Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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358. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will respond to claims that the treatment shown to Ukrainian students is preferential to any other children fleeing conflict and war from other regions in the world including Syria, Yemen and Afghanistan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33508/22]

Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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359. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she believes that Ireland’s education should equally support all children fleeing conflict and war in the world; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33509/22]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 358 and 359 together.

It is vitally important that the education system is one in which every child and young person feels equally supported. All migrant children, including children of international protection applicants, refugees, migrant workers and unaccompanied minors, can access pre-school, primary and post-primary education in a manner similar to Irish nationals, until they have reached the age of 18 years.

A school must admit all students applying where it is not oversubscribed and places are available. Schools must also include an admission statement in its admission policy stating that the school will not discriminate in its admission on any of nine specified grounds. 

The Department of Education is working with all relevant authorities, education partners and school communities to ensure Ukrainian children of school-going age, who are beneficiaries of the Temporary Protection Directive, are provided with access to appropriate supports to allow them to continue their education in Ireland.   This directive assures their right to education in the public education system, along with other rights, for a temporary period, on the same basis as EU citizens.

The Special Education Teaching allocation, as outlined in Circular 0020/2022, (primary schools) and 0021/2022 (post primary schools) provides a single unified allocation for special educational support teaching needs to each school, based on each school’s educational profile and also encompasses the Language Support (EAL) allocation that schools were allocated in previous years.  

Many schools already have an existing Special Education Teaching allocation which also includes the EAL allocation, and further temporary Language Support is also provided, as necessary, to schools that have high concentrations of pupils that require language (EAL) support.

The staffing arrangements for primary and post primary schools for the 2022/23 school year are set out in Circular 0025/2022 (primary) and Circulars 0022/2022, 0023/2022 and 0024/2022 (post primary),  and are available on the Department website.