Written answers
Thursday, 23 April 2026
Department of Education and Skills
- Special Educational Needs
9. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of pupils assessed as requiring special needs assistant support who did not have that support in place at the commencement of the school... - School Accommodation
13. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the percentage of schools that now have solar panels on their roofs; the plans to increase this; and if she will make a statement on the matter.... - Schools Building Projects
14. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide an update on the capital works for a school (details supplied) which has been waiting on ASD classrooms, a sensory room and a general... - School Curriculum
15. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will make the national anthem, Amhrán na bhFiann a mandatory part of the primary school curriculum; and if she will make a statement... - School Transport
17. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if additional transport to school routes will be considered for Cork east; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29171/26] - School Staff
20. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the steps she is taking to ensure the stability of special needs assistant allocations in County Clare following the distress caused to schools,... - School Funding
23. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to urgently allow for further funding to schools in Kerry for urgent building repair works; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28995/26] - Schools Building Projects
24. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide an update on the school building projects for a number of schools in Dublin mid-west (details supplied). [28459/26] - Educational Disadvantage
26. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills given the criteria that has been published for DEIS Plus, the reasoning schools (details supplied) did not qualify for this new scheme; and if she... - Teacher Training
27. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the plans to provide further training to teachers working with vision impaired pupils; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29027/26] - School Accommodation
28. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on plans to develop new accommodation at a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the... - Schools Building Projects
29. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on the planned capital project for a school (details supplied). [29012/26] - Education Policy
30. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if further progress has been made to date in developing a model for smaller schools that, due to their size, do not meet the threshold of six... - Special Educational Needs
31. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on the rollout of special classes. [29163/26] - Schools Building Projects
33. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will give an update on the application for extra facilities at a school (details supplied).; and if she will make a statement on the... - Special Educational Needs
36. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on the rollout of special classes in Cork east. [29170/26] - Mental Health Services
37. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the engagement her Department has had with a project (details supplied); if she will have a meeting with the group; and if she will make a... - Disabilities Assessments
38. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the progress being made to create an alternative to the assessment of needs reports; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28204/26] - School Staff
39. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide an update on the SNA redeployment scheme, workforce development plan and review of the 2014 circular; and if she will make a statement... - Educational Disadvantage
40. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the process for a school to appeal a negative decision in relation to applications for DEIS status. [28419/26] - Schools Building Projects
41. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the current status of the revised stage 2A submission for additional accommodation at a school (details supplied); the reason the project has not... - Youth Services
42. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the actions she is taking to strengthen the local youth club grant scheme, as per the commitment in the Programme for Government; the number of... - Schools Building Projects
43. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when national schools in Galway east, including Dunmore and Carrabane among others, can expect their approved building projects to break ground,... - Education Costs
44. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her proposals to address the increased costs borne by parents putting through primary and secondary education in the 2026-2027 academic year.... - School Staff
45. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to clearly outline where the €19 million for additional SNA’s will come from to allow the current SNA’s remain in their... - Schools Building Projects
46. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on the three secondary schools in west Wicklow (details supplied) that are awaiting building projects to proceed; and if she will... - Special Educational Needs
47. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will clarify the working definition used by her Department for the term ‘inclusion’ and for the term ‘complex needs... - School Transport
48. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide an update on the school transport pilot scheme; the number of schools included in the scheme for the 2025/2026 academic year; if there... - School Accommodation
49. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the exact date of her visit to a school (details supplied) to view the unacceptable conditions for the children, teachers, and staff at the school... - Education Schemes
50. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills whether all schools included on the therapist pilot programme will retain therapists going forward. [28235/26] - Special Educational Needs
51. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide an update on the provision of special classes in County Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28167/26] - School Curriculum
52. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to consider introducing AI literacy classes in secondary schools, that will include age-appropriate, curriculum aligned modules at both junior and... - School Staff
53. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide an update on the progress being made to agree a new framework for SNAs in schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter.... - Schools Building Projects
54. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on a school project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29073/26] - Special Educational Needs
55. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her views that all the special classes sanctioned for September 2026 will be delivered; if lessons have been learned from the failure to deliver... - Commemorative Events
56. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will arrange for her Department to send a framed copy of the 1916 Proclamation to all primary and secondary schools; and if she will make a... - School Admissions
57. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her Department ascertained the number of school places that are available for September in the Portlaoise area at both primary and secondary... - Educational Disadvantage
58. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the supports to be made available to DEIS PLUS schools. [29162/26] - Youth Services
59. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her Department is aware that funding for an organisation (details supplied) has not kept pace with inflation and has only recently returned to... - School Funding
60. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her proposals to ensure that primary and secondary schools are adequately funded in the 2026-2027 academic year. [29129/26] - Schools Building Projects
61. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the current status of proposals to acquire lands adjacent to a school (details supplied); to confirm whether her Department is engaged in... - School Staff
63. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will amend circular 0030/2014 in line with the alternative circular proposed by an organisation (details supplied); and if she will make a... - State Examinations
64. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will review the decision to reinstitute a charge in relation to the junior and leaving certificates. [28420/26] - Schools Building Projects
65. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the timeline for the length of time it will take to complete the designs and full cost planning for the three-school campus in Celbridge to ensure... - Special Educational Needs
66. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to fully outline the rationale behind the opening of the special classes/hubs in mainstream schools, which will now allow schools enrol up to 12... - Schools Building Projects
67. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the timeline for the progression to construction of a new school building (details supplied); the current status of the tender assessment process;... - School Admissions
69. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the work that has been undertaken to ensure that all children of school going age living within a school catchment area will have access to a... - Special Educational Needs
71. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the policy rationale for the introduction of a new category of ‘inclusive special class’; and if she will make a statement on the... - State Examinations
72. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the mechanisms in place for families and students that are not able to afford the State exam fees for 2026; and if she will... - Special Educational Needs
73. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills how the application process for special education teaching hours is administered by her Department, including how allocations to individual... - School Staff
77. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the steps she is taking to address the precarious employment conditions facing newly qualified teachers; her views on the current contractual... - Schools Building Projects
78. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the supports available to a school (details supplied) to progress necessary roof works now assessed as being beyond further patch repair,... - School Staff
79. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will review the current method of teacher allocation for primary schools, given that allocations are based on the previous year’s... - Departmental Schemes
80. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the steps her Department is taking to address period poverty; if she will introduce a scheme to provide free period products in all schools,... - Disabilities Assessments
81. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plans for changes to the assessment of need process to access special education places; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27854/26] - Schools Building Projects
82. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will visit a school (details supplied) to view the unacceptable conditions for the children, teachers and staff at the school and to advise... - Teaching Qualifications
83. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will instigate a review of the Teaching Council’s Registration routes and open a public consultation for feedback from teaching... - Special Educational Needs
84. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the way in which her Department is coordinating with the Department of Children, Disability and Equality to ensure sufficient school places and... - Schools Building Projects
86. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on the status of the capital project at a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28745/26] - School Staff
87. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason the declaration form in Appendix 1 of Circulars 0037/2026 and 0038/2026 requires teachers to declare union affiliation as a condition... - Schools Building Projects
88. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on the new school building (details supplied); and the reason the design team have not heard back from her Department since May... - Special Educational Needs
90. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on the Dublin 15 Special Education Taskforce; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29033/26] - Schools Amalgamation
91. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide an update on the proposed amalgamation of schools (details supplied); the current status of discussions with the respective school... - Planning Issues
93. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if there are any plans, proposals, or considerations to establish an Educate Together primary school in Dundalk, County Louth, given the growing... - Schools Building Projects
94. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when funding will be provided for new school buildings (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28992/26] - Planning Issues
95. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the procedures in place within her Department that ensures that significant population growth in an area is matched with additional school... - School Transport
96. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the current school transport funding provisions for special schools in County Mayo; if she will conduct a funding review to identify any gaps that... - Educational Disadvantage
97. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to explain the rationale for Drogheda, the largest town in the country, being overlooked for investment under the new DEIS plus scheme despite... - Schools Building Projects
98. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the breakdown of the time spent at each stage of the delivery process for projects under the school building programme; and if she will make a... - Special Educational Needs
99. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of children in north Kildare that are on a waiting list for a local primary ASD place; whether forward planning for ASD provision is... - Educational Disadvantage
100. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will review the criteria for the allocation of DEIS + status, if another round of DEIS+ allocations will be announced; and if she will... - Special Educational Needs
101. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on special education provision in Dublin mid-west, including new builds and extensions in mainstream settings; and if she will make... - Educational Disadvantage
102. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her Department has reviewed DEIS eligibility for schools in Mayo experiencing disadvantage but not currently included in the programme; the... - Departmental Inquiries
103. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills whether the Interdepartmental Group established to examine historic child sexual abuse in primary and secondary schools has completed its work;... - School Staff
104. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the application for an extra teacher for a school (details supplied); and an application for an extra classroom for another school.... - School Meals Programme
105. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide a pathway for a school in Drogheda (details supplied) to retain their current model for hot school meals and ensure they are... - State Examinations
106. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will review the recent reintroduction of State examination fees for leaving certificate and junior cycle students in light of ongoing... - School Transport
107. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to increase capacity on school transport to meet demand/need; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27850/26] - Special Educational Needs
108. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the response of her Department to concerns raised by disability organisations regarding the rollout of new inclusive special classes for the... - Schools Building Projects
110. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide an update on a new build (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27849/26] - Special Educational Needs
111. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to establish another special school in east Cork, specifically between Carrigtwohill and Youghal; and if she will make a statement on... - Educational Disadvantage
112. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the plans she has to overhaul the criteria used to determine DEIS status for primary and secondary schools; and if she will make a statement on... - School Funding
113. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she has considered introducing a mechanism to cover the cost of a consultant’s examination in advance of EWS support; and if she will... - Educational Disadvantage
114. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to the Parliamentary Question No. 1345 of 14 April 2026, in reference to the criteria for DEIS Plus, the numerical threshold in each of... - Special Educational Needs
115. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the early intervention supports in place for children with dyslexia in classroom settings; when they will be reviewed; and if she will make a... - Schools Building Projects
116. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on the redevelopment of a college (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29002/26] - School Staff
117. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will immediately reinstate the 2.5 SNAs cut from a school (details supplied). [14307/26] - Schools Building Projects
118. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update in relation to a school building project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29068/26] - School Enrolments
119. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of children attending primary school in 2025/2026 in classes of 30 or more children; the number attending in classes of 29 or less;...
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