Questions

118. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason counselling courses, particularly for teachers who are guidance counsellors, are not included under the teacher fee refund scheme on the ground of well-being, there being no logical reason they should not as they enable teachers to have the best possible skills to cater for their students' needs; and if she will make a statement on the mat…

460. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the plans to build SET classrooms during the summer holidays (details supplied). [32710/25]

512. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of mild general learning classes in north Tipperary; the number of classes she anticipates there will be in September 2025; if there are plans to open any other mild general learning classes in the future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29312/25]

522. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Education and Youth if there are plans to make additional funding available for schools if the capitation and ancillary grant does not cover the cost of a cleaner and caretaker; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29202/25]

342. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether primary schools will be paid the minor works grant before the end of the current academic year; specifically, if a school (details supplied) will be paid the minor works grant before the end of the current academic year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28431/25]

422. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department has an official stance in relation to the location of phone masts next to schools, with consideration being given to the Telecommunications Antennae and Support Structures Guidelines for Planning Authorities 1996, which is cited in numerous county development plans nationwide; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25258/2…

909. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Education if the Counselling in Primary Schools Pilot (CPS-P) 2023-2025 will be continued into the next academic year; when the schools included in the current scheme will be notified as to its future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19578/25]

180. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Education if she will review Circular 0002/2024 in relation to the distribution of special education teaching hours at primary level, given many schools are concerned that the model used relies heavily on end-of-year test scores for second, fourth and sixth class students, meaning that resources are not being applied with consideration being given to children below seco…

185. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Education if she intends to continue and expand the counselling in primary schools pilot given that schools have not yet been informed whether this programme will continue into the next academic year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17152/25]

488. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Education the reason bus drivers over the age of 70 cannot operate on school bus routes that are contracted to Bus Éireann; if the National Transport Authority has the authority to set policy in this area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16819/25]

521. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Education with regard to the Gaeltacht learning period grant for primary ITE programmes, to consider the implementation of a similar grant model for post-primary ITE programmes, as the majority of Gaeilge post-primary student teachers have two compulsory cúrsaí Gaeltachta, each two weeks in duration, as part of their programme, and this is identical to the required plac…

529. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Education if she will review the quota system in operation for the allocation of SNAs; if she will ensure that the recommendation made by a Louth-based SNA to provide additional resources to a school, which has been declined, will be honoured (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17375/25]

117. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Education the current status of the counselling in primary schools pilot (CSP-P); if the CSP-P scheme will continue through into the 2025-2026 school year; the plans to develop the CSP-P programme into a nationwide scheme and permanent fixture in primary schools given the high demand and essential service it provides; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [160…

119. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on a school building works application (details supplied) following approval last year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16149/25]

342. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Education with regard to the large cohort of students on post-primary ITE programmes, if she will address the inequity whereby Gaeilge student teachers must pay Gaeltacht fees in order to complete the immersive education experience required for registration with the Teaching Council (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13363/25]

343. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Education with regard to the Gaeltacht learning period grant for primary ITE programmes, if he will consider the implementation of a similar grant model for post-primary ITE programmes (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13364/25]

613. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Education if she will engage with Bus Éireann and introduce a local school bus service in north Tipperary (details supplied) for the upcoming school term; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11192/25]

394. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Education when the commission of investigation into historical sexual abuse in schools will be established; if the remit of the commission will be expanded to include all schools, as recommended in the Scoping Inquiry report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9614/25]

444. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 365 of 18 February 2025, the Department funding streams available to a school in the early stages of developing plans to build a multi-use hall, following on from the inclusion of plans to deliver a PE build and modernisation programme in the Programme for Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8023/2…

365. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Education for an update on her Department’s work to develop a programme to build and modernise PE and school sports facilities; if there is any information yet available for schools looking to upgrade their facilities and are interested in this programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6134/25]