Parliamentary questions

228. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in her Department; the AI technologies the Department uses, the purpose and function of said technology in the context of the work of the Department, and the associated costs of the licensing or use of AI by the Department in the past 12 months, in tabular form. [386…

229. Deputy Gillian Toole asked the Minister for Education and Youth to explain and provide documentary evidence of the rationale and detailed planning for re-designation of mild general learning disability schools to include children with more complex needs; how human and educational resources will be provided and utilised to ensure all children will receive equal assistance, attention and opport…

37. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Education and Youth to urgently address an important issue (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37951/25]

38. Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to correspondence received by a teacher (details supplied), if she will clarify the position relating to the provision of incremental credit; if clear guidance will be provided by her Department in respect of whether incremental credit can be awarded in this case, in advance of the teacher having to go back on the Department…

39. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Education and Youth if the SNA allocation for moderate general learning disability classes could be reviewed in order that the allocation is on par with ASD classes, given the complex medical needs in these classes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37977/25]

40. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department accepts that the lack of dedicated spaces for young people is contributing to poor mental health outcomes and loneliness, given recent research by the European Union Joint Research Centre which found that Ireland is the loneliest country in Europe; the steps her Department is taking to address this issue; and if …

41. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department accepts the need for a national approach to provide integrated youth hubs in towns-cities across Ireland where young people can access State- and community-based services and have a safe space to congregate with their peers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37979/25]

42. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth her plans to respond to reports of children with a diagnosis of autism who, in their autism report, it is stated that they need SNA support, and it is recommended by the SENO, in some cases, and then it is being denied by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37985/25]

43. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department plans to review SNA allocation criteria to include the sensory and emotional regulation needs of children with autism which is crucial to their learning; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37988/25]

44. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department will consider a pilot programme to fund the development and operation of State run one-stop-shop youth spaces in partnership with the Department of Health and Social Protection, with a focus on wrap-around supports for young people, such as mental and sexual health, employment, training, and so on. [38001/2…

45. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Education and Youth to urgently address concerns (details supplied) and ensure that multi-grade classroom teacher pupil ratio will be given favourable consideration; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38013/25]

46. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of applications for additional special needs assistants submitted to her Department; and the number of these applications approved and refused, in tabular form. [38029/25]

47. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is concerned that SENOs are making recommendations for additional special needs assistants for schools, and these requests are being denied by the NCSE; and if she will examine this. [38031/25]

48. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 407 of 1 July 2025; the number of primary school places available in the Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council area for children with Down syndrome with a general learning disability, not related to ASD; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38077/25]

49. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth ; further to Parliamentary Question No. 407 of 1 July 2025, the number of secondary school places available in the Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council area for children with Down syndrome with a general learning disability, not related to ASD; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38078/25]

50. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 407 of 1 July 2025, if additional school places at both primary and secondary school level will be provided in the Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council area for children with Down syndrome with a general learning disability, not related to ASD; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38…

51. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 407 of 1 July 2025, if her attention has been drawn to the concerns of families in the Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council area that have children with Down syndrome regarding the availability of special classes in their local community for children with a general learning disability, not relat…

52. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will consider targeted investment in State-run youth spaces as part of Budget 2026, given the growing demand for early intervention mental health, education, and wellbeing supports for young people, and the opportunity these hubs present to deliver multiple services under one roof; and if she will make a statement on the m…

53. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if, and the reason why, a large number of trees were removed from their location by contractors, despite not being part of the site for a building project for a new school (details supplied). [38083/25]

54. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department has plans to reform how teaching posts are allocated to schools; if she recognises that a system based on the previous year’s admissions cannot accurately reflect future demand; if a system could be put in place that uses confirmed admissions for the coming year as a more accurate measure for teaching post requirement…

55. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education and Youth if, after an unsuccessful appeal, there is any further recourse for a school (details supplied) which has lost a teaching post based on figures for last year’s admissions which do not reflect demands on the school’s resources in the coming year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38098/25]

56. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason a child (details supplied) with a diagnosis of autism and a clear recommendation for one-on-one SNA support in a mainstream class has been refused by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38100/25]

57. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Education and Youth if autism classes will commence in schools (details supplied) in September 2026, as previously indicated by the NCSE; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38106/25]

58. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Education and Youth if consideration will be given to supporting the upskilling of parents and carers to fill the capacity gap for special needs assistants whilst ensuring that their carer's allowance is not affected; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38107/25]

59. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Education and Youth if any details will be provided as to the number of children in Dublin 2 and Dublin 4 who are currently seeking autism classes and places in special schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38108/25]