Written answers

Thursday, 30 June 2005

Department of Education and Science

School Accommodation

8:00 pm

Photo of Cecilia KeaveneyCecilia Keaveney (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 585: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the progress which has been achieved for pupils, teachers and education infrastructure from June 2002 to June 2005; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23555/05]

Photo of Mary HanafinMary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The increased investment in education since 2002 has allowed major progress to be achieved for pupils and teachers and in the area of education infrastructure since 2002.

While progress has been achieved across a wide range of areas, at first, second and third level, particular areas of priority have been the provision of services for children with special needs and those from disadvantaged areas, increasing access to third level education and modernising our school facilities.

As regards education for children with special needs, the Deputy will be aware that since 2002, the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act has been passed, the National Council for Special Education has been established, 71 local special needs organisers have been recruited and there have been major increases in staffing. Indeed, more than 1,100 extra teachers have been hired in the past year to work directly with primary school children with special needs. There are, in fact, now more than 5,000 teachers and almost 6,000 special needs assistants in our primary schools, catering for the education and care requirements of children with special needs.

A major emphasis has been placed on improving services for children and young people from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Last month I launched an action plan for educational inclusion. The new plan will mean more support than ever before to help children, involve parents and support teachers in disadvantaged areas so that every child can reach his or her full potential.

The new approach to tackling disadvantage will include better identification of levels of disadvantage in our schools and a single integrated programme of supports for schools with concentrated levels of disadvantage, which will bring together and build upon some ten existing schemes and initiatives. Each school in the programme will benefit from a package of supports, with the highest level of assistance being targeted at young people in the most disadvantaged schools.

Extra supports at primary level will include smaller classes, better supports for children during and outside of school time, targeted supports in the area of literacy and numeracy with a major focus on early intervention, and enhanced professional development for teachers.

At second level, measures will include more guidance counsellors, improved library facilities and greater curricular choice. The action plan will be introduced on a phased basis — starting in the next school year — and will involve an additional annual investment of €40 million on full implementation. It will also involve the provision of some 300 additional posts across the education system.

On third level participation among students from disadvantaged areas, I would like to point out the major increase in the level of the top-up grant since it was introduced in 2002. The maximum level of maintenance payable in 2005, including top-up, will be €5,355, compared to €4,000 in 2002 and compared to a maximum grant payment of just €2,032 in 1997. More than 11,000 students are benefiting from the top-up grant this year.

Unprecedented resources have been provided in recent years for the school buildings and modernisation programme. Between the start of 2002 and the end of 2004 over 220 large-scale primary and post-primary building projects were completed throughout the country. During this period, my Department also sanctioned 4,927 grants for small scale building works including grants for the purchase of furniture and equipment in schools. A further 130 large scale building projects are due to be completed this year. Nearly €500 million will be spent on school building projects in 2005, which includes: 122 large-scale projects to proceed to tender and construction over a 12 to 15-month period; over 170 schools to benefit under devolved initiatives to provide permanent accommodation solutions to the needs of small primary schools and those schools in need of additional classroom accommodation; over 740 schools to benefit with refurbishment works on a devolved basis under the summer works scheme; and design work commencing on large scale projects at 43 schools and progressing at a further 124 schools. These are just some of the areas in which major progress has been made since 2002.

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