Wednesday, 23 Nov 2022

Written Answers Nos. 98-117

Middle East

Questions (98)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

98. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention was drawn to the disrespect shown to the Irish flag by the Israeli occupation forces, acting on behalf of the Israeli government, during its raid on the Ramallah offices of a human rights organisation (details supplied); if so, if he conveyed his objections to the Israeli government through diplomatic channels; if his attention was not drawn to this, if he will immediately convey his objections and report back to Dáil Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58202/22]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs

I remain seriously concerned by the designation by Israel of six Palestinian NGOs as terrorist organisations, including Irish Aid and EU partner organisations, as terrorist entities, and the raids that were carried out against these organisations by Israeli security forces in August. I am aware of images of an Irish flag which circulated on social media following the raid on the premises of Al Haq on 18 August.

Ireland, along with the eight other EU Member States that provide funding to these organisations, issued a statement on 19 August, labelling these raids as unacceptable, expressing concern at the further reduction of civil space in the oPt, and stressing that Ireland stands firm with NGOs to uphold the right to freedom of expression and association in the oPt.

Following the issuing of this statement, Ireland’s Ambassador in Tel Aviv took part in a meeting with the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, along with the EU Delegation and 16 other European states, to express concern regarding these actions.

Ireland has also repeatedly raised this matter in monthly meetings of the UN Security Council, stressing our continued commitment to support for civil society.

Council of Europe

Questions (99, 100)

Cormac Devlin

Question:

99. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on the outcomes and achievements emanating from Ireland's Presidency of the Committee of Ministers at the Council of Europe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58341/22]

Pádraig O'Sullivan

Question:

100. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on Ireland's recently concluded Presidency at the Council of Europe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58353/22]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs

I propose to take Questions Nos. 99 and 100 together.

Ireland assumed the rotating Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe in May at a point of profound crisis on our continent and challenge for the organisation, as it responded to the invasion of Ukraine and consequent expulsion of the Russian Federation as a member state.

Within this context, our Presidency’s overarching goal was to renew what, as a founding member, Ireland has long held to be the ‘‘conscience of Europe’’, reaffirming the Council’s core role in advancing democracy, human rights and the rule of law, while ensuring its expertise was directed as effectively as possible in support of Ukraine.

Our Presidency set three thematic priorities: ‘Reinforcing Human Rights and the Protection of Civilians in Europe’; ‘Promoting Participatory Democracy and Youth Engagement’; and ‘Fostering a Europe of Welcome, Inclusion, and Diversity’. We advanced these through weekly meetings of the Committee of Ministers’ Deputies, multiple high-levels visits, and over forty different conferences, seminars, and roundtables in Strasbourg and across Ireland and Europe.

Ireland presided over several historic agreements across our term. These included: a new Dublin Declaration on tackling domestic, sexual, and gender-based violence; the establishment of a new Contact Group to engage with democratic forces in Belarus, led by Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya; a European Declaration committing to renewed investment in Education for Global Citizenship and Human Rights; and Ukraine’s fast-tracked accession to the Council of Europe’s Development Bank, which was agreed at the first board meeting of an international financial institution ever to be held in Ireland.

As at the UN Security Council, we prioritised engaging civil society in Strasbourg. Our Presidency hosted the Committee of Ministers first formal meeting with LGBTI+ rights activists in June, as well as exchanges on such key issues as press safety, anti-Semitism, anti-Muslim racism, and environmental rights.

Reinforcing the European Convention on Human Rights and the European Court of Human Rights which protects it was a particular focus for our Presidency. President Higgins, the Taoiseach, Minister Byrne and I all visited the Court during our term to underline that commitment, while Ireland also extended direct support for the Court as part of an overall voluntary contribution of just over €2 million. In the last weeks of our Presidency, we celebrated Judge Síofra O’Leary’s historic election as the Court’s first Irish and first female President.

