Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate – Dáil Éireann (34th Dáil) – Thursday, 24 Sep 2026

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate

Financial Services

Deputy Emer Currie

I welcome the Tánaiste’s initiative to introduce personal investment accounts. I am on the record of the House saying that quite a bit. It is great. This can play an important role in encouraging more people to move from traditional savings into long-term investment and to build wealth over time. Irish households are strong savers and giving people greater choice and a straightforward framework for investing is welcome. As we create a new framework for future investors, however, we also need to address the problems faced by people who have already invested. That brings me to deemed disposal.

I have consistently called for the abolition of the deemed disposal rule on exchange-traded funds, ETFs, and other investment products, subject to investment undertaking tax. The issue here is not simply the rate of tax, the investment undertaking, IUT, rate is an issue and there is a case for looking at it. However, even if it were reduced, deemed disposal would remain a fundamental problem because it interrupts the benefits of compounding. Long-term investment works because returns can be invested and generate further returns over time.

Under deemed disposal, an investor can be required to pay tax on a gain that has never been realised. They may have to sell part of their investment or find cash from elsewhere simply to meet a tax liability. That means money which could otherwise remain invested and compound over decades is taken out of the investment. This matters in particular for ordinary retail investors. I have had so many people approach me and talk to me about this since I started to raise it. I have been surprised at the response I have got since first bringing it up. People in their 20s and upwards -people of all ages - from all areas of my constituency at different points in their lives and careers all see the opportunity in ETFs as a way to get ahead in life but they also see the unfairness of a tax that penalises potential and unrealised gains. Many are young people building savings towards a first home or people that are building up for retirement. Others have invested an inheritance, redundancy payment or a lump sum. They are investing for the long term, not necessarily looking to realise gains every few years.

Budget 2027 could be a landmark moment when the Government abolishes deemed disposal on ETFs and other investment products subject to investment undertaking tax, IUT. I understand what is happening at the moment and that there are budgetary demands, especially within a planned tax package of €1.5 billion. The Department of Finance has advised in replies to parliamentary questions I have tabled that IUT receipts account for less than 30% of the combined receipts from taxes subject to deemed disposal, and that makes IUT a practical place to begin, at a potential cost of less than €40 million. Those are my figures based on replies to parliamentary questions. For reference, that is double the cost of reducing the exit tax by 3%, as it was in the last budget.

The abolition of deemed disposal could then be extended to life assurance products in subsequent budgets. The introduction of personal investment accounts gives us an opportunity to create a better framework for long-term retail investment but that framework must work for those who have already invested as well as those who will invest in the future. This would ensure existing investors would not be left behind.

Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration (Deputy Colm Brophy)

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. I am replying to her today on behalf of the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance.

The deemed disposal rule was introduced in 2006 as an anti-avoidance measure. It applies to investment undertaking tax, life assurance exit tax and equivalent taxes in the self-assessed space applying to investment through certain kinds of funds and life assurance policies. Exchange-traded funds or ETFs are among a range of investments to which the rule applies. It was introduced because a pattern was observed at that time of products being structured so that tax could potentially be indefinitely deferred, which was contrary to the spirit of the gross roll-up tax regime introduced in 2000.

Under the deemed disposal rule, tax is levied eight years after the original investment is made, and every subsequent eight years thereafter. It is charged at the general tax rate for such investments, on any gain in the value of the investment from the date of acquisition or the last deemed disposal. The tax paid under the deemed disposal rule is effectively a prepayment of tax rather than an additional charge to tax, and is allowed as a credit against the tax due on a subsequent chargeable event, with any excess paid being refundable. Like any other aspect of the tax system, the deemed disposal rule is kept under review and may be subject to policy change. Just because a measure was introduced in response to relevant concerns at the time does not mean it should not be reconsidered in the current context.

The Tánaiste has been very clear that more should be done to encourage and support people in Ireland to put their money to work through investing in capital markets. That is why, at the first annual savings and investment forum in March, he announced his intention to introduce a new investment account, similar to the savings and investment account models operating in other jurisdictions but designed to meet Ireland's specific needs in terms of encouraging retail investment. It aims to reduce the complexities related to retail investment taxation and allow retail investors to grow their savings more efficiently.

Importantly, one of the key guiding principles underlying the design of the account is a focus on encouraging new retail investors, rather than directing investment into any particular sector or product. The new account aims to reduce the complexities related to retail investment taxation and allow retail investors to grow their savings more efficiently. A lifetime tax-free threshold will apply to the account. Where the value is above the threshold, a low rate of tax will apply to the excess value of the account. An annual limit will apply to the maximum amount that can be contributed to the account.

