I thank the Deputy for his Topical Issue. I stress that enabling students with special educational needs to receive an appropriate education is an absolute priority for me and the entire Government. It is the Government's priority to ensure that all children have an appropriate school placement and that all necessary supports are provided to our schools to allow children with special educational needs to flourish and prosper. Of the 400 special class places provided for in budget 2025, the NCSE has advised that more than 390 have already been sanctioned for the 2025-26 school year. Eleven are in Wicklow and 12 in Wexford. They will be added to the 3,330 classes already in operation across the country. There continues to be an increased need to provide additional special school places to support children with complex needs. To meet this need, 11 new special schools have been established in recent years and capacity has been expanded in a number of others. As the Deputy referred to, Gorey Hill School is one of those established in recent years. We welcome that development. Five more special schools will be established in the 2025-26 school year: one in Cork, two in Dublin, one in Monaghan and one in Tipperary. The new special schools established over recent years have focused on providing additional places in our larger urban areas, in Cork and Dublin in particular. The Department and the NCSE have begun planning in relation to further expanding special school capacity for the 2026-27 school year. It is estimated that a further 300 new special school places may be required each year for the coming years. When it is looking to provide additional capacity, the Department's preferred option is to increase provision in existing special schools if possible. Where this is not possible in a region, the Department and the NCSE will consider the need to establish a new special school. Where existing capital owned by the Department can be repurposed, it makes sense from a time, economic and environmental sense to do so. However, each building is evaluated on its individual merits for its suitability. Of particular relevance is the development of an inclusive environment that promotes the integration of children with special education needs with their mainstream peers to the greatest extent possible. In that context, campus solutions for new special schools are prioritised. In planning for increased special school places, the Department and the NCSE are reviewing all of the available data on the growing need for special school places across the country. This involves a detailed analysis of enrolment trends and the potential for existing special schools in a region to expand. Part of the forward planning process as to where new classes, schools or expansions are required looks at how far students are travelling to access an education appropriate to their needs. This is an important factor which has been incorporated into the decision-making process. Consideration is also given to the information the NCSE holds at local level on the number of children seeking a special school place in the region. The Department and the NCSE are committed to ensuring that sufficient special school placements remain available for children with special educational needs and will continue to review and monitor the situation in County Wexford and nationwide as to where new special schools are required.

Sentiment score: 0.42

I thank the Deputy again for raising the question and giving me the opportunity to reassure the House that the Department of Education and the NCSE are committed to ensuring that all children can access an education suitable to their needs. The Department of Education continues to engage intensively with the National Council for Special Education in relation to forward planning for new special provision for the 2025-26 school year and future years to ensure every child has a place in an educational setting best fitting their educational needs. There are now more than 28,000 children being supported in special schools and classes with the number of special classes increasing by 100% since 2020, only five years ago. There has been huge investment by this Government and the previous Government in special education. It is a statutory responsibility of the National Council for Special Education to work with schools to provide sufficient special education provision each year. As already outlined, budget 2025 provides funding for 400 new special classes and up to 300 additional special school places for the 2025-26 school year. This new provision is announced as the locations are confirmed. The Department and the NCSE are then looking to the 2026-27 school year and will continue to monitor the need for additional school place provision based on demand.

Sentiment score: 0.55

I thank the Deputy for raising this hugely important Topical Issue and convey the apologies of my colleague, the Minister for Justice, Deputy Jim O’Callaghan, who regrets he cannot be here due to another commitment. On behalf of the Minister, Deputy O’Callaghan, I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter here today and for giving me the opportunity to provide clarity on the manner in which the personal injuries guidelines are drawn up and implemented. I state at the outset that it is not a matter for the Minister for Justice to approve the adoption of the guidelines. Under the Judicial Council Act 2019, the Judicial Council, which, as I am sure the Deputy is aware, is independent in its functions, has the responsibility for drawing up and reviewing the personal injuries guidelines. The first issue of the personal injuries guidelines came into effect in April 2021 and these guidelines have had a clear and significant cost saving impact since their introduction. That being said, the guidelines were challenged in the Delaney v. PIAB case, in which the Supreme Court upheld the guidelines, but identified deficiencies in the underpinning legislation which was amended by the Oireachtas in the Courts, Civil Law, Criminal Law and Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2024. In accordance with the 2019 Act, as amended, the Judicial Council has conducted a review of the guidelines and submitted draft amendments of the guidelines to the Minister for Justice to enable the laying of the draft amendments before the Houses. The draft guidelines submitted to the Minister by the Judicial Council propose an across the board increase of 16.7% in compensation amounts. This figure aligns with the increase in the harmonised index of consumer prices over the period from when the guidelines were last agreed in 2021. Section 7(2B) of the 2019 Act requires the Minister for Justice to lay the revised guidelines before each House of the Oireachtas as soon as is practicable. The Minister will, therefore, shortly be laying the draft amendments before the Oireachtas after which a resolution regarding the draft amendments can be considered. The legislation provides that the draft guidelines must be approved by a resolution of both Houses of the Oireachtas before they can be brought into operation. The Oireachtas will have an opportunity to debate the matter once the resolutions proposing adoption of the guidelines are tabled. I must stress, however, that the legislation passed by the Houses last year does not provide for the amendment of the guidelines by the Oireachtas. When the resolutions have been approved by the Houses, the Judicial Council will then meet to formally adopt the guidelines. This is in keeping with the 2019 Act adopted last year.

Sentiment score: 0.35

I again thank the Deputy for raising the matter and providing me with an opportunity to go through the issues. I listened very closely to the points the Deputy made and I am aware of the views expressed by some stakeholders that the proposed increase will have the effect of increasing premiums. This is something we have to consider in the future in terms of how the Act operates. Members of the House will have an opportunity to discuss this in fuller detail when the resolutions are presented. On a more general level, the Minister for Justice is acutely aware of the issues with insurance reform and it continues to be a key priority for Government. The new programme for Government commits to the publication of a new action plan for insurance reform, with a focus on encouraging further competition in the market and working with the stakeholders to enhance transparency and affordability across all types of insurance. The Cabinet subcommittee on insurance reform will continue to monitor the effects of the action plan for insurance. Over the years, the issue of insurance premiums, payouts and the constant issue for some businesses of even finding insurance has been a really concerning one for Government, for the Minister and, indeed, for me because we have worked on it over many years. I will relay everything the Deputy has said this morning to the Minister and to the Government.

Sentiment score: 0.27