Parliamentary questions

475. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Education and Youth if urgent steps will be taken to address the continued lack of a proper pension scheme and the unequal terms and conditions under which school secretaries (details supplied) work compared to their colleagues, such as teachers and special needs assistants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25721/25]

476. Deputy George Lawlor asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she plans to review the current policy of her Department which does not allow for grade repetition unless there is an academic reason (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25727/25]

477. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department is considering reducing the duration of the post-graduate Master's in Education from two years to one; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25751/25]

478. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Education and Youth to consider regarding secretaries and caretakers, who work side by side with teachers and SNAs in this country daily, to receive the same certainty of a pension on retirement and to receive fair wages; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25763/25]

479. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education and Youth when the ICT grant will be paid to primary schools this year. [25769/25]

480. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will support giving public sector status to all secretaries and caretakers in schools giving them the same access to protections and pensions as other workers in schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25800/25]

481. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update on the status of an additional needs application from a school (details supplied) in County Sligo; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25820/25]

482. Deputy Seán Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update in relation to a project at a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25823/25]

483. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth the circumstances surrounding the decision not to approve the application made by a school (details supplied) for the opening of a special class; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25824/25]

484. Deputy Seán Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding an application for additional school accommodation for a post primary school, form ASA (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25833/25]

485. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department plans to open a special class for boys in any of the primary schools in Moate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25836/25]

486. Deputy Joe Cooney asked the Minister for Education and Youth her plans to give public sector status for all secretaries and caretakers working in schools, to be given access to the same rights, the same certainty of a pension on retirement and salaries as the teachers and SNAs that they work alongside; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25844/25]

487. Deputy Joe Cooney asked the Minister for Education and Youth to outline, given the recognised shortage of school bus drivers, if she has any plans to extend the retirement age for school bus drivers past the age of 70; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25845/25]

488. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update on the ICT grant for schools; and when it is going to be paid. [25868/25]

489. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update on the school works programme; and when it is going to be paid. [25869/25]

490. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will introduce a calendar for school grants. [25870/25]

491. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Education and Youth her Department will provide an update on the shared campus agreement (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25881/25]

492. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Education and Youth her views on school secretaries and caretakers not receiving a State pension, given their wages are paid by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25883/25]

493. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Education and Youth in view of the significant increase in new autism spectrum disorder classes anticipated in September 2025, whether her Department will consider collaborating with the Department of Transport to support the implementation of a fast-track application process for the local area hackney driver licence and ensure that up-to-date informa…

494. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the progress made indisposal of land near a school (details supplied) to the HSE for the construction of the north Clondalkin primary care centre. [25897/25]

495. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the estimated cost of implementing pension parity for school secretaries and caretakers. [25904/25]

496. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Education and Youth for clarification on the announced changes to contracts of indefinite duration; when the new rules will regarding a one-year contract and then a contract of indefinite duration apply from; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25949/25]

497. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether she has had discussions regarding raising the retirement age for Bus Éireann school bus drivers to bring it into line with Local Link and other providers' policies, which would allow those who want to keep working to do so; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26033/25]

498. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she has identified the shortage of school bus drivers, the impact this is having on students and their families each year and her plans to address the situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26034/25]

499. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of children resident in the Athy area who have not yet been offered a primary school place for the upcoming academic year 2025-2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26039/25]