Results 5,801-5,820 of 5,979 for speaker:Michael Moynihan

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (24 Jun 2025)

Michael Moynihan: Where a school-based programme is not being run or a place is unavailable, the Home-based Programme will be available for children with complex special education needs. Due to the strong preference for students to take part in school-based programmes, the home-based programme is not available where a school-based programme is being provided. In the case of the child concerned, it was...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (24 Jun 2025)

Michael Moynihan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 406 and 407 together. I propose to take PQs 406 and 407 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 2025/2026 school year. Five new special schools are being established in addition to the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (24 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 (24 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 Transport (24 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. The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (24 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 2025/2026 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: National Council for Special Education (24 Jun 2025)

Michael Moynihan: Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an appropriate 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 Staff (24 Jun 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.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (24 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: Special Educational Needs (24 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. My...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (24 Jun 2025)

Michael Moynihan: As the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible for the allocation of special needs assistants (SNAs) to schools, I have 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 their dedicated Oireachtas query line at oireachtasqueries@ncse.ie.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (24 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: Departmental Data (24 Jun 2025)

Michael Moynihan: It is my department’s policy, in accordance with the principles of inclusive education, that students with additional learning needs are supported in mainstream classes along with their peers, with additional supports provided as necessary. The department provides for a range of placement options and supports for schools and students with special educational needs in order to ensure...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Data (24 Jun 2025)

Michael Moynihan: The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) have advised my department that they do not intend to sanction a new special class at the school referred to by the Deputy at this time as there is sufficient provision available in other new special classes opening. As previously outlined the main focus this year by the NCSE was on medium and larger primary schools with available...

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...

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 special class is sanctioned for the school. Usually, it is because the NCSE has looked at the need within the community, but it would be a collaboration between the school authorities and the NCSE. As regards families or children who are known to the NCSE and who made themselves known to the NCSE by 1 February of this year, that was delayed a week because of the storm. It is our...

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: No.

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: Yes. When a special class is sanctioned, there is huge engagement with the SENO and the National Council for Special Education with that school prior to the sanction. Therefore, that engagement and that collaboration should continue when the class is sanctioned.