I thank the Deputy for the question. The Department of education recognises the value of the special needs assistant, SNA, role in the successful inclusion of students with additional and significant care needs in schools to enable them to achieve their best outcomes and reach their full potential. I am also aware of the contribution that SNAs make to the educational experience and overall well-being of students in our schools. I recognise that SNAs demonstrate a deep commitment to their roles and the students they…

The outcome of the consultation we have had with the various stakeholders, including SNAs, Fórsa, the National Parents Council and the Children's Rights Alliance, is a draft circular which provides a clear and detailed description of the range of duties and responsibilities of the evolving SNA role. The Minister and I fully understand the evolving role, which is a product of meaningful collaboration with all of those in our school communities. We met with the SNAs and other stakeholders last month in a day-long eng…

We have had a considerable amount of engagement on this and work has been ongoing for a number of years on the SNA workforce development plan, redeployment and on the circular. A lot of work has been done in relation to the circular going back a number of years at this stage, involving consultation with those across the education partners, parents groups, children's advocates and SNAs who are central to advising on the challenges and the evolving role. It is important to note that we have been engaging extremely we…

I thank the Deputy for his question. In 2024, the then Minister of State with responsibility for special education and inclusion established a task force to support the forward planning of special education provision in the Dublin 15 area. I thank all of the task force members, including parents representatives, school principals, school patron representatives and representatives of the HSE, the NCSE and officials from the Departments of children and education, for their work through the school year 2024-2025 in di…

I assure the Deputy that we will be publishing it as a matter of urgency. On the key recommendations, a task force outlined the challenges that were being faced in a particular part of Dublin 15, but it is also representative of the challenges that are being faced across the country. The recommendations that are in it are in relation to investing, understanding the challenges and the need within the communities and to make sure that the whole of the Government and the Department are focused on ensuring that there i…

I give the Deputy a commitment that we will publish it as a matter of urgency. I acknowledge hugely the amount of work that is being put in by the people into the task force by each and every one of the education partners across the sector. The Minister and I have been working since Christmas. Most Monday nights have been spent in meetings in relation to moving forward the education and special education component of it as well to ensure that we are listening to the challenges that are out there. We are taking on b…

The Government is committed to the continued accelerated provision of additional special classes and special school places for 2026-27. The National Council for Special Education is the statutory body tasked with sanctioning new special education provision in our schools. The NCSE has sanctioned 432 new special classes nationally, including 102 new special classes in Dublin, for the next school year 2026-27, with more to follow in the coming weeks. This is a number of months ahead of last year and provides for grea…

I know the school community is extremely dedicated and capable. It has been engaging with all the public representatives, including the Deputy. He has mentioned it a considerable number of times in the House. There is a number of issues. We are trying to make sure that we have the best possible provision across the Dublin community. Dublin continues to be a challenge in terms of special education, both in special classes and in special schools. There is a huge amount of work going on. This school is a new building,…

I appeal to James's family and the councillor to make sure they are engaging with the NCSE, like we have over many years within the NCSE. We are building up the expertise within the council to liaise with families. It is hugely important that we have what is needed on the ground dealing with families and challenges within the school communities. However, in the first instance it is important that James's mom is engaging with the council because it is the important conduit between the families and the school communi…

The school transport system scheme, which Bus Éireann operates on behalf of the Department, has expanded significantly over the past six years. In that time, the number of children and young people using the service has grown from under 120,000 in 2018 to over 181,000, including over 24,000 pupils with special educational needs in 2025, which equates to an increase of over 50%. Since 2018, investment in the scheme has more than doubled from €200 million to €537 million in 2025. The growth in school transport has be…

The school transport system is a hugely valued piece by families right across primary, post-primary and special education. Since the start of the school transport system in the late 1960s there have been many changes along the way. We had the recommendations of the report. The cost of the school transport has grown hugely over the past number of years to try to meet the needs. Last September or October, there were over nine hours of discussion in the Dáil, Seanad Éireann and committees in one week on school transpo…

There are pinch points across the country. There are always issues in relation to school transport in Wicklow. The school transport scheme was initiated in the late 1960s because a huge number of people did not have transport themselves. The school transport system was to get people to post-primary in particular, and to primary school as well. Now, because of work patterns, it is a crucial piece for families, in rural Ireland in particular, to make sure they have access to education. Regarding the issues around the…

I thank the Deputy for the question. The school transport system is operated on behalf of the Department by Bus Éireann and it has expanded significantly over the past six years. In response to previous questions, I said the number of pupils using the service had increased from 120,000 years ago to 181,000 now. That is more than a 50% increase in a short time. The investment by the State has increased from €200 million to €537 million in 2025. There has been a huge increase in the special education requirement aspe…

We have looked at the different challenges with feeder schools and where the clusters or noise is within the system. Last year, we had a weekly meeting with Bus Éireann and the Department to monitor the situation and this year we have brought forward a closing date from June to 8 May to ensure we can do better. We probably will have the same challenges in August or September but we want to have better sight of what is needed and what are the applications. The issue in relation to feeder schools is continuously rais…

I talked about if we had endless funding in the Department, one issue would be traditional feeder schools and the policy there. We have to work within the parameters we have. In relation to the evolving of the school transport system, it is hugely valued within rural Ireland because it is an enabler to get the children to and from school and the different work patterns parents have. As I said earlier, one week last September there were nine hours of debate on school transport within the Houses of the Oireachtas whi…

The school transport 2030 report was published in early 2024 following a comprehensive analysis and review of the scheme as it currently operates. The recommended changes to the future operation of the scheme include expansion of the eligibility criteria, addressing current operational challenges and moving towards better integration with public transport to ensure we have better value for money for the Exchequer. As part of the review, it was also recommended that the Department and Bus Éireann continue to explore…

E-ticketing and the collection of data on school transport are hugely important. We have seen an increase in the State funding being provided, from €200 million to €527 million currently. Demand is growing in terms of the number of people who are looking to access the school transport system. Since 2018, the number of students travelling on it has grown by 50%. Deputy Burke is aware, from people telling him about challenges in regard to buses, that some of the buses do not have full occupancy. We are constantly bei…

The work is ongoing with the National Transport Authority, the Department of Transport and Bus Éireann. We have to implement the reform and get the data. There is a huge body of work to be done but we intend to do it as soon as possible.

I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. If he does not mind, I will depart a little from the script with which I have been provided. It is hugely important. We are talking about inclusion and making sure we get the best possible education for children with additional needs as they go through primary and post-primary school. As the Deputy rightly said, we are announcing more special classes. We are really trying to make the education system fit for purpose in meeting the needs of students with additional needs. As…

The Department is keenly aware of it. There is always room for improvement and we are very understanding of that. We are challenged every day to make sure the education system is improving into the future right across the education system and, indeed, for special education as well. What we are going to invest in special education now will have huge benefits for students, families and society in the long term. I firmly believe that it will give a greater understanding. Parity of esteem is one thing, and automatic ce…