Cian O'Callaghan
Question:1. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Taoiseach to report on the implementation of the well-being framework launched by his Department. [6307/25]
Ceisteanna - Questions
Departmental Strategies
Richard Boyd Barrett
Question:2. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach to report on the implementation of the well-being framework launched by his Department. [6429/25]
Paul Murphy
Question:3. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach to report on the implementation of the well-being framework launched by his Department. [6432/25]
Ivana Bacik
Question:4. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Taoiseach to report on the implementation of the well-being framework launched by his Department. [7362/25]
Aindrias Moynihan
Question:5. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Taoiseach to report on the implementation of the well-being framework launched by his Department. [9169/25]
Ruairí Ó Murchú
Question:6. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Taoiseach to report on the implementation of the well-being framework launched by his Department. [9300/25]
Ruth Coppinger
Question:7. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Taoiseach to report on the implementation of the well-being framework launched by his Department. [9485/25]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 7, inclusive, together.
Ireland's well-being framework is a Government initiative to measure progress and policy impact in Ireland in a more holistic way. The framework consists of 11 dimensions that reflect different aspects of well-being. It is supported by a dashboard hosted by the Central Statistics Office and composed of 35 indicators that bring together economic, social and environmental statistics in an integrated way. Each year, an Understanding Life in Ireland report is published, which assesses Ireland's well-being performance across these 35 indicators. An updated analysis will be published before the summer.
The 2024 assessment shows that Ireland's overall performance is positive, particularly in the areas of work and job quality, and social connections and community. Only one of the 11 dimensions, the environment, climate and biodiversity dimension, showed a negative performance. The analysis also highlights that there is more work to be done. In particular, there are some groups in our society for whom progress is unequal across multiple areas of well-being, including people with long-term illness or disability, single-parent households, households with lower incomes and households in rented accommodation.
To assist expenditure decisions, we continue to integrate the framework into the budgetary process. The well-being framework was featured at last year's national economic dialogue and as part of the summer economic statement. The well-being framework was also part of the analysis underpinning budget 2025. This included analysis of the dashboard in budget-day documentation and a paper showing how selected expenditure measures in budget 2025 are enhancing well-being, published by the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform.
Across government, Departments are working to use the well-being framework for policy development and decision-making. I believe the well-being framework is a useful tool which can help us to better understand the economic, social and environmental impact of policy decisions.
I want to ask the Taoiseach about the well-being of CIÉ pensioners. For decades, former CIÉ workers had their pension payments rise in line with wage increases. However, when the economic crash happened, CIÉ halted both pay and pension increases. While pay rises for current staff have been restored, pensioners have had their income frozen for over 16 years. This is leaving pensioners out of pocket following an unprecedented cost-of-living crisis. Independent actuarial analysis carried out by Willis Towers Watson found that the CIÉ pension scheme can award increases without impacting on its long-term sustainability. There is no reason these pensioners should not get increases and should be punished by austerity measures. Will the Taoiseach ensure that CIÉ pensioners who dedicated their lives to public service get the pension increases they deserve?
It is hard to imagine a more impactful measure on the wellness of both people and the planet than insulating people's homes. I want to raise an incredible case in my constituency where a family is being threatened with prison for retrofitting and insulating their home. In 2018, Clive Ryan from Kilnamanagh received a Government grant from the SEAI to retrofit his home with external wall insulation. This is exactly the type of climate action that Government grants and Government policy are designed to incentivise. It is a clear win. It is a no-brainer for the householder who has reduced energy bills and for society as a whole because it benefits from lower carbon emissions and reduced air pollution. What happened next is that South Dublin County Council began serving planning notices on Mr. Ryan. He applied twice for planning retention and was denied it. He is now facing a €5,000 fine or a prison sentence if he does not remove it. Does the Taoiseach agree that external wall insulation should be exempt from planning permission?
Work and job quality is one of the dimensions to the well-being framework. My party would have liked to see stronger commitments on workers' rights in the programme for Government. I want to raise a number of concerns around workers' rights with the Taoiseach.
We introduced a Labour Party Bill to provide for reproductive healthcare leave for women experiencing early pregnancy loss in the workplace. The Second Reading of our Bill was delayed until 18 January this year to allow the Government to develop its own proposals. Can the Taoiseach advise what the position is now? There is no commitment on this in the programme for Government but the previous Minister, Roderic O'Gorman, had commissioned research from the Department of equality to see if there was an evidence base for proceeding with the legislation.
Does the Taoiseach propose to row back on remote and flexible working arrangements for public servants? Will he confirm that any such move would be subject to consultation and agreement with trade unions?
Finally, can the Taoiseach confirm when the action plan for collective bargaining will be published?
The well-being framework sets out the things that are important to us as a society as distinct from economic indicators such as GDP or inflation. It focuses, for example, on the quality of our housing, educational attainment, biodiversity and so much more. The aim is that it would steer funding priorities in the budget. On the climate front, for example, we are seeing stark warnings from the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council of up to €26 billion in fines coming down the tracks. It is recommending that we should spend the same money on action now instead of spending it on fines in the future. In the budget ahead, do we expect the well-being framework to steer funding into the quality of our housing, insulation and SEAI supports? As they are already a bottleneck for so many people, this area should be prioritised.
