Parliamentary questions

197. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will consider a joint fund with the Department of Transport for safety works outside of schools, to create a standardised approach to safety; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9601/26]

198. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of special education places notifications submitted by schools after the 1 October deadline; the reason the October deadline was chosen; the way in which she plans to address this situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11052/26]

199. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department will approve the funding to carry out the alterations required to facilitate disability and wheelchair access in a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10772/26]

200. Deputy Brian Brennan asked the Minister for Education and Youth for reassurance of progress on, and a timeline for, school building projects in the Wicklow-Wexford constituency that were not included in the first tranche of the NDP Sectoral Investment Plan Rollout for 2026-2027 (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10973/26]

201. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will urgently address the severe cuts in SNAs across multiple schools in Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10968/26]

202. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the actions her Department is taking to ensure that every child with special educational needs can access an appropriate school place in their local area, including the timely provision of special classes and special school places, adequate special education teacher and special needs assistant allocations, and access to therapie…

203. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth to outline the Government’s decision-making processes on voluntary contributions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10099/26]

204. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the arrangements currently in place for the payment of architects, consultants and design teams engaged in the design of new school building projects; the average time taken by her Department to process and issue such payments; if her attention has been drawn to delays being experienced by design teams in receiving prompt payment …

205. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the opening of the special school in Carraig na bFhearr. [10020/26]

206. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Education and Youth her position regarding reports furnished to her and her Department regarding defects at a school (details supplied); whether any investigations have been carried out relating to such matters; the action taken to date; the further actions planned; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11019/26]

207. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if digital literacy can be added to school curriculums to ensure responsible use of AI; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10989/26]

208. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth the progress her Department has made to increase the number of reading classes nationwide; the criteria being used to identify areas of greatest need; the timeline for the establishment of additional classes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11078/26]

209. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth when her Department will provide a second special education class for a school (details supplied); and if her Department will retain the second special education class in another school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10945/26]

210. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will add additional schools in Carlow/Kilkenny to the National Development Plan priority list in 2026-2027; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11043/26]

211. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update on the efforts being made by her Department to ensure that a green area is made available for use as a playing pitch by schools (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10983/26]

212. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will ensure that funding is provided for modular buildings to accommodate new sanctioned autism classes at a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10031/26]

213. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of and percentage of students in primary and secondary education who attend class in non-permanent modular classrooms. [10480/26]

214. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Education and Youth to urgently approve the progression of the major devolved project for a college (details supplied) to tender stage, given that the project was initiated in 2014 and has incurred significant costs without any physical improvements to the existing school buildings; her views on whether the current school building is no longer fit f…

215. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on works on the extension of a school (details supplied), and the development of other schools on the site. [10765/26]

216. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the steps her Department is taking to address the overcrowding in schools in County Louth. [10848/26]

217. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will provide funding for pilot schemes in primary and secondary schools which focus on the development of real-world critical thinking skills and problem solving; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11044/26]

320. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education and Youth the schedule of special education classes to come; the number of classes; and the way in which the data collected by the NCSE been reflected in future announcements. [11583/26]

321. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education and Youth the status of a centre (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11584/26]

322. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Education and Youth to clarify if there is a legal requirement for teachers to use students' “preferred names and pronouns”. [5360/26]

323. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is aware that some NGOs are making claims that schools and teachers must use a student's preferred names and pronouns; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5362/26]