Written Answers Nos. 87-102
87. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education when a decision will be made on a remote area grant for a child (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15136/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. In the current school year over 121,400 children, including over 15,500 children with special educational needs, are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country at a cost of over €289m in 2021.
Under the terms of the Department's Primary School Transport Scheme children are eligible for school transport where they reside not less than 3.2 kilometres from and are attending their nearest school as determined by my Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
Families who wish to avail of school transport and have their eligibility status assessed should apply on-line in a timely manner to Bus Éireann on Bus Éireann’s website at www.buseireann.ie.
Bus Éireann has advised that they have not received an application for the pupil referred to by the Deputy.
The closing date for school transport applications for the 2022/23 School Year is 29th April 2022 and the closing date for payment is 29th July 2022.
While families can still make an application once the closing date has passed, this will not guarantee a seat on a school transport service. Consideration for a remote area grant for the 2022/23 school year cannot be given once the closing date has passed.
Bus Éireann, which operates the school transport scheme on behalf of the Department, will contact all applicants regarding their eligibility for school transport:
- Following a timely application and payment process where there is a transport service available for eligible children, Bus Éireann will continue to liaise with eligible families regarding invoicing, payments, ticketing etc.
- Following a timely application and payment process where there is no transport service available for eligible children, Bus Éireann will contact the Department, which will then consult families directly regarding consideration for a Remote Area Grant.
88. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the need for additional classroom accommodation in a school (details supplied); the initiatives her Department is undertaking to address this school's additional classroom accommodation needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15166/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe purpose of the Additional Schools Accommodation (ASA) scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream and special education classroom accommodation is available to cater for pupils enrolled each year and where the need cannot be met by the school’s existing accommodation.
This situation can arise where an additional teaching post has been sanctioned by Teacher Allocation Section and all available alternative accommodation within the school is already being used for classroom purposes or where a major building project is in the pipeline and an immediate short term accommodation problem has arisen. As soon as the Board of Management becomes aware that additional school accommodation will be required, they should complete the ASA application form immediately.
I can confirm that my Department's officials have engaged with the school authority in this context and have received an application under the ASA scheme in the past few days. The application will be considered in light of any ongoing projects and an appropriate decision will issue directly to the school authority in due course.
89. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education if she has engaged a company (details supplied) in respect of the services it provides from 2011 to date in 2022; the number of times she has engaged this company; the services used; and the total cost of all engagements with this company. [15177/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm to the Deputy that my Department has engaged the services of the company to which she refers in her question during the period 2011 to March 2022. This company provided services on 25 occasions during this period for a total value of €12,552.96. The breakdown of the annual cost of these services is set out in the attached table.
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Word Perfect Translations Ltd. |
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2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
|
€232.32 |
Nil |
Nil |
€1,711.82 |
€189.42 |
Nil |
€194.34 |
Nil |
Nil |
€2,645.18 |
€1,953.88 |
€5,626.00 |
90. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education her plans for new secondary schools in Cherrywood, County Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15242/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe planned establishment of a new post-primary school in 2021 to serve the Sallynoggin_Killiney_DLR/Cherrywood school planning area was announced in 2018 as a result of a countrywide demographic exercise. Further analysis has since been conducted on the necessity for the establishment of a number of planned new schools, including the school to serve this school planning area, taking into account a number of factors, including the pace of delivery of the expected additional residential development in the school planning areas, associated enrolments and the capacity in existing schools in the areas.
My Department is satisfied that demand in the Sallynoggin_Killiney_DLR/Cherrywood school planning area can be accommodated at present by the existing and growing schools in this area. As a result, the establishment of the planned new school has been deferred.
The pace of delivery of additional residential development in this school planning area, along with updated enrolment data and demographic data will be kept under review and this will inform the timing of school requirements.
91. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education her plans for Gaelcholáistí and non-denominational secondary schools in the south County Dublin area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15244/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy that new schools are established by the Department on the basis of identified demographic demand in an area, and after consideration of the capacity of existing schools to absorb the expected school place demand.
In order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, the Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a Geographical Information System, using data from a range of sources, including Child Benefit and school enrolment data, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise and where additional school accommodation is needed at primary and post-primary level.
Major new residential developments in a school planning area have the potential to alter demand in that area. In that regard, as part of the demographic exercises, the Department engages with each of the local authorities to obtain the up-to-date information on significant new residential development in each area.
The Department additionally consults with school patron bodies in order to identify areas with pressures on enrolments.
Where demographic data indicates that additional provision is required, the delivery of such additional provision is dependent on the particular circumstances of each case and may, be provided through:
- Utilising existing unused capacity within a school or schools,
- Extending the capacity of a school or schools,
- Provision of a new school or schools.