I would like to deal with mental health well-being. I spoke previously to the Minister of State, Mary Butler, about the fact that we have to look at the Mental Health Bill. We have all come across issues with getting the required supports for people in absolute distress, including those who have been arrested under the Mental Health Act. When the Garda calls a doctor, the doctor will assess the situation on the basis of how he or she finds it and how the law produces the framework, but it is not always imperfect. I accept that clinicians have to make these decisions but there is definitely a lot that needs to be done. I support those who have spoken previously about the need for interim funding for SOSAD. While I accept what the Minister of State said about the service level agreement, it is about interim funding and keeping the doors open. I literally just took a call in relation to someone in real distress and dealt with the Minister of State on it. We all want to get a solution for people in these circumstances.
I want to ask the Taoiseach about the impact on wellness of an increased militaristic policy.
Sorry?
Militaristic policy. It is proposed that Ireland's budget for military spending will eventually increase from €1.3 billion to €3 billion. The decision to drop the triple lock is coming at the expense of people on lower incomes, education, disability, housing, refuges for domestic violence, etc. Earlier, the Taoiseach bemoaned that we are living in a world that is becoming increasingly brutal, militaristic, violent and nakedly imperialistic. In that context, I ask the Taoiseach once again - this is our last chance - if he still intends to visit and greet Donald Trump, the chief proponent of this direction of the world right now, on St. Patrick's Day, thereby giving him a photo opportunity. This is a public bully who humiliated Zelenskyy, as we saw, over the weekend. He is a chauvinist. He has just freed two rapists.
The Deputy is over time.
Is this good for wellness?
Mental and physical health is one of the strands considered in the Government's well-being framework analysis. In counties Cavan, Louth, Laois, Meath and Monaghan, the well-being of people and our communities will be negatively impacted by the recent downgrading of the services of SOSAD Ireland. They have been downgraded because of a lack of sustainable funding. The potential for this had been well telegraphed and communicated to the HSE well in advance of the new year. It is now March. I am asking the Taoiseach to intervene to protect these vital services for our communities.
Deputy Cian O'Callaghan raised the issue of the CIÉ pensioners. I take on board the Deputy's point that the actuaries are saying it would not impact on the scheme itself if the pensions continued to match salary increases. I will talk to the Minister with a view to getting an assessment of it. I am conscious of the issue. I want to see other ways to make progress on this issue. I will come back to the Deputy.
I am not familiar with the specific issue raised by Deputy Paul Murphy. I do not understand why the local authority is seeking planning permission. Was there a particular nature to the insulation?
It was just regular. Then they said that he needed planning permission but he does not have it, and he must pay a fine or take it off.
Did he apply for retention?
Yes, but so far it has been denied. It has not been accepted.
I will examine the details and try to get back to the Deputy. If he can send me the background to the case, we will pursue it. We want people to insulate. We do not want people to be penalised for insulation.
Deputy Bacik raised workers' rights and the reproductive healthcare leave Bill. I will have to check where the research commissioned by the previous Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, is.
Remote and flexible working is kept under constant review. Due to the nature of different jobs and the nature of work in different Departments, there cannot be a uniform policy across the board. I will check with the Department of public expenditure what is happening on that front.
Deputy Aindrias Moynihan raised the issue of the well-being framework and what is measured by it. In the words of Robert Kennedy, who put it far more eloquently, GDP "measures everything ... except that which makes life worthwhile". That is what the well-being framework is endeavouring to meet. On the biodiversity front and on the insulation front, I agree that there will be more spending.
We are spending huge amounts of money on the electricity grid which the IFAC-CCAC report identified this morning. We are spending a lot on electric vehicles. Maybe we can do more. However, I am conscious we must do it within the fiscal framework we are told we must keep within. It is not that simple. We will be spending more on the grid and many of these issues and the budget will prioritise many of the areas around biodiversity restoration.
Last week, for example, the Shared Island fund had some very effective biodiversity measures, environmental trails and so on, which are very positive in the Border county areas in Cavan, Monaghan, Carlingford and Cuilcagh, the geopark that straddles both sides of the Border which the Shared Island fund enabled us to purchase. Now we are developing trails around that.
I take on board what Deputy Ó Murchú is saying about mental health generally. The SOSAD issue has been raised by other Deputies too. Deputy -----
Deputy Bennett.
Yes, Deputy Bennett too, apologies. The Minister of State, Deputy Butler said earlier she has met the group. She says the HSE is telling her that it has to satisfy governance and it wants audits and so on. It is working with the group to try and fix that and get that sorted.
It is going on since Christmas. Why is it not -----
I know but there must be some issues there that need resolving.
Whatever can be done.
As soon as we can get it done. The Minister of State is sympathetic. She has met the group with a view to getting it resolved.
It needs to happen.
