Parliamentary questions

511. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will provide data on the current capacity of special schools and special classes in County Kilkenny; the projected demand for September 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3590/26]

512. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will provide data on the current capacity of special schools and special classes in County Carlow ; the projected demand for September 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3591/26]

513. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the review to allow school bus drivers continue to drive after reaching 70 years-of-age (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3602/26]

514. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Education and Youth to list the roles within public or semi-State organisations under her Department that are excluded from the single public service pension scheme; the number of people employed in those roles, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3615/26]

515. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth when her Government colleagues were informed either by her Department or the NCSE on the allocation of the first tranche of special classes for academic year 2026/27; the reason her Department failed to provide a full list officially on 12 January, the day her own Government colleagues announced classes for their own constituencie…

516. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Youth if a school in west Tipperary will be approved for a second ASD class, as promised ahead of the 2025-2026 school year, but which did not happen (details supplied);; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3630/26]

517. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will address concerns raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3631/26]

518. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education and Youth the way in which the Convention on Education and National Conversation will ensure that under represented voices for example, students with special educational needs, marginalised communities, rural stakeholders and so on are included meaningfully in its deliberations. [3680/26]

519. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education and Youth the steps which will be taken to guarantee geographical diversity within the Convention on Education and National Conversation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3681/26]

520. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will provide a detailed working plan and timeline for the Convention on Education and National Conversation. [3682/26]

521. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education and Youth her plans for when the Convention on Education and National Conversation recommendations are submitted to ensure they are implemented by her Department. [3683/26]

522. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education and Youth if there will be a monitoring body or follow-up committee to track progress on implementation, including regular updates to the Houses of the Oireachtas and public. [3684/26]

523. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education and Youth the date the Convention on Education and National Conversation will take place. [3685/26]

524. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of special education classes sanctioned in 2024/2025 which are open and operational, in tabular form. [3688/26]

525. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education and Youth when the NCSE will reopen the parents portal in order that parents can submit their children's assessment of needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3693/26]

526. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of children still awaiting an appropriate school place, by county, in tabular form. [3694/26]

527. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of pupils which will need to enter secondary school in 2026, in Shannon, Sixmilebridge and Newmarket-on-Fergus; the number of secondary school places available in those areas; her plans to address any shortfall in places available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3695/26]

528. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 383 of 9 December 2025, if he will provide the details requested in the question specifically, the number of children who have sought a letter of eligibility for a place in a special class or special school through the parents notify portal before the deadline of 1 October 2025, by county; t…

529. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Education and Youth her Department’s plans to include discussions on the identification of abusive relationships and coercive control as part of the Junior Cycle SPHE programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3722/26]

530. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an updated, year-by-year plan and resourcing plan to achieve the Programme for Government commitment of a pupil-teacher ratio of 19:1 in primary schools'; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3724/26]

531. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education and Youth the analysis her Department conducted on the adequacy of the current capitation grant to cover rising operating costs such as energy, insurance, procurements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3725/26]

532. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education and Youth her plans to ban voluntary contributions in schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3726/26]

533. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of ICT grants awarded to post-primary schools in County Kildare. [3741/26]

534. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Youth when a response to correspondence will issue to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3750/26]

535. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will work with the NCSE to help establish an autism class in a school (details supplied); the reason some schools in the area have not been required or supported to open an autism class despite clear local demand; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3752/26]