropriate cultural use; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40844/23]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that neither my Department nor its agencies have a remit to purchase property on behalf of the State. The Office of Public Works is mainly responsible for the management of the State property portfolio.
179. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will ensure that pay increases due to persons in receipt of a pension from RTÉ will be issued without further delay, as requested by the trustees to her; how many persons are due this pension pay increase; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40853/23]
View answerI previously considered and approved a 2% increase to pensions in payment for RTÉ in May 2022, which was implemented in August 2022.
The Trustees of the RTÉ Pension scheme subsequently made an application for a 2.5% increase to pensions in payment, backdated to 1st January 2022. This request has been evaluated by NewEra and I am currently considering it.
My recommendation will then need to be reviewed and approved by the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform.
The information sought by the Deputy in respect of numbers of pensioners is an operational matter for RTÉ and is not something for which I have direct, day-to-day responsibility.
