Results 221-240 of 5,825 for speaker:Michael Moynihan

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Funding (10 Jun 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 specialist...

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

Michael Moynihan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 628 and 629 together. I propose to take PQs 628 and 629 together. In general, each special class sanctioned at post-primary level is provided 1.5 teaching posts and two special needs assistant (SNA) posts as standard. The estimated full-year cost of a new entrant special education teacher is €56,510 within a post-primary setting. The estimated...

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. As the matter raised relates to a NCSE process, I have forwarded your query to the NCSE for their attention and direct reply. SNAs are generally allocated on a whole school basis and the recruitment of new SNAs is a...

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

Michael Moynihan: My department is committed to supporting Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) to access high-quality training that enhances their skills and supports their vital role in our schools. The SNA National Training Programme, which was first made available to SNAs in 2021, is fully funded by my department and delivered at no cost to SNAs who are currently employed in recognised schools....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Programmes (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.? 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: School Funding (10 Jun 2025)

Michael Moynihan: The policy of the Department of Education is to allocate supports to recognised schools to cater for the needs of pupils with special educational needs in an educational context. The provision of health-related supports is the responsibility of the HSE, and matters in relation to the provision of health-related services for children with disabilities, including physical and sensory therapy...

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 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: Special Educational Needs (10 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 NCSE is, in the first instance, the primary body responsible for the matter the Deputy has raised. Deputies are welcome to raise such queries with the NCSE...

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

Michael Moynihan: The estimated full-year cost of a new entrant special education teacher is €56,110 per annum within a primary setting and €56,510 in a post-primary setting. The estimated full-year cost of a special education teacher on average is €76,350 per annum within a primary setting and €78,490 in a post-primary setting. This includes provision for related substitution...

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

Michael Moynihan: Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) make a valuable contribution to our school communities through the provision of additional adult support to enable students with significant care needs attend school. I can confirm that work on the first SNA Workforce Development Plan is at an advanced stage, with substantial progress already made. The plan will introduce policy developments which will...

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. Budget 2025 has provided for, amongst other things, 400 new special classes and 300 new special school places. It will also increase our special educational posts by 768 special education teacher and 1,600 special needs...

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...

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....

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: Education Schemes (29 May 2025)

Michael Moynihan: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. It gives me the opportunity on behalf of the Department of Education and Youth to outline to the Dáil the current position in relation to ICT grants and minor works grants. I am delighted to confirm that my colleague, the Minister, this morning announced that both grants will be paid to schools in June, with a combined €65 million...

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...

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...