Michael Moynihan
Cork North-West · Fianna Fáil · Ireland
“I cannot emphasise enough the respect that the Minister, Deputy Naughton, and I have for special needs assistants and the contribution they make to education. In March, we met the SNAs to have further engagement and consultation with them and to understand their roles.”
“We are very conscious of the issue. A huge number of groups that I have met over the past while, particularly on the dyslexia side, have all been discussing assistive technologies. That is also the case for children who are non-communicative and non-verbal. Assistive technologies are extremely important for them.”
“By way of background, 85% of the applications processed for assistive technology between January and June have been approved. We are always conscious of those who fall outside the scheme.”
“The approximate cost to the State per mainstream pupil is currently €1,400 annually, while the cost to the family is €100 per pupil. The total cost of the school transport system in 2025 was €537 million, equating to almost €3 million being spent on the provision of school transport per day.”
“I thank the Deputy. We are looking at ways to ensure that if there is a ticket issued, it will be used. Anecdotally, the Deputy and other colleagues tell us about school routes the length and breadth of the country that have spare capacity but, when we look at the system, all of the tickets on that particular school route are occupied and…”
“Under the current scheme, schools receive funding towards computers and specialised equipment required for educational purposes. To qualify, a student must have a diagnosis of a physical or commutative disability and a professional assessment confirming the equipment is essential to access the curriculum.”
The complete record
Every one of 1,291 lines we hold for Michael Moynihan, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 19 of 26.
“An updated list of these classes is available on the NCSE website, and I am also happy to share this information with the House and the Deputy. Combined with the 300 new special school places, this brings to 2,700 the number of new school places for children with special educational needs. This additional capacity, together with the movement of children across existing classes, means that the Department and the NCSE have created more capacity than children known to the NCSE by the deadline of February 2025. The NCSE has advised me that outside of Dublin, all children known to it by the February deadline who required a special class placement at primary and post-primary level have received a place.”
“I thank the Deputy for his question and Deputy McAuliffe for his interest in this matter. I thank both Deputies for their continuing interest in education. It is hugely important that it is brought to the fore in the House. Education is a hugely important part of everyone's life, so it is hugely important that we strive to get it right. The NCSE is the statutory agency with responsibility for the provision of special education places. As I alluded to earlier this morning, there are over 407 new special classes sanctioned for the coming school year. The NCSE does not hold information on special education provision broken down by constituency, but I can say there are 103 new special classes sanctioned for the 2025-26 school year across Dublin, including 81 at primary and 22 at post-primary level.”
“I have some personal experience of Gaelscoileanna and Gaelcholáistí that opened special classes, and they would be taught through the medium of Irish. What the Deputy has said has been brought to our attention before by people, but it is clear that it is whatever the medium is in the school, in this case the medium of Irish. Some of the schools operating special classes are hugely successful and the school ethos is important. I take that point. If a special class is opening in a school taught through the medium of Irish, that class should be taught through the medium of Irish. That is clearly understood, certainly by me, and it should be understood by everybody. I will follow that up internally, but the point is well made.”
“There is an awful lot of work being done. I thank all the school communities across the country who have been so accommodating. A lot of them have bent over backwards to make sure they are opening special classes. I will discuss the specific issue with the Deputy after the session and try to get clarity.”
“I assure the Deputy that the figures in relation to the number of classes being opened around the country are correct. On the individual school the Deputy mentioned, I am very happy to take the details from her after the session and I will work with her to try to get a satisfactory conclusion to it. I have no difficulty in doing that. I have to say that the Minister and I have done significant work on this over the last number of months. We have had weekly meetings with the NCSE and the Department to make sure we have special classes and places across the country to accommodate the need that was identified and is continuing to be identified. In some of the schools, we have been working to try to find resolutions to it. I would appreciate if the Deputy could give me the sequence of letters she has referred to and I will take the matter up.”
“This year, in order to ensure new special classes could open as quickly as possible for the 2025-26 school year, the NCSE prioritised work with medium and larger primary schools that have available accommodation but do not have an existing special class. This approach maximises the use of existing space that can be reconfigured efficiently while also ensuring that new provision continues to be established. The increased number of schools with special classes provides parents with greater choice and will also reduce the distances that some children are travelling to access a special class place. This will remain a priority for the 2026-27 school year.”
