School Gas Disconnection Threat, €33K Arrears; Special Needs Places Up Since 2020

A utility provider sought to disconnect gas supply to a school with €33,000 in arrears, Fianna Fáil TD Paul McAuliffe told the Dáil Public Accounts Committee (Pac). McAuliffe highlighted issues in Deis areas regarding capitation, stating budgets are insufficient. Fine Gael TD Grace Boland noted principals and teachers sometimes clean schools due to poor infrastructure.

Department of Education secretary general Bernie McNally stated parents do not need legal action to secure special needs places, citing increased resources: twice the special classes since 2020, now 31,000 places, 20 more special schools, and 50 more special education needs organisers in the National Council for Special Education (NCSE). McNally urged parents needing specialist places to contact the NCSE.

McNally acknowledged a "significant amount of money" for this year's spending deficit, declining to give a specific figure to Fianna Fáil's Albert Dolan, but noted Minister for Education Hildegarde Naughton stated the overrun would be "north of €500 million" due to demographic growth. There are 38,000 more students than in 2020, and 200,000 more than in 2003.

McNally understood the €19 million for special needs assistants would be additional funding, pending Government and Oireachtas approval. She assured no school would have special needs assistants transferred.