Coming from the Gallery.
Sentiment score: 0.00
I thank the Deputy for allowing me the opportunity respond to her question. I am deeply conscious of the enormous trauma that has been endured by all survivors of abuse. While nothing we do now can ever undo the hurt which has been caused, Government is committed to providing appropriate supports to survivors. Last July, the Oireachtas passed the Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Act 2025. The Act has two main purposes: to enable the delivery of ongoing health and education supports to survivors of abuse in residential institutions; and to allow the formal dissolution of Caranua. The package of supports builds upon the already significant State response to this issue. In September, following the passage of the Act, a group of industrial school survivors commenced a protest outside Leinster House, seeking additional support to be put in place. There was significant engagement with the group, including with officials from my Department and multiple meetings with both the Minister, Deputy McEntee, and the Taoiseach. Arising from this, the group agreed to engage in a mediation process and cease their protest. The mediation process recently concluded, and Government has approved the implementation of a number of commitments. Under the Act, eligible survivors will be provided with a medical card which will entitle them to certain health supports and services through the HSE. This entitlement, which is similar to the health supports provided to survivors and former residents of the Magdalen laundries and mother and baby institutions, will be for life and will not be subject to a means-testing review. Government has agreed to strengthen this package of health supports through the appointment of specified liaison officers within the HSE and through improved access to counselling and physiotherapy services. This is not a Health (Amendment) Act, HAA, card but is instead a package of supports specifically for survivors. The Deputy asked about the timelines around this. Work is ongoing within my Department with all the relevant Departments to finalise the arrangements on the delivery of those supports as soon as possible and further information will be published on the Department's website, and it will be communicated widely with the relevant groups and agencies.
Sentiment score: 0.26
Issues were raised with regard to a pension as well. Government has instead approved the expansion of the education support payments scheme under the Act to provide support for informal learning and self-development, as well as formal learning. This revised arrangement has been accepted by the survivors. My Department is finalising arrangements for the delivery of these supports as soon as possible. The Deputy can be assured of that. I would also note that my Department has engaged Sage Advocacy, an independent advocacy organisation with a strong track record in providing advocacy supports to vulnerable adults, older people and healthcare patients, to develop information, support and advocacy services for survivors to assist them in engaging with and accessing relevant services and supports. Sage has appointed advocates around the country who are providing this assistance to survivors. The Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Act 2025, which was passed last July, provides for the delivery of a package of ongoing health and education supports. This marks a new phase in the State's response to this issue. To fundamentally answer the Deputy's original question, this will happen as soon as possible and work is ongoing within my Department.
Sentiment score: 0.33
To reassure the Deputy, I know the importance given to this from the Taoiseach down in respect of providing these supports as quickly as possible. My Department is working to finalise the arrangements of the delivery of those supports the survivors agreed to as quickly as possible. That includes engaging with relevant Departments and agencies, particularly the Department of public expenditure and reform and digitalisation and the Departments of Health and Children, Disability and Equality and the HSE. Further information on the supports, including the application processes, will be published on the Department's website in due course. The availability of those supports will be communicated as widely as possible, particularly through engagement with survivor groups, the special advocate for survivors and Sage advocacy, so that survivors are made aware of the availability of the supports and are provided with clear information on them and how they can be accessed.
Sentiment score: 0.61
I thank the Deputy. The report of the scoping inquiry into historical sexual abuse in day and boarding schools run by religious orders was published in 2024. The Government takes revelations of historical sexual abuse in schools extremely seriously and has established an independent commission of investigation, chaired by Mr. Justice Michael MacGrath, to investigate the handling of complaints and allegations of historical sexual abuse in schools. The commission was the principal recommendation of the report of the scoping inquiry and the commission does not have a role in relation to redress. The scoping inquiry’s report also recognised the significance of redress for survivors, many of whom told the scoping inquiry’s survivor engagement process they viewed it as a measure of accountability for those running schools where child sexual abuse occurred. The scoping inquiry recommended consideration be given by the Government to establishing a redress scheme and that it consult with the orders on contributions to any such scheme. The interdepartmental group, IDG, established to advise Government on the scoping inquiry recommendations was cognisant of the views of survivors on redress as a measure of accountability. It recognised that consideration of a redress scheme may have far-reaching implications and advised further work is required to ensure Government is fully informed in any decision it may take. The interdepartmental group has commenced this work to further examine the levers and mechanisms that may be brought to bear so that those responsible for schools where historical sexual abuse happened meet their obligations to survivors. The work of that group will not impede the progress of the commission of investigation, which has begun its work in parallel.