“This additional capacity, together with the movement of children across existing classes, means that the Department and the NCSE have created more capacity than there were children known to the NCSE by the deadline of February 2025. The NCSE has advised me that, outside of Dublin, all children known to it by the February deadline and who required a special class placement at primary or post-primary level had received a place. For a small number of children in the Dublin area who are seeking a special class or special school placement, the NCSE is working intensively with those parents and the schools concerned to finalise the arrangements for the 2025-26 school year. In addition, the NCSE is working closely with parents who came forward post the February deadline to support them into available placements.”
“The NCSE is the statutory agency with responsibility for the provision of special education places. The NCSE has sanctioned 407 new special classes for the coming school year, of which 398 are autism special classes while three are autism early intervention classes. This brings to 3,742 the number of special classes in our schools. The NCSE has advised my Department that an updated list of these classes is available on the NCSE website and I am also happy to share this list with the Deputy. Combined with 300 new special school places, this brings to 2,700 the number of new school places for children with special educational needs.”
“It is important that we have this information earlier so that we can make sure we have places available. We will be giving certainty to families prior to Christmas this year. We intend to make sure we get at this earlier.”
“It is very important to be fair to the NCSE, the Department and ourselves. A deadline of February was put in place. Parents needed to make contact by that deadline. We worked to those figures. A number of children have come forward post the February deadline in recent weeks. We are actively engaging with those families and with schools in their communities to ensure children are accommodated in appropriate places. A decision was made a number of months ago and the Minister and I, having engaged with the Department and the NCSE, have moved the deadline for families, guardians and schools to make contact with the NCSE to identify children who will need special classes back to 1 October for next year. That will give us a better sense of the challenges that will be faced in the next school year.”
“The NCSE is working intensively with the parents and schools concerned. The school the Deputy has referred to is one such school. The NCSE engaged with the school to secure agreement to open classes. The NCSE visited the school in September 2024 and, with the support of the school patron body, it worked to sanction two classes. We can now confirm that the issues that were the subject of the Deputy's representation and those of others over recent weeks have been resolved for the school. It is my very clear understanding that all children, particularly those from within the school cohort, have now been placed within the school. I understand that agreement has been reached between the Department, the NCSE and the school authorities to that effect.”
“Legislation compelling schools to open special classes where they had capacity to do so was introduced in 2018 and has been used in the Dublin area. Since then, the legislation has been streamlined to allow for shorter timeframes in which to compel schools to open the required classes and this has been a factor in the NCSE’s ability to secure agreement from schools to co-operate when asked to open special classes. For the 2024-25 school year, the NCSE prioritised opening classes in medium or larger primary schools that had not yet opened a class. I will refer to the specific school the Deputy mentioned in my supplementary reply, if that is okay.”
“The NCSE has advised me that, outside of Dublin, all children known to them by the February deadline who required a special class placement at primary and post-primary level had received places. With regard to a small number of children in the Dublin area who are seeking a special class or special school placement, the NCSE is working intensively with the parents and schools concerned to finalise arrangements for the 2025-26 school year. In addition, the NCSE is working closely with parents who came forward post the February deadline to support their children into available placements. Notwithstanding this positive work, the Deputy will be aware of the ongoing challenges in securing sufficient special class places in the Dublin area.”
“I thank the Deputy very much for the question. The NCSE is the statutory agency with responsibility for the provision of special education places. The National Council for Special Education has sanctioned 407 new special classes for the coming year, bringing the total number of special classes in our schools to 3,742. Combined with 300 new special school places, this brings to 2,700 the number of new school places for children with special educational needs. This additional capacity, together with the movement of children across existing classes, means that the Department and the NCSE have created more capacity than required for the children known to the NCSE by the deadline of February 2025.”
“I take the point on starting the process earlier. I always say that from 15 August it becomes school bus ticket time. A large number of tickets are processed every day by the Department and Bus Éireann. A great deal of work is being done on this. A lot of work has been done on the entire school transport system and expanding it. I take the point that a large number of students would love to benefit from it. Our aim is to try to get more students onto the school transport system. We are working within the resources available to us, and we are trying to make sure we are giving the best possible service using the resources that are available. On some routes, there are issues with getting contractors and drivers. I take the point. It is April when people first go on and they then pay by 6 June.”
“It is not possible in rural areas but in many other areas we will see whether we can integrate the school transport system for the greater benefit of the students and their families.”
