Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions
Dail Éireann — 2026-04-22
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Ivana Bacik (LAB), Dublin Bay South

We acknowledge that the Government is spending money. That is not in doubt but our issue, and that of parents, teachers, SNAs and school communities all around the country, is the question of how it is spending it and the lack of a planned approach. The Taoiseach mentioned the €650 million bailout for the Department of education as if it were something to be proud of but the fact that it was necessary is exactly the problem. It shows the lack of planning. Parents are crying out for school places and supports for children with additional needs. We are seeing a lack of planning. The bailout is all over the place. How did the Taoiseach not know the money would be required? He knows the number of children who require additional school places.
The same applies to the care system. We are seeing money spent on special care centres that are unregulated, unregistered and under the radar. These are private facilities that lack supervision and inspection. The amount of money being spent is extraordinary. RTÉ has stated it costs €750,000 per child per year for a special placement.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-04-22/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:51+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-04-22