Darren O'Rourke

79. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the measures he is taking to ensure the Air Corps remains fully operational at Casement Aerodrome in Baldonnel; his plans to recruit air traffic controllers and other personnel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30283/25]

85. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth to outline, in the context of special education preparedness for September 2025, the number of children with special educational needs but currently without an appropriate school place for September 2025, and the plans to address this; the way in which special needs assistant, SNA, posts will be allocated to these children and all children with special educational needs in September 2025; if all schools with new special classes due to open in September have had their SNA allocation confirmed, for example; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31563/25]

87. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth if, in light of the deep concern regarding, among other things, the resourcing of schools, training of teachers and impact of artificial intelligence on the validity and authenticity of additional assessment components, and the related recent vote of rejection by the ASTI union, she will pause her accelerated plan for senior cycle redevelopment and re-engage with teachers and their representatives to ensure their concerns are addressed and the quality and integrity of the leaving certificate is maintained; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31564/25]

110. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of additional home school liaison officers and educational welfare officers her Department will provide to schools across the State for the 2025-26 academic year; the number of unfilled posts currently; the funding and recruitment processes she intends to provide to fill new and existing vacancies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31224/25]

133. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth how she intends to tackle soaring school running costs; if she will initiative a comprehensive review of school running costs and schools funding; if she will increase school capitation by 20% for primary schools in budget 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31222/25]

135. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the measures she is taking to ensure children with Down's syndrome have access to school places and supports appropriate for their particular needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31226/25]

142. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will pause the introduction of senior-cycle redevelopment for all tranche 2 subjects, not just English and accounting, in order to allow for adequate preparation particularly relating to school resourcing, the impact of artificial intelligence and evaluation of additional assessment components; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31225/25]

145. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth how she plans to expand trauma-based therapy; if this will be focussed in DEIS and DEIS+ schools or otherwise; the extent to which these supports will be resourced in terms of staffing and funding; a timeline for implementation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31223/25]

327. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the estimated cost of reducing the teacher pupil ratio to 19:1. [31352/25]

348. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the cost of increasing the free-of-charge summer programme for students with special education needs to provide a place for every child with special educational needs across the State. [31572/25]

349. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the estimated cost of increasing teacher numbers by 1,850, 2,000 and 3,000, in tabular form. [31573/25]

350. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the estimated cost of extending DEIS supports to an additional 50 schools. [31574/25]

351. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the funding being provided to Traveller/Roma/refugee supports in schools. [31576/25]

352. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the amount of funding provided, per pupil, for technological devices for school use in DEIS schools across the State. [31577/25]

353. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the funding provided for the HSCL scheme to schools currently and the estimated cost of a 5%, 10% and 20% increase in this funding, in tabular form. [31578/25]

354. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the estimated cost of providing trauma-informed care training to teachers in DEIS schools and then an overall cost for all teachers. [31579/25]

355. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of nurture rooms open and active in schools across the State. [31580/25]

356. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she has any intention to remove the Irish language requirement for SET’s, particularly when some SET teachers are already working in a classroom without the Irish language for a year or two before they are required to return to studies to meet the Irish language criteria. [31605/25]

361. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the estimated cost of a full review of the PME. [31649/25]

362. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the cost of holding a citizens’ assembly on education. [31650/25]

462. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the estimated cost of providing enough staff to reduce assessment of need waiting times to six months. [31575/25]

141. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the estimated cost of providing training to student teachers and qualified teachers to complete work placements in special education settings; and the resources already being provided to help qualified teachers upskill and become more knowledgeable of children with extra educational needs or disabilities. [31211/25]

142. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the measures the Government is taking to tackle the inequalities between school children with extra educational needs or disabilities. [30281/25]

145. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will include school secretaries and caretakers in the public service pension scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27338/25]

108. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment for an update on the North-South interconnector project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30279/25]