Parliamentary questions

969. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the number of WTE charted surveyors employed by her Department in 2023, 2024 and to-date in 2025, in tabular form. [20149/25]

970. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education if an assessment of need can be requested by a school as a requirement for a school place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20172/25]

971. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education when the final decision was made to change this year's Leaving Certificate's grade inflation to 5.5%; the way this decision was communicated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20173/25]

972. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Education the reason for the reduction of the funding allocated for the schoolbooks scheme, when in 2023 it was estimated that €96 per child was necessary to help schools to ensure the new curriculum could be implemented with the right teaching and learning aids; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20184/25]

973. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Education if she is considering changes to the distance requirement eligibility criteria for her School Transport Scheme and the possible abolition of the closest school rule for the 2025/2026 school year; if so, when it is envisaged that these changes will be communicated and implemented to allow sufficient time for preparation in advance of the ne…

974. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Education if she will urgently issue advice to schools on how the Leaving Certificate grade inflation will be addressed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20228/25]

975. Deputy Seán Fleming asked the Minister for Education when urgent emergency works will be carried out for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20229/25]

976. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Education to examine an appeal for the retention of a mainstream teacher in a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20243/25]

977. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Education the number of refunds sought from parents availing of the school transport scheme in Limerick in 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form. [20248/25]

978. Deputy Seán Fleming asked the Minister for Education regarding schools that had been approved for additional SNA posts in their school and have since been told not to advertise the post as “the Department is approaching a cap on SNA’s nationally”; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20261/25]

979. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Education if all IT systems used by her Department can utilise the síneadh fada; where this is not the case, to provide the list of systems which do not accept or facilitate the use of the fada, in tabular form; the steps being taken to address this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20297/25]

980. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education to provide a list of all EU directives which are awaiting transposition in her Department; the date on which transposition is due; and the reasons for any delay in transposition, in tabular form. [20324/25]

981. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education to provide a list of all properties her Department has rented from 2015 to date in 2025, including the length of tenancy; and the amount spent on rent on each property over this time period. [20342/25]

982. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education whether an external company is contracted to provide cleaning services to her Department building; and if so, the name of the company and the value of the contract. [20360/25]

983. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education whether an external company is contracted to provide security services to her Department building; and if so, the name of the company and the value of the contract. [20378/25]

984. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Education the planned opening date for the new special school in south Lucan on the Lucan East ETNS site; the ages of the children it will cater for; the number of children will be facilitated at optimum levels; the categories of special educational needs it will cover or not cover; when and through what medium parents can apply for places a…

985. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education if she is aware that staff shortages have impacted pupils' ability to access transition year in schools and students are being asked instead to proceed to fifth year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20514/25]

986. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education if she is aware that a school (details supplied) will not be able to run enough transition year classes to accommodate all of its pupils in the upcoming school year due to a lack of resources; her views on the impact this might have on the education and stress levels of pupils who are expected to go directly to fifth year despite not choo…

987. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 607 of 9 September 2024, the status of an application to build an extension to a school (details supplied) for the provision of two permanent ASD class units and classroom; the next steps to be completed in this project; the expected timeframe for completion; and if she will make a statement on the matte…

988. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 391 of 5 November 2024, the current status regarding the proposed permanent extension at a school (details supplied); the expected timeframe for completion of this project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20518/25]

989. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Education if there is a formal process of engagement between her Department and the Patrons of schools. [20538/25]

990. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Education when the last formal engagement with the patrons of the over 4,000 schools in Ireland took place. [20539/25]

991. Deputy Seán Fleming asked the Minister for Education if he will provide financial support to a school (details supplied) that have been approved for new ASD classes in the premises adjacent to the school; if it can be rented in the meantime until there are modular classrooms put in place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20575/25]

992. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Education when a design team was appointed at a school (details supplied) under the additional accommodation scheme, the technical challenges the site presents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20581/25]

993. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Education if she will ensure that her Department reengages with a school (details supplied) on the status of the temporary accommodation due to be provided at that location; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20582/25]