Parliamentary questions

384. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education and Youth her views on a school (details supplied) being the only secondary school in Newbridge without a local selection criteria. [65469/25]

385. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth if there are plans to allow people who are contracted by Bus Éireann to drive buses for children with additional needs to continue to do so after they reach 70 years-of-age; her views on the current policy; the engagement her Department has had with Bus Éireann on this matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65491/25…

386. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education and Youth to outline the process in which a student being home schooled can complete the Leaving Certificate. [65514/25]

387. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education and Youth the provisions in place to ensure that students who are home schooled can complete subjects with course work components given the new SEC coursework rules and procedures 2025-2026, page 16/ 7. [65515/25]

388. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of students currently being home schooled. [65516/25]

389. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Youth to respond to correspondence regarding an application for additional accommodation for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65551/25]

390. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Education and Youth if additional support will be provided to a student (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65553/25]

391. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if individual schools have any discretion under the tendering and procurement process when selecting the provider of their school meals, taking into consideration local factors, price, menu selection; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65555/25]

392. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of schools in Waterford that applied for funding under the 2025 Summer Works Programme. [65607/25]

393. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of additional special needs assistants employed over the years 2020 to 2025, by county, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65609/25]

394. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Youth her plans to change the regulations regarding persons aged 70 and over, driving vehicles providing a public service such as school transport; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65626/25]

395. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will direct the NCSE to issue additional letters of eligibility where assessments were completed shortly after the 1 October deadline and where it is clear that delays resulted from systemic or service-capacity issues rather than any failure on the part of families. [65646/25]

396. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is satisfied that the decision of the NCSE to introduce a significantly earlier closing date of 1 October for the submission of parental notifications and supporting reports has been implemented in a fair and reasonable manner; and the measures her Department is taking to ensure that families who were unable to secure ass…

397. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Youth the rationale for the NCSE policy of refusing to issue letters of eligibility where parents submitted notifications on time but were unable to obtain the required professional reports until later in October; and if flexibility will be introduced in light of capacity constraints within assessment services. [65648/25]

398. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Youth if transitional arrangements were put in place for the first year of the revised NCSE application timeline; the considerations taken to ensure families were not disadvantaged by the abrupt change; and whether she will instruct the NCSE to reconsider applications where reports were delayed through no fault of the family. [65649/2…

399. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Youth her assessment of the impact that refusing additional letters of eligibility will have on the ability of children with complex needs to access appropriate school placements for September 2026 where some families were only weeks outside the October 1 deadline, particularly in cases where school enrolment windows extend into early…

400. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is satisfied with the level of communication provided to families regarding the new NCSE notification deadlines, required documentation, and approved assessors’ list; and if she will commit to publishing clear, accessible guidance for future application cycles. [65651/25]

401. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will undertake a review of the NCSE eligibility process, including timelines and communication practices, to ensure it operates in a fair, transparent, and child-centred manner. [65652/25]

402. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 502 of 18 November 2025, the advice she would give to a teacher who has moved schools in the past 12-months but due to their child’s illness are forced to temporarily leave work and they cannot qualify for carer’s allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65675/25]

403. Deputy Shay Brennan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if funding is available for a school (details supplied); and when building will commence. [65677/25]

404. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth if funding is available which an association (details supplied) or its member organisations can apply for to continue its mentoring scheme for secondary schools to encourage emerging young talent and to putt on annual school musicals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65693/25]

405. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education and Youth when the tender will be released for the building of a school (details supplied) given the urgent situation facing the school and the potential deadline faced vacating their current temporary accommodation. [65761/25]

406. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth the amount of the 2026 youth affairs budget that is allocated for capital projects; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65770/25]

407. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 516 of 18 November 2025, the mechanisms that will support the delivery of actions 10 and 13 of the Opportunities for Youth framework; the process that will be used to determine the acquisition of new spaces for youth work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65794/25]

408. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will fulfil the commitment made by the former Minister of Education and Youth and meet with the principal of a school (details supplied) to discuss the urgent need for additional autism class provision within their school, and wider community; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65810/25]