Amongst the major achievements of our Presidency was to have initiated and led strategic reflections on the Council of Europe’s future. On assuming the chair of the Committee of Ministers in May, I supported the Council’s Secretary General in establishing an independent High Level Reflection Group of which our former President Mary Robinson was ultimately elected chair. Its recommendations, presented to the Committee of Ministers in October, provide a blueprint for institutional renewal and will shortly be complemented by a related review, prepared for the Council’s Parliamentary Assembly by Senator Fiona O’Loughlin, head of the Oireachtas’s delegation in Strasbourg.

Political investment will ultimately be key to delivering on these reports’ vision. In that context, in the final week of our term, I was delighted to secure agreement across the Council’s 46 member states to convening what will be just the fourth Summit in the organisation’s history in Reykjavik next May. That summit presents a critical opportunity to reinforce democracy, human rights and the rule of law across our continent and, I hope, will be a significant and enduring legacy of our Presidency term.

Question No. 100 answered with Question No. 99.

Passport Services

Questions (101)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

101. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if a passport will issue for a person (details supplied) in County Donegal to permit travel to visit a sick relative abroad; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58368/22]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs

With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has contacted the applicant directly in relation to the application.

Middle East

Questions (102)

Gary Gannon

Question:

102. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will take an initiative at EU or UN level to ensure that Israel will be held accountable for the apartheid regime it is perpetuating which deprives millions of Palestinians of their civil and political rights (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58377/22]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs

I am aware that this issue has been raised in a number of reports from UN Rapporteurs and from civil society organisations, of which I have taken careful note.

Ireland’s focus is on seeking to change the reality on the ground and to encourage a process that can deliver a two-State solution, which is the Government's priority.

I have been forthright in expressing concern regarding the unequal treatment of Palestinians in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory. Ireland will continue to raise concerns regarding discriminatory practices towards the Palestinian people on a regular basis directly with the Israeli authorities, including during visits to the region, as well as at EU and UN level.

At the most recent monthly meeting of the UN Security Council on the Middle East on 28 October, Ireland expressed concern regarding the deteriorating security situation in the occupied West Bank and called for accountability in respect of all civilian deaths, and in particular, an independent investigation into the killing of journalist Shireen Abu Akleh. Throughout its term on the UN Security Council, Ireland has also raised the issues of illegal settlement expansion and settler violence, calling again on Israel to cease all settlement activity.

It is also important that the international community supports Palestinian efforts in seeking legal responses to the occupation.

In this regard, Ireland supported a recent UN Resolution, which includes a request by the UN General Assembly for an advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on issues arising from Israel’s continuing occupation of Palestinian territory.

Ireland was one of seven EU Member States supporting this Resolution and regularly coordinates with these, and other like-minded EU partners, on actions at international level that can contribute to supporting the two-state solution and addressing discrimination and violence.

Ukraine War

Questions (103)

Catherine Connolly

Question:

103. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Defence the details of any meetings of the Ukraine defence contact group attended by Ireland in October and to date in November 2022; if he will provide an update on the topics discussed at these meetings; the details of the next meeting of the group; if Ireland will be represented at the next meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58224/22]

Written answers

Minister for Defence

Following Russia’s unprovoked, illegal and immoral invasion of Ukraine, a conference was organised by the United States to discuss the Russian invasion of Ukraine at the Ramstein Air Base in Germany on 26 April. This was the first meeting of what became known as the Ukraine Defence Contact Group, which Ireland, along with a number of other countries, was subsequently invited to join.

Since the formation of the group, Ireland has participated in six meetings, with the most recent meetings held on 12 October and 16 November. As on all previous occasions, Ireland was represented at senior official level by the Department of Defence and at senior military level by the Defence Forces. These meetings have alternated between video conferences and in-person meetings.

This Group continues to provide a forum to discuss the response of the international community to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Ireland has provided military equipment in the form of body armour and ready-to-eat meals to the Ukrainian Armed Forces and has committed to contribute a further €66 million through the European Peace Facility.

The contact group has grown to more than 50 participating members, including almost all NATO and EU Member States as well as a number of African and Asian countries.

It is useful for Ireland to avail of all appropriate opportunities for high-level and diplomatic engagement on issues relating to Ukraine, particularly as regards the long-term perspectives for the conflict, the potential scenarios ahead, including any eventual pathway to a negotiated solution, as well as the wider transformation of the European security landscape.

