Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 May 2026
89. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the steps her Department have taken to address concerns raised by parents regarding recent reports at (details supplied); if her Department will commit to engaging with the Dublin and Dún Laoghaire Education and Training Board to address these concerns; if she will commit to meeting with the parents concerned; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35555/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Education and Youth takes child protection very seriously and considers that the protection and welfare of children is a fundamental responsibility of all involved in the care and education of children. However, the department has no powers to investigate child protection concerns. Tusla has the statutory responsibility to assess all reports of child welfare and protection concerns. Any concern or allegation of a child protection nature received by staff in the Department of Education and Youth is immediately passed on to the relevant authorities, that is Tusla-the Child and Family Agency or An Garda Síochána, as appropriate. The school authority is also informed of the alleged concern received. Tusla decides whether an allegation of abuse is founded or unfounded and liaises with An Garda Síochána for investigation of the criminal aspects of a case. An Garda Síochána has overall responsibility for the direction of any criminal investigation.
The department has no role in employer/employee matters. Under the Education Act 1998, legally, all schools are managed by the school Board of Management, on behalf of the school patrons. It is the school Board of Management that employs the school’s teachers and other staff members except in Education and Training Board (ETB) schools, where it is the ETB that is the employer. Any actions in relation to the school employee, in relation to employment matters, are exclusively a matter for the employer.
It may assist to know that a working group was set up early in 2025 to support the establishment of the new special school in Belmayne. This group was chaired by the Department and included representatives from the patron body and the NCSE. The group continued to meet through 2025 and continues to meet in 2026 on a regular basis to progress the establishment of the school and monitor its progress since opening in late 2025.
This school is funded, resourced, and supported by the Department and the NCSE, in accordance with the profiled needs of the students.
The school currently has 30 students and a staffing allocation of
• an administrative principal
• an administrative deputy principal
• 6 class teachers and a new administrative teaching post
• 10 special needs assistants (SNAs), which has recently been increased to 15 following a review by the NCSE.
The school also has an allocation of 10 co-operation hours per week to support the delivery of post-primary subjects.
The school is also one of 45 special schools announced as part of phase 1 of the rollout of the new national Education Therapy Service.
The Department and the NCSE will continue to engage with and support the ETB and school as it grows and develops over time.