“School transport is hugely important for every schoolgoing child at primary and post-primary level. When the school transport scheme was introduced, it was for families who may have been without transport. Now, it is because of working families. We need to make sure they avail of it and that there are enough buses for it. There is an ambitious programme as part of School Transport 2030 to make sure we get more and more children onto the school bus service. This year, we will again have more students on the service. We understand the importance of that. We will be working on the review of School Transport 2030 on a phased basis. The pilot programmes conducted in the previous school year are being assessed. They contain very important information to plan how we go forward.”
“Work is also under way to identify where further pilot programmes may be conducted. Implementation of the review’s recommendations will continue to be planned, subject to the availability of resources.”
“Both groups comprise a total of 2,242 children for the 2024-25 school year. Temporary alleviation measures will continue for the 2025-26 school year at post-primary level. A phased implementation of School Transport 2030 began at the start of the 2024-25 school year. This involved a number of pilot programmes held in conjunction with the National Transport Authority, the Department of Transport and Bus Éireann. A total of 14 pilot programmes were conducted in the 2024-25 school year. These will provide valuable insights into the impact of increased demand on the scheme, the potential for integrating public transport with school transport and opportunities to promote more sustainable modes of transport. It is intended to continue the current pilots for the upcoming school year.”
“The school transport scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education and Youth. In the current school year, more than 173,000 children have been transported daily in approximately 8,200 vehicles across 10,600 routes to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country. In relation to the number of children who applied and paid on time and were unsuccessful in obtaining a seat in the 2024-25 school year, Bus Éireann has advised that 1,343 ineligible applicants, otherwise known as concessionary applicants, and 899 new applications for families of eligible children did not obtain seats. Ineligible applicants were for a mainstream scheme where a service existed. The families of eligible children were offered a remote area grant due to no service existing.”
“It is important that we have full faith in the process and that we ensure that we have an open and transparent process. The Minister, Deputy McEntee, has worked extremely hard on this as well. She is as committed as I am to ensuring that we have the best process in place and that we bring to the fore the best help we can get, whether it is redress or in the commission, for those people who have carried such a burden throughout their lives.”
“All the hiding has been done. Families and survivors have had to endure challenges and difficulties. I am reminded of a gentleman who spoke to me a number of years ago about his challenges arising from childhood sexual abuse and the challenges faced by a number of survivors. He told me that we were at our least Christian when we were at our most religious. I think of that man today as we discuss this motion in Dáil Éireann. As Members of this House, we owe it to David and everybody else who has been affected by childhood sexual abuse. We owe it to their families and the communities to strive to make sure that what has happened in the past will never again be inflicted on any child, whether the child has additional needs or otherwise.”
“I acknowledge those who have supported survivors of childhood sexual abuse in schools who are often an important part of the process of a victim coming forward, including the scoping inquiry and the commission of investigation. I thank them for their tireless efforts. As the commission gets under way, the accountability the victims all so richly deserve will come one step closer. Like all Members of this House, we have met survivors of childhood sexual abuse. Despite the challenges they have faced in life, they have confided in us as public representatives or they have faith in the system to go forward and tell their stories. For some of them, it may be the first port of call. Speaking from experience as a public representative, we have to ensure that we believe in this process and that it is as open and as transparent as possible.”
“It may also consider the outcomes of other investigations, including those relating to special schools and the extent of any criminal convictions of specific individuals related to special schools. This will assist the commission in meeting its terms of reference in the allocated timeframe. I encourage all survivors, who have borne an extremely heavy burden, to come forward, regardless of where they are today. It is important that this process is as encouraging as possible to ensure that people come forward. I also acknowledge the impact on their families, including the families of those with additional needs who trusted those running the schools to care for and protect the particularly vulnerable children.”
“It is important to recognise that the scoping inquiry found current child protection schemes and frameworks in recognised schools to be effective. Nonetheless, there is always scope to learn from what has happened in the past and to work collectively, not just in this House but across society, to ensure the safety of our children now and into the future to enable them to achieve their full potential. In that regard, the requirement for the commission to report within five years and to advise the Minister of any changes needed to achieve that objective is extremely welcome. The terms of reference set out that the commission should also take into account what has already been established in previous investigations, including the scoping inquiry.”
