Questions

390. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the considerations given to recognising service prior to 1 May 2015 in calculating the exgratia lump sum for school secretaries and caretakers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68391/26]

391. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the provisions being made for school secretaries and caretakers who retired between the commencement of the dispute and the date of acceptance of the Labour Court proposals in July 2026, given that the recommended exgratia lump sum applies only to staff aged 40 and over at the point of acceptance and may exclude those who retired earlier despite lo…

561. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide the current enrolment, permanent building capacity, temporary accommodation capacity and projected enrolment for each primary and post-primary school serving County Louth; and to identify whether any schools are currently operating at or above their permanent capacity. [65095/26]

562. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department has completed a strategic review of primary and post-primary school capacity across north Louth, having regard to the substantial population growth experienced in recent years and the further housing development expected; the additional capacity identified as necessary; and the actions and timelines arising from that review. [6509…

564. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the engagement that has taken place between her Department, Louth County Council, the Housing Agency and relevant utility and infrastructure providers regarding the reservation or acquisition of suitable sites for new schools in the south Dundalk area; and if she will provide details of any sites currently under consideration. [65092/26]

565. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the work that has been undertaken by her Department’s forward planning section to assess the effect of completed, approved and proposed residential development in Blackrock, Haggardstown and the wider south Dundalk area on future demand for primary and post-primary school places; and if the findings of this work will be published. [65091/26]

566. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide the current and projected primary and post-primary school enrolment figures for Dundalk south and Dundalk Carlingford local electoral areas, LEAs, school planning area for each of the next ten years; the number of available school places currently identified in the area; and the year in which demand is expected to exceed existing permane…

568. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department will assess the need for a new post-primary school in the Dundalk south local electoral area, particularly to serve Blackrock, Haggardstown and surrounding communities, given the significant recent and projected increase in population and residential development; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65088/26]

1123. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department has conducted an audit of recognised post-primary schools that require students to purchase or lease a laptop or digital device; whether there is any Department regulation or policy that permits or requires schools to make the purchase of a laptop mandatory; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55004/26]

1124. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department has undertaken any research or assessment of the financial impact on families arising from schools requiring students to purchase laptops or digital devices, including the costs of purchase, insurance, repairs and replacement; whether this has been compared with the savings arising from the free schoolbooks scheme; and if she wil…

1125. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the grants or financial assistance are available to assist low- and middle-income families with the purchase of laptops or digital devices where these are required by post-primary schools; if she intends to introduce such a scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55006/26]

1126. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the total funding provided under the free schoolbooks scheme since its introduction, in each county, at both primary and post-primary level, for each county and each school year by county; and the amount by primary funding, post-primary funding , total funding, in tabular form. [55007/26]

1127. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the average level of funding provided per pupil under the free schoolbooks scheme since its introduction, at both primary and post-primary level, by county and school year, the amount by county primary average per pupil, post-primary average per pupil and the number of pupils benefiting, in tabular form. [55008/26]

1128. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department has undertaken any review or evaluation of the impact of the free schoolbooks scheme on the overall back-to-school costs faced by families, including whether savings on books have been offset by increasing expenditure on digital devices and other school-related costs [55009/26]

1129. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of schools that have informed her Department that they require one-to-one student laptops. [55010/26]

1131. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department has assessed the Postgraduate Diploma in Inclusive and Special Education (PDISE) offered by Maynooth University for inclusion under the Department-funded Postgraduate Diploma Programme of Teacher Professional Learning for Special Education Teachers; if not, whether such an assessment will now be undertaken; and if she will m…

1132. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the criteria used by her Department to determine which higher education institutions are recognised and funded under Circular 0035/2025 for postgraduate diplomas in inclusive and special education; whether applications from additional institutions are considered; and if she will provide details of any review or expansion process currently underway…

1133. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether consideration has been given to alternative delivery models for postgraduate qualifications in inclusive and special education, including hybrid and part-time models delivered outside the school day, in order to support teachers in rural areas, teachers with caring responsibilities and schools experiencing substitute teacher shortages. [55…

1134. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department has undertaken any analysis comparing the cost of the current eight-week block release model for funded postgraduate diplomas in special education with hybrid delivery models which do not require substitute teacher cover; and if she will provide the findings of any such analysis. [55056/26]

1135. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department intends to expand eligibility for funded postgraduate diplomas in special education to further support mainstream class teachers who teach pupils with special educational needs, in recognition of the increasing inclusive education responsibilities within mainstream settings. [55057/26]

1136. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether she accepts that expanding recognition of accredited Level 9 programmes in inclusive and special education could increase national capacity in special educational needs provision and reduce barriers for teachers seeking specialist qualifications; and if she will outline any plans to increase the number of funded training places nationally.…

1238. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on planned investment in additional school buildings in Louth for schools (details supplied); and the stage each project is currently at. [56350/26]

33. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the resources she is providing to support small schools. [53706/26]

73. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on planned investment into additional school buildings in Louth at primary and secondary level. [53705/26]

345. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number and percentage of special needs assistants currently employed who hold qualifications at Levels 6, 7, 8 and postgraduate level, respectively; and whether consideration will be given to recognising existing qualifications as part of the implementation of the revised SNA framework. [51087/26]