On Deputy Coppinger’s question, the €3 billion will be some time off. The immediate target is LOA 2. The programme for Government commits that after that a move to LOA 3 but we are some distance off because of procurement and so on. The Deputy spoke of increases but we are one of the lowest spenders. We have very low spending on military and we are coming from a very low base. Procurement capacity has to be built up and so on. The fact is, Europe is exposed in the world today and Europe feels exposed. Those on the eastern flank and the Baltic states in particular feel an existential threat from Russia – nobody else but Russia. There is a general view across Europe now that Russia represents a very significant threat to the long-term security of Europe and because of geopolitical developments that Europe will have to become more self-reliant in respect of its own security and defence. That is the view. Europe’s ultimate goal is to engage peacefully. Europe wants peace and wants to maintain peace and wants prosperity but sometimes the only way to maintain that is to have some strength that would deter people from encroaching and violating Europe’s borders or the borders of member states of the European Union. It is a very unsettling and uncertain environment in which we are currently living but those are the facts of the situation. There is a lot of worry about the place.
And on St. Patrick’s day?
I will be going, yes.
Specifically on wellness, we have reached a life expectancy of 83 years in this country which is very welcome. However, the numbers of those aged between 65 and 84 years will increase by 65% over the next two decades and those aged 85 and over will double. That means we will have an older population and it is important they stay well and active. Will the Taoiseach indicate his support, as was indicated in the budget and the programme for Government, for tax relief for gym membership to encourage people to become fitter as they get older?
I thank the Deputy for the points he made. I refer to Mark Henry’s book which identifies the extraordinary gains that have been made in lifespan in Ireland among men and women. It is a great story which never gets told but Health did something right over the past 20 years. Lifestyle is important as well. I like the idea of tax relief for gym membership. I think it is a good idea although I understand that, I should not say the mandarins in Finance -----
Maybe you should not.
-----are inevitably saying there are complexities. Inevitably there are complexities attached to the proposal but I think we should do everything we possibly can to encourage activity and fitness levels in society. That is why I think one of the best things we have done in recent years is transformative investment in active travel across the country. One only has to go along greenways or walkways and they are populated by people going out, getting exercise and getting fit.
I remind Deputies it is 15 minutes per question. As we go over, the time extends to the last question. We now move to the next batch.
Departmental Administrative Arrangements
James Geoghegan
Question:8. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Taoiseach for an update in relation to the establishment of the new disability unit within his Department. [6095/25]
James Geoghegan
Question:9. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Taoiseach for an update in relation to establishment of the new disability unit within his Department. [6383/25]
Richard Boyd Barrett
Question:10. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Disability will meet [6430/25]
Paul Murphy
Question:11. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Disability will meet [6433/25]
Barry Heneghan
Question:12. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Taoiseach to provide more information on the role of the new unit focused on disability that will be established in his Department. [6435/25]
Mary Lou McDonald
Question:13. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach how the new disability unit within his Department will function. [7554/25]
Barry Heneghan
Question:14. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Taoiseach if he will outline the main priorities for the new disability unit within his Department. [7739/25]
Ruth Coppinger
Question:15. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Taoiseach the way the new disability unit within his Department will function. [7941/25]
James Geoghegan
Question:16. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Taoiseach for an update in relation to establishment of the new disability unit within his Department. [7953/25]
Rose Conway-Walsh
Question:17. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Taoiseach if he will provide an update on the new disability unit in his Department. [8192/25]
Ivana Bacik
Question:18. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Taoiseach the way the new disability unit within his Department will function. [7612/25]
Cian O'Callaghan
Question:19. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Disability will meet [7945/25]
Erin McGreehan
Question:20. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Disability will meet next. [8486/25]
Aindrias Moynihan
Question:21. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Disability will meet. [9170/25]
Ruairí Ó Murchú
Question:22. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Taoiseach the way the new disability unit within his Department will function. [9301/25]
Cian O'Callaghan
Question:23. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Disability will meet. [9488/25]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 to 23, inclusive, together.
The Cabinet committee on disabilities has been established to oversee the implementation of programme for Government commitments in the area of disability with specific focus on children’s disability services as well as disability services more generally under the forthcoming new national disability strategy. It is due to meet shortly.
Under the programme for Government, we are committed to delivering a step change in disability services. To deliver on this I have established a standalone Cabinet committee on disability. The Government is committed to advancing the rights and improving the lives of people with disabilities.
We will prioritise the publication of and fund a new national disability strategy, setting out a vision to 2030. We will adopt a whole-of-government approach and advance the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Optional Protocol to the Convention of Persons with Disabilities.
I am also establishing a disability unit in my Department. This unit will support the work of the Minister for children, disability and equality and other Ministers in driving cross-government working and collaboration to improve the lives of people with disabilities and enable them to achieve their potential.
I know many in the various sectors are working hard for children, but the system is not delivering. I want to unlock the capability I know exists and further build capacity to implement models of support and care that work, particularly for children and families. I am engaging with Ministers and officials to fully tease out the programme of work for the unit to establish how it can best add value and impetus to the disability agenda in the same way the Department has done in the area of child poverty. On Monday, 24 February, we had a good meeting on the unit attended by eight Ministers.
The unit will support the work of the Cabinet committee on disability. It will have a key role in overseeing the implementation of programme for Government commitments in the area of disability, with a particular focus on the forthcoming new national disability strategy. It is important to ensure that the work of my Department does not duplicate others' work, rather it should further drive innovation and give momentum to policy implementation. It will also identify gaps between Departments and agencies, and promote and support cross-government, inter-agency and inter-disciplinary working for the benefit of all those with disabilities.