In addition to ongoing demographic analyses, the Department continues to liaise with Local Authorities in respect of potential longer-term requirements for educational provision across the country, through the review of the County Development Plans, preparation of Local Area Plans and other relevant statutory planning processes.
A patronage process is run after it has been decided, based on demographic analysis, that a new school is required. The patronage process is open to all patron bodies and prospective patrons. The Online Patronage Process System (OPPS) has been developed by my Department to provide objective information to parents which will allow them to make an informed choice about their preferred model of patronage as well as language of instruction, i.e. Irish or English, of new schools. Parental preferences, as well as other considerations such as the extent of diversity of provision in an area (including Irish-medium provision), are key to the decision-making process and to whether at post-primary level a school would take the form of an Irish-medium Gaelcholáiste or whether, if English-medium, the school would include an Irish-medium unit or “Aonad”.
Most new post-primary schools must have a student enrolment capacity of 600 – 1,000 students. A lower threshold of 400 students may apply to Gaelcholáistí, having regard to the alternative of establishing an Aonad within a school.
While it is expected that the existing Gaelcholáistí in the South Dublin area between them have sufficient school places to accommodate the level of demand identified as part of the recent patronage processes in the short term, given the number of new gaelscoileanna which have opened in recent years or are planned to open in this area, my Department is keeping the position under active review as these schools grow and the number of sixth class pupils in gaelscoileanna increases.
92. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education when her Department received the inquiry from the school authority regarding the process for school amalgamations further to a response; the status of the proposed amalgamation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15261/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra93. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education the engagement her Department has had with the patron or board of management of a school (details supplied) with regard to the closure of the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15262/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra94. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education the engagement her Department has had with the patron or board of management of a school (details supplied) with regard to any proposed amalgamation involving this school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15263/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 92 to 94, inclusive, together.
The position in respect of school amalgamations is that the decision making authority belongs to the patron of the school in question. Any proposal to amalgamate a school requires consultation with the relevant stakeholders including parents, teachers, students and local communities. Such proposals must then be agreed with the Department.
While my Department has no record of a request to approve the amalgamation of Scoil Bhríde, it received an enquiry on 25 November, 2021 from the school authority regarding the process for school amalgamations.
95. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education the engagement her Department has had with the patron or board of management of a school (details supplied) with regard to the participation of this school in the small schools clusters action research project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15264/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department launched a two-year action research project in 2021 aimed at supporting small rural schools by encouraging a number of small schools to cluster together in local groups enabling them to collaborate and identify common challenges and trial innovative solutions.
This project was developed by a working group of school management bodies and teachers’ unions with the Department for Education, as part of the programme of work of the Primary Education Forum (PEF). As a pilot project it was not possible to include all small schools in this two-year action research project.
96. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education the schools involved in the small schools clusters action research project; the location of these schools; the details of the cluster they are part of in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15265/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra97. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education the status of the small schools clusters action project; if she has received any interim reports to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15266/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 96 and 97 together.
My Department launched a two-year action research project in 2021 aimed at supporting small rural schools by encouraging a number of small schools to cluster together in local groups, enabling them to collaborate and identify common challenges and trial innovative solutions. This project was developed by a working group of school management bodies and teachers’ unions with the Department for Education, as part of the programme of work of the Primary Education Forum (PEF).
The project consists of six clusters of small schools (East and West Galway, Donegal, Waterford, Wicklow and Kerry), consisting of 3/4/5 schools per cluster. The clusters are supported by local and national coordinators, which will develop and trial innovative new ways of operating.
The project commenced in Q4 2021 and will operate for the two year life-cycle. As an integral part of the project, evaluation will take place with an interim report at the end of year one and a final report at the end of the project. The clusters and the schools involved are included here in tabular form:
Donegal, northwest:
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School |
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Dunfanaghy, Dunfanaghy, Co. Donegal |
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Ballymore NS, Portnablagh, Co. Donegal |
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Creeslough NS, Creeslough, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal |
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Killygordon National School Main St., Killygordon, Lifford, Co. Donegal |
Galway, Gort
|
School |
|
St. Columbas NS, Ballyturn, Gort, Co. Galway |
|
Tubber NS, Tubber, Co. Clare |
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Kilbeacanty NS, Rakerin, Gort, Co. Galway |
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Lurga NS, Lurga, Gort, Co. Galway |
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Tierneevin NS, Gort, Co. Galway |
Galway Iorrais Aitheach
|
School |
|
SN Naomh Ciaráin, Cill Chiaráin, Conamara, Co. na Gaillimhe |
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SN Aird Mhóir, An Aird Mhóir, Cill Chiaráin, Co. na Gaillimhe |
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SN Mhuire, Carna,Co. na Gaillimhe |
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SN Naomh Colmáin, Muigh-Inis, Carna, Co. na Gaillimhe |
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SN Ard, An Aird Thiar, Carna, Co. na Gaillimhe |
Ciarrai.Cill Airne
|
School |
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Sn Naomh Mhichil, Baile ‘n Sceilg, Co Chiarraí |
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Scoil an Ghleanna, Baile an Sceilg, Co. Chiarraí |
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SN Cillín Liath, Maistir Gaoithe, Cill Airne, Co Chiarraí |
Wicklow
|
School |
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Scoil Mhuire na nAird, Shillelagh, Co. Wicklow |
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Crossbridge NS Tinahely, Co. Wicklow |
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Scoil San Eoin Redcross, Co. Wicklow |
Waterford
|
School |
|
S N An Chlais Mhor, Clashmore, Co. Waterford |
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Ballycurrane N S, Clashmore, via Youghal, Co, Waterford |
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St Marys N S Grange, Ballybrusa, via Youghal, Co. Waterford |
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S N Naomh Parthalan Cionn Saile Beag, Youghal, Co. Waterford |
98. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education if a second SNA will be allocated to a school (details supplied) given the exceptional circumstances of the case; and if a positive outcome will be expedited. [15272/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe NCSE has responsibility for planning and coordinating school supports for children with special educational needs including the allocation of SNAs and reviews.
