ICT Grant – Delayed Payment
- Published: 08 June 2023
IPPN notes that the ICT Grant, due for payment in the third term, has not yet been paid and that the grant is not listed on the FSSU schedule of grants for 2022/23. IPPN has sought clarity from the FSSU and the DE as to why the grant has not yet issued to schools and when schools can expect to receive it. The following is the response received today from the DE :
“Under the Digital Strategy for Schools 2015 to 2020 overall investment of €210m issued to all recognised primary and post-primary schools in annual grant funding. This funding was to support schools to invest in appropriate digital infrastructure to embed the use of digital technology in teaching, learning and assessment.
The new Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027 was published last year and is underpinned by an investment of €200m to support schools over the period 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.
It is hoped to issue the next tranche of funding in the 2023-2024 school year. As with all such funding, the issuing of the grant is subject to the availability of Exchequer funding and the wider capital needs of the Department. It is anticipated that the funding committed to under the NDP will be available to support the implementation of the Digital Strategy to Schools in future years and you will be kept informed of developments for the current year.”
The non-payment of the ICT Grant directly compromises and undermines the coherent implementation of a digital strategy in schools. It would be advisable that the issue of the non-payment of the grant is flagged at the next meeting of the school’s Board of Management in keeping with the Board’s oversight role in relation to budgeting, income and expenditure. Boards who are concerned about this issue should represent such concerns to their patron/management bodies.
Teacher Appointment Forms
- Published: 24 May 2023
Teacher Appointment & Re-appointment Forms have been issued by the department for the 2023/2024 school year. Please note that there are two separate forms to notify the DE of permanent and fixed term appointments this year. The re-appointment form is completed for any teacher who has worked in a fixed capacity in the school for 2022/2023 school year.
Some schools have expressed concern at the response rate to their advertised vacancies on EducationPosts.ie. Many final year students are in the process of finishing their primary degree assignments and thesis and may not be engaging in the recruitment process. It is expected that final coursework for newly qualified teachers will be submitted in the coming weeks. This may be a contributing factor to a low response rate to schools that advertised teaching vacancies to date. It may be advisable to review the timeline for your recruitment and teacher appointment process to increase the teacher application rate.
Commencement of Teaching Council Regulations 2023
- Published: 24 May 2023
On Thursday, 11 May 2023, Minister for Education consented to regulations under section 37 of the Teaching Council Act, 2001 as amended. The regulations ‘Teaching Council (Information to be furnished by employer in case of dismissal or resignation of registered teacher) Regulations 2023’. There is now a statutory obligation on the BoM to inform the Teaching Council where a teacher has been dismissed, or resigns following from the making of a complaint or invoking of a disciplinary process at school level. It will then be a matter for the Teaching Council to decide whether any further action is necessary from a regulatory perspective.
Covid Leave Changes
- Published: 18 May 2023
Amendments to Covid leave with pay were issued by the Department on Monday, 15 May 2023 in Information Note TC/IN 0004/2023 following the publication of updated HSE advice and guidance.
With effect from Monday, 22 May 2023 school staff who begin to display Covid-19 symptoms or test positive for Covid-19 will have a maximum limit of 5 consecutive days special leave with pay (including weekends and school closures). Changes to the operation of the special leave with pay scheme will not affect staff who have commenced leave prior to Monday, 22 May. DE Circular 38/2022 will continue to apply with staff being eligible to avail of a maximum 7 consecutive days leave with special pay.
Primary Mathematics Curriculum
- Published: 18 May 2023
The Department has published updated information on the introduction of the Primary Mathematics Curriculum (PMC) for primary and special schools. The new curriculum will be introduced in all primary and special schools in September 2023. The embedding of the curriculum from Junior Infants to sixth class (stages 1 – 4) will begin in September 2024. From September 2023, Oide will provide schools with a range of face to-face and online supports to introduce implement and embed PMC over the course of a three-phase CPD framework.
Click here to view Initial communication re Primary Mathematics Curriculum [English] [Irish]
