Questions

513. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to her announcement of 105 priority school building projects in the first tranche of the NDP rollout, what this means for other projects; if projects such as the additional accommodation project at a school (details supplied) will be delayed due to funding and other practical constraints; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [170…

514. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to her announcement of 105 priority school building projects in the first tranche of the NDP rollout, what this means for other projects; if projects such as the additional accommodation project at a school (details supplied) will be delayed due to funding and other practical constraints; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [170…

515. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to her announcement of 105 priority school building projects in the first tranche of the NDP rollout, what this means for other projects; if projects such as the additional accommodation project at a school (details supplied) will be delayed due to funding and other practical constraints; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [170…

516. Deputy Joe Cooney asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will consider the application by a school (details supplied) to open a second special class for children with autism, which will meet the documented demand in the wider geographical area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17058/26]

517. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Education and Youth when the grant payment calendar for 2026 and 2027 will be published for primary schools, including the scheduled payment months for Minor Works and ICT grants, with particular reference to small rural schools to support Board of Management planning and procurement (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17045/26]

518. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to report No. 98 of the Comptroller and Auditor General on school transport, if she will provide the exact figures that the Bus Éireann directors and auditors determined as profit in each year for school transport that was actually credited to the statutory financial statement in the profit and loss account, balance sheet and cash flow sta…

519. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth when sample AAC reports will be provided to teachers for science subjects to illustrate the expectation that will be considered when grading these projects from students; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17069/26]

520. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth when students undertaking AACs in science subjects will be provided with guidance on approaching the additional assessment component, particularly in relation to word count; the number of questions to answer; the amount of detail required for each question; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17070/26]

521. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth following the recent ‘WATTS report’ based on input and data gathered by an organisation (details supplied), if she will pause the introduction of the AAC component in science subjects, with particular concern from science teachers given to health and safety risks, infrastructure gaps, workload crisis and equity and integrity issues; and if she wil…

522. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason no marking scheme was introduced with exam papers for the written component of the Leaving Certificate for science subjects; when she expects this will be circulated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17072/26]

523. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will provide additional funding to accompany the introduction of AAC’s for science subjects following the concern raised in the recent ‘WATTS report’ based on data provided by an organisation (details supplied), with great concern given to health and safety issues, lack of storage, inadequate facilities, lack of lab technicians and outdated…

524. Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason a school (details supplied) was not included in the list of school building projects as announced under the National Development Plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17076/26]

525. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Education and Youth to detail the current basis on which guidance counsellors are allocated to secondary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17142/26]

526. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the current policy position of her Department regarding the establishment of new Irish medium primary and post-primary schools in Dublin city; whether her Department has assessed projected demand for more Gaelcholáistí in the area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17173/26]

527. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department has conducted or commissioned any recent analysis of parental demand for Irish medium education in Dublin city and nationally; if so, if she will provide details of the methodology and findings of such analysis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17174/26]

528. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether consideration is being given to legislative measures to support a systematic and long-term expansion of Irish medium education, including the establishment of new schools rather than reliance solely on the expansion of existing provision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17175/26]

529. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the way in which the forward planning section of her Department incorporates Irish medium provision into its school place planning for Dublin city and other urban areas; whether specific targets exist for the growth of Gaelscoileanna and Gaelcholáistí under the National Development Plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17176/26]

530. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department has examined proposals to provide a statutory right to education through the medium of Irish where sufficient parental demand exists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17177/26]

531. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department intends to publish a multi annual strategy setting out clear timelines, targets and capital allocations for the expansion of Irish medium education in north Dublin and nationally; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17178/26]

532. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of Gaelcholáistí, by county, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17179/26]

533. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport when the proposed increases to An Post pensioner payments will be implemented. [17148/26]

534. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the steps his Department is taking to support wider diversity and participation in sport from underrepresented groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17204/26]

535. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport whether his Department has concerns regarding the planned Ireland v Israel Nations League fixtures; the engagement his Department has had with the FAI on the fixtures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17205/26]

536. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport whether his Department or Sport Ireland has received complaints or representations in the past three years about community access to publicly funded sports facilities in Dublin; if so, the number received; the issues raised; the action that was taken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17226/26]

537. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the national funding or grants that are available to a local football club (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16213/26]