Questions

118. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth the steps her Department is taking to reduce the number of pupils in mainstream classes of more than 30 given the impact of these class sizes on pupils’ learning and the ability of teachers to meet individual needs. [74056/26]

135. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether she is satisfied that the reading support available in mainstream schools is meeting the needs of pupils with dyslexia; the number of reading classes currently available at primary level and the number of pupils waiting for access to such classes; and the steps she is taking to ensure that pupils receive timely, appropriate support. [74057/26…

462. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the delivery of the sanctioned autism classes for (details supplied). [73410/26]

62. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth in light of the finding of a report (details supplied), the steps her Department is taking to provide accessible and confidential early support that does not depend on a young person identifying themselves as being in crisis or actively requesting help; and if she will provide details of any planned expansion of preventative youth mental health provis…

63. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether, in light of a report (details supplied), her Department will establish or expand a funding mechanism through which schools can access evidence-informed, preventative programmes that develop students' emotional literacy, critical reflection, belonging and confidence; and whether she will consider supporting the evaluation and wider roll-out of…

64. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth the gender-responsive measures that her Department is taking to support boys' emotional literacy and help-seeking, particularly in light of the finding of a report (details supplied). [69170/26]

65. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth in light of the finding of a report (details supplied), the measures her Department will take to reduce this pressure while strengthening students' confidence and coping skills; and whether these measures will include universal, preventative programmes in schools rather than opt-in supports. [69169/26]

66. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth the current timeline for the roll-out of school-based wellbeing and mental health supports across post-primary schools; her views on the finding in a report (details supplied); whether she will review the timing of evidence-based wellbeing supports to ensure students receive them from first year; and if she will provide details of any planned actions …

273. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth the estimated number of teachers currently participating in job-sharing arrangements at primary and post-primary level; and the number who availed of substitute teaching opportunities on their non-teaching days in each of the past three school years. [66596/26]

274. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department has considered permitting job-sharing teachers to undertake substitute teaching within their own school on non-teaching days, particularly where this would provide continuity for pupils and assist schools experiencing teacher shortage. [66595/26]

275. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether job-sharing teachers were permitted to undertake substitute teaching on their non-teaching days under arrangements that applied in previous school years; if so, the years during which such arrangements applied; and the reasons these arrangements may not been continued for the 2026/2027 school year. [66594/26]

276. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth the current position regarding job-sharing primary and post-primary teachers undertaking substitute teaching on their non-teaching days during the 2026/2027 school year. [66593/26]

279. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the proposed redevelopment of (details supplied); the current status of the project; the next steps required to advance the development; the anticipated timeline for progression to the next stage. [66679/26]

282. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether she is satisfied that the current teacher education framework adequately supports individuals with substantial experience in special education, including special needs assistants and early childhood education professionals, who wish to qualify as teachers in special schools and special classes; and whether consideration is being given to a de…

283. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether consideration is being given to the development of an alternative, rigorous initial teacher education programme focused on special education, which would enable suitably qualified and experienced professionals to qualify directly for work in special schools and special classes. [66763/26]

284. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department has examined international models of initial teacher education specifically designed for special education teaching; and whether any such models are being considered in Ireland. [66761/26]

285. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether the current approach of requiring teachers to first qualify as mainstream primary or post-primary teachers before undertaking specialist SEN training has been evaluated in the context of teacher supply challenges in special schools and special classes. [66760/26]

286. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department has undertaken a review of the pathways available to experienced special needs assistants and other education professionals seeking to qualify as teachers in special education settings. [66759/26]

287. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department has considered the introduction of a dedicated initial teacher education pathway for individuals seeking to become special education teachers. [66758/26]

591. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth the actions she will take in response to the PISA 2025 findings that 24.2% of students in Ireland are performing below level 2 in mathematics and 16.5% below level 2 in reading, and the decline in performance in both areas over the past decade. [65231/26]

596. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether she will review the guidance and professional development provided to teachers and special education teachers on evidence-informed approaches to supporting students with literacy and numeracy difficulties, including dyslexia and dyscalculia, in view of the PISA 2025 findings. [65235/26]

597. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth the measures in place to ensure that students with dyslexia and dyscalculia are identified and supported at the earliest possible stage, including access to evidence-informed interventions, assistive technology and appropriate examination accommodations. [65234/26]

598. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether she is satisfied that schools have sufficient special education teaching resources to provide appropriate literacy and numeracy interventions for students experiencing persistent difficulties, including students with dyslexia and dyscalculia; and whether these allocations will be reviewed following the PISA 2025 results. [65233/26]

599. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth the actions she will take to address the PISA 2025 attainment gap between students in DEIS and non-DEIS schools, including the 49-point gap in reading and 46-point gap in mathematics. [65232/26]

1181. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth if condition surveys have been undertaken at schools (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55709/26]