Questions

776. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether guidance issued to schools regarding reduced timetables and exclusionary practices specifically addresses students with autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, sensory regulation difficulties, trauma-related presentations, or co-occurring neurodevelopmental conditions; and if so, to provide details of such guidance. [41683/26]

816. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether schools continue to receive the full capitation grant and all associated per-pupil funding in respect of pupils who are formally enrolled, but are either placed on reduced school hours or reduced timetables, or not attending school for extended periods while remaining on the school roll; and whether schools are required to make formal returns …

968. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department has undertaken, or plans to undertake, a review of special needs assistant employment contracts to examine whether separate contractual arrangements are warranted for primary, post-primary and special school settings, having regard to differences in working hours, school calendars and duties; and if she will make a statement on …

599. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department will issue binding national guidance requiring any post-primary school operating a compulsory digital-device scheme to have a formal device loan scheme, hardship policy and non-exclusion guarantee in place before such a scheme is implemented; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39728/26]

600. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department has assessed the number of students nationally whose parents have been required to purchase laptops or tablets for post-primary education in each of the past five years; whether any estimate exists of the average annual cost imposed on families; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39729/26]

601. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department has examined whether compulsory laptop or tablet purchase schemes in post-primary schools are consistent with the principle of free post-primary education; whether any legal advice has been sought on the matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39730/26]

602. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether any complaints mechanism exists within her Department for parents who believe their child has been disadvantaged, excluded, or pressured due to inability to afford a compulsory laptop or digital device scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39731/26]

603. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether schools receiving ICT grant funding under the Digital Strategy for Schools are required to demonstrate that reasonable measures are in place to support students whose families cannot afford personal digital devices [39732/26]

604. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department has assessed the number of students nationally currently accessing device loan schemes operated by post-primary schools; the number of schools operating such schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39733/26]

605. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department will review the adequacy of iScoil funding in light of the fact that 381 eligible referrals were refused places since the 2022-2023 academic year due to limited capacity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39734/26]

606. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department will establish a target that no eligible child referred to iScoil should be refused a place solely due to funding or capacity limitations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39735/26]

607. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether any assessment has been carried out into the long-term educational outcomes for children who were eligible for iScoil but were refused a place due to capacity limitations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39736/26]

608. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department intends to establish an interim national educational pathway for children on reduced timetables, limited home tuition, or awaiting suitable school placements who do not meet the current eligibility criteria for iScoil; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39737/26]

456. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department will publish a single consolidated operational guide for survivors of residential institutional abuse setting out all health, education, advocacy, housing and funeral cost supports, including eligibility criteria, application pathways, responsible agencies, appeal mechanisms and expected processing times; and if she will make a …

457. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the date on which the first survivor medical cards under the Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Act 2025 were issued; the number issued to date; the number of applications currently pending; the average processing time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36523/26]

458. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether housing and funeral cost supports provided to survivors of residential institutional abuse are statutory entitlements or discretionary measures; whether binding written guidance has issued to local authorities and Community Welfare Officers [36524/26]

459. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the average response time for representations submitted by Oireachtas members through an email address (details supplied) in 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026, broken down by regional office; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36525/26]

460. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of representations submitted through an email address (details supplied) that remained unanswered after 10 working days and 20 working days in 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026, broken down by regional office; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36526/26]

461. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether schools are required to maintain a formal register of external speakers and facilitators engaged with students, including details of the organisation represented, topic delivered, class groups addressed, vetting status where applicable and approving authority; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36528/26]

462. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department maintains, or intends to establish, a national reporting mechanism for complaints relating to external speakers in schools, including complaints concerning safeguarding, age appropriateness or curriculum suitability; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36529/26]

463. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether she is satisfied that consistent national safeguarding standards can be assured in circumstances where there is no central register of external speakers and no centralised record of complaints relating to such engagements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36530/26]

464. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether a live national dataset exists recording available special class and special school places by school, year group, county and category of provision; and if not, whether such a system is planned; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36531/26]

477. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether a single cross-departmental operational manual or implementation protocol exists governing the delivery of the five-pillar support package for survivors of residential institutional abuse; and if she will provide a copy of same. [36712/26]

478. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether any binding service standards, timelines or response targets apply to applications made under the survivor support package; and if she will provide details of same. [36713/26]

479. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of applications received to date for health supports, education supports, housing supports and funeral-related supports respectively under the five-pillar survivor package, in tabular form. [36714/26]