Existing regimes in place for taxation of retail investment, including the deemed disposal rule, will not apply to the new account. All tax reporting, tax administration and payment of any tax due to Revenue will be managed by the provider, thereby removing the requirement for the individual investor to calculate or return any tax due.

The Tánaiste believes that the introduction of this account will be a key step in supporting Irish people to put their money to work. However, as stated, that does not mean that the broader tax regime for retail investment is not subject to review and potential change over the coming years.

Deputy Emer Currie

I thank the Minister of State for the reply. I very much welcome the statements by the Tánaiste and the work that has taken place on personal investment accounts. It is a world of opportunity for us. It is a very positive move in terms of maximising the savings that are being put away and could be working harder for everyone.

I also welcome the work that is being done around financial literacy and making investments more accessible for people. Like I said, this was an eye-opener for me. Since I spoke about ETFs and the deemed disposal rule I have met many people on their doorsteps who are concerned about this issue. It has certainly opened up my eyes to how much focus there can be on this area.

When I see issues, I come up with solutions and I try to be practical. I suggest the figures today as a stepping stone towards the abolition of the deemed disposal rule. It might be something that the Department of Finance could look at. I look forward to the budget.

Deputy Colm Brophy

I know from everything she has done in political life that Deputy Currie is definitely a person who looks for solutions. She looks at issues and asks how we can find a solution. The focus of the Tánaiste on the new investment account is very clear and has been outlined. However, he and the Government are well aware of the frustration many investors feel with the deemed disposal rule, as Deputy Currie has highlighted. The introduction of the account does not mean that the broader tax regime for retail investment I mentioned earlier is not subject to review. In that regard, I highlight the recommendation of the funds review published by the Department of Finance in 2024, which, while recommending the removal of the deemed disposal rule also states that the addition of guardrails to protect the Exchequer would be required.

In tandem with this, officials in the Department of Finance continue to analyse how the tax regime for retail investment can be reformed in ways that support investment while balancing this objective with the need to protect public finances. Any future decisions will need to take into account the cost to the Exchequer of changes in a particular year.

Special Educational Needs

Deputy Jennifer Whitmore

I want to raise with the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Moynihan, Kilcoole Primary School in County Wicklow. Kilcoole Primary School covers two schools that have amalgamated, St. Anthony's and St. Brigid's. It was a really good news story. It got approval for a new build and an extension for the new school. The entire community was very excited about it. It is a really positive story. I was there on the day the then Taoiseach turned the sod. He spoke about how important this new facility would be for the children of Kilcoole. He also said at that stage that it would include special educational needs classrooms. It has since transpired that, despite a new building being built on one site and an extension being built on the other site, there is no permanent SEN classes being provided as no classrooms were included in the design, which is an incredible oversight, seeing as SEN classes have been requested by the Department over many years. There is an obvious need in the area.

Building is happening at the moment with no SEN classes included. The Department has told the school that there will be four prefabs put on the grounds for children with special education needs. That is hugely disappointing. The Minister of State has done a lot of work in this area but children with special education needs should never feel like an afterthought. They should never feel second to everybody else in the school. There will be this fantastic new building that all of the primary school children will be able to enjoy, but then there will be a number of classrooms out the back for children with special education needs. I do not know if this was an oversight - I hope it was - but there is still an opportunity to get this right and include those children in this fantastic new build. The design team could incorporate permanent classrooms into the new build that is happening at the moment rather than sticking children out the back in prefabs or modular units. That is just not fair and it does not spell inclusion. I am really hoping that the Minister of State has some positive news for me on this because anyone looking at this objectively would think it is wrong.

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Youth (Deputy Michael Moynihan)

I thank the Deputy for the Topical Issue. The Government is committed to the provision of specialised education for children with special educational needs. In the early part of budget 2026, we have already provided funding for over 400 new special classes and at least 400 new special school places for the 2026-27 school year. It was intended that this would create almost 3,000 new special education placements for September 2026. This would be in addition to placements created due to the natural movement of students, such as those transitioning from primary to post-primary or completing school. In April 2026, the Government agreed to additional funding for the provision of specialised education services for children across the country. This money is funding special education teachers, additional special needs assistants, SNAs, increased capitation, access to specialised school transport and start-up grants for schools opening new special classes and inclusive special classes.

