We will always endeavour to open a special class in a school where the children live in the locality because we do not want them to travel unless they absolutely have to. It is in the Constitution that education is a right. That is not always possible in the locality but we will endeavour to do that. The National Council for Special Education, NCSE, did an on-site inspection in Drimnagh Castle Primary and in fairness, it has legitimate reasons for not having the classes as it does not actually have the capacity. Th…

I appreciate the Deputy's comments. As I said, that land is not owned by the school itself. I understand from the NCSE that the nearby schools will be able to meet the demand for this age cohort. Drimnagh Castle is a senior boys' primary school and I understand there is capacity and that we can meet that demand in the surrounding area. If the Deputy has specific issues she wants to discuss she can talk to me, the NCSE or the Department and I can follow up on that. Most of the special educational needs organisers, S…

It is fair to say that students over the past two years have had great difficulty in trying to learn for their leaving certificate. I have a son who is doing his leaving certificate. I know that the Minister, Deputy Foley, is acutely aware of the difficulties and that clarity will be given as soon as possible. The advisory group in respect of State examinations is looking at this in real detail. Hopefully, there will be an announcement soon.

It is extremely important when we are talking about the leaving certificate that there is fairness for children from delivering equality of opportunity in schools, DEIS, areas, disadvantaged areas and across the board. This is something the advisory group on State examinations is looking at in considerable detail. I am sure the Minister, Deputy Foley, is aware of it also.

I thank the Deputy for the question. Special classes are an important issue. There are 2,118 special classes at the moment. This has been increased by 269 this year and it will be increased by 287 next year. That will create an additional 1,700 special class places. Notwithstanding that, it is important that we work with the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, and liaise on the transition between primary school and post-primary school. The local special educational needs organisers should be collaborating…

I thank the Deputy for raising this Topical Issue matter today, which is relevant at the moment, particularly for my own Ministry for special education. The role of the SNA is critical. The Deputy has very eloquently set out the non-exhaustive list of duties they undertake daily. In my visits to different schools throughout the country, I have met many SNAs. I have spoken to them first-hand about the work they do. I know from the families I meet daily - the Deputy also made this point - that the majority of childre…

I thank the Deputy. Again, it is important to stress that, through the education partners and the mechanism of the Department, there is ongoing engagement with SNA representatives. I know Fórsa has put in a claim to the Workplace Relations Commission. Any review of the SNA contract will happen through the Building Momentum national pay agreement, which would be the appropriate channel. I again thank the Deputy for bringing forth this Topical Issue matter today. The role of the SNA is pivotal. I acknowledge that. As…

On behalf of the Government, I welcome the opportunity to close what has been a very insightful and informative debate on this very important matter. The many contributions made during the debate will feed into the Department's continuing engagement with members of the advisory group on State examinations in planning for these examinations this year. It is important to hear and understand all voices and perspectives in determining the most appropriate approach for the examinations, and an approach that is fair and …

Annie Lennox sang four short and yet immeasurably powerful lines to encompass perfectly the grief of victims of sexual and violent assaults: And so I face the wall Turn my back against it all How I wish I'd been unborn Wish I wasn't living What some people fail to understand is that the consequences and repercussions for those who experience a violent assault are multifaceted. Physical wounds will heal eventually, albeit leaving nasty permanent scars, but psychological wounds remain open, sore and exposed. More oft…

I thank Deputy Collins for her contribution. I will be speaking very briefly about special education but I will bring her comments back to the Minister, Deputy Donnelly. With regard to the TRIPS waiver, the Government has noted the decision made by the Seanad last night. There is ongoing engagement at a European level in that regard. I know the Tánaiste is also aware of it. I wish the Ceann Comhairle a very happy Christmas, in particular given the fact that he has recovered from Covid-19. It is not easy. He is livi…

You cannot kill a bad thing. It is very positive that he is well and thank God for that. Deputy Ó Laoghaire, who was here earlier, also recovered from Covid-19, as did a number of other Senators and Deputies. None of us in this House, therefore, including staff, is immune to suffering the effects of Covid-19. We are all human beings at the end of day. I wish the Ceann Comhairle well and hope he has a very peaceful, safe and happy Christmas. I thank all the staff in the Oireachtas for the incredible work they do. Th…

I thank the Senator for comprehensively setting out the status of the school building project for Gaelscoil Choláiste Mhuire, and her views. I am sure that she will appreciate that I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Foley, and I will convey the Senator's contribution to the Minister. The Senator will be aware of the fact that this project is included in the Department's construction programme that is being delivered under the national development plan. The project brief is to provide a new 16…

I note the comments made by the Senator and I will relay them to the Minister. To be clear about the tender process, there is a target date to commence tendering for a main contractor by the end of quarter 1 of 2022. That will be over the next few months. I appreciate that there have been delays and I have outlined some of the reasons for the delays. Things need to progress at speed now. I will convey the comments that the Senator made about the negotiations with Youth Work Ireland. There are and have been a number…

I thank the Deputy for the question. The most important aspect in regard to education is that the schools remain open. In that regard, it is imperative that infection and prevention control measures remain in place on school transport. My understanding in regard to school transport is that it has reverted to 100% capacity. There are bus escorts in the area of special education, which is under my remit. Full personal protective equipment is provided sanitisation protocols are in place and there is no difficulty in t…

I thank the Deputy for comprehensively outlining the SNA allocations issues west Cork in particular faces. I will put in context my role as Minister of State with responsibility for special education in the rolling out and administering the €2.2 billion budget we secured this year, which is more than 25% of the entire education budget. That is an increase of 60% since 2011. Within the €2.2 billion resource, we managed to secure funding for an unprecedented number of 1,165 SNAs. By the end of December 2022, we will …

I thank the Deputy for outlining his concerns regarding these schools. It is my role as Minister of State with responsibility for special education to ensure that I hold the NCSE to account. It receives €20 million from the Department every year and employs its SENOs to liaise on the ground with schools, families and parents to ensure sufficient resources are available to each school. I can bring this matter to the attention of the NCSE. I am not aware if it has recently inspected these schools. The Deputy may wish…

I commend the Deputies on bringing forward this Topical Issue. It is a very pertinent issue to me, as Minister of State with responsibility for special education. I appreciate all the work done by Deputy Bruton, a previous Minister for Education, who in fact kick-started the process of the school inclusion model, and thank him for that. I wish to reassure both Deputies that I feel this will be the gold-star policy change for special education in Ireland. I hope that, in time, other jurisdictions will look to this c…

The important point to note, which I may not have mentioned yet, is the fact that the pilot has recommenced in CHO 7 this term. We have plans for expansion of that. The independent evaluation is critical, and I am very satisfied so far with a report we have received on the confidence children with additional needs have gained from availing of the school inclusion model and the fact that they have reached most of their targets in a way in which they had not before. It is important, as both Deputies said, that childr…

I am sharing time with Deputy Carroll MacNeill, and I ask the Acting Chair to remind me to give her two minutes. I thank all the Deputies for their contributions and I am grateful for the opportunity to speak during this debate on the Education (Health, Relationships and Sex Education) Bill 2021. Given that the Bill was only introduced in the House last week, it is important to state that there has been no opportunity for the Department to consider in detail the text of the provisions or to engage with the Office o…

I understand that the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, has contacted the school on the request. It is a matter I take seriously as Minister of State with responsibility for special education. It is important to look at the growth in special classes. In 2011 there were 508 special classes and now there are 2,118, an increase of 386%. This year alone, we opened 269 special classes and will open 287 next year, with 1,700 special class places. That is the context. There has been rapid growth in special cla…