Parliamentary questions

189. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Education and Youth the details of the current special schools, by location; whether these schools are in permanent or interim/temporary buildings; the current number of children attending each school; the number waiting on a place in each school, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [70499/25]

190. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Youth the main policy achievements of her Department since 22 January 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [70521/25]

191. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Education and Youth the eligibility criteria for the school transport scheme for primary school pupils, particularly for those living approximately 4.8 km from their nearest school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [70541/25]

192. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will consider reviewing the school transport arrangements serving schools in County Louth (details supplied); if she will examine the feasibility of a coordinated transport system to reduce congestion and emissions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [70542/25]

193. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason the entire north 2est of Ireland-Sligo, Mayo Donegal, Roscommon Leitrim and Cavan has been excluded in the current NCSE recruitment drive for senior and staff grade occupational therapists and speech and language therapists for the national educational therapy service (ETS) in special schools, with the plan for it to …

194. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Education and Youth the measures being taken to address overcrowding and staffing challenges in schools in County Louth; if additional funding or resources are planned to support schools in high-demand areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [70562/25]

195. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Education and Youth her views on the financial challenges faced by some parents regarding the payment of mock examination fees at a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [70570/25]

196. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding a matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [70571/25]

197. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she has given consideration to the delivery of a new primary school in the Castlelands area of Balbriggan, given the new 817 housing development planned for the area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [70596/25]

198. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Youth her views on whether migrants and refugees will be discouraged from accessing education, training and upskilling supports that require people to be in receipt of a social welfare payment in light of proposals from the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to penalise migrants and refugees who rely on essential social we…

199. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason a school did not receive funding (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [70618/25]

200. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on a matter regarding school places (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [70751/25]

201. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on a matter regarding school places (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [70752/25]

202. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on a school project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [70753/25]

203. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding the new school building project (details supplied); the reason for the delays of its completion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [70834/25]

204. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Education and Youth the current level of funding provided for a school (details supplied); the plans to increase funding in the near future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [70835/25]

205. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding the completion of a car park at a school (details provided); if a timeline has been laid out for its completion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [70836/25]

206. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Education and Youth the status of the planned extension for a school (details supplied) in County Leitrim, which is ready to proceed to tender; the expected timeframe for the commencement of construction; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [70840/25]

381. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will consider lifting the complete ban on persons over 70 providing school transport under the free school transport scheme, and allowing persons to participate provided they pass appropriate health checks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [70230/25]

382. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will provide an update on the ongoing dispute involving school secretaries and caretakers; the current status of engagement between her Department, Fórsa and other stakeholders; the steps being taken to resolve outstanding issues relating to pay, conditions and the implementation of prior agreements; and if she will make …

383. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of children nationwide who 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, with a breakdown of each county; the number seeking a letter of eligibility for a place in a special class and special school in South Tip…

384. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Education and Youth the current status of an additional needs application from a school (details supplied) in County Sligo; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [69065/25]

385. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her attention has been drawn to an issue caused by the lack of a late application process for notifying the NCSE of a child’s requirement for a place in a special class or school, and that parents who were not aware of the notification process or had a children born after the 30 September deadline are being left without a way to en…

386. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on her Department’s progress in establishing a school (details supplied) whose application was lodged in November 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [69118/25]

387. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the measures her Department is taking to address the increase in Irish language exemptions and to ensure that the operation of the exemption system remains consistent with national policy objectives for Irish language learning, in view of the ongoing implementation of the Action Plan for the Irish Language; and if she will make …