The year 2026 represents the largest ever expansion of specialised education provision in the history of the State. Through the combined efforts of the Department and the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, 587 new special classes have been sanctioned for the 2026-27 school year, including 70 inclusive special classes. This represents an increase of over 40% in the number of special classes being provided in 2026 compared to 2025. In total, there will be over 4,300 special classes operating in mainstream schools next year.

In County Wicklow, 148 special classes are now in operation, providing capacity for 888 students. This includes 16 new special classes for the 2026-27 school year. In April, the Minister, Deputy Naughton, and I announced the establishment of four new special schools for the 2026-27 school year, including in Bray. Dedicated working groups including the Department, the NCSE and the relevant patron body continue to meet to support the establishment of these new special schools. Offers of placements have been made, new principals, teachers and SNAs are being recruited and it is intended that these new schools will open later in term 1 of this school year. The NCSE continues to advise parents at local level on developments. My Department is currently funding a large scale major project for Kilcoole Primary School. The Department has requested the current design team to master plan for future provision of specialised classes. Modular accommodation is one of the Department’s delivery streams for provision of permanent accommodation at schools. Having assessed the position regarding additional capacity for special classes, the Department has determined that modular accommodation represents the most cost-effective method for provision of additional permanent accommodation at Kilcoole Primary School.

Modular expenditure is an investment in permanent accommodation in the same way as any other traditional form of construction. In the majority of cases, it is providing a permanent solution to accommodation requirements; it is not temporary accommodation. Modular accommodation is well suited to the school context. Off-site construction minimises disruption in the live school environment while factory precision and strict quality control deliver robust, low-maintenance buildings. Today's modular buildings represent a major advancement from earlier prefabricated forms and since December 2018, all new builds, including modular, must meet the near-zero energy building standard, ensuring high energy efficiency and sustainability.

Deputy Jennifer Whitmore

I thank the Minister of State. I have seen some fantastic modular buildings but what they are not is the same as the permanent traditional building. The children who will be in those classrooms will know that they are in a different type of build. Those modular buildings will not look like the traditional build and the existing school and they will not feel like it. Those children will feel different. That should not be acceptable to the Minister of State with responsibility for special education. When the Tánaiste, Simon Harris, was Taoiseach and announced this school, he said there would be special education classes in the school. Why were they not included in the design? They should have been. The Government did not do it then but it now has an opportunity to ensure the design includes additional classrooms for those children.

It is not acceptable to make them feel separate to the main class and the main school building. It just is not okay. It may be more cost effective and I have asked the Minister of State's Department for the information as to how much it would cost to modify the current build versus how much these modular buildings will cost. These modular buildings are expensive as well, so I would appreciate if the Minister of State could send me those figures. If the Department is saying it is more cost effective, it would be interesting to know by how much. It is not just about cost, though. It is about including these children so they feel the exact same as their classmates who are in the brand new building.

Deputy Michael Moynihan

I take the Deputy's point and I can get the figures for her. In the provision of specialised education, we want to ensure that in special classes that are associated with mainstream schools, inclusivity is one of the major key pieces in it. In the ramping up of the provision and the capacity across the country, I have been at many schools and seen the work that has happened over the past while. We have made a very serious commitment and in terms of any new build that is going on, both at primary and post-primary levels, the first criteria that we reach out for is what is the provision for specialised education in all of that programme. Capital investment has to have provision at mainstream level, both for primary and post-primary schools.

The school leadership brought the school through the amalgamation process and has an exceptional team working there. I take the Deputy's point about buildings but it is also about ensuring every child feels welcome. I know that is the case in this school. In all schools across the country, it is important that it is not just about buildings, be they brick and mortar or modular, and that inclusivity means every child with special education needs feels and is included in the school, insofar as possible. I have no doubt that that will be the case.

On the question the Deputy asked about the financing, because we have provided so much funding this year, last year and again next year, we have to make sure we have provision for specialised education right across the country. I will get the figures the Deputy asked for.

Special Educational Needs

Deputy Shane Moynihan

Today, I speak to the Minister of State about the need for expansion and reform of our approach to dyslexia, dyspraxia, apraxia of speech and the other associated difficulties around literacy for children in our schools in particular. As the Minister of State knows and as I have discussed with him on many occasions, this is something that is very important to me but also something that affects 10% of our population, which is the percentage perceived to have dyslexia, notwithstanding the other difficulties with dyspraxia and apraxia of speech as well.

Ultimately, access to the curriculum, participation in school and participation in the school community that the Minister of State referred to in the previous answer is all predicated on being able to read, write and use the tools that are provided in our schools.

