I acknowledge and express my thanks to colleagues for their contributions on this important issue. It is absolutely clear and it is equally unambiguous that this House considers the recent shocking revelations of abuse in certain schools to be deeply disturbing, and that the House is of the view that a strong and considerate response is required with the view of the survivors being absolutely central to that response. I look forward to engaging further with Opposition colleagues next week on this issue. I am confid…

I thank the Deputies for raising this matter as it gives me the opportunity to outline for the House the position with regard to the amalgamation of St Vincent's Secondary School and North Presentation Secondary School in Cork. St. Vincent's Secondary School is a post-primary school for girls under the patronage of the Religious Sisters of Charity. It had 215 students in the 2021-2022 school year. North Presentation Secondary School is also a post-primary school for girls and is under the patronage of CEIST. It had…

Again I thank the Deputies for giving me an opportunity to reply to the House. Regarding the current position on the amalgamation of St. Vincent's Secondary School and North Presentation Secondary School, Cork, I note the unanimity among the Deputies. I have to point out, and I am being absolutely truthful saying this, the decision-making authority for any amalgamation or change of status is the patron of the school in question. I am conscious that very recently specific concerns have been raised by the school comm…

Following the engagement we have had with the representatives of the schools' patrons it is now my understanding that the two schools are having continued discussions and will be meeting again on Thursday this week with their representative schools. That is positive. It is important that we take the opportunity to hear the concerns that have been raised. It is important that the patrons in this instance have agreed to that meeting and to the opportunity to meet with the respective schools-----

I must have the opportunity to answer. It is important and I have heard the voices that are being expressed in this Chamber and in the community. As a Department we have made contact with representatives of the patrons of the schools. They have committed to meeting on Thursday with the representative schools. That is just two days away. I look forward to the outcome of that discussion on Thursday.

I thank Senators for the invitation to make a statement to update them on the school transport provision for the current school year. School transport was established in 1968. It was created to facilitate access to primary and post-primary education for those children who, because of where they reside, might otherwise have difficulty attending school regularly. Of course there have been considerable changes in Irish society since the scheme was first established but the scheme continues to provide a significant lev…

I once again thank Senators for the opportunity to update the House on school transport for the current school year. I will reiterate what I outlined at the outset, which is that 126,000 tickets have been issued to applicants for the 2022-23 school year under the main scheme alone. At the start of the last school year, approximately 103,600 children were being carried on mainstream school transport services and, therefore, in the region of 22,400 additional places have been created. All eligible pupils who applied …

I thank the Deputy. As he is aware, the State Examinations Commission, SEC, has statutory responsibility for the operation of the State exams. It has a responsibility to candidates to ensure their work is marked to the highest standards of quality and integrity. I appreciate that many students are frustrated that they have not yet received their examination results, and I have been assured by the SEC that it is seeking to issue results in the earliest timeframe possible. This year is the first time since 2019 that …

I hear and understand what the Deputy is saying and I understand the frustrations of students. I do not wish to be repetitive other than to say there were two sittings of the exams this year for leaving certificate. The appeals process had to come first. Those results issued last week. There were challenges in the recruitment of examiners. I confirm there will be a full review of how we can best encourage more examiners to make themselves available, the question of dates being provided and certainty around dates. T…

The value and importance of the exams at junior cycle level are not in question. Since 2019, the timeframe has changed. Many moons ago, we were looking at September but because of the legal proceedings and that, the issuing of results was around October, just this month. This year, it was right and proper that there were two sittings of the leaving certificate. My view and experience of junior cycle is that it is important that those exams be made available to student and that they have an opportunity to take a Sta…

I thank the Deputy. The school transport scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of my Department. In the last school year more than 121,400 children, including more than 15,500 children with special educational needs, were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country. The cost of the scheme in 2021 was €289 million. I recognise the importance of the school transport service for families and children. The review commenced in February 2021. It is …

The purpose of the review is to look at all aspects of the current system and that includes examining eligibility criteria, trends, cost drivers and the overall effectiveness of the scheme in meeting the objectives as set out. The objective is to maximise the opportunities for young people to avail of the service. To answer the Deputy's first question, eligibility will most certainly be part of it, which is welcome. He is correct that the value of the school transport system is incalculable, particularly in certain…

I appreciate the points that the Deputies made. Nobody appreciates more than myself the importance of the school transport scheme and the shortcomings that exist. It is for that reason that I launched this comprehensive review of the scheme, which is long overdue because there are shortcomings and I know how vital it is to those who avail of it. Eligibility, distance and all of that is part of the review and the ongoing work. Deputy Moynihan specifically referred to the 3.2 km and the 4.8 km criteria. Every aspect …

As the Deputy will be aware, I announced an ambitious programme of work for a reimagined senior cycle of education where the student is at the centre of their senior cycle experience. There are three clear objective. It will empower students to meet the challenges of the 21st century; enrich the student experience and build on what’s strong in our current system; and embed well-being and reduce student stress levels. Considerable work has been ongoing regarding senior cycle redevelopment in the Department, the Nati…

I have been very clear about the need for the reform of senior cycle and I have outlined the aspects on which we have already moved. We have already made considerable changes on foot of the announcements for senior cycle. For example, the students availing of the LCA programme may now avail of maths from the established programme. There is a crossover between the different programmes available at leaving certificate. Equally, students who wish to study the LCV programme are no longer prohibited on the basis of the …

The Deputy is misconstruing what I said to him. I said there is absolute clarity on the broad thrust of what is to be achieved at senior cycle. I have been very clear about the new types of subjects that will be available. Two specific new subjects will be available: drama, film and theatre studies; and climate action and sustainable development. The work on that has already begun. The Deputy spoke about clarity for students and teachers. I have been also very clear that the entire process, particularly as it relat…

As the Deputy is aware, in June of this year, I visited the Cork Life Centre and I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to meet some of the young people who attend the centre, together with their parents and guardians, as well as members of staff and the management of the centre. During the meeting, the centre raised the issues of security of employment for its staff and their terms and conditions, including payment rates for the centre's teaching staff. Staff employed in Cork Life Centre, under the co-oper…

To be clear, the staff employed in the Cork Life Centre, under the co-operation hours arrangement with Cork ETB, are employed under terms and conditions, including the pay scale, in line with arrangements that apply to settings outside the recognised school system. However, as I have made very clear, I have met with the centre and I am very conscious of the work it does. The issues the centre has raised will be addressed via the review of the out-of-school education provision. In the interim, to be clear, the Depar…

I thank both Deputies. I acknowledge their commitment and interest. I do not for a moment underestimate the value and importance of the work that takes place in Cork Life Centre and in the other centres that make up this sector. I fully understand that no one setting suits the needs of students and we must provide a variety of settings for them. It is the desire of the Cork Life Centre, and all such centres, that it would have a sustainable future. It is for that reason we are determined to ensure via the review th…

On 1 January 2021, responsibility for education welfare functions, including the administration of the home school community liaison scheme and the school completion programme, SCP, transferred from the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to me. The SCP forms part of the Tusla education support service, TESS. While the arrangements between Tusla and the SCP are not impacted by the change in ministerial responsibility, Tusla now reports to my Department in respect of the SCP, which is …