While there is no date agreed yet for the next meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group, it is due to take place at Ramstein and, as with previous meetings, it is expected that Ireland will again be represented by a senior Department of Defence official and a senior Defence Forces' officer.

School Transport

Questions (104)

Steven Matthews

Question:

104. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the withdrawal of a school bus service (details supplied); the steps that she will take to try to resolve this matter for the families that have been impacted by same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58193/22]

Written answers

Minister for Education

The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. In the last school year over 121,400 children, including over 15,500 children with special educational needs, were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country at a cost of over €289m in 2021.

In July 2022, Government announced funding for the waiving of school transport scheme fees for the coming school year as part of a wider package of cost-of-living measures.

Ticket registration for the 2022/23 school year closed on 29 July by which time almost 130,000 applications/registrations were received for mainstream school transport. This figure includes 44,299 new applications as well as roll-overs from the previous school year.

Bus Éireann has advised that they were unable to source a contractor/driver for a number of days to operate a service for the route referred to by the Deputy, parents were notified of this issue.

Bus Éireann has further advised that their Local Office has now sourced a suitable contractor and driver to operate this service from 21/11/2022, and that their Local office are in the process of sending email communication to all families involved advising of the resumption of this service.

Official Engagements

Questions (105)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

105. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education if she will provide the attendance record of her Department at all joint policing committees and city and county development boards since 2019, in tabular form. [58200/22]

Written answers

Minister for Education

No officials from the Department of Education have attended Joint Policing Committees and city and county development boards since 2019 to date.

State Examinations

Questions (106)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

106. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education her views on a matter concerning bereaved State examinations candidates (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58203/22]

Written answers

Minister for Education

The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the state examinations.

In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.

Pleananna Oideachais

Questions (107)

Catherine Connolly

Question:

107. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 418 of 11 October 2022, if minutes are published in respect of the meetings of the steering committee overseeing the development of a new policy on Irish-medium education outside of the Gaeltacht; if not, her plans to publish same; if minutes are published in respect of the meetings of the interdepartmental working group; if not, her plans to publish same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58222/22]

Written answers

Minister for Education

The Steering Committee overseeing the development of the new policy on Irish-medium education outside of the Gaeltacht consists of representatives from relevant government departments and agencies. Two meetings of the Steering Committee have been held to date, in April and October 2022. The minutes of Steering Committee meetings will be published on gov.ie after draft minutes have been approved by the committee members.

An internal intradepartmental working group was established within my department in September 2021 and has had 14 meetings to date. This intradepartmental working group is progressing work on developing the new policy. It facilitates the exchange of information within the department in order to ensure coordination of information and cross-departmental consistency in the work on developing the new policy. This working group consists of officers from relevant units within my department. Minutes of the meetings of the intradepartmental working group are not published but have been released in line with Freedom of Information legislation.

The intradepartmental working group continues to meet regularly to progress the work of developing the new policy. The Steering Committee receives updates on its work and has given direction in relation to the ongoing work of the working group.

Disabilities Assessments

Questions (108)

Catherine Connolly

Question:

108. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education if she will provide details of any additional staffing resources or expertise available to schools in order to carry out the educational component of the assessment of needs; the engagement that she or her Department have had with schools in relation to the new process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58223/22]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education

The Assessment of Need (AON) process is provided for under the Disability Act 2005. Assessment Officers under the remit of the HSE are charged with organising the Assessment of Need. Following on from a court ruling in October 2021, there is now a legal obligation on the education system to assist the HSE as part of the HSE’s Assessment of Need Process.

The Department of Education and NCSE have worked intensively to ensure that the process put in place adheres to legal obligations arising from the HSE’s AON process and is one that is rooted in existing good practice in schools.

The Department engaged with teachers’ unions, management bodies and other stakeholders in June and September regarding the AON process and how it is to apply in schools. The Department and NCSE worked with a small number of schools in June on a draft of the documents required by schools to complete the education component of the AON. Feedback from the schools on the trialing process informed the development of the form and guidance to be used in the process. Feedback arising from engagement with the schools was provided to stakeholders in September.