We have 11 Deputies. I propose 45 seconds each if they require an answer. I call Deputy Geoghegan.
I very much welcome this whole-of-government approach to disability services which is so essential to meeting needs.
My question relates to recruitment and retention. The critical skills list was expanded in 2022 so that occupational therapists and speech and language therapists could get employment permits. I have received replies to questions which show the figures are quite small. Just 62 occupational therapists and 21 speech and language therapists in the last three years have been given these permits.
How many occupational therapists?
There were 62 occupational therapists and 21 speech and language therapists. Obviously, this is a process that has worked very successfully for nurses and midwives where we recruit up to 1,000 internationally every year. Is this something the unit could look at and we could expand on further?
On Friday parents of children with additional needs were forced to sleep outside the Department of Education to try to fight for appropriate school places for their children. Earlier that day, the Government announced 254 new special classes in schools. That is much less than the 400 that had been promised. However, when you delve into the detail there are not even 254. I have correspondence with multiple schools saying these classes effectively do not exist. One school said they were in discussions with the NCSE about the establishment of a special class but as it stands, they had received no support to make it happen. They requested the announcements would not be made so that children would not be disappointed. They do not need spin – they need places. That means buildings, teachers and SNAs.
There are huge issues in disability. This has already been spoken about in relation to the parents having to involve themselves in that kind of outdoor protest and the section 39 workers are balloting for strike action. I want to talk about the interim October 2024 CDNT workforce report and the 529.77 whole-time equivalent positions which are unfilled.
When that report is finished, obviously there will be a plan for filling that gap, but if an audit is carried out and we fill all those positions, it is likely we will be able to deliver on the need that is out there. The Taoiseach has often said he believes in the school inclusion model. We require an holistic school inclusion model. When is that going to happen?
It has been a year since the fateful referendum on disability, where disabled people chose to organise against that referendum to bring home the State's responsibility. What has the Taoiseach done in that year? I will just mention my own local area because of time constraints. Danu special school, the only special school in all of Dublin West, promised places to students for September 2024. Those students are still sitting at home right now. They were meant to start school last September but the building work has not started. This is what is happening with the Taoiseach's Government. It is pretending that places exist and the buildings have not even been built. There are no buildings, teachers or SNAs. I checked and a soil site investigator went there for a little visit yesterday. There is still no sign of those buildings. When will those children with intellectual disabilities and autism start school?
The unit within the Taoiseach's Department must deliver tangible results, not least for scoliosis patients who have been let down. Sixteen-year-old Mikey Henry is a scoliosis patient. I have approached the previous Taoiseach, the previous Minister for Health and the current Minister for Health and there is no response. All I am asking for, and all Mikey Henry's parents are asking for, is an opinion from a spinal specialist who deals with specific complex care along with having respiratory expertise, either in Ireland or abroad. Will the Taoiseach facilitate that for this child, who has been failed by the system? He is a scoliosis patient who was ready for an operation but, due to the delays, he has been let down time and again.
What is the delay? Is he seeking an opinion?
A second opinion, yes, please. That is all.
Who is seeking the opinion?
The parents for their child, just to see if there is anything that can be done before things get too bad.
The Taoiseach has acknowledged the system is not delivering for children with additional needs who require particular provision in the school system. Indeed, I joined a group of over 50 parents, and some children and grandparents, who resorted to a 24-hour sleepout last Friday in front of the Department of Education. I heard some harrowing stories there from parents and grandparents, including some who live in my constituency. I am so well aware that even where their children are able to access a suitable school place, they often have to be bussed out of their community, from Dublin 4 out to Dublin 15, for example, because there is simply so little provision of local places. When will the Taoiseach be able to say that any child who needs a particular school place or particular therapies will get access to that? What about the more than 14,000 children who are waiting for an assessment of need?
I recently met the campaign group Access for All and one of the issues they raised with me was how the housing crisis is affecting disabled people in particular. As the Taoiseach will be aware, the Ombudsman has said that more than 1,200 disabled people under the age of 65 are living in nursing homes. Nursing homes are a completely unsuitable setting for younger people. It affects their independence and mental health. What is the Government doing to address the scandal of the 1,200 disabled people under the age of 65 living in nursing homes?
Right across the disability sector, there are huge problems. Will the Taoiseach's committee look at a full implementation of the laws in this country under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, UNCRPD, and also under our public sector duty? I do not know of even one court case taken since the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, IHREC, was established in 2015 that relates to the public sector duty. When we are looking at reforming the system and making better the lives of people with disabilities, we should look at actually implementing the laws we currently have. Will the committee also look at eliminating the means test for carers faster than is envisaged in the programme for Government? It should also consider the fact the system is so rigid that it is making people more disabled.
