Dáil debates

Thursday, 29 September 2022

Financial Resolutions 2022 - Financial Resolution No. 6: General (Resumed)

 

1:10 pm

Photo of Joe McHughJoe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Leas-Cheann Comhairle fá choinne na deise labhairt leis an Teach. Guím fáilte roimh an bheirt Airí Stáit go dtí an díospóireacht fosta. Ba mhaith liom cúpla pointe a ardú faoi cháinaisnéis 2023. Tá cúpla ceist agam maidir le hiompar, busanna san áireamh. Eisíodh €100,000 fá choinne na ndúshlán leis an iompar, go háirithe sna ceantair iargúlta. Tá cead de dhíth ag na tuismitheoirí agus ag na páistí le suíochán a fháil, suíocháin a bhí acu anuraidh. Níl sin ceart agus tá sin práinneach. Tá mé ag labhairt maidir leis an €100,000 atá i gceist agus guím fáilte roimhe fosta. Táim ag iarraidh soiléiriú agus sonraí faoin bhriseadh síos a fháil. Tá an t-airgead seo ann fá choinne fadhbanna leis na busanna agus chomh maith leis sin, leis an deontas capitation. Táim ag iarraidh soiléiriú agus sonraí faoi sin a fháil. Cé go bhfuil an t-airgead ag éirí fá choinne 2023, tá imní ar na scoileanna faoi 2024 agus tá mé ag iarraidh na fadhbanna agus na ceisteanna faoi sin a shoiléiriú fosta.

Chomh maith leis sin, ba mhaith liom cúpla focal a rá faoi mo cheantar agus mo réigiún féin. Tá mé ag labhairt faoin A5 ach go háirithe. Tchím tiomantas faoin A5, an bealach is tábhachtaí san iarthuaisceart. Tá sin ar na cláir ar feadh i bhfad anois. I mo chontae féin fosta, tá mé ag lorg sonraí nó soiléiriú faoin trans-European network for transport, TEN-T, an bealach Bonagee, an bealach ó Leifear go dtí Leitir Ceanainn agus an bealach ó Shrath an Urláir agus Bealach Féich. Tá na tograí sin ar an chlár caipitil do 2040 agus tá na bóithre sin i gContae Dhún na nGall ar an chlár thar na blianta. Tá siad práinneach, go háirithe ós rud é go bhfuil siad ar an phlean náisiúnta. Táim ag lorg deimhniú ó Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, faoin chás sin fosta. Sin mo chúpla pointe as Gaeilge.

I have a few questions on the education side of things. This area was close to the Minister of State's own heart in his previous role, so I know he will still have good channels of communication with his colleague, the senior Minister, Deputy Foley, in the Department of Education. I ask him to raise these questions with her. The Minister mentioned that the mental health pilot would be rolled out following engagement and consultation with stakeholders. Can the timeline for this engagement process be outlined, as well as the thinking regarding when this pilot should be up and running? Teachers' representatives should also be included in those conversations, particularly those from the Irish National Teachers Organisation, INTO, which campaigned for its representatives to be included at the beginning. Will the Minister of State also ask the Minister, Deputy Foley, to outline a breakdown of the figures for the new mainstream teachers who are to be provided to special education classes? The Minister flagged an overall number of 686. Will she break this total down by special education teachers, SETs, special class teachers and special schoolteachers at primary level? Undoubtedly, the Minister of State is in no position to be taking note of all these questions in shorthand now. I know he probably does have a very good memory, but no doubt some officials in the Department will also be listening.

Turning to class sizes, in the press conference yesterday where it was announced there would be a reduction of one in class sizes, the Minister also said she would like to see another reduction next year. Will she restate that commitment? Regarding capitation, and I raised this already, schools have warmly welcomed the once-off 40% increase in direct funding for this year. They have also, however, genuine and serious concern that the capitation payment is not increasing from September 2023. Therefore, is there a contingency plan in the event that schools are in financial difficulties next autumn? There are many moving parts in this context in respect of costs, especially energy costs, and global challenges. It is difficult to start projecting as far away as September 2023, but I think there are ways of allaying these fears.

I see my time is coming to an end. I am grateful for having had the opportunity to speak. I will stick within my allotted time because I am very grateful for the cúpla bomaite chun labhairt inniu. Fáiltím roimh an airgead breise d'achan Roinn ach táim ag coinneál mo shúile ar na tograí caipitil i mo chontae agus réigiún féin. Gabhaim buíochas leis an Leas-Cheann Comhairle agus leis an Aire Stáit.

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