Parliamentary questions

548. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth the criteria, assessment process and decision-making framework used to select the 105 school building projects announced for delivery in 2026 and 2027, including whether demographic need, school capacity and regional balance were considered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9246/26]

549. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding the refurbishment works for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9250/26]

550. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will engage with the school principal of a school (details supplied) in relation to their planned refurbishment project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9251/26]

551. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she can provide a timeline for the start date of a planned refurbishment project for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9252/26]

552. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Youth the status of the case of a child (details supplied); and the changes her Department will implement going forward to ensure this does not happen for 2026-2027. [9264/26]

553. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Youth when the next round of funding under the education for sustainable development scheme for primary and secondary schools will be announced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9267/26]

554. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Youth the status of the application by a school (details supplied) to open a second special educational needs class for the 2026-2027 academic year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9268/26]

555. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth when parents who were unable to notify the NCSE of their child’s recommendation for a special class before the 1 October deadline will receive a letter of eligibility; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9269/26]

556. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her attention has been drawn to a child (details supplied) who does not yet have a SEN place for the coming school year; the actions she will take to address this case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9271/26]

557. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will engage with the NCSE in relation to progressing a letter of eligibility for a child (details supplied) who requires this intervention to get a SEN place for the coming school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9272/26]

558. Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will remove the obligation on principals of schools with under 60 pupils to teach, given the increased administration and operational duties on them; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9277/26]

559. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Education and Youth to address matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9286/26]

560. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Youth on behalf of a person (details supplied), when the parents notify process was changed or introduced; the measures that were taken to ensure that families of children with additional needs were fully aware of the requirement and its implications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9287/26]

561. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Youth the status of a possible ASD class for a school (details supplied). [9334/26]

562. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department has assessed the extent to which the current restrictions on the recognition of overseas and private sector teaching experience for incremental salary purposes are acting as a barrier to the recruitment and retention of qualified teachers, particularly in shortage subjects and high demand areas; and if she…

563. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth when she expects the work of the incremental credit committee and the ongoing teacher workforce planning project to result in specific and costed policy proposals to expand the recognition of overseas teaching experience for salary and incremental purposes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9353/26]

564. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Youth the current status of the request submitted by the board of management of a school (details supplied), through its patron, to commence a formal consultation process regarding the transition of the school from an all-girls post-primary school to a co-educational model; when a decision is expected to issue from her Department; the…

565. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 670 of 4 November 2025, if the independent assessment into the feasibility of removing the exclusion of drivers aged over 70 years-of-age from the school transport scheme has been concluded; and if so, what conclusion was reached; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9420/26]

566. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of staff directly responsible for cybersecurity, as distinct from IT, within her Department; if a threat analyst, vulnerability manager and a cyber infrastructure engineer are employed; if not in-house, if this work is outsourced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9428/26]

567. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Youth the extent to which her Department examines third party supply chain vulnerability when it comes to cybersecurity. [9446/26]

568. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Youth if the requirement for professional reports as part of the enrolment process for students seeking placement in special educational settings could be reinstated (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9515/26]

569. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Youth if the independent assessment on the feasibility of removing the exclusion of drivers aged over 70 years-of-age from the school transport system has begun; and the date by which its findings will be presented to her. [9582/26]

570. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Education and Youth her views on a matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9603/26]

571. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will review the case of a person (details supplied) in relation to an incremental credit application for teaching service; the reasons for the decision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9607/26]

572. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is aware of the serious accommodation problems at a Louth school (details supplied); the plans her Department has to address these issues; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9680/26]