I thank the Ceann Comhairle for letting me in again. I raise the issue of child and adolescent mental health services in Cork. In response to a parliamentary question I asked two weeks ago, which might give an indication of how bad things are, I was told that in 2020, 435 people aged 18 years or under were on the waiting list; in 2021, there were 645; in 2022, there were 901; in 2023, there were 1,362; and, unfortunately, in 2024, there were 1,905. Clearly, things have spiralled in the wrong direction over a number of years. At what point does this become a crisis in local psychiatric services in Cork?
Deputy Geoghegan raised the first issue, which was an interesting point, relating to the recruitment of therapists, particularly from overseas. This was raised at our initial meeting between Ministers last week. Perhaps we need to engage with CORU on this. Historically, although I am not sure whether this is the case here, regulatory bodies can have fairly rigorous criteria for professionals coming in from overseas. That needs to be examined because the figure is too low. We have been in a position to recruit people from overseas in many disciplines, not just in health but across the board, and that figure is far too low, in my view. Why it is so low needs to be examined. When just 21 speech and language therapists have been recruited over three years, there is something wrong there.
To respond to Deputy Murphy, again the budget has provided for 400 new special classes and 300 new special school places. There has been huge growth, as the two most recent censuses have shown, when we look at the difference between the two in terms of the number of people identifying as having disabilities, and particularly children with additional needs. About 209 of those 400 new special classes have already been sanctioned for the 2025-26 school year, beginning in September, so there is every chance that those 400 new special classes will be approved. I know the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Moynihan, is working flat out engaging with all the various stakeholders and the NCSE to make sure every child will have a place next September, along with the Minister, Deputy McEntee. Five new special schools have been established already for the 2025-26 school year in counties Cork, Dublin, where there are two new schools, Monaghan and Tipperary. The NCSE will continue to assess what additional provision is required in local areas and what schools have capacity to accommodate the required provision.
We also need to look at legislation. The existing legislation is not strong enough, or certainly should be proactively followed through. Every school should be proactively accepting children with special needs, both at primary and at post primary. Post primary is not as strong as primary at accepting children into schools and that is not good enough. We have a Constitution. Every child is entitled to an education and there should be no question but that schools take in children in their locality, and they should be proactively seeking facilities. Some are doing so, but on the second level side it has been too slow. We are going to examine that again and, in my view, we have work to do. Up to now, the NCSE has been endeavouring to persuade schools and work with them, but I do not think that is enough, given the numbers who are seeking places. Every child should know, certainly by May or April, whether they will have a place for the following September. It is now March, and we still have an opportunity to sort out a lot of cases coming our way that need resolution.
Deputy Ó Murchú asked about section 39 workers. That is, I hope, with the Workplace Relations Commission-----
My main question was about the workforce report for the CDNTs and about the school inclusion model being the solution the Taoiseach has often spoken about.
Yes, a therapy-based service is being worked on. At our meeting, we gave the green light for that and asked the Department of Education to prepare to, we hope, commence it this September, if we can get the Estimates right and so on. It was not provided for in the previous budget because the pilot scheme had been initiated under the auspices of the Departments of Health and children, but that has not worked out. Therefore, I think we are going full on with a school-based therapy service, for special schools in the first instance.
Deputy Coppinger raised the referendum and a special school, Danu. She said a new building that is required was expected by September 2024. I will follow that up and come back to the Deputy.
Deputy Conway-Walsh raised the issue of a scoliosis patient. It seems, from what she suggested, that an opinion has been given but the patient's parents are seeking a second opinion. Will the Deputy give the details of the case to me? Obviously there should not be an issue with the family being facilitated with a second opinion. In complex cases, consultants may have different perspectives and a child or a family can benefit from a second opinion. If the Deputy sends the details of the case to me, we will follow up on it.
Further questions related to access to schools and so forth. Deputy Bacik spoke on that issue.
Yes.
We are working to see if we can ensure places for children next September.
I agree with Deputy Cian O'Callaghan that nursing homes are not suitable for young people who have a chronic illness or a significant disability. My understanding is that the number had come down in recent times but I will speak to the Minister for Health and the Minister of State with responsibility for nursing homes with a view to seeing what we can reduce and eliminate that.
I did not fully get what Deputy McGreehan spoke about, the public sector-----
The public sector duty and the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission.
In terms of its obligations.
We discussed that last week. The public service must do far better than it is doing. There is no question about that. There must be proactivity within the public service, particularly on the employment front. We are not employing enough people with additional needs in our public service. The Deputy spoke about the means test. We will work on that, with the Minister for Social Protection in particular, but that is a budgetary measure for next September.
Deputy O'Sullivan spoke about CAMHS in the south west. It is a very serious issue and we will follow through. I make the point more generally that huge resources are being allocated to these areas. We need to examine how those resources are being deployed, what methods are being used and policies and so on because the growth in health spending has been phenomenal in the past four years. The population has grown and I get that. The level of need has grown; that is without question. We have to be a bit more forensic in looking at value for money side of it and whether we are using the best mechanisms and methods to help people.
