Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
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185. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide a breakdown of the amounts of ICT funding each secondary school receives; whether there are different funding rates; the criteria for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49320/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027 was published last year and is underpinned by an investment of €200m to support its implementation, committed to under Ireland’s National Development Plan (NDP). The first tranche of €50m issued to all recognised primary and post-primary schools in late 2021.

The previous Digital Strategy for Schools 2015 to 2020 saw overall investment of €210m issued to all recognised primary and post-primary schools in annual grant funding. This funding enabled schools to invest in appropriate digital infrastructure to enable the embedding of the use of digital technology in teaching, learning and assessment.

The funding provided for in the NDP to support the implementation of the Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027 in ICT Grant funding to schools is intended to facilitate multi-annual planning by schools. It should be noted however the funding available and the specific timing for issue of the ICT grant is subject to the availability of Exchequer funding and the wider capital needs of the Department including the building programme to ensure the supply of school accommodation.

Each school must have a Digital Learning Plan, based on a whole school approach and taking account of its context and circumstances. The plan should outline the vision of the school for the embedding of digital technologies in teaching, learning and assessment and incorporate targets and actions for improvement and development.

The Digital Learning Plan should be reviewed and updated, at least annually, and used to guide the expenditure of the grant funding to embed digital technologies in a phased and coherent approach to improve learning outcomes.

A standard funding formula incorporating both a flat rate lump sum and a per capita amount for each student enrolled is used to calculate the grant due to each school, so the specific allocation per school will depend on enrolment in all schools, the number of the schools, and the total amount of funding available under the scheme. An enhanced per capita rate applies to students enrolled in DEIS and Special schools and to pupils in mainstream special class primary settings All students following primary and post-primary programmes are included, for per capita purposes, in recognised primary, special and post-primary schools. Fee-charging post-primary schools receive funding at 50% rate.

The scheme is also supported by the provision of technical and procurement guidance and information for schools and their leaders, with a detailed circular outlining relevant supports and the criteria applying to the scheme.

Funding of €50m secured as part of Ireland's National Recovery and Resilience Plan under the NextGenerationEU Recovery and Resilience Facility also issued to all recognised schools in the free education scheme to support learners at risk of educational disadvantage through the digital divide in late 2021.

My Department intends to issue the next tranche of ICT grant funding in the 2023 to 2024 school year.

As part of the forthcoming Review of the National Development Plan, my Department’s aim is to provide better clarity and certainty for schools on the timelines for payment of minor works and ICT grant funding.

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The Special Education Teaching allocation 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. All schools are advised in the first instance to review whether the needs of newly enrolled pupils can be met from within existing allocations.

The Department also provides specific English Language support to schools with pupils newly arrived into the country that have English as an additional language.

Schools may apply for further language support through the staffing appeals process. Having considered the circumstances outlined by the school and having regard to the high number of pupils requiring EAL support, additional support may be approved to meet the educational needs of such pupils.

The school referred to by the Deputy submitted an appeal to the Primary Staffing Appeals Board which was considered at the October meeting. The school has been allocated 1 fulltime EAL post for this school year. The school has been notified of this decision. The Primary Staffing Appeals Board operates independently of the Department and its decision is final.