The Department of Education and the NCSE have put in place a suite of supports to assist schools in completing the educational component of the HSE’s AON process. These include:

- Detailed guidance

- A short video for use by schools settings on how to comply with the process

- Email support at [e-mail]

- Phone support at 01 603 3200 to access administrative support or further access to specialist support

On Thursday, 27th October, my Department and the NCSE met with stakeholders and partners in education. The purpose of the meeting was to address the issues and concerns which have arisen in schools around the AON process and to work to resolve these issues. Progress was made and clarity was provided on a number of issues raised by the stakeholders.

Following this stakeholder engagement, my Department and NCSE have committed to extending the trial period of the AON process and to provide additional support through teams led by the NCSE and supported by my Department.

The NCSE has commenced engagement with the schools involved in the trialing of the process. These schools will become part of an extended pilot which will be evaluated and which will inform the development of the final process. The Department and NCSE are satisfied that the information provided as a result of this engagement will meet the requirements as set out in the AON process.

Work will continue with stakeholders to finalise an education focused AON process.

Teaching Qualifications

Questions (109)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

109. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education the reason that a fully qualified teacher (details supplied) in County Donegal receives an unqualified rate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58230/22]

Written answers

Minister for Education

The teacher referred to by the Deputy is a teacher registered as a Primary School teacher with the Teaching Council under Route 1 registration. As such, the teacher concerned receives payment appropriate to a qualified primary school teacher for the sector that she teaches in.

There are two rates of payment where a teacher is registered with the Teaching Council and who work in a substitute capacity i.e. in effect where they are replacing a teacher who is on leave. The rate of pay is determined by whether the absence will be on a short term or long term basis. Where the absence is short term a person is paid a daily rate of pay of €225.50 per day and they will move to a personal rate of pay once they have completed 40 days of work in a school year. Where a teacher will be replacing a teacher on a long-term basis then the personal rate of pay will apply from the beginning of that absence.

The teacher referred to by the Deputy is being correctly paid in accordance with Departmental regulations.

Teaching Qualifications

Questions (110)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

110. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education the reason that a qualified teacher (details supplied) in County Donegal receives an unqualified rate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58231/22]

Written answers

Minister for Education

The teacher referred to by the Deputy is registered with the Teaching Council as a Post Primary school teacher under Route 2 registration. The teacher is working in a primary school. Rates of pay are linked to registration with the Teaching Council for the sector where a teacher is undertaking the work.

As the teacher is not registered with the Teaching Council as a primary school teacher and it is a primary school where the work is being undertaken, a lower rate of payment is applied.

The teacher referred to by the Deputy is being correctly paid in accordance with Departmental regulations.

Special Educational Needs

Questions (111)

Pádraig O'Sullivan

Question:

111. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to reports that a special school (details supplied) has had its therapy pool sessions reduced; if this decision will be reviewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58259/22]

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:

The provision of health-related therapy services for children with disabilities is the responsibility of the Health Service Executive (HSE) and the question should therefore be directed to that body or to the Department of Health.

School Staff

Questions (112)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

Question:

112. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education the reason that teachers such as a person (details supplied) who retire before 66 years of age are discouraged from teacher substitution by losing the proportion of their pension being paid as jobseeker’s allowance if they substitute; if she has considered implementing a waiver mechanism to allow such teachers to obtain the full benefit of Information Note TS 0001/2022; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that many teachers have been affected; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58260/22]

Written answers

Minister for Education

Retired teachers are not discouraged from teacher substitution and the Deputy referred to Information Note TS 0001/2022 which reminds schools that currently retired teachers can work for up to 50 days in the calendar year without incurring any abatement of pension.

When a retired teacher returns to work in the public sector, their pension may become subject to abatement. Their pension will only be abated if their earnings on return to employment plus their pension payment exceed their retirement salary.

To alleviate teacher supply difficulties the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in January 2021 approved, for a limited period of 3 years, an annual 50 day waiver of abatement of Public Service Pensions under section 52 (4) of the Single Pension Scheme and other Provisions Act (2012), for all appropriately qualified teachers. The waiver is in place for a limited period- calendar years 2021, 2022 and 2023. A limited number of teachers’ pensions are abated annually.

