Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

89. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she could reply to a follow-up email in relation to a national school (details supplied), which has a number of queries in relation to a funding request; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40404/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I can confirm that my Department is in receipt of an application for a 2 x Special education classrooms, a Principal's office, a main office, 3 x Special education tuition rooms, additional staff and pupil toilets and extra parking associated with the new Special classes. The school also requested an upgrade to all existing staff and pupils toilets, yard repairs and drainage works, and an upgrade to fencing in the yard areas.

The application for all the above works has been received under the Additional School Accommodation (or ASA) scheme.

The purpose of my Department's Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream and special education classroom accommodation is available to cater for pupils enrolled each year and where the need cannot be met by the school’s existing accommodation or at other schools in an area.

At primary level, this situation generally arises to cater for a school’s accommodation requirements where an additional teaching post has been sanctioned by Teacher Allocation Section, or the requirement for a new class for pupils with special education needs has been identified by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), and all available alternative accommodation within the school is already being used for classroom purposes. The capacity at other schools in the area is also considered as part of the assessment of any accommodation needs.

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has the responsibility for planning and coordinating school supports for children with special educational needs.

My Department engages intensely with the NCSE in relation to the forward planning of new special classes and additional special school places. This forward planning work is well underway ahead of the 2025/26 school year. This work involves a detailed review of statistical data in relation to forecasting demand for special class places, an analysis of available school accommodation, consideration of improved data sharing arrangements and a particular focus on the provision of special classes at post-primary level.

Any school, such as the school in question, who open a special class and are willing to open a further class are to be commended, however it may not be possible or appropriate to open new special classes in every school who expresses an interest in opening a new class.

In general, demographics have been falling at primary level and are due to continue to decrease. Therefore my Department considers it prudent to maximise the use of existing spare accommodation capacity at primary level in the first instance, before considering any applications for further accommodation needs. This is in line with public spending requirements.

In relation to the provision of primary special classes, the shared preference of both my Department and the NCSE is to use and reconfigure existing school accommodation to provide special classes. Given the number of primary special classes available already and the falling demographics, it is also likely that most of the new additional special classes may be required in larger population centres in a local school planning area.

At local level, the NCSE is currently reviewing the overall demand for such provision in the area alongside the availability of space in local schools. The NCSE and my Department continue to engage on a regular basis in relation to the provision of additional special education placements. This involves regular weekly meetings and ongoing meetings with NCSE regional teams.

To date, it has not yet been confirmed by the NCSE regional team to my Department, that a class is required at this school for September 2025/26.

When a decision regarding this application has been finalised, officials from my Department will be in contact with the school directly.

Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

90. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when a primary school (details supplied) can expect to hear from her Department in relation to a grant application to provide solar panels. [40429/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The first phase of the Schools Photovoltaic (PV) Programme launched in November 2023 to over 1600 schools.

It will provide eligible schools with 6 kWp of roof-mounted solar PV, which equates to approximately 16 solar panels.

Since the launch of the first phase of the Schools PV Programme late last year, my Department has had a very positive response to the scheme, with over 1500 schools engaging with the programme through our School Hub.

Funding approval has been provided to more than 1,100 schools and we are seeing the impacts today as PV panels are being installed on school roofs around the country.

This has been a really positive response in terms of applications for solar panels from schools. It offers an opportunity for schools to reduce their carbon emissions and to reduce their energy costs.

As well as the obvious financial and climate benefits, it is expected that the visibility of the solar panels on schools will also deliver the added benefit of encouraging discussion and uptake of the technology in the wider community.

Given the high volume of schools involved, we are endeavouring to review each application and address and respond to queries in the earliest possible time.

The Schools PV Programme team will be in contact directly with Drumeela N.S. shortly to discuss next steps.