Results 21-40 of 5,339 for speaker:Michael Moynihan

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (9 Apr 2025)

Michael Moynihan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 110 and 111 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 provision...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (9 Apr 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. As...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (9 Apr 2025)

Michael Moynihan: Enabling children with special educational needs to fulfil their full potential is a priority for this government. It is also a key priority for my department and for the National Council for Special Education (NCSE). As your query refers to an individual placement, I will arrange to have it referred to the NCSE for their attention and direct reply. The vast majority of children with...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (9 Apr 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. As...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: State Examinations (8 Apr 2025)

Michael Moynihan: I thank the Deputies and I understand their concerns. There are several issues here. Regarding therapies, there are additional places being provided in higher education for therapies and that is a commitment in the programme for Government. It is also an acknowledgement of the huge shortage out there within the State and I stated this in my previous reply. In any discussions we have...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Special Educational Needs (8 Apr 2025)

Michael Moynihan: This will offer over 70 additional special school places in addition to the new capacity created in the new special school in north Cork.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Special Educational Needs (8 Apr 2025)

Michael Moynihan: In fairness, if the Deputy had listened to what I said, he would know that is not what I said.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Special Educational Needs (8 Apr 2025)

Michael Moynihan: We are deadly serious about making sure there are special places and special schools open in Cork-----

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: State Examinations (8 Apr 2025)

Michael Moynihan: I thank the Deputies for the question. It gives me an opportunity to outline the issue from the side of the Department. It is under the remit of the Minister, Deputy McEntee in this regard. I am conscious that the leaving certificate can be a very stressful time for students and their families. This includes the stress of the examinations themselves and the decisions for students in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Special Educational Needs (8 Apr 2025)

Michael Moynihan: I thank the Deputy for the question. I also thank him for the work he does in this sector and the support he has given me since I took up this role. I greatly appreciate it. The majority of children with special educational needs are supported by mainstream classroom teachers, special education teachers and SNAs to attend mainstream classes with their peers. Where children have more...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Special Educational Needs (8 Apr 2025)

Michael Moynihan: First, I wish to reassure the Deputy that the Department and the design team within it, the NCSE and the local ETB will continue to review the accommodation options available to allow the special school to grow and expand. While it is initially for 18 students in the coming year, we want to ensure we have available space to meet the growing need that we anticipate within the Monaghan...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Special Educational Needs (8 Apr 2025)

Michael Moynihan: I met a number of the parents who were here last week. I know only full well the battle that all the families and parents are going through, not just from being a public representative but also from personal experience as well. I am fully aware of the challenges parents face daily with regard to special needs, particularly the battles around the country for special schools. I refer to a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Special Educational Needs (8 Apr 2025)

Michael Moynihan: I thank the Deputies for the questions. I turn first to the issue in north-east Kerry. I have no difficulty in taking the details from the Deputy and following through on the specific issues. On Deputy Gould's point, the NCSE has been looking at the number of pupils who have come forward. The closing date was in February. We are doing everything humanly possible to make sure there are...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Special Educational Needs (8 Apr 2025)

Michael Moynihan: I will respond directly to Deputy Conway-Walsh with the details. On the issue in north-east Kerry, there have been extra SENOs put into the field since last September. My experience to date is that they have been working extremely well with families and school communities to ensure that the need is being addressed as locally as possible. There was a circular earlier in the year relating...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Special Educational Needs (8 Apr 2025)

Michael Moynihan: I thank the Deputy. The Government is fully committed to supporting children with special educational needs to reach their full potential. In the programme for Government, we have a number of commitments in that regard. Dedicated working groups have been established by the Department of Education to work through the details relating to the establishment of the five new special schools for...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Special Educational Needs (8 Apr 2025)

Michael Moynihan: I thank the Deputy for raising this question. I was in Kerry and visited a number of the special schools there in recent weeks. I visited Nano Nagle Special School in Listowel, St. Francis Special School in Beaufort and St. Ita's and St. Joseph's Primary and Post-Primary Special School in Tralee. These were very insightful visits and showed the tremendous work being done by principals,...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs (8 Apr 2025)

Michael Moynihan: I thank the Deputy for the question. 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. Up to an additional 2,700 specialist places, made up of 400 new special classes for, on average, six children each, and 300 special school...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs (8 Apr 2025)

Michael Moynihan: I thank the Deputy for the supplementary questions. I met a number of parents and have met with them over many years in respect of special educational needs. I know the stress they are under. I cannot overstate how hard the Minister, Deputy McEntee, and I have worked over recent weeks to ensure we would have a place for every child in September. We are working extremely hard with the NCSE...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs (8 Apr 2025)

Michael Moynihan: There is absolutely no policy change in relation to SNAs. We have more SNAs working in the education system and more budgeted for the school year 2025-2026. I take this opportunity of acknowledging the enormous work the SNAs do in the entire school communities. The work they do in special education, the dedication they put into it and the connection they have with the children and families...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs (8 Apr 2025)

Michael Moynihan: No change.