Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I move the following Revised Estimates:

Vote 26 — Education and Skills (Revised)

That a sum not exceeding €10,133,218,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2020, for the salaries and expenses of the Office of the Minister for Education and Skills, for certain services administered by that Office, and for the payments of certain grants.

Tá áthas orm a bheith anseo os comhair Dála Éireann inniu chun labhairt faoi Mheastacháin athbhreithnithe mo Roinne do 2020. Tá obair thábhachtach á déanamh ag mo Roinn san earnáil oideachais agus tá mé ag tnúth go mór leis an dúshlán atá romhainn. Liom inniu, tá an tAire, an Teachta Harris, atá anois mar Aire le cúraimí don ardoideachas agus don bhreisoideachas, agus an tAire Stáit ag an Roinn Oideachais agus Scileanna, an Teachta Niall Collins. I mo theannta freisin, tá an tAire Stáit ag an Roinn Oideachais agus Scileanna, an Teachta Madigan, atá cúraimí ar leith uirthi maidir le oideachas speisialta. Tá oifigigh ó mo Roinn anseo freisin.

It is a great honour to present the Revised Estimates 2020 for the Department of Education and Skills to the Dáil. This is a challenging time for Ireland's society and economy and particularly for the education sector, which has been massively impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. Students at all levels have had their education dramatically affected. However, through the efforts of all concerned we are coming through this crisis. Currently, the first priority for me, my Department and the wider school sector is to reopen our schools as fully, normally and safely as possible at the start of the new school year. This is an issue to which I will return later.

I will begin by explaining that the Revised Estimates do not reflect the decision announced by the Taoiseach on 27 June last to establish a new Department of further and higher education, research, innovation and science. As such, the Revised Estimates are for Vote 26, which has been the overall Vote for education and skills to date. Work is under way on the establishment of the new Department under the Minister, Deputy Harris. This work will involve the separation of significant elements of Vote 26 into a new Vote for that Department. When the work on allocating those parts of Vote 26 into the separate Vote for the Department of further and higher education, research, innovation and science is complete, I will return to the House with further Revised Estimates for the Vote of the Department of Education and Skills. I look forward to working with the new Minister for further and higher education, research, innovation and science and the Minister of State with responsibility for further education and skills, Deputy Niall Collins, as our two Departments co-operate on their complementary work in the education and skills sector.

The further Revised Estimates Volume will also reflect the inclusion in the responsibilities of my Department of the area of educational welfare and the school completion programme. These are currently under the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and work is also under way to progress the transfer of these functions to my Department. The allocation of the relevant funds will be included in the further Revised Estimates in the autumn.

The Covid-19 crisis has impacted deeply on the education sector. Its impact on school and college students has been profound. While schools and teachers did their best to teach remotely and while home schooling became the norm for many parents and their children, that was no substitute for the classroom.

Vital opportunities for social interaction, so important to our younger students, were lost for a number of months.

We all know the impact of the crisis on those due to undertake State examinations this summer. Trojan efforts have been made by all concerned to put in place alternative arrangements for this year that will ensure students receive calculated grades on a fair an equitable basis and thereby proceed to enter college or to pursue other career paths in the normal manner. I wish to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt appreciation to all those across the sector who have worked tirelessly to lessen the impact of the pandemic on our students. They have succeeded in putting in place alternative arrangements for those wishing to progress to and within tertiary education and in planning for the reopening of our schools and colleges in completely unprecedented circumstances. This includes teachers, school principals, school managers, special needs assistants, SNAs, school secretaries, school caretakers and indeed the entire school community. In addition, I pay tribute to the work of parents, who have worked so hard to support home schooling since March of this year. Above all, I commend the students and pupils themselves on their patience and flexibility in adapting to very changed circumstances for the delivery of their education.

As I mentioned earlier, I am absolutely committed to the goal of reopening our primary and post-primary schools as normal at the end of the summer. My officials are working closely with all stakeholders to achieve this goal, which is so important for all our students. There are a number of components to school reopening. As Deputies will be aware, I recently published interim public health advice, which was provided to my Department by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre. This advice is informing the development of clear guidelines for implementation in schools. We all want to support the education system in order that we can welcome our pupils and staff across our school communities back into a safe environment. We will continue to work with the public health experts over the summer to update the interim advice as necessary. In my engagement with stakeholders since my appointment I have been struck by everyone's commitment to providing the best possible experience for the entire school community to return to school as fully, normally and safely as possible.

