Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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434. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of schools and students that will be included in the pilot programme (RACE accommodations) for students with dyslexia and dyscalculia for the upcoming 2026 examinations; and if she will roll this out to all eligible students across the State in the interest of fairness and equity for the 2026 examinations. [65950/25]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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The Programme for Government commits to developing an appropriate mechanism to allow additional time for students with specific needs and in certain circumstances, and also to ensure that those who use assistive technology can do so in State examinations.

The State Examinations Commission (SEC) has responsibility for the operation and delivery of the State examinations, and facilitates access to the examinations through its scheme of reasonable accommodations at the certificate examinations, otherwise known as the RACE scheme. The SEC has confirmed that, within the context of the comprehensive review that is underway, it is working on a scheme of additional time which will be piloted for the 2026 examinations.

Appropriate eligibility criteria for the scheme are being currently worked out. The SEC confirmed that the scheme will be available in 2026, and for all candidates nationally who meet the eligibility criteria. These criteria will be needs-based rather than diagnosis-based, as is the case for all other accommodations. This information has been confirmed in the RACE Instructions for Schools 2026 issued in October. The details of the additional time scheme will be confirmed at a later date, and candidates and schools are encouraged to apply as normal for accommodations under the RACE scheme.

In view of this, I have asked the SEC to respond directly to you with further detail about the RACE scheme and the ongoing review.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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435. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she is aware of the case of a child (details supplied); and if she will instruct her Department to ensure that the child in question is provided with necessary supports. [65969/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education and Youth.

The National Council for Special Education acts in an advisory role to the Department of Education and Youth on the suitability of placements for children with special educational needs.

Under the terms of the School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs, the Department will consider the report of the Special Education Needs Organiser (SENO). School transport is provided to children with special educational needs who are attending the nearest school to their place of residence that is or can be resourced to meet their educational needs, as identified by the SENO.

Bus Éireann have advised that there is no current service that can accommodate this pupil’s wheelchair. The current service this pupil is on is a minibus and the contractor has advised they have no wheelchair bus available.

In such circumstances where there is no existing suitable service available to meet a child's needs, and while Bus Éireann are in the process of establishing the service for the child referred, the Department will offer an Interim Special Transport Grant (STG) to families of eligible children towards the cost of private transport arrangements. This is based on the number of days attended from the date of application until a suitable service becomes available. The family of the child referred to has been contacted in relation to an interim STG.