Sentiment score: -0.09
As regards how long it will take that interdepartmental group to report, the work of that group is very complex and involves several Departments, State agencies and relevant expertise. The work of that IDG is entirely separate from the work of the commission, which does not have a role in redress. That group aims to complete its work within 18 months. When that interdepartmental group has completed its work, it will provide a report to me and then subsequently to Government. Many of the survivors who spoke to that scoping inquiry view financial redress as an important measure of accountability for those who ran schools where sexual abuse happened. The State has some experience in dealing with the religious orders in the context of redress, and it is important we learn from that experience, particularly given the potential scale of redress for historical sexual abuse in schools. Clarity on that scale is critical and all mechanisms that can be used by the State to secure the appropriate funding from those who were responsible for child sexual abuse in schools will be carefully examined. It is important to ensure there is financial accountability for those who were responsible for child sexual abuse in schools, particularly as so many of those who are alleged to have abused children are now deceased and will not face criminal charges.
Sentiment score: -0.09
I outlined the process for this to Deputy Cummins. Work is ongoing in my Department on that issue of the supports agreed by the survivors with an Taoiseach prior to Christmas. The Deputy made reference to two different issues there. Regarding the commission of investigation, Mr. Justice Michael MacGrath was appointed effective from 1 October 2025 as chair of that commission. It is independent in its function and the chair has outlined an essential preparatory work phase which must be completed by the commission prior to engagement with survivors and others, and updates will be given online relating to that. Mr. Justice Michael MacGrath is working on developing the necessary systems and processes to safely gather and store data and information. This is particularly important given the deeply sensitive and personal nature of the information that may be shared with the commission. It also includes work to ensure that the commission has the appropriate premises to ensure that it is as safe and welcoming an environment for survivors as possible and that the necessary supports are in place for those survivors.
Sentiment score: 0.50
The State Examinations Commission has responsibility for the operation of the State examinations including the scheme of reasonable accommodations at certificate examinations, RACE. The purpose of the RACE scheme is to remove barriers for students who have special educational needs to enable them to show what they know and can do in the examinations on an equal footing. Access to accommodations is based on the individual needs of the candidate and not on the provision of a diagnosis. Applications are made to the State Examinations Commission by the school based on the school's knowledge of the student's needs and his or her normal way of working. Some accommodations for those with learning difficulties have particular criteria such as a standard score test in reading, spelling or writing, which is administered by the school. In 2025 more than one in four candidates received an accommodation under the RACE scheme. The State Examinations Commission is currently undertaking a comprehensive review of the scheme. This is structured so that rolling changes may be implemented as it progresses. The 2026 interim scheme of additional time that was recently announced by the State Examinations Commission is one of these rolling changes. Under this scheme more than 30,000 candidates across junior cycle and leaving certificate will be eligible for ten minutes of additional time per examination paper. This is an important step forward in addressing the programme for Government commitment to ensuring that candidates with specific needs are provided with additional time in exams in certain circumstances. The impact of this interim scheme will be evaluated alongside other accommodations that already exist to inform arrangements for 2027.
Sentiment score: 0.09
The State Examinations Commission, SEC, has operational responsibility for State examinations, including the RACE scheme. The SEC has looked very carefully at how to operationalise that commitment to additional time and it has taken account of the need to balance on the one hand access for candidates with special educational needs and on the other hand equity and fairness for all candidates undertaking their examinations. This is an interim scheme for 2026. It will be evaluated and that evaluation, together with ongoing research, will provide the evidence base for considering arrangements for 2027 and beyond. This evaluation recognises that there is a need to understand the combined effect of all supports of exam outcomes, including both additional time and the accommodations that already exist in lieu of additional time. For example, there is a spelling and grammar waiver in place. Pending that evaluation, this is a prudent approach to the quantum of additional time. I welcome the fact that this eligibility is broadly based and that more than 30,000 students are embraced within this scheme for the 2026 exams across junior certificate and leaving certificate.
