Parliamentary questions

156. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Youth if the projected population growth in Donabate outpaces her Department’s delivery of new primary and secondary schools for the area; if her Department, via the capital plan for the area, will ensure that the delivery of new schools is prioritised to meet the demand; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39785/25]

157. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding any initiatives that seek to increase the provision of Gaelscoileanna and Gaelcholáistí at a national level; her views on the importance of offering parents this option of school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38828/25]

158. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education and Youth the urgent steps being taken to ensure equality for school secretaries and caretakers; the details of her engagement to date with their trade union and with the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation in this regard; if the analysis of the survey undertaken by her Department…

159. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update in relation to the implementation of the terms of the school transport review to reduce distance criteria and expand eligibility, as set out in the Programme for Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40009/25]

160. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will increase funding for SNAs and SNA allocations for schools to ensure that lack of SNAs is not a barrier to any child accessing an appropriate school place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39846/25]

161. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education and Youth her plans to ensure schools that are operating via Windows 10 are supported to upgrade all ICT infrastructure; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39683/25]

162. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will confirm that pupils with a diagnosis of dyslexia will be allowed additional time to complete their State exams in 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40136/25]

163. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education and Youth the work that has been undertaken since youth work came under her remit. [39686/25]

164. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the steps her Department is taking to combat the use of AI in assessments; the concerns her Department has; the steps she is taking to reduce its prevalence; if she will engage with stakeholders to insure the integrity of assessment practices can be protected; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38582/25]

165. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she has engaged with the Minister for Transport and the Road Safety Authority regarding allowing those over 70 years to drive for school transport; if this will now be allowed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39574/25]

166. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth her plans to invest in and expand early intervention classes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40114/25]

167. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will provide an overview of steps she is taking to ensure that school secretaries and care-takers receive better pay and conditions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39851/25]

168. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth if a review of the number of special needs assistants will be carried out for a school (details supplied); to outline the recommended student-SNA ratio; the average SNA allocation per 100 students; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40133/25]

169. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department will reassess the need for a secondary school for Newcastle given the population is growing faster than projected in the 2022-2028 South Dublin County Development Plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40007/25]

170. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on a new primary school for Carrick on Shannon; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38425/25]

171. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the accommodations currently in place for visually impaired students sitting the Leaving Certificate examinations. [40001/25]

172. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she has engaged with an organisation (details supplied) regarding the treatment of abuse survivors and the need for a redress scheme for survivors of abuse; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38944/25]

173. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update on the development of a school (details supplied); and to outline plans for its future growth. [40069/25]

174. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will urgently review the sanction and subsequent withdrawal of sanction for a new ASD class at a school (details supplied) in Tipperary; the reasons this sanction was removed; if she is satisfied with the manner in which this matter has been dealt with; if she will instruct the NCSE to re-instate the ASD class that she ap…

283. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether the new doctorate in educational psychology at Maynooth University, scheduled to commence in September 2025, includes mandatory placements in health and social care settings, including primary care, disability services and CAMHS, in line with current Psychological Society of Ireland accreditation standards and expected CORU…

284. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education and Youth if the new doctorate in educational psychology at Maynooth University is structured to ensure that graduates are eligible to practice across all public psychology services, and not solely within the National Educational Psychological Service. [40302/25]

285. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education and Youth if any assessment has been carried out on the implications of limiting public funding for professional training to psychologists who may be qualified for only one employment context. [40303/25]

286. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education and Youth if the new doctorate in educational psychology at Maynooth University has received formal approval from PSI and confirmation from CORU that it will meet professional training and registration standards within 18 months. [40304/25]

287. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will commit to reviewing public funding of educational psychology training to ensure that future cohorts are equipped to work across the full range of educational, health and social care settings, in line with the Taoiseach’s stated objective to break down silos in children’s disability services. [40305/25]

288. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education and Youth to report on engagements he has had with representatives of school secretaries and caretakers in relation to their demand to be included in civil service pension schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40676/25]