A number of challenges arise in reopening schools. These challenges include physical distancing arrangements, the need for enhanced cleaning and hygiene routines and issues relating to school transport. Once schools reopen, however, the challenge will be to prevent Covid-19 from getting into schools in order that they can remain open. This will call for a joint effort on the part of all involved, with those who have symptoms or suspect they have the virus staying out of schools, best hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette practice being maintained in schools, and minimising social contacts and respecting physical distancing practices where practical to do so. There are well-being aspects and curricular challenges to be identified and addressed. I assure the House that all these matters are receiving appropriate attention. I reiterate that it is my utmost priority that student and staff safety and well-being should be to the forefront of all this planning.

These Estimates were drawn up in late 2019 as part of the 2020 budgetary process. Much has changed since then, and I will return to the House for approval of additional costs associated with Covid-19 measures needed to reopen schools for what will by then be the Department of education, with the appropriate funds reallocated to the newly established Department of further and higher education, research, innovation and science.

The gross voted allocation for the Department of Education and Skills in 2020 is €10.569 billion. This breaks down to approximately €9.647 billion in current expenditure and €922 million in capital expenditure. When the appropriations-in-aid income of €435 million is taken into account, the net voted allocation for the Department is €10.13 billion. The non-voted National Training Fund, NTF, has an allocation of €623 million, resulting in a total gross allocation for the Department of nearly €11.2 billion. This represents an increase of nearly €325 million, which is 3% above the Department's allocation for 2019.

The Department of Education and Skills Vote comprises three programmes: programme A, first, second and early years education; programme B, skills development; and programme C, higher education. A significant proportion of this Vote is expended on pay and pensions, with some of the almost €7.9 billion included in the Vote for these purposes and a further €236 million in pay being included in the NTF allocation. Some 113,000 public servants and 50,000 public service pensioners are paid out of these funds.

Other significant expenditure areas include capital infrastructure, non-pay grants to State agencies, school transport, capitation grants and student supports. The additional allocation in 2020 will deliver a range of measures in the education and training system. It will support an additional 1,600 posts in schools, including approximately 1,000 SNA posts and approximately 580 net additional teacher posts, catering for demographics and additional special classes. These investments will ensure more than 1,300 new special class places.

Schools will receive a 2.5% increase in capitation from September 2020, with an increase of €4.8 million in school funding in a full year. A €1 million investment fund for a new pilot that aims to provide free schoolbooks is now available to more than 100 primary schools that are part of the delivering equality of opportunity in schools, DEIS, programme.

Special education is a particular focus of these Estimates, with more than €1.9 billion, or one fifth, of this budget to be spent on recruiting additional SNAs and teachers to work in our special schools and mainstream schools. As a result of this investment, there will be 17,000 SNAs in our schools in the coming school year. This is a record level of resources to be allocated to this area, and I look forward to working with my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Madigan, as we ensure that these resources are used to ensure that all pupils, whatever their special needs, are able to access the education that allows them to reach their full potential.

Support for small schools is to be provided for in the Estimates, with improved teacher staffing levels for schools with four or fewer teachers. A one-point reduction in the staffing schedule will help ensure better teacher retention in smaller schools. The improved schedule will apply in two, three and four-teacher schools and ensure one fewer pupil is required to retain or recruit a teacher.

School leadership will continue to be supported, with one additional release day being provided for primary school teaching principals. The additional time to carry out administrative duties will apply to some 1,760 schools with fewer than seven teachers. A significant capital budget of €922 million is being provided for in 2020 and will contribute to the development of new, bigger and more energy-efficient school buildings and third level facilities. Of this provision, almost €748 million will be invested in schools, including investment in ICT, and some €174 million is being invested in the tertiary education and training system. This investment will deliver more than 30,000 school places and build on the work that has seen €3 billion invested in these building projects since 2016.

The Department's allocation includes a package of nearly €99 million in measures in the tertiary education system. This includes almost €70 million in funding arising from an increase in the NTF levy, which is non-voted expenditure. Supports aimed at providing more third level opportunities are also being provided, with a fund worth €60 million being made available for higher education institutions that seek to create new and diverse courses to expand the number of student places while preparing young people for a fast-changing world of work. This investment is part of the five-year €300 million human capital initiative established from within the NTF surplus and will add capacity across higher education to meet priority skills needs for enterprise, drive regional jobs growth and development and support key economic sectors in responding to the challenges of Brexit.

