At the outset, I would like to be associated with Deputy Ó Ríordáin's words on the former Minister, Niamh Bhreathnach. I remember her with great fondness and have had the opportunity to say so in this House. She was truly a visionary woman who made an extraordinary contribution to the world of education. We are certainly the lesser for her passing. I acknowledge that in the context of what the Labour Party is doing here today. I am very appreciative of the opportunity to acknowledge very sincerely all that occurs a…

I will text for it. I apologise. That is my mistake. I will ensure it is included. The forthcoming NDP review to be undertaken later in 2023 will be key to dealing with the type of issues referenced in the motion regarding project roll-out in future years and addressing any capacity constraints at primary and post-primary level. I will turn now to other areas raised in the Private Members' motion. The provision of education for children with special needs is an ongoing priority for me as Minister for Education, for…

As the Deputy will be aware, investment and expenditure on physical education, PE, halls is an element of the overall expenditure and investment in the school building programme. The provision of general purpose, GP, rooms and PE halls at primary and post-primary level, respectively, as well as outdoor hard play areas forms part of the accommodation brief for all new school buildings or where a major building or refurbishment project is being delivered for an existing school. My Department provides different sized …

I know the Deputy’s personal investment in the school. The fact that there is a new school development is very positive and I know the Deputy has personally engaged in that. The question concerns size. I can only confirm to the Deputy that this is the standard size that is being provided at primary level. A 195 sq. m GP room is provided as part of a new eight to 16 classroom building. Obviously, a larger school will get a larger GP facility. This is part of a further suite of measures that has been provided. In add…

These are the building guidelines that are the same across the country in terms of a 195 sq. m GP room. The GP room can be used to support PE but it is important to note that the PE curriculum permits schools flexibility in its implementation and supports a broad and balanced approach, taking account of the varying indoor and outdoor facilities available. I hear what the Deputy is saying. I acknowledge that this is standard practice for all new school buildings. It is the recommended size from the planning and buil…

The Government’s objective is to have at least 400 multi-denominational schools in the primary system by 2030 to improve parental choice. I fully support this commitment and I am working with my Department and stakeholders in this respect. In recent years, there has been progress towards increasing the numbers of multi-denominational primary schools, with the vast majority of new primary schools established in the past decade having a multi-denominational ethos. In March 2022, I announced that arrangements were bei…

In respect of the engagement with the three schools in Raheny, the facilitator has completed their information meetings with the relevant boards of management, principals, staff and parents of pupils in each school. Before and after each engagement with a stakeholder, the facilitator and patron’s representative engaged to consider the views expressed and queries raised. The facilitator has submitted their preliminary report based on their engagement with the relevant stakeholders to the school patron. The prelimina…

I want to be fair here. I know the Deputy is fully invested in this process and very supportive of increasing the number of multi-denominational schools we have. The pilot covers 63 different schools and there is no doubt that it has reaped benefits in some areas. The basis of the pilot is that everybody is consulted, and a facilitator is accommodating that, and everybody gets an opportunity to express their view. The report is then formulated at the end. I will be honest and say the process has worked better in so…

It is acknowledged that candidates can experience many forms of trauma and adversity, such as serious illness and bereavement, and that this may happen around the time of the leaving certificate examinations and that they may be sitting examinations at a time that is not optimal for them. The State Examinations Commission, SEC, has responsibility for the operation, delivery and development of the State examinations. For the 2022 leaving certificate examinations, the State Examinations Commission provided an extende…

The current provision that was made available in 2022 is now under review by the State Examinations Commission, which has jurisdiction over this. The SEC has informed me that the review is continuing and that it contains consultation and engagement with several stakeholders. I have also been assured that it is a high priority for the SEC and it is working to complete the process, which is at an advanced stage, as soon as possible. I have met with Epilepsy Ireland and I can confirm that the SEC also met with Epileps…

To reiterate, the whole purpose of a having a second sitting of the exam is to ensure that students get the maximum opportunity to achieve to the maximum of their ability. I have always been very clear that one of the key functions of the second sitting is to facilitate students impacted by issues such as bereavement or illness. As I have said, I have met with Epilepsy Ireland and am very conscious of the case it has made. I completely accept the Deputy's bona fides in respect of this issue. As he has said, I am su…

