I move: Tuesday's business shall be: - Motion re Referral to Select Committee of proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of Ireland’s participation in two PESCO Projects and two European Defence Agency Projects and the report regarding service by the Defence Forces with the UN in 2023 (without debate) - Motion re Referral to Select Committee of proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the Double Taxation Relief (Taxes on Income) (Jersey) Order 2024 and the Double Taxation Relief (Taxes on Income) (Sultanate of Oman) Order 20…

No.

I thank the Deputy. This will be debated in the Dáil next week.

Yes, after it comes back.

Given the interest expressed in the debate on the motion on international protection, asylum and migration, I propose to extend it into next week and proceed with the three Bills that are scheduled this evening. The proposal is as follows: "That, in relation to the arrangements for the motion re proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the Regulations and a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on international protection, asylum and migration, the arrangements shall be modified to the extent that Dep…

There are others who have indicated and expressed interest in speaking in this debate, which is why I want to schedule it again next week-----

-----to give people ample time to discuss it.

I move: Tuesday's business shall be: - Revised Estimate for Public Services 2024 [Vote 23] and Further Revised Estimates for Public Services 2024 [Votes 16 and 34] ( to be moved together and decided without debate by one question ). - Motion re Proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the Regulations and a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on international protection, asylum and migration ( debate on Tuesday to consist of two speaking rounds; proceedings will then stand adjourned until Wednesday; …

I move: Tuesday's business shall be: - Motion re Ministerial Rota for Parliamentary Questions (without debate) - Motion re Consideration of Estimates by Committee (without debate) - Planning and Development Bill 2023 (Report and Final Stages) (to commence no earlier than 3.04 p.m. and to adjourn after 4 hrs 15 mins) Tuesday's private members' business shall be the Motion re Special Education, selected by Sinn Féin. Wednesday's business shall be: - Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024 - Motion for a F…

I move: That, notwithstanding anything in the Order of the Dáil of 29th March, 2023, or in the Order of the Dáil of 8th May, 2024, setting out the rota in which Questions to members of the Government are to be asked, Questions for oral answer, following those set down to the Minister for Justice shall be set down to Ministers in the following temporary sequence: Minister for Rural and Community Development Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science whereupon the sequence established…

I move: That, pursuant to Standing Order 215A and notwithstanding anything in the Order of the Dáil of 31st January, 2024, the Select Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage may complete its consideration of the Estimates for Public Services for the year ending 31st December, 2024, standing referred to it pursuant to Standing Order 215(2), later than the sixtieth day and not later than the one hundred and ninetieth day, being the 20th day of June, 2024, after the Estimates had been so referred.

I thank the Deputies for tabling this motion, which the Government is not opposing, because it gives me the opportunity to discuss the measures Government is taking to improve and enhance education provision for children with special education needs. Since being appointed as Minister of State with special responsibility for special education and inclusion just over two months ago, I have met with children, their parents and teachers in schools across the country. I have heard their stories and listened to their con…

I have reached my final line. I know it will be of interest to the Deputies present. The recent SET reviews demonstrate this. Some 218 reviews were received and of the 160 schools which proceeded to a full review, 83% are receiving additional resources. I will come back to Deputy Mairéad Farrell about Scoil Chaitríona. There is progress, hopefully, in relation to that. I share her views on ensuring that this class does continue.

I move: Tuesday's business shall be: - Motion re Proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the Parent's Leave and Benefit Act 2019 (Extension of Periods of Leave) Order 2023 (without debate) - Statements on Ireland’s recognition of the State of Palestine (not to exceed 3 hrs 47 mins) Tuesday's private members' business shall be the Motion re Local Authority Housing Maintenance and Repair, selected by Sinn Féin. Wednesday's business shall be: - Motions for Revised Estimates for Public Services 2024 [Votes 1 to 6] (back f…

I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. I understand that it is an anxious time for parents who are seeking a school place for their children. I reassure the Deputy that this Government is determined to do all it can to help families that are seeking a special educational placement for their child. My Department is working 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 last year, funding w…

I hear exactly what the Deputy is saying and I hear from across the country that parents feel anxious and frustrated. What we are doing, and what I am doing in my role as Minister of State with responsibility for special education, is increasing the number of SENOs on the ground, whose role it will be to be visible and active, and engage and work with parents and schools to help them to find places for these children. I do not want us to be in the situation in September 2025 that we are in now, where parents are un…

It is for that reason we are investing €2.7 billion in special education, a third of the overall Department of Education funding. A lot of very good work is happening across the country. We want to improve and increase the resources of the NCSE, which is happening on a weekly basis. It will have those 120 SENOs on the ground and visible from this September. They are already on the ground but I want to see them in a position where they can actively engage with parents, guardians and schools to ensure children have a…

I thank the Deputy. Enabling students with additional needs to receive an education appropriate to their needs is an ongoing priority for me as Minister of State with responsibility for special education. It is a priority to ensure all children have an appropriate school placement and that the necessary supports are provided to our schools to cater for the needs of children with special educational needs. As the Deputy will be aware, the Department provides an extensive range of supports for pupils with specific sp…

I thank the Deputy. We are in agreement on the need to resolve this issue. I have full faith that the school and the HSE will come to an amicable agreement. I will ask my Department officials to continue to engage with the NCSE and to monitor the issue. The NCSE is available to support the school and the HSE local team in resolving the issues at play here. The local SENO also has acted as mediator between the school and the HSE in order to try to remedy the situation.

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister, Deputy McConalogue. The Minister is very aware of the challenges faced by inshore fishermen. He met with representatives of the inshore fleet recently to discuss them. The European Maritime Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund, EMFAF, is the primary source of funding for the Irish seafood sector. It has provided a budget of €258 million for the programme period 2021 to 2027. The EMFAF regulation is aligned with the objectives of the C…