Questions

428. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of teachers currently working in special education teaching roles hold a recognised qualification in special education; if she will provide this information in tabular form; if the Department plans to expand conversion or upskilling routes; the training is provided to external professionals who work with schools; and if she will make a s…

429. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if consideration has been given to redeploying elements of the Inspectorate to provide in school training and collaborative planning support rather than focusing primarily on compliance based inspection; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71426/25]

430. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the data sharing arrangements that exist for students identified through the continuum of support who are also on assessment of need or child and adolescent mental health services waiting lists; if a shared national system is planned; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71429/25]

469. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of parents who have submitted a notification to the NCSE by the 1 October deadline requesting a special school place for the 2026-2027 school year in Dublin, by postcode, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71947/25]

93. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update on post primary capacity planning for locations (details supplied), including the current assessment of projected enrolment pressure; the steps her Department is taking to ensure an adequate supply of secondary school places in the coming years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [70838/25]

193. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the progress made on co-educational reform and proposed school amalgamations in Dublin Bay North, particularly in view of clear parental interest shown in recent surveys; the next steps in the decision making process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [70839/25]

387. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the measures her Department is taking to address the increase in Irish language exemptions and to ensure that the operation of the exemption system remains consistent with national policy objectives for Irish language learning, in view of the ongoing implementation of the Action Plan for the Irish Language; and if she will make a statement on the m…

426. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the steps her Department is taking to minimise disruption to schools and families arising from school closures on days when elections are held on Fridays; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [69826/25]

427. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will engage with the Minister for Housing Local Government and Heritage to ensure that primary schools used as polling stations are not required to close on election days; if alternative venues such as community halls will be considered; if she will ensure that any lost school days are made up so that teaching time is protected; and if she w…

328. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of children in Dublin Bay North awaiting a special school place for the school year beginning in September 2025, with comparative figures for September 2021, September 2022, September 2023 and September 2024, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67165/25]

329. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of children in Dublin Bay North awaiting an autism school place for the school year beginning in September 2025, with comparative figures for September 2021, September 2022, September 2023 and September 2024, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67166/25]

330. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of sanctioned autism classes in Dublin Bay North that are scheduled to open for the start of the school term in September 2025, with comparative figures for September 2021, September 2022, September 2023 and September 2024, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67167/25]

178. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of students currently supported by reading schools or specialist classes for severe dyslexia, by region and by local authority area, in tabular form; the projected future demand for such provision; the planned timeline for expansion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [66490/25]

391. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if individual schools have any discretion under the tendering and procurement process when selecting the provider of their school meals, taking into consideration local factors, price, menu selection; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65555/25]

440. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the review of out-of-school education; the current status of the revision report; when it is expected to be completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [66022/25]

459. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the current status of the planned ASD classrooms at a school (details supplied); the reason construction works have not yet commenced despite assurances that they would begin in September 2025; the expected timeline for completion and opening of the new ASD class; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63166/25]

485. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth when construction works at a school (details supplied) will be completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61124/25]

538. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will confirm that resources and funding provided under the new DEIS Plus initiative will be allocated directly to schools, rather than channelled through intermediary agencies, so that school leaders can target supports based on the specific needs of their pupils; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61786/25]

539. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will ensure that DEIS Plus funding and resources are made available to schools before the end of the 2025-2026 school year, to allow schools sufficient time to plan, recruit staff, and prepare supports ahead of the September 2026 roll out; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61787/25]

540. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will outline plans for the provision of multidisciplinary teams under DEIS Plus, including counsellors, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, and psychologists, working directly in schools to support children’s learning and wellbeing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61788/25]

541. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will provide details of how DEIS Plus will support trauma-informed educational practice in schools, including through additional staffing, dedicated spaces such as nurture rooms, and training supports for teachers and school staff; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61789/25]

542. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will set out the implementation timeline for DEIS Plus, including key milestones between now and September 2026; when detailed guidance and funding allocations will issue to participating schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61790/25]

248. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the current pupil–teacher ratio in primary and secondary schools located in the Dublin 3, Dublin 5, Dublin 7, and Dublin 9 areas; the way in which these ratios compare with the national averages, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60919/25]

37. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department has any plans to open another non-denominational co-educational post-primary school in the Clontarf-Raheny-Killester catchment area; if so, to provide the timeline and proposed location; if not, the reasons for such decision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59674/25]

59. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason the proposed Gaelcholáiste project has still not gone to tender despite repeated assurances that it would do so by the end of Q3 2025; if the project remains on track for commencement of construction in Q2 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59673/25]