Questions

633. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether the DEIS profiling model will be reformed to account for rural schools with non-local disadvantaged enrolments, such as a school (details supplied), where area-based indicators do not reflect the actual pupil population; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35202/26]

336. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to her commitment to develop guidance on best practice arrangements for pupils in denominational schools whose parents request that they do not attend religious instruction, if she will ensure that this guidance is framed in order that it expressly covers all conscience-based opt-outs under section 30(2)(e) of the Education Act 1998, and not …

337. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will ensure that any Departmental guidance on opt-out arrangements covers all conscience-based opt-outs and does not create an artificial distinction between families who invoke the same statutory right in respect to different elements of the curriculum given that the same practical and rights-based issues arise; and if she will make a stateme…

338. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she accepts that providing no more than ad hoc supervision, or requiring a child to sit in the same classroom while instruction contrary to conscience is delivered, is inconsistent with the State’s duty to vindicate parental rights under the Constitution; the way in which upcoming guidance will address this; and if she will make a statement on the…

390. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is aware of a request submitted on behalf of a school (details supplied) seeking the establishment of a dedicated school transport route from Ballyhaunis; whether this request has been assessed by her Department or Bus Éireann; and if she will outline the current status of this request. [32428/26]

391. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether pupils attending a school (details supplied) who reside in Ballyhaunis, County Mayo, are considered eligible for school transport under the school transport scheme where their nearest school was unable to offer places due to capacity constraints, as confirmed in writing by the local school; and the way in which such cases are assessed. [32429…

392. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth the timeframe within which a decision is made to establish a new school transport route where a cohort of pupils - currently 14 - have applied; and whether arrangements can be put in place, in advance of the upcoming academic year in September, given the clear and ongoing need for safe and reliable transport. [32430/26]

396. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth the rationale for the continued exclusion of principals appointed after 2015 from receiving the secretarial allowance for acting as secretary to the board of management, given that principals appointed before this date continue to receive the allowance for carrying out the same statutory duties; whether a review of this inequity is under way; and if …

397. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will review the current structure of principal release-day clusters to ensure that the calculation of base posts reflects the full scope of a principal’s management responsibilities, including the co-ordination and oversight of special needs assistants or SNAs, bus escorts and teaching staff; if she will consider including these roles in the s…

436. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide a full breakdown of all special classes in County Mayo, including the number of places in each class, current occupancy levels, and projected availability for September 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33057/26]

437. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of children in County Mayo who have been identified by psychologists and SENOs as requiring a special class or special school placement for September 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33058/26]

438. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of children in County Mayo who are expected to attend mainstream schools with SNA support in September 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33059/26]

439. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth to outline the Department's plan to ensure that all children identified as requiring a special class or special school placement in County Mayo for September 2026 will be accommodated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33060/26]

440. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth the ongoing training and support that is provided to teachers and SNAs in County Mayo to enable them to support children with complex needs, particularly in cases where therapy services are understaffed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33061/26]

441. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth to clarify the policy regarding transport provision for special schools; the reason a special school in County Mayo has had to fundraise for a school bus; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33062/26]

106. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth the rationale for increasing the school bus fees for 2026, while simultaneously shortening the payment window, with parents now required to pay by 8 May, compared with early June last year; and the reason no instalment or phased payment system is available to support families during the ongoing cost-of-living pressures; and if she will make a stateme…

521. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 530 of 24 February 2026, to provide an update on the review of the assistive technology scheme referenced, including the process being followed and the anticipated date for completion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29670/26]

522. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason her Department does not accept or give appropriate weight to an individual professional report which clearly states that a child (details supplied) requires assistive technology in order to access the curriculum; and to outline the basis on which such recommendations are being deemed insufficient to meet the Department's criteria; and if s…

568. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will address the capacity pressures within the visiting teacher service for the visually impaired, in light of recent presentations to the Oireachtas by advocacy groups (details supplied); the measures being taken to ensure timely and adequate support for children with visual impairments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30196…

87. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will outline the process and responsible parties for ensuring that appropriate safety measures, including clinically recommended restraint or harness systems, are put in place for a child (details supplied) with additional needs who has been removed from school transport on safety grounds; the reason for delays in securing clinical assessment a…

92. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth the specific analysis her Department has carried out on the decision by Bus Éireann to double school transport fees for the 2026-2027 academic year; if she has examined the disproportionate impact this increase will have on working families who have no alternative transport options; if she accepts the widespread concern being expressed by parents that…

1242. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth the written procedure, protocol, circular or guidance that applies where a disabled student experiences significant distress or makes a disclosure linked to difficulties accessing education; and the body that holds lead responsibility for coordinating the response in such cases; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23914/26]

1243. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth the role NEPS is expected to play in cases where its involvement has been sought but no response or engagement has been provided over an extended period; and the oversight mechanisms in place where a student’s distress appears to be linked to failures in disability-related educational access and support provision; and if she will make a statement on…

1244. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether she considers general school-level frameworks to be adequate in situations involving unresolved multi-agency failures affecting a disabled student’s access to education and wellbeing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23916/26]

1313. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth the amount of Government funding provided to environmental NGOs (details supplied) in each of the past ten years. [24502/26]