The Special Needs Assistant (SNA) scheme is designed to provide schools with additional adult support staff who can assist children with special educational needs who also have additional and significant care needs. Such support is provided in order to facilitate the attendance of those pupils at school and also to minimise disruption to class or teaching time for the pupils concerned, or for their peers, and with a view to developing their independent living skills.
SNAs are not allocated to individual children but to schools as a school based resource. The deployment of SNAs within schools is a matter for the individual Principal/Board of Management of the school. SNAs should be deployed by the school in a manner which best meets the care support requirements of the children enrolled in the school for whom SNA support has been allocated.
It is a matter for schools to allocate support as required, and on the basis of individual need, which allows schools flexibility in how the SNA support is utilised.
In light of the disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the introduction of the new Frontloaded Allocation Model for SNAs for students in mainstream classes in primary and post -primary schools is to be deferred for a further year to the beginning of the 2022/23 school year.
In order to minimise disruption for schools, in the current circumstances, and to provide for continuity of allocations the following arrangements for the allocation of Special Needs Assistants for mainstream classes for the 2021/22 school year:
- Existing mainstream class SNA allocations in schools on 30 April 2021 will be maintained and will automatically rollover into the 2021/22 school year.
- No school will therefore receive an allocation less than that which they had on 30 April 2021.
- SNAs currently in mainstream settings can continue in post for the next school year in the normal way.
- Priority consideration will now be given by the NCSE to applications for increased support for the 2021/22 school year, in particular, applications from schools with no SNAs and developing schools will be prioritised. Determinations will be made before 30 June. Other applications will be processed in order of date received.
- As in previous years, where circumstances change during the course of the 2021/22 school year that materially increase the level of care need in a school to the extent that the school can clearly demonstrate that it cannot be met within the existing SNA allocation, the school may apply to the NCSE for a review. Detailed information on the NCSE exceptional review process is published on the NCSE website ncse.ie/for-schools.
The NCSE have published the SNA allocations on their website www.ncse.ie.
SNA allocations for special classes and special schools are not affected by this arrangement.
Circular 0029/2021 has been published and advises schools of the arrangements for the allocation of SNAs for the 2021/22 school year.
Provisions set out in Circular 0030/2020 has been extended for the 2021/22 school year.
Circulars 29/2021 and 30/2020 are available on the Gov.ie website. www.gov.ie/en/circulars/?organisation=department-of-education.
My Department does not have a role in making individual school determinations. Accordingly your correspondence has been forwarded to the NCSE for direct reply.
99. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education if she will consider providing additional funding to schools to deal with their significantly increased energy bills which are putting a strain on their finances. [15276/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department provides funding to all recognised schools in the Free Education Scheme by way of per capita grants. The two main grants are the Capitation grant to cater for day to day running costs including heating, lighting etc. and the Ancillary grant to cater for the cost of employing ancillary services staff. These grants may be regarded as a common grant from which the Board of Management can allocate according to its own priorities.
My Department has also ensured that centrally negotiated rates are available to schools for electricity and bulk heating fuels. These rates are available through existing frameworks sourced by the Office of Government Procurement (OGP). OGP has run competitions specifically for Schools at a national level and the Schools Procurement Unit and the Department has communicated with schools and school management bodies informing them of the options available to them through these national arrangements. Information on how to avail of these arrangements is available via the Schools Procurement Unit website, www.spu.ie.
Furthermore, my Department is at the forefront of design with respect to sustainable energy in school buildings and this performance has been recognised at both National and International level with sustainable energy awards for excellence in Design and Specification.