Tabharfaidh mé an freagra seo idir Gaeilge agus Béarla. Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta as an gceist thábhachtach seo maidir le Gaelcholáiste an Chláir in Inis. Tá comhfhreagras faighte ag mo Roinn ó phátrún Choláiste Phobail na hInse, Bord Oideachais agus Oiliúna Luimnigh agus an Chláir, ag lorg faomhadh don aonad Gaeilge sa choláiste phobail, ar a dtugtar Gaelcholáiste an Chláir, a aistriú ina Ghaelcholáiste neamhspleách. Mar chuid den Straitéis 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge 2010-2030, tá tiomantas déanta ag mo Roinn d…

Tuigim na pointí atá á ndéanamh ag an Teachta agus an obair atá ar siúl in Inis chun an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn agus a chaomhnú. Thug mé cuairt ar Ghaelscoil Mhíchíl Cíosóg so tá an obair atá ar siúl ar fud na háite in Inis ar eolas agam. Faoi mar a dúirt mé, táimid ag obair ar pholasaí nua chun aonaid, Gaelscoileanna agus Gaelcholáistí a chur chun cinn agus a neartú. Is é an rud is tábhachtaí ná iad go léir a neartú. Coimeádfaimid ceist Ghaelcholáiste an Chláir faoi athbhreithniú. Is é sin an méid atá le rá agam…

Tuigim féin agus tuigeann an Roinn cé chomh tábhachtach is atá an Ghaeilge. Táimid ag déanamh gach iarracht gach tacaíocht a thabhairt chun an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn agus a chaomhnú. Faoi mar a dúirt mé, tuigim féin agus tuigeann an Roinn an méid atá ar siúl in Inis. Tuigim an obair atá ar siúl ag na daltaí, ag na tuistí agus ag foireann na scoile ó thaobh na Gaeilge de. Ag an am céanna, faoi mar a dúirt mé, ag an bpointe seo táimid ag obair ar pholasaí nua ó thaobh neartú agus chur chun cinn na nGaelscoileanna,…

I acknowledge that I had a discussion with Deputy Ó Ríordáin on this issue earlier. As I said, the Government’s objective is to have at least 400 multidenominational schools in the primary system by 2030 to improve parental choice. I fully support this commitment and the Department is working in this regard. In recent years, there has been progress towards increasing the number of multidenominational primary schools, with the vast majority of new primary schools established to cater for demographic demand in the la…

I accept the points the Deputy has made. There are 63 pilots. It is important to remember, as I said previously when it was raised with me, that in some areas it has worked much better and has been a much stronger process than it has been in other areas. There have certainly been challenges and it has been more challenging in some areas than in others. It is for that reason that the Department has given an absolute commitment that there will be a full review of the process. Any learnings that we gain, we will obvio…

I cannot be any clearer. From the outset, we have been very clear that the purpose of the pilots is, obviously, that they would be successful in that they would glean for us an increase in multidenominational provision. Equally, however, we have been clear from the outset that there will be learnings from the pilots. A pilot is a pilot. There will be learnings and, obviously, we will put that to good use going forward. However, it is fair to say that the example the Deputy has given, and it was given here earlier t…

The 2015 junior cycle framework incorporates a modernised curriculum across all subjects and a balanced range of assessment modes that more appropriately addresses the needs of students in the 21st century. It provides students with learning opportunities that strike a balance between learning knowledge and developing a wide range of skills and thinking abilities. Due to the cancellation of junior cycle examinations in 2020 and 2021 in response to the Covid pandemic, 2022 was the first year in which all subjects we…

I reiterate that June 2022 was the first time that this examination was taken. There is an absolute commitment from the Department in all subjects, including this one, that there will be the early insight review. There is equally a commitment - it is right and proper - that we would allow time for the examination to bed in, but that this review will take place in the fourth quarter of 2023. The review will involve seeking the views of school management. It will involve taking the views of teachers, educators and in…

I reiterate that the language of failure is not used by the Department. I want to be clear that the early insight review will take place this year. That is important. I can give the Deputy an example of an early insight review which took place recently in terms of junior cycle Irish T1 and T2. The report of the review was available on the NCCA's website. Following the review, and informed by its findings, the Department issued a circular amending the assessment arrangements for classroom-based assessments 1 and 2. …