Cabinet Committees
Peadar Tóibín
Question:24. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on children and education and disability will meet next. [5804/25]
Pádraig O'Sullivan
Question:25. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on children and education and disability will meet next. [5903/25]
Mary Lou McDonald
Question:26. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on children and education and disability will meet next. [6074/25]
Ivana Bacik
Question:27. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on children and education and disability will next meet. [5756/25]
Cathal Crowe
Question:28. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on children and education and disability will meet next. [6491/25]
Aisling Dempsey
Question:29. Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on children and education and disability will meet next. [6493/25]
Barry Heneghan
Question:30. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on children and education and disabilities will meet next. [7738/25]
Rose Conway-Walsh
Question:31. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on children and education and disability will meet next. [7770/25]
Catherine Ardagh
Question:32. Deputy Catherine Ardagh asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on children and education and disability will meet next. [7810/25]
Cian O'Callaghan
Question:33. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on children and education and disability will meet next. [7946/25]
Darren O'Rourke
Question:34. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on children and education and disability will meet next. [8320/25]
Erin McGreehan
Question:35. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on children and education will meet next.. [8485/25]
Tom Brabazon
Question:36. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on children and education will next meet. [9245/25]
John Connolly
Question:37. Deputy John Connolly asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on children and education will meet next. [9480/25]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 24 to 37, inclusive, together.
The Cabinet committee on children and education will oversee the implementation of programme for Government commitments in the areas of children and education with a special focus on child poverty and well-being. It will receive detailed reports on identified policy areas, such as child poverty, well-being and education. A separate Cabinet committee on disability has been established. The membership of the Cabinet committee on children and education comprises: the Taoiseach; the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence; the Minister for Finance; the Minister for public expenditure; the Minister for children; the Minister for Health; the Minister for Social Protection; the Minister for Education; and the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. It will meet quarterly and the first meeting of the Cabinet committee on children and education of the new Government will take place soon.
Today, Aontú received information from Tusla showing that during the first nine months of last year 70,000 children were referred to Tusla. That means that for the whole year it is likely 94,000 children were referred to Tusla, which is the highest figure on record. It is 30,000 more children than sat the leaving certificate last year. It is equivalent to all the children in Meath and Westmeath being referred to Tusla on an annual basis. It is an incredibly high figure. Nearly 70,000 of those referrals related to physical abuse, 4,000 related to sexual abuse and 4,000 related to neglect, while 43,000 referrals involved child welfare concerns. This is an issue Aontú raises every single year. The number is ballooning out of all proportion and there is very little research, debate or discussion in this Chamber about what is actually happening with children across the country. Most of the referrals were made by gardaí, social workers and teachers, but referrals were also made by probation officers, immigration officials, managers of direct provision centres, homeless accommodation staff and addiction counsellors. What will the Government do about this? What extra resources will be invested into Tusla to enable it to deal with this shocking increase in numbers? Will the Taoiseach meet foster carers, the residential care sector and EPIC to make sure there is proper investment in this area?
I wish to raise the issue of the need for a special school in Cork. Like many other public representatives in Cork, I welcomed the announcement in October, before the election, by the then Minister, Deputy Foley, that we would get a special school in Cork, albeit in an undisclosed location that was subject to negotiation. Fast forward five months and I know from talking to people on the ground that no progress has been made in acquiring a site for this building to open in September. No time is being allowed between now and then to refurbish the existing building. It cannot be delivered by next September. We gave people a commitment that a special school would open in September 2025 and I just cannot see at this point in time how it will be done. I ask that this matter be treated with urgency and that the Department of Education told to get its act together to source the building or the site and get on with delivering the special school.
I return to the issue of school-based therapies. I welcome that this will be rolled out in special schools in September. I would like to think these will be holistic therapies. Some families are worried they will just be school-based and it is vital that teachers, SNAs and parents are all made aware of what best practice is. At times, even technological back-up is absolutely vital and should not be left out. When do we move to school-based therapies being rolled out properly in the context of mainstream? I spoke about the October CDNT workforce report which stated there were nearly 530 whole-time equivalent CDNT positions unfilled last October. When will this report be published? Even allowing for having a plan and those spaces being filled, I would like to think this report could lay out what the actual need is.
Which report?
The CDNT workforce report that was carried out in October. I imagine that, within it, there is an audit of what the need is and whether filling all of those positions will be enough. If we cannot do it, even with the best will and planning in the world, through the CDNTs and primary care, school will be the only place for this issue to be sorted out. We need to deal with this as soon as possible.
I wish to return to the issue of the recruitment of special needs assistants raised with the Taoiseach by my colleague, Deputy Eoghan Kenny, earlier. Budget 2024 provided for an extra 1,216 SNAs in the current school year. Are all those SNAs in place? Will the increase of 1,600 SNAs announced in the budget for this year in fact take effect? We are all still hearing of children who have a place in a school but cannot get access to the additional support they need in class because not enough SNAs have been provided. Will the situation improve this coming September in that any child who needs access to an SNA will have one?
I wish to raise the issue of DEIS. The previous Government made huge inroads in modifying and overhauling DEIS but even more can be done. I will give an example of Shannon town in County Clare. There are five primary schools and two post-primary schools, all of which are within a few hundred yards of one another. Two of the schools have DEIS status but the rest do not. In a town such as Shannon, there is high level of transience, with many people renting. The most recent census, which gathered the data used by Pobal to classify DEIS schools, did not take account of the fact that there have been wars in Ukraine and Gaza, or of the transience of the rental market and the fluctuation in prices. There needs to be a better mechanism for assessing DEIS. It would be better to have an in-school census whereby a principal or board of management would file annually, or biannually perhaps, a profiling of their school in terms of socioeconomic deprivation, Travellers, children from other jurisdictions and children who have English as an additional language. I think there could be a better mechanism and ask that the Cabinet subcommittee would examine this. I congratulate the Leas-Cheann Comhairle on his election.
