There is ongoing engagement. We have given information in terms of the projects that are going to go ahead. As always, there is constant engagement with all parties to make sure we understand and deliver. We want to constantly deliver in terms of education in respect of our projects moving across the country. Deputies from all sides of the House have identified challenges that we have, no more so than in the previous Topical Issue matter I dealt with. There is ongoing engagement in the Department at all times in re…

I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. Monaghan Community Special School is one of five new special schools established in the most recent school year. It is operating under the patronage of the Cavan Monaghan ETB. The school supports 18 children and young people aged between four and 18 with a diagnosis of autism and complex needs, or students with complex learning needs with a professional recommendation for placement in a special school. The staffing comprises an administrative principal, administrative deput…

I take the point and it is crucial. A lot of planning and work has gone into opening 16 special schools in recent years. This was coming on the back of the State not providing special schools over the years because of international policy, and we can debate this left, right and centre. I was chair of the education committee 20 years ago when there was mainstreaming. There are a number of issues we have to catch up with. We have moved the date from 1 February to 1 October to bring greater certainty to families. I kn…

I thank the Deputy and welcome the opportunity to speak on St. Marnock's National School in Portmarnock, County Dublin. The Deputy has been liaising with the Department in relation to this issue. The school is under the patronage of the Archdiocese of Dublin and is in the Portmarnock school planning area. Last September, the school had an enrolment of 638 pupils and 26 mainstream teachers, three special class teachers, one learning support teacher, one administrative deputy principal, seven special education tutors…

Modular accommodation was approved for the school in question last May. It is near completion in relation to special education classrooms as well. I have looked at the enrolments and staffing in the school. I can share that information on enrolments from 2020 to date with the Deputy. I assure him that the Minister and I are acutely aware of this issue. We look at where the pressures are in primary and post-primary education. There are specific counties where there is a huge challenge at post-primary level and speci…

I thank Senator Andrews. I appreciate the opportunity to discuss Synge Street CBS becoming a Gaelcholáiste. The Department of Education and Youth is working with the Edmund Rice Schools Trust, ERST, to ensure the successful transition of Synge Street CBS to a co-educational Gaelcholáiste on a phased basis. The first phase of this transition will involve the first year intake only, which will take place in September 2026. The work has included regular communications and meetings between the parties involved in the t…

The Government and the Department are very committed to this project. This project has received huge coverage. Synge Street CBS is known not just in Dublin, but right across the country in terms of the school's history and so forth. I take the Senator's point fully. Across Dublin and the rest of the country, communities are coming together looking for Gaelcholáistí and Gaelscoileanna. The specific unit in the Department that looks at these matters advises schools to go year by year because it is a big undertaking f…

Okay. Is it normal to get compliments from across the floor from the Opposition?

I thank everyone here and in Dáil Éireann for their contributions over the last number of weeks. I compliment all Members on all sides for their interest in, and commitment to, special education. I would also like to compliment many of the councillors across the country who have contacted me directly. It heartens me that, as public representatives from all parties and none, we have such an understanding of special education and of what is needed and what is right. It is fair to say that this might not be universal …

I thank all Members who contributed to the debate over the past number of hours. It is a reflection of the commitment of all Deputies in relation to special education. The work in the communities was very much reflected in the contributions I have heard. Supporting children with additional education is very much at the core of the Government's values. We have put a huge amount of investment into it. Going back over many years, there has been huge investment in it. There has been unprecedented investment in special …

I thank Senator Gallagher for raising the issue. I will go through a few brief points first. The school transport scheme is a hugely significant operation run by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education and Youth. The retirement age for school bus drivers has been set by Bus Éireann at 70 years of age, which also applies to all Bus Éireann road passenger services. The policy and criteria also apply to drivers nominated by private operators who operate services as part of the school transport scheme, pro…

There are a number of issues we are considering as well. The issue is in cases where someone driving a school bus is 69 years of age but turns 70 during the school year. We must look carefully as to whether it is possible to extend those drivers until they are in their 70th year or turn 71. For those individuals who are driving from September to June but turn 70 in October or February, for example, we must look at the possibility of extending that in the first instance. A lot of work has been carried out with regar…

I thank Sinn Féin for the opportunity to contribute to the debate this evening. Debates like these are essential to reflect on the deeply held priorities for our communities. I want to state absolutely clearly that this Government is fully committed to supporting children with additional needs. This commitment is not merely a matter of policy but a matter of principle and is reflected in the continuing record-breaking increase in the number of SNAs in our classrooms, an unprecedented investment we are delivering fo…

I am always encouraged when we have cross-party Members bringing issues to the floor of the Dáil, and the sincerity of it. At the outset, I know of the school the Deputies are referring to, and I have engaged with the principal previously on some issues. Deputy Lahart brought this to my attention last week as well. I will talk through the issues. I have a script that will be handed out, and Members can take that as read. I want to talk through the issues. Deputy Lahart gave further information on an issue. Deputy C…

In the few minutes available to me, I will say that I will meet with the Deputies and further engage with the principal as well because we did engage. I will go through that. The worrying thing is that because there is one student or students within it - we will just say "students" - there is a medical need that is developing within the school and that has become more profound or needy. Is one of the issues that this was not taken into account? I will go back in relation to it. I know that all the forms, including …

I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for foreign affairs and also justice as well. I take the point the Senator made at the outset. I will relay those points back through the system. I want to underline Ireland’s long-standing and continued support for the European Convention on Human Rights and the role of the European Court of Human Rights as essential elements of the architecture of the rule of law in Europe. As a founding member of the Council of Europe, Ireland fully supports the Council’s essenti…

I can assure the Senator that the Good Friday Agreement was a very hard-fought and hard-won agreement across the island of Ireland almost 30 years ago. The Senator spoke about an assessment, and when it comes to any international agreement or anything that would undermine or challenge it, all of Government and the entire island is very mindful to ensure nothing undermines the Good Friday Agreement. The commitment from this Government and many previous Governments is that we will not undermine it. It is crucially im…

I understand. I hear the point and I will report it back.

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. I will set out the position on behalf of Minister, Deputy Naughton, regarding the shortage of mainstream school places in Dunshaughlin, County Meath. The provision of school places to meet the needs of children and young people at primary and post-primary level, including children and young people with special educational needs, is a priority for me, the Minister and the Department. Preschool and primary school enrolments at a national level have been in decline for some …

I take the seriousness of the point the Deputy is making in relation to Dunshaughlin. He has outlined the challenges in an area with a growing population of students and young people. I will take the point the Deputy made on the national school that when that is completed, the project will need to move on. I know other parts of the country as well where there are significant challenges in meeting second level education demand in particular but also in the primary sector. I will go back and engage fully with the Dep…