Today's debate has been beneficial. I have listened carefully to contributions made by all Deputies, each important and warranting consideration. The Minister, Depute McEntee, who was in the Chamber until just now, has given particular updates and outlines of current work happening within the Department and the planned work to increase the number of multidenominational schools where parents and school communities want this. In response to the issues raised, and adding to the earlier contribution made by the Ministe…

I thank Deputy Currie for raising this matter which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Transport. From the aviation safety perspective, the regulation of the recreational and commercial use of drones, or unmanned aircraft systems as they are technically known, is provided for under European Union regulations that are directly applicable to Ireland. Two drone-specific EU regulations ensure that drone operations across Europe are safe and secure. In that context, Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/945 a…

Aviation is obviously a highly regulated area, but I agree with the Deputy that the rapid pace of drone innovation and its commercialisation have created a challenge. The Government is aware of the impact of that and of the growing drone sector, particularly in the context of the increasing volume of operations. The programme for Government includes a commitment to finalise and implement a policy framework to guide high levels of strategic planning and the development of the drone sector in Ireland through supporti…

I thank Deputy Sherlock for raising this important issue and for offering me the opportunity to respond. The Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 was commenced in 2023, and it represents a landmark legal reform in this country. The Act replaced the 1871 Victorian-era wards of court system with a rights-based model for tiered decision support arrangements. It is a key component of our compliance with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, UNCRPD, and has positioned Ireland …

I reiterate that the Minister’s aim is to ensure the most effective operation of the assisted decision-making (capacity) legislation and to ensure that its principles are upheld and that its objectives of promoting and enshrining the rights of those with capacity difficulties to retain as much autonomy as possible are realised. We must always make sure that our laws are working for the people they are intended to serve. For this reason, the Act itself has a built-in review of its operation after a five-year period …

I thank the Deputy for the question and for giving me the opportunity to reply on behalf of the Minister for Education and Youth and to outline how the Department is working to ensure that there is appropriate school accommodation in place to meet the school place needs of all children. I stress that enabling students to receive an education appropriate to their needs is an ongoing priority for the Government. To plan for school place needs, the Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and util…

Again, I thank the Deputy for raising the matter. I reassure him that I will convey that concern back to the Minister to ensure that continued engagement takes place. I have no doubt that the Deputy will continue to raise it and engage on it himself too.

At the outset, I stress that enabling students with special educational needs to receive an appropriate education is an absolute priority for this Government. It is the Government's priority to ensure all children have an appropriate school placement and that the necessary supports are provided to our schools to allow children with special educational needs to flourish and prosper. There continues to be an increasing need to provide additional special school and special class places to support children with complex…

I restate that in excess of 28,000 children are now being supported in special schools and classes. The number of special classes has increased by 100% since 2020. It is the statutory responsibility of the NCSE to work with schools to provide sufficient special education provision each year. As I outlined, budget 2025 provides funding for 400 new special classes - up to 300 additional special school places. The NCSE has announced the location of 399 of these in April, which is much earlier so as to give information…

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. I have a reply to read on behalf of the Minister but the Deputy knows what the Minister would say. I want to talk as someone who held the job. There is only one disagreement I have with what the Deputy has said. He said that hundreds of thousands of lives are at risk. I think it is millions. I have seen these issues at first hand. I have travelled across Africa. Irish Aid and our NGOs do an incredible job. The scale, breadth and depth of what USAID was doing on the ground…

I thank the Deputy. He makes the valid point that while what has happened with USAID is the most impactful, we have also seen impacts in the range of countries that have reduced their aid budgets, including the UK. At the heart of what we do has always been the process of reaching the furthest behind first. We target our ODA on that basis. The Government is committed to that approach and I reaffirm that it remains at the heart of our approach. There have been annual increases to our ODA. We are working towards a ta…

On behalf of the Minister for State, Deputy Healy-Rae, I thank Senator Collins for this question on supports for ash dieback. I welcome the opportunity to update the House on the supports in place to assist affected forest owners. The Minister of State is keenly aware of the impact this devastating disease has had on forest owners who planted ash. The need for support is well recognised by Government, which is why we have a new reconstitution scheme for ash dieback in the forestry programme. The scheme has a new si…

I thank Senator Collins for her contribution. The Minister of State, Deputy Michael Healy-Rae, is committed to supporting those forest owners who have been so adversely affected by ash dieback. He encourages all to avail of the financial help and very generous support in the programme the Department has put in place.

I thank the Senator and apologise on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Heydon. I know the Senator has spoken to and engaged with him directly on this issue in the past. He sends his apologies that he cannot be here to deal with the matter in person today. I will make a few points on his behalf. Like the more recent Storm Éowyn, Storm Bert is part of a pattern of extreme weather which can result in flooding which will affect the country and has done so. Last November, Storm Bert became the second storm of the 2024-25 s…

I fully hear Senator Kyne and the excellent and valid points he has made. I will, of course, take his remarks back to the Minister and I know the Senator will engage with him further on this matter. It is important to reassure the Senator that the Government will continue to prioritise policies to protect and enhance farm incomes, including those in the sheep sector. Under the programme for Government, the Government is committed to increasing supports for those sheep farmers over a five-year term in office, ensuri…

I thank the Senator for the opportunity to present to her on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Murnane O'Connor. Apologies for her absence today. The Healthy Ireland framework and action plan form our national road maps to support good physical, mental and sexual health well-being, including children's health priorities such as preventing obesity, increasing physical activity levels and minimising underage tobacco and alcohol use. The national sex health strategy contains information on educational measures t…

That is no problem at all. I am sure the breakdown is worth chasing. The Senator's points are well made. As I said in my contribution, it is something that needs to be examined because cybersupport for parents to tackle these issues is important.

I join Senator Byrne in acknowledging my friend and former colleague, Damien English, who was a source of great wisdom and advice to me in all my years in public life. It is lovely to see him here today with his guests. I thank Senator Byrne for raising this important issue and affording me the opportunity to respond. We know there are many reasons people seek residential supports. For some it is by way of services to allow them to remain in their homes with family, while for others, it is a residential service. Th…

I will, of course, take the case to the Minister. In the Senator's contribution, she highlighted the important point that a humane approach should be taken in the devising, development and implementation of services. It is so important we take account of how an individual service in a smaller community can have an impact. This is something the Senator has campaigned and worked on very passionately in her role as Senator. I will be more than happy to bring the matter to the Minister on the Senator's behalf, as I am …

I thank the Deputy for giving me the opportunity to outline to the House the position relating to financial funding for schools. The Department is committed to offering all available and appropriate supports to the schools that have contacted the Department or have been referred to the FSSU. The Department is committed to providing funding to recognised primary and post-primary schools in the free education scheme by way of per capita grants, as the Deputy mentioned. The two main grants are the capitation grant to …