Parliamentary questions

131. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 330 of 8 May 2025, the position regarding the school transport pilot scheme; if the scheme will be extended beyond the 14 schools from the 2024/2025 school year; if the students in this pilot project from last year will be granted eligible tickets for the 2025/26 school year instead of conce…

132. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Youth the action she is taking to increase the numbers of SNAs and special education teachers available to teach in schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39847/25]

133. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth the steps she is taking to ensure that children have access to summer provision and adequate supports during the summer months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32483/25]

134. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will introduce pension parity for school secretaries and caretakers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38943/25]

135. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Oideachais agus Óige an aontaíonn sí go bhfuil líon na ndaltaí atá ag fáil díolúintí ó staidéar a dhéanamh ar an nGaeilge ag leibhéal na meánscolaíochta as alt go hiomlán agus ag déanamh scigmhagadh den riachtanas gur gá do chuile dhalta an Ghaeilge a bheith mar ábhar acu mar chuid dá meánscolaíocht, agus cén céimeanna atá glactha aici chun an lí…

136. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of children that will be affected by the decision not to open autism classes in Mayo which had been scheduled to open in September 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39775/25]

137. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Education and Youth the measures she is taking to increase ASD unit capacity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40140/25]

138. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 205 of 1 October 2024, if it is still the intention of her Department to make a green area available for use as a playing field by local schools; if so, to provide an update on the progress made within her Department in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39996/25]

139. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will consider introducing a funding stream in her Department in order that all secondary school students would be entitled to have a free Irish college experience at least once during their schooling; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39852/25]

140. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Education and Youth the immediate steps her Department is taking to address the urgent issue of Special Needs Assistant (SNA) resourcing in the Roscommon–Galway constituency, particularly in light of the current pause in the allocation process and the restriction that appeals may only be submitted in July 2025; and if she will consider interim measure…

141. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Education and Youth if the Government will address the shortage of early intervention classes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40139/25]

142. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth if, before issuing 0039/2025, she has considered the unique and complex situation of the cohort of students that currently benefit from the specialised education provided at MGLD special schools across the country; if her Department is aware of the potential negative impacts of a forced redesignation on these students, a…

143. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is aware of children who, according to their autism reports, require one-on-one SNA support, being denied this by the NCSE; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38437/25]

144. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth the steps her Department have undertaken to reduce the pupil teacher ratio in an effort to maintain teaching posts while there is a temporary dip in primary school enrolment numbers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40137/25]

145. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Education and Youth the steps her Department is taking to address the urgent issue of special needs assistant (SNA) resourcing in the Roscommon-Galway constituency, particularly in light of the current pause in the allocation process and the restriction that appeals may only be submitted in July 2025; and if she will consider interim measures or fast …

146. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the measures she is taking to address the teacher supply crisis in advance of September 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40112/25]

147. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of children with additional needs who have yet to secure appropriate places in primary and secondary schools in the next academic year; what plans there are to address this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39352/25]

148. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the up-to-date position on a design team been appointed to a new school project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40143/25]

149. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of children attending Gaelscoileanna and Gaelcholáistí, including in Gaeltacht areas, in each of the past three years; the indicative number for 2025-2026; her plans to increase the number of children who complete their primary and second level education through Irish; and if she will make a statement on the matter. …

150. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Education and Youth the efforts her Department are making to ensure a sufficient supply of primary school teachers are available to fill all outstanding vacancies within the sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40078/25]

151. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of children from Dublin Bay north who were on a waiting list for a place in a special school in each of the years 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40199/25]

152. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the long-awaited capital works at a school (details supplied). [40148/25]

153. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will ensure that all children who meet the criteria for a special needs class will get a place in a special needs class in September 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38426/25]

154. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Education and Youth the measures she is taking to amend this criterion following the dissemination of circular 0024/2025 (details supplied) to be inclusive of children with a disability and speech sound disorder; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39679/25]

155. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is concerned by reports that large numbers of students in post-primary schools are receiving exemptions for Irish; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40157/25]