Parliamentary questions

844. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Education if there are plans for additional places in ASD classes in a school (details supplied) in Dublin mid-west; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19193/25]

845. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Education the number of bespoke school transport contracts in place specifically for beneficiaries of temporary protection in each county; and the total cost of these contracts for the current academic year, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19198/25]

846. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Education if her Department intends to renew bespoke school transport contracts in place specifically for beneficiaries of temporary protection for the 2025-2026 academic year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19199/25]

847. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Education if she will list each route in respect of bespoke school transport contracts in place specifically for beneficiaries of temporary protection; the number of children concerned on each route; the cost of each route, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19200/25]

848. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Education how an appeal can submitted against SNA hours allocated to a child in a mainstream school; to outline the appeal process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19210/25]

849. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Education the criteria a child must meet to access SNA supports; if this is reflected in SNA allocations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19211/25]

850. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Education if SNA supports are provided to children with behavioural issues; if this is reflected in SNA allocations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19212/25]

851. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Education if a review of a school’s (details supplied) SNA allocation is valid given the timing of the review; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19213/25]

852. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Education if a special class or ASD unit can be opened in a school (details supplied); her department’s exceptions process for funding of modular buildings to allow mainstream schools to obtain space in order to open special classes and ASD units; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19214/25]

853. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education if she intends to establish a Citizens’ Assembly on Education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19218/25]

854. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education if she plans to roll out a survey to schools and school communities on the issue of divestment and school patronage; the details and the timeline for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19225/25]

855. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education the timeline for completion of a demographic study into Mallow; the date on which this will be published; and the cost of same to date. [19229/25]

856. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Education the steps her Department will take to ensure that a child (details supplied) can access a suitable educational setting for the 2025-26 academic year. [19235/25]

857. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the average, median, maximum and minimum primary school class sizes for the Cork City and Cork County Council area from 2019 to date in 2024, in tabular form. [19242/25]

858. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the number of appeals to the NCSE, by county; and the number of successful appeals over each of the past five years. [19243/25]

859. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education her views on the need to provide additional funding for sports halls in schools. [19244/25]

860. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education her views on the recent changes to the allocation model for special education. [19245/25]

861. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education the position regarding the number of schools that require students to take religion as a mandatory Junior Certificate subject, by county, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19265/25]

862. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education the position regarding the number of schools that require students to take religion as a mandatory Leaving Certificate subject, by county, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19267/25]

863. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education the position regarding any guidance issued by her Department to all schools regarding how to approach situations whereby children wish to opt out of religious education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19270/25]

864. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education the position regarding any plans to provide non-denominational schools as opposed to multidenominational schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19271/25]

865. Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Education if she will consider expanding the solar for schools programme beyond the current 14 panel limit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19280/25]

866. Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Education the reason there is a limit of 14 panels per school under the solar for schools programme. [19281/25]

867. Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Education if it is possible for a secondary school to request to be assessed for DEIS status when it is in close proximity to a DEIS primary school and many of the primary school pupils will attend that secondary school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19282/25]

868. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education the number of schools that have received funding for a transport escort in relation to the school transport scheme for children with special educational needs; the number of have applied and been unsuccessful; and the funding awarded to each school for the purpose of employing an escort. [19293/25]