I know the issues of our children and young people and their education, special education and disability are of the utmost importance to the Taoiseach, as they are to me as a representative of the people of Meath West.
I look forward to that committee making progress. We need to keep moving forward on our policy, our legislation and our funding of these important areas. The situation is acute and urgent for some of our children. Every month that goes by reduces the chances of a positive outcome and can affect their qualify of life.
In Meath West there is a general lack of staff for the CDNTs that we have discussed today. The networks have had to turn away children and their families with challenging problems due to a lack of resources. I know of one child diagnosed with autism and ADHD at age four. Unfortunately, at age 11 he has not even been seen by the network yet. The only alternative is CAMHS, which generally does not see autistic children. As children like this approach puberty, all these challenges are amplified and become more profound and life-altering for them and their stressed-out, frustrated parents. We need to ensure the huge increases in funding allocated to health services are directed towards resourcing of networks like the CDNTs. This is the right thing to do to ensure CDNTs, CAMHS and general psychological services for young people are adequately resourced and equipped to support families in supporting their loved ones with difficulties.
I have met with special needs co-ordinators in Mayo and they have raised two serious issues with me. The first concerns students in mainstream classes with mild to moderate learning difficulties accessing the junior cycle level 2 learning programmes. These students required specialised special education needs teaching. However, the National Council for Special Education, under the auspices of the Department of Education, does not provide training in the level 2 learning programme to all mainstream teachers. Will the committee examine this?
Furthermore, the Department does not allocate specific teaching hours to school management to provide resources to enable these students to access their curriculum within the mainstream classes. These are and should be separate from or added to SEN hours under level 2 learning programme teaching. It is essential schools are allocated hours to provide specialised teaching for those accessing L2LP and L1LP within the mainstream classes. Will the Cabinet committee address those issues?
I raise the urgent need for a co-educational, non-denominational secondary school in Dublin 8. Dublin 8 is one of the fastest-growing areas in the country, with a young, diverse population. In fact, 62% of residents of Dublin 8 are not Catholic, yet almost all of the secondary schools in the area are Catholic and single sex. The Catholic Church has played an invaluable role in providing education in Dublin 8 for generations, particularly at times when no other options were available, and that contribution should always be recognised and respected. However, it is important we respect the wishes of parents today and many parents want a co-educational, non-denominational option for their children. At present, parents seeking an equality-based education are forced to leave the area despite clear population growth and a need for places. There is already an educate together primary school locally but no follow-on secondary school. Will the Government commit to providing a co-educational, non-denominational secondary school for Dublin 8 to reflect the community and ensure all families have real choice?
I raise the research published today or yesterday by the ESRI, which shows the crucial role of the school completion programme in supporting student attendance and engagement and highlights staffing and funding challenges. Among the major issues highlighted is the lack of referral pathways into therapies. Will that be looked at with a view to potentially delivering school-based therapies? Second, there is the issue of funding. They are not yet back at pre-2008 levels. This is a hugely important programme and service. How will Government invest in it?
I raise the issue of prefabs. Will they be discussed at the Cabinet committee? I have serious concerns about prefabs being used as long-term or even medium-term solutions for education provision. For example, in Gaelcholáiste Reachrann in my constituency pupils and teachers have been left sitting in prefabs for over 24 years. The new school has been at planning stage 3 for at least 12 months and there does not seem to be any progress. It is very frustrating. Belmayne educate together is a brand new school which has opened up down the road from it. The latter school started life in prefabs but has moved into its new school building, which is great. There is now a proposal to open a special school in the prefabs on that site. The educate together school has a plan to create a sensory garden, basketball court and running track where the prefabs are to be located, even though there is capacity within the school. The educate together school itself deals with special education also, so the whole thing seems to be counterintuitive and mixed up. The entire policy needs to be dealt with in a holistic rather than a piecemeal and reactive way. Will the Taoiseach commit to visiting the two schools in early course to see for himself the issues being dealt with by people?
I would like to ask about a slightly different matter, namely, childcare provision. There are huge difficulties in the area, as the Taoiseach knows, and services are struggling with staff attrition, burn-out, compliance and regulations, while dealing with the impact of the many pay freezes and the introduction of the new childcare programme that may reduce their capacity to serve children in the long run. Services are at risk of losing their reputations. They are cutting costs and staff and I often find when I deal with childcare services that they are afraid it is to the detriment of what they are there to do, which is to look after children to the best of their ability and make sure those children are educated, cared for and have a good time in childcare.
I welcome the establishment of the Cabinet committee. It will do important work and no doubt its work will complement that of the child poverty and well-being programme in the Department of the Taoiseach.