As some public servants, including teachers, retire earlier than the age of eligibility for the state pension (Contributory), their occupational pension may, on application and subject to certain criteria, be augmented by other social welfare benefits and/or the payment of a supplementary pension by the occupational pension provider. As the Deputy will be aware jobseeker’s allowance is a payment made by the Department of Social Protection and the criteria regarding the payment of jobseekers allowance following a return to employment, such as substitute teaching, is a matter for the Department of Social Protection to clarify.

School Admissions

Questions (113)

Cian O'Callaghan

Question:

113. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Education the options that are available to students who do not have a local school in their catchment area but subsequently face a selection process in schools outside their catchment area; if this process is discriminatory to those without a local school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58307/22]

Written answers

Minister for Education

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 and the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018. My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in that area.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 will 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 Act requires schools to clearly set out their selection criteria in their admission policies. Schools have discretion in relation to their admission criteria and how they are applied. Some schools may apply a catchment area as one of their selection criteria. The criteria to be applied by schools and the order of priority are a matter for the schools themselves. My Department does not seek to intervene in the selection criterion that is applied by schools

Education and Training Boards

Questions (114)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

Question:

114. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Education when her Department will progress the applications by Donegal ETB (details supplied). [58312/22]

Written answers

Minister for Education

I would like to inform the Deputy that the general principles and approach to school selection on the Department's Energy Retrofit Pathfinder Programme include schools meeting Energy Monitoring and Reporting requirements and demonstrating a strong and holistic commitment to energy management practices through participation in the Energy in Education Programme.

The programme selection also seeks to enable various cross sections of school types and sizes, energy consumption profiles and different elements of construction type and heritage/ conservation requirements where specific learnings are being targeted. The pathfinder programme is thus delivered on broad assessment in line with the above considerations and not on an application basis.

The Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications Eamon Ryan TD and I recently launched the 2023 – 2024 Schools Energy Retrofit Pathfinder Programme which will evaluate and demonstrate the approach to energy retrofit and carbon reduction in the schools’ sector, testing energy efficiency solutions and renewable heat technologies.

The 2023/24 Pathfinder is jointly funded with a targeted budget of €35 million from the Department of Education and Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications and administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) and the Planning and Building Unit in the Department of Education with delivery support from Limerick Clare ETB.

This government-funded energy retrofit pathfinder programme will target energy use and CO2 emission reduction by 51%, testing deep retrofit and low carbon heating solutions. The programme will see up to 10 schools benefitting from a selection of energy efficiency works.

This programme continues to assist the Department to explore options and test various solutions for decarbonised energy efficiency solutions in our broad range of school building types. It is paving the way for, and informing, a much larger schools national programme for the energy retrofit of schools built prior to 2008 and will play a key part of meeting delivery of the Climate Action Plan.

The schools for 2023 present a variety of challenges, including building age, archetype and retrofit requirements. The works typically involves upgrades to the building fabric including wall and roof insulation, doors and windows, air tightness improvements, LED lighting and heating upgrades as well as renewable technologies.

The pathfinder programme has retrofitted 42 schools across Ireland to date with work on an additional 15 schools currently at various stages of progress.

The schools selected for the 2023 programme are:

- Leixlip Community School, Kildare

- Catherine McCauley Special School, Limerick

- Carndonagh Community School, Donegal

- St Joseph’s National School, Kingscourt, Cavan

- Presentation Girls Primary School, Maynooth

- Holy Rosary School, Wicklow

- Hazelwood College, Limerick

- St Colmcille’s Community School, Dublin

- Scoil Thomas Primary School, Dublin

- Scoil Neassain Primary School, Limerick

Education and Training Boards

Questions (115)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

Question:

115. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Education the reason that her Department has not substantively responded to the submission and supported the funding application from Donegal ETB on the effects of the MICA issue on students enrolled in Donegal ETB schools and staff employed by Donegal ETB, first submitted in July 2021. [58313/22]

Written answers

Minister for Education

My Department met with representatives of Donegal ETB earlier this year and provided information about the range of supports and resources available to it to support students and staff who have been affected by the MICA issue in the county, and will continue to liase with the ETB in this regard.

