Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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1051. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for details of her proposal for newly qualified teachers to gain a permanent contract a year earlier; what classifies as a 'viable post' in this instance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20953/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Teachers taking up their first contract in a viable teaching post in September 2025, will become eligible for a permanent contract in September 2026. This eligibility is contingent upon successful re-appointment following a competitive recruitment process.

A post is considered to be viable if it is for a reasonable period, comes from the school allocation, does not relate to temporary cover and where there are no objective grounds. It should be noted that a reasonable period is considered to be at least a full school year.

Teachers not covered by this new policy, such as those in substitute roles or those whose posts are not deemed viable after one year, will continue to follow the existing route to permanency, which typically involves achieving a Contract of Indefinite Duration (CID) after a third contract.

Detailed guidelines and implementation procedures for this new policy will be developed with the support of education stakeholders, including teacher unions and management body representatives.

Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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1052. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when details of the main panel and supplementary panel for primary schools will be released; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20954/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The core function of the redeployment arrangements is to facilitate the redeployment of all surplus permanent teachers on the Main Panel to other schools that have vacancies.

The 2025/26 staffing arrangements advised schools that Main Panels would issue after Easter. These panels are currently being compiled and will be issued to the panel operators shortly.

As Main Panels clear, Supplementary Panels will be opened and schools are required to fill permanent vacancies from these panels.

Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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1053. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for the urgent approval under a review request for an additional SNA for a school under medical needs for a student (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20970/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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This government is fully committed to supporting children with special educational needs to fulfil their full potential and the Programme for Government makes a number of commitments to deliver on this objective. The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children with special educational needs.

The NCSE is, in the first instance, the primary body responsible for the matter the Deputy has raised. I have forwarded this issue to them for their attention and direct reply.

Deputies are also welcome to raise such queries with the NCSE directly through their dedicated Oireachtas query line at .