My Department’s Technical Guidance Documents set the benchmark for sustainable design in school buildings with a clear focus on energy efficiency and they are based on solid energy research projects. Schools that are designed and built in accordance with the Department’s schools technical guidance documents have been achieving A3 Building Energy Ratings since 2009 with current schools typically achieving up to 20% higher performance than required by the current Building Regulations, along with 10% of primary energy provided via photovoltaics and infrastructure provision for electric vehicle charging.
All new technologies and approaches are tested to ensure compatibility with school design and operational requirements. Successful and repeatable results are then incorporated into all new school designs and refurbishments. The Departments policy is supported by a strong research programme with fifty three research projects at various stages including the energy website www.energyineducation.ie, which is a joint partnership with the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI).
In the interest of sustainability, it is critical that renewable applications are properly suited to the schools needs so as to reduce energy costs and carbon and not just applied for the sake of having renewables. It is also critical that we minimise the demand for energy before we invest in renewable energy applications. This has been assisted in previous years with the wall and attic insulation programme and the water conservation programme.
My Department and the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications established a jointly funded pathfinder programme with the SEAI, testing and demonstrating energy efficiency and decarbonisation retrofit approaches. This pathfinder is a great example of collaboration ensuring the deployment of new design approaches and technologies are introduced to the educational environment on an evidence based approach.
This Pathfinder programme is paving the way for, and informing, a much larger national schools’ programme for the energy retrofit of schools built prior to 2008 as included in the National Development Plan. It is facilitating research on a range of typical retrofit options, which will have been tried and tested. It is providing valuable development information for a solution driven delivery strategy which will be founded on a solid evidence base that has proven the robustness and scalability of renewable solutions within the schools’ sector.
The longer-term outcome of the pathfinder will be to create an accurate and scalable model for energy efficient retrofits of schools across Ireland. The deep energy retrofit programme for schools built prior to 2008 is due to be rolled out as included in the National Development Plan.
The pathfinder programme has retrofitted 41 schools across Ireland to date with work on an additional 9 schools added in 2021 underway. 2022 sees six additional schools undergoing deep retrofit to a Building Energy Rating (BER) of B with renewable heating systems. Each school undergoes a comprehensive assessment to ensure that the measures are suitable for that school and will deliver value to both the school and learnings for the national retrofit programme.
The Energy in Education website portal and advice programme (Joint programme between SEAI and Dept. of Education) also assists schools reduce their energy consumption and empowers participating schools and pupils to learn the benefits of sustainability. www.energyineducation.ie. Typically savings of between 5 to 10% are identified through low and no cost measures, while some schools participating have identified potential savings of up to 15 % or more.
100. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education the status of plans to construct a new ASD unit for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15277/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is not in receipt of an application for additional school accommodation (ASA) from the school authority in question.
The purpose of the ASA scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream classroom and Special Education Needs (SEN) accommodation is available to cater for pupils enrolled each year, where the need cannot be met by the school’s existing accommodation.
At primary level, this situation generally arises to cater for a school’s accommodation requirements where an additional teaching post has been sanctioned by Teacher Allocation Section, or a new SEN class has been sanctioned by the NCSE, and all available alternative accommodation within the school is already being used for classroom purposes.
It is open to the school authority to make an application for additional accommodation through the 'Additional School Accommodation scheme (ASA)' which is available at www.education.ie. Officials from my Department have engaged with the school authority in this regard.
101. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education if she will appoint an exceptional teacher to a school (details supplied) as a matter of urgency given the range of issues and demands facing teachers and pupils in the school; and if a positive review will be expedited. [15282/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraEnabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for this Government.
This year, my Department will spend in excess of €2 Billion, or over 25% of the Department’s budget on providing a wide range of schemes and supports for children with special educational needs. This includes additional teaching and care supports.
Since 2012, special schools are staffed on the basis of individual pupil profile and the disability categorisations of those pupils, as opposed to being based primarily on school designation, in accordance with my Department's Circular 0032/2019 - Appointment of Administrative Deputy Principal and Staffing in Special Schools.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children with additional needs nationwide.
As the Deputy's query refers to an individual school, I will arrange to have the details referred to the NCSE for their attention and direct reply.
102. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the fact that staff toilets and a secretarial office are excluded from recent works approved by her Department for a school (details supplied); if these necessary works will be included when the project reaches construction stage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15292/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am pleased to inform the Deputy that funding was approved under the Additional Accommodation Scheme to enable the school in question to build 1 Mainstream classroom & en-suite toilets, 1 SET room and 1 WC for assisted users.
The school was recently approved to proceed to construction for the above approved accommodation. I can confirm that no further additional accommodation will be approved as part of this project moving forward and I trust this clarifies the situation.
