Parliamentary questions

527. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department has conducted or commissioned any recent analysis of parental demand for Irish medium education in Dublin city and nationally; if so, if she will provide details of the methodology and findings of such analysis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17174/26]

528. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether consideration is being given to legislative measures to support a systematic and long-term expansion of Irish medium education, including the establishment of new schools rather than reliance solely on the expansion of existing provision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17175/26]

529. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the way in which the forward planning section of her Department incorporates Irish medium provision into its school place planning for Dublin city and other urban areas; whether specific targets exist for the growth of Gaelscoileanna and Gaelcholáistí under the National Development Plan; and if she will make a statement on the m…

530. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department has examined proposals to provide a statutory right to education through the medium of Irish where sufficient parental demand exists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17177/26]

531. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department intends to publish a multi annual strategy setting out clear timelines, targets and capital allocations for the expansion of Irish medium education in north Dublin and nationally; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17178/26]

532. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of Gaelcholáistí, by county, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17179/26]

328. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she expects any of the sectoral plans under the NDP to be revised, with particular focus on education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15936/26]

329. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Youth when an urgent project (details supplied) will proceed to the next stage; the timeline for this project to go to construction;; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15666/26]

330. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide clarification regarding the refusal of incremental credit to a teacher for previous teaching experience in a private school (details supplied); if the refusal will be reconsidered given the information outlined regarding qualifications and experience; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15681/26]

331. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department and the NCSE will engage with persons (details supplied) to ensure an appropriate school place is provided; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15716/26]

332. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the status of the additional school accommodation application submitted by a school (details supplied); when her Department expects to complete its assessment of the application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15720/26]

333. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will provide an update on whether the postgraduate master’s in education (PME) refund scheme will open for applications; the expected timeline for a decision on the matter, the number of applications currently being processed from the previous scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15743/26]

334. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will provide an update on the implementation of the teacher supply measures announced in April 2025, including proposals to allow for permanent contracts after one year of service; the expected commencement date of any such measures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15744/26]

335. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education and Youth to consider the creation of a Gaelscoil in an area (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15776/26]

336. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Education and Youth the steps being taken to reduce delays in delivering permanent accommodation for rapidly growing schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15784/26]

337. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Youth the combined costs of all projects that are currently at Stage 2a or 2b approval by her Department of education for school building projects across the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15832/26]

338. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth to publish in full the current national criteria, weighting factors, assessment instruments and decision thresholds used by the National Council for Special Education in determining annual Special Needs Assistant allocations to primary schools; and to confirm whether any amendments, recalibrations or procedural changes were introdu…

339. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of primary schools notified of a reduction of two or more Special Needs Assistant posts for the 2026/27 school year prior to the decision to pause the review process; and to provide a county-by-county breakdown of same. [15926/26]

340. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the total whole-time equivalent Special Needs Assistant allocation to primary schools in County Cork for the 2024/25, 2025/26 and 2026/27 school years respectively; and to confirm whether the 2026/27 figure reflects the position before or after the pause of the review process. [15927/26]

341. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether a formal impact assessment, equality screening, child rights assessment, financial analysis or cost modelling exercise was conducted prior to issuing Special Needs Assistant reduction notifications for the 2026/27 school year; and, if so, to provide the title, date of completion and authoring body of each such assessment. […

342. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Education and Youth the status of all school building projects in Carlow; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15937/26]

343. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Education and Youth the status of all school building projects in Kilkenny; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15938/26]

344. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Education and Youth to outline efforts underway within her Department to increase the supply of primary and secondary school teachers; the specific breakdown of the number who were employed nationally, by county for the years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15939/26]

345. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason many schools in Carlow awaiting school buildings were not included on the priority list or supplementary priority list; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15940/26]

346. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason many schools in Kilkenny awaiting school buildings were not included on the priority list or supplementary priority list; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15941/26]