Parliamentary questions

276. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Education and Youth the oversight mechanisms in place to ensure that the process undertaken by the National Council for Special Education in allocating special classes is open, transparent and accountable; and if any independent review or audit process applies to such decisions. [23360/26]

277. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Education and Youth if consideration has been given to introducing a formal appeals mechanism for schools whose applications for special classes through the National Council for Special Education are unsuccessful; and the plans to establish such a mechanism. [23361/26]

278. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason schools that apply for special classes through the National Council for Special Education are not routinely informed when their application is unsuccessful; and if steps will be taken to ensure all applicant schools receive timely and clear communication regarding the outcome of their application. [23362/26]

279. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Education and Youth her views on the level of transparency in the allocation of special classes by the National Council for Special Education, given that this involves the expenditure of public funds; and if measures are being considered to improve openness, transparency and accountability in this process. [23363/26]

280. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 841 of 18 March 2026, which was unanswered in the reply provided, when a NEPS assessment will be made available to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23418/26]

281. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education and Youth the average, median, maximum and minimum primary school class sizes for the Cork City and Cork County Council areas from 2019 to date in 2026, in tabular form. [23419/26]

282. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of appeals to the NCSE, by county; and the number of successful appeals, over each of the past five years. [23420/26]

283. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will address the need to provide additional funding for sports halls in schools. [23421/26]

284. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update regarding the recent changes to the allocation model for special education. [23422/26]

285. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Youth the progress to date in advancing a project (details supplied); when this proposal will advance to the next stage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23461/26]

286. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Youth the progress to date in advancing a project (details supplied); when this proposal will advance to the next stage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23462/26]

287. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Youth the progress to date in advancing a project (details supplied); when this proposal will advance to the next stage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23463/26]

288. Deputy Shay Brennan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the way in which the proposed reform of the assessment of need process will ensure that gifted and twice exceptional children those who are both highly able and who present with additional neurodevelopmental or learning needs are not inadvertently excluded from appropriate identification and support; if access to cognitive assessm…

289. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Youth if further progress has been made to date in developing a model for smaller schools, that due to their size do not meet the threshold of six pupils with special needs in order to have a special class sanctioned; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23485/26]

290. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Youth if a school (details supplied) will be included in the next expansion of a programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23486/26]

291. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will ensure that a special class will be sanctioned in a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23508/26]

292. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth to outline the position in relation to school planning in the Ashbourne school planning area in Meath; the existing and projected, capacity; how additional demand will be accommodated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23509/26]

293. Deputy Gillian Toole asked the Minister for Education and Youth the forward planning methodologies and datasets being used to ensure the timely or advance delivery of social infrastructure in the rapidly developing towns of Meath east, in particular the provision of new schools’ facilities and the upgrade of existing school facilities (details supplied). [23515/26]

68. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding the review of the role of a special needs assistant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22498/26]

69. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding the review of Circular 0030/2014 with regard to the role of special needs assistants in schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22499/26]

70. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth the criteria under consideration as part of the review of Circular 0030/2014 with regard to the role of special needs assistants in schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22500/26]

71. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding the way in which school principals can feed into the review of Circular 0030/2014 with regard to the role of special needs assistants in schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22501/26]

72. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her attention has been drawn to the calls of school principals who wish to feed into the review of the role of special needs assistants in their schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22502/26]

73. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth if there is a timeline for the completion of her review of the role of special needs assistants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22503/26]

74. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the EPSEN plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22504/26]