As the Deputy is aware this project has been devolved for delivery to Waterford and Wexford Education and Training Board (WWETB). I can confirm that the Stage 1 report was approved by the Department to progress to Stage 2a in January 2023. The next steps for the ETB's Design Team will be to progress through Stage 2a (Developed Design) and obtain the statutory planning approvals. When these are in place, the project can proceed to tender and construction. It is not possible at this stage to provide a timeline for th…

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.

The table below shows the total number of teachers for the years 2018 – 2021, this includes primary and post-primary. Data is reported on an academic year basis, i.e., 2021 means September 2021. Teacher numbers are based on allocations of teachers (whole time equivalents) each year and not actual persons (to avoid complications arising from job-sharing, leave cover and other factors). PLC teachers are not included in the number for teachers. For a more detailed breakdown please follow the link below: assets.gov.ie/…

The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education.  In the current school year over 147,900 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. In addition, school transport scheme services are being provided in the current school year for over 4,500 children who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine. The total cost of the scheme in 202…

Where a student is facing difficulties in a school, support services from the Educational Welfare Officer, the National Educational Physiological Services and the local Special Educational Needs Organiser as appropriate are available to the family by contacting the school in question. Where a board of management make a decision to refuse admission to a school, the parent/guardian can appeal that decision under section 29 of the Education Act, 1998, and an independent appeals committee will be appointed to consider …

The provision of child and adolescent mental health services in Ireland lies specifically within the remit of the Department of Health and the HSE. Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) is a service that provides assessment and treatment for young people who are experiencing mental health difficulties.  However, The Department of Education plays an important role in supporting the wellbeing and mental health of our young people.  The Department’s Wellbeing Policy and Framework for practice has given r…

My Department acknowledges that a library of books, audio books and other material to increase the literacy (in English, Irish or other languages) and numeracy resources in a school, can play an important part in a school’s teaching and learning. In 2022 my Department made once-off funding of €20 million available to all recognised primary and post-primary schools in the Free Education Scheme to purchase books, audio books and other media for the purposes of improving their existing literacy-resource banks. Assista…

A response to the correspondence referred to by the Deputy issued on 17 April. The Deputy may wish to note that the Programme for Government commits to the development of inclusive and age appropriate curricula for RSE and SPHE across primary and post-primary schools. Work to implement this commitment is ongoing, building on a major review of RSE in schools, completed in 2019 by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA).  he review involved students, parents, teachers, school leaders, researchers an…

I can confirm to the Deputy, that my Department is in receipt of an application for the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme from the school in question. My Department's Planning and Building Unit is currently assessing its work programme and priorities for 2023 in the context of its available funding. Key priorities for the Department's work programme include continuing strong delivery to support the operation of the school system with particular regard to planning ahead for the 2023/24 school year and bey…

I wish to advise the Deputy that I did not  meet with the Governor of Pennsylvania during my recent visit to Philadelphia for St. Patrick's Day events. We want to encourage responsible dog ownership. I thank an Cathaoirleach Gníomhach for his indulgence.

The Road Safety Authority (RSA) has been involved for a number of years in providing a comprehensive integrated road safety education programme in pre-school, primary, post-primary, third level and in the community. This has been done in partnership with many organisations including the Department of Education, An Garda Síochána, the Health & Safety Authority and the Higher Education Authority. As part of this, the RSA has developed a range of material that teachers can use to educate school children about road saf…

I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is in receipt of an application for additional school accommodation (ASA) from the school authority in question. Officials from my Department have been engaging with the school authority regarding September 2023 requirements as a priority, with a view to providing the required accommodation for the 2023/24 school year.  The Department is also liaising with the school authority regarding the schools' long term needs. The purpose of the ASA scheme is to ensure that essen…

My Department provides a wide range of supports to all schools, DEIS and non-DEIS, to support the inclusion of all students and address barriers to students achieving their potential. Supplementing the universal supports available to all schools, the Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools (DEIS) Programme is a key policy initiative of my Department to address concentrated educational disadvantage at school level in a targeted and equitable way across the primary and post-primary sector. In March last year, I…

My Department recently authorised the issue of the Letter of Acceptance to the recommended bidder for the school building project to which the Deputy refers. Subject to no issues arising, it is envisaged that construction will commence in Quarter 2 with an estimated completion timeframe of 18 months.

I can confirm to the Deputy, that my Department is in receipt of an application for the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme from the school in question. My Department's Planning and Building Unit is currently assessing its work programme and priorities for 2023 in the context of its available funding. Key priorities for the Department's work programme include continuing strong delivery to support the operation of the school system with particular regard to planning ahead for the 2023/24 school year and bey…

The criteria for the award of incremental credit to recognised teachers was agreed under the auspices of the Teachers Conciliation Council (TCC).  This Council is comprised of representatives of teachers, school management, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Department of Education.  The Council is chaired by an official of the Workplace Relations Commission. The criteria for the award of incremental credit is laid out in my Department's Circulars 10/2001 for Primary teachers, 29/2007 and 29/20…

The project to which the Deputy refers has been devolved for delivery to Galway and Roscommon Education and Training Board (GRETB). The Design Team for this project was appointed in June 2022. The Stage 1 report was received in the Department in March 2023 and is currently under review. Following completion of the Stage 1 process, the Design Team will move to detailed design and then seek the necessary statutory planning permission, following which the project will progress onward to tender and construction. As the…

I am pleased to inform the Deputy that on 5 April an agreement was secured to guarantee and support the rollout and continuation of my Department’s ambitious school building programme. My Department has a proven track record of delivery, with over 180 projects completed last year within a challenging environment of high inflation, labour shortages and supply chain issues. This year alone, over 300 school building projects are currently under construction, including 40 new school buildings and 260 projects at existi…

I can confirm to the Deputy that the school referred to has been approved for a project under my Department's Additional School Accommodation (ASA) Scheme. The project will provide the following accommodation at the school: 1 Classroom SEN base & 2 Mainstream classrooms as outlined in the project brief. This project has been devolved for delivery to the school authority. I wish to confirm that additional capital funding is being provided to the Department to address capital funding pressures. This will facilitate t…

There are myriad reasons I am proud to vote confidence in the Government. I will use my speaking time to outline briefly some of those reasons in my area of education. Simply put, the Government has progressed landmark reforms and investment in the education sector. All of them have been chosen to create the best possible opportunities and experiences for our children and young people, as well as to support the excellent staff working in the sector. Budget 2023 provided for an unprecedented investment in education …