To be fair, the SEC's interim report very clearly identified the requirement for additional support being made available to schools to support students for whatever their need might be, from a well-being point of view to additional supports that might be required. As a consequence of that, in this school year school authorities are being provided with five additional examination aide days. The school authorities can appoint a member of staff specifically to provide any type of support that is required to candidates…

As a country, we recognise the unique value and richness of the teaching and learning of our national language. That is reflected in our education system, which seeks to constantly promote and protect the language. Indeed, Irish has the unique position of being the only mandatory requirement for all students sitting leaving certificate examinations. At the same time, there has long since been a recognition that across a system as large as the education sector, there will always be students with exceptional needs an…

I appreciate the concern that the Deputy is bringing to the floor. When we look at it, we have to look at primary and post-primary levels. We have seen a significant reduction in exemptions at primary level, yet at post-primary level there has been an increase, but it is an increase of about 3%. We need to look at that in the context of the fact that this is a new circular. In the first year of implementation there is always going to be greater uptake because there may well have been a backlog. We also need to look…

I want to be very honest in agreeing with the Deputy that at no point would I suggest that any child, and in particular a child who might have an additional need, should not be availing of Irish. On the contrary, it is the view that if ultimately a decision is taken that they will not take the subject to exam level, they should still have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the experience of it and be part of the experience. I would absolutely want to ensure that that is the case. In the first instance, every …

Since 2020, the Department of Education has invested in the region of €4.3 billion in our schools throughout the country, involving the completion of over 750 school building projects and with construction under way at approximately 300 other projects, which includes 34 new school buildings. Projects currently at construction involve a total State investment of over €1.2 billion. This is a record level of investment in our schools which highlights the Government’s very strong track record of delivery in providing a…

I acknowledge the excellent work that happens in that school every day, the excellent school leadership team and, equally, the entire staff and indeed the students themselves. The Department has engaged directly with the principal here. The Department obviously wants to get this over the line. We are happy to engage on a one-to-one basis with schools where they might have a difficulty. In principle, we recognise the importance of this work. We are obliged to have everything as it should be from a technical point of…

I am not aware of the details of the individual school that Deputy Ó Murchú has raised, but I will look at that. I am aware of the very specific case that has been raised by Deputy McAuliffe. It is an excellent example of the willingness of the Department to engage on a direct basis with schools. Over the last number of years, in the lifetime of this Government, over €4.2 billion has been provided for school buildings, whether brand new, additional accommodation or whatever, or to speak to Deputy McAuliffe's point,…

In the current school year, more than 161,600 children, including over 135,000 pupils travelling on primary and post-primary services, 19,800 pupils with special educational needs, and 6,800 pupils who arrived in Ireland from Ukraine, are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country. As such, the school transport scheme represents a highly significant logistical operation and is a significant pillar of Ireland’s public transport system. The total cost of the scheme in 2023…

I acknowledge that interim measures were taken by the Department following the first phase of the review, namely, the temporary alleviation measures, TAMS, introduced at post-primary level, which are being continued for the current school year. Under these measures, which were introduced in 2019, transport is provided where there is a route in operation and where capacity exists for concessionary post-primary pupils who are eligible for transport to their nearest school, are attending their second-nearest school, a…

At the outset I would like to say that I appreciate the importance of the school transport scheme. I know of its value in many rural areas in particular. It was for that reason we ensured we got the widest spectrum of opinion in terms of how we should operate. That was not just families currently using the system, but families who have not used the system and would like to use it. There were those who engaged with the system from a special education point of view. An analysis of school transport schemes in other ju…

I did not get a chance to respond to Deputy Ó Laoghaire but I will come back to him at another time. The school transport scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year more than 161,000 children, including more than 135,000 pupils travelling on primary and post-primary services, 19,800 pupils with special educational needs and 6,800 pupils who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine are transported daily to primary and post-primary schools…

I acknowledge that Deputy O'Sullivan raised a similar issue. I also acknowledge that in the current school year Bus Éireann reported particular issues with the availability of drivers and contractors. This included a number handing contracts back unexpectedly and the receipt of zero bids handed out for contracts tendered out in certain areas. This is against a backdrop of significant driver shortages in the labour market overall, and competing demands for drivers to deliver additional public service initiatives suc…

If the nearest school is full, the next nearest school becomes the school for which transport will be automatically provided. I would be interested in seeing the individual circumstances for that one. Regarding having an appropriate number of bus drivers, as I said earlier, this is not unique to the school transport system and is a wider issue for transport providers. Bus Éireann has conducted a national and local media advertising campaign seeking additional drivers and contractor operators for the scheme. As late…

Since 2020, my Department has invested in the region of €4.3 billion in our schools throughout the country, involving the completion of more than 800 school building projects. Construction is under way on approximately 300 projects, which includes 34 new school buildings. These 300 projects at construction involve a total State investment of in excess of €1.2 billion. There are also 90 projects at the tender process, including a further 28 new school buildings. All of these new school buildings are flagship project…

I appreciate the importance of the provision of school places. As I mentioned, there has been a significant investment by the Department of Education, with more than €4.2 billion since this Government came into office. A sum of €1.2 billion has been allocated this year for works at various stages of construction. There is significant demand for places in areas where there has been exponential growth in housing. I acknowledge the co-operation we have received from schools on the ground. For example, a few days ago t…

I thank the Deputy for his question. I published an initial teacher education policy statement in 2023, presenting a vision for policy and provision across the sector. It aims to ensure student teachers at primary and post-primary level have the skills to support all of our children and young people as learners in the years ahead. One of the policy's guiding principles is the continuation of the vision that initial teacher education will be led by a small number of university-led centres of teacher education excell…

I was in my conclusion going to say there are examples of technological universities making provision in this area. The bachelor of education in technology, engineering and graphics at post-primary level is being delivered by a partnership between DCU and TUS Athlone. The first two years of study takes place at the TUS Athlone campus and the final two years at the DCU institute of education in Dublin. This is an excellent example of the type of innovative collaboration which can take place. As autonomous bodies, it…

The Department of Education favours new programmes being introduced in areas where there is an identified national need. It is important there is a national need identified. That would demand appropriate engagement, liaison or collaboration with the Department of Education, as well as the Department of further and higher education and the Teaching Council. If the local technological university is in a position to make a proposal, there is an identified need and it chooses to liaise with the three bodies mentioned, …

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teach as ucht an ama agus an deis seo a thabhairt dom. I thank the House for the opportunity to discuss the co-ordination and response in the education area to those seeking protection here in Ireland. My Department is committed to delivering an education system that is of the highest quality and where every child and young person is actively supported and nurtured to reach their full potential. As Minister for Education, and as a teacher, I firmly believe schools continuously strive to cre…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Leas-Cheann Comhairle as an am agus an deis seo a thabhairt dom. I join previous speakers in extending my support and solidarity to the children and their carer who were impacted by the horrific event in Parnell Square on a recent Thursday afternoon, and also their wider community, especially their school community. I acknowledge, as has been referenced by previous speakers, that among the first responders to that incident were NEPS psychologists, the school psychologists from the Departmen…