The Minister of State and I have met many groups from up and down my constituency and further afield where they point to the how the purpose of this area of policy and our approach to policy not only need review, but reform. The international evidence shows that there is no substitute for a systematic, highly focused, outcome-focused intervention over a number of years in a separate setting to assist those with dyslexia and ensure they are not locked out of the curriculum. We have made huge strides in this country and the Minister of State has been the reason for a large part of that in rolling out the number of special classes we have available for students with autism. What I am proposing today is that we now look at that same model for how we approach allowing people to participate fully in the curriculum and take account of their speech and language difficulties. I appreciate the investment there has been in special education teaching over the last number of years and also the efforts that individual schools have made to assist those with dyslexia in their school populations, but there is massive variation across schools. There is massive variability in how this is interpreted and we need a cohesive and standardised approach, similar to what we have done for children with autism.

The fact that brings this into focus for me is that if we look at the populations in our prisons and at our populations who are at risk and are marginal, the prevalence of dyslexia, dyspraxia and apraxia of speech among is particularly high. That in and of itself tells me a story. The people who feel they have been locked out of the curriculum feel like they have been locked out of society as well. The evidence points to a very effective solution here, which is that systematic, outcome-focused approach through a reading class or a reading school, which have been shown to be extremely successful in this country.

All I am asking today is that we consider reform of this entire area, that we would look at the experience of groups like Finding Charlie's Voice, and Crack the Code, which have taken a very proactive and evidence-based approach to identifying what we need to do in this area to avoid the variation across schools. I am not casting aspersions on the work that teachers do because there are very committed teachers in this space. It is about making sure we have a time-limited outcome and that, after this intervention to assist those with dyslexia takes place, they are able to go on, participate in the mainstream curriculum and achieve their potential. That is the ask I am putting to the Minister of State today.

Reading classes are not the only part of that toolbox. There is also the question of ensuring that initial teacher training at our teacher training colleges provides teachers with the tools to quickly screen and identify dyslexia, dyspraxia and apraxia of speech so that they know how to signpost to the particular services that are needed, and to make it easy for principals and special education teachers to refer those children who need help to reading classes. The first step here is for us to think about how we approach dyslexia in our schools and how we learn from what we have done successfully in the field of autism and apply that same model to the field of dyslexia.

Deputy Michael Moynihan

I thank the Deputy for the question. We have discussed this issue and he has raised it a number of times with me. I have met a number of stakeholders to discuss how our schools support children with dyslexia, including experts in the field, teachers, parents and advocacy groups, such as the likes of Dyslexia Ireland and the Crack the Code group, which I met with Deputy Moynihan before the summer. As he knows, the majority of students with literacy difficulties currently receive additional teaching supports from a specialised education teacher in mainstream classrooms. The Department of Education and Youth has invested considerably in this space, with 15,200 special education teachers allocated to primary and post-primary schools to enable them to support children with additional needs, including students with literacy difficulties. Funding is also made available to schools for the purchase of specialised equipment such as computers or software to assist children where relevant professionals recommend the equipment as being essential for the provision of education. In addition, there are four schools dedicated to supporting students with specific learning disabilities, SLDs. There are also 14 SLD classes in 11 mainstream primary schools located across the country, in counties Dublin, Clare, Louth, Galway, Kerry and Wexford. As the Deputy knows, these settings have a student-teacher ratio of 1:9 and are attended by students normally aged between the ages of eight and 12 years for a maximum of two years. Students will also have a diagnosis of dyslexia and a score at the 2% percentile, or lower, on literacy standardised tests. They will also have an average or above average level of intelligence. In addition, the National Educational Psychological Service, NEPS, offers a national programme of support, which includes national webinars that have been consistently highly attended. All of these supports are important and do support children with dyslexia.

From what I am told by front-line staff, however, is that in some instances further supports are required. Specialised education teachers are an important part of the network of supports but, equally, will not be the solution in all cases. This is something of which I am very much aware and needs to be carefully considered by me as Minister of State with responsibility for special education. What I am clear on at this stage is how we support children with dyslexia and additional literacy needs is an area in which we need to see reform. We cannot continue with the status quo and there needs to be a change. I have discussed this issue with the inspectorate and will be engaging with it further, as well as with officials in my Department and, indeed, with several organisations and advocacy groups. We must all work collectively to ensure we have the best policy in place so that the outcomes for children are the best they can be.