There has never been a greater awareness of the importance of well-being and wellness in enabling learning and educational progress. I have found in my professional experience that teachers are outstanding advocates for the well-being and welfare of children.
I would ask the Cabinet committee to prioritise the reduction in the pupil-teacher ratio. The programme for Government sets out to reduce the ratio from the current 21:1 to 19:1. That would have a significant impact on school life and enable teachers to place greater focus on the well-being of children, particularly in the younger age groups where teachers play an important role in assessing children's well-being, welfare and educational ability. It is important the committee would focus on that area.
I echo the sentiments of my colleague, Deputy Crowe, on the DEIS programme. I welcome the initiative of a DEIS+ programme but we need to look at the assessment of schools for inclusion in the existing programme.
There were quite a number of contributions there. Deputy Tóibín spoke first on the 70,000 referrals.
In the first nine months of last year.
In the first nine months of last year, and he is suggesting it will go to 94,000. That is an extraordinary number. I will have to drill down behind the numbers in terms of context and so on but it is very high. That is a broader societal issue as well and it shows Tusla has an enormous workload, to put it charitably. That is a huge impact. As the Deputy said, they are referred by a variety of professionals in the child welfare and childcare area, teachers, gardaí, probation officers and so on.
I do not know whether the foster care association has met with the Minister. I would give consideration to meeting with groups but would prefer if they met Ministers first to see if they can make progress. I am very mindful of the role of foster carers and the need to look after them and encourage more to participate in fostering children in need. I believe that is the most effective mechanism for children in need, on the front line of care or interacting with care agencies.
Deputy O'Sullivan raised a special school in Cork. I need the details of that. The most difficult thing for a school is acquiring a site.
It is easier said than done. Once you get the site, you can do an awful lot in terms of design. I will talk to the Deputy later, but we have to make efforts. I have seen schools turned around faster in the past.
This is an existing-----
That is what I am saying, but again I need to know the details of it. I will certainly see what I can do to progress it.
Deputy Ó Murchú asked about school-based and holistic therapies. The initial phase would be special schools and that will take some time. I am hoping we can get it started this year. Mainstream schools will be some time after that, but we will see what we can do. A lot will depend on the estimates, budgets, recruitment and so on. We will have to dramatically increase the number of therapists in our third-level colleges as well. This has to be something that is planned and programmed for the long haul.
On the CDNT workforce report, I need to see it published. I do not know where it is right now.
It was meant to happen in January.
The Deputy has mentioned it three times already, so I will find out where it is at.
Turning to Deputy Bacik, there has been a massive increase in the number of special needs assistants. I will follow through on the issues she has raised in terms of what has been provided.
I take Deputy Crowe's point on the census. I have seen this issue before in terms of how transience in rental accommodation can affect the demographic going into any school and it may not often be appreciated by the criteria. Let us be honest, the previous Minister increased DEIS hugely. You always have to target resources. If you get above a threshold then you are not targeting properly. The DEIS-plus will help us with some of the most difficult ones. There is an issue where some schools get designated and others in close proximity do not, but there are special issues the Deputy has mentioned that should be factored in like Ukraine, war or whatever.
Deputy Dempsey mentioned acute and urgent issues in terms of early intervention, CDNT issues and the need for increased funding. I acknowledge all the difficulties she outlined. They are true and we have significant issues there.
I will follow up Deputy Conway-Walsh's question about specific training at junior certificate level.
And the extra hours.
Yes, and schools’ allocations.
I will pursue Deputy Ardagh's question with the Minister seeing as she made a compelling case. If there is no second-level coeducational non-denominational school in Dublin 8, there should be. As she said, there is now a primary school so there is a feeder school for such a school. We should try to progress that. It is no different to Deputy O'Sullivan's point in that you need a site and some plan for it, or for some existing school to change over to a co-educational, non-denominational school.
Deputy O'Rourke asked about the school completion programme and the lack of referral pathways. I would like if that were wholly brought back within education. I pushed for that policy at the start of the previous Government. I established the embryonic form of school completion almost 20 years ago. It would be better if the entirety of that programme were in the Department of Education so all those issues can be dealt with.
Deputy Brabazon's issue was about prefabs. Some of my most enjoyable years were in prefabs, but I do not know it that was good or bad for my education. The Deputy's point is well made, however. It is frustrating for a new school building with plans for a sensory garden for prefabs to suddenly land. That is not what it is about. Prefabs are not meant to be long-term or short-term solutions anymore. If the Deputy brings the case to me, I will see if we can get some movement on it.
Deputy McGreehan raised the issue of childcare provision staff struggling. We have increased spending enormously in this area. The smaller providers are saying they have suffered a bit, particularly with the fees freeze and then the pressures on them in conforming. I will ask the Minister to engage with her on that specific issue. I take her point that some are saying they are cutting staff and cutting costs.
I could not agree more with Deputy John Connolly that teachers are in many cases advocates for well-being and wellness. He has experience of that. The programme for Government commits to the reduction of the pupil-teacher ratio. It is to be hoped we can pursue that, as we have done in recent years. It is now at historically low levels. We will continue to try to do that, because that will give great opportunities for teachers to engage with pupils specifically on the issues of wellness and the well-being of each individual pupil within the classroom.