I thank the Deputy. She is correct. I agree there is enormous importance attached to the RACE scheme. I understand the most recent full review was carried out in 2016-2017. In the interim, there have also been amendments, particularly for candidates who present as visually impaired. Also, schools have devolved authority to recommend to the SEC the supports available within the RACE scheme that should be put in place in the junior cycle and at leaving certificate level. The SEC, in general, accepts the recommendatio…

I believe in this scheme. I believe fundamentally that we must do all we can to ensure students get the opportunity at whatever level to showcase themselves at their best. Specifically, in terms of dyslexia, the State Examinations Commission has met with the national organisation. Everything is kept under review. They would point to the fact that, almost uniquely in the world, there is the spelling and grammar waiver, which is not in existence in other jurisdictions to the best of my knowledge. However, they have l…

As the Deputy will be aware, the school transport scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2022-23 school year, in excess of 149,000 young people, including more than 18,000 children with special educational needs, were transported daily. In addition, school transport scheme services have been provided in the 2022-23 school year to almost 5,500 children who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine. The total cost of the scheme in 2022 was €338.9 million. …

I acknowledge the importance of the scheme. I know it myself as I come from a rural constituency. Very specific measures were taken to ensure there would be earlier allocation of tickets. For the first time, the payment closing dates were brought forward. The family portal to process applications is closed and it will reopen on 30 June 2023, which is imminent. This closure is necessary to ensure Bus Éireann can process applications, arrange transport, assess all applications, etc. Any applications made after 28 Apr…

I understand the importance of receiving information as early as possible. It is for that reason we brought everything forward this year. Therefore, it is our expectation that, well in advance of the return to school, tickets will have been issued and people will know clearly where they stand. Significant value is provided by the school transport system. The Deputy will appreciate that, as a cost-of-living measure, previously all fees were waived. This year, I accept it is a demand on parents but it is a much lesse…

As part of budget 2023, as the Deputy will be aware, the Department is investing more than €9.6 billion in the primary and post-primary education system. This reflects an increase of €443 million in core funding as well as more than €145 million in non-core expenditure. This builds on significant increases in recent budgets and reflects the Government’s commitment to a quality, inclusive school system. As part of the cost-of-living measures to be enacted this year, €90 million was provided in one-off additional fun…

I will be very clear. All moneys due to schools have been paid. I confirmed to the Deputy that all moneys in respect of the minor works payment have been paid. It is important to say that, over the past three years, not only have minor works grants been paid, but we have also on occasion seen double the money for minor works being paid to schools. Equally, throughout the Covid period in 2020, we saw a doubling of the money, or €100 million, being paid and, in the following year, we also saw €100 million, which was …

Specifically on the case raised by the Deputy that referred to "more than ten years", in more than ten years, there has never been as much money going to the primary or post-primary school sectors. I am very happy, on an individual basis, to take the name and details of the principal to whom the Deputy referred, if he or she has a particular issue. This year, for example, I can point to more than €90 million in additional funding that has gone directly into schools for any issues they might have, including energy c…

Under the programme for Government, there is a commitment to make further progress in reducing the pupil-teacher ratios, PTRs, in primary schools. I am very pleased to have been able to introduce three successive PTR reductions in each of the past three budgets. I know the significance of this and that the Deputy is very conscious of it. Indeed, it is a measure that has been welcomed right across the board. Budget 2023 provided an additional €588 million in funding for education. This significant increase built on …

I want to be very clear that there have been significant advancements and improvements. The Deputy referred specifically to primary school education in the context of the current Government. Specifically in terms of capitation, I want to acknowledge that the demands at primary level are very different from the demands at post-primary level. The demands at post-primary level are very different from the demands at primary level. Notwithstanding that, I want to point to some of the advances in primary education. As I …

There is a wide acknowledgement that it is important that we keep the curricula in our schools up to date and current so that they meet the needs of all our children and young people. The Deputy will be aware that the curricula are developed by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, NCCA, which is constituted of all within the education sector. That includes all the voices in the education sector. The Deputy will be aware that the SPHE and relationships and sexuality education, RSE, programmes were don…

-----will be aware that the publication of the SPHE and RSE curriculum was broadly welcomed by many stakeholders, including parents' bodies nationally and Catholic bodies’ representatives. He will have heard them articulate that we need to have a curriculum that meets the challenges of the day.

The curricula are being provided for. On a point of clarification, it is a provision for those at junior cycle. The work is under way for senior cycle. That is currently under way. I will also specifically say that if there is any aspect of the programme that parents are not happy with and if they wish to withdraw their child, they have an absolute right to do that.

There is no question of it being imposed.

The programme for Government contains a commitment to expand the plurality of our schools to reflect the full breadth of society and improve parental choice. Among the commitments are: to achieve the target of at least 400 multidenominational primary schools by 2030 in order to improve parental choice; to expand and prioritise the transfer of viable schools to community national schools; and to work with communities to ensure the provision of clear, non-partisan information on the preparation for, and consequences …

Deputies Troy and Ó Ríordáin referred to divestment. I absolutely appreciate their bona fides in relation to advancing this programme as quickly as possible. I acknowledge that there is a Government commitment to do that and that there has been co-operation from various partners, in the first instance, in respect of the pilot programme. Somewhere along the line it gets lost that 52 of the 53 new primary schools are multidenominational, and 44 of the 50 new post-primary schools are multidenominational. I hear the fr…

Congratulations on doing that. It was very dextrous of the Deputy altogether.

The DEIS programme is extremely important. It speaks to educational disadvantage. We have the single greatest number of schools now involved in the DEIS programme. There was a very clear and transparent process for schools that did not meet the criteria. There was an appeals process and significant resources were put in place. I acknowledge that there will be children who are attending schools that are not DEIS schools, and they are also at risk of educational disadvantage, so we have universal targets on free book…

We need to look at not just targeted measures, but also universal measures.

I want to be very clear at the outset. There is to be no bullying or coercion here. The pilot that has concluded was purposefully set out to gather the thoughts and the views. I acknowledge that in some instances there was no desire for change, and in others, there was huge desire for change. I absolutely accept that there must be a balanced approach. I also accept what Deputy Ó Ríordáin has said in terms of the validity of those who are being consulted and delivering the widest type of consultation. I do not wish …