Deputy Shane Moynihan

I particularly thank the Minister for State for his acknowledgement of the need for reform in this area. That is a very welcome statement by him because I know of his personal interest in this matter and his personal commitment to the whole area of special education. I emphasise again that I am not doing down the amazing work that is done by front-line staff in our area but it is about making sure that the full gamut of tools is available to all those who are in area of dyslexia and assisting those with dyslexia. When I think of children who have severe dyslexia and the effective models the Minister of State has outlined in his reply around the reading schools and reading classes we have in place, we have a model in a box that we could roll out to other schools around the country. I know from having spoken to principals and teachers in my constituency that there is a willingness and an appetite to see these in place. They are little different from autism spectrum disorder, ASD, classes, in that it is a two-year programme of support that unlocks so much for the children who require this care. There is a willingness to learn about the approaches that are taken by groups like Crack the Code to the use of structural literacy to ensure our teacher training programmes reflect the need to make sure teachers feel equipped to identify dyslexia very early on, as well as by groups like Finding Charlie's Voice, which speaks about the co-occurrence of conditions such as autism, dyspraxia and dyslexia, to make sure our reading classes and the approach we take ensure that those with speech, communication and language difficulties are able to fully participate in the curriculum. The Minister of State quite rightly stated that inclusivity needed to be at the heart of our education system. Reading classes are a key way to enable that inclusivity because they provide tailored and strong support and allow those children to participate in mainstream education.

I look forward to working with the Minister of State on this. I thank him for his support on it, for meeting the various groups, and for his willingness to look at the reform that is needed to move forward.

Deputy Michael Moynihan

I thank the Deputy for giving me the opportunity to reassure the House that the Department of Education and Youth and the NCSE are committed to ensuring that all children can access an education suitable to their needs. The Department continues to engage intensely with the NCSE in relation to forward planning for new special provision to ensure every child has a place in an educational setting best fitted to their educational need.

No policy position can be static and needs to evolve alongside the student population and the needs presenting. If we look back since the foundation of the State, education has constantly being evolving. There have been major movements along the way but it has constantly been evolving, as it has the world over as well. As mentioned, how we support children with dyslexia and additional literacy needs is an area that needs reform and I am engaging with officials on what this reform looks like. I will be advancing this as quickly as possible. I am also working on a new measure that will see the provision of enhanced supports in mainstream schools for students experiencing literacy difficulties. I hope over the next while that we will be able to update the House accordingly.

I thank the Deputy for his commitment to this matter and for the meetings he has had with the various advocacy groups. I take very seriously the concerns they have - not just his groups', but also the concerns of others we have met across the country, along with other parents and school authorities - in relation to dyslexia and how we need to look at it into the future.

We are looking at reform and how best we can meet the needs because every cent that is spent on special education will have enormous benefit for the child, their families and the State.

Special Educational Needs

Deputy Mark Wall

I welcome the Minister of State to the House today and for giving me an opportunity to discuss with him the urgent need for additional special school places in my area of Kildare South.

Over the past number of years, particularly since I have been in both Houses, I have been raising the urgent issue of special school places in Kildare South. We were previously given a commitment that we would have a special school in Kildare South. Unfortunately, as I have said many times in this House and the Upper House, that school turned out to be located in Craddockstown in Naas, which is in north Kildare. However, it is a very good school. It is operating well but it is completely full, and it causes problems for all of those people who are seeking a special school place for their child.

Another school that we have in our area, and I am looking forward to the Minister of State providing an update on it, is St. Anne's Special School in the Curragh, which is waiting ten years for a new school build. I raised this with the Taoiseach a number of months ago and we are waiting for word on when that great school on the Curragh will see the new build that has been promised for so long and is so needed with so many children now working from prefabs and not getting to use the playgrounds, etc., the school could offer.

However, I want to concentrate today on the new school located in Monasterevin in County Kildare. I want to again put on the record my thanks to the Government and everybody who was involved in getting this school in Ros Glas in Monasterevin because it was badly needed. As I said, I have been saying this for such a long time in this House but, unfortunately, the 18 places available in Ros Glas school have now been totally oversubscribed. We have three different classes there: ages four to eight, nine to 13 and 14 to 18.

In particular, it seems from talking to the Kildare Wicklow Education Training Board, KWETB, it is the nine to 13 class that is oversubscribed the most. It is because pupils are coming from primary school settings into a secondary school setting. There was so much hope that the particular new school in Ros Glas was going to be location for their children but over the past four to five days parents have been receiving letters informing them that their child did not get a place.

I want to read the Minister of State one of those letters. I know that I have been in contact with him in relation to a number of children but this is from a parent, Edel Murray, who is fighting for a place for her son, Jack. Edel recently shared an open letter to the Minister of State, the Government and to all the public representatives in Kildare South.

