Ken O'Flynn

381. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth if the NCSE 'notify parents system' for special education placements is fully operational and used in all cases where new or vacated special class or special school places arise; if its use is mandatory for all schools and the NCSE; the compliance and monitoring mechanisms in place to ensure the system is consistently used; whether any audits have been conducted in each if the past three years; and the number of instances where special education placements were not recorded or notified through the system when they became available and what corrective actions are taken where non-compliance is identified [32345/26]

382. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the way in which the NCSE ensures that all parents of children awaiting special education placements are engaged with in a consistent and equitable manner across all regions; and the safeguards in place to prevent variation in practice between NCSE areas. [32346/26]

383. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the timelines that apply to NCSE engagement with parents once a special education need is identified; and the average time taken to first contact parents in each of the past three years. [32347/26]

384. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the records maintained by the NCSE to evidence engagement with parents regarding special education placements; and whether these records are subject to audit or independent review. [32348/26]

403. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth to confirm which body has ultimate statutory responsibility to ensure that every child is provided with an appropriate school place, including access to a special class or special school placement where required; and to outline the escalation and enforcement mechanisms where a place cannot be secured. [32545/26]

404. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth to confirm which body has ultimate responsibility for ensuring that a child assessed as requiring a special class or special school placement is provided with a place within a reasonable timeframe; and the statutory enforcement mechanisms that exist where schools do not engage with the NCSE in providing such places. [32546/26]

405. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number and nature of regulations, made under section 67 of the Education Act 1998, in each of the past five years; the policy purpose and practical application of those regulations in the education system; the specific education functions or operational areas those regulations support; whether any review has been undertaken regarding the effectiveness, necessity and impact of regulations made under this section in supporting education provision and oversight; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32548/26]

406. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether she is satisfied that the use of regulation making powers, under section 67 of the Education Act 1998, continues to provide clear added value in the operation and oversight of the education system; whether any cost-benefit or effectiveness assessment has been carried out in the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32549/26]

407. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide the total number of students who accessed the iScoil programme in 2025 and to date in 2026, with a breakdown by county; to confirm which authority makes the final decision on admission; to provide the number of students refused access or placed on a waiting list in 2025 and to date in 2026; the average time from referral to placement in each period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32551/26]

408. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether the iScoil programme is available to students who are unable to secure a mainstream school place and currently on reduced timetables or receiving limited home tuition, including cases where students are receiving as little as seven hours per week; whether such students are eligible for iScoil as an interim educational provision pending the securing of a full-time school placement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32552/26]

409. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the role of the Tusla Education Welfare Service in the referral, approval and allocation of places on the iScoil programme; whether Tusla acts as the primary gateway for access or can other agencies directly initiate referrals; the criteria applied by Tusla when determining eligibility for iScoil; whether Tusla maintains a waiting list or prioritisation system for access to the programme; and to provide the number of referrals made to iScoil through the Tusla Education Welfare Service in 2023, 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026, including the number accepted and refused in each period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32553/26]

410. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide the exact funding allocated by her Department to iScoil in 2023, 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026, specifying the funding stream, and whether it is provided on a grant, contract or other basis; whether a written agreement, service level agreement or formal performance framework exists governing the delivery of services by iScoil, and if so, to outline its key terms; to set out the specific performance indicators, outcome measures and reporting requirements used by the Department to assess delivery and effectiveness; and to confirm whether any audit, inspection, evaluation or compliance review of iScoil has been undertaken by the Department, its inspectorate or any external body in the past five years; and if so, to provide copies or dates and summaries of the findings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32554/26]

411. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the provision that exists under the school transport scheme for children who have not secured a school place, including a special class or special school placement, by the closing date of the school transport application portal on 8 May; whether such children will retain eligibility for school transport once a place is subsequently allocated after that date; to confirm that no child will be excluded from school transport supports due to delays in securing a school place outside the control of parents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32555/26]

414. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department receives regular reports from the National Council for Special Education on the deployment, vacancy status and allocation of behaviour support practitioner posts across special schools; if so, the frequency, format and content of such reports; and if not, the reason no such reporting mechanism is in place. [32572/26]

415. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether a centralised dataset is maintained by her Department, or on its behalf, recording the filling of behaviour support practitioner posts, including appointment dates, commencement dates and weekly hour allocations by school; and if so, if she will provide details. [32573/26]

416. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth to confirm, based on information available to her Department, whether the behaviour support practitioner post allocated to Carrigaline Community Special School, Cork has been filled; and if not, the current status of that post and the expected timeline for the delivery of supports. [32574/26]

417. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth what governance and oversight arrangements are in place to ensure that behaviour support practitioner posts approved for special schools are filled and operational within a defined timeframe; and whether any service-level targets or performance indicators apply. [32575/26]

418. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the total number of behaviour support practitioner posts approved by the National Council for Special Education for special schools nationally; the number currently filled; the number vacant; and the average time from approval to commencement of service. [32576/26]

505. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department, or any agency under its remit including the National Parks and Wildlife Service, has undertaken any ecological, biodiversity, or conservation assessment of the area known as Murphy's Rock in Cork; and if so, to provide details of such assessments, including dates, scope, and findings. [32107/26]

506. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether the area known as Murphy's Rock in Cork is currently designated or proposed for designation under any national or EU environmental protection frameworks, including special areas of conservation, special protection areas, or natural heritage areas; and if not, the reason it has not been considered for such designation. [32108/26]

507. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the criteria applied by his Department in determining whether a natural site may be considered for inclusion on Ireland's UNESCO tentative list for natural heritage, biosphere reserve, or geopark status; and whether sites of significant biodiversity value such as Murphy's Rock could meet these criteria. [32109/26]

508. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the formal process by which a natural site in the State may be advanced for consideration under UNESCO frameworks, including World Heritage, Biosphere Reserve, or Global Geopark designation; and the role of his Department in initiating or supporting such nominations. [32110/26]

509. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department has considered, or will consider, the ecological and natural heritage value of Murphy's Rock in Cork as part of any future proposals for UNESCO designation, including biosphere reserve or geopark status. [32111/26]

510. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether any gaps have been identified in ecological or biodiversity data relating to Murphy's Rock in Cork which would prevent its consideration for national or international designation; and whether further surveys or studies are planned. [32112/26]

527. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the average processing time for first registration applications in each year from 2020 to 2025; the current average processing time in 2026 to date; and the number of applications currently awaiting examination for more than 6 months, 12 months and 24 months. [33065/26]