Results 321-340 of 1,040,027 for in 'Dáil debates' OR (speaker:Máiría Cahill OR speaker:Catherine Byrne OR speaker:Cormac Devlin OR speaker:Seán Canney OR speaker:Eoin Ó Broin) in 'Committee meetings'

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Special Educational Needs (11 Jul 2024)

Catherine Connolly: Tá mé ag díriú isteach ar an togra faoi leith atá ar siúl i rith an tsamhraidh agus go háirid chun ceist a chuir ar an Aire Stáit an bhfuil a fhios aici cé mhéad dalta nach mbeidh rochtain acu ar an scéim sin. Freisin, an bhfuil an tAire Stáit ar an eolas faoin gcleachtas atá ann go bhfuil ar tuismitheoirí íoc as an...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Special Educational Needs (11 Jul 2024)

Hildegarde Naughton: I thank the Deputy for her question. I am delighted that funding of €40 million has been secured again this year to ensure a comprehensive summer programme is available in 2024. The funding of €40 million is designed to cover the full costs associated with the summer programme. On that particular issue, parents should not be asked to make financial contributions to the summer...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Special Educational Needs (11 Jul 2024)

Catherine Connolly: I thank the Minister of State for the clarification and for telling me that just one case has been brought to her attention. I hope there will be no more. It is a totally unacceptable practice. I welcome all the progress that has been made in this programme. I welcome the increase in student numbers and the number of schools. I welcome the changes and the various appointments that...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Special Educational Needs (11 Jul 2024)

Hildegarde Naughton: When we reached out to schools in order to increase the numbers partaking, we asked them what the barriers to doing the summer programme were. The issues that came up were the rate of pay for teachers and SNAs. We have increased the rate of pay for teachers and SNAs. We have opened up a portal because some of the schools were saying they could not get the teachers or the SNAs. A portal...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Special Educational Needs (11 Jul 2024)

Catherine Connolly: I am not diminishing the progress that is being made but to appreciate it fully we need to realise the Government is under a legal obligation to provide summer provision. Within that, how do we assess the progress? It has come as a result of pressure from the parents and the hardship of parents. I have received representations related to parents seeking residential care simply because...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Transport (11 Jul 2024)

Michael Collins: I thank the Minister for her reply but I did not get a reply. The question I asked was will there be a bus service provided for 31 children from Bantry to Schull Community College. The Minister has bamboozled me there with figures but I did not get a reply to the question I asked. I do not know how much time there is but I would really appreciate it if she would concentrate on that when...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Transport (11 Jul 2024)

Norma Foley: The Deputy will appreciate that the scheme is managed on behalf of the Department of Education by Bus Éireann. He will appreciate that there is a criteria of eligibility for the scheme, namely students who live 3.2 km from the nearest primary school or 4.8 km at post-primary, from their nearest or next nearest school. That is the criteria as laid down. The Deputy will be aware that...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Transport (11 Jul 2024)

Michael Collins: There are many other areas about school transport I could remind the Minister of. We have requested a larger bus or two mini buses for students in Larchfield going to Clonakilty. There are also issues in Rath National School and Laragh National School. There are lots of issues out there in relation to transport for children going to school. There are other issues such as Clogagh National...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Transport (11 Jul 2024)

Norma Foley: For absolute clarity, in the question the Deputy submitted he made no reference to any of the schools he referred to when he took to the floor. In fact, he simply asked if there was to be increased funding made available to run the Bus Éireann service. Let us be absolutely clear about what he sought information on and what he has now asked for on the floor of the Dáil. Those are...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions (11 Jul 2024)

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Special Educational Needs (11 Jul 2024)

Special Educational Needs

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Special Educational Needs (11 Jul 2024)

Joan Collins: 66. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of children with special needs, to date, who have no school place for September 2024, by catchment area; her plans to ensure these children get places near to where they live; and the number of places vacant to take these children, by catchment area. [30278/24]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Special Educational Needs (11 Jul 2024)

Joan Collins: This is a very specific question to specific issues in my own area in Dublin 12. I would welcome the Minister of State’s response.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Special Educational Needs (11 Jul 2024)

Hildegarde Naughton: My Department works closely with the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, on the forward planning of new special classes and additional special school places. In the budget, we secured funding for up to 400 new special classes in mainstream schools and an additional 300 special school places for the 2024-25 school year. This will deliver 2,700 new places for children. ...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Special Educational Needs (11 Jul 2024)

Joan Collins: I have looked back at the announcements made last December when the previous Minister of State, Deputy Madigan, stated that the Department would increase services into the schools. The Minister of State said the NCSE announced a new campaign on 16 October 2023 to recruit additional special education needs organisers and this recruitment is well under way. Can she tell me how many additional...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Funding (11 Jul 2024)

Mairead Farrell: My Sinn Féin colleagues brought forward the Education (Voluntary Contributions) Bill in 2021. I understand that the Minister did not oppose this Bill, but she has not acted upon it. That Bill would have placed an obligation on schools to make clear to families that contributions are voluntary. It would ensure that no child is stigmatised or denied opportunities because their parents...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Funding (11 Jul 2024)

Norma Foley: I will conclude on the initiatives already outlined to support parents. The free school book scheme, the reduced costs for school transport, the removal of exam fees at junior cycle and leaving certificate, the introduction of DEIS supports at a cost of €180 million and the roll-out of the hot school meals scheme are all initiatives to support parents within our schools. We...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs (11 Jul 2024)

Special Educational Needs

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs (11 Jul 2024)

Peter Fitzpatrick: 64. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to raising this issue on Leaders' Questions in May, what steps have been taken to amend assault leave entitlements to ensure that SNAs have equal provision of health and safety leave, and to ensure that teachers' and SNAs' income is fully protected for the duration of their medically certified leave (details supplied); and if she will...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs (11 Jul 2024)

Peter Fitzpatrick: I raised this issue during Leaders' Questions in May. Have any steps been taken to amend assault leave entitlements to ensure SNAs have equal provision of health and safety leave and to ensure the incomes of teachers and SNAs are fully protected for the duration of their medically certified leave? Will the Minister make a statement on the matter?