Results 181-200 of 6,570 for speaker:Michael Moynihan

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (23 Sep 2025)

Michael Moynihan: In September 2025, Rathcoole ETNS moved to modular accommodation on a site in Newcastle. The school was previously located in interim accommodation on a school campus site in Citywest, Dublin. Bus transport had been provided for the school to this location by the Planning and Building Unit as a private arrangement. The reason transport was provided to this interim accommodation site in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (23 Sep 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: School Transport (23 Sep 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: National Council for Special Education (23 Sep 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (23 Sep 2025)

Michael Moynihan: By the end of this year there will be close to 21,000 special educational teachers and over 23,000 special needs assistants (SNAs) in our mainstream classes, special classes and special schools. This will mean we will have over 44,000 teachers and SNAs working in our education system committed to supporting and nurturing children with special educational needs, enabling them to achieve their...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (23 Sep 2025)

Michael Moynihan: The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education and Youth. Over 148,000 mainstream tickets have issued to date for the 2025/26 school year, which is already almost 5% more than the total tickets issued for the full 2024/25 school year. Unfortunately, difficulties have arisen in a number of locations,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (23 Sep 2025)

Michael Moynihan: The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education and Youth. Over 148,000 mainstream tickets have issued for the 2025/26 school year to date, which is already almost 5% more than the total tickets issued for the full 2024/25 school year. Over 6,300 mainstream tickets have issued for pupils attending schools in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: National Educational Psychological Service (23 Sep 2025)

Michael Moynihan: I want to thank the Deputy for raising this matter. Officials in my Department are aware of this programme and the proposal as outlined in the details supplied and are currently considering the possibility of establishing a programme to utilise the expertise of the graduates. I will revert to the Deputy following these considerations.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (18 Sep 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 they issued tickets for school transport on bus services that had been secured for the 2025/26 school year. Unfortunately, a number of difficulties have arisen in having services in place for the start of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (18 Sep 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 is responsible for the planning and timetabling of school transport routes. Bus Éireann endeavours, within available resources, to ensure that each eligible child has a reasonable level of school transport service in the context of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (18 Sep 2025)

Michael Moynihan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 226, 227 and 244 together. The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education and Youth. Both the Department and Bus Éireann are very conscious of the challenges faced by parents awaiting transport for students with special educational needs. Bus Éireann are required to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (18 Sep 2025)

Michael Moynihan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 228 and 245 together. The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education and Youth. In the 2024/25 school year, over 173,000 children were transported daily in approximately 8,200 vehicles across 10,600 routes daily to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country. These...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (18 Sep 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, at post primary level, pupils are eligible where they reside not less than 4.8 kms from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre. Distance is determined by the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (18 Sep 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: Special Educational Needs (18 Sep 2025)

Michael Moynihan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 235 and 236 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) is, in the first instance, the primary body responsible for the matter...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (18 Sep 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 Transport (18 Sep 2025)

Michael Moynihan: The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education and Youth. Both the Department and Bus Éireann are very conscious of the challenges faced by parents awaiting transport for students with special educational needs. Bus Éireann are required to tender services in line with procurement guidelines and are...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (18 Sep 2025)

Michael Moynihan: The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education and Youth. Both the Department and Bus Éireann are very conscious of the challenges faced by parents awaiting transport for students with special educational needs. Bus Éireann are required to tender services in line with procurement guidelines and are...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (18 Sep 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...

Special Education School Places: Motion [Private Members] (17 Sep 2025)

Michael Moynihan: -----and that we will have a place for everyone. The most important thing is that we have sufficient capacity in schools. We must work to ensure we meet the needs of every student and every family and that is the commitment I give to the House this evening.