“A trauma-informed approach to working with those who have experienced child sexual abuse will include practical steps to ensure the process does not revisit the trauma and create more difficulties for people. We must ensure this is done in consultation with survivors and with the relevant expert advice. The value of the survivor engagement programme's non-adversarial approach is crucially important. I know Mr. Justice MacGrath will be engaging in preliminary consultations with survivors, and I expect advice in the coming months. The commission represents an invaluable opportunity to understand what happened in schools, including special schools, where this was able to continue for so long, and the lifelong effects of childhood sexual abuse in our schools. I welcome, in particular, the focus on the future learning of the commission.”
“I strongly support the requirement for support for survivors at a key stage in the process, especially the provision for support for those with additional needs, to facilitate an accessible and inclusive process wherever possible. There are voices that may never have been heard before but I am very glad to see the commitment to ensure they are heard now. I welcome further provision for a survivor-centred approach, including clear communications and transparency, which will assist survivors and those supporting them to make informed choices about their engagement with the commission. Support for survivors at this stage of the process includes emotional and psychological support.”
“I welcome the remit laid down in the terms of reference for the scoping inquiry to include all schools for which it will select a sample for detailed investigations. It is important that all survivors and their support networks know from the outset that the commission has a survivor-engagement process whereby any survivor or relative of a person who is deceased or incapacitated can give an account of their experience of child sexual abuse in a supportive and, as the Minister, Deputy McEntee said, a non-adversarial setting. We have to ensure it is a non-adversarial setting and that survivors are supported. In particular, I welcome the provision in the commission’s terms of reference that it will strive to be as survivor-centred as possible and that specific steps are laid down on how it approaches its work.”
“It found that religious orders' records show some 528 recorded allegations of historical child sexual abuse throughout 17 special schools against 190 alleged abusers. It also stated that this is unlikely to be the full extent of the historical child sexual abuse in special schools. As Minister of State with responsibility for special education and inclusion, I find that hugely troubling and shocking. Special schools were among those named by participants in the scoping inquiry’s trauma-informed, survivor engagement process. That the additional vulnerability of children in special schools could be so exploited is truly appalling and there has to be accountability. The importance of inclusivity in the commission of investigation cannot be overstated.”
“The scoping inquiry noted that the Central Statistics Office stated that children with disabilities experienced sexual abuse at a much higher rate than children without disabilities. To think that such a breach of trust could happen in our schools is simply devastating. We owe it to the children with additional needs to read that out again. Children with disabilities experienced sexual abuse at a much higher rate than children without a disability. That is hugely shocking. When we think about the impact it had on children and their families - families who entrusted the care of their children to these communities and this is what was actually happening - it is truly and deeply shocking. The scoping inquiry's findings reflect this and outline a particular number of allegations regarding special schools.”
“I thank Mary O'Toole and her team for their compassionate and dedicated work on this. The historic sexual abuse that happened on such a scale in our schools, and for so long, was absolutely shocking. Perhaps equally shocking were the accounts given by the participants whose childhoods were stolen, whose education was interrupted or, indeed, ended abruptly and who experienced family break-ups, lifelong impacts of addiction, mental health difficulties, problems in relationships and loss of opportunities. Where childhood was stolen, adulthood was stolen as well because it had a huge impact on many people. As Minister of State with special responsibility for special education and inclusion, I am particularly disturbed by the findings of the scoping inquiry in respect of children attending special schools.”
“I thank the House for the opportunity to speak on this hugely important and challenging motion. I join the Minister, Deputy McEntee, in recognising the enormous contribution of the survivors whose tireless work and participation has brought us to this point today. I add my personal note of welcome to David Ryan who is in the Gallery, and who spoke so compellingly about his experiences not just in the RTÉ radio documentary, "Blackrock Boys", but in interviews with the media since. The path forged by David and his late brother Mark has enabled many others to come forward and, often for the first time, to speak about their own experiences. We owe them and many other survivors a huge debt of gratitude for what they have brought to the fore. The contents of the scoping inquiry report last year stopped many of us in our tracks.”
“I cannot provide any commitment but we will work to see if there is any reasonable solution for these students. It is something that is important to Senator Kennelly but it is also important to us to make sure that the Gaelcholáistí are as accessible as possible into the future. I will do anything I can to support the Gaelcholáistí. That is important not just to Senator Kennelly but it is important to me as well.”