Sentiment score: 0.22
There is an interim review under way. This is evidence based. This is the work of the State Examinations Commission, which is independent. There is a large amount of consultation, research and evidence as part of this decision. This is a rolling programme and it is considering international best practice in relation to this. The review of the RACE scheme is comprehensive and system-wide. It seeks to address the relevant issues that take account of best practice internationally. That is the work of the State Examinations Commission. As part of its work, the SEC has commissioned research into national and international policies. Following a public procurement process, a contract for the provision of research and public consultation for this review has been awarded to Alpha Plus Consultancy Limited. This is a UK-based company, which has undertaken work for the Irish education system previously. Output is expected on that this year. Consultation with stakeholders is also extremely important. The SEC has already engaged with stakeholders, including with Dyslexia Ireland, Dyspraxia/DCD Ireland, the Children's Rights Alliance, and the Office of the Ombudsman for Children. This engagement will continue as the review is under way. A roundtable stakeholder discussion is also planned for later this month.
Sentiment score: 0.18
The Deputy will be aware I recently published the €7.55 billion NDP sectoral investment plan for the education and youth sectors for 2026 out to 2030. Of the €7.55 billion investment it is envisaged that €5 billion of that will be used for project roll-out to support the delivery and modernisation of school buildings. An additional €2.25 billion of the NDP funding will focus on supporting the existing school estates, including maintenance, minor works, and the climate action summer work scheme. Project roll-out under the NDP will continue on a prioritised basis within the parameters of available funding to meet the most urgent needs for provision of additional capacity and modernisation of existing facilities. In this regard, I have published a list of 105 school building projects in the first tranche to proceed to tender and construction in 2026 and 2027. These projects were prioritised with a strong focus on maximising existing capacity and prioritising project roll-out to meet the most urgent needs. This list includes two significant projects in Dublin 24 to provide a new 1,000 pupil building for Firhouse Educate Together Secondary School and a new 16-classroom primary school for Scoil Chrónáin in Rathcoole. These projects are in addition to €193 million in capital funding for Dublin 24 schools between 2020 and 2025. During that period, a total of 23 schools were upgraded, either through provision of new school buildings, a large-scale extension or the provision of modular accommodation. In addition, seven school projects in Dublin 24 are currently under construction. To give a breakdown for Dublin, between 2020 and 2025, the Department of Education provided €1.7 billion in capital funding for schools. Over this period, 244 schools were upgraded, either through provision of a new school building, a large extension or the provision of modular buildings. There are currently 64 school projects in Dublin under construction and 20 school projects will go to tender or construction either this year and next year.
Sentiment score: 0.15
I reiterate that €193 million in capital funding was provided between 2020 and 2025 in Dublin 24. There are seven school projects under construction in Dublin 24. Some 23 schools have been upgraded, either through the provision of new school buildings or large-scale extensions. That is not the end of the matter, however, because this is a rolling programme out to 2030. My Department will continue to engage with patrons and schools across the country, including in Deputy Murphy's constituency and in Dublin, to inform targeted and prioritised capital investment. That will include the identification of any urgent required works or capacity. In relation to Galway, a full county-by-county breakdown has been published to clearly show the full scale of delivery and expenditure under the NDP. That breakdown covers delivery and expenditure over recent years. The criteria for identifying the 105 prioritised projects included the condition of the school, projects in areas where there were capacity pressures, growing demographics and projects in the pipeline. Galway is a large county with a significant number of schools. It includes the city and town areas which are experiencing demographic growth, as are Kildare, Cork and Dublin. The Deputy will see from the list that five of the 45 stage 3 projects - that is, already tendered projects - in the county include a campus in Athenry for two Irish-medium schools, which is an area of demographic growth. Of the three stage 3 projects, two are in Galway West, my constituency.
Sentiment score: 0.15
I will come back to the Deputy with further details.
Sentiment score: 0.00
I acknowledge there are more schools that need investment and that is why this is a plan that goes out to 2030. What the Department of education will be doing now is engaging with schools across the country. For the first time, by the end of this year, the Department will have completed an energy and condition survey of all of our 4,000 schools across the country. That will really help with the prioritisation. It will also look at the demographics in an area, enrolments, the condition of the school and how we can prioritise over the next few years and out to 2030. That work will be led by the Department. Again, this is the first two years of a national development plan out to 2030. If there are schools that need remediation works, there is funding in place through the emergency works scheme and the summer works scheme. The engagement that is being carried out by the Department through the energy and conditions survey is evidence based. That will feed into prioritisation for the next tranche.
Sentiment score: 0.13