Results 5,601-5,620 of 5,979 for speaker:Michael Moynihan

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: School Transport (11 Jun 2025)

Michael Moynihan: We are currently looking at all the information we got by the end of April and the information regarding payment and where we will need to put on buses that we got by last Friday. That work between the Department and Bus Éireann is proceeding at pace because we need to get it done in the next three weeks. We will be talking about it. I will endeavour to work with the Senator to try...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Accommodation (11 Jun 2025)

Michael Moynihan: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. First, I will discuss the Department of Education and Youth school energy retrofit pathfinder programme. The Department is leading an ambitious sustainable agenda and has progressed a number of measures to improve the overall sustainability of our school buildings as part of our work towards the 2030 and 2050 climate targets. Its performance has...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Accommodation (11 Jun 2025)

Michael Moynihan: I again thank the Deputy for raising these issues. I note the concerns she has regarding the building in respect of damp, leaks, the toilet facilities and the other issues raised. I take them on board and I will be liaising with the Department in relation to what she outlined. It is greatly important. I understand and accept that St. Joseph's CBS in Drogheda is liaising with the emergency...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Disability Services (11 Jun 2025)

Michael Moynihan: I thank the Deputy for the question. I will outline the AIM programme although I understand the Deputy is well aware of it. The AIM programme is the model of support designated to ensure children with disabilities can access the early childhood care and education, ECCE, programme. The main supports are grouped into universal or targeted supports. The universal supports are designed to...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Disability Services (11 Jun 2025)

Michael Moynihan: I thank the Deputy again for outlining the facts. The challenge we have, particularly in respect of the AIMS programme, which has been very successful for a good number of families, is that when there is a closing-off date, there is always a challenge therein. As we go forward looking at how we can expand the AIMS programme, in the evaluation of it that was announced last year, because of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (10 Jun 2025)

Michael Moynihan: My Department and the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) are committed to delivering an education system that is of the highest quality and where every child and young person feels valued and is actively supported and nurtured to reach their full potential. The Education Therapy Support Service was established in June 2024 within the NCSE and comprises of 39 therapists and the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (10 Jun 2025)

Michael Moynihan: With regard to new special schools being constructed and the associated external play areas, these areas will be agreed when the overall building design and optimum site layouts have been evaluated with input from the design team and agreed with the Department at the pre-stage 1 architectural planning meeting. A multi-purpose games area, a junior play area with soft play surface, sensory...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (10 Jun 2025)

Michael Moynihan: The provision of General Purpose (GP) rooms and PE Halls, at primary and post primary level respectively, as well as outdoor hard play areas form part of the accommodation brief for all new school buildings or where a major building or refurbishment project is being delivered for an existing school. My Department provides different size PE Halls and GP rooms depending on the size of the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (10 Jun 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: School Transport (10 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 school referred to by the Deputy is currently located in interim accommodation on a school campus site in Citywest, Dublin. Bus transport has been provided for the school to this location. This is a private arrangement and is not within the remit of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (10 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. We have been steadily building on the number of SNAs in our education system. At the end of the 2024 school year there was over 22,000 SNAs in schools. Budget 2025 provides for an additional 1,600 SNA posts nationwide....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (10 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. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (10 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. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (10 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 purpose of my Department's School Transport Scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school. The School Transport 2030 report was published in early...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (10 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. It is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (10 Jun 2025)

Michael Moynihan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 513 and 514 together. 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 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (10 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. It is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (10 Jun 2025)

Michael Moynihan: Details of this year’s School-based Summer Programme were published on the 13th of February 2025. Funding of €62 million was secured in Budget 2025 to ensure the continuance of the €40 million 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (10 Jun 2025)

Michael Moynihan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 518, 519 and 520 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (10 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 Éireann tenders approximately 20% of school transport routes each year as part of a rolling five-year tendering cycle. This year’s process began in February 2025, with awards issued on 29 May 2025. Once the standstill period concludes, Bus...