“I would appreciate if the Senator could give me more details on the students he mentions. Both the Department and I will look at the issue to see how we can ensure the best outcome. Second level education through the medium of Irish has become extremely popular not just in Kerry but right across the country. It is something we must encourage right across the system, notwithstanding the excellence provided in Gaelcholáiste Chiarraí and throughout the country. I know the communities and areas the Senator mentions, as we are just over the border. Senator Kennelly mentions nine students going to the Gaelscoil in Listowel. Are they going into fifth class and sixth class in September?”
“They will continue to be issued through July and August. Families who are unsuccessful in obtaining a seat will be notified via email and a refund will be issued. Applications and payments or entering of medical card details submitted after the deadline will be deemed late. A late submission of payment or medical card details may mean that a seat is unavailable, but we are keeping that under review over the next number of weeks.”
“As the Senator may be aware, a minimum number of ten eligible children residing in a district locality, as determined by Bus Éireann, who have applied and paid or entered their medical card details is required before consideration may be given to the establishment or the retention of a school bus transport service. This is provided it can be done within the reasonable cost limits. Bus Éireann is assessing all applications and payments received. It is now planning for the routes and services for the 2025-26 school year. Routes may be altered or extended depending on the number and location of eligible children who are availing of the school transport for the following school year. Once routes have been finalised, Bus Éireann will assign tickets for each school transport service. Tickets will begin to issue this month.”
“Bus Éireann has advised that pupils from the Lixnaw area attending Gaelcholáiste Chiarraí had to travel to Abbeydorney or Kilflynn previously to access this service to school. Due to the increased numbers this year, many buses have been replaced by a large vehicle that has been put in place, as alluded to by the Senator. The route is under procurement. This service is being rerouted to give an extension to Lixnaw and give these pupils a better level of service. These pupils are eligible, as Gaelcholáiste Chiarraí is the nearest Gaelcholáiste. Relating to the pupils living in Moyvane and also attending the Gaelcholáiste having to drive to Listowel to meet the service, I can confirm to the Senator that only two applications have been received from that area. The remote area grant will be offered to families to travel to the pickup points.”
“It is an excellent school, as is all of the team working there. The school transport scheme is a significant operation run by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education and Youth. Under the current terms of the post-primary school transport scheme, children are eligible for transport where they reside not less than 4.8 km from and are attending the nearest post-primary school education centre. The distance is determined by the Department and Bus Éireann, the rules regarding ethos and the language. Bus Éireann has advised that it is currently assessing the applications for school transport for the 2025-26 school year. I thank Bus Éireann and the Department's officials for the amount of work they have been doing since the closing date in early June.”
“I thank the Senator from Kerry for his good wishes on the hurling. I take them very graciously. As I come from within a few miles of the County Kerry border, we know full well that it is meant with sincerity and gratitude. I have to declare my interest in Gaelcholáiste Chiarraí. I know well that the Gaelcholáiste is an extremely well-run school under a hugely successful leadership team. There are teachers who have been there for quite a number of years. My wife has been a teacher in Gaelcholáiste Chiarraí for a long number of years. I know Gaelcholáiste Chiarraí quite well. When I was taking this Commencement matter, I was not sure if it was a conflict of interest. I wish all of the team in Gaelcholáiste Chiarraí every continued success in its amazing leadership and what it is doing there.”
“I ask the Deputies to get the message out there that we need the information early in the school year in order to plan properly, so we are not in a situation next year where we are heading into the school holidays and do not have places. We need the information earlier. All of the Deputies are working on the ground and know the families. I ask them to get the message out there that the NCSE has to be notified of the information early so we can carry out proper planning and ensure that families are not in a stressful position. To go back to the issue of St. Mochta’s, a meeting is taking place today. I give an undertaking that, subsequent to that meeting, we will keep all the Deputies informed of how things are progressing.”
“There is a meeting taking place today with the school and school patrons to try to resolve the issue. Without putting words in anybody's mouth, I know the school authorities and the Department have been in contact and they will have a meeting today. Let us see what happens with that. I would be only too delighted to bring back any information to the Deputies by email or otherwise when we have that information to hand. I accept the seriousness of the issue the Deputies have raised, and there are a number of other issues across Dublin 15 regarding school places and school classes. There is one thing that I would ask the Deputies. The new circular has set 1 October 2025 as the date for the 2026 school year.”
