The Minister is in denial.

I thank everyone who contributed to the debate. I want to pick up on a number of comments from the Minister in my closing remarks. I am deeply disappointed with both contributions. The senior Minister who has responsibility said in her comments that, "At the forefront of our deliberations was ensuring that the child-centred approach to the provision of special education is retained and enhanced in these policy developments." No one believes that. The Minister needs to talk to and listen to people. She said, "This G…

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this topic for debate and the Minister of State for being here. There should be no need to bring this issue, which is the annual crisis of school place shortages in Dunshaughlin, County Meath, before this House. I thank the parents who contacted me and my colleague Councillor Fionnan Blake. I also thank Councillor Blake for his hard work on this issue. The parents' stories are the reason I am standing here. They are the reason this debate is happening. No parent should have…

The Minister of State has spoken for over four minutes and not a single word is of any benefit to community in Dunshaughlin and parents who are without school places for this September. He talked about future plans and investment. What solution is going to be put in place for these students? There could be in the region of 80 or more, hopefully slightly fewer, who do not have school places for this September. I am seeking a response to that, not what is going to happen in the future. Investment in the community nat…

This is an eminently sensible amendment and I hope the Minister would take it on board. Since the Minister has come into office and discussed these matters, the provision of IPAS accommodation and the system he inherited, he has pointed to a set of circumstances that previous Ministers had to live with. They experienced a very significant increase in demand for IPAS accommodation and temporary protection accommodation. They made decisions in a rush. Are they contracts we would enter into now? From the Minister's pe…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit. He did not give the numbers in response to the question I asked - the number of children who had applied pre- and post-October and the number of those children who have an offer of a school place or, more importantly at this stage, do not have an offer. It is that question of unmet need. When I raised this with the Taoiseach last week, he said both the Minister and Minister of State had reported to Cabinet that there were huge numbers applying to the NCSE and that it was a signi…

Another job for the Minister.

That is it. There are significant issues. In fact, I would say the crisis in special education is worse this year than it has ever been. We are hearing that there is a huge increase. The October deadline was seen as an opportunity, and rightly so, for many children in the school system to get an appropriate school place. A number of the people I am dealing with are in mainstream, for example, looking for a place in a special class or in a special class looking for a place in a special school. The issue of letters o…

Likewise, as this is my first exchange with the Minister in her new role, I wish her the best with it. There is a lot of work to be getting on with and we are dealing with many important issues this morning. I wish to ask the Minister the position regarding the work of the interdepartmental group considering the recommendation for a redress scheme arising from the scoping inquiry into historical sex abuse in schools run by religious orders, and the way in which this will be incorporated into the work of the Commiss…

Can the Minister confirm it is the case that the IDG aims to report to her and subsequently to Government within 18 months? There was a previous indication in relation to that, but is that still that case? What measures will the Minister take to hold religious bodies financially accountable and to make them pay redress? Sinn Féin submitted amendments to the Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill 2025 specifically on this issue. I know the Labour Party also has legislation on the books, with …

I agree with the Minister entirely and I welcome those words. The proof of the pudding will be in the eating, in terms of the action of it. Any time we speak of the commission, I have to make the point that there are concerns it is going to be restricted to sexual abuse and not to physical abuse. There is more than a grey area there in terms of the motivational intent of the evil carried out on people. I want to pick up on a point Deputy Cummins made earlier in respect of a related group of survivors. It is very im…

On behalf of my colleague, Deputy O’Hara, I wish to ask about the measures being taken to ensure that schools in County Galway have appropriate special education training, SET, and special needs assistant, SNA, allocations.

We all welcome the increase in the numbers of SETs and SNAs, but I must say that the Minister of State's response does not reflect the reality. There is a massive unmet need. There is need for greater allocation. Worse than that, we have seen a pattern in recent years, and particularly in the last couple of years, of resources being taken from schools and different application of the same criteria as they apply to significant care. Children who had the necessary support of SNAs are now seeing it withdrawn, or there…

Warm words will not cut it. The reality is that on a daily basis, children who need the support of an SNA do not have it. Also on a daily basis, schools are faced with the reality of a cut or the threat of a cut to their SNA allocation. The children absolutely need those SNAs. The Minister of State's words do not reflect what schools are dealing with and what we, as public representatives, are hearing. When representatives of Fórsa and the Department were before the committee, an indication was given that there wou…

On behalf of Deputy Byrne, I ask about the way in which children with additional needs in Drogheda without a school place will be accommodated for the upcoming school year. On behalf of Deputy Byrne, I raise the specific case of Alfie, an eight-year-old boy from Drogheda. His mum, Lorraine, expressly asked that his case be raised. He is one of a number of children in mainstream school with a recommendation for a special school or class place but who do not have a letter of eligibility from the NCSE. What advice can…

The incessant rain is destroying our roads. They are in an awful state. This weekend we have a hard frost coming, which will only add to that. Very many roads are in a state of terrible disrepair, with potholes and craters. In my county, I could list them all off in north Meath, Cortown, Kells, Gravelstown and Baile Ghib. I would pay particular attention to Downstown Road in Duleek. The council has responded to requests and it repairs them but then those repairs are washed away. There is a need for a major increase…

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Bill. The International Protection Bill 2026 is the legislative vehicle for Ireland's wholesale opt-in to the EU migration and asylum pact, and that is its fundamental flaw. Sinn Féin has been clear that the major part of this pact is not in Ireland's interests. It undermines Irish sovereignty, hands critical powers relating to migration and asylum to the European Union and directly impedes our ability to make decisions based on our own unique circumstances. We are an isla…

What funding is available through the Minister’s Department for community festivals such as Dunshaughlin Harvest Festival, the Hinterland Festival Kells in my area of Meath, Kells Type Trail, Moynalty Steam Threshing Festival and the Samhain Festival of Food and Culture? There are a range of excellent community festivals all over the State. I wish to know the types of funding supports available through his Department.

Absolutely. We are grateful for that funding at the Nobber Show, Dunderry Fair and Royal Meath Show. They are well supported by the community and that is welcome. The contribution of community festivals is to strengthen social cohesion, support local economies, promote volunteerism, enhance local community identity, pride and well-being, and provide low-cost, accessible cultural experiences for people. They are fantastic. The Minister and Minister of State will appreciate that local communities look forward to them…

I do not know if the Minister is hearing of the issue of insurance but I am sure he is. It is tangentially his responsibility in supporting projects such as this. As I said in my previous contribution, these festivals are important for local communities for reasons we all agree on. Insurance can be a challenge and put some of them at risk. That is potentially increasingly the case. Is the Minister aware of that, discussing it with colleagues, and considering possible supports for groups in that regard?