Results 81-100 of 1,021,012 for in 'Dáil debates' OR (speaker:Máiría Cahill OR speaker:Duncan Smith OR speaker:Jim O'Callaghan) in 'Committee meetings'

Progressing Special Education Provision: Statements (9 May 2024)

Ruairi Ó Murchú: -----Down's syndrome and others who require these services. We need to get a hell of a lot better at all of this.

Progressing Special Education Provision: Statements (9 May 2024)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: The Deputy is getting very good at extending his time anyway. He is very good at that.

Progressing Special Education Provision: Statements (9 May 2024)

Mattie McGrath: Déanfaidh mé mo dhícheall mo chuid ama a úsáid. I wish the Minister of State well in her post and look forward to engaging with her. The whole situation is very sad. There is nothing more frustrating than young children and adult children waiting for services who cannot get them. Money is being pumped into the system. There is not doubt about that, but there...

Progressing Special Education Provision: Statements (9 May 2024)

Richard Boyd Barrett: People Before Profit requested this debate at a meeting of the Business Committee. We are glad it is happening. We requested it because, like everybody else, we are being inundated by families who are concerned for the welfare of their children. It is clear that the State - the Government - is failing children with additional needs and disabilities. That is an unacceptable moral failure...

Progressing Special Education Provision: Statements (9 May 2024)

Martin Browne: I welcome the opportunity to discuss this matter because only last weekend there was a public demonstration organised by parents who are continuing to encounter significant difficulties in getting school placements for their children. Every year, we come across the same range of challenges facing parents who are seeking a suitable school place for their children. The reason for this is a...

Progressing Special Education Provision: Statements (9 May 2024)

Martin Kenny: For most people, having a child with a disability is a major cause of stress. The struggle they go through to try to find a class for them, education facilities and all of that adds to the stress. The experience for these people is that they have to fight all the way for what they need. That should not be the case in a wealthy and well-designed democratic system. We should have an...

Progressing Special Education Provision: Statements (9 May 2024)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: I call Deputy O'Reilly. The Deputy is sharing time with Deputy Ó Laoghaire.

Progressing Special Education Provision: Statements (9 May 2024)

Louise O'Reilly: Who I am hoping is on his way. I will hold the time anyway until my colleague gets here; half of it is mine. I listened with some interest - I know she is not here now - to the Minister of State's backbench colleague absolutely decrying the cut her own Government made to summer provision. The irony of that is not lost on me, nor will it be lost on the parents of kids with special needs in...

Progressing Special Education Provision: Statements (9 May 2024)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I wish to flag two issues. One is a general issue. Scoil Eoin in Ballincollig has been trying to secure special classes for children with autism since 2013. That is over ten years ago. The principal, staff and board of management have done all they can for the Department of Education to secure funding to provide these classes but they have been blocked at every opportunity. Ballincollig...

Progressing Special Education Provision: Statements (9 May 2024)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: I call Deputy Boyd Barrett. He will be followed by Deputy Bríd Smith.

Progressing Special Education Provision: Statements (9 May 2024)

Bríd Smith: It is the other way around. I am going to go first. Ladies first and all that jazz. I welcome the parents in the Gallery. We have been working with people around our constituencies on this issue. I welcome that the debate is happening. Like others, I want to be a conduit for their voices. I wish they could stand here instead of sitting up there and speak directly to the Government and...

Progressing Special Education Provision: Statements (9 May 2024)

Gary Gannon: These are important statements on special education. In advance of this debate, I took the opportunity to ask schools and educational leaders in my community and other parts of Dublin about the circumstances of special education in their schools. While I will not refer to any school by name, I will speak to some of the issues they raised with me during those telephone conversations in the...

Progressing Special Education Provision: Statements (9 May 2024)

Matt Carthy: I welcome that we are having a debate on special education in the House. I congratulate the Minister of State on her appointment. As she may be aware, I have been raising the issue of the deficiencies within special education provision for children in my constituency and particularly in County Monaghan for some time. I have a list here of all special schools across the State. A stark...

Progressing Special Education Provision: Statements (9 May 2024)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: The recently published NCSE policy document, which is called An Inclusive Education for an Inclusive Society, details a level of research that was done to try to move the country towards a more inclusive education system in the future, where all children with mild general learning disabilities, MGLD, and other disabilities will be catered for in their own local school and only children with...

Progressing Special Education Provision: Statements (9 May 2024)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: The portfolio of special education is so important. It is a role that directly impacts on the lives of countless individuals with diverse needs and, as such, it demands full-time dedication to ensure effective policy development, implementation and support for those who rely on the special education services. There are enormous issues with special education and the Minister of State will...

Progressing Special Education Provision: Statements (9 May 2024)

Catherine Connolly: There are three Sinn Féin speakers left.

Progressing Special Education Provision: Statements (9 May 2024)

Mark Ward: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Leas-Cheann Comhairle. Sinn Féin is determined to work towards a future where all children get to go to school with their siblings and peers. At the moment, this is simply not happening. I spoke with members of the Clondalkin autism support group this morning. They outlined many of the challenges that children with special educational needs face. They...

Progressing Special Education Provision: Statements (9 May 2024)

Paul Donnelly: There is a serious lack of school places in Dublin West. At a recent meeting, the NCSE admitted that there are 13 children it knows of who do not have places for September. It knows and admitted that there will be more. We have children transferring to post-primary who have no school places, and even in one school, one child transferring from junior school has been told there is no place...

Progressing Special Education Provision: Statements (9 May 2024)

Claire Kerrane: It really is inexcusable that in 2024 children in this State cannot easily access special class places when they need to. It is a disgrace that, year on year, parents are left worried sick, stressed and battling - as they do for everything when they have a child who has additional needs - to find a place to send them to school. This really has to end. Every child that needs a class...

Progressing Special Education Provision: Statements (9 May 2024)

Duncan Smith: I will be sharing with my colleague Deputy Ó Ríordáin. Despite some progress in recent years, there are still significant gaps and disparities that persist in our special education system. Too many students and children are being hindered from full inclusion and participation in our schools. Too many children are being left behind and deprived of the support and resources...