Results 6,001-6,020 of 6,068 for speaker:Michael Moynihan

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Special Educational Needs (17 Jul 2025)

Michael Moynihan: The review of the EPSEN Act was very important research. I commend all those who helped with the review. Launched recently, it provides very good information, including on additional needs. Teacher and SNA recruitment is kept under constant review by the Department. Many of the boards of management of schools and education and training boards are conducting interviews in these weeks to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Special Educational Needs (17 Jul 2025)

Michael Moynihan: We have had many discussions in recent weeks. The Deputy mentioned the deputation from the Down Syndrome Ireland Galway branch who were here yesterday to discuss mild general learning classes. ASD classes are opening across the country based on the need being presented. We have to be mindful of children with other additional needs and ensuring they are accommodated within the school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (17 Jul 2025)

Michael Moynihan: It is my department’s policy, in accordance with the principles of inclusive education, that students with additional learning needs to the greatest extent possible, attend mainstream classes along with their siblings, neighbours and peers, with additional supports provided as necessary. My department provides over 15,000 special education teachers to support schools to achieve...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (17 Jul 2025)

Michael Moynihan: The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is the national agency with responsibility for the provision of special education places. This year the NCSE has sanctioned 407 new special classes for the coming school year bringing to 3,742 the number of special classes in our schools. There are new classes in every county in Ireland and with the number of special classes doubling in the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (17 Jul 2025)

Michael Moynihan: This government is committed to supporting children with special educational needs to fulfil their potential. SNAs play a central role in the inclusion of students with additional and significant care needs in schools to enable them to achieve their best outcomes and reach their full potential. The number of SNAs has increased annually with more than ever now employed in our schools....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (17 Jul 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. It is important to recognise that teachers use a number of specialist programmes to support students with special educational needs. At all times, the focus of the department and the NCSE is on doing what is right for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (17 Jul 2025)

Michael Moynihan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 110 and 140 together. 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 special needs assistants (SNAs). The NCSE has advised my department that all schools have been informed of their SNA allocation for the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (17 Jul 2025)

Michael Moynihan: I want to thank the Deputy for raising this issue and understand that while it refers to all children in the school system, there are specific concerns here for children with special educational needs, particularly at post primary level, who might find a large classroom busy and noisy and prefer smaller settings. Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an appropriate...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (17 Jul 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: Special Educational Needs (17 Jul 2025)

Michael Moynihan: There are 63 special classes for pupils with significant speech issues in mainstream primary schools. They provide a time-limited, targeted intervention for children with severe impairments in their skills of understanding and expressing themselves through spoken language. The Department’s Inspectorate published a report on the quality of provision for children attending these...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (17 Jul 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. This year the NCSE focused on medium and larger primary schools with available accommodation and no existing special class to open a new special class for the 2025/26 school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (17 Jul 2025)

Michael Moynihan: The provision of health-related therapy services for children with disabilities is a matter for the HSE and queries in relation to those services should be directed to the HSE or to the Department of Children Equality Disability. The allocation of Speech and Language Therapists (SLTs) to language classes is a matter for the HSE. The department of Education and Youth (DEY) or the National...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (17 Jul 2025)

Michael Moynihan: The School Transport 2030 report was published in early 2024 following a comprehensive analysis and review of the scheme as it currently operates. The recommended changes to the future operation of the schemes include expansion of the current eligibility criteria, addressing current operational challenges and moving towards better integration with public transport to ensure the best value for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (17 Jul 2025)

Michael Moynihan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 120 and 136 together. The National Council for Special Education (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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (17 Jul 2025)

Michael Moynihan: The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is the national agency with responsibility for the provision of special education places. This year the NCSE has sanctioned 407 new special classes for the coming school year bringing to 3,742 the number of special classes in our schools. There are new classes in every county in Ireland and with the number of special classes doubling in the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (17 Jul 2025)

Michael Moynihan: The School Transport 2030 report was published in early 2024 following a comprehensive analysis and review of the scheme as it currently operates. The recommended changes to the future operation of the schemes include expansion of the current eligibility criteria, addressing current operational challenges and moving towards better integration with public transport to ensure the best value for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (17 Jul 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: Special Educational Needs (17 Jul 2025)

Michael Moynihan: In working to develop a more inclusive education system, we want to support students to attend their local mainstream schools. This means that children can be educated with their peers and are not required to travel long distances to attend special schools or classes. 15,000 special education teachers have been provided to enable schools to achieve this. In practical terms this means...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (17 Jul 2025)

Michael Moynihan: The School Transport 2030 report was published in early 2024 following a comprehensive analysis and review of the scheme as it currently operates. The recommended changes to the future operation of the schemes include expansion of the current eligibility criteria, addressing current operational challenges and moving towards better integration with public transport to ensure the best value for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (17 Jul 2025)

Michael Moynihan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 132 and 160 together. This government is fully committed to supporting children with special educational needs to fulfil their potential and the Programme for Government makes a number of commitments to deliver on this objective. I know the central role that our special needs assistants (SNAs) play in the successful inclusion of students with additional...