Questions

266. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of special classes and special school places available in County Mayo in each of the past five school years and the current school year; the number of additional special classes and special school places planned for the 2027-2028 school year and beyond; the arrangements in place between her Department, the National Council for Special Educ…

217. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her attention has been drawn to the increasing concerns being raised by families regarding the cost of mock and State examinations at second level; whether consideration is being given to the introduction of additional financial supports, fee waivers, or other assistance measures for low-income families, including households where a parent holds a…

252. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth to clarify the arrangements that apply where a school secretary payroll overpayment remains outstanding when a person retires, specifically whether a remaining balance can be recovered from a person's pension payments; to further clarify whether outstanding overpayment debt is written off in the event of the death of the person concerned, or if recov…

253. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her attention has been drawn to the case of a person (details supplied) who has been notified of a payroll overpayment due to an administrative error by her Department, in this case the employee's payslips did not record the number of hours worked; if this matter has been taken into account in assessing the overpayment; and if she will make a stat…

254. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth the policies and procedures governing the recovery of payroll overpayments arising from Departmental error in cases where the employee acted in good faith and had no knowledge that an overpayment was occurring; and is she will make a statement on the matter. [70404/26]

554. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will review the case of a teacher (details supplied); and if she will outline the measures being considered to retain experienced teachers in the profession, particularly in rural schools, amid the ongoing teacher shortage. [64979/26]

5. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth the arrangements in place for parents and parent representative organisations to raise concerns directly with her Department regarding the national education curriculum and provision of educational resources; and the frequency with which she personally meets with such bodies. [54436/26]

298. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth the mechanisms through which parents and organisations representing parents may engage with her Department on matters relating to the quality or contents of educational resources provided in schools; and the number of occasions on which she has met with such organisations in the past twelve months. [54437/26]

303. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth to outline the capacity and availability of places in special schools, particularly in County Mayo; and the steps being taken to increase the number of places available for children with additional needs. [50396/26]

304. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of places available in special schools in County Mayo, including projected intake for September 2026 and September 2027; the number of applications that have been received for these places; the number of children without a confirmed placement for the upcoming academic year; and the measures being taken to expand capacity where demand excee…

305. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth to outline the early intervention supports being provided; and the additional measures that are planned to ensure timely access to assessments (including psychological assessments) and supports for children awaiting school placements. [50399/26]

306. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth to acknowledge the financial burden on families who are paying privately for essential services (such as speech and language therapy), and whether additional supports can be provided where HSE services are not meeting demand. [50400/26]

384. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will review the Summer Programme supports available to a child (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49229/26]

372. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason staffing allocations under the 2026 Summer Programme for primary schools have been significantly reduced; if she is aware that many schools may be forced to cancel their programmes as a result of these cuts, leaving children with complex special educational needs and those at risk of educational disadvantage without access to a summer prog…

373. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is aware of guidance issued to schools under the 2026 Summer Programme requiring staff to be sent home where pupil attendance falls below the specified ratio; the legal basis for imposing such a requirement; the rationale behind it; and the impact this is having on schools’ ability to plan and safely deliver programmes; and if she will make a …

471. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding the implementation of the school transport scheme review; and which recommendations have been implemented to date. [45455/26]

472. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth the timeline for the full implementation of the school transport scheme review recommendations up to 2030; and if delays have occurred, the reasons for same. [45456/26]

473. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth the measures arising from the school transport scheme review which were intended to increase flexibility for families in choosing schools; and if these measures have been implemented. [45457/26]

474. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth to review the rules governing concessionary school transport, in particular the prohibition on increasing capacity where additional demand exists; and if changes are being considered. [45458/26]

475. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth if Bus Éireann is permitted to reallocate existing transport resources, including vehicles from underutilised routes, where such changes would not result in additional cost to the State. [45459/26]

476. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason the option for parental contributions towards extended or enhanced school transport services was removed; and if there are plans to reintroduce such flexibility. [45460/26]

477. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she acknowledges that the eligibility criteria under the school transport scheme may disproportionately affect rural families where alternative schools lack services such as afterschool care; and if a review is planned. [45461/26]

760. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth the total funding allocated to the July provision programme for 2026; whether this represents a reduction compared to 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41587/26]

761. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether an assessment has been carried out on the impact of any reduction in July provision supports on children with additional educational needs and their families; and if she will provide details of same. [41588/26]

762. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth the steps being taken to ensure that all eligible children can access July provision programmes in 2026, particularly given reported difficulties in securing places or staffing. [41589/26]