Results 1-20 of 5,877 for speaker:Michael Moynihan

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Special Educational Needs (2 Jul 2025)

Michael Moynihan: There is a meeting taking place today with the school and school patrons to try to resolve the issue. Without putting words in anybody's mouth, I know the school authorities and the Department have been in contact and they will have a meeting today. Let us see what happens with that. I would be only too delighted to bring back any information to the Deputies by email or otherwise when we...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Special Educational Needs (2 Jul 2025)

Michael Moynihan: I thank the Deputies for raising this issue, and I fully accept and understand the genuineness with which it is raised. I fully accept the Deputies' bona fides in respect of this issue. The Government is fully committed to supporting all children with additional needs to achieve their full potential. It is a core priority of the work of the Department of education that every child...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Services (2 Jul 2025)

Michael Moynihan: I thank Deputies Doherty and Mac Lochlainn for raising this issue. I understand the apology made by our colleague, Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher. I recognise the Deputies' dedication to the people of Donegal and to the issue. I will first address the issue of locations for the surgical hubs. The programme for Government commits to establishing six new hubs, in south Dublin, north...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Services (2 Jul 2025)

Michael Moynihan: Again, I thank Deputies Doherty and Mac Lochlainn for raising the issue. I will take back exactly what they have said regarding Letterkenny University Hospital. The information I have is very clear. No decision has been made on the location of the north-west surgical hubs. I understand meetings were held and there was engagement with the Minister last night on this issue. I hear what...

Review of Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004: Statements (1 Jul 2025)

Michael Moynihan: I thank all the Members for their contributions. The report was published last week and is before the House this week, which shows the urgency with which the Government treats the issue of special education. The one thing I am always encouraged by is the depth of knowledge of Members of the House about special education and the challenges being faced by families and I compliment them on...

Review of Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004: Statements (1 Jul 2025)

Michael Moynihan: I welcome the opportunity to speak on the review of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act. I thank my colleague, the Minister, Deputy McEntee, for her opening statement. I wish to thank those who conducted the review and Members of the House for the opportunity to discuss the review. The review represents the most comprehensive national reflection to date on how...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Reports (26 Jun 2025)

Michael Moynihan: I would like to thank the Deputy for the question. The report on the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs (EPSEN) Act 2004 has been finalised and is available at the following link www.gov.ie/en/department-of-education/consultations/epsen-re view-consultation/ This review represents a significant step in aligning education policy and legislation with the lived...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (26 Jun 2025)

Michael Moynihan: The government is committed to the provision of additional special school places for children with more complex educational needs. Over 300 new special school places are being provided for the coming 2025/26 school year. Five new special schools are being established in addition to the eleven new special schools opened over the last few years. Special school capacity is also being expanded...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (26 Jun 2025)

Michael Moynihan: The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education and Youth. Under the current terms of the School Transport Schemes, children are eligible for transport at primary level where they reside not less than 3.2 kilometres from and are attending their nearest national school, and at post primary level where they reside...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Inquiries (26 Jun 2025)

Michael Moynihan: Under the Assistive Technology Scheme, as set out in my Department’s Circular 0010/2013, funding is provided to schools towards the cost of computers and specialist equipment, which are required for educational purposes.All equipment provided under this scheme supports children with more complex disabilities who, in order to access the school curriculum, require essential specialist...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Bus Services (26 Jun 2025)

Michael Moynihan: The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education and Youth. In the current school year over 173,000 children – including 13,400 pupils with special educational needs - are transported daily in approximately 8,200 vehicles across 10,600 routes to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country. ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (26 Jun 2025)

Michael Moynihan: The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education and Youth. Bus Eireann review all school transport services over the summer months. Arising from this review, routes may be altered, extended or withdrawn depending on the number and location of eligible children who will be availing of school transport for the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (26 Jun 2025)

Michael Moynihan: The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education and Youth. The 1975 Summary of Accounting Arrangements form the basis of the payment to Bus Éireann for the operation of the School Transport Scheme. In this regard, the Department reimburses Bus Éireann for a range of costs incurred in the operation and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (26 Jun 2025)

Michael Moynihan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 235, 236, 238, 239 and 240 together. The government is committed to the provision of additional special school places for children with more complex educational needs. Over 300 new special school places are being provided for the coming 2025/26 school year. Five new special schools are being established in addition to the eleven new special schools opened...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (26 Jun 2025)

Michael Moynihan: This government is fully committed to supporting children with special educational needs to fulfil their full potential and the Programme for Government makes a number of commitments to deliver on this objective. The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children with special educational needs. The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (26 Jun 2025)

Michael Moynihan: The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children with special educational needs including the allocation of SNAs to schools. I have therefore forwarded the school's details to them for their attention and direct reply. Deputies are also welcome to raise such matters with the NCSE directly through...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Correspondence (26 Jun 2025)

Michael Moynihan: There are sixty-three special classes in primary school located across the country for children with Developmental Language Disorder/Severe Speech Sound Disorder. These classes have a pupil teacher ratio of 7:1. In addition, the classes are supported by speech and language therapists provided by the Health Service Executive (HSE). Teachers and therapists work collaboratively to meet the...

Committee on Education and Youth: Education for Children with Special Educational Needs: Minister of State at the Department of Education and Youth (25 Jun 2025)

Michael Moynihan: I thank the Chair and committee members for the kind invitation to be here this evening. As a former committee Chair, having chaired the disability committee in the last Dáil, and having chaired the education committee quite a number of years ago as well, I wish the Chair and all the committee members the very best of luck in their role. The work of the committees is hugely important...

Committee on Education and Youth: Education for Children with Special Educational Needs: Minister of State at the Department of Education and Youth (25 Jun 2025)

Michael Moynihan: The point in the circular is to try to make sure we have appropriate places for children. We have come across some cases in which, because of the admissions policies in some schools, children are travelling long distances to get to a school with the appropriate admissions policy. It is not in any way to take from the needs of the children. On the language around the complex needs of...

Committee on Education and Youth: Education for Children with Special Educational Needs: Minister of State at the Department of Education and Youth (25 Jun 2025)

Michael Moynihan: For the first time ever really, a large number of schools have come to us which are willing to take on a special class. I compliment school authorities. Many have embraced it and have seen the positives for the entire school community - their neighbouring school may have taken on a special class. The number of children that will need additional places this year was presented to the NCSE...