Schools with spare capacity are being identified by the Department of Education ahead of the expected arrival of large numbers of Ukrainian families over the coming weeks and months.
In addition, authorities are keen to identify individuals with the ability to speak Ukrainian and English, who could provide language or interpreting supports in education settings or elsewhere.
Minister for Education Norma Foley said she had discussions with Ukraine's minister for education earlier this week and assured him Ireland will not be found wanting in meeting the needs of families.
“It is our absolute intention to make provision for the children and young people that will come into our care,” she said.
“I visited a school last week and already children were being well integrated into the school and catered for and looked after.
“There is enormous flexibility within our schools who have a tradition of making place and making space for students who come for a variety of different reasons from other countries into our school communities.”
Ms Foley said some schools have provided places to Ukrainian families with just a few days’ notice, but she said the challenge may grow as numbers increases.
While early estimates were that the need for school places may have been in the “low thousands,” these numbers were moving upwards.
She said her department was identifying schools where there was significant spare capacity – mostly in rural areas – and was sharing this information with the Department of Children.
Where possible, she said, authorities will seek to direct families to parts of the country where there is capacity to meet their needs.
Practical supports
Government ministers have signalled there will be a focus on placing families outside major urban centres, where the housing crisis is worst, and ensuring these areas have access to education, medical and other services.
Ms Foley is due to meet school patron bodies and managers on Friday to discuss the practical supports needed.
One school management source said ahead of the meeting there will need to be clarity for schools who wish to assist but are over oversubscribed.
In addition, one source said school transport is likely to be a crucial issue if families are directed to more rural schools.
Sinn Féin’s education spokesman Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire called on Ms Foley to ensure English language supports are made available to schools now rather than waiting until September.
“Typically, English language support would be allocated in September. Schools will need that much sooner in these circumstances,” he said.
"There are schools that want to take on additional language support teachers but the funding is not there. I encourage the Minister to provide this. It is one of the lessons we can learn from how schools supported children who came here from Syria.
“The Department did a lot of good work and many schools did heroic work but where it fell down in many cases was in English language support.”
Ms Foley said work was underway in identifying the likely scale of English language support that may be needed.
“We will absolutely put in place all the resources we need to. This is a time of emergency and challenge. Any humanitarian support this country can offer the Ukrainian people will be given,” she said.