Jack is an incredible boy with autism and a moderate intellectual disability. He is so much more than a diagnosis. He is our son, and he deserves the opportunity to learn, grow, build friendships, develop independence, and reach his full potential. But right now, Jack is at home, not because he does not need or deserve school, but because we have been unable to secure him a suitable special school placement.

[...]

Despite our efforts, Jack has been refused a place at every school. We live just 1.3 km from St. Anne's, [the school that I mentioned to the Minister of State before] yet there are no spaces available. This morning, we received a refusal from Ros Glas, our last remaining hope.

We cannot put into words the heartbreak and helplessness we feel. How do you explain to your child that there is no school place for him when all he needs is the opportunity to learn and grow?

As the Minister of State is probably aware, I have spoken to a number of parents, including the parents of Caden and Rhys. I could name so many more. The hope that was there that Ros Glas was going to give them that school place how gone. They will of course appeal to that school for a place but speaking to the KWETB, the hope is very much limited because the places are not there. I ask the Minister of State to maybe give some good news to those parents who have multiple needs and unfortunately do not have a school place for their loved one.

Deputy Michael Moynihan

I thank Deputy Wall for the question. The Government is very committed to the provision of specialised education. In the budget of 2026, this time last year, we committed to over 400 new special classes and over 400 new special school places. In April, we agreed additional funding to have more funding in place for more special classes and special school places as well.

The year 2026 represents the largest ever expansion of specialist educational provision in the history of the State. Through the combined efforts of the Department and the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, 587 new special classes have been sanctioned for the 2026-2027 school year, including 70 inclusive special classes. This represents an increase of over 40% in the number of special classes being provided in 2026 compared to 2025. Between 1 September 2025 and 1 September 2026, nine new special schools opened and there are almost 1,000 extra special classes. In total, there will be over 4,300 special classes operating in mainstream schools next year, an increase of 130% since 2020.

In Kildare, 180 special classes are now in operation providing capacity for 1,080 students. This includes 33 new special classes for the 2026-2027 school year. In April of this year, the Minister, Deputy Naughton, and I announced the establishment of four new special schools for this year, including Monasterevin, to which the Deputy alluded. This brings to 20 the number of new special schools established in recent years.

Dedicated working groups in the Department, the NCSE and the relevant patron bodies continue to meet and to support the establishment of the new special schools. On that point, I thank the ETBs and the patron bodies that have opened those special schools and continue to work very closely with us on the new special schools. We are desperately committed. When a new special school opens, there is a huge new skillset needed and we are desperately committed to ensuring that back-up service is there through the ETBs, our Department and the patron bodies.

Offers of places have been recently made while new principals, teachers and SNAs have been recruited. It is intended that these new schools will open in term 1 of this school year. The NCSE continues to advise parents at a local level on developments, and to support children with contingency arrangements.

The Deputy raised the issue in terms of a specific child and, while I am reluctant to speak about a specific child on the floor of the Dáil, I do take it very seriously. I know that offers were in place and that the Department and the NCSE are working very closely with a small number of children. I have reached out to some of those parents over the past day or two to get a sense of where they are at and to understand their need.

On the 18 places in the three classes in Monasterevin, we are building up the skillset for special school places to open and to build up over the next number of years. That is very much in-built in our policy. It offers us the opportunity to get the skillset but I take the point the Deputy raised in relation to one or more of his constituents and their children. I understand the challenges there and the very serious stress it is causing them. We are working day in, day out to make sure we are meeting that need. The Department and the NCSE will continue to do that in the time ahead.

Deputy Mark Wall

I thank the Minister of State. I have no doubt of his commitment to helping the families because when I contact him, he always comes back to me. That is a sign of his commitment to the families that I and everybody in this House represent. The problem I have is that I have been told by the KWETB that, particularly in the 12 to 13 age bracket, these families could be waiting a very long time to get a special school place because the demand is so high. As I have said, this is a demand that I have highlighted in the Upper House and in this House for the past six years. That is why we were so enraged when the first school was put in Craddockstown. It is a wonderful school but now that we have a school in south Kildare, I ask the Minister of State to look at particular age bracket because that seems to be the biggest issue in relation to the school. I do not know how to advise the parents who have come to me, and I could name an awful lot more.

