I appreciate the Deputy's passion, absolute determination and vision for this project. The amalgamation proposal will be assessed. Contact will be made with the patron. We divide the country into 314 special school planning areas. We rely on a geographic information system, GIS, which gathers information from the Central Statistics Office, CSO, to determine future patterns of demographics. We engage with local authorities on their development plans and projections for the future, especially as regards housing devel…

Since 2020, the Department of Education has invested in the region of €3.5 billion in our schools throughout the country, involving the completion of more than 690 school building projects. Construction is currently under way on more than 300 building and other projects. School building projects at construction stage involve an overall State investment of more than €1.2 billion. We also have 200 modular accommodation projects that are well advanced for delivery or at construction stage. This is a record level of in…

I confirm the Deputy is correct, the building, which was the parish hall, has been closed since 2020. It will form part of the school going forward. Currently, whether it can be used by the community is a matter for the parish. When it becomes part of the school, it will be a matter for the board of management, but we have clear guidelines, which we consistently update. We recommend that facilities be made available to local communities. I am personally engaged in and supportive of that. The Minister of State, Depu…

It is positive that the project is approved and we are moving it towards the project manager framework. It is our intention to expedite it as quickly as possible for the benefit of the school community. Ultimately, decisions about the use of the hall going forward will then be a matter for the board of management of the school.

Ensuring that every child's experience in school is positive and that children have qualified and engaged teachers available to support them in their learning is a priority. In particular, budget 2024 contains a number of measures that demonstrate my commitment to continued investment in our education system. In addition to numerous actions that have been taken in recent years to address teacher supply, a number of specific and targeted measures will be introduced with the new funding provided. A professional maste…

I would never for one minute underestimate the challenges and difficulties in some areas. They are more heightened in some areas than in others. We are a country that is practically at full employment and the challenges we are facing in the education sector are not unique to it. They are evident in healthcare, tourism, retail and many other areas. That said, 70,000 staff are employed by the Department of Education. This is a significant figure, notwithstanding the difficult issues that arise in some instances. We h…

The Deputy referenced special education. We have almost 3,000 special classes operational in our system. These are deliberately kept at a low rate of one teacher and two SNAs to every six students. This is a significant measure. In addition, we have the pupil-teacher ratio at an historic low of 23:1 in our primary schools. This means that we have never had as many teachers in the system as we do now, notwithstanding the specific issues the Deputy raised. We are happy to consider flexibilities. We did so in respect …

The Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018 is important legislation which has introduced a more parent-friendly, equitable and consistent approach to how school admissions policy operates for the almost 4,000 primary and post-primary schools. The legislation is part of a suite of measures taken to take greater account of the needs of parents and students in the school system. All school admissions policies must be approved by the patron following consultation with staff and parents of children who are attending …

I appreciate that the Deputy has highlighted a very important issue. We need to reiterate that no parent can be charged for enrolment to a school or for tuition in any subject. Section 64 of the Act makes that explicitly clear. This school has said it never intended for any link to be made between enrolment and the paying of a fee. The school has categorically confirmed that it does not charge an admission fee and that the fee was never intended to be a fee for enrolment. The school has said, and it has been confir…

I reiterate that I am very pleased the Deputy has raised this issue. It is important to state, for the record, that section 64 of the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018 makes clear that no fee can be charged for enrolment or instruction in any subject, recreation or other activities where all pupils are expected to participate. That is very clear. In this instance, the school has put its hand up following the issue raised by the Deputy and contact from the Department. It has given a commitment that it will c…

Under the Education Act 1998, the question of enrolment policy in individual schools, including the setting of catchment areas, is the responsibility of the board of management on behalf of the school patron. The 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's main responsibility is to ensure that sch…

For clarity, the Department of Education does not set out any catchment areas for schools. That is the preserve of the boards of management and the Department of Education has no function there. For the school referenced by the Deputy, it is my understanding that there is no catchment area designed by the board of management. Schools choose to use whatever type of enrolment mechanism, whether a lottery or otherwise, and consequently, as we do not develop catchment areas, we do not have catchment area maps in the De…

To be fair, our geographical information system, which is based on current information from the CSO or engagement with local authorities, very much informs our projections going forward in terms of the needs in a specific area. I have already outlined that we are conscious of the growing demands.

Boards of management have the autonomy to develop their own unique and individual criteria. No two schools are the same and we are very conscious of that. Individual schools have the autonomy, taking on board what are the individual circumstances in an individual area at any given time, to make their policies with regard to admission. As I said, the Department has no role in developing catchment areas. It is interesting to note that, as I understand it, this school does not have a catchment area policy.

I join with the Members of the House in expressing my sincere and heartfelt sympathies to every single person who has been affected by this brutal, senseless and cruel attack. Our thoughts are in particular with the young children and the carer who were attacked on Thursday afternoon, as well as their families and loved ones. To perpetrate such violence against any person is a grave travesty; to do so against innocent children and their carer takes the horror and indecency of what occurred to a whole new level. I h…

I appreciate the Deputy raising this issue, which will be raised by others during oral questions. The Deputy is correct that the announcement was made for the 2023-24 school year. I am pleased to confirm that we will be launching the first phase of the programme in the coming weeks. A significant amount of work had to be undertaken and not just by our own Department. The scheme is being supported by the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications. A considerable body of work had to be done between the …

At the outset, I want to confirm that my Department has a very strong record with respect to sustainable energy in school buildings. This performance has been recognised at both national and, indeed, international level with sustainable energy awards for excellence in design and specification. The Department’s approach to the decarbonisation of the school sector is predicated on establishing a credible phased pathway to zero emissions and meeting 2030 public sector targets. This will be achieved through an evidence…

I agree with the Deputy. There is widespread agreement that this is an innovative, positive and proactive step forward on climate sustainability. I acknowledge that it has been agreed between the Departments that the solar PV programme will be rolled out to schools in phases. I am pleased to advise that we remain on track to launch the first phase of the scheme this quarter. We expect all schools to have the opportunity to apply on a phased basis between the quarter 4 of 2023 and the end of 2023. Officials from my …

I appreciate there is unanimity from schools as well as from the House on moving this as quickly as possible. The GIS is an innovative move by the Department. It means that the uploading of quotes and streaming of applications will be done much faster. That will accelerate the delivery of the programme. On the finer detail, there is agreement that it will be done on a phased basis. The fuller detail is not entirely within the gift of my Department. We are working with the Minister for the Environment, Climate and C…

The Department provides a wide range of supports to all schools, both DEIS and non-DEIS, to support the inclusion of all students and address barriers to students achieving their potential. Supplementing these universal supports, the DEIS programme provides a targeted, equitable way to address concentrated educational disadvantage that promotes equity and has benefits for students. As part of budget 2023, I secured more than €8 million to specifically enhance school attendance, participation, and retention. I had p…