Questions

149. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will address an urgent matter regarding school transport (details supplied); if she is aware that the bus transporting six children to the school is no longer operational; if she will outline what immediate measures can be taken to ensure these children have access to school transport while a replacement service is arranged; and if she wi…

461. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will urgently review a case where a school-led above SERC review was conducted on 22 May 2025 (details supplied) in respect of an autism specific class; the reason after almost five months, no decision has been communicated to the school regarding its application for additional SNA support; if she will ensure that the findings of that rev…

462. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is aware that the pupils in an autism class (details supplied) are presenting with highly complex needs, including PICA, self-injurious behaviours and high levels of dysregulation; the steps her Department and the NCSE are taking to ensure that schools are not left without adequate resources to provide for these children’s right to an app…

284. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will examine the operation of the school transport pilot scheme (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49834/25]

285. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will provide an update on the implementation of phase three of the Government’s 2024 school transport report, which recommends reducing distance eligibility criteria on mainstream schemes in stages to 2 kilometres for post-primary students from the 2025-26 school year, eliminating the nearest school rule, and maintaining existing routes w…

491. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will commit to commencing the reduction in the student to teacher ratio from 23:1 to 19:1 in Budget 2026 as outlined in the Programme for Government; the measures she will introduce to prevent splitting classes in a school (details supplied) if the ratio remains at the current 23:1; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48171/2…

811. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of primary school teachers employed on temporary contracts, in tabular form for each of the years from 2020 to date in 2025; the measures introduced to offer teachers on temporary contracts full-time positions in response to the shortage of fully qualified teachers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45347/25]

89. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is aware of a primary school (details supplied) where due to a loss of a teacher, the school will be required to manage three or more class levels in a single classroom—such as arrangements where one teacher is responsible for junior infants, senior infants, and first class, or for second, third, and fourth class; the steps her Department …

333. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide the timeline on the tendering process for the construction of a permanent building for a school (details supplied) now that planning permission has been granted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31407/25]

660. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth the expected timeline for the tender process and the commencement and completion of construction works in respect of a project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30192/25]

269. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will commit to removing the obligation on special needs assistants to undertake an additional 72 hours of work annually, in light of widespread concerns raised regarding the implementation and potential misuse of this requirement, as documented by representative organisations (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the mat…

270. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will ensure parity of health and safety leave entitlements between special needs assistants, SNAs, and teaching staff; to explain the rationale for the existing 21-day cap on such leave for pregnant SNAs, a restriction not applicable to teachers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26815/25]

271. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will commit to the introduction of a statutory entitlement to family illness leave for special needs assistants, in line with provisions available to other school staff; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26816/25]

272. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will consider the removal of the cap on paid leave for special needs assistants, following incidents of assault, as outlined in Circular 0062/2017 (Scheme for Leave of Absence Following Assault for Special Needs Assistants in Recognised Primary and Post-Primary Schools); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26817/25]

273. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will establish a clearer and more timely system of communication in respect of contract renewals for special needs assistants, as many SNAs report not receiving confirmation of continued employment until the commencement of the school summer holidays; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26818/25]

274. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth when the ongoing review of the special needs assistant contract will be completed; if this review will include consideration of updated qualification and skills requirements for the role; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26819/25]

288. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth the annual cost to the State of funding an individual student in secondary education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27085/25]

289. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth the public annual cost to the State of funding an individual student in primary education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27086/25]

227. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth in light of the State’s obligations under the Constitution and under the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004, how the Department justifies the continued lack of access to a school place for a child with a disability, where over 180 public schools have been contacted without success, and no public school place has been p…

218. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is aware of the ongoing delay in funding approval for the refurbishment and establishment of ASD classes at a school (details supplied); if this funding will be expedited so that the school can proceed with the necessary preparations for September 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24907/25]

580. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she considers a class size of 39 pupils to be excessive for a single teacher; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23713/25]

760. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education the timeframe and date for the installation of the promised prefab building at a school (details supplied); if this prefab building will be installed on time for the September 2025 intake of children as promised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18642/25]

827. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education if she will acknowledge the disadvantage facing this year’s Leaving Certificate students compared to students who sat the Leaving Certificate in previous years if her Department’s proposed changes to the Leaving Certificate grading system are introduced; if her Department will proceed with these proposed changes despite these concerns; and if she will mak…

958. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education if she will urgently review the staffing allocation for the 2025/2026 school year at a school (details supplied), where the loss of a mainstream teacher will result in a merged 3rd and 4th class of 39 pupils, well above her Department’s average class ratio size of 23:1; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20041/25]

216. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education if she will clarify the criteria under which students from a school (details supplied), are eligible to apply as Gaeltacht applicants for teaching courses through the CAO; if there is an official policy or circular governing this situation; and if she will address concerns regarding the apparent exclusion of these students from applying as Gaeltacht appli…