Questions

601. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 62835/26 of 7 September 2026, the total value of voluntary contributions collected by schools in the most recent year for which data is available; whether her Department has set any target for reducing compulsory or unavoidable costs to parents; and the reason her Department does not gather data on school level co…

602. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 62819/26 of 7 September 2026, if her Department will begin to collect data on the total cost of sending a child to school, including voluntary contributions, uniforms, books and digital devices, given that this data is not currently collected; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65401/26]

603. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 62819/26 of 7 September 2026, if her Department will begin to collect data on the total cost of sending a child to school, including voluntary contributions, uniforms, books and digital devices, given that this data is not currently collected; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65400/26]

300. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether, in view of her Department's publication of resources and supports for recognised schools in relation to transgender and gender-diverse students, national guidance will be issued for recognised schools on managing circumstances in which a teacher or other member of school staff transitions gender while employed; whether her Department plans t…

290. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department, or any agency operating under its remit, maintains records identifying the reasons students who entered first year in Cork county and city and in the 2018-2019 academic year, did not subsequently complete the Leaving Certificate; if so, the categories of reasons recorded and the number of students recorded under each category; if no…

291. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the procedures that are in place to identify students considered at risk of not completing second level education; the number of students in Cork county and city from the 2018-2019 first year cohort were identified as being at risk during their time in second level education; the interventions that were offered in each school year; the number of stude…

316. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the exact number of children in Cork currently on the National Council for Special Education's database awaiting a special education placement as of a stated date; the number of the 63 newly confirmed special classes in Cork that are fully operational versus those still awaiting site readiness or staffing allocation; and if the Department will direct …

317. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth if the Department holds, or has sought, any internal NCSE data showing the number of children in Cork whose assessed special educational need does not match any currently vacant place in the county; and the timeline being applied to resolve those mismatches. [50589/26]

318. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 829 18 March 2026, to confirm whether the NCSE's reference to children being tracked on "our database" constitutes confirmation that a live, countable record of unplaced children exists; and if so, the reason this number was not disclosed. [50590/26]

320. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to the obligation under Section 78 of the International Protection Act 2026 to provide children seeking international protection with access to primary and post-primary education within two months of application, the number of additional school places projected to be required in the school planning areas serving the Citywest Reception Centre a…

321. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth if any primary or post-primary school places in the Saggart and wider South Dublin area are, or will be, specifically reserved or ring-fenced for children of international protection applicants accommodated at the Citywest Reception Centre; the way in which such arrangements interact with the standard admissions and enrolment process for local familie…

322. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth given that children seeking international protection at the Citywest Reception Centre may be enrolled in local schools within two months of application while their families are simultaneously subject to the accelerated border procedure of up to 12 weeks, or to onward dispersal to other IPAS centres following screening, the arrangements in place to add…

408. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No’s 445, 446 and 447 of 16 June 2026, whether the State Examinations Commission has confirmed to her Department that the established quality assurance, review and sign-off procedures for the setting of examination papers were followed in full in respect of the 2026 Leaving Certificate higher level mathematics paper 1…

445. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether she has been informed of concerns raised by students, parents, teachers or representative bodies regarding the 2026 Leaving Certificate higher level mathematics paper 1; the quality assurance, review and approval procedures which apply to the setting of State examination papers by the State Examinations Commission; whether she has been informe…

446. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department or the State Examinations Commission has received representations regarding the 2026 Leaving Certificate higher level mathematics paper 1; whether she has sought assurances from the State Examinations Commission that any concerns raised will be considered through its established marking, grading and review processes; whether any…

447. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether the Government has been briefed on concerns expressed regarding the 2026 Leaving Certificate higher level mathematics paper 1; whether he is satisfied that the current statutory and governance framework applying to the State Examinations Commission provides sufficient transparency, accountability and oversight in relation to the setting and re…

767. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department centrally collects or monitors national data relating to reduced timetables involving students with special educational needs, including students diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder or ADHD; and if so, to provide the annual figures recorded since 2020, broken down by county and school type. [41674/26]

768. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department centrally records or monitors instances of repeated suspensions involving students with special educational needs, including students with autism spectrum disorder or ADHD; and if so, to provide the annual figures recorded since 2020. [41675/26]

769. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department has conducted any national review, assessment, or analysis of the use of reduced timetables, internal exclusions, repeated early collections, or other exclusionary educational practices affecting neurodivergent students; and if so, to provide details of any findings, reports, recommendations, or actions arising. [41676/26]

770. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the oversight mechanisms that currently exist where a student with special educational needs is placed on a reduced timetable for an extended period; whether there are mandatory review requirements or reporting obligations; and whether external oversight by the National Educational Psychological Service, Tusla Educational Support Service, NCSE, or ano…

771. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether their Department centrally collects or monitors data relating to internal exclusions, isolation practices, sensory withdrawal arrangements, or repeated early collection of students with special educational needs from schools; and if not, whether consideration is being given to introducing such monitoring arrangements. [41678/26]

772. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department has examined the impact of exclusionary educational practices on parental employment, family wellbeing, or reliance on carers' and social protection supports where parents are repeatedly required to remove children from school due to unmet educational or behavioural support needs. [41679/26]

773. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the multidisciplinary therapeutic supports are currently available within mainstream schools, ASD units, and special schools, including access to occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, behavioural support, psychology, and emotional regulation supports; and whether the Department has assessed whether existing provision is sufficient to meet…

774. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department has examined international evidence or best practice relating to therapeutic and trauma-informed educational approaches for neurodivergent students experiencing emotional dysregulation, school distress, or repeated exclusion from educational settings. [41681/26]

775. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department intends to undertake a formal national review into exclusionary educational practices affecting neurodivergent children, including repeated suspensions, prolonged reduced timetables, and informal school removals; and if not, the reason no such review has been initiated. [41682/26]