Questions

431. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to the survey of school principals published by organisations (details supplied) on 4 March 2026 which found that one fifth of second-level schools nationally were forced to drop at least one subject entirely due to teacher shortages, the number of post-primary schools in Cork city and county that withdrew or restricted access to a subj…

432. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of teachers who have resigned from the teaching profession in schools in Cork city and county in each of the years 2023, 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026, distinguishing between primary and post-primary level and between resignations and retirements, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44991/26]

433. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the average primary class size in Cork city and county for the 2024-2025 school year as recorded in her Department's most recent educational statistics; the number and proportion of primary classes in Cork city and county with 30 or more pupils; the way in which these figures compare with the national average primary class size of 22.2 pupils r…

434. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of long-term teaching vacancies currently unfilled in primary and post-primary schools in Cork city and county; the average length of time such posts have remained vacant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44993/26]

798. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of available places in special schools for children aged 13 to 15 within the Cork city school planning area; the schools in which these places are available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42053/26]

799. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of available places in special schools for children aged 16 to 18 within the Cork city school planning area; the schools in which these places are available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42054/26]

800. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of general learning disability special classes in Cork city and county; her plans to expand the number of such classes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42055/26]

831. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will provide details of supports or funding available for a 2026 youth summer programme in Cork (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42232/26]

869. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the progress of the extension project at a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42777/26]

870. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the plans for the site previously acquired by her Department from Cork City Council in Brooklodge, Glanmire, for the purpose of providing special education facilities; the progress made to date, including any developments in recent years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42778/26]

872. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the progress made in relation to the school transport review; the recommendations implemented to date; the next steps in the process; the timeline for the implementation of the remaining recommendations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42844/26]

873. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will confirm that all children with special educational needs will have access to an appropriate school place for the 2026-27 academic year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42845/26]

874. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if consideration is being given to reviewing how ASD accommodation is provided and resourced nationally; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42846/26]

875. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding SNA allocations for 2026 and 2027; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42847/26]

876. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department quantifies the number of children on reduced timetables or excluded from school; the national policy position on this practice; if her attention has been drawn to the extent to which it is occurring; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42848/26]

877. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding the roll-out of therapeutic supports in special schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42849/26]

878. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the details of her Department’s engagement with the two special school campaigns in County Cork, including one in Cork city and one in east Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42850/26]

897. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding the timeline of a schools (details supplied) stage 1B meeting with her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42988/26]

922. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if Ireland will participate in the basic skills support scheme being piloted by the European Commission in 2026, which aims to ensure that every child reaches an adequate level of basic skills by the end of compulsory schooling; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43443/26]

923. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the steps she is taking to address the concern raised in the European Commission's Education and Training Monitor 2025 that the move under the senior cycle redevelopment to 40% of student assessment occur outside the exam hall may disadvantage students from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds due to a shortage of resources and digital infrastruc…

924. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Youth in light of the finding in the European Commission's Education and Training Monitor 2025 that the number of special classes has doubled since 2020 to approximately 3,735 special classes catering for nearly 23,000 students in the 2025-2026 school year, if she is satisfied that the current rate of expansion is sufficient to meet demand; and if sh…

925. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is aware of the scale of teacher shortages in Gaelscoileanna (details supplied); the extent to which she considers this a concern; the steps she is taking to address the problem; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43470/26]

926. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is aware of the scale of teacher shortages in DEIS Band 1 schools (details supplied); the extent to which she considers this a concern; the steps she is taking to address the problem; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43471/26]

927. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is aware of the scale of teacher shortages in DEIS Band 2 schools (details supplied); the extent to which she considers this a concern; the steps she is taking to address the problem; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43472/26]

928. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Youth given that her Department has projected that national post-primary enrolments are expected to begin to decline from 2026, whether she intends to use the resulting reduction in pupil numbers to reduce class sizes rather than to reduce teaching posts or provision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43473/26]