Results 1-20 of 1,057,248 for in 'Dáil debates' OR in 'Committee meetings' speaker:Pat Deering

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Overseas Development Aid (8 May 2025)

Colm Brophy: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. I have a reply to read on behalf of the Minister but the Deputy knows what the Minister would say. I want to talk as someone who held the job. There is only one disagreement I have with what the Deputy has said. He said that hundreds of thousands of lives are at risk. I think it is millions. I have seen these issues at first hand. I have...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Overseas Development Aid (8 May 2025)

Roderic O'Gorman: I thank the Minister of State. I am pleased he was able to bring his own experience within the Department and his passion for this issue to his answer. Around the world, people are deeply disturbed by the callous actions of the US Administration in cutting support for the most vulnerable. Bill Gates today accused Elon Musk of killing the world's poorest children by leading this set of...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Overseas Development Aid (8 May 2025)

Colm Brophy: I thank the Deputy. He makes the valid point that while what has happened with USAID is the most impactful, we have also seen impacts in the range of countries that have reduced their aid budgets, including the UK. At the heart of what we do has always been the process of reaching the furthest behind first. We target our ODA on that basis. The Government is committed to that approach and...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Overseas Development Aid (8 May 2025)

Cuireadh an Dáil ar athló ar 6.49 p.m. go dtí 2 p.m., Dé Máirt, an 13 Bealtaine 2025. The Dáil adjourned at at 6.49 p.m. until 2 p.m. on Tuesday, 13 May 2025.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Special Educational Needs (8 May 2025)

Colm Brophy: At the outset, I stress that enabling students with special educational needs to receive an appropriate education is an absolute priority for this Government. It is the Government's priority to ensure all children have an appropriate school placement and that the necessary supports are provided to our schools to allow children with special educational needs to flourish and prosper. There...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Special Educational Needs (8 May 2025)

Mattie McGrath: I appreciate it is not the Minister of State's reply - he is reading it out - but it is not about quotas, deadlines and systems like that. It is about ordinary children with needs. It is not fair on the schools that expected to open these schools to now have to wait to see if the decision will be reversed. By the Minister of State's account, I do not think it will be. We are approaching...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Special Educational Needs (8 May 2025)

Colm Brophy: I restate that in excess of 28,000 children are now being supported in special schools and classes. The number of special classes has increased by 100% since 2020. It is the statutory responsibility of the NCSE to work with schools to provide sufficient special education provision each year. As I outlined, budget 2025 provides funding for 400 new special classes - up to 300 additional...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Overseas Development Aid (8 May 2025)

Overseas Development Aid

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Overseas Development Aid (8 May 2025)

Roderic O'Gorman: I want to raise an issue that is of significant concern to me, the Green Party and many Irish people, namely, the impact of the highly politicised attack on overseas aid by the US Government. All of us in this House will be aware of the extreme and really quite extraordinary steps taken by the US Administration, in particular the almost slapstick efforts by Elon Musk to shut down wholesale...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Legislative Reviews (8 May 2025)

Colm Brophy: I reiterate that the Minister’s aim is to ensure the most effective operation of the assisted decision-making (capacity) legislation and to ensure that its principles are upheld and that its objectives of promoting and enshrining the rights of those with capacity difficulties to retain as much autonomy as possible are realised. We must always make sure that our laws are working for...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Accommodation (8 May 2025)

School Accommodation

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Accommodation (8 May 2025)

Séamus McGrath: I thank the Minister of State for being here to answer this question. I wish to raise the issue of an additional accommodation scheme application from Ballinora National School in County Cork. I previously submitted parliamentary questions on this issue and the responses indicated that a decision was awaited. I understand that a positive decision has been issued to the school that funding...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Accommodation (8 May 2025)

Colm Brophy: I thank the Deputy for the question and for giving me the opportunity to reply on behalf of the Minister for Education and Youth and to outline how the Department is working to ensure that there is appropriate school accommodation in place to meet the school place needs of all children. I stress that enabling students to receive an education appropriate to their needs is an ongoing priority...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Accommodation (8 May 2025)

Séamus McGrath: I thank the Minister of State for his response, which I welcome, particularly the section towards the end where confirmation is provided about engagement with the school in the past few days and the positive funding decision for the provision of temporary accommodation. I particularly welcome the commitment to engagement over the coming weeks with the school. It is important that active...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Accommodation (8 May 2025)

Colm Brophy: Again, I thank the Deputy for raising the matter. I reassure him that I will convey that concern back to the Minister to ensure that continued engagement takes place. I have no doubt that the Deputy will continue to raise it and engage on it himself too.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Special Educational Needs (8 May 2025)

Special Educational Needs

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Special Educational Needs (8 May 2025)

Mattie McGrath: I thank the Ceann Comhairle for the opportunity to raise this very serious issue. A number of ASD units were approved for three secondary schools in south Tipperary. Three principals and their staff, boards of management and parents of children with special needs were waiting for places and expected them to come on stream. In fact, the SENOs asked them to generate space and accommodation...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Legislative Reviews (8 May 2025)

Legislative Reviews

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Legislative Reviews (8 May 2025)

Marie Sherlock: I am calling for an urgent and speedy review of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015. Many of us recognise and applaud the intent and ambition of the Act in supposedly giving greater power and autonomy to vulnerable individuals and to significantly increasing the numbers registering enduring power of attorney, EPA. The reality has proved very different, however. I want to relay...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Legislative Reviews (8 May 2025)

Colm Brophy: I thank Deputy Sherlock for raising this important issue and for offering me the opportunity to respond. The Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 was commenced in 2023, and it represents a landmark legal reform in this country. The Act replaced the 1871 Victorian-era wards of court system with a rights-based model for tiered decision support arrangements. It is a key component...