Parliamentary questions

259. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Youth her plans to provide an ASD unit at a school (details supplied); and the timeline for this provision. [50917/25]

260. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will review the case of a child (details supplied) who has been diagnosed with autism while in secondary school and needs a place in an ASD unit; and in view of the fact the child’s current school does not have such a unit, to be facilitated in transferring to another school with an appropriate unit. [50918/25]

261. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth when the primary and secondary school’s which are planned to be constructed in the CSW-S2 area of the Clonburris SDZ will be constructed and opened in view of the fact that South Dublin County Council have reported that they have requested these be prioritised and discussions are ongoing with her Department; the timeframe for when th…

262. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth when the former site of a school (details supplied) will be re-purposed as a building for special needs education in view of the fact that South Dublin County Council have reported that discussions are ongoing with her Department in relation to this school being repurposed, when this school will be fully staffed and opened; and if sh…

263. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will review the case of a child (details supplied) who despite having all documentation required, including psychologist reports, HSE service statements, multidisciplinary assessments, as well as a NCSE eligibility letter, is unable to secure a place in an ASD classroom for September 2026 as there are none available in …

264. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will review a request made by a school (details supplied) to have an additional SNA approved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50958/25]

265. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education and Youth regarding the devices purchasing framework for schools contract with a company (details supplied), if devices are being used to replace free schoolbooks in schools; the cost to parents for devices under the contract; and the way in which this meets the commitment of lowering the cost of school resources for parents. [50985/25]

266. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education and Youth the consultation that took place with parents prior to the issuing of the NSCE Guidelines for the Review of SNA Allocations 2025/2026; the reason support for emotional regulation or social skills have been excluded; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50994/25]

267. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will give detailed consideration to issues outlined in correspondence (details supplied) regarding the provision of supports for children with additional needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51008/25]

268. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will review the recently published National Council for Special Education SNA review process guidelines for 2025–2026, in view of concerns raised by parents, schools and SNAs that the narrowed eligibility criteria, short application window, and redeployment of allocations risk reducing supports for children with complex n…

269. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Youth the progress to date with the primary school divestment programme; the reasons for its limited outcomes since 2018; and her plans to ensure that families have access to greater choice in multi-denominational and non-denominational education, in view of Census 2023 findings which show a significant decline in the proportion of th…

270. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Education and Youth to urgently review the recently published 2025/2026 SNA Review Guidelines and their impact on Children by the NCSE until such time as proper consultation with schools, SNAs, and parents can take place; to consider the important measures (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51067/25]

271. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Education and Youth to review the case of a school (details supplied) to allow for a fourth teacher; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51071/25]

272. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of schools which have applied and been approved for the solar for schools programme since its inception; the cost to the Exchequer involved to date; if new school building designs now incorporate solar panels by default; the average wait time experienced by applicants from the installation of panels to connection to the gri…

273. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will consider providing funding to an organisation (details supplied) who provide trained therapy dogs to schools, resulting in improved attendance and literacy levels for children with autism; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51078/25]

274. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the steps taken since 1 September 2025 to address reports from parents of suspensions and inadequate provision at a designated special school in Cork; the dates of any inspections carried out since that date; the number of additional SNAs and specialist teachers allocated in response; and the timeline for the completion and publica…

275. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Education and Youth to urgently put in place supports for industrial and reformatory school survivors (details supplied) preventing the commencement of the planned hunger strike. [51083/25]

53. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education and Youth to confirm that further investments will be made and strategies developed in the area of school counselling, particularly in the areas of prevention and early intervention; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50515/25]

54. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the building of a new school at a location (details supplied); when it will go to tender in view of the fact it was granted planning permission on 8 May 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50523/25]

55. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Education and Youth her plan and the consideration that has been given to deliver a secondary school in Moycullen County Galway given its increase in population; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50524/25]

56. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Education and Youth the plans being considered to deliver a secondary school at a location (details supplied) in view of the increase in population; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50525/25]

57. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will reinstate the special education diploma allowance that was passed at congress (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50545/25]

58. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will provide an update on the additional accommodation application submitted by a school (details supplied); the reason for the delay in granting approval despite the application being with her Department for over two years; and if she will prioritise the matter given the lack of adequate facilities is preventing local childr…

59. Deputy Ann Graves asked the Minister for Education and Youth if it is possible to create a single enrolment policy for the schools in Fingal, based on either catchment area or feeder school system as in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50564/25]

60. Deputy Brian Brennan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the options available to a school to apply for funding for an outdoor play area and equipment for children with specific, complex additional needs, separate to the start-up grant for a new SEN room; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50566/25]