Aisling Dolan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for coming in to speak with us again. Unfortunately, I do not have a printed copy of the statement.The Minister referred to teacher supply, the availability of student places and the options retired teachers have to return to teaching. The Minister highlighted that there is a portal for primary schools, which sounds very welcome and can be used for recruitment across the country. The Minister also said there are around 314 school planning areas and that school enrolment and child benefit data is used to try to plan ahead in terms of where pressures will arise. It is to be hoped that the census will also give us data on that. Does that data include families who have arrived in the past year or two?

Students in teacher training colleges are supporting schools with substitution work. That is through the request of the Minister. Teacher training colleges have acquiesced and are now supporting the Minister in this, which is important. The Minister mentioned the importance of increasing the number of teacher training places in September. I understand that there is an agreement with the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Deputy Harris, and his Department to increase the number of places. Is there funding for that? Does the funding come from the Departments of Education and Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science? How will we ensure that the places are planned for September?

The Minister made reference to the possibility of teachers from abroad coming to Ireland to teach. That is another measure that is being considered in terms of trying to meet the need here. Does the Minister have any comments on that measure? Many of our teachers have travelled abroad in the past year, in particular when there were lockdowns and people could not travel for two years.

The Minister highlighted the census numbers. The census shows that there is a bump in the numbers moving from primary to secondary school. There are also new school builds. The Minister highlighted that 180 school building projects are proceeding this year. It is crucial that the Department of Education is also examining the additional accommodation side. Many primary schools and secondary schools in urban areas are at capacity. That is not the case with rural schools. There are challenges for families coming to Ireland in terms of trying to meet their needs.

Modular buildings are important, and we need to be able to facilitate their use. The buildings are fantastic quality. I have seen them in St. Teresa's Special School in Ballinasloe, which the Minister visited. What can we do in the context of temporary measures for schools that are under huge pressure?

The Minister spoke about the capital infrastructure part. The other part I would like to speak to includes Scoil an Croí Naofa. The Minister will be delighted to hear that the school developed its first student council and students from fourth, fifth and sixth class were here today representing the school. We need a school. That is one thing that is on my mind. The project is going through a statutory planning process at the moment.

The other areas I wish to mention in respect of modular builds and additional accommodation are the measures being put in place around costing and finance between the Departments of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and Education on the level of funding required for September in order to increase the number of places. How long does the Minister expect the teaching colleges involved to maintain this with their students? Is there a plan? Will this continue until Easter or is there a plan to maintain the agreement after Easter until the summer?

The census numbers reflect an increase in the number of children with special educational needs. The Minister of State, Deputy Madigan, stated more than 600 new special classes would be provided for in the budget by the Department of Education, sanctioned at primary school level. I understand five new special schools were established over the past three years. Those numbers are incredible, but the classes will need to be maintained over the next three years.

There are issues at post-primary level. One in every four schools is a DEIS school. The majority of DEIS schools are probably primary schools. How will we manage support for children at post-primary level? There has been a report from the INTO on burnout among primary school teachers. What mechanisms are in place to manage the administrative workload? Are there any innovative ideas around supports for the administrative element in order to ease teachers' workloads? I am sure all of this is being looked at by the Teaching Council.

A key area for me is the final review from the steering committee on school transport. I would very much appreciate it if the Minister could comment on that. She has responded on a number of occasions regarding timelines. Any information she can provide for children who are applying for tickets would be very much appreciated. This is absolutely crucial because parents are trying to plan. We saw what happened last year and want to work hard with Bus Éireann to avoid the same happening again.

I ask the Minister to comment on the NCCA audit on the new SPHE curriculum, which is happening in September. The key issue for me is active consent. We know programmes are being rolled out in the University of Galway at the moment, and it is crucial that the same happens in our primary and secondary schools.