Parliamentary questions

488. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of pupils currently availing of the school transport scheme for 2025-2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55276/25]

489. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth for a breakdown of the €16 million invested in school therapies in Budget 2026; and the number of SLTs and OTs she expects to provide, broken down by primary and post primary school. [55283/25]

490. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide a breakdown of the funding allocated in budget 2026 for the minor work grant, ICT grant, solar PV grant and climate action summer works scheme. [55284/25]

491. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth if the DEIS plan currently supports 260,000 people; and the number of additional people the DEIS Plus programme will support. [55285/25]

492. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide a breakdown of the funding allocated in budget 2026 for the DEIS plan and DEIS Plus programme. [55286/25]

493. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of additional schools that will receive the extra €20 capitation grant because they are classed as DEIS urban band 1; and the amount of such funding. [55287/25]

494. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth when the increase in capitation grant to €406 for children in special schools once they turn 12 will come into effect; and the number of special schools that will receive this. [55288/25]

495. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide a breakdown of the €19 million allocated in budget 2026 to train teachers on how to deliver leaving certificate reform. [55289/25]

496. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide a breakdown of the €19 million allocated in budget 2026 to train teachers on how to deliver primary school curriculum reform. [55290/25]

497. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth to outline who will provide the training to teachers to deliver Leaving Certificate reform and primary school curriculum reform. [55291/25]

498. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth of the €3 billion in funding provided to special education in Budget 2026, the amount that is for existing levels of service and the amount for new measures. [55292/25]

499. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will intervene in the urgent case of a school in County Offaly (details supplied), that has had works approved since 2018 but which has yet to have a contractor appointed. [55302/25]

500. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth for a breakdown of the €16 million allocated in Budget 2026 to school-based therapies in special schools; when special classes and mainstream schools will start receiving these therapies; and when schools will receive this funding. [55313/25]

501. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the amount of the €48 million allocated in Budget 2026 to DEIS plus that is for new measures; the amount which is for existing levels of service; and if this funding is available immediately or from September 2026. [55314/25]

502. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she expects the implementation of DEIS Plus in the fourth quarter of 2025. [55315/25]

503. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth if the increase in the capitation grant by €50 for primary schools and €20 for post-primary will not come into effect until September 2026; the measures in place for schools for winter 2025 if they continue to struggle with costs. [55316/25]

504. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth if it is the case that of the 1,042 additional teachers provided for in Budget 2026, 860 are special education teachers to cover special schools and special classes in mainstream schools; and if that means there is only an additional 182 mainstream teachers. [55317/25]

505. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of additional teachers needed to reduce the pupil teacher ratio by one point; and the reason her Department has failed to reduce the pupil teacher ratio in classrooms by even one point, as budget 2026 only provides an additional 182 mainstream teachers. [55318/25]

506. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the breakdown of the €8 million provided for the youth sector in budget 2026; and the amount specifically for capital projects. [55319/25]

507. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth of the €69 million funding provided for the school transport scheme in 2025, the amount that is to maintain existing levels of service; and the amount that is for new measures. [55320/25]

508. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of additional children who will be able to avail of the school transport scheme following budget 2026. [55321/25]

509. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the breakdown of the €19 million allocated in budget 2026 to curriculum development; the amount that will be for Leaving Certificate reform; and the amount that will be for primary school curriculum reform. [55322/25]

510. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the breakdown of the €3 million allocation in budget 2026 to provide additional deputy principals in primary and post-primary schools; and the number of additional deputy principals are expected to be hired, broken down by primary and post-primary level. [55323/25]

511. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of teachers she hopes to have working in the education system by 2030. [55324/25]

512. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason the roll-out of school therapies is not coming into place with immediate effect following Budget 2026. [55325/25]