Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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710. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on measures taken since the beginning of the 34th Dáil to enhance the supply of therapists available to provide direct support to children with additional needs in schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49979/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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Since my appointment, I have taken decisive steps to expand the supply of therapists available to support children with additional needs in schools. In response to a request from the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Disability, I asked my officials to establish an interdepartmental working group to address the expansion of therapy graduate places and associated clinical placements. This group, chaired by senior officials from my Department, includes representatives from the Department of Health, the HSE, the Department of Children, Disability and Equality, the Higher Education Authority (HEA), and the Department of Education and Youth.

In April the HEA, at my request, conducted an Expression of Interest process to identify opportunities to expand student numbers across nine key health and social care professions, including therapy disciplines. This process received 24 submissions and led to a proposal for immediate expansion from September 2025.

Following a review of the results, I joined my Ministerial colleagues in seeking Government approval for this expansion. We secured approval for 461 additional places, well over 300 of which will commence this year. These include 20 places in Occupational Therapy and 10 in Speech and Language Therapy, as well as places in dietetics, social work and other professions that are vital to supporting children with additional needs.

This builds on the progress made in 2024, when we created 40 additional places in Occupational Therapy and 15 in Speech and Language Therapy. A new tertiary programme in Occupational Therapy has also been established, with 20 students due to begin this September in Cork ETB and Kerry ETB.

This initial expansion is only the first step. Meeting our collective commitments in disability and education will require further growth, new course development, and enhanced clinical supports. Work on the next phase is already underway. We are exploring new pathways, including postgraduate programmes, tertiary education models, and apprenticeships, to build a sustainable pipeline of healthcare and therapy professionals.

I remain fully committed to supporting my Government colleagues in delivering additional places and ensuring the long-term growth of these essential programmes, with the continued support of our agencies, providers, and regulatory bodies to help provide the supports our young people and communities deserve.

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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711. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when he will publish the options paper that will inform budgetary decisions in relation to further and higher education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50105/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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I published this year's annual options paper on Friday, 19th September. This year's paper outlines the costs and potential impacts of a range of policy options aimed at reducing the cost of higher education.

The options assessment is intended to identify costs and potential impacts by the Department and is published without prejudice to eventual Government decisions.

The paper can be found at the following link:

www.gov.ie/en/department-of-further-and-higher-education-research-innovation-and-science/publications/funding-the-future-an-annual-options-paper-on-the-cost-of-higher-education-2025/.