Parliamentary questions

452. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether individualised risk assessments were carried out in respect of children with additional needs prior to decisions being made regarding the proposed reduction or removal of SNA supports; if so, the nature of these assessments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16603/26]

453. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Education and Youth the decision-making framework used by the NCSE in determining proposed changes to SNA allocations in schools; whether schools, parents or SNAs were consulted as part of this process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16604/26]

454. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether special needs assistants whose posts were proposed for reduction under recent NCSE reviews will now be subject to redeployment notwithstanding the pause announced by Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16605/26]

455. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is aware of the concerns being raised by special needs assistants (SNAs) in relation to their terms and conditions of employment, including the lack of job security, pension provision, and access to allowances such as clothing allowances; if her Department has undertaken any review of pay disparities between SNAs and teacher…

456. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her attention has been drawn to the fact that there are only two ASD early intervention classes in Waterford schools (details supplied); if these ASD early intervention classes will be funded in the 2026-2027 school year given the NCSE has not yet published a full list of all classes for 2026-2027, only a list of new class…

457. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of schools in Clare and in each county which appealed their allocation of SNAs in the past five years; the number of appeals which resulted in an increase in SNAs allocated; the number which resulted in a reduction; the number which resulted in no change, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matt…

458. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth when school transport will be provided for a child (details supplied). [16630/26]

459. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will provide an update on the application for replacing a classroom SET room and UAWC at a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16640/26]

460. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Education and Youth if a special needs class and extension is under consideration at a school in County Kildare (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16658/26]

461. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Education and Youth her plans to improve the working entitlements of SNAs; if she will consider a minimum hours of employment for such a role; if she will consider pension entitlements for SNAs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16662/26]

462. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Youth the status of a school extension (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16670/26]

463. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason a school (details supplied) is not allowed to proceed to open a special class; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16677/26]

464. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Education and Youth to expand the furniture and repairs funding scheme to cover repair costs for special schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16686/26]

465. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether there is additional support for special schools for sanitary/cleaning products for special schools who cater for children aged 4-18 plus (details provided); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16687/26]

466. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Education and Youth for details on funding for special schools (details provided); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16688/26]

467. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide a Home School Liaison Teacher for a school (details provided); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16689/26]

468. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Education and Youth for details regarding salaries (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16690/26]

469. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the measures being taken to improve communication around the NCSE 1 October deadline; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16691/26]

470. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Education and Youth to establish if transport escorts for adults with disabilities, attending services (details supplied) and employed under the umbrella of Transport for Ireland receive higher pay along with statutory holidays in comparison to school transport escorts paid through her Department’s special educational needs transport scheme;…

471. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she clarify the position of her Department on the provision of positive behaviour support within special education schools, autism classes and mainstream settings where autistic or behaviourally vulnerable students are enrolled (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16836/26]

472. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of children and young people who are blind or visually impaired and who are currently receiving orientation and mobility or rehabilitation services delivered by an organisation (details supplied), and funded by her Department, in counties Cork, Tipperary and Waterford. in tabular form; and if she will make a statement…

473. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth the amount of funding currently allocated to post-primary school for the employment of substitute teachers; the basis on which this allocation is calculated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16847/26]

474. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether the grant or allocation provided to schools for each substitute teacher cover has increased in each of the past 20 years; to provide a year-by-year breakdown of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16848/26]

475. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether the allocation for substitute teacher cover has remained unchanged over the past two decades despite increases in salary scales and cost-of-living pressures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16849/26]

476. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the status of the review into the upper age limit of 70 for drivers operating under the school transport scheme; when that review is expected to conclude; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16862/26]