I appreciate the case the Deputy has made. There are similar cases throughout the country. As I said earlier, budget 2022 has provided for an allocation of €18 million for 2022 and €32 million for 2023 to extend the DEIS programme to further schools with the highest levels of disadvantage. As the Deputy has acknowledged, this package represents an increase of over 20% on the €150 million already allocated by my Department to provide supports for schools in the DEIS programme. The DEIS programme currently supports 8…

I thank the Deputy. I want to be clear that the progression, enhancement and expansion of the DEIS model to as many schools as possible has been a chief objective of my Ministry. It is a significant undertaking by the Department of Education to have secured €18 million for 2022 and €32 million for 2023 to advance that objective clearly for the types of schools the Deputy has referenced. Such schools are spread throughout the country. I am conscious of that and I know that. I have clearly said to the Deputy it is my…

As I mentioned earlier, the funding package that was identified of €18 million for 2022 and €32 million for 2023 is to facilitate this being up and running in our schools in September 2022. Our schools will be given ample time. It is my intention to ensure that schools are informed in such time as to allow them to plan for the coming school year. In advance of any announcements, the Department will engage further with relevant stakeholders. It is important that the process is clear, open, transparent and easily und…

-----schools will be informed of their inclusion in the DEIS model. Again, in terms of points that have been raised, it is important to point out that schools are not required to apply for inclusion in the DEIS programme, and that all schools will be considered under the refined model.

In recent weeks, I attended a meeting with the advisory group on State examinations, which has representatives of students, parents, teachers, managerial bodies, the further and higher education sector and the State Examinations Commission. As I previously outlined, following on from this meeting, I met with the members of the advisory group on a one-to-one and bilateral basis and had further engagement with each of them thereafter. I listened carefully to what each of these stakeholders had to say and examined eac…

I must point out to the Deputy that if an answer given the first time is honest, fair and accurate, it will be the same answer I give him the second and, indeed, third and fourth time. If it is a truthful answer first time, it will remain a truthful answer. I have given a truthful answer in this House as regards my engagements, the deliberations concerning leaving certificate 2022 and the junior cycle, engagements I had with the advisory group, parents, students and teachers, the issues that were raised with me by …

I want to be clear that the reason the hybrid model or accredited grades aspect is not being implemented this year is that when a teacher provides an estimated mark, he or she does so because he or she knows his or her student. He or she does not know the student in another class whom the teacher has not taught. It is important that there is comparability between the students in a national examination. To achieve that comparability, as I have outlined earlier, we relied upon the junior cycle data belonging to the c…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta. Dúnadh le déanaí comhairliúchán leis an gComhairle Náisiúnta Curaclaim agus Measúnachta, CNCM, ar dhréacht-sonraíochtaí nua do Ghaeilge na hardteistiméireachta. Tá forbairt reatha na ndréacht-sonraíochtaí do Ghaeilge na hardteistiméireachta mar chuid den timthriall leanúnach athbhreithnithe agus athfhorbartha curaclaim. As the Deputy is aware, the public consultation aspect of his process recently concluded. It deals with the new draft specifications for leaving certificate Irish. …

I thank the Deputy. I know that he has a particular and passionate interest in this. He have raised it on an ongoing basis with me. With all due respect, it has been raised by the Leas-Cheann Comhairle and indeed by others here. I wish to acknowledge that there has been considerable engagement via the consultation process. For example, the NCCA has received some 740 responses in the online survey, as well as 240 written submissions. In addition, the NCCA hosted 13 focus group meetings in which there were 275 partic…

I need to say that it is important in every sector, including in the education sector, that the widest realm of people who are involved in the process have an opportunity to put and to record their views and their thoughts. I accept the passionately and sincerely held views that have been articulated by both Deputies here. However, it is important, in the interest of fairness and the interests of the process, that all views and all shades of views would be facilitated in having their voices heard. That is exactly w…

I move amendment No. 2: To delete all words after “That Dáil Éireann” and substitute the following: "notes that: — students, including those preparing for Junior Cycle and Senior Cycle examinations, have faced challenges in their learning as a result of disruptions caused by Covid-19; — students are naturally eager to have certainty about the approach to be taken in respect of this year's State examinations; and — school communities have made extraordinary and unstinting efforts to support the continuity of learnin…

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter as it allows me to provide an update on the current position on the planned development of the new three-school campus at Carrigtohill. I know of the Deputy's ongoing interest and I also know the interest of Deputies Stanton and O'Connor, who have consistently raised the matter with me also. Carrigtwohill Community College is a co-educational post-primary school under the patronage of Cork Education and Training Board and the Diocese of Cloyne. The school first opened its …

I appreciate the Deputy's interest in this project. There is great unanimity among the public representatives on the matter. At the request of Deputy O'Connor, I met a number of the school leaders in the area. Deputy Buckley specifically referenced the wider area of east Cork. I am personally very familiar with the area because I spent time teaching there. I am very conscious of its needs and demands given that it is a growing area. I appreciate the high priority that is being placed on the future of this three-sch…

I thank the Senator for raising this important issue and allowing me the opportunity to address it. I extend my best wishes to all in the House for the year ahead. I am very conscious of the disruption experienced by students who are due to do their leaving certificate examinations this year - the class of 2022. It is welcome that schools reopened at the normal time after the Christmas holidays. I am very much aware that schools are working tirelessly to deliver the best possible educational experience for their st…

I thank Senator Doherty for the opportunity to come to the House today and to hear her views. As I outlined earlier, it is very important we are conscious of what has been experienced by the class of 2022. I am extremely conscious of that. As previously outlined and as reiterated by the Senator, accommodations were made with the exam papers in August. Equally, there have been recent changes to the operation, including the orals taking place over Easter time and the musical practical exams. Notwithstanding that, it …

This is my second time in this Chamber today.

I am happy to be here. I took the opportunity earlier today to extend my good wishes for the new year to everyone gathered in the Chamber and I do likewise now. It is always a pleasure to be in the Seanad. I particularly thank the Cathaoirleach for the invitation to join Senators to reflect on the joint committee's report, one year on from its adoption. I am pleased to be joined by the Chair of the committee and I thank him for his presence and his presentation. As Senators know, the continued safe and sustainable …

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue as it gives me an opportunity to outline the current position regarding provision for children with special education needs, including autism. In fairness, I acknowledge his ongoing engagement with me and his very clear and specific interest in this area of education. I thank him for that. Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education appropriate to their needs is a priority for this Government. This year, the Department of Education will invest i…

I thank the Deputy again for raising this issue and for the opportunity to reassure the House that the Department is committed to ensuring that all children can access an education suitable to their needs. Planning is actively under way to ensure that children without a placement for next year are provided with a suitable placement. The NCSE is leading work in this regard. I reassure the Deputy that the Department will continue to support the NCSE and schools through the provision of necessary funding and capital i…

I thank Deputies for raising this issue and for allowing me to address the matter. At the outset, I would like to say that I am very much aware of the disruption experienced by students who are due to take their leaving certificate examinations this year in the class of 2022. It is welcome that the schools reopened at the normal time after the Christmas holidays. I know that schools are working tirelessly to deliver the best possible educational experience to students. It is important to say that. All planning for …