Parliamentary questions

492. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education if there are grants available, outside of minor works grants, for schools to install accessible playgrounds on their site to encourage learning through play for all children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16887/25]

493. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education the current status of an additional accommodation project application by a school (details supplied); when they can proceed to the next phase; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16906/25]

494. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Education the status of the traditional Irish harp in primary and post primary curriculum; if, given the expense of purchasing an Irish harp, funding is available from her Department or agencies associated with these significant instruments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16928/25]

495. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Education the number of students in counties Wicklow and Wexford who have diagnosed special needs for both primary and secondary level, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16942/25]

496. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Education the number of children carried on school buses entirely comprising concessionary tickets due to the change in school transport scheme policy for all schools in counties Wicklow and Wexford, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16943/25]

497. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Education the changes planned for the 2025-2026 school year regarding the school transport scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16944/25]

498. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Education the number of SNA posts funded in Budget 2025; the level of support this will provide in the planned new special classes and special schools for counties Wexford and Wicklow, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16947/25]

499. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Education the steps her Department is taking to address the issue of some schools' SNA applications status currently unknown; the actions that have been taken to ensure that schools receive the necessary SNA support to meet the needs of students with additional needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16948/25]

500. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Education the number of schools in counties Wicklow and Wexford that were approached by the National Council for Special Education to open a specialist class; the percentage of those schools declined; the reasons given for these refusals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16949/25]

501. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Education the number of schools in counties Wicklow and Wexford that expressed an interest in opening a special education class in the past two years; the number of applications that were refused; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16950/25]

502. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education if she will respond to reports that the Reading Recovery Programme promoted by her Department has a weaker basis in evidence than science of reading-based approaches; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16969/25]

503. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Education to examine a student teacher's July provision payment (details supplied) given this teacher has not received full payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16990/25]

504. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Education the amount that her Department has spent to date on the construction of a building (details supplied); and the final cost expected for this project. [16997/25]

505. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Education her plans to allocate a budget line to making permanent and to roll out the pilot that took place in Dublin 15, with a central allocation process for special class and special school applications. [17023/25]

506. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Education the number of apprenticeships registered with her Department for each of the past five years, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17030/25]

507. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education to provide a list with the job titles and salaries of all Ministerial staff, and Department private secretaries. [17051/25]

508. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Education when the provision of free period products will be available in all schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17171/25]

509. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Education for details on the next tranche under ICT grant funding; if this will open to schools for application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17172/25]

510. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Education to provide details on any changes in the allocation process for schools for special needs assistants for 2025/2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17173/25]

511. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Education if people who were assessed since the beginning of this year could be impacted in the allocation process for schools for special needs assistants for 2025/2026; when pupils assessed can expect a decision on their assessment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17174/25]

512. Deputy Maeve O'Connell asked the Minister for Education to report on her Department’s efforts to reduce the student to teacher ratio in primary schools. [17175/25]

513. Deputy Maeve O'Connell asked the Minister for Education to report on her Department’s efforts to reduce the student to teacher ratio in post-primary schools. [17176/25]

514. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education what her plans are to deliver on the Programme for Government commitment to "collect data to create more targeted, effective services for children with special needs"; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17244/25]

515. Deputy Micheál Carrigy asked the Minister for Education the status of the approved extension for a school (details supplied); if the originally sanctioned seven-classroom remains unchanged; the current stage of the project and expected timeline for delivery. [17254/25]

516. Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Minister for Education to review the case of a DEIS Band 1 primary school (details supplied) which is set to lose its tenth mainstream teacher due to a rigid interpretation of enrolment figures. [17264/25]