Results 5,561-5,580 of 5,979 for speaker:Michael Moynihan

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Education Schemes (29 May 2025)

Michael Moynihan: There is constant engagement between school authorities and the Department. A number of schools have been in contact with the financial unit in the Department and issues have been resolved. I assure the Deputy we have moved to have the funding in place for the 2025-26 school year for the ICT and minor works grants. These grants are hugely important. When it comes to engagement we are...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Transport (29 May 2025)

Michael Moynihan: I thank Deputy Mattie McGrath for raising this issue and giving me the opportunity to outline to the House the issues regarding how Bus Éireann manages the school transport system on behalf of the Department of Education and Youth. As the Deputy may be aware, the school transport 2030 report was published in early 2024, following a comprehensive analysis and review of the scheme as it...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Transport (29 May 2025)

Michael Moynihan: The Deputy mentioned a couple of things. The closing date for payment or for medical card issues is 6 June, which is next Friday. Bus Éireann and the Department officials have assured me they will be working extremely hard for the three weeks after that to get the information together, to correlate it and to understand where the needs are and where the challenges are going to be met....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (28 May 2025)

Michael Moynihan: Bus Eireann have confirmed that the first pickup point mentioned by the deputy was not an official one. The second one mentioned by the deputy is the official bus stop and it is operation since November 2024. There are 16 mainstream eligible pupils that reside between 250m and 2.6 km from this approved bus stop. These pupils are currently receiving transport within guidelines to a pick...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (28 May 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.  ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (28 May 2025)

Michael Moynihan: The Planning and Building Unit of my department has advised the school and patron body that private transport arrangements will not be provided from September 2025 to the Newcastle site which is located within the school planning area. 

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (28 May 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: Special Educational Needs (28 May 2025)

Michael Moynihan: Enabling children with special educational needs to receive a befitting education is a priority for this government. It is also a key priority for me, my department and for the National Council for Special Education (NCSE). The vast majority of children with special educational needs are supported to attend mainstream classes with their peers. Where children with more complex needs...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (28 May 2025)

Michael Moynihan: It is estimated that an additional 100,000 children, above the current pupil numbers on transport, could be accommodated on the mainstream scheme by 2030, at which point due to demographics numbers will decline somewhat thereafter but with an expected increase of 80,000 pupils on current school year numbers by 2040.  To achieve our ambition to expand and improve the scheme, i.e. that...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (28 May 2025)

Michael Moynihan: The estimated full-year cost of a new entrant special needs assistant is €35,030 per annum. The estimated average full-year cost of a special need assistant is €44,300 per annum. This includes employer PRSI. The table below outlines the annual cost as outlined by the Deputy.   Number of SNAs New entrant Average cost 500 ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (28 May 2025)

Michael Moynihan: Special education teachers provide additional teaching support to students with special educational needs attending mainstream classes. They are also deployed as classroom teachers in special class and special school settings.  The estimated full-year cost of a new entrant special education teacher is €56,110 per annum within a primary school setting and €56,510 in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (28 May 2025)

Michael Moynihan: Details of this year’s School-based Summer Programme were published on the 13 February 2025. Funding of €62 million was secured in Budget 2025 to ensure the continuance of the annual investment that has been provided for since 2021.  As in previous years, all of the funding will be utilised to meet the needs of our most vulnerable children. All schools have an opportunity...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (28 May 2025)

Michael Moynihan: 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 not less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre as determined by the department/Bus...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Qualifications Recognition (28 May 2025)

Michael Moynihan: The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education.  The scheme is made up of three separate schemes, the school transport scheme for primary, post primary and for children with special educational needs.   The School Transport Scheme is a demand led scheme based on the number of children who...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (29 May 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 retirement age for school bus drivers has been set by Bus Éireann at 70 years of age, which also applies to all Bus Éireann road passenger services. The policy and criteria also apply to drivers nominated by private operators who operate...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (29 May 2025)

Michael Moynihan: The school transport scheme is a demand led scheme based on the number of children who apply. The scheme is operated using a mix of Bus Éireann owned vehicles and directly recruited drivers, and private contractors who recruit their own drivers to operate on the scheme. As part of the operation of the scheme, Bus Éireann manages the procurement tender process and contract...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (29 May 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 Éireann has advised that in recent weeks difficulties have arisen sourcing contractors on 2 services operating the school referred to by the Deputy. Bus Éireann further advise that they have written to those families affected. Bus...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (29 May 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 NCSE...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Data (29 May 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: Special Educational Needs (29 May 2025)

Michael Moynihan: The NCSE is, in the first instance, the primary body responsible for the matter the Deputy has raised. I have forwarded this issue to them for their attention and direct reply. Deputies are also welcome to raise such queries with the NCSE directly through their dedicated Oireachtas query line at oireachtasqueries@ncse.ie.