Parliamentary questions

175. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update on special schools and special classes in Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16752/25]

176. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Education the number of expressions of interest that have sought to secure a place for a child in the interim special school in County Monaghan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17183/25]

177. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Education the status of an application by a school (details supplied) for sanction for a special class. [16380/25]

178. Deputy Catherine Ardagh asked the Minister for Education the reason the Government commitment to return therapists, such as speech and language therapists and occupational therapists, to schools has not been fulfilled; the reason responsibility is being shifted between Departments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16852/25]

179. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Education to provide a timeline for the introduction of a DEIS Plus programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17225/25]

180. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Education if she will review Circular 0002/2024 in relation to the distribution of special education teaching hours at primary level, given many schools are concerned that the model used relies heavily on end-of-year test scores for second, fourth and sixth class students, meaning that resources are not being applied with consideration being given to…

181. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education if the announced reduction in pupil teacher ratio will be introduced for the coming school year, where a school could potentially loose a teacher, only to be forced to recruit additional teachers the subsequent year, due to significant population growth in the area, and given the difficulties of recruiting teachers. [17153/25]

182. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education if she will take into account the findings of a recent survey (details supplied), which received 1,231 valid parental responses representing 2,323 children, in which 73% of respondents expressed a preference for a co-educational school and 59% for a non-denominational model; noting that currently there is no such post-primary option in th…

183. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update on the four prefabs at a school (details supplied); when they will be replaced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17311/25]

184. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education to report on a permanent building for Danu special school in Dublin 15; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17235/25]

185. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Education if she intends to continue and expand the counselling in primary schools pilot given that schools have not yet been informed whether this programme will continue into the next academic year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17152/25]

186. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update on the school transport scheme; the number of applications currently in the system from Cork county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17184/25]

187. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education the number of schools currently in debt across the country. [17202/25]

188. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education her plans to ensure teachers currently working in the education system are trained to deliver high-quality teaching to children of all abilities, including those with special educational needs, to better meet the needs of growing numbers of students with additional needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17163/25]

189. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Education for an update on school transport; the measures she is taking to increase school transport places in Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17090/25]

190. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update on plans for a Department of Education site at Brooklodge, Glanmire, Cork; the progress made to locate a special school at that site; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17158/25]

191. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Education the reason mainstream classes in a pre-school (details supplied) have been excluded from special needs education support; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16919/25]

192. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Education if she will sanction the provision of additional time and additional supports for dyslexic students sitting State exams in secondary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17157/25]

193. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Education for an update on her Department’s evaluation of pilots run under the revised school transport scheme for 2025-2026; to provide the next stage in the rollout of the revised school transport scheme 2025/2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17169/25]

194. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update on the school transport scheme for the 2025/2026 school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16753/25]

195. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update on work on the Programme for Government commitment to expand the school transport scheme. [16971/25]

196. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education the plans in place to ensure that children in County Mayo who are waiting prolonged periods for their initial CDNT appointment do not experience delays in accessing appropriate school placements and supports. [17165/25]

197. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Education if her Department is considering the establishment of a new second level school in east Cork given the projected rise in population figures in the area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17044/25]

198. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education her views on the applications for ASD classes in two schools in County Tipperary which have not had their classes sanctioned (details supplied); the reasons for not sanctioning these classes, particularly given that both schools have space available for a new ASD class; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16600/25]

199. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Education if she is aware of the significant pressure for places in ASD special classes in primary schools in the Dublin 15 area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17224/25]