Results 101-120 of 1,012,966 for in 'Dáil debates' OR in 'Committee meetings' speaker:Michael Ahern
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Education Schemes (16 Apr 2024)
Norma Foley: In June 2023 - the Deputy is correct - I was very pleased to launch a €5 million pilot of counselling and well-being supports in primary schools in selected counties. This further supports the range of mental health and well-being supports already provided by my Department and the excellent work already happening in schools in respect of well-being. All of this supplements the mental...
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Education Schemes (16 Apr 2024)
Catherine Connolly: I am sorry, Minister. We are way over.
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Education Schemes (16 Apr 2024)
Marian Harkin: As the Minister said, this scheme came into being last May 2023. That is almost a year ago, and Leitrim is one of the seven counties in this scheme, along with Cavan, Laois, Longford, Tipperary, Mayo and Monaghan. This is a very valuable scheme. It provides counselling outside of the NEPS scheme. You do not need a full assessment from teachers etc. in order to get access to the scheme....
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Education Schemes (16 Apr 2024)
Norma Foley: I can confirm in fact that 733 blocks of counselling have been allocated, benefiting 733 children. What I can say is that is has been difficult to recruit in certain areas. As I said, two counsellors were available to work in Leitrim, and I am pleased to say that on 11 April, an additional counsellor was added to the panel who is available to work in schools in Leitrim. The Department is...
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Education Schemes (16 Apr 2024)
Marian Harkin: The school about which I gave the Minister details, which we are not mentioning here, contacted the Department in February, and again in March it submitted what I think is called the appendix 1 form. It has not heard back from the Department. It would be very useful if the Minister's Department could contact the school to let it know the situation. As the Minister knows, if a principal...
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Education Schemes (16 Apr 2024)
Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy. I reiterate that 733 blocks of counselling have been provided to 733 children. It is new and innovative, and it will take time for it to take root. There have been challenges - I would be the first to say it - with regard to recruiting counsellors. The Deputy has specifically referenced her own area there. I am pleased, as I said, that from mid-April we have been...
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Education Schemes (16 Apr 2024)
Question No. 63 taken with Written Answers.
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Accommodation (16 Apr 2024)
School Accommodation
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Accommodation (16 Apr 2024)
David Stanton: 64. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to establish a new second level school in the east Cork area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16461/24]
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Accommodation (16 Apr 2024)
David Stanton: What plans does the Minister and her Department have for another second level school in east Cork? This is probably one of the fastest-growing areas in the country at the moment, with thousands of houses planned but many of the schools there are already at capacity, even though they have got fantastic extensions. I would be interested in the Minister's response.
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Schools Building Projects (16 Apr 2024)
Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: I will come back to the Minister on the three-school campus on another day. In respect of the issue before us, she mentioned the Minister, Deputy McConalogue, but she is the Minister for Education. I want to be clear. Is she saying that in the days ahead, her Department is going to issue a letter of intent to the proposed contractor? Will that be followed very quickly by the signing of a...
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Schools Building Projects (16 Apr 2024)
Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy. I absolutely understand and appreciate the importance of the provision of a new build for a school. I recognise the importance of such provision in the interests of the school community, including the staff, students and the wider school community, comprising parents and the wider community. It is for that reason this project has moved, as I said. We received the...
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Special Educational Needs (16 Apr 2024)
Special Educational Needs
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Special Educational Needs (16 Apr 2024)
Pádraig O'Sullivan: 61. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will engage with a school (details supplied) regarding the urgent need for an ASD unit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16186/24]
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Special Educational Needs (16 Apr 2024)
Pádraig O'Sullivan: What has been the extent of the Minister of State's engagement with Scoil Eoin in Ballincollig regarding the urgent need for an ASD unit and will she make a statement on the matter?
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Special Educational Needs (16 Apr 2024)
Hildegarde Naughton: I thank the Deputy for the question. Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for this Government. It is also a key priority for my Department and for the National Council for Special Education, NCSE. My Department engages intensely with the NCSE on the forward planning of new special classes and additional special school places. This forward...
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Special Educational Needs (16 Apr 2024)
Pádraig O'Sullivan: I acknowledge the presence of Deputy Aindrias Moynihan to my left. He has worked on this issue for a number of years. The Minister of State's response is no different from the previous response that was given on 9 April in respect of this school. Traditionally in Ballincollig, ASD classes have been outsourced to villages, such as Ovens, Berrings, Farran and other surrounding rural county...
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Special Educational Needs (16 Apr 2024)
Hildegarde Naughton: As the Deputy stated, in January this year, the NCSE confirmed the need for special classes in that area. The NCSE and the Department are working to identify suitable locations for those classes to ensure the children who require access to this provision can avail of it as soon as possible. Separately, the board of management of the school subsequently submitted a new engineer's...
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Special Educational Needs (16 Apr 2024)
Pádraig O'Sullivan: I welcome that. I need to stress again, as Deputy Moynihan will, the urgency around the technical team submitting that report. As the Minister of State knows, those things take time and often require planning permission. It is not just a case of landing a modular unit or building. There are considerable planning requirements from the school's point of view as it arranges resources and so...
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Special Educational Needs (16 Apr 2024)
Aindrias Moynihan: There is considerable need for ASD services in Ballincollig schools, and Scoil Eoin has been keen to provide classes for people in their own community so they do not have to travel outside to places such as Farran, Berrings and elsewhere. Finding a location to fit these classes on the site has been challenging, and the option of replacing an existing building, the section beside Station...