When the Minister of State talks about the contingency arrangements the NCSE is talking about, it is home schooling, and he knows that. That is what it has said to the parents when they contacted it. It has said it will provide home schooling for them. That means the children who have come so far over the past number of years in some primary settings have no hope because they are going back into a home school setting and those friendships and relationships they have developed, that social inclusion, is gone.

That is hugely distressing for their families. Maybe we could look at the contingency arrangements again. Maybe we could go back to parents and say that we are going to do more. Again, I do not doubt the Minister of State's bona fides on this because he has been very helpful to me with every case I have raised. However, I cannot go back to the parents of those pupils in south Kildare and tell them there is no hope, that there are no classrooms coming up for a number of years. That particular age bracket is full and there is no hope of anything coming but I ask again, can we just look at that age bracket, while we are looking in general?

Deputy Michael Moynihan

I thank the Deputy for his kind comments. We do not turn water into wine every time but we do certainly try to help and assist in any way we can. I accept the Deputy's comments on this. We started out this time last year, just after 1 October, with a huge number of students, at primary and post-primary and in special schools, looking for places. We have, through the massive work that continued throughout the year in the Department of education and the NCSE, brought that down to a very small cohort of children, although any one person is one too many. We are working on this. We have sight of it. We meet weekly. We chair a meeting in the Department with the NCSE on a weekly basis to make sure that we have sight of what is happening and the movement over the last number of weeks has been quite considerable.

I take the point that the Deputy makes in terms of the middle group. If one looks at the provision of specialised education, at primary school we have advanced and invested a huge amount into special classes. I would like to thank all of the school communities, patron bodies and everybody involved in that but we have a lot of work to do to make sure we have corresponding provision at post-primary. Going back 20 or 25 years ago, international policy was not about building special schools. It was seen as negative and the commentary was that it should not been done but we have really ramped up the provision of specialised school places and will continue to do so, year in and year out, over the next number of years because we want to ensure that children who have complex needs and educational requirements that are best suited to special schools have places.

I do not want to go into the specifics that the Deputy has raised but I am certainly aware of them. I will be working to try to find solutions for every family over the next number of weeks.

Rail Network

Deputy Malcolm Byrne

Once again I am raising the question of the continually poor service on the Dublin to Rosslare rail line. In terms of Topical Issues, Commencement Matters and parliamentary questions over the last six or seven years, I do not know how many times I have raised this issue. I appreciate that the Minister of State, Deputy Brophy, is taking this on behalf of the Department of Transport.

The rail line between Westland Row, which is now Pearse Street, and Dún Laoghaire is the oldest railway line in Ireland. In fact, it was the first commuter rail line in the world, built in 1834. I would argue, if we could transport ourselves back there, that there was a greater commitment to commuters using the line at that time. After its construction in 1834, over the next three decades it expanded all the way down along the coast to Rosslare. We are in a situation now where, in my constituency, if one gets on a train in Rathdrum, Arklow or Gorey, there are only six trains per day on weekdays between those stations and Dublin. Equidistant, if we look at somewhere like Carlow, there are 11 trains a day. If one is coming from Drogheda or Dundalk, there are 16 trains per day, with plans to expand that, and if one is coming from Portlaoise, which is also equidistant, there are 32 trains every day. However, the issue is not just the number of services. From my home town of Gorey to Connolly Station in Dublin city centre is about 90 km. It takes two hours by train to travel those 90 km. To travel the 182 km from Dublin to Belfast takes roughly the same length of time. If one wants to travel from Dublin to Cork, it is approximately 266 km which takes between two and a half and two and three quarter hours.

This summer the situation got worse. The trains were breaking down. The air conditioning failed on the train on a number of occasions and Iarnród Éireann had to distribute bottles of water to consumers. If there was an alternative, in terms of the N11, that would be fine but the N11 is frequently blocked, with major tailbacks. I cannot see any commitment on the part of Iarnród Éireann to the services in my constituency and right down along the Rosslare rail line. There is talk about battery-powered trains and running more regular trains, while forcing people, potentially, to have to change trains in Wicklow, but there is no guarantee of extra services. In response to all of the questions I have asked, there is no guarantee of improvement of the quality of the trains. New trains were put on the track a number of years ago but were subsequently withdrawn. Essentially, the worst trains in Iarnród Éireann's stock continue to be offered on the Rosslare rail line. I am not satisfied that every time I submit a parliamentary question, the Minister will refer it on and say the operational details are a matter for Iarnród Éireann. It is simply not good enough for the commuting population down along the east coast.

