As mentioned by the Deputy, I have visited Riversdale Community College, where I saw first-hand the work under way in regard to the new Danu special school. There is an emergency works scheme in place to which the school can apply for funding in relation to the roof, which should not be substandard. If there are leaks, it needs to be fixed. I advise the Deputy to encourage the school to apply for funding under that scheme. On the building works, I will ask the Department to ensure they are expedited.

I am delighted to see the new Seanad. This is my first time here, either as a senior Minister or as Minister of State. Hats off to the people who refurbished it. It is wonderful to see the work, particularly the ceiling and the beautiful lights. I have been looking around at the surroundings. DEIS is under the remit of the Minister for Education, Deputy Foley, but I am happy to take this matter today. It is wonderful to see the work, especially the ceiling, the beautiful lights and everything else. It is lovely. I …

I do not have a timeline for Senator Ardagh today. I understand the work is ongoing on the final elements. There are 184 schools at present in the DEIS programme, encompassing approximately 185,000 pupils, which is about 20% of all schools. It is a considerable number, but that is not to say that other schools should not be included. We must support children from disadvantaged areas. Senator Ardagh will also be aware of the multiplier effect in that even if a child is from a different socioeconomic background and a…

I appreciate that. The Department is aware that I am in the Seanad representing the Minister today and of the urgency of the matter. A number of different schools wish to be included in the DEIS programme. We will consider all the applications once the consultation process has been completed.

I thank the Deputy for his question. All of us, especially myself as Minister of State with responsibility for special education, are aware of the difficulties children with additional needs have faced during the pandemic, not the least of which were the difficulties they faced in respect of remote learning. However, it is important to stress that supports were given at the time. There was enhanced digital communication, there were teaching and learning platforms and additional guidance was given to schools. We can…

The Deputy's question may be more pertinent to the Minister of State with responsibility for disability, Deputy Rabbitte, in terms of the progressing disability scheme relating to special schools. I understand this had been paused for a period. The supports the Department of Education gives to special schools have continued and been enhanced during the pandemic. Extensive supports are available, particularly in respect of technology. The assistive technology scheme is vital for children with additional needs. On th…

If the Deputy is aware of any special school that has a lack of therapy services as he outlined, he should let both the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, and the Department of Education know of that. I speak to Deputy Rabbitte and to the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Deputy O'Gorman, regularly and we have tripartite meetings on furthering the work we can do collaboratively. The Deputy is right that there has to be joined-up thinking between relevant Departments. It is importa…

In 2018, the then Minister for Education and Skills requested the NCSE to advise on the educational provision that should be in place for students in special schools and classes. Ireland is not alone in evaluating its educational provision for students in special education settings. Many European countries are thinking about the future direction they should take. This is particularly pertinent in the light of new obligations and responsibilities arising from the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons wi…

I thank the Deputy. I accept his point regarding the majority of children with additional needs being educated in mainstream schools. That is the case. Obviously, there are special classes that cater for approximately 8,000 pupils and there are 124, or almost 126, special schools that cater for an equal number of children. Each of these educational environments provides a vital service to children with additional needs. Depending on the level of complexity of need, such children will be in a mainstream class, a spe…

The questions the Deputy has posed are valid. The EPSEN Act, which is the main legislation underpinning special education, was published 17 years ago, in 2004, and the focus in respect of the provision of special education has changed substantially since then, from a model that was diagnosis-led to one that is now driven by the needs of the child. Therein lies the answer to the questions regarding whether children with complex needs can fit into a mainstream school or, indeed, the other way around. My view is that …

The Tánaiste did not interrupt Deputy Ó Broin.

Deputy McDonald and her party throwing crass accusations across this Chamber represents the height of hypocrisy. We all know that people make mistakes. To err is human. That Sinn Féin would seek to bring down this Government on an issue about which there has been a full acknowledgement and apology is cynical in the extreme. The governance of our country at this crucial time is too important for such childish game-playing, since that is what this is, and attempts at distraction. The Opposition wants to talk about in…

Sinn Féin refused to take seats in Westminster at any point during negotiations on a deal, when its votes might have been crucial to avoiding a hard Brexit. Even now, Sinn Féin seeks to weaken this country's voice internationally at a time issues with the protocol and the future of the Northern Ireland Assembly are in the balance. That does not even start on the economic wreckage that its policies would produce in the country if it ever had to implement them. Sinn Féin is like the man on the sidelines, loudly point…

It is my belief that children with special educational needs should receive their education in placements which are appropriate to their needs alongside their peers, wherever possible unless such an approach would be inconsistent with the best interests of the individual child, or other children in the school. This approach is consistent with the provisions of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs, EPSEN, Act 2004. My Department's policy, therefore, is to provide for the inclusive education of ch…

I thank the Senator for her comments. I reiterate something which she will be well aware of which is that the communication between schools and the Department of Education, and more particularly the NCSE, will be crucial to ensuring that the child is in the right place. No expulsion or suspension should be unwarranted. It is important to say that there is that appeal mechanism available. From the data I have, there was only one expulsion case in 2021, by way of judicial review. That option is always available for p…

I wish to confirm that there are curriculum supports educating young people about road safety from a young age. The Garda schools programme, at both primary and post-primary level includes modules on road safety and on cycle safety. The aim of this programme is to engage with young people in order to enhance their appreciation of the need to be caring, law-abiding citizens and to increase awareness of their personal safety. The programme also seeks to improve awareness of road safety and to reduce injuries and fata…

I will pass those comments on to the Minister. The updated Garda primary schools and post-primary schools programmes will be launched in the coming year. I reiterate that basic tuition to lay a foundation in driver education features in the school curricula. I note what the Senator said. While the RSA is not under the remit of the Department of Education, it provides back-to-school advice for parents and children in regard to transport, travelling by car, walking to school, travelling by bus and cycle safety. A num…

The issues and challenges that pertain to children with educational needs are very close to the Senator's heart and he raises them in the Chamber regularly. One step I want to take in my position as the first Minister of State with responsibility for special education is to ensure we provide special class places and special school places for all children with additional needs, whether in south Dublin, south Cork or wherever it is in the country. That is something I am determined to do. To that end, in the budget la…

The Acting Chairperson is sick of my voice already on a Monday morning. I note the Senator’s comments about this school. When there is any site acquisition by the Department, we must consider best value for money. That is the reality of the situation. The site acquisition must be thoroughly interrogated by the Department. I appreciate the Senator’s kind comments about my work. We have had a 286% increase in special class places over the past decade and there are 2,118 special classes this year, providing places to …

I can hear the passion for this project in the Senator's voice. I am taking this Commencement matter on behalf of the Department of Transport. Under the review of the NDP, the Department is examining its investment plans in light of the programme for Government. The plan is based around outcomes. The Senator is correct, in that I will refer to the sustainable mobility of 1 million people. That is what we are discussing in the national development plan as opposed to specific projects. The Department's submission to …