Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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120. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on an application for an ASD class for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30145/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I can confirm to the Deputy, that my Department is in receipt of an application for capital funding, under the Additional Schools’ Accommodation (ASA) scheme, from the school in question.

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has a statutory function to plan and co-ordinate the provision of education and support services to children with special educational needs, in consultation with the relevant education partners and the Health Service Executive (HSE). This includes the establishment of special class and special school placements in various geographical areas where there is an identified need.

I am pleased to advise that planning for school place requirements in special classes and special schools for the coming 2024/25 school year is now largely concluded with just a few remaining special classes to be approved.

The Department’s Modular Accommodation Programme is an important mechanism for facilitating accelerated delivery of necessary additional capacity – including in relation to special classes. However, as part of maximising existing capacity and managing within budgetary parameters this is targeted at schools where there is no existing capacity in the general area to facilitate the establishment of urgently required special classes.

Project Manager supports are being used to ensure that any necessary accommodation works are being done as quickly as possible and in a manner that eases some of the workload for the individual schools.

In relation to special classes that require modular accommodation, it should be noted that there can be a significant lead in period to provide same – depending on scale and complexity of the project. The Department’s approach is to advise schools that it is prudent to have contingency plans in place for modular accommodation projects that are approved by the Department. This contingency planning is supported by training, guidance and support from the NCSE in relation to the establishment of the special class.

The key factor for prioritisation is to ensure that every child has a school place. In practical terms this means there is a strong emphasis on maximising existing capacity in the school system as much as possible and adding additional capacity as needed. In this regard, the re-purposing of any existing spare classroom accommodation in relevant schools helps to facilitate the early establishment of special classes. The scope to achieve this is more common at primary level where national demographics have peaked and are reducing significantly over the short to medium term (albeit local and regional demographic pressures continue with housing roll-out). There are less opportunities for utilising spare classroom accommodation at post-primary level given the continued upward position on overall demographics combined with the need to significantly scale up provision of special classes to an average of 4 special classes in each post-primary school.

Since 2020, my department has invested in the region of €4.9 billion in our schools throughout the country, involving the completion of over 900 school building projects and with construction currently underway at approximately 300 other projects, which includes 30 new school buildings. These 300 projects currently at construction involve a total State investment of over €1.2 bn.

The application from the school in question is currently being considered by my officials. Once the assessment process has been finalised the school authority will be notified of the decision directly.

Paul Donnelly (Dublin West, Sinn Fein)
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121. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the supports available for teachers from special schools who are attacked by pupils; the extended supports available if they continue to suffer from effects, either physically or mentally, from the attack; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26988/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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In accordance with Section 14 of the Education Act 1998, it is the duty of the Patron to appoint, where practicable, a Board of Management. The Board of Management is the body of persons or the person appointed by the Patron to manage the school on his/her behalf, including issues surrounding health and safety.

While the Department of Education has statutory functions in the setting of terms and conditions for teachers, the Department of Education is not the employer.

Where a teacher injured as a result of physical contact from a third party causing physical injury in the course of their duties and during approved school activities, they may apply for leave under the “Leave of absence following Assault Scheme”. The provisions of this scheme are contained in the Department’s . It provides for special leave with pay (subject to specified limits) to a teacher who is unable to perform their duties due to a physical injury following an assault that happened in the course of their duties and during approved school activities.

The leave available under the Scheme for Leave of Absence following Assault is 3 months (92 days) at full pay in a rolling 4-year period. In exceptional cases, such as where a significant period of hospitalisation is required or in situations of a second or subsequent incident of assault, the leave may be extended for a further period not exceeding 3 months (91 days) at full pay, subject to an overall limit of 6 months (183 days) at full pay in a rolling 4-year period.

The Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform (DPENDR) determines the terms and conditions of Leave Schemes for Public Servants, which includes teachers. In this regard, the limits imposed in the Assault Leave Circular for Teachers was agreed with Education Partners in conjunction with DPENDR.

A Teacher who has exhausted the maximum period of paid leave under the Scheme for Leave of Absence following Assault and who is still medically unfit to resume duty may avail of Sick Leave under the Sick Leave Scheme, subject to the normal rules of that scheme.

The , which is currently provided by Spectrum.Life, is available as a supportive resource for teachers. The freephone confidential helpline is 1800 411 057 and is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Supportive resources may include short term counselling (up to six sessions). If the EAS recommends additional short-term counselling sessions with the teacher , the Department can facilitate this request.