Questions

464. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth her views on whether it is acceptable that children with significant additional needs, including autism and moderate intellectual disabilities, are being asked to travel to schools located in different counties, in some cases requiring journeys of over an hour each way by bus; the maximum travel distances considered appropriate for children with…

465. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department is aware of cases where parents have applied to more than twenty special schools and mainstream schools with special classes yet have received only refusal letters due to lack of capacity; whether an emergency mechanism exists to ensure a school place is secured for such children before the start of the academic year; and …

466. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth the steps she will take to ensure better coordination between the National Council for Special Education, her Department, and local schools where a child with complex needs is at risk of having no school placement as they move from primary to secondary school; the supports available to families in such situations before the start of the school y…

467. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of additional special school places and ASD class places planned for Fingal between now and September; whether emergency measures will be considered where children remain without placements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21437/26]

468. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she accepts that children with complex needs have a right to receive an appropriate education within their own community; the measures being taken to expand local provision Fingal, particularly given the planned opening of a new special school in 2027 will come too late for entry into school in September 2026; and if she will make a statement…

469. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth her views on whether it is acceptable that where a child with additional needs cannot access an appropriate special school or ASD class placement, a parent may be forced to give up employment in order to care for and educate the child at home; the supports available in such circumstances, particularly where the parent may they be deemed ineligib…

470. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth if schools who require a student to have a digital device can prohibit students who cannot afford a digital device from accessing their school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21448/26]

471. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will confirm a school building development in Kildare south (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21465/26]

472. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason a person (details supplied) does not have the supports they require in their school, resulting in missed school days through no fault of their own; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21497/26]

473. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education and Youth if a school (details supplied) has been approved for a ‘special class for autistic learners’ in September 2026; and to provide assurance to the school that the new class will go ahead as scheduled. [21557/26]

474. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education and Youth the steps taken to implement the rulings under cases (details supplied); to outline any legislative steps which still need to be undertaken; and to provide a timeline for the full implementation of the changes necessary under each ruling [21559/26]

475. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of schools (primary and post-primary) in Mayo that currently have autism classes; the number of schools (primary and post-primary) in Mayo that applied to her Department for funding in the past year to open an autism classroom; the number of these applications that were successful; the number of additional autism classes and places in…

476. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Education and Youth the planning in place in Mayo to ensure children in an autism class at primary school have a smooth transition into an appropriate autism class at post-primary level;; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21561/26]

477. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Youth if there is a formal appeals process for late applications for the Government scheme allowing newly qualified teachers to receive a refund of up to €2,000 towards the cost of their teacher training; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21575/26]

478. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education and Youth her plans to address the lack of feeder special classes in the secondary schools (details supplied). [21578/26]

479. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 237 of 5 February 2026, the date when the school’s refurbishment plan will be signed and shared with the school; and the timeline for when the school will move. [21579/26]

480. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 237 of 5 February 2026, to provide assurance that the money required for the refurbishment of this building for a school (details supplied) will not be withheld. [21580/26]

481. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Education and Youth the current policy of providing free schoolbooks to children who receive home schooling; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21596/26]

482. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education and Youth to review an appeal under the emergency works programme for an application for a school (details supplied) that was refused; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21621/26]

483. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the current status of an additional accommodation project application by a school (details supplied); when they can proceed to the next phase; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21623/26]

484. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education and Youth if a school (details supplied) will be permitted to progress from stage 2b of the additional accommodation scheme for a new building; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21624/26]

485. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education and Youth if a school (details supplied) will be awarded funding to complete a project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21625/26]

486. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the current status of an application by a school (details supplied) application under the additional accommodation scheme; when a decision will issue on whether it will proceed to the next stage, as the works are urgently needed by the school and its pupils; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21626/26]

487. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the current status of a school’s (details supplied) multiple applications under the emergency works scheme; when decisions will be issued in each case as the works are urgently needed by the school and its pupils; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21627/26]

488. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if a person (details supplied) can have their school care plan reviewed, if a resource SNA can be sourced for them as needed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21632/26]