There is a number of potential solutions, including the introduction of overtaking loops on what is a single track and closing a number of the level crossings, of which there are six on the way into Dublin. This would allow the trains to move more quickly or to overtake the DARTs. We are spending €3 million per year on protecting the railway line from coastal erosion. Would it not make more sense to look at moving the track further inland to protect it into the long term? What really annoys commuters is that we are talking about a doubling of the railway track from Dublin to Belfast, from two to four tracks. I totally support that but why can we not, at the very least, see a doubling of the number of tracks on the Dublin to Rosslare line from one to two?

Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration (Deputy Colm Brophy)

I thank Deputy Byrne, on behalf of the Minister for Transport, for the opportunity to address this issue in the House today. Improving public transport services and infrastructure is central to improving citizens' quality of life and addressing our climate action challenge, and this Government is committed to a fundamental change in the nature of transport in Ireland. In relation to the Deputy’s query on enhancing capacity on the network, in particularly in relation to improvements to capacity to the south of Wicklow town, I note that Iarnród Eireann’s rolling stock is currently fully deployed in service across the network. Notwithstanding this, I am pleased to note that as part of the DART+ programme, three orders delivering a total of 285 new carriages have been placed so far. When the first and second orders start entering service in 2027 and 2028, respectively, this will allow the redeployment of existing Intercity and commuter trains to other parts of the rail network experiencing capacity issues, including potentially on the Rosslare line. As this fleet enters operation, DART services will also be extended south of Wicklow town, a development which is targeted for 2029. The redeployment of rolling stock is an operational matter for Iarnród Eireann and the National Transport Authority, NTA, which will be decided on following the entry into service of the new DART fleet.

The all-island strategic rail review, which was published in July 2024, also considered the issue of enhancing services on the Rosslare line. The review considered options to enable faster and more frequent journeys between Rosslare Europort and Dublin, including adding passing loops, tunnelling through Bray Head, developing a new railway along the M11 corridor, and developing a new line for DART services along the N11 corridor. Many of these solutions would be very costly and the review concluded that they would not be justifiable on socioeconomic or cost-benefit grounds, as the east coast rail line would not be expected to support more than one or two trains per hour in each direction. The review proposes that the best way forward for boosting connectivity in the south east in the shorter term is to introduce an hourly shuttle service between Wexford and Greystones, meeting seamlessly with DART services, bringing passengers into and out of the centre of Dublin city. This would be an operational decision and would need to be put in place following infrastructure upgrades planned under the DART+ programme.

On behalf of the Minister for Transport, I again thank the Deputy for raising this important matter.

Deputy Malcolm Byrne

I thank the Minister of State for the reply. I appreciate that he is taking the matter on behalf of the Minister but there is not an awful lot that is new in what he said. Essentially, the response with regard to new carriages is that when we put new carriages on some of the other lines, the hand-me-downs may be passed on to the Rosslare rail line. In the response, there are no plans for improvement with regard to the N11. There are already serious difficulties with traffic jams on the N11. In fact, people will recall that during Storm Chandra at the start of this year when the N11 had to close at Kilmacanogue, it caused chaos.

I am not seeing any real commitment in the Minister of State's response to the travelling public from counties Wicklow and Wexford. CSO statistics show that approximately 6,500 people travel from the Wicklow-Wexford area, primarily to the southside of Dublin and mostly for the purposes of work, but also to go to college, attend hospital appointments and so on. Unfortunately, the message I am reading in the reply is that the Government does not intend to do anything for those people in the next few years. There has been talk for a long time of extending the DART line to Wicklow. However, that will not be much comfort to my constituents who will have to change trains at Wicklow station on a cold, wet morning to get to the city. In particular, due consideration has not been given to those with mobility difficulties.

I would be grateful if the Minister of State would convey my concerns to the Minister.

Deputy Colm Brophy

I will, of course, relate the Deputy's concerns to the Minister. I take on board what he is saying. Investment in transport is key to what the Government is doing. We want to realise our commitment in that regard. The Deputy is primarily talking about the service south of Wicklow town but, as he knows, there is a very substantial commitment to investment in terms of DART+, including delivery of new battery and electric units and new rolling stock.

For many reasons, people want to move out of their cars and onto trains and buses. That is something the Government will continue to support. I will convey the Deputy's concerns about this line directly to the Minister.

An Ceann Comhairle

Before we move on to our next business, I am sure Deputies will join me in welcoming to the Gallery members of the Meath Cancer Support Group, led today by Ms Rachel Mullen. Their visit is at the behest of Senator McCarthy. They are most welcome.

Dáil Éireann debate - Thursday, 24 Sep 2026