Results 381-400 of 1,016,038 for in 'Dáil debates' OR speaker:Michael McNamara in 'Committee meetings'

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...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Grant Payments (16 Apr 2024)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I thank the Minister. As she knows, the works that can be undertaken under the minor works scheme include maintenance and small-scale improvements to school buildings and grounds. However, many schools are finding that the costs have risen substantially and they are seeing a huge shortfall. The Minister has seen in areas such as housing, and in regard to all grants, that the costs of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Grant Payments (16 Apr 2024)

Norma Foley: In terms of the funding that has been made available to Carlow schools, from 2018 to 2023 schools in Carlow received in excess of €4.5 million under the minor works grant. The grant for the 2024 to 2025 school year, which is, as I said, due to issue later this month, will provide more than €400,000 in additional funding to Carlow schools. On the point of funding being issued...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Grant Payments (16 Apr 2024)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: This funding is really welcome. It is so important. I note that it is planned to go to nearly 90 school building projects, which are currently at tender stage. The Minister announced that in the last few weeks. I welcome that. There are two capital projects for schools in County Carlow. One is, as the fellow said, "shovel ready" and ready to go. When will the announcement be made for...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Grant Payments (16 Apr 2024)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy. In terms of the information that is being made available, the Department deals directly with the patron bodies on the ground, whoever they may be. To be fair, there are 4,000 schools in the system, so I think it is an appropriate mechanism. Of course, there is always a mechanism through which the Deputy can ask a parliamentary question in the Dáil, etc. I want to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Schools Building Projects (16 Apr 2024)

Schools Building Projects

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Schools Building Projects (16 Apr 2024)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: 60. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on when construction will commence on new school buildings (details supplied). [16349/24]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Schools Building Projects (16 Apr 2024)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: My question is about when construction on a new school building in Scoil Íosagáin, Buncrana, will finally commence. The school has been waiting approximately 20 years now for this to happen. I cannot stress enough how appalling the conditions within the school buildings are. The Minister has been sent an email from the board of management containing more than 100 pages of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Schools Building Projects (16 Apr 2024)

Norma Foley: At the outset, I will say that I am very familiar with this particular school. The Minister, Deputy McConalogue, has raised this with me on a number of occasions, so I am very invested in bringing this over the line. I know that is the Deputy’s view also. The project that has been referenced by the Deputy is included in the Department’s construction programme, which will...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Schools Building Projects (16 Apr 2024)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: I am struggling to find words here. I have just told the Minister that a 114-page document has been sent to her. I have seen it and it contains photographic evidence of the absolutely appalling conditions that teachers and children have to endure. Planning permission was lost because two contractors did not proceed to tender stage. There has been a lack of urgency in the Minister’s...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Schools Building Projects (16 Apr 2024)

Norma Foley: There is no lack of urgency here; I want that to be very clear. This project has moved at pace under the last four years of this Government. As I have said, under the next phase of the school building programme, individual school building projects will be authorised to proceed to construction, subject to an assessment of tender reports and relevant due diligence by the Department’s...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Admissions (16 Apr 2024)

School Admissions

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Admissions (16 Apr 2024)

Sorca Clarke: 58. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to ensure that no child is left without an appropriate school place. [16257/24]

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Admissions (16 Apr 2024)

Sorca Clarke: Will the Minister outline her plans to ensure that no child is left without an appropriate school place for the coming September?