Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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326. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the emergency supports available for schools adjacent to IPAS and Ukrainian refugees that accommodate high percentages of such children and may also separately feature highly Pobal HP deprivation Index data given the often transient and interrupted nature of such children's educational experiences, not their traumatic life experiences; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40375/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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My Department is committed to delivering an education system that is of a high quality, and where every child and young person is valued and supported to reach their full potential. I recognise and appreciate schools' engagement, collaboration, and support in welcoming children who are in the International Protection process and those from Ukraine who are here under the Temporary Protection Directive.

All migrant children can access primary and post-primary education in a manner similar to Irish nationals. At the end of the 2024/25 school year, 17,488 Ukrainian children and approximately 6,174 children in the International Protection process were enrolled in schools in Ireland.

The main role of REALT (Regional Education and Language Teams), that were established as part of the whole of government response to the outbreak of war in Ukraine, is to assist families to enrol their children in school. Since late 2022, the REALT have also been assisting families in the International Protection process.

Beneficiaries of Temporary Protections (BoTP) and families in the International Protection process may enrol their children in schools in line with usual practice and REALT coordinators can assist if required.

Schools can apply for additional resources to take account of the needs of pupils in the school including, where appropriate, English as an Additional Language (EAL) needs.

In the 2024/25 school year, my Department allocated, following requests from schools, an additional 1,363 EAL (English as an Additional Language) and 233 SET (Special Education Teachers) posts to schools to support the provision of education to Ukrainian students, and those in the International Protection process. 131 additional SET posts were allocated to primary schools, and 102 to post-primary schools.

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is available to support schools that have children in the International Protection process and Ukrainian students with additional or special educational needs among their pupil cohort.

Schools can apply for additional temporary Special Education Teaching hours and Special Needs Assistants where they enrol children who are in the international protection process and Ukrainian students.

Schools where 10 or more such students are enrolled are eligible to apply for additional Special Education Teacher (SET) resources. Schools are also eligible to apply for additional Special Needs Assistant (SNA) resources where 15 or more such students are enrolled, to a maximum of 25 teaching hours per week and a maximum of 3 SNAs on a temporary basis.

These allocations are reviewed on a term-by-term basis and resources provided are re-allocated if the pupils change school locations.

My department allocated 329 additional SNA posts in the 2024-25 school year to assist with the education and integration of Ukrainian students and those in the International Protection process.

In 2023, my department published guidance for Educational Provision for Children from Ukraine, International Protection Applicants and Children with Recognised Status. There is also a central repository of information and resources for school leaders and teachers to support cultural and linguistic diversity is also available. These supports include EAL, intercultural and relevant curriculum supports developed by Oide, the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) and the ETB sector.

Resources have been published by the NCCA to support learners with English as an additional language (EAL) across early childhood, primary and post-primary settings.

NEPS has developed support materials and teacher professional learning courses for teachers supporting new arrivals. Training entitled Embracing Diversity and a webinar called Welcome to Our Schools are available through the education centre network. NEPS psychologists are actively engaging with school principals to provide advice and support. A dedicated helpline and email account is available for school principals.

My department also, where required, provides school transport to children arriving from Ukraine and the children in the International Protection process. Given the ongoing movement and arrival of families, it may, in some cases, take some time to arrange such services. However, every effort is being made to ensure school transport services are up and running as they are required.