Questions

365. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of parents or guardians required to complete forms or applications relating to children leaving school at age 16 in each of the past five years, despite the majority of young people now remaining in second-level education until age 18 or 19; whether consideration has been given to extending supports such as child benefit until age 19 in …

630. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason for limiting the recent extension of the upper age limit for drivers operating under the school transport scheme to certain categories of drivers only; if consideration has been given to extending similar arrangements to drivers working with community and disability transport providers supporting school transport services, including orga…

258. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department has examined the impact that delays in the Teaching Council route 3 registration process are having on efforts to recruit Irish teachers currently living abroad back into the Irish education system; whether any engagement has taken place with the Teaching Council regarding the reduction of processing times; and if she will ma…

260. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether consideration is being given to streamlining or fast-tracking the recognition process for teaching qualifications and school placements completed in jurisdictions with comparable education standards and regulatory systems to Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39352/26]

262. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of registered teachers currently employed in schools under conditional or temporary registration arrangements pending completion of the route 3 recognition processes, by school year, in tabular form. [39360/26]

526. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number and percentage of students who left post primary education before completing senior cycle in each of the past five years, by county, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37425/26]

527. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the estimated second level school retention rate to Leaving Certificate level in each county in each of the past five years, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37426/26]

528. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of students enrolled in post primary education in fifth year; the number completing Leaving Certificate in each county in each of the past five years, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37427/26]

529. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of students identified through Departmental retention statistics as leaving post primary education before completion of senior cycle in DEIS and non DEIS schools respectively, by county over the past five years, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37428/26]

561. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether she is aware of the financial pressures faced by students and families arising from the cost of participating in extracurricular activities, including school sports, competitions and travel; whether additional funding or targeted supports are being considered to assist schools in reducing these costs and ensuring that all students can parti…

565. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether youth services supported by her Department have raised concerns regarding nitrous oxide misuse among young people, including in Dublin; whether any guidance, awareness initiatives or cross departmental measures are in place to assist youth organisations in responding to this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37847/26]

598. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the current status of the proposed redevelopment of a site (details supplied); the timeline for delivery of the promised new school facilities following the amalgamation of the three Ballyfermot secondary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34786/26]

600. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the procedures followed by Education and Training Boards when appointing principals and senior staff to special schools; the safeguarding, vetting and reference checking requirements that apply; whether her Department intends to review these procedures following concerns raised in relation to a school (details supplied); and if she will make a stat…

616. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department is considering the development or expansion of educational programmes in schools and youth settings aimed at teaching children and teenagers practical skills relating to horse care, animal welfare and responsible ownership, particularly in areas of Dublin with a strong tradition of horse ownership; whether any engagement has …

306. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the full policy rationale and published evidence base for the revised English as an additional language allocation model at primary level, including the introduction of a two year eligibility limit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31852/26]

307. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the assessment process that will be used by schools to identify pupils with ongoing English language needs under the revised model and the specific supports available where such needs persist beyond the eligibility period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31853/26]

308. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether an equality screening or impact assessment was undertaken prior to the introduction of the revised English as an additional language criteria and to provide the findings of any such assessment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31854/26]

309. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of pupils currently in receipt of English as an additional language supports at primary level and the estimated number who will cease to qualify under the revised criteria, and to outline any associated cost savings, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31855/26]

311. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether there are plans to expand access to multidisciplinary teams in DEIS plus schools outside of existing pilot areas; the way in which she is working with the Minister for Health to address barriers to delivering these supports on a cross-departmental basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31884/26]

312. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the criteria that will be used to select the next schools or areas for inclusion in the expansion of the City Connects programme; when these decisions will be made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31885/26]

313. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if consideration will be given to prioritising areas of highest disadvantage, including those identified under the Pobal HP index such as Dublin 17, in the roll-out of additional City Connects sites; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31886/26]

314. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the way she intends to ensure that DEIS plus schools receive access to the full range of wraparound supports, including after-school and family support services, in line with the objectives of the programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31887/26]

564. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the basis on which modular accommodation under the additional school accommodation scheme is not being considered for a school (details supplied); whether the status of the building as a relatively new facility precludes such consideration; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30123/26]

565. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is aware of the identified need for additional autism class places in the catchment area of a school (details supplied); the steps being taken by her Department and the NCSE to meet this need; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30124/26]

566. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the current status of the consideration by the NCSE of additional autism class provision at a school (details supplied); the reasons a sanction has not yet issued; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30125/26]