We can proceed with-----

-----the rest of the order, as scheduled.

I want to move the schedule as agreed at the Business Committee, but I think it would be important that the Business Committee would meet to discuss this important issue of statements.

Yes.

I am pleased to share details of my Department’s budget for 2025 as Minister of State with responsibility for special education and inclusion. As Deputies are aware, ensuring that children with additional needs receive an appropriate education with the supports they require is a priority for this Government. Since being appointed to this role last April, I have visited almost 30 schools in nine counties, met with 35 different organisations representing children with additional needs and attended 14 sessions with gr…

I move: In respect of this week’s business, it is proposed that— on today’s motions for the Financial Resolutions by the Minister for Finance, the following arrangements shall apply: Resolutions Nos. 1 and 2 shall be grouped together for the purposes of debate, and shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 10 minutes; Resolution No. 3 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 20 minutes; - Resolution No. 4 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conc…

I move: Tuesday's business shall be: - Motion re Ministerial Rota for Parliamentary Questions ( without debate ) - Motion re Sittings and Business of the Dáil ( without debate ) - Motion re Thirty-Second Report of the Standing Committee of Selection and Appointment of Committee Cathaoirligh ( without debate ) - Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill 2024 (Second Stage) ( to conclude after the first round, with any division claimed to be taken immediately prior to Committee Stage on Wednesday ) Tuesday's private members'…

I thank Deputy McGrath. I will follow up on that particular case again. I have weekly meetings with the NCSE to ensure children with additional needs have an appropriate school place. I reassure the Deputy that where section 67 powers need to be applied - when schools are asked to take in particular children - we have done so across the country. We do not want to be a position of having to do that, but sometimes it is required. I will follow up again, in particular in relation to Josh's case.

I thank the Deputy for raising this question. The precise reason I am setting up the Dublin 15 taskforce is to ensure the NCSE, schools, patrons and boards of management in that area are all communicating. I want that taskforce also to work on a common application process so we are not in this position next September. The reality at the moment is that there is an information gap in the NCSE about the number of children who are waiting for an additional special class or special school place. That will be the role of…

I move: That, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, or in the ordinary routine of business as contained in Schedule 3 to Standing Orders, and unless the Dáil shall otherwise order, the following arrangements shall apply in relation to the sittings of the Dáil on 1st, 2nd and 3rd October, 2024: (1) (a) in relation to the times of sittings, the suspension of the sitting and the adjournment of the House— (i) the Dáil shall meet at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, and at 10.30 a.m. on Wednesday and Thursday, (ii) subject to t…

I move: That Dáil Éireann, pursuant to Standing Order 34, and with effect from 25th September, 2024— (1) approves the Thirty-Second Report of the Standing Committee of Selection, copies of which were laid before Dáil Éireann on 20th September, 2024, and appoints members to Committees accordingly, and (2) appoints— (a) Deputy Alan Farrell to be Cathaoirleach of the Committee on Transport and Communications, (b) notwithstanding the Resolution of the Dáil of 6th March, 2024, Deputy Gino Kenny to be Cathaoirleach of th…

I thank the Deputies for raising the issues in the motion. At the outset, enabling children with special educational needs to receive an appropriate education is a priority for this Government. Since I was appointed as Minister for special education and inclusion five months ago, I have met children, their parents, teachers, SNAs and special interest groups who have provided me with invaluable insights and perspectives on the day-to-day challenges, issues and successes in special education. Through school visits, I…

I appreciate that.

Yes, we do.

I move: Wednesday's business shall be: - Motion re Ministerial Rota for Parliamentary Questions (without debate) - Motion re Thirty-First Report of the Standing Committee of Selection and Appointment of Committee Cathaoirligh (without debate) - Statements on the CJEU Judgment in the Apple State aid case (not to exceed 2 hrs 27 mins) - Mental Health Bill 2024 (Second Stage) (if not previously concluded, to adjourn either at 8.00 p.m. or after 1 hr 46 mins, whichever is the later) Wednesday's private members' busines…

It is not opposed.

I move: That Dáil Éireann, pursuant to Standing Order 34, and with effect from 19th September, 2024— (1) approves the Thirty-First Report of the Standing Committee of Selection, copies of which were laid before Dáil Éireann on 13th September, 2024, and discharges members from Committees and appoints members to Committees accordingly, in substitution for, in the case of the Committee on Justice, a member who has been appointed as a Minister of State and who thereby automatically stands discharged, and (2) appoints— …

My Department, directly and through the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, provides a range of supports in schools for children who are deaf or hard of hearing. This includes additional teachers, specialist equipment and access to SNA support, depending on the child's level of assessed needs. In Ireland, we have two established schools for the deaf. They are Holy Family School for the Deaf in Dublin and the Midwest School for the Deaf, dedicated to approximately 170 deaf or hard-of-hearing students and c…

On visiting teachers, in recent years resource restrictions and associated high caseloads have impacted on the time visiting teachers have per student. However, we are turning a corner in relation to that. For example, the recent deployment of two visiting teachers for the deaf or hard-of-hearing in Dublin has led to a decrease in caseloads in the area of up to 40% in some cases. This allows visiting teachers more time to focus on complex cases in their area. The NCSE is also carrying out a review of caseloads acro…

The two new roles support the work of the class teachers and complement other teaching and care support provided for targeted students. They will play a pivotal role into the future. As the Deputy said, the positions were originally advertised by the NCSE in 2022. However, there was a poor response to the recruitment campaign and only two advisers and specialist classroom support personnel were appointed. A further recruitment campaign is under way. There is also an undergraduate pilot programme in DCU that enables…