Parliamentary questions

640. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is aware of the deep hurt felt by the “forgotten children” from this State and their families (details supplied); if she and the Taoiseach will consider that with confirmation, that the survivors of abuse in industrial and reformatory schools will be offered a State apology, this may also be an appropriate time to …

641. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Education and Youth the definitive timeline for when the Kilkenny and Carlow ETB will receive the funding to proceed to the construction phase for schools (details supplied). [12211/26]

642. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Education and Youth the current situation with respect to the payment of special education transport escorts; the measures her Department is taking to improve pay and conditions given the essential nature of this work; if her Department is considering the revision of the current grant-funded employment model and the possible introduction of annualis…

643. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding a permanent school building (details supplied); when it will proceed to tender; the way her Department intends to ensure that the building is delivered given the likely limits on capacity from September 2028 in its current temporary location. [12247/26]

644. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Education and Youth when the Support for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill 2024, will be enacted. [12276/26]

645. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update on a matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12279/26]

646. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Education and Youth to consider introducing a special education equipment grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12280/26]

647. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the deadline to notify the NCSE regarding special class places for the 2027-2028 school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12282/26]

648. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Education and Youth the strategies in place to notify parents and schools about the NCSE deadline for special class places; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12283/26]

649. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is considering a matter regarding salaries (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12284/26]

650. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether she will consider providing special schools with an AP1; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12285/26]

651. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide pathways to enable mobility between the health and education sector to transition into special education posts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12286/26]

652. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education and Youth if consideration will be given to instating a school transport route for a school (details supplied) for the coming school year for young people travelling from neighbouring areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12288/26]

653. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is aware of any discrepancy between the acceptance/calculation of incremental credit applications between primary and secondary school teachers teaching abroad in non-EU states; if this discrepancy differs on whether the school is public or privately run; if her Department is preparing any changes to this process to al…

654. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Education and Youth when the guidelines and recommendations arising from phase 2 of the School Transport Report will commence implementation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12302/26]

655. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Education and Youth to specify how the €69 million allocated in Budget 2026 will be expended in relation to the measures outlined in the School Transport Report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12303/26]

656. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Education and Youth in light of recent media commentary regarding the introduction of e-tickets, to address the fact that in last September's national coverage highlighted supply and demand pressures as the predominant issue rather than e ticketing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12304/26]

657. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Education and Youth how the current loophole, in which individuals use incorrect or falsified Eircodes to obtain bus tickets, is being monitored and enforced; the safeguards that are in place (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12305/26]

658. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Education and Youth the situation in Castletown, where 15 children may "temporarily" relocate within the catchment area to qualify for school transport; the measures that will be taken should all applicants thereby become eligible; in particular, whether the Department will provide a second bus in such circumstances; and if she will make a…

659. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education and Youth her views on the Education Leave for Injuries Bill 2025 for teachers and SNAs, currently proceeding through Seanad Éireann. [12309/26]

660. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on transport for a person (details supplied; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12338/26]

661. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department will allocate an additional class to a school (details supplied) given the number of students in the area still awaiting a school place for the upcoming academic year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12347/26]

662. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Education and Youth if plans have advanced for a new school building in Cork (details supplied); the status of the project; the way in which her Department plans to support the delivery of the five approved autism classes in the absence of a permanent building; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12395/26]

663. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 855 of 4 November 2025, if her Department will provide an update on the discussions with University College Cork about a proposed course (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12397/26]

664. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 1047 of 13 January 2026, the status of the application for additional accommodation at a school (details supplied); the implications for this application considering that it was not included in the prioritised projects of the NDP sectoral plan; her proposals to address the severe pressure on th…