Parliamentary questions

173. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide the number of additional new Special Needs Assistants recruited in 2025; the number of additional new Special Needs Assistants recruited to date in 2026, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13351/26]

174. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide the number of Special Needs Assistants who have had their hours reduced or who have been let go from their role in 2025 and 2026, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13352/26]

175. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide a breakdown of the schools in Kildare that have had their allocation of special needs assistants reduced for the following school year to date; the reduction in each school's allocation, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13353/26]

176. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her attention has been drawn to the significant reduction in the SNA allocation for a school (details supplied); the basis for this decision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13396/26]

177. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is concerned about the impact that the significant reduction in the SNA allocation for a school (details supplied) will have on the students that require this support; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13397/26]

178. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding any engagement she has had with the NCSE in relation to the reduction of SNA allocations to schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13398/26]

179. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth if there is any policy or instruction in place with the NCSE regarding the reduction of SNA allocations for schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13399/26]

180. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her attention has been brought to the concerns of school principals that are fearful that their school will face a reduction in their SNA allocation pending an assessment by the NCSE; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13400/26]

181. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding the supports that will be made available for any SNA that has been told they will not have a job in their current school for the 2026/2027 school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13401/26]

182. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding any engagement she has had with unions representing SNAs that have been told they will not have a job in their current school for the 2026/2027 school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13402/26]

183. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she plans to improve the terms and conditions of school bus escorts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13410/26]

184. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Education and Youth when the new school bus route between the temporary location of a school (details supplied) and the Hollywoodrath-Tyrrelstown area will be operational; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13414/26]

185. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Education and Youth the timeline to conclude the YSGS pilot and open a full reformed scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13415/26]

186. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she can provide a list of advisory groups, working groups and taskforces that the youth affairs unit is represented on; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13416/26]

187. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Education and Youth the scaling plan for the new impact tool beyond the TYESI pilot; how results will inform funding and performance improvement rather than just compliance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13417/26]

188. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education and Youth the steps her Department is taking to make more meaningful provision for students who have opted out of religious education; if the Department plans to give more specific guidance to schools on this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13418/26]

189. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update on the work of her Department in supporting rural youth services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13379/26]

582. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to commitments made on 10 November 2025 to survivors of the industrial and reformatory school system, the current status of the delivery of the agreed services and supports; the Departments and agencies responsible for implementation; the actions taken to date; the timeline for full delivery. [12026/26]

583. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding any grant funding available that an organisation (details supplied) could apply for to support the provision of community youth outreach schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12725/26]

584. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Youth when a full response will issue to a person (details supplied) and this Deputy regarding a child's special education school placement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11589/26]

585. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will engage with Dublin City Council to resolve an ownership issue relating to a plot of land owned by her Department (details supplied) on which three Dublin City Council tenants reside; if she is aware that two of these tenants wish to purchase their homes but are unable to do so due to the land not being in the o…

586. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department provides grants to schools engaging in nature-based education for the purchase of necessary equipment such as waterproof clothing, gardening tools, storage equipment and materials for outdoor activities;; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11608/26]

587. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Youth when the summer works scheme will open for new applications; if the range of improvement works for this scheme have yet been finalised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11610/26]

588. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of children across the State that are currently without a school place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11625/26]

589. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update on the delivery of a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11640/26]