Ukraine War

Questions (116)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

Question:

116. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Education when her Department will respond to Donegal ETB in relation to funding the ferry cost for Ukrainian students enrolled in a school (details supplied). [58314/22]

Written answers

Minister for Education

The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. In the last school year over 121,400 children, including over 15,500 children with special educational needs, were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country at a cost of over €289m in 2021.

My Department and Bus Éireann will continue to provide School Transport Scheme services for children arriving to Ireland from Ukraine. Full information on the process is available on Gov.ie/Ukraine.

Children who for the first time require School Transport for the 2022/2023 school year will need to apply in line with this process. Due to the ongoing situation with accommodation, where there has been, and may continue to be, significant movement of families, all children need to reapply for a transport service for the 2022/2023 school year.

Applications for school transport for people residing in accommodation centres are submitted by REALT co-ordinators to School Transport Section of the Department of Education, which in turn liaise with Bus Éireann in order to provide school transport services as required.

Regional Education and Language Teams (REALT) are hosted by the 16 regional education and training boards around Ireland and staffed by regionally based education support personnel. The primary role of the REALT is to build on existing regional education support structures and the initial focus will be on assisting families in securing school places. REALT will also support schools in the area to meet the needs of these children as they emerge, to advise and support the Department of Education in developing new capacity where required, and to co-ordinate the provision of education services to schools and families across their defined area.

School Transport Section in the Department sanctioned transport for the pupils referred to by the Deputy. Bus Éireann have confirmed that transport has been arranged and that transport is available to be provided to the ferry port referred to by the Deputy.

Funding for ferry transport to the Islands is outside the remit of the School Transport Scheme and is a matter for the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sports and Media.

Officials in my Department liaise regularly with the local REALT coordinator in relation to this and other matters.

Ukraine War

Questions (117)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

Question:

117. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Education if her Department will make translators and interpreters available to schools, who have received targeted training in advance to include translating challenging and sensitive conversations in response to the Ukrainian refugee crisis. [58315/22]

Written answers

Minister for Education

Information has been provided to schools on cultural and linguistic supports available to support communication with families arriving from Ukraine.

The Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST), the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA), Post Primary Languages Ireland (PPLI) and a range of support services have come together to develop a dedicated space on scoilnet.ie for schools and teachers to access a wide range of cultural and linguistic supports. This is a very useful central repository of supports and resources for teachers and schools which includes:

- A range of Diversity and Inclusion guidelines;

- Teaching and Learning Resources and

- Access to PDST supports.

Included among the wide array of resources, is information in relation to free digital tools, including apps that can assist with text and voice translation. These resources are particularly useful in terms of making school forms accessible to all and for assisting with communication between schools and parents.

Information on free digital apps is available via the new dedicated scoilnet webpages and at www.pdst.ie/sites/default/files/What%20free%20digital%20tools%20are%20available.pdf

A short guidance video prepared by PDST on how to use the Microsoft Translator app is available at the following link www.youtube.com/watch?v=og5WbqV0RlM

Language mats in Ukrainian and Russian are now available for schools to access in digital format through the scoilnet webpage or the PPLI website languagesconnect.ie/language-mats/

They provide commonly used classroom language in Ukrainian and Russian.

Furthermore, the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) has published:

- Guidance on supporting all children who may be experiencing distress in relation to current events – Supporting Children and Young People in a time of war.

- Revised Guidance for primary and post-primary schools in relation to supporting the wellbeing of children/young people from Ukraine at this time. This includes support for students with special educational needs

- Guidance for Parents and Carers from Ukraine on Supporting the Wellbeing of their Children

- A model of Psychological First Aid (PFA) to help teachers support students. The document is called Look, Listen & Link.

- NEPS has delivered a series of wellbeing webinars via the Education Support Centres of Ireland, to further support schools. They will develop further advice and resources as needs emerge.

- NEPS psychologists are actively engaging with school principals to provide advice and support.