“As highlighted by the Deputies, an issue has arisen where students already enrolled in mainstream classes in the school but who may require a special class place were brought to the attention of the NCSE after the 1 February timeline. I can confirm that the Department and the NCSE are making arrangements to meet the school and the school patron bodies today on this matter. I will refer to other matters in my supplementary response.”
“Two of these new special classes have been sanctioned in St. Mochta’s in Dublin 15. As the Deputies know, this is a large primary school serving the needs of the community in Clonsilla and the surrounding areas. These are the first special classes to be established at this school and they have been warmly welcomed by all in the local community. I commend the school leadership, the board of management and the school patrons on working closely with the NCSE and my Department to provide these much-needed classes. Regarding the admission of children into the new special classes, the NCSE continues to work closely with the school to try to progress the matters. The Deputies here, as well as Deputy Emer Currie and the Minister, Deputy Chambers, have been highlighting the issue.”
“This circular letter was developed after consultation with school management bodies, special education advocacy groups and the National Parents Council. The NCSE has advised that just under 3,300 valid notifications were received by mid-February last via their new parent notification system. The priority for the NCSE and for the Department has been to ensure that these children and young people are prioritised for enrolment in special classes and in special schools. Sixteen new special classes have been sanctioned by the NCSE in schools in the Dublin 15 local school planning area for the coming school year. These are part of the overall 98 new special classes being provided across schools in Dublin. This is the single largest provision of new special classes in both Dublin 15 and across Dublin.”
“In recent years, the NCSE has advised the Department that after it had sanctioned new special classes, some of the children being offered places in these new special classes were not known to the NCSE. This was having a significant impact on the NCSE's ability to forward plan for the provision of new special classes. To address this issue, the Department of education issued a circular to all schools in October 2024 advising that parents of children seeking special classes or special school places for the 2025-2026 school year would need to notify the NCSE by 1 February. Schools were also asked to ensure that parents of children with special educational needs in mainstream classes who may require a special class were aware of the need to register with the NCSE by 1 February.”
“Both the Minister, Deputy McEntee, and I meet with Department of education officials and the NCSE on a weekly basis to track the progress of the provision of special classes and special school placements. An additional 399 new special education classes have been sanctioned for this school year. Of these, 287 are at primary level and 112 are at post-primary level. These will be added to the existing 3,335 special classes nationwide, increasing the number of special classes by 103% since 2020. In addition, I also directed a school in County Kildare to open two new special classes under section 37A of the Education Act 1998. In total, therefore, from the next academic year, there will be more than 3,700 special classes and 129 special schools in operation throughout the country.”
“I thank the Deputies for raising this issue, and I fully accept and understand the genuineness with which it is raised. I fully accept the Deputies' bona fides in respect of this issue. The Government is fully committed to supporting all children with additional needs to achieve their full potential. It is a core priority of the work of the Department of education that every child should receive a school place that meets their needs. There is a significant body of work being undertaken to ensure that this is the case. This includes the creation of more than 2,000 new special school classes in mainstream schools and 16 new special schools established since 2019.”
“Again, I thank Deputies Doherty and Mac Lochlainn for raising the issue. I will take back exactly what they have said regarding Letterkenny University Hospital. The information I have is very clear. No decision has been made on the location of the north-west surgical hubs. I understand meetings were held and there was engagement with the Minister last night on this issue. I hear what the Deputies are saying about the challenges in Letterkenny and Donegal, and I will bring that back to the Department and the Minister. I cannot be clearer than what was in the statement I have in front of me from the Department. I understand the issues the Deputies have raised. Without labouring the point, I will take the points the Deputies raised back to the Department and seek clarification for them.”
“We understand these plans are being developed by the hospital and will need to be further considered by the HSE before a decision can be made on their inclusion in the capital programme. I hope the Deputies can see we are committed to the people of Donegal. I look forward to continued engagement on these issues.”
“Several capital projects are under way, including the expansion of the renal department, a pharmacy aseptic unit, a new heating centre and a range of projects to increase capacity. Construction is also under way of a 110-bed community hospital in Letterkenny, representing an investment of €52 million for the enhancement of services for older people. Letterkenny University Hospital has also expressed plans for four key infrastructural projects, which form part of a development control plan within the HSE west and north-west health region. These projects include bed expansion, emergency and urgent care capacity, critical care capacity and an ambulatory care block.”