361. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is satisfied that there is a consistent national system for identifying and publishing availability of special education places; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32260/26]
Parliamentary questions
Questions
TDs ask ministers questions to get answers on the record, most of them in writing. Here is every one asked in the 34th Dáil, by the department it went to and the subject heading it was filed under. How questions work
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Showing questions asked by Ken O'Flynn .
389 questions match, newest first.
363. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the current status of the proposed accommodation project for a school (details supplied) under the Department's school building programme; and the stage at which the project currently sits within the capital appraisal process. [32263/26]
364. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reasons the proposed accommodation project for a school (details supplied) has not progressed to Stage 1B of the Department's capital approvals process, notwithstanding that an application was initially submitted in January 2020 and updated documentation was provided in August 2025. [32264/26]
365. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the expected timeline for the progression of a school (details supplied) accommodation project to Stage 1B; and whether a specific timeframe has been assigned within the Department. [32265/26]
366. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the criteria used to prioritise school building projects for advancement within the capital programme; and how a school (details supplied) project ranks against those criteria. [32266/26]
367. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether consideration has been given to advancing a school (details supplied) accommodation project through a combined Stage 2A/2B process in light of the length of time elapsed since initial application; and if not, the reasons for same. [32267/26]
368. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether funding has been provisionally allocated for a school (detail supplied) accommodation project within the current or forthcoming capital budgets; and the quantum of such funding, if applicable. [32268/26]
369. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the extent of engagement between her Department and the management authorities of a school (detail supplied) since January 2020 in relation to the proposed accommodation project; and the dates and outcomes of such engagements. [32269/26]
370. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether the accommodation needs of a school (details supplied) have been formally assessed by the Department; and if so, the findings of that assessment and the date on which it was completed. [32270/26]
371. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether a school (detail supplied) accommodation project is currently included in the Department's published school building pipeline; and if so, the projected delivery timeframe associated with the project. [32271/26]
372. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth her Department's policy position on schools operating for extended periods without permanent accommodation; and the measures in place to address cases where such arrangements persist over multiple decades. [32272/26]
380. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the national systems that exist to identify, track and allocate special education placements, including special classes and special school places, across all areas . [32344/26]
381. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth if the NCSE 'notify parents system' for special education placements is fully operational and used in all cases where new or vacated special class or special school places arise; if its use is mandatory for all schools and the NCSE; the compliance and monitoring mechanisms in place to ensure the system is consistently used; whether any audits have bee…
382. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the way in which the NCSE ensures that all parents of children awaiting special education placements are engaged with in a consistent and equitable manner across all regions; and the safeguards in place to prevent variation in practice between NCSE areas. [32346/26]
383. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the timelines that apply to NCSE engagement with parents once a special education need is identified; and the average time taken to first contact parents in each of the past three years. [32347/26]
384. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the records maintained by the NCSE to evidence engagement with parents regarding special education placements; and whether these records are subject to audit or independent review. [32348/26]
403. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth to confirm which body has ultimate statutory responsibility to ensure that every child is provided with an appropriate school place, including access to a special class or special school placement where required; and to outline the escalation and enforcement mechanisms where a place cannot be secured. [32545/26]
404. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth to confirm which body has ultimate responsibility for ensuring that a child assessed as requiring a special class or special school placement is provided with a place within a reasonable timeframe; and the statutory enforcement mechanisms that exist where schools do not engage with the NCSE in providing such places. [32546/26]
405. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number and nature of regulations, made under section 67 of the Education Act 1998, in each of the past five years; the policy purpose and practical application of those regulations in the education system; the specific education functions or operational areas those regulations support; whether any review has been undertaken regarding the effective…
406. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether she is satisfied that the use of regulation making powers, under section 67 of the Education Act 1998, continues to provide clear added value in the operation and oversight of the education system; whether any cost-benefit or effectiveness assessment has been carried out in the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. […
407. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide the total number of students who accessed the iScoil programme in 2025 and to date in 2026, with a breakdown by county; to confirm which authority makes the final decision on admission; to provide the number of students refused access or placed on a waiting list in 2025 and to date in 2026; the average time from referral to placement in eac…
408. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether the iScoil programme is available to students who are unable to secure a mainstream school place and currently on reduced timetables or receiving limited home tuition, including cases where students are receiving as little as seven hours per week; whether such students are eligible for iScoil as an interim educational provision pending the sec…
409. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the role of the Tusla Education Welfare Service in the referral, approval and allocation of places on the iScoil programme; whether Tusla acts as the primary gateway for access or can other agencies directly initiate referrals; the criteria applied by Tusla when determining eligibility for iScoil; whether Tusla maintains a waiting list or prioritisati…
410. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide the exact funding allocated by her Department to iScoil in 2023, 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026, specifying the funding stream, and whether it is provided on a grant, contract or other basis; whether a written agreement, service level agreement or formal performance framework exists governing the delivery of services by iScoil, and if so, t…
411. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the provision that exists under the school transport scheme for children who have not secured a school place, including a special class or special school placement, by the closing date of the school transport application portal on 8 May; whether such children will retain eligibility for school transport once a place is subsequently allocated after tha…