Turning to apprenticeships and skills, these Estimates include a major funding package utilising the resources of the NTF to increase significantly workplace and employer-led training, boost apprenticeship numbers and help address Brexit-related issues. An additional €27 million is being made available for apprenticeships. It will support more than 7,000 new apprenticeship registrations in 2020 and a range of new apprenticeship programmes. By the end of 2020, more than 20,000 apprentices are expected to be in training. Upskilling is also being supported, with almost €8 million in additional funding for Skillnet Ireland and an additional €6 million for employee skills development initiatives. This will be particularly important in the context of a response to the changes arising in the labour market from the Covid-19 pandemic.

I refer to the impact Covid-19 has had on the Vote so far this year. The pandemic has impacted all aspects of the education and skills sector, with schools, colleges and training facilities closing on 13 March. The junior certificate examinations did not proceed this year, while the leaving certificate examinations were postponed, with students offered the option of receiving calculated grades and the choice to take the exams at a later date when it is safe to do so. Education did not come to a halt, of course, with most schools and colleges making the transition to online learning, with significant support and input from parents. Great credit is due to everyone involved: teachers, school management, parents and the students. I appreciate that this transition may not have fully met the needs of every student, and I know that it was difficult for many, including those in exam years, those leaving primary school and students with additional needs.

I should explain that the Revised Estimate presented today does not include any provision in relation to Covid-19 at this stage. Officials at the Department and I have been working with stakeholders on how to open schools safely. There will be costs associated with reopening. These costs will arise in relation to hand sanitation and other such cleaning and hygiene requirements but also in terms of teacher and SNA substitution and support for our school leaders. Officials are actively engaging with officials in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in regard to the financial support that will be necessary. I am also discussing the matter with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.

I recognise there is likely to be a need for additional funding to address these costs arising and it is my intention that the exceptional funding requirements of the education and skills sector for this year and other expenditure pressures will need to be addressed as part of the Supplementary Estimates process. This will allow a clear picture as to the scale of the investment needed in the sector to ensure that it is adequately funded to respond to the unprecedented challenges that currently exist in our schools and colleges.

Some savings are likely to arise due to lower than anticipated expenditure in certain areas due to Covid-19 while additional and more substantial costs are likely to arise in areas relating to the reopening of schools and colleges. While costs associated with the State Examinations Commission will be lower due to the State examinations not going ahead as normal, the costs of the calculated grades have also to be factored in. In addition, there will be costs associated with running the exams at a later time. The capital allocation in the Vote is likely to be fully expended. While most construction projects were halted for a number of weeks, they have now resumed. Any capital expenditure savings arising from Covid-related delays will be required to alleviate budgetary pressures predating Covid-19.

The departmental restructuring announced by the Taoiseach recently will result in the establishment of the Department of further and higher education, research, innovation and science. This will lead to a split of this Vote in due course, with two of its three programmes being allocated to the new Department, namely, skills development and higher education, together with the NTF and an element of central administration cost. These areas account for expenditure of some €2.9 billion of the funds provided for in this Estimate, including €2.3 billion in voted moneys. The tertiary education sector is going through a major transformation and will aim to build on the incredible base of scientific research which has developed in the past two decades and has played a central role in our economy and our ability to respond to the pandemic.

I look forward to working with the Minister, Deputy Harris, in the months ahead on the establishment of the new Department and beyond. Functions will also be assigned to the new Department from other Departments with associated voted funds being allocated, while funding for educational welfare and school completion services will be assigned to the Department of Education and Skills from the Department of Children and Youth Affairs. The programme for Government agreed between Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party sets out ambitious goals for all areas of the education sector. The commitments in the programme will be founded on the principles of excellence, inclusion and sustainability. The programme calls for additional investment in the sector. It seeks to address the cost of education, which is a barrier to participation. It seeks also to be more inclusive. Plurality and choice will continue to be expanded while the Irish language and culture will be actively encouraged and promoted. The importance of higher and further education and redress is emphasised. A key decision of the Taoiseach was to set up a new Department to oversee this sector. In the months ahead, I will be developing proposals to give effect to the commitments that are relevant to the Department of Education and Skills and such proposals will be costed in the normal manner with due regard to budgetary considerations.

In conclusion, this Vote represents a record budget for the Department of Education and Skills of more than €11.2 billion. Of this allocation, some €10.13 billion represents the net Voted amount requiring the approval of the House. I thank the House for the opportunity to present this Revised Estimate and I look forward to engaging with the Deputies.

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