Questions

567. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the steps she will take to ensure that sufficient autism class places are provided in the local area of a school (details supplied); whether modular accommodation or other interim solutions will be considered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30126/26]

7. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the level of engagement her Department has had with the request by a school (details supplied) for modular accommodation that can facilitate the opening of two additional autism classes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29156/26]

67. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the timeline for the progression to construction of a new school building (details supplied); the current status of the tender assessment process; the number of tenders received for the project; whether construction is expected to commence in 2026 as previously indicated; the revised timeline for the commencement of works; and if she will make a sta…

535. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number and percentage of parents of preschool children who expressed support for multi-denominational education in the National Parent Survey, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28688/26]

536. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number and percentage of parents of children currently attending multi-denominational schools who expressed support for multi-denominational education in the National Parent Survey, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28689/26]

537. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the total number of submissions received to the National Parent Survey; the number and percentage of those which expressed support for multi-denominational education, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28690/26]

538. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reasons the published outcomes of the National Parent Survey focused on the preferences of parents of children attending denominational schools rather than presenting the preferences of all parents surveyed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28692/26]

539. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department will publish the full dataset of valid responses from the National Parent Survey, including a breakdown by school type and parental cohort, in order to ensure transparency and maintain public confidence in the consultation process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28693/26]

1299. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth when the pay agreement for school caretakers will be implemented; if she will explain the reason for the continued delay, particularly in light of the fact that school secretaries received their agreement in 2023; the supports being put in place for school caretakers who are left without income during school closures and must repeatedly sign on fo…

1492. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update on construction works for the planned ASD classrooms at a school (details supplied); the expected timeline for completion and opening of the new ASD class; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26528/26]

268. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the extent to which financial literacy is currently delivered within the post-primary curriculum; the subjects and programmes through which it is provided; and whether her Department has assessed the proportion of students who receive structured financial literacy education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23338/26]

269. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department has assessed the effectiveness of the current cross-curricular approach to financial literacy education at post-primary level, including in the context of national and OECD data on financial literacy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23339/26]

270. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether she is considering the introduction of a more structured or universal approach to financial literacy education at post-primary level, including the potential for a standalone module, subject or mandatory programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23340/26]

271. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide a status update on the planned science labs for a school (details supplied);; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23341/26]

631. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the current status of the large-scale capital project for a school (details supplied); when tender assessment will be completed; whether construction remains on track to commence by the end of Q2 2026; the expected timeline for commencement of works; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18402/26]

632. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the basis for the introduction in 2024 of the revised special needs assistant (SNA) deployment toolkit and guidelines used by the National Council for Special Education to determine eligibility for SNA support; the specific criteria applied under this model; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18405/26]

663. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department is engaging with a school’s (details supplied) request for modular accommodation that can facilitate the opening of two additional autism classes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18743/26]

753. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the current accommodation capacity of a school (details supplied); the school’s current and projected enrolment figures; and the steps her Department are taking to ensure sufficient classroom accommodation is available. [19183/26]

754. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department has carried out, or plans to carry out, an assessment of the accommodation needs of a school (details supplied); and if she will outline the outcome or expected timeline for such an assessment. [19184/26]

755. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding any applications for additional accommodation or capital works relating to a school (details supplied) are currently under consideration by her Department [19185/26]

472. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of children and young people who are blind or visually impaired and who are currently receiving orientation and mobility or rehabilitation services delivered by an organisation (details supplied), and funded by her Department, in counties Cork, Tipperary and Waterford. in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [168…

476. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the status of the review into the upper age limit of 70 for drivers operating under the school transport scheme; when that review is expected to conclude; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16862/26]

477. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of school transport drivers who have been required to cease driving upon reaching the age of 70 in each of the past three years; the projected number expected to be affected in the next two years, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16863/26]

478. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the extent to which the mandatory upper age limit of 70 for school transport drivers is contributing to driver shortages; the assessment her Department has undertaken in this regard; the contingency measures in place to maintain continuity of service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16864/26]

479. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether consideration is being given to permitting drivers over the age of 70 to continue operating school transport services subject to annual medical and eyesight certification; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16865/26]