Questions

75. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department will engage as a matter of urgency with a school (details supplied) in relation to the allocation of an extra special needs assistant, which is required for a student in an ASD class for the coming school year; if there is any cap or freeze on the recruitment of special needs assistants; if so to, the specific criteria being used …

682. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will ensure that a child (details supplied) will be able to avail of an appropriate school place this coming September; if she is satisfied that progress is being made to ensure there are enough school places for those with additional needs in the north Dublin area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30569/25]

339. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will ensure that a child (details supplied) with a diagnosis of autism (level 3) has a school place in the local area for the upcoming academic year; if the new special school located temporarily on the grounds of a school will be open for the 2025/2026 academic year; when applications for places for this school will open; and if she will m…

202. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she can clarify the ownership, leasing or rental arrangements currently in place on the shared campus site (details supplied) which hosts a number of school and educational services; if there is any formal agreement between the Department and local organisations regarding the ongoing or future use of this site; and if she will make a statement …

223. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Youth if school places for September 2025 can be accommodated for two children at a school (details supplied) to which their mother has applied unsuccessfully to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28326/25]

824. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Education what is being done to ensure the provision of appropriate numbers of primary school places for children with autism in the Coolock and Darndale area; if she can provide any guidance to assure that a child (details supplied) will have an appropriate place in a local school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18996/25]

1028. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on the plan to place a special school on grounds (details supplied) in north Dublin; the findings made by the Department’s technical team who visited the school; the engagement the technical team has had with the school management; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20744/25]

115. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Education if she will ensure that a place in a designated special school will be secured for a person for September 2025 for (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16000/25]

224. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Education if she will engage with the parents of a child (details supplied) who has additional needs but has been unable to secure an appropriate place in a secondary school for this coming September, despite extensive engagement with the National Council for Special Education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14710/25]

650. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Education the status of a new school building (details supplied); the status of the appointment of a multi-disciplinary design team; the timeline for the overall project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11565/25]

686. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Education when the commitment in the Programme for Government that an independent assessment on the feasibility of removing the exclusion of drivers aged over 70 from the school transport scheme is expected to be completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11824/25]

762. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Education to ensure that a child (details supplied) has a place in an autism class or special school as soon as possible as recommended by their local children’s disability network team; the provisions being made to ensure children in the Balgriffin and Belmayne area of north Dublin will have access to a special school in the near future; when additional autism class…

377. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Education the action she will take to ensure a student (details supplied) can secure a place in a local special school; the alternative provisions that can be made temporarily for this child who has to date been unable to secure a place in any local special school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9347/25]

253. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Education if consideration will be given to sanctioning and funding an SLD reading classes in the Artane area of north Dublin; the steps that are being taken to ensure children with severe dyslexia are being accommodated in north Dublin; if, given the increased demand for places in SLD classes, she will sanction additional funding for a temporary solution to ensure n…

165. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to instances of the practice of schools requiring a non-refundable payment to accompany completed letters of acceptance to secondary schools; if the description of these payments as an ‘administration fee’ or ‘processing fee’ is in keeping with section 64 of the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018; and the action she wi…

319. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Education the efforts being made to ensure access to a school place for a child (details supplied) in her local area; what is being done to ensure adequate numbers of local school places are made available in the quickly growing Belmayne and Balgriffin areas of north Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5513/25]

150. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Education the status of the project for the new special school at Balgriffin Park, Belmayne, north Dublin; how advanced the plans are; details of the specifications for the design and staffing details; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4858/25]

278. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Education the measures being taken to address a lack of school transport since October 2024 for a child with special needs (details supplied); when this family can expect school transport for their child to commence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4164/25]

448. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Education when a place in a local secondary school will be available for a child (details supplied) who requires a place in a mainstream school with SNA support; the steps being taken to ensure that this child has a place in a local secondary school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2677/25]

487. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Education the plans in place for a new special needs school at a location (details supplied); the time frame for the completion of works; whether the new building will be a temporary or permanent structure; the number of students it is envisaged this school will accommodate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3174/25]

490. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Education if her Department, or any body under its aegis, currently outsources cleaning services and/or service officer/security officer roles to private companies; the value and length of any related contract, by body, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3193/25]

491. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Education if her Department, or any body under its aegis, currently directly employs cleaners and/or service officers; if so, the number of staff employed in each role; the value and length of any related contract, by body, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3211/25]

586. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Education to provide details of any forthcoming ASD units; the units under development in planning for any primary schools in Howth or surrounding areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1124/25]

623. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Education to outline the overall costs associated with the purchase and installation of prefabricated classrooms at a school (details supplied); associated ancillary and maintenance costs, by year, since 2001, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1566/25]

624. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Education the reason for the delay in providing permanent school buildings for a school (details supplied); to outline where the process currently